It's Official.  I'm going to sell my layout on ebay.

Before I do that, I have to tidy it up a bit.  The first job is to complete the landfill around the town buildings.

Here is what they look like; just sitting on the boards.




Now, I cut the wires underneath and remove the buildings.




The base boards were laminated up using layers of 3 mm MDF.  The nearest side of the top road ended up with a kerb where there shouldn't have been one.




So I've begun to fair it off with Gyprock flushing compound.  It works easily with a scraper and it sands quickly.

Now to let it dry.

This has come out of the blue hasn't it Max. Or have I missed something.

I guess so, Bob.  I'm probably having a delayed mid-life crisis.  :???:

At least I'm focused on something - it should get my juices flowing again.

Is this a new variation of the " Axe " disease Max.

Do you need to see a doctor ?

What surprise do you have in store for us eh ?

Maybe a " G " layout for the big diesel.

OMG.  Have you stopped taking the pills Max ?

In the words of a one-time tennis player - You cannot be serious !!!!  It's a great layout and one I know reasonably well through watching your sound demos.  Are you sure you wouldn't like to sleep on it before you do any more harm ?

If you have a bad night, what's the postage to France ?…………………….:roll::roll::roll:

I think I have had modellers' block for a while now, John.  It's motivated me to get on and complete the thing.  Maybe I'll be over it by the time I get it done.  I've been to the doctor for my annual (and anal), checkup and it looks like I'll be around for a while, so no excuses there.

Thanks for the kind words, Peter.  There are other modelling enterprises I'd like to have a go at, but room is the limiting factor.  Rather than just tear it down, it would be nice to think that it's still running somewhere - and some shekels wouldn't go astray.

Blimey.

Will it all be re-connected and re-built for sale, Max?
Sad to see it go.

Have you made the welders redundant? That was true inspiration.

Thanks, Pete.  Once the land has been levelled, the buildings will be reconnected to the power one by one - including the welder. 

Then the groundworks will be filled in, fences erected, driveways etc.  It should look very appealing.

I'm sure it will.
Hopefully too appealing to get rid of it!

Well, well. Interesting times!  Once I had built up the levels with landfill, I got out my trusty double rotary sander (which has the dust collector), and sanded it all down.  The dust collector didn't collect all of the dust, but undaunted, I got out the vacuum cleaner.

Well, the vacuum cleaner didn't get all of the dust which had settled on the trees, buildings, et al., so as the garage is next door I ran a hose in from my air compressor to blow the layout once over.  It also blew all of the rolling stock over, it blew the little people off the layout, etc., etc.  Now all of the detritis, dust and other fragments are all over my desks, computers - you name it.  BUT the layout looks GREAT.  :cool:

When I made the buildings, I used rainbow wire but I wasn't disciplined as to which colours I chose.  So before I can put them back, I've had to solder new tails on to each cable - black, red and orange - so when I get back underneath I can connect them correctly.

Anyway, here's the first building sitting in place.




Only 13 to go . . . :shock:

Will it & the room be ready for a layout visit tomorrow by all of the Wright Tribe?

Yep.  Nearly finished cleaning up.  :cool:

I learnt long ago that, tempting as it may be, compressors are not good for cleaning anything less delicate than an air-raid shelter ……………

Just think Max, it's like starting a new layout. thumbs:thumbs

NOW he tells me . . .

Where do you get you bylines from ?  Very clever. thumbs

I'm the only one in the band whose instrument doesn't go out of tune.  I have to do something while the others are tuning, so I've started collecting short quips.  People also send them to me.  Time for a new one, methinks.

"I'm the only one in the band whose instrument doesn't go out of tune."

Is that the new one, Max?

Hmm.  It's a contender, Pete.  

OK.  Where was I?  Oh, yes.  I'm not sure what to call this next bit.  It's like a stencil or a template.  The buildings sit into the spaces.  The raised area is the footpath and the landfill areas around and between the buildings.




The holes have been drilled for the cable access and the screws which fix the buildings down.




. . . and here's the other side.  A bit more filling and sanding and it will be ready for painting.

That looks excellent Max :thumbs  Not only does it "site" the buildings in their correct positions, it also hides the ground/building joint.  I'm pretty sure John Ahern used that system with his buildings.

What is the building base made out of ?  I'm wondering about how you screw them down ………..:roll: