Wednesday 1st October 2025

The planned 'sorting out the boxes' exercise took place. Several solid storage boxes with clip-down lids had been purchased after the last exhibition, but never used, until now. Geoff also brought his master 'what goes in which box' list.

However, the first job was to glue down the ducks with new legs. After agreeing their position, a small screwdriver was used to make a narrow indent into the ground. Superglue was applied to the 'crossbar' between the feet and the ducks pressed down. It worked well.

All of the current storage boxes were examined one-by-one and items generally transferred to a new box. Some items were reallocated to different group boxes and the records updated. They were well filled and their solid stack ability was reassuring. 

Finally, when it came to a sheet to put over the layout at night, only an old, unrecognised duvet was found. In its current format, it wouldn't go the length of the layout, so Stephen borrowed an un-picker and a scalpel, and unpicked the seams to create a perfect cover. (Thanks for the training Christine!)

Once complete, we were almost ready for the show. We will connect the 2 pairs of boards together just before loading into the cars and squeeze everything else around them!

26th September 2025

The last full working session before the show, so lots of small jobs.

The rocks that pinpoint the uncoupling magnets were replaced with some larger/brighter stones and the front/viewing sides had grass applied to lessen their impact. More flowers were added, and a general toning down of the not-very-realistic foliage colour was carried out with acrylic paint.

The horse had wires twisted around the hooves/fetlocks, which were soldered inside brass tubes. Holes were 'drilled' into the foam sub-structure below and the tubes glued down into the foam. Any wire visible was then painted.

One of the final jobs was to repaint some of the board fascia's where work to them or stray paint had affected them.

 

Next week all of the ancillary items that live on top or under the layout will be checked and loaded into a new set of numbered, stackable boxes, with the contents recorded on the schedules, for easy retrieval.

17th September 2025

Ducks!

No bells?

Geoff had found, downloaded and 3D printed some ducks off the internet. Not only that, after extensive research, he'd painted them! The legs/feet were too delicate to keep, so they were removed, and their undersides filed flat. Stephen was given the job of gluing them onto the water.

Trial running sessions had exposed a problem with the bell sound unit for the signals. The two boards affected were clamped vertical and wires scrutinised. At first, two power leads from the small voltage regulator were loose, but it wasn't the cause. However, the relay unit wasn't working and once replaced, everything was ok. 

Signalling theory: "On arrival at Worton Court, a loco triggers a pedal that alerts the stationmaster of their arrival". The switch is moved to FRAME setting the bell ringing and a flasher on a pole next to the lever frame flashing. After a pause, the switch is moved to SIGN, when the bell stops, and a light on the sign in front of the driver flashes advising that he can progress into the station.

It's not the neatest layout underside, but it has been going and growing for the best part of 50 years.

10th September 2025

With Stephen away on a break, Chris and Ted joined Geoff for a running session to a) view the new front extension, and b) have a good play. Chris brought some of his stock to play with, and leave for use at the show.

They seemed happy enough with the new format....

3rd September 2025

Set up the layout and have a full electrical and mechanical test ahead of Chris and Ted coming down the following week for a play before the show in October. There was a particular track feed problem which could have been a real operating problem, but was easily rectified in the end.

Unfortunately, Chris will not now be able to join us at the show, so the running session is more significant than expected. Stephen will now be missing from the running session and will instead be taking a few days off in Chapel St Leonards, in Lincolnshire.

27th August 2025

Display case, trees, point lever frame

Geoff had progressed the display case board front extension and after producing a final closure piece on the front, the fixing holes in the new section were drilled. A new M8 dome head bolt was cut to length, to match the existing (the original patched-together bolt was dispatched to the spares box). The additional space between the display case and the mainline was checked and confirmed that an extra cassette can now be stored in the fiddle yard (or more display stock).

Geoff had also painted the new end boards. When fully dry, they will be sanded and given a top coat.

We looked at scenery in general and decided that the large tree by the bridge was looking a bit lack-lustre, so more, brighter foliage granules was added. Some of the incomplete trees were assessed and foliage added to the bare frames.

The new lever frame components for the new siding point were assembled and painted. The sleeper base was glued in place and the lever frame glued to it. The two pivot arms and their bases were also glued in place. Rodding will be added when fully set.

 

Monday 18th August 2025

The main task for the day was to start extending the front of the fiddleyard board to the new alignment. The storage area would remain intact, but the display case needs to be moved forward onto a new extension piece capable of taken its weight and the stock being displayed. A lot of thought went into finalising the design and to source suitable materials, but work eventually got underway. It will take a few sessions to complete and paint.

Some rocks were crushed and added to the pile of debris being tipped into the quarry.

Some black self-adhesive vinyl had been sourced and will be added to the underside of the water panel, to protect the paintwork when fitting and removing. 

The tree Stephen had recently finished needed to be planted. However, we couldn't remember if we'd proved that it wouldn't be crushed in transit-mode, so it was decided to make it removable. A suitable brass tube with a bottom flange was inserted from below and glued in place on the foam substructure with hot-melt-glue. Foliage was glued to the base of the tree to disguise the the join.

Wednesday 13th August 2025

The main job was to check the clearances for the Edwards boards. Like the main station boards, the two boards are bolted face-to-face for transport and it was noted at the end of the last session that the new area of rising ground at the front might hit the building roofs. The end plate for the most likely clash was bolted to one board and the other carefully offered up.....

There was a good 10mm clearance so we were able to take another breath. All was ok, but as we had to re-drill a couple of holes, we decided to gain another 5mm.

Geoff had cut out the new MDF end panels and we were able to drill the fixing holes. 

After routing the public side of the track opening, the panels were given a coat of undercoat.

Another very productive session.