trains12

Hi all

A couple of shots showing the plywood facia going on.

Out of the last 7 days there has been 3 days when done nothing because of the weather so up to this morning have got it all insulated out and 6 sheets of the ply fixed and half of the walls with the thermal insulation on. Still no sign of the builder to finish the roof and the sides with the shiplap cladding.

At present those that know where we live will understand when I say that only tractors and 4x4's will get through the water going down the road. A good job the shed is on stilts to clear the big stone! At present there is a good few inches of water underneath it.

Will keep you informed.

Cheers

Peter

Hi all

A few more shots showing the start of putting on the thermal barrier ready for the plywood skin. Didn't do much on Tuesday with the rain. Builder still not come to finish the roof and sides. The 2 end apexes are bowing badly in the wind and needs additional supports. The door which I fitted has swollen and is a ###### to open and close. At least the inside is dry.

Will keep you posted with further details.

Cheers

Peter

Hi all

Last Thursday thebuilder finally got the weather proof lining on the roof so at least it is water tight now and we have started doing work inside. Don't know when will get the main felt on the roof and get it all finished. Seems to do a day here and then goes off doing other jobs. Anyway here are some photos taken at lunchtime on Saturday showing the liner on the roof and the start on the cutting of all the polystyrene for the walls. When that is completed will be covered with a thermal lining and then clad with ply. Then the false ceiling will be installed followed by all the electrics and the new floor.

The good fun is going to be getting the layouts moved from the unit.

The biggest problem am going to be faced, as is an area I am out of my depth with, is the conversion of Whitland Sands (The layout that has been in store for the last 17 years), GTD, Glen Gillie and the coal mine layout from analogue to DCC. Or whether I can run the 2 systems together. One of the main problems is going to be the conversion of about 300 engines to DCC.

Will take a few more shots today if the weather improves as most of the poly has been completed and we are now ready for the next stage being the thermal barrier.

Cheers

Peter

This last view shows the remains of the old Buxworth Sidings layout being scrapped

Hi All

Here are a few more shots of the state of play of the shed a week ago.At present it is getting flooded out each time it rains as it still needs the covering to be placed on it. We are about two weeks now behind what it should have been.

 In reply to Andys  comments  it is on the opposite side to where it was going to be It should have been ready for the layouts to be moved into it by the enf of june but  I have now lost the help of the electrician and  Stuart (Future son in Law) due to the lateness of the build so dont know when the move will be.

Any way getting there slowly

Cheers Peter

Hi Peter , I have just been reading your article in the January Hornby magazine and I would like to say what a brilliant layout you have created and I've had a good read catching up on this blog ,what I would like to ask you,as someone who is rebuilding a layout and for the first time I want to make my own points I notice you use Seep PM4 point motors I have always used Seep motors but reading all the track builders in the track building section everyone say a no no to solenoid point motors so as you have used them on your handmade points how have found them on an exhibition layout ? Yours Dennis

Apologies Dennis for not replying sooner but had some major health issues.

PM4 motors I've been using since the middle 80's on exhibition layouts built for both myself and for other people, and have had no problems at all with these. Yes, we have had the occassional one stick or a burnt out solenoid and this is nothing when you think that GTD had 50+,  Kinmundy had about 15,  Glen Gillie has about 30, Porth Eithin has about 20. The only exception was Watermill Halt which was my first DCC layout and we used digital controlled points and had and still are causing problems.

Bridge of Muir, we did use the Cobalt motors but purely as a motor not connected with the DCC operational side.

We are in the process of building a new shed (See Glen Gillie thread) and 2 of the layouts that will go in the shed have been in store for 17 years and a quick test the other day showed that the PM4's are all working fine.

The only criticism I have with them is that the electrical polarity switching on some of them can be a little bit iffy but what I have done to get around this is place a small 1" block 5mm thick at the side of the motor and onto this I have screwed a limit switch with an extended lever, cost about 35p (I bulk buy), and use this for changing the frog polarity.

I have also used them on other layouts that I have manufactured for switching the signals and they have worked well with this.

Hope this has answered any queries and again apologise for not coming back sooner.

Yours Peter

ps if you are ever in the area and you want to come and see the layouts you are most welcome. Just drop mw a pm and will send you details.

Hi All

Not been on for some months due to health problems including blood disorder, now under control, and ongoing laser treatment and injections in both eyes. However at long last the new home for most of my layouts is well under construction here at the house. Hopefully this means that 3 of the layouts, Bridge of Muir, GlenGillie & Loch Inch and GTD together with 2 other of my stored layouts will also be housed.

Have attached a few photos of the 'small shed' (45' x 17') as it is being built just to give you an idea of the size of the project. Will post some more updated ones as now has walls and roof.

Hope to be able to start lining it all out this weekend and getting the electrics installed in preperation for moving the layouts.

Hi Donnington Road,

Many thanks for the photos and sorry not replied earlier.

Some of you may not know but Hornby Magazines second volume of the best 25 layouts is now out and Glen Gillie & Loch Inch is featured in it.

Will try and keep updates going now and get back into the swing of things.

3 views showing the digging out of the slope

The sub frame being built, unfortunately 9" higher than planned due to a boulder that could not be dug out.

The side panels slowly going up together with the internal floor.

Cheers

Peter

Hi All

In case anyone is interested the Jan issue of Hornby mag, out now, has a great article on the layout with lots of photos taken by Mike Wilde

Peter

Hi all

Yep Prestatyn Show tomorrow and I will be there demonstrating building work and also with the new bridge based on the Severn Railway Bridge which when finished will be about 10ft long. Will also have a number of my other models depicting the coal mine, a research vessel and some 7mm scale models am making for a 7mm layout.

Hope to see some of you there.

Peter

Hi all

The layout is all packed up now ready for the trip down to Gaydon and the Great Electric Train Show.. Fingers crossed that everything going to be ok on trip. Hope to see those that can make it, let yourselves be known please. Just Norman and myself this time. Couple of photos of the layout attached taken with the new camera.

Peter

Hi all

Thanks for your kind comments.

Hope you can make it Andrew health permitting.

Layout is at present up in the dining room being dusted and checked ready for the show. Will try and post a few shots. Last Tuesday, a week ago, Mike Wild from Hornby mag was here doing another photo shoot on Porth Eithin, my china clay layout, but will be sometime early next year when article comes out.

Hope to see you all at the show.

Peter

Will I see either you Jinty or Craig at Colwyn Bay show this weekend in Llandudno?

I am there demonstrating in the main hall.

Peter

ps I also have a Dapol 08 on order.

Hi All

Just a quick shot of how it looks with out the tree. The mounds of wood that you can see all need to be cut up now. There are three other piles the other side of the wall. Any offers?

Peter

Hi Jinty

Thanks for your comments. You will be most welcome to come over. It gets a little lonly. Yes some time in the future when we have got the barn repaired and we can get the other layouts, GTD, Porth Eithin etc back up here then we will close the shop down and generally retire. At present am thinking of selling Cheona Publications. Any way hope to see you soon.

Peter

Hi All

Well work has started on the building of a shed for the display of Glen Gillie, Bridge of Muir. The first item was the cutting down of a large tree which would be at the end of the shed. This was found to be damaged with a  Ash fungia and had to be felled. A for to big a job for me so over the last two days down it has come. This will leave  room for the shed to be built at 40ft X 12ft at least.

 Will keep you all informed.

Peter

Hi all

There is a nice shot of Glen Gillie in next months Model Rail.

Peter

Hi All

In case you haven't seen it Hornby have brought out a bookazine this month of the best 25 layouts as appeared in their magazine and Great Tunsley Dale is in it with new photos as taken by Mike Wild. Available at WH Smiths but not seen it anywhere else yet.

Should have been at Great Central show in June but because of health problems have reluctantly had to give back word and drop out this year.

Peter

Hi Marcus

In case you haven't seen it Hornby have brought out a bookazine this month of the best 25 layouts as appeared in their magazine and Great Tunsley Dale is in it with new photos as taken by Mike Wild. Available at WH Smiths but not seen it anywhere else yet.

Cheers, keep up the good work.

Peter

Hi all

Last few photos I took at the Perth Green show.

Peter

Hi Mick

Many thanks for that photo. Was up there 12 months ago at the side ofthe track and waited for over an hour and wasn't one engine/dmu or anything came through. In the end was told by daughters and wife I had to give it up so thanks for that shot.

Peter

Hi all

A bit belated but here are a few shots that I took at the Perth Green Show. Nothing new been done on the modelling side due to major problems of 2 trapped nerves in my spine. Won't know for a while but been advised not to do any long distance driving and can't do much modelling due to my hands shaking from the nerves.

The good news is have just bought a new lens for taking close ups but can't hold the camera unless it is on a tripod.

Peter

hi folks here is a short video taken at the Perth Green show of Bridge of Muir.

Hi all

Not been on for a couple of months due to health problems. Apparently I have a calcifying spinal column as a result of damage and sunsequent operation and this is not trapping nerves causing the pain. Result is not been doing any modelling.Anyway will let you know more but in the meantime just to let you know that Bridge of Muir is out this weekent at the Perth Green show. Hope to see some rm members there so please make yourselves known.

Peter

Hi all

I forgot to mention that Watermill Halt was in the March issue of Hornby magazine, hope you enjoy it.

Peter

Hi All

Wishing you all a very merry Christmas and a happy new year.

All the very best

Peter

Hi All

Wishing you all a very merry Christmas and a happy new year.

All the very best

Peter