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bcnPete

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Blog Entries posted by bcnPete

  1. bcnPete
    Update
     
    Good evening - The electrics are continually slowly...but I am trying not to rush it and make a complete dogs breakfast as usual.
     
    One thing that had been troubling me for a while was how to deal with the turnout control for the layout.
     
    Normally, I use good old fashioned wire in tube as namely my sparks skills are pretty basic, I am still on DC operation and the folding track section at the rear of the layout looked as it it would not be suitable due to the need to be folded 90 degrees.
     
    Obviously depth is a big problem here...and a tortoise looked like it wasn't going to fit So I began to look at Seep...and then Peco and then I began to ask myself do I need a CDU for just one turnout? This continued for a number of weeks over numerous espresso's and then I wondered why couldn't I save myself the problem by trying to get the wire-in-tube to work.
     
    After a few sketches and head scratching sessions, I realised that the w-i-t method could probably be made to work, using the usual dpdt switch to do both throw and polarity change, as long as it was installed early on before the wiring to enable a simple routing of said tubing. Using a 2mm Association turnout operation unit (which unfortunately would have been too deep overall) I took the right angled extrusion bit and set about trying to incorporate this beneath the turnout - the thinking being that the w-i-t could always be disconnected from this element prior to dismantling the layout.
     
    Here's the sketch of what I was thinking....
     

     
    This afternoon, I drilled a hole near the side of the turnout and fixed a small length of brass tube with cyno to protude benath the surface. The right angle extrusion piece (name escapes me) was then slipped over this brass tube (an almost snug fit to the chosen brass tube) having been spaced off the underside of the board by a small section of the brass thread that comes as part of the turnout operation unit. Then a small slotted hole was made in the position beneath the tiebar to aloow sufficient movement. The vertical link to the tie bar is through a map pin which is secured with cyno and then soldered into the PCB tiebar (the top needs clipping and filing down flush still) This is then connected back to the dpdt switch by a length of wire in tube which has been held down in place by a gluegun.
     
    The switch will be replaced after I collect a small package of electrical goodies from my folks later next week and this will be set into the right rear fascia ensuring that the switch does not protude wider than the recess to allow it all to pack away in the boxfile.
     
    There is some messy work to be cleaned up around the turnout sleepers etc prior to paint and ballasting but it seems to work okay and now I can hopefully complete the wiring and run a few tests before the PW team arrive.
     
    A few pics to explain...anyone of a nervous disposition, should avert their eyes as there is a 'work in progress' shot beneath the baseboards of my wiring
     

     
    Turnout tiebar in place and brass tube inserted...still needs lots of tidying up around it...
     

     
    Overall shot beneath showing my simplistic electrics...
     

     
    And zoomed in...
     

     
    Here we see the mechanism acting as a pivot...
     

     
    Plan shot...wires have been glue gunned to keep clear of mechansim...
     
     
    That's all for now...hope to get another update in next week having got the wiring out of the way...
  2. bcnPete

    Wagon(s) roll...

    By bcnPete,

    Update
     
    A very good evening,
     
    Almost six weeks into my new job now, my weekends of commuting and re-adjusting to colder climes, I finally found time to do some modelling this evening. I must confess, although I had snuck a small basic kit of tools in my luggage when I first arrived, it took another few weeks to work out what to tackle here. Its going to be pretty limited too, as soldering irons and nasty smelling glues or paints will probably upset my landlady...so, with her gone for Christmas yesterday, I saw a small window of opportunity.
     
    My original intention, having bought a truck load of mathiesons couplings was to begin to gather rolling stock for PWIAB and close couple together in rakes of 4 with a DG coupling at each end. First up being 8 Bachfar PGA's in Amey Roadstone Company livery - a nice model, if a little plasticy in colour.
     
    I thought this would be a nice straightforward task to ease me back in after a 6 week or so break, but then I forgot I had bought 8 packets of PGA conversion/detailing kits from Bernard of TPM - so I thought I would tackle that before close coupling them together
     
    First up, the wagon itself, straight out of the box - apologies for pics am relying on an iPhone/iPad combo
     

     

     
    Being a TPM kit, not only does it come with comprehensive instructions but a neat little etch and some white metal castings too...all nicely packaged up too I might add:
     

     
    The existing wagon is firstly deconstructed and excess bits stripped away, namely the underframe detail and the end walkways and ladders. This took quite a bit of time and rather than tackle all 8 stage by stage I am glad I can use the first one as a learning curve. The other thing to note is that due to the need to fit DG's and the Mathieson 3-link couplings, I also cut away the ugly rapido box whilst I was at it, which cannot be denied does help give a little strength to the chassis.
     
    Then, the etches are folded and glued together with a neat little assembly but care has to be taken as they are rather delicate. A small fold from the end etch became loose which I will have to reattach or use a slither of plasticard. The ends are formed and then the walkway and ladder structure is added. These were then attached with cyno and the discharge base was added beneath the chassis. Next up was the brake equipment which was added at the requisite end attached with cyno. The final touch was to strip off the old brake wheel, cut back the moulding and fix new etches.
     
    Before you say it, I know I know I should have painted all the components before attaching them...but I know what I am like and they will never get done...especially in my temporary digs.
     
    I attach a few pics of the completed wagon showing the mods undertaken but ironically, no couplings have been fitted yet until I complete the other three for the rake (should probably paint them before that but you know what I am like )
     

     

     

     
    And finally a couple of comparison pics:
     

     

     
    So in summary, its definately worth doing as the fineness of the etches are apparent when viewed against the Farish ones, but I need to incorporate the lessons learnt from tonight and also remember that they are very delicate to handle from now on...as most things 2mmFS are I guess.
     
    They may get another blog entry update once they are close coupled and/or painted but in the meantime, its good to be back modelling and posting again.
     
    Pete
  3. bcnPete
    Update
     
    Good Afternoon - There's been progress of sorts, but most of this week down have been down with man flu...and reading that Scaleforum thread hasn't exactly been medicinal
     
    To begin with, the turnout is virtually complete, bar wiring and mechanism (more on that in another entry) Note to self: When using an item of rolling stock to check/test running through the crossing, remember to first check the back to back's are right Yep...it's a ridiculous as that...ages trying to tweak smooth running then realised said item was the problem
    Anyway, its now done, it's not pretty but hopefully once I have added in the cosmetic chairs around the frog area, painted all etc, it will pass okay. I doubt I will ever be able to produce beautiful sweeping flowing trackwork, but most of my layouts seem to have a maximum two turnouts these days. Hat off to all those that can do so though.
     

     
    Turnout complete...ish...
     

     
    May need to redo the point blades before I crack the mechanism...
     
    Next, a start has been made on the wiring. Still not got it clear in my head but I have started to add droppers at the ends of the baseboards which may all end up being fed to a multi-connector so only one gizmo to plug together. The 2mm Association lost wax brass sleepers have been spliced and the wires soldered beneath in an effort to dry and minimise wires soldered to the sides of the rails from my previous efforts. The baseboard has then been scraped with a scalpel to accommodate the soldered wire beneath and this has then been fixed in position with cyno. Again, not the tidiest of work, but hopefully paint and ballast to the rescue. I am about 70% through this and trying not to rush it so to reduce problems in the future. The cables have been lashed together at the ends with a cable tie at present until I decide best methods of bringing together...I'm no sparks me
     

     
    The start of the sparks...it doesn't get much tidier than this from me...
     
    Next up, a quick test with a magnet for the uncoupling. There will probably be only two uncoupling positions in the front yard sidings to allow run-a-round of freight trains so I am aiming to use fixed magnets. The folding flap/through line whilst gives the extra width and line is compromising in other ways especially for the layout controls but I think I have solutions for that now. One of the magnets used on the sliding stick system used on Kyle has been 'scotched' into position under one of the sidings and thankfully it is powerful enough to work through the thin baseboard construction. So, it may be that I can install a few more for layout future proofing as they work fine in this way.
     

     
    Small magnet scotched beneath track...works fine...
     
    Lastly, I have built two of the neat Chris Higgs etches for SR buffer stops. I started by tinning the etches as recommended began the folds and then my pathetic soldering skills kicked in and I could not get the etches to stay together after various attempts. Nothing to do with the etches ...everything to do with me.... So, as per the last ones made for Kyle, I assembled these using Cyno Sorry if that offends...and its probably why I still have a huge batch of 2mm Association kits awaiting to be built, but me and soldering just don't make for happiness. The stops have been fixed in position and I have substituted the cross beam for a piece of plasticard to prevent the electrical shorts and using one of each of the etches to act as cutting template for the plasticard. A tie bar has been added in plasticard rod at the rear. Once again, paint to the rescue.
     

     
    Buffer stops in position...
     

     
    And from the rear...
     
    Finally, a few gratuitous shots showing some stock placed to help give the layout some context...
     

     
    This shot pretty much shows the 707mm extent of the scenic portion of the layout...
     

     
    That's a blue tea tray to block the rubbish and not the BCN sky in the background...
     

     
    Old Farish 33 needing some work (lowering and drooping battery box for a start) unless Dapol come to the rescue...
     

     
    Looking down as 33 awaits to depart on a short fitted freight...
     
    That's all to date...perhaps this layout may make it to a 2mmFS event one day...depending how long we survive here in Spain...
  4. bcnPete

    a few more pics...

    By bcnPete,

    Good evening,
     
    A few more pics to share courtesy of Chris, (eastwestdivide) who kindly sent a selection through.
     
    These show a bit more of the layout as I was conscious that my pics from the show tried to capture the overall presentation.
     
    What is apparent and was commented on during the day is the lack of backscene. You may recall, that when I first started sketching the layout idea, I posed the question of a 'floating backscene' which was suspended across the back but was open at the base and top, a bit like a boob tube (can I say that on here?) to allow views of the station in case of derailments.
     
    Some peeps were concerned by whether this would work or not so I left it off but it might be time to revisit that when I redo the fascias.
     
    Thanks to Chris for his pictures...
     

     
    PWB as it is today...
     

     
    And from the Operator's side...
     

     
    Old Farish 33 waiting in the siding for the magic wand to cast it into a Dapol 33...
     

     
    73 deputising on Passenger (the bogies on the 33 kept snagging on the 3rd rail)
     

     
    4 CEP leaves the Bay...Fuel tanks on 33 kept drooping
     

     
    VSOE Pullman passing through checked at signal...
     

     
    The ARC hoppers also never got finished but were placed to show the mods undertaken to date...
     

     
    Last one from me...here's how it looked 6 months ago...
     
    I would like to get some more close up shots of it in natural light as I did with Kyle but I need to do the mods first and also work on the rolling stock accordingly.
     
    Thanks for looking...
     
    Pete
  5. bcnPete
    Good evening,
     
    An update on how the layout faired and some initial thoughts on my future modelling plans...
     
    Yesterday, PWBIAB was launched at the BHMRC exhibition 2013, a one day exhibition which I exhibited KIAB at in 2010.
     
    Time had run out on me last week, a mixture of work commitments, the untimely demise of the office laser cutter and a general over optimistic approach from me on how much I could get built between bcn and london. That said, I had committed to ChrisR (the exhibition manager) and I was determined to have something presentable for the show.
     
    I set myself a number of targets which included a few compromises which would have to include the following:
     
    - a canopy structure which would need further work/replacing afterwards
    - a picture of the location modelled in lieu of the digital photo frame
    - lack of dg couplings to the running stock
    - mostly out of the box rtr rolling stock without detailing and unweathered
    - restricted movements with the sidings
     
    At 1:00am on the morning of the exhibition, I decided to call it a day as I still had to set up the morning the layout in its entirety for the first time
     
    At 10:00am, the first punters were in and I was still unwrapping rolling stock etc...not my preferred choice but at least a few bits of stock were running. As time went on I was able to introduce some further rolling stock but unfortunately I even hadn't had time to run in any of the new locomotives
     
    Overall, the layout performed ok for its first outing with all the main electrics working fine and just the fiddleyard cassette alignments causing the main problems as I had to change last minute the brass rod sleeved connections as this was snagging the bogies of some of the N gauge rolling stock.
     
    The signals were terrific and these were plugged in and bedded in as per Matt's advice using bluetac around the base and a sprinkle of loose ballast.
     
    Nice to meet a few RM web faces, Jon020 of course who was opposite with his Deltic beast Nimbus and also his new super detailed fab duff and Chris (Eastwestdivide) whose photo and original idea for the layout visited from Yorkshire coming via Paddock Wood in the process Cornish Trains Jez got behind the controls for a short stint and also present was David Walley of the 2mm Association. There may have been others but they perhaps didn't introduce themselves.
     
    The three main things learnt from exhibiting KIAB were all addressed namely: viewing height increased from a table to 1200mm from FFL, internal integral layout lighting and a letterbox style viewing window and I was pleased with all three of these. This time I didn't bother to show sketches or in fact the boxfiles as no-one really commented on that 3 years ago.
     
    The 4CEP ran like a dream from the fiddleyard to the bay platform all day without issue and the Dapol 56 performed effortlessly hauling seacows on the main line with a 73 on the vans and a large logo 73 on the VSOE pullmans. And I got through the day mostly running this sort of arrangement. Running qualities also due I think to the excellent PIC controller, a great tip off from Jerry.
     
    I did make it clear to peeps that I had run out of time so the detailing and weathering were a product of that, but I thought better to have a mixed fleet than one detailed weathered bit of stock and nowt else.
     
    Thanks to my brother (also exhibiting his collection of vintage BIG BIG TRAIN) for making the support frame structure for me to position the layout on and also the black sheet as I managed to fly mine back from bcn and then leave it in my digs in London My two children were helping my brother all day so it was nice to look up on occasion and see a small cheery recognisable face in front of my layout.
     
    At 3pm, Jon020 and I had a well deserved Gin Tonic to get us through to the end on what was a thoroughly enjoyable day and good exhibition, noted from a few sprints around the other exhibits. Hopefully someone will post some layout shots on the BHMRC exhibition thread as ChrisR was a perfect host.
     
    So here's a few shots how it all turned out and I will finish on a shot taken by my eldest son Zach with the iPhone 5, which I think captures the look I was after from the layout from the outset...a sort of gritty end of line snapshot extract of everyday life...
     

    Overall from left end...
     

    Overall from right end...
     

    Looking through the letterbox...
     

    And front on...
     

    From the operator side...
     

    End of platform and colour light signals...
     

    Cornish trains Jez at the controls...
     

    That T-shirt got worn...
     

    Souvenir ticket from Chris from his trip...
     

    Fiddleyard and cassettes reboxed (there were two of these)
     

    Scenic section reboxed..
     

    The shelf for the controls and...ahem...the 3pm revivers...
     

    The shot which sums up the layout for me...
     
    I now need to think on my modelling future as we will relocate in August to the UK and in downsizing I will have to thin out big time the layouts and general railway stuff I have accumulated. Some tough decisions may need to be made and I may ponder some more and do a separate blog entry on this some time.
     
    Thanks all for your support during the build of this layout and for all the comments received to date.
     
    Pete
  6. bcnPete
    My fellow Americans
     
    Whilst a little more detailing progress has taken place the last few days, I will wait until I return from the UK to add a blog entry to cover those.
     
    Meanwhile, when I first found and joined the RMweb (circa 2009 I think) my very first entry to introduce myself and the layout gave a link to a freebie website that I had previously set up. As the addiction of RMweb gradually followed the website was neglected in favour of a RM layout thread which eventually became this blog. I had always intended to redo the website, as the freewebs hosting got on my goat due to the huge advert dominating the top of the page...of which you have no control of content...
     
    So yesterday, in between the kids disputing about absolutely everything, I found that weebly do freebie websites without huge ads dominating the pages. Using one of their minimalist templates (I'm not big on the green but I can't change that) I have created a new base for CJM.
     
    I still intend to detail the construction of the layout on the blog here so it is more a snapshot of the idea and model rather than a detailed account.
     
    If of interest it can be found here at coombejunctionmoorswater and I would welcome any comments you may have...
     
    Many thanks in advance,
     
    Pete
  7. bcnPete

    Kyle goes to TOWIE...

    By bcnPete,

    Evening all - smashing weather the last few days
     
    Last year I accepted an invite to the Billericay Model Railway Group one day show on 5th May 2018, so Kyle is Essex bound.
     
    It’s a small one day show which is my preference at the moment juggling the hobby with work and family commitments as many of us do.
     
    I wanted to try and do some work on the rolling stock for the show, having now got two class 24’s sound fitted. My priority was to try and get 37025 (purchased from TMC as 37035) also sound chipped to go alongside 37414...so I could run the layout with 24’s in the late 70’s period and the 37’s as the early 80’s period - all with sound - thanks again to Nic Bastable for sending me in this direction - not green Nic, more red in terms of my credit card
     
    I purchased the same sound chip and sugar cube speaker from Digitrains for the 37/0 with Paul Chetter sound - which is impressive. As before, they kindly pre soldered the chip wires to the speaker. To get it to fit I repeated as per 37414 by removing the lid of the speaker, cutting off the top by a few millimetres and then made a new top from 5 thou plasticard coloured with a permanent black marker pen. This then sits better inside the loco which has less room as I lowered it as with my previous 37...note I prefer this approach than the raising the bogies method.
     
    The other thing was to hard wire the lights. The wires are so thin and temperamental so getting rid of the PCB at each end made for some more room but the thin wire I purchased kept snagging so I ended up using normal layout wire as I call it. I know some peeps think the lights are a bit bright compared to the reality...but the high intensity light is pretty cool...and it does help see which way the loco is about to move off as the Daisy II has a continuous knob for the throttle.
     
    The 37 has been renumbered with Precision Decals, detail added one end and a DG coupling the other end. Final touch was to weather it with some powders.
     
    Next up was some corridor connections which Andy Stroud (Blueball Summit) kindly told me about for the MK II rake. These are MBM and good value for money and close the gap left by use of the Dapol knuckle couplings. I was going to also add them to the MK I rake then realised that the BG was always centred in the three coach trains to be close to the ramp. So I kind of guessed you wouldn’t let people walk through the train...unless someone can show me evidence to the contrary.
     
    Finally (thanks for the tip off Steve Nicholls) some work on the new Bachfar Kyle line coaches which although only available as the digital train set pack, were seen as split out from a pack on E-bay. A must have purchase having asked them at Alley Pally if they would release the coaches separately and been told possibly next year. Would be great if they could replicate the Met Cam observation coach too as per the 00 version.
     
    The coaches were joined with the corridor connections and lightly weathered. They always look pretty clean in the pics I have however the rooves were a bit shiny and so I toned these down and brushed some powders into the bogies and underframe too.
     
    Am looking forward to run the layout at the show in two weeks time and see how the new stock is received. I will ask the exhibition manager if he can set up a thread on here for the show, failing that, perhaps I will.
     
    Here’s a few photos of progress off the workbench...the next update after the show will perhaps have them on the layout itself.
     
    Please do come and say hello if you are coming to the show
     

    37414 and 37025...
     

    Both locos visited Kyle...
     

    Early MK II rake with corridor connections...
     

    Close up of MBM connections...
     

    Kyle line stock...
     

    Close up again with MBM connections...
     

    37025 and Kyle line stock...
     

    37414 and 37025...layout too small to double head them...
     

    Cruel close up...love the lights...
     
    As always, comments welcome
     
    Pete
  8. bcnPete
    Good morning,
     
    As promised, another update on the development of the cassettes and rolling stock to grace it.
     
    Firstly, the cassettes...
     
    For the first incarnation of Kyle, the cassettes were fashioned from easitrac and card and used sleaved brass rods beneath as a way of power and connection. In that respect they performed fine at the one day exhibition but I was looking to try something different this time from before...pic below...
     

     
    Kyle Mark I cassettes...
     
    Following Chris Miner's suggestion in my last post, I have decided to build cassettes using brass strips. These will then clip together using brass sleeves as before, but this time they will be on the top surface than beneath. I also wanted to try and have a small 'feeder' section as sometimes (IMO) its a shame to see a piece of ballasted track adjacent to a huge piece of aluminum etc and the scenic break at PWIAB is pretty minimal. This feeder piece will be about 100mm in length and most likely will be a permanent fitting of the fiddleyards, on both sides. The cassettes themselves will be 2 x 250mm brass sections (clipped together) with one end of half of them having a 100mm extension piece permanently attached (stay with me on this) giving an overall cassette length of 600mm, enabling some decent length trains.
     
    To better explain, a did a mock up of them in card and boy was it fun pushing some rolling stock up and down them
     

     
    Here is the two number 250mm brass sections with the 'feeder' 100mm section in orange to highlight it...
     

     
    Joined together gives this...overall is a 600mm cassette with 100mm attachment and this will attach to the 100mm feeder strip...
     
    For the sidings area at the front a special double cassette will need to be fabricated as its impossible to squeeze two cassettes adjacent and when a train is abridging the joins it needs two lines to enable run-a-round...a snag found on Kyle when using the Fiddleyards as part of the run-a-round process unless tracks are well spaced. I have ordered 10mm strips from Eileen's and also some 5mm strips for the insides.
     

     
    The double cassette and uses 5mm brass strips for the inner rails...
     
    And now the rolling stock. First, a big thanks again to Chris (Eastwestdivide) for supplying yet more photos and also describing typical train formations from the time. Random searches on the web are providing the odd pic of trains from the era too...and I do enjoy the research process. I have been gradually building up a selection of rolling stock over the year and with impending releases from Farish and Dapol I hope to add to that prior to next May and the exhibition...251 days away...
     
    Here are a selection of typical trains that will be seen on the layout and some notes to accompany them...
     
    Beginning with the star of the show...well, the whole reason for building the layout...the Bachfar 4 CEP...in blue grey...
     

     
    A 33 will be converted to a 33/1 using the TPM replacement ends I now have...this will run on MK I's...
     

     
    A 47 will run on the ARC PGA's...and hopefully a Dapol class 56 in blue once it is released...
     

     
    A 73 on the vans...New BG's will be purchased from Bachfar and hopefully the new CCT's will be available...
     

     
    A class 33/0 on VDA's...I have TPM kits of these awaiting to build so these are just a placeholder at present...
     

     
    An 09 will be resident shunter for the yard (my new Bachfar 08 is with Bob Russell at present...after I swapped the wheels for 2FS ones, I couldn't reassemble it)...
     

     
    A 33 on oil tanks - These are 25 years old (excuse the weathering) so will be replaced with Bachfar TTA's and 100T tankers...
     

     
     
    That's all for now...any more purchases will be added as and when including a rake of Sealion/Seacows...
     
    EDIT: I knew I shouldn't have hurried the upload whilst my wife was telling me we were late for a lunch appointment...I forgot to upload this...which I think makes an interesting train...
     
    Large logo 73 on VSOE pullmans...well, as good as you can do with the Bachfar ones...
     

  9. bcnPete
    Update - Its been a bit of a frustrating 10 days or so for me...
     
    Last week our two boys were away on holidays so I took the opportunity to work on their 4mm roundy roundy. I made quite a bit of progress although when they returned this weekend it wasn't long before the screaming, shouting, arguing and fighting started and I nearly went a threw the whole lot on the floor in frustration
     
    So, rather than work on finishing the station building and weathering it, I decided to work a little on the motive power for Kyle. Aside from a large logo tractor, the first two locos will be 24113 and 26038.
     
    For 24113, using the excellent Farish model, I have filled the front doors flush and fitted front end pipe detail to one end. I now need to fit the headcode discs, renumber and weather it. 24113 was a regular on the line to Kyle.
     
    For 26038, it was less straightforward due to all the subtle differences in the class. I know the Dapol version is the earlier type but I have a TPM body in progress for the later version and this will run on a Kato chassis kindly given to me by David Long. For this model I have fitted front end detail pipework, snow ploughs, headcode discs and two headlights for working the Far North lines. I still need to change the steps on the bogies to straight ones and also amend the underfame detail water/fuel tanks.
     
    I began the locos this weekend as an antidote to all the 4mm stuff for my kids (as I felt I had wasted a week after the meltdown happened) however after trying to fix all the fiddly front end pipe detail, then losing half of it on the floor...and then losing most of it all again on the floor, I can only appreciate even more how fantastic Ian of Mercig Studios work is. Note to self: I must keep doing the Euromillion so I can commision Ian to produce all my fleet...
     
    So, feeling that both my eyesight and patience isn't cut out for this no more...I'm having a bit of a lowpoint again Sorry...
     
    Anyhow...here's a shot of the 26 as it stands at present...
     

     
    Hopefully, things will look a bit more this week...
     
    EDIT: Typo in 24133 - Should read 24113, which was a Kyle regular (24133 had the headcode box which may the subject of a future build...)
  10. bcnPete
    Evening all,
     
    Quick update on progress around Easter - my recently returned turned down wheels were reinserted and after a second period of running in on the rolling road the locos were tried on the layout - some fettling was required to the two turnouts so the bare solder may be visible in some pics below prior to getting retouched in with a paint brush.
     
    With most of the big tasks for scenery, lighting and wiring undertaken my attention has now turned to the rolling stock. My primary aim is to keep it simple as per Gary's wonderful EM Glenuig and have three primary trains operating - 1 passenger, 1 parcels and 1 freight. Some shunting of these will hopefully break this down into further sub divisions...depending upon how many DG's get mounted in time
     
    One primary requirement for Kyle was a rake of 12T vans. My earlier versions date back to a mixture of Peco, Grafar and Lima so this needed updating. One look at the chassis etches for the 5 Stephen Harris kits I have, with a note made 4 years ago to 'ring for instructions over the phone' was not something that I could see happening swiftly from my side and having only made one Association chassis etch so far for my China clay layout, now was not the right time.
     
    My back up plan initially was to buy a fleet of Farish vans and re wheel them to 2FS standards and eventually replace the chassis for them, however when looking at the costs for a set of wheels for each it sort of made sense to put this money towards the new chassis as the axle lengths would be different and I would have the wheels surplus to requirements. Decision made, order forms completed and all the bits arrived just prior to Easter, which was perfect as I had taken this week off work to use up 2014 holiday.
     
    My first chassis build took me 4 hours and that didn't include the axle boxes and DG couplings - I was feeling a little underwhelmed at the thought of the 7 others to complete...however I got stuck in deciding to get a production line going so as to see the fleet growing rather than on a wagon by wagon basis. One oversight made was that I had ordered all 10ft chassis however I also ordered a couple of the Farish cattle vans for a mix and these are 11ft chassis - my back up plan was to ream out the plastic, fit in some top hats and drop in some 2FS wheels - short term solution in case I run out of time to replace them.
     
    As usual my soldering skills have been pushed to the limits and I confess to using some cyno adhesive in some parts...interesting fumes this gives off when you put the iron where previously there had been glue Today has seen the six wagons completed to a point where they need a good clean, scrub and prime prior to seating beneath the Farish rtr bodies. I have just rested them on top for now to see how they look.
     
    A quick test run of the 26 pushing them into the sidings this evening was very satisfying as it does really make a difference to the running quality and they are visually more delicate in appearance too.
     
    Need to move onto the locos quite soon...still plenty to do. Few pics below:
     

    Farish cattle vans with 2FS wheels as short term solution...
     

    Work in progress...
     

    New chassis awaiting clean up and painting...
     

    26 awaiting to leave...
     

    Dapol 26 re wheeled...
     

    Kyle finally has some vans...
     

    Time is marching on...
     
    Comments welcome as usual,
     
    Pete
  11. bcnPete
    Evening all,
     
    A debrief from the excellent Stafford show of last weekend. I did draft up the post last week but as I was getting used to the new software I managed to delete the entry just as I was about to post it   Start again, fresh eyes...
     
    As previous entries have described, I decided to replace the two turnouts to try and improve running as they were built almost 10 years ago. This turned out to include other remedials and more than I had anticipated in the last few months. The two turnouts were laid, tested, painted and ballasted. I had removed the front fascia to make access easier and the backscene, ramp and bridge was also removed as part of the upgrade. I had printed three backscenes originally so had two spare - the previous one was removed to reveal the curved vinyl sheet I had found in our studio - I had forgotten it had a gold outer side so it made for an interesting in progress shot  I then applied the backscene and the two new fascia pieces laser previously cut from 3mm plywood. Whilst I was at it, I decided to upgrade and simplify the operators side fascia. This has removed the redundant switches from the DC operation and now has just the two turnouts and the five uncoupling slots. The fascia was cut from 1mm veneer and the trackplan and slots formed using a sharp scalpel, changing the blade regularly. To achieve the red effect it is mounted onto a sheet of stout red card from our studio. Finally the fascia was repainted and the lettering reapplied. 
     
    So all all set to go but the weekend before revealed some inconsistencies with the two turnouts which was still there Friday morning 3 hours before I was due to leave for Stafford  My thanks are due to Mark F (2mm Mark of this Parish) who kindly came to help resolve it...By various tests with my meter and probing Mark found the station turnout had a dead frog feed and both switches to operate the turnouts were dead  Knowing was there little time to replace them we set upon a temporary lash up to get me through the weekend, with two new switches hanging out the backscene to change polarity and the old switches disconnected but used for changing the point throw only. Shortly after I was on my way to Stafford, arriving to set up the Friday evening - have never been to a show where you can back up your car virtually to your exhibition space  Was also extremely honoured that Kylie (as Mr Yorke refered to it ) was depicted on the front of the show catalogue - many thanks Colin.
     
    The layout performed well at the show, bar some loco failures (prompting a bit of an overlap between time periods) and I have a few things for the to do list. I received a lot of nice comments on the layout, a lot of people surprised how small it was...one commented the picture on the catalogue was bigger  
     
    My thanks are due to Bryn, Andy H and David L all of this parish for helping out some periods allowing me to get some breaks as well as see the show. A lot of nice layouts, it was great to see some old faces and meet some new ones. I also trialled the new Kylie T-shirt (when temps changed from early morning cold to very busy hot) which Mark B (46444) joked that I should produce...it has the current Kylie tour dates on the back...the layout just needs some roadies now 
     
    Here are a few pictures showing some progress as well as the layout at the show. 
     
    As always, comments are welcome...
     
    Pete
     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     
     
     
     
     
     
     
  12. bcnPete
    Update - Probably getting a bit late to say Happy New Year now...but its the first 2011 blog entry so HNY all.
     
    Was having trouble finding a way back into modelling after a 3 week break away from the workbench and despite a nice short rake of new Bachfar grey cement PCA's arriving the other week, I was still not in the right mood.
     
    To go off at a tangent, I tried to rephotograph parts of the layout today as the second part of my write up is due in the 2mm Mag and unfortunately most of the shots I sent the Ed were either out of focus or of smallish resolution that they would be hard to reproduce.
     
    So, armed with a new mini tripod and a few helpful tips from Chris Nevard, I took a few shots which I hope will be more acceptable and I thought I would just share a few of them on my blog (as I had deleted my gallery last year after Andy and the Mods started the culling process) What it did make me realise, is that I have to get a wiggle on with the rolling stock, as short of awaiting Dapol's 121 Bubble car, the main elements will be 25 and 37's on clay trains and my first 37 still awaits renumbering and weathering.
     

     
    This shot is what I mean by highs and lows...I am really hoping to try and capture the scale between Lamellion Bridge and the 150ft high Moorswater viaduct...
     

     
    Seen again with the 37 inching its way on return after dropping off clay hoods (cheeky way of saying I have not built all 18 yet )
     

     
    The Bachfar 37 does look more convincing since being lowered a tad on the bogies...
     

     
    And disappearing as seen from the other side of Lamellion bridge...
     
    EDIT: I do really need to make a start on the trees for this board now...
     
    Also, I have spent the last two nights working on the cladding for Moorswater dries but I will wait until its a bit further progressed before I photograph it.
     
    Its good to be back
  13. bcnPete
    Update
     
    Good evening - As mentioned in the last update, work has been progressing on the cladding for the dries building. The roof and walls have had their basic covering using the method of preparing each elevation on a card backing sheet (so as to work on the flat) and then each applied to the building. The conveyor has also been clad and I have now applied trims to the corners to replicate the corner cladding capping pieces as well as disguise the thickness of the evergreen sheet.
     
    This evening, I have formed the rooftop vent and also the large sliding doors, which I have left slightly open to hopefully make it a little more interesting even though I am not planning to do the interior decs of the dries building.
     
    The slight yellow staining is from my almost finished bottle of MEK and I now need to give it a wash of grey car primer to see how it fairs. I would like to press on with the cladding for the other building before I begin any trial painting of weathering of this one.
     
    I attach a few pics - sorry about the quality - perhaps should have waited for natural light tomorrow instead of relying on camera flash
     

    Plan shot showing conveyor and roof vent...

    Overall scope of building captured...

    From the end which appears to be the most photographed on the prototype...

    Sliding doors have been modelled slightly open...
  14. bcnPete
    Good morning,
     
    Just a quick plug to say KoL will be appearing next Saturday at the 1 day exhibition in Tonbridge, Saturday 18 February 2017.
     
    This will be the first time (other than a preview at the 2mmFS AGM) that the layout appears in DCC mode and since then 37414 has been sound chipped. Have been testing the fleet and big thanks to Pixie who managed to breathe life back into two of the locos
     
    Due to work commitments I haven't been able to finish 24124, 37025 and 26040 but they are chipped and await detailing, respray and final decs.
     
    Here's the fleet in totality during testing yesterday - all are chipped and the next one for sound will be one of the class 24's...
     
    Do come along and say hello - I shall be there with my youngest son Jo who is chief operator now
     

     

     
    Pete
  15. bcnPete
    Good evening,
     
    With only 9 days to go, I seem to have found myself in a worse position than in 2010 when I exhibited KIAB
     
    A dose of bad luck in that the laser cutter at work broke (and has just been reinstated today) has meant that a few things won't be done in quite the way I had envisaged them, however am trying my best to get a reasonable display on show.
     
    This weekend when I fly back there to BCN there is still loads to do including finalising the wiring, finishing the fiddleyards and connecting boards, fascia panels, lighting, installing the signals, painting the third rail...I could go on...
     
    Some progress this week on the canopy though. It started in BCN last Saturday with the soldering of a brass structure onto which I would attach the more cosmetic elements. The legs have been made in piano wire and these have been then covered in small plastic I beams (so the wire runs between the web of the beam on the non viewing side) to give some stability to it.
     
    A simple jig has been formed at work and the idea is (was) to transport this structure back this weekend and install on the platform. The most challenging bit which I was dreading was forming the curved structure of the canopy. A couple of trials ended in disaster so this evening after work I laser cut a base in 1mm perspex and some roof profiles which were fided at 10mm centres so I could wrap the corrugated sheet around it. All was fine until I tried to get the curve to hold and my initial fears of it not retaining its shape were upon me.
     
    This has since been scrapped but talking with my colleague who runs our model shop in the office, he suggested I try and form my own roof from 0.2mm perspex which we will laser cut tomorrow morning first thing and I will try and reattach it at lunchtime. Then there is the fascia which as been drawn and is awaiting cutting.
     
    So I left work a bit low this evening as it wasn't where I wanted it to be at this time.
     
    I attach a few pics of the canopy structure (excuse my still shocking soldering but it won't be seen) and I realise that this will be the last long distance/boxfile layout I produce as despite the size there are too many complications.
     
    More worrying is that my eyesight (already shocking) is just not up to small stuff anymore...
     

     

     

     

     

  16. bcnPete
    Update - RIP Mike Reid, fellow Spanish resident whose game show I grew up with. De-light-ful...
    Have been doing the sparks for Board 3 the last two nights to try and get the moorswater runaround working and I confess electrics is not my speciality. One would think that such a simple layout to wire with DC and a few isolating switches could not give many problems however I lost over an hour and a half of modelling time last night trying to solve a short, which in the end came down to a dodgy slide switch - on the upside, the swear box has been replenished and can help fund the recent CDA extravagance.
    During the summer I had to retire my trusty Gaugemaster handheld controller and I purchased a Morley Vesta following reading some good reviews. There are a few nice touches to it and although I will probably in theory only ever have one diesel in steam it does come with 2 x 2M handheld walkabout controllers, handy for a 3.3m long layout. Initial testing seems to be nice and responsive however a switched centre off would be nice as a few locos have flirted with the edge of the baseboard during testing purposes
    In summary, I now have a runaround working, and I hoping to work on the mini traverser tonight and then try and post a short video sometime to demonstrate the DG coupling at the end of the line using the permanent concealed magnets.
    Pete
  17. bcnPete

    Kyle be back...

    By bcnPete,

    Evening all,
     
    Quick update to say Kyle appeared at the Wycrail one day show yesterday.
     
    As always, a very nice show and very friendly and helpful exhibition team. 
     
    Good to see some familiar faces for a catch up and also meet some new peeps. Received some very nice comments and overall the layout performed well.
     
    I really do need to sit down and work my way through the list of small things such as replacing knuckle couplings on coaches, corridor connections, checking all DG couplings etc. You would have thought with all the rainy days here in UK this would have been addressed 
     
    Show closed at 5:00pm, packed and ready to roll at 5:40pm, stopped for a well deserved quick pint of Doombar at the Squirrel Inn, then home by 7:05pm. 
     
    The next outings booked for the layout are the SWAG 2020 meet in April followed by Railex in May 2020 so Kyle will be back.
     
    Meantime, a few pictures from the layout yesterday - the two 37’s sounded delightful together...
     
    Pete
     
     

     

     

     

     

     

  18. bcnPete
    Update - Following the setbacks from last time, and slight loss of mojo, I retreated from the layout and immersed myself in a string of christmas parties and the final season of 24, which provided about 10 evenings of time to reflect on my way forward taking into account the helpful comments and suggestions received and the conclusions to date.
     
    Last night, I returned, determined not to send any euros winging to the swear box (tis the season of goodwill after all) and started by cutting out postcard templates to fit the elevations, to allow more work to be done on the flat. I also received by post, a scriber (thanks for the tip and link jim s-w ) although I will tackle this a bit later.
    Thus the elevations started something like this....

    This enabled me to mark out the lines of the cladding and help with alignment (Bernard...this time the joints line through ) and at the corners. I used a 2mm strip of doublesided tape to act as the spacer between the sheets to help express the horizontal joints giving this...

    The elevations have been temporarily attached to the card carcus with doublesided tape as this...

    The corner joint is in theory a cladding capping piece so I will add this on after and then perhaps add a further cover strip in paper to overlap the cladding slightly. The photos are a bit crude in that the shadow between the joints appears to be larger than it is, but it is barely noticeable from some angles and I think will provide a basis for the painting and weathering. I need to think about scribing the joints now and also adding the roof panels.
    That's all for now though...hoping to get another night in on it later in the week when my wife disappears for another christmas knees up...
  19. bcnPete
    Update - The nights are drawing in here and its getting colder so the mojo starts to gather momentum again....
     
    Firstly, a big thank you to Mark (46444) for sending me the photos taken of the dries area...coombe junction...and a cat...but that's another story
     
    I knew that I would never be able to include all of the dries area on the layout however I am hoping that what I can show will give a flavour and imagination can fill in the pieces missing. There are various elements I wish to include (as dicated by the board width) and these are; the settling tanks, the old clay dries, the loading bay, the rotary dries and the rotary stores. I would upload a photo to help put it in context but can't quite see a way to avoid copyright issues
     
    The old clay dries have been started using artists grey card as a base. This will be clad in slaters embossed stone sheet (can anyone recommend a glue which won't delaminate as it did with the bridge?) and has a corrugated metal roof. I have formed the openings used to load the clay etc which have been infilled with breeze blocks in later years as this building is now redundant. Seeing as I am representing 1980/1, I thought I had better show them open, however I will paint the insides black as I won't be including much detail (I think they were vast open spaces anyway?) I have also made a start on the Settling tanks and I will probably line these with plastikard and try and pour some white resin to represent the clay. The building is cut into the landscape so I will just represent a hint of greenery at the corner as shown by a card mock up edge at present. The roof has a slight curve at the end and then the roof skews slightly which will be fun to make I have cut a template roof, which needs some fettling before I make the final one - have included it to help set the scene.
     
    I attach a few pics to show progress - I have made the building/base removable so I can work on it with ease but sometime it will be bedded in the layout. Before I start cladding it, I will now map out the loading bay and rotary dries and stores (which cover all my shocking temporary sparks) as this building needs to be elevated on a podium with ramped access. When that is done, I will return to add more detail to this one.
     

    Plan shot showing extent of area to be modelled...

    Am using a hood and a CDA to check heights and clearances etc...

    Temporary roof removed...the interior will be sprayed black and not reveal much...

    Edge detail showing an extract of the settling tanks...
  20. bcnPete

    terence...the tractor...

    By bcnPete,

    Good evening,
     
    I was having a trawl through the KoL images earlier for Chris Higgs and I happened upon a pic that I always liked but it never made it into the final cut.
     
    It was taken on my iPhone, with me balancing dangerously on the edge of our desk in our spare room late one night with only the small directional ceiling mounted spots directed at the layout as it is stored out of use about 2m high on the wall.
     
    I always liked this pic as the light coming in from the right threw some nice rays across the quay and all I have done is drop the image into first 'Irfanview' and then 'Paint' to rotate it square and add in a little colour between the body and the bogies to mask out the pick ups and small steel rods which stuck out.
     
    It's the old Farish body too so I am awaiting Bachmann's 2mm release of 37407 in Large Logo livery so I can reshoot some pics of Kyle to depict the tractor period, however in the meantime I thought I would share this for any tractor fans out there...
     

  21. bcnPete
    Morning all,
     
    Yesterday was the one day show at Tonbridge with the layout operating to the paying public for the first time on dcc and with the sound chipped 37/4.
     
    Nigel Ashton and I were flying the 2mmFS flag at the show, each with a corner slot although I think Nigel faired a tad better in his location in one of the main halls Fair play to the exhibition manager who came to check everyone an hour before doors opened and realised his floor plan had been a little ambitious given we were 7 exhibits in a fairly small room annexe. The placing just meant if peeps were viewing the adjacent MPD layout the fiddleyard was out of view...when in reality I consider it to be as much of the display as the scenic portion.
     
    Despite setting up at home and testing the day before the usual gremlins struck but it was my class 27 and 24/0 which were the star performers on the day, both having been given some TLC by Pixie the week before. The 37/4 with sound chip was well received and the feeling was the level of sound was spot on without causing undue annoyance to my fellow neighbours - this is untouched and how it came from Digitrains FYI with no fiddling from myself.
     
    The layout settled down in the afternoon and apart from the odd DG occurrence of random uncoupling the only thing I need to crack is the station turnout which I still can't fathom if its electrical or the loco. The Dapol class 26's seem to cough and stall on it, the Dapol class 27 is fine, whilst the Farish 24 has no problem. The class 37/4 was having its moments too yesterday. No regrets moving to dcc though and some people commented on the smoothness and slow running qualities.
     
    Overall I received some nice comments on the layout and I always get a few stories from people who visited the station in the 70's and tell me which part of the platform they stood on, which I enjoy.
     
    I received about 3/4 enquiries for shows which will be followed up in due course. Nice to meet up with some RMWebbers too who came over for a chat whilst my son kept things moving.
     
    I never managed to finish my class 24/1 for the show, despite a last minute surge and thought better to keep back for the next show as I had plenty of motive power. I left the class 24/0 with Kevin of Coastal DCC who is going to install a sound chip for me...involves some milling of the chassis which is a for me. I will follow this up with the 24/1 later in the year and I am hoping to chip my 37/0 myself so I will be able to run it with sound using either 2 x 24's or 2 x 37's. The Dapol locos are a little more challenging to get sound in I understand.
     

    My son holding the fort in our corner slot...
     

    Still some painting tweaks, headlights and front end detailing to add to the 24/1...
     
    Thanks for all the nice comments and I do need to get the baseboards up and running on Thurso as the mock up for the extension seemed to be well received too.
     
    Pete
  22. bcnPete
    Update - Whilst I should be cracking on with Coombe Junction, I keep getting distracted to the Boxfile Kyle layout, however today, I decided to re-engage with Coombe and begin to think about the final board, number 3. This will feature an extract of the much photographed 150ft high Moorswater viaduct and also Moorswater china clay dries.
     
    One thing that has always entrigued me about this branch is the scale comparison between Lamellion Bridge and Moorswater viaduct soaring behind in the distance and this is something I really wanted to create on this project - the ability to run the china clay trains on the branch, but contrast it with the mainline running over depicting a flavour of rolling stock which would never get to frequent the branch.
     
    Before I get cracking on the viaduct, I decided a small mock up [not another one you shout...just get on with it ]was in order to help map out board 3. I spent a few hours this morning producing a basic scale drawing of the viaduct in CAD and this afternoon, built it with foamboard and card. As per the prototype and to make it slightly more interesting I have skewed the alignment of the viaduct so it is not 90 degrees to the board which will give a nice section cut on the viaduct. I also took a razor saw to one of my old farish MKIII coaches to complement the HST power car - a trial run before I slice one of those beautiful Dapol ones <img src='http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_eek.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':icon_eek:' />
     
    Overall I am very happy as I think it gives the scale comparison I was after, as well as forming a kind of scenic break between Coombe Junction and Moorswater Dries. The final model with need much further detail to pick out the stone, piers, handrail etc etc but I attach a few pics to demonstrate the mock up photographed insitu with board 2.
     
    As always, feel free to add any comments.
     
    Pete
     

     

     

     

  23. bcnPete

    boxing clever?...

    By bcnPete,

    Good evening,
     
    Time for an update on PWIAB. In short, the original idea was for the layout to be exhibited in May 2014...but this was far far away so it has been brought forward to May 2013
     
    After much sketching again at 35,000ft en route to UK recently for our week in sunny changeable Cornwall, thought was given to the baseboards as I wanted to get these underway before crimble. Particularly, lessons learnt from Kyle when it used to reside in a boxfile. This time a decision was made not to use foamboard as they twisted and were also too light, tending to want to move everytime you slid the dpdt switch for the turnouts. I recall that Anthony Yeates had used 3mm ply on his inspiring Inverneuk boxfile layout so something similiar was sought.
     
    Not being a gifted wood worker and lack of workbench/garage also shaped the decision and I found a product in a model shop here which was wood like in appearance and 3mm thick...and it was reasonably priced. It cuts with the grain with a SM 10A scalpel blade and requires a little more work across the grain but is has allowed me to work on a cutting mat on the dining room table.
     
    Having worked out the maximum dimensions, I knew I had to extend the width by a slither but this was necessary to allow the trackplan to fit. The pieces were cut, numbered and laid out and then glued with PVA. Another lesson learnt from alignment issues was to incorporate a hinge and this will be visible on the front and may/may not be covered by the front fascia. The boards will be then unfolded and bolted through on the inside, again to iron out problems previously arising.
     
    Finally, the last thing was to incorporate the folding section. You may recall that in order to add a little more operational interest a through line has been added the other side of the bay platform and this is provided by a folded section so as to sit within the depth/width of the boxfile. A strip has been formed secured with hinges and Araldite (I may add screws later for belt and braces) and once unfolded this is kept in place by a timber base which has recesses to incorporate switches for the turnout and signals to be added at a later date - More on that in the future as its presently in the sketchbook/my head at present.
     
    In terms of signals there will be a two aspect starter for the bay platform and a four aspect with feather for the through line. I am currently in extended dialogues with Matt from Absolute Aspects (formely Roger Murray) and I must say that he has been extremely helpful in his way of working as we try to work together by exchange of emails with the minimum depth of the baseboards (only 30mm) It may be that the two signals are removable and Matt has engineered the 'below baseboard' stuff to fit with the 'above baseboard' signals potentially 'plugging in'.
     
    Finally, thanks again to Chris (EastWestDivide) for sending some more photos recently which are helping with context and train formations.
     
    As always, a few pics to better describe all the above
     

     
    The first is a reminder of the idea showing the through line which folds for storage...
     

     
    And gives extra width to the boards...
     

     
    Baseboards folded and located within depth allowing for scenics...
     

     
    Once removed they look something like this...
     

     
    And on the underside, this...
     

     
    The edges unfold to reveal the hinged section...
     

     
    The baseboads unfolded give this...hinge on front face as not to interfere with folding mechanism..
     

     
    Looking down and at the rear, we see the through line folded in stored position...
     

     
    And once unfolded, they increase the width to allow the through line to fold up against the platform face...
     

     
    Final zoom in showing recess which will incorporate switches and DIN sockets etc...
     
    Next I need to order some more Easitrac components and cut the slots for the signals...until the next time...
  24. bcnPete
    Afternoon all,
     
    An update from the Billericay show yesterday. A nice small friendly show set in 3 buildings joined by a garden...the Mayor arrived for a scheduled 30 minute visit...and ended up staying 2 hours! His driver was well impressed by the sounds from the 37’s just as he remembered them.
     
    Overall, the layout behaved although some stock has been withdrawn to have a look at on the workbench - my once reliable 37/4 seems to suffer from cut out of the lights and sound regularly - might remove the body and see how it runs without it. The corridor connections from the previous post were actually removed just before as they need thinning down - together with the knuckle couplings it seems to derail them so that’s another one to look at.
     
    The big decision of the day is that I have decided to replace both the turnouts...or rather elements of them, especially the common crossings. This will be an interesting manoeuvre for the soldering iron due to the fascia...I may have to remove it and remake this if it proves cumbersome. The turnout in the station has had for sometime an intermittent electrical fault and the occasional derailment so I have decided this needs to be sorted for the two day show in Stafford February 2019. After all, the track dates back to its original box file incarnation which was for 2010.
     
    Two other outcomes from the day were Stoke City getting relegated (lifelong supporter) and my youngest son deciding that this would probably be the last show he attended with me as he is now not enjoying it as much as he used to. He is nearly 15 now so I was assuming he would follow the same path as his brother did around this age. Shame though, as he has been a reliable operator, great helper in setting up/dismantling and also good company
     
    Back to the show, I had some very nice comments and received three verbal invites, two already sent by email. The seethrough black cloth also gave way to the original black drape I bought for my CJM layout...thankfully and hopefully now the attention is refocused on the layout not the supporting structure
     
    A few pics of KoL from the show...I have posted some other pics of the day on the exhibition thread here if of interest:
     
    http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/133536-billericay-model-railway-group-exhibition-5th-may-2018/?p=3154062
     

    My son already distracted by his phone after set up...
     

    New black curtain tidies the base...
     

    37025 was the star of the day...great sound from this tractor...different to 37414...
     

    On standby next to the inspection saloon...
     
    Overall a good day out and expect to see the next update on turnout replacements...
     
    As always, comments welcome
     
    Pete
  25. bcnPete
    Update
     
    The Prisoner has ESCAPED
     
    By popular request...or perhaps the last dose of comments I decided to remove the white balls. They have served their purpose but its fair to say they were stunting progress a tad.
     
    So to help move things forward I have started the scenics. Beginning with sloshing around a bit of grey paint to see where the road is. Not the final surface or colour but it does help focus the mind and flush out the nasties. The next move was to slosh on some brown paint to cover the sculptamould and seal the ground surface.
     
    Then, whilst you may have been enjoying the Jubilee celebrations, I was ballasting the remaining section of the line aided and betted with a large glass of rose.
     
    And finally, the first layer of grass. This uses up my 25 year old mix of (Carrs burnt leaves I think) scatter which has no real purpose other than to cover the brown and wait for the static grass applications. Lessons learnt previously using static grass on the brown paint meant several applications were required.
     
    To cap off, the whole lot has been given a coat of the cheapest, sickliest smelling Spanish hair spray...to add much needed 'volume and bounce'...because it's worth it...
     
    A few pics and will return when the static grass goes in...its starting to get somewhere now...I think...
     

     
    Brown paint, grey paint and ballast...
     

     
    First layer of grass added...
     

     
    Covers up the brown and provides a base...
     

     
    View into the dries...
     

     
    37135 awaiting loading of the CDA's...
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