BurscoughCurves

Hi Folks, Just a few gratuitous shots from a couple of running sessions i'm afraid. The only new addition is a set of ground signals from the ratio signal kit (non-working for the sake of my sanity!) to control the pair of carriage sidings at the rear of the layout. I'll plonk them this week; Gismorail- I really look forward to Chester updates, will have to introduce myself at Wigan in September. Thanks gents, Pete

Hi Everyone, It's been a while since my last update- far too long for me! I've been itching to get back working on the layout and I have made a break-through in terms of signalling. To recap- I have kit bashed some LNWR ratio kits, but used etched metal angled cranks as the plastic ones supplied kept failing. I bought a MegaPoints Controller servo board and some cheap (less than £2 each) servos to control movement. This is an excellent product which is really easy to setup. I made a bench top plank to test everything before installing them on the layout. I made a small control panel and mounted 4 centre off, double poll, single throw switches to it. I used these switched so in one direction the main arm is activated, and in the other the shunt arm is activated. In the centre position they are both at danger. They shouldn't both be activated simultaneously so this has kept the number of switches to a minimum. I have illuminated them although the LED's are way too intense- higher value resisters needed... again! (although this isn't apparent in the next photo!) To hold the servos I mounted them in aluminium 'U' section from a local DIY shop. I had read online someone using this method as the servos fit snuggly within the section. For control linkages I used guitar string- a thin 'B' for the main linkage, glued to a low 'E' which fitted nicely into the servo arm hole. Setting the servo movement was quite tricky initially. I need to finish these with ladders and some weathering. I have also populated the platforms with some lovely Pete Goss figures, painted some time ago; A new addition is a Hattons Warflat, a lovely model which just needs a significant load! Hopefully more soon, Pete

Love that plate Andrew! I would imagine yours has a lot more value than mine- it cost a few pounds from Crewe Herritage Centre but I still really like it! Thanks for the comments though folks. Danstercivicman- I'll have to check my scarm plan but I seem to remember it being somewhere between 2nd & 3rd radius. Pete

Hi People, I have a few photos to share- but haven't actually got much modelling to show for it! I added some crew and cab detail to my WD which was a little bare compared to more recent models. I made up a cab floor out of checker plate and also a wooden one from balsa. The checker plate one looked a little coarse so I went with the wood- I couldn't find any images of a WD cab floor. I also added some seats, a hose from 0.8mm wire wrapped in a single strand from mains cable, some more copper pipes from copper wire and a brew pot as per a photo I have in one of my books; I also had a good clear up and bought a storage unit from Ikea (for about £35). I saw one on another members thread but can't remember whose- sorry but thanks for the inspiration! It has made a lot of difference and I can reference my books much more easily now. I also re-discovered my MGR plate bought at Crewe under all my mess, I will mount it somewhere eventually! And now to the most frustrating modelling project I have ever started... Signals! I bought x2 Ratio LNWR lower quadrant signal kits to make up some starter signals with smaller arms below for releasing light engines. The main parts went together easily enough- although I find the instructions pretty useless. I bought some micro LED's and have drilled out the lamps to illuminate the signal arms. Drilling through the lenses (I did try cutting the whole lens area out although this was impossible due to the thin flimsy plastic) I filled to hole with glue n'glaze glue which dries clear and coloured them with red and green sharpie pens. Now for the infuriating bit- the tiny linkages. I intend to use servos to control the signals so I can trim them appropriately (I hope!). The plastic angled cranks were impossible to mount and connect without breaking them so I bought an Alan Gibson etch with ideal etched brass replacements. I opened the holes up on these with a 0.4mm drill and made connecting rods out of a guitar string. Aligning these up takes huge amounts of patience! Some photos of the above; The linkages for the main signals are at the front of the signal, and I plan on actuating the smaller arms from the rear. I have made a shaft and bush out of copper tubes which mate finely to try to reduce the play. I have connected a small arm to this assembly and glued it into position. More agonizing linkage work to follow... then I need to make a second one. Thanks for reading, Pete

Hi folks, Managed to continue with the ground cover of the MPD and am happy with the initial covering so far. I need to concentrate on the detailing next as it looks very bare. That being said I don't plan to cram too much into the area as I want it to be slightly desolate. A mixture of filler plus earth brown acrylic paint provided the base covering, sanded when dry. This was coated with PVA and then covered with a mixture of fine brown earth powder mixed with ash ballast. The areas next to the tracks then had black weathering powder liberally applied. I then covered certain areas with static grass and fine turf foam. I have kept the colours fairly subdued as I don't want a summer scene full of bright greens! On the coaling & ash road I made small lumps of DAS clay and covered them with ash. Under this area I inlayed a piece of narrow gauge track for an ash hopper. I'm not sure whether a shed of this size would have had a facility such as this but I really wanted to feature it for some reason! From the Manchester show I bought an OO9 gauge hopper which I have built, painted a rusty colour and filled with ash. I think I may be going a bit far towards an 'end of steam' look as the layout is currently mid 50's but I i'm happy with the look so far. I do need to give the shed access roads a good scrub as there is still some crunching under the loco wheels! Please excuse the poorly fitted/missing shed roof; Next up after the detailing is the bridge across the centre of the layout. Again- this is not a public road but for access to the off-scene goods yard. Thanks for reading, Pete

Thanks for the positive comments gents. When it comes to Northern grot, you couldn't get any higher praise than from Mr Shakespeare! I will be following your advice on removable train storage trays soon Gilbert. I am planning on extending the FY sidings and making the near side one removable. This will definitely aid the operating sequences. Pete

Hi folks, Well i'm having a very hectic time in work lately and nothing relaxes me more than spending a few hours on the layout- operating or building. I have continued with the MPD ground cover, finishing the area around the turntable. As you will see in some of the photos- I have started testing potential 'clutter' including barrels and random pipework (I haven't decided on any positioning yet). I have also completed the 'near-side' section of retaining wall which I feel encloses the layout quite well. I also bought a new loco- a TMC weathered Austerity WD 2-8-0. I have admired these for a long time and have been saving up for one for some time now. I'm very happy with it and just need to add some crew and tools to the tool carrier. I have also started working on an operating time-table. I find it can be a little overwhelming just running random locos and trains but had a great session based on simple schedule. Starting with early morning parcel traffic, then onto main line expresses, followed by locals (including a DMU service) and freight- I haven't got any further than this yet though. It seems to add a new dimension to running the layout. Anyhow, please find the images below, thanks for reading. Pete Ps. thanks for the comment and likes Mark.

Hi all, I managed to fix my stupid wiring error! It was bugging me too much (although the lamps themselves don't add too much light) so I tried my fishing for loose wires method behind the building- to no avail. This method would never work because I had completely forgotten to solder any flying leads to the circuit of 3 off LED's and a resistor. I just got away with prising the right hand end of the building away from the wall to create a slight gap behind. I then drilled a hole from the underside of the baseboard and passed two wires into the gap behind. I then soldered crocodile clips to these wires and clipped them to the circuit by holding them in long nose pliers. After a successful test (and a lot of relief!) I pushed the building back into position and as I had sealed it in place with plaster, the join isn't very visible. I may bed this back in place in the future. There is an LED in the phone box but it needs a lower value resistor as it can barely be seen at the moment! Another task I did over Christmas was to add passengers to my Bachmann Derby lightweight DMU. I should have checked before re-assembly but the passengers all appear to be sitting a little high- their heads are just below the window bars. What do you think? I could cut more away from the passengers (there will only be torso left if I do this) when I come to add destination boards. A low quality smokey image I quite liked; Finally a few images of the finished exterior of the workshop; Thanks all, Pete

Hi people, Hope you are all well and have had a good start to the year. I was hoping to get more done over Christmas but had some decorating and over-eating to do! I had plenty of running sessions though- and one involved someone other than me for the first time. I acted as signalman for a friend on New Years Eve and I deny anyone to not enjoy shutting trains into a little terminus! I have added a second power bus for the lighting circuit, and a piece of terminal block plus resistor to all of the current LED's (and 6 bulbs) on the layout. I haven't adjusted the resistor values to balance the light output yet- the platform lamps and too bright compared to a very dimly lit shed! I will adjust these in time. I also wired in the DCC Concepts red tail lamps to the buffers of the platform roads. Again- these look quite bright at the moment. I was absolutely gutted to find that not all of the station LED's were illuminated- I am such an idiot and forgot how I wired the various LED's on the station building. So I have sealed the building in place permanently and must have two wires I failed to drill a hole through the baseboard for stuck behind somewhere!!! I'm so cross about this! I am going to try fishing for the wires through a tiny gap between the back-scene and building but this is optimistic. I then need to decide whether I tear it away from the platform to find them or just live with it. I think I'll end up doing the former as it will bug me with them not lit up. Please find various images below of the illuminated layout so far (mainly station area), again the brightness's will be adjusted soon. Thanks, Pete

Thanks guys. Yes I'll be illuminating it with my usual LED's. Can't wait to power all of the layout LED's at the same time as I have only tested them individually up to now. Pete

Hi folks, Before I can continue with the ground cover at the turntable end of the yard I need to plant a small building- a basic workshop and stores with an attached lamp hut. I started planning the building with a paper mock-up before construction started using typical mounting card frame and slaters plastikard covering (both the interior and exterior). I used 7mm brick as I wanted a more coarse stone building instead of brick- this structure being one of the older buildings dating to LNWR days. For the interior of the store room I made some shelving and planted various clutter on them (the white 'angle brackets' have been painted with oily steel paint); The door was made from balsa with an etched brass latch and notice; The workshop was then fitted out with a wills kit- one I've had in my detailing draw for years now. Being a manufacturing engineer I love the level of detail on the lathe and pillar drill! All that remains on the interior is to add some tools from a wonderful severn models etched brass kit and a machine operator. Next is to add interior lighting, and then start work on the roof. When it has been planted in-situ I will then add the workshop doors (which I have mocked in the images below); Once the above is complete I should then be able to extend the ground cover and I will then make a start on the bridge diving the layout in two. Lots to do though! Thanks for reading, Pete Edited for bl**dy typos!

Hi folks, I've started on some ground cover next to the turntable- in a scruffy unkempt corner! I mixed plaster with some black and brown acrylic paint and covered the small area. When it had dried I sanded it down and added some fine ballast and brown earth powder, then added some static grass. I need to tidy the area a little as it isn't quite dry and the fibers are everywhere. I also painted and placed a rusty oil drum into the plaster. Please excuse the multiple images of little progress; I like how the photos add depth the to doorways in the station building- Liverpool Exchange happened to blend in nicely; I bought a Locomotech motor and bracket for the turntable which went together well. I wired it to the track bus via a decoder and am really happy with its operation. I love watching locomotives being slowly turned (simple things!). Please excuse the mass of dangling wires- they are for the platform lighting. I am not sure how to power all of the various LED's on the layout- a separate power supply and power bus or on the main track bus? More to follow soon, Pete

Hi Eric, Just a quick message to say how much I admire Longdrem & Pinkhill. It's such a wonderful layout- my favorite on RMweb. Fantastic modelling and photos. All the best, Pete

Hi everyone, Just a quick update with a few images of a tiny bit of scenic work. I have modelled the MPD approach road- with a hint of an incline to add to the urban cutting feel. The ground was raised with a polystyrene wedge covered in a mix of polyfilla, brown acrylic paint and PVA. Before the mix had dried I rolled a set of wheels onto the surface. When dry I added some static grass and earth powder to the edges. The fence is scribed balsa. Please forgive the unpained chimney and awful grey arches above the shed windows- I will sort these at some point! I wasn't happy with the fence I made from the previous post. It was one of those things that bugged me so I changed it. I think the issue was that the balsa grain was flowing horizontally. I am much happier with this now. The back edge of the fence will barely be seen. Thanks for the comments Steve and Andrew. Andrew- I'd love to take Pencarne off you hands if I had the space! Could I justify a Halifax - Pencarne summer special?! All the best, Pete

Hi people, It seems like an age since my last update, and indeed since I have made any progress on the layout. What with the wedding and honeymoon I've not had any spare time prior to this week. I have managed to complete a small final piece of retaining wall (usual mucky method!), and have actually laid some rough turf! I skimmed a polystyrene former with PVA & paper and painted it a dark brown colour. When this was dry I covered the small area with more PVA and glued down a piece of hanging basket liner. When this was dry I peeled away the backing paper leaving a very rough scrubby grass embankment. A little trimming is all this has had done in the shots below, although I will be adding some additional static grass. I was looking forward to testing this method and will be using it again. I made the fence from balsa but am unsure whether to keep it- I think I may have made it a little too uneven looking? Last weekend I really enjoyed the excellent Wigan show, and met a few familiar faces; including Andy Y and Tony Wright. It was great chatting to them both, and received some valuable advice from Tony on where to start with loco kit-building (something I am keen to get into when I have completed more scenic work). A few shots from the show; Next is to start some ground cover in the MPD area. Thanks all, Pete

Really great comments gents, thanks so much. I'm happy with what I've done so far, and I've learned so much. I'm itching to get more scenic work done but life keeps getting in the way! Pete Ps. My 1st Borat, cheers James!!

Evening all, Not managed to do a great deal of modelling recently but have managed to lay the final piece of track on the scenic side of the layout- the siding at the extreme front of the layout. I raised it on a base of balsa to clear the point control rods below. The support under the bridge at the front is only temporary by the way, the bridge itself is not a public one but will give railway staff access to the off-scene goods yard. I have also built a recent purchase of 4 Skytrex Models LNWR water columns. They are lovely white-metal items with excellent detail; The 4th is located between the turntable approach tracks. They have only been primed and will be painted and weathered soon. My aim is to start detailing the area around the shed next, although I get married in 2 weeks time so may not have a great deal of spare time early September! A few photos to finish the weekend (please ignore the awful yet-to-be changed colour of the shed window arches); This may well be my final post as a 'single' man! Bachelor Pete

Ahh sorry! No- I have left a space for one below the water column but have yet to find & order/ make a grate yet. The dark squares are where the original supports were located prior to the overall canopy being cut down after bomb damage. The supports in between the tracks are still partly visible as they were only crudely cut back. Thanks, Pete

Hi SGJ, what do you mean by grates? Do you mean over the platform pedestrian entrance/ exits? Pete

Evening all, Just a few images of some new platform lamps for tonight. There are 2 different types- a more 'modern' design for the area that used to be covered by the canopy, and a much older type still left in situ further up the platforms and on the parcels platform. Both types are from Layouts4you; the modern ones are 12V bulbs and the older type are LED's. The quality isn't brilliant but I like the general look of them. I have sprayed the moderns grey and painted the older LMR crimson (ish). These look too bright at the moment and will be suitable weathered. I am looking forward to lighting them all up soon. Thanks, Pete

Thanks for the comments gents. Ian; I'm sure you can tell I've taken a lot of inspiration from Bradfield. It sets a wonderful scene which is greatly aided by the sound fitted stock and prototypical timetable. I will watch for updates from yourself with great interest- Clecklewyke is up there with the finest modelling, a real favourite of mine. Pete

Hello again! I'm afraid my work/life balance has been in favour of work recently but I have made some decent progress towards finishing the station building. Yesterday I added a corrugated roof using wills sheets and painted/ weathered it today. I also added some signs from Sankey Scenics. Note the random cable covering the plastikard joins (I was thinking of adding a drain pipe but thought it would be an odd location); The ridge of the corrugated roof with some lead flashing made from kitchen foil, before painting; The roof after a coat of grey primer, some dry brushing with dirty blacks and weathering with a rust coloured wash from Model Mates. After applying and letting it dry, I dulled it down with a damp cotton bud; I plan to use several photographic images behind the building of station forecourts to try to add some dept to the visible openings. I have printed some (poor quality) test pieces of Liverpool Exchange station to try to get a feel of how it may look; I have also wired in the LED lamps, tested here off the layout on the work bench; Hopefully I should have the building bedded in to its final position soon. Many thanks for reading, Pete Edit- I always get Wills and Ratio products mixed up!

Thanks for the kind comments gents; William- I'm extremely flattered for you to say it's up there with your favourites, thank you. A few pictures of the station building to follow. I've made a crude interior for the 'modern' office rooms; one can be seen fairly clearly but I have modelled closed curtains in the back office room apart from a porter peaking through the front curtain. The front office is illuminated with a clear LED painted with a translucent yellow paint- I presume either gas or period electric lighting would have a more yellow glow than modern white lighting? You can barely see into the room to be honest but I like subtle details. After quite a lot of messy building it had been a while since my last running session so I gave the track a good clean and really enjoyed running some locos! I will definitely work on a timetable in the future (and maybe introduce a random roll of a dice to see if I have any locomotive breakdowns!). I realised I had never shedded all of my steam locos together at the same time so now for some more bl##dy shed pics! I have made some lamps to mount to the station wall. I went with the method I had used previously-a rubber grommet cut in half to act as a shade on an LED. They were primed and painted black and will be wired when I finish the building off this week. I have dry brushed the station facade with some browns and blacks- more dirt needed on the right hand side yet though! I finished the flat roof of the extension with fine wet & dry paper and added a hatch made from balsa; Thanks for reading, Pete

Hi people, I've made a little progress on the 'modern' extension to the station building. At the same time as the damaged canopy was cut-down (around 1946 I believe), the damaged parts of the station building were put right and a small section extended. The brick part was made out of 1.5mm mounting card and slaters 4mm brick plastikard. I wanted the windows to be a different style to the main building so used some C&L ones. I am yet to glaze these. I sprayed the shell with grey primer, then rubbed it down with emery before colouring with watercolour pencils (as described previously). Next up is to detail the office area and add LED's for lighting. The interior showing the balsa floor. I will put up a dividing wall to create two rooms- lost luggage and an admin office perhaps; Pete

Hi, Just a quick update. I have finished the (currently un-glazed) end window of the demolished canopy and am just planning a brick extension which will be to the left of the stone facade. Popped to Crewe after work last night and met a lovely lady: Apparently the flooded inspection pit was a present from Mr Stanier! Pete