SparxD428

Been tidying the station overbridge that hides the main scenic break today and when complete will post a pic or two. Also been out and bought some materials such as foamboard and card in order to make a start on the street scene next to the block of flats, which still need finishing. Spent a couple of hours finishing the final set of stairs down to platform 1 this morning and these now just need painting. And to cap it off had a well earned 30 minutes running a couple of trains and shunting some oils into a speedlink train as well as a short parcels. Took a few more pics as well. 50011 on a Plymouth-Padd service 08 with a better looking weathered bufferbeam idling 50020 on parcels, 33004 with the waiting return trip freight, DPU in the bay. Cheers, Stu.

I agree Peter, I need to work more on the underframes as currently they are a little too "black". I will probably give them a light wash with brown either thinned enamel or some acrylic mix in the near future just to break up the look. If I can get mine within half of what you have achieved with your fabulous 33's I will be very happy. Cheers, Stu.

A busy weekend again on the layout finally. I have completed the ballasting towards the station scenic break, so about 70% of the final ballasting on the layout is now complete. I have also tidied up one or two snagging jobs on the ballast as I saw them so overall the layout is looking a lot tidier. Last week at Fareham I purchased another Bachmann BG in Blue/Grey, second hand for a reasonable price, but I doubt it had left the box much. So today I have weathered that to go with the old GUV,as well as weathering the 08 a little around the buffer beams and ends to tone down the bright yellow it has been exuding. I have also taken a couple of pics using my work phone's camera, and I think they are vastly superior to my phone, even when reduced to < 1Mb to upload. There are a few detailing jobs to do from the overbridge to the platform ends but the layout is beginning to take shape now. A couple of pics from the works phone below showing 33004 and also the weathered BG in the stabling yard. Cheers, Stu.

Had a thoroughly enjoyable day helping out on Tidworth yesterday at the Fareham show. Thanks to Ian, Chris and everyone who came along to chat and see. Hoping to be free for at least 1 day of the Brockenhurst show coming up soon. Cheers, Stu.

Some more progress on the layout before I have to go on a work trip next week. I have built a small stores hut which is loosely based on such a structure that was at West Ealing in the 1980's next to the site of the old signal box as I thought it would look better next to the overbridge than another wooden hut. A little more ballasting as well has been done as well as some more work on the block of flats, and some on the fuel point. Need to really decide how I am going to get road access to the speedlink platform and what structure I will put there. Funnily enough the old milk platform at West Ealing is what I am planning to use as inspiration. Took a few pic as well Cheers, Stu. 50004 idles by the new stores hut 50020 on the fuel point 33004 by the shed and also a view looking in to the shed. And what to do here?? The next phase of the project.

More steady progress on the layout today. Some small advance on the ballasting has been done but that gets boring, so spent the rest of the day weathering up the speedlink goods platform, the stabling shed, the old Lima GUV as well as scratchbuilding a fuel tank from an anglicised TTA for the fuelling point. All in all a good days progress. Might even start on the brickwork for the block of flats this evening. As usual took a couple of pics at the end of the working day. Cheers, Stu Stabling shed weathering completed. Just need to add a few details now like drain pipes, other pipework and possibly the edge of a yellow/black wasp stripe depicting a roller or shutter door. Fuelling point with a new tank. Playing with positioning so this may change. Also weathered up the little hut to live here for the moment anyway 08243 with the better weathered GUV. I need to weather the 08 at some point but until I sort fitting better pickups that can wait. Difference between the factory BR blue and the weathered GUV blue is now obvious And finally an updated view from the overbridge looking towards the station

Another busy weekend with ballasting and some further work on the block of flats and the stabling shed. Have about 25% of the track ballasted now on the scenic section so progress is slow. Had a few snags to sort but seems to be working OK now. Had a little running session afterwards to check all 4 lines good as well as all crossings. Happily all is well currently. Took a few pics as well. Cheers, Stu DPU 55991 waits to cross off the main into the relief platform 50004 stops on the down main DPU unloading in platform 4. Stabling shed can be seen in the background now fully "plated" waiting painting and weathering. More structure work on the block of flats

Hi Peter, This looks like developing into a smashing little layout. Will be following with interest. All the best, Stuart.

Back from a week abroad with work and unfortunately I will be away from home in 2 possibly 3 of the next 4 weeks too, so any layout time at the moment is a bonus. Extended the test ballast area a little tonight. I am using 2 out of the bag shades of brown, trimmed with buff around the shoulders. I may yet the weather the track part to give it a little more consistency, but so far reasonably happy. Will try and get some more done over the Easter weekend as I do at least have that time off. Here are some lovely pictures of ballast ! Cheers, Stu.

Did some test ballasting on a couple of stretches last night which has only just dried so will hoover up tomorrow and post some pics. Unfortunately due to a schedule change with my new job I am not going to make Basingstoke this Saturday now. P'ah !

Slowly getting back in the groove with the layout, which is just over 1 year old since the first piece of wood was cut. So progress overall in the last 12 months has been pretty good. I have spent more time rail side painting so slowly getting there. About 25% of the rails in the scenic section to do now so on the home stretch. I have also weathered 33004 and added the Heljan snowploughs, although I haven't done the manufacturers build but instead cut the ploughs individually and glued them to the bogie either side of the coupling, and dispensed of the requirement of the centre plough as I am sure if I remember some 33's only had side ploughs, although not sure if 33004 was ever one with ploughs. Also I have shoe-horned a Bachmann 36-555 chip into my 08 and have this up and running, although i have yet to add extra pickups so lots of cleaning will be required. I have the bodyshell so tight I have a feeling it may eject itself under the strain or just crack in the centre. But for now she's holding good. I have also purchased some dark brown ballast to mix slightly with some buff as that dreaded time will be approaching once the rails sides are done. And finally, I will be at the Basingstoke show on Saturday helping Ian crew Tidworth so if anyone is going come over to say hi and have a drive. Just some pics to finish. Cheers, Stu. 33004 on Speedlink Freight - I added the ploughs after I had done some weathering so she has the look that says her home depot has just prepared her for winter. Passing the 08 with its stores van parked up in the short loop.

Been nearly 2 months since my last post and not a lot of work has happened on Acton Green due to work circumstances over the past 6 weeks. However onwards and upwards, they should be resolved soon so to celebrate this has arrived from Liverpool this morning So now with something new & shiny to look at I may start pulling the paintbrushes out and do what I should be doing (rail side painting). Cheers, Stu.

Now that is looking much better than Dapol's efforts !

Been busy again. Some scrubland has appeared at the front of the layout by the down main, and also a points control panel has been built. I wanted to keep it small and simple rather than overbearing, so it is just a simple piece of MDF with thin frames approx 9in x 4in size. Next I designed the diagram using paint, and printed off on to 6x4 photo papers (scaled to fit across 2 sheets). Due to close proximity I had to move some of the studs, which are just panel pins. After first soldering I discovered small 5A terminal blocks screw perfectly to the panel pins thus making it easy to wire for future removal and also cover the sharp pointed ends ! And it actually works beautifully so dead chuffed ! Also weathered a Railfreight van which will be the resident stores van, as there is no road access to the depot end so any supplies will be loaded at the opposite siding and shunted in when needed - just need to buy a chip and hard wire the 08 next up. Thought I would take a few pics too. Cheers, Stu. 1. New Panel 2. Weathered van 3. Scrubland inside DM 4. and of course some trains. 50020 arrives wrong line with van service for the bay whilst number 4 idles by the shed.

Looking forward to seeing the finished ED at Tidworth's next outing. Cheers, Stu.

I was hoping to get a lot of work done today on the layout having a free day. Having painted a stretch of rail and rewired a couple of point motors I decided to have a play, only to find constant overload on the controller. Continuity check proved a short somewhere, and I don't have power districts. Removed all stock, buffer stops, clutter, everything and anything and visual inspection of all dropper connections yielded nothing !! So started the laborious task of methodically disconnecting droppers from the bus and continuity checking until I located the section containing the fault. Found it though really have no idea what caused it. All reconnected and seems to be working again. Glad I made a dropper/bus map to help me, not one of the more enjoyable afternoon on the layout. Still , lucky I found it relatively quickly otherwise I envisaged days of cable checking and testing !! Think I'll leave it for the rest of the day now.. Hope everyone had a good Christmas and New Year. Cheers, Stu.

Merry Christmas Ian, hope you and all have a great one. Looking forward to catching up very soon in 2016. Cheers, Stu.

DCC sound has arrived at Acton Green. Shoe-horned a Howes(ESU) decoder into 50020 today. Had a little play and its not too bad, might need to tweak the settings a little so if anyone out there has Howes sound in their 50s would be interested in the settings for SV, Acc, Dec & TV. So the Operable Acton fleet is up to 5 currently. Hopefully not enough to distract me from continuing the layout build, particularly the monotonous work of painting rail sides and then worse than that, ballasting. I think that can wait until 2016 when everything else is done. Cheers, Stu.

Thanks Peter, thought I needed to chip up the Crompton to break the dominance of the Vacs just a little bit and I remember them occasionally on various freights on the WR main. All the old DC loco's safely away in boxes. Almost feel like I'm starting the collection again but will run with what I have for now. Cheers, Stu.

Purchased 2 more Decoders yesterday and now have both 50020 and 33004 chipped up. 50004 after severe attention is still suffering horrendous squealing and it appears to be coming from the drive gears inside the no.1 end bogie. So more attention required when I have some time to concentrate as stripped it out a fair bit last night but didn't want to split the bogie until I can see clearly how it comes apart. Finished painting the Platform 2/3 footbridge and also printed a couple more signs including a Do not alight here in a very tight space where the platform disappears under the bridge and a large end of platform Acton Green sign. Have now been able to run 4 trains on all lines and no problems touch wood with the electrics. Took a couple more pics too. Cheers, Stu. 33004 (showing incorrect 62 headcode) pauses with a short TTA train whilst 11 is on parcels duty Footbridge 2 now painted up and positioned with a canopy for company

15 out of 16 point motors in the scenic section now wired, leaving me only 1 short at present. So I think I may have to start building a panel soon. Also printed and scaled down a road disappearing into the distance for the bridge - not perfect but with so much going on in the corner the eye doesn't spot the join that much. Just need to put a retaining wall on the other side to really finish the effect. DCC still running well. ordered a Howes sound chip today. Maybe noise by Christmas, Cheers, Stu.

Earlier today I had a bit of time to do some modelling on the overbridge. Painting, weathering, anglicising all done today. Just now have to work out how to split the backscenes in a way that would seem to take the road away into the distance. More experimenting with printing or yet another bridge on a bridge option?? Quite happy with another refurb of the Hornby buildings and the scratchbuilt bus stop and printed signs. And of course an impulse buy yesterday at Alton Model Centre. Every London layout needs a Routemaster on a bridge surely. Even if route 11 is a little lost but not by too far so could be road diversions. Cheers, Stu. Routemaster and station. Tube station building is going to be separate in the background but can be accessed from Platform 4 of the station. Awkward corner backscene to deal with

Hi Rob, Actually I haven't , I will be doing colour lights. The semaphores were scratchbuilt for my last layout Westquay, and I have just been using them on this layout to get an idea of signal positioning when I get the colour light signals. Have been contemplating scratchbuilding a basic 4 aspect signal using LEDs just to see if it will look OK and save a few quid as I think I'm looking at around £25 a throw for off the shelf kits, which I probably will end up getting as the last items before ballasting! Cheers, Stu.

1x DCC Controller installed. 2 x Class 50 chipped with Bachmann EZ decoders 1A (50011 & 50031) i still have a heck of a lot to learn but CV's set on the 50s thanks to Ian (Temeraire) of this parish and test runs made. It blinkin works.! Have tested most lines , point sets etc. and all is OK so far. One scary moment with some overloads. Panic over when I realised it might help if I set the facing point the right way - naturally it was one of the ones still waiting for a motor. Did actually do some modelling as well earlier this morning. Started Anglicising a Metcalfe Kit recently distributed with well known magazine into the tube station. All this after sorting the print alignment on our printer to get better PQ on photo paper. Took a few pics tonight. Tomorrow may have a few hours to continue some scenic work. Cheers, Stu. 50011 stopped in the platform on the first test train on the down main After another working 11 potters about in the yard lines 50031 worked through earlier and sits on the fuel point Current state of the Anglicised tube station. Canopy continues round saying "Piccadilly Line" and also Underground signs are on the side of the low relief, just that they won't get seen from many angles.

Thanks Ian. Today I have been spending the Christmas money in Alton in advance. One Gaugemaster DCC02 Prodigy Advance purchased, along with 2 x 36-555 Bachmann chips which I presume are the latest revision (standard 8 pin 1A). I talked at length with Paul in the shop who is very knowledgable on DCC and decided I will start with the Bachmann chips and then when I know all my 50's are wired correctly might try a Zen one. So now I have some slight budget remaining for purchase of a sound loco when I see one I like. What time are you heading to Salisbury for? Its quite possible I could make an appearance. Cheers, Stu.