joejab95

Looking good chaps, I like the nuclear flask terminal!

Cheers Neil, I'll check it out now!

Looks a great layout! Looking forward to see it progress!

It was the sound fitted release, but I'm led to believe its one of Biff's chips that came fitted in it.

Fingers crossed they aren't too far away! I believe the Scotrail and possibly the CrossCountry HST sets will need a similar conversion done on their mk3s when they go into service by 2020, so I'm sure the demand will be there for plug door mk3s eventually. I might get some blue grey Intercity Mk3s for the meantime as the 68s pulled them for a little while for Chiltern when they first came over.

Just a short running session from the last week or so

Firstly, thanks for all the kind comments from everyone! Very much appreciated! So tonight, I've been working primarily on the other hillside this evening. I'm quite happy with the overall effect. I also gave my Centro and Merseyral Class 150s a good run tonight. Centro Class 150 Intercity Class 47 prepares to enter Platform 3 Merseyrail Class 150 with a Liverpool bound service

Thanks! It's a little fiddly to be honest as the Dapol masts are rather flimsy and the system doesn't work too well with spring loaded pantographs. I'm therefore going to have to restrict the pantos on some of my trains. They're dead easy to install though, you just drill a hole in the baseboard and use the supplied wingnut underneath to secure the mast. They'll do for now, although I think when funds permit I may upgrade and go for the steel Peco masts Joe

Another rather productive evening. I've been working on the hillside on the other side of the railway. Also put up a couple of Catenary/OHLE masts to see how they fit. Some proper old traction in the form of a Class 85 and 47 are on show tonight! p.s. please excuse the tree on the island platform! That won't be staying there!

I've done quite a lot of scenics since my last layout post, particularly in one corner of the layout. I've also been working on the areas round the construction site.

A big thank you to WCML100 for all the photos and advice given! I've dry brushed some white over the existing weathering on the HIAs to simulate the gathering of limestone. I'm quite happy with the overall finish. I've tried to do the 6 wagons in various states.

Thanks for those! I'll certainly try and track down some appropriate white powder to use on them. Maybe some crushed blackboard chalk might do the job?

I like the new warehouse/factory units you've made! Can't go wrong with a pie factory!

Over a bit of Star Wars and some Corona, I've been weathering my Freightliner HIA wagons using powders. I currently have six but I will eventually get some more of these excellent wagons from Dapol

No trains running today! I've made a start on the scenics at the opposite end of the layout to the town. The area where the signal box is very much up for debate. I'm considering a logistics depot or a bus garage raised up so that the track sits in a cutting. If anyone has any other suggestions, I'd be very grateful!

London Midland have now connected a service to Banks Road!

Hornby seem to have gotten ahead on their modern-ish stuff. Feels like a good few years since their mk2Es came out and I'm sure both company's sets of carriages were originally announced at around the same time. I really like their mk2Es, although I'm sure there will be some who disagree with me. In a similar way with the Class 90, Hornby's 87 is expected this year which seems to have completely leapfrogged Bachmann's Class 90. Oxford seem to have been similarly proactive with their mk3s, I'll have no money left by the time the mk2fs arrive!

Great stuff Neil! the detailing on the street scene is excellent! Joe

Thanks for the kind comments guys! Just thought I'd share this shot of Tornado to show that the layout is right up to date!

I had noticed similar issues with the low sitting coupling, particularly in push mode. I've since changed to Kadee #19s with no further modifications and it has been superb since

Only a couple from last night. I had the new Class 68 in Chiltern railways having a run, the Arriva mk3 set, the Class 37 on a couple of autoballasters and a Freightliner 66 on hoppers.

Just a quick running session from the last couple of weeks

I've done a little video showing the sounds on the sound fitted models from Dapol. Apologies if you can't hear my voice at times! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiPo1WQNbUM

My sound fitted Class 68 in Chiltern Railways livery has finally arrived! I think it's absolutely stunning! I feel that the lights are spot on, neither too bright nor too dim. I've placed it next to my Hornby DVT, to me the DVT actually seems slightly too blue on reflection. The silvers seem to be the same though. My coaching stock seems to match up well and I'm quite happy with it for my purposes, given its my first proper attempt at respraying!

Thanks for the comments guys! Yes a removable section might be the best option. I was certainly going to make the roof removable anyway so it shouldn't be too hard to incorporate a removable wall aswell. Anyway, here's Virgin Trains Class 57 312 sitting on Platform 3 awaiting Thunderbird duties.