Phill Dyson (onslaught832)

They run very well with suitable added weight compared to kit built wagons CME, I would say I prefer these chassis as they are very strong & durable which for me is more important than fine detail on a garden railway I have a few running on the original wheels but the majority have steel wheels although TBH both run fine .

Hi Peter I that for your excellent 4mm layout or your new 7mm venture?

Thank you Bob When I can pick a couple more up I think I will make a couple of sand wagons next as I really enjoy this kind of creative modelling

The Lima/Triang 16T Mineral has been very useful for Withercombe & besides detailing them as 16T'ers they have also been converted in to box vans in the past for the line . I had another 3 such wagons kicking around awaiting something doing with them & I really don't need anymore box vans or 16T minerals with around 25 of each in traffic at Withercombe, so I took inspiration from a friend on Facebook & decided to have a go at some Lowfits using the 16T mineral chassis as a base. Using plasticard & plastruct from my scrap bins I scratch built some bodies from what I had available..... & with a bit of red oxide primer passing it's self off as Bauxite...... I also raided my transfer tin & with a mix of waterslide, pressfix & Methfix transfers I managed to cobble together enough transfers to make them look right'ish & bit of weathering for good measure I have three Lowfits buit from nothing really which should add a bit more variety to the freight stock on the branch

D815 Druid awaits her next duty on the Withercombe branch..

A bit more work on the signal this morning, it now has fully attached & working signal arms & balance weights. Next job will be to connect the two together ........

Never stopped me posting

A bit more done this afternoon & the signal arms actually move, which with my lack of experience in this field I'm very pleased about! .......... encouraged by this I'm hoping to have the signal fully operational when finished

Thanks for that Softvark, Lamp Brackets it is Are you posting your signal build?

Thank you David, your kind words are very much appreciated

It was a S/H Easybuild coach which I modified to it's new use CME

I have spent a pleasant hour or so building up the main structure of the signal...... But can anyone tell me what these parts are for ? ( they came on the main signal post etch)

Now that I have approximately 50 telegraph poles running round the garden , I have moved onto the next couple of projects for Withercombe. The first one is a Depatmental coach for withercombe in the style of this one....... I am using a Easybuild MK1 Suburban as a basis for this project..... I am also building a signal using MSE components based on this one at Ilfracombe.... Signal building is a new experience for me, so feel free to offer help & advice . I have made a start by soldering up the main post last night. The instructions say us a square piece of brass for the base, but I have added a spike instead so the signal can be planted less visibly ?

Your welcome Chris, they also do a stone version of this Signal Box http://www.ogauge.co.uk/signal-boxes/249-7-154-lswr-stone-built-signal-box.html?search_query=signal+box&results=17&HTTP_REFERER=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ogauge.co.uk%2Fsearch%3Fcontroller%3Dsearch%26orderby%3Dposition%26orderway%3Ddesc%26search_query%3Dsignal%2Bbox%26submit_search%3D

Glad to see your dipping your toe in 7mm waters Pete

It's a NMB resin kit which is now sold by Skytrex

Thanks Pete, nice to hear from you

In the last couple of weeks I have been adding a few line side details to the Withercombe branch. One such project has been the creation of telegraph poles which were a feature of every UK railway line, but now a thing of the past. These were made using some small garden canes i came across in a local store with the addition of some garden wire from the same store. The wire makes a reasonable representation of the horizontal bar & insulators at each end, this style of telegraph pole were very typical of branch lines such as Withercombe..........

A bit too hot for me outside today So I have been doing a few more line side details, in this case a sheet of etch LSWR signs from a S/H stall at a Guild show. The first job was to cut them out & solder them to a bit of oo gauge rail I had lying around (which looked about right for 7mm fence posts to me ) Then with a bit of enamel ..... & a touch of weathering to tone them down a bit ......

Hi CME I will be using usual system as I already have the gear, but for the next one I will trial Deltang as I have heard some very positive reports & it a lot cheaper

The heavily modified Skytrex Peak is also making good progress now having been fitted with Bluetooth sound motor & gears etc. This loco now just needs the details & R/C gear adding......

Hi At the recent Doncaster GOG Show I was on the look out for line side details capable of withstanding the outdoor life. I bought some of Skytrex's excellent buildings as these are already used at Withercombe on both the indoor & outdoor sections & have proved suitable in both environments. First job was to clean up the flash on the moldings & slap some Halfords primer on..... Next was to ad the basic colours using various enamels ..... Then all the buildings were given the run down look with yet more enamels to suite my Withered Arm branch line... Finally here is a pic with some of the buildings & line side features installed permanently outside, you will notice the Skytrex plate layers hut which has been there for several years now in all the British weather can through at it!

Hi Chris, I love your 'Little Aller Junction' layout , it was the one I returned to again & again at last years Warley show. Your under board Bluetooth speaker has truly added a whole new dimension to the layout for me........simply superb !

If Randy or anyone else wish to download the app, the correct version has this logo .......

Hi Randall, I too hope we get more people dabbling in the wonderful world of DCC soundchip free sound, as you know mine is working out at a incredible £15 per loco . The App is android, mine is controlled from my Samsung S6 phone. You can also adjust the size of the buttons on 'Custom Soundboard' too to suite your own preferences or the number of buttons you require on the screen at any one time. Here is my film of Druid in the garden you requested......