Over the last year I have not achieved as much modelling as I would have liked, life continually got in the way. My work life has been very time consuming since August and as a result modelling has firmly taken a back seat. One of the aims for the new year is really get modelling again and drive the new layout forward.
Anyway, the new O gauge layout has a name, Kimmington Quay, and of course is set in North Devon. There has been sporadic progress on the layout over the last few months, but it has been very stop start, a consequence of having to work far too many weekends. Anyhow, the layout is now all wired up. It has a control panel, built as an extension for the layout providing enough room for a diesel to run around its train. It is a compromise on space, but the thing with O gauge, is it is big! The control panel has a DCC Concepts Alpha Unit to operate the point motors via S lever point switches and Cobalt point motors. Whilst this is slightly more pricey than a standard point motor fired off a solenoid, the reduction in underboard wiring alone is worth the cost. Add in the satisfaction of using the point levers and in my book it is a winner.
The power to layout is supplied using a NCE Powercab, as per my OO gauge layouts. However, as I plan to have at least 2 sound chipped locomotives in O gauge, I used a Tam Valley Booster to up the available current to around 3 amps. This is now all wired up and working. The trackwork is all Peco FB Code 143, with electrofrog points, using Gaugemaster polarity switches. All the trackwork is now glued and pinned down. The curves are very tight for O gauge, but it all just about works. The Powerbus is the Express models kit, with 2 droppers soldered to every piece of rail.
So current tasks are to paint the track and then glue down the platform. At the same time I am going to start building the quay wall at the front of the layout using a combination of plaster bandage and DAS modelling clay. As for the layout buildings, the pub is 99% finished, I just need to add some guttering and finish this off and I have started building the harbour masters office for the front of the layout. There is a dairy located at the back of the layout, with the platform built and ready for painting, another job for the coming weeks. So plenty to do, but hopefully progress will be a bit swifter than it previously has been.
