Re6/6

That's a neat solution for pick-up Pete. I'd be very interested to see how you get on with them. I've got two 2-BILs and two 2-HALs to build!

Some progress has been made on the piers/plinths. The classic view! The production line.

Insane! This dealer seems to specialise in wargaming stuff so obviously has no idea on a real price for these. I've seen plenty of boxed FOs at around £10/£12 with box shifters and at local swapmeets.

Thanks for that Jim. Something that I didn't know. I'll deal with the check rails. The track bases were bought via third party dealer so I couldn't say if they're the old original ones. I do know that when replacing a short length of plain line ready for S4um with the stuff, the rail that I used was 0.2mm narrower at the head and didn't notice it until later! I'll be making sure that I use the appropriate (probably Peco) stuff for the relaying.

It still amazes me that currently available stuff is auctioned at a much higher than the retail price like this and don't bother to check first! Scalelink still have it in their catalogue at £6.05 plus postage!

Thanks Andrew and Will, good to hear the polyfoam method seems to be the way to go for the future. Not to mention the lightness and ease of handling. It won't be always the most appropriate in all situations such as the viaduct on the Balcombe/Lewes project mind you!

Hi James, I'll be using the Exactoscale AXX TAPO Tortoise adaptor plate @ £5.00 for a pack of five. They look to be good value and very robust. They're made from a hard plastic . You fix the Tortoise to it and then screw it the underside of the ply. You'll need some brass rod to fit to the underside of the point blades. I haven't actually tried them yet but I'll post on here when I have. As I said above I'll be fitting the pointwork to it's own piece of ply after cutting holes in the polyfoam so that the tortoise will have clearance, and then glue the whole thing (point+ply base) to the foam. That's the plan anyway! A blurry snap above!

We've taken the decision to take Matford off the exhibition circuit for the time being and to 'do an Eridge' and rebuild it. It has been suffering from several problems in the baseboard department. Firstly we used the dreaded MDF which has swollen to at least +1mm and in some places more. This is due to our proximity to a salt water atmosphere. In hindsight, perhaps these problems could've been avoided with the MDF had we sealed it all, after cutting, with varnish at least. When this problem was discovered we had already half built our replacement DRAG test track for which we were using MDF. So all the boards were thoroughly treated with GRP resin and painted with marine quality paint. These are problem free with good track alignment and work perfectly well considering that they are erected and dismantled twice a month. The original suffered from poor quality deal softwood framework, which ended up looking like the waves of the ocean. So the lesson was learnt that always use the best materiel that can be afforded. The second serious problem was that the side/box frames were made from a synthetic materiel (flooring laminate) which not only warped, it took on a banana shape. It was assumed that such a materiel would be stable, but no so. Avoid it like the plague! We rebuilt the board 'undercariages' with marine ply framework. This improved matters somewhat but the constant expansion on the MDF baseboard top still caused alignment problems. Each board top has subsequently taken on a saucer shape. We are rebuilding the baseboards with the 'new' polyfoam principle, as used by Gordon Gravett on Pempoul. It consists of 1200mm x 500mm x 50mm thick pink polyfoam insulation.(I gather that it's also available in blue, but I've never seen it!). The framework is made from 4mm thick x 100mm deep quality ply glued on with solvent-free grab adhesive. (No More Nails type) To avoid having to hold it altogether whilst the glue goes off with clamps, we have used 3-4 inch long wood screws No 14/16 size which have a large coarse thread, screwed in along the ply sides at 100mm spaces directly into the foam. It's dense enough to allow a very strong grip and bite for the screws to allow the go off. After this has happened the screws are removed for re-use. These show the style of construction. They are to be used on the Balcombe Viaduct project. The ply top strip is for the 2 track plain line. They have been made now for over a year and kept in a relatively damp garage without any sign of movement. In fact it is almost impossible to put in any torsional twist. Another problem that has come to light is that not all code 82 flat bottom rail is exactly the same. We found that we had used Exactoscale track bases and used C&L rail which is 0.2mm thicker at the rail head, thus making the track 0.4mm tight to gauge. Not acceptable when working in P4! So this also made it easier to decide that a complete track rebuild was also neccessary. All the buildings and as much of the scenery as possible will be salvaged and re-used. We want to preserve the essential 'look' of the layout. That having been decided we sought advice from CK of this parish for his expertise in assessing what 'might have happened' had BR remodelled it all in the early 90s. This was bearing in mind the cost cutting and removal of expensive to maintain S & C work that 'would have happened'! To this end the complex pointwork at the fiddle yard end of the layout will be removed (three-way point and other under used pointwork) and will be replaced with a simple crossover on a new extension board between the FY and the current first scenic board and a new pointwork to the up and down sidings in flat bottom leading to 'older' bullhead trackwork. This is the pointwork that is being replaced. You can see the track alignment problems from this snap. (ctsy David Brandreth) This is the first bit of new pointwork (new crossover) made in copperclad FB. It is a BV 10 (1 in 10 angle). Next all the cosmetic bits and pieces will be added. Colin Craig cast 'Pandrol' fittings with clamplocks, and backdrives using Brassmasters cranks all non working! Once all this is done the whole thing will be mounted on 4mm ply and the Tortoise (or the new Cobalt) motors added and fully tested before fitting and gluing to the polyfoam baseboards. Thanks to my old friend Brian Harrap (ZOB and Quai87) for his invaluable advice in F/B point construction. Exactoscale instruction sheet

The 'Belle' coaches have a distinct slope to their sides as opposed to these Hornby slab-sided ones!

Don't use the stuff on the right, it's the usual thickly glued up sort available at shows, but use the stuff on the left, which is very fine antique restorers type available from Greenscene. They're the only 'scenics' trader that I've been able to get it from. (usual disclaimer) Available from Gaugemaster (Noch mid green flock 07304) PM me Gordon if you'd like a sample. The Grasmaster was used with the horsehair 'brambles'

This what we're aiming for! No 4. Better than a band!

No 4!

Very impressive stuff Andy. That's the first time that I've seen a serious and effective looking improvement to Peco flexi. I'm now looking forward to the next step...pointwork!

We're not that potty Ian! We'll be cladding it with English bond plasticard and the hole surround brickwork will be etched.

Still needs a little tweaking on the hole cutting front. Only 35 more to go! They will each have a different sized hole. [

Not suprising seeing as it's this fellow who deals in 'antique toys'! He's always putting up stuff at absurd prices, nonetheless there appears to be a steady collectors market out there. I wouldn't touch such rubbish with a bargepole! Edit...... I've got one of these somewhere amongst all the junk we collect. Must try and find it.....!

The booking office. We have used the new Bachmann modern station bits (clock and ticket machine). The litter bin and seats are from Ten Commandments. The station signage is also from them. They provided a very efficient printing service (usual disclaimer) using the Regional Railways style. Must tidy up around the door area and fit some door handles! Through the black hole. New 'Cornish' Hornby 153. Performs very well. The old factory has been 'sold for redevelopment'. Heaven knows what will replace it! Signal gantry built to the Tony Sissons method as on Widnes VY. The signals are a temporary mixture of N gauge (yes!) Fulgurex Swiss heads and Eckon feathers. the will be replaced with fully working scratched ones in brass, as per the MRJ article a few years ago. The Captain's weathering on the shark. It seems to have dropped at one end. The BB springing units need tweaking. The Captains weathered pair! The Captain's 14XX used for the Dawlish Donkey preserved steam runs 'Cornish' Hornby 153

CK has very kindly and beautifully weathered some Matford stock for us. A few snaps: See the rest here

Oh do tell Pete! ...sorry Gordon but you have given permission to go off topic!

Yes it is Frank. It has a Perseverence chassis, not sure of the wheels. It was built in the eighties with the new chassis fitted very recently.

Background duly removed!

The Dawlish Donkey summer charter visits Matford. This was a public service that ran between Exeter and Newton Abbot during the summer months a few years ago. The lovely little 14XX belongs to CK. This will run on the layout as a shunt and release move to bring some added and unusual interest!

An Arriva Trains class 150 and the (then) EWS Management Train (minus the TRUB ..not out yet!) arrive at Matford. Regional Railways cl 150 rebranded Central Trains on hire to Wessex Trains.

With S4um looming rapidly, there's still a bit to do. The latest structure is the loco fueling point, replacing the old adapted Knightwing kits which have passed their best. The new one re-uses the original roof and a couple of the salvagable small cabinets. It's made from a sheet of PCB with fine angle brass H-section soldered on. Still to be 'planted' and 'vegitated'