Wednesday 25th January

Worklist:
Play trains.

As determined the previous week, a running session took place. First Stephen set up and ran the timber wagons he'd remembered to bring (the box of vans and wagons had been left at home in his workshop). Laurence then set-up several of his items and had a run. There was a dearth of passenger stock, that will need to be addressed in future.

The Bachmann NG diesel that 'grounded' on the platform crossing boards (just visible).

Scratchbuilt body on Bachmann Plymouth diesel. In the background is John's McEwan-Pratt WW1 scratch-built loco - a lovely runner affectionately known as t'the coffee grinder'.

Scratch-built Deceauville on Fleischman chassis. Note the Snailbeach ore wagons in the goods shed(?) scratch-built by John.

Johns collection of three-wheeled cards suggesting an enthusiasts meeting at the railway.

Laurence in deep thought.

Running different items of stock often 'throws-up' issues and the cranks of Laurence's Bachmann NG diesel 'beached' on the platform crossing boards. Out came Geoff's Dremel and rotary file, and the board was reduced.

General issues picked up that need to be addressed included a point motor has been playing-up lately and needs a regular tweak of the micro-switch arm. Lights in the goods shed have stopped working and the Tangye engine sound unit needs to be 'refreshed'.

Wednesday 18th January

Worklist:
Crane detailing
New trackside fence
Shrubbery
Water pipe casing

Laurence progressed with the yard crane detailing. Is it finally coming together?

Geoff progressed the assembly and fitting of the new line-side fence. It was decided to remove the nail that John had employed to protect the end of the original fence at the baseboard edge, and replace it with a square section post. After a rummage through his metal-bits-box, Geoff selected a piece of nickel silver, which he milled to shape and fitted. The single fence unit was then epoxied in place. The new fence didn't quite reach the post, but the gap was filled with insitu-formed plasticard strip, to match. The fence was then painted with a mid grey base-coat, to represent weathered timber.

Stephen started to assemble a pile of old pieces of rubberised horsehair left over from the old layout. These were then placed on the hillside, up to the new wire fence. The material would form the base for newly applied flock, but still, it didn't look right. It was all moved to some paper towel on a bench and painted with neat brown acrylic paint. Once dry, it was put back on the hillside, and looked ..... moderately better than before! More trials next week. A test was also performed to dull-down the fence wire. Different types of proprietary 'Blackenit' were tried, but results were disappointing. A dilute light grey (galvanising) will be tried next week.

While putting the layout away the previous week, the three timber posts that were used as a trial for wiring in the 'back' corner of the layout were badly broken. They were completely removed and horsehair shrubbery substituted, together with a 'dead' tree. It creates more height on the corner, but might not fit in the storage rack. We'll have to see if it survives being put away this week.

Whilst the horsehair paint dried, Stephen reverted to the timber casing for the water pipe supplying the gasifier equipment. Support timbers/posts and full detailing next week.

Note: Geoff had finally fitted a new fluorescent fitting over the 'dark side' of the workshop, which made a terrific difference. Thanks Geoff!

Wednesday 11th January

Worklist:
Crane details
Hillside fencing
Grass
Trackside fencing

Laurence continued to work on the yard crane detailing.

Stephen continued to work on the fence posts fitted previously, and the straining wire was next. Small diameter stranded wire was stripped and separated. Stephen threaded wires through holes in the posts and jointed ends as prototypically as possible, with twists. It was fiddly work!

The scrub/shrubs on the steep grassed bank will be extended up to the fence and long grass applied along the field side.

More for personal satisfaction, the return panel was fixed to the post faces with wire loops passed through the posts and glued. Once set and the ends trimmed off, the effect was just like staples, but not a task for long lengths covered in shrubbery. The silvery wire represents galvanised wire, but is too shiny at present. Paint or stain will be added in due course, to tone it down.

The posts are deliberately set in from the board edge to allow a strip of shrubbery to be fitted and disguise the joint.

The rail posts along the roadway/track also had wires soldered to the back faces, completing the scene.

Meanwhile, Geoff continued to apply sections of grass he'd made previously to various areas of the layout until reminded of a fencing feature he'd suggested. The railway track running into the bridge originally had a length of fencing - timber posts and rails. It was proprietary, white plastic and thought to be Slaters. The various pieces were retrieved from the 'bits box' and broken sections removed. There was enough for the job, so they were prepared, glued together and extension posts added for fixing. The last job of the day was to drill holes for the posts and clean up the swarf. It was good to re-use more of John's features and the contrast with the wire fence worked well.

The re-used fencing awaiting fitting and painting.

The fencing frames the layout nicely.

Wednesday 4th January 2017

Worklist:
Play trains
Crane details
Grass

The first meeting of 2017.

Stephen hoovered the layout, cleaned the track and ran a test train. As usual, this exercise picked up numerous little issues that he and Geoff worked on, including a broken rail joint, dodgy point-motor micro-switch, 'Grass on the track'. Laurence continued to work on the yard crane.

Geoff continued to potter with grass, both applying some prepared strips and also making up some new strips using suggestions he'd researched.

Stephen ran his stock for the remainder of the morning and Laurence had a running session in the afternoon. There were several Kadee's found to be in need of attention, and those magnet positions can be a bit tricky. All part of the fun of a running session!

Peco van converted to a brakevan, Peco van and freelance/WD type van.

Freelance body on Fleischman 0-4-0 chassis, Peco and freelance open wagons.

Geoff and Stephen agreed that a fence along the front of the layout would be nice.

We're going to need some extra cassettes.

Laurences Peco van and an interesting load on a Peco whitemetal flat wagon.