Mr Pix

A happy G.S.D.

Hi all Made up some steel beam loads for my BDA bogie bolsters, they're made from 3 strips of aluminium with spacers between each beam. I've got enough for 4 wagons and they are a fair weight. Will need to Weather the wagons and find loads for three more wagons. Jez

Thanks.... it's made by a Gaugemaster GM706. It's a bit on the glossy side but it is the only one I've found with a Steel Works on, it comes in three sections each one is 3 feet. I think it's Port Talbot. Jez

Hi all... A little more progressive, added more of the works backscene along with some of the scenics trying to blend the shrubbery with that of the backscene. Stuck some more of the track down and attached some droppers. Added a new loco to the roster, got for a great price from Hereford Model Centre, a Hornby class 56 037 which is in construction livery for the moment, will change to Metals in the future. Jez

Hi all A little progress on the surrounding scenic area by adding some foliage and another embankment. Also put some stripes onto the depot door and railings, oil drums. jez

Hi all A bit more progress on the scenic area around the depot area. Need to put some stripes on the depot door and add some grime on all the structures. Will get the air brush out and have a try, I am a novice so will be trial and error. Thanks for looking Jez

Hi all Just placed some of the structures for the stabling point including the loco serving building onto the base board just to see how they look, pretty happy with the positions of the the individual structures, will add steps to access the upper shipping container office. Jez

Hi all A little more progress on the stabling point embankment, added some greenery and trying to blend the colours in with the foliage that is on the backscene. Added some concrete hard standing for the facility's structures to sit on and a cut out into the embankment where the fuel storage tank will sit. Jez

Hi all A little progress on the embankment that will cover the rear of the stabling point and hide the curve that goes off scene. Jez

Hi all A little progress on the embankment along the side of the depot, that will hide the line that goes off scene and loops around to the other side of the shed. I'm hoping to be able to blend the embankment into the backscene with using undergrowth to hide the 3rd radius curves. Jez

A little more progress... all track has been laid started wiring and working on more backscene. Thanks for showing interest. Jez

Here's a shot at Gascoigne Wood.

Here's a shot of a mix of Cawoods and British Fuels

The other 3 packs arrived today, giving me a total of 12. They look fantastic behind a coal sector 37. Jez.

They are very impressive and good value also, got 9 more on the way. They can be run in shorter rakes than MGRs so you don't need 20 plus. I'm waiting for some one to come out with a good mgr, not impressed with the Hornby version at all.

Hi all A package arrived today from Accurascale with a pack of PFA's. These will be a great addition to the layout, these are a fantastic model the printing is excellent and they have got the shade of yellow bang on. Looking forward to the three more sets I have on order to arrive, they look the business behind a coal sector 37. Jez.

One pack arrived today via Royal Mail. My first Accurascale model, Excellent ....very pleased so well detailed and ran very well, the colour of the containers is bang on. Can't wait for my other three packs to arrive. Jez Well done Fran and team!!

Hi all.... a little progress with one of the end backscenes. Will build up a curved embankment along the side of the depot that will hide the curves of the two lines that disappear through the cut out of the backscene. cheers... Jez

Hi Robert... The shed is 16'x4' and sits between the gable end of our bungalow and fence, protection from the weather and security along with a German Shepherd. The main base board is the full length and is above 18" deep looping round on about 4" just enough for a double line on the other side.

Don't plan on a fiddle yard, want to keep the amount of rolling stock to a minimum... rake of PTAs on order, two rakes of steel wagons for coils and beams of finished product leaving the works... BDA , BLA, BBA,VTG. One rake of PFA container wagons on order, will be used for imported domestic coal via the docks. Hopping for a new MGR hopper in OO, not keen at all with the Hornby version. Will wait for another manufacturer to bring out one..... its a no brainier will sell shed loads of them. Had far to much N gauge stock that never ran or sat in their boxes, had a full Dapol HST set hardly ran at all. Jez

Here's a short rake of PTAs heading through Newcastle with limestone for Lackenby. Can't wait for some Metals Sector 37s to go with theses wagons.

I was told by a relative who's been a contractor for decades for US defence industries to pay attention to a documents from the archives of the late astronaut Dr Egdar Mitchell. In this document, years after the events unfolded, two star Admiral Thomas Wilson US Navy, gives an account of how he was told about the existence of Special Access Projects (SAP) holding UFO material. This led him to search for these projects within the US Defence Establishment. He ended up finding the SAPs . However, after speaking to the SAP managers, he was denied access to these projects, despite his position as the (J2) deputy director of Defence Intelligence Agency. He was shown a list of names whom were to have access, he recalled that none were military or any politicians. Take it for what you want but President Eisenhower said in his last speech as president "beware of the military INDUSTRIAL complex". This coming from an retired 5 star General.

Hi all Progress so far.... Have completed the loop around the shed, have used curved points at both ends of the loop that access the yard to maximise the length of the sidings. They will be hidden at one end by an embankment to the rear of the depot and the other end of the layout will be off scene behind a road bridge. The track work at present is not fixed or completed still working out where to position the rapid loading structure and still testing to make sure that my rolling stock will run ok. Have 15 tippler wagons and 12 PFAs on order along with some BLA coil wagons so will wait for them to arrive before I start fixing down track and attaching droppers. Jez

This will be my first layout in OO for more than 25 years. I reached the point with Lackenthorpe which was in 2mm, where I felt I couldn't carry on with it any further. So I made the decision to start again but in OO with fresh ideas and enthusiasm. The layout will be fictional reception sidings operated on the behalf of British Steel in the early 90s for the dispatching of raw materials and finished products. The sidings will be at the entrance to a large Steel Works (backscene) that has it's own docks that imports large quantities of minerals which need to be transported to other sites via rail. There's so many more options regarding manufacturers of rolling stock for 4mm, compared to 2mm especially with the likes of Cavalex and Accurascale producing ready to run highly detailed models for decent prices along with the main manufacturers which offer so many options of rolling stock.I have 15 Accurascale PTA tippler wagons on pre order along with some PFAs container flats along with some Cavalex BLA coil wagons. Layout will be DCC with eventually sound fitted locos in the future. I'm fairly settled on a track plan, 6 through sidings with two of them for the loading of minerals....Iron ore and coal. Looking at a slimed down structure like the one that used to be at Hunterston!!!.....that was used to traffic ore and coal to Ravenscraig. A main line will run along the rear of the layout linking either end of the reception sidings and loop around the shed and a small three lane servicing depot will be at one end of layout for stabling of locos. Jez

A dog doesn't need to be loose in the garden all the time.. Our German Shepherd instinctually knows when there's unusual activity especially during the night, she'll bark aggressively which can be heard for quite a distance hopefully deterring any one. She has access to the whole house at night, so she can hear anyone approaching from any direction. My layout and stock is in a shed along side our bungalow close to the gable end so she will pick up ( smell, hearing ) on any unwanted activity yards away from our fence. She is a pet and companion first but would do anything to protect what she perceives as her territory and family.