Scrayingham

[Elmgate]

James,

Looking good - the only suggestion is to get the iron out on your curtain just before the next outing - even if it gets slightly creased on the way, it will give that final professional appearance - but that is me just nit-picking ;)

[B.Meldon]

James,

Looking good - the only suggestion is to get the iron out on your curtain just before the next outing - even if it gets slightly creased on the way, it will give that final professional appearance - but that is me just nit-picking ;)

One trick with the layout curtains is to role them not fold them for storage and when transporting the layout.

Brian Meldon

[jaymzhatstand]

Thanks! The curtain was the last thing I found, I almost forgot it, but it is now stored with the fiddle yard so easy to lay myhands on. Next time, should there be one, it'll be crease free!

Cheers

J

[clayliner]

Pleased to hear the show was a success, J - I imagine it will be a bit easier next time...

Apologies for querying the silos - I obviously haven't been paying enough attention!

David.

[jaymzhatstand]

First things first, apologies for not updating this thread (again), but I've not really done anything on the layout itself for a while. I've mainly been doing stock related tasks, and some of those have been in my workbench thread.

The main layout news is that it is booked to appear at the Hartlepool show this coming weekend, (24th & 25th) so hopefully some of you will be able to drop by and make yourselves known!

With the show in mind, I got the layout out a month ago to check it all over and iron out any wrinkles that had occurred in storage. It was here that a large problem became apparent!

The large tree next to the tunnel entrance had been crushed when tidying up after the last session, it was my fault entirely, and I know exactly when and how it happened.




I was left with some decisions; rebuild the tree, build a new tree, or rate some sort of tree felling cameo in the area. I opted for the first.




Slowly but surely, I've been repairing the tree until it now stands proudly again, possibly not the same shape as it was, but never the less, it's there!



As can be seen in one of the photos I made use of all sorts of support mechanisms while reconstructing, as the branches are delicate I couldn't clap them in place. So Peco stock boxes, tweezers, empty glue tubes and anything else that could be piled up as a support!

Fingers crossed for a terrible free trip to Hartlepool, and hopefully I'll see some of you there!

Cheers

J

[clayliner]

It is indeed a fine tree, James, and well worth rebuilding. If it was dismountable (i.e. plugged into a hole in the baseboard) maybe it would survive future upheavals better?

What is the substrate of the tree? - it looks very finely branched.

David.

[jaymzhatstand]

Thanks David, unfortunately it is permenantly fixed to the ground, I tied it removable, but couldn't get it to stand up straight due to its uneven shape.

The trunk and main branches are made from brushwood, from the slopes of Mt Vesuvius, with sea-moss and Woodlands Scenics foliage.

I keep thinking of adding a few more, but I don't want to over-do it!

Cheers

J

[clayliner]

It's the asymmetry and randomness of the structure which is particularly convincing, but which in my experience is difficult to achieve in practice - with my tidy and symmetrical brain, at least. That's why natural forms generally tend to be better than man-made ones, I think.

As you may have seen elsewhere, I've been trying to grow my own seamoss this year. It's been horticulturally challenging but having finally got the stuff going I now realise it's an annual plant, so probably not going to go anywhere this year (still being at a non-harvestable stage). Maybe better luck next year...

David.

[theelliotts]

Do you have an alternate name for seamoss? If you have the seed package it should give a latin Name. All I can find is a sea weed.

Thanks

David

[Brian Mosby]

Do you have an alternate name for seamoss? If you have the seed package it should give a latin Name. All I can find is a sea weed.

Thanks

David

its also called reindeer moss

[Graeme Dunbar]

Teloxys aristata. ("sea foam" rather than "sea moss")
http://www.chilternseeds.co.uk/item_1235a_teloxys_aristata_sea_foam_seeds

I think reindeer moss is different, but it is also used for model vegetation (as bushes etc).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cladonia_rangiferina


(There is also another "sea moss" - Irish moss or carrageen - for eating.)

[jaymzhatstand]

One thing that's always niggled me is the open nature of the fiddle yard. As an 'L' shaped layout it's out of the way, but I always felt it needed some sort of enclosure.



With the curtain that goes around the bottom to hide the legs, I couldn't just have something that would bolt on to the side so I decided on a hinged affair which will also double up as a cover for the track when transporting/storing the fiddle yard.



It's quite a crude and rushed affair, as I conned it together from some spare bits of wood and cheap little brass hinges from my local DIY shop.



It's all set up now and ready for the show this weekend, so that will mean extra effort for those who want to peer behind the scenes (which , let's face it, most of us do!)

Cheers

J

[theelliotts]

You might want to consider something on the underside too. Its not the accidental drop that a disaster but the landing!

David, hiding on the west coast of Canada.

[jaymzhatstand]

Thanks for the advice, it is certainly something I will sort out before the next outing. Fortunately there weren't any disasters this time, but I don't want to tempt fate!

The Hartlepool show was a resounding success, many favourable comments were received, including several regarding it being a layout where 'something was actually moving!'. I was also able to offer advice to several people who were liking at starting out in 009, and they were all pointed in the direction of the 009 Society, NGRM and RMWeb, and Parkside/the 009 sales which are the best places to get things to get started from (in my opinion anyway).

I gratefully received an invitation to the Thirsk show in 2016 (Sunday, July 31st) and a possible trip to Alnwick, depending on accommodation availability. That gives me plenty of time to potter on with other bits and bobs while still looking forward to getting out on the road again!







Most things ran pretty smoothly and there were no major failures, I even braved shunting with slate waggons, which all stayed on track despite their loose chain couplings!







My next mission is to create some more layout specific stock, as at the moment there is a distinctly Welsh feel to it. Not a bad thing, but for a layout set in Yorkshire, it may be a bit OTT! One visiting loco and stock will suffice!  Ideally I'd like a genuine SHLR Hunslet, but as they were 18" gauge, I feel the in the conversion to 2' gauge, they would have been sold on anyway!

Cheers

J

[Jeff Schumaker]

J,

Nice photos. Who makes the grey/yellow diesel?

Jeff S.