Pete 75C

I always did get model railways confused with toy trains. Seriously, the little angle bricks seem to mimic concrete uprights quite well especially with a couple of coats of Plastikote "tan" suede touch to give some texture! As for weathering, yes, the track will get another blast of Humbrol when ballasting's finished and also I'll use weathering powders in the four foot together with some strategically placed weeds. The Chipmans weedkilling train isn't due back 'til next year...

Yeah, I think I'll leave the face plate as it is, you're right, it really does seem more logical. I shouldn't need to mark the sockets as I can't imagine this layout straying too far from home and confusing any third parties! I'm toying with the idea of using Ratio 437 modern fencing for the platform extension. It's modelled on a modern palisade wooden type and I have this urge to paint it signal red for a Network SouthEast look. I don't particularly want to tie the model in too tightly to a specific era as I have a plain blue 2EPB and I'm sure a blue 2BIL will put in an occasional appearance. I could just play it safe and paint it white similar to this: © Copyright Evelyn Simak and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

After a bit of head scratching and one failed attempt, the one-sided extension to the island platform has been added. All that it needs is some modern waist high fencing and a "Do not alight here" sign facing the camera! The main island platform features a weather-worn tarmac surface and although it's not too clear from the pictures (I really must get a better camera), you can just make out some repair patches to the platform surface. The track has been weathered and I guess ballasting is next, now that I know all the electrics are working ok. I don't have the patience to brush paint the rail sides plus I think it always looks "patchy". I prefer to weather the track using spray cans of Humbrol 29 Dark Earth. I must have got through loads of this over time! You can see from the strange masking tape marks on the cork that concrete sleepers have been masked before spraying otherwise everything would turn a uniform shade of brown and the concrete sleepers would be almost indistinguishable from the wooden ones! Once ballasted, everything will get another very light weathering and this will help to tone down the concrete sleepers a little. I use a brown fine-grade Woodland Scenics ballast for wooden-sleepered track and a fine-grade grey for concrete. This helps to give the impression that there's been some recent track relaying. Going back to fencing, can anyone recommend a modern-style platform fencing, either plastic or etched? I doubt iron railings would be a feature of a modern platform extension...

Dick, are you off to France again? Apologies if you've said and I missed it. Have a great time.

Morning all. Just been accused by daughter of not speaking properly after she compared me to a Del-Boy soundalike. My response of "It's not my fault I was born in Saaf Lundun" fell on deaf ears. She then announced that she had "the day from Hell" at school today. Jolly good. Snigger...

I deliberately didn't wire it up to give you something to do! I've just wired up "Manor Road" for DCC and for a simple BLT I'm absolutely amazed at the jungle of wiring under the board. Two wires my *rse..! Looking forward to some pics as and when. Pete.

Yeah, happy memories. I remember my Dad trying to cycle through it once. That ended badly. Edit: apologies to Simon (gridwatcher) for going totally off-topic!

Sorry Dave! I'd forgotten about the Carshalton & Sutton MRC when they were on Manor Road... In all honesty, about all I can remember of Manor Road is the gun shop and the Duke's Head. I've just pinched the name "Manor Road" because I like it. I had thought about "Demesne Road" where my parents bought their first house together in the 50s but was worried no-one would be able to pronounce it!

Thankfully I jumped ship just before, Colin! Having bid farewell to the RNLI, I thought it would have been a bit hypocritical to keep the old username. Pete.

OK. Quick update. Station platform now in place and cable troughing/cosmetic point motors installed. I need to extend one side of the island platform towards the scenic break road bridge and I'm after something that looks like an obvious later extension, similar to Northfleet (seen below). As soon as I've figured out how to achieve this, I'll add some pictures. I have a cunning plan involving items from the bits box but it has to look right or plan B will be needed! Pete. © David Glasspool Collection

My wife has a pet name for me which I can guarantee would be unique within RMWeb and would, I guess, save some confusion. What is it? Yeah, right... nice try. Forget it! Ta for the Nevard link Tony. I'm a sucker for local archive stuff.

I know. I'm struggling too. You were here first, so feel free to call me Derek as I don't think we have any of those. Pete Del.

It went away, thank God! I'm told it's back again in 6 days though... damn.

Thanks Mick. The lack of NHS support can only be a blessing after recent events. I know I shouldn't say that and I guess I don't really mean it but we've had some issues lately that one or two forum members are aware of. Ironically we spent a couple of years in the Canaries in 2007-2009 and Louise's health has never been better. As I had a business there and we were contributing Spanish taxes, we both registered with a Spanish doctor and the first thing he did was chuck out most of her prescription meds. He couldn't understand why she was on most of them! The diet and the climate (just 70 miles west of Casablanca) did her no end of good. During our entire time there the only one that needed medical attention was me. I fell off the top of a child's helter skelter on the beach at new year (yes, I was drunk!)... Maybe I'm just suffering from "grass is greener" syndrome but our thoughts are turning towards going back there. Never say never, I guess!

I hadn't thought of it like that Jock! I suppose I am "semi" retired at the ripe old age of 47. The last 5-10 years caring for Louise has meant that working part-time self employed was a sensible option, if not the only option. I do find that as the kids get older I have a genuine fear of boredom. I'm one of these people that has to be doing something, or if there's nothing to do, I at least need to have an occupied mind... As the house is pretty much finished bar paint and skirting in some rooms and I don't want to take on another total renovation, I often find my mind wandering to possible long-term life-changing scenarios. A move is on the cards anyway but the question on my mind once youngest finishes high school is "how far...?" Part of me is thinking 1000s of miles rather than 100s. Edit: I've just re-read the above and if it comes across as "downbeat" it's not meant to! I just seem to be at a bit of a crossroads.

Yes, weekends fly by and other days don't. There really is no explaining it. I think I need to stop watching Doctor Who... that might help. Besides, I'm struggling to take Peter Capaldi seriously.

Morning all. Happy birthday for yesterday Mick. Dull and miserable in Norfolk this morning, but on the plus side, the weather's not too bad! I really ####### hate Mondays. How long until it's Tuesday?

I read that as "grey and grizzly" and immediately thought of Ian's beard. Bizarre...

Why's that Trev? Just curious...

As promised, a little background... There is a single island platform on the left hand scenic board. The main platform track continues past the platform ramp and crosses the high street very much in keeping with the current arrangement at Sheringham in Norfolk where Network Rail meets the preserved North Norfolk Railway. This crossing sees only half a dozen movements a year bringing preserved engines and the occasional railtour. Living in Sheringham, I'm familiar with this arrangement and thought I'd pinch the idea... this means the layout could easily be extended at a later date and would allow for rolling stock not normally seen on the line. The entrance to the station couldn't be simpler, as seen below. The big difference is, completely unlike the arrangement at Sheringham, Manor Road is an island platform with the top track shown on the plan having been extended recently to cater for a 4VEP in peak hours. The through platform has only a limited capacity and will usually see a 2EPB or Cl.456 depending on era. The lower track on the scenic board is planned as a "cripple" road for freight stock to add some variety. Again, drawing on the arrangements at Sheringham/Cromer, Manor Road is imagined to be at one end of a rail "triangle". This is best explained using an old rail map showing the triangle that used to exist between Sheringham and Cromer. The part of the triangle in red was lifted years ago, meaning that everything headed for Sheringham now has to reverse at Cromer. Again, pure fantasy, but I'm imagining Manor Road to be at the Cromer "end" of the triangle - this will allow for some unusual movements and a run round loop with limited capacity is shown on the plan. An arriving Crompton or ED will be able to run round its short train of ballast hoppers, for example, before continuing on its journey. On the right hand board, most of the space is taken by the 3 hidden storage sidings, but there is just enough room to include a carriage cleaning platform and hardstanding for a couple of locos, very much like the arrangement at Norwood during my time on the railway. Basically, just an excuse to "park" some stock and make scenic use of the whole 12' layout length. Now try to forget all the Norfolk references... this is very much 3rd rail territory. The infrastructure will be based on what I remember from the 80s and 90s but I'm flexible with the time period... Hornby's 2BIL and 2HAL are sure to make the occasional appearance. The next job is to weather the track and lay some cable troughing before cutting out a template for the platform. I forgot to mention that the scenic break between boards will be a road overbridge. Being South London, a nice red Daimler Fleetline double decker will be needed. You can't have a bridge without a bus on it, can you? More soon.

Yes, I was informed some time ago by my son that schools have replaced Uranus (your ######) with Uranus (oo-ra-nus) to avoid much sniggering at the back. Late today but have a good one even though it's half over. Saturday tomorrow... hurrah! Mind you, that probably means shopping. B*gger! Edit: RMWeb's profanity prevention device won't let me say . What a bummer.

Ian - good idea with the perspex covers. When I had both boards upside down to work on the wiring, I remember thinking one knock and it could spell game over for one of the juicers. I've read some barbed comments on RMWeb from those that say juicers are a "lazy" solution to frog polarity. I'm fine with that - I can be very lazy! Jeff - I routed out the hole for the NCE face plate and fitted it *before* even looking at the user manual. I just thought the LED should be at the top! I think it will stay that way. I also replaced the supplied "flat" lead with a curly one from DCC Supplies. The flat lead was a little longer than I needed and I kept tripping over it! Mike - the point motors are just common or garden Peco PL-10s. The ones mounted above the baseboard are fitted to an adapter plate and control a pair of Y points and a 3 way point accessing the storage roads - they won't be seen once the backscene's fitted. I don't particularly like the "snap" you get with Peco motors but I had some lying around and they've been reliable enough in the past.

Edited for layout name change to Croydon North Street. Ignore any references to "Manor Road" in the earlier posts... Welcome to Croydon North Street. This little slice of Network SouthEast is totally fictitious and frankly that's the way I like it! Having made one failed attempt at modelling an actual location in an actual time period, I became frustrated with every compromise that had to be made. Here nothing ever existed so of course everything's exactly right! That's my excuse... This is also my first attempt at DCC. I remember reading in the modelling press years ago that digital would be so simple, needing only two wires to the track. That appealed to me but I was sceptical and stuck with DC for years. I was right to be sceptical... this is a very simple BLT but a look under the boards reveals the amount of wiring I thought only existed in an old telephone exchange! To most of you, I'm sure it's not too bad but layout electrics and soldering have always been my nemesis. I really am totally amazed that everything seems to work! I started building the boards a month ago but wanted to get the track down as well as I was able and to make sure everything worked as it should. The good news is that it works just fine. I've used Code 75 Peco throughout with electrofrog turnouts. I used to be happy with Code 100 insulfrog but I'm led to believe that insulfrog would have been a mistake with DCC. As mentioned, I'm not too comfortable with electrics, so I've cheated and used a Tam Valley Hex Frog Juicer under each of the two boards. These take care of frog polarity with absolutely no effort or headscrathing on my part. I'd read on RMWeb that people have had issues with changing polarity using microswitches attached directly to Peco point motors. The frog juicers aren't cheap but they've made my life a little easier. Control is courtesy of a NCE PowerCab and there are, of course, multiple droppers feeding the track. The eagle-eyed amongst you will notice that I've fitted the PowerCab face plate the wrong way up on the layout fascia! Inserting the PowerCab lead into the face plate's left hand socket, as instructed in the user manual, achieved absolutely nothing. Cue much panic with me thinking I'd blown the decoder on the Heljan Crompton... Now I either just need to turn the face plate the right way up or remember to plug the handheld into the right hand socket! Duh. As a newcomer to DCC, I don't want to get involved with accessory decoders so there are 8 point motors powered using conventional 16v AC through a couple of very simple mimic panels on the fascias. All seems to work well. Each board is around 6' x 14" (I don't do metric). Traditional 9mm ply tops with 12mm (apparently I do do metric) ply sides and ends. Bracing underneath is softwood, so nothing groundbreaking there. There's around 3" clearance under the boards which is ample for point motors and wiring etc. The boards are aligned using brass dowels and joined with coach bolts and wingnuts. The main scenic board is designed to sit on trestles and the part scenic/part fiddle yard right hand board "piggy-backs" off of this with just one set of removable legs and adjustable feet. Track across the baseboard join has been soldered to copperclad. First time I've ever done this but although not particularly neat, it works well. I usually just glue the track at baseboard joins and hope for the best but having snagged a rail on a previous layout and ripped out around a metre of lovingly ballasted track, I wanted to avoid that happening again. Plus, it's a good opportunity to practise my soldering and I certainly need lots of practise... If you're not bored yet, I'll leave you with some pictures of the layout and post again soon to let you know how the layout will be operated and give some background on my choice of location. I'll see if I can knock up a simple track plan to explain what's going on. Yes, there will be third rail and EPBs and such. There are also a couple of unexpected twists planned but like I said at the beginning, Manor Road only really exists in my head and that's not somewhere you'd want to go on holiday... Pete.

It is with a heavy heart that I've had to report John to Andy Y on account of posting gratuitous European porn on a public forum. The banana tree in the second picture didn't help...

I like that... pressing "Function 4" will prevent soggy pastry bottoms.