@Stuart Down Under I'm assuming I was asked to order the item owing to the company concerned not shipping to Oz.
In which case I had to pay the VAT and pass that cost on, so no saving sadly

@Bealman managed a transfer using Western Union. It cost him £5.29 (10 Aus $)*
Maybe he could tell us all what info was needed to do this.

* No idea if this is a flat fee or is a percentage of the amount transferred

I'm sorry, but I will never, ever get excited about ballasting track 

But your job is certainly inspirational.

This is my first proper layout, and I'm just trying to put into practice what I've seen and learnt from so many people. I had done a bit of ballasting before and not done a good job, but Steve Wright of James Street fame told me how he does it. I adapted his methods by using a Peedie models ballasting aid, which sped up plain track stuff well, and also a Railway Modeller tip to put masking tape along the outer edges to define the ballast line. I followed Steve's advice by putting tiny amounts into points until it was right, while he also suggested using a piece of foam (mine came from the Peco loco maintenance aid) to tamp and move ballast around. The best piece of advice though was to do however much you were happy with in a session, then stop. Go back the next day and tweak any areas you don't like, and only then start to glue it down.

Thanks for all the kind comments, I'll keep on going then!

Dave

Quote from: Newportnobby on August 27, 2026, 09:15:11 AMI guess 12 days transit is not bad. It's just the infuriating inability to get tracking details that's the problem.

12 days is bang on average transit time UK-Oz, as I mentioned earlier. The joy for me is that models cost 20% less here because we "avoid" VAT, and that more than covers the cost of postage.
 

that ballasting is so good.
It's your railway, so do it, as you will be the one regretting it later.

Wot they all said.

Can't overdo stuff like this. It's not for anyone else, it's for you!

Quote from: Southerngooner on August 27, 2026, 02:08:19 PMHi

I'm doing some wiring on my layout and while it is on it's side the tiny "Limited Clearance" signs that I'd made and put on all faces of these bridges became clearly visible. I like to try and put in detail that you see on the real thing, but what do people think? Is this going a bit too far....?

url=https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=161672][/u

Dave

I would say you have well and truly traveled miles away from train sets, to real life modeling, just love viewing the images of the amazing work you have done Dave.

P.S Any more gadgets, or work holding devices you need, you know where to come.

Quote from: Southerngooner on August 27, 2026, 02:08:19 PMI'm doing some wiring on my layout and while it is on it's side the tiny "Limited Clearance" signs that I'd made and put on all faces of these bridges became clearly visible. I like to try and put in detail that you see on the real thing, but what do people think? Is this going a bit too far....?

Definitely not!  See Limited Clearance signs on Ferryhill's goods shed.

Ian