Yes - there was a problem only apparent after it was uploaded, my apologies for this. I might try to rectify it but its had over 700 views which i will lose if i have to delete it and upload it again.

@@colcester That you'll gain again

@@MPbmfm im not a big channel, so over 700 hits on a video is a big thing. Do i want to risk losing that? Of course i could simply leave this one on there, and also upload a new improved version as well, then i wont lose the views and it might be interesting to see if the new one can match it. I might even extend with some new content...

Really sorry about the sound on that section, it was fine prior to the upload and i`m still stumped to what went wrong. When I get time i will try to sort that out, but i will lose the views it has already gained if i have to upload it again.

Professor Rimshard-Weet is often burdened with an excess amount of alcohol inside his person...

Sorry, I do not have these measurements. The masts were laser cut kits and the cantilever arms are by Dapol so these were items that were already set measurements. For the masts I created I did not keep any notes of the measurements as you can hear me say in the video, the gauging of the arms and length of mast was by eye and depended a lot on the track configuration where it was being placed.

Great minds must think alike then Dave, when I originally started on this shed layout because I wanted to use Sundeala boards I knew they were modular in design so the boards were done in a way that areas like the Depot, the main station and storage yard are all able to be removed as a whole section. Insulation in the shed wasn't the problem and the temperatures didn't directly effect the shed inside, what happened was the shed settled after being in its position for about 3yrs, the movement seems to of caused the internal frame of the boards to move just enough to open up some gaps and make the Sundeala drop in a couple of areas, thus effectively altering track levels around the layout... and you know how fussy DCC can be about interrupted power supply...!! I could actually fix it by going under the boards and adding additional strength to the framework all over, but the opportunity to revise the track plan rather than the odd bit here and there was too good to miss, plus the new plan will require a start on the garden section too, something which I've kind of been putting off - but the new plan requires some use of the outdoor section as an extended loop to hide a couple of trains on (weather permitting) to then run the layout at its maximum. When not in use the storage yard will suffice. I think it will be hard tearing up stuff, but the new plan is based alot on the existing one, so elements like the Furman Smithy village board will slot back in again, and other items like the Depot, Furman Smithy Station, Colcester Lower Crossing and even the International Station itself will move or be altered just a bit to fit in.

Yep, one disastrous planned running session in September 2020 showed me that my original track work was far from ideal and that drastic changes were required to make it run properly. It put me off so much that it's taken since then until now for me to even go back up the shed again, it really pissed me off.. I was about midway through my chemotherapy treatment and just starting to feel like things were getting better and then the layout fails to work and deliver the planned running session I wanted to do. The new plan will be alot more streamlined, longer radius points, crossovers and double slips to save some space. Once we restart track laying, the outdoor section will commence too, I've been putting that off for far too long..!

Thanks Clive, Happy New year to you as well. Thank you for following COLCESTER INTERNATIONAL, much planned for 2021... so keep watching!!

Thank you! I was hoping to bring brand new footage rather than a look-back over 2019 and 2020, but recent health issues prevented this. I'm just glad people have enjoyed it...

I used to work for National Express here in the UK which is why ive collected alot of their coaches over a 14yr period. The layout was planned with an integral road network too so i could add these vehicles to it... there is one which has sneaked in though, it is the green one on the bridge if you ever see it in a video, its actually a Southern Vectis bus from the Isle of Wight and im guessing the driver has got lost..lol!! Thank you for joining my channel - the layout has taken a very big back seat since June when i became ill, but it will be back with a slight redesign.

Hi there, thanks for the sub... It will be a rebuild of sorts, new baseboards going in and rectifying some issues with the framework, but the basic plan will remain in place because one item, the Furman Smithy village board, has already been built and dictate where certain scenic areas need to go on the main layout. There will be some repositioning of some areas and improved track work too, but essentially the same Colcester International will emerge from the ashes...!

Hi there, thank you for subbing to the channel..!! There are some major changes planned for Colcester which will be documented on here although im not the most prolific of filmakers, do bear with on this...

Thank you - yes, it was a hard decision to make but i agree, i dont think there is any other way forward to rectify the issues. It will be a chance to set into practise a few things i missed out doing first time too which i regretted afterwards, so a restart is probably a good thing before the present boards get fully scenic...

Yes, the present layout is having serious problems which can only be resolved by a complete rebuild.

its called "HOLA - Part 3" from the album of the same name by artist Dario G

@@colcester Thank you! Thought it sounded a bit Chicane (ish) :)

@@C-MAGs i have used Chicane in other films on my Model Railway layout, in particular his recent remix of No Ordinary Morning ft. Thrillseekers which i think is brilliant...

@@C-MAGs HOLA by the late Dario G

Cheers, yes 2020 hasn't been very kind to me and my health but I wont stop me getting back to my hobby and layout eventually... The signs are by Matthew Hobbs, i believe he is on Ebay and not only does customised signs but also commissioning too, thats how I ended up with the road signs - prices start from £4 and once you get the PDF you can print as many copies as you want. I would certainly recommend him.

Its a great layout so looking forward to more updates and I will check matthew Hobbs out....Cheers Kev

Thank you, it isn't much really - I've not been on the layout for a while due to illness, but I just wanted to get something up on film to say I'm still here and there will be a longer film shortly as I have about 6 locomotives to run which have all been recently chipped...

Thank you, yes the signage is great, a guy called Matthew Hobbs designed them, i believe he is on ebay but he can be contacted for commissioning more unique work like the road signs. The road ones were £5 and once you have them you can make as many copies as you can.

Yes, been through the wars a bit, but gearing up to get back on the layout soon..

Cheers Kev!! I'm very pleased with the viaduct road junction, its come together well but is far from finished. Shame I couldn't show the Class 43 running, its playing up despite being cleaned and chipped so still needs a bit more done to it. The running session was done specifically at a slower pace and I think it looked better for that.

The Class 43 was a £80 Ebay bargain but just needed an overhaul (many thanks to to my mate Steve Fuller at Colne Valley Railway layout for that..!), a chip fitted and once they arrived, some new traction tyres too. Hoping to give her a test run soon...

Thank you Adam, yes the 43 is great but it needs some traction tyres fitted. Once done it's now chipped and will be ready to join the fleet. Lots more coming up too with the scenery side of the layout, but if you want to see how it's got to where it is now, check out the other films on the channel as well...👍

Thanks Kev, the whole Village board is nearly ready to join the layout, I just have to prepare the area first where its going in. I try to get my roads looking semi-decent and all the markings are hand drawn. I think roads on layouts are often either an afterthought or just not planned very well, on Colcester they were an integral part of the plan from the beginning.

Yep, you definitely need a post office eh?? 😁 All of Tudor Row was purchased 2and hand from a local model railway show last year. I love to recycle things if possible.

Thank you Kev... That film was over a year old, some things have progressed but others have still yet to be done, the main casualty has been the garden extension as storm damage at the start of 2020 has meant funds were diverted elsewhere to fix this. I am looking to still make a start on it this year if possible, but the lockdown hasn't made it easy getting supplies.

Thanks Darrell - sorry for the late reply, but i have not been well since June and i`m afraid the layout has taken a bit of a back seat. It will be back but its going to go through a redesign from baseboard upwards, a hard decision to take but the present layout has some issues that need sorting so before i go too much further i think it would be best to sort them out.

Cheers mate! If its inspiration you need then look for further than Colcester International, as I have a Test Run Running Session coming up too...!!

Thank you! Yes, will be nice to get the trains running again, but these alterations need to be done. I have subbed to your channel too and will take a look at your films when I have some spare time as I'm still working during the lockdown...

Yep, you stay safe too Clive... As you have seen, I have many scratchbuilt masts on the layout and a track geometry which isnt really designed for commercially available contact wire - hence the cotton thread test..! I might set up a jig to do custom made bespoke wires for respective parts of the layout.

hi mate i also scratch build ohle from the old Hornby 2 tracks masts/old jv masts/ depot masts /ks very fine piano wire but i am have troutle finding piano wire for makeing the catenary wire sincebmy local model shop cloed 4 years a go i have experimented withks every fine piano wire and depot masts on my display track and works and likes well especially when you put in the dropper wires in what wire do you use for the catenary wire mate? stay safe and well clive

When we first started putting masts on the board the idea was to use Dapol wires, but these are far too fragile and dont have sufficient tension in them, so I got some Peco wires and adapted them to attach to Dapol masts. However there was a further issue in that the track geometry of Colcester doesn't work well with commercially produced wires so I thought about using cotton thread, but as can be seen in the film I dont feel this was as successful as I had hoped it would be so I might go back to commercial Peco wires and adapt them further to fit the Colcester track layout.

COLCESTER INTERNATIONAL OO Gauge Model Railway hi mate some years I tried linen thread it worked well for a while over time the thread became slacks so I wend back to piano wire I used to work in a linen tried mill for 25 years untill it closed 23 years but sensel I rebuild the layout i have not put the wires up again I have put the masts in but no wires at the minti Clive

@@clivecobbold6815, the other issue - using Dapol mast register arms which are plastic means I cannot solder wire to them, so clipping wire lengths to the arms may be the only way.

Running Sessions might be on hold for a little bit whilst I sort out the junction (it's been problematic from the start) but I hope to be up and running soon...

The terraces are by Metcalfe and are card.

Wow, thank you Mark... I think you did a pretty good job with remembering those layout names - I would add New Junction, Cottesmore and Luciton St James to that list too. COLCESTER INTERNATIONAL board dimensions are 12ft by 8ft, there is a hell of a lot packed into this space to allow for two upper level running loops and one low level one. The upper level will also be getting an extended loop into the garden at some point this year. My Class 350 units generally behave with few issues however it was my fault not sending the track Cleaning wagon around beforehand which caused the problem. I'm so pleased to be an inspiration along with the other more esteemed companions you mentioned and I hope you carry on with your own layout, maybe start a channel or something, so we can sub to you and follow your progress too. Thank you for watching COLCESTER INTERNATIONAL today...!!