steveNCB7754
-
Posts
406 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Blogs
Gallery
Events
Exhibition Layout Details
Store
Posts posted by steveNCB7754
-
-
Looking at the EP photo(s), both the name and number plates look like they are going to be separately-fitted items (so not moulded-on). Do we know whether the final models will come with those plates already pre-fitted, or left off for the customer to fit (perhaps with the name tampo-printed on the side anyway, as some manufacturers do)? Only asking, as it would be a shame to have to potentially damage the model (taking the plates off), if you wanted to do a freelance version (either with no name or number, or with fictitious ones).
TIA
Steve N
-
13 hours ago, MrWolf said:
Not had much time to do anything else this week as I've been building a contraption.
Or rather a rack for bottles of spirits using bits of old brewery pipework. Originally it was going to be just straight piping, but I found an old steam condensation trap and bypass and it was just too tempting to make something arty that gives the idea of an illicit still.
Takes me back to my first career in engineering - we used such things in our oil supply pipework and pump sets. On a technical note however - the Spirax Y-Type strainer should be mounted with the 'basket' in the under-slung position (to allow any debris in the liquid to naturally accumulate in the bottom, where the brass blanking plug would then be located).
These details matter - we are modellers after all. 😎😎😎
Steve N
-
2
-
1
-
-
On 24/12/2023 at 08:26, TEAMYAKIMA said:
Hello Steve
We have three shows booked in 2024 - Alton (Feb 3/4) Abingdon (March 2/3) & Aylesbury (May 24/25) and, so far, in 2025 it's Basingstoke
Can you see a pattern developing? 🤔
If it continues like this we will be doing Warrington in 2056 and Yeovil in 2057!
Have checked, and Yeovil is just over 100ft AMSL at the bottom (south) of town and well over 300ft AMSL at the top end (north), so should hopefully still be there in 2057. Warrington on the other hand, is on the river Mersey at barely 30ft AMSL, so (if you believe the hype) you might need to invest in some waders, come 2056! ;-)
Steve N
-
1
-
2
-
-
On 01/09/2023 at 16:44, MrWolf said:
... But I was always interested in the old passenger brake vans flanking the goods shed. I decided that as I'd scaled back the goods shed in a big way, then only one grounded van would be the way to go.
I found a couple of pictures via Gloucester Warwickshire Railways, but obviously they're black and white.
Obviously once out of revenue earning stock the original livery would have been painted out.
Does anyone know what colour it would have been painted?
Hi. This is a bit belated I know, but I came across your 'build' here, after doing (as I sometimes do) a search for 'Shipston' on RMweb. For context, I was born there in 1957 and lived opposite the old station yard, until we had to move away in 1966.
The two images you posted are well known and I have copies of them and others - sadly, colour photos are few and far between.
On a more positive note, the May 2023 issue of Steam World magazine, included the article 'A Railway From The Canal Age', covering the evolution of the Shipston branch. On page 44, there is a black & white photo (Lens of Sutton) of the aforementioned grounded van body. What is interesting (and is a thing I hadn't noticed, some 40 years after I first began researching Shipston myself), is that it is actually an ex-Taff Vale vehicle. You can just make out the 16-inch 'T' and ''V' letters in the upper left and right corners of the van side and now I know they are there, I can just make them out in other images I have collected, but never noticed before.
So from my understanding (http://www.gwr.org.uk/notvr1.html); TVR goods stock had light grey bodies until c WWI, after which they were brown. As for markings; 6" 'T.V.R.' lettering at lower left until 1909', after which just 'TV' 16" lettering at centre (presumably talking about open wagons and 'flats'). Naturally, the grounded van (and the ex-GWR coach body) at Shipston, could have been painted over in BR days (I have a colour image of the old station building somewhere, showing it painted all-over in a pink/Light Stone(?) and heavily weathered) and then have weathered back to what is seen in the photos mentioned. Towards the end, that grounded TVR van was replaced by an iron-bodied van, but still sat on its wheels.
Steve N
-
3
-
5
-
1
-
-
15 hours ago, TEAMYAKIMA said:
Yes I am pleased to say that I am in one piece and totally uneffected by my recent experience although some of my fellow travellers did suffer broken bones and cuts and bruises.
Sad news all around obviously, but 'Strong winds dislodged a section of track...'. Err, so just how strong are the winds there?
Steve N
-
1
-
-
On 01/11/2023 at 20:07, luke_stevens said:
We're at the Manchester Model Railway Exhibition 9th & 10th December, if that is any better?
Luke
Hmm, its about the same distance and cheaper to get in (so there's a saving there). On the other hand, Warley is obviously a much bigger event, perhaps justifying the cost. Still not sure (I suspect it will be a last minute decision for me, as always).
Steve N
-
1
-
-
On 31/10/2023 at 07:14, TEAMYAKIMA said:
With just over three weeks to go before our next exhibition (Warley) I find myself surprisingly relaxed - so relaxed in fact that I am taking a holiday for two weeks. 🙂
Really would like to see Beijiao at Warley, as its quite a few years since I last saw it in the flesh. Can't deny though, I am wrestling with the cost (I'm retired in mid-Wales now), especially as I will (hopefully) already have just been to the IPMS Scale ModelWorld event (Telford), two weeks before.
Steve N
-
1
-
-
On 31/07/2023 at 14:39, corneliuslundie said:
I feel that I need at least three locos which work well when i take the layout to the Bishops Castle show in September.
Do you have any details or link regarding this show - have had a quick search and cannot find anything.
Steve N
-
7 hours ago, TEAMYAKIMA said:
Now, I know what many of you are going to say - nobody at a show is going to notice that interior as it passes by - and I agree with that and that's why I added a worker looking out of the window in a high viz jacket in what they call (in the film industry) the final cut.
And TBH the same thing still applies - 99.9% of exhibition viewers will miss that - and that's where the front-of-house man comes into play. Their job will be to interact with viewers and warn them to look out for this 'new feature'.
.... just so long as the casual viewer doesn't end up wondering why the windows in that thoughtfully provided 'Portaloo', aren't frosted glass!! 😲
-
11
-
-
22 hours ago, F-UnitMad said:
Why are they holding the plans upside down? 🤔🤷♂️
Given the progress already made on the building, isn't it a bit late to be looking at the plans now anyway? Still, if they have messed-up, one of them at least, won't have a leg to stand on! 😂
-
2
-
5
-
-
1 hour ago, F-UnitMad said:
You could've dragged that post out more by starting at two main weapons... 🤣🤣👍👍
True, but when I posted, I certainly wasn't expecting the Spanish Inquisition!
-
1
-
2
-
1
-
1
-
-
On 29/04/2023 at 14:40, CameronL said:
I don't think you need to worry. It would be a very specialist chapter of the Elucidated Brethren of the Counted Rivet who would spot the incongruity.
(Cue: Jarring musical chords!) A group of anorak-wearing men burst in;
“Nobody expects the Elucidated Brethren of the Counted Rivet!
Our four main weapons are; fear of scale inaccuracy, surprise photographic evidence, ruthless reference checking, an almost fanatical devotion to rivets, and decent coffee in venues.
Sorry, our FIVE weapons are; ….”
Steve N
-
1
-
2
-
7
-
-
On 20/01/2023 at 08:31, TEAMYAKIMA said:
Or maybe like this .....
Jiamusi shed in 1996 from memory.
This could just be the result of a terrible accident at a rural level crossing! 🙀Steve N
-
3
-
-
On 17/01/2023 at 11:50, corneliuslundie said:
The next building will be a representation of the Gwalia Stores at St Fagans, but don't hold your breath as I still have to work out how to make the shop windows...
Nice Pub!
As for shop windows/fronts, I suppose the classic way would be etch or very fine Plasticard strip, stuck to thin clear plastic for the windows. The old Scale Link etched frets are now in separate ownership at Scale Link Fretcetera (www.scalelinkfretcetera.co.uk) - maybe a fret designed for one purpose, could be modified to your purpose? Station door frets (with glass 'light' above the door) could serve as the Gwalia's entrance? Usefully (on the 'Fretcetera' website), each fret has now been photographed against a metric scale, making it easier to see the fret's actual size. No affiliation, other than I used Scale Link stuff back in the day.
Steve N
-
1
-
1
-
-
10 hours ago, TEAMYAKIMA said:
Inspector: "You've derailed your transporter wagon!"
Driver: "No, its just resting"
Steve N
-
1
-
3
-
-
9 hours ago, DCB said:
I can't see any similarities between the NLS map and the plan.
The layout needs two crossovers. to reverse direction, The same up train would probably leave empties and collect fulls during a single visit.
Train leaves "Radstock" with empties for New Pit.
Leaves Brake on main and sets empties back into exchange sidings. Collects fulls from other siding re attaches brake and heads for Bath. That's if the sidings hold 20/30/40 fulls or what ever makes up a paying load or what the load limit is up to the summit.
Empties return to Radstock together with empties for the Radstock Collieries, and the cycle re starts. At a suitable time Colliery engine collects some or all empties and propels them to the colliery vigourously. returning slowly with fulls. Colliery would be above main line so loco at downhill end of train so no brake van needed.
Alternatively it could well be the empties are the head end of a train of Fulls from "Radstock" which the train engine detaches after stopping and probably putting down (on) several wagon brakes as well as the brake van brake, and performs the empties for fulls swap. Some Pick Up goods ran to 60 plus wagons, Two opens a Pannier and a Toad was very much something found at the death of a branch. Even the largest freight locos were known to shunt wayside sidings on Pick up goods duties , there are pictures of a Royal Scot in Shap quarries, so an S&D 7F would be ideal as would a 4F. S&D 9Fs were not used on the coal runs, only through trains. I suppose the train could be banked and still stop to swap wagons but I would need to see photographic evidence to believe it.
Thanks for that.
Yes, the only way I could get it to work in my head, is indeed if there was another cross-over 'off scene' (so in the 'Radstock' fiddle yard), to allow the locomotive to run round its own train. My problem therefore, was labouring under the misguided notion that the 'Empties' returning to the colliery from Bath (on the 'DOWN' line), could possibly be dropped off there directly on the way back (using that crossover in the 'Halt' platform road), rather than have to pass by on their way to Radstock before being brought to the colliery later, in the next 'UP' train.
However, your (valid) point that as the "Colliery would be above main line so [Colliery] loco at downhill end of train so no brake van needed", would lead to a problem (given the trackwork shown in my diagram). In that scenario, the colliery loco would then end up trapped at the end of the 'Fulls' siding shown and would need a run-round loop in order to get out from behind those wagons. Again, in South Wales I believe, there were sometimes spare Brake Vans available (brought in as required), so that a 'Fulls' train could be made up in the Exchange siding in advance, either by the Colliery engine, or by the visiting mainline freight engine when it shunted the sidings.
"... it could well be the empties are the head end of a train of Fulls from "Radstock"...". Yes, in many ways this whole scenario is no different to a goods (or even 'mixed') train stopping at a station (with a run-round loop) to shunt the single goods siding, whether on a double-track line or even a 'single track with passing places' rural line.
Thanks again.
Steve N
-
4 hours ago, LMS2968 said:
The genuine article.
https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=17.6&lat=51.29720&lon=-2.42372&layers=168&b=1
Wow! Should have thought of checking there myself - now I've seen that though, I almost wish I hadn't asked!
-
Firstly, apologies in advance for the length of this posting.
My rough diagram below, shows the suggested track-work for accessing a colliery’s exchange sidings from a double-track main (or secondary) line in the days of SDJR (later, BR (WR)) steam. This diagram is based on the model track layout for Jerry Clifford’s ‘Foxcote New Pit’ 2mm Finescale layout, featured in the recent MRJ #293 (2022). What I want to know, is how this exchange would have been prototypically worked by a ‘trip working’ of the time and whether the track layout shown is correct/sufficient for this to happen. This is probably glaringly obvious to the knowledgeable, but I am not, and so want to know how this worked in reality. For the purposes of discussion (and obviously correct me if I am wrong), I am assuming/proposing one or two things at this point;
1. ‘UP’ is to Bath and presumably is the destination of the ‘Fulls’ (wagons loaded with coal).
2. ‘DOWN’ is to Radstock and it’s coalfield, the source of the coal and thus the destination of the ‘Empties’ (empty coal wagons returning to pits for reloading, or perhaps sometimes re-loaded with pit props, etc.).
3. The ‘Halt’ is shown as-is, because it is there in the MRJ article (this allows Jerry to run other ‘main line’ traffic such as passenger workings, as the Halt ostensibly serves a local village or villages). What I do not know, is whether the ‘cross-over’ pointwork in the Halt is really only there because of the Halt, or would still be there even if there wasn’t a Halt.
4. I assume the use of a ‘Double Slip’ in the exchange track-work here, is a space-saving expedient and probably not what would have been used in real life.
5. Train makeup is (at a minimum); Engine (at the head-end), wagons (non-fitted), Brake Van at the tail end (in this period).
6. Presumably, there would also be a colliery engine on-hand to assist in some way (the layout does have one), although I have read about ‘workings’ in South Wales, where the trip locomotive was also the one rostered to shunt the colliery sidings themselves (perhaps at collieries without their own locomotive).
So, can somebody explain, step-by-step, the sequence of events/movements (from any direction), to accomplish the exchange with the colliery, because when I think about the logistics (given the track-work shown), that raises a whole load of questions to which I don’t know the answer. This is almost certainly due to my lack of understanding about what is (or isn't) either likely or legally permitted.
The main question for me is; Can (legally) the colliery (on the ‘UP’ side), be accessed by a ‘trip’ working locomotive arriving on the ‘DOWN’ line (with 'Empties' for example), or (because all the points are ‘Trailing’) does this mean that all visits to the colliery (whether to collect ‘Fulls’ or drop-off ‘Empties’) have to be undertaken by an ‘UP’ train in all cases? Were the latter to be so, then presumably ‘Empties’ arriving on the ‘DOWN’ line from Bath, would nonetheless have to pass this colliery by, until such time that they could be formed-up into a train travelling towards Bath again on the ‘UP’ line.
The track-work shown, would in theory allow a ‘DOWN’ train to reverse through the points to access the ‘UP’ side, but doing so would still leave the engine at the head-end and thus be going engine-first into the colliery sidings.
What puzzles me about one of the images of the model itself, is that a SDJR ‘mainline’ locomotive is shown propelling a rake of wagons (presumably, 'Empties', so from Bath?) down into the sidings off ‘the main’ (what I am calling the ‘UP’) line, with the Brake Van between the engine and said wagons. For the life of me, I cannot fathom how this locomotive could have got into that position in the first place, unless; it arrived as a second ‘light engine’ on the ‘UP’ line, or was an SDJR locomotive already at the colliery (ready to relieve the ‘trip’ engine of it’s load by accessing the rear of the ‘trip’ working via the cross-over pointwork), or it is the ‘trip’ engine and it had temporarily disappeared off-scene towards Radstock, in order to gain access to the ‘UP’ line (effectively ‘running round’ its own train).
Finally, the only other point I can think of (at the moment) is; would trip-workings consist only of wagons for one colliery at a time, or operate like pickup freights, containing wagons destined for, or to be collected from, other collieries?
Phew!!
TIA
Steve N
-
Fantastic layout - good luck with your first show!
Regards
Steve N
-
1
-
-
Just a bit tangential to actual modelling, but does anyone know the specific colour name/reference (and who might supply such a colour in model paint form), for the letters (and lining around them) on Ffestiniog locomotive nameplates?
The reason I ask, is that at a recent model railway exhibition (Club Member's sales stall), I purchased a framed set (approx. 20cm x 15cm) of five such miniature nameplates (e.g. 'Prince', 'Welsh Pony', etc.), rivetted to a green-painted metal backplate. Unfortunately, the item (behind glass) had obviously suffered badly from damp and as well as the frame itself being in need of attention, there was some bad tarnishing on several of the brass nameplates. After taking the whole thing apart, it transpired that some (but not all) of the plates were sealed behind a varnish or lacquer, though none of the solvents I have, would touch it (I suspect that means it might be an acrylic?). In the end, I had to resort to the use of fine wire wool and 'Brasso' on those specific ones, inevitably leading to partial loss (in places) of some of the red colour that had been used in the engraved areas. Whilst I could leave it 'as-is' (going for an, in-service/worn look), it would be good to repair this damage if I could get a colour match. My main worry, is that any paint I do get (even if a match to that used on the real thing) won't actually match the paint used by whoever created these, and I end up having to go over all the engraving on all five miniatures! Nevertheless, any help gratefully received. TIA.
Steve N
-
5 minutes ago, 88C said:
Still waiting for the points to arrive but I have decided not to use the Y. This will enable me to set up another train.
Brian
Probably the right decision - sometimes its better to quit whilst you're ahead. 👍
-
1
-
-
On 02/07/2022 at 18:57, corneliuslundie said:
Anyone going to be at the Cardiff show in August?
I shall be helping on the WRRC stand at least on the Saturday and we hope to have an exciting announcement to make. But you'll have to wait a while to find out what it is.
Jonathan
Currently my intention to go (went to the last one in 2019 at Llandaff North). Had toyed with the idea of going to the Barry & Penarth one this last weekend, but a 'dodgy tummy' a day or so before, made me think otherwise! Will probably split the day (Cardiff show) between it and a visit to St Fagan's in the afternoon on the way back home - haven't been there for quite a long time.
Steve N
-
1
-
-
On 01/06/2022 at 21:04, corneliuslundie said:
Bunners is a very well known "traditional" hardware (and most other things) shop in Montgomery, and has been around since early in the 20th century.
Coincidentally, I finally got to visit Bunners about a month ago. Came away with some useful things I cannot get in-store locally and (for future reference) I see they do the replacement insulation linings for my make of wood-fired stove in the lounge. Will you be going to the WRRC AGM?
-
1
-
-
On 20/05/2022 at 10:07, TEAMYAKIMA said:
…. this is his pose when I asked him why my DCC system keeps playing up.
Sadly, the model showing the pose he adopts when asked to hurry up and get it fixed, is currently unavailable!
Reminds me of a joke from my apprentice days in the 1970’s - ‘He only realised he had lost his middle finger, when he said goodnight to the foreman’. 😂
-
4
-
.JPG.3cb5a691dbda0493d678dd6f11388553.JPG)
BEIJIAO - a large Chinese HO exhibition layout set in the 21st century
in Layout topics
Posted · Edited by steveNCB7754
Certainly come a long way since then!
On a side note - I'm the second bald head on the left (w/red jumper, light chinos and checked shirt) in the 2018 photo. This must be the Friday afternoon, as I would always come up to Wales (where I now live in retirement) from work on the south coast of England at lunchtime, taking advantage of the BMRE being on. Can't even imagine how many of these shows I've attended over the years - having it begin on a Friday afternoon (a rare thing country-wide) was hugely helpful. Happy days.
Steve N (hoping to be there again this year, only coming from the opposite direction now)