92220

Not at all Graham - you had more than enough to occupy the mind! Hope today goes well. Iain

It was a great pleasure and a privilege to go to Taunton today and help Graham (LNER4479) and the team operate Hills of the North. Even better, I got to take a few Camden locos to add to the roster A big thank you for having me! A few photos and a video to enjoy I missed filming 70044, 45584, 44684. 42110 did plenty of banking and 46146 has stripped its gears and has come back for heavy general. But this compilation includes: 46239 on a northbound express 46245 on the Caledonian 45735 on another northbound express 44687 on cement 73139 on parcels 45027 on the Lakes express 92220 on the rail tour usually hauled by Clun Castle 92056 on fitted freight Thanks again to Graham and the team for a great day. Best wishes, Iain

It was a great pleasure and a privilege to come today Graham. Thank you for having me as part of the select team, and for running part of my collection of locos which mainly had significant relevance to Shap. Really enjoyed my debut not only on Shap but as a show operator at all. It was nice to get a few comments about the locos from those attending too. 46245 - in fact not DJH but a Hornby body with Comet frames, complete Comet tender, plenty of lead and a lot of detailing. I ought to have straightened the front coupling, and got it lamped, crewed, coaled and weathered, But you’d say that about most of mine to be honest. It ran well up the bank on the Caledonian, which didn’t tax it too much. 45375 Comet - as you said! 44687 got plenty of interest too. But the star of the show was the entire layout, both in vision and execution. I missed filming 70044, 45584, 44684. 42110 did plenty of banking and 46146 has stripped its gears and has come back for heavy general. But this compilation includes: 46239 on a northbound express 46245 on the Caledonian 45735 on another northbound express 44687 on cement 73139 on parcels 45027 on the Lakes express 92220 on the rail tour usually hauled by Clun Castle 92056 on fitted freight Thanks again for a great day. I’ll tidy up a couple more photos and videos too. Best wishes, Iain

I bought one - preordered 18 months ago. Of course I did. Probably no surprise to anyone, nor what version I bought. But anyway. It arrived. Packaging did a far better job than previous versions at protecting the valuable contents from damage. In common with one earlier poster, one brake block had fallen off, but on first examination that is the only issue and it is easily rectified. First impressions are that it is absolutely excellent overall. It runs very smoothly, but as I’ve not run it in yet, I haven’t tested it for haulage capacity. Is it, on balance, better than the Bachmann version that I spent several hours and a lot of care in improving? I think so, yes. Some of even the very much more obscure details I added are already on, or are just much better, on the Hornby version - step on the reverser, WR lamp irons and the ATC for example. There has been some very careful research done on this - always assuming the other versions are different! In my view, the Bachmann one wins on: Driving wheel shape/profile - if killybegs uses the Bachmann wheel as the very best basis, better than Gibson, Ultrascale or anything, for the ultimate P4 9F then this is worth something. Front step under the smokebox - the Hornby one is full width of the frames and is only correct for post 63 I think Etched smoke deflectors (and etched nameplates provided) Front pony (specifically the ease of removing the NEM pocket, which would disappear for either) Pony wheel profile (not that either would be preferred to Gibson) Colour etc of wheels, frames etc, although again if weathered you make your own choice cylinder drain cocks - more accurate shape although not as crisp a moulding to be fair. Hornby one wins on Cab/footplate interface - whatever you do the Bachmann one has a tiny gap between the two components Shade of green tender brake gear and frames tender doors (not cab doors) overall detailing - ATC, specific WR lamp irons, cinder guards, cab and tender details, injector pipework, smokebox pipework, sliding cab ventilator, reverser step, Hidden gear tower tender pickups (I presume? I didn’t check yet) much finer handrail pillars subtle details like the cladding panels and smokebox, firebox/boiler interface, safety valves but then the Hornby one is close to 20 years newer. I would say it is pretty much a dead heat in many areas because both are very good renditions of 92220. Really characteristic details like the cab profile, front spectacles, cylinder shape, lubricator drive etc are dead giveaways when wrong - witness the straight sided DJH 9F cab - and look spot on for both versions. Disclaimer: This is just a 5 minute look and first impression! And the bottom line is both are rtr 4mm models. Both are an excellent basis either for accepting them for what they are - very good out of the box with a few small shortcomings of varying degrees, and more importantly, both are an even more excellent basis for doing some modelling. I plan to add to the Hornby one when I get round to it: Etched deflectors Etched nameplates water pipes from tender to injectors front vacuum pipe support (different to the Hornby one) Exactoscale front coupling (9Fs had an extra link) Front pony detailing Front pony wheels (Gibson) plus obvious things like front steps, draincocks, crew, lamps coal and weathering So, no criticism from me at all. Delighted with it. Iain

Welcome back Scott. Glad to hear you’re ok. best wishes Iain

Evening, It’s been a while, sorry. I’ve not been completely idle. It’s been somewhat busy in this neck of the woods and relatively little time to do much, I’ve at least managed to complete the construction of something. Someone wanted a green one. I can’t remember who it was now, but it was always in the plan! so I did one. (I mean I built a green one, for the avoidance of any doubt) This was the subject of the previous post on Jan 9: So as is probably pretty predictable, a Hornby City of Chester of China vintage, I guess probably 12 years old or so, so not the latest version, but it scrubs up well enough with a load of work. I think the entire loco cost me £65 and I sold the chassis for £35. Then I added a few things: Comet frames, motion, bogie and trailing truck Mashima 1628 and a High Level box (I can’t remember which at this moment, but a joy compared to recent battles with Comet boxes. Never had an issue before, so it is probably me) Comet detailing items (inside cylinder cover, deflectors, vacuum release valves, whistle, safety valves and cover, cab doors and floor, fall plate, smokebox door dart, AWS bang plate, battery box and cylinders, balance weights and axle nut covers) Brassmasters buffer step plates Markits driving wheels, machined crossheads and droplinks Gibson bogie wheels, handrail pillars throughout. Hornby front screw coupling Hornby tender ledge removed, sides thinned 247 etched plates Fox cylinder lining A pile of lead which is is most conceivable crannies of frames and body. I think it’s a bit lighter than 46245 in the final reckoning. Never fails to amaze how 3 coats of Klear turns a relatively lifeless green into something more realistic. Overall I am pleased with this. To be honest I am a bit rusty, so some things took me a while. But it runs smoothly and powerfully (15 including 6 heavy kits is no issue). It doesn’t have a great turn of speed - deliberately, given Camden’s location - but while it wouldn’t outpace much on Little Bytham, I hope it will bear scrutiny in terms of quality. It will, however, need crew, lamps, coal and weathering, like about 20 others. Best wishes to all, Iain

Hi Brian, nice work. It’s complicated even though the alterations appear small. I would still like to redo mine. did you replace the Hornby Rebuilt Scot/Pat chimney? The Brassmasters one is a big improvement I think. Also the Comet/Wizard one seems a better shape to me. best wishes Iain

Thanks Brian. I removed some plastic from the body under the cab and I got it to roughly the right height in the end. As I recall the correct measurement is roughly 59mm from the rail head. But I’d have to check. The difficulty was that, having used a Mashima motor and a Comet GB3 on the middle axle, I had a job getting enough weight in the rear of the loco. The front has the Hornby weight but there isn’t much room behind the motor. I have a couple more Scots and 2-3 rebuilt Patriots to do: I’ll need to find a better arrangement to get enough weight in the rear end of the loco. Getting enough weight in a Black 5 is also a challenge but it’s a bit more balanced front to rear. Weighting a plastic Coronation body is a bit easier because it’s cavernous Iain

Hi Brian, Good to see a few more 6’9” 4-6-0s may I ask what you have done to weight and fine tune the ride height on your Scot? I found the Hornby body on unmodified Comet frames (a) light and (b) cab and fall plate too high up Best wishes, Iain

Hi Simon and anyone supporting HLJ last weekend, 200 mile round trip to see this on Saturday and I would break into a Proclaimers rendition given the chance. Quite simply jaw-dropping - the ambition and execution; the scale, the detail, everything. It’s not my modelling scale, region or era (obvious steam special apart) but it brought back vivid memories nonetheless. Huge congratulations, appreciation and thanks for making this happen. However, I spotted a discarded Walkers crisp packet that was 7 months and 5 days too early for the period depicted. Really. Disgraceful and you should do better. 🧐🤣 I have just filled up my car and I can’t begin to calculate how much it must have cost to transport it, let alone the hours, energy, expertise and funds required to get it to this stage. You have my total admiration. I thought I was trying to do something mad with 40’ of North London in my loft, but I think I just need to get my finger out. Iain

I can’t remember what my last update showed exactly so a quick recap. I have definitely done a little since then, but also started to travel for work again which decreases opportunity somewhat. Camden Goods Shed Painting continued a bit but more to do plus details (pipes, trunking, lamps, signs, derricks etc) still to add once painting is finished. Includes a remodelled structure just next to the Camden No.1 box, that I’m not even sure what it is but I have found better photos since building the first version and this is closer. It looks from photos as if it could contain a ballast box of some sort, maybe made from old sleepers. Primrose Hill station continues too: Station building extended and semi rebuilt. New staircase and platform, plus the odd-looking building between the NL lines and the goods yard approaches. I couldn’t bring myself to do all the windows on the side that could never be seen! Iain

I can only begin to imagine the frustration and endless hours that you and others have had to get through this process, Andy. A big thank you from me to add to all the others here. Iain

Good morning Tony, Regarding the WCML, Vincent Worthington has been creating the most epic EM depiction of Camden Bank for some time now. MRJ 172 contains a lengthy feature on it. I do have a photo of my own of it from 2013, but I’ve not asked Vincent’s permission to post it here. My own layout is a less ambitious (and clearly less accurate being OO SF) version of the mainline passing Camden Shed. Although it will still take me some years to build. You are, and will always be, most welcome to visit at any time. Shown below in various states over the past few months. I know there was an epic P4 WCML layout built by the late Bill Richmond in New Zealand, but many observers asked some questions about how well it worked given the spider population seemed to be thriving on it. Aside from those you’ve mentioned, I’m not sure of any others. best wishes, Iain

Setts completed and Camden Goods Shed painting begun. There is a fair bit of detailing to add to the building, not to mention more painting and weathering. I will sand the setts to tone down the gaps between them and flatten the top surfaces, before priming and painting. I’m not sure exactly what colour to paint them yet. Any suggestions welcome. Also, I spotted a fairly significant error - it’s clear in the photo above. Can’t believe I did this but it’s very easy to rectify, thankfully. I’ll be honest, I’m not queuing up to cut any more setts for a while! Next stage - to rebuild the Primrose Hill station. I wanted to use the basis of the existing building and extend it, partly because the first effort at building a very irregular and complex shape was pretty decent, and partly because the staircase down to the platform readily covers the join anyway. There is method in all this madness in doing some of the scenic work before laying all the rest of the trackwork, I promise. Iain

Bit by bit, this is starting to look something like 1/9th of Camden Goods: Iain

I don’t know for sure but Sir William A. Stanier F.R.S. or City of Stoke-on-Trent probably has a longer nameplate than Queen Mary or Coronation? Iain

A bit of an update. It took me some time to cover the entire inlaid area with 2 layers of card. Then the whole lot gets a layer of 10thou plasticard. Then the setts and brick courses It’s a process……….but while it takes a while to get the method, once that is sorted it gets a lot faster. Iain

Hi Baz, yes I did think of that and it might well have been better! I ought to have asked….. Yes, that is a good shout. Thanks. I was thinking more of thinned filler brushed across but that just fills the grooves rather than flattening the tops. Iain

Not too much of an update on my building locos, as I’ve been away a lot and what time I’ve had has been on the layout. But this one Will be good to have a green one…. Iain

Painstaking progress doing all the infill for the goods yard……. Basically, it needs 2 layers of 1mm card glued down - it was laid on one layer then the second is infill and packing. Then there is a layer of 5 or 10 thou plasticard glued to the card, before the final decorative layer which is SE Finecast stone setts, with some brick courses acting as passable representations of the edging stones alongside the rails and check rails. These are welded to the underlying plastic using solvent. I knew this would be much more straightforward than trying to glue plastic directly to card or paper. As a method, it does work ok, and I am getting quicker now I have worked out a more obvious flow to it. Some aspects are just a bit wrong (cutting courses of setts diagonally in the infill around the pointwork for example) but it shouldn’t be too noticeable. Some etched drains maybe to add, plus capstans and the other little things that the capstans use to pull the ropes around (can’t remember what they are called). In progress Honestly this looks like a horror show at such magnification but I’m hoping it will be ok - this is before I have brushed thinned filler across it, primed, painted and weathered, then covered it with a load of mainly stationary wagons. Will probably need to consult the “wagonistas” on here for some guidance beyond just the simple BR vans I have from Parkside and Bachmann. I also need more info on the “Camden Goods” - lesser known WCML equivalent of the Scotch Goods. And an idea of what it will begin to look like alongside the goods shed itself Iain

Many thanks indeed. That’s so helpful! best wishes, Iain

Goods yard is all fully laid and checkrailed now, including through all the pointwork. The 7 wagon turntables have been made ornamental rather than functional, obviously. Good job I am not doing the whole goods yard as there are 82 of them. Two of the roads are fully wired and operational for a little interest moving wagons around. Happy New Year to all followers of Camden Shed and a huge thank you for your help and interest. Iain

Evening all, Final Camden update of 2021 - unless something bizarre happens this evening. As 2021 dawned, this was the state of play: So, despite being away for 2 1/2 months in Asia at the end of the year, and not having a particularly great year with injury and subsequent rehab, I have at least got somewhere. We have all the baseboards completed and working including the complex gate, 4 functional, wired and pretty smooth mainlines, and the beginning of a backdrop with the backscene boards and the goods yard. On which subject…….. Iain

No problem, Bernard. If there is anything more you need please do ask. It may be buried in this thread, or my head, or more likely one of the various sources I have. I would love to see any of your S7 locos too! Iain

Hello Bernard, there are four B6s, one B7 and one B8 in that area. The three that are on the loco road next to the down fast are all B6. I expect that they probably aren’t completely correct but I planned it from the real track plan from the OS map which I purchased. So they are as they are. The diamonds are completely bespoke and part curved so I have no clue. They will just be built from the templot plan. Because the whole area is checkrailed throughout and I haven’t worked out how to do that on templot, I haven’t even turned them into diamonds, rather just left the intersecting tracks as they are. Iain