vitalspark

Good shot ..a brake tender adds a lot of interest. Would like the excuse to introduce one but unfortunately not allowed!!..need to model NE 60s layout. Dave

Thanks to all for the great ratings..Came across the original pic that the first general station shot was based on..for interest: …and the original The image was set up from memory but not too bad when eventually compared with original. Dave

Ages since been on here and apologies if some already posted. Few more from 'Alloa'..

..second image should have been this slightly different angle..

don't know why image went twice..tried to delete but its all or nothing! D

Etched brass sides and ends supplied by Worsley Works. Obviously not a kit and needs a fair degree of tweaking but a great basis to build an accurate (hopefully) model. Will post when complete..currently working on profile of front dome on the trailer car and fitting rains trips. On our new project ..Larbert..Gloucesters figure quite prominently. Dave. Attached image..waiting for next skim of filler to dome then wet & dry and fit gutters/rainstrips. Dave.

Dave Franks P.S. I cut me own hair. …and we all thought you had it done by the Parks Department..

Excellent ..will pass on your sentiments.

…and theres no truth in the rumour that this is a life size cardboard cut out..unfortunately its the real thing.

Im just in with the dug..the big furry one. ..anyway best time of night to get peace to do a bit of ongoing work to my Class 100. A skim of filler and wet and dry the dome on the trailer..stuff all over the dining room table..water everywhere..old bits of filthy kitchen roll on the floor..and Sue fast asleep..great! D

your up late..hopefully building a scissors crossover?!

…what the heck were you imbibing on the isle of Skye..and did you bring some back for the rest of us?? Great post and very entertaining..love the transistor radio at Cowdenbeath no doubt tuned to 208!

Very atmospheric image with the 2-8-0 and minerals in the classic industrial setting. The swan neck streetlamp and Anglia van with the half bumpers parked in the street add to the period. I must have experienced similar in Glasgow in early 60s but too young to appreciate the scene..we were more interested in big green engines..and of course devoid of anything other than a Brownie 127 to capture the image..then there was the cost of film! What is the loco facing the lower quadrants..ex GW? Not too familiars with Brum..take it its ex LMS crossing ex GW lines. Dave.

Shades of Gifford..superb image

…and another couple of your excellent rail cleaning brake vans.. in 16.5 please.

Our small membership is split between16.5 finescasle and EM but with the vast majority of stock at 16.5 including a certain members 38 Duchesses!!..it would make no sense to build the new project in EM so the new layout will also be 16.5 finescale. As with Alloa it will be hand built and as we constantly are asked if that is EM it can't be bad. Experience has shown that when everything is built to fine scale standards from buildings to stock then the actual gauge is less obvious. I wasn't involved with the track on Alloa having joined the group after this point in its construction but the core members who were involved remain so we don't see track construction as an issue. On Peco track..well its just as easy to use SMP so why wouldn't you and of course as pointwork needs to be built to the actual plan hand built is the only option anyway. We locked our Duchess fanatic in a darkened room and told him he wasn't getting out until he had mastered the black art of point building ..anyway he has now produced more or less all the points we need from his workbench and apart from looking good they cost a lot less. We still have the tricky 'scissors on the curve' to construct but we have our seret weapon there in the redoubtable Mr F..just need to swap his track gauges when he's not looking. As a footnote the Broad Gauge room has behind its locked doors a very fine and tasty layout under construction that hopefully will see the light of day sometime before the end of the decade. Dave.

What can I say..

Indeed he's not..in fact the numbers are worrying!

Now what on earth gave you that idea…?

you mean the strange guy from the broad gauge room next door?..

Don't think it was ever in it..anyway monthly posts will be a good incentive to progress this. Happy New year to you btw. Dave

..there will be quite a few Sulzers as well..and hopefully 21s too. Dave

Close..very close. Add the centrepiece through station with platform loops and bays..plus a yard at the north end and a couple of signal boxes.. Dave

Thanks Brian for the kind comments always appreciated. Alloa will still be on the circuit for a bit yet appearing at Glasgow at the 50th anniversary show in February and will be available for invites south of the border for another couple of years at least. The new layout which is being built in an adjacent room and borrows nothing from Alloa is a mainline central Scottish location circa 1959 - 64 which will be accurate and true to prototype and as Alloa built from photographs and much research. Unlike Alloa it will allow operation of not only traditional 0-6-0s and WDs etc on coal trains and locals but Duchesses and A4s on expresses. Diesels will also figure in the period and hopefully will lend an interesting and accurate picture of the transition period of the early 60s. It is aimed at providing a good exhibition experience with plenty of action while remaining totally accurate. All the locos and stock are already to hand and believe it or not one of the group a Duchess fanatic has all 38 of the things..there is of course just as many of the other big green locos from the east available too..along with many Standards and accurate rakes of stock. Trackbuilding is under way and of course all hand built..currently bending the arm of a well known member to get on with the 'scissors on a curve' that we need…hope he's reading this! Will post progress as it happens and hopefully if invitations are forthcoming we will once again have the pleasure of exhibiting Alloa south of the border. Dave.

Our new 40ft+ exhibition layout has started ..watch this space. Happy new year to all. Dave.