Mark Forrest

Here's an example of the SEF material after a coat of red primer.

I had an enjoyable visit today. Perhaps a little underwhelmed by the exhibition, but a couple of rides on the narrow gauge and a good mooch around the roundhouse more than made up for it.

I suspect you’ll get many different answers to this, but for me there are three things that come to mind when I think about what makes a good exhibition layout, those are: A consistent approach to detail across the whole layout and stock Presentation - well lit, near eye level, high back scene Reliable and realistic operation Whether it’s worth planning to exhibit is very much a matter of personal choice. If at the planning stage, it’s certainly worth making allowance for the layout being transportable. Exhibiting is time consuming and adds some degree of pressure and deadlines to the hobby. It can sometimes require a bit of a thick skin, as inevitably you’ll find some critics amongst the punters viewing the layout. On the flip side, it can be a hugely satisfying experience and a great way to socialise with like minded people. Exhibition deadlines can provide the impetus to get elements of the layout finished too.

Popped over to Statfold Barn today, primarily in the hope of picking up some more ballast and some engineers blue brick paint for Fryers. I failed to get both of these, although did get the olive green paint I need to finish off a couple of engineer's wagons. Exhibition itself was OK, I spent more time looking around (and riding behind) the collection of narrow gauge locos (and waiting for a veggie burger to be cooked) than I did looking at the exhibits though. Good to catch up with @2ManySpams, who was on day release from the naughty step to go and look at some trains. It's the first time I've visited Statfold despite it only being 20 miles away, made for a different and interesting day out even if it didn’t help much with getting the layout finished.

If only I hadn't already chopped off the NEM sockets. Three links on everything is the answer, I'll make a start on fitting them this morning.

Having spent the afternoon working on the layout, I thought I'd have a look at some stock for it tonight. The extra siding space demands a bit more stock. I've got a few wagons that are near finished, just needing couplings fitting to get them into a usable state. So, I mass produced a batch of AJ couplings. And fitted them to a VBA and VGA. The ferry wagon was next in line, but there is so much detail underneath it I can't see anywhere obvious to attach the tail end of the coupling - so that now finds itself temporarily filed under "too difficult". This also prompted me to check that the uncoupling magnets work. 3 out of 4 of them do; the one on the new siding (siding 2) has added itself to my pre-exhibition snagging list.

Still listed on their website: http://www.sefinecast.co.uk/Building Materials/Building Materials.htm Wills I find the sheets too thick, too small and the bricks overly large. Slaters is my second choice, but the SE Finecast sheets are my default choice.

The fact that you tried several different locos suggests the a problem with the controller (or, no offence, user error). I'm not familiar with the Powercab, but am sure there are plenty here who are. Might be worthwhile posting a few photos of how it's set up and what it shows on the display and see if that gives any clues. Testing your locos on someone else's controller would also confirm that it's a controller issue, if that's possible.

A fairly productive afternoon today as I use up the last few hours of my annual leave entitlement. Made a start on painting the pub and its neighbouring property. Added a small retaining wall to deal with the height difference - ideally I'd have sloped the gardens down from the back of the building instead, but that's the problem with making it up as I go along rather than having a firm plan. A bit of grass has appeared too.

Good luck with the new layout. I enjoyed following your progress with West Park, I'm sure it's successor will be bostin' too.

I have used brass tube as bus bar in the past, using choc block connectors to hold them in place. Works very well. More recently I've done the same with nickel silver rail. My Dad once had a layout with a length of flexi track fixed underneath the board and used that as a bus bar for the track feeds.

A bit more building work last night, think this is just about ready for a coat of primer.

Slowly progressing with the dreaded ballasting. On the new siding, I'm using DAS clay, quite pleased with how that's working out, although it's quite time consuming! Texture in the clay is by stippling it with a paintbrush.

Except it isn't, since the EEC hasn't existed since the '90s and it's successor, the EC, was abolished in 2009 (Treaty of Lisbon).

Interesting thread. On reflection I'd estimate over 80% of my overall expenditure is online purchases. Main exceptions are food and drink for immediate consumption and vehicle fuel; so it will come as no surprise that most of my railway modelling spending is done online. Given the choice between being able to place an online order at my convenience when I remember I need something over having to find time to visit a shop, make a phone call during opening hours or visit an exhibition - it's an easy choice. That said, there are a handful of suppliers who do not have online ordering who I do use, largely where there is no viable online alternative. Their presence at an exhibition can be the deciding factor of whether or not I attend, so maybe that's something for exhibition managers to consider.

Note to self: keep the stock boxes well hidden when Spams is doing the green stuff.

This view of Harborne in the '60s is probably a bit too overgrown. https://flic.kr/p/Gkfwyo

As I want to depict multiple different eras, that's an interesting point. Some inspiration... https://flic.kr/p/YuCU8Q https://flic.kr/p/23qScq6 https://flic.kr/p/kPNvF1

A quick blast of track/sleeper grime makes such a difference.

That photo oozes atmosphere, I can definitely see the appeal. Are you thinking as exact model or an "inspired by"?

Done a bit, bored now.

All being well, five weeks today @2ManySpams and I will be down in Taunton ready for the SWAG member's day on the Sunday and the first exhibition attendance for Fryers Lane in its new form. Here are a few photos of how the layout looks today, taken to record how much (or should that be, how little) of the original layout remained before I start blending together the old and new bits. The warehouse/factory at the rear of the layout is reused, but has been raised to closer to rail level. The freshly paint brown earth at the front shows the depth added to the layout with the foundations of the pub and house at the far end. On the new board, the last bit of landscape shaping at the front has been finished. Not obvious from the photos there has been a lot going on underneath the baseboards too; wiring and setting up the servos for the points having changed them over to a Megapoints servo controller. I think I'm at the stage where I can't put the ballasting off for much longer...

Having had the pleasure of seeing these in real life (the model, not the real thing) the photos don't do justice to just how big they are! I've used your strengthening strips method to straighten out a warped building that I'm working on, worked really well.

No problems, all sorted now.

That's perfectly fine with me 😉 If I remember correctly we had a spectacular breakfast at the hotel on the morning of the SWAG bash.