Well, I did not like the fence and it has been removed. I have applied more bushes and grasses etc. – that’s it now! Mixed gauge failure – maybe would have been better if placed hard up against backscene!

Today I just about finished the O Gauge photo plank. I have painted and distressed the fence, yes I used a OO fence to try and give distance, has it worked, not sure.

I have also added bushes, briars and the longer grasses. I have a few other grass products that could be added, we will see.

Today is the first day I have done any modelling for a month. I have been laid low by a rather nasty chest infection, thanks to anti-biotics I am now able to progress a few simple tasks, but no airbrushing for another month.

I have gone back to my new O Gauge photo plank and done the next stage. I have grassed all the relevant areas and added some fencing about an inch away from the backscene to hopefully give a bit more depth. The next job is to paint and weather the fence, then add the bushes, briars, weeds and long grass. I may put a couple of small trees to add height – we will see.

Very happy with the rounded corner and the backscene.

I have rather an old photo plank which is well past its best. Here is the start of its replacement, its 50% larger in area with a higher background and rounded inside corner to allow photos without unrealistic corners.

I intend to use a photographic backscene – just checking what’s available at present!

Two very busy days working on the O gauge stabling point board 2. All track ballasted and weathered, plus modifications in the fiddle yard. Extra protection for the stock on the shelves and extra weight on the sector plate – for smoother operation. All track tops cleaned with track rubber and then vacuumed .

I have been working on the so called ‘Stabling Point’, I am just finishing off the secondary ballasting before a final ‘ballast picking’ session to ensure no pieces have got where they should not be. Then weathering to match board one.

Note the fiddle yard is a bit different to my usual type, this means I can have up to three locos behind the scenes ready to go onto the scenic section. I can also keep some small locos or wagons in the shelving above the track. The point will remain manual at present.

I have now done the basic ballasting and weathering on my so called O Gauge Stabling Point. I say Stabling Point, but I hope to make this a multi function layout. It has been made to be used as a ‘Photo Plank’, a ‘Wagon Shunting/Goods Yard’ and an Engineers Yard. I even have a couple of other uses up my sleeve, but they need a bit more research!

I am looking at changeable scenic features to enhance the different uses. Why make four or more layouts when one can be used!

It is wired for DC operation, but it could easily made to be made with a DCC option.

I will ballast the other board first – this includes the fiddle yard – so should not take long.

I have now restarted work on an O Gauge layout that has not seen anything done for nearly six years! The boards, tracklaying and electrics were done, but nothing else. As my layout making days are coming to an end, I really want to make this one as good as possible.

I used N gauge ballast first and then overlaid with fine sand around the track. This I hope shows a well trodden area with amounts of oil, compacted muck and general dirt and dust.

I have used Railmatch Sleeper Grime as a base then added matt black. Further colours will be added at a later date.

Below photos show my experiments so far!