Allegheny1600 Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 Hi Folks, I don't know why but I've never started such a thread before so here goes. Like many I'm sure, my workbench is pretty untidy at the best of times but every once in a while, I'll give it a clear out and start again from scratch. It's been a while since I last did this so I must be due for another clear out. I'm a self confessed butterfly so from week to week if not day to day, you can expect me to be working on something completely different as my interests, motivation and even health change. So here we go then; Recently I was given the task of building a colliery managers office in 4mm scale for Leigh MRS new colliery layout. I was given a small picture and told to get on with it! WP_20150914_00_42_04_Refocus by Allegheny1633, on Flickr The first thing I determined, was to create a sccale drawing (or at least as I could deduce) and this was what I came up with. Next, I needed some decent card stock so off to Hobbycraft for that. Then I was rough for a few days, I currently suffer from a badly diverted nasal passage that causes me bad sleep problems so some days, I lack any energy at all. Never mind, a hopefully restorative operation is due in a couple of weeks. Anyway, as you can tell from my drawing, this building has quite large, modern (1960's?) windows so I was contemplating how to make these when I found a series of etched brass windows on sale by Ambis Engineering http://www.ambisengineering.co.uk/ at EM North, last weekend. A quick skien through what was available and I found some MR station building frames that looked suitable. I should have waited to talk to Alan Austin as he was partly responsible for the "Eastwell" layout, an article upon which, in the May 1980 MRC, set me off on the 'finescale' path at the age of 15! Anyway, back to the current project, I chopped a pair of the MR widows about and they fitted my large window opening well, WP_20150914_00_00_59_Refocus by Allegheny1633, on Flickr They looked good together but I decided they needed to be soldered together to maintain strength rather than depend on any kind of tape to hold them in place. WP_20150914_00_22_03_Refocus by Allegheny1633, on Flickr A little bit of cleaning up and they look to match my drawing quite well. WP_20150914_00_26_01_Refocus by Allegheny1633, on Flickr Fortunately for me, the layout is not an absolute copy of anywhere in particular so "close" is good enough. Good job as I have no idea what the far side of the building looks like! Back shortly, John Edge. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allegheny1600 Posted September 14, 2015 Author Share Posted September 14, 2015 Okay! That seemed to work quite well so lets crack on. A bit more brass chopping showed me that my smaller windows didn't match so well, WP_20150914_01_23_43_Refocus by Allegheny1633, on Flickr So I simply made the opening larger for these. WP_20150914_01_48_14_Refocus by Allegheny1633, on Flickr I'm certainly no Alan Downes nor do I aspire to be, my modelling appears to be quite rough and ready. Having sorted half of the front windows, I felt like tackling the front door, which is set back into the building requiring me to split the front part of the building into effectivly three parts. I now chose the suitable etch, which was originally this one at left, WP_20150914_00_40_14_Refocus by Allegheny1633, on Flickr Note the strip of nickle silver that I've chopped down in foreground. This was soldered to the middle of an etch like so, WP_20150914_00_52_56_Refocus by Allegheny1633, on Flickr Cleaned up and chopped down a bit, WP_20150914_00_55_46_Refocus by Allegheny1633, on Flickr After I took this pic, I realised the bottom of the door etch also needs chopping off, else it will dig into the ground! Hope that all makes sense? Cheers, John. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Kazmierczak Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 Will follow this with interest John. Regards, Peter Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
emt_911 Posted September 17, 2015 Share Posted September 17, 2015 Another follower here John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartinWales Posted September 19, 2015 Share Posted September 19, 2015 With that P4 track you bought at EM North, I was expecting something different.......... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allegheny1600 Posted September 29, 2015 Author Share Posted September 29, 2015 While waiting on the colliery building to ‘mature’, I thought I’d describe another little project I worked on recently.This is a fairly early German electric locomotive of class ‘E91.9’. The prototypes were constructed in 1929, 12 were built to run at a top speed of 55Kmh (34Mph!) and they weighed over 116 tons. They had a 1 hour output of 3000Hp and a continuous rating of 2,230Hp with a tractive effort of 66,000Lb at starting.They were really considered as heavy goods train locomotives and part of the specification was to haul 1,200 tons at 35Kmh on a gradient of 1 in 1000, considering the date they were built, I think this are quite impressive statistics.What is also quite amazing is that they remained in service, performing heavy shunting duties until 1975.Imagine if you will, that we had built similar locos at that time? I suspect our closest equivalent would be the LMS ‘Garratt’.WP_20150929_18_56_37_Refocus by Allegheny1633, on FlickrNow to the model, this was made by Trix around 1997/98 as a “Gleichstrom” (DC analogue) model and I purchased it as new in 2006. At the time, I thought this was in "Bavarian" livery, indeed Bavaria was one of the principal operating areas for these machines but this model is painted as a DRG era 2 machine OR as currently preserved.I had a little roundy-roundy layout in a shed at that time and this was switch able between DC and DCC but when this layout was dismantled sometime later, I was then unable to run this fine model. This situation lasted for a while until after a good friend taught me how to use the Lok-Programmer then loaned it to me.Aha! Now I was looking for locos to ‘sound up’ and this loco sprang to mind, partly because I recalled it was only driven on one ‘bogie’ hopefully leaving plenty of room for a nice big speaker.First things first, remove the body and, oh dear! I wasn’t expecting such a mass of wiring and electrical components in such a ‘basic’ model!P1160944 by Allegheny1633, on FlickrSome stripping down and re-wiring later, we get a DCC ready loco. I firstly test my installation with a blanking plug fitted in place of a decoder and run on analogue again. If no faults show up, pop in a decoder and test on the programming track. If still no faults, then try on the ’main’ tracks but in this case, still with a plain (non sound) decoder. It’s just too expensive to contemplate ‘blowing’ a sound decoder.I did have to do a quick change over of the wiring for the headlights as I had got that backwards, other than that everything seems good to go for the sound installation.WP_20150723_23_45_02_Refocus by Allegheny1633, on FlickrWP_20150723_23_44_03_Refocus by Allegheny1633, on FlickrDecoder and speaker fitted;WP_20150820_23_37_01_Refocus by Allegheny1633, on FlickrOh dear! The end cab pieces will fit but not the centre section. That had to have it’s screw mounting removed. Not the easiest task as the whole body is metal. Typical Trix - Tonka Toy tough! Once the metalwork was dealt with, I had no real means of securing the centre section but for now, it rests quite happily in place. I just have to remember to pick it up by the cab sections or the chassis.WP_20150820_23_35_33_Refocus by Allegheny1633, on FlickrWhen eventually satisfied that I had done everything by the book so to speak, I gave her a quick run; WP_20150821_01_36_32_Refocus by Allegheny1633, on FlickrSlightly disconcerting as she actually sounded like a ‘black 5’! Never mind, a bash on the Lok Programmer and we’re away. I actually had to have two goes at this as on my initial attempt, I only got the motor noise loaded. My second attempt did load up all the compressors, horn and all the rest of the weird noises that make these early electric locos so fascinating.I had also taken the opportunity to re-grease the gears within the mechanism as again, being all metal, they are somewhat noisy. I didn’t want my effort of fitting sound to be wasted. As it happened I needn’t have worried, the noise from that big speaker is more than adequate, even so, the transmission is pretty smooth and quiet with the sound ‘off’.I was so pleased with myself over this project, I right away commenced on another Trix loco, a V200, German Warship, a much simpler proposition.Cheers, John E. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium New Haven Neil Posted September 29, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 29, 2015 Wow, that is carved from the solid! I have a taste for early electrics, having grown up next to the Harton electric railway system in South Shields. Interesting mechanism too - I bet it takes some current though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allegheny1600 Posted September 29, 2015 Author Share Posted September 29, 2015 Thanks Neil, Do you know? I never gave current draw any consideration whatsoever! Thankfully my check with an 'ordinary' decoder must have showed it not to be a problem. Something to consider in future though, thanks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted September 29, 2015 Share Posted September 29, 2015 It's basically Märklin, but for 2-rail. Note massive coarse flanges on the wheels. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MJI Posted September 30, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 30, 2015 Interesting thread. Leigh though, been there many times as we have a customer there. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allegheny1600 Posted September 30, 2015 Author Share Posted September 30, 2015 Thanks Martin! I actually live near Leigh so it's not so bad!!! I think it was a great town in it's day - when all the mines were still open, I'd have loved to have known it then but I'm a more recent immigrant from Derby! John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allegheny1600 Posted November 18, 2015 Author Share Posted November 18, 2015 Good grief! I can't believe it's some six weeks since I posted 'owt on 'ere! What have we here, then? WP_20151104_23_39_10_Refocus by Allegheny1633, on Flickr Bits of plastic! With an extra bit on one side! WP_20151105_00_25_40_Refocus by Allegheny1633, on Flickr They all need a couple of holes drilled into them. WP_20151105_00_13_21_Refocus by Allegheny1633, on Flickr Oh! Quite a few to do then (thirty actually). WP_20151113_23_56_20_Refocus by Allegheny1633, on Flickr Hopefully, you can see the gradient here. WP_20151113_23_56_02_Refocus by Allegheny1633, on Flickr Thats right! They're inclined catenary mast supports! Built for and installed on my mates H0 German layout called "Alte Rinkam", still quite a few to go, hopefully get them all done by Christmas! WP_20151113_23_55_32_Refocus by Allegheny1633, on Flickr Cheers, John E. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartinWales Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 Six weeks John ? AbsoIuteIy shocking! Anyone wouId think you've got a Iarge exhibition to arrange or something......... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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