Five years to get around to signals...

I thought I would give the 108 a run about, Plus it's taken 5 years to get round to signals. I picked up 5 x sets of Ratio in a plastic bag @ Doncaster T&T Fair

 You can see the difference between Home made track (outer) and Peco code 75 (inner)

The balloon man is early for when the crouds come to see Blue Peter and Herring Gull...

The MPD layout is in it's ninth year and in that time the odd PL-13 - Accessory Switch fitted to the point motor starts to fail...Rarther than disturb the layout to get under, I decided to do a on the surface repair...The last two pics are a couple from a year or two ago....Not brilliant but it keeps them running...'Perminent Way in Action'

All ballasted with some super fine coke cinders from Royton Coke Plant...Job Done.

This was the first one to fail..

This was the second to fail...

  
Shed had to be removed to have a good clean and is now back in place.

On the whole the layout is fairing pretty well with th occasional repair from time to time...

 

It looks almost ready to put some loco's back on the layout...

Model Railways are never finished, They just keep evolving...

Duff Point Motor

Well today I thought I may have a bit of a running session...No such luck.as soon as I started I noticed something a miss with a point and after assessing the problem I thought 'No way am I clearing the layout to replace the point ' so option 2......Old school operation.....Wire in tube and DPDT slide switch.....I cleared the landscape did the deed and all up and working....Now the area will be redeveloped...

Peco code 75 Electrofrog point, replaced tiebar copper clad....The tubing will get covered and the switch will get covered with a small hut or something...

Model Railways are never finnished....The just evolve...

Making some space in 'The Man Cave'

As the title say's it all, and in order to give myself space on the layout to operate over the last few weeks I have been visiting my local timber merchant. They are not proffessional job's just basic woodwork...tidy and functional. And the main thing is that I have space to do what I want...

Model Railways never get finished, They just keep evolving.....

A bit of pottering about!

Well as the title say's, Not a lot major happening of late. Just a matter of grabbing the odd half hour or so.
Right .....after renumbering and early crest added to the K3 a weathering session was called for. As you may remember from previous posts it was LNER

Last week I purchased a Lima BR maroon parcel bogie van for £8. It had no couplings but that was remedied ( a good find me thinks)

Now...as I am building a pit/colliery I will be needing some suitable lorries for moving coal in bulk, normally it was to the power stations, That as it was when I was driving the 8 wheeler's but that's another story..
          Well I have been having ago and so far here is what I'm up to...

The yellow one is as new but I weathered it. The AEC in blue is my first attempt...

This Guy started off life the same as the other guy but with a repaint and scratch built body it still needs touching and more detailing...And transfers if I ever master the Art?

And I must not forget the tailgate lever...

And finaly for this offering are a few views of other happenings in my World of Modelling...

I picked this up at York T&T Fair last very cheap, it is a wren lomac  and a digger which is what I bought if for....The Lowmac I will move on...

Meanwhile a short wheel Bedford is being converted into a coal lorry, but as you can see it needs some attention underneath so until these fitters give me the word I cannot work on it for the time being...( it's great to be daft.. I've tried being normal but thankfully it don't last for long)

 The coles Crane was another steal at York T&T Fair at £6 Mint and boxed...And the first bit of piping on the water tower.
                  Well I hope you enjoyed my update.......Until next time...Keep Modelling...
               

Update on Royal Oak Colliery

Well given the not very nice weather, it was a good time to venture into my 'Man Cave'.
     Some time back Phil.c gave me a idea to put a lean to on the side of my screens. So here it is, There is more work to do but it does give the idea.

 

The next thing that I realized was.....No access to the screens. So after cutting a door hole and some hours later access...And the main building is still removable...

Well that's it fo today and we will see what tomorrow brings...

Meanwhile elswhere on the other part of the layout the Gypsys are still nearby

And in the builders yard there is a compressor and a cement mixer been added..

Well that is all for now...

The Pit with No Name...Update (by request)

Well I have started on the Head gear after studying the A4 pages of instructions , And it aint for the faint hearted...So off I go.

I started with the wheels.

 The next step for me is the legs. As I do not have a folding machine but do have about 7 x steel rulers and a vice I managed

 After a few days parts start to come together.....But not exactly "Just Like That"

Another view just to see how it looks on the layout.....

 Another view...

 Now it's all made I gave it a good wire brushing then a soak in Caustic Soda overnight. Then when it was dry I gave it a coat of Red oxide primer...

I decided on Royal Blue as the colour for the Headgear , and I must say I think it looks quite striking (no pun intended)

 Now I decided it's time to make the supporting builings...

 These are only positoned for taking photo's

 Over the Festive season I managed to get a couple of hours here and there to escape to my 'Man Cave'

I got four of these coal tubs from Gaugemaster, They are HO...I think they look the bussiness?

 I opted not to buy narrow gauge track to cover it up, so I went for plastic sheet scored...

Then using a very old engineers dividers I scored out tracks to give the illusion of points...


Now is the time to fit the wheels and I decided to make them Red after seeing a couple of Pits with Red wheels on line. Red, White and Blue...

I really wanted flood lights on the top of the headgear. And after pondering I came up with a idea.
 The main structures have to be removable and made to locate in the same place everytime. Lights must be able to be plugged in for easy removal and connecting structures must wherever connect together ie: the conveyor to the screens.

and the result...

 Oh yes I did say "The Pit has a name...What do you think?

Now it's time for the Pit Head Baths
Scratch built after looking at various pictures and I came up with my own idea...Using the windows and doors I had in my boxes..

 I like to think it capures the look.

 The white stuff in the windows is 'Glue and Glase' I find it brilliant, as specially when you want some missing panes of glass..

A little touching up to be done,  But I am quite pleased so far.. Learning all the time....

Work in progress, A long way to go...

A view of my 'Man Cave' and work in progress...

Model Railways are alway's Work in Progress as they are never finished.............