Two days exhibiting in a row at two different venues. Firstly Saturday at the Sudbury MRC Exhibition and today at the the Stowmarket MRC, Swapmeet and mini Exhibition. It was a bit tiring but oh so enjoyable!
Photos taken over the two days.
John and Graham took my layout ‘Dark Lane’ to the Bury St Edmunds MRC 75 year anniversary Exhibition at the Cathedral today. I went over for three hours in the middle of the day, and what an Exhibition that was – probably the best Exhibition I have attended since the heyday of the Colchester Exhibitions many years ago.
Congratulations must go to all the Club members, especially their Exhibition Manager Chris Day on his last show before handing on to someone else.
Today was the first time Dark Lane had been run with its DCC Sound operated through a Mobile Phone – it ran faultlessly all day – thanks Graham for introducing us ‘to the modern way’
It has been tight, but the layout is now ready for its first Exhibition. The O Gauge shunting plank will attend the GOG Meet Up at Bury St Edmunds on Sunday (15/9).
My part in its development is now over after doing all the weathering of stock and buildings. I have also added an office building above the entrance and some barrels, pallets and loaded pallets.
I think Graham, the owner plans to add a portacabin or similar and some workers. That should pull it all together nicely.
This is an ex GWR pannier tank as produced by Dapol in O Gauge. It was a Light Green NCB variety that my friend Rob had changed the logo to BSC and re-numbered it. My only instruction was to do a heavy weathering with a bit of rust. Please bear in mind the original colour!!!!!
This is a model of a Ipswich Dock Shunter from the 1950’s. It is an old A1 Models Kit that was made by someone unknown. It has now been refurbished, repainted, sound fitted and weathered.
Well, the cement loading Silo is now weathered and below is photographed in roughly the right place on the layout. It is still missing one ladder and safety hoop, but this should be available soon.
I think that there are several things I would do differently in hindsight, mainly revisit the height of the backscene.
I now consider phase one is complete and it will be attending the two Exhibitions booked for this year, I really hope that there will be a phase two next year to put some of the wrongs right!
Today I have added two top coats on the Loading Silo, It is placed on the layout in the photos – but not in the right position. After a varnish, it will be weathered and the bottom part glued to the layout and blended. I will need to check that the highest wagon and loco will pass beneath the loader before gluing! – may even be able reduce the height slightly. We need to turn our attention to signage now and work out sizes and positions.
The 3D printed Cement Loading Silo has arrived, Graham used a resin machine to make this – so no marks on it. Will need to be cleaned, undercoated, painted and weathered. The bottom piece will be attached to the layout and blended, The top piece will go thro the same process, but will not be attached to the bottom as it will be to vulnerable, it will be transported in a box and clipped together for Exhibitions. The bottom will be light Grey – the top will be yellow. We may need to source some transfers. Interesting project as never done anything like this before.
Today the layout met some of its stock. We have a few minor amendments to do, but overall this was a very pleasing result. This is Grahams stock, I weathered most – but not all of these.
Just a quick update after doing a few small jobs. I have added a Point Lever, still to be weathered. There are now some weeds at the edges of the concrete plinth and buildings. Hopefully the next update will include some stock and hopefully the top loading silo.
