alchemy

Me too. I have been 'thinning down' what I have collected over the years with the intention of using it all at some stage but the reality is, I wont. Thanks for the heads up on this.

Not much has happened to the layout since the last few updates. The only thing I have done is tidy up the underneath of the board. I did have a few electrical problems but they were sorted and everything is working fine. The point motors do need to be wired up to a control panel but I am yet to build that part. The next few bits to sit and do are to complete where the signal box goes. Cheers

Hi I have just come across this layout thread. Can I ask where the black railings came from in the above 2 pictures? Thanks Mark

As the weather is so nice outside, not a lot has happened on the layout the past few days. I have done a few little bits but nothing really of note. One thing I have been doing is going through all my loco's and taking out the DCC decoders in the ones that I wont be using on this layout. I have then reused the decoders in loco's that will be at some point be used on this layout. It has also occurred to me that I have been finding loco's packed away in boxes that I had completely forgot about. Now I am sure I am not alone with that. Enjoy the rest of your bank holiday.

Thanks Steve. I do plan to have a parcels/mail bit using one of the platforms of the station. All the stock I have was purchased with the original layout in mind so just need to decide how and what gets used on this new layout. You are definitely right about it keeping us sane during lock down. It certainly have given me something to focus on and keep up with over the last few weeks. cheers

I have slowly been getting on with the layout. A few bits a day. I have completed the ballasting on this board. I added a bit of greenery to it. It looks ok but I have started looking at Static grass for a better and a different kind of finish. My only thing is that they are quite expensive for what I would use it for, so just keeping that as an idea at the moment. I have also started to build one of the two refuel points. It's coming along nicely. I have also weathered the track. It needs a little bit more detail around the refuel point (mainly oil spill where trains have stood still). The back board that the brick arches are against was also paint a light blue. I tried to get it as close to a sky colour as possible. Finally, whilst both boards were together, I did have a quick play of trains. Stay safe.

Today was a busy day. I started off with creating a slight hill near the refuelling point so that the edge of the baseboard becomes scenic break. This will eventually be painted and then some various green shades of scatter applied. Whilst that dried, I turned to doing some work on the brick arched and tunnel that sit behind the refuelling points and the tunnel that goes to the fiddle yard out of sight. Some on the painting needs a second coat (namely the capping stones at the top of the tunnel and the arches. I also need to slightly weather the red and green on the arches after a second coat. Today was one of those days that I really enjoyed sitting doing little bits.

Over the weekend some parts of the board were painted brown. This is the base where so that I can then add a bit of scenery (namely a bit of grass, a gravel path in front of the signal box and a gravel road way in front of the arches by the fuelling points). I also started from scratch to build a fuel delivery and storage point. I used some parts that I had built years ago, and I made the surrounding brick wall up quickly out of some sheets of Wills brick sheets. Whilst the glue is drying on the wall, I just need to sort out some plasticard to make the topping stones for the wall. Cheers

Thanks Stu for you reply. It's appreciated. Will be doing some more over the weekend so will post pictures up when its moved on a bit more.

I have tried to make the joins between the 2 baseboards as good as I can. They have been ballasted. All the ballasting on one of the boards has been done. Now to turn my attention to some scenic bits.

Afternoon, So I have started to ballast the other board that the refuel point will be on. With the lockdown we are currently under, I feel no pressure into finishing it, so it really is a case of take my time as I have nothing else to do. I plan on doing a little bit everyday, so that I don't cram lots into one day and then lose my get and go for it (if that makes sense). Stay safe,

So sitting here with not much else to do (a bit like a lot of other people at the moment), I thought I would do a bit more weathering. It is a bit of trial and error at the moment with it. I am pleased with how they came out. I also made the free hut that came with one of the magazines. Stay safe and well everyone.

After along time with doing nothing to the new style layout, I decided to give weathering a wagon a go. First time I have done something like this so not sure if it is right or not. I did enjoy it, so now have got a few more wagons to try over the next few days/weeks.

A big thumbs up for this year to all involved. I went on Saturday. The bag search was no bother as it did not take long to be done and the wristbands with contact number on was a great idea for the kids (my 6 year old) just in case they got lost in the vast crowds. I thought there was a good balance this year, although I did have a few bits to look out for but didn't get. My sons favourite layout was Binns Road, Toys of Yesteryear (getting a free easter egg might have had something to do with that). I did notice that far more people engaged with my son than in the previous 2 years that he has been. I see that as a positive thing as they are the modellers of the future. It was also nice for people to let him get to the front so that he could actually see the layouts that were 3 people deep at some points. I enjoyed all of the layouts and they were simply outstanding. Cheers Alchemy (Mark)