1977joey

Hi Everyone, Work on the south end of the layout is continuing apace. The football ground is coming on well, I have completed the east stand & thought I'd post a couple of pictures of it's current state. This is during construction. To give the impression of seats & isles, I just painted the card & marked it out with black fineliner...this won't be as noticable once the roof is on & the building is complete The rear of the stand showing the entrance area. The east stand with it's canopy attached..the other stands are yet to be completed Meanwhile, over at the station... 47403 'The Geordie' is ticking over on the loco stabling point waiting to take over a parcels train from Manchester to Bristol A 4 car Class 101 ticks over on Platform 5 with an all stops via Hereford to Cardiff Central A 150 Sprinter is out of service at platform 3 but will form an Aberystwyth service a little later Cheers for now, Mark

Many thanks Mealangoose Hi Everyone, well just a short update. With most the station & Railway street pretty much complete, only requiring one or two small details & finishing touches, attention is now turned to the south end of the layout which needs a fair bit of work. The embankment on which the 'Abbey' stands is in dire need of detailing & also the large area behind Shrewford no1 box needed filling with something. This I've decided on a football ground which will be a loose representation of the old Gay Meadow what used to be at Shrewsbury. I've started constructing the east stand using thick white card... This picture showing the scene so far.... so lots to do to with this end of the layout over the coming couple of weeks. Cheers, Mark

Thanks Grimly, just what I wanted to do was create the atmosphere I remember from the late 80's Cheers Mark

Cheers Paul, Ive thought that myself to be honest. The belisha beacons were actually scratch built off a previous layout... but I will look at getting a more to scale representation. Cheers, Mark

Also a couple of shots from yesterdays InterCity 125 service from Swansea to York (With modellers licence i've pinched it from running via Birmingham & instead via the Marches route) Cheers, Mark

Hi Everyone, My first time posting on here since it's all changed. Just an update on Shrewford. I've been adding lamposts to 'Railway Street' & also the carriage sidings. I'm planning on creating a representation of a football ground behind No 1 signal box once I get the materials together. First up is a picture of Railway Street. I'm yet to add the phone boxes next to the Taxi rank & also road markings. An overall look down on the station showing the in progress layout.. Now the carriage/DMU sidings which now have lamposts fitted from P&D marsh Seen is a 4 car Class 150/1 Sprinter which is being cleaned & watered ready to form a Pwllheli service A Class 47 is on the Loco siding receiving some fitters attention A look at the station showing tucked away on platform 5 a Network SouthEast DMU on loan to Tyseley forming a stopper to Wolverhampton Cheers for now, Mark

Hi Everyone, As I've been on earlies this week & now on rest days, I've had the chance to populate the station & run some trains. Still running slowly along Platform 7 until I attach the clear plasticard sides which I'll be doing next. I have lamp posts on order too from P&D Marsh for the street in front of the station & also for the holding sidings next to the station. The area behind Shrewford No1 signal box & where the Abbey stands needs major attention next. in this area I'm thinking of making a representation of a football ground (like the real Shrewsbury's old Gay Meadow) so watch this space... 47535 approaches Shrewford with a service from London Paddington (With modellers licence I've extended the old Paddy-Wolves service) past No1 signal box, & the area behind which is full of modelling debris The train is routed into Platform 3 instead of 4 this evening due to a Sprinter 150114 which was undergoing fitters attention on a delayed service to Chester A look along the populated Platforms..another 150, 150128 has arrived at platform 7 & terminated from Chester, looks like this may turn around & go back to Chester if 150114 can't be fixed over on platform 4 150114 is now declared a failure so all passengers change & board 150128 at platform 7b for Chester, the service is now 20 minutes late Cheers for now Mark

Hi Everyone, I have got round to constructing my signals. These are completely none working. I purchased CR signals for the heads & framework & really pleased with how they look...maybe one day I'll have the bottle to create working signals ha! Here are some pictures of the signals & also my scratch built signal gantry for the north end of the station... The signals controlling moves from the south end of Platforms 6 & 7, all are fitted with a fake route indicator The gantry controlling moves from the north end of the station, platforms 3 & 4, & also the single signal controlling moves north bound out of Platform 7 Framed by the gantry is a Class 31 on a parcels service bound for Manchester More updates to come... Cheers for now guys & Merry Christmas to you all Mark

Would love Class 117 DMU to be done, much needed as it could also lend itself to model other types such as the class 116 etc.. i'd definitely grab a couple of Blue/grey one's Cheers, Mark

Hi Everyone, Just thought I'd post a few pictures from the other day when I gave the trains a bit of a run, tho I only run the trains slowly along Platform 7 as i'm yet to add the lip alongside the board just in case of any derailment. this will be the same as last time with strips of clear plasticard glued alongside, this has worked well in the past 7 is on my next 'to do' list after I've constructed all the signals. I have also started work on the signals, starting off with the gantry for the north end of the station controlling moves out of platforms 3 & 4. These will be completely none working, I'm just happy with a good representation. Maybe in time i may go for electrifying them. I have purchased dummy CR Signals (3 aspect) for the signal heads as these are an excellent representation. I'm using painted pin heads to represent the bulbs & they look really good. Here are some pictures... An overall view of the station showing a Class 25 at Platform 3 on a parcels service that has terminated, waiting for the signal for shunting the stock to the sidings, while in the bay platforms a 2 car Class 150/1 Sprinter waits at platform 5 with an Aberystwyth service while a 4 car DMU waits at platform 6 with a Cardiff all stops via Hereford Meanwhile a 3 car Class 150/1 in revised Sprinter livery has arrived at platform 7 with a chester to Birmingham New Street service & finally the in progress signal gantry for the Chester end of the station Cheers for now, Mark

Thanks for the kind comments Steve, glad you like it ☺ Cheers Mark

Cheers Graham, I havent thought about that just yet in all honesty... but will look at most likely in the future

Cheers Lmsforever, hopefully won't be too long before the next update ☺

Cheers nharding99 for the kind feedback. Its those days mid to late 80's that got me inspired ☺

Hi Everyone, Thought it time for an update. The station itself is now nearing completion. I've built the canopies for the bay Platforms, printed off the signage & also the dreaded ballasting of the track. Signage printed out imitation lighting with the name attached to look like the 1960's style lamps fitted under the canopies I then had a brainwave thinking about the retaining walls pack I purchased, the tiny round pieces that hold the model together look a little like PA system speakers, so as there's a fair few of them...I chopped them up then this is how they look under the canopy! The bay platform canopies in situ station signage at the north end Then as of yesterday, I completed the Passenger information monitors aswell as fit the platform lamps (by knightwing). these are very fiddly to make but well worth the effort once they are in place. Now i need to populate the platforms, create a lip along the edge of the board next to Platform 7 to prevent any would be derailment causing a train to fall to the floor & sort out the area behind Shrewford No1 signal box.... so these pictures are from yesterday... The Customer information monitors ready to be mounted & a view showing the back of the 'Arrival & departure' screens what passengers see when they arrive at the top of the stairs from the subway Then a zoomed in shot of platform 4 showing a 2 car Class 150 Sprinter on the all stopper to Crewe Now looking at the south end of the station with the platform lamps in place. The signals are scratch built none working using knightwing traffic light heads..tho I am thinking of replacing these with something more accurate in the near future. & finally a zoomed in shot showing a Chester based unrefurbished 3 car class 108 DMU at platform 6 with the Wolverhampton stopper Cheers for now... Mark

My thoughts exactly regarding the Mark 2f's. I have 2 rakes on order which have gone up twice since as we are still awaiting them...god only knows how much they will be when they finally reach the retailers & if I'll be able to justify the price. Just gutted they haven't been produced the same time as the OO coaches before the issues at the factory in china. Cheers, Mark

Bit concerned not to see the Mark 2F Air cons on the list? I would have thought they'd be out soon as the OO verions are now available Hope they're released before another price increase on them .... Cheers, Mark

Hi Everyone, As it's gone a bit cooler from that crazy heatwave, I've managed to have a bash at getting bits done to Shrewford. Mainly concentrating on the Red Star Parcels office & also the Railway bridge at the Chester end of the station. Instead of cutting through the board, as before, I've made an illusion as if the road dips to go under the railway, & putting a tin foil screen to create a mirror effect which was suggested by someone on the forum before.. Here are some pictures of the latest progress... First a look at the new Red Star Parcels office to the right of the main station building The I begin the screen for the Railway bridge Construction begins with Brick card by Matcalf A look from what the Bridge looks like from the street & from the other side as an empty stock from London Euston departs platform 4 Still bits to do to completely finish off this area... Cheers for now, Mark

Hi Muddy water, yes they are 2" nails, & they give strong rigid support to the canopy Cheers, Mark

Hi Everyone, Time for an update, despite the spare room being too hot at the moment, I've managed to crack on with the station platform buildings. I wasn't happy with my previous efforts so decided to purchase the Metcalf Warehouse. I chose this because of it's victorian look & thought about hacking it up & creating my station Platform buildings. The one on the island platform 4 & 7 is big enough to house staff accomodation, male & female toilets & the Buffet & bar. I didn't want too bigger building on the island Platform as it just hides the trains...as nice as buildings are. I wanted to keep much of this platform 'open' tho considering passengers needs in real life The building along platform 3 is just a facia that attaches to the back of the main station frontage building. As this platform is lightly used passenger wise, it houses Staff messrooms aswell as the red star office & station managers office. The train announcers office is also located on this platform... So here is how it is all looking so far... 1st up, i hacked up the Metcalf factory into suitable sections The island Platform building ready to be glued together & finally the almost complete facia on platform 3 Cheers for now Mark

Many thanks 37083 I wanted a large station and carriage/DMU sidings in the same space, the curved points helped me achieve that Cheers, Mark

Hi Everyone, I've completed Platform 3's canopy this evening so this is now in place on the layout. The next job after these is to add the final details to them & adjust the supports to make them completely level. I also need sort out the area around the station front, resurface it with slab effect card, & box in around the main station building. I then want to get the ballasting done before adding the 'butterfly' style canopy's down the bay platforms.. Here are the pictures of Platform 3 canopy now pretty much complete... Cheers, Mark

Hi everyone, Well almost a month past since the last update, but slowly & surely I have been constructing the Platform canopies for the north end of the station. This time I've gone for a more complex design, similar to the ready made design available from Metcalf kits, but I wanted a bash at making my own out of thick card & clear plasticard. The design I've gone for is similar to that of the real canopy that covers the real Shrewsbury station at its north end, albeit without the tapered slant towards the edges which would have been too difficult to achieve with these materials.. This was time consuming enough to construct but well worth the effort Here are some pictures of how it looks so far.... Construction begins... I then mark out where I will attach each 'segment' of the new canopy roof The first segment is glued into place ...Followed by more segments... until all segments are on & & the sides made from card & slaters canopy valance are glued on & finally placed onto the layout, some adjustments need to be done to get them properly level The canopy along Platform 3 is yet to be finished Cheers for now Mark

Hi Everyone, Over the last week or so I've managed to get the platforms constructed. I've always used the metcalf one's as they're solid once done, tho this pack I've not been too impressed with the adesive flagstone platform edging which has been lifting since it's been added on, so will have to glue it down in places. Now all the main work is out the way such as the track plan, track pinned down & platforms are now done, I can start work on the platform canopies. Here is how it looks as of today... A fair way to go before proper train operation can commence.... Cheers, Mark

Hi Rhys, Only just found this thread & really likeing it Looking forward to seeing it develop. Loving your station plan & era that its set too... Cheers, Mark