Paint Pots And Brushes

Well, it's a live update actually to anyone who's reading this at the exact moment I'm posting-

The first available spot on a decent day and I am making the most of it as I gear up for Northampton this weekend!

Firstly, all the stone edging has been repainted, making the platform look even tidier now that the plaster dust and black blotches are gone from it. I have even painted (roughly mark you though) the edging sides that aren't seen by the viewing public so that the photos look a little more decent.
More painting involves that of the brick walls around the bridge area, the buffer stops and the weighbridge.

I am hoping to fill some spaces in with the necessary ballast either today, the next time it's up before exhibition if possible OR on the exhibition day itself (then it can dry all day and be ready for when I collapse it at about 5.30.)

The platform surface does need some more paint in a few places, and some areas are a little rough. I will not get a chance to smooth these before exhibition however as they would need complete removal and relaying.

My aims for now are to remove the unecessay/obstructive uncouplers and finish some more painting.
The shuttle uncoupler is going to be removed because I have decided that there is no proper use for it. I had originally planned to use that siding as a freight storage, carriage/engine display area or shunters stop when there were no passenger services operating on the shuttle, however, I just never have done that so am removing it. It also uncouples trains as they pass over it into the bay which is another reason.

The headshunt uncoupler is to be replaced.

Why?

It's Peco. And as nice as it is with its wooden pattern, it sits too high. Coupling hooks, loops and loco undersides repeatedly hit it and it constantly causes derailments. So it will be replaced ASAP I hope with a Hornby one or a cut piece of clear plastic (which is what I aim to do to alll at some point, so that these Hornby ones may go to my Thomas one when started in the summer.)

I think for the moment, that is it.

Pictures will follow later I hope, and I might be able to get some running tests done too!

One last thing- I now have a new T9!!!!

Owen

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