Pictured above are a small number of 86`s and 87`s which are taking up some of my office shelves. The locomotive at the top-left is actually a DB class 111 by Marklin. Many of these, and dozens of others will need minor tweaks and adjustments before re-entering traffic. A time consuming process......

On my Stereo: Alice in Chains - Jar of Flies

As chronicled in the previous entry, The underframe for the DC kits 81 wasn`t correct for the refurbished 81 I was modelling. Also, looking at what few good photo`s you can find which clearly show this area, it would appear that some modifications were made even after refurbishment....?
I have scratchbuilt this feature in the past, and I had to do it again, but this time took a slightly different approach.

Picture 1 shows the unit as it comes.
Picture 2 shows the 'old' chokes carefully being cut away with a razor saw.
Picture 3 shows the reconstructed area. I`ve cheated and re-used some resin offcuts. The 2 large chokes themsleves were made from standard milliput, filed to shape when hard. The front of the chokes were also from milliput. 2 thin sheet of about 1mm were rolled out, and a small piece of plastic used to make the indents. This was then left to harden, and cut to shape. These were then attatched to the front of the chokes, and any small gaps filled with some fine milliput. Plastic section and wire complete the ensemble.
Picture 4 shows the finished piece.

My verdict? Well it`s not a masterpiece of accuracy, and maybe not even as convincing as some of my earlier (yet more complicated) efforts, but it at least makes it more than half right! I`m sure DC Kits will produce a more modern moulding in the not too distant future.....

It`s been almost 2 months since Warley when I purchased the Class 81 from DC Kits. Had it been based on the refurbished locos, it would have been completed before Christmas, but for the reasons they gave, I have to agree that it made sense to produce it in it`s original state first.
However, this was not great news for me as I knew completing the model would need a lot of extra time and effort, so it got left for a while.
The model is pictured here having the moulded handrails removed and is awaiting separate wire handrails to be fitted. Rainstrips have been added to the cab roofs, and the roof has been modified in readiness for the air tank reservoirs, as this locomotive will only have the one pantograph. The other major difference which must be rectified is the underframe on the corridor side. This differs a lot from the unrefurbished examples due to having a different choke system. I`ve had to scratchbuild this feature on my other 81`s, so the underframe which Charlie hunted the whole of the NEC for will only be half useful, but will be altered accordingly. I shall post some pictures here when I have made progress in this area.
This model will become 81009, a particular favourite of mine. Yes, I know I already have an 81009, but that model will be retired, and maybe made available to a new home....

In the meantime, thanks to those who have made suggestions for the shop names. (See 18th January entry below.) We`ve had some interesting ideas so far, but are keeping the invitation open for another week or so, so if you have had any thoughts, drop us an email

The layout will feature 67 separate retail outlets, restaurants, and pubs etc. Some of these have already been modelled, but we`ve been trying to come up with some ideas for the rest of these buildings. In time, I intend to incorporate a town centre map, on which you can click on any building to bring up separate pictures and details, but this isn`t going to happen just yet! For now, here is a temporary link to view what we`ve come up with so far.

Now here`s a challenge for our visitors.... The above picture shows a very much incomplete shop. All you have to do is find a use for it and give it a name. The best idea we receive will become a permanent fixture on the layout. There`s also three runners up ideas to be used on 3 smaller buildings. Simply leave your suggestions in the guestbook or send an email

Apologies for the lack of updates lately, but I can assure you that not much of interest has happened! I`ve had very little time to play trains, as there have several mundane jobs to do, and it`s good to get them over and done with.
However, a few new structures are in the midst of being assembled, and pictured above are some Resin buildings from Muswell Models. These will compliment the industrial section by the canal. Other recent activity has including yet more wiring, construction of backscenes (so far undecorated,) and construction of buildings to a basic shell. These buildings will be completed once the location and 'feel' is satisfactory.

The fiddle yard is now complete, and part of it can be seen here. The complete fiddle yard has 47 roads in total, including 16 complete loops over twenty feet long.

I thought it would be nice for my APT to 'stretch it`s legs' but things haven`t gone so well so far. The train is driven by dual motors, both of which were reluctant to work efficiently. However, after a good service they seemed to be running very sweetly. However, due to the length of this particular train, the motors which are located at the centre don`t seem to like pushing the half dozen coaches in front of them. Extra weight in the power cars seemed to be the obvious answer, but this made the wheels 'lift up' above the rails slightly and tended to derail too often at points and curves. Spreading the weight in the underframes with liquid lead, and strips of window lead inside the bodyshell was my next plan of action. This was an improvement, but far from the desired result. It appears that weight needs to be put directly onto the motor bogies themselves, quite how I can get round this one remains to be seen. Perhaps (if I ever get the time,) I can somehow motorise the driving trailers?

On my Stereo: R.E.M. - Monster

Tuesday afternoon - 10th January 2006

Rugby wasn`t built in a day.....

Perhaps this latest update should feature in a new section 'On our kitchen table!' The layout is currently battling it out with wires and cables, and my desks are littered with all sorts of half completed detailing projects, so for once, I thought I`d spend a few hours knocking something up in the kitchen!!
Pictured above is a section of the main station building which is a Vollmer kit. The other sections are separated, so the building will be in 3 separate sections. I have already altered the station name from 'BADEN' which didn`t fit in at all! There may be some who think the building doesn`t look very British. If so, take a look at Norwich and Slough for a start.... These are off the top of my head, and I`m sure theres plenty more out there.... Anyway, this model will eventually have extra 'British' details and insignia fitted, along with some sensible weathering.

Below we have a couple of sections of the main town scene. The market area will be off to the left, while the town continues to the right. Due to the size and location, we decided it would be easier to construct this area with 5 sections of MDF, which when finally completed will be screwed into place, hidden by some of these individual paving slabs which we`ve been having fun with! These individual slabs from the Metcalfe range are time consuming to lay correctly, but I think look very effective, especially when given some weathering treatment.

The buildings and tree are temporarily in place for marking purposes, and to 'give a feel' of how it should look once completed. Most buildings here need so much more work. The 2"x2" blocks towards the back are for attatching to the backscenes. Due to lines running below, there will also be various access holes underneath larger removable buildings. The bottle of beer is kindly marking one of these positions.... But not for long!!!

On my Stereo: A-ha - Analogue

Monday evening - 2nd January 2006

Watching the trains go by.....

Work on the fiddle yard has been progressing nicely. The lower level has been completed, while work on the upper level has picked up momentum. Yesterday marked the first complete circuit of the layout, enabling trains to go round and round. No more getting bored with traversing and shunting planks!

Turning their backs on the trains to pose for the camera are our cats, Winston, Charlie, Cosmic, Kira, Samson, Toby, Trent and Sophie. These have been painted by my wife Victoria. I`ll let them watch a few more test trains for a while longer, before packing them away until they have a 1:76 scale garden to play in!

On my Stereo: Joy Division - Permanent

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