TimC

Yes, I really liked DG, it was a superb layout - just showed what could be done with O Gauge in a small space. As an aside - Marc you're next to Gordon and Maggie at the forthcoming Yate show on 26 January. (Apologies for the shameless plug)

Love the carriage shed -Superb!

Andy Siddall did an excellent step by step build of a Judith Edge 7mm Class 06 in his diesel Workbench thread (starts at he bottom of page 2) http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/22836-andy-siddalls-diesel-workbench/page__st__25

We had a great weekend at the Thornbury show. The layout seemed to be well received and the testing in the run up to the event paid off as it ran virtually faultlessly (well actually, one of the controllers wouldn't work first thing Saturday - it was a lot better though once I'd plugged it into the control panel!). The post show list of jobs or matters arising was quite short. This was the first time we had to pack the layout for transportation - it fits easily into Paul estate car. Paul had made up a hinged frame that bolts onto the side of the layout and we then 'fold' one board on top of the other. You'll notice that we had to remove one of the adjustable feet for transport as it fouled the little (Maplins) DC power supply circuit board we have to run the yard lamps (this has now been moved). The fixings, fit and general stability of the frame has also been improved since we got back to the clubrooms. You can see above that there is a load of scatter material on the frame as we disguise the board joint with loose material. We've also found a few scenic items that need to be more positively fixed to the layout - these have now been pinned into position. Apart from a few stock projects there are some scenic jobs we are planning but haven't quite decided how they are going to be executed yet, so watch this space..... Somerset Lane's next outing is our own Sodbury Vale MRC exhibition on 26 January 2013 (St Marys Church, Yate, BS37 5BG). The layout is available now for exhibition so if you are interested then drop me a PM.

Thanks, Good to see you again TTG! Thanks Pete. Sodbury Vale is just north east of Bristol around Yate, Chipping Sodbury and Wickwar between the Severn and the Cotswold edge (north of the M4 and east of the M5).

Good day today at Thornbury - Always a friendly show! Here are a couple of pictures for those who didn't see the Thornbury Show thread Best comment heard from behind the layout was a chap telling his small son that the goods shed was being dismantled - 'look, they've already removed the wall and started to take the slates off the roof.' (Can't wait to tell Jim!)

Thanks Andy!

Very nice! Hopefully one for the 7mm range at some point in the future......

The base of Jim's goods shed got stuck down today and I've started to make up a concrete apron to go inside. The gap at the end of the floor and side walls are for the sliding doors (I did have the cheek to ask Jim if they were for for expansion....). Jim's got the paint for the structure - it'll be LNER cream and green. The water tank has been installed for a few weeks but not found its way into any of the recent photos so here are a couple of views up and down the layout. The brass beastie scuttling about above is Paul's latest project on test, a Steve Beattie class 16 (he's already done a class 15 - he had to cut 1mm out of the width down the length of the bonnets to get them to size.....) - the roll of solder is for weight. The class 16 will not be at Thornbury, no doubt his class 15 will be.

Thanks guys! Steve - Spenford Road looking good!

Great work! Some fantastic shots there. Is the side wall of the diorama removable? Just wondering how you get the camera in for some of those angles.

The last few weeks have seen much testing and subsequent rectification work on the layout. It has given us a chance to try out all the stock and banish any troublesome trucks from the stock box - they'll be allowed back in the future but only if they mend their ways..... Thankfully, we still have plenty to play with for Thronbury at the end of the month. Jim's goods shed broke cover this week and there is even talk of sticking it down - well the brick base anyway. The end walls are quite fragile so we may make it demountable so it can be transported more securely. Apologies for the focus/colour balance but here are a few shots. The wooden part is only balanced on the brick base in these shots hence its not square but you'll get the idea. Flashing, vents, skylights and remaining slate work in progress. Traction wise obviously there is a power shortage as the Depot Manager (when did they no longer be known as Shed Masters?) has had to call upon a North London Park tank to supplement the motive power fleet. This one belongs to Laurie Griffin but Paul has just finished one too so, at times, we may have two on the layout at Thornbury. There are a few more appropriate east end diesel shunters on the cards and no doubt these will displace steam once and for all in due course. We've still got a few bits to fettle but all in all the layout is in good shape for its first outing.

Very nice, Brian - Taunton Cider per chance? http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/german2doorvan/h2a46a162#h2a46a162

Very nice - well worth the effort!

Thanks Pete! Jim is an S Gauge modeller so is very happy scratch building most things he models. I've not mentioned the cranes he's making up for the inside.....they're amazing, as is the whole of his good shed.

Nothing very interesting to report on my front. Most of my modelling time has gone toward Somerset Lane projects and I'm only now getting back to my CCTs. Last night I took the first one, which only has a few bits left to add and a paint job to complete, for a test around the Avon GOG test track (motive power courtesy of Paul's North London Tank). I'm happy with the running now that it is packed up level and in my view there is no need for additional springing or other compensation. As an aside It was good to see TTG last night down the Avon GOG club rooms with his Easybuild Class 108 - I must get back to my Cravens DMU at some point (though there a few other projects I'm keen to push on with first......) I'm currently progressing through the builds of the second and third CCT following the lessons I've learned from the first one. I am wondering whether I'm going to get some decent weather before winter sets in for painting them but if they have to wait, then they'll have to wait.

Jim brought the goods shed down to the club last night. As noted above he's slating the roof at the moment. Each slate is an individual - cut, shaped, bevelled and painted . This is progress to date. He's doing the non viewing side first to get his hand in (so its back to front on the layout in this shot as it will be once its finished). The gaps in the roof planking are for a skylight and louvred vents on the ridge. And, yes, that lamp is on - Paul is playing trains down the other end.......

Thanks TTG, look forward to seeing you at the Avon GOG meting.

Well there is about 6 weeks to go before Somerset Lane goes to the Thornbury show. We've been doing a few small jobs to finish off. The curtain (courtesy of Mrs TimC) sets off the layout nicely and make it looks like an exhibit rather than a work in progress project (btw - the club lighting makes the shot below look a tad yellow). The Caledonia Road end of the layout (to the left of the bridge as opposed to the Somerset Lane end with the Depot) is resplendent with it goods shed (well it will be...........Jim was last heard of hand filing the bevel on the edges of the slates.......individually ). Paul has made a wall to go behind the fuel point and a detachable set of gates that bridge the baseboard join. Spot weathering of the track is in progress and there are some misc details to add to fill out the scene. The water tank seems to have gone for a walk in the photos in this post but it will go between the fenced yard and the concrete hut in the foreground. We've got to improve the look of the yard surface/ballast across the baseboard joint at some stage but for the first show or two we'll add loose material to blend it out - we think there is a minor base board issue to sort out here but we'll defer that for a bit as its just cosmetic. Over the remaining weeks we just planning to operate the layout so we have it and the stock all fully shook down before the show.

Great, TTG - see you then.

Hi Alan Thanks, glad you like the layout. Cheers

Hi TTG! The next Avon GOG meeting is Weds 10 Oct. I'm hoping that the Heljan 31 will have been delivered by then (though it might be touch and go) . Hope to see you then. Hi Marc Yes, it was good to have a chat at Swindon (one of the best shows I've been to in a while). Your layouts are great inspiration (so watch out - there maybe a 7mm version of one on the way ). The Lane does have a fair amount of track (Paul likes building track ) but it means that its got a fair amount of operational potential/interest. The fleet are mainly small early diesels shunters so it shouldn't end up too crowded. In addition, there are 11 wagons but any more than four/five out front will be a nightmare so expect all 11 to be out when I hand over at the end of my operating shift........... Off topic a bit - We were talking about John Spencer's Ruyton Road, now in your ownership, and by chance I came across four delightful clips of it on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhiRGHK_kbo Not sure if you've seen them but now that's something I do fancy in 7mm (maybe Forest of Deanified ).

The concrete base of the factory is now weathered in. The green is mostly hidden but you can still see the 'tide line' on the brick paper and while I've weathered the area to lessen the effect I may revisit this again in due course once I done my other jobs on the layout. Last week, Paul removed the back board at the shed end. It has been papered and repainted so it now matches the backscene at the other end. The hard standing next to the shed is progressing. In between waiting for paint and glue to dry I've attacked one of Paul's Vanguard model cars - a Ford 100E. It was a tad too bright out of the box but even weathered it adds some nice colour to the layout. Paul has been fettling the couplings on his stock and is now working on a baseboard carrying frame.....more of which after the first fitting.......

Yes, you're right but it was a shock on a few quids worth of bulbs and one to be aware of if anyone does put an order in - they're good bulbs though