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About this blog

Satisfying Anglophilia in the Chicago suburbs with no money.

Entries in this blog

56xx Progress 1

As promised, I've taken some pics of what I've done so far.   Tonight was solely the 56xx. I've long had the body built, honestly to a mediocre standard.     This will be my first locomotive kit, so on this build I'll stand the molded handrails, and the castings that came with the kit. Most of my work tonight was finishing the hole for the trailing axle.     I think I managed to get the hole too high, though; the trailing wheels look to be a floating axle.     The
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Progress - 5600 no. 2 and Other

Not much progress, really. Been a bit of a bum week for the workbench, errands and more pressing issues cutting into my limited worktime. Most, if not all of that time is recently, and for a while, given over to a Bolt Action army I've been trying to paint as a set. Not doing this again!     Firstly, I've added the small parts to the 56xx. Needs some finessing, though. The rear sanders and front steps foul the rather large pins on the drivers for the rods. Based on space, I'm lo
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Ready to Run

'New' Coaches

I purchased a coach lot off that auction site.   Lot was listed as 'LMS Coaches,' and at a reasonable price.       Here's the row.   I needed to have looked closer before committing.  I'm not certain on how much use any of these will be.  Reasoning there, I'm looking for coaches for a preordered Improved Precedent in LMS black.   I don't fancy buying more kits right now, either.       Two Lima vans.   I'm pretty certain the CCT on the right does
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T-Trak Planning

For about two years now, I have been planning on a modest T-trak layout. If you are not aware, T-Trak is a system based around Kato's Unitrak system, taking advantage of the strength of the joiners used. The modules are also based largely on Unitrak's standard lengths, with the normal straight module being 2mm shorter in length than a Kato double crossover, the largest single piece of track in the Unitrak catalog.   Part of my goal with this layout is to run...whatever I damn well please!
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Progress - 5600 3 and other

Sorry I've been quiet. I've mostly been lazy lately, but I've had other business as well.   Firstly, the 5600 was built and tested. Can't complete a circuit of the loop I have set up at work. Shame. I don't think I'll pursue it further; any money I saved buying the kit secondhand has been spent trying to get a decent 94XX donor.   Secondly, found a couple of gentlemen with some bring-backs at the local model train show/swap meet. I picked up a Langley yard crane. A lot of fl
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GWR Buffalo in N

A couple of months ago, I had what then seemed like a clever idea.    I would knock together a Bachman-Farish Gronk with a pannier body.   I was inspired by a picture of the Buffalo in a book I had bought second-hand.   I hadn't known any outside-framed tanks received pannier tanks, much less lasted until the timeframe I nominally collect.   Excellent, I thought.   I figured this would be a simple bash.  Nope.   First, my inspiration https://www.philt.org.uk/Misc/Archive-Photos/i-ZPJSZ
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LNER Y...something?

I bought an N20 motor a couple of weeks ago, along with a pair of 3D printed gears to fit 1/8" axles & the N20.   My original thought was to fit it to this small LNER tank I picked up at an estate sale;   While the motor would probably fit, it won't fit between the frames.   Which means needs to angle into the boiler.   Which hasn't enough space.    Playing around with the brass chassis, I think it was made undersized.    The chassis will 'walk' on my test plank.   
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5600 and Vans

Updates will be thin for a while. Well, thinner than normal. I have other, more pressing or older projects that do not involve model railways in the slightest. Still, a shortlist of relevancy.   Firstly, I am officially abandoning the 56XX kitbuild. The Grafar chassis under it made a circuit and a half on my loop, and quite. I am already $150 into the build, and I do not fancy trying for another donor chassis. Also, I had just found the announcement from RevolutioN about their plans on produci
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Surprise Finds

I found this line-up by absolute chance on Friday 9/30.  Actually, I suppose to most of this sites' userbase, the date was 30/9.    Either way, seeing an E-unit in the wild is incredibly rare.   I don't recognize the line, though.   Discussion with my one train club suggested a commuter line in Maryland.    Makes this find even more unusual.    I live outside Chicago, and found this on my way home from work.    Still, cool.
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Hornby Dean Single, Clerestories, & Pioneer Diesels

Handful of new acquisitions.   Firstly, I won a Hornby Dean Single & two clerestory coaches in a raffle through one of my clubs;   This did not come in the original box, so I don't know how old it is.   Doesn't look half bad, though.    Open armature motor, but there was an 8-pin decoder socket.   Odd combo, in my mind.    Backhead was detail-painted, as well.   Runs fine, though she will creep with the throttle closed.   I don't think I'll pursue super-detailing, but the ten
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Cooper Craft GWR 'Mink' V5 Van

I had picked up a Cooper Craft GWR diagram V5 'Mink' at my club's swap meet some time back.  Decided I would start on it, feeling on-trains but not interested in bringing the iron back out.      I didn't get too far in one evening.    I set the top-hat bearings in the W-irons, glued an end to the side.   I know I need to alter the bracketry on the solebars.   Sadly, apparently an accurate V5 isn't possible with just this kit.   Pertinent parts for the DCI or II brakes aren't present. 
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Jidenco LMS 12t 1-Plank

No fault on Jidenco, but man am I bad at this soldering thing.   Real happy I didn't dive straight into the 3F.   So;    Old kit, methinks.   I have option B, the 12t 1-planker.  I also don't have wheels for it.   I fussed with it some years ago, when I first picked up the $10 stick-iron from Radio Shack.   Back when there were Radio Shacks.   The mess on the bottom is from back then.   Trying to tin the thing.   Never got it quite clean.
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Ruination

Two entries on two nights, and both poor showings.   I've mentioned earlier in this blog that I had two locomotives fail during the Christmas season, my Terrier and 14xx.    Tonight, I attempted to take them apart to ascertain what failed, and what I could do to remedy the issues.   First, I attempted the Terrier.   Completely mangled the thing.    One of the clips just would not let go, and by the time it did, I had bent one of the coupling rods, lost a coupling rod pin, and
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shows

All-American Railroad Show + Parkside

Like it says on the tin.  Couple of pics from this year's show.   First, British Train Society's T-Trak layout.  I believe with two of my locos, Earl of Dunraven & my 5600   Next, my current pride & joy on.the European Train Enthusiasts layout, DSB E 991   Finally, starting a Parkside Dundas L&B four-wheel open. Debating whether seeking brass bearings will be worth it.   The open will get Dapol NEM pockets from the outset.  Have
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Kato Portram Toyamako

I just received a Kato Portram I had ordered; Adorable little thing.  Somehow, when I bid on eBay for it, I hadn't noticed the adorable articulated cat motif.   I bid on this with the intention of using the bogies for RT Models Lister Autotrucks.   But, I just can't ruin such a charming little tram.   Oh well.   I'll need to keep an eye out for another on the low end of the market.   Shame they're out of print, from my knowledge.   I probably spent too much on it for breaking it, anyw
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False Starts

I've managed to mangle two projects tonight.    I've taken no pictures, in absolute shame.   Firstly, I had done a very rough cut of a baseboard for my shoebox layout.   General idea was that I could build the whole of the layout on the plywood, so that I could work on it without destroying the box.    Problem with my cutting the baseboard myself is I only have a ripsaw, triangle, and tape measure handy.   Nary a sawhorse in sight.   Also, the sheet I started with wasn't square in the
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Couplers 2

I've gone as far with the coupler project as I can now.   I've run out of couplers.   Well, mostly.   I have two packs of #31, but that micro draft box is impossible.    Not worth the trouble.   These are what I converted during this push;   I feel rather accomplished, cranking this out in a couple of weeks.   I piled the old couplers... ...for no purpose other than to dump the pile in the trash.   I have no use for them.   I managed to bo
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shows

All-American Railroad Show, Part 4

A few more shots from the show.   Scratchbuilt model of the AT&SF's Topeka station.  I do forget what the builder was telling me, sadly, but I believe there is either no or minimal compression on the size.   Even more impressive, the builder wasn't 20 yet.   I'm very happy that there are younger builders at all, much less in the US.        Brass South Shore collection, in HO scale.   Spoke with the collector.   He's having them painted by a professional.   
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Starting in the Middle

I thought I might start chronicling what I do on my cramped little workbench. I haven't much to show yet except ideas and plans.   Firstly, I've a Langley GWR 56xx kit I'm working on. I have managed to satisfy myself with the fit of the body to the Poole-Farish 94xx chassis, so currently the goal is to get the hole drilled for the trailing wheel. I've already managed to burn out a bit, and the local Ace hardware only had one on hand, so I'll need to wait until Thursday for them to restoc
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Couplers

I've dug into fitting Kadee's to my wagon fleet.   I've found longshank underset works well.    I don't plan on using these for shunting.   I'm using Kadee's more due to availability & reliability.   Also, trying to take a 30-wagon train off the line at a show is a pain with tension locks.   I'll keep working on this for now.
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More New Toys - Opinions Requested!

I am so very happy.   Hatton's has the Heljan-Olivia's Trains 27001 Ariadne listed as a bargain, just under 100 GBP.   Once I was through processing, I had it bought and shipped for $110.   Great deal!   I do need to figure out which coaches are appropriate for a Brunswick green 77, though.  Any opinions?   I was thinking maroon was the livery to grab?   I also ordered a second-hand Lynton & Barnstaple 4-wheel open.    Just adding to a small collection of narrow gauge.  
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All American Railroad Show, Part 1

Both clubs I am part of, the British Train Society, and the European Train Enthusiasts club, Chicago Chapter, showed at the annual All-American Railroad Show in LaGrange, IL today.   I only took a few pictures.
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