JustinDean

I’m wondering if some metal L girder screwed down the length underneath would sort it out. Jay

This could also happen if the chipboard filling is lower density on the new shelf compared to the older version. Coupled with less thickness that would explain the result. Jay

No modelling since SWAG due to a ferocious work load but I have tidied the workshop ready for action! First job will be to sort out point motor and electrical continuity issues so it runs as it should. A short incline board will be added onto one end then a ‘proper’ backscene to finish off the presentation. There’s also still lots of work on stock to do! Jay

In the calendar. Nice one Rob. Jay

Despite the van having a flat tyre and spending most of the day under the layout with a soldering iron and multimeter SWAG was a very enjoyable day. Lovely to catch up with some familiar faces and meet some new ones. This was a much needed learning experience for me having not exhibited a layout for over 30 years. The environment of SWAG is perfect for testing things out and testing it was! What I thought was a failed motor at the turnout leading on to the layout was actually insufficient power to throw the solenoid. There were also a couple of dead spots due to the built in switch on these motors not working properly. Some time ago @Middlepeak kindly gave me some Tortoise point motors to play with and these will now replace the Seep ones currently installed. Apart from this the layout still needs backscenes and a working incline plus a bit of tidying up here and there. This will be done over summer before its next outing at Taunton RailEx in October. The Railway Modeller chaps seemed quite keen for an article on Middleton Top also so maybe that will happen once the above has been completed. I’m ready for a lie down now. Here’s a few snaps I took of the layout today: Jay

Thanks Martyn and good to see you! Jay

SWAG is nearly done. Plenty of electrical issues to sort out when the layout is back in the workshop!!! Thanks to @NHY 581 for organising a brilliant day again and also to all those who came and chatted about the layout. Jay

Layout up. Now just got to get the flat tyre on the van fixed. Jay

The layout is as ready as it’ll ever be for Sunday bar one point motor I need to replace. This probably should be viewed as a work in progress! Anyway, here’s some cows. Jay

See you Sunday folks. Jay

See you on Sunday! Jay

Nowt going on at Aston on Clun? Been a while since we’ve seen any layout action Rob. Jay

Middleton Top has come on a long way this week. It now has a fiddle yard and fascia’s are fitted. Some more scenic details have been added along with bits of weathering and general tidying up. Next week will be testing ready for SWAG on the Sunday. I’ve realised that SWAG falls 4 years to the day I started this thread. A fitting way for the layout to emerge I think. Right. I’m off to get a curry. Jay

I’m pretty sure Rob was wearing a shirt that looked like this last year. Also it’s not far off the Middleton Top backscene at the moment. Jay

So far booked for the RMWeb SWAG get together in a couple of weeks then RailEx in Taunton towards the end of the year. Would be nice to do some more; closer to home would be great! Jay

Ah, my neck of the woods! Both in model form and where I live (Wirksworth). Hope you had an enjoyable break. Jay

So the psychedelic sky experiment isn’t going so well. I shouldn’t have used a second dye as this seems to have reacted with the first. I have another idea in an attempt to rescue it…. Meanwhile I’ve been planting weeds and bushes. There’s quite a large area of undergrowth behind the loco stores/grounded brake van so I’ve tried to get a variety of species in there: The bottom of the field barn needed bedding in and the track making a bit more muddy: More growth around the bases of stone walls: The backscene is currently drying. Hopefully I’ll get some time on that tomorrow! Jay

I was going more for The Levellers c1992 vibe mate.

Backscene development. Anyone tried this before? I’ve got some plain 100% cotton fabric, using cold dye (blue and grey) and deliberately doing a crap job of it so it remains patchy. I’ll post results up when it done! Jay

I bet @NHY 581’s Google history is quite something! Jay

For those who have recently joined us on this thread I'm organising a RMWeb Midland Area Group event in Derby on 22nd September this year. MAG will follow a similar format to SWAG in Taunton albeit a little more compact, but will give the opportunity for us Midlands types to get together in the real world and also check out some excellent modelling. The full line up and updates will be posted on MAG's thread (link below) - do give this a follow and hope to see you there! Jay

I hope everyone is having a good Easter? The line up for the 22nd September MAG event in Derby is now firmed up. I'm going to post details here once this month's SWAG event has passed as I don't want to detract from that, plus every spare moment is being used to prepare MIddleton Top for the event at the moment. I'm keeping this first event fairly simple to test the water but we have got some great modelling from a broad selection of scales featured. If it goes as planned I have some ideas for a larger 2025 event, so do spread the word and direct folk here for up dates. Thanks Jay

Hi Brian, Nothing in the inbox from you so I’d give it another go. Jay

I’ve returned from Fuerte Ventura nicely toasted and have had a productive couple of days finalizing the MAG members day in Derby (details to be announced post SWAG) and finally had a full day on Middleton Top. I have another two half days set aside this week with the hope of constructing the fiddle yard. Materials have also been ordered for the backscene and fascia but will be a couple of weeks before installation can happen as I have a gypsy punk album to record all next week. Feeling confident it’s all on track for SWAG now, which is nice. Jay

There are some excellent photos popping up on the Cromford and High Peak Facebook page from private collections at the moment. Such as this Deeley residing next to Sheep Pasture shed. The Deeley was a short term replacement for the Kitson that ended up in someone’s garden after a points mishap at Steeple Grange. The Final Push at Middleton Top will resume with two days put aside for modelling next week once I’m back from sunning myself in Fuerte Ventura! Jay