sf315

Great show really enjoyed my visit today. Well thought out space wise taking into account of the current situation. Thanks To the organizing team exhibitors and traders for a good day out.

The BNX wagon I have been building transfers being added and brake wheels just been glued into position.

More work done on the BNX wagon A bit of touching up paint wise and it’ll have gloss varnish applied ready for its transfers which in all honesty is basically wagon number weight and tops code. With a maintenance panel at the other end and a few electrification warning flashes on the cradles. All the transfers will come from Fox Transfers.

I’ve been running the layout for a while in Manchester mode This means I can use my 101 units in regional and the Blue SPT one that got transferred from Scotland when the 101 units last stand was in the Manchester area. Not much work done on the layout but enjoying running it.

I’ve been doing some more to the test build and added buffers coupling hook and brake pipes. Buffers and coupling hook are not the correct ones but I’ve used what I’ve got in my bits box for this as he knew the mountings for the buffers weren’t needed for O Gauge just a hole but he left them on the print by mistake. The coupling hook slot is to be altered to take a Slater’s or PECO sprung one on future prints.

I am at the moment doing a test build to see if a mates 3D printed steel coil wagon will build into a O Gauge model with a view to him making improvements and offering the model for sale as a kit or printed scratch aids. It’s a BNX ( tops code) coil carrying wagon portrayed in its later life when the hoods were removed the bogies he has supplied are from Connoisseur Models.

I should of gone to Marshlands as it became in 1977 but my brother went to Bradwell so I wanted to go there as well. One of the woodwork teachers at Bradwell was a model railway enthusiast and tried to get a school model railway club going but it came to nothing. I still see him at shows and still call him Mr Knight.

Yes know what you mean I attended Newcastle college and could sit in lessons and watch the train come down the branch watch the locomotive or locomotives (as double headed 25’s were often used) run round and watch it go off up to Holditch colliery. Wolstanton Grammar school which became Marshlands were the enemy as I went to Bradwell. Thanks Steve.

1979 and two DMUs pass at Milehouse Lane station with a class 121 single unit heading to Crewe while a class 108 is on a service to Stoke. Ive been giving locomotives and units a run round for a bit

Was thinking about some black wash over the lights to dim them a bit Nick.

Spent some time yesterday wiring the bridge street lights up. Pleased with the result. In the pic from above the dark area to the right has had a light put up but not wired as yet. Other jobs done this week the backscene buildings have been glued into place.

Just seen all this and thought I’d pitch in I’ve followed stock cars since 1973 and went to the first speedway and stock car meetings at the then new Stoke speedway in Chesterton ( it’s not even in Stoke on Trent it’s in Newcastle) as I live in earshot of the place. It’s all gone now as developers have moved in. Went to the 73 world final at Harringay and most since up till about 2000. went all over the country spectating even going over to Holland to spectate and along with New Bryford raced 1/12 electric stock cars. Have known Mick for many years. In the 90s till about 2014 was a mechanic for a friend who races formula 2. My avatar is SF315 which comes from my initials and Roger Spencer a F1 stock car driver who lived across the back from us and became a family friend 315 was his race number and mine when I raced model stock cars.

Thanks It’s great fun as modern architecture gets more flamboyant you can just let your imagination go if your going to do a city based minories type station With it just being DMU operation I’ve made sure the platforms can each hold a 4 car unit or obviously 2 two car units which can be isolated ( as the layout is not DCC). This gives many possibilities on operation.

I’ve got the layout covers off and it’s going to be set up and run as fingers crossed hopefully there’s two show possible invites for Lymebrook Yard towards the end of the year. Hoping the shows take place. Giving the layout a good dust and hoover off and a good clean of the track, attend to any scenery jobs and Have a run and a shunt especially the new stock that has been built

Busy glazing the backscene buildings. With being modern type buildings there’s plenty of glass so I’ve cut up clear packaging from a O Gauge Heljan wagon box and used that. Talk about recycling. Once glazed they can all be stuck down and further details can be added. The pic below I took last night of the layout in Manchester mode. It reminds me of days out in Manchester shopping and returning home on the rush hour services.

More work has been carried out and the buildings are starting to be glazed. More done the bridge and the backscene at the fiddle yard end of the layout. I’ve bought some Evemodel streetlights for the road on the bridge off Amazon as with lighting the platform that end is in darkness. The pic shows a view from the platform end.

I’ve had my 03,31and 37 from Andy Small who has weathered them and numbered the 31and 37. Not over done with the weathering just general service grime. Thanks Andy much appreciated.

Having a running session with the layout. Its in Birmingham mode so it’s Central trains. Chiltern trains has a service as well from London

Thanks for your answer I also asked the question on a Facebook page and they pointed me in the right direction. do the side frames come off easy or do they need prising off with a screwdriver or the like. Just don’t want to knacker anything.

A quick question to anyone who Knows A Heljan 37/0 one of the new ones how does the body come off ?? had a quick look and nothing looks obvious. thanks Steve

Have been working on the main building and its coming together now and most of it is glued in position. A modified Walthers platform canopy has been added to the island platform to give more protection for the passengers. Don't know if one can be added to the near platform as i think it'll block my line of sight when operating. The Ryecroft Arena name on the side of the building are wooden letters off Amazon and were sprayed black and glued on. just need to finish the beer terrace front off on the top and finish the capping on the walls.

More done on the station area waiting for some microstrip to arrive so can start the top capping strips on the walls

As promised an update of where I am up to. The first parts of the station building/ arena/ shopping complex are glued into position the cream parts on the backscene building are an Outland Models building on its side. The covered parts of the platform awning have had LED lights put under them for wiring up at a later time. There is a lot still to do on this end but pleased with progress so far.

Looking good Nigel you must be pleased with how the layout has turned out.

This is a bit spooky as was thinking this morning that I’ll get Ryecroft Arena out of storage and do some more on it. so yes an update is imminent.