7mmin7foot

FWIW, I used 9mm ply and softwood for my last HO Swiss layout... they were very heavy to be honest in hindsight.. were massively overkill and very heavy. With my new O gauge layout, I went for some G&H ( Grange & Hodder) laser cut ply boards... but there are other makes available. These are all 6mm laser cut ply boards... and super light in comparison to my own home built efforts.. Bearing in mind, I have 5 Heljan locos. that are massively heavy compared to my HO stuff.. it handles them with ease. Given you are making your scenics removable.. do you really need 9mm ply ? A 1200 x 600 sheet alone will be almost as heavy as a completed G&H board. Yes, kit boards are expensive, and lead times are usually long, but timber these days is really expensive. Personally, now I have experienced kit build boards, I would never go back to making my own boards.. but the choice is yours.. Here's some pics of mine during assembly. Steve

😀, Well spotted.. Indeed, P poor driving, hope he drives a loco better ! Steve

Wow! That looks terrific, even if it is unfinished Nick! You make it look so easy... which I am sure it isn't... I shall be analyzing all your posts when I get to the weathering stage, on mine and build up the confidence to 'have a go'. Steve

Your building lighting is very effective and adds to the scenery 👍 Steve

Lovely layout Graham, the low relief buildings look super. Great to see some more updates on this one. Cheers Steve

Yay 😃, Finally, a bit of spray can rattling .. and we change the mdf colour to primer grey... and add the start of some base colour to the scenery... Also discovered some Frog 36mm delicate surface low tack masking tape is ideal for the much bigger O Gauge stuff, compared to HO scale. Better value too.. around £6 for 40 meters... worked perfectly on my brick papers... Nice to add some colour ( albeit grey at the moment) to the raw scenery... Cheers Steve

😃 I had to google that .. this BR stuff is all new to me.... ;o) Steve

Even after all my years of modelling, rash decisions still pop up.. though much less than they used to be ! While planning this layout I rashly purchased the Bachmann large service/ fuel point... Have to say first glance it looked great.. but when I examined it has some issues. though any modeller can / could remedy these. Yes, I could have scratch built, but increasingly I am finding it more enjoyable to kit bash stuff to my liking. Aside from which, the increasing cost of plastic materials ( of any type now) is ridiculous. 1) It was far to big and imposing on my little 7 foot tribute layout anyway, I understand it was based on a DMU type facility.. which I don't have My remedy for this was to hack it in half... ;o) Gosh it's made of tough stuff ! So now only half of it will be used...with the rear of it facing the viewing side. 2) At some point... ( on the to do list) the hoses are massively under scale...almost like they have used the OO version ..again.easy enough to remedy. 3) The imitation lights need to be replaced...( as ultimately I intend the layout to be lit). So, at some point ( on the to do list) I shall have the 'other half' ( not the missus) .. to sell off and I also shall have a very large storage tank and a half relief tank available too. These need some work to get them into something decent... Though I shall offer them on RM Web classifieds first ( not to self : must upgrade to premium to do this). Also on the 'to do' list is this 08 Stratford Sparra, triple grey, which will become an ED 08, with repaint and transfers.. but its still nice to temporarily trundle this up and down the tracks. Budget only allowed this to be DCC, so again sound is on the list too! Luckily a much smaller motor = much smaller sound decoder.... Anyway, looks like I just might get some primer rattle cans spraying today... as this and the weather to do so, is holding up progress. Cheers Steve

Oh this is rather cool Al. Not seen this before... any progress on it ? Cheers Steve

After much consideration, I have now decided to name the layout 'Alston Sidings'. Named after the road where my late friend Richard lived, and fond memories of the amount of time I spent with him in his railway shed So much time in fact, I felt I was stabled in his personal sidings at his home which I used to call 'Alston Manor'. Seems apt to me... and so 'this is the way' ;o) Cheers Steve PS Sincerest thanks to all of you that have / are viewing this. I am thrilled that in only 9 days it has already had over 2k views! I am astounded by this interest in my little tribute layout, so thanks for all the encouragement, it means a lot to me.

Excellent Al, Thank you. This is not in Richards collection of books I have. Seems these are rarer than rockin horse doo doo..! Can't find any on the web for sale.. Not sure if these are still available or if there is another print run planned? However, I have found the SDEG website and sent an email asking them. Cheers Steve

Just a little rubbing with a fine sanding block and the newly laid tarmac is blended in with the old. Still a fair bit of detailing to do yet, but a good base methinks. This will be the main entrance through gates and railing fence line, though this will come much later in the project. Hence the wheel tracks , which still need some work. The depot railings will have to wait, as I can see myself knocking / damaging this when working on the layout.. but I do also like to view the railway 'through' the fence, just like in real life. The little hut has been moved to the service road too...I prefer it here.. have another plan for the space it left behind adjacent to the portakabin. The photos illustrate the after and before (or as laid) tarmac surfaces.. This stuff really is good to work with 😊 Cheers Steve

Just had a look, proper Swiss Choc Box scenery that is... woodwork is fabulous and the tree line is superb! Steve

Excellent ! The tree line looks amazing... Steve

Thank you, I am really enjoying the scenic side of this.. though this is so different from the Swiss Chocolate box stuff I am used to ! Can't wait till later in the project to get the oil, grot and mucky stuff... which was always my mates skill set. The AK asphalt stuff is really good, I have tried loads of 'textured' stuff in the past, but this is by far the easiest, cleanest and most realistic stuff I have used to date. I am amazed at how far a tub of it has covered, and still have some left. Here's pic I haven't published before... just after the new tarmac was laid, I did some wheel tracks... Looks like the cars went thro chalk first as they drove into the car park, but thought it was too much, so I toned down the whole lot afterwards. Does show how versatile this stuff is... can't wait to add the details, potholes, puddles and weeds! Cheers Steve

Thanks Al, I now know more than I did prior to your post ;o) Nice photo too, illustrating your point. I do have several of Richards books on the Class 26, and have to confess, I am so busy with the layout, the loco's are much later in the project. I can look for those differences within the books when I get there. Cheers Steve

Superb modelling, the buildings , brickwork and windows are simply stunning... Really impressive. Steve

Working on the end of the layouts 'fill in' piece today... If you don't enjoy watching paint dry.... then try some tarmac instead 😄 Yes, the tarmac crew were in the depot again... again using AK Asphalt .. I really am impressed with this stuff.. It is very fine textured paint, water based /acrylic... so for my last bit of laying the black stuff.. here's a photo walk thro.. Gloves are essential, though as its water based, it cleans up easy enough with a wet wipe. Mask off where you don't want it to go. Have your brush/ water and spreader ready (I used a Lakeland cake icing smoother) but a spatula would also work. Straight from the AK Asphalt tub ( BTW this pot was £10.99 but its done all this 7- 8 foot length approx 10" wide and I still have some left for touching up) No Stirring, just plop it in situ with a wet brush .. Using the wetted spreader/smoother, at an angle , simply smooth it over the area.. taking out any excess material / ripples etc.. Here, a bit of water is your friend to get it fairly level. Repeat as necessary... doesn't need to be thick. Leave to dry... preferably overnight. All that remains is to 'tone' down the new black tarmac with a fine foam sanding block. I think it looks effective, once it's been toned down, and much better than printed tarmac card or wet n dry paper etc. Add details as desired, pot holes, weeds, puddles etc.. Finally.. if you want some 'loose material' just brush up some of the debris from the sanding action. There you have it... as good as watching paint dry 😃 I shall update a photo of the toned down area when its' all dry. Cheers Steve #

ooh... I like that... and funnily enough.. I have a Class 27 with a Stag on too ;o) Treated myself for my birthday last month... ( as one does). The 26 Railfreight looks real nice with a Stag on... hmmm Steve

Very likely, It's not even a Ghia version.. He's probably a guy in the office... not an 'injun driver' ;o) That said, these were inherited from my late pal, so they had to be used as part of my tribute mission. On my wish list, I would like a Granada, Sierra and a Capri too.. so the petrol heads racers, won't be such a dominance. Ultimately, the occupants of the car park will constantly change as will the locos , relief drivers, shift patterns and visitors that may come and go. Cheers Steve

Ooh... that IS nice Jim... love the headlights Cracking photo and model. Steve

I like this idea... dog, no dog, big dog, small dog different cantrail... different subtle variations.. Cheers ;o) Steve

;o) Yes, that's the one I have and considering another! Thanks for those images, they are great reference photos, ( loco's , clutter and puddles) and now... I could consider the other railfreight they have which is not numbered ;o) I have some ED transfers for the little 08 I need to change at some point.. that has different size Scottie dogs too.. Hmm.. just gets better this does ;o) Steve

Thanks for the comments Steve, The excellent Turbot examples are not mine, they are Al Taits ( D6775), and uploaded to illustrate the earlier comment I made about loco's sheet metal representation in models. Yes, it is a very simple track plan deliberately so, there are 3 medium peco points, that I wanted to get on to a single 1200 mm board . The other, 900mm board is even simpler with just straight flexi track. This together with the small traverser gives me a variety of operations, as the stock is mostly loco's to or from re-fuelling or a couple stabled for their next duty on the centre straight. The traverser allows them to travel 'off scene' , the rear track was an after thought, but I thought best kept separate for the fuel deliveries, which allowed me to invest in a Dapol 08 for variety. Essentially the mission was to incorporate as much of my late pal's stock... (scenic and rolling) into some sort of layout to use and display his stock ( now being added to ! ) Totally from my imagination ( but inspiration from other small O layouts on RMWeb) and what I'd enjoy the most. This is really growing on me now, and I do look forward to working on it as often as I can.. each time, bringing me a smile and fond memories. So the mission is well on the way to being accomplished. ;o) Thanks to all for the on going encouragement. Cheers Steve

Ok, advice sought please... I am slowly succumbing to thoughts of buying yet another Heljan Railfreight Class 26 loco..(the pre weathered version 26 025). This is my personal favourite. Yes, I know I can get an un numbered one, but I do like the pre-weathered version.. especially as I am totally inexperienced in the art of weathering stock. Cop out, yes... but suits me... and a darn good price too... ( though the chip will have to wait till funds available) Clearly I don't want the same number so will want to re-number it ( if I proceed). Can you please advise the best method of removing existing numbers from a Heljan O loco ? I have read various methods, but none appear specific to the current Heljan O gauge locos, and I guessing that someone has surely done this already? Appreciate advice, thank you. Cheers Steve ps. ( yes... I now accept, one never has enough in this scale.. even with a small 7 foot layout . IT IS ADDICTIVE ! )