Pedro32

Its been a while since I reported any progress. But have been plodding along as they say. Spent an enjoyable day at Ally Pally on the weekend looking round the various layout, trying to not be knocked out by people with rucksacks and bags. I had not been for two years and thought it had improved, with wide aisles and a good selection of traders. Now to modelling. The signal box has stopped while I wait for some new roof tiles as I tried to varnish to roof with clear matt varnish and the effect was some horrible white effect. Still its a learning point. On the boards I've made a start applying the back-scene and made good progress today. I found PVA to be more trouble than its worth, and preferred the deluxe glaze n glue far easier to work with and left fewer lumps, even with using claps etc. The white wot-sits will be covered with basket liner and some static grass with possible some sort of fencing. And I've started making some more baseboards for the line to Weymouth. Cheers Peter

Hi, I've managed to get some more done on the signal box. Apart from the interior and chimney its pretty much done. The yellow post it is deliberate so I can lift off the roof and paint and add some interior detail. Cheers Peter

Evening, So the platforms have gone together as expected, just another eight or so packs to do. And I even found time to do some more work on the signal box as well. That's all for now. Regards Peter

Hi Banger Blue, Yes my baseboards are from Tim horn, like you my woodwork skills are not the best. But these are easy to go together. Regards Peter

Hi Bill, Thanks for the supportive comments, and you have some great looking layouts yourself too- Creedyford is superb! 4Ground- They are stocked by some online retailers, and they have only been on the scene producing kits for model railways since last year as far as I can tell. But yes laser cut pre-painted. Next up to do is this set of double sided platforms. Cheers Peter

Some more progress to report. Started construction of a signal box kit and a set of platforms from 4Ground, and have to say I'm really impressed with the ease these kits go together and how they look. Cheers Peter

And some final shots of the evening. Just showing how the new track was aligned before construction of the platforms and signal box commenced. Cheers Peter

These are some shots once the initial track laying and power feeds to the track had been adjusted.

And just a few more to show some of my initial construction.

Hi, I've lurked for a while now and thought it was high time I posted something. I've drawn up a track plan for which my new layout it is based loosely on Castle Cary in Somerset. It was my local train station growing up, so spent many a weekend jumping on the train heading down to Weymouth or Taunton. My era for my layout will be broadly based from 1970's to early 1990's. The plan below will allow me to have enough through passenger traffic in addition to a branch-line, and small yard to tinker with coal and quarry stone traffic. With modeler's license I'll be running coal trains through from a newly discovered mendip coal seam. Plus the occasional nuclear rail traffic through from Hinkley Point too. My plan is to have a fiddle yard on the opposite side to the station on the layout and it will be operated using DCC operation. The aim of the layout is to have it constructed using modular baseboards, which I have purchased in kit form and self assembled. So once one board is finished I move onto the next. The speed at which i have done this has been rather slow, but when you become a dad its important to enjoy watching your little ones grow up- hopefully my sons will also get the railway bug too! I've been quite lucky in the fact that my wife allows me a modelling room and encourages my hobby. Though an impending house move on the horizon (next 12 months) to pastures new will mean that my modelling time is precious anyway! Cheers Peter

The fencing keeps out all those pesky coach parties and tourists who park in the car park beneath W&E Central station, and funnels them towards the ticket desk or into the shops and eateries that reside within the rest of the former station complex. I miss those old units! Was far more fun when I was growing up there to ride a bone shaker than the turbos that replaced them!

There are some lovely products being developed here. Is there a time scale for releasing the building kits you have in 7mm into 4mm? As having see the drivers bothy that would be something I would like to build in 4mm! Thanks

According to the Dapol website the 73's are at the decoration stage, hopefully not long to go. Though this page has not been updated since before Christmas. http://Dapol.co.uk/index.php?route=product/category&path=179_298_301_529

There's an update on the Dapol website for both JA and JB guises The spec includes: Highly detailed body with many etched parts including grills and handrails Finely applied livery and etched mane plates where appropriate Cast and profiled wheels with chemical darkening Sprung Buffers All-wheel drive and pick up Independent cab and selectable directional lighting with independent DCC control of front/rear lights Cast Chassis for added weight and improved traction with no traction Tyres 5 Pole Skew wound motor with twin flywheels for controlled pulling power DCC Ready with a 21 pin socket on board DCC Fitted and sound fitted options available NEM Pockets as standard Accessory bag with optional fitted components Cheers

Richard- Did Dapol indicate when the 73's would be arriving? Thanks for posting the photos too

It appears that the Intercity Executive Mk's are new in on the Hornby website. R4592, R4631A, R4632B, R4632,R4631 now appear to be available to order. Perhaps the matching HST units will not be far behind!

Ever the optimist I wonder whether we will see the much anticipated 73's arriving before Christmas? A box shifter had suggested my two pre-orders would be in stock between September and October '14.

Indeed I assumed perhaps naively that the updated versions would have the high intensity headlights as standard. Doing some research over the past week as I would like to have two of the new dutch models (one with different number perhaps sultan?) it would appear the HI headlights were fitted sometime after the dutch livery was rolled out, as has been commented upon. http://www.flickr.com/photos/86020500@N06/8437190149/in/photolist-dRyNFF-bvYRPN-aGKkjH-8fFka6-dM838B-dM83cX-dRnaY8-iL9Epf-amxBhz-fEfpZ6-d1XwoC-d1XvLS-8fFjVP-bVj9w7-d22WqS-dkQUoe-dkQXbU-dUpLwo-bQACJD-beNe1K-beNdRp-eQj5FU-dqXeTx-9v2kr2-9e7vro-bqbPzH-bqbQCZ-bqbRSt-94LbCJ-bnt2dZ-ds6AJH-anwAng-9D21oo-9D1Hfu-9D1ZH5-9D1Zpm-diFpVT-99vQ7x-e2yMNF-9jR7wt-dqX2qa-aTMFNt-bq9qpV-dG79Xv-bNBtiV-9NtdsT-a7iKXW-a7iL9L-dUyxLZ Cheers

Richard, I have two from a well know box shifter which have run perfectly straight from the box. No mods have been required. Both are now run in and continue to operate as expected on dcc. Very happy. Cheers

Dave, Happy new year! I've followed this thread with interest for a long while. I must say the mock up depot you have created over the festive period looks super. Best of luck with your continued progress. Cheers Pete

To be fair the Ebay item was listed at £10 cheaper than a box shifters price to begin with, but perhaps the bidders got carried away?

I've been looking at my initial plan and have decided to add a small locomotive depot to increase the range of my layout. Been working on a baseboard too, though this will only be used as a test track for future loco purchases. All for the moment. Cheers

Evening All, Followed this forum with interest since I joined, but only recently having thinned out my collection have I had the time to actually think about what kind of layout I intend to build. I recently had the colouring pens out and finally finished a plan for my proposed south west trunk themed layout. Coming from Somerset originally I've based it loosely on Castle Cary, (in Somerset), this will allow me to have enough through passenger traffic in addition to having a branch-line, and small yard to tinker with coal and quarry stone traffic. Set in my favorite era 1980's to 1990's it will enable me to run a nice cross section of loco hauled stock and first generation dmu's. With modeller's license I'll be running coal trains through from a newly built medip coal mine. Plus the nuclear rail traffic through from hinkley point too. All for now Cheers