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Hi Dave, thanks for the heads up! Interesting how they've used so many locations in Kent. I've seen a few clips of the drama on youtube and hoping to catch up with all the episodes over the weekend as lots of people talking about it and it sounds quite good! Tim

Don't worry! Holiday madness is universal 😂 The layout is looking great, would love to see more pics if you have time to upload.

Very good advice! Can't begin to imagine the pain of a drop of hot solder going into an eye, makes my eyes water just thinking about it 😥 I don't do any soldering below board, it's all dry connections.

That's a lovely neat set up there - exactly what I'm aiming for! Really helpful tips, thanks Dave.

Now THAT's the kind of thing I'm aiming for!

Indeed, I like Wagos as well but I do find the connector blocks useful when you've got multiple dropper wires coming down and connecting to a bus - you can add a busbar on one side, and then you have multiple connection points.

Agreed. Exactly the same problem here. To be fair I think most home based (non-display) layouts tend to be done that way. I've used many choice words fumbling around under boards in low light, trying to figure out where the hell a dropper is coming from/going to. Some useful hints and tips on here already though! :)

Hi Andrue, I agree with the points there. That's exactly the arrangement I have, with multiple droppers running to terminal blocks, and then slightly thicker wires connecting each terminal block back to the main power supply. I think partly the problem I've had is I started out wiring for DC, so had to keep everything on separate circuits. Now I've gone DCC, there's no need for that and any sense of order has just gone out the window! I think rationalising the number of terminal blocks and mapping my dropper locations would be a good start, but I'm curious to know how everyone else manages this! Totally agree re the accessories as well - tends to be just drill a hole and hope for the best! 😂

All great questions Ian, exactly the issues I've been struggling with! Hopefully someone will chime in and save us from our spaghetti hell 😂

Hi everyone, Hoping to get some pointers or tips if possible regarding tidying and organising of underboard wiring. I have a DCC layout, although this question is not specifically related to DCC - but more which products or methods people are using to keep dropper and bus wires from hanging down and getting tangled. I'm always envious when I see layouts where all the wires are neatly bundled and routed together, and then I look at the jumbled up mess underneath my baseboards! I've decided the time has come for a major overhaul of my wiring, and I want to start out with a clear plan and know exactly what system I'm going to use. Any suggestions or links to products would be greatly appreciated! Many thanks, Tim

Thanks mate! :)

It's incredible stuff - I saw someone on youtube with a computerised mount, and he was able to click on a star or system on his computer screen, and the scope would move automatically to track it. My mind was utterly blown. To be honest I'm glad I don't have a garden or patio cos if I did, I'd be spending more money I don't have!

Agreed Lez. I'm staggered by how good they are these days. A while back I took a photo with mine in low light levels where I could only see in black and white, but the phone picked it up in colour! Just incredible. I can imagine you get some stunning shots with the telescope/phone combo!

Thanks! I was pleased with that shot too, enjoying the wide angle setting on my phone which I didn't have on the old one 😂

Thanks Graham! :)

Hello and seasons greetings to everyone! Hope you've all had a fantastic Christmas :) No waffle this evening, just a few pics of the footbridge as it is today. Comments, criticism and feedback more than welcome!

Absolutely love this layout and the attention to detail! I do feel like you need some more authentic NSE station name signs though, hope you don't mind but I made you one! 😂

Thanks mate! Yes it all needs painting and weathering which hopefully will tie it all together 🙂

Just a quick update this evening with a few more progress pics of the footbridge, and the new addition to the layout! I'm pleased with how it's coming together overall, and there's only one more section to add which is the one which joins with the staircase block beside platform 1. I'm hoping to have that completed while I'm off work over Christmas but that probably won't happen 😂 The view looking northbound with platform 4 to the left. I was pleased how much difference the new bit makes, as it just joins it all together. And here's a shot of the new arrival which turned up a few days ago. It's a lovely model and I'm really pleased Bachmann have finally released these after so long. Badly needs weathering though! An wider view of the structure as it is so far. The new bit is the one at the far end which joins up with the main station building. My phone isn't very good for taking these interior shots, but it's now possible to see all the way across the footbridge. This view is looking towards the booking office. And I was just about able to squeeze the phone through the staircase roof to get this shot from inside the newly added section, looking towards the main station building.

Thanks! That is an interesting question. I must admit I didn't actually know, so had a look at the anyrail plan. Looks like platform 4 is approx 1m, and the others are between 1.2 and 1.4m.

They look great, especially behind that 66! Really nice fine detailing on those deck plates.

Definitely agreed on the wiring front - that's the other bit I don't like 😂 I know what you mean about getting a satisfactory flow to things, it's lovely when it all comes together and flows nicely. I think it's more 'retrospective' trackwork or repairs I'm less fond of as access is a pain - I always end up damaging something else in the process, or slashing myself with a bit of broken rail!

Great stuff mate, coming on nicely. I've always found trackwork to be among my least favourite parts of the job! It's coming together well 👍

Thanks very much mate, really appreciate that. Getting such feedback from someone who's so familiar with the station means a lot. The posters just happened to be the ones I picked up when I was filming there back in August so they do somewhat set it in time😂 I'm definitely keen to move onto different parts of the layout but I'm resisting that temptation until this area is finished because coming back to the drawings and trying to get myself back into the zone will be really difficult after a break.

Thanks mate! Really appreciated :) I must admit I am really looking forward to the details stage, as there are so many amazing products out there now and we're spoilt for choice. I did stick a sneaky bench on the down end of platform 2 a while ago just to scratch that itch, but have resisted the temptation to do any more 😂