CoombeTown

That's the one Rob, it is very mossy indeed. I think this is due to the location right next to the sea/marshes. I did attempt to make one side a bit mossy on the model, but I would imagine Coombe Town would be drier and didn't want to over-do-it.

I think there was a discussion on the Warren Branch a while back. In most cases there wouldn't be much lighting in the Goods Shed, unless electricity had reached spot (happy to be corrected if I'm wrong). Most small sheds like Coombe Town would just be lit by an oil lamp put down somewhere out of the way. My solution will be a single DCC concepts loco lamp sat on the crates. I doubt anyone would want to work in the office after dark...

Thanks Andy, The weathering was somewhat based on images of Dunster Goods Shed. There was smoke present over one doorway, which I doubt could've just come from preservation activity. That said I did limit it to one end only, as I doubt the engines would be allowed through on a regular basis, only on the odd occasion when a loaded wagon needed retrieving from the dock. And yes, the roof trusses give the removable roof its shape.

Whilst waiting for a couple of the ammo powders before continuing the rolling stock saga, I spent this morning weathering the Goods Shed. The outside And looking through the door. Those with keen eyes may have spotted. The crates on the far side of the shed. It needs a hole drilling and a lamp adding before becoming a little feature a la @chuffinghell in his shed on the Warren Branch.

I've just had a look at their range Andy. There's some good variety there. I've been looking for some lighter earth colours so will give them a try.

Hi Andy, I prefer to use enamels to give a little more working time, also with this wagon, the majority of the weathering is just powder. Those books look interesting, I may get one or two but my reference shelf is getting a little full!

I also spent a couple of hours just playing trains this evening. Sometimes getting a couple of sound locos out is just what the doctor ordered... 1668 shunting the cattle wagon towards the dock. With her reformed short Goods, 1668 awaits the signal once 4157 has cleared the block with a passenger service.

Well May went a little bit crazy between work and life, the railway has been relatively untouched in 3 weeks. I did pick up an Oxford Rail GE Wagon at the West Somerset Railway. I wanted to depict this as fairly lightly Weathered, a bit of practice before I move onto the Rapido wagons. The result of an hour or so's work, a brown wash and then some power work, was this: It's possibly a tiny bit heavier than I was aiming for on the lower sides, but I'm pleased with the overall effect. The next victim will be a Hornby Cattle Wagon, but I need some lighter earth powder first. Does anyone have any preferred powders outside the humbrol range? I understand that the Tamiya masters are quite favoured?

Some more progress on the point rodding, with a day off today. The main run is now complete on one baseboard. I still need to add the cross-crank for the catch point, which will be the next task. Then once signal pulley wheels are installed, it'll be ready for ballasting! Also, with all the autocoach talk over on Henley-on-Thames, I thought I'd share my upgraded Hornby model. Flush-glazing, dart casting detailing kit and interior lighting with a directional lamp. I only wish I'd added a stay-alive as it was flickering all the way along...

Thanks Andy, I wouldn't worry too much it actually slides on relatively easily. Although I appreciate that I'm young and seemingly not in need of glasses yet!

Yup, and I can't get rid of it. It's annoying defect in the rod itself. You can't tell from viewing distance though so I guess I can live with it.

Thanks Graham, they're the Modelu blocks, stools etc. Rodding itself is MSE stuff. It looks great but I am very glad that I only have a few runs!

Productive day today. The first section of rodding is complete, as far as the first compensator. I have managed to create the drop down to the cranks. Next stage will be to add the compensator for the rear FPL rodding run. I've also added the new plates to 4134, confirming its new identity as 4157, complete with 83B shedplate.

I can't remember my source but mine are 16mm x 12mm so 4' x 3'.

Thanks both, so if in doubt, try and try again. I turned the speakers through 180 degrees and hey presto, the whole thing went together a lot better. So here are some pictures showing off the passengers and driver in the now sound-fitted railcar. Now just to add Passengers and lighting to the other coaches... a job for some time way in the future!

A good afternoon spent at the Bristol show. A very good selection of layouts, certainly better than recent years. As mentioned, there were quite a number of traders, but if that's necessary to keep the show cost down, so be it. I picked up some plates to renumber my large prairie to 4157, an engine that was a regular on the Taunton to Minehead services. And some etched shed plates, the spare shall be attached to 1668. An early start this morning, but before leaving I attempted to fit the sound and speakers to the Railcar. Although legomanbiffo has proved that 25mm Square speakers fit, to great effect. Getting the body back correctly is more of a challenge, so that has now been left until tonight/tomorrow morning. The state of play is a little further than this:

Hi Neal, I'm looking at getting some Geoscenics coal for wagon loads etc. How does it compare to the real stuff? Thanks, DRoe96

Before heading up to the Bristol show this afternoon, I've been adding some more paint to the railcar figures. Just one to finish off now!

Thanks for the tip Lez, fortunately I only have 1 or 2 places where rods cross under the track. Plus the 1 FPL so shouldn't be too hard to do it that way. I plan to leave the main rodding run just bluetacked to the stools until ballasting is completed as well so I can lift it out of the way to do the Ash cest.

Thanks Lez, no idea why I hadn't thought of that. It's just the cunning plan I'm after, another thing to add to the jobs list.

Thanks Andy, I'm not really sure what to about track pins, they were well hidden with the initial coat of sleeper grime but the number of times the track has been lifted means they've come a little pronounced. I've always said that Coombe Town is a first foray into exhibition layouts, so it won't be perfect and to be honest, I'm loathed to take up all the track to glue it down. If anyone has any cunning suggestions I'll gladly take them on-board though!

Further progress on project rod, first rod is temporarily fitted as a height test. It's currently a little low compared to the rail height so I shall add some 1mm plasticard underneath to raise it.

25 rodding stools and 8 crank frame supports later... painted ready to be attached to a paper template this evening. The plan is to complete the right-hand side of the diagram below, the left-hand side will be completed at a later date.

Plan is for square rodding with GWR stools, cranks + compensators. Initially it was only going to be 2 compensators in this run, but following the discussions I've realised that I need to add a 3rd.

Some more progress on the Passengers. With all the recent workload I am now on a much needed 5 day weekend. I have a few trips planned, but around these I am commencing project rod phase 1. This will be all the point rodding from the signal box to the point on the loop. Stage 1 is to paint the concrete blocks.