12 Months on

Can you believe it's a year since that incredible Oxford get together?
Coincidentally we are just about to set up the whole layout again for the first time in 12 months. This will be in North Shields, where we are to spend at least a week at the substantial new premises of The Blyth & Tyne MRC, where a few of us are members. The premises are only about a mile from the upcoming exhibition venue, and we're hoping that a week or so spent tweaking, altering (Les is to fit a new power booster to electrically separate the front viewing area from the rear fiddle yards), and re-checking everything will result in a stress free (you must be joking!) weekend in August. At least let's hope it won't be as hot and humid as the Oxford venue, with all the funny/peculiar DCC chip happenings that went on there on that fateful Sunday! Both Mick and Les intend making some video footage of the time we have in the clubrooms, so look out Youtube! I might take some stills as well for posting here. The attached two posters are for the August exhibition, and note the club site at http://www.railexne.com/ where more details of the attending layouts can be seen (click on 'Layouts, demos & Traders'). If you've viewed this site previously, note that the famous and well regarded NER layout Bramblewick is not now attending until 2012. Professional Artist and layout owner Tom Harland is undergoing hospital treatment at this time, and we all wish Tom the very best of health and a speedy recovery. Fence Houses still has a long way to go, especially with regard to the 'proper' stock period etc. and stock levels generally, not to mention signalling (what signalling!) but after the fantastic progress we've made since last July, we're getting there. A great big thank you to all the team from me.
One member of the team deserves a special mention. Jean. Come September we'll have been married 45 years, and she's still here, even after TWO Fence Houses! This has to be a record for someone with no interest at all in modelling, and I can only say how lucky am I! Our FH days are usually well attended for modelling purposes, but maybe some of Jean's cakes help the other team members remember another reason for coming along?
Bob.

Oh, and one last thing.

In all the postings I've made here, it seems this is the first photo of the real Victoria viaduct, (this is just a part of it). I think she's beautiful, even if she is 173 years old!
She looks so slender, but those dark areas under the arches are 25 feet wide. That indicates to me not just the shear size, but how well designed and built she is.
Thinks........ must get that water effect on the model finished off.

Bob.

Even more progress at Fence Houses

More of Alan's recent photos, showing the station buildings from the 'N' gauge version of 30 years ago. We have the signal box, then the goods shed (with one missing door), and showing the wooden platform extensions in the foreground. Note also the octagonal shaped cattle auction mart in the left background. Next the footbridge, which is finished apart from painting. This shot shows the Station Inn in the background, and also where I'm awaiting some etches to complete the sloping fences at the platform ends, one run of which has the paper print out in place where I've used it to check that I have the angles and length correct.

Bob

Alan Pearson's scenic work at Fence Houses

After Les' article in MRJ 207, I thought I'd share with you a few photos of the latest progress on the layout, especially Alan's amazing scenic work.
These were taken by Alan at an impromptu session we had the other day, hence on some you will see a not very complimentary background (my garage, where we do most of the work these days).
The exception is the use of Mike Raithby's back-scene from Victoria viaduct, which, as the only painted back-scene we have to date, gets in on the act for most of our photography lately! There is a detail shot of some flowers at Morton wood, followed by a general shot of the wood itself, or at least our little part of it.
The other photo is of a scenic area just to the south of Morton wood, with Mike's background showing (again) to great advantage.

Bob.

Scenic Progress

These two photos show some of the scenic progress made by team member Alan Pearson on board six, which has the exchange sidings, south of the station and just prior to entering the fiddle yard. The work Alan has recently put in is yielding some very impressive results, including the use of some natural material, along with an etched tree skeleton, suitably clad. Thanks Alan.
The trackwork looks rather bare without the Chris Mills hoppers filling the area!
This posting might well have been headed "is this 'N' gauge mister", thanks to Bachmann Farish products coming to the rescue on stock levels! The 3 car DMU belongs to Les Waters, and has just had 2mm Association replacement drop in wheelsets fitted. The class 24 on the left is mine, and was fitted likewise prior to last July's 50th bash at Oxford. The B1 has only recently arrived at Fence Houses, and is awaiting wheel reprofiling....... when I pluck up the courage! Well if Mick can do it on a 4MT, then I'll have a go too. Watch this space.
Ah well, back down the pit (what does he mean I hear you ask, well keep checking the blog and find out!)
Bob.

Low Lambton Farm Access Bridge

This slightly unusual bridge is situated just a few yards south of Penshaw North box, which featured in my last couple of postings. Well it seems unusual to me, because of the mix of masonry materials used. I'm guessing, but it looks like The North Eastern Railway built their side over the four track main and relief lines part in the more pleasing (and presumably expensive) stone, whereas the colliery lines made do with a more economical brick version for their part of the structure. As used on the previously mentioned signal box, Slater's Plastikard has been used for the brick and stone work. In reality the actual bridge metalwork seems to have been in two parts as well. Though indistinct, photographs appear to show a different design for the platework for the two sections. Again, the colliery span differs, and seems to be provided with fewer strengthening uprights on the sides. Regardless of this I've etched the whole span in one design as shown here. Note the colliery lines on the layout are to be out of sight under the embankment on this baseboard, and also partly out of sight on the two adjacent boards as well. One photo shows the situation without the removable embankment section in place. The other photos show the embankment in place. The colliery lines are diving down to pass under the main lines here, so that they are out of sight by the time the main lines reach Victoria viaduct, which caters for only the up and down lines. On the photo looking south along the lines, the track to Low Lambton Farm can be made out coming off the bridge on the right hand side, while on the left hand side you can see where we are to represent the actual Lambton railway colliery lines, lifted and abandoned. Apart from the bridge and masonry, it's obvious that much scenery and greenery has yet to be done, but we are getting there, and we should start using the electrostatic grass applicator soon. Some of you may be interested in the fine gauze type netting we have used to cover the polystyrene and removable embankment sections in. This was bought from Aldi about a year ago, and was sold as winter protection for vulnerable garden plants! Applied using pva glue (before and after laying in place), it sets and gives a finish when dry, a bit like fibre glass. Seems ideal for painting with enamel (nothing water based obviously due to the previous application of pva), and should be ideal for our requirements.
Happy New Year, Bob.

Penshaw North Box - The Dark Side

Like our nearest celestial neighbour, this is the side you wont ever see....... unless you are an operator on the layout peering over the top of the backscene.
Forgot to include this view in yesterday's posting, so two postings in two days!
Also forgot to include any build details in the previous missive. The whole thing, excluding the brick base supports is an etching in my normal 0.25mm thick nickel silver . The brick wall under the chimney in this shot is also part of the etch. The box itself comprises the main three layers, representing the front and rear 'sliding' windows (which don't) and the outer framework 'wood' parts. In addition at the top, is another overlay representing the barge boards and guttering. The main roof is half etched and rolled to shape prior to soldering on (slots and tabs for location). There is some internal detailing in progress, such as the lever frame, table and chair etc. but I have not yet started the glazing........ should be fun! After all this is finished the box will be permanently secured to the floor. There will be the operating wires to run down the inside of the wall of course, but I'm not sure how far we'll go with the point rodding yet. One of many detailing jobs that will need tackling sometime. All Handrails and posts are etched to shape. I know some people don't go for this as the sections come out square as opposed to round. The brick bases are in 4mm scale embossed brickwork Plastikard. I don't mind these scale deviations, as from NVD (normal viewing distance) they are hardly if ever noticed. Be honest, like the over scale brickwork, did you really notice the square handrails before I told you? If you did, bear in mind the enlargement of the photos. The four layer thick support girders for instance are 110mm long x 10mm high, and the brick supports are 40mm high. Drop the sizes down to these figures and take another look.
I've spent quite some time on the painting and weathering. Anyway, I pleased with it, though I'm no Mike Raithby!
No modelling yet today, as I've been out on the shovel again this morning in readyness for the weekly get together tomorrow. From upstairs it looked like just a cm thick, but when I tackled it it was more like 3cm, plus the ice my neighbours over the road had left me to clear up after their departure for the daily grind. It's so much harder to shift after it's been compacted!
Talking of tomorrow, we're hoping to get a first try with the two newly acquired ESU radio control handhelds for the ECoS. Another learning curve! At least we will be in the warmth of the house instead of the garage.
Bob.

Penshaw North Signal Box

The rather excessive snow around the North East having curtailed various other activities, has at least kept me fit with all the shovelling, and has enabled some progress to be made with the box. As an appeasement to the villagers of Penshaw and it's station (located between Fence Houses and Victoria viaduct), which have for space reasons been omitted from the layout, I have at least made a decent effort to model the overtrack signal box at the junction. The box spans four tracks here, and was kept busy even in the late 60's, according to one of the signalman, Neville Whaler.
Nev has sent me loads of photos of the box (one of himself at the controls is above), along with various shots of just some of the adjacent lattice signals. Lots of etching work to do now to get this lot incorporated on to the layout!
The box is not fully fitted yet, so still a few hours more work to do on all the bits and pieces, but nearly there.
Note the outside 'netty' (NE for toilet) and the little crane for hauling a bucket of coal up to the box. Apparently it was safer than going up and down the stairs!

Bob.

Oh Ballast!

It may seem from the lack of posts that nothing is being done......... far from it!
The first exhibition is now only 10 months away and we are under pressure, though enjoying it (well David will be when he finishes re-building his house).
We have now finished applying the track ballast, and are in the middle of cleaning up and making sure the trains will run again.
Some of the basic scenery has been applied, but there will be no more until we are fully finished on the trackwork/ballast. No point in hampering yourself by putting things in the way!
Happy modelling, Bob.

The shunting plank

Been a while since I posted, so for anyone who did not make it, here is a photo from Expo at Oxford.
Not mine, but one of Paul Martin's for which I have permission to show.
In order to get said permission I did agree to state:- "This awesome image created by the skill wit and judgement of master-photographer P. Martin Esq."
Thanks Paul!

Bob.