Shunting towards Spring

Following the terrible van attack witnessed in last month’s instalment, I am pleased to inform you that the cyclists have survived and are in good health.

A kink in the road at the top of the hill has been removed – involving removing the top surface, altering the clear plastic underneath so the join was not at such a key point then relaying a new upper layer. It’s not quite perfect – they do occasionally lose contact at the brow of the hill – a ripple in the road meaning I may need to add extra support to hold the lower layer to the sub-base. All the Sweeney cars have been prepped (needing 1 mm hole drilled by the front axle and a slider with magnets super-glued prepared to drive them along. Once I have cardboard boxes, then you’ll see them in action.

Big news – well the beer has arrived!

Sweaty Dave, Going Postal
© Sweaty Dave, Going Postal 2018

I’m sure Old Hooky bottles are getting smaller..

Sweaty Dave, Going Postal
© Sweaty Dave, Going Postal 2018

I’ve finally started on some scenic elements, first was a pair of terraced houses. They just fit in the loop on at the top, though the vehicles need to mount the kerb to get round – perfect for the Sweeney but not so ideal for the rest.

Sweaty Dave, Going Postal
© Sweaty Dave, Going Postal 2018l

The front pavement is currently 1 mm thick card so can knock the moving vehicles off track, so I’ll replace that with a paper alternative and glue it all down.

Sweaty Dave, Going Postal
© Sweaty Dave, Going Postal 2018

The police van now has its blue light flashing. Not an easy task as the space inside is cramped, with the LED requiring a 12v battery and switch. After kind advice from subscribers of Going Postal, a small enough switch was found. The battery and holder were too large to fit, but removing the seats, blacking out the windows and  soldering wires direct to the battery gave the savings needed. The light is so tiny, that little of the light projects through, it’d be more effective on a more modern car with a full light bar.

Sweaty Dave, Going Postal
© Sweaty Dave, Going Postal 2018
Sweaty Dave, Going Postal
© Sweaty Dave, Going Postal 2018

The next big job is to start plastering, to remove all the straight edges and flat surfaces in the ground at track level – smoothing off so ballast and paint can give an undulating surface.  It will make it look a right mess for the next few weeks but needs doing.

Further purchases are necessary, I’ve ordered two billboards and need to investigate brewery items, including horse and cart. I have a few beer cans to litter the place up once the landscaping starts, they’re tiny – it’s not aiming for bucolic idyll, more gritty Play-for-Today realism.

Sweaty Dave, Going Postal
© Sweaty Dave, Going Postal 2018
Sweaty Dave, Going Postal
© Sweaty Dave, Going Postal 2018

Electrical changes – I’ve added in isolation switch for the accessories such as the crossing, so they’re not permanently on.  Next one to add is a welding light that pulses and flashes as a welding torch would do. That needs a trip to the shop to get a few characters. Our local model shop has closed, so trips to the next one are more difficult to organise – the only free time I usually have to visit is on Saturday afternoons if there is nothing else going on and these days what’s the chances of that?!
 

© Sweaty Dave 2018