The Bigbee Line

Spent a good hour in the workshop and it looks almost the same as when I started. The exception is that the first of the triangular boards has been fixed to the side of one of the main boards. I then cut 2 layers of underlay to have a better height for test laying the track. I need to get the underlay on the next boards and then lay the track in earnest. I will start with the track nearest the backscene. I have worked out that I need a 20 core cable to the lever frame to the main board. I might have a length somewhere.....

I’ve cut the goods shed approach boards and had a first go at track alignment. View showing the coaling stage.

The roof is on. Now cutting the surplus is cut back past the door runners... The profile looks better. Ready for buffers next...

Thinking about my new pelmet. As it has quite an acreage and I have a lot of lightweight stuff to store, I might add another shelf. Bit of a win win.

The 'pelment' as I have named my shelving / lighting assembly that sits over the layout has progressed well this weekend. I had initially experimented with 2 x 3' fluorescent tubes. Liking the effect I ordered 3 more, which i collected yesterday. I extended the pelment to take the third fitting. With this one I levelled it of carefully, then worked back through the experimental section levelling and tidying up the framing. I have added a cardboard screen / eyeshield, which will get a coat of green paint.. At that stage the extra storage and a general tidyness purge has removed a lot of stuff from the layout, looking towards the platform... I the tried adding an 18" board to one side, to see if it is wide enough for the goods shed. Good result... The piece of white plastic conduit is the proposed baseboard edge. Here is view from a slightly different angle.. Finally the view of the yard / shed area from the viewing side..

Last night I trimmed the roof then apples a generous amount of neat PVA to the underside of the roof where the 4 internal ribs sit. Them adjusted the roof on the body. Stood upside down and weighted to set overnight. Through the open doorway some small pieces of card were pushed into the PVA to reinforce the joint.

As an interlude I’ve got another Lima Ferry Van on the go. The roof profile had been lowered and a laminated paper roof made ready. Here are the dividers starting to go in. The rest are fitted and then shellacked ready to take the roof.... The vents were cut from the original roof and cemented in place. Doors next.

Dry run for shed positioning. I'm planning a 2'wide board. The steel rule shows where the board will end. I've had to clear stuff for where the boards are to go. I messed about weathering s ply sleeper. Just need to speed up the process...

Steady progress on a couple of fronts. I have a Morris Van that may be suitable for use on the layout. Need some advice from 'road' people. I've also obtained switches to create a control panel. I have used a box file as the basis for the panel. Planning to mount it above the layout on the 'pelmet' for the above layout lighting. Finally the thing that is taking most time at the moment. The goods shed. I have decided to mount it on a sub base of ply wood. The foundation is glued to the ply, with the loading platform and a small inner wall adjacent to the track, locating the walls. This lower part is almost complete. I added a set of steps for visual effect. I need to cut a doorway to the goods office, then can start with painting the structure. The outside will have a first coat of mortar colour. That will get some darket washes, so it is not too even. I will then try dry rolling the brick colour over the top, I will let you know how that one turns out... I was going to use gloss for the mortar layer so I can wipe off any mistakes later......... This is the ply base with the loading platform etc. This is the view into the shed. There is some neatening to do. The track pins used to hold the parts while being glued will be removed to avoid any rusting later. There will be overlays in the corners which will hide my 'invisible mending'. I can see I need to do a little filling next to one of the rails.. The sleepers are not hairy, it is just dust.. Finally a view from the other end.

Tonight Matthew I’m making roof trusses. I drew a diagram in ‘paint’ then printed on paper to the desired size. The truss is 3 layers of coffee stirrers. I need 5 for the roof. On the large door side they appear to test on short lengths off bullhead rail set into the wall.

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The goods office is added. Just stood in position at the moment. Need to cut some windows.

Work continues on the goods shed. I’ve ordered some embossed card for some overlays. Shown here next to the Signal Cabin, a David and Goliath shot I laid a sheet of ply to check out the location. I’m wondering if I should mount it on a piece of ply, then in turn sink that into the surface. I can then display the shed as a diorama. In the next week I’ll add the boards on the side. One thing to check is that I can either reach the coupling to release the loco on an incoming train, or use some auto coupling. My current preference is screw couplings. That’s another reason to get the track live to do some playing around.

In my original plan for Hayling Island I left out 2 of the goods sidings. Since that time I’ve moved the layout in the workshop and now have room for a sideways extension. Using the “laminate floor underlay’ as the core material, I’ve started to make the shell of the goods shed. There are windows and door to cut in the end, and overlays to fit. But I think it will fit the bill. The corners make a nice joint.

Started running again today with 9 Touax TDA’s

I filled in with my balsa dust and PVA mix Looks ok.

The method is quite speedy. Here both sides are done.

Started the brickwork to the platforms. Used the fibrous underlay for laminated flooring. Painted with red oxide. Seems to look the part.

I’ve found far too many mixed boxes of this and that. So a firm policy of sorting into - Best, Better, Crap..... So it has to be sorted into defined categories. The empty box can then be used for a new category...... The aim is to reduce the amount of shelving to give more viewing space. You can’t see the large bag clipped up to take all the crap for binning.....

We have lights.... we have more track laid... The Y point was moved to allow a more better position of the trap points. The other platform face can now go in. Here with a few wagons being shunted...

I think the 3H minerals are breeding. Found another part built hiding today. So there’s 3 on the go now.

Today I had a go at Capping Strips. Made from paper. Shame these clips are wrongly located.....

It did dry clear.... I did all the track from the scenic break to the stops of the bay platform with the exception of the section that will go between the 2 sets of points and form the baseboard joint. To get the 4 sleepers spaced I need to halve the length of the fish plates. If I struggle to interlock the sleeper ends I have a useful tip. The three piece sleeper. It is cut into three under where the rail sits. The separate parts can be eased into position and fixed with varnish. It will creep into the join holding it all in place. I prefer the Peco sleepers for this as they have a hollow bottom.

I think wheelsets we’re always regarded as an asset. The various types nearly all used the same tyre. So could be re-tyred. The Southern Railway I think built a specific design to use up a load of non standard wheels.

I found a tin of varnish in the workshop. It seems to have gone cloudy...... it was purchased from Focus. Googling them it appears that the shut down a while ago. Good job I’m only using it to stick my track down.....