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About this blog

A small north Wales layout.

Entries in this blog

Take a Brake

After many years of sitting on the back of the work bench, my humble 20T brake has finally been completed. Built from the 2mm Association etched kit, I have to say I'm pleased with the end result. I've still got another to build, I just hope it doesn't take another 3 years to finish it     Next up is my MDO, a Stephen Harris etch. This is stil a "work in progress model". Firstly, I painted it a solid light rust and then stippled on some darker rusts. Then I left it for a few days to dry

Bryn

Bryn

Colwyn Catch Up

Just a quick post to show the on going progress of the layout. All track work is currently in place and the 3 way installation is still on going. I'm quite happy with it so far, in comparison to the link below;   http://www.2d53.co.u...ynbay/s2378.jpg   (Thanks to Dave Plimmer www.2d53.co.uk)     Anyway, back to the grind stone...

Bryn

Bryn

Weather Induced Weathering

Three months without an update, I'm sure that's a personal best     Nothing really to report, I'm halfway through installing my 3 way point and have decided to weather my 21T MDV coal wagon.   The above was achieved by first giving the etched wagon a grey etched primer base, followed by brush painting enamels in solid colours (sleeper grime for the chassis, rust for the body). Once these layers havd dried ff fully, I started adding a few basic washes of thinned acrylics. When these ha

Bryn

Bryn

Theory Becomes Reality

Finally some progress!   If you cast your minds back to my last post, I was trying to overcome the issue of short switch blades in 2FS using Easitrac components. Thanks to all your feedback, I now have a half built prototype.   Code 40 switch rail with a solid brass dress makers pin attached. The rail was notched out using the trusty piercing saw.   The above switch blade sitting in it's drilled out top hat bearing pivot point.   Two down, two to go! Then it's the "simple" matter of

Bryn

Bryn

Short Switch Blade Sketch

Sorry for the rushed post, but I thought I would post my idea for pivoting switch blades before I install them. One of the main issues with my 3 way asymmetrical point was the short switch blades.   The shortest blade will only be supported by 2 chairs, so...   - Two plastic chairs didn't seem tough enough long term.   - Two brass chairs on PCB sleepers would be more than strong enough...   - Now the blade was fixed solid at one end, it would be tough flex the short length of rail using

Bryn

Bryn

Goodbye Oxford

What a great weekend, the 2mm Association's 50th Anniversary show really did live up to the expectations. A great selection of layouts (new and old) and enough enthusiastic faces to keep me talking almost solidly for the whole weekend.... only stopping to a sip a few ales   I've now come home full of inspiration and a note pad full of ideas. I also think I may have solved the issue of the 3 way point (more to come on that shortly). Thank you to everyone who stopped to talk with me and also t

Bryn

Bryn

Herring Test Build

After a few "cut n' shut" style modifications I have just about finished the first test build. The top sides have been lowered and the overall hopper shortened by .3mm. Next to that, it all seemed fit.   Even thought it looks a bit worse for wear, I'm quite happy with the out come. I just have to design the hopper operating mechanisms and the vacuum braking components.   Also, since have your attention;   I am still after any images of Herrings you may have. I am modelling the GWR design

Bryn

Bryn

Herring Progress

On a more positive note, my second set of test etches have come through for the Herring ballast wagon. As stated on the previous version of RMweb, this is a 2FS kit I have been designing from scratch.       So far the basic build it going well, but I have some how left the top side panels 2mm too high! Not seeing the wood for the trees

Bryn

Bryn

Throwing in the Towel

After some consideration I have decided to withdraw Colwyn Bay Goods from the GJLC. Due to personal reasons, I can not complete the layout to a standard where I would be happy with by July.   Thanks to everyone who followed the thread and gave up time to help with research and construction advice. The layout will go into storage and I hope to have another attempt over the coming winter months.

Bryn

Bryn

Bricking it.

Oh dear, my computer decided to give up recently and required some time in the local PC shop for repairs. So without the PC I had no option but to bite the bullet and get on with some modelling again.     I finally got around to adding some colour to my goods shed. This was done using water colour pencils recommended by Steve (Pixie). I'm quite happy with the out come, but it still needs some touching in. This was done over a grey primer, then the pencils were used wet (orange) and then dry

Bryn

Bryn

Fitting DGs

After readings David's excellent article on Easitrack step by step, I was inspired to do the same for fitting DG couplings. So here goes;   Constructing the DG I'm not going to go into detail here, as the instructions are very good. I would highly recommend that you chemically blacken them now (while they are still on the fret), I used Carrs blackening fluid for this and just leave the etch in a shallow bath until they are a nice dark brown colour. I find dark brown blends in better than so

Bryn

Bryn

TOU Installation

Well,   Slow progress is happening in my few days off before my second block of night shifts, the first turnout operating unit (TOU) has been installed. Luckily there was enough play in the whole assemble to stop any excess force being applied to the switch blades. The pictures are pretty much self explanatory, when compared with the previous post.         Also, I've knocked together a 12T van for a bit of a change. I'm quite pleased with it

Bryn

Bryn

Turnout Control

Before I disappear onto a long skint of night shifts, I thought it a good idea to make some progress while my brain is still operating normally   I have decided to use the standard Tortoise point motor with the Exactoscale adaptor base, then some how find a way of fixing it to the Easitrac points.     So, here is the end result. Nothing spectacular, but simple to reproduce and easy to maintain.     These small tube pass up through the baseboard and the tops sit just below the turno

Bryn

Bryn

Track laying begins.

Just a quick post to show things haven't totally come to a complete stop. Over the weekend, the track work around the 3 way has been laid. This was done by using the 2mm Associations Easitrac glue, which is similar to VERY quick drying PVA. Sorry about the poor lighting, but it does give a rough idea of what's going on.     For electrical connections I am using the brass sleepers and brass dress makers pins. I've never been a fan of soldering wires to rails, so this is a nice little alterna

Bryn

Bryn

Colwyn Bay Goods, a Reintroduction.

Introduction My name is Bryn and I've decided to build a layout for the 2mm Association's golden jubilee challenge, based around the goods yard at Colwyn Bay. What started as a shunting plank has now grown into a full layout, thanks to the competition. With the sheer luck of; the new Farish 24 and TTAs, new etched 2FS 16T minerals and cheaper DDC systems, it looks like this might be possible after all.   The Prototype The goods yard at Colwyn Bay was built in the early part of the 20th centu

Bryn

Bryn

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