SouthernMafia

Bit of planning and design stuff happening today...slightly worrying.

We have a 3-car NSE Thumper! My thanks to Tony Pierson from the Winchester club for his contribution to the physical build and final detailing, Tony tells me he lost his sanity at the 39th 'No Smoking' window sticker ! This is the first time I've put the unit together and considering the livery was done independently I'm quite pleased with the overall consistency, the lines pretty much line up! Annoyingly though I've sprayed the lower grey band slightly too thin, so the white above it looks larger when compared to the other coaches. A relatively easy fix but I'm always cautious of editing things once they're finished as its often when I balls it up. The only other thing that needs doing is adding a coach number, once I've decided on a unit number, and the whole unit will receive a light weathering. The other project that's nearly finished as well is 37013 in Mainline blue: After obtaining some Fox transfers I was frustrated to learn they were over scale!! I have made do and I don't think they are too bad, but the loco numbers look crap too with the backing clearly visible. These will be removed and I'll be using some Railtec transfers once they become available. Nothing much done on Portland lately, although now these two projects are nearly complete I'll be starting something else,,,

Thumper centre car paint job finished...sadly I'm now out of Aquafresh paint. Just needs some numbers and an orange line, will then go back to the chassis which is being sorted out by a friend. Have to say Tamiya masking tape really is the dogs whatsits!!

Well progress on Portland has been quiet of late as focus turns to getting the Winchester club's 'Redbridge' ready for exhibition next year, but with a week off work this week a major job has been completed. The MERG DCC circuit breakers have been installed, and some extensive rewiring in places completed to allow the system to work correctly. It all looks rather messy, but it makes sense to me and that's what matters! The layout has been broken down into four districts - 1 mainline, loop + bay platform 2 depot area 3 boards 3 and 4 (mainly the yard and carriage siding) 4 the fiddle yard When the layout was wired up some years ago, it was one DCC bus around the layout and everything fed off that. Now 4 buses have been created and link in to the appropriate MERG kit. Amazingly it all works and the last thing will be to add panel LEDs on the back of the layout for ease of identification when there is a short. The kits all have buzzers but they all sound the same, so you cannot differentiate where the short is without looking under the board! Along with the layout work, i've also rekindled my interest in airbrushing, and a couple of locos have been in the paintshop this week nearing completion. Furthermore, this is almost complete

Hang on a minute, so I've now got to spend another £18 for a rake of 6, thinking £37 was the post early bird price. That's very irritating. I think there were a fair few people waiting to place an order based on £37 a go, a little grace period would have been nice. If you'd said the price was going up next week to £40 you would have had an influx of orders for sure.

Yep definitely, stone traffic will feature on Portland, not sure on the operational element yet, perhaps a fictitious quarry branch off scene with trains requiring running round/storing on the layout, or perhaps loading using one of the sidings, undecided. Trouble with doing it on-scene is it needs to arrive empty and depart loaded ! Thanks Trev, glad you like the layout so far

Here's a couple of pictures of the newly completed mini panel which sits on the front of the layout: Still some annotations to be added onto the panel. The Green LED denotes power when the panel is switched in by the signalman on the main panel, at which point the main panel will have no control over these points. The Red LED denotes when the points into the carriage siding are set against the shunters route. On the layout a 'STOP - obtain permission to proceed' board will denote this. Looks like I've got a yellow LED to replace already !! The panel in situ at home. At shows, the main panel on the left sits on the back of the layout effectively upside down. It was evident at Brockenhurst that the yard shuntman was struggling at times to shunt as he had to constantly talk to the signalman to get points changed. A suggestion was put forward about having a small panel at the front to alleviate this issue, so that's what has been done. It is only part of the layout as it was too much of a faff to do the whole MPD bit as well. In any case the yard shunter would need to liaise with the signalman to ensure no conflicting movements occur when using this area, so I've kept it simple. One can now shunt the area in green up to points highlighted below: Also I took these shots of the station lights at night which I thought looked pretty cool:

Hi all, Thanks for the comments. Apologies I've been delayed in responding, life (and currently sunburn) keeps getting in the way, so modelling and RMWeb have taken a backburner for a little while. Portland is indeed a fictitious layout, but based on the concept of a 'what might have been' branch line had it remained open. You're right Jwnewall, a small MPD would probably have sufficed at Weymouth, but I couldn't fit the idea of Weymouth in my bedroom so Portland it was haha! Thanks Mike for your kind words about the trackwork, there's nothing to it really! Like many, I thought it was a fine art that took time and skill to perfect, but once you can build a point kit to get you started it becomes very easy (and addictive!) There has been some work to Portland but it's very behind the scenes. The small mimic panel is complete and works well, I must get a photo of this uploaded soon. The other work currently ongoing is some rewiring and the installation of 4 MERG DCC circuit breakers to split the layout up into power districts. For those not familiar with this, basically if there is a short on one piece of track, usually a derailment, it will only short out that power district instead of the entire layout. The 4 districts will be the fiddle yard, the MPD, the yard & carriage siding, and "everything else". Cheers for now. Rich.

All a bit quiet on the layout at the moment following the show whilst some planning takes place and the odd small job completed. Currently mid-way through construction of the small mimic panel for the front of the layout at exhibitions, and completed some re-wiring of some bits that needed tidying up. Thought it was time the station lights were illuminated too Pleased to report official invitations received for Weymouth 2017 and Basingstoke 2018

I see the Virgin Mk2s are now out but no FO strangely??

I think also the fact that it's viewed from the inside helps as you don't really see how tight the curve is unless you're down the end, by which time you're probably talking to me instead and won't even notice the curve

Sorry had a busy weekend last weekend but managed to grab a few pics of the curve for you today: Hope that helps.

No problem, I'll try get it done over the weekend.

Thanks guys. The main running line is 48 inches (4ft), the tightest curve into the yard is 32 inches, which an 08 and various wagons negotiated without a problem many a time during the show.

The weekend seems like a long time ago already! But very enjoyable nonetheless. Unfortunately I didn't take many photos as I was too busy supervising assisting my helpers, but here's a few I did get: 56032, 73129, 47145, 33109 Apparently 47835 had failed so 56032 stepped up to take the XC up to Reading... 37506, 37258 and 73102 join 47145 and 33109

Thanks all for your kind words. A successful weekend for Portland, the layout ran well generally but a few back to back issues and flange way gaps to sort out for next time. Lots of suggestions and tips from my Winchester Railway Modeller colleagues who I must thank for their help operating and packing up. The layout received two verbal invitations to shows in 2017 and 2018 so hopefully these will be confirmed and another target date to aim for! I'll post a few pics soon and be good to see any others too. Mark, thanks for your comments and sorry I didn't get a chance to chat more with you. The B2B gauge was given to me by a friend but I'm not sure where he got it from. I will try and find out for you. Good to meet you too Ian and chat with you about all things NSE!

Somehow - and I'm not quite sure how - there is currently a layout ready to be played with at Brockenhurst for the next 2 days... Looking forward to the weekend. Do come and say hello if you are visiting

Less than a week to go, dear god where has the time gone! The weekend has been spent mainly working on stock. 5 sound chips arrived back from Legomanbiffo on Saturday morning, so these have been installed. The Thumper was a right pain as the "internal provision for a speaker" barely existed, so some hacking about of the underframe duly took place and the speaker is just about hidden underneath. Like the layout, a lot of the stock is not exhibition ready but i have some stuff weathered and detailed. As long as it runs and works ok I am happy! All the locos and units fit into one crate, and should be able to get the wagons and coaches in another. Also been adding a few loads to some dogfish and seacows. The layout hasn't really changed much in a week as it's got to the stage where I just need to focus on ensuring it packs away as it should, and it works! Time will tell, and I am away on business until Thursday evening so any last fettling will now have to be done on Friday!

Cheers mate, no gonna set up Friday night, not taking any chances!

Saturdays progress. Had 3 of the 4 boards up to test some final bits and continue scenic work. Lighting rig for this side of layout finished and tested. Earth added to the footpath As my signals won't be ready for the show I've fitted these two Roger Murray ones I had spare. And finally fitted the throttle pockets in position, layout will operate with 3 throttles for the show.

Looks good in a mag, nice work mate. If only Portland looked as good as that for Brock!!

Absolutely Phil - messy stuff but looks good and even better with scatter and stuff applied - not quite there yet with mine but all the basic liner is down and trimmed. Didn't get the whole layout up today as other things took priority, mainly fitting the end boards and painting the public side and lighting rigs. The last board was still waiting ballasting so most of this was done today. Looks a mess at the mo but will be weathered down and cleaned up. Also fitted the retaining wall after painting and light weather to bring out the stones. And whilst waiting for various things to dry, continued working on these HEA wagons which are old Dapol I think, have been rewheeled, weight added and real coal on the top to bring them up to modern day standards a bit more. still awaiting a light weather but almost there. More tomorrow...

Progress has been steady and with a little over 2 weeks to go things are coming together nicely. I start a new job on Monday so am making the most of my time off this week to power through, but I know I won't get everything done. Of course it occurred to me the other day I'd better sort some stock out! Have spent the day sound fitting a Class 33 and two Class 47s along with testing various other bits, I also have 5 chips on their way to Biffo for reblows, 3 of which will need fitting before the show, plus weathering, plus couplings, plus detailing - ahhhhh! Anyway, here's a shot of the layout filled up a bit whilst some testing* occurred (*playing trains) One can never have enough Cromptons Also recently sound fitted, a super detailed Lima 73 body (not mine) powered by Bachmann 25 motor and custom built chassis, with more Limby bits for good measure. Of course this was how you made a 73 look good and run well, before Dapol.......had a go.......(to be fair, I'm pretty pleased with mine) It's pretty much there, just need to weather the underframe and add some headcode blinds at both ends having just fitted the flush glazing. Layout wise - I will be erecting it fully on Friday with an early start to pack as much work in over the weekend as possible. Photos inevitably to follow, along with a receeding hairline caused by stress...

Thanks guys. Eddie it varies as I am using a similar mixture for the yard area, but this will be much more weathered and is about 50/50. The infill areas are probably 75/25 chinchilla to ash, but again weathering will alter it. It's all experimental really, I just pretend to know what I'm doing (I learnt well from Master Renshaw) In the meantime, here's a quick image of ongoing work with colours on the bridge.

A few bits and pieces been going on, but nothing substantial to report. Finally got round to constructing the final buffer stops which sit at the end of the platform and run-round roads. These are the PHDesigns rail built variant, just needs priming and painting into some sort of red colour. As promised a couple of images of my hand built signal prototype. I wanted to see if I could get a more realistic looking head as ready available stuff just looks too overscale for my liking. This is pretty much the signal that will sit here and on the left as well as the Bay platform starter, just need to add position light call ons to the posts, which will give access to the carriage siding. Excuse the bent ladder, its been sat in a box for a bit! Sat at work on Thursday I nearly jumped out my chair when I received an email from Rails saying they'd price slashed the Kernow Thumper, so naturally I had to have one...it was very nearly two!! Have been working on some of the ground scenics, filling in the bits between the ballast with a chinchilla dust/ash ballast mix. Also experimenting with various tarmac colours for the MPD access road. Some weathering here will hopefully get rid of the uniform look. And lastly the bridge is starting to look like a bridge! Cut and shut of two 170mm bits here to get the desired length, and a support girder added. As it's a footbridge I didn't want it too high, and have tested with a Bachmann figure who can very much see over the top. This will hopefully get primed and painted this weekend before fixing in situ. Abutments etc to be added in due course.