The Show Scene

Evening all,
Last weekend Geoff and I took the Friday off and headed for the Murwillumbah High School Hobby Exhibition with my layout 'More'.

Geoff and I have atended this exhibition prior as exhibitors and were looking forward to another great weekend.

We arrived in Murwillumbah early on Friday and headed over to the railway yards for another poke around and get some measurements and detail shots we didn't get last time.

Turntable still intact and free, looking towards the station.

The idea was to obtain measurements of the spacing between frame, rodding and cabling. The first job though was to remove some of the regrowth obscuring our photos.

This shot could have made front page of the local paper "Two start clearing for the trains" Geoff clears the grass.

There was some great examples of interlocking and rodding.

Great shot of the frame and rodding, no frame letter on it and will have to look it up.

Nice close up, my home layout is over 1300 high and it is detail like this that suddenly become noticable.

Closer look!!!!!!!

We spent a few hours wandering around taking many shots and measurements, then finally headed for lunch. A great hamburger can be had at the shop opposite the railway station.

It was 2 o'clock, 14.00hrs and time to set up for the show, we headed over, met Phil the organiser and commenced the job of setting up. It takes about an hour and a half now due to the fact that 'More' is 10 yrs old with some of the rail joins taking a bit to get them spot on.

Cleaning the track, oh and hitting your head on the pelmet. Geoff wasn't the only one.

The finished product with the trains running.

The show was well attended by the various scales with N scale the most. The highlight for me was to see Trevor Hodges 'Queens Wharf' O scale layout. The level of detail was fantastic, there is so much more to this layout than was covered in the magazine.

Members from New England Model Railway Club were in attendance with there layout and it was great to see some old faces. Their HO scale NSW layout always attracts great attention.

On the shop front Gwydir Valley Models and Horizon Hobbies were in attendance and this alway sees me splurging. If you haven't see their shops go online, just great!!

It was also great to catch up with Dave and the crew from 'Ecton', their O scale english narrow gauge layout is great with the emphasis on operation. The fellas are always in for a laugh!!!

Phil and the ladies of the P and F deserve a huge credit in organising a great weekend and looking after the exhibitors.

I look forward to the next show in 2012 around the same time.

Until next time. Darren

Two jobs on the go!!!

Evening all, I have been a bit quite on the blog side however have been trying to get things done in the train room.

Having the track plan for the first station area pretty well mapped out in full scale on the floor and the first of the modules in place I thought that it would be a good idea to pre-wire all the turnouts to DCC standards prior to installation in the bench work.

There are some 12 turnouts in the first station area and I thought this will save timelatter in the construction and track laying stages.

Here is one of the many Peco code 75 large radis turnouts getting the DCC treatment.

Having the first module completed and some time it spurred me on to getting the second module finished and attached to the other.I am amazed at how benchwork seems to just eat screws, lucky I buy them in bulk.

Here is a shot of the first two completed modules in place ready to be bolted together. The shelving is also in placed that will hold all the odd bits and pieces we accumulate in a train room.

These two modules will be the end of the branchline.

I was lucky to have the weekend off and with all my chores done I took the opportunity to work in the shed and train room.

The next module was measured up and prepared. This module will fit at the end of the ones already installed (properly now) but will be the other side of the backdrop after the island moduals are completed.

Here is the smallest module awaiting the legs and back drop.

This weekend Geoff and I will be heading down to the Murwillumbah High School exhibition to be held at the Murwillumbah High school. We will be taking my exhibition layout 'More'.

If you have not been before, make the trip, it is well worth it. Come say hello to Geoff or myself as it is the last time 'More' will be exhibited.

Hope to see you there. Until next time. Darren