bootneckbob

Turned 50 this week and thinking I need to push on a bit with this! Started as a plan in my head 2008 or '10 and had a couple of revisions to the track plan through house moves over the years. Think 2018 was where this version got going. Would be nice to get the rest of the ground work done before 2023. Only the basics though. Better get dressed and back in the shed today. Might have some better pictures later but this one was taken yesterday too. I was doing the platform sides and added a bit of ballast around the down track (platform 4). All of this will need a really heavy weathering as the lines were black. Hope my airbrush still works when I get it out again; much to do! I might get on with the far platforms (1, 2 & 3) today. At least it will feel like I've achieved something with my mini break and time off.

Been a while again but I've done a little bit today, and prep a few days ago. Slow and steady. Bit of scenery on Cowley Bridge road and a start on Red Cow crossing.

Looking forward to the day I get to that level of finishing detail!

Couldn't resist as I had something to stick it to! Just tried it for size. I think I'll be able to get away with printing my own signs in due course.

I was just looking back through some of the early build photos and thought I'd put these two up now side by side (so to speak). The original intent to keep Bonhay road going under the viaduct, then over the river Exe and Plymouth bound lines, via made up road over the river and rail bridges. The river narrowed in the gap between the high and low ground to nothing, massive forced perspective! All of which was very tight and left the incline up to Exeter Central looking like it was going into Mt Eiger, not some 1 in 37 climb into some raised Devon high ground. In the end I decided to omit the road altogether and alter the course of the river to run under the viaduct instead. Either way there had to be some modelling licence taken. Now it's looking 70% finished what do you think, right or wrong decision?

So time to recap on the week off. Got most of the trunking done and track painted to allow a bit more ballasting and ground work to be done in the area north of Red Cow; more specifically around the transfer shed. I also got a pretty good first go mock up of the transfer shed made too. I did a bit of landscaping prep for the semi detached house that resides (will reside) by the bus stop on Cowley Bridge road. I also did a little bit of landscaping in the problem area around the Red Cow crossing and the Bay platform. It's where there's really not enough space to fit in what I'd like. The track went right up to the edge of the board but that stems back from one of the earlier versions of the track plan and initial build / laying of the track. The layout was to be viewed from the other direction; effectively seen from the front of the station not behind as it is now. Although it's a problem area, trying to solve it and make it look good has been very enjoyable. Has it worked? Too early to tell. The platforms were worked on a bit more with plasticard, but you won't really see that detail till later. I took the opportunity now to temporarily 'fix' them in place to make sure the clearances are good for all trains; "mind the gap". Enough not to cause issues, not so much it looks like you would need to extend a plank to get to get onboard. Finally I got the tunnel portals fixed in position and started the landscaping, also did a bit on Cowley Bridge in the same way. I also did a bit of work on the house but way short of where I wanted to be. Shame it rained and kept me in the shed. :-)

Remember how on page 2 I said I thought my trackplan was as good as it could be after so many years of planning? Well last night sat looking at the fiddle yard trying to work out where I could stow 3 inter city MK3 sleepers (if I buy them) I had a bit of an epiphany. Anyway, little bit of trackwork carried out tonight, no additional track or points needed. I've included a pic I've done on Anyrail. Anything not labeled (grey) is sidings which converge back to the mainlines on the otherside (out of the picture). So this change means The 3 car DMU (Exeter to Barnstaple) goes under Cowley Bridge and off the scenic section then can pull into the red siding (Barnstaple) and wait to return, or park up off the head shunt. It also means the track cleaning wagons (x2) I had in the other siding are now just off the main line with only one set of points to reverse over before they can begin the track cleaning. This is much better than reversing them over multiple points. It also means that I can have another loco siting in that siding waiting to take a turn on any incoming passenger trains; or freight. I have another siding on the other side for the same reason. Oh, and the sleepers; there's loads of room in the top fiddle yard if they don't go in this siding. There's no need for the DMU to park up so the sleepers can stay there ready to be brought out for the sleeper service.

That's really good. I know what you mean about the space for St Davids. Probably the same for many stations, but I could either have the TMD or the sweeping incline to Exeter Central; I chose the TMD!

Today I thought I'd continue with mocking up the transfer shed. Not going to be a replica, but I think it will be unmistakable for Exeter when its done. Took some photos when it was in place and had a tidy up so also got some full size shots of the layout. Sorry pictures are not that great but it's from a camera phone.

Just thought I'd take a look at your work after you left a comment on mine. Wow, exceptional skills Dave. I've only had a fairly quick skim through this thread, but your work is clearly excellent. Nice to see I'm not a million miles off knocking things up in foam board!

Quick mock up photo on the layout and one of the reference pictures I used to scale the building.

Time for a late burst of creativity. Can you guess what it is yet?

Today I have been mostly....painting track. Lots of it, but only a small area. 6 hours and you wouldn't notice unless you were me. Well, some of you might; but we're special.

A little patching up with the sculptamold yesterday. Tunnel portals now fixed in place! Hope that wasn't too 'off the cuff'.

Doing some more cable trunking over the last day or two and now gonna need another 3 or 4 packs to finish off. That will be 12 packs in all which is ££**********🤪 Maybe I should have stuck to the foam board strips!

Same scene that gets used alot, but then it is the scenic section!

Such a shame that whatever was done with this forum seems to have lost all the previous pictures; before May this year anyway. *Edit; I've been downloading them back in slowly. Slow progress on the layout. I've been doing the platform sidewalls. P6, 5 and half of 4 done now. I say done, they have the brick on which was already partially weathered. I want to add trunking and other detail to them too but for now I need to just make some progress. Got a week off now so between the layout and the house I should get some work done. I need to build some more trunking so I can ballast the remaining area to the north of Red Cow crossing. I'd like to get that done this week. After watching a DVD I bought of traction around Exeter St Davids 87-89, I've re jigged some of the more formal livery sets to replicate what was actually running. Here's one shot from a HST on its way to St Davids just past Cowley Bridge.

It's been a long time since I added anything or did anything to the layout to be fair. I'd be no good as a You tuber! I like doing little bits all over rather than concentrating and finishing one area or project as I'd need to for a Youtube video. Not great for pictures but I've done a bit more scenery around the New Yard sidings and today mocked up the Exeter Signal Panel Box. It might not be the best way to scratch build but I'm finding at the moment I'm making the buildings in 3 or 5 mm foam board (depending on the building) and then add the plasticard to it. This side of the layout needs a lot more work on it. In fact I'm closing on the entrance to the North and South of the station which is good really as I should have learnt a few things by the time I get to the station!

Now that's the level of detail I'm happy to let go She's pulling Mk 1s & Mk2a so I think all is well. Some great replies and info.

Everyday's a learning day! So I'm missing ETH/ETS which means this loco can't haul a passenger rake unless I give it a stiff ignoring; but now I know!!! Now I know why I was after the Heljan one Honestly when this one came out I just jumped at it, as the one I already had the twin headcode one which wasn't right for my 80s layout. It was really good value and little details aside, the V5 chip makes it a joy to drive; providing you don't forget to use the brake!

I thought it was the ETH too as its the same as on class 37s.

Thanks Phill. I did notice it wasn't on the actual loco and thought maybe they left it off this one as its a later model/livery than a green one for example. Okay so nothing to get excited about then. Thanks for the breakdown on the pipework too. I'm going to make these myself at some point. I got a really good white metal set for my 108 DMU years ago from Howes. I've never been able to find them again though.

Hi, just wondered if anyone else has noticed, or if it's already been discussed, but I went to add the detail pipes to my 45 today. I've had it since it was first released last year so the pack was unopened and still in the box. I was a bit surprised that there were only two pipes per end, and one missing from the instruction sheet which shows 3 per end. Am I missing a part (or two, as there are at both ends). Also, maybe not so surprising, it's not very prototypical. I've attached two pictures, one of the actual loco, and the Bachmann model (with an arrow to the missing pipework).

I found an unintentional by product of this change is I could now do a run around with the NSE (or other) service. The run in to the main dead end sidings is long enough to hold the train, and now due to the two lines in out out with the cross over I can run the loco around and reverse it in to the siding so it's ready to go. I can also send a Up service through Cowley Bridge at higher speed and up the hidden incline which can be stopped and reversed into the sidings, or do the same thing with a run around so its ready to make the Down journey again later. This works on all my passenger rakes apart from the HSTs; they are about 3" too long. Basically it just means the upper fiddle has more utility than before. Which is nice.....:-)