Crisis Rail

Lakeside is nearly always wet... rather be there in the wet than at work. We go up 4 or 5 times a year takes us only 40mins - although short in track mileage it is a well established railway and run very well - Diesel weekends are in November featuring the 33 and 20 - should be a good do Looked at your images in the past - quality - just not a fan of typing - why I have just got a Blackberry I do not know... Ian

What shows are you booked in? - Mansfield? We are off to Blackburn Show (Accrington) this weekend only 8 miles away a good show excellent traders to source some bits and pieces. Model Rail Live next up on the Saturday looking forward to that one Considering building for exhibiting the "Whalley Cement" layout it is going to be very very small (two tracks) one on a slope like Outon Road (pinched that idea - looks so good) so I dont know if it will be of much interest as not a lot will happen like a roundy but would fill a corner I suppose. I take it you have seen FP on a popular auction site Good for display and sound which was its intention but restricted if you want to run stock although I have made provision for a Fiddle extension to be added. Although I have had one or two offers to join I am not in any Society due to various reasons so would not know how to go about it. - Ian

Fantastic....... What a job

Thanks Grimley - Would like to see one in operation sometime - I have worked on KTM - Marwin Automax and currently Mazak machine centres in the Aircraft Industry but wouldn't have minded a do on one of these...! I take it the tyres are heated and "sweated" (shrunk) on to the wheels then the locomotive is rolled in for turning?

Leave it unweathered! - the colour is spot on! (Machine Green) like kit I have worked on in the past. - It could be a recent installation maybe? dont know too much about when it was installed at Toton but seems a shame to lose the newness - excellent - Ian

Excellent photos Neil a good overhead view shot. - Layout has plenty of height.The Warehouse in the corner looks effective to fill in an awkward high space instead of sky. I like to keep things" compact" so I dont have that problem...! - well done - a lot of hard work has gone in by the looks of it since the Spring - Do you have any plans to exhibit at all in the NW? - Ian

Class 60 EWS 60096 just out of Peakdale Works switched off at the Fuelling Point. Then moved over to the Maintenance apron for the weekend.

Always have been intrigued about Tyre Turning - do you have any images of the prototype? - good work - Ian

Other Images: Will add some stock images at a later date when I can get outside.

All done.

Due to an increase in interest in 0 Gauge I have stopped work on Fuelling Point for the forseeable - the layout is 90% done and will be completed eventually to be auctioned - Regrettable but I have been made aware of and had an offer accepted on some mainly Heljan 0 Gauge stock which is too good to turn down. Fuelling Point funding will go some way to purchasing what I have been offered. I still have two more 00 Gauge diorama in build and work will continue on these albeit at a slower pace - Thanks for everyones interest and inspiration. Ian

Front viewing panels cut and contoured today - Black Matt finish eventually. The end panel near the side wall will be cut at the bottom to add the fiddleyard - shunt extension. The cut panel will be replaceable for use as a viewing diorama.

Quality... Do you have the originals to compare or have I missed them in the thread? - Ian

A couple of quick images. Somehow found time to cut the backscenes and fix. The fronts are awaiting window profiling. Fuelling Rig detailing near completion. Portacabins and Container omitted - "Forest in a Box" on order for the banking surround from International Models as well as lights for the buffer and yard from Express Models. Must source some Graffiti for the short siding wall. Not sure of a photorealistic backscene - maybe blue sky sheeting although have been experimenting with low relief units for the back edge reducing the amount of trees required. All good fun.

Alex Was looking at your trackplan and came across this from an excellent site about Margam. Looked familiar - will be having a do at this section sometime to display a few 60's (lots of nice Evergreen sheet siding...!) - the TOTON lettering should be a challenge. http://www.martinbra...0071-totond.htm Image not posted due to copyright which is a pity. http://www.martinbra...com/welcome.htm An excellent site for reference - rogues gallery a good laugh.... Ian (Crisis Rail)

Finer details under way as I wait for foilage backscene and lights to be delivered....

Time to get the Superglue out.... The result of a dropped book from all of two inches. The struts are metallic on to the resin cabin body - a surprise as I expected them to be plastic.

My sympathies.... so frustrating. Split the bodies to DCC Chip - sorry - I suppose "split" isn't really a good choice of words... Both well tight on the chassis but eased off with a little persuasion - will be keeping an eye on them and storing away in a cool place. FP is waiting finances for lighting backscene and foilage ( Express and International Models) just assembling finer details at present. Slow progress due to upcoming school hols and a possibly expensive beach "drizzlefest" on the South Coast Two more micros on the go also - its now an obsession..... .....no rush is there?

Recent acquisitions.... The Fuelling Point inspiration - although all Class 57 - an excellent site. http://www.uktrainpi....uk/class57.htm Commencing detailing and weathering soon. Heljan 47 - not the best of models through well documented running problems and chassis reputation. I find that the Freightliner colour is more faithful than the Bachmann offering Ian

Usual Knightwing Roof with plasticard stanchions - I think the ones supplied are more suited to the oval steam era concrete roof.

Well bonkers....... Expensively bonkers. How will you combat the warp on the roof? I suppose the problem is the large surface area. Ian

Saw this a while back at Blackburn? Seriously bonkers modelling on another level..... Talented.

Cheers Guy - Ah Pikestuff - Thought it was but never got round to a good look. Might have some to assess then change at a later date. Ian

Managed to salvage some Evergreen Sheet Siding from the old "Freight Only" garage layout building to do some outdoor scratchbuilding. Glad about that - expensive stuff to buy but covers very well. These are the scenic breaks.

From the Wills Plate bridge kit - I had one spare had to shell out on another for the barriers - I really like these as they are older style as opposed to the rectangular style which are more modern looking. ARMCO was an option but I find it hard to source could always "retrofit" - MSIM? - If anyone can link it would be appreciated. Ian