CoombeTown

Turns out rebuilding the sinkhole required no profanity at all. The task now completed, the retaining wall is now permanently stuck into position. I've also made a plasticard base for the lock-up to sit into, this should give a less sightly gap and provide something for me to sculptamold up to this evening. I'm hoping the MBR order arrives early this week so I can make significant progress on the entire area on my annual leave, hopefully at least some flowers will go in and add some colour...

Indeed I find it does help keep some motivation up, although it has led to an almost finished scene at one end of the layout and literally just track on a baseboard at the other... It also gives time to restock the profanity bank, which is not a bad thing in our hobby

Thanks Graham, with any luck I'll get the ground sorted at the weekend then it can go in permanently. In an attempt to keep some motivation, a spot of ballast went in dry this morning. I need to do the stools for the other side before it's glued but it does look better. I've also ordered a few tress from a certain Polish outfit over lunch to plan the pines and a couple of other scenic elements. Hopefully, this will give the other end of the layout a bit of a better feel.

1 step forwards and two steps back this weekend. The new z21 Start controller arrived, and it's great to finally have access to all the sounds. However, 1470 has randomly started shorting on as soon as it's placed on the layout... as my preferred shunting loco, this is driving me nuts! I've also glued into position the lower half of the signal box, which led to a minor disaster. The filler I used to build up the land to the side ate through the foam, creating a rather large cavern... a bit frustrated tonight so having a bit of break from the layout so gather my thoughts.

A little step forwards, the cranks coming from the signal box are complete, awaiting painting. I need to do the first section of the other side before I can glue it down but it's progress. A mate has also owned up to having access to a Silhouette Cutter so this weekend's task is to draw up the main structural walls of the station building for him to cut. Then I can use that as a template for the cladding to get that building off the ground!

Thanks Andy, how close to the arm did you get with the card? It sounds like a good idea. Dom

An interesting afternoon... the blacktack holding the firebox glow Led caused a few issues so a new Led is required... But 6421 has now been renumbered as 6408 (at Westbury in 1958) and fitted with Youchoos sound. It's nice to finally have the sound fitted engine to accompany the detailed autocoach.

So with an exciting delivery expected tomorrow, a Fireman was required... Bought from Modelu some time back, he's finally been painted over the last couple of evenings.

It's just the head of a dress makers' pin pushed through, then the rest cut off on the other side. It's slightly overscale but I feel it looks better than other alternatives

A great day at the Taunton Show yesterday, Bath Green Park in its full length was an incredible layout. Last night I finally got around to putting the roof on the weighbridge, prompted by the discussion on ANTB. On to guttering and interior up next, once I've placed a Modelu order, that's also holding up the pointing rodding as a couple of vital cranks are missing.

Indeed, reading the signalling subforum did help. Asking here as well got an answer to the ground signal conundrum. For the actual layout considerations leaving the box, a trip to Didcot provided the inspiration as you can get pretty close.

I've used York Modelmaking on Coombe Town, nice self-adhesive tiles that take weathering powders well after a blast with matt varnish. Following the signal box build with interest, still need to find a source for my box windows. Dom

Well nearly 2 months to the day later... I've been away a lot with work and friends recently, so the number of evenings home have been low, let alone modelling time. However, I've made some progress painting the stonework on the platform. This has allowed Cork to be fitted, and tonight I began work on the point rodding along the platform face. First, the signal pulleys and point cranks leading from the signal box. I need to order another couple of cranks from Modelu before this is finished, but it gives an idea. The rodding run, still surprises me how much this adds to the scene everytime I build some more. As per the previous lengths, I've kept the rodding separate from the stools for painting and ballasting convenience.

How does the roof/end join look at normal viewing distance? Appreciate that the close-up probably makes it look far bigger than reality.

I've got a LokSound v5 with Wheeltappers Sound in mine. It gives good performance and sound. I seem to recollect that Rapido mentioned ESU as being the preferred decoder when they were first released as well, but that could be my imagination

Well it's been a while. Life and motivation meant that not much happened in the intervening time. However, chatting with @NHY 581 at the Minehead show the other week, I've had some motivation to get going again. Ideally I want a quick build to get going, and have a nice idea for a cameo BLT based on Rob's track plan that would suit. But until time and funds allow, some progress on the weighbridge today. I've knocked up a fireplace and walls, and finally got the windows in and painted. So here's hoping for some more consistent progress. The interior parts: And the exterior:

In my usual inability to focus on anything, I've made a start on the front corner landforms, to cover up the baseboard and give some more scenics to that end. The aim is to the have the field at around rail height with a little drop down to the yard, almost following the track contours. Two views of 1668 shunting its train giving an idea of the view. And a shot of the train to show how this will eventually be framed by the weighbridge and Goods Shed.

Thanks Rob, really useful reference images for when I get round to it. And fantastic modelling that I can merely hope to emulate!

Yesterday I received a Monks Gate Models weighbridge hut. It's a nice little kit, although lacking in instructions which is a bit of a challenge. The plan is for it to sit at the front of the Goods Yard, adding a bit of interest. However, that requires an interior. Has anyone seen a model of the weighing equipment or got any idea of the dimensions? It looks like a good challenge but will make a nice feature behind that large window. Cheers, Dom

Thanks Andy, To be honest I quite like having an unperfect, although admit springiness would probably be beneficial if I ever exhibit Coombe Town. I'll have to look back and see how you did the diagonals for the tensioning posts as I'll be adding them on the layout. Dom

Well, following the advice of the article. Some Burnt Grass Coarse Turf was added to complete the scene... The overall scene And a look under the bridge: And I couldn't resist a 3 quarter shot. I'm really pleased how this has turned and captured the scene that I wanted to create. Now to try and apply these techniques to the main layout and make some further progress

Thanks for the reminder Andy, I had forgotten about that article but it obviously has influenced what I've done. I think when the fence is fully in I'll add some coarse turf to the embankment to suggest other growth as Keith suggests. It also confirms my temptations of needing a second board, but I'll hold off on that until I've made some more progress on the main layout.

Some more progress on the photo plank, fencing starting to go up. Although it's a slow process I'm now getting the wires in a bit faster. In front I've tried to replicate a freshly cut straw Fields, with wws 2mm grass. The idea is that this will fill the area in front of the headshunt to provide break up the large yard area. There will be a weighbridge and hedge along the angled section and then the slowly rising field and along the headshunt. Hopefully, this will create a nice photographic foreground and motivation as well while the back is developed.

Another day off today, so weathering of the new Siphon G was persued... seen here in all it's glory on the photo Plank And entering Coombe Town as part of the parcels train behind 5541 Notice the other one of today's projects, more hedging made and attached on the top of the embankment. I think it needs a small tree adding to break it up a bit though

Well, my Carmine O.33 is Carmine no more. It has now received a heavy dose of weathering appropriate for the late 50s, my maroon O.59 will get a much lighter treatment sometime in the future. The underframe detail really does lend itself to these low shots, although it just makes me want to build a layout on an embankment to admire it more!