grahame

The layout shed build is underway. Here's the start and end of the first day. There's still more to be done; window to be installed (to the right of the door), guttering added, etc. And the electric installation is scheduled for about ten days time

He's on his way up (taking off for a short flight) rather than a landing. 😉

Bingo. 250th sec setting today and a far better result:

Pooh looks lovely. Black cats are great. He looks quite young. Marley is an elderly boy - he will be 13 later this year. I got him as a lockdown rescue cat from the RSPCA around two and a half years ago. He's been a wonderful companion and is supposed to be arthritic.

I took Marley out for a walk this morning down to the woods to visit his favourite scratching tree and then to his favourite climbing tree. And on the way home across the park area he practiced his landings. Shame about him being blurry in the last pic, but even though I'd set the camera shutter speed to 1/200th he was going at one hell of a lick. And on landing the run out was long.

If anyone is interested in progress, the new shed base is now down. The white area is the interior size (3.5 x 2.5m). Presumably the walls go on the silver strips/edging and the roof overhangs all around. That all gets built in about ten days time. And then the electrics will be installed.

Marley signals left, but swerves right . . . . . .

Whether to weather or not? Of course it's a personal choice thing. And there is no right or wrong. However, there are varying degrees. One approach is not to weather the model to an inch of life leaving it filthy, messy and knackered looking, but to simply knock back the toy like finish, such as the plasticky sheen, the overly glossy paintwork and so on, that often detracts and mars (unless one likes and wants to emulate that RTR look). Even bulled up fresh from the workshop locos and stock will have some form of real life patina even before running. And then, of course, one can go further adding a working weathered finish right up to years of neglect and decrepitude.

Marley came down to have a look at the river yesterday. He likes going for a walk with me.

Marley out in the sun today:

Check out the emgauge70s.co.uk website for some quality diesel and electric modelling in EM.

I went along yesterday and it is a nice gentile show with good traders and interesting layouts. I rather liked Kerrinhead which had a great overall concept with visual height as much as horizontal interest and a pleasing blend of industrial, urban and rural scenics. However, I found the balance of layouts rather out of kilter with just Oldshaw and Canada Street flying the flag for non ancient steamy subjects. And not a sparky electric in sight. But then that's my preference; others may have a different take.

Presumably there is a maximum capacity for the conference centre. If they've already reached that then the NGS is a victim of their success in attracting visitors. But I wonder what the capacity for the centre is.

You haven't drawn the right hand curtain. ;-) Unfortunately I won't be able to make it to the show. I was planning on a first class day trip by train but the strikes have kiboshed that. It's not just London to York but the local train company to get me up to London are also on strike and have issued warnings not to try to travel unless absolutely necessary. But I hope all goes well for your debut exhibiting.

I'm looking forward to seeing Shirebrook, it's a layout I've not seen in the flesh. I hope to get some good photos of it.

Yep, it's bigger than it looks. Those paint pots are absolutely massive. ;-)

3.5m x 2.5m and not cheap.

The old shed is down and disposed of, and already burnt on the bonfire. Next to prepare the ground ready for the base. But as that isn't due to be laid until 29th May, my bit of prep work can wait until next week. The new garden room is due to be erected from 5th June.

A little update on things associated with modelling. Hopefully I'll be at the DEMU ShowCase exhibition in Sutton Coldfield (17th & 18th June) demonstrating the assembly of N gauge wagon kits. See the exhibition thread for details. In the meantime I'm undertaking some hard physical work in dismantling and disposing of an old garden shed to make room for a new garden office to accommodate the new layout. At my age and disabilities it's hard work which I'm having to take my time over. Just barrowing a load of wood across the open land out the back to the estates communal bonfire takes it out of me. And I've already been four times.

Are you sure some detailing parts haven't fallen off? ;-)

They wouldn't need to block your card but simply suspend the suspicious transaction until they are able to talk with you (even if that was when you returned from a holiday). But TBQH I've never had a bank contact me to confirm a transaction and I'd be unhappy if they having identified a potentially fraudulent one then allowed it to proceed or decided to block my payment card.

I'm not sure I understand this. A bank detects a fraud and contacts the customer to prevent/recover it? Surely they would be in a position and responsible to stop it without needing to contact the customer. After all the customer could be away for a few weeks on holiday and it would be rather remiss to allow the fraud to knowingly happen. I certainly wouldn't be happy with that sort of banking service.

And I'll be there doing a demo that isn't predominantly 4mm/OO . . . . It'll be assembling 2mm/N kits, predominantly NGS wagon kits.

I understand this is mentioned in the calendar but as I couldn't see a thread for it have started this one. For further details see: https://www.demu.org.uk/showcase/showcase-2023

Issue #4, should it go ahead, probably won't be ready and available until nearer the end of the year. In the meantime I'll be at the DEMU ShowCase exhibition in Sutton Coldfield on 17th and 18th June hopefully demonstrating N gauge kit assembly (mainly NGS wagon kits).