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Wake up at the back, you boy! http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/90894-wakefield-rms-exhibition-2014/page-2 EDIT - just had a thought. Did you mean would I be at Wakefield, not just the layout? If so - yes!

We've had the layout erected in WRMS clubroom again this week to try out the schedule which now more or less works OK. It'll have to do now anyway so, if you come to see us at Wakefield Exhibition on the Friday evening, please be a little patient if there's some head scratching going on! This is a photo taken today -

Was that taken on 59th and Rust?

Hi Tony, visiting here from the Scratchbuilding thread, thanks for the link. So it's you that John F. has been assisting! I was beginning to wonder if it might be the case. He has mentioned a layout in Australia and that you are visiting soon. Pity the visit doesn't coincide with the exhibition. Perhaps sometime in the future eh? The backscenes definitely have a look of Woolley Edge about them which is why I thought they looked familiar. I think the whole layout is to an excellent standard. I look forward to seeing it develop. Considering the high standard of modelling, perhaps you could try a Western Region one next Or is that going a bit to far....................................... It's not that I'm particularly biased or anything towards the products of Swindon.....

Very nice modelling indeed. Wakefield West eh? Where's that supposed to be then? Somewhere around the Horbury/Healey Mills area? I sort of recognise the view of the backscene in the shed photo (or am I completely wrong and is it somewhere else entirely?!)

The additional 'springs' on the point rodding seem to work OK and, while we were at it, we amended the positioning of some of the tie-bar driving wires on the rods. They were biased slightly to one side and imposing a springing effect on the pushrods away from the microswitches which allowed them to open just a little and possibly create the short-circuits we had been experiencing. I've also now added a lick of paint to the 'Monon' petrol tanker. A totally ficticious livery to which I will eventually add an equally ficticious brand name. And the glazing......................

Well, it's similar if nothing else. I still think my windows may be a bit to small but as I've now laboriously cut and filed the glazing for them - they'll have to do! Good luck with the huts, there's several types of Evergreen available that will save a lot of time.

Another couple of topics relating to Woodsville for you. Points - we are fitting a 10thou strip of Nickel Silver bearing onto the operating rod to add a bit of friction rather than disrupt all the switches etc. A test will be carried out this week and if OK, then all rods will be so fitted. Road Vehicles - I've been trying to collect a representative selection of early/mid 50's vehicles which isn't all that easy. Although very nice models, most of the diecast ones seem to be a bit 'exotic' for your average 'Middle America' town so I've built some kits. Firstly, pair of 1930's autos, starting to feel their age but still running around town. The 1932 Ford Deuce Coupe is a Wheel Works white metal kit which, in kit form, is a soft-top with a folded down hood. I reckoned this might be a bit unlikely in New Hampshire so scratchbuilt a hard-top from styrene and followed a paint scheme found on the web. The other is a late 30's Sylvan Models Hudson Terraplane, a resin kit. No windows I admit - mainly because the moulded openings are all strange shapes which would have been a b*gg*r to file up and fit. Again painted similar to a photo on the web. Next a pair of 1940 Fords, both from Jordan kits in styrene. Nice kits, easy to build - and they have windows already fitted! The Black one was 'painted' using a large black permanent marker pen as suggested in the kit instructions which resulted in a nice patina. The other is supposed to be a worn dark blue - which was the result of trying to wipe off a coat of paint I didn't really care for! This is an IMEX models Stake Truck, originally a bright REA Green with a Chrome chassis! I've always been a bit discontented with this as a model until I discovered that it is actually quite a nice representation of a 1938/40 Peterbilt. I drilled out the 'rivets' holding the cab, radiator and stake deck to the chassis, sprayed the chassis black and dunked the cab into old brake fluid for a few days. It cleaned up nicely and I filed out the windows a bit to square them up and get them nearer to scale size. I didn't like the stake back so built a flat body which I think will be a bit more 'universal' in application. This also now needs a coat of paint so I'm looking around for something relatively 'ordinary'. Here we have the resin moulded cab from my clubmate Enginelane, a refugee from his Monon Layout thread. I fancied a petrol tanker to complement the Oil Depot on the layout and found a potential suitable prototype on the web. The tank is a modified Coopercraft Tank Trailer kit body as are the basic chassis and wheels. The rest is various lengths and thicknesses of Evergreen. I make no claims that this is a scale model of an actual truck but I think it provides the 'flavour flavor' of a small tanker. Again, not sure of the eventual color-scheme but I may use the one on the Oil Depot name board. See them all on the layout at Wakefield Show!

Following a bit of 'trading', this is now in my possession for use on 'Woodsville' - and looks like this - Some filing hacking and carving around the windows to enlarge them, the remains of a Coopercraft Tank Trailer kit (wheels, chassis, rebuilt tank), some plasticard, industrial language etc. and almost ready to paint. But how? Possibly to match the Oil Company on Woodsville? BTW, the white metal elements of the original have found their way into my 'large lumps of white metal and lead' box for weighting wagons etc. in the future. One man's rubbish etc. etc......................

Thanks Tony. This was an option we have discussed and if the slide switches don't work - we still might!

Thanks for your comments and suggestions everyone. We'll be having a discussion tomorrow about it!

I've now recovered from the exhibiting experience that was Halifax and can report that, considering it was the first time out and and the first time that we had attempted a full sequence, it wasn't TO bad. The layout travelled well, went up and down easily, worked electrically from the off and looked OK. In operation, we discovered anomalies in the operating sequence which can be ironed out relatively easily but we did have a problem with the electrical aspect of turnout operation. The microswitches positioned at the ends of the push-rods were springing back and breaking contact thus causing shorts and switching the DCC system off. Once we realised what was causing the problem we were able to hold the rods in against the spring as the loco passed over but an alternative system is required. This may well mean the use of small slide switches instead but we need to have a trial before committing ourselves. We need to have it sorted for Wakefield Exhibition last weekend of November so we have 2 months which SHOULD see us right! Otherwise, it all worked OK. Here is a shot of 'The Team' proudly standing behind the layout prior to the opening. Link to Wakefield Exhibition thread - http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/forum/41-exhibitions/

Thanks to you both, I was a bit curious.

Super photos - again! As said before, what a wide selection of liveries available for Cl 37's at that time. I had 'forgotten' (or more likely, never realised at the time!) how many there were. Why was there a 'chocolate and cream' Mk1 coach regularly rostered with some Mk3's?

We've had the layout fully erected in the Wakefield clubrooms for 3 days this week to allow us a chance to paint the board edges etc. and - most importantly - to try an initial run-through of the sequence. This was, shall we say, a very interesting experience - and well worth doing! Basically it was a sound plan and should create some interesting moves but it threw up several 'blips' relating to positioning of stock which (I think) we have now sorted. We'll have to wait until next weekend at Halifax to find out! This time next week we'll be well into it! See you there?

If it does - then you need to go to Specsavers. (Other opticians are available) (As are other track gauges)

Today we have had the layout fully erected in the garage and managed to try the light fittings (all OK), general running (generally OK) and had a start on the planned schedule (needs a bit of work!). We also trial fitted some figures and road vehicles to get an impression of how it will eventually appear. All in all, everything was acceptable given that it is the first time we've been able to do this. We will need another session to iron out the very minor bugs and hopefully all will be good for our first show at Halifax at the end of the month. Details of the Halifax show here - http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/89840-halifax-model-railway-exhibition-2014-2728-september/ Come along and see us and make yourselves known if you've followed the thread so far. Here are some photos taken today. Firstly, under erection showing the sub-frame and folding leg assembly. A general view down the layout looking 'west' to White River Junction and/or St. Johnsbury. The main depot and REA building. The general dealers store which has rail access at the rear. Looking 'east' to either Berlin (via the branch) or Boston. The main sorting yard and loco depot are also in this direction which provides plenty of freight working and light engine movements. Another 'west' view with a freight for White River. There is plenty of scope for interesting train movements - so far we are barely scratching the surface of the potential!

Good news that it has been saved for the Nation. Is it staying in God's Own or is it going to foreign parts?

There was a guy at a recent Hampsthwaite meeting selling a good selection of Sylvan kits. I bought a Hudson Terraplane car which made up reasonably well. If you don't want the Chevy truck it will fit very well onto Woodsville. I'll swap you for a magazine Oh, and why not call the diner - 'Ted's'? They may serve a decent cuppa there.................................

Could it be one of these? It looks very similar. From January 1951 Model Railway News.

It could also have been a layout built by Wakefield RMS member Tony Morris based on Hutton-le-Hole in the North Yorkshire Moors. The trains were secondary to the scenic modelling but he did have it operating at at least one Wakefield Show at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School.

You silly sausage!

Very scratchbuilt! The building still exists in Woodsville as shops and offices and can easily be seen on Google Earth. However, it's a bit far away to pop out and measure it so a fair bit of 'guesstimation' has been involved! You can see it in earlier phases in previous posts. The main body is 40thou plasticard and planked Evergreen with Ratio 2mm slates to represent the small shingles that the prototype walls are clad with. Still a bit overscale but the best I could find in the UK. Windows are North Eastern as I couldn't find Grantline at the time. It's made in 4 sections - ground floor, canopy, 2nd and 3rd floors and roof. This make it a bit easier to paint and fit the windows. Here's another shot which shows the ground floor detailing a bit better. The bottom panelled half is painted dark green along with the roof supports and the window frames. The shingles and plain walls are light grey.

A couple of shots taken just before I went on holiday. Nothing major, just gradual development of the basic scenery plus the Oil Depot (basically an 'adapted' Knightwing) and the beginnings of painting the main Depot building. This is now virtually completed, just need to attach the windows and weather it.

Yes, I know you enjoyed the switch.