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TurboSnail's Blog

A blog by TurboSnail in RMweb Blogs

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About this blog

Layout updates, new projects and other stuff the internet doesn't need to know about

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Is it time to admit I have a problem?

I think I might be addicted to the SER/SECR/SR R and R1 classes... From left to right: -standard Wrenn R1 body (will become an R class someday) -Wrenn R1 body with 3D printed cab detail and cab window infill piece -R1 body being converted back to R class with new boiler and cab -R/R1 class 3D printed chassis (currently in development), will go under the R class conversion -detailed Wrenn R1 body on the first test print of the 3D printed chassis (unpowered) -original R1 in SR olive green, whi

April 29, 2018

7

Land Rover Rail plans

Surprise post is always nice, I forgot I'd ordered this. It's a Mk2, I think, fairly nice model but I was really hoping the wheels would be metal so it would run properly, as it is the plastic ones derail easily. I guess I'll have to motorise it now!

April 13, 2018

0

Maunsell's 0-4-0 diesel shunter...

Plenty of people have heard of REL Maunsell's forays into diesel shunter design, with no.s 1, 2, and 3 being developed in 1936/7 with 350hp engines to compete against the Z class heavy steam shunters. What is less known is that late into the design, it was also decided to trial a smaller 0-4-0 version with a 200hp engine, to replace the likes of the A1X and R1 classes in smaller dockyards and branch lines. As such, the design was outsourced to an industrial manufacturer (there are very limited r

April 3, 2018

1

Hornby H Class (again)

Time to have another go at getting a H class in SECR livery, now the Hornby collectors club has the Bluebell one available. The H is one of the ideal motive power options for my Kent branch line based shunting plank. I tried to get 308 when it first came out, but Hornby short-changed the place I'd ordered it from, so my order got cancelled - I've been monitoring eBay since, but most sellers on there are chancing it at an average price of about £160 (the only one on there right now is £244!). I d

February 24, 2018

2

Layout testing

Time to play with test the layout! I took a short video and had a go with some free editing software, not the easiest thing to get the hang of... Filmed on my rather tired Windows Phone camera, maybe Father Christmas will get me a better one? The Terrier is working well, as are the points and controller. The remote uncouplers still need some fettling, although I think that's mainly down to my test wagons all being old Wrenn/Hornby/Triang items with all the tension locks at different h

December 19, 2017

0

R1 project

The other day, I got some Duck fresh discs through the post. Slightly bemused, as I had not ordered anything like that, I had a closer look and it turned out to be the Wrenn R1 bodies I bought off eBay. Some guy seems to be selling old factory surplus, so I picked up a couple of bodies to have a go at detailing them, and it doesn't matter if they get too damaged. Assuming I get at least one of them into a reasonably good state, I'll need a chassis. The old Wrenn ones are very difficult

November 20, 2017

5

Bluebell railway trip ft. Flying Scotsman

Since I've done no modelling this week, I thought I'd share one of my practice videos (I'm trying to learn video editing at the moment). This one is basically just a slideshow of some shots from the Flying Scotsman's visit to the Bluebell in April '17.

October 22, 2017

1

New workbench at university

Taking a layout to university with you is not practical, even if it's only a shunting plank. So I'll have to think of other modelling projects to get on with until Christmas. Maybe I can get one or two of the many side projects done... I have a tiny room here, so guess I'm fortunate that most of it is taken up by desk space, which was clearly intended to be used for modelling. I've set up my portable workbench on it, consisting of the cutting mat to make a work area, and projects and tools i

October 14, 2017

1

New 0-6-0 chassis ideas

I recently bought a Hornby Railroad 0-6-0 in SDJR colours because it was cheap. I really need to come up with better reasons for buying things... Anyway, as I don't model the SDJR, my intention is to use the relatively modern, well-running chassis to underpin something a bit different. Initial thoughts were to replace the chassis of an old Wrenn R1 so it looks less terrible, but the wheel positioning is wrong for the R1 so I'm not sure I'd be happy with that for long. Mind you, there is enough w

October 5, 2017

4

Is scatter still relevant?

Does anyone still use scatter? At least for representing grass, as I still use it for mud areas and am happy with the results, but I recently added a pub garden to my layout using scatter and I'm not all that convinced by the results. I started with 3 colours mixed together and made a test piece, but it's still pretty vibrant: Toning it down with a wash of light grey helped a bit: Once laid using PVA, it sticks pretty well so that's good at least. It was then given another wash

September 27, 2017

4

Retaining walls - the most boring job in modelling?

Is making retaining walls the most boring job in modelling? It's taken me about 2 years in total to complete the 1.5m length on my layout as I keep finding more interesting things to do. It's got to the point now though where they have to be done so I can move on, which means making and fitting the wall and buttress cappings. I shouldn't complain, since I have a small layout and the Scalescenes walls are pretty easy to build. They look pretty good too, for card kits anyway, and they're

September 20, 2017

2

Hornby Slow-4-0

I'm reliably informed that the Hornby generic 0-4-0 chassis has the nickname of 'Pocket Rocket'. If you look around on the interweb, lots of people have had a go at making it better, by regearing it, adding weight, or just building a new chassis altogether. I picked up a cheap one (brand new for £10) from a department store somewhere and then had to think of something to do with it (what do you mean, "impulse buy"?) so I decided to try making the pocket rocket into an ultra slow-speed shunter. O

September 14, 2017

2

Continuous servo micro motor mod

For a current project, I need a tiny, but very high-ratio motor and gearbox, so modifying a servo to rotate continuously seems to be the perfect answer. The entire unit takes up less than 20x20x8mm and provides a motor, speed controller (I'm using it with R/C) and an approx. 120:1 ratio gearbox, while costing less than a fiver. But it does need some slightly fiddly modification first. I'm listing the process here, as much to aid my own memory next time I do this... Small but hopefully p

September 8, 2017

1

New R/C project

A new project beckons... The Leyland FG will eventually become remote controlled, to join the Albion truck. I chose it as a fun, more toylike model as I don't want to spend too much time fussing over details, rather I want to use this project to iron out a few of the issues I have with the previous attempt. And besides, who doesn't like a fire truck? Anyway, so as not to clog up my blog, I've started a thread on the build progress here: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/to

September 3, 2017

0

DIY remote uncoupling installed

Finally got round to finishing the remote uncoupler installation, which finishes off the track work for now. It's nothing fancy or electronic, just a manual cam-based system made of ice cream sticks and offcuts of wood and metal. This shows how rubbish I am at baseboard planning, having hacked a hole in the supports to fit the system in. Fortunately it's not a wide baseboard, so still has plenty of strength. Lining the whole thing up was a bit of a nightmare, but it seems to work pretty

August 27, 2017

3

Road testing

Ok, this really is the last post about roads for a while... But at least it's a video! We modellers always test our track when it's been laid, so why not do the same with roads? The road surface seems pretty good for the truck, it has enough grip although still wobbles a bit - I blame Base Toys for not making round wheels. Need to work on that turning circle too!

August 21, 2017

0

Realistic(?) roads

The downside of making roads by mixing random paints and chemicals together (see my previous blog post) is that somehow it mixed together into a very even colour. I thought it needed toning down, so I decided to go with a wash of grey, this being the simplest method I could think of. Gaugemaster decided to send me a pot of Humbrol no.32 despite me ordering something else, so some of that went in with some white spirit. Before anything dried, I went over the whole area dabbing it with k

August 15, 2017

0

Making roads

One of the major parts missing from the layout was roads. Lots of people have their own preferred methods, including using fine grit sandpaper, textured paints, Bachmann RoadStuffTM (I've no idea what it's actually called) but all of those methods involve either expense, time waiting for internet orders or going outside, so I had to come up with something else. Following a rummage in the garage, I found the ingredients for the rather noxious brew in the photo below: some dulux white matt primer,

August 8, 2017

2

Intro

So, given I have some free time in the University holidays, I thought I'd have a go at blogging my layout progress (or lack thereof), for two reasons: 1) 'cos it'll give me something to do with myself and 2) so when it inevitably shows how little I've achieved (I am on holiday after all), I'll be motivated to do more. I'm aiming to do weekly updates as I don't want to be too ambitious but who knows where this is going. Maybe I'll be able to get some video in from time to time as well. M

August 3, 2017

2

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