Time to go

After much deliberation I have decided that this version of the railway has to go. I kept the original 6 x 4 board when I moved to this house and added the extensions on the end, however I have now decided that the running loops are too small and should fill the whole 8 feet that are now available. I have also decided that the two access holes that let me get to rear of layout are too small to be really practical for regular use, so I would like to leave a bigger working area in the middle. So I have started removing loose items from the layout before I attempt to split it at the joint in the middle, so I will end up with two 4 x 3 sections, one of which I will rebuild. The extension piece will have to go to make room for this and then be rebuild as required. I don't have a firm plan, a lot will decide on what comes apart easiest. This could take some time so watch this space.

New Year Special

Mallard, is not normally seen on this layout but appears here on a New year Pullman Special. New year Special

Birthday 2017

A number of friends wanted a look at the model while at my recent birthday party, but there one or two hitches during the demo. So here is a short clip of it when it was behaving itself. Bobs Model Railway

The Corner Shop.

Most of my previous housing projects have been low profile for use against a backdrop, but I picked this corner shop kit up for only three pounds at a recent train fair so I thought i'd give it a try. I have a corner in the village where it can go and here it is in built and on the layout, although I still have to add the chimney pots. Apologies for picture quality, they were taken with the Iphone, not the normal camera.

The picture below is a composite, not very well merged, but it shows the village on a dull day.

Benches

Decided to try my hand with Metcalfe Benches. Haven't tried these before but they were fairly easy to assemble, you do need tweezers to hold them with or you will get covered in glue.

Here they are in Situ at Knittingham Station.

Second hand Bargains from the Train Fair.

Had a quick trip to Newton Abbot Toy and Train Fair last Sunday, they have one every two months or so and there are lots of Sellers/Dealers there, mostly trains and railway stuff.

I tend to go around first to see what is on offer and check the prices before deciding if there is anything I want and who is offering it at the best price. Prices can vary quite a bit fron one dealer to another, but you can always make an offer and see how much they want to sell.

I did that on Sunday and got four coal wagons, three with good loads, for £10, they were on offer at £3 each with is about the best price you can get for second hand trucks. Just had to check that they had all the bits and that the wheels run freely, and then find the cash. I also saw a singe matching truck in a box for £2.99 so I had that as well and a Diesel Shunter for £12 which runs, but I will have to convert it to DCC first for my Layout.

I still have to construct the Terraced corner shop I bought at the last fair, so I have been quite please with my last two visits. 

Subsidence on the model

Lately I have observed we seem to have subsidence in the village area of the layout, this is where there is a lift out section to allow acess to the rear of the layout. I constructed it on 4mm foamboard and this has warped so it will have to be replaced.

I will be replacing it with a piece of hardboard with a scrap of MDF board on the rear to strengthen it further.
Also the roadway faded so I will be replacing these and adding an extra building I bought ast a recent toy and train fair.
Just waitng for the glue to set on the MDF and the paint to dry on the hardboard, then I can continue. Watch this space.

Update 2017, the factory has moved and a butcher's shop has been located where the factory used to be.