mwrosebury2000

This happened to me but it was a small screw driver. I took all the droppers off the bus bar and reconnected them, then took them off again. Was on the point of throwing the power pack in the bin when I spotted said offending screwdriver. That is 5 hours I wont get back. Or spending hour looking for something, giving up and buying a new one, getting back and seeing it on the layout next to where you were working. Another Doh! Is knocking a tub of ballast, scatter, paint over but that’s more clumsy than out else. Mark

I've been a bit busy with work and other commitments but I have managed to put the rest of the fencing around the station car park and weather the track from just before the level crossing to the other side of the viaduct. I have also put some really tiny wire from the SB to the signal that is furthest away, I will do the rest when my eyes recover. Also been doing a bit of sorting out and got rid of a big box of cardboard. I need to find the benches for platform 2, I have put them in a safe place (big mistake) and get on with painting people. Mark

I turn the can upside down then spray until no paint comes out, works for me but you can run out of gas before you run out of paint. Mark

Try these http://www.modelsignals.com/mse_home.htm https://www.wizardmodels.ltd/ http://www.51l.co.uk/51lmain.htm hope that helps. Mark

I’ve finished the point rodding, the footbridge has been built. I have also built and painted the farm house. I added a Sky dish and TV aerial and I have also put telegraph poles up the road to the farm. Once I have finished platform 2 I will start work on the farm yard. Mark

We could make things last longer but why would we when we can sell a phone, computer, washer indeed most things then sell you a brand new one in 12 - 18 months with some new gadget that you MUST have that was designed about 3 years ago. Capitalism has run on throw it away and buy a new one (even if it aint broke) for years, I just cant believe that it's a conservative government that is taking action... what next Lib Dems for brexit? Corbyn for war? the world has changed so much... Mark

Some pics of the signal box interior, a few windows, a desk and a light inside the box to do before I put the roof and gutter on. I have also done 90% of the point rodding from this box. Mark

When I am building a layout 2-3 hours a year will do me to check that it works. When it is complete I can run trains for up to 10 hours (with bathroom and food brakes). The timetable for my current layout is based on a 24 Hr period but most movements start at about 0500 - 0530 and die down after 23:00 with more trains running at peak times. During the night there is just a couple of freight trains plus engineering trains that aren't on the timetable. It has been designed to have 1 - 5 operators with signalling, shunting and driving trains so that everybody can do something that they enjoy and can change jobs to stop boredom. With platform alterations thrown in it could take many hours to run through that 24 Hr period but at the end of the day it comes down to rule 2 - It is a hobby, it must remain fun. If a running session is boring it is too long. Mark

Just had a look at these, it states the size in the listing and for the price alot cheaper than other alternatives. Things on the real railway often look wrong at scale for some reason, so they are probally true to scale (I dont work on OLE and dont fancy trying to measure it so will leave that to the experts). I am going to be ordering some of these if they look right then they will stay, if not they will go. Until I can buy a warehouse and quit my job I will continue to have compromise on my OO layout. Mark

Not had much time for modles due to work. I have added the carpark surface and level crossing (just need to put the gates in). The track for platform 2 has been raised so that trains are right for the platform. Point rodding is coming along but is taking ages to do. The fishplates have been painted rust colour and will be "oiled" when the latest bit of ballast has dried. Got a bit more of the cellar sorted to. Mark

Bridge number has been added, as well as the siganl ballance weights and some ballast untill I ran out (now on order). The fence posts are up and I just need to add the wire to the fence. Cosmetic fish plates have been added across the viaduct on both lines through the station. I have made some anti trespass bars to stop those pesky dog walkers. I have built a signal gantry for the other end of the station and installed the power cables to the signals. I still need to finish the fencing at the other end and put platform 2 in place, then maybe start work on the switch pannel. A job for next week I think. Mark

Dry stone walling has been painted along with the stone on the viaduct. I couldn’t find a RTR Dogfish so I have tackled my first kit. It’s not the best but I’m quite pleased for a first attempt. I have a bridge number to add to the viaduct and a bit of ballasting to do. I have started to add the point rodding and I have some signal balance weights (I think that’s what they are called), these are made out of brass and I only had plastic glue to hand so wouldn’t stick to the signals, I will get some super glue this week. Any questions just ask. Mark

I have been busy adding some detail such as station signs, ballast, posts for signal wires and cosmetic fishplates. I have also made some point rodding that will run down the other side of the station and some signal pulley wheels. Weathering will be added in due course. Mark

Here is a couple of picture of the platform, signs, benches etc will be added before the canopy & building is put back on the layout. Mark

I have done quite a bit of tidying up in the cellar and I have started to add the fencing to one of the preserved stations. Fencing for the car park has also been cut and will be added once the surface is done. I have also got a signal kit to build. Mark

Droppers? I thought you would be building your own live steam system. Keep up the good work and all the best for the new year Ron. Mark

Happy New Year to you all, i'm not going to make a modeling new years resolution as I never stick to them but I will outline what I hope to achive over the next year. I hope to get a couple of Dogfish for the layout and complete the raised section of the layout, building scenary the lot. I want to get the cellar floor finished and tidy. I want to get the signalling on the preserved section done and the train dectection installed on the main layout. Also want to connect all the droppers for the track. This might not sound like too much but with a full time job, working at a heritage railway, bee keeping, growing fruit and veg as well as keeping my wife happy I think I have my work cut out for me. Mark

Looking good, where do you get the components from? Mark

I have a drone with a HD camera, I use mine to keep an eye on my woods, its amazing what you can see from the air that you just can't see from the ground. I haven't used mine to film trains but I have used it to locate livestock on a farm, I can check an area in about 2 min that would take over an hour on foot. I would be able to film a railway at the required distance but why would I bother? I would rather look at the trains than looking up at the drone and then viewing it later on a screen. I am aware that drones have been used by theives to ID targets and by people spying on others or just messing about in bulit up areas / airports etc. I would like to see licensing come in as long as it isn't used by people as the next money making scam and I know the idiots of the world wouldn't bother to get a license and would get a drone even if they are banned so come on lets have common sense on this one.

So is this collection complete now? and how many models are in the collection if it is complete? I joined later than some on here so still have a few to get that I know of but they told me last month they didn't know how many the total should be. Does that make sense or have I been doing too much at work again? Mark

I have used Tesco value hairspray in the past and it worked well but I had to clean the rails after. As for smell I can't comment. P.S. Hairspray stinks (& is prob bad for you) so make sure that the windows & doors are open. Mark

I have painted the signal box and I am now working on the interior. The lighting on the platform has been connected and tested. Mark

A couple of pics from the other week. The station is made from Hornby with the holes filled in and the surface has been painted with a tarmac colour paint. I have added a 3rd column to the middle of the canopy, I had to make a hole for this one. The canopy has been trimmed so that a building can fit behind it. Slaters brick has been put over the (oversize in my opinion) Hornby ones. The whole thing has been painted, I still need to add the mortar to the bricks and weather it. I am happy with the result so far. Wire will be added to the pylons as well as the danger of death signs to bring it to life. The signals are from the Dapol range the signals on the approach to the station will be custom built. Mark

Got my controler back from Gaugemaster, what amazing customer service they have. I have run a few trains over the layout and it all works as it should. The midway station is coming on really well, canopy has been installed and the lighting has been done and is ready for connecting. I need to add the benches, bins and people then fencing will be added. I have put some signals in on this line now and you can get a bit of a feel for how it will be when complete. Signal box and point / signal cables etc to go in next, then I will add ballast before weathering. Mark

The plaster board has gone up and the sound improvement is amazing. Cleaned the top of the rails after painting them. Connected up the power and desaster... my controler is bust, packed up up and i'm sending it for repair. I was hoping to give the layout a run before ballasting this section. Pylons have been built and are ready to be placed before the cables are added. Painted the canopy for the midway station. Mark