dseagull

I found the stuff didn't work properly, as did the late scenic master Allan Downes; 

Threw the remainder away when we moved earlier this year. I won't be buying it again.

Very nice Mikkel.

There's a great (considering that it is from around 1880) photo of an LBSC one here; here (Have stopped it embedding because I'm not sure what the copyright status is).

Saw this earlier and thought of you...

http://www.bouldercreekrailroad.com/blog/small-details-make-a-huge-difference

That looks stunning, very nice indeed.

Thanks Kevin! - Yes, it's an intriguing prospect although I suspect Ripe certainly wouldn't have justified a station in reality.

Looking forwards, I have track plans for both Litlington (not the one which I started either!) and Alfriston, based on Iain Rice plans - I see it as something of a 'long haul' scheme which I can work towards for many years to come.

That's really nice - and the 'layered' board works really well. Wish I'd read this before I installed some on my station building!

I have often thought that a "click to write, click to store" Biro would make a simple point-operating device for small shelf layouts. (I'm sure that someone must have done this in the past!).

Just solder a wire to the protruding brass "nib" of the Biro tube, File the end of the pen to clear the solder if required, put an omega bend in the operating wire, connect to point and fix the Biro body to, or into, the baseboard. 

I have a hoard of expired Freeby Parker pens with company logos as distributed by salesmen attempting to interest potential customers in their product, I'm too mean to purchase refills! 

Apologies Don, I thought I'd replied to this last week!

Yes, that certainly could be an idea! - my version works fine, although I have left the springs in the points to ensure contact. One of the biros I used was totally empty, whereas the other tube came from one which had been trodden on, and was still fairly full. I washed as much ink out as I could (not an easy job!) but it is still a bit 'sticky', so could have done a better job. In hindsight, maybe a 'blast' of WD40 would have done the job better than a bowl of hot soapy water?

Wonderfully creative. To top off the TV theme, all you need now is an old flatscreen TV showing a live backscene - rolling clouds, darting swallows etc 

 

I really like the layout plan. A nice balance of view blocks, and scope for a bit of operation - will there be fiddle yards?

Thanks Mikkel - A live backscene would be a superb idea, but for now I think it will just be a plain, neutral sky blue colour! - never say never though...!

There will be fiddle yards, yes, but they will have to be detachable for storage and only come out for operation!

I'd echo that, this is superb - and also confirms my love for goods sheds on bay platforms!

Very nice work. I've always liked these wagons, but I doubt they would have escaped the GWR for a trip to rural Sussex!

Thanks - the layout will be set in the very early 1920's, so LBSCR Steam it is!

The rationale and (fictional, mostly!) history can be seen in the posts here; http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/blog-1330/cat-579-history- although I am proposing a slight change to keep the company as an independent Light railway until just prior to the 1923 grouping, of which more later.

Now that's interesting, thanks - I feel another test coming on

Thanks John - it is a very nice part of the world.

I've tried Long Man beer before, to be honest I wasn't a fan of their lager I had on draught in a local bar, but when this diet finishes maybe I will try one of their bitters. I still have a bottle of Harveys Christmas Ale to get through as well - now that is nice!

Thanks Pete

I think my history is a little optmistic, and the most likely route would have left the main at Polegate, rather than coming across country from Isfield.

It certainly is a lovely part of the world though!

Hi Mikkel

The only reason Im not a fan of the traditional method is that I find the act of applying 'wet water' tends to blast the ballast out of place. I have also gunked up points with it in the past

Darren: Thanks, I may try that but will also try the methods in Gordon S' thread.

Update 25/3

So a careful prod this morning resulted in the same thing happening - the ballast crumbling when touched. That between the rails did seem more secure though, so I decided to see how it looked tonight.

The result? Disapointing. After a quick waft of the hoover to remove anything loose, I am left with four short sections where the ballast has held, and several.gaps where it clearly hasnt.

I wont be trying again tonight, for my sanity!

Initial impressions are mixed;

When I picked the board up off the lounge floor last night for overnight storage, all held nicely. This morning, before leaving for work I decided to gently touch some of the ballast on the side of the track, only for it to disintegrate under my finger - that between the rails seemed better.

To be fair, I will give it another go tonight mixing absolutely scrupulously to a 1/7 ratio and stirring for longer, hopefully to coat all the granules better.

In answer to your questions;

1; No, not noticeably anyway. It might do if you were too heavy-handed with the spray, but it is pretty good on this front.

2; See above....

Thanks Don, that would have been ideal - however I've now started to mock up the lane crossing the tracks, and have found that there really isn't the space for anything other than a small section of the wall (not the space for the gates either which is a shame.

The planned Railway Cottages opposite the station though should have the space for a privy each!

Thanks for the comments. I have now painted the 'yard side' wall and I'm leaving it for a few days to see if it grows on me. It has been suggested that I try a slurry of polyfilla and PVA to reduce the depth of the cobbles, which is something I may well try.

Typically, after being unable to get the cobblestone walling that I originally wanted on Tuesday, I called into another shop on Thursday and got some! - I think it will certainly be more useful for building the houses, and may yet replace the existing wall.

I really like buildings in the 3rd last & last photos. A real challenge to model ( Scalescenes papers come to mind).

Yes I'm sure they will be! - those two in particular really appeal as well, but the space I have in mind would only accommodate one of them.

The middle picture, incidentally, is the Lodge House and marked on the old OS map linked earlier.

Sounds like you had a good day. I'm fascinated by the research side of planning and building a layout as much as the physical side of it. I have some time off next week and hope to fit in both a trip out towards Litlington to take some general photos, and a trip to Lewes library to leaf through some old trade directories to give me some more ideas for further potential goods traffic.

Thanks Gary - I've used them before and they certainly help.

My last post may have given the impression that I am somehow proud of lack of soldering ability, and it certainly wasn't intended that way. I would describe myself as aspirational but realistic!

Thanks Mikkel, I am pleased with the way its gone!

Thanks Nick, thats very helpful - I think it is a sensible idea to add some bracing, just in case.

Thanks Don! Changed accordingly!