7mmin7foot

Indeed...Or is it Smurf Poop ;o) He's really gonna feel pain when he gets a pin in his feet 😀 Nothing is yet finished, weathered or detailed...so yes they will get 'treatment', they are simply in situ as I need to establish where ballasting will start and end on each track. The grilles can only be fitted to unballasted track.. Just getting the basic infrastructure in situ, prior to track painting and ballasting, but doing a few mini projects before that ( aside from which, ballasting has always been my least favourite thing! ). With each step taken, the 'to do list' gets ever longer... ;o)

Another hour on a mini project... Amazing how these little mini projects added together start to bring the whole scene into focus. Getting a forklift ( yet to be purchased) across from the tarmac to the service hard standing between the tracks has been mocked up. Have to get those drums and palletised bulk containers/ consumables to the loco's somehow. Again, only loosely placed, and as yet incomplete.... as I need to identify where the future ballasting will start and end.. still a long way to go yet... A few pics of loco's too ;o) Steve

Great busy depot scenes Chris ! Much of the shed visits to my layout are not often productive, I find sitting alongside mine , thoughts come and go... Then the odd light bulb moment illuminates the next move... It's all therapy, and escapism, away from the mad world we live in... enjoy it ;o) Keep the updates coming, they are fab ! Steve

As its a tad warmer.... the rattle can mini projects continue ;o) This time the fuel grids at the fuel points...Needed to prep and paint these prior to track painting and eventual ballasting. They won't fit in situ when track is ballasted so I needed to work out exactly where these will go, start and end points etc. I also need to order another set....and some other 'stuff' from railway laser lines. Have to say these are really quite filigree models, again expensive for that they are..( laser cut card), but with the amount of detail they add (even in the raw) is quite impressive. There are literally hundreds of tiny little holes lasered into them.. Assembly was straightforward, placement, not so much... entirely down to me, not the product.. I should have used a sleeper spacer tool when laying the flexi track! Inevitably ( entirely due to my track laying) they needed a little trimming here and there to fit over some of the sleepers... ah well.. am sure they will look ok when completed and oiled up. Fortunately these will be adjacent to hard standing area's so the bodges won't be visible ;o) Just primered, and a quick spray of black base colour and they come out a treat... used an entire rattle tin of black too ! A few pics of before and after ... clearly a lot more work to be done ( and on the entire layout)...... but had to make a start.. The track will be sprayed under the grids so the gaps in track won't be seen through the holes. Steve

The garish red oxide brickwork of the pump house has been toned down and mortar joints filled, looking loads better methinks. A new valve has been fitted on one of the pipes on the delivery/ receiving side of the pump house. Next will be the roof and some more pipe / valve operations, and a few other little details. Really enjoyed this mini kit build, only small but makes such a difference to the scene. Well pleased with it. Steve

The Pump House is almost complete, just the roof and mortar joints and a little weathering to be done. Also need to make up some signage too.. While waiting for it to dry, a few little tweaks occurred... The fuel siding was shortened a tad allowing better access to the pump house. Pipe work / runs positions have been slightly altered , which I feel look better. Very pleased with the pump house building, a super little kit to build too. Steve Before, after tweaking shots, and a photo of the real pump house ..

Ballasting looks good Chris... A 'chore' on my own 'to do list' that is.......after the track is painted... and.....and.... I look forward to seeing more progress on Swindleton, keep up the good work. Cheers Steve

Started another mini project, the Railway Laser Lines Pump House. What a cracking little kit this is, really well designed, and some of the best fitting corner brickwork I have experienced. A tad expensive for what it is, but everything now seems expensive as I get older...😀 Clever method of build too.. all laser cut interlocking parts form an interior skeleton, and the brick facings form an exterior skin. When painted and assembled with a little sanding, the outer simply slips over the inner parts.. very clever that. Anyways, with the masking , painting, drying and assembly just this far has taken me most of today... but time flew past. Still a long way to go with it yet, but it's a great addition to my scenics... and will look fab with the all the pipework etc.. To be continued....... Cheers Steve

May already ? A few more smallish / mini projects as its been a little warmer.. All the back ground structures removed and the back scenic ply board has been painted, thus adding a little more colour to the scene, rather than the wooden ply shade it replaces. Again, nothing ( other than track) is glued down, to facilitate this and also when time comes for ballasting...just so much easier to work on the individual structures while the layout is 'in progress'. Tried using a printed back scene but the so called special back scene glue was rubbish.. hardly any tack and wouldn't stick.. just a soggy creased mess.. so was binned. Simples paint.. will do.... and so it is .. 'This is the way' ....👍 Wondered what to do with the gap on the back scene, between the first set of buildings and the storage tanks. Decided security fencing will be added and some sort of 'in progress construction' behind. Needs some more scenic work.. but this fills the gap effectively, and will look ok from my viewing / operating position. The small base in between is the footprint for the pump house... another mini project on the to do list. At some point soon, I shall be spraying the track in its dark base colour. It will have to be a last job of the day though due to the paint fumes. Then can start to detail the track and start the wretched ballasting task... ( yak) On the upside... it won't be as bad as the HO Swiss stuff I did last year.. Being O and 7mm.. the track is sooo much bigger and less of it... ( yay )😃 Slow.... but steady progress..👍 Steve

Mol, In O Gauge, that's not overly expensive in my view,, and made of metal ( stainless steel) too ! For something that is so impressive ( wow factor tick) and unique to your layout, based on the real thing. It will be spectacular matey... Steve

Wow, that's some spectacular model engineering. It will be a superb structure when completed. Most impressive ! Steve

Sometimes.. life , domestic and garden duties intervene in modelling time... especially when trying to do outside stuff in between the rain! As such, I enjoy doing a few little jobs for the layout, rather than tackling anything big. The air-con installs was such a small project so made a start.. Painting , adding a bit of conduit for the leccy supply... I am well pleased with how they turned out. These small additional details really add to the scenics methinks ( Still loads to do..) Need to get a few more to keep the inhabitants of the units happy and cool when needed 😃 Steve Steve

Well, the staff can literally breath a 'sigh of relief' .... the loo has arrived ! 😃 Needs a little work to tone it down, and weather and detail... Added to the 'to do' list... Steve

Lovely photo's and super weathering on the stock. Very atmospheric shots / scenes too. Steve

Not much update / progress , with the break in the wretched rain at last = catch up with some domestic & gardening duties... That and I am dealing with an infestation of mozzies in my shed... never had that before...irritating things they are... So a uv zapper & fly screen door net is on order..as well as a thorough investigation of the shed interior and exterior, to see where / how the blighters are getting in. Can't believe they all flew in en mass last week when I had the door open... Anyways, better stuff... with my imagination running riot at times, I am always on the look out for detailing bits n pieces... Other than my crash barriers, I haven't had any dealings with 3d printed stuff before... However, I have found some very nice modern image stuff and done the deed .. These from : www.3dprintingcorner.co.uk , I will be back for more ! Wall mounted air con units... these look fab,, even better when they are painted. Wheely bins... these are super little things, lids supplied so can be glued open / closed or anything in between.. IBC Pallet 1000L tanks... tank is separate from the cage too.. cool that. Also: ModelU figures... various BR figures packs, Have to say, I am well impressed with the detail of all this stuff.. which will improve further ,when they are painted and given washes etc.. My first experience with 3d printed stuff.. , while it isn't cheap... it really is good ! Cheers Steve PS Oh look... the rain is back ;o)

Thank you. Well, you certainly ignited some part of the fire in me 😀 I use your thread and you tube channel as a constant reference source, and yes... I can see the loco funds being stretched to the limit.... Steve

Point taken, but Rails email this week, said it was new for 2024 and asking for pre-orders, hence my post. As I have only just started in O Gauge, I am now only starting to receive their O updates.. so have no knowledge of anything that went / announced before. On the upside.... I guess my wait will be shorter than others............. unless it's delayed again..😀 Steve

Great to see some progress on this again 👍 It's been ( with others ) in my bookmarks forever... long before I started my tribute layout.. Hither Green is a constant source of reference material for me.. My only previous history with 7mm was also with Lenz O Gauge...my old pal did BR, and I did DB. ( only because Swiss O is amazingly expensive) Lenz was good, but I always felt the sounds were a compromise compared to my mates BR stuff... Made to a price I spose. I was always in awe at the subtle variations in their sounds. I have always felt O / 7mm with its sheer 'presence' would be my destiny in one way or another... and so it begins.... Keep up the progress... I'm loving it ! 😀 Steve

Excellent site that is Craig, Lots of info and liveries to explore.... thanks vm. Steve

Cheers Jim Just done a search on RMWeb and found this... Posted in 2019... by NIgel N "For an 80's layout, you can run "Sandra" the Eastfield based sandite & route learning vehicle!" https://www.rmweb.co.uk/forums/topic/149528-bubble-car-at-fort-william/ These are spot on, even with a Scottie ! Steve

Well... I be ..... wotsit... Craig ! Rails just announced Heljan are to release Class 122 bubble cars in O ! https://railsofsheffield.com/products/Heljan-1230-class-122-br-blue-full-yellow-ends-single-car-dmu With my ( oh so) little knowledge of BR stuff...If I were to be tempted... for say a route learner.. in mid 1980's .. Which would be the appropriate livery for North of border? Clearly I need to do some research... but this would be 'something different' for a visit to Alston Sidings. Advice appreciated.... let the pondering begin....... Steve

Cracking photo's those are... I am envious of the track lengths & space you have . The track work is superb.. Steve

The bits n pieces look great Chris, and the compressor detail is fab.. The logo on it looks excellent. Steve

As all the scenic items are currently not fixed and removable, it makes it much easier to work on. So today I made a start on the left warehouse/ factory area... Adding a bit of static grass and some weeds/undergrowth... and the security railing installation has commenced... Still lots to do.. but each visit brings more progress, but nice to add some more colour. Steve

Boards solution seems ok to me, they will be fairly light and 400wide will be much easier to move about. BTW, the G&H boards have dowel points already made / drilled.. they supply wooden ones too. In your case though, as you will be assembling and dismantling so often, you'd be better off sourcing the metal versions for better accuracy. The only down side, will be the lead/ waiting time... unless they have improved on that. Worth the wait and cost in my experience... Steve