Temeraire

Hi Scott That looks almost real! Did you use a stencil on the roof of the shed or a transfer?

Evening all Two more weeks pass with only limited progress but all the tracks are now laid and wired up across the lifting bridge. The crossover that gives access to both Exford Park yard as well as Exford stabling point has its point motors fitted and programmed. The next move is cutting all the rails across baseboard joints so the boards can be up ended to wire them up and trains run for a bit to 'test'! (Running trains will happen I promise, but I know I keep saying it!) I doubt much will get done this weekend though as a party of four of us Southerners are off to the Stafford Exhibition on Saturday by train.

Oh gawd I do hope not ! Nice to see you back Pete.

Mine was very cheap using scrap card! Looking good Nigel, I'm not far behind in the shed now!

Evening all Nipped out to the shed this evening and took some pics of current state of play in the shed. The missing link was completed from the top of the spiral to the top baseboards first. Yesterday the four track section was finished off and this is the view 'West' down the layout. View from the other end showing the junction where the top level loops leave and curve around to the other side of the shed to Exford Park. The track hasn't been laid from the two blue pins as yet as I was one point short, and hence the sleepers aren't spaced the same as the rest. Finally the drone view along the mainlines from the junction end. Next move then is to complete the junction tracks and then get it wired so a train can circulate the shed at last!

Evening all Sorry a bit later than planned but a little pictorial update of progress with more to follow this weekend once the rain stops! Going back to December 20th and this view shows the top level baseboards painted and in place ready for track laying, and the two outer (up & down) loops were laid by Christmas but I don't appear to have any pics of that stage! As mentioned above the 'tea trolley' bit the dust to be replaced by a lifting flap that was screwed into position yesterday once the paint had dried. Now with the flap lifted the two bridges that were removed from the trolley can be seen, there's a little more to finish these off but it can wait for a bit as they work fine for now! To the right of the bridge is the first baseboard for other side of the shed where Exford Park station will be sited, and again this was screwed in place yesterday. The two outer curves will be the twin track lines through the station and on to the junction back on the other side completing the third and fourth continuous loops around the shed. The inner curve will be access to a yard in front of the station. Also yesterday the four track part of the mainlines was completed once the curves were positioned to cross the doorway. I'll take some pics of this state of affairs tomorrow hopefully.

but not according to Heljan.

HI Pete Happy New Year to you and the family, all safe from the fires I hope? Are you over again this year at all?

So New Year passed and I didn't quite make it for Christmas Day, but the top boards were in place and two complete circuits were laid by the turn of the year. Slow progress has been going on since and most of the junction is now laid as well, all with re-spaced sleepers! Last night was spent breaking up 'tea trolley' bridge after it was found to not be as reliable as I thought, plus I hadn't given thought to where to put it when not in place across the doorway and it would be in the way! The two slopes from the bridge now just drop into place when required and are a lot easier to store. Also last night I started planning/building the lifting flap/bridge for the top level mainlines across the door, so three steps forward but one back for the time being. I'll post another update later this week with some pics of where it stands.

that’s exactly where I am atm! £600 and I need to paint it?

Not according to the Heljan rep I spoke to at Warley there were none! A lot were scrapped in that shade/livery. I want one in that shade of blue but revised ends so I guess a respray of the blue is the only way atm.

I remember seeing that Chris, did that 73 ever get a run on it?? Would be good to see any progress here.

Seconded!

Will it have its centre car by then?

Ahem......If it ain't broke don't fix it! It's only the FY, you worry too much.

Evening all So with Tidworth's exhibition diary empty for the time being and Warley weekend with Paul's layout over, I've cracked on in the shed with the wiring of track and points on the lower level. Tonight was the night that something ran! This is the first time the inclines and spiral has been test run to see if they work, rather than having fingers crossed and hoping! Next, upper baseboards to build and fit. maybe there'll be a complete circuit by Christmas?

Getting closer to Tidsmill Andy!

Not listening to Mike as usual then?

Evening all So with the summer over and the extension to Tidworth made presentable for the Fareham and Taunton shows and no confirmed bookings until late next year, my attention has returned to the shed at last! With all the FY tracks laid as seen above and roughly 120 dropper wires soldered to the rails, it was time to get out the cutting disc and chop it all up! After cutting through about 50 pairs of rails the 4 baseboards were upturned to allow me to attach all those droppers to a power bus and fit point motors. Left hand end of FY with all bus wires done and point motors fitted in place. and the other end of the FY. The two middle boards that have just 14 plain tracks on each. Next move now is to wire up the 32 point motors to DCC decoders and program them all up for testing before moving on to the upper baseboards, wish me luck!

The other one must be at Bulford exchange sidings!

They might have ideas but I don’t have the inclination! I haven’t finished this bl**dy extension yet! My attention will be focused on the shed layout for the foreseeable future, I need to get trains running. I also have a backlog of stock projects to get on with. any video of the weekend yet?

Hi Simon Have you modified the pickups at all? Both my early release 73s ran perfectly all weekend at Taunton with the improved pickup arrangement.

One thing I forgot to mention earlier tonight was to thank Paul for this beauty! Once I decided to model the exchange sidings it was imperative that I had an MoD shunter to play with! With his past experience with 0 gauge kits I tentatively asked Paul if he'd have a go for me, a challenge he took on 'willingly' (ok he didn't say no though!). He apparently won't be building anymore! The kit is a Judith Edge Vanguard shunter a type that the MoD had a large number of and there were 4 at Ludgershall at one time I'm told, so the obvious choice for the layout. As you can see it's not quite finished yet but already looks the part and was used this weekend. Once the rest of the detail is added, windows fitted as well as flashing beacon it should set off the sidings superbly. Thanks again Paul.

Oi ssshhhhhhhhh! Don't give them ideas for gawds sake!