danstercivicman

Yes, given all the footage I have found of locos in the period I am modelling has them looking shocking its vital Weathering stock takes ages but I have found matt black and a few highlights here and there works a treat

I have weathered these- sadly they are now so grimy its hard to see the detail!!!

Some pics from last nights running. The final one shows the locos stored in the fiddle yard, where they await their next turn We also take a look at the locos being serviced at Hopguard shed- a standard 5MT, Stanier 5MT and an 8F await their next workings. The 57xx is the station pilot and the Crab has brought in a suburban working. The 4F has brought a short freight, whilst the Class 24 has come from further afield with a lengthy mixed goods. The 4F will then take this as a pickup goods/trip freight to the local stations. Enjoy! Videos can be found in previous blog entries Harton Station gents toilet is now built! Best Dan

Hello, I have been working hard on the scenic areas of the layout and have been working on the approach to Harton Station. I just need to add soem more cars, a bus stop and a bus shelter and then tidy up the detailing, but I think it looks alot better! See my Youtube for more layout running and updates !! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVydhlKWGKw So the pics- theres the updated station front, using a Scale scenes medium station (still need to build the gents), then some shots of Hopeguard shed and the railings at Hopeguard. Best Dan

Thank you, it is lots of fun literally a layout you can spend hours and hours on! More scenic work went on tonight and I added the headcode things to the class 24 (lots much better)

Looks amazing

Hello, Please find below the link to my March Update. Its much better than text for showing you what progress has been made. It also includes a load of footage, showing freight, passenger and light engine movements between the two stations Enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkHrwMlmRBU&feature=youtube_gdata Dan

Hello, I have been working hard adding scenery to the tunnel mouth, shed area and the scenic break where the layout joins Harton! I have also ballasted 75% of the layout and am much happier with how it looks. Alot of detail remains to be added, particularly the small things that make a layout railway like. Enjoy!

Yes, it is indeed a new fav of mine! I was nervous about getting a tender drive loco, but she runs like a dream and pulls like a beast! The Bachmann 5MT struggles with the same load and thats after a shed load of weight has been added to it!

Hello, Some more progress. I have heavily weathered the Hornby 4F as I was not really feeling the weathering it came with- see what you think? Also I have made big progress ballasting and have decided to move the provender shed to the main yard. Here it will become a hazardous chemical/explosive store shed. It didn't have enough clearance in the main goods yard, and I probably just going to put a crane in the goods yard at Hopeguard or construct a custom made goods shed. I have found a problem with the scalescene's method of construction- water makes the ink run nasty! So I am going to have to varnish all these buildings and the platforms! I have been adding grass cover to areas around the layout and its starting to get there! I've also done a fiddle yard view showing where the locos and trains are stored 'off scene'. Some more goodies are coming from Hattons this week! Enjoy! Dan

Hello, Last night I worked on some areas of the back scene and had a good running session with freight and passenger workings. I have started to ballast more of the layout and identify areas where I need to put in more work Enjoy the pics! We have a 4F on freight passing an 8F stopped at a signal to gain entry to the yard. We have a 45xx running round its B-set and heading back towards Harton, We have the 57xx on station pilot. The Pull Push service from Harton comes into Hopeguard with its Ivatt 2MT and then there is a Jubilee powering into Harton with an express. Not to mention the some other loco's! Best Dan

Very brave, let us know how it goes, I tried this once and the cleanup meant I threw the track away

Hello, Brief update! I have finally been able to secure a 14xx (The Hornby one for a decent price) so I have added that to my Autocoach (which I have detailed) it really adds a nice flavour to the layout and I am sure once it has been weathered that it will fit right in! The idea behind the 14xx and Autocoach is that it allows local workings into...what would be North Wales, maybe a forgotten branch line or a workers service? Also you can see some of my weathering on the 5MT. The 4F has had crew added and will be HEAVILY weathered soon! The 45xx is also a new arrival and pulls a Dapol B-Set (to be weathered and re-numbered) the B-Set is runningr eally well on Bachmann metal wheels. Now... I have a problem. The PECO hydraulic buffers are too large to allow locos to reverse through the points. What can I do? I am going to try creating some smaller buffer stops- any feedback welcome? Best Dan

I have made some progress. Adding Peco buffer stops and adding some detail signs to the end of the platforms. I have gone for the hydraulic type buffer stops. I have also worked on the goods yard at Harton and have added a small loop for shunting. The platforms are also nearing completion and both stations now have 'do not cross the line' warning signs. Still lots to do- ballasting, finishing and of course finishing the backscene. Overall the layout is huge fun to operate with almost limitless combinations of shunting and freight/passenger workings. Because the layout has two stations, a marshalling yard and a off scene fiddle yard. Freights can be worked into Hopeguard then split into trip freights to Harton. Freight can also be worked from Harton to Hopeguard then assembled into longer workings and sent 'up' the line to the rest of 'Britain'! Passenger workings include local suburban stock, B-sets and the expresses which are all MK1. Again milk and XP vans can be added to these- still need to get the fish vans, Hopeguard is a port afterall! I am considering adding a small engine shed and siding at Harton to go next to the goods shed- what do you think? Best Dan

Like it,nice layout

Finally I have been able to get on RM web and I would like to introduce you to my layout called Harton and Hopeguard. The Layout is located in my basement and has two fictional stations. One- Hopeguard is 'set' as a medium sized port terminus between Chester and Holyhead. Harton on the other hand is meant to represent the entry to the LMR, either near Chester, or towards Birmingham. There is then a fiddle yard, which represents all other destinations. I think its probably easier to view the youtube so here is a link- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zmqJcHZtP8 (copy and paste URL) Comments/feedback welcome Very best Dan