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Thanks David I’ve got one of Gordon’s chassis for the w4 which I’ll do in P4 at some point. I’d like to see if Hornby have used the same slidebar arrangement on the b2 as that caused a bit of an issue for converting the w4, hence Gordon’s chassis. I quite fancy doing one in EM for a little inglenook style layout once the new rtr points are out!

Can anybody advise whether conversion to EM/P4 looks like it’s a possibility? Critically the clearances/width of slide bars? A photo of the underside of the chassis would be appreciated

Can anybody advise whether conversion to EM/P4 looks like it’s a possibility? Critically the clearances/width of slide bars? A photo of the underside of the chassis would be appreciated

Going to be making the short trip up from Somerset again. Looking forward to it.

Dai. I used Precision Carmine (dull). I didn't know about the driver's windows. From the photos I had I couldn't tell. Yes, still got windscreen wipers and handrails to the ends. Should probably paint the light lenses white as well. Haven't contemplated weathering yet but should probably get the airbrush out and give it a waft at some point.

Inbetween building the goods shed and drawing up the artwork for the station building, which has now arrived, I've been building a twin set AEC railcar set for Cheddar. This is from a set of etches from Worsley Works. To be fair, they are sold as a set of scratch aids, but I've found it all quite a challenge. Unfortunately the etches contain a number of errors which regrettably I didn’t discover until fairly late on. Notably, the windows in the rail car sides are set too low, with the exception of the central door. For some reason they’ve all been set about 1.5mm too low whereas they should all be at the same level. The drawings in the Judge book clearly show it though I’ll admit I didn’t notice at first. The problem became apparent when I started to paint and line the rail cars. The line between crimson and cream should be at the top of the sloping triangular fillet in the front nose, then continue at that level along the body side. I’ve had to bend the lining round to have it in the correct place at the crease in the nose front, otherwise it would have been too low. It’s one of those things that some people undoubtedly won’t notice but once you know it’s there it does kind of leap out at you. I've let Allen know at Worsley and he says he's corrected the etch now. He has offered me a replacement should anyone else order one so I've no complaints there. The droplight for the front door is the right size, unfortunately the window opening is too large so the droplight isn’t very effective. I formed some new ones from painted plasticard but I can see in the photo one needs more attention. I deviated from the intended chassis construction arrangement as the skirt section is supposed to join to the body at top of skirt, but is too narrow resulting in an obvious join. I cut the chassis parts in half longitudinally and soldered to the body sides. I used Lima mouldings for the railcar bogie side frames from Peter’s Spares, coach corridor connections were from MJT and I used Kadee No 21 couplings to represent the knuckle/buck eye connectors. I‘ve used a Replica motorised chassis to power the railcar no 36 (the restaurant car). This is the 57ft version cut and shut to match the reduced wheelbase. I used one of their mark 1 coach interiors in the unpowered car, cut and shut to fit the seating arrangement. The unpowered car No 35 sits on MJT CCT's. It does look at home on the layout, though the sides issue will niggle me for a while. Just wish I'd spotted it earlier! Next will be the long build of the station building. I've a large box of bits to work my way through but it should be fun.

No, they'll be in the corridor of uncertainty. Sorry. Too much cricket today. And if you know the Town Hall, you know where that is.

Correct yes. One for doing first pass in the 4ft and one for in between individual sleepers. Made from balsa and cocktail sticks.

The goods shed has been finished and duly plonked on the layout. It's removable as it spans a base board joint. The internal platform is stuck down because it doesn't. most of the area around this will be subject to some terraforming, either subtle ground levelling, goods dock or a barrow crossing. Quite pleased with how this has turned out so now onto the station!

Very interesting Mikkel. I must try my Green Stuff roller at some point. I wonder if the foam could be sealed with Shellac or even PVA once you've formed the pattern to give a harder skin which would be more robust for painting etc. I've seen this done for card and Palight. like you I'm not sure about the circular sett pattern though.

Thanks Richard. No, it's actually very old school. The apertures for the windows etc are cut with a piercing saw then filed/sanded with the foam sanding sticks you get from Eileens/Squires etc.

Thanks and oops! Now corrected!!

Hi Dai I had them cut by York Modelmaking to my own drawings. If you'd like them I had a spare set of 4 cut which I won't need now.

It's Green Stuff World ABS sheet. Rather nice too. http://www.greenstuffworld.com/en/textured-sheets/155-abs-plasticard-smooth-rock-wall-sheet-a4.html Closest thing I've found to Mendip coursed limestone. Yes, the roof was laid with Somerset double roman tiles, not pantiles. Same with Axbridge and Wells Tucker Street. I guess due to the shallow pitch. The station building was plain/curved tiled. John Palmer on the scalefour site put me onto a source on Aliexpress: https://www.aliexpress.com/snapshot/0.html?spm=a2g0s.9042647.6.2.5ed64c4d0K82QM&orderId=102131742344674&productId=32891296599

Please to report the goods shed is nearing completion. A few bits to fettle and awaiting ridge tile tops from Scale Link, but it's nearly there. Goods shed detailing will be limited to a crane and a few loads on the platform. Just need to paint them up.

Just arrived. Yes it’s through the gates for the stud farm in case anyone’s confused

Morning Is there a plan for Fawley Hill on Sunday? Are we expected to arrive at a certain time etc and meet up or is it a free for all?

Catching up on household chores after a very enjoyable but tiring weekend at Expo EM Spring. I had a great time and certainly made some new friends. Thanks to everyone who came along. Judging by the comments I had, people seemed to enjoy themselves. One or two gave feedback which we're always happy to receive if it helps makes things a little better next time. The PECO plain track turned up on Saturday lunchtime and had all been sold by Sunday afternoon. It was a shame that the turnouts didn't quite make it but the tools look fantastic and it won't be too long now. They'll certainly be ready for Expo Autumn in September, he says confidently but without any sort of authority! Events at Stamford were in most peoples' minds and there was a real sense of shock and sympathy in the hall. It has been a tragic event but isn't it great how the world wide modelling and non-modelling community has responded?

Are they going to have to cancel the bring and buy this weekend then? There'll be nothing there to sell! We'll miss you! Heading over tomorrow lunchtime to help with the set up etc.

Neither did quite a lot of people unfortunately. We were a little quiet down there. It's only a niggle though. It was a great show this year and huge improvement on previous years from a finescale point of view

looks very good

Very impressive work Dave. I saw a video on the S4 website and it does look and move like the real thing!

Hi. Typically they’re every 6ft on the straight so yes. However they could be at the side off the sleepers instead.

Evening all. It's been a while since I updated this blog. Still not too sure about the new software and I haven't had either the time or the inclination to go and update all the previous entries and their photos links etc. I've been working my way through the drawings for the goods shed, to the point where it's now ready to cut (I hope). In the meantime, the station board's been put up, ballasted and the point rodding stools added ahead of the platform sides. There's a lot to do on this board with lots of subtle changes in ground levels. I suspect that not much will change for a while as most of the activity will proceed off layout for now, but I've attached a couple of photos of today's progress.

Impressive Dave and as John says, go and have a lie down. I'm afraid the 3ft rule applied to my Class 2, but then I'm not a proper scale four modeller like wot you is!