Fencing.

Hennock is at Astolat Exhibition- Guildford today!
Hopefully the snow won't prevent us getting there!
 I have decided that the fence which will surround the yard at the side of the Jasmine Inn will be something I haven't tried before.
Coffee stirers are ideal as the grain is fairly tight and the wood esily cut with a sharp knife.
The posts and rails are glued with good old Elmers glue before the boarding of thin card is attached.
The top picture shows the template of the yard with posts marked for construction purposes.
First piece will look better once creosoted and planted.

Let it snow ,Let it snow,Let it snow-NOT!

Here is the weather forecast- I've just been up on the Air Ministry roof and the snow is becoming heavier. This is a picture of my car ten minutes after last using it.
This gives me a dilemma- do I load the car and let the layout freeze for a day- or don't I?
The forecast is inconclusive for the roads between here and Guildford. I have already spoken to the exhibition organiser and he, as well as others in the area will keep me informed as to road conditions.
Hopefully the weather will improve and let us play trains tomorrow- if it doesn't then please accept my apologies as safety comes first.
Stop Press- Astolat Exhibition has been cancelled Tomorrow due to worsening weather conditions.

Advice well given!

 Co-incedence is a funny thing!
I had finished the barn and happened to look at one of the Model Railway Forums and to my surprise a name whose work I have long admired posted. None other than Allan Downes.
Several messages have been exchanged and Allan has been most complimentary about the layouts- even saying it inspired him to take up modelling again.
He did suggest one thing though. I have not got individual tiles/slates on my roofs.
So taking the suggestion I have cut some slates from thin card and started labouriously sticking each piece to the roof of the building which will stand next door to The Jasmine Inn. Is it worth it? Well I am quite pleased, however some may think otherwise- I'd like to know some opinions. Will give a slate by slate description as I progress.

Astolat-Guildford Exhibition.

Hennock will be at the Astolat Model Rail;way Exhibition on the 19th January 2013- hope as many in the area will visit and call by to say hello.
Most of the rolling stock discussed on the blog will be on show plus maybe a new item.
Hope to see you there.
The organisers have reluctantly cancelled this show due to worsening weather conditions.

3MM Society Mixed Traffic January 2013

The latest edition of the 3MM Society Journal-Mixed Traffic, is to hand.
In a packed, practical issue we are treated to a description of scratchbuilding Junction Bracket Signals by Trevor Lloyd-Lee. The article includes sourcing and suppliers of materials needed but also prototype notes.
John Sutton demonstrates that the thigh is the limit with forming of the Saddle Tank on Amble Junctions recently available Hunslet Austerity/LNER J 49 kit.
Discussions are invited for a proposed Loco Chassis jig which need not prove too expensive.
Add to this some superb images of Peter White's 'Masham', informative Q&A and Blastpipe and yet another well balanced edition has been produced.
There is also the latest update on the Society Shop and on this subject there is an obituary for the Society's Trading officer of fourteen years, Andy Green. I fully echo the comments made and always had a good rapport with Andy-I was pleased to be one of those who 'got' his sense of humour.

Lighting Rig.

This mess of wire is what lights up 'Hennock'
The two yellow cylinders are transformers that convert 240volts down to 12.The lamps themselves are reclaimed by my electician friend Nigel.
This keeps potentially dangerous voltage away from us whilst we play trains.
The four lamps are held in an old curtain vallance made redundant due to the out break of blinds in this house. This is kept aloft by a couple of white skinned metal  tubes which slot into holders on the back of the baseboards.
'Hennock's' name is attached by Velcro to the front which also is adorned with exhibitions we have attended.

The things we buy!

This, probably a copy, I picked up at a car boot sale years ago.
Whilst the railway concerned has little interest for me, it does have a certain something.
Nostalgia- now thats something to look back on!
Makes you wonder how many took up this offer- did it rain?
I hope not due to the attractive price of the open carriage against that of the closed.
Just think that this all happened in 1855 and that we are all still open to a bargain!

Just a nice picture.

One can just imagine sat on this wall waiting for the next Engine Shed resident to arrive.
I wish I could use photoshop et al but I can't.
It looks as though something is going to happen- everything is in place- just the imagination keeps the thought alive.
Enlargements can be cruel and expose the inaccuracies but this picture just about has it all in my mind.
Anyway- it's my trainset!

Keeping it simple.

Call me sad if you like but this is the way that all my kits are kept prior to building.
These examples are of Kitmaster Mk1 coaches- I have several that arn't complete so they are stored in boxes with labels. As parts are added they are crossed off the label and eventually I have a complete set of parts to complete a kit rather than have lots of half built efforts hanging around.
This I do with all my models, nothing worse than starting something on a cold winters night to find that you have no wheels etc.
Just an idea that might help someone.

All packed away!

 The loft is looking much tidier lately- if you saw it before then you would understand!
Hennock is ready for its next outing to Astolat Exhibition at Guildford. Easily erected now there is space and ready for track cleaning and checking- must restick a window sill on the signal box!
Teigtnford leans against the wall supported by the retaining bolts which keep the ends off the ground.
I must say that the new ladder made it easier to lower Teignford and soon we will see if Hennock is as easy!