Well here we go...
As said on the home page, I have just changed to weebly from freewebs so all I will do for now is copy and paste the previous stuff. The format they will be in is a box with the update text in, then a photo album below that to make it quicker to upload pictures and keep you informed :D
Here we go...
18.06.08
Well here is the start. I started with laying the underlay on a small section of track, then laying the track itself. Here are some pics of the layout with no track or underlay laid yet...
19.06.08
Started on the station today. I was adviced to start with the station first because that's the thing that is hardest to move and its the main part of a railway. I started to lay the track but realised I forgot the underlay but at least I had the right lengths of track. It took a while to get used to cutting the track and laying it when its flexible...
26.06.08
I still continued with laying the station so I had the right sized track. Then had to pull it up :(. I also had an NSE day on the metre long bit of track at the station...
01.07.08
I took a couple of overview shots of the layout so you can see an overall progress. I've also started to underlay the track now. I'm getting the hang of it and have now extended the track to a corner. Cor blimey am I doing well :D...
There are also a few pics of the tracklaying tools - Flux, spare sleepers, fish plates, track pins, sellotape, pliers, wire cutters, marker pen, scissors, track cutters...
I bought the orange Xuron track cutters off eBay for £10 and they were recommended by a fellow modeller. I must highly recommend them as they cut through track easily. I have also used them for cutting other small things and they're superb. Must have!!!
04.07.08
I have now completed the 3 multiple unit sidings and have stored the 170 and the two 108's in there for the moment. They should look good with access platforms either side for cleaning etc and buffer lights at the end...
There are also pictures of my fantastic Freightliner 66 having a run round the loop amd a few overall shots. In time I will make up a time lapse of overview pics. The layout is coming along nicely now and with a loop, I WILL be distracted when I go up there to work on the layout. I will end up just playing.
14.07.08
Bought a few more bits and bobs today from a great little shop I found in a nearby town called March. If you spend over £10 there you get a 10% discount card. Its worth the 45 minute journey on 2 different trains as well. I went to buy some flexi track and points but couldn't resist spending my change on a Bachmann 'dutch' livery Seacow to go on my ballast train (not EWS but hey, trains aren't always made up of the same liveries)..
17.07.08
Just nipped into the loft to get something and obviously couldn't resist the temptation to play trains. I did get a couple of pics of the access points to the second loop..
19.09.08
Took a couple more overview shots and finished the good sidings/yard. I have also taken some pics of it in action with the 66 and 08 working away with wagons. Ignore the mess on the overview shots. I'm not using that part of the layout yet so its a dumping ground...
01.10.08
Well it's been a while since an update. I have been on holiday and started college etc. But now I am settled in, I have started to small jobs around the layout. I have also sent off my 170 and 158 to get modified and have paid for some Levington lights for the goods yard. I also started to make some buffer lights whilst I waited for a free day to go and buy some more track. I bought 5mm LEDs instead of 3mm but they'll do for now until I get sent some and at least now I know how to make them.
After the 60 crash, I decided to weather it to hide most of the ahem. imperfections. I simply sprayed it with railmatch and tamiya spray just like I do with the wagons and I'm pleased with the result...
I have also added pictures of Dad's new NRM Deltic from eBay. It's a fantastic looking model and runs really well. More pics below...
31.10.08
Finished off the 3rd loop today and the TMD sidings. As I ran out of the black carpet underlay stuff and I couldn't find anymore from anywhere, a recent visit to the National Festival of Modelling in Peterborough resulted in buying some proper modelling cork underlay. Typical I find some when the track layout is practically finished. Here are some pictures of the completed loop and TMD with some of Dad's older locos in. Just to test capacity of the stable sidings.
There are also pictures of some workers at the TMD fixing the track down. the TMD sidings with Dad's and my loco's in and my new Hornby EWS 60 sent over from Camelot Junction.
10.11.08
Not much happened since the last update. Mostly just playing and making. I received some smaller 3mm LEDs after buying 5mm and realising they were too big for the buffers. I have now made all for the TMD sidings. Pics are below. Also from thy Land of Levington, I received 3 yard lights and I must be honest, they are better than I have seen in shops. Super lights and extremely well made. A must buy. I have also got the Class 158 and 170 back from Levington with the DCC, Lights and door lights and theyre great too. I can finally run the 158 and it looks fab. I must get the 156 now and wait for the 153 CT from Hornby (due on the 8th of December).
I am yet to install the inspection pit, just plucking up the courage and have also now got to fit the yard lights. I have also added pictures of the DCC'd Bachmann Class 158 Central Trains and the 170 Midland Mainline.
24.11.08
Again not much gone on with the layout. I have fitted all of the buffer lights in the TMD and fitted the Levington Yard lights. Really lights up the place. I also painted the wires for the buffer lights so they didnt stand out so much. Yesterday held the visit to Warley MRS at the NEC. A great trip and I will be going next year as well. I bought a new Hornby 156 in Central Trains livery from there for a reasonable price and it is ok and adds to the CT collection. The pics of it are below. I have also added a few pics showing how I coloured the exhausts silver then weathered them as if they had exhaust fumes on them.
There are quite a few pics in this update and some of them are overview shots and a semi panoramic one.
27.11.08
Finished the TMD area (lights etc.) and turned out the lights to take some night shots. I also made a double light for the buffer at the station which can be seen below. I then painted it black to be less like the unrealistic green.
29.11.08
Only really played today. Took a trip to a semi local model railway exhibition (Arlesey) and was impressed by quite a few of the layouts. I bought a couple of buffers, a police van, a Passat estate (don't know why) and a white Transit van to put a Network Rail sticker on. I have also bought my first car, a Morris Minor 1000 2dr in green so will be looking out for a small model of it to go on the layout.
Below are some more overview pictures and some of the TMD and goods yard...
I also decided to double head my two EWS Class 60s, and they look and pull really well
15.12.2008
Well not much has really gone on with the layout recently. Just been up there and began to lay the station siding/engineers siding. Just one stretch of track to go. I haven't taken any pics but I will when I am done.
21.12.08
Today I got the last of the track laying done and started on filling the gaps with sleepers. I took a couple of pictures on my camera phone hence the reason why they're not that good but you get an idea...
23.12.08
Well Christmas in a couple of days and I've already got two new trains. I did buy them last week as Dad wanted a couple too so we bought them together. 4 locos and decoders for £4 next day delivery ain't bad. Mine are the new Hornby Central Trains Class 153 and the Bachmann DRS 66. Both are very good in particular the 153. It is well detailed and much advanced on the 156. It does run smoothly just not as well as others on the Bachmann decoder (anti-Bachy device maybe?). I just have the Class 170 CT to come now but I've already got quite a nice collection of Central Trains stock.
As with the layout, I have finished all track laying and am half way through filling the sleeper gaps. I have also packed away quite a few of the trains ready for spraying the track however I am getting a train for Xmas and so is Dad and we will want to play with them on the layout so spraying will take place after.
On Saturday I bought a Peco surface mounted point motor to try out for the Multiple Unit sidings as I can't reach them. It is so easy to set up and get working and I did mine in a few minutes. Pics below.
I also replaced the multiple unit siding point to a better Peco medium radius and had to go into the far awkward corner so thought I would take some pics from there and it's never before seen on the site. I have also added a couple of pics of my 'work bench'. I basically just pinned down a bit of cork underlay and it means working on that, the trains won't get scratched if i'm working on them ie/ changing decoders. Hope you enjoy, and Merry Xmas if I don't get chance to do another update...
01.01.09
Well just a small update this time. I have started to paint the rails in the TMD. I have decided to hand paint them with a small brush as I can get the effect I want. I got an airbrush for Xmas but haven't started to use it. I might use it to weather the track once ballasted. I got a Bachmann Class 66068 EWS with sound for Christmas and I must say I am now addicted to sound. I want one for the 158 now (SWD). I have uploaded a short video of it moving from one siding to another. Please excuse the fact it slightly rams the 60, I was too busy watching the camera I noticed I was coming in too fast.
You may also notice that there is a new Heljan Class 52 Western and Falcon. They are both Dad's and are our first 2 Heljan locos and are very heavy, run really smoothly and are very powerful. Alot of detailing to put on as well.
I have also uploaded some pictures showing the rails painted. I can concentrate on the rails and chairs being rusty and not all of the sleepers which I like. No doubt it will be tedious but it is a job that if I get bored, it is easy to start doing, and easy to tidy up and finish unlike ballasting. I might ballast one small siding to try out my airbrush so watch this space...
04.01.09
Well I got a new train yesterday and after a bit of trouble with the decoder, it works fine. Its a Heljan DRS liveried Class 33 from Camelot and if I am honest, it is my new favourite model. Most of the other locos I have make a small buzzing noise from the decoder but the 33, even with a Bachmann decoder is silent. It is also very powerful and although its a tiny loco, is heavy and powerful enough to pull at least 10 coaches. At the moment it is running on a spare wheel and track cleaning duty. Suits it I think.
I have also been painting more of the TMD rails and just need to clean the tracks on the last 2 sidings. Still plenty more to go though.