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  • SouthernRegionSteam

    Coastguard Creek - 15 months of planning!

    By SouthernRegionSteam

    Hold on to your socks - this is going to be a lengthy one! (In fact it's so long, I've now split it into 2 separate posts - the next will be up soon...)   I think it's fair to say that you are all long overdue an update on Coastguard Creek. Due to other commitments, no real progress has been made since the last post way back in March 2021; almost 15 months ago! If anything, things went backwards for quite a while, as I kept finding more and more inspiring locations that I really wanted
    • 8 comments
    • 2,789 views
Lyghtondown

Bridging the gap

Flushed with a feeling of competence and an irrepressible desire to risk failure in the face of a public audience, I chose try my hand at another kit. The Ratio foot bridge, RO548.  I knew the Jujitsu kit bashing skill were unnecessary, but it looked like it would be a little fiddly.   What the heck, we were going away for a week so I packed the kit, some tools and an extra dollop of wishful thinking. Shame I forgot the instructions 🙄   Anyway, who needs instructions?  
jeff_p

jeff_p in Lyghtondown

1
Bristol & Exeter Railway

Bristol & Exeter Railway, featuring No.41

One of the creations I'm very proud of, especially since I had tried making it a month ago but failed miserably. If not for the improvement I've experienced this probably would've never came out, but I'm glad it did!   The livery may not be fully accurate as I used a model of it as livery reference, but enlightenment on what its accurate livery would be greatly appreciated!
North Devon Railway

North Devon Railway "Star"

Today's blog post introduces a new locomotive, definitely not well-known as others but still as beautiful. Note that I've taken my own creative liberties as I do not  have the resources / information about what its livery would be and type of smokebox door or how the pistons are positioned. Nevertheless, I enjoyed making her and she looks amazing to me!
isambird

isambird in North Devon Railway

6
46444 Blog

The Ultimate Driving Machine. Brighton's BMW...

Some of you will know I do like the 1950's/1960's micro cars and courtesy of Oxford a Messerschmitt three wheeler often appears on my layouts.   Recently I was researching Southern Railway push-pull coaches and came across the excellent Blood & Custard Southern/BR Southern Region reference site.    This article was of some interest:   https://www.bloodandcustard.net/BMWIsetta.html   It appears BMW built their Isetta micro-car in the old LBSC/SR/BR rail
46444

46444 in 46444 Blog

15
General

A Small TMD - Part 5

Work progressing on the front scenic module with the cabin now added, currently making the Palisade fence.    Fuel point off board under construction.   Currently making a CANPAN for controlling the lcb switches at this end.   Lights fitted in shed but non operational at present.   Yard lighting Testing in progress.     
MattB

MattB in General

0
The 1/50 scale project

The 1/50 project, A low loader wagon

I have been running trains on Kelvinbank. Some cleaning needed but things are running smoothly with one slight annoyance. That tool/riding van I butchered from a Hornby brake. I got annoyed with the wheel flanges hitting chairs and rattling so I swapped the wheelsets out for a proper pair of 51L EM  ones. Ahhh, much better…..   That left me with a pair of 14.2 mm 00 wheels rolling about on the bench. Not going to be used on Kelvinbank, but in 1/50 th thats 710 mm dia. Perhaps a bit sma
Dave John

Dave John in The 1/50 scale project

7
The Totnes to Dartmouth Extension

The Totnes to Dartmouth Extension

Based on a “what-if” scenario, if the GWR had built a line to Dartmouth, putting the GWR “station” building in Dartmouth on a real platform.   Starting in Totnes and proceeding south…   Totnes Station   As was, c.1910. Bottom right is the start of the branch to Totnes Riverside, and the route to Dartmouth. Clearly that would need some enhancement, to provide a better route from Dartmouth back into Totnes.     Next, as it should be, c.19xx. The f
General

Taking Stock

On one or two occasions, I have received comments along the lines of “we want a layout”. From the beginning of my exploration of the broad gauge, it has been my intention to produce some sort of layout or diorama to display the various models of rolling stock that I’ve constructed.   Of course I already have a small layout carrying both narrow and standard gauge routes, based in Oxfordshire, towards the end of the 19th century. This layout continues to provide entertainment to my grand
MikeOxon

MikeOxon in General

10
Track Wiring

Vertical track wiring and Faller Kits in Northumberton?

Hello again,   No more Metcalfe models for now, they are a pleasant distraction, however I have been spending some time on a Faller kit - see below. The more relevant news for Northumberton is the installation of the station board with tracks and wiring plus the turntable and its adjacent tracks. I'm using a Heljan turntable code 89121 but I did acquire this several years ago when the DCC version first became available, I was shocked to see the current price of this and would possibly
Northumberton

Northumberton in Track Wiring

0
Sprinter Outer Gangways 4mm

September 2023 - The Sprinter Outer Gangway Connection Conundrum…

One thing that I have noticed over the years with models is how what are standard sizes on the prototype, when the model manufacturers replicate somehow the accuracy is lost in translation.     I guess the biggest debated model in diesel world exemplified by the many models by difference manufacturers is the Class 37, a popular class of loco, which people scrutinise the dimensions even down position of the rivets and screws head positions. Questionable when the prototypes where built at a
The Layout

The animals are taking over

The petrol station is now firmly planted on the layout, and the final scenic work complete. This entailed more herring gulls, a couple of foxes and a few colonies of rabbits.   The Rev.W Audrey (from ModelU) is pondering over his Bradshaws Guide and deciding if his scooter would get him to Newport in time to see the train just departed from Freshwater arrive there.     This fox (also from ModelU) is not looking for fish.     Rabbits are more to
Ian Morgan

Ian Morgan in The Layout

2
Lima / Hornby Class 156

September 2023 - Lima Class 156 Super Sprinter Part 2 - Bogie Frame Mods

Decided today to do a little bit more tinkering with the Lima Class 156 bogie. I’ve found the best dummy wheelsets are those Hornby use on their production of the former Lima 156, which are 11mm diameter, which is about right for a BT38 bogie. However these aren’t cheap.….  The bogie frame has had a bit more plastic cut away to represent the prototype, including removing the moulding the coupler.    So fitted some pin point bearings. I think these are from Markits MPP/B. Dri
richierich

richierich in Lima / Hornby Class 156

0
Lyghtondown

Filling in a gap..

.. in Lyghtondown.  The good yard didn't have any form of cattle or livestock facility.  Given that the size of the yard in real terms is, well, really, really tiny, this was never going to be a trivial decision or subsequent action.   I had a choice of either putting a more normal dock in on the same siding as the coal staithes (?) where it could be basically rectangular, or "jamming" it between the good shed siding and the main good siding but necessitating some significant black bel
jeff_p

jeff_p in Lyghtondown

3
46444 Blog

Bachmann 7327 Detailing Continued. A Cheeky Little Rascal.

Eveventually I came across some pictures of Collett cabbed Moguls with lining which answered my previous question.   Using Fox GWR/BR passenger loco lining I have finished the lining out including the wheel splashers.     The lining transfers were fixed with Johnson's Kleer when in the correct place. Once dry a couple of light coats of Halfords Laquer varnish was applied. To tone things down a misting of Halfords Matt varnish was then applied    
46444

46444 in 46444 Blog

8
GWR Locomotive Sketches

GWR Nos 34, 35 0-4-0s (Shrewsbury and Chester - 1853) and 0-6-0s (Wolverhampton, 1866)

Numbers 34 and 35 seem to have been reserved for oddities! Later there were a couple of Dean 0-4-4Ts. The original GWR 34 & 35 were a pair of locomotives built by the Vulcan Foundry which the Shrewsbury and Chester Railway bought off the shelf in 1853, and one may suspect at a bargain price. They could be described as long boiler 0-4-0 tender engines, but the drive was not to either wheel axle, but to an intermediate crank axle, somewhat in the position that the middle driving axle of a lo
JimC

JimC in GWR Locomotive Sketches

5
General

A Missing Link?

In my last few posts, I’ve been delving into the almost lost world of the early days of the GWR broad gauge. I notice that my previous post aroused little comment so, perhaps, I have moved rather too far from what most people think of as ‘railway modelling’ - but I do like using models as a way of improving our understanding of these early engines.  I do appreciate the various 'likes' that many of you have given me.   Before I move back into more familiar territory, there is one more p
MikeOxon

MikeOxon in General

16
Low relief buildings

Basic drawing completed for new project

I've spent a bit of the afternoon completing the tech drawing for the new project which I am about to build for the layout.  I may add a bit more of a corner feature for the shop on the left of the pic, as this is on a junction on the layout, however I will decide once the basic structure has been fabricated.   
CJM

CJM in Low relief buildings

0
46444 Blog

Asking for a friend?...Bachmann 'Old School' GWR/BR 2-6-0 Mogul detailing: 7327

Recently a good friend of mine picked up a fairly decent 'old school' Bachmann split chassis GWR Mogul.   In this instance the Collett cabbed later prototype version.     I said I would give it a service and make good any problem areas.    Initially the model came in unlined economy BR green. Something 7327 carried in later life. The Bachmann green was a bit flat. I decided I would give it a makeover for him.    I carefully removed the moulded
46444

46444 in 46444 Blog

5
Calne to Hungerford – a missing link in Eastern Wiltshire

Calne to Hungerford – a missing link in Eastern Wiltshire

Calne to Hungerford – a missing link in Eastern Wiltshire   By invitation only. Summons to Briefing Briefing location : Marlborough College, Combined Cadet Force Hut Date and time : 30th February, 1940, 09:00 Normal "Top Secret" rules apply. RSVP   Briefing Introduction   Right chaps, glad you all got the invitations, you all know each other, so stand easy and gather round.   Firstly, a hearty “thank you” to the Headmaster, Francis Me

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