Degreased

Here's a shot of the LBT and LAT degreased and drying before primer is applied. Mods done to the buffer beams to take the couplings too. The other stuff is the latest batch of 009 carrs.

Locomotives

I've been steadily working away to get my 3 locos working, painted and fitted with couplers.  Last night 6 couplers were made up from the microtrains (N gauge kadees effectively) range.  Getting the little springs in was a trial, but it's done!  Alterations to the buffer beams were also made to allow the couplers to be sited at the correct height.  Finally filler was applied to smooth out some of the joins between parts.  The spray booth in my garage was also set up ready.

The O+K is already painted and thus just requires the addition of the couplers and plates - I have in stock some plates which I inherited from the late Dr Ben Fisher, so I will use these - number 314 with a black background. 

The plan is to paint the LBT in dark green (most came in this stock colour from the works) and to name it 'Little Giant' using some 4mm scale plates I have in stock that came from worsley works (red background).  Something like the below:

http://media.photobucket.com/image/ruston%20LBT/More_Cats_Than_Sense/O9%2520Ruston%2520LBT/th_100_4339.jpg

The LAT will be painted in two tone blue with red buffer beams as in this shot below and will be named CLAIRE on a dark blue background (which is my wife's name and I have had these plates in stock waiting for a project for approx 7 years!):

http://images0.hiboox.com/images/2407/i0usivn6.jpg

Plan is to have them ready for expoNG as they might get a chance to run on a friend's boxfile layout.

Line up

Tonight I mostly completed my Ruston LAT (note the different buffer beam) and so here is the final line-up!

Gradient installed

Woodland scenics 4% incline installed.

Testing

Work is progressing slowly:

- The 3mm 14.2mm RTR track has been attached alongside my 009 test track and all 3 chassis tested.

- The Ruston LAT chassis is complete and I have cleaned up the castings

- I have ordered the 4% woodland scenics incline which has been hard to find!

Awoken with sleeping

Now that the first set of turnout components are here, I have started preparation by glueing down all the sleepers I can. The turnout sleepers themselves are a bit special.

Pointing the way

I’ve now received one set of turnout wonderment from Stephen at www.borg-rail.co.uk

This is a common crossing and a set of blades for a left hand turnout and will allow me to construct the first point on the layout and consider whether I can do the others myself.