tom shaw

John, try modelmasters transfers Tom

Hi Brian, Stay tuned and try guitar strings (wound steel, not nylon), I think a D or a G would be about right. Tom

The aforementioned drawings of the station building:

The end of another hard day

Nice, I like the static grass in particular. Something I need to learn about for my embankments. Tom

Haven't updated for a long time so here goes. I started making my station train shed from card covered with scalescenes brickpaper. Each wall has an inner and an outer section which will be placed back to back. One side was cut out first then the other marked out through the first so all windows and openings match. The reverse shows spacers fitted to the top, bottom and the opening sides to give a good depth to the brick. The brickpaper is cut, folded back and glued with a Pritt stick. The final wall will be made up of 4 layers of card. Windows surrounds were cut from 1mm plasticard and the bottom half fitted with clear glazing. The top is fitted with scenesetters glazing and then mullions and transoms made from microstrip. Not sure if this is still sold but I bought a few packs a few years ago. This shows the partly covered sides in place and gives an idea of the size. A finished window I drew the facade on CAD, printed it full size and temporarily fixed some 1mm glazing to it. This was then set about with various thicknesses of plasticard and microstrip. Support pillars added and the lot fixed together. That's more or less where I am at the moment. Currently making the semi-circular girders for the roof and planning the station building, which will be based on Darlington (complete with clock tower, hopefully). Merry Christmas and a happy new year to everyone here, let's have a better new year than this one. Tom

Thanks Ian, I'm so pleased your feeling well. You've shamed me into sharing some progress on my layout. Merry Christmas and a happy new year to all. Let's hope next year is better than this one. Tom

Really lovely details Ian. Tom

Good luck for Wednesday. Let's have more of your fantastic layouts please. A Tyne Dock Arches diorama would be nice (from another Shields lad).

Darlington Station Tom

Well grasped Brian, it only took me 7 years to build a Dave Alexander Q6, and that after a couple of months with my brother to put it right. Regards, Tom

Superb John, can't wait for this to be finished. Regards, Tom

Nice work on the DMU Brian. Your roof leak solution reminds me of something I came across about 20 years ago at a pharmaceutical plant in Newcastle. The roof was leaking above an electrical switchboard, the electrician couldn't fix the roof so fixed a large sheet of plastic to the wall over the switchboard and gathered up the other end into a bucket so the water was guided into the bucket. He then fitted a float switch in the bucket and connected it, via a power supply, to a klaxon on the wall. When the bucket was full the klaxon went off and the maintenance team were instructed to empty the bucket. That stayed in place for several years until we refurbished the plant. Regards, Tom

Pete, The shed first appeared here (page 2, near the bottom) and developed through several attempts at roofs and skylights. I'll take some specific shots when I can. Regards, Tom

Thanks Pete, the engine shed is scratchbuilt from card, scalescenes brickpaper (inside and out), superquick tilepaper cut into strips and scene setters windows with paper frames. It is based on Hartlepool and featured on my previous layout. Hartlepool managed to keep most of it's roof until near the end of steam. I grew up about quarter of a mile from Tyne Dock so I know the state it was in at the end. Cheers, Tom

I have finally tired of wiring under the layout, having connected up all the droppers to bus-wires and all the point motors ready to connect to control panels (when I make them). I've yet to do the uncoupling magnets and wiring for future signals. This is one of the least enjoyable parts of the hobby for me even though I'm an electrical engineer. So I succumbed to a bit of scenic work in the engine shed and the goods yard. The first picture shows a development away from the original plan where I have added a coal stage from a previous layout to a road coming off the turntable. This is really using the coaling stage as a back scene rather than as a practical solution. The ramp up to the stage will be in low relief and disappears behind the shed. Water cranes, yard lamps and inspection/ash pits can also be seen along with untidy heaps of ash, so common at north east sheds of the period. It all needs further blending in and weathering but it's been a good tonic to wiring. The second photo shows some card cut to fit between the tracks so road vehicles can get close to the wagons. This will be painted and weathered to replicate concrete. Regards, Tom

Some good tips on the hard standing, thanks. Regards, Tom

Thanks Pete, I've been busy with wiring recently so not much visible progress but hope to do something on the scenic side soon. Regards, Tom

Gilbert, A possible solution to your phone keyboard problem !

Had to really think about that last photo, something was wrong ! Tom

Layout is looking great Brian, and working smoothly. Tom

Superb baseboards, first time I've seen the track plan etched onto plywood. I suppose the next thing would be to etch away between the sleepers leaving them proud of the surface, thus saving you laying them. Is that even possible ? Tom

Ian, see link at the bottom of this reply

Nice to hear from you again and to see your fantastic layout. Tom

The inaugural train has been run. Tyne Dock 9F 92062 takes empty hoppers up the bank. With sound. Tom