derek

Thanks Alan. That is the effect I was after, and a lot of the reason for the position of the bridge Hoping to get a good video of a train appearing around the curve and emerging from under the bridge. Hopefully.........................

Here are some pics of the finished area around the new bridge. And I know the road looks very black. This is because it was raining the day I took pics. Also, because I forgot to sand the road. Its on the list of things to do

Lads I never tried to insult anyone in that original post. All I said was that there are bigger things to worry about than the spacings of buffers a mill or two either way. I also said the models were great either way. So, I could get the hump and storm off and never post again, but I am not gonna do that. No, in fact I am just about to stick some stuff on Dereks Layout , so let's all head over there and have a look

Hi, just wondering why my post on this tread was removed. I was merely trying to point out that, regardless of the buffer spacings, the models themselves were still excellent. I didn't think I was being insulting or abusive to anyone . Just saying that people were getting very excited about very little. Maybe someone could enlighten me. Trying to ask this as pleasantly as I can. Maybe @Warbonnet, @Garfield, @BosKonayor @MOGUL might be able to help. Thanks, Derek

Looking well @Metrovik. Ballasting is a pain ok. I "rusted" my tracks using Woodland Scenics "rusty rail" markers. No need to do any masking off. I found them ok to use, but the tips wore out long before the ink inside the marker. I ended up buying more than I needed just to get more tips. Will probably end up breaking open the markers to get at the ink and using a fine brush to paint on.. Your track is looking smashing .Show us a pic when you take tape off if you get a chance. Looking forward to next months update already

Yeah, I actually cancelled my preordered Park Royals . All the wagons arriving ahead of them was a bit of a pain, given that the Royals were ordered about ten years ago it seems. After I obtained some Cravens it really made my mind up to cancel. In fairness if I hadn't got the Cravens, I would have hung on. And on..............

And you had the nerve to call me a stirrer Denis

Mine arrived today. And got an email to say they were in transit at the same time, but dated yesterday. Go figure that one. Anyway dopey Dan from Fastway left box on the front step, for the whole world to steal. Expect nothing better from that crowd- Wife ordered a dress for a wedding a while back, and the dope from Fastway dropped it in to the blue recycle bin without a word to anyone.. Delighted with the wagons though. Well done IRM

Look who's back. Finally got my dodgy 181 back- now no longer dodgy. (details are set out in "general chat/ MM0174A). I won't repeat them here. Quick question- would the black n tan look better pulling the cravens rather than the A class. I had intended to use the b n t for freight but now I not so sure. And I know I can always swap around but just looking for opinions..... And then a ghost wagon turned up on the layout. Finally got around to making a start on one of @leslie10646 cattle wagons. Been at home for the past week with another bout of the ol' covid so it was a welcome distraction. I put my drops of superglue on the front of an old Woodland Scenics bag and it took the green paint with it as I used it. At least I could definitely tell where the glue was going Roof not fixed, just "snapped" into place

Ok, so there has finally been a happy end to this saga. Briefly to recap, I received the original loco on 11th of April and it was noisy as hell. Sent it back and got a replacement a couple weeks later . It also sounded like a tractor, so after some arguing with myself, it also went back. Due to me getting stuck in hospital for a week, the courier finally picked up the loco on Monday 10th June and whisked it off to MM repairs. 3 weeks to the day later, it arrived back and it is running as sweet a a nut, so the perseverance was worth it in the end. Could have done without the grief but all's well that ends well. Have to say that Patrick Conboy was great throughout the whole thing. Loco arrived back without a word from Murphy's by email to say it was coming. There was no note to say what work had been carried out, so I am none the wiser. Communication is not a strong point with this outfit

Thanks. Yeah, I knew I had seen that fence somewhere........

Absolutely relishing this project. Mouth watering stuff to be sure. The amount of research you have done is great and the photos are excellent. Keep it coming Dave And you can never make a baseboard too big- just ask Denis @Gabhal Luimnigh

Thanks for the positive comments lads. Really encouraging- keeps a man going

The scene around the bridge is more or less done now. Pillars added to ends of bridge and fencing erected. Fences to be put in on the left side in due course. Also made a start on the station car park. Gave the black road surface a rub of 180 grit paper and it looks a bit better now I think? I know the fences are unlike anything in real life, but I like them so live with it. To paraphrase Brendan Grace in Father Ted "I'm having fun and that's all that matters".

In fairness Dave, Bos did say in two seperate posts that the shipping would begin on Monday 24th. I for one didn.t receive any email to say this had changed. Either way, I can wait. They will get here eventually. They always do.

How many projects do you have on the go now? I'm beginning to lose "track" at this stage..... Still, as long as you are happy, that's what matters. Oh, and will first radius curves work for you?

Hi Denis, me neither. And I presume the Monday in Boskanays reply would have been Monday 24th?

You could be right Denis, but too late I'm afraid. Grass work has already commenced. Pics to follow. Ah, I will live with it. And if I still not happy, I will rip it out and fix it. Wouldn't be the first time

Enough already with the crazy talk, back to the matter in hand. Got busy with the styrofoam. Taking shape slowly... Still need to address the road colour.

Reminds me of the tale of the Kerryman and the Yank driving the Ring of Kerry, with the Kerryman giving out hell about the amount of potholes in the road. Not wanting his pal to feel too bad about the place, the Yank said, "It's not too bad . Look there, you can see the top of that rabbit's ears sticking out of that hole". "That's not a rabbit", replied the Kerryman, "that's a donkey!" That's what I will do with my road. Just cover it in water and half submerge a car or two. No worries about colour then

Thanks for the tips lads, and for all the kind words from the other lads. Always encouraging. As regards the black colour, I can see that it is far too black and "new" looking ok. I will definitely try to tone it down some, using the methods you suggested. But to be honest, as the black is just emulsion like the rest of the layout, it doesn't take long for the sheen to disappear. By the time I have this scene completed, the thing will be "pure manky" Thanks, but you need to have a bit more faith in your own abilities. Your station roof on your layout is the business.

Excellent work Andreas. Beautiful trains

Bridge in and painted. Road also in place.... Scenery next....Well that messy white aeroboardy stuff before the actual scenery I suppose

Always with the plans..........

Hi George, yes I intend to use a version of the "cattle scene" again too. And that version of the layout is definitely" WAS". It,s gone now