[The Sheep Chronicles : These are the adventures of a Sheep, the Works Forecat and Naughty George,]

Don’t talk to me about mad cows, I married one.

Rich

[A Nod To Brent - a friendly thread, filled with frivolity, cream teas and pasties. Longing for the happy days in the South Hams 1947.]

11 hours ago, gwrrob said:

Thanks Kevin, nothing done differently with my now elderly Nikon Coolpix.

On my screen it seems to have picked up a touch more red bias.  Makes everything seem sharper. If you look at the sleepers, that’s a clue , browns and biscuit colours are a fine balance of all three primary colours and the most difficult to get right.

Rich

[Mid-Cornwall Lines - 1950s Western Region in 00]

3 hours ago, St Enodoc said:

Today I had a busy and productive afternoon working on the Polperran point control panel.

 

First, I marked in pencil where all the stripes will go. You can see at the top centre the representation of the Barry slip, with no direct route straight across from left to right.

 

Then I drilled the 8mm holes with a spade bit. The trick here is to go both slowly and gently, especially when the bit starts to bite into the white face on the MDF, to avoid ripping the face away. I think it's impossible to do this perfectly but the minor imperfections you can see here will be hidden by the spring washers for the push-buttons.

 

The back is far less tidy but this doesn't matter, of course. I just cleared the worst of the drilling debris with a craft knife, so that the push-buttons would seat nicely.

 

As always, I used 3mm blue car striping tape. I find this stage of the job quite relaxing for some reason. Initially I laid the stripes right across the holes, then cut them away to clear the washers, so that the stripes don't get chewed up and twisted when you tighten the nuts.

 

The push-buttons are now in and all of a sudden the whole thing looks like a control panel.

 

Once I'd fitted the push-buttons, I added a piece of ply to support the Mini Panel then had a cup of tea while the glue was drying.

 

Here's the Mini Panel in place. To connect it to the cab bus I disconnected the existing cab bus cable from the command station and rerouted it to the Mini Panel, then added a new 12' cab bus cable between the Mini Panel and the command station, so that the cab bus still daisy-chains between all the pieces of kit that are attached to it.

 

Next I need to connect the push-buttons to the Mini Panel, program each of the routes and add some labels.

 

The big space that's left is for the block switch and LEDs, which I'll fit later, ready to connect to Pentowan (which will also control Treloggan Junction of course).

I’m in awe of your work. I only wish I understood half of what you’re talking about.  Best wishes from rainy, but reasonably virus-free South London.

Rich 

 

[The Sheep Chronicles : These are the adventures of a Sheep, the Works Forecat and Naughty George,]

I think we’re all going to have to keep a watchful eye on the fuel systems of any classic vehicle . Most of the elements won’t be damaged by the ethanol we’re being saddled with, but there is always a possibility of something reacting badly to it.

Rich.

[Mid-Cornwall Lines - 1950s Western Region in 00]

On 04/11/2021 at 09:52, Nick Gough said:

 

Is that all scratchbuilt?

 

Looks good.

Sorry I took so long to respond, we’ve been busy. The interior was an extra in the L-cut kit. A nice laser cut kit I bought from Warley Exhibition; about three years ago.

Made up really nicely 

Rich

[Mid-Cornwall Lines - 1950s Western Region in 00]

9 hours ago, St Enodoc said:

Here we are:

 

I rather like the different effect. With a bit lot of imagination you can see that the threshold or step is made of a harder brick than the main structure.

 

All the grey and white bits, and the door, need to be painted brown next, then the main painting of the structure will be done. I've decided to fit the windows before the interior, as it will be easier to fit the interior parts later rather than wrangle the windows (glazing, specifically) into place round a fitted interior.

I made a false floor to fit into the finished box, so much easier to add those tiny details.

I’m trying to attach a photo of mine half finished.

Rich

[Mid-Cornwall Lines - 1950s Western Region in 00]

22 hours ago, St Enodoc said:

I could throw the old chassis in free...

Free? Looks more like five or six bits!
Rich

[Mid-Cornwall Lines - 1950s Western Region in 00]

28 minutes ago, St Enodoc said:

Sounds good, Paul. If I were a lone wolf, I'd think seriously about having a system that would run the trains while I just sat in the signal box pulling the levers - rather like some of the simulations that are available but with trains you can actually touch and feel.

Don’t you worry that there is a danger of becoming too remote and insulated from running the models? 
 

I was talking to a guy today who’s daughter has just got her driving license but cannot drive his car because it doesn’t have anti stall or an automatic handbrake!

 

Rich

[Mid-Cornwall Lines - 1950s Western Region in 00]

2 hours ago, St Enodoc said:

After dinner, I straightened up 1419's pickups and also removed one of the thin plastic shims I'd used to pack the rear axle, which turned out to be just a tad too tight when I screwed all the bits back together. Apart from a slight limp, which has always been there with this chassis, everything is fine now and trials on the rolling road and test track were successful.

 

I'm tempted to remove the traction tyres altogether, as there's no risk now of the groove catching on point blades, but I think I'll leave them until they fall off of their own accord.

 

1419 and W187W can now sit in Polperran 8 road until there is somewhere for them to go to at Pentowan. Of course, they might make the odd trip up to St Enodoc and back, just because...

 

To stop them feeling lonely, I could finish detailing the GRCW SPC too, which has been on hold for a couple of years.

GRCW. SPC ? Do tell?
 

Rich

[Aston On Clun. A forgotten Great Western outpost.]

Goods shed?

[Little Muddle]

On 17/09/2021 at 17:22, Andrew P said:

Yes he had to do a different one at each end, but can live with that.

That’s okay as long as he remembers which one is the chip address

 

Ask me how I know - - - 

 

Rich

[Mid-Cornwall Lines - 1950s Western Region in 00]

There is a Club in Bromley, South London, called Rusper. They run OO analogue between a series of sheds. Each one is a section, with Bells and signals . I have to admit I have never visited them but several of my OO colleagues are members.

I too live in awe of Peter and his tenacity and clever use of whatever materials were available to him. Such a lovely ambience of time and place. Thank you t-b-g for saving the legend.

Rich.

[Little Muddle]

33 minutes ago, Harlequin said:

Is it market day already? Oh yes, the first Thursday of the month.

It'll be lively in the pubs in 'Muddle this afternoon!

I hope that bloke selling ferrets doesn't turn up again - the Railcar smelled funny for days after last time.

 

I know what you mean, I used to commute on the Northern Line into Barbican

   Rich

[A Nod To Brent - a friendly thread, filled with frivolity, cream teas and pasties. Longing for the happy days in the South Hams 1947.]

1 hour ago, Coach bogie said:

There was one, 9580, that did get chocolate and cream but whilst in departmental service seen here at Reading in 1985. It was bought by Pete Waterman and moved to Bury. No idea where it is now.

 

Mike Wiltshire

 

Call me old-fashioned, but why on earth has it got hand rails up the sides? Are you supposed to put your foot through the windows?
Someone will tell me they’re pipes , I expect.

Rich

[A Nod To Brent - a friendly thread, filled with frivolity, cream teas and pasties. Longing for the happy days in the South Hams 1947.]

On 01/08/2021 at 13:58, BMacdermott said:

Hello everyone

 

To assist with some future Rolling Stock Mini-Polls here - if there is support for them to run - it would be helpful to have an idea of your modelling time periods.

 

There are five outline time periods below; please select as many as apply to you and vote in the usual way (simply: 2, 3 etc).

 

If, for example, you model 1920 to 1935, simply vote 2 as being the closest approximation.

 

1 1900-1922

2 1923-1938

3 1939-1945

4 1946-1955

5 1956 to early 1960s

 

You have until 1700 on Saturday 8 August. You can vote by PM direct to me if you wish.

 

Brian (with Rob's kind approval)

5 for me too, but I find cat. 1 the most attractive GWR stock 

Rich

[A Nod To Brent - a friendly thread, filled with frivolity, cream teas and pasties. Longing for the happy days in the South Hams 1947.]

It’s lovely to realise you have an example of his skills to cherish along with his memory. My condolences for the loss of a friend.

Rich.

[Little Muddle]

You missed out the skilful part, anyone can buy a Prairie. That rodding took time and patience, well done!

[Mid-Cornwall Lines - 1950s Western Region in 00]

23 hours ago, St Enodoc said:

 

I've pushed a single set of five wagons, which are not compensated, up the branch without difficulty. The track is canted for most of the 670mm radius curve.

 

Eventually the short china-clay trains will have six wagons, one for each opening in the front of the kiln, so the combined train will be twelve wagons and a brake van.

 

The branch is level for about the last foot or so before the point, so only about nine wagons and the brake van will be on the gradient and some of those will be on the vertical curve. I'm fairly confident that all will be well. Two of the three locos, the 16xx and the 2021 (not built yet), are Nu-Cast whitemetal kits. If the Bachmann 74xx struggles I'll try to put more weight in it.

 

Next weekend I'll find out...

If you make sure the white metal wagons are in the loaded string it might be easier. Unlike in reality where the empties weigh half as much, you will be propelling stock weight wagons up the incline.

Rich

[A Nod To Brent - a friendly thread, filled with frivolity, cream teas and pasties. Longing for the happy days in the South Hams 1947.]

Isn’t tier one an oval of setrack laid out in some t@££er’s kitchen and put out on u-toob?

[Mid-Cornwall Lines - 1950s Western Region in 00]

One Mississippi, two Mississippi-

[Little Muddle]

1 hour ago, Mick Bonwick said:

 

You're supposed to be adding the next line in the poem:

 

now through the wilds of the bend does the train meander

while over the top of the water tank we 'ave a gander

Will the signal slow them down?

 

You could have said, "On their way from Encombe Town."

 

 

If it doesn’t, things could all go brown?
 

Rich

[Little Muddle]

Funny how it goes in circles, the Royals , septics and betrothals rings a current bell.

 

 Rich 

[Little Muddle]

At least it’s pale blue and not the yellow stuff I was warned about eating

  Rich 

[Paybury - Southern Region Branch Line Terminus]

55 minutes ago, Jonnie said:

Thank you for your kind words. It was something to keep me occupied mostly during lockdowns in between being able to open the Spa Valley, hopefully this Summer we'll get back to the enjoyment of steaming and dieseling up and down the High Weald.

 

This afternoons little task was to make an entrance sign for the station. It is quite a simple little thing really, a 40mm by 20mm creation in Adobe Photoshop, the colour coming from the BR Totem which was an image I had on file, the font is Gill Sans and the arrow is one created in Adobe by blending 3 together. Printed on an A4 bit of paper then stuck onto some card from the back of an envelope which was painted in BR(S) Green!

 

The 'posts' are just off cuts of DCC Concepts bullhead rail I had, painted and glued to the card, it was then just plonked down with superglue and hidden by the vegetation. Took about an hour all in with drying time for the paint. Edges of the sign have been trimmed very finely with a sharp craft knife then just lightly brushed with BR (S) Green to get rid of the white edge. 

You’ve got that just right, maybe should have mentioned frequent services to London ? but that’s for the marketing department to worry about.

For patterns and typical accessories around the station I’ve found the book “Southern Nouveau “ an invaluable scource for reference.

Keep up the good work.    Rich 

[Paybury - Southern Region Branch Line Terminus]

Thank you Jonnie for such an inspirational thread. You have managed all this in the time I have sat and procrastinated over my own half finished layout. I’m ashamed. 
I do hope we will soon be out of this dreadful situation, and as a supporter of TWERPS. I hope you will soon be back and assisting in the running of the Spa Valley Railway.

 Rich.