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Showing content with the highest reputation on 21/01/14 in all areas

  1. Continuing my journey around the layout I thought it time to return to the Branch Junction and catch the ex GWR branch train. Bachmann Dukedog ready and waiting The next station down the old GWR branchline is the ‘Halt in the Corner’ or more simply the ‘Passing Loop’. The Halt in the Corner Neither the station nor the passing loop featured in my original plans. Trains leaving the Branch Junction for the Main Terminus via the old GWR line (literally the Great Way Round) followed a circuitous path around the outside of the layout eventually appearing out of a tunnel at a suitably lower level by the engine sheds. Outside the engine sheds – the branch tunnel exit in the background It soon became obvious operationally that a passing loop was needed midway along the Branch – both to enable trains to pass each other but also to provide some temporary storage. At the same time I was thinking how best I could utilise an Autotrain. Historically modellers would simply provide a short spur off the Mainline ending in a tunnel. What about having a Bay Platform adjacent to the passing loop just to store the Autotrain? Hornby 14xx and Autocoach The original six or seven foot radius curve was changed for two smaller radius curves with two points forming a passing loop arrangement and two extra points were added to provide two sidings. Bachmann 22xx on pick up goods duty Scenery is still rather sparse. An ex GWR corrugated iron Goods Shed and a Provender Store are provided by suitable Scenecraft models. The Yard Crane is from the Mike’s Models range and featured in an earlier Blog. Ex GWR Yard Crane by Mike’s Models Station buildings are from the original Hornby Skaledale range whilst the platform is scribed balsa with an asphalt infill provided by ‘wet and dry’ emery paper. Bachmann Dukedog resting - something that it was probably good at? As the title suggests this Post is really an excuse to look at the new Bachmann model of the Dukedog. In contrast to some other recent models I have to say I am impressed. My model looks good and runs very smoothly. A word of caution, don’t expect great haulage power. I think the Dukedogs had disappeared from service when we holidayed in Wales in the early '60s. However I have always been fascinated by the engine’s appearance which I feel is symbolic of a much earlier age. The Model Railway Constructor magazine had an article in August 1964 on how to make a Dukedog from an Airfix kit – something I have always fancied doing but knowing that I would probably never get round to. How to construct an Airfix Dukedog Oh well time to get back on the train and return to finish this post off. Bachmann Dukedog on Mainline ‘B’ Set rewheeled with metal wheels and close coupled with Bachmann mini couplings (long)
    3 points
  2. First of all I know the mermaid code is a BR creation, but given the GW didn't even allocate a diagram to these wagons it's a bit tough to know what else to call it As per the thread in help I have been converting the Cambrian mermaid kit into the gwr version, Work has involved New buffers Single side Morton breaks Removal of vac mount New break leavers (once I find something suitable) I am unclear as to whether there are any body details which are different between the original and BR versions, so if anyone knows better please let me know. The body has a little damage (it was built years ago and chucked in the bottom of a bits box) so this still needs repairing. My plan now is to add another 4 or 5 of these to make a bulk working from the quarry en route to some engineering work elsewhere on the network. Also seen in the below photo is my Kirk ballast open, finally fitted with a pair of parkside break leavers. Both are now ready for paint. I have no photos of the gw mermaid, so currently haven't a clue how to letter it...
    3 points
  3. Troutons is the new 4mm Modern image layout of the Wakefield Model Railway Society. It features a Heljan container crane, booking on point and scrap yard. The aim is to provide viewers with typical trains that would be seen passing through West Yorkshire. After the Wakefield show the team are now busily upgrading stock ready for the next exhibition. A log of progress can be found on the layout section of a RMweb. This blog is focused on detailing and weathering examples of the steel carrier wagons. The first entry is based around the Bachmann BZA steel carrier. The following images were taken of the main line running through Cardiff whilst visiting daughter at a University Feb 2013. There were a succession of heavy steel and coal trains running throughout the day, mainly EWS livery Class 66 haulage. These images show the variety of loading coils onto the wagons. The images will form the basis for the detailing and weathering. Not a lot of time this evening to carry out some modelling but did manage to apply base colour of dark rust shadow and dry brush with burnt rust, light shadow and oxidation system powder. All colours from the Life colour rust and dust set Bogie frames light coating of frame dirt with small amount of brake dust added Cradles have been added and additional eroded burnt rust added to centre wells to create impression of rust that collects there. Friday 24 th back on bogies and metal bands fitted around the coils. I think it sits well with an impression of weight. Next steps include adding representation of the securing pins of cradles to wagon bed, they look like they were yellow originally, washes of back and some more earth tones on bogies and some work on the bogies. Using a small punch bolt heads produced and in place ready for a dab of yellow More or less complete, needs to sit awhile 26th Jan new project. OCA which will have a wire coil load. 29th Jan this evening is an attempt to model an OCA loaded with rebar. Found some thin wire that has the look of rebar. Cannot remember where from. Using Northeastern lumber for the wooden batons that would keep the load from the floor. Completed load awaiting weathering Load weathered and light rust added to the wagon. Have some smaller off cuts that shape into angled rebar for another load. 2nd Feb that time of year again and with a cold snap lungs starting to shut down again but means can get a few hours modelling so completed the last of the OCA steel carriers. Used up the last of the off cuts and made into angled rebar and decided that third OCA should be heavily weathered and so could be still in engineers service or pressed back into steel carriying
    2 points
  4. Have been chipping away (literally!), at the big building. One side of the railings are finished, although not permanently fixed or painting completed yet. Will have to do a couple of bits for the other side and, rather frustratingly, the missing bits as am assuming they wouldn't have gone far so will have to contribute to the heap of junk and rubble that will occupy the front garden. There is now some basic dirt and remains of flower beds in the front and a couple of detail bits such as the boot scrapper and door bell pull. The upstairs is now pretty much finished apart from filling with rubbish and have have done the floors downstairs (too clean at the moment!), and just need to finish walls and junk up. Nearly there with this one and then two more buildings to go. I have a prototype in mind for one and a good idea of what I want for the other but will probably be made up as it has a very specific job to do in acting as a view blocker to the fiddle yard entrance. It will also partly block the view to the current big building so why am I adding so much detail!
    2 points
  5. Before continuing with my journey around the layout I thought I would share a few pictures of the Main Junction Station populated with some rolling stock that might have graced the north east of England in the 1960s. Bachmann Mk1 Pullmans, Hornby L1 and Bachmann WD 2-8-0 The original theme of the layout is BR (LMR/WR) perhaps near Chester or there again maybe Shrewsbury or even somewhere further south. However I also have fond memories of growing up in north east England and with the availability of so many splendid ready to run models I have indulged in a few north eastern and Scottish types. Coincidentally the buildings for the Main Junction Station are those early Hornby Skaledale models based on Goathland on the North York Moors Railway. This was done purely for convenience until I can construct some more appropriate types. So some views with north eastern rolling stock should be a good fit. Bachmann V2 60964 suitably weighted and with blackened wheels First a view of my very first Bachmann model, purchased from MG Models of Sheffield back in 1996 for what was then the immense sum of £62.95. I think it still looks a good model and can be relied upon to run well. This early model came with larger diameter carrying wheels beneath the cab rather than the undersize wheels fitted to some of the later Bachmann variants. Another view of Bachmann V2 60964 after a trip around the reversing loop In the 1960s the north east of England was still dominated by heavy industry, particularly the huge steel works that used to be Dorman Long on Teesside. The predominant inward rail traffic was iron ore, coking coal and in return steel fabrications and castings. Bachmann J39 with Bachmann Austerity 2-8-0 Lighter freight trains were handled by 0-6-0 J26 and J27 types. However as these types are not yet readily available a model of a J39, which were occasionally seen, will have to suffice. For heavier trains there were Q6s and WD 2-8-0s – so the Bachmann model is a good fit. Bachmann A1 Kings Courier on express, note Hornby WD 0-6-0ST shunting Express passenger trains on the East Coast Mainline were hauled by A1s, A2s and A4s with plenty of A3s in evidence on the lighter loads. The view above shows a Bachmann A1 passing a Hornby WD 0-6-0ST, another engine type used for short haul heavy goods trains in the Darlington Teesside area. Bachmann A4 Dominion of Canada passing Hornby WD 0-6-0ST No North Eastern experience would be complete without a view of a Gresley A4. Over the years I have owned a number of these models. With a bit of added lead they produce a model with a truly representative haulage power. Dominion of Canada was a recent purchase and I have to say that it was one of those models that was ‘nearly very good’. In hindsight I should probably have returned the model. The engine ran well and the bodywork was unmarked. However the more I studied the engine the more I realised that the front buffers were pointing skywards. Time had gone by and I couldn’t bring myself to return the model – so what about some hot water and some gentle manipulation? Bachmann A4 bodyshell – disassembled? I must have been lucky because with the influence of the hot water the ‘buffer assembly’ was readily detached. It was then a straightforward job to clean off the old glue and to reattach the buffer beam with the correct orientation. Bachmann A4 William Whitelaw - chassis I will just add two more views of Bachmann A4s. Well actually the chassis plus my additional lead weight. Bachmann A4 Dominion of Canada - chassis When I first purchased William Whitelaw I was surprised that the motor was totally enclosed – might it over heat? Now with Dominion of Canada there is a gap in the chassis – is this an acknowledgement that there might be problems? Bachmann J39 and Bachmann WD 2-8-0 A final shot of two freight trains to remind us of the industrial heritage that was the north east.
    1 point
  6. Had a productive Christmas on the modelling front and a busy start to the year with an early club Saturday running which provided the impetus to get some work done and get the module test passed. That was successful so I am now officially allowed to exhibit with the first date penciled in for the Bluebell railway show in June. The main improvement is the ballasting on the main line, this vastly improves the look and moves the layout on from a work in progress to super detailing. I've added track workers in the space between the line and the yard which I think really start to show the scale. I Included the hedge line and fitted a panel to the front of the layout to protect the mainlines at shows and stop anything falling off. The hedge line is a mix of Woodland scenic bushes interspersed with some home made( Wire wool) bushes covered in green and pink scatter. I've also added workers to the cement works and the aggregate yards. Don't have enough with helmets and High Vis clothing so may need some additional ones over time. The pictures don't show the full dressing (Cars, Excavators, Cement mixers) I think i mentioned that i was considering using Tacky Wax for these. Think thats not going to work and will leave a lot of residue and catch dust so will be gluing them in with super glue I think once the car parking areas are finished from a detailing perspective. The Cement yard is now pretty much done. Little bit of work to the fencing and boundaries but its all stuck down, need to add some more rubbish and weeds around the building edges so thats one job off the list. Been working on repainting the burdens yard building and adding some signage and also filling the yard. Need a lot more "stuff" for the yard and the signs may need replacing on the building as the weathering on the roof may have toned them down too much. Less is definitely the way to go with weathering modern stuff, getting the balance right between mint and weathered is hard and seems to vary vastly for a range of different reasons. Posted a few pictures here and a few more on the FlickR site http://www.flickr.com/photos/94738636@N05/12048797495/lightbox/
    1 point
  7. Goodevening - Ive recently dusted off a long term project - the last of my class 37 fleet - 37403 Ben Cruachan. This started life as a Bachmann collectors club loco - 'Caerphilly castle' which has been renumbered, renamed, and had the orance cantrail lines repainted further up the body where they should be for '403. The warning flashes have also been replaed for earlier pre 1998 style. I just need to find suitable white numbers for ther '403' on the noses - so far I've drawn a blank. Elsewhere I've done a fair bit of detailing work on the model - starting from the top down - the roof grille has been replaced with a Shawplan etch - the mesh is glued on first with Devcon epoxy - the brass frame is then lashed to the mesh using tiny strands of wire wrapped round the frame and through the mesh , then twisted round and round to 'tighten'. The Air horns have been replaced with brass versions from markits , these are cross drilled and can be soldered onto a short piece of wire to mount them with. On the noses , the aerial has been replaced with a fine piece of black nylon from a brush , so they're nice and fine , and indestructable the nylon is fixed with devon - and just to prove it , look - no stabbed fingers more soon tfn jon
    1 point
  8. Since my last blog post, I've been spending a lot of time familiarising myself with the Silhouette cutter. I think one of its best features is the 'print and cut' facility, which means that you can print an image, with filled colour and details, to your regular home printer and then feed the printed sheet into the Silhouette, to cut out around the printed image. I have been experimenting with different materials, including card, HP Photo Paper, and styrene sheet. As described in posts in the Silhouette Forum, I've had some success with printing onto styrene, by using hairspray to create a surface that will accept the ink. See http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/79025-a-guide-to-using-the-silhouette-cameo-cutter/?p=1303230 for more info. Later, I also tried using white aerosol car primer as a foundation for printing, which gave brighter colours but the sharpness of the printed details did not match what I could achieve on HP Photo Paper. In addition to the difficulty of printing on styrene, I read several posts, in the same thread, which described difficulties in laminating several layers of styrene without distortion. As a result, I've decided to make my first coaches from Card and HP Photo Paper, over an inner layer of transparent acetate, rather like the N-gauge models shown in the article by Andrew Duxson, in 'Railway Modeller', Feb 2014. The use of laminated layers provides the surface relief that is necessary at 00-gauge. Each layer is pre-printed, so there is no difficult painting needed, in order to outline the multitude of panels characteristic of 19th-century coaches. At first, I spent a lot of time carefully removing the chads from each panel, using the tip of a scalpel, then I discovered that I could simply peel off the main 'structure', while all the chads were left behind on the tacky surface of the mat! I could hardly believe how simple it was and, afterwards, I simply scythed off the chads into my waste bin, using a scalpel. The photo above shows side strips for the clerestory roofs of two coaches that I am currently building. One is the U29 composite, described in earlier posts, while the other is a family saloon, shown in Fig.23 of Russell's GW Coaches Part 1. I know very little about this coach but the photo seems to be taken in exactly the same location as Fig.18, which shows the U29 composite. Apparently, this family saloon was a re-build of one of the first broad-gauge sleeping cars but I do not know the diagram number [EDIT - see footnote]. I could have built a G20 saloon but these are relatively 'commonplace', with preserved examples at Didcot and South Devon and, of course, the example at Farthing, complete with entombed Weasel. My Family Saloon will be used by the Lord of the Manor for his annual trip to London, for the Season, in a special train, to include my N6 Horsebox and to-be-built Open Carriage Truck (with carriage). Since I only had a photo, plus the information that the overall length was 29 feet, I made a copy and scaled it as a background image in AutoSketch. I then drew over the framing, windows, and droplights, using the various drawing tools, and saved the result to both a PDF file and a DXF file. I coloured the PDF image using Photoshop and saved the result as a TIFF image. I then opened the TIFF image in the Silhouette 'Studio' software and copied it to the clipboard. Finally, I opened the DXF file in 'Studio' and pasted in the image from the clipboard, as a background. After carefully aligning the photo image with the cutting diagram and adding the alignment marks, I printed the image on my HP inkjet printer and placed the sheet into my Silhouette Portrait for cutting. I have ordered Cleminson chassis for both coaches from 'Brassmasters', so that they will be able to negotiate my small-radius curves. On scaling the Russell photo of the U29, it is clear that the wheelbase is longer than the usual 19 feet - more like 22' - so the adjustable nature of the Brassmaster chassis will be needed. Mike Next Post EDIT: Thanks to information provided by Mikkel, I now know that this coach was diagram G13, converted from BG to standard gauge in 1891 and re-numbered 76.
    1 point
  9. Under the platform at the top station is a Sheave, which is based on colliery design. I contacted Hornby Customer Services, to ask what was the diameter of the Sheave in their Colliery Headgear model and if it was available as a spare. They just directed me to their spares dealers, who had no stock and could not help. A plea in the Help and Tips forum drew a response from Arthur (Thanks again!) who had acquired 3D printed Sheaves (57mm dia?) from Shapeways via Ebay, He tried to get his supplier to contact me, which did not happen. Mention of the requirement for a sheave at 34mm in my Blog resulted in two offers within 24 hours! First was Etched Pixels who had a 3D drawing / file in which all he had to do (he said) was to put in the appropriate numbers to get a 12-spoked sheave with grooved rim for the ropes. He has been a great help, and obtained the three of them for me, so that I have spares, 3D printed in Nylon by Shapeways. Nylon was recommended to withstand the loads imposed by being a tight fit on a shaft, and the torque loads applied in use. The second response again for a Shapeways product was from Dazzler Fan Thanks to both for their interest and offers of help. A picture of the nylon Sheave as supplied by Etched Pixels (His copyright!) A reminder that this is only 34mm diameter. It has 3 grooves in the rim to guide the ropes attached to the carriages. The operation of the model's passenger cars has been considered, and a suitable 12volt motor and gearbox, together with mounting bracket, obtained from Technobots (http://www.technobotsonline.com ).Their description is:- "The 360:1 Mini Metal Gear Motor looks much like our other mini metal gear motors, except the motor is longer. And the gearing is in an enclosed cylindrical casing! These also have a beefier set of mounting holes, threaded for 2-M2 metric screws. Even more interesting are the motor characteristics. This compact brute of a gear motor offers a measured stall torque of 7.434 kgcm at 6V - thats considerable! Of course, with something this small, we trade the increase in torque for a decrease in speed at 23RPM at 6V. A suitable mounting bracket from our Pololu range is available." Elsewhere in their site they describe similar motors as having "Finger-twisting Torque" !! The prototype travel time from top to bottom is 1 minute ( +/- a couple seconds depending on the controller's braking of the operation.) The sheave at the top station scales at 34 mm and needs to rotate 17 times to move the carriages over the length of the track. So I need to control the sheave to about 17rpm. The motor / gearbox chosen has a 6volt no-load speed of 23rpm so will do the job admirably. The 15.5mm dia motor / grearbox and mounting bracket with a pack of the M2 screws.
    1 point
  10. This I had to do in the beginnig. Painting the APA box. I found this weekend finaly some time to finish the painting I started a couple of weeks ago. Now I had to take all of my models out of the box ant store them on the shelf. The black shadow is a roll of painting tape. This kind of paint jobs I don’t like because of my MCSD. I always get somekind of reaction. But on the website of Allergy UK I found some usefull tips. Now I put a cut union in the room when I have finished painting to help to absorp the smell of the paint. The other “ advantige ” this time was: I had already a new Apa box on the shelf for Station Road. The pictures will speak for them self. Grounding the APA-box Starting with the first layer of black acrylic paint. The final result. I still have to do some work on the fabric background on the right side. But remember with just an opening view in front not every thing will be visible. I test that frequently when I building my diorama. And yes the APA-box for Station Road is also painted and waiting for further developments. Although every building has it’s own charme I have some doubts of the total appareance. I will leave it this way for now and I will have look at it every time I enter my workspace to find what is bugging me. In the meanwhile I can go on with the road. That is also waiting to be finished. Regards, Job
    1 point
  11. Finally the hardstanding area is complete, painted and the goods shed stuck down, that's one big storage box in the recycling bin. Note how the right hand track is not straight through the turnout - I guess this should be classed as a wye - THE advantage of Templot and home made pointwork I've also edged the raised polystyrene landforms with thin card (cornflakes packet) and painted them a nice earthy brown. Some sheep have been bought and are in the process of being painted. Next job is to dig out the cinders where the camping coach steps should go and stick them down. The coach itself will be screwed to it's track just before the Mansfield Show
    1 point
  12. Have now given up sitting on the fence (too painful!), and am getting on with the railings for the big building which has been on hold since Christmas. Yes, that does mean that the Simplex is on hold in a semi working state but think I need a bit of a change. I am working from a couple of original pictures for this building so have a general look for the railings but do not feel obliged to copy them completely, which would be pretty difficult anyway from a couple of grainy pics. So to get something that looked right I thought I would go out and find some railings - not as easy as it sounds! The local 1940 scrap for tanks committee (or whatever they were called), must have been particularly enthusiastic as after keeping my eyes open for a couple of weeks didn't manage to spot anything that wasn't modern. Then when I stopped looking realised that I pass this twice a day on school run. So with some real dimensions I set about drawing up a plan in PhotoShop and printed a few out. It was then that my super scale intentions hit a problem. I had intended to drill a flat strip with a row of holes for the uprights, I knew it wouldn't be easy but I wasn't banking on impossible! Getting the drill to start by itself was a non starter, counter punching just bent the strip if it was to be done to any useful degree, layer of masking tape and a quick prod with a scribe just about worked. But.... having got a row of holes the strip was so bendy it was next to useless. Am sure that thicker material would help and if I was really going for it etching the holes on the strip would be the way forward. So, what I have settled for is just a horizontal bay on one side. Now, anyone just looking at this would probably say it looked OK but now I have told you all you will all be pointing it out! Here is the first panel being soldered up over the drawing, held in place with double sided tape; Note the little jig I made up for cutting the bars to the same length. Almost finished; And one panel finished except for the fact that I have decided to add a third horizontal at the top to make them a bit posher like in the photo. Have made three now which is about half way there.
    1 point
  13. A few weeks ago I received the second phase of Templot from my good friend Morgan consisting of the south exit including a single slip, Lawrence Hill Junction and some modified trackwork that goes behind the junction signal box to the shed. In the prototype the double track lines, from the Junction, that run behind the junction signal box operated as two single lines, one to St.Philips Station and the other to the Carriage Sidings, St Philips Goods Yard and the Cattle Dock, however for the model the trackwork has been modified to give me an additional exit track out of the roundhouse whilst roads to the carriage sidings [ they will not be modelled ] are represented going off layout. Having laid the new Templot I made the short sections of trackwork into the front of the roundhouse followed by the completion of the two coal sidings with their buffer stops. Following this I had a surge of enthusiasum and started on the turnout by the office and then the tandem three way to the carriage sidings the latter shown on the assembly board..............
    1 point
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