There's not been much to report, and time hasn't exactly been my friend this last year.
But 2013 I hope will be different.
Stepney Down is now temporarily retired from the exhibition circuit to allow me to rebuild it. This will include a full track relaying to improve its operational interest and improve detail... I hope...
In the meantime, I have commenced work on a small layout.
Measuring 5x4ft, this is a children's layout on which Thomas the Tank will run. I intend to allow children to have a chance at driving the trains around the main circuit, a basic oval, while I shunt trucks a small yard off to the side.
Pictures and a plan will follow, but I hope this will be a rather nice addition to any exhibition that would like to book it.
The blog for Stepney Down and all my other future model railways
Wednesday, 13 March 2013
Wednesday, 27 June 2012
2012 Kicks Off... Late
Hi All.
It's been a while since my last post, but not a lot has happened so there's been nothing to update you all with.
However, the last 2 weeks the layout has been out intermittently and work has been ongoing on a particularly important part of the layout- the fiddle yard.
Previously, the fiddle yard was just 4 tracks, and stock rotations had to be done by hand. This proved time consuming and quite frustrating, as re-railing stock always proved fiddly. Storage space was also very limited.
Now though, I am pleased to say that the new fiddle yard, a traverser, is nearing completion and hopefully will be fully operational by the end of the week. Photos will follow shortly, and an update to the website will be made soon as well, including new photos.
I have two more exhibitions currently booked with the layout:
5th November 2012 - Romford Exhibition, Marshalls Park School, Romford, Essex.
August 2013 - Southend-On-Sea Charity Exhibition. Details to follow.
After these two exhibitions, I am considering taking the layout off the exhibition circuit for a full revamp, of which I have been planning over the winter. This should increase the operational interest and opportunities of the layout, as well as incorporate a new design and improved (I hope) appearance.
That's all for now.
Owen
It's been a while since my last post, but not a lot has happened so there's been nothing to update you all with.
However, the last 2 weeks the layout has been out intermittently and work has been ongoing on a particularly important part of the layout- the fiddle yard.
Previously, the fiddle yard was just 4 tracks, and stock rotations had to be done by hand. This proved time consuming and quite frustrating, as re-railing stock always proved fiddly. Storage space was also very limited.
Now though, I am pleased to say that the new fiddle yard, a traverser, is nearing completion and hopefully will be fully operational by the end of the week. Photos will follow shortly, and an update to the website will be made soon as well, including new photos.
I have two more exhibitions currently booked with the layout:
5th November 2012 - Romford Exhibition, Marshalls Park School, Romford, Essex.
August 2013 - Southend-On-Sea Charity Exhibition. Details to follow.
After these two exhibitions, I am considering taking the layout off the exhibition circuit for a full revamp, of which I have been planning over the winter. This should increase the operational interest and opportunities of the layout, as well as incorporate a new design and improved (I hope) appearance.
That's all for now.
Owen
Wednesday, 3 August 2011
Updates! Time For Some.
Sorry for the lack of updates as of late.
Had the exhibition, last weeks of college, a show and much more which has meant I've not had a lot of free time to get here.
The exhibition was a success! The layout behaved itself for the first time properly since "completion." A few little niggles to correct, and maybe another new point to install.
The backscenes were completed in time, thankfully.
Video from Basildon is available to view on My YouTube Page.
I'll find some pictures soon for you all.
Until next time.
Owen
Stepney Down Website
Had the exhibition, last weeks of college, a show and much more which has meant I've not had a lot of free time to get here.
The exhibition was a success! The layout behaved itself for the first time properly since "completion." A few little niggles to correct, and maybe another new point to install.
The backscenes were completed in time, thankfully.
Video from Basildon is available to view on My YouTube Page.
I'll find some pictures soon for you all.
Until next time.
Owen
Stepney Down Website
Saturday, 21 May 2011
In the process...
What luck- I found some blue paint in the shed, so the backscenes are being painted this weekend!
Still several more to do, and they will need clouds added, either using chalk dust or paint and a sponge... or some other method...
Still several more to do, and they will need clouds added, either using chalk dust or paint and a sponge... or some other method...
Almost A Month Left...
I just over a month Stepney Down will be at the Basildon model railway exhibition (weekend of 2nd and 3rd July.)
There is still a fair amount of work to do though. With money being so lacking a the moment, I have not yet been able to buy new points. However, with what has been saved I should be able to do this over the coming week. It will then be a race against time to remove the broken sets, put these in, ballast around them AND install the new switching method. The latter job may not be done until the layout is revamped in a few years time, but the others will need doing before July.
One important job to be done is replacement of the backscenes. The boards for these have warped drastically and are in dire need of replacement. I have bought some new plywood boards for these, which will be painted into a better looking sky I hope. This I think is more important than the points, as points blades can be soldered so that trains can pass over them in the most important direction, but the backscenes need to be good so the layout looks nice.
The backscenes should be done by next weekend, when I shall hopefully have some blue paint by.
On the actual layout itself, not a lot needs doing. Track will need a clean and the platform needs a repaint (hopefully into a concrete grey- too much black on the layout at the moment) but asides from that nothing major needs doing. I will tidy it up a little before July and give it all a proper run-in again, but I can't do this until my mentioned jobs are complete.
That's all for now I think. Check back soon.
http://stepneydownlayout.webs.com
http://www.youtube.com/user/StepneyDown
There is still a fair amount of work to do though. With money being so lacking a the moment, I have not yet been able to buy new points. However, with what has been saved I should be able to do this over the coming week. It will then be a race against time to remove the broken sets, put these in, ballast around them AND install the new switching method. The latter job may not be done until the layout is revamped in a few years time, but the others will need doing before July.
One important job to be done is replacement of the backscenes. The boards for these have warped drastically and are in dire need of replacement. I have bought some new plywood boards for these, which will be painted into a better looking sky I hope. This I think is more important than the points, as points blades can be soldered so that trains can pass over them in the most important direction, but the backscenes need to be good so the layout looks nice.
The backscenes should be done by next weekend, when I shall hopefully have some blue paint by.
On the actual layout itself, not a lot needs doing. Track will need a clean and the platform needs a repaint (hopefully into a concrete grey- too much black on the layout at the moment) but asides from that nothing major needs doing. I will tidy it up a little before July and give it all a proper run-in again, but I can't do this until my mentioned jobs are complete.
That's all for now I think. Check back soon.
http://stepneydownlayout.webs.com
http://www.youtube.com/user/StepneyDown
Sunday, 10 April 2011
2011 Kicks Off
How late am I? Quite late.
Having been busy with college as of late, I have lacked time to do things. The bad weather has also prevented me from setting up the layout, but I was able to do this yesterday, as well is give the main boards a test.
http://www.youtube.com/StepneyDown
There is a video with some test running, as well as another video with me pointing out what needs to be done- nothing interesting.
I do now need to replace three points minimum on the layout, as these have "fallen apart" so to say. The rest just need a deep clean.
I am also hoping to update the website soon, but that will be done as and when there is stuff to update- with the layout looking to be up more from here onwards, there should be more photographs to share.
That is all for now
Owen
http://stepneydownlayout.webs.com
Having been busy with college as of late, I have lacked time to do things. The bad weather has also prevented me from setting up the layout, but I was able to do this yesterday, as well is give the main boards a test.
http://www.youtube.com/StepneyDown
There is a video with some test running, as well as another video with me pointing out what needs to be done- nothing interesting.
I do now need to replace three points minimum on the layout, as these have "fallen apart" so to say. The rest just need a deep clean.
I am also hoping to update the website soon, but that will be done as and when there is stuff to update- with the layout looking to be up more from here onwards, there should be more photographs to share.
That is all for now
Owen
http://stepneydownlayout.webs.com
Wednesday, 24 November 2010
Update Time
Well, I apologies for the lack of updates on this blog, but I have been lacking in time as of late and the layout has not seen much setting up since Northampton in July.
At Shoeburyness this weekend, I am sad to say that I have found AT LEAST 2 points in need of replacement, which I MUST do before Basildon in July, or Canvey Island in April.
I am planning a layout revamp for a few years in the future, which will see a drastic change in the layout's appearance. Thankfully, this, as just said, isn't happening until I have made it through next year, attending the exhibitions booked then.
I am slowly gathering items for my next layout, Sights Of Sodor, which will be a Thomas based layout, another rare sight at exhibitions these days. Personally, I think that if we want to keep the younger children interested in trains, a Thomas layout is the way to do it!
Don't forget about my website. I gave some cards out at Shoeburyness with this blog address, but feel you might want to check out the actualy website for the layout, which is
http://stepneydownlayout.webs.com
Where this is more information about the layout, booking it and photogrpahs.
I am going to be modifying it soon with some new pictures of how the layout is at the moment, so please forgive me if some of the photos are outdated.
That is all for now, I'll hopefully blog again soon.
Owen
At Shoeburyness this weekend, I am sad to say that I have found AT LEAST 2 points in need of replacement, which I MUST do before Basildon in July, or Canvey Island in April.
I am planning a layout revamp for a few years in the future, which will see a drastic change in the layout's appearance. Thankfully, this, as just said, isn't happening until I have made it through next year, attending the exhibitions booked then.
I am slowly gathering items for my next layout, Sights Of Sodor, which will be a Thomas based layout, another rare sight at exhibitions these days. Personally, I think that if we want to keep the younger children interested in trains, a Thomas layout is the way to do it!
Don't forget about my website. I gave some cards out at Shoeburyness with this blog address, but feel you might want to check out the actualy website for the layout, which is
http://stepneydownlayout.webs.com
Where this is more information about the layout, booking it and photogrpahs.
I am going to be modifying it soon with some new pictures of how the layout is at the moment, so please forgive me if some of the photos are outdated.
That is all for now, I'll hopefully blog again soon.
Owen
Wednesday, 21 July 2010
Ballasting
Well, I had to do it sooner or later.
When you have a layout that needs setting up outside and collapsing each time you use it, and when it stands there in the sun for hours on end, all the ballast dries up and eventually becomes loose as you move the boards about. I have experienced this, and now have filled in all the large gaps with some new ballast. The glue is setting on this and as it's a lovely day, may be dry by the time I collapse it tonight.
One disaster has occured, I have found that on the point leading to the "goods yard" sidings from the main track, one of the point blades has come off from the sliding bar. I will have to glue that back on with super glue asap, or no working goods trains at the exhibition I fear....
I think I need to give some of the fencing another brush over with the white paint, but otherwise, the layout is done I think. All I need to do now is test it all electrically...
http://stepneydownstation.webs.com
http://stepneydownlayout.webs.com
When you have a layout that needs setting up outside and collapsing each time you use it, and when it stands there in the sun for hours on end, all the ballast dries up and eventually becomes loose as you move the boards about. I have experienced this, and now have filled in all the large gaps with some new ballast. The glue is setting on this and as it's a lovely day, may be dry by the time I collapse it tonight.
One disaster has occured, I have found that on the point leading to the "goods yard" sidings from the main track, one of the point blades has come off from the sliding bar. I will have to glue that back on with super glue asap, or no working goods trains at the exhibition I fear....
I think I need to give some of the fencing another brush over with the white paint, but otherwise, the layout is done I think. All I need to do now is test it all electrically...
http://stepneydownstation.webs.com
http://stepneydownlayout.webs.com
Tuesday, 20 July 2010
Pictures
Well, here they are.
And one note- shortly after returning to work, the station was invaded by flying ants! Well... it is that time of year... damn things!
And one note- shortly after returning to work, the station was invaded by flying ants! Well... it is that time of year... damn things!
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
Please visit:
http://stepneydownstation.webs.com
http://stepneydownlayout.webs.com
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
Please visit:
http://stepneydownstation.webs.com
http://stepneydownlayout.webs.com
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