Pete 75C

Strangely, when I dabble in N gauge, I much prefer to build something where I can sit back and just watch trains run by unattended but the complete opposite is true of OO. I think even if I had the space for a roundy in OO, I wouldn't go there. I do sometimes struggle a little with some of the finer detail in N, so maybe that's the attraction of a compact end-to-end in OO... I can make a little extra effort with some of the small details that just wouldn't be possible (or even visible) in N.

This is looking really good. I know absolutely nothing about the prototype but maybe that's the attraction (for me, at least)?

Morning all. Gorgeous blue sky here in North Norfolk. Chilly though. On my own today and I have promised to crack on with the decorating. Pah! Words are cheap. I actually plan to work on the layout. It needs some greenery. I'm not hugely green-fingered in real life, so lets hope I'm better in 1/76. Need coffee now.

I managed to break my second pair of glasses the other day. As I only use them occasionally and never whilst out, I wasn't particularly worried about how they look so I bent them back into shape with pliers and they still kind of fit my face. This afternoon I was using a mixer drill to stir one of those giant 15L emulsion paint tubs. Guess what fell off my face and guess where they ended up? If my glasses hadn't been diced by the blades of the mixer, I'd probably just run them under the tap to get the paint off. Bin, I think. Did I mention I hate decorating?

It certainly does. Whoever rerailed it or the Tinsley staff have a sense of humour... Edit: from memory, 47288 was never repaired and scrapped a couple of years later.

The only thing that puts me off a 3rd rail layout in N is the third rail itself! I've seen two methods which I thought worked well - the best looking was soldering Code 40 bullhead rail to those ultra thin Peco track pins, the other method was to use insulated rail joiners as chairs, having trimmed off the excess leaving the bare minimum to grip the rail. If I was ever to attempt it, I think I'd go for the second method as I'm a bit of a soldering muppet... I had enough trouble soldering Code 75 to copperclad at the baseboard joins on Manor Road, never mind trying to solder Code 40 to microscopic track pins!

Guess what I used as strengthening blocks for the glue joints on the inside of the bridge piers? Go, on - have a guess... As for resistance...

Morning Dave. I believe there were some 3VEPs at least in later Connex days. During my time with BR, Network SouthEast and finally Connex, they also mucked about with some 4VEPs and made some VOPs. I think the VOPs were mainly to be found on the East Grinstead line whereas I spent most of my time on the Brighton line and the Mid-Sussex through Horsham down to Portsmouth. The layout will ultimately be pushed back against a wall and operated from the front. At the moment, we have several rooms with chimney breasts and the alcove to the RH side of the chimney breast will allow "ducking under" to rescue anything that comes to grief in the fiddle yard. We plan to sell the house over the next year or so and I might not be so lucky next time. The height of the backscene and the 14" depth of the boards shouldn't make access too difficult though. I had considered a traverser which would have eliminated the need for the Y and 3-way points, giving longer storage roads but, like cassettes, that would have made operating from behind a neccessity. As a purely home-based layout and the fact that I don't have unlimited stock to run, it will probably suffice as it is. The house move in the (near) future is simply the reason that I made the layout portable, splitting it roughly in the middle. The two sections will fit comfortably in the back of a small van. I don't have any exhibition aspirations, I'm still very much learning with each layout and making plenty of mistakes as I go. Maybe one day when the kids are older, I have more time and my model railway skillset has improved (soldering, scenics, scratchbuilding etc). I actually get immense enjoyment from the building of a layout and the thought of it actually being finished to a standard that other people might want to look at it fills me with dread ( ) - to that end, I usually have one eye on the next project! Also, from an exhibition point of view, Brighton East has the potential for a lot more on-scene activity to hold the viewer's interest whereas I see Manor Road as much more of a small-town setting with not a great deal going on at any one time! Edited to get rid of all the spelling mistakes - I need more coffee...

I won't ask for the story because frankly it's none of my damn business but just to go on the record and say that I for one am rather glad you're not going anywhere. I'd certainly miss your pictures and not least your knowledge of all things East Anglian and railway-related. Whatever occurred, I'm sure it's not worth it.

Dave, the first thing that springs to mind when seeing your track plan, is "Damn. Why didn't I think of that!?"... It is an excellent use of space. I must go back through your layout thread, I haven't paid a visit for a while. What I particularly like about the plan that I eventually came up with is the fact that it isn't going to be easy to operate - that just makes me relish the challenge. It probably scores low on the "prototype probability" scale though... I'm also pretty sure only having three 4ft fiddle yard roads is going to be a pain. The whole "limited space, Minories etc" theme is a personal favourite and I've long been drawn to an urban terminus. I'm also a big fan of Ian Futers' 3-point plans. I sometimes think a large roundy layout in OO would be nice but I reckon if I ever had that kind of space, I wouldn't know what to do with it!

Ah, custard skin. There was one dinner lady at our school who was in sole charge of the giant custard bowl and ladle. In 6 years, I only ever heard her utter these same words... "Want skin?"... I do hope she was more conversational at home. Needless to say she was forever known only as "the skin lady".

No post on ERs for an hour and a half...?! I guess I'm the only one with nothing better to do. I'm actually waiting for paint to dry. I could paint something else but I really can't be bothered...

Thanks Graham, that works really well. All I've done is prop up some spare brick sheets and at eye level it does make a huge difference. Why didn't I think of that? Duh... I'll definitely use that as a solution and I'll eventually make up some proper retaining wall sections to match what can be seen on the scenic side.

Just about happy with the bridge... what I'm not happy about is looking straight at that bank of point motors through the bridge. I've taken the first shot from a cruel unrealistic angle but I'm wondering if I can do more to disguise the fiddle yard through the bridge... Hmm. You can see the gap in the parapet wall where there will eventually be some steps leading down to a footpath that continues along the backscene to the station entrance at the other end of the board. I've also used some scrap plastic H girder section and some cooks matches to make up the sleeper embankment running behind the extended platform. Note the bus on the bridge... Cliché? What cliché...??!! You just can't have a bridge without a bus on it. It's the law. Or it should be! Still lots of weathering to do and disguising the odd stray glue mark on the bridge, but now it's in place, it seems to work. On a serious note, if anyone can offer any tips about disguising the entrance to the fiddle yard, I'm all ears! Maybe I'm being too critical because stood in front of the main scenic board, with it set at about 40 inches from the floor, you can't actually see through it. More soon.

Nice one Don. Glad to hear about the catering! There's nothing worse than bad grub when you're recovering your strength...

That is a shocker. Who said doing the right thing is free?

Morning all. That's it really - haven't been awake long enough to offer anything else! I was going to ask Barry who or what is the "militant railway modeller" but on reflection, life's too short. Have a good Wednesday.

Is the frame destined for the NNR box that was recently moved from the far end of the platform to a site overlooking the crossing at Sheringham?

Ah tea. Definitely a coffee person in the mornings but by about 11am, tea takes over. Have always preferred Yorkshire Tea but discovered this a year or two ago... Quite possibly the finest tea I've ever tasted. We had cupboards full to the brim of these tea bags in the crew room and they do make a lovely strong brew. I *accidentally* took a few boxes home with me when I quit but now I'm undecided whether to stick with this (you can get it from Lifeboat shops) or go back to Yorkshire Tea.

Morning all. Promising to be a windy day on the North Norfolk coast. The rain's already arrived and gales are due when the rain clears. Despite all that, I quite like this time of year. Another day of decorating. Ho hum. Have a good Tuesday.

I was an unofficial "box boy" at Epsom for 3 days in 1984... does that count? Epsom was a scary box. It was suspended over the tracks and used to sway in the breeze and shake every time a freight or a fast train went through... © copyright 2014 DjIPiX.com & David Ive

Does that mean we'll have to take your avatar seriously?

Inspecciòn Tècnica de Vehiculos, but I think I prefer your version!

I used to be terrified of trying to get through the Spanish MOT (ITV). Apparently, if you accidentally leave a 12 pack of beer on the passenger seat, they'll pass any old piece of junk (and so my old Toyota truck lived to fight another day)...

To me, this isn't very welcome in ERs. Take it somewhere else please. Edit: Not you Andy! We posted at the same time...