This blog entry follows on from the previous one in continuing with the fitting of the platforms.

I had to etch them and paint the edges and create the slot where the underpass entry will be fitted later.

All the other station platform paraphernalia can be fitted later too.

Once the platform shape had been established I had to check for smooth running of pretty much all my stock with the tightest fit possible. I had got pretty close but my Kriegslok seemed to catch more than others and had to go back to shave a bit more off the edges. Still working on this as I'm trying it out with all my stock to ensure smooth running.

The bright light from the railway room seems to have overlit the platforms so they look a bit washed out. I’ll have to figure out how to make adjustments for that but you’ll get the general idea.

Having photographed it I can see several areas which will need tidied up. There are a lot of frayed bits along the edges which need sanded and repainted. A couple of bits need their curves smoothed.

I also fixed up the light that wasn’t working on one of the signals. The signals are fine but costly. I’d calculated that it was going to cost me thousands to populate the layout with all the appropriate signals as I’ll also need point decoders to go with them. I’ve also thought that some electrification would be appropriate too and will install catenary on the two main lines. For these reasons I’ve decided to start another layout which is going to be more labour intensive than cost intensive. I’ve already bought the wood and ordered the track material. I already have the backdrops so can make a start soon while I’m building up funds to pay for all the station equipment and signals.

From here I’ll have to patch up the track as it seems to have got bashed around a bit with all the other things going on. With the Tillig track there is a great shortage of sleepers so I need to go and fill in the gaps and straighten up the sleepers I've been bashing around. Also I need to add fishplates. Once that’s done I can probably start to ballast some parts. Here's some pictures with the locos now to conclude.