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Anthony Ashley

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Posts posted by Anthony Ashley

  1. John and Scotty,

     

    Belatedly thanks for your comments. I did a lot of work on the layout prior to the layout tour which John mentioned above. With the extreme humidity in Brisbane over the last 4 months I have had a layout break  and working in the train shed was really difficult.

     

    A couple of months ago I did cut and fit the next section of the Chester storage yard. Had to cut a large sheet of ply down the middle, then place both pieces across the grain of another sheet, glue, corn and paint. Then had to fit more suspension rods around the perimeter of the layout and fit it in. Definitely a two person job and Ross helped out again for this task. Photos of the finished board with some temporary track work in place. 

     

    Track section on plan

    EntranceChesterYard.jpg.d336ceb147df6b0c5280c532db72ebc3.jpg  

     

    IMG_6608V2.jpg.334e5d90127c69dcb4091249ad912be9.jpg

     

    IMG_6609V2.jpg.4c8a819f6b1a1384a7dd87af1494f073.jpg

     

    With cooler temperatures and less humidity I will get back into the shed regularly. Have started to tidy up the right side of the mountain section with foam board edging added to lay the bitumen road base.

     

    IMG_6606V2.jpg.ec4894d4f3dd09a67291efe9ac929d47.jpgIMG_6607V2.jpg.267677b9ec02181cdd867bb5ccf3752a.jpg

     

    Some licence has been taken with the actual road formation due to space constraints.

     

    I will continue to work on this section over the next week. In addition there are only 2 sections of base boards to add to finish this part of the layout, one 1.22 mX1.3 m and the other 1.22m X.57m. This board has been prepared to be cut to the required sizes.

    Happy easter all!!

     

    Regards,

    Anthony Ashley

    • Like 10
  2. David,

     

    Thanks for the comprehensive post. I agree with most of your points. I think you are saying that the front elated building had a ground and first floor. The photos that I have seen are indicative of the ground floor being free of any building around the entire U shape. I think there was no building in the ground floor but only the first floor. I have the book Railway of North Wales Bangor which has a very distant photo of the building. Cann't see the lower floor occupied. I will make the elevated section 30ml wide and 30 ml tall. The building is framed with white pots both vertically and horizontally. 2ml square plastic rods should do the job nicely. I shall fit the carcass of the building inside this frame work. Thanks for your contribution. I might create a short paragraph on the layout about the building using the info you have provided. Thanks again for your contribution.

     

    Last weekend the British Railway Modellers of Australia held their annual convention in Brisbane. Layout tours were conducted on Sunday afternoon and mine was a part of the list. I tried running the Irish Mail rake and manged to do so for about 5 hours. Have added a couple of photos to show the rake ( not accurate in this photo but I have the exact coaches to make the 1960 rake) 

     

    I have been busy with Bangor yard buildings. The goods shed is nearly complete and the Engine Shed only needs a roof to be added. Photos are below.

     

    A class 55 diesel and a 17 coach rake, showing the size of the Irish mail rake. The engine shed is visible on the left of the photo with the Goods shed on its right. The Engine shed is 6 tracks and inspection pits on each. I had some trouble making the roof supports which needed to be exactly the same. Eventually used one as a template to cut the rest. I think they are well lined up and should produce the required effect. The engine shed roof only has a few pieces placed in position but not stuck down. More work needed on the roof.

    IMG_6587V2.jpg.144b82ad1d0e42f214d11c1946405200.jpg

     

    Both sheds visible.

    IMG_6586V2.jpg.d93c49186e949c59ca7601a2fc530f8f.jpg

    You can see the detail in the engine shed. Once the roof is cut and stuck it should be effective. I need to download the Scale scenes zinc roof sheet to cover the non glass sections. Lining up the roof supports to match the window frames was a nightmare.    

    IMG_6590V2.jpg.d6dab26d5ea402668b997118a3f5dd9c.jpg

     

    IMG_6591V2.jpg.521ed4469136f87d3dabe82f489d2da6.jpg

     

    Cloe up of the Goods shed.

    IMG_6592V2.jpg.f7013ebe2557fd4b87d684d1ff4ab6b6.jpg

     

    Over head view with the uncompleted Engine Shed roof very obvious.

    IMG_6593V2.jpg.d19b53494510359054fc8e9f367946de.jpg

     

    I shall add drains and down pipes on the top of the pylons on the side of the shed. I need to get my son to 3D print them!

    IMG_6594.JPG.bde813da2a173002c865d826c2f94887.JPG

     

    SideIMG_6597V2.jpg.3d9c1317e40392a0e9a9de12548c70bf.jpg view of the Goods shed.

    IMG_6596V2.jpg.5934aee327f1daeb21f8b5f2a9b1a99e.jpg

     

    IMG_6597V2.jpg.3d9c1317e40392a0e9a9de12548c70bf.jpg

     

    Rear view of the shed.

    IMG_6598V2.jpg.ec88aad2b8dee35da04843540d9bbd86.jpg

     

    I shall finish the Engine shed roof and apply the drains to the Goods shed once I have then . Next is the Repair shed in Bangor Goods yard.

     

    Regards,

    Anthony Ashley

     

     

     

    IMG_6595.JPG

    • Like 16
    • Craftsmanship/clever 1
  3. Mr Gibbons,

     

    Thanks for your comment. Bangor at its height had 3 large sheds, ss shown in the plan below. 

     

    1963map.gif.17f71f19384e46dc25dcdbdee385d504.gif

     

    The engine shed and Goods shed are named in the plan. The Goods shed is exactly that same design as part of the Repair/Engineer shed which is the large shed on the left of the plan. The additional part of the repair shed is the elevated section. This is not really shown on the plan as it extended the brick saw tooth section both in width and in length. I used the design from the scale scenes  North Light engine shed for the Goods shed and will do so for the rear of the Repair shed. It is exactly the correct design if made wider and much much longer (Goods shed is 15 roof sections and the Repair shed 10 saw tooth sections. Given both of these are mainly brick I think it would have taken much work to move from another site even if nearby, but I do not know. Some of the bricks may have come from an earlier engine shed if this was demolished and relocated. Thanks for your comment. I had looked at the disused stations web site but unfortunately it does not have any detailed photos showing the relationship between the two repair shed sections. Your comments are really appreciated.

     

    Regards,

    Anthony Ashley

    • Like 1
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  4. GWR,

     

    Thanks for your contribution. I had no information on the Railway Institute. The link to the web site is very valuable and I shall use those photos to help construct the building. It is quite large and relatively isolated from most other buildings, so will look impressive against the hill bank on which it is situated. Thanks again for your help.

     

     I am a little disappointed that there have been no response directly to my questions on the Bangor engineering shed, as I have exhausted my resources in trying to find relevant information. Ross came around the other day and we agreed upon the most likely building arrangement between the saw tooth section and the U shaped wrap around elevated building. Will need to implement those decisions unless I get something more on it. Thanks to all for your contributions to date.

     

    Regards,

     

    Anthony Ashley 

    • Like 2
  5. John,

     

    The mainline is operational apart from a triple point which needs replacing, so I should be able to have a train or two operating on the mainline. The layout is on the layout tour so all are welcome to come. Thanks for the question.

     

    Am expecting Ross to come over tomorrow to assist with the bus lines from the Bangor Goods Yard switch to the terminal strips. There are 6 lines to lay.

     

    I have also been studying the Bangor Goods Yard Work Shops shed. The building is about the same size as the engine shed but comprised of two parts, The first is about ten sections of roof structure similar to the Goods shed- a saw tooth roof line of 10 sections. At the front of this structure is an elevated U shape building of standard design. The elevation allows the locos passage underneath the U shaped section into the saw tooth section. The photos that I have are below. I have spent about 5 years trying to find better photos, but with no success. The issue is that I can not see how the two sections are linked or joined. If anyone has access to better photos or knows the structural arrangement of the 2 sections I would appreciate a comment.  Photos are below of what I have.

     

    The workshop is the middle of the picture with the front section elevated on white piers and the saw tooth section behing it.

       EngineerShed1.jpg.a30b757e61d1fc2d3ae735a2ba7410a1.jpg

     

    Cloer picture of the workshop just bekid the climbing road. A white framed building is behind it.

    EngineerShed2.jpg.b11082db67417769073295bd1f1261f0.jpg

     

     

    The three main sheds are visible in this photo starting with the engine shed at the bottom right, goods shed in the middle and workshop on the left  

    BangorStationNorthWales11July1946.jpg.9046ba3c6d66bfc986fd48a9ba02575f.jpg

     

    If anyone has more info on hte workshop I would really appreciate contact through this blog.

     

     

     

    Regards,

    Anthony Ashley

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  6. Paul,

    Thanks for the info. My knowledge of vehicles in the UK is limited. I have a better grasp of Australian vehicles and their history. Your contribution is really appreciated.

     

    Have been busy with wiring. Have connected all of the Bangor goods yard to the relvant terminal strips apart form 3 small pieces of track which go into buildings and another 2 track pieces on the extreme right of the pictures below. You can see some of the unpaonted cork under one of them. The switch board for Bangor yard has been created. I need to lay the colour matched bus lines from the switches to the terminal strips and then join from the bus ines into the terminal strips. Not many connections are required compared to the inputs from the track work.  The inspection pit next to the coal shed has also been cut into the board. 

     

    Photos of the completed track work are below.

     

    Over view of the completed track work with wiring completed to termina strips. 

    IMG_6577V2.jpg.4bfadf3a7491e7f084e97d256467eed4.jpg

    IMG_6578V2.jpg.99d64f1a2f067044ebc96f3294266610.jpg

     

    Some of the wiring for the new area.

    IMG_6580V2.jpg.0191e24bc2120116103356b64053b698.jpg

     

    Once I have done the bus lines and connected them I am going to focus on the goods shed and maybe start the Bangor engine shed.

     

    Regards,

    Anthony Ashley 

     

    a

    • Like 11
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  7. Howard,

     

    Thanks for the great photos of Bangor. I have just seen them. The last one is actually my favourite as it shows the environs of the station. I am modelling that area. I wonder what colour the bus is. I have green buses in double and single decker for the layout. The last photo looks possibly taken in the 70s from the look of the carsl but just guessing.

     

    I have been busy wiring the Bangor goods yard and am close to finishing minus the wiring for the swithes ie all track is nearly finished. Just a coulple of more terminal strips to finish up the areas and a few flex track pieces to add dropppers and connection wires. Not much to show by way of photos.

     

    Thanks again Howard for your contribution.

     

    Regards,

    Anthony Ashley

    • Like 3
  8. Dear All,

     

    More work on wiring and then cutting the slots for most of the inspection pits.

     

    Having firmly established the layout for the Coal shed and turntable I realised that the last point on the motive track area was too high on the layout. Eliminating the piece of flex track between it and the ajoining point allows the lines going off at an angle to be closer together and more closely align with the coal shed, which the lines need to enter and run along adjacent.The two photos below show the better alignment by the elimination of the flex track and joining the points together.

     

    The second photo still has the old cork for my original track plan still on the layout. I overlaid the point on a new position to show the change in angle which better matches the line requirments.

    IMG_6566V2.jpg.9861f9bdad9defc35e5b04c9d6d18ea4.jpg

     

    IMG_6567V2.jpg.0e16fcd05ddaa6eb916893f869105a5b.jpg

     

    I have been busy cutting the slots for the areas incoroporating the inspection pits, both exterior and within the engine shed. The longer ones are inside the engine shed.

    IMG_6568V2.jpg.e6ac94c9508b0bd65f43d6a95428a6c0.jpg

     

     

    Close up of the shorter inpection pits. I had to position them right on top of the suporting framework. The riser underneath attached to the framework is at the extrmem left end of the small pits just off to one side. The elevation board raised the board about 30mls off the frame, so just enough clearance to drill and hand saw  the slots. You can see the light green framework undeeer the slots. A tight and difficult task. 

    IMG_6569V2.jpg.0762c12bb77334986f8f99f81cb43534.jpg

     

    I have preparde two of the wiring boards, holding 7 of the 18 terminal strips required for the Bangor goods yard. As you can see we have made a start on the wiring but much more to go.

    IMG_6571V2.jpg

     

    More wiring to follow for the Engine she, Motive, Goods Shed and Engineering shed areas.

     

    Regards,

    Anthony Ashley  

     

     

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  9. Dear All,

     

    I have checked the wiring requirements for the Bangor goods yard and the 2 storage yards. The Bangor goods yard will require about 18X12 block plastic terminal strips. This means about 192 wires to be connected to the droppers and then have the copper clips attached for screwing into the terminal strips.

     

    The two storage yards combined will require about 65 12 block terminal strips. This is a total of about 768 droppers and then additional wiring joined to extend to the terminal blocks using the copper clips as well!!!!!

     

    I have completed 16 of the wires to the terminal strips. The S inputs are for the point switches which still need to be added once I have got the two lever frames for Bangor and Penmaemawr.  For Bangor only another 176 wires to go!

    IMG_6564V2.jpg.ef16fa746414b73c3929112944cf39e0.jpg

     

    IMG_6565V2.jpg.7d1a884defe674508473f61e3a069ce1.jpg

     

    A little more wiring to go. I have nearly run out of terminal strips.

     

    Regards,

    Anthony Ashley

     

     

    • Like 10
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  10. BANGOR GOODS YARD TRACK

     

    Dear All,

     

    I have been busy the last week adding droppers to the Bangor goods yard, having finished laying and painting the cork base. Although the photos seem to show little change the addition of droppers to this trackwork has taken about a week to complete. A few photos are below. I think my track work, while the plan is complicated is good enough to support consistent running. 

     

    I have already used wire and tube with an all brass lever frame in Conwy goods yard. The plan was to use the same method for Penmenmawr and Conwy goods yards. Penmaenmawr can just get by with a 12 lever frame with some parts of the eastern side of the yard remaining under electronic control rather than the physical lever frame system. Bangor will require a 27 lever frame to operate. I believe I can source the all brass lever frames from Brisbane still thanks to a generous offer. The all brass lever frame is very strong and reliable. I think I shall need to develop an L shape crank to switch both points of a cross over using one lever. I have tried to loop the wire up to ne and behind the other in a cross over but the run is too long and the switching is unreliable. I need a shorter more direct wire and tube to be more accurate with the switching. It is quite annoying as the existing longer loop of wire works sometimes but not consistently.

     

    Although it does not look substantial, the photo below represents a week of work in adding droppers  as compared to the last photos. I like the overall shape of the yard and think it looks much more logical than the first photos posted where I had the plan error incorporated into the plan.

    IMG_6559V2.jpg.f1bdb99216c8c87dfea3470946511364.jpg

     

    IMG_6561V2.jpg.50925c9b121c0d100dd80bffd4897072.jpg

     

    The underside of the board shows more progress with a sea of droppers evident to the background  in this photo.

     

    IMG_6563V2.jpg.55d88d68f888384987114e8c96ce15d7.jpg

     

    I need to complete the wiring process with wiring from the droppers to the plastic terminal strips and then to the main bus lines. These bus lines then go to a board with potentially 5 -6 different switches which all connect to a the Bangor goods yard power source. It is much easier to do this wiring with 2 people, one below the layout wiring the droppers and another person above the layout adding clips for insertion into the terminal strips and then screwing the line into the right terminal input (ie labelling and keeping an ordered system). Getting out form the layout for each dropper extension is exhausting, hard work and inefficient.

     

    Regards,

    Anthony Ashley

     

        

    • Like 13
    • Craftsmanship/clever 1
  11. John and Paul,

    Thanks for the encouragement!! I suppose the line time-tablers would need to draw up a similar document to ensure best station through put for each station.

     

    It took me a couple of weeks to get the extra points needed to rearrange the Bangor motive area. I had to pull up some of the cork area and start some of it from scratch. Have now finished the gluing down all of the cork for the Bangor goods yard. Next is to lift the track. paint the cork and then wire in the track. A lot of the platform area has not had the wiring completed except for the 4 tracks between the platforms. I shall be under the layout for a week or so. In addition most of the points I have used need DCC preparation by cutting rails and adding relevant wires for power. At least 4 of them are the new Unifrog so no preparation required there.

     

    I checked on the availability of the ESU switch pilot servo I used previously and found the 4 output version no longer in use. They have gone to an 8 output version. This will reduce the cost per frog so is good news. I need to work out numbers but think it will be un the order of about 20 required. 

     

    I have provided photos of the new goods yard track configuration. I think it looks a lot neater and closer the the real thing than the last version shown in the photos above, posted on Apr 26.

     

    Wide view showing passenger and goods area for Bangor station.

     

    IMG_6558V2.jpg.9923361bdd7b1c76cb7001728330d27f.jpg

     

    Closer of the goods area. There is a track missing on the extreme right of the motive area. This leads to the turn table. Also one rail is off the cork near the engineering shed. IMG_6556V2.jpg.382e404deb0acd660b0318dde9ce1086.jpg

     

    Regards,

     

    Anthony Ashley

     

    IMG_6555V2.jpg

    • Like 17
  12. Dear All,

     

    Have revamped the Chester yard timetable and constructed one for Holyhead. Found a double up on the Chester timetable so was able to reduce it by one track. Have also reconfigured the yards to required lines only rather than 34 but added some redundancy. Photos are below. Not sure how much interest there is in this material but will post anyway.

     

    Chester yard

    Chesteryard2.jpg.198e5a260419b6ae70942f2fcfacf21b.jpg

     

    Holyhead yard

    HolyheadyardV2.jpg.ddb455dccc12b4cbf444d56fe27de41f.jpg

     

    Chester timetable until 1100.

    ChesterTimetableJpeg2.jpg.52e303735701fea21b18b2552fe23c39.jpg

     

    Holyhead timetable until 1000 Red indicates two rakes on same track but two different detection zones on the line, both rakes can fit in the limited space and leave and arrive at appropriate time to ensure movement.

    HolyheadTimetableJPEG.jpg.bf7eb1bbd2c3757cade1948168103c64.jpg

     

    I need to rework some point to use all of my existing point. Minor changes required though.

     

    Regards,

    Anthony Ashley

     

     

     

    • Like 9
    • Informative/Useful 1
  13. David,

     

    Thanks for responding to my unifrog query. I shall be using medium points in hte yards as much as possible given they are the only code 55 converted to unifrog, although I have the others as well. As discussed above I still have 70 elecropoints still in stock so will use those for sure. I shall try to contact Jamie. I am particularly keen to get a copy of the photo of the ruined building near the Penmaenmar viaduct.

     

    I feel I need to consolidate the track layout, finalise exactly how many points I still need and order them. Accordingly I spent all of yesterday plotting the arrival times of the rakes into the two yards and how long they occupied that yard. It was laborious and time consuming, but by the end I had a timetable for Chester. Yet to do Holyhead. Below is the timetable for Chester. Conducting this process has shown me I need a minimum of 24 tracks in Chester, and perhaps with more rial sharing I could reduce the number further. I am not sure if with track detection I can double occupy a line of the yard. The issue is then timings for departures, ensuring that the train next to leave is at the front of the que. More analysis may create greater efficiencies and more dense track occupancy. I think if one track of a yard was isolated in the middle it would create two sections for track occupancy. As long as both trains fitted onto both sections and had access to leave I think this would work.

     

    The picture below is the Chester yard timetable, the fruit of yesterdays planning. Tracks in the yard are listed on hte side and a 24 clock across the top.

     

    dChesteryardtimetable.jpg.006ff2ea94489746b3bf6f8a11a73889.jpg

     

    Obviously the times in the yard are not indicative of the time a rake is actually in a station. The Chester yard is occupied from the tiem the rake reaches it from Conwy, but in real life the rake would still be travelling to Euston, Manchester, Liverpool etc.

     

    I need to complete the time table for Holyhead in a similar fashion. It will be much smaller as many more rakes came through Chester than terminated at Holyhead. If anyone has any other experience with unifrogs I would appreciate any comments. 

     

    Regards,

    Anthony Ashley 

     

     

     

     

    • Like 6
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  14. Dear All,

     

    First question to all. I have noticed some of the photos from May 2020 to some time in 2021 are missing from the site.(pages 36 to 42) Jamie was prolific during this period with some great photos which I want to use for modelling but they are no longer showing. Does anyone know how to retrieve them. I messaged Andy Y but no response as yet.

     

    I was looking closely at the track plan of Bangor goods yard given I have started laying the cork and noticed some odd issues in the plan. The coal shed and turntable seemed far removes in terms of track travel from the engine shed, which seemed to make no sense. I revisited the map I was using which was that in the book No 14 Railways of North Wales Bangor. The plan goes over 2 pages and the middle of the book does not quite align with the track sections. Accordingly I think I put the connection to the coal shed and turntable on the wrong line. Given the complexity of the yard this is not surprising and I am glad I caught the error prior to track laying. 

     

    Will just have to rip up some 1 ml cork. The down side of this process was that I need 3 extra left hand points, either small (123 ml or medium 136 ml). If I slightly alter the design I can use 3 medium points. The plan looks much better with distinct areas bounded more by function.

     

    The advantage of replanning this is I can use the new code 55 unifrog points. Has anyone any experience with these points. They look much easier to install then the electrofrog given I am using DCC. Advantages include no need to cut both sides of the rails with a jewellers blade to isolate the frog area. The stock rail electrofies the frog rails minus the frog point at all times, meaning the track joiners no longer need to be isolating. This should create much better joins with use of purely metal joiners. With the electrofrog I have soldered a wire to both frog blades just above the last sleeper. With the unifrog there is a preattached wire to power the frog poit off a switch. Much less work in preparing the pints as they are ready to install for DCC. If anyone has any comments on these points I am interested in hearing from you.

     

    Given my focus on the Bangor goods yard I thought I should look at the storage yards and how many lines I actually need. The design of the  yard allows me to have some up to 14 feet. Potentially I could have 34 tracks obviously some much smaller. I originally used 3 way points but my experience with them has not been great and two 2 ways are cheaper then a 3 way.  To minimis the number of lines required and hems save on points I need to work out the occupancy of the two storage yards, called Hoyhead and Chester. I might be able to double up on track usage by using a line for maybe 4 rakes, depending on the occupancy of the each rake at a particular storage yards at anyone time. The proposed first part of the time table of train movements from 0001 to 1030 is below.

    Timetable1.jpg.63087333659cea3c11a53a59a3dce86f.jpg

    Timetable2.jpg.ed40b992220bb950cd0c4f119eeb584e.jpgTimetable3.jpg.f82aeeb5825f88aa8baaa83ce1477bee.jpgTimetable4.jpg.3317aa6b8afce26d40b74c6d8ef03237.jpgTimetable5.jpg.334820a4b6855cf81c231e08f891814a.jpg

    Timetable6.jpg.28c263cc1382a84f39e7299073b19ed5.jpg

     

    I shall have to do an occupancy chart for each yard to see how many locos are in it at any particular time in order to minimise point usage. For instance the Fairburn leaves Rhyl at 0830 to arrive at Bangor at 0938. It leaves Bangor at 1000 and departs Conwy at 1222. Meaning it leaves the layout at about 1230 ie gets to Chester yard at about 1240. It therefore occupies Chester yard  from about 1240 to 0830, but does not enter Hoyhead yard at all. If I have another rake that is in Chester yard between 0830 to 1240 it could use the same yard  line as the Fairburn rake. I shall need to examine each rake and plot timings in a similar fashion, before I work out the size of the yards.

     

    Below is my current rework of the yards, being in the process of removing 3 way points. I need to do the analysis to decide on how many tracks I really need.  

     

    Chester yard in process of variation.ChesteryardplanV1.jpg.0a67a8f6c84e8fd0a19cd7ae650a2a41.jpg

     

    Holyhead prior to amnedment.

    HolyheadyardplanV1.jpg.64c8126554bfcf1e0e907dfec70fd396.jpg

     

    I have the following points left 35 curved rights, 8 curved left, 15 right large, 7 Ys, 4 right small, and 1 left small.

     

    I need to wait for delivery of my 3 missing left points to complete the scenic track. 

     

    REgards,

     

    Anthony Ashley

    • Like 10
  15. David,

     

    In answer to your question I focus on one task at a time and am content in finishing that task, as I move slowly through the process. Ross came over today and we worked on some tricky sections together. Photos and discussions below.

     

    I have started gluing the cork for the track bed. This line being glued is the outside yellow line next to one of the platforms.

    IMG_6544V2.jpg.6494038af3d0f078a61b6c5a9c9168a5.jpg

     

    I decided to get Ross to help fix the end of the Penmaenmawr viaduct road. It was easier with 2 persons, one below and one above the layout. The road is now fixed. Next is to add foam board shoulders to the road  and the add the road base plaster. I was going to add the derelict  building  in this area, which Jamie posted a picture of in 2020, but unfortunately these photos are no longer showing on the site. IMG_6549V2.jpg.8590c25a6c5f2489d6e560bef8ba4958.jpg

     

    Ross and I decided that I need to incorporate a pop up area for the Bangor goods yard. The picture below was the best spot. Unfortunately I had added a support for the underneath track which cut this area into 2, and was not big enough for me to fit through. By removing the timber support which was joined by the ply block in the foreground above  I have enough room for a small pop up area, surrounded by the hidden track under the layout. I readjusted the  rod to go through the timber at the back of the photo. It is not straight but is still supported adequately.

    IMG_6546V2.jpg.25af0c66892f980113aaf9db486ce415.jpg

     

    IMG_6549V2.jpg.8590c25a6c5f2489d6e560bef8ba4958.jpg

     

    This photo shows the outline of the goods shed at Bangor, bounded by the inspection pit above, foam board strip on the left, track section on the right and the pen at the bottom. I have built  much of it using card and brick paper. It is a relatively simple construction so might finish it soon.

     

    IMG_6550V2.jpg.ab645ee749ba57ef33eff05c5217367c.jpg

     

    Ross and I fitted the end of the road to the other road section. We added another block under the layout to provide support and a block on the viaduct wall face, visible in the foreground of the photo. 

    IMG_6550V2.jpg.ab645ee749ba57ef33eff05c5217367c.jpg

    Regards,

     

    Anthony Ashley

      

     

     

     

    IMG_6545V2.jpg

    • Like 12
    • Craftsmanship/clever 1
  16. Howard,

     

    Sleep is grabbed in odd periods every now and then. Ed the layout includes wall paintings including a rainbow and fierce storm. The rainbow is behind Conwy and the storm behind Penmaenmawr.  Have finished the cork underlay and cut the connecting flex track. Photos are below.

     

    IMG_6540V2.jpg.476b87dfc02dc8f115b6e861bfc8c95b.jpg

     

    IMG_6542V2.jpg.2ee0d6cae9ddbce052d4d8f49d60fe15.jpg

     

    I need to paint some of the rail sections, glue the cork, paint it and wire the track. 

     

    Regards,

     

    Anthony Ashley

     

     

     

     

    • Like 9
    • Craftsmanship/clever 1
  17. Lez ,

    Thanks for the comment. I am very happy with the castle so far. Have been working on the Bangor goods area and laid out nearly all of the track over the last two days. Next is to cut cork for the bed, glue it and paint.  There are a few areas of flex track that need extensions but most of it is showing in the photos below. I can also lay down the 6 inspection pits in the engine shed.

     

    Track plan and wiring of the Bangor goods yard.

    Bangoryards1.jpg.4ddda659cae644b54ff1fcce7e02c8b9.jpg

     

    The left side of the good yard is the engine shed. The first 6 lines of the left side of the yard in blue terminate in the inspection pits inside the engine shed (about 450 ml long).  The 10th line (green) from the left terminates in the turntable. Then there is the goods shed (red lines)(about 700 mls long) and on the right side of the yard the engineering shed (Blue lines)(about 560 mls long). 

    IMG_6536V2.jpg.4a736789e42b2fade9abc1fc5b88a032.jpg

     

     

     

    IMG_6538V2.jpg.b5f7ad94e73c4d3913c018632e82a3b4.jpg

     

    Next job is to cut the cork to match the track profile, glue and paint the cork. Then wiring of the track.

    Regards,

    Anthony Ashley

    IMG_6537V2.jpg

    • Like 17
  18. Dear All,

     

    Photos of the gassed and bushed mounds on the road side of Conwy castle.

     

    Wide shot from the west side of the castle. In real life this would be taken form the far bank of Conwy river.

    IMG_6526V2.jpg.c220f8db0a7b83b14c66cdb1065a594e.jpg

     

    View from the south.

    IMG_6527V2.jpg.a115295480024bc3702de8bf87b4f8cf.jpg

     

    Closer view.

    IMG_6528V2.jpg.c5424080870da202ab11f81b780e5b63.jpg

     

    Focus on the new grassed and bushed section.

    IMG_6529V2.jpg.348b661389208ca428b922b476759680.jpg

    IMG_6531V2.jpg.0415061a16feb64fe2d4618a271e2ee1.jpg

     

    IMG_6532V2.jpg.51432775f8a9e8d7402c7eda92a2e567.jpg

     

    IMG_6534V2.jpg.57ee1876403d24f928e3737fc8c1ad32.jpg

     

    I need to cut the tower platform supports and paint them, both for 7 large and 4 small towers.

     

    Regards,

    Anthony Ashley

     

     

    • Like 11
    • Craftsmanship/clever 2
    • Round of applause 1
  19. Cameron,

     

    I think Edward I must have had very good planning and organisation to build such a large structure using only manual labour in 4 years, given the pace of modern construction. Your comments are very much appreciated. 

     

    I have gone back to the past by starting the process to finish the towers. I last did this about 9 years ago but only finished 1 tower out of 8. Need to add about a 1/3 of a circle of inner carboard filler around the inside of the top of the towers. Photo is below.

     

    IMG_6524V2.jpg.99b854a1e7be8d5f85237dca7ec8877a.jpg

     

    IMG_6525V2.jpg.a804eefa44fb6bc6e332d048353831d9.jpg

     

    I have had some ideas about the Conwy suspension bridge. Photos of elements of the bridge are below.

     

    1150787953_Suspensionbridge1.jpg.fc966818b49c3ebdaab0d853a1aa642f.jpg

     

    300920679_Suspeneionbridge2.jpg.e5115a45e4d1a58155898a1f92b71d66.jpg

     

    1912730873_Suspensionbridge3.jpg.d42908be7fd3b84a29c8ba3c25df621b.jpg

     

    399146353_Suspensionbridge3.png.2053412018019ba16f69a03ff4a3e164.png

     

    I think the most distinctive element of the bridge are the straps providing the support to the bridge and the connectors, through which the wire cabling passes through. I have thought about options in terms of material to make the bridge.

     

    I have 460ml lengths of brass comprising 2 1 ml circular edges joined by a flat piece about .5 ml in height by about .5ml wide. There are 5 layers of strapping and the scale length of my span is about 700ml. I can join 2 lengths of my 460 ml by soldering a joining plate on the top and bottom of the flat section. Although the span length is only about 700 ml with the curve I shall need the two 460ml lengths. I think the connectors can be 3D printed with a hole running through the middle of each connector to thread through the brass strapping. I shall need to stack the strapping 5 high as in the bridge. I think I could drill through the connectors and brass strapping to insert 26 gauge jewellers wire to create the cable supports. The hand rail and bottom rail on the bridge will also be lengths of the brass strapping.

    The sides of the bridge could be made of small rectangles made of individually soldered thin gauge wire. The panels are separated to allow the supporting cabling to run down to the floor of the bridge. I shall use tule glued to the wire rectangles to create the diamond shape. 

    The towers will be similar to the castle construction methods. I think this should work well. I am getting advice on the 3D printing, as the connectors will only be maybe 4ml long by 4mls deep by 3 mls high (not very big to fit a hole to accommodate the brass strapping.

     

    I have finished the grass mounts on the road side of the castle. Just waiting for the white glue to dry. More photos tomorrow.

    Next will be finishing the entrance area walls and then the cliff face on the east end of the castle. 

     

    Regards,

    Anthony Ashley

     

    .    

    • Like 7
  20. David and Ben,

     

    Thanks for the really encouraging comments. I decided to do a comparison of the time taken to build the actual castle versus my modelling of it. If you look at the start of the posts I first placed 2 90ml pieces of plumbing tubing to represent 2 of the towers in Sep 2013. Nearly 10 years ago. I built a substantial portion of the castle over the next 2 years or so but then left it in place for a number of years.  Kicked off again with the castle maybe about 6 months ago. So I am coming up to a 10 year construction period. Patience is clearly a virtue. Edward I started building Conwy castle in during his conquest of Wales in 1283. The castle was finished in 1287. That was a total of 4 years construction to build the real thing!!!!! I should have the model finished within 3 times that time period.

     time by the 12 year mark if not 10 to 11 years!!!

     

    Anyway the process continues with focus on the entrance area stairs and platforms. I have completed these, added the rocks along the ascending path and glued the foam entrance area and painted the floor of the entrance area. The remnants of the platform rising to the castle have been cut and stone added to 2 faces. The other faces will be rough stone work which I shall need to stack similar to the battlements.  Photos are below.

     

     

    The section in front of the platform is the old path leading up to the castle. I shall add vegetation and rubble under the stairs and platforms. You can see the red rocks on the left

    IMG_6518V2.jpg.d2c8b8985c3681c33c3bb704ff79ab17.jpg

     

    IMG_6519V2.jpg.7d9db44cfc438a7e74967abda431ca03.jpg

     

    IMG_6520V2.jpg.2316d443152f6774c6f39c7845b2951d.jpg

     

    IMG_6521V2.jpg.2f3696880e431bf1d9c81c456e0e89bd.jpg

     

    IMG_6522V2.jpg.fb9e19183ac81dae658df5383ecd95e8.jpg

     

    I shall probably add static grass this afternoon. The right side of the earth area is much rougher with wilder bushes and longer grass.

     

    Regards,

     

    Anthony Ashley

     

     

    • Like 12
  21. Dear All,

     

    Worked on the wall capping for all walls except the battlements which will take forever!!! Although I did paint the wood section of the battlements grey to blend in. Photos are below.

     

    The main castle area with all walls capped apart from the battlements.

    IMG_6507V2.jpg.402a20f5ef52cbe01df89addc9dcc21f.jpg

     

    IMG_6510V2.jpg.a6c0a1552b182a460934ab90e9cdcc2f.jpg

     

    IMG_6512V2.jpg.4fff74e7a18331a0618d32823c8c4b35.jpg

     

    Worked on the platform supports at the castle entrance,  and cut the arch way through the castle walls to the platform.

    IMG_6514V2.jpg.4594ce61bed8ec1cb7bdce3d35b0b2c4.jpg

     

    IMG_6517V2.jpg.15cbac1a961d9b46ba4736dfda00c07b.jpg

     

    Next is to complete the 3 stairs beyond the platform and a second platform. Then will finally grass the next section.

     

    Regards,

    Anthony Ashley 

     

     

    • Like 13
  22. Simon,

     

    Thanks for the critical comment. I have had a close look at the model and think the paint may have been damp at the time of the photo, or the angle of the light on the model at the time. I used the same paint to paint the broken area as the original walls so it should be the same sheen. Perhaps the angle of the light being directly above onto the broken surface has caused more sheen. Clearly the normal wall surface which I have painted in many places is at a totally different angle.  I will try some mat spay on the area and take another photo to check the effect.

     

    I normally ask for advice when I want critical comment and you are a valuable regular. Good advice from you is always welcome. Thanks again. 

     

    Regards,

     

    Anthony Ashley

    • Like 3
    • Thanks 1
  23. Simon you are very observant. My wife's only comment was what a horrible foot. I think it looks OK but I guess it is my foot .

     

    I have finished all of the walkways and the vertial stone work around them. I have experimented with the rough plaster strips in the last page. I broke then up into pices no more than  ml to 2 Mls and the stuck these fragments onto 2 of the battlement sections. I have posted photos for comments and ideas if you are able to contribute to the discussion. Not sure that I can improve on the effect but am asking for feed back for any other ideas. At this stage it takes about 1/2 an hour to do both sides of a  rise.

     

    IMG_6496V2.jpg.a770fabf85c4710dd3c39dd41b8e12f9.jpg

     

    IMG_6497V2.jpg.8dc8ab2a18ca2e40b25168b1fc71eaf2.jpg

     

    IMG_6498V2.jpg.e94a09a0a4e0511d19273cbe90531134.jpg

     

    Any comments would be appreciated before I continue on with the process.

     

    Regards,

     

    Anthony Ashley

     

     

    • Like 6
    • Craftsmanship/clever 3
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