Leaderboard

Yard lamps have appeared at Farthing, using a mix of scratchbuilt bits, modified parts from old whitemetal lamps, and modified Andrew Stadden figures. This is an early GWR platform type, based on old photos I have found. There was also a later, more sturdy variant. Thomas Grig, GWR Yard Porter and lamplighter, is looking a trifle worried. He never did like heights. Above is a standard 13ft column lamp. Most GWR yard lamps had hexagonal lamp housing, but the style and decoration of the chimney varied greatly. This one is based on a photo in Vaughan’s "GWR Architecture". On some of the taller lamp types, a ladder was fixed permanently at the center. I assume this was safer than using the cross bars. The Old Yard at Farthing was formerly a station on the erstwhile N&SJR line. A few of the original lamps survived the GWR takeover, as seen here front left. These are modified from the old Mike' Models range. GWR porter Herbert Pocket prepares to clean a lamp. Thanks to Richard whose suggestion inspired this little scene. Herbert discovers that the chimney glass is broken. It's a proper mystery how that happened. The lamps were cobbled together from various parts in my spares box. Here the post from an old Dart Castings lamp is being modified with cross bars and curly bits from brass wire. The glazing on all the lamps was drawn up in Inkscape, then cut and scored on my Silhouette cutter. I used 0,25mm (i.e. 10 thou) PVC glazing from the German “Aeronaut Modellbau” range (ref #7858/32). The glazing is simply folded into shape. Here is a hexagonal example being folded for the GWR lamps. To represent glazing bars, I filled the folding lines with paint and removed the excess. After taking these photos I discovered that it pays to use a darker shade than for the rest of the lamp for this purpose. Frosting was initially a problem, as I used Superglue to fix the glazing in place. However, leaving one "window" open helped the fumes escape. The last bit was then fixed with glazing glue. On future lamps, I will see if a more appropriate glue can be used. The tops on the GWR lamps were built up using prototype photos, bits from the spares box and some plastic rod. In retrospect it would be better to fashion the lamp top cover from styrene as well, using the cut and fold technique. I tried different ways of making the glass chimneys, all with mixed success. I think the most promising way was to use bits cut from "fine glue applicators". The glass chimney in evidence. Looks like I didn't fit it straight. Never mind, time to get on with life :-) Speaking of life: The lamp attendants were made from Andrew Stadden figures. Their limbs bend fairly easily, another advantage of these great figures. Thomas Grig had his arms and legs bent for a suitable pose. Looks like Thomas has made use of a fireman's jacket for the grubby work of tending the lamps. Herbert Pocket was made from one of Andrew Stadden's loco crews, which come with separate arms and heads. The photos show how: I have enjoyed making these lamps. With further experiments they could probably be refined further, but for now I'm happy with them. A final look at Thomas Grig as he surveys the scene. He is in dire need of some equipment for tending that lamp - currently on the workbench.

I noticed that whilst I included a photo of the chassis in my previous entry, there wasn't one of the almost completed loco. Now rectified. It will look a lot better once decked out in GWR unlined green. I also noticed that in my previous entry I referred to the motor as being a 1620. I should have said 1420. One small point I forgot to mention which illustrates well the frustration with modelling this particular class. There are two spare lamp brackets on the left hand side of the footplate. I had the copy of GWRJ 75 at my desk and looked at several photos showing the left hand side and in every case the brackets were equidistant from the centre of the splasher. The photo of 848 though showed the right hand side. Having fitted the spare lamp brackets I looked again at the photo on the internet showing the left hand side (taken from a RMWeb post) and the rear lamp bracket was much farther back than in all the other examples, the forward one was in the same position. A small point and one easily corrected but it shows how difficult it is to model this class. One other point that I took from the photo is the footplate piping, yes it does curve down towards the rear on the prototype. I'm also intrigued as to what the prominent cylinder is on the tank top in front of the cab spectacle plate. I can only assume it is something to do with the auto apparatus. In my previous entry I noted that with this kit I used Alan Gibson plunger pickups. I would certainly use them again as they impose no more drag on the wheels than conventional wire pickups, are probably more reliable and, provided you paint the part of the bush peeping out behind the wheel (which I haven't done) unobtrusive. It is though early days. As to CSB, yes if the kit provided for it then I would use it again. An unexpected bonus with using it on an 0-4-2T is that the drive can be on the rear coupled axle and the motor and gearbox accomodated within the tank assembly. If using compensation then the rear coupled axle is compensated with the pony truck and the drive has to be on the front coupled axle with potentially gearbox or motor showing under the boiler. CSB certainly works well on this loco, it runs very well although I had to add some lead to allow the spring steel wire to deflect sufficiently. However a compensated chassis with a High Level 60:1 gearbox will also run well. This just about finishes my modelling this season, the garden and long distance walks beckon. I had hoped to be able to experiment with wooden sleeper trackwork and some ideas I have for point construction but it looks as though that will have to wait till the autumn. Trouble is I just like fiddling around with loco kits!

So the much advertised snow didn't materialise (or rather it materialised mostly as rain) and we made it back in pretty good time from York. Maybe the promise of snow put off the usual Easter bank holiday trippers because the roads were fairly clear... of traffic if not water. The show was an enjoyable one with us parked next to the 2mm roadshow and also the Jerry and Kim roadshow. We had a selection of guest operators on each day so thanks to all of them. We were next to Mike and Judith Edge and I was betting that someone in the 2mm party would buy a shot down kit but as far as I know things only progressed as far as looking at a catalogue. We also had plenty of time in the evenings to check out a few local hostelries. On the whole the layout managed to keep going for three days. We had a stuck point blade on the branch junction today but managed to work around it using the east crossover for main line departures. It was nice that the east crossover decided to cooperate because this one was sticking the previous day. Ho hum. The Easter Special A decent crowd A dodgy crowd I also managed to spend some quality time on Friday with a certain resident of the National Railway Museum - didn't you know that every Cornish layout needs an EM1?

As this is the premier modelling site I tend not to regularly post, just when I've done something a little above my normal modelling. I've had a Wills greenhouse and cold frames kit kicking around for years. Recently uncovered I decide to make up for no other reason that I wanted to do something different. Also with a requirement for another club diorama by the years end any scenic props might be useful. Again collected years ago it really was time to use some of my 'Stuff' that included flocking dust and FlowerSoft crafting granules. My wife has a much greater range of FlowerSoft that I could use. I know I could have tapered the plant pots, but when inside the subtle and extensive work wouldn't be seen No potting tray would be complete without a garden trowel The almost finished item. I think it needs guttering and a water butt Always New projects for the railway modeller, all I have to do now is find where, or how to use it !! Dad-1