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About this blog

A quick glance at some of my workshop projects or what's on my dinner plate

Entries in this blog

Blog update

Just a quick note to update my blog; modelling is still continuing but on a number of fronts including completing a Fireball XL5 Comet Miniatures vac formed kit and more background research and development for my big London Bridge project. For that I've started putting together a fleet of London Transport busses;         And I've been looking at track options for the project. I've just about decided that I'm going to run with the 2mm Easitrack option using the plain track as it is, but bu
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2

Photing models

As an early Christmas present to myself, and to enable me to take better model snaps, I've purchased a couple of photo lights complete with flourescent daylight bulbs (technically they're 5400K Ra >90 which apparently means they're better than many others although I'm not sure I understand). Here's the portable set up;         Hopefully, I'll be able to take improved studio type snaps although I probably also need a decent new camera and a bit of tuition. I'll need to do a little bit o
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3

Old locos

Now that we've been hit by a deluge of all new super accurate and fine N gauge models I've recently been going though some of my older stock; the stuff that doesn't stand up to comparison and has embarrassing 'improvements'. I've already managed to sell my old Poole Farish class 47s and get rid of some particularly ancient 37s (I've still got another in messy triple grey livery) but it???s converted, not very well, to represent an actual loco seen at Woking, and runs well on a new Chinese chassi
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6

Southwark Towers

I've completed the basic core structure of Southwark Towers. The model is currently 23 inches tall and with the roof structures and protruding end towers/shafts it will be over two feet tall, but still a little short of scale height.         There still lots to do; towers/shafts as each wing end, roof sections and the solar(?) paneling but the basic shape is there. And that's why there's little point in making it with separate floors and see through with pespex wall and/or windows - once
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5

Farish class 47

Having read on another forum of an increasing number of the new class 47s failing and having to be returned I quickly got out my three recent purchases for a full running-in session and more thorough check up. Previously I had really only unpacked them for a quick look and photo call and a once around a test track circuit. However, they are now running around and around a small test track to run them in and fortunatelly all three 47s (and a new class 24) seem to have performed pretty well straig
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4

Work starts on another high rise building

Yep, before the first one is completed, work has begun on the second high rise block - Southwark Towers. Overall sizes have been considered and design work based on photos and google has been sketched up. On my dining room table you can see some of the rough working drawings including a scale size footprint.         And this afternoon the first of the three wings went up. At 100 metres it's slightly taller than New London Bridge House but as soon as I've got the basic shape completed I'll
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3

New London Bridge House

Here's a pic of the building model and how it will look from a ground floor perspective. Quite interesting, eh? The routemaster bus is an N gauge one for some comparison. Apologies for the poor quality pic but it's taken by kneeling on the floor and squinting in to the camera which was killing me and I forgot to set everything including the white balance, oh, and I've just got back from the pub.     And here is an equivalent pic of the real building;     Obviusly the model requir
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4

Tall building comparison

Here's a full size mock up of my suggested compromised height for 'New London Bridge House' along with the large signalling centre and a train for comparison. It's five inches shorter than true scale but roughly nearly scale width. I'm pretty happy with that compromise. Any taller and it really would be up with the fairies and probably over-dominate the scene.       G.
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6

Tall buildings

I??™ve been contemplating the building of the two skyscrapers (Southwark Towers and New London Bridge House) required for the new layout. Although they are described as ???mid rise??™ blocks, they still scale out in British N gauge (1:148) at 26.5 inches and 25??? tall respectively. Not only is that a lot of building, it??™s a lot modelling and probably a lot of cost.   As the layout is not intended to be an accurate scale representation and the design is compressed and compromised in a number
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13

That DMS again

Back to finishing off that DMS bus. Bernie Taylor (TPM) is hopefully going to produce etched window sliding vents and replacement doors (two part glider doors as well as the original four part folding ones). They will certainly help Anglicise it and make it look a lot better. And as I've got more of the KMB busses on order to convert they will certainly aid the production line. Fingers crossed they get produced, and soon.   I've had to make up fictitious side and front adverts for this sample
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3

N gauge LT bus fleet

My N gauge LT bus fleet is starting to grow. And with the promised Farish Leyland Nationsl single deckers due (gawd knows when) and the four DMS now on order I'll have a reasonable fleet. There's still work to be done on the DMSs, incliding re-assembly, but they do have a very bland livery with no white or grey stripes to add a bit of relief to the plain all over red. Also correct route numbers and destination blinds don't seem to be available so I'll have to make the most of the limited choice
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0

Modelling development

I've made a start on the little modern signal control box at the west end of the through lines. I'm not totally happy at the way it's turning out - dut to my lack if modelling ability - but I'll see what the finished item looks like as there is still a lot to do;         I've also managed to get hold of one of those 1:150 scale KMB Daimler Fleetline buses (the old London Transport DMS) as recommended by Bernie Taylor and I'm very happy with it. It dismantles in to the consitituent parts
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2

Southwark Towers

I've been researching the Southwark Tower building that stood over London Bridge Station and have decided that I will include it as a very iconic structure of the area. As it was completed in 1976 and demolished mid 2009 it will rather define the era for the layout - but I'm more than happy with that period.   The triple winged towers were 320ft high which scales out as a little over 2 feet tall in N gauge 1:148 scale. Along with the other high rise building at the front of the station that I
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4

London Bridge Station visit

I visited London Bridge Station today to collect some more pictures of areas and buildings that I have few details of. Things are changing rapidly - there's a big hole in the ground and some of the steel structual skeleton of the Shard has already appeared. The concourse roof has been cut back significantly and Thomas street is closed to traffic along the building site boundary.   One of my intended targets was the small box at the West end of the through platforms and some of the buildings be
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0

Back to the signalling centre...

There's been a little more work on the signal centre, although there is still lots of detail to add and painting to undertake. Nonetheless, here's a pic of the latest...................       G.
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More cars.......

I purchased some Tomytec vehicles at the Warley show yesterday. However, they were loose and unboxed, so I'd be grateful if anyone could identify the make and model of each of them (the two on the left are the same);       G.
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1

NGS MAG layout

Further to a question in the "Next Big 'Un" thread on my blog, and the reply I gave there, here are further details about the N Gauge Society's Modern Area Groups (NGS MAG) proposed layout.   This will be a modern N gauge layout based on the Milford container depot near Southampton. It will be able to take advantage of all the recent new top quality container wagons now available, such as the ATM KQA pocket wagon, Dapol FEA-B spine wagon, Dapol IKA megafret, and Farish FIA intermodal, as well
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The next big 'un

The cat is out of the bag. The plans for my next big model railway project are already known by a handful of close friends and, no doubt, following the recent clues in my Blog, soon many more will also have some idea of what it is all about. So, in an effort to pre-empt that, here is the concept with all its crazy notions and impractical ideas. It is not planned to be a portable exhibition layout, so most will not get a chance to see it in the flesh, but perhaps through the good province of RMwe
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18

This is what it is supposed to be.......

. ... ..... ....... ......... ........... and this is what my model looks like so far. It's not an exact scale model replica as I've needed to cut down the footprint area, but hopefully it captures the look and character of the original. There's still lots to do on the model including detailing and painting;                     G.
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3

Can you tell what it is yet?

. . or even from this later pic with temporary top floor cladding added. Obviously there's lots of other detaling work and painting to be carried out. And apologies for the poor quality photos. . . .           G.
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5

A little bit of paint added

I've been adding a little bit of paint, with a very fine brush, to the telephone boxes and fork lifts. The boxes have also had STD phones installed in them and the doors are painted and currently drying ready to be added.       G.
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0

More things

Yet more multiple things to be finished; forklifts (with just base colour on) and skips (some assembled and primed);         G.
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4

Vehicles

At yesterdays High Wycombe show Cheltenham were selling Oxford DC cars for just ??1.99 each. I purchased a couple more taxis to add to my collection;       Now why would I need so many?   G.
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