bridgiesimon

That 700 is looking really good, am looking forward to seeing it running in full paint and weathering etc. Great to catch up again and will see you again at Thorncombe, am there with Polpendra as a last minute replacement due to a couple of layouts puling out. Best wishes Simon

Polpendra will be out again this weekend, this time down in Weymouth and then, just confirmed for the Thorncombe show also - http://www.ukmodelshops.co.uk/events/11633-WeymouthModelRailwayAssociation_WeymouthModelRail2015 http://www.ukmodelshops.co.uk/events/11623-ThorncombeRailActivitiesClub_ThorncombeModelex2015 Best wishes Simon

Sounds cool, will see you at Taunton then. from a very happy Simon having just watched the Russian Grand Prix!! Simon

A frustratingly different shade not sure they look that great side by side, the Farish shade looks good to my eye so a little disappointed with the Dapol one. Thanks for the feedback and piccie guys, most appreciated. Simon

A question for those lucky enough to have their Br Maunsell's already, how does the Br green compare to the green on the Grafar Bulleids? Best wishes Simon

I think I would be tempted to stick to the cream walls with chocolate window frames liek the original. Great looking model, well impressed! Best wishes Simon

Thank you for your comments, we had a great day, a very friendly show. best wishes Simon

Ok guys, Polpendra is out again tomorrow at the Barnstaple show though the weather seems rather rubbish at the moment. http://www.ukmodelshops.co.uk/events/11144-BarnstapleMRC_ModelRailwayExhibition Well worth a visit, despite only being relatively small, this is always a very friendly show and one I really enjoy. The layout is all packed up and ready for my sister to collect us this evening, my car is off the road with the ABS pump on its way for reconditioning, hopefully!! Best wishes Simon

aaaargh, just seen how much it is, £6.75 a sheet!!!! Simon

I also would be interested in where that corrugated sheet came from, any ideas on uk stockists? looks really good! Best wishes Simon

My next research question I am looking into in case anyone reading this has any thoughts is whether fishing boats ever landed their catches in Fremington. The re-release of Revell's North Sea Fishing Trawler kit has got me thinking about whether it is suitable or not. Not many ships around in N gauge! http://www.modelships.info/debrisfield/reviews/cs-fishingtrawler/northseafishingtrawler.html best wishes Simon

That is a very useful picture, thank you, I will print it out and add it to my folder of research material. Best wishes Simon

Cool, that was the same conclusion I can to after trialing the Dapol couplings for my Hobbiton End layout on which I now use Greenwich couplings (designed for 009). On that basis, may I suggest the MBD couplings then, they are available from the n gauge society shop should you be a member or from N Brass if you are not (no connection just happy customer). I find them simple to make up, easy to fit and reliable in operation. Best wishes Simon

Apologies if I am wrong but as far as I can understand the Dapol magnets have their poles across the magnet side to side to pull the coupling apart across the track so the seep electroagnets despite being myuch stringer will not work with them. I do use these electromagnets with the MBD etched couplings and are very reliable and work well but these couplings require a downwards pulling magnetic force to pull the dropper wire and thus lift the coupling loop, very different movement to the Dapol ones. best wishes Simon

Progress is very minimal, this project is still on the go, I have been concentrating on a long run of exhibitions for my other 2 layouts but am slowly expanding the stock for Fremington as well as finding piccies and information. The stone building on the quay is still an issue, lack of piccies but getting better for the rest of the site. Best wishes SImon

Having seen this layout in the flesh in Bideford yesterday, I do not think the piccies give it justice, the modelling is great and the snow effect superb. not really seen a layout before modelled with a light dusting of snow rather than a full blanket covering and with the vehicle tracks etc, it looks superb, almost made you shivers watching it!!! Best wishes Simon

cheers guys, will try and remember the cassettes! Thanks William, time does fly it was quite a while ago but the layout is still looking ok and now with a new control panel which actually works despite some Simie sillies I had to sort, things should be really good. Best wishes Simon

Polpendra will be out again this sunday for the Bideford show, well worth a visit and for charity as well!! Just sorting out and testing a new control panel, getting very confused and frustrated with my own stupidity to not understand and see the obvious, aaargh!!! Thought I would have a quick look on here while the soldering iron heats up. Best wishes Simon

Look forward to seeing it and you there Ray, we will be there as well, this time with Polpendra. Simon

thanks Ray, I used it ont he layout on Sunday for the first time at the Stow on the Wold show although still unpainted. I took it to work with me today and it has now been undercoated and has the first coat of Satin black paint. Before the next show, it should be complete with LED strip lighting and speakers for background countryside sounds already downloaded onto my i-pod. Best wishes Simon

yeah and got stressy because he got it covered in sawdust hehe. Simon

Ok, a few piccies as promised, first a d piccie of the layout complete with the lighting canopy as it was last night, the filler covering the screw heads has now been sanded smooth ready for undercoat and satin black paint. - Apologies for the quality, the phone is not great in difficult conditions like facing the window, will take some better ones at the show on Sunday. I did have some help with the work from my co-hobbiter and son, Seb - My other new project is for another little loco, little being the key word here, the wheel base is 19mm!! I like the way this is turning out, not sure what colour to paint it at the moment, already have 2x green, 2x blue and a maroon engine on the layout so maybe this one should be maroon as well. Best wishes Simon

Birds and animals all painted, well the ones that are usable, the herons are going to be way too large as is the badger and one of the foxes but the others are great. I went into work today in my own time to use the resources (I work in a woodwork shop supporting adults with Autism) and built the lighting canopy as well as fitted a couple of mounting plates for servos for the next additions. The canopy is looking great and will have the screw holes filled before being painted. Piccies to follow as soon as the sun stops shining in the window right behind the layout, not that I am complaining about the weather, loving it! Hobbiton End will be out again next Sunday for Stowrail 2015, Stow on the Wold http://www.stowrail.org.uk/wordpress/ Best wishes Simon

Success at the Thornbury show, not only did we have a great time but managed to get some animals and birds for the layout courtesy of Langley. I am now sure I will be using all of them because of size and as there is not really anywhere for a heron. The squirrels, rabbits, hedgehog and the stoat will find places along with the variety of birds. piccies to follow when they are painted. Best wishes Simon

I am afraid nothing planned at the moment. the issue is that we are based on Somerset so exhibitions concentrate in the South West although I am open to sensible offers/opportunities. Best wishes SImon