Jump to content
 

Stour Valley Dream - start with point rodding

Fen End Pit

Entry posted by Fen End Pit

879 views

 Share

I've made a start on the point rodding for Clare. Before anyone asks this is NOT functional! It has been great fun trying to work out the rodding runs from photographs as they changed over time at the Cavendish end when the coal siding was realigned. The prototype was built using round rod rather than the more modern square section - typically I had bought a load of .5mm square brass wire from Eileen!

 

I've used cranks from Brassmasters and rodding stools from DCC concepts. These rodding stools are hand-cut in purest platinum by a zen hermit hiding in a cave in the Himalayas* and cost an appropriate amount.

IMG_7296a.jpg.e80694a218ccbd4de8ea1261dd7b6aef.jpg

 

The lead-out from the signal box was made up as one unit and sits in the hole in the platform face. I've still got to put in the wire runs for the signals but most of these just go straight across to the face of the opposite platform.

IMG_7297a.jpg.67deadd43a520ef5b56081143a361132.jpg

 

The platform isn't stuck down yet so there is still a bit of a gap.

IMG_7298a.jpg.51180eee6a1672258e14086a56d82aee.jpg

 

Just as the run gets to the baseboard joint it takes a 90 degree angle to jump to between the tracks in the loop, however one of the rods also goes straight on as it operators the catch point on the coal siding.  The run then continues between the tracks until just after the river bridge where it jumps back to the far side of the original siding's alignment. This will mean in my timescale that there is a space between the running line and the rodding where the siding used to be.

 

IMG_7299a.jpg.9d08cd913f7e70ad3692c6ee1022dc07.jpg

 

Please bear in mind these photos are pretty cruel enlargements!

 

* actually I think they are molded in Delrin or a particularly hard plastic. It has been quite easy to cut out one of the central wheels to make a 1-rod and 2-rod stool.

 

I have also purchased some of the Woodland Scenics static grass which seems to be quite a bit less 'shiny' than some of the other brands (I'm looking at you Peco). I've tried adding some using a layering glue aerosol. The result is better but I obviously still need to do a lot more varieties of texture before I'm done.

 

IMG_7300a.jpg.44acf064830016a887a48b088c827d4f.jpg

 

You can see the difference between the area on the far side of the track and that nearest the camera.

 

IMG_7301a.jpg.a352cd8ce50b2a0fd4e1616b9700cfe2.jpg

 

Must get the hoover on the track again - I just used the little dust buster with a sock over the end to pick up most of the loose fibres.

 

I've found one nice photograph which shows a row of beehives along the bank where the track is. These were obviously only positioned there once the siding had fallen into disuse. I wonder whether they were tended by a railway man?

 

David

 

 

 

  • Like 9
  • Craftsmanship/clever 4
 Share

7 Comments

Recommended Comments

Dave Holt

David.

Point rodding makes such a difference to the overall presentation, in my view, so it's looking good so far. Have you included representation of the compensators - none visible in the photos?

Dave.

Link to comment
  • RMweb Gold
Fen End Pit
  • RMweb Gold
18 hours ago, Dave Holt said:

David.

Point rodding makes such a difference to the overall presentation, in my view, so it's looking good so far. Have you included representation of the compensators - none visible in the photos?

Dave.

I think that most the compensation was done by changing the direction of the movement as the rodding changed angle rather than by in-line compensators. I can't see any in the runs as far as the prototype photos I have.

 

David

Link to comment
  • RMweb Gold
Fen End Pit
  • RMweb Gold
17 hours ago, Miss Prism said:

I'm amazed you have put rodding in before the ballasting is complete.

 

Yes, this may come back to bite me but I felt it was easier to brush a little ballast under the rods and then flood in some ballast glue than it was to have to excavate holes for the point rodding stools, particularly along the platform face.

We'll see how it goes!

 

thanks

David

Link to comment
  • RMweb Premium
KH1
  • RMweb Premium

I am very glad I don't have to bother with point rodding.

 

Try these people for 'dull' grass and don't ignore the 10mm stuff - that is only 30 inches in 4mm and the length that the grass in the 'wildlife' section of my garden is fast approaching.

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WWS-Patchy-Grass-10mm-for-Embankments-Wild-Meadows-Layouts-BattleBoard/171066688632?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

 

I also found my beard trimmer ideal for cutting it back a bit - the static grass not the real stuff!

Link to comment
westernviscount
On ‎23‎/‎07‎/‎2019 at 15:31, Fen End Pit said:

Yes, this may come back to bite me but I felt it was easier to brush a little ballast under the rods and then flood in some ballast glue than it was to have to excavate holes for the point rodding stools, particularly along the platform face.

We'll see how it goes!

 

thanks

David

Hi David, 

 

Very fine looking trackwork and rodding. I would say you have made a good call on point rodding before ballast. it is very difficult to get a straight, flat run trying to glue the rollers on top of  the ballast. It will also allow the concrete bases to be represented as having the ballast around them and just the tops visible.

Excellent modelling!

 

Cheers

Dave

  • Agree 1
Link to comment
Richard Jones

"These rodding stools are hand-cut in purest platinum by a zen hermit hiding in a cave in the Himalayas* and cost an appropriate amount."

 

I prefer to get mine made from unobtainium as it has a better half life :laugh_mini::laugh_mini::laugh_mini:

Edited by Richard Jones
Link to comment

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...