bootneckbob

I've had a little tweak on the upper fiddleyard today following quite a bit of time on Anyrail yesterday. Basically the exit from the fiddleyard back down the incline to Exeter had to negotiate two set track curved points back to back, or rather toe to toe! My 50s have trouble with that track and they are one of the main locos to operate over them with the NSE service. Anyway, I've made it one curved point now into the yard (or back down the hidden incline to Cowley Bridge) as it was, but the second one which moved the trains to the Up line (although its bi-directional) has gone and I've put a normal crossover in further down the line, but on the straight track which leads to the tunnel portal and scenic break back down to Exeter. So that was the main reason to do the work, but this led to what to do with the sidings in the run in to the fiddle. Before (in Version 2) I made two DMU sidings with a head shunt and space for three locos to wait a turn at taking a terminated train in the main upper fiddle yard back down again. What I've ended up with is now is two lines in to the upper fiddle, with Up and Down (but bi-directional too) lines. The first part of the fiddle no longer has the two DMU sidings and the head shunt, but instead had one longer siding for a three car DMU, and two single loco sidings for the return trips back down to Exeter. I've attached a screen capture of the two plans in Anyrail. The upper one being the old plan, and the lower the new version. I've also included a couple of the actual layout after finishing this evening. The good news is the trains run faultlessly and the longer track length on the Up and Down lines means I can run two trains simultaneously more easily now.

@5BarVT Hi thanks, although I had to read your comment a couple of times before I was sure I understood you. Basically it looked different before the re signalling work! I was just looking at the picture myself and I deliberately decided not to raise the trackbed on this side so it would fall away to the river (as is prototypical) but now I'm wondering if I shouldn't drop it. I did it on the other side for the river scene, which is partly why I didn't do it on this side. I wanted more of a cutting on this side to vary the scenery a bit, plus I don't want to see the trains running around the curve at the top. From my general vantage point I want to see them leave the station and disappear into the bend then reappear as a different scene almost as they come down the straight to Cowley Bridge and the scenic break. The old signals and junction would look great but been so much more complex to do and in the end I went with post 85 when the signals and track changed as it was easier to model (this is my first layout) and the livery of the trains was more varied than just BR Blue which is really more appropriate to me as a young child riding on the train from Exmouth to Exeter and on to Stockport in the late 70s early 80s. By the time I'm modelling this (87-88ish) I was well into airguns and not trains!

Interesting last few posts although I'll confess I only read page 1 and 86. I bought a Oxford Rail Mk3 buffet car when they first came out in BR blue to see how good they were. I thought the detail was excellent, but as has been said the body barely stays on, there's a rattle inside and the couplings needed tweaking and then there's the running boards! But, apart from all that........lovely model! I thought it was funny about the interior comment; I love the fact the have the gangway detail much better than the Hornby tooling plus the detail for the interconnecting of the coaches (shame about the epic gap). I never would have picked up on the interior though. I have just recently gone ahead and bought the rest of the Mk3 B&G rake which was 4 TSO and 2 FOs. Apart from the running boards, which almost every one needed at least one refitting, they haven't been too bad. I had snags with running them and a Bachmann mk1 full brake as they kept derailing on one bend but I solved that by filling down part of the buffer beam on the Mk1 which I've done to my other ones too for the same reason. Without detracting too far from the post topic, my focus on the layout is trying to replicate a real location and the running (Exeter St Davids) around 1987-89. I'm really at the level (for now) where the correct locos, coaches and liveries are what I want correct. Later as the layout is more complete and the modelling switches from scenery and buildings to the rolling stock I'll look to re numbering, weathering and adding passengers etc. I would say I'm not bothered about having the right locos (number or name) but I had Class 50 Centurion which was still boxed as new for a few years while I was getting the shed, baseboards and track laid etc, and when I discovered it was the first of the 50s to be decommissioned in 87 I swapped with a friend for his Sir Elgar. So I would say I might have set a precedent there!

@cravensdmufan nice video. I wanted to address the bright lights on some of my locos and I was going to paint the LEDs but the masking tape idea seems much better and easy to change. Looking forward to getting home after Xmas to try out the speaker and lights mod. I already have a couple of Iphone and the bass speakers from Rich ready to go.

@cravensdmufan thanks. I had thought about doing this after researching the problem previously, and I've already got a variety of speakers from Rich from past projects. I'll check CV29 now you've mentioned it on my 50 and Merchant Navy Class.

@08221 you just reminded me that I have had a TTS replaced already. I think it was Class 43 which is why I had a sealed twin box set to sell when I sold off my 3 HSTs worth. In that instance the service was just like you said. I've had more bad experiences than good at the mo with 3 bad and 1 good and the bad were really bad!! Maybe worth a punt and if it's replaced sell that too!

I was just thinking I should probably put my class 50 TTS up for sale. As they are unavailable I'm sure it would sell for what I paid for it; my other TTS chips did. It's a shame in a way as the Hornby TTS is nice and playable in that its simple to thrash, notch up and down and coast, which are all really good functions, but it falls apart in that the sound is loud, and most of the extra sounds are rubbish. But, I refer to my earlier comment and echo what others have said in that it is what it is, cheap (Twin Track Sound!)

DC runaway sounds about right although its a DCC layout obviously. I guess this would be a faulty chip so I'm back to my earlier comment ref repair at Hornby. As the chip only cost £35 or so, I think the value of sending it back and dealing with the Hornby repair center and paying for the experience is not that appealing. Maybe I just put it down to experience. I was reading another thread on Horby TTS chips on here yesterday and they are what they are; cheap intro to sound. I've got to a point now where I'm starting to play and understand how altering the CVs effects the driving characteristics with my ESU decoders. Never had any trouble with any of them (V3.5-5) and I have about 20 or so chips on the layout over quite a few years. Buy cheap buy twice I guess. Thanks for the comments though.

Merry Xmas, hope Santa has brought you something nice for your layouts. So my problem is my TTS 37 (in a Bachmann 8 pin 37) went rogue the other day and for no reason started up and drove in to the buffers in the siding it was housed in. I don't think it was running long before I heard it (just running, not with sound on) but I'm not sure if I cut the power with the emergency stop, or the controller (ECoS) tripped out. Either way, the outcome now is if that loco (read chip) is on the layout, it shorts the layout out. I tried the loco with another chip and its fine so its a TTS chip issue not the loco itself. So basically my TTS sound chip is fried but for no apparent reason? I honestly can't remember when I bought it but it was way before Covid times so must be out of warranty. I've had a few TTS chips, although most of my locos are running ESU V3.5-5 sound chips. I've had random sounds just blurt out from other TTS chips and I've subsequently sold my TTS class 43 chips in favor of the SWD and Howes I already had. While I know TTS is budget (and not bad) I don't think I'm going to buy anymore. My class 50 TTS is ridiculously loud (even on 1) and I think the only other TTS I have is in my Merchant Navy and that's always been a bit odd too. So really I'm looking for conformation from other more experienced modelers that my TTS is dead and needs binning, or is there something I can do? After previous experience with Hornby for a defective Elite controller (OMG what a story!) I'll not send it there for repair.

Spent the afternoon scratch building the small building situated by the bridge. Have to say it was quite enjoyable and my first attempt at a building using the method I envisage doing for the rest of the buildings. Build it in foam board first then apply plastikard etc. This ones not finished yet as I need to add drainpipes and a few other little details, plus I'll do the roof in Slaters plastikard, but for now its just printed card. Also included a little picture from the actual scene.

.....and after removing the wash. Not as easy as it seems, and seems to be my trademark in that I can't get it off! Still looks ok for now. I've put a quick video clip in to which is actually taken from the same real vantage point on Cowley Bridge. https://photos.app.goo.gl/TJh3QqDF95HYZe1H9 Last picture added today with a bit of a paint job to the backscene behind the bridge and a bit of cement added to the pathway.

...and after a little white wash. This is actually the second one. Many layers always makes it look better I think. Try and take it off tomorrow but I think I'll run out of cotton buds!

Been a long time coming and it's not finished (obviously) but Cowley Bridge is taking shape. Not to bad for what was a block of foam. So, paint wise I've gone enamel now. I'll do an acrylic wash tomorrow and then start to weather it in a bit. Bit stark at the mo but this to give a better idea of it stage by stage. I still need to bed it in properly with sculptamould, but like the other tunnels I want to be able to remove the bridge (for now) to work in the area.

Well not much done but I'm lucky to still have the shed post storm Arwen. My bungalow (and shed) are on high ground right off the sea above Westward Ho! and that storm came straight at us. My neighbors all lost fences and bits of sheds. When I say lost fences, the house behind me lost everything. My shed is 11m x 2.6m and was physically pushed back about an inch. Doesn't sound much, but the shed is no lightweight. The fact is was moved without actually damaging anything might give you an idea of the weight of it and the force of the wind. Anyway, we were lucky, others not so. Jacked it back into place today and am thinking of ways to keep it more secure for 100mph+. More bits and pieces arrived this week and I've just splashed out on another rake. With the price of coaches going through the roof I bought the bullet on what I think were 'cheap' Mk3s. Not many loco mk3 services ran through there but I've seen enough video of a Manchester service on different days / times of the year to justify it. Plus I think the Oxford Rail model is very nice. Right, time for bed. Back to work again. I must get in there this week!

I've asked about that wagon before. Engineers fuel storage wagon.

OK thanks, that makes sense. So that's basically the remnants of the engine shed, or at least half of it.

Okay, I'm calling on the wealth of experience that exists withing this forum to help me understand which road/s was refueling done on? I always thought it was the far right one next to the diesel tank, lets call that road one for now. I've read elsewhere that it was on the 7th from the right, If the gantry carried fuel I could understand it not being on road one, but does anyone actually know? I'm modelling Exeter late 80s.

Been working away this week but now I'm back and got some new supplies delivered I hope to be spending some time in the shed. Bit windy for the other hobby!

Mine is designed to be years in the making too; it's been 11 since I first drew up plans and about 3 house moves now I think. The cost also has to be irrelevant or it wouldn't get made at all. This is in the tens of thousands rather than single figures. I worked out the cost of the points and point motors once and felt sick. That was before I started converting the peco point motors to Cobalt DCC too! You can imagine how much the shed cost too and I built it to save some money. Those things aside I never intended anything but great detail in every part of it; that's the joy or at least part of it. Initially I was all about the model making. Then as my track plan developed (along with real estate) to what it is now almost full replication, the ability to run and operate the trains became a driver too. The TMD is 2 roads short I think of the real thing (at the time). Other than that I think the station area is correct albeit compressed but just enough to get away with full length HSTs and NSE services. I'm running 6 coach NSE rather than 7 because the magnetic couplings couldn't cope with 7. I had Kaydees before that but they weren't without issues. Anyway, my ultimate goal will be to have every bit of the layout super detailed. Anyway, great to hear you are taking some encouragement from my efforts.

Thanks. The main learning point is it will take longer than you think! Oh and it's incredibly expensive!

Tiny bit more done.

....and the slightly zoomed in version looking down the line. Both of these photos were taken from the small viewing area outside of the layout. Basically this is a bit like a pass in a restaurant. The mrs brings me tea and cake and leaves it on the 'pass'. She never comes under it to wander around; very few people have!

Here's the long shot. Did a little bit this evening; feel like I've got the bug back. So many potential little favorites in this layout, which I have to say is great, and the way I always wanted it. My little favorites don't really exist yet, but I was thinking tonight I really must push on. There's so much to do. I really wasn't joking when I told the mother in law it will never be finished; it's not meant to be! That said, it's nice to have it looking like it is. I've never got as far as this with a layout in my life, but I recon now I can see even if this was finished it would be easy to go back to an area and do it again, or keep improving.

Well I said I'd been working on Cowley bridge so here's a little peak. Nowhere near finished. To be honest I think I'm going to have to look at how to do brick work again. Not happy with, this or the tunnels on the other side.

Well it's been ages since I added anything and that's because I've been busy with work, my other hobby and become a Grandfather or Pops as I'm known now! Actually the last one isn't much of an excuse. Didn't do much but be a taxi for the wife. I've done a bit of work on Cowley bridge but today I wanted to do some other scenery work so it was back to the river and adding growth to the incline. Also did a bit of finishing on the bridge/viaduct. Need to do the railings next on it. As usual, not the finished scene. Ideally I'd like small trees to be overhanging the river and some trees poking up on the other side too. Nice building it up though.