Hello everybody.
Thank you to those of you who have visited my blog frequently during 2018. It’s only a small project and doesn’t get lots of visits so I’m always glad to see someone new.
December was a tough month for me after losing my mother earlier in the year and I have been in no mood for modeling as now is the time for fine detail which could be messed up by un-clear thinking or a shaky hand.
I have not been able to get on with the electrical side of the OO layout recently as I have been waiting for a few bits like switches but I have all of these now and am looking forward to completing the wiring to the points and isolating rails.
It will not have escaped you that the main O gauge layout has been neglected for a bit while I’ve been working on Winkle’s Yard, however, detailed discussions with my modelling mentor KB have led me to believe that it could be a layout suitable for exhibitions if it were to be adjusted slightly. this would mean the removal of the end board with the set track curves. The trains would then leave the layout on the third board where the head shunt ends and enter a sliding traverser with a series of straight tracks. The point where the trains would leave can be seen on the picture below. There needs to be a tunnel/bridge close to where the last wagon is on the picture in the same board as the coal depot. This still needs some thought!
I will also need to improve the electrics and make them reliable, robust and clear in the event of a fault. My control panel will also need to be removable with the need to fix it on the other side during exhibitions. Scenically there is some work to finish at the back behind the platform but very little will change. The layout can be used in a steam period or through to pre-Tops which is what I model already.
SO…Lots of work and projects to keep me quiet for the year ahead. I do need to complete a OO gauge exhibition layout stock set with Spratt and Winkle couplings and the stock will need to be weathered too! OMG!
I’ll try to be better with the updates.
Let me know what you think of my efforts, it would be good to hear from you out there!
I have no plans to lose the coal depot as it’s my favourite part of the layout!
I wish you all a happy, safe, and healthy 2019.
Best wishes
Shaun
Princes Street Station 