wollastonblue

On gala days the King and Castle/Railwaymans Arms do get extremely busy. I live in the street opposite the station in Kidderminster so I can testify to that. Parking around the station is either Pay and Display or in our case Residents Permits. So park on the SVR station at £4 for the day. Kidderminster end I would head for the Weavers Real Ale House down the road from the station, which will be quieter, whilst they do Cobs, you can get something more substantial from one of the many takeaways on Comberton Hill (Chips/Pizza/Indian/Chinese and Chicken available) and eat it in the pub (children are welcome until 7pm).

Bridgnorth end many pubs in High Town worth visiting including the White Lion for a Scotch Egg and a Pint of Golden Wanderer.

My suggestion would be the Isle of Wight as a destination, easy to get to from Portsmouth Harbour Station on the foot ferry to Ryde. Tthe Buses by Southern Vectis are fantastic and very regular across the island. You've got plenty of NT/English Heritage Properties, a Heritage Railway, Beach Resorts, Quaint Little Village, Stunning Beaches, and some cracking pubs.

As I'm building a micro N scale switching layout. I wanted to give a happy customer shout out to NScaleAmericanTrains.co.uk for the 3 orders (so far) I have placed with them. Excellent range and service.

Firstly, I should say sorry that I laid the track out incorrectly for my first test of the track layout. It doesn't look as good as the one I designed. So I have spent an enjoyable Saturday afternoon building a walthers tenement block kit while watching some appalling football (Birmingham City) and then an equally dismal first half of rugby. Just need to apply a bit of weathering to the kit as it does look very plastic.

It came in a delivery along with 4 stunning 50ft box cars. Including one in Providence and Worcester which I did want due to my residence in Worcestershire. I have to say I think I may have a fetish for Boxcars developing, as even though I don't need anymore for the layouts operation, I do want more. Just waiting for my local range to get some foam board in stock so I can get cracking, with scenery. Some photos for you.

I have built the board, and I have to say it went together easier than I thought. I've laid the track out but I'm going to sink it into foam board, as I'm aware the ballasting on such an area wouldn't be as neat or thick as the tomix track suggests. 2 bits of stock including the stunning Atlas GP30 in Santa Fe blue.

Can I just ask what you used for the ground covering? I'm looking for a similar kind of thing for my N scale layout but with some tufts of overgrown grass thrown in.

Cheers

Well it's been a while since I was asking lots of simple questions about US Model Railroads, and I've finally taken the plunge. 

I've just had a Scale Model Scenery Baseboard kit delivered, I've finalised the track plan, inspired by one of Alcanmans excellent layouts, and I also have an Atlas ATSF GP30 in N gauge winging it's way to me from eBay. 

The background Alejandro's Culo Ardiente Nachos (I'll let you do the translation) is a reasonably size factory manufacturer of rather spicy Nachos in Brownsville, Texas. I chose Brownsville from my family name, and Alejandro is the spanish version of my christian name. 

There are 3 spots for the factory, 2 for boxcars, and 1 for tankcars of Hot Sauce (Atlas have some on the way I believe), in addition to the area is a Cement works served by a single Covered Hopper.

This is the trackplan:

I am also putting on a yard diner and some background apartments. 

The track is Tomix, that has been recycled from my Swiss layout which has gone by the wayside, and the stock has been sold off. I think that layout was a bit pie in the sky for my skill set, scenery wise. The main factory although Walthers kit on the plan, I am swaying to the ITLA Models modular industrial building.

Just off research 50' Boxcars now, and work out where to put the uncoupling magnets.

As usual any advice, or critisism is gratefully received. 

Just read through this wonderful thread. We were due to stop 3 nights in Lauterbrunnen as part of our 2 week european road trip. Sadly postponed until next year. We made it to see the Rhatische Bahn in Samedan/Celerina/Filisur 2 years ago, and Mrs Wollastonblue saw Jamie Redknapp/Freddie Flintoff on the Jungfraubahn, and said she wanted to go back there. The decision was whether to take in the Brienz Rothorn Bahn or Murren up the Schilthorn for the 007 experience. 

Just a quick question, I have tried to get in touch with Osborn Models, but can't seem to get hold of them. Does anyone know the dimensions of this kit:

https://www.osbornsmodels.com/arch-laser-aloo070-woodmans-cottage-kit-oo-gauge-43469-p.asp

Thanks in advance.

Well, it's been a long time. Since the initial start of layout other things have been prioritised, a little miss Wollastonblue has arrived, as did moving to a new home. But since the start of the corona crisis, I was furloughed 3 weeks, and in  between playing with the 1 year old, while little Mr Wollastonblue does his school work, I have rather ploughed on with the layout. I have completed the wiring, ballasted, built the buildings, and started adding the relief and scenery. Just a few photos of the progress so far:

Thank you for all your help. The residue issue has now been resolved, and I am quite pleased with the results of my ballasting. 

How would you cover the brass strip that is powering my two point motors?

I have just ballasted my 009 layout. I have a couple of issues I need help on please.

i) My PVA (Flangeways Modellers Milk - Which is already mixed to the right consistency) has left a residue (see photo 1). How do i clean that up?

ii) One of my Seep Point Motors has had the pin fall out; How do I secure it back in it's hole safely?

iii) How would you cover these?

I'm planning our nect family roadtrip round Europe, and would like to take in the Harz Mountain Railway. We are travelling up from Lauterbrunnen, I was looking at a night stop in the region, spending the day on the railway, and then drive up to Hamburg.

Is this do able, and does anyone have any recommendations for towns or hotels with family rooms to stay?

I'm STILL in the throws of building something similar, I went with Tomix track to fit 3 APA boxes, although you have more width, I went for two helix tunnels at end, the locos can take 140mm radius curves but not the points. I went with the Stugl Stuhls Building from Faller for the station. I look forward to seeing this develop.

For laugh out loud funny, and things that change your knowledge of history Stephen Clarke's 1000 years of annoying the french is brilliant. 

I have a silly things of falling love with certain models produced and in some circumstances have changed layouts to suit the models. However while my Swiss layout is progressing slowly, little Wollastonblue wants a 009 Skarloey, and while looking around Footplate in Kidderminster I fell in love with the Bachmann Baldwin Peggy, and she's a stunner.

So I duly purchased her along with a couple of Peco wagons and some 009 track. While perusing the 009 society website I discovered the wonderful layout "First" by Steve Clulow, and with some plagiarism I came up with the following to be stored in a 70ltr Really Useful Box. The main railway buildings are from Wills, and I have recently purchased a Pub kit from the Petite Model Building Company to attempt. Wiring is coming along really slowly, but with full point motors fitted, I just need to sort the signal out now, as I purchased one from Warley. Progress so far:

Little Wollastonblue running Peggy in:

The Baseboard and some of the track laid:

Completed with track laid apart from the line to the fiddle stick:

Little Wollastonblue helping me complete a Wills Wayside Station kit:

The Storage box:

I have drilled the hole for the Dapol Signal, but have found that the motor housing is deeper than the baseboard, can they be trimmed?

Work on this layout is progressing quicker than my Swiss layout as I can work on this one without setting everything up.

That's all for now. More will be posted as Little Wollastonblue and I crack on with it. 

Just a quick question before I hurl myself into the realms of 009 modelling. I am looking at building a small rake (2) of Dundas freelance panelled coaches. After much searching I'm a little confused about the couplings to use. Dundas say bemo, but can I use peco couplings as they are cheaper and easier to get hold of?

Thank you for sharing this. Makes me want to go back and spend longer in the area.

Good stuff! off to the same area in July, hopefully the weather stays just as nice for us.

 

Where was the LGB layout?

The LGB layout was part of a display by them in the engine house at Samedan. There was a set for Little Wollastonblue to have a go with, other children were running them at high speed, but my little man said it was too fast, and started to shunt the siding.

Looks like fun - I like the lash-up of an Allegra unit + single old coach + new push-pull coach set, and also the level crossing scene.

That was our train back to Celerina, I had to sit in it, rather than the old one. Mrs Wollastonblue has said she would like to go back and tour Switzerland a bit further (even thought about doing it by train)!

We had fantastic time in Switzerland on our European road trip to Italy. Celerina was gorgeous, as was the drive over the Albula Pass and then the Bernina Pass. We stopped so Daddy could take photos of the Landwasser Viaduct, and then spent a wonderful day at Samedan celebrating the Railway Festival.

Some Photos:

New livery for the Ge4/4 with 3 coaches and more runs of the Allegra and EW1's

 

IMG_4312.JPG

I knew they'd do this livery. I was waiting for the Green version which Noch were doing, but I couldn't resist this one.

It comes with FSH and an MOT until 01/19. My wife and little one want a car with 3 seats in the front so it's either a Fiat Multipla or a Honda FRV. I would like cruise control, but that isn't the be all and end all.

I though I would ask on here as a lot of you guys are engineering and mechanically minded, and no far more about cars than me. I am looking at buying a Honda FRV, having found one in my price range, I contacted the dealer, who has advised me there is an issue with the gear linkage on the car, and that the gear stick needs to be treated gently.

Is this a major problem, and if so is it expensive to correct?

Thanks in advance.

... which allows the loco to negotiate a 150mm radius, but who needs that?

It'll probably shock but I need it to negotiate Tomix 140mm Radius. The original Glacier Express has no problems with it.

Also received from Japan, yesterday, Kato are now going to offer a DCC Sound Board for the GE 4/4 III!