Hill incline

 Construction of the hilly incline has begun. Roughly, it is just under 3%. The track is laid on 12mm ply and 5mm cork road bed. As in steam age, the incline is curved. The track is a mix of ROCO and PECO code 83. ROCO provided the main curves, as it is set track and maintains radius.

The hilly area was estimated with some plywood forms.

Insulation foam was then cut to size to make the hill contours. The foam is available from hardware stores. (Bunnings, in 30 and 50mm thickness).

When the foam was carved to shape, it was then covered in plaster bandage.

Two types of plaster bandage I used. The Mod-Wrap is from Office Works. It is a thinner cloth than the Mont Marte, and has more plaster. Both are cheaper than Woodland Scenic, even if the rolls are narrower.

Layout River scene

 The only segment of the old layout saved, was the river scene. It was extracted in one piece, and after having a short spell on the verandah, was positioned into the new railway room.

Since the above photo was taken, the scene has moved up or down a few times, deciding on its final positioning.

Once its position was determined, a connection was made to the station yard area. The green and blue foam is to tie in the terrain to the new boards. 

The Station yard area is prototypical inspired by St Arnaud on the Mildura line. The Y switch was incorporated to save space, though on St Arnaud yard plan, the Y is at the other end.

Adelaide show 2024

 Yes, that's right. Two years. Not that nothing has happened, just life, and much planning and learning new Technetics in modelling.

Firstly, SDS models and Junction models, had an extensive trader stall, which caused a few feathers to be ruffled. On display was their 700 class SAR coach, in green and cream. Now, going forward, the two other samples have disappeared. Lent out, they have now gone missing. With any luck, these will be available later in the year. Everything is ready to go, just the factory seems to be dragging their heals. Is it not funny, how the same factory managed to do a run of containers, quick smart, for another manufacturer. If nothing happens, SDS will move all the tooling to their main factory.

Unfortunately, the delays with the 700 class coaches, have delayed the production of the 500, 600 class carriages, the Long Ton, and the luggage van, all as illustrated on their future products brochure.

Also coming, after the Victoria T class and the DL, is the Victorian X class, ex Austrains, with enhanced new tooling. In this mix, SAR AD, BD, CD passenger were under consideration, but now on hold, as another manufacturer, (who are nearly ready to release the Overland Cars) are in the process of initial studies to produce these models.