@PaterPracticus

Revised diorama base is very much better, so I’m now printing the outer frame in a nice satin black PLA. Then I need to get some paints for my French soldiers. #JFFWWI

While all that 3D printing is happening, my crossing is now loose fitted into the baseboard with some temporary extension wires for the servos. I’ve also put some DuPont connectors on the wire for the IR Receiver stick to connect it to the headers on the Pico.

Revised cobbled street design now printing. The slightly smaller size has reduced the print time to 11 1/2 hours, with the outer frame taking just over 7. #JFFWWI

As usual, I’ve managed to distract myself from the main task in hand. I’m meant to be making my @pimoroni Tiny FX station announcement video, but I’m now wondering if I can use their IR remote to operate the Pico powered crossing gates. And I’ve still got a diorama to finish!

Generally pretty happy with that. Cobbles have printed very nicely, but the flagstones at sides of the road are too big as I thought. I’m also thinking I can trim it by 15-20mm to make the scene a lightly tighter. That’ll also reduce the print time for the next version. #JFFWWI

#JFFWWI diorama print finished about 11pm last night, so has had plenty of time to cool down.

10/14 hours and the cobbles are already looking good! #JFFWWI

Diorama 3D print is now 3 hours into its 14 hour marathon, so time to get on with the level crossing by cutting a square hole for it in the baseboard. Whatever did we do before the multi-tool?

Early start on the #JFFWWI diorama base print. Too big for resin printing on my Mars 4, I’m using the slow Ender 3 filament printer, which will take a while - to say the least.

While progressing with the 3D printed diorama, I just thought I’d try my bus and staff car out on the model railway for fun as it was out for works. #JFFWWI

Back on the railway, the layout extension plan is already getting more ambitious. I started with the idea of a simple length of track to run a train out of the station for filming, but now I’m thinking I could include the crossing I made for the servo-controlled gates.

Cobbled street CAD just about sorted. Something of an ordeal, but let's see how it prints. #JFFWWI

I couldn't find exactly what I wanted for a cobblestoned street, so I decided to make my own. #JFFWWI

Two very nice kits from Roden. Quite challenging with some very small and delicate parts, but definitely worth the effort. Next up a little diorama. #JFFWWI

Far from the neatest bit of carpentry ever, but my alignment dowels are now fitted for the extension to the old layout section. Just planning a length of straight track for behind the scenes shunting at the moment, but may take it further later on. #TMRGUK

Decals on, and the staff car is just about done. I think it would probably have been kept a little cleaner than the bus, but a layer of grime still seems appropriate.

Fitting the headlights has been an absolute nightmare, but fitted they are. #JFFWWI

Roden Type B Omnibus with some Airfix passengers boarding for the journey to the front line. #JFFWWI

Crew in place and steering wheel fitted. Just about ready for final assembly. #JFFWWI

Not at all in their intended position on the limber, my Royal Horse Artillery guys actually look completely at home in the Type B bus. #JFFWWI