Yorkshire Square

Well that's probably the conventional way, but I tend to be pretty erratic and nonconformist when I'm modelmaking. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't! I'm full of admiration for those modellers who produce neat models, but occasionally I feel they're a bit clinical. Just my opinion of course. I'll probably end up redoing some of the ground cover and to be fair, I don't really know how I want to do the ballast yet. I sort of do things as they take my fancy and depending on how I feel. And, of course, it's only a train set. 🙂

I do so enjoy throwing a bit of flock around! Having formed the groundwork around the new factory, the terrace and the drainage ditch, I dug the electrostatic sieve out and made a start on the grass. The basic covering is in, now for some weeds and brambles and bushes.

You'd have had it finished thirty years ago if you'd used PECO! 🤣🤣🤣 Happy 40th guys. You're an inspiration to all of us. Keep up the good work!

I've been struggling to progress the right hand side of the layout where trains enter from the sector plate. I've eventually made a start on the overbridge and made a few changes to the buildings on the rear. I'd picked up a couple of terraced house kits from Petite Properties (usual disclaimer). These are laser cut cardboard and low relief. I didn't want to sit them straight against the backscene, but thought that with a bit of bashing they could be adapted. I built the kits as per the instructions but built up the gable end of the left hand one to give it a full profile. The backs are a bit messy, but out of site when they're in position. The kits went together very nicely. I covered them with Scalescenes brick paper and used Redutex tiles for the roofs. The terrace will sit on a slight raise with retaining wall and small embankment. I need to print a road sign, probably the rather unoriginal Railway Terrace. The retaining wall needs more work, possibly buttresses, and cap stones and I'll need to sort guttering etc.

Ian can you post some pictures? Using the gearbox block should give a pretty consistent chance of getting the mesh correct.

Hi David The first run will be 1:7 - double and single slips plus a diamond. Once they're done I hope we can get 1:6 variants out. Crossovers are also on the to-do list!

Just finished the very first Finetrax 2FS double slip! If a ham fister like me can put one together, most anyone can. Now gone off to someone more technically able than me for further inspection.

Mick Simpson and Callaton at Pontefract this weekend. The Northern Roadshow were also in attendance flying the 2FS flag.

You can in theory get any component from the Association that we might use in various assemblies. I don't want to widely advertise/encourage it as the components are in multiple different locations and I'm sure there are quite a few members would buy stuff "just in case I need it at some future time". :) If members genuinely do have a use for components (and bear in mind many of them are available through the shops already - wheels rims, axles etc) then an email to me sales@2mm.org.uk will elicit a suitable response. Cheers!

Hi Bob This is Bairds at Witham. It's right next to the railway (the sat-nav actually took me to the wrong side of the station!) but I think the size and nature of the some of these new plants defies any reasonable chance of modelling them. The passenger station at Witham looked very attractive from a modelling perspective. EDME have/had a very nice building, but it's a to work in. Is Crisp Maltings in Mistley still on the go? I think your representation of a smaller older plant is rather appropriate for a layout and very attractive. Well done!

Very nice Bob. As chance would have it I was down that way only last week working at one of the maltings. A bit bigger than the one on your layout! 😀 https://www.facebook.com/100000126772475/videos/pcb.6447489301931898/1032682304354131

I think the tender is 8.5mm. If you can wait, I've just ordered printed centres for Black 5 specific wheels - pony truck, drivers and tender. These have the distinctive bevel on the rim. Should be in the shop in March. I hope!

Think about offsetting the centre of the track circle in relation to the layout circle. Then the train will come from the back of the scenic section toward the outer edge of the baseboard and then back again. Makes it a little more interesting visually: http://www.2mm.org.uk/layouts/brafferton/index.htm

I've been working on a new Hull & Barnsley wagon, this time a three plank drop side open. The body including solebars and buffer beams (with very attractive flares to catch the dropped sides) was drawn and printed as a single unit. The chassis is a 1887 RCH with the brake lever rejigged to match the prototype. Axleboxes and springs are then added from my own prints and the buffers are standard Association turnings. Having built one, I now have another eight to do before painting commences.

I know it's his trainset now, but get your hands off the scenery! 🙄

Don't forget there are the "i" info links in the headings - takes you to http://www.2mm.org.uk/products/instruction_sheets/wagons-br.pdf and suggests 2-005, 3 hole disc on (of course) 12.25mm axles.

They're in shop 2 now. Visit the products page on the Association website.

Four of those couplings would make a grand support for your Christmas tree...

Can you put me down for 15 of "any I might have forgotten"!? They might be useful these days... 😉

The issue won't be solved by washers as the boss appears to be sitting inside the cut-out on the wiper assembly. The only option is to make the cut-out larger so that it doesn't intermittently scrape against the outside rim of the boss. See below - wheels and gears omitted for clarity:

Okay, having reread the various posts and looked at the photos, I see that I misread the measurements and as Chris stated 6.77mm (measurement across wipers) > 6.45mm (distance between bosses), it looks like the bosses sit into the cut outs of the wipers and are likely rubbing on their outer edges rather than their faces. The simplest solution would be to cut the wipers back so that they don't foul the bosses. I think this has already been suggested. See below: I'd suggest a 4 1/2" disc or maybe smaller...

And they need the obligatory shovel to lean on...

Just needs easing out a bit... 🤣

Chris, I've just tested multiple wheelsets, both from Central Shop and from locos that I've converted. On all of them the axle is completely insulated. I'm not sure exactly how the anodising process is undertaken, but I'd be very surprised if it only anodises each end of one axle rather than the whole piece.

The boss is part of the anodised axle and therefore should be electrically insulated. In the unlikely event that the anodising has worn away on both bosses the 12V would still need to arc across the 0.3mm gap. Have you checked the wheesets for non-continuity across the wheelsets? You might just have a faulty set.