ullypug

Same thing isn't it

Evening Cap'n. It's a very laudable idea but not one I decided to pursue. I've firmly adopted the Bob Haskins method of modelling here - take a step back and see if you can still see the problem! It is EM after all so I don't need to worry about getting it all right . You're right in that the WC&P used off set dog spikes either into timber sleepers or wooden inserts in the concrete pots. There will a short section of this track formation at the left hand end of the layout as per the prototype.

All trackwork has been built and now the long process of painting sleepers and rail sides begins, before I can lay and ballast. Two and a half hours this afternoon has seen all the sleepers air brushed and one board's rails painted. I had the local EM area group round on Thursday so I built mock ups of the sheds and water tower to help visualise what the finished article will look like.

Have almost completed the bench building of the track work for Clevedon. The photos show the track work for the loco and carriage sheds. You can just about see the shed outline on the Templot print beneath. Not shown are the now completed plain line sections. The next stage will be final painting detailing etc before I glue to the baseboard and ballast. I have to admit building track on the workbench rather than baseboards (leaning over all the junk in the garage) is the way I'll be going in the future. Much easier. I've also now sussed the bridge arrangement at Lower Queens Road, courtesy of the Somerset Research Library/Records Office and the various series of maps that are available. This all means I can route out the course of the river with a fair degree of certainty that it's right. It'll all start to actually look like a railway once I get some ballast down so in the meantime, please feel free to use your imagination.

You can get Tiger transfers from Scalemodel transfers http://www.scalemodeltransfers.co.uk/

Well despite having a staycation the other week, progress has been limited somewhat of late. Must be the weather. It certainly isn't the football... A couple of jobs that have been floating around for a while have been done. I finally finished off the handrails for the R&H 165DE and duly applied a blast of ECC Blue. More painting required yet - it's way too clean but I'd like to have it finished before Scaleforum in Sept. The weathered silver bullets have been subjected to the same replacement ladder trick as per the clean one. Assemblies shown below duly primed. All turnouts for Clevedon have been finished and tie bars fitted a la Norman Solomon (copperclad with pins). These too have been primed though I ran out of grey hence the somewhat bright red. I'll spray these sleeper colour and paint the rails before I glue down and ballast. Oh, and I've painted the tops of the baseboards and finished all the leg stays too. Just got to fill all the slits in the copperclad track now (yawn). It all works electrically though. OK so I have done a bit - it's just spread around! and I won't mention the green Hymek acquired from Model Masters either...

Errm, I'm keeping quiet. Just the 10 shows this year. Fewer next year, I've got other layouts to build!

Very nice.

There are layouts that slope down to the back - Walker Marine is one that springs to mind. It's true that it does lend to a certain viewing aspect, peeking over the wall kind of thing. In your case though I can see how looking from the other side will work. Sidings at the back, trains in front acting as view blockers and breaking up the perspective. I certainly don't think it warrants scrapping in favour of another scheme. Good luck whatever you decide.

It's coming along OK. The last three turnouts are being prepped on the workbench. I couldn't resist putting the boards up and seeing how the track looks. I haven't actually measured where the various sub-assemblies are supposed to go, but you get the general idea. Once I've finished the turnouts, I'll overlay the trackplan on the boards and once happy, will make up the remaining sections. I haven't gapped all the copperclad yet (still have that joy to come) so no electrical test as yet. Wagon runs through fine though.

Hi there I buy the rail from C&L Finescale (occasional shows but very good mail order) and indeed use the standard EM gauges. I've previously used code 60 from PECO. Both rails incidentally are sold as 3rd /4th rail electric conductor rail but for light railways fit the bill. You can also use the standard bull head rail with copperclad if you wish.

I'm pleased to say that track building has started for Clevedon. Once I found my EM track jigs (haven't used them for 9 years...) and once I remembered what on earth I was supposed to do, progress has been slow but steady. The EM demo at the Bristol show has helped too - it is EM gauge track after all. In case you're wondering, it's code 55 on copperclad, which is the closest I can get to replicating the WC&PR's 'permanent' way. The check railed curve is only 540mm radius (can't remember the scale chain equivalent but it's accurate) of the original transfer siding around the back of the engine sheds into the GWR yard at Clevedon station. I'm going to make as much of the track as possible in 2ft chunks or so on the workbench, then transfer to the layout. Will be back on the EM stand at Bristol tomorrow for another dose!

Having taken the day off to get ready to take Wheal Elizabeth to the Epsom show, I've finally got around to putting up all the baseboards and taking a picture or two. My carpentry is never going to win any awards. Nothing in our house seems to be square or flat and my baseboards are no exception. Mark1 track plan has been laid to give a flavour. After the Epsom show, I've a break until it goes out to Scaleforum. The plan is to start trackbuilding on the Bristol EM demo stand next weekend and see how far I get over the summer. As it's flat bottomed rail on copper clad, it's quicker than conventional chaired track, though I am tempted to replicate the track spikes using staples this time.

Ta. Only about half an hour to fold up and solder the ladders and handrail. About the same to paint and spray over.

Photos of the Silver Bullet as modified now on my blog My link

Have had a play around with the Dapol Silver Bullet I purchased at York. Re wheeled with Alan Gibson disc wheels and replaced the ladder and handrail assembly with ladder etch from Model Signal Engineering and origami in 0.33mm brass wire. I've given it a light weathering blast with the airbrush. I'll probably add some drybrushed white and rust streaks yet, but probably not in time for the Epsom show this weekend. Any RM webbers are very welcome to come and say hello. Now the ladder's been trimmed back, the wagon is in gauge and fits under the clay slurry loading point on Wheal Elizabeth. Photos attached below.

No, but I've changed mine using MSE signal ladder etch. Will post a picture later.

They're my co-operators, Geof Sheppard and are converted Triang. We were trying out the slurry loading point. Unfortunately the Silver Bullet ladder fouled the platform so will cut the ladders off and replace with an etched one I've obtained from MSE.

Do I get a prize for the first P4 converted one? Saturday lunchtime at York...

Hi Josh993 Thanks for the comments. Wheal Elizabeth will be at Epsom (end April), Scaleforum (September), Thorncombe (darkest Devon in Nov) and Wigan in Dec this year. I've got other bookings all over the place until 2013. Heaven only knows what the layout will look like then (or me for that matter). I'll post some more piccies when I can

Evening all I've sorted out a shortage of fitted brake vans highlighted at the last show with a view for York next weekend. Always amazing what a deadline does. It was made up from a Connoisseur kit which has been lurking in the cupboard for ages. Sprung with Bill Bedford w irons and packed with lead. Also gave the R&H a run out this afternoon. It's a flight of fancy really but will end up being a works shunter. I'll probably paint it red (it's going to be called James) though it really should be blue or yellow. Boards are also ongoing for Clevedon. The main board is done and has a pair of folding legs which interlace and are contained under the board top. The other boards, being a variety of shapes and sizes piggy back off the main one. All board tops are done but not all the legs are finished yet, so I can't post a shot of the entire set up. Anyway, photos attached. Now back to the wheel cleaning...

Very impressive. You've got a good eye for colour too. Are there any photos of the rest of the layout anywhere?

I have finally started on the baseboards for Clevedon. The final impetus was spending an evening with half my Weston layout at a local village society meeting at Kingston Seymour last Saturday, meeting lots of people who travelled on the line. Also seeing a number of artefacts which were very inspirational. The jigsaw was duly applied to plywood on Sunday and I've spent this evening planing down the end plates and inserting one set of alignment dowels. Only 3 more to go, then I'll prepare the sides and stick the lot to the foamboard. I've rigged up a dimmer switch to my circular saw meaning I can turn the speed right down and stand a chance of cutting the foam as opposed to just vaporising it! I'll take some photos as soon as I can but after all, it's only two pieces of plywood! Still, 28 Feb 2010 is the official start date.

I don't know whether you've seen the site, but CLAG (central London Area Group), formerly of the Scalefour Society and still accessible from their web page has some very interesting stuff on axle motors, by Ted Scannell. He uses belts, pulleys and Nigel Lawton mini-motors (4mm of course) but there's also sprung bogies for a cl 31. May be useful if you haven't already seen it. http://www.clag.org.uk/

Don't tell anyone but the slow acquisition of materials for the 'real' new layout continues... Code 55 FB rail from C&L, Modelfoam 1220x610mm boards from Trylon and 4mm & 9mm birch from Avon Plywood are all safely stored. All I have to do now is find an excuse to start to cut and stick it together. Not sure about a suitable DCC system yet but one will be required at some point. At the moment it's a toss-up between Lenz and NCE, with the latter edging it. I'm hoping to have made progress with the boards by the time of Wheal Elizabeth's next outing at York over Easter.