TEAMYAKIMA

So am I ! Joking apart, I have been concentrating on getting the wiring done. I have my first test 'showing' at the CMRA Modellers Day on July 23rd and it HAS to be working in order to get an invite to the CMRA show in January... so wiring/testing is the priority for the moment. But will post some photos ASAP.

Hi Al I'm progressing several things at the same time .... wiring, ballasting and working on stock. Over the weekend I found two sections of damaged track ... PECO code 83 is very fragile! Repaired the track today and experimented with some ballasting in the yard area - will post a photo tomorrow.

Here are the latest photos from last Saturday's work day .... lots of progress made! Details and captions to follow!

Here is the latest view of the same loco Before.... After....

Hello Luke Yes, I have removed a lot of the grime on the wheel centres as per post # 309 but have now also taken much of the grime off the tender wheel rims .............. will post photos when I get home TMC's method would work well with standard black spoked wheels (eg British) but these red wheel centres combined with white wheel rims are a problem for them using their techniques. I used standard 'turps' and a cotton bud to get the grime off but BEWARE when I rubbed too hard the red paint came off as well and the basic molded wheel centre is white :-(( Getting this used but cleaned look is quite tricky... even heavily weathered locos have relatively clean wheels and that can look odd on a model ..... it might be correct but to the casual observer, who doesn't know much about Chinese steam, it can look wrong

The Russell Road houses which form the backscene to the layout are progressing - but there are a lot more to do!

And here are the latest images of the layout.... New drainpipes and signage on the main station building... New yard gates.............. The bay platform gets a nameboard and more fencing gets fitted............

The Addison Road group have been on the road, spreading the word ..... Peter and Grant had a display at '101 NOT OUT' a skills day organised jointly by the Scalefour Society and the EM Society ....... yes we know they are 4mm modellers !

I think this is what you're asking about............ Unfortunately, it is a one-off scratchbuilt prototype made by one of our team (Graham Barker) - it's still under evaluation, but isn't commercially available. Paul

Ok ........... this is a 'state of the nation' photo as of March 1st ........ these are scenic boards 3 & 4 (of 4) and everything you can see is fully wired and operational including uncoupling magnets and trains have travelled from one board to the other. There is a very small amount of tidying up to do with the wiring underneath board #4 and some ballasting to do on board #3 but otherwise I can move on to board # 2 which I will today. The two parallel tracks through the middle with a DF4B diesel are the two China Rail main line tracks. The track that curves into the scene is the regional semi-autonomous bi-directional line The track that curves and climbs off scene is the industrial line with some coal gondolas parked in the loops.

Ok ... will get back to you with full details

Ok, have tracked them down They are actually 4mm lamps with an optional extension to make them taller. The ref # is DML-LMSO. I will track down some detailed photos and post them.

Great stuff - let's hope it encourages more D&E enthusiasts to join and we can get a 'modern image' layout - railways didn't end in 1968!!

Yes, they are DCC Concepts.... I can track down the catalogue number for you. From memory they come with an optional extension which makes them taller which is what we've done to make them suitable.

I've been ballasting and wiring the scenic section. Here is scenic board #4 (of 4) but viewed from the operator's side. A DF4B with 3 coal gondolas enters the scenic section ....

Last Saturday's work day saw our member who lives in the USA making a welcome visit and we got him painting the down platform Keith and Grant adjusted some conductor rails..... And Pat added some super details in the signalling department .... Some yard fencing appeared .. and some bay platform lamps ....

The pace of progress quickens - the READING SHOW beckons! Our signal engineer (Pat) has been at it again - and this is the most iconic of Addison Road signals - the Down Starter. Yes, it all works .... or will do when the servos are fitted. And yes that's Pat himself!........ Fully detailed ...... Meanwhile others are installing the hoardings..... New etchings have arrived for the Russell Road houses which form the backdrop to the layout.... The first one is assembled and ready to be fitted ............

I'm sure you're right, but I doubt if the national press will give the whole picture - my guess for the headline would be 'Hornby hits the buffers!' ... many won't read the small print about management mismanagement.

To have 'Hornby goes bankrupt' splashed all over the press and TV would be a PR disaster for the hobby as a whole. Even if the hobby could survive without Hornby, and it certainly could, the perception amongst many potential modellers would be that the hobby is in terminal decline ..... and no-one wants to be associated with anything seen to be in decline

Have been wiring recently - not very photogenic! Also have been working on that weathered JS .... only on one side as all my locos will face the same way I simply haven't go the time to work on the side that the public won't see. So here is the side the public won't see ....as professionally weathered .... not a criticism of the person who weathered it , just that I think the wheels are too heavily weathered.... And here is the side I've worked on....

ok .... update Cross board wiring .... still a work in progress..... Jumper will store something like this.......... Weathering .......... disappointed with the red wheel centres (too heavily weathered )

Hello Kev I'm very happy with the ballasting The weathering? It's by TMC ................. it was a test ............. not too sure about it ............... the wheels are far too weathered .... even heavily weathered locos had reasonably clean wheels .... this is a close up of one of the photos I sent ... wheels dirty but clearly red Wiring? ....... that was a very early photo of that cross-baseboard link ..... will post updated ones tomorrow ..... I think this first photo gives the wrong impression. Thanks for your continued interest in my project

Progress made on several fronts....... Trial ballastings ........ Trial weathering...... Trial cross-board wiring

Hello Allan They are all Preiser Paul