ColinW

Hi Chris, Just been catching up on your build of the signal box. It looks superb in the photos and will hopefully get to see it in the flesh, when its on DitD if I get to see it again in the south. Colin

Its amazing to see everything coming together. Your work can leave people speechless Ron Colin

As said in last post, we are starting the re wire of the layout, and part of this includes the building of a new detatchable control panel. I have been building the carcass of this, so that it is ready. You can see that it has 3 cover panels, 2 perspex and the other plywood. The perspex panels will have all of the layout controls (isolation switches point controls, uncouplers and signals), while the plywood is where the controller will sit. At the moment the perspex covers have not been attached to the box. This will allow us to do any remedial work on the layout without having to put the whole layout up in future. showing all covers closed showing the central panel open. Colin

Well its been sometime since my last post on here. We are now just about to start the work on the layout in the next couple of weeks. I have made a start on the new control panel, and will hope to have the shell finished next week, when I have some more time. Once my part in that is finished I am going to be making new bolt on areas for both of the 3 road fiddleyards. These are going to be increased to a foot in length, but they will also be sceniced to make it look natural to the layout. I will hopefully get some photo's as the work progresses. Colin

Have been following the build of the layout. The photos you put up this morning look stunning. Colin

Have to say Ron, the bridge looks fantastic painted in the grey, but agree could do with a bit of weathering for it to lose that 'newness' look!! Colin

Yes, everything was in place today. It was good to chat with Damien this morning (hope the M25 is behaving for your journey home Damien), and I will look to put some photos I took of the layout on here tomorrow. Colin

Good to hear you made it, will be looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow. Colin

If this is said tonight, can I expect to hear the groan/scream from Epsom to Kent? Colin

or the rolling stock? Colin

Guess what will be loaded first. Looking forward to seeing all the layout this time. Colin

Have been fortunate enough to see this layout 3 times at exhibitions (Orpington, Erith & Tonbridge, although as I'm a club member of Tonbridge, the last one should be no surprise!!) and it is a great layout to stand and watch at a show. Colin

Hi Ron, 1. Balancing over any layout can be nerve wracking (especially if its not yours), but after the work you have put in must be at least 3-4 times worse. 2. Having seen the way & speed you have worked at, I'm sure that the list will shrink quite rapidly with whatever you will be working on at the time. It's amazing how much you have done, if I haven't looked at the thread for a few days. Colin

Hopefully I will get to see all of the layout then, and nothing is left behind this time Colin

Hmmmmm...just think about if they did this for real, with the designers and engineers watching, which one(s) would be the most nervous!!!!!!!!!!!!! Your work continues to amaze Ron Colin

Paul, not only is the Angel Centre above water, it didn't get touched by the flooding at Christmas either, Tonbridge itself is above water (so far ) We look forward to seeing you and the layout on Saturday. Colin

Matt you make the mistake in thinking people read the show guides. The number of times I have had that we didn't realise there were other halls (or upstairs) when they walk round, despite numerous signs to indicate this, or stewards to ask. Colin

Sorry to hear about your health problems Ron, but good to hear you're on the way to recovery now. Colin

Having caught up with your recent work Ron, I really shouldn't be surprised at how good it is, but it is stunning Colin

A bit of an update on the layout. First the bad news, the central board of Avon Junction, which has the control panel on it, was caught up in the flooding that affected Tonbridge over the Christmas period. At the moment it doesn't appear to have affected the scenery very much and we should be able to repair it. For the electrics see below. Following on from the Broadstairs exhibition at the end of November, we have decided to do a complete re-wire of the layout, and this will also include replacing all the remaining point motors with Fulgurex motors, and we also intend to have a removeable contol panel and this will also allow us to test boards from the control panel, without having to put the layout together. The work will take place later this year, when we have more time available to us. Colin

Having seen Drewey Lane at Tonbridge & Beckenham the other week, it was great too see Shelfe Street in the flesh over the weekend at Broadstairs, and to chat with Stu. Colin

The weekend at Broadstairs proved to be very mixed, with Gremlins striking everywhere on the layout causing lots of problems and headaches for us, especially on the Saturday. Sunday was better, but it has got us thinking for the future, and we will let you know what we want to do once we have had a chance to think about it. Colin