SparxD428

As promised yesterday a little update with the work on the buildings and a few loco pics. The row of shops completed. Just a few minor detailing bits to add as and when The Zebra crossing is now complete and with railings (silver painted trimmed GWR fencing). Just the last buildings behind to be designed and constructed to finish this corner now. On the rails, 47593 finds itself working a short freight back northwards 50004 waits the road as L419 rolls past 50011 thunders down the main on a Plymouth Christmas additional whilst a Paddington bound service passes on the up. Cheers, Stu.

The Traction & Maintenance department have been very busy these last couple of days. The Lima 117 is now almost completed having had extra pickups fitted, final detailing and numbering added, destination blinds, wipers, lamp irons (all made from bits n bobs) and painting completed. Just needs a driver and driver door windows on 51398 as well as proper couplings to finish. Currently running really well at slow speed with the extra pickups for 30+ year old motor. 4 of the 50's had been exhibiting minor ailments and have all been serviced today. 50011 had the fan drive removed to resolve the squeal. The squeal on 50004 was caused by an axle bearing. 50031 & 50035 also serviced and running smoothly and quietly. In building progress the brickwork and windows on the parade of shops has been completed, so just needs the brickwork weathering before the roofs and minor detailing can be completed. Hope to get a few new photos up tomorrow. Merry Christmas and a happy new year to all. Cheers Stu.

Had the soldering iron and the spares box out yesterday and this evening. Gave an old friend a service and hard wired a DCC chip in to her. She's a little noisy but actually performs quite well given I had to remove expanded old traction tyres. Tried my hand at a little extra detailing one end as well as flushglazing with an old SE kit and making some wipers again from wills railing offcuts. Last seen on Westquay welcome back to the Galloway Princess interloping from Scotland. Although I was a 50 man had a soft spot for Scottish LL black headcode 47's and when I originally repainted/weathered/renumbered this example I was very pleased with the outcome. Obligatory photos of course.. 47593 waits for the road on the Gloucester-Paddington vans Off and passing through Acton Green Cheers Stu

Progress has been slow again due to work etc. but a visit to the model shop today for a few bits n bobs has woken me from my modelling slumber. Still finishing the shops and have a few items that need painting. A couple of BDA wagons purchased today as well as a few figures and a couple more chips and a couple of kits and accessories. Hoping to have a productive evening but did enjoy running a few trains again today Long range view of station from the central overbridge Rare view of the shed road with 55991 in residence A trainspotter has arrived on the layout trying to view the (out of shot) shunter under the bridge as 33004 idles. Cheers Stu.

I'll have my agent check if I'm available to help crew the show Platforms look absolutely superb mate on a serious note. Cheers Stu.

Been a while but not much progress in the last month although today a little work was done adding some more to one of the shop buildings and tidying up a few bits of scenery and ballast. 50004 has been released from Old Oak after repairs to the drive shaft. Evening test train run tonight 50004 Arriving at Acton Green Whilst 50035 tanks past The RA is given and 4 is about to depart Cheers Stu

Well luckily no further misfortunes on the way home for me as I half expected the Underground to be closed or Paddington to have been destroyed by a hurricane. Looking forward to the re-run when we can be derailed down the Ludgershall Branch. Great day though !!

A small package arrived today containing some more road vehicles and a pack of dustbins and covered skips. I have also been messing around yet again with the printer trying to create a better skyline behind the flats. Still not 100% happy but will do for now. Hoping to get the next 8 streetlamps planted over the weekend and maybe wired up, along with the signals, although with my wife organising a Halloween party for the girls and their friends I have a feeling Saturday's modelling time will be restricted. Number 4 has been towed away to works leaving 11 on its own waiting to run up to OC under its own power for attention A few buildings have popped up behind the flats. "New" road vehicles include a Moggy Traveller, a Triumph Herald convertable, Black FX4 Taxi, Black XR3i and Golden Capri. Liquid lunch has been had at the Lion. Don't think this chap is catching his bus back to the office any time soon. Whilst at the station 73137 waits with a short parcels for Eastleigh, with 117 and DPU on local services and 50031 idling on shed. Cheers Stu.

At least I don't have enough 47's to upset the 50 bashers so will just cancel trains instead !! Going to have to make a side project of Doncaster Works to keep up with all this intermediate attention required. Cheers Stu

Thanks Peter. My Class 50 roster which operates on this layout is up to 5 now , these all being the Hornby ones nos. 50004 / 11 / 20 / 31 & 35. I still have 3x Lima ones although these are not currently chipped, last seen running on Westquay about 2 years ago. Still on the lookout for some more of course and will try my hand at renumbering on the next couple I can get my hands on as I have the plates for Renown and also fancy transferring Agincourt plates from the poorly Lima one to a proper version. I am hoping when I open up 50004 this weekend it will be a simple fix. I always rated Number 4 back in the day over 35 although that may have been the familiarity of 35 turning up on me everywhere. (38 recorded runs behind the Ark - coincidentaally I was looking through an old moves book yesterday). I have the bug for getting these buildings done at the moment and am constantly adding little bits and making little changes here and there. I feel more satisfied looking at buildings in the background or at least the base structure rather than half cut up backboard and sky. Cheers Stu

Instead of spending my time off so far this week in the pub, I have spent it creating a pub for the residents of Acton Green so they don't have to go thirsty. They also now have a record shop, a clothes shop, a model shop, a jewellers and a chippy to improve their spirits although the residential side of those businesses needs a little bit of work. After dismissing the obvious "Royal Oak" pub name I have opted for the Golden Lion, although The Three Horns was considered based on Illustrious' crest. Here's the finished article on the workbench. Construction is from mount board with Wills flexi brick sheets and a lot of download & print images gleaned via Mr.Google in order to create that pub look. I opted for the hideous green over a more sober Blue or red paint scheme, and think I have overdone the weathering a little on the brickwork/windows, so the window frames will be getting a fresh lick of enamel to tidy them up at the weekend. Went for a net curtain look on the upper floor based on some images researched on the web although I'm not so sure now. This is the position on the West Ealing Road where the pub will sit although it hides the very nice low relief side view. You can see the larger parade of shops taking shape next door A thirsty punter heralds the arrival of his new local. On the traction front Old Oak Common have some work to do as 50011 has developed a squealing issue (probably the fan belt) and 50004 has actually decided to limp and stop altogether so I imagine this is a drive or shaft issue that needs investigating although for now they can wait. In further news I have detailed the dummy car of the 117 unit with buffer beam pipework , lamp irons and windscreen wipers built from offcut plastics. Will get some pics later probably after the drive car has had the same treatment Cheers Stu.

Hi Mike, I've just read through the thread from the start and am well impressed with your layout and all the detail. I had read some of it before as I remember thinking how good the track and platforms looked, you seem to have hit the look bang on. I like your quote a while back about the layout would be finished by now if you knew what you were doing! I think this statement probably applies to about 99% of us on this forum or involved in model railways in general. Have you turned down the volume on the FGW HST yet? Catch up soon bud, Cheers Stu.

More modelling today with so many things buzzing in my head to get started/completed/changed etc. I have concentrated again on the upper street scene today and spent many painstaking hours making roadsigns and printing out drain covers and double yellow lines as well as cutting up some photo paper for white road lines. Most of the items have been drawn in paint or downloaded from the internet. The drain covers and yellow lines just printed on to A4 and stuck down as I think they look better than me trying to paint them on. The Road signs and white lines are printed onto/cut from glossy 6x4 photo paper and I have tried as best as possible to scale them without being too exact although the large road sign may need slightly lifting. Also was going to start a Zebra crossing as I bought some belisha beacons a while back for this purpose, but do you think I can find where I put them?? Also did run a couple of trains after a track clean. As well of the obligatory picture taking. Keep Left signs to highlight the sharp bend and the first white line markings are now down. T-sign as well as double yellows and some drain covers just about visible. Also have a few manhole covers and small drain under the flats guttering. Give Way sign now in place Roundabout up the hill now has sign showing which way is which. Close enough geographically to reality for my liking And finally a couple of trains. 50031 on the fueller 73137 parked up for the weekend as well as L419, which now has Oleo sprung buffers, so the detailing of this continues steadily. Have a couple of days off at the end of next week so hoping to get more time on the layout whilst the bug is infectious. Cheers Stu

Sorry to hear of that decision mate. Maybe just pack it all up in boxes for the time being, close the door or put it all in to storage. Maybe one day you'll decide to dig it all out again. See you in a fortnight on the tour bud. All the best Stu

Trying to avoid running trains this weekend and actually do some work on the layout. I have had a rethink with the corner of the layout and found a suitable image with perspective which lets me place the Snooker club in a better location. Also I have done a bit more detailing on the newer flats with door buzzers and railings crudely added. As well as a street sign for "WEST EALING ROAD W3". They look OK in the background but close photography shows a few imperfections but they'll do for now. New location for Snooker Hall. The grey card represents where the buildings will fade in to the perspective image on the other side of the road The flats with their extra embellishments. Think a couple of plant pots would go well tucked in by one or two of the railings. Cheers, Stu

Thanks Mike. After last week I have the bug now to really crack on and get the layout closer to the finishing line. Although the trains do keep interrupting me ! Cheers, Stu

Whilst helping out on Tidworth at the Uckfield show this weekend picked up a couple of new items. Not pictured but now in the parcels rake are a new weathered Bachmann GUV and NCV BG. In terms of motive power, picked up an ex-Lima 73 which had been repainted and detailed as 73137 Royal Observer Corps. Hard wired a standard Gaugemaster DCC26 chip last night and it runs OK, just needs a little wheel and pickup attention. Also picked up the Ark from the show. One of the older ones which needs the chip wired in backwards but no great issue just have to remember that Forward is is backwards etc. Weathered the roof a little and painted white on the marker lights , headlight and ETH jumper The basher is happy he has a new beast to follow too. Hopefully will get some more time this weekend to progress with the lights and street scene. Cheers Stu.

Had a great time helping out on Tidworth with Ian, Mike, Paul and Gary at the weekend. Looking forward to the next one I can make. Great laughs , endless cups of tea, hot lunches and pub meal with a few beers. Cracking weekend, cheers all. Stu.

After almost the entire month of September away due to work commitments in Belgium and Holland tonight I dusted down the controller and ran a few services on the layout. Couldn't remember if I had posted about lights wiring but have got the first sets of lights done (station & road bridge). They are OK and add to the atmosphere for morning commuting or the last train hour but will be better when I get some more planted and get the signals wired. Hoping to have some time this weekend to do a bit more before off to Uckfield Show over 15th/16th October helping Ian (Temeraire) with Tidworth. If anyone's coming along to Uckfield come over to Tidworth and say Hi. Took a few obligatory pics. Cheers Stu 50020 waits on a stopping evening commuter with the headhanger coach returned to service HST crawls through on the up main Back to daylight HST and 50020 pass by the western end scenic break which is still awaiting development

Continued working on some buildings recently and they are coming along slowly. For now, they will do to help start filling the void that was the street scene. The flats have now been weathered and also i created some printed inserts for the balconies using brickwork pattern and simply just MS-Paint. Just a few snagging jobs on those and they will be complete. I downloaded a Kingsway free shop kit as a test and built it backed on card and mount board. I shunted 2 together and anglicised it a little to create a run of flats and shops with flats above, and added some pipe to represent drainpipes. Again snagging work needed but they are filling the background. I need also to create a small panel for flat door buzzers for them. Finally I purchased a Metcalfe Cinema kit and am very taken by it, though in 1980s style I fear that the Regal would have closed and a load of snooker tables would be inside, hence it is Acton Snooker Club. Took a few pics, not great but at least progress can be seen. Cheers, Stu The flats now looking more grubby With passing HST.. View over the road bridge And the Snooker club

Much more modelling today including painting and planting the rest of the station lights as well as a few more signs. Completed the embankment section mostly, just dotting a few bits of foliage and lichen around. Currently constructing the wall for the scenic break inner as well as the bridge itself. And planted the 2 remaining 4 aspect signals. I have opted not to add feathers to the relevant ones for the time being anyway. Took a few more pics of some late trains running tonight 50011 on a short parcels on the down relief about to exit the scene Side view of the new retaining wall and embankment with No.11 passing And view of rear of train showing the 2 new Up signals in place 33004 on a short trip freight on the up relief gets held at the signal check If I have time tomorrow I may try and complete the bridge section or wire up the station and yard lights. Cheers Stu.

I have been busy recently with some scratchbuilding of buildings for the town/road backscene as well as ideas of how to fill the space using perspective to hide the roads vanishing points. I have also completed the retaining walls now and just need to finish the 2nd scenic break bridge. I was in the middle of sculpting polystyrene for the embankment between retaining walls when this arrived... After an early derailment on the inside line (Down Main) across the lift section I was a little concerned only to remember I clouted in to it earlier in the day and dislodged the locking bolt !! Duly rectified and she runs fine on the inner line which to be honest is where she will spend most of her time running round. I need to tweak the DCC settings for slower speed as this is the first item I have ever ordered DCC fitted, so need to reprogram settings although with the second decoder in the dummy will check all current settings before messing around and killing the trailing lights. In total I have a 5 car set as 7 will probably be too much for this size layout and at present the new Mk3's are mix of Eastern & Western so will be duly renumbered long in the future. I also have some more platform and street lights to paint and plant before wiring. Unfortunately back to work next week and away for most of September due to work so making the most of the time now. A couple more pics Retaining walls done in this image now just need to finish sculpting and creating the embankment Cheers, Stu.

Looking fantastic Pete, I am loving that last picture of the 25 on departmental with the tanks in the siding , so realistic. Fantastic sweeping lines. Cheers Stu.

Been a little while but managed to get some time on the layout this weekend for the first time in ages. A complete track clean done yesterday followed by a little construction on the remaining retaining walls today has dusted off the cobwebs. Have a week off coming up soon so hopefully will have a few more hours to continue. Took a couple of pics as normal. 50031 rounds the curve where the final retaining wall and scenic break is under construction DMU on an up stopper with DPU on the fueller Down fast vac powered runs through Hope to update more and catch up with other posts soon. Cheers, Stu.

Another busy weekend on the layout has resulted in a little more progress. Some light grey infill ballast has been put round the curve and needs completing and weathering now that the 4 foot weathering has been completed on all of the scenic section. Last weekend I continued constructing the embankment and this is looking a little better now. Still have to finish off the retaining walls but getting there. However, most of this week and weekend has been spent working on the Lima 117 DMU now that it is running under DCC and performing OK for such an ancient machine. So, things I have done on the Lima DMU so far:- Repainted all the BR Blue Repainted the Yellow Ends. Flush glazed the cab windows by using plastic clear packing used on Peco points, and cut to (almost) perfect size by several trial and error attempts Used plasticard to reshape the headcode boxes to more realistic size and mix paint to colour roof grey. Painted the seating blue in the DMBS and TCL Made a "READING" indicator blind for the DMBS Painted most of the door handles/rails silver until I ran out of silver paint Painted the exhausts on the DMBS silver Put a couple of passengers in the DMBS (although I cant really see them..) Numbered the fronts "419" and put electriification flashes in windscreen Weathered the DMBS underframe a little. Added BR arrows and numbered DMBS-51356 , DMS-51398. TL remains with the Lima W59508 number Things I still need to do to the DMU:- Cut off the couplings at the fronts Fit proper size Oleo buffers and beam detail Make up and fit Windscreen wipers to screens Paint the seating in the DMS and tidy up the DCC wiring Fit another indicator blind in the DMS probably also showing Reading as destination. Add a driver in one or each cab Flush glaze the sides of each car. Add an "L" prefix to set numbers And possibly remotor it in the future and do the DMBS/DMS conversion but I think thats enough for now though I probably missed off a few things. So after such a list a few pictures to lighten the mood.. Cheers, Stu. L419 arriving at Acton Green with 51356 leading 50011 on parcels whilst 33004 / 50004 idle Work on the embankment / ballasting progress around the curve viewed from various angles And finally some more pics of L419