I was quite pleased with my wiring and as I'm finishing the last few paint touch-ups
thought I'd have one last look before this is sealed in forever. The Lenz decoder
tucked in it's wee void.
I did a few internal fittings, although exactly what a C1930 -1940's petrol conversion
would have is open to suggestions. At least there is something, but with a driver leaning
out of one side visibility will be much restricted.
I recently had the chance to run, but only had a few wago
It had to be done. Although the Lenz mini decoder is small there was too much wire to loose,
even after removing fully those 3 feeds I didn't have a use for it was going to be tight.
The Hornby decoder is quite small but in comparison it's huge !!
I decided to cut down the 4 leads I wanted
With a small piece of plasticard blanking off the void I managed to tuck the shortened leads
and decoder out of sight. All that remains visible are the spud DCC conversion wires that
will
I have this 'Thing' about loose unused wires on decoders. In short I can't stand
having extra wires that I'm not going to use getting in the way and if not covered
suitably with masking tape offering a potential short and with it decoder death !!
In no way is this a criticism of decoder manufacturers as they need to offer a large
range of user options. The Lenz silver mini decoder that I have to put in my Roxey
'Minnie' needs to be as compact as possible so I decided to use my small sold
My decoder arrived today with quite a few points, but I shall be lucky to get soldered in this
weekend.
My radiator has it's grille, but somehow the top edge is not fitting neatly into the beading.
I'll probably have to attack with a new scalpel blade, but seeing anything this small is a strain.
The camera shows every little error, if only my eyes were that good.
The 3/4 windows are in, but I wouldn't be surprised to dislodge as I build together. Because
internal access will be alm
I've gone as far as I can before delivery of the required decoder, here is the current state of production.
Being built as an internal combustion engined loco it needs a radiator. I finally decided that would be placed
alongside the supplied white metal exhaust system on what can be thought of as the rear. To start I've added
a beading from fine microstrip, I can see from the photo a little corner blending is still needed. Into this space
I intend fixing a piece of net curtain to represen
We all know it should be planning and then progress, but I'm one who only reads the instructions when all else fails.
Perhaps not quite that bad ?
By joining the sides to a footplate beam I worked out I could hold together with a couple of elastic bands. It gives me an
overall view from which to make my changes.
Those handrail mountings all but block off the entrance, they have to go and handrails will run down the outside. I've also
decided that the cab windows will be fixed 3/
Not only did I enjoy making up the Roxey 'Howard' industrial yard loco, but it performs very well.
I have this plan for a yard alongside Westbay Wagon Works and one internal combustion shunter
is probably all that's needed, but for the sheer hell of it I thought I'd make the miniture 0-4-0 tram
type loco. I never wanted overhead lines so mine will have to deviate from the prototypical version
by having a smallish petrol engine. Not exactly unheard of as such Simplex traction was used to
sup
My little Roxey shunter was working O.K, but showed considerable differences in running ability depending on direction of movement.
Even stalls on clean straight level track when running at slow speeds I want, let alone stalling on insulated frog points.
Everything was clean and adjusted correctly, the only obvious discrepancy was the weight balance, being much heavier at the cab end.
Failure was in my opinion a failure to pick up current from the track, be it wheel to track, or wheel to moto
'Fifi' the 0-4-0 yard loco together and passed a running test. It is strange though how it runs much better in reverse
than forward. How can that be ? a 24.5 mm wheelbase had me expecting stalls on insulated frog points, however it
crosses fine at a very low speed in reverse, but needs quite a bit more 'welly' when going forward. A lengthy train,
way beyond anything this would be expected to pull, or push makes no difference. It'll work with 10 wagons no problem.
Here it is alongside my 0
Last posting introduced the Roxey Mouldings 'Howard' 0-4-0 shunting/yard loco.
The Tenshodo SPUD had to be DCC converted, very easy with a slitting disc, a problem without !!
I needed to thoroughly test & run-in using my only spare decoder a Hornby R8249 that had been taken out
of something else, exactly why I can't recall. Here it is a speed faster than the original could go, but ideal for
my purpose. It will go down to a very slow speed and will probably be better for adjusting back
Most of the traction I want, or need is available from major manufacturers, but for once I need something different. I'm planning
a non- railway company yard with a wagon works. To move wagons for repair I wanted a small shunting locomotive, in such an
environment it had to be something not used by operating companies. After looking around I came across the 'Howard' 0-4-0
by Roxey Mouldings, a small diesel loco in white metal.
I've not worked with white metal other than figures & althoug
Often when I say I hate painting I get a reply saying they like it as it starts to bring a model to life. Well I STILL
hate painting !! All that work, making, modifying, sits there with great promise ...... and can be ruined with a
poor application of paint. Such a happening simply knocks the enthusiasm out of me as is happening today.
Here was/is my Parkside Dundas Southern BY Utility van, sitting in it's malachite green (Humbrol 2 with added
blue)
Having kept the guards chimney I nee
Following my last posting here is the other side of the main road bridge.
Road painted, but awaiting white lining. Heavy traffic on a busy holiday wekend. I use several vehicles to judge if the road width gives me what I want. One day, after grassing all the embankments this side I'll be able to start on the river. I wonder how much resin water this will take !!??
Dad-1
Laying in my shed looked at frequently, but worked on occasionally my 'Big' layout Castell Mawr
has progressed slightly. One thing so few layouts have is a raised embankment section of any
length where you can look up, or the camera can, to passing rail traffic.
Today I finished grassing one part of embankment that is now completed from main road under
bridge to this boards edge.
I am having to look for suitable old brick colour paint, some testing was done with Humbrol 70, but
I'm
I think it's neat anyway and it's my railway !!
With that rocketing cost of rollingstock I'm quite pleased I started kit building. The current Bachmann BR std brake vans
are coming out at close on £21. No denying the quality, but when the same Liverpool shed has the Dapol (ex-Airfix) brake van
going for just £4.39 it's worth trying. I feel I'm an experienced plastic model maker so decided I could afford to invest in a
Train-Tech module at £15. I bought the flicker module AL2, O.K I got 2, bu
I've been on a marathon wagon building spree, oh as well as doing the clubs exhibition 'Thomas' layout.
Wagon kits of all makes, Ratio, Parkside Dundas, Cambrian, Dapol. I can't back-track on all and for
photography few have been fully finished by weathering.
Just a taster of photos :-
3 x Dapol Prestwins
Dapol Presflo
Parkside Dundas Plate & LMS CCT
Thomas Layout
I suppose I should get on here more often !!
Dad-1
I'm not a frequend poster on here.
I prefer to be working on something rather than be on-line. Trouble is I've just painted the loft
hatch and can't get in there today.
Still, it's like this ...... At Warley I saw a Parkside Dundas wagon kit, one promised by Bachmann
many moons ago, the 22 ton tube wagon. Having spent what seems like a lifetime making scale aircraft
kits I thought why not .... it's only £9 & could be fun.
It was fun & I kind of caught the bug, purchased 4 mor
My little 18" x 10" diorama is getting close to being finished. Had I not left all my stiff glueing brushes at the caravan
yesterday I would have grassed the embankment last evening.
Took this and thought I'd share, a nice little Welsh valley rail bridge with mountain stream & pub. I'm still trying to get
the right quality of Rhymney beers logo to attach to the pub. Also need to purchase Deluxe Products resin water for
my stream.
I love dioramas, they take no more than 8 weeks a
Having lost the caravan to family for the whole month of August & now having tidied it up I
may get some time for me.
What I did was this small diorama when exiled & although still not finished it's well on the way.
First we have a lighting test, two grain of wheat bulbs connected in series under the bridge so they
stay well below maximum output & a 100R resistor in the pub lamps wiring.
First grass laid today, but it became quite warm, drying out the pva mix more quickl
Rather than getting on with long term layouts I've allowed myself to be distracted again.
Is it a case of a change is as good as a rest ?
Anyway I ended up with a requirement for a pub to fill an awkward corner. The whole thing, a corner filler needing to be an odd shape
meant bespoke window frames made from microstrip & scrap plastic. As yet not fitted due to my satin black is being slow to dry, but here is the
current state of play.
I've come to the conclusion I love dioram
My current excuse for being so slow with that main layout is that I get easily diverted on to other jobs.
This makes 2 posting in one week .................
Bridport & Dist MRC had it's main exhibition on Saturday, I had a call on Tuesday to see if I could bring a layout to
replace a cancellation. Later I found out that there was a 12 foot space which was no good as my layouts are both
somewhat longer than that. I suggested that I could do some demonstration work, with a couple of dio
Ahh we do like to have a little moan ....... Too wet, Too cold, Too hot ........
I can hardly believe that it's taken over 2 years to get from this :-
To This :-
At this rate, when finished, I'll be too old to to get it from the garage & assemble !!
They say the journey is more important than the destination - perhaps that was said
by a railway modeller ?
Dad-1
Never enough time, never enough space ............
Since moving in December I've not done much on the planned big layout Castell Mawr.
It's too big to work on more than one board at a time, frequently needing 2 or 3 joined
together to visualise what I want ..... and work out how to do it !!
The recent few rain free days have had me getting some work done, before we're away
to the holiday caravan by the coast.
Firstly 3 boards were put together, interesting that the bungalow is on a stee
6 weeks since I posted and in truth not a lot done.
Family members are having the caravan this weekend so I had to do something
with Shillingstones Lane. Pt.I shown in the last posting was all but finished
however Pt.II was sitting unloved so I brought home and added some grass, fixed
(although not painted) fencing around the cottage then planted a real height
tree roughly a 44 footer.
I enjoy the making up of a scene, much more relaxing for me than trying to copy
some existing lo
