grahame

It'll be permanently installed in the shed. I've got too old for taking layouts to exhibitions these days.

Nope. Swish, as in impressively smart and fashionable. I liked it. It was bright, refreshing and new.

Interesting. And that's an ambitious timescale to be operational and also ready for display. I'll be keeping an eye on this thread.

A little bit of background planning info: The planned period that the model will represent is the late 70s to early 90s. Although this is probably a little excessively optimistic time frame for a historic model railway, it conveniently falls between the two major rebuilds that the real station has undergone in the last century. Firstly, the infamous 1972 to 1978 rebuild under British Rail, and then the 21st century redevelopment in 2012 to 2018 under Railtrack. And the period conveniently covers the end of the interesting British Rail blue and blue/grey scene, the London and South East 'jaffa cake' sector period, as well as the introduction of the swish red, white and blue 'toothpaste' livery of the Network SouthEast period.

Now that my new layout shed is in place I've started a thread in the layouts section to describe the building of the layout: https://www.rmweb.co.uk/topic/180443-london-bridge/#comment-5232007 Hopefully that will allow this thread to continue with covering the construction of model buildings and structures (for the layout), with the new thread covering things like the baseboard construction, track laying and the infrastructure - basically the layout.

After a long time working on planning an N gauge layout based on London Bridge (see my thread : https://www.rmweb.co.uk/topic/115057-scratch-built-card-and-styrene-structures-based-on-real-buildings-around-london-bridge/ about making the buildings) I've been able to start to realise my dream. A garden shed/room has been procured and erected in my small garden and now that a patio has been laid and the garden tidied up (although not completely) I can move on to the next phase: The internal dimension is a fraction under 11ft 6" (3.5m) by a bit over 8ft (2.5m) which is probably not to bad for N/2mm scale - double that to 23ft by 16ft for an OO/4mm equivalent layout space comparison. But it's 'obsons as I couldn't have had it any larger anyway. I've ordered and had delivered timber for the construction of the baseboard frame and support. And I've started on planning how that will be assembled. With many of the buildings already constructed, the layout will hopefully become a reality.

A quick update: Following sales at DEMU ShowCase there are just two sets of issues #2 and #3 left (available on eBay). When they are gone issue #2 will be sold out like issue #1. However, there are still plenty of issue #3 available. I've made a tentative start on the final issue (#4). But I'd really like to see more sales of issue #3 before ramping up and committing to production.

Is car parking available?

A lot of people don't bother with signals when driving a car these days. So why would they bother with signals on a model railway? ;-)

On one of the recent cooler evenings this week I took Marley for a walk down to the river through the woods. It's the first time for a while due to the oppressive heat and humidity. He does like his walks and still managed to climb a few trees. Here's the last one:

The timber for the baseboard framework has been delivered. I've carried it through the house and in to the new shed on my own. Nine bundles of 8ft lengths and two 8x4 sheets. I must be getting old as it's knackered me in this humid heat. And I'll need more wood particularly to build a small workbench under the window and for the side/end return loops.

He's a handsome cat. Shame his life was cut short.

The stratification ridges on the sides are a little disappointing. Are you going to file them smooth? Did you consider etched overlays? Worsley Works can probably be encouraged to produce them. They do the 6S in N gauge and planned to do all heritage DEMUs in 3mm and would probably shoot them down to N gauge.

Oddly enough, the roof of the plastic garden storage locker seems to remain cool even when the air temperature is high, making it a current favourite place for Marley to hang out:

I spent the weekend in Sutton Coldfield demonstrating N gauge wagon kit building at DEMU's ShowCase exhibition: Then yesterday the electricians arrived to connect and wire up my new shed. Lights, sockets (one with a USB) and consumer unit installed in shed (and an oil filled radiator - not that is needed in this weather) and connected to house with a new consumer unit with MCBs. I'm ready to go.

That would be very nice and welcome. But wish listing is just hot air, and that's the last thing we could do with now in this heatwave. Some rain would be welcome. It's so long since we've had any that I've forgotten what it's like.

We've not had any rain for weeks. Marley is not happy in the oppressive heat.

Here's a little update on what I've been up to lately. Modelling has mostly taken a back seat while I've been organising the build of a layout shed in the garden - a rather posh and expensive one. The foundations and build are now complete although the electricians are yet to come to install the power and lighting. Then to arrange to have a proper pathway down the side to the back gate and a patio laid. Finally the garden can be tidied up. Inside it's very plain so not a lot to see (plus its difficult to photograph space). The inside floor area is a fraction under 11ft 6" (3.5m) by a bit over 8ft (2.5m) which is probably not to bad for N/2mm scale - double that to 23ft by 16ft for an OO/4mm equivalent layout space. But it's 'obsons as I couldn't have had it any larger anyway. Now I can get down to some final layout planning and baseboard building. I'm quite looking forward to cracking on with the layout and getting all my N/2mm buildings out and placing them in position. But probably lots to do before then. And even before any trains can be run. In the meantime I'll be at the DEMU ShowCase exhibition at Sutton Coldfield this weekend (17th and 18th) demonstrating N'2mm wagon kit building.

Selfie stick - It's like a truncheon for beating yourself with. Or is that a rhythm stick?

I get the impression that there are Hornby only advocates in this country.

Now I can get down to some final layout planning and baseboard building. And arrange to have a proper pathway down the side and patio laid. Then the garden can be tidied up. I think my modeling mojo is returning. I'm quite looking forward to cracking on with the layout and getting all my N/2mm buildings out (the construction of them outlined earlier in this thread) and placing them in position. But probably lots to do before then. And even before any trains can be run.

Marley, the sunshine boy this morning.

And inside it's very plain so not a lot to see (plus its difficult to photograph space). The inside floor area is a fraction under 11ft 6" (3.5m) by a bit over 8ft (2.5m) which is probably not to bad for N/2mm scale - double that to 23ft by 16ft for an OO/4mm equivalent layout space. But it's 'obsons as I couldn't have had it any larger anyway.

The building work is finished. Now to wait for the electricians - they're not due for nearly two weeks.

It's not self build. It's supplied as a kit of parts with fitters to put it together. And it wasn't cheap, but tbh at my age I wanted something relatively decent and built for me (too old for that malarkey these day) and have in installed relatively quickly (too old to wait years). The company was Green rooms/green retreats and they have two showrooms one at Twickenham which I visited.