Llantisilliant

[Coffinhammer]

Welcome to my first attempt at modelling since my childhood, something I hope will be a steep learning curve but also a very worthwhile start to a larger idea. Due to space constraints at home the idea of having a huge layout running scale length freights was never going to fly, so I had always wanted to build a small stabling point/depot layout based in South Wales, reminding me of growing up in Newport and spending weekends 'exploring' stabling points such as Severn Tunnel Junction, Barry, Godfrey Road and Radyr. I always had memories of rows of filthy, grimy and abused Class 37s all ticking over and this is something that I wanted to replicate.

 

My lack of overall knowledge, and confidence, with modelling also prevented me from starting something. However, the opportunity to purchase something came around earlier this year when a splendid chap called Ian ('Crisis Rail' of this parish) decided to sell a diarama known as 'Caerbannog' via a well known auction site. It fitted all details I wanted, was DCC and would be something that I could add to, and expand, as I gained confidence in my abilities. By this time I had also moved into a larger house giving me much more space to play with but, more importantly, bringing me closer to a good friend of mine (also called Ian) who is a very proficient and prolific modeller - check out his layout 'Elvinley', which can be found in RMweb - and was willing to guide me. You can also find the original thread for 'Caerbannog' here - http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/123527-caerbannog/&do=findComment&comment=3153930

 

 

This is how the layout looked after picking it up.

 

So, Llantisilliant was now a reality. I decided not to stick with the 'Caerbannog' name as, although I am a big Monty Python fan, it didn't sit well with the geographical location for its new incarnation. However, in a continued nod to legendary comedy, Llantisilliant itself is taken from the late, great Ronnie Barker and his Plantagenet Evans character who lived in the imaginary village of this name. It just sounded more in keeping with South Wales.

 

Next up was looking at rolling stock. Class 37s are ingrained in the fabric of South Wales railways so they are earmarked to be the most populous of motive power on show along with a couple of Class 08s, a 56 and 47. Anything else will be seen as a bonus however, giving the time it will take to build up (and detail) the fleet, work on the layout itself has started in earnest. Firstly, the warehouse relief was removed as I didn't think it sat well with the background overall but the low relief warehousing was crying out for weathering. To add a bit more depth I decided to add exposed and weathered RSJs to the roof structure to make it look as though the warehouse was being demolished. I used plastic RSJs by Bachmann, cut down and weathered in burnt sienna and black that were then super glued beneath the roof structure. The vents were weathered and rust added in patches. 

 

 

Additional plant life and foliage has also been added as well as a couple of weathered wagons. One, an old GWR/BR Toad brake van, is being used as the signing on/rest room for loco crew (similarly to the vanfit used at Pantyffynon). It was weathered by my mate, Ian. He has also weathered an old TTA fuel tanker that will be used for replenishing the refuelling point, although it needs new couplings added to allow shunting on and off. 

 

 

Some elements of graffiti have also been included.

 

 

The electrics were checked using one of Ian's ER Class 37s from his current OO Gauge layout 'Hollow Hills'. Although not a 'Welsh Deltic', a class 37 lends itself to the layout very well.

 

 

Wrong region and wrong era but looks good. D6707 ticks over on the fuelling point.

 

Next up is to carry on building the fleet and doing bits and pieces to the surrounds and acquiring a bit more C & L Finescale track. The first big job will be to build a sector plate before looking at future plans.

Edited June 24, 2018 by Coffinhammer

[luke the train spotter]

This sounds like a great project. Diesel depots are a great start into modelling and can easily and prototypically be expanded to fit a certain space. Dcc sound can also be used to great effect on these small layouts. Its a great modelling topic (I've been tempted by it numerous times) and it looks really good so far. I look forward to seeing this layout develop and expand.

[Guest ShildonShunter]

Will be watching to see how this develops sounds really good so far.

[Coffinhammer]

Thanks for the comments and the likes. Much appreciated and has given my confidence a bit of a boost!

 

Today, I took delivery of the first loco for the layout. Trying to find a Class 37 in BR Blue with the buffer vallances and domino headcode is like trying to find the perverbial needle! However, I managed to find this.....Bachmann's, DCC Ready, 37238 in BR Blue with vallances and domino headcode.

 

 

37238 arrives at Llantisilliant after working in from Severn Tunnel Junction. 

 

37238 heads for the fuelling and sanding point.

 

Taking a well earned breather.

 

 

Sadly, 37238 was based at Thornaby in 1984/85 so the loco will be renumbered to 37270, which was based at Cardiff Canton during that period. The loco will be weathered/detailed prior to a decoder being fitted. I am a big fan of Legomanbiffo's Class 37 decoder so am erring towards purchasing one of those. But that will have to wait a while!  

Edited July 2, 2018 by Coffinhammer

[andyram]

This looks like a promising project - I look forward to seeing further progress.

[Coffinhammer]

A couple of weeks have passed and things certainly haven't been idle. As well as taking delivery of 37238, I also purchased another Class 37 (a later Bachmann version) that was DCC Fitted and had partially been renumbered by its previous owner as well as a slightly damaged Hornby Class 08 that was DCC Ready.

 

Another purchase also saw me take delivery of a Bachmann EZ Command Dynamis console, second hand. This allowed everything to be tested on my own rails. My mate, Ian, had given me a couple of 8 Pin blanking cards for the 08 and the DCC Ready 37. The handset was in need of a bit of a clean and a little soldering but allowed for things to be tested....it was starting to look like a proper project! Although, as things grow, I may need to look at buying another handset as some of the function buttons remain a little temperamental. 

 

 

A proper Welsh scene.....a Class 37 EBV.

 

 

Although both locos await renumbering, this could be a typical Welsh 1980's scene.

 

I had already decided to renumber 37238 to 37270. With the next arrivals I had decided that the later Bachmann 37 would become 37306 and the 08 would become 08322. I am lucky that one of my colleagues at the GWSR has a website that showcases photographs across the Class 37 fleet as well as other notable South Wales classes and, he had agreed for me to use it for reference, making it easy to get good quality photos of all locomotives I wish to show. Armed with this reference material, I ordered transfers from Railtec and Fox and set about, initially, renumbering all three locos. I wasn't particularly confident over doing this and, looking back on my efforts, I was quite pleased that I managed it without breaking anything! 

 

 

37254 becomes 37306

 

 

08402 becomes 08322

 

 

37238 becomes 37270, complete with body side Welsh Dragon

 

A Hornby TTS Decoder has also been ordered for 37270. Once this is fitted I will start to weather all three locos. 08322 is in need of a small repair to its cab roof and replacement of three sets of steps, 37306 needs buffer beam detailing. then it will be time to test my weathering skills!

Edited July 15, 2018 by Coffinhammer

[Crisis Rail]

All good Gareth - images coming across really good  -   How about the Welsh 37 -  427 Bony y Bermo? really like the unofficial Dragons.

 

Did you get to the ELR Diesel?

 

Ian

Edited July 30, 2018 by Crisis Rail

[Coffinhammer]

All good Gareth - images coming across really good  -   How about the Welsh 37 -  427 Bony y Bermo? really like the unofficial Dragons.

 

Did you get to the ELR Diesel?

 

Ian

 

Hi Ian,

 

I hope you are well? Thanks for the feedback. Its had to take a bit of a back seat for the last couple of weeks.

 

I had thought about one of the 37/4s, but it is a bit late for the era I am modelling. 37427 was employed on caol traffic for a while but didn't hit Cardiff Canton until 1987. However, there are couple more 37s that had the Welsh Dragon and/or Selwyn the Sheep on the cabsides that I am looking at modelling. 37180 'Sir Dyfed/County of Dyfed' is a definite! But, first, I have to get my head around building a set of PHD Etched Class 08 steps! 

 

Sadly, I didn't make it to the ELR. Had a bit of car trouble which curtailed me being able to go.   Spent the Saturday in the garage instead! How did it go? I did get to sample one ELR based loco this weekend.....we had D832 'Onslaught' for our Gala at the GWR. It is some machine!!

 

Gareth

[Coffinhammer]

Another couple of weeks passed and I finally plucked up the courage to have a go at my first spot of loco weathering. I decided that 08322 would be my guinea pig, first I had to fit the brass steps I had bought from PHD. Pretty fiddly but they work a treat and look pretty good when painted up. Many thanks, again, to my mate, Ian for the assistance. 

 

 

Brass steps from PH Designs prior to painting. Very fiddly but spot on as replacement steps. The hole in the roof was also patched over and repainted using a rogue piece of brass!

 

So, onto weathering. I had never weathered a loco. I had done an old Airfix Tiger Tank when I was a kid...but that was LONG time ago! So with a little trepidation I started it. Beginning with the roof I sprayed a light coat of Humbrol Acrylic Varnish over the roof, left it for a minute, then added the weathering using Tamiya Powders. All Class 08's always ended up with a lot of heavy, dark weathering across the roof however, from photos, 08322 was always a little lighter than others. 

 

My drum throne makes an amazing modelling table!

 

 

I then repeated the process with each side and the nose ends blanking off below the running board with a piece of card so as not to get any varnish on the running gear. 

 

 

 

I purposefully left one side slightly less weathered than the other. I always seem to remember that 08's would always be dirtier on one side!

 

After completing I gave it another light coating of Varnish. As a comparison, I then headed over to Ian's to see how it stood up against his Bachmann Class 08 on his 'Hollow Hills' layout. 

 

 

 

08322 compared to Ian's Bachmann 08762 on his 'Hollow Hills' layout. 

 

Whilst there I took the opportunity to get a couple of other photos of 322 on Ian's fantastic layout. You can see 'Hollow Hills' in October 2017's edition of Railway Modeller. 

 

 

08322 sits outside the shed on its visit to Hollow HIlls TMD.

 

 

08322 heads onto the turntable before heading back off shed and returning to Llantisilliant.

 

After my family holiday I should be making a start on the sector plate design and making a more rigid scenic board, as well as weather my two Class 37s. I have a couple of ideas for the sector plate transition floating around in my head, the current front runner is using the idea of a footbridge, akin to the one that used to stand at Severn Tunnel Junction that stretched across the yards - another piece of well known railway architecture now consigned to history.

Edited August 8, 2018 by Coffinhammer

[Guest Saltburn]

It's great to see a layout modelled around diesel depots great work on the layout and on weathering your diesel loco..

[Coffinhammer]

I think an update is long overdue. Family holiday and end of the academic year have conspired to take up a lot of my time! 

 

However, the layout hasn't suffered from neglect. Quite the opposite! Plans have been made for a little extension that, for the time being, will include a small scenic break leading into the fiddle yard. Various ideas had been banded about and the favourite/easiest would seem to be to have a footbridge across the layout with the fiddle yard screened off behind. This idea came from the very iconic footbridge at Severn Tunnel Junction that spanned the whole site that vanished into history when the yards closed and the M4 was re-routed. A square baseboard (2' by 2') has been built by a good friend, Mike, using a sheet of MDF with a basic frame. This will be attached and locked in place. Just have to wait for my C & L order to arrive to start marking everything out.

 

On the loco front, after the relative success of weathering 08322, I turned my attention to 37306. The photos I used as a template were taken in 1985 and showed the locomotive in a reasonably clean state. Therefore light weathering was applied, again using a light spray of Acrylic Varnish before using Tamiya Weathering Powders.

 

 

37306 post weathering.

 

37270 was next up. From the pictures I had used this loco had always been in a very 'well used' condition and, particularly those from the mid 1980's, showed it to be in need of a good clean. This was attempted using the same methods. As '270 is an earlier Bachmann model, the BR Blue is darker than on the current model. This seems to make the body side look even more filthy!

 

 

37270 post weathering. I was very pleased with this, especially as it was just my 3rd attempt.

 

In between the weathering I had bought a ViTrains Class 37, 37131. One of the locos I was desperate to have was Landore's 'celebrity' 37180 'Sir Dyfed/County of Dyfed'. I had chosen the ViTrains model for this loco as it is more accurate for the loco number than all the Bachmann models in that the ViTrains model has the headlamp brackets on the nose above the headcode box. I ordered the name plates from Fox Transfers and prepped them for fitting. The ViTrains model is a very different beast to the Bachmann one and it was a challenge to fit all the bits from the detail pack - especially as the multiple working jumpers are the wrong way round. I secured a couple of Bachmann Detailing Kits and fitted the Blue Star cables from them. A surprisingly good fit! Another reason for having the loco was the fact it had two large 'Red Dragon' emblems on the noses and was easily identified by the fact that it had snowploughs missing! This were all fitted in a prototypical fashion. Frost grilles were also fitted secured from the Bachmann detail packs. The new numbers were added by initially painting over the '31' with Humbrol BR Blue paint and then adding the '80' from Fox Transfers. The Welsh Dragons were also from Fox Transfers. The loco now awaits weathering and sound. 

 

 

37180 'Sir Dyfed/County of Dyfed' post renumbering.

 

Whilst doing all of this I had ordered three Legomanbiffo decoders from DC Kits for the Class 37s. Hopefully these will arrive soon and won't need too much jiggery pokery to fit and reprofile. Sadly the Hornby Decoder in 37270 has not really lived up to expectation and, even with playing around with CV values, does not give suitable sound or running at slow speed. 

 

Elsewhere, my mate and Mentor, Ian, is having to sell off a number of his vast collection of locomotives in both OO and N as he is moving and is a little short of space in his new abode. Ian tends to specialise in the transition era for his layouts and, therefore, doesn't really have a need for any of his BR Blue locomotives. Two locos from his OO gauge collection I have had my eye on have been a Heljan Class 33 (33004) and a Bachmann Class 47 (47035). He very kindly offered me both and these have now joined the menagerie! 

 

 

47035 rests on Llantisilliant after working in from Swansea Burrows Sidings. This Cardiff Canton based loco became 47594 in 1983 but a little modellers licence will be used to allow it to remain as 47035 into 1984.

 

 

Eastleigh based 'Crompton' 33004 rests on Llantisilliant after working in from the Westbury area. Class 33s were common visitors to South Wales although primarily on passenger services. They did occasionally work freights into the larger yards from the Southern Region as well as the southern area of the Western Region. Notice that the loco has the DCE flashes beneath the cabside windows that were added to locos allocated to the Departmental sectors post sectorisation in 1988. As the loco has already been weathered and detailed I am loathe to get out the toothpicks and try and remove them so, these will stay put despite not being accurate. 

 

 

 

[Northmoor]

Having grown up in West Wales this is all very appealing, Coffinhammer.

 

I was quite young when 33s appeared on the Swansea - Milford but have a few photos from that period, 1982-86 when they disappeared.  As for '180, it really was the local celebrity.  I have the Lima model in RF Grey in which form it only ran for about a year before the number was transferred.  

 

Not the busiest railway in Britain but where else did you every day have a 47 hauling three coach trains (and on the odd occasion, two)?

[Coffinhammer]

Having grown up in West Wales this is all very appealing, Coffinhammer.

 

I was quite young when 33s appeared on the Swansea - Milford but have a few photos from that period, 1982-86 when they disappeared.  As for '180, it really was the local celebrity.  I have the Lima model in RF Grey in which form it only ran for about a year before the number was transferred.  

 

Not the busiest railway in Britain but where else did you every day have a 47 hauling three coach trains (and on the odd occasion, two)?

 

HI Northmoor,

 

Thanks for the comment. 

 

I did look at having '180' in RF Grey, too, just to add a splash of colour to the grimy BR Blue scene. It was always the missing ploughs and Welsh Dragon emblems that won me over, though!   56040 will have to fill the Railfreight colour void, when I get it!

 

I grew up at the other end of South Wales, overlooking Llanwern and East Usk in Newport. Class 33's were a regular staple on parcels, passenger and, on the odd occasion, freight. Like you say, though, where else would you get a Type 4 on a 2 or 3 coach train! I always remember a Camarthen or Milford Haven - Bristol parcels that would run TThFO and always throw up a Bath Road '47' with one or two parcel vans at most! Things like that wouldn't run now! 

 

Gareth

[Northmoor]

I always remember a Camarthen or Milford Haven - Bristol parcels that would run TThFO and always throw up a Bath Road '47' with one or two parcel vans at most! Things like that wouldn't run now! 

I have some (unfortunately mostly very poor 110 format camera shots) of the morning mail train.  Latterly (1988 on) it could throw up a 37/4; I certainly remember both seeing a 47 at Carmarthen on a single GUV and riding on 33-hauled mail train which was at least load 8.  I don't recall the climb to Cockett, unfortunately, because I bet it sounded good!

[Coffinhammer]

I have some (unfortunately mostly very poor 110 format camera shots) of the morning mail train.  Latterly (1988 on) it could throw up a 37/4; I certainly remember both seeing a 47 at Carmarthen on a single GUV and riding on 33-hauled mail train which was at least load 8.  I don't recall the climb to Cockett, unfortunately, because I bet it sounded good!

 

If it was anything like coming out of the Severn Tunnel on a heavily laden freight then it would have been just fantastic!! 

[Northmoor]

I have some (unfortunately mostly very poor 110 format camera shots) of the morning mail train........riding on 33-hauled mail train which was at least load 8.  I don't recall the climb to Cockett, unfortunately, because I bet it sounded good!

Found it:

 

As if you didn't recognise it, this is leaving Carmarthen for Swansea in late 1984.  

[Coffinhammer]

A bit of a tinkering with the layout this weekend. A visit to the local DIY store to get some bits to start work on the little 2'x2' extension. 

 

Fistly, I had to get some new rubber feet so that the baseboards would sit level. My mate, Mike, did such a good job on the new board that it was a dream to fit and level out. Once it was all laid out on the table it was time to look at fitting the track that would take the stabling lines into the fiddle yard. This was also marked out in pencil to show where the backscene will come across the board to shield the fiddle yard. 

 

 

I initially marked out the fiddle yard to be just over 12 inches long - long enough to take the Class 47 with room to spare - however, on reflection, I though better of it and it will now extend to 16 inches so that there is very little 'dead' space between the footbridge scenic break and the fiddle yard 'screen'. I didn't want to go the whole hog and have the bridge up against the backscene but, at the same time, I didn't want to have a gaping hole that would need a lot of scenic detailing. 

 

Next up I laid the track down in a rough manner, fixing it to the board temporarily with blu-tac. I had bought two lenghts of Peco Code 75 finescale track which fits nicely with the C & L that Ian (the original builder) had used, but also reflects the fact that any old track would have been used in yards - particularly during the later BR days. One little problem I had was that, given Ian's original plan of the layout just being a photo plank, the lines leading off the board get a little too close and won't allow locos to be side by side so the flexibility of the Code 75 allowed the spacing to be widened as the new track passes into the fiddle yard. After checking the clearances and making adjustments, the track was resettled and checked for continuity of DCC signal and to ensure no dead spots. Surprisingly, everything worked well! Next up will be weathering the track before fixing to the baseboard and ballasting. 

 

 

Landore celebrity 37180 'Sir Dyfed/County of Dyfed' sits on the new 'fiddle yard' track as it tests out the continuity of the DCC signal. All locos were tested and worked without issue. 

 

I also took the opportunity of having an extra pair of hands over the weekend (my 'willing' girlfriend!) to have a mess around with the idea of the footbridge scenic break between the boards. A little cliched, perhaps, but why mess with a classic!? I initially tested the clearance required using 37270 and two girder bridge sections to see what it looked line in different places. I favoured having it on a slight incline and having the girdered section running straight from the front of the layout tight across to the back. My 'better half' took the pics. 

 

 

A little earlier tonight I had another mess around, this time blu-tacing the girder sections in place. It seems to work quite well and gives a lot of scope for what to do with the rest of the new board that will sit in front of the fiddle yard. 

 

 

[Coffinhammer]

Found it:

DSC00239.JPG

 

As if you didn't recognise it, this is leaving Carmarthen for Swansea in late 1984.  

 

Wow!! The mists of time had fogged out the fact that it ran with the TPO portion! Thanks for sharing!

[Crisis Rail]

Well this is all good.

 

Glad you got round to the potential of extending as intended coming along well a good to see the viewpoint from the old factory end.

 

Ian

[Crisis Rail]

The possible photo  images look quite good as long as you can carry the detail past and under the bridge

 

Quite surprised how the PECO bridge walls look good 

 

Ian

Edited October 20, 2018 by Crisis Rail

[Coffinhammer]

The possible photo  images look quite good as long as you can carry the detail past and under the bridge

 

Quite surprised how the PECO bridge walls look good 

 

Ian

 

Hi Ian,

 

I thought I best make a start! Once past the bridge I am going to have a couple of sidings to the front with some knackered, condemned wagons on. The track will be unnpowered for now. Hopefully, this will hide the little gap between the bridge and the scenic break for the fiddle yard. Going to use a Bachmann office kit (44-081) as well, just to make a start on the 'yard' feel. Still working on the finer details.

 

I didn't just want a bridge and fiddle yard. Just a little too cliched!

 

G

[Coffinhammer]

More work and idea forming on the extension this weekend.

 

The bridge section, that will act as the 'scenic barrier' between the two sections, has been put together. The girder panels were weathered using Tamiya Weathering Powders and then, using a Tip-Ex pen, some graffiti tags added. For this I used a couple of examples that I remember from the Newport's Somerton Road bridge (a local vantage point as a kid - I had to screen out some of the obscenities!) plus some of the tags that adorn the local railway infrastructure that I see everyday on the way into work in Bristol. The 'roadway' was created using some recycled 3mm carboard from work cut in to strips 380mm wide. The same was done for the surface with Metcalfe M0056 Tarmacadam sheets. These were glued to the deck and the base painted matt black. Once this was dry everything was put together and placed on temporary supports to get an idea of appearance. 

 

 

A homage to Newport County FC - 'The Ironsides'. 

 

 

Two of the local 'tags' seen regularly in Bristol. 'CK1' and 'Beko' are two of the more infamous 'street artists', as they call themselves!

 

 

Overlooking the sidings. The 'Lliswerry Crew' have been a bit busy overnight. A new arrival has appeared, as well!

 

Feeling a bit more confident over the siting and appearance of the bridge I made a start on ballasting the new sections of track. This is something I have never done and, with my mentor busy moving house, I had no option to give it a go myself. I had purchased some Railmatch 2406 Sleeper Grime and had weathered the track using this and the Weathering Powders. I had also purchased a few bags of different ballast and ground cover. Ian (the original builder) had used small ballast in a very sparing manner and this was something I wanted to try and replicate. Having tacked the track in place using small amounts of diluted PVA I then used a ballast spreader to layer down an initial covering of Jarvis Dark Earth scatter. This was then topped with a covering of Woodland Scenics Course Ballast Cinders. The initial covering appeared a little too heavy for what I wanted but, after sleeping on it, brushing away some of the excess, I was pretty happy that it would provide a nice contrast. Therefore, I proceeded with setting it using 50/50 PVA glue and water mix. 

 

 

My first go at ballasting. Doesn't look too bad, although I needed to apply a little more glue in places. 

 

 

Prior to weathering, the transition doesn't look too bad.

 

I then turned my attention to a few ideas for the rest of the new scenic area. With the fiddle yard essentially only taking up a small proportion of the board I want to have the back board as much a part of the scenic extension as I can possibly get. One potential idea is to have the loco sidings running behind a retaining wall (the remains of a larger goods shed, perhaps, or similar to the old wall at Perth SP) that will act as a screen, rather than just a decorated piece of board. I also had a go at thinking about what could go under the bridge to 'hide' the gap from Ian's original scenery. I had originally planned to have a large plinth for the bridge to sit on but, the more I thought about it, the less I liked it! The lightbulb moment came after looking at a picture on the web. Why not use the retainig wall idea and have a stores room or something similar under the bridge and only have a smaller bridge support? The small fuel point office building on the original board had not been fixed down, so I had a look.....

 

 

I think we have a winner! It actually looks pretty good, although I would probably use a different type of building. Also gives scope for plenty of clutter. 

 

Finally, the new arrival. On an earlier post I mentioned that I wanted the era I was modelling to see locos in BR Blue and possibly Revised Blue liveries.....very much 1984/5 in timeframe. However, I had always had a plan of having at least one loco in the Railfreight Large Logo livery to add a little more colour. South Wales depots were pretty slow on using the new livery on their locomotive allocation, the LM had locos in Railfreight LL Grey by 1983! I had toyed with having 37180 in its Railfreight guise but much preferred it in the condition it was in prior to its repaint. That meant that it was left to Cardiff Canton's Class 56 allocation. One of the first of the class to receive the RF livery was 56040 'Oystermouth' and Hornby already had this as one of their (now discontinued) models. One became available in the online marketplace and the rest, as they say, is history! A Legomanbiffo Class 56 DCC chip has also been purchased for it!

 

 

Canton's 56040 'Oystermouth' sits alonside Landore's 37180 'Sir Dyfed/County of Dyfed' at Llantisiliant. 

 

 

A close up of 56040. This model is the original Hornby version although the previous owner has detailed it with etched nameplates and full buffer beam detail. The loco will stay in this condition as, in reality, it would have not long been repainted.

 

 

Lunchtime shift change. 37180 sits behind 08322 and it's brake van as, adjacent, 37306 and 56040 wait for thier next turns.

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

Edited October 28, 2018 by Coffinhammer

[Coffinhammer]

The decoder for 56040 arrived from DC Kits today, so I have spent this evening fitting it. It certainly took a bit of messing about and research to actually get it fitted but I was lucky to find an older thread from 2016 that gave a couple of ways that it could be done (http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/112320-Hornby-class-56-sound-installation/). I had ordered a decoder with the Bass Reflex 20x40 mm speaker and, with the longer circuit board in the loco body I couldn't get any part of the decoder/speaker/wiring to sit easily within the body.

 

However, within the topic thread, one of the replies (MRDBLUE17) mentioned removing the fan assembly. This is sat above the main drive shaft and the fans are powered by a separate sprocket and elastic band from the main shaft. To remove, the band is cut and then 4 fixing screws are removed and the assembly lifts away. This leaves a significant amount of space for the speaker to sit and allows the decoder and wiring to sit reasonably snuggly along the circuitboard. The down side is that there would be a large void between the speaker and fan grilles. It did look a bit odd without the fans! The reply in the thread mentioned, after siting the speaker and removing the fan assembly, to actually remove the fans and place on a rectangular piece of card (painted black) which could then be placed in the roof void under the grilles. 

 

 

 

The fan assembly is removed from the body before the fans are removed from the mechanism. Everything pulls apart quite neatly.

 

 

With the fan mechanism removed from the chassis the speaker can sit quite nicely above the main drive shaft. A couple of small, thin strips of plastic sit under the speaker to prevent it falling onto the shaft. 

 

I took a scrap piece of card and painted it black matt. Whilst waiting for the paint to dry I weathered the fans and, once the paint was dry, they were glued to the card. The card was then fixed into the roof cavity using some dabs of superglue.

 

 

The painted card with the fan blades glued on is affixed in the roof.

 

Despite being a bit fiddly the process worked well. I think I am getting the hang of this!      

 

 

The 'finished' article!

 

 

[JDW]

Hi Coffinhammer,

 

That's a nice little layout, and I like how you're expanding it.  I hope you won't mind me pointing out though that where you have the little office under the bridge really needs a bridge support where the two girder sections join, otherwise in real life the bridge would collapse in the middle.  Sorry if you've already got one planned, or maybe it just looks like the office is in the way because of the angle of the picture.

[Coffinhammer]

Hi JDW,

 

Thanks for the comments and I am glad you approve of the extension.   

 

I'd placed the hut there to see if something similar would fit under the bridge and, crucially, look okay. Originally, I wasn't going to have a support at the bridge join but, as you point out, it would collapse in real life so a slight change in plan was taken to go with three supports instead of two. It actually looks much better with three than two! 

 

Regards

 

Gareth

Hi Coffinhammer,

 

That's a nice little layout, and I like how you're expanding it.  I hope you won't mind me pointing out though that where you have the little office under the bridge really needs a bridge support where the two girder sections join, otherwise in real life the bridge would collapse in the middle.  Sorry if you've already got one planned, or maybe it just looks like the office is in the way because of the angle of the picture.