Hello....... im back, sorry for the long break in updates, things have been a bit hectic in my life over the last few months, and Camelot has been quietly gathering dust up in the loft. You may have seen or heard by now that i MAY be moving house! At the moment, im not so Camelot is safe, for the time being. So im going to carry on as usual with work on the layout and will keep you posted if anything changes. The only major difference is the lack of trains on Camelot as i have packed a few away and had a major clear out via Ebay, which is still ongoing. There is still a few outstanding tasks to be completed, as follows...
(1) Finally finish off the wiring for all the points around the station .. only 3 left now..
(2)Finish off the signalling around the station area .... (Hurry up shed gimp!)
(3)Get started on the station ballasting.
I have a stock pile of scenic items and paints to finish track level of the station area, then i can get on with the buildings and around the station.
I made a small start today with the station cutting. This area was going to be totally hidden, but im going to make a small diarama area out of it for photgraphing trains. Still wet paint and glue in the picture below, but i think it will be a nice area for pictures when its done.
A pair of my old faithful 37's happily plodding around the layout.
During my clearout, i found this old 73 shell hiding in a cupboard, named City of Portsmouth . One of my oldest locos, and i managed to find everthing for it, to put it back together apart from a motor, so now it makes a nice static loco sitting in the tmd.
Just about all the locos i have left on the layout have all had a good spring clean, including this old Bachmann 37, which still runs superb after 5 years of long hard service. I wonder how many scale miles some of these locos have done? Also looking at this picture, i have just seen what may be causing the short circuit on my station lights, looks like the one by the 37 has taken a beating!
Typical! No updates for ages , then loads come at once! Finally finished off the point motors around the station area, and it all works nicely using the computer for route setting. Below is a short movie clip and a couple of photos.
I got off my arse last week and walked down to the local model shop to pick up this bachmann tower block thingy. I ordered it ages ago after seeing it at a show on the bachmann stand and thought it was great. Here it is, in its new home over looking the rusty old sidings (soon to be rusted) behind Camelot station.
Slowly taking shape, the scenic area around the station finally starts to look like a model more than a work bench. Loads more to be done here, going to buy a few wagon loads and lorry loads to store outside the buisness units and the usual cctv equipment and gaurd towers and gun emplacements...........
Iv'e worked more on the layout in the last 4 days than i have in the last six months. I think its because of the clear out that it is just more comfy up there. Not so cluttered! Anyway, on with another update. Started scenic work over the back of the station where the carriage sidings are by installing a walk way and cleaning facilities. I wanted to get this done first and the ballasting after so it looks like the cleaning platform is dug into the ground , and it also helps to keep it secure. Also in this picture, by the wonky fence on the left end of the platform ,you can see i have lengthened the platform a bit to allow the sleeper train and 3 car units to fit better in the back platform, so all the dorrs can be opened.When the fence is straight and secure, im going to add "DO NOT ALIGHT HERE" signs to the fence for the mainline platform. Dont want any of the little people falling to there doom , do we.......... (insert evil laugh!)
One of my faithful workers , who has been glued to so many layouts, he gets a fraction shorter each time! Here he is on he way to clean out the poo tank of the sleeper train, ready for its next service. Here you can see a Ratio kits walkway , butchered slightly to allow access for the cleaners.
Started on the ballasting and scenery over the back of the station. Still lots to do , but its starting to take shape.
Very pleased with this little area, you can see now what i ment about covering the legs of the small platform with ballast. Just need to paint some poo on the tracks!
Getting down to the finer detail around the station now. Iv'e always wanted to put troffins for the cables (not real ones) all over my layouts, but never have. I've been experimenting on the station area with some bits of plastruct painted grey. They look ok for a first atempt, I need to weather the ballast to make them stand out more. But here is a picture of the very early stages. If they look ok i will cover the station area with them, and also add a page showing how i make and install them.
Little bit more done on the detail front, still working around the same area as updates above. You can see i have painted the ballast a bit around the troffin, seems to be going according to plan. Will have another look in the morning when its dry, all i need now is some more glue to finish this area, then i can plant some weeds!
I seem to be spending most of my time hovering around the end of Camelot station, not train spotting but laying troffins. Ive been doing a bit each day and they are starting to look good now. Iv'e been doing small areas in stages, which you can see in these pictures, still some ballast missing. But i found this to be the best method for adding small details , working my way to the front of the layout.
I managed to get hold of some of these Peco TPWS grids to put on my track, for part of the signalling equipment detail. I was going to put them everywhere on the layout , but now ive seen how small they are , i might not bother, you have to go right up close to them to see what they are and i also lost two trying to put one in place for a photo! To fiddly for my sausage fingers!
I know most of my updates have been based around the same area of late, but its nearly done. Gradually working my way to the front of the layout, really taking my time, but i think its worth it. Hope you agree?
Heres a Bachmann 37 inspecting the new scenery.
Finally reached the front track with ballast and weeds, now i can start work on ballasting through the platforms. Once that is done i can sort out the gas works area, get it all ready for my next new mini project!!
I still keep adding small bits of detail to this end of the station, can't keep away from it. It's become a bit of a test bed for all sorts of scenery products. In the picture below you will see a point handle (non working), which iv'e mounted on a small wooden platform for use by the loco drivers in the sidings.
Even though im still clearing out the loft, i picked up this Vitrains 37 nice and cheap to use as a run down abandoned loco in the sidings behind the station, im going to cover it with weeds and rust to add some interest to this dark old corner.
