I have finally made some more progress. A while ago I came across this photo of the GWR facility at Poplar Dock and so I thought I would try and recreate it.
Let me say that I never tried to make an exact copy but to get something similar to the original.
I also tried using card kits and papers frpm Scalscenes - this was my first attmept at a major building wiht them. It still needs some work but here it is in situ. Please ignore the surroundings.....WIP.
Is it me or do t
Here are some pictures I have culled from the internet that I am using as inspiration. They are from various locations on the GWR system and as you can see some are from the post-Edwardian period.
Everyone seems to build a 517 so here is my attempt. Firstly, let me say this is my first ever attempt at this kind of thing so its been a steep learning curve.
MikeOxon has already covered a great deal in the conversion of a 14xx to 517 in his blog - so I won't repeat much of what he has said.
http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/1405/entry-13225-back-in-time-517-class/
However, I did choose a slightly different route. I wanted a model with the earlier bunker. When looking
So over the past month I have been acquiring stock off of ebay - most has now arrived having taken weeks thanks to the postal systems of the UK and Sweden (pictures to follow).
I managed to get a selection of built and unbuilt Coopercraft open wagons (3, 5 and 7 plank) as well as a few Minks and a provendar wagon (Q1).
I have managed to fit a small selection with Alan Gibson wheels and everything seems to run smoothly although a few of the built ones will need some paint work and the d
In my last post there was a comment on Private Owner wagons. So here is a picture of PO wagons at Brentford Dock. The caption says 1922 so a little late for me but I love the atmosphere.
I don't suppose anyone knows who Bradbury were? The wagons certainly seem only lightly weathered.
Also I think the bike up against the wagons is a great touch.
Well I just noticed its been 6 mnths since I last logged on and that everyone has been very busy. I alas have made no progress on the modelling front. However, the room in which the Sutton Dock resides has been completley redecorated so I can finally get back to work on the 517 running problems and finishing off the track layout.
So wish me luck!
Hi everyone, just wanted to introduce myself and the layout I am working on – I had planned to do this earlier in 2015 but you know how things are. So in an effort to speed things along I though putting my thoughts on here might help me achieve something in 2016. Kind of a new year's resolution!
Over the past years I have had a number of “models” from my first round-and-round OO GWR layout, a Swiss HO layout , through narrow gauge 009 and a large US N gauge layout. My most recent was a large HO
Hi all - well its been 6 months almost since the last update and as usual progress has been glacial. I did finish off the 517 - at least I thought I had - but running problems meant I had to disassemble it and do some mods on the chassis. Its still awaiting testing.
I did make some progress on the scenery
All the buldings are scalscenes or cut and paste version of their kits. The buildings are only places at the moment so are not all "level", in addition the mirrors at the rear are
So I finally built some track. I used the C&L plastic system with steel rail. For my first attempt I used a simple template and made no attempt to make it fit my period (i.e., sleeper spacing etc.) I built a small section of straight track on some thick card. Made a few errors but hey it worked!
Here it is. You will see that I have tried some attempts at ballasting. I want something that fits a yard and not the mainline type of ballasting often seen in yards. I read Chris Nevard's blog on
OK so this list is as much a reminder to me as to anyone else of stupid things not to do when doing any work on the railway- if you ever see me doing any of these things please SHOUT at me before I damage something or someone:
1. Don't do anything when in a hurry or tired - if you do then one of the other things listed below will happen 2. Paint must dry before you touch it - unless you like fingerprints everywhere 3. Pressfix transfers are sticky and amazingly they stick to each other if yo
Dear friends - those of you who keep track of my blog may have noticed a few (un)subtle difference recently. The most obvious of these is a change of username and the second is the way I have started to sign my comments. The reason for this is a personal one but briefly I have suffered for most of my life with severe depression caused by gender dysphoria. After many years of suffering in silence I have (finally) decided to take action. As a small step I am changing all my online accounts to my n
Well I note its 2 years since I posted anything. I do, sadly have an excuse of both my wife and I being seriously ill one after the other.
I guess life gets in the way. However, we are both on then mend and have finally got round to some modelling again. I will post some pictures in the next few days and will start catching up on a lot of reading!!
Its good to be back
OK so here is the latest of my 517. A reminder that the body is a shortened 14xx and fitted onto a hacked Hilevel 14xx chassis. This is the first time attempt at this kind of build and my first paint job. Clearly it needs the chimney etc...etc.. but I am pleased with it so far. I have learnt so much!
I have also started on a a Dean Goods. I got on ebay a partly build K's whitemetal kit. I had to dismantle it as nothing was straight. I soon learnt that whitemetal can be easily bent and broken......ah well. In addition, the motor was fried and I had to convert the chassis to EM. At the moment I am working out how to fit a Hilevel gearbox and motor in it. But at least the body is making progress. I have put on the first coat of green only.
Well...at least the first train to run. Here is my 517 class now numbered 572 in the "as yet to be finished yard". 572 still needs a little work but is nearing completion....
Don't close ups show errors! Soft focus next time....lol
So I finally managed to complete a section of track including a point. So here are a few pictures - sorry for the poor quality.
As usual the pictures highlight area that still need work
All comments and advice welcome.
I have been busy trying to solve the running problems on my 517. thanks to help on one of the forums I managed to get the thing rolling freely - so all seemed well. Until.....I realised I had manged to strip part of the idler gear in the gearbox which made it lurch as teeth engaged then didn't. Ah well - new gear on its way thanks to Chris at High-level kits.
To compensate for the slow progress I made a few more card buildings. The more I do of these the more I enjoy them but at the
With the available space I have (roughly 150cm x 60cm) I have come up with the following trackplan. I have tried to keep the plan simple and not too cluttered with tracks. There will be some sort of fiddle yard off to the RHS. There is no run-round loop (only a half one) - any run round move will need the fiddle yard.
Its based on various parts of Brentford Dock and in particular 3 features. The first is the large covered transfer shed, the second the unusual shaped storage shed that p
