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C126

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  1. C126
    Despite Mr David Larkin confirming for me the floor of a XVA wagon is an open frame-work, compared to the BDA steel bolster wagon's wooden platform, I am determined to have a means of conveying over-size steel from the manufacturers up north to a small ship-yard south of Atherington East Yard, at Tilling Docks.  The wagon would be conveyed at the head of the goods train 'passing through' my goods yard, so I need not consider load handling in my little general sidings.
     
    What decided me was if I keep the loaded side facing the viewer, the wagon floor would be obscured largely, and if painted black I hope will not be obvious.  So I bought some packs of Evergreen L-shape angle - Nos. 292, 0.080"/2.0 mm. and 294, 0.125"/3.2 mm. and tried to calculate the dimensions of the trestle frame.  Taking Colin J. Marsden's measurements from his 1984 BR and private owner wagons, pp.87-88, of an 8'6" high frame at a 48Deg. angle, I drew a scale diagram of the trestle arrangement:
     

     
    However, I made the first of several mistakes in thinking the frame propping the 'loading side' was at a right-angle to it.  As one can see from Paul Bartlett's excellent web-site, it is not...
     
    https://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/brtrestlexva
     
    In blissful ignorance, I made a paper mock-up to balance on the Bachmann wagon, now stripped of its bolsters with a large pair of pliers, and popped a Lima Class 33 diesel in front of it.  The trestle stuck out alarmingly above the loco, so I trimmed off six mm. gradually by eye, this being the final length of the main trestle 'stakes', giving a measurement of 40mm. and the supporting girders of 24mm.  I cut off three sides of the BDA's 'lip', and painted the edges black.  I should have done the whole floor then as well.
     

     
     
    Then it was just a case of cutting and shaping ten pairs of girders, and making sure they were the correct orientation.  I glued the bottom of each to a thin strip of plastic square to provide a second 'mount', and worked from the outside to the wagon centre, lest the spacing appear in need of correction - I thought this would give better scope for adjustment.  The gap is 19.5mm.  Propping up the 'load frame' against the wagon's edge, I glued on the supporting girders, scraping paint off the wagon floor to allow the Liquid Poly to adhere, and finally the cross-braces on the back.  The 'diamond' junction plates are 120g./m2 paper, cut to shape.  All was then painted with Humbrol silver, no. 11.
     
    One of many errors is the lack of the three 'steps' either side of the larger central one on the 'support side'.  I assume owing to mis-measurement and/or over-size plastic angle, these will not fit, so am undecided as to whether to ignore them (they will be hidden by the sheet steel load anyway) or cut away the step or girder to fit.
     

     
     
    And here is the result in revenue earning service on its way to Tilling Docks, in the yard arrival line.  I intend to fit 0.5mm. painted paper strips over the loads for the plastic strapping.  I assume each sheet was loaded individually, i.e., there was no 'sandwiching' of steel the same size, but could be wrong.  Also there is a hand rail above the steps to add, with painted garden wire.
     

     
     
    Lessons for the future: use smaller L-shape angle.  These were the only two on sale at the exhibition, but are too large; there might be smaller sizes made by Evergreen.  Try and get correct measurements (but I do not know how); this might permit the other steps to fit.
     
    I hope this encourages others to have a go.  My results are going to win no prizes, but I like the look, and it might prompt fate to bring out a ready-to-run version.  And my ship-yard can get its steel delivery.
     
     
  2. C126

    56. "Through to the Continent by British Rail."

    By C126,


    B.R. blue goods yard.
    Taking a week off work recently, I started 'the factory' as what I thought would be a quick, simple, discrete project.  This monolith hides the passenger station viaduct on the left of the layout, behind the minerals yard and arrival/departure sidings, currently substituted by cardboard boxes to give an idea of the 'massing'.
     
    I can not say the modelling has been enjoyable, but have been able at last to stage a cameo dreamed of when first mooting the layout's track plan.  A VIX is shunted away from the loading dock of the 'international food-stuffs' company, while the warehouse men check and move the last of the pallets, dusted with sand from the Dasht-e Loot Desert and perfumed with the exotic orient: dates, pistachios, rice, and dried fruit.
     

     

     
     
     
    Here is the complete elevation, thus :
     

     
     
     
    The glazing must be installed and the canopy is un-finished, but I am impatient.  I must sculpt the external corner element to join to a plain wall on the right, and glue on the 2" wide brick wall on the left, as part of what will be the main agricultural warehouse and grain silos.  For this, I will be hoping to bodge a Superquick card kit or three...
     
  3. C126

    58. Brown study.

    By C126,


    B.R. blue goods yard.
    Having bought many Preiser figures last month, I have taken photographs trying composition and colours.  The layout is strewn with 1970's wagon-load stock at the moment, and while bauxite shades dominate, I wanted to try other-coloured wagons in some pictures to see the effect.  Sadly, focus and camera-shake is not my strong point, and some backgrounds must be excused.
     
     
    D7070 rests in the grain/warehouse siding, having brought in a special Company train of minerals from Acton Yard (despite what the head-code says).  The '03' yard shunter bustles around arranging the wagons.  I hoped the completed part of the warehouse would dominate, but this teaches me to pull back further, for the train to be smaller in the frame.
     

     
     
    The minerals company's JCB loads an Accurascale MDV, and a lorry arrives with more shingle for one of the bins.
     

     
     
     
    Meanwhile, further down the siding, the coal merchant arranges sacks.  ModelU have brought out some more suitable figures recently, rather than these generic warehouse staff.
     

     
     

     
     

     
    I rather like the way, in the last picture above, the size of the vehicles increases from left to right, and the blue grain wagon gives a splash of colour on the right of the frame, but not out of balance with the drab grey and bauxite.
     
     
     
    Meanwhile, the '33' on 7N44 departs for Tonbridge Yard, taking the grain wagons, an empty Vanfit for sacks of fertiliser, and a VIX Ferry Van back to Kent.
     

     
    I shot this with the camera raised slightly above ground level; for some reason I thought it looked better.  Please excuse the un-painted 'onion dome' on the corner of the warehouse.  I did not expect it to be in shot.
     
     
     
    In the two Mileage Sidings, staff load and unload the day's freight from 7L57, the 09.08 from Norwood Down Yard, with 33 039 deputising for the rostered '73' EDL.  This was the first time I have played with the Accurascale Coil wagons.  These will be headed for a canning factory, an idea for which I am indebted to @Nearholmer .  Still not fixed a realistic hook on that Coles crane...
     

     
     
     
    A Vanfit is unloaded, as two staff bicker about how best to get the load into the back of the red drop-side lorry.  The pale poles on the BEV on the left of the picture were an attempt at 36' telegraph poles from pine felled on the High Weald, made from bamboo kebab sticks.  I must find a dark wood-stainer to simulate creosote.  Again, the colours are muted, but the yellow and red of the road vehicles bring a splash of colour.
     

     
     
     
    71 012 pulls away with the 'Up' after-noon milk train from the passenger station on the viaduct, as the '33' shunts two vans out of the way in the goods yard.  I should not have included the N.C.L. lorry; the picture did not need more bright primary colour.  The yellow 'Freight-Lifter' would have drawn the eye to the loading of the Vanfit and the Supervisor chalking the destination.
     

     
     
     
     
    At last, the train is made up and the '33' pulls its vans into the departure siding, ready to have more added by the shunter, and then run round and be off as 7L58 to Norwood Jn Yard.
     

     
     
     
     
    I like the opportunity now of including more figures in my pictures.  Presumably goods yards were run down and mostly deserted in the 1970's, but there must have been several people bustling about (or, in this decade, probably just standing around) when un-/loading had to be done.  The railways are for people, and British Rail itself employed thousands of them.  It is easy to get fixated on the trains and their constituent machinery.
     
    I will re-take some shots, and try a few more when next I have the opportunity.  I must also repaint more of the figures with high-vis. vests and yellow hard-hats.  Do watch Using T.O.P.S. (1978) if you are interested.  It has been my inspiration.
     
  4. C126
    In an effort to provoke the Fates into an announcement of a ready-to-run new 'OO' wagon, instead of all these high-spec. re-releases, I have made a model of an IIB 'Inter-frigo' ferry-wagon to convey (under Rule 1) meat and fish to and from the Sussex Weald.
     

     
     

     
     
    Unworthy of close examination - owing not least to my unsteady hand and unwanted ability to glue tiny pieces of plastic to everything except where wanted - I am content with its capturing the likeness and romance of the real thing for me.  I just wish someone did decals of its singular livery.
     
    Hacking the body off a Triang-Hornby VIX, picked up for a fiver at an exhibition, it took two attempts to build a plasticard 'box' body (the first, built around balsa blocks, looked too low).
     

     
     
    The (erroneously shaped) roof is balsa, the door fastenings and access steps rails plastic-coated garden wire, and the ladders Ratio signal parts.  Only after clearing away the remnants of this project, did I discover some lengths of finer wire for the door-fastenings.  Perhaps I will try a door with these on the other side of the wagon when feeling brave.
     
    If it can be done in 'HO', I hope someone will now release a model of this soon for us.
     
     
  5. C126

    55. A Ghost-inspector calls.

    By C126,


    B.R. blue goods yard.
    Just wished to add my paean to Revolution Trains' S.R. General Manager's Saloon, 'Caroline'.  Arrived on Monday, and on initial inspection it looks excellent to me.  Taking the precaution of un-packing it on a white napkin, only the coupling hook fell off, which I am too ham-fisted to re-attach.
     
    Here it is, arriving at Atherington Victoria upon news of an out-break of Victorians populating the platform.  (Please forgive my flippancy, but I have nothing better in which to pose it.)
     

     
    To paraphrase someone else on the thread, 'it is a d--n sight better than I could make from any kit!'  The orange curtains bring back happy memories of S.R. E.M.U.s in the 1970's.
     
     
  6. C126

    53. D.E.M.U. Show-case 2023.

    By C126,


    B.R. blue goods yard.
    Thought I would add my two-penn’orth of praise for D.E.M.U. Show-case 2023 with some photos of my favourite layout there, @sf315 ‘s ‘Hillport Goods’.  All the models were to an enviably high standard I thought, but this one beat the others by a whisker (and a few of my resulting pictures are presentable), having the liveries I like best and capturing an ‘atmosphere’ I find so evocative.  Thank you to the operators for letting me distract them with my photographing: I was trying to reproduce the feel of ‘peering over the wall’ one got from certain viewpoints.  I hope others agreed it worth a prolonged viewing.
     

     

     
     

     
     

     
     

     
     

     
     
    I rather liked Bakewell Street as well, and caught the cameo of the covert photographer:
     

     
     
     
    I managed to arrive as the doors opened at 10.00, and did not leave till 16.15 there was so much to see and do and try to resist buying.  Too shy to harangue the manufacturers’ stands – they will have heard it all before anyway - but was told Bachmann’s Bitumen tanker’s C.A.D. files are in China and the rep. had no idea when they would be for sale.  Sigh.
     
    Paid my respects to the ‘Wagon God’ Mr David Larkin, and thought of a question:
     
    “Can one modify a model of a BDA to a ‘Trestle’ XVA?”
    “No”.  The latter has an open frame beneath the trestle.  Bother.
     
    I am looking forward (August?) to his first volume of four on Speedlink wagons with lots of photographs, and, if I understood correctly, there will be three more to follow on Wagon-load trucks.
     
    Prompted to explore the town for luncheon, I was delighted to find my way, past many attractive buildings, to the 1970’s ‘The Parade’ where a Saturday Market was being held, including… Indian Street Food.  Hurrah!  Gorged myself on veggie samosas and pakoras, and bought a jar of 'Hibiscus' mixed-peppers and jalapeno chutney (can not find a web-site, and not tried yet).  With cheery Sikhs pressing bottled water on passers-by, the day could not get much better.
     
    I will book a week’s Annual Leave after in 2024, so the energy and enthusiasm are not dissipated like this year into lethargy and ennui at work.  And now I know where to get lunch.  Thanks again to all concerned for a wonderful day.
     
     
  7. C126

    54. A Week of oddments.

    By C126,


    B.R. blue goods yard.
    It has been another case of 'two steps forward, one back', spending a few days off in the garage on short tasks.  Panicked last night at realising - why only now?! - that if my track around the passenger platforms was raised on 2.5mm. cork, there would be an unrealistic step up to the coaches.  It had not dawned on me that wishing to sink the buildings into a 'scenic base' to eliminate gaps, meant they would be too low.  Next I was worried the curved platform was too close to the track, so the edge stones would soon wear a groove into the sides of passing coaching stock.  I rushed out to the garage to check this morning:
     

     
     
    Thankfully, the former fault appears to have negated the latter, with under-frame detail safely within the loading gauge, at least on a Mk. I coach.  I will need to check the multiple units when I get the viaduct wired and powered, and can only pray their battery boxes, air tanks, etc., do not stick out any more than loco-hauled stock.
     
    Apart from this, progress has been pleasing.  The dairy-man now has a modified Ratio lineside hut as housing for his milk-tank filling machinery.  The roof is weathered asbestos sheet, and I sunk it into the cardboard 'concrete' base after seeing the photographs:
     

     
     

     
     
     
    I had a go at painting my first passenger, a free Airfix sprue with my late father's model railway mag. about fifty years ago:
     

     
     
    ... and enjoyed it so much another seven followed (please excuse the bases still attached):
     

     
    The beautifully dressed ladies are Andrew Stadden, of course, and my painting does not do them justice.  From left to right: Sir Humphrey watches 1122 arrive, to form the 07.40 to London Bridge, although he requires Victoria for Whitehall.  Col. Chutney, K.C.I.E., waits with his wife Eliza - she of the Fundamentalist Victorian Wing of the 'Irrational Dress Society' - and their maid Maud (Airfix) in the long brown coat (my first attempt at using Milliput to lengthen a costume to an attractive silhouette) for a day in Town.  Meanwhile, their daughter, Harriette, harrangues young Tom, alighting at East Croydon, for his lack of hat.  Major Bloodnok gazes into the middle-distance, wondering when he will ever be able to retire from a dubious financial scheme of his that works.  'Master Stephen' is off to Head Office, to report on progress on the latest widget design by the manufacturing plant in Atherington.
     
    I thought my first attempts at head-swapping, body-carving, and pricking-out moustaches with a pin better than expected,  and am pleased with the ties on Sir Humphrey, Tom, and Master Stephen.  It is a shame Col. Chutney's stick is not more visible, made from a bent Peco track-pin.  His fore-arm, 'donated' from a Preiser figure, is not quite right at all angles, but again I was satisfied at these first attempts.  I must pluck up the courage (and find the ability!) to supplement some of the gents with umbrellas.
     
     
    Boyed up by my unexpectedly steady hand, I added name-plates to 33 025 'Sultan', bought at D.E.M.U. Show-case 2023:
     

     
    ... which sits on slewed and re-ballasted track to fit in the retaining wall behind without fouling the rolling-stock.  Always measure, never assume!  Another day of my life I will not get back.
     
     
    I started laying down a load of chain for an OCA:
     

     
    This comprises second-hand jewellery chain (mostly of the wrong link design) upon a card base painted black and reinforced underneath with long match-sticks (although it still distorted a little).  Put cling-film in the OCA and press the base in, covering it in P.V.A. glue, and slowly lay the chain into it.  After letting it dry, I brushed over Humbrol silver enamel paint.  It requires more 'layers' of chain and paint to fill in the gaps and cover that chain with the 'wrong' links, though.
     
    I have also started re-painting a Coles crane to convert to a grab - three coats and still the logo is visible (should have rubbed it off first):
     

     
    ... made two-dozen brown boxes for pallet loads, and must get on with the bodged 'Inter-frigo' IIB on a Hornby VIX chassis.  But these will be for other posts.
     
     
  8. C126
    Atherington Victoria station's tarmac platform is laid, and more viaduct parapets are made (if not glued in place yet).
     

     
     
     
    I am unsure where all the photographs of the platform's progress are, but pleased the task worked on over several weeks is better than expected.  My heart-felt thanks to @simon b and @Wheatley for giving their expertise on a previous post (no. 40) about making tarmac surfaces.  This is just the basic structure, with more work needed to vary the surface and add details.  I hope the following description might be of use to others.
     
    Gluing the Peco platform sides in position with Copydex, I then glued cardboard strips diagonally between also with Copydex upon which the surface would rest.  Taping together a long strip of newspaper the length of the platform, I laid it over the edges, and pricked out the insides of the stones on each sides, so giving a template to cut around, to transfer to the two halves cut from an A2 sheet of 1 mm. white art card.
     
    The two halves of the card surface were cut out and placed on the platform edges for 'fit', and adjustments made by trimming slivers along edges.  150-grit grade Wilko's 'sandpaper' was cut and glued to the card with P.V.A. glue and weighed down for a week to dry (sandpaper face down).
     
    The two pieces were placed again on the platform, and a 'best fit' made ready to trim and join into one strip.  I ran out of the 150-grade sandpaper, and the second batch was a different colour, accounting for the paler patch to the right.  I will use this to be the end of the cut-back derelict station canopy to be made and installed later, where re-surfacing had taken place.  This is the excuse to reveal the passenger trains; I do not want them hidden.
     
    Shrinkage had occurred after the sandpaper was glued on, so a thin strip of card was added between the two pieces of surface, and then all was glued with more P.V.A. and weighed down with bricks for another week, with many prayers hoping it would not distort or shrink more.
     
    Yester-day I gave it four brief coats of Halford's rattle-can grey primer over half-hour intervals, after four hours gluing it in place with P.V.A. on the top edges of all the diagonal card strips.  Thankfully, only one small area did not fit, which was trimmed this morning.
     

     
     
     
    Weighing the surface down again with as many bricks as I thought it would bear, I hoped it would dry quickly in yester-day's heat, removing the last of the weights after five hours.
     

     
     
     
    Waking early, I checked the whole thing had not 'deconstructed itself' over-night, to my relief and delight.  This is the final result:
     

     
     

     
     

     
    With my Orientalist leanings, I had to have 33 025 'Sultan' as the first loco-hauled passenger train in the station.
     
    Now, while detailing the tarmac and pondering passenger positions, I must turn my thoughts to canopies, signals, the warehouse at the other end of the layout...
     
     
  9. C126

    51. A 'Sorbet course' : the weekend project.

    By C126,


    B.R. blue goods yard.
    Progress on the ballast and station platform being slower and less competent than wished this Bank Holiday, I finished a kit that has been cluttering my work-bench for years.  The Ratio Lineside hut has been modified to be 'more Southern' with a pukka brick chimney and replacing the stone base with brick again.
     

     

     
     
    The chimney is a piece of plastic rod with Milliput to embed it as cement.  I was most pleased with still having the dexterity to attach the drain-pipe accurately.  Even attempted chimney flashing.  The door has yet to be fitted, as it has yet to be decided how to use the hut.  The door-frame is wonky, and the brick-work courses do not line up on one corner, but it could have come out worse.  A pleasing weekend project, I just need to finish that Foden Haulmaster next.  And now back to the ironing and boot polishing...
     
     
  10. C126

    50. Milk 'n' More... ballast.

    By C126,


    B.R. blue goods yard.
    I should have arranged something special for my fiftieth 'post', but progress is neither so orderly nor inspiring, so here are just a few more pictures and words as a few more steps forward are taken.  Thanks to Grandad's Train Shop of Selby getting a bag of ballast to the Post Office at 09.05 on a Monday morning Recorded Delivery for me, I spent last weekend doing more gluing, and this weekend painting the ballast and making a milk-discharge siding.
     

     
    The viaduct walls have been detached, of course.
     
     
    After the shambles of the goods yard, I have not ballasted the points, and can not achieve the shade of 1970's station track dirt wished, but I can try more washes of differing shades over the next few weeks until I get bored.  With some of the ballast becoming un-glued when painting, I spent the 'drying time' knocking up a hard-standing out of card for the milk-discharge siding.  More surprises trying to mix a concrete colour of 'pale grey with a yellow tint', adding yellow turning the grey a green hue.  I assume the black pigment is really dark blue.
     
    I made a low wooden fence out of drink stirrers beside the milk siding, as even in the happy-go-lucky 1970's there must have been some protection for milk personnel from a 'shuttered third-rail' alongside for the passenger platform.  I kept it low, so figures can be seen.  Mention of the third rail means composing a new shopping list of drill-bit, insulation pots for every fourth sleeper, and Code 60 PECO flat-bottom rail.
     
    I was also going to try and find some card and wet-&-dry paper in town, for a platform surface, but decided to leave that for another pay-day.  Until then, here are a few more photographs.
     

     
    The '71' pretending to be a '74' Electro-Diesel arrives to collect the empties.  In the background, a Hornby 2-BIL waits to depart south for Tilling.  It was the latter's first time out of the box after purchasing two years ago, so I did not have the courage to couple the coaches together properly; please excuse the incorrect gap.
     
     
     

     
    The milk siding from what will be the station platform.  A small shed to house pumping equipment is intended to sit behind the left-hand buffer-stop.
     
     
     

     

     
    Two more shots of the loco.  No prizes for guessing I find them oddly handsome.  Only now do I see I should have spent more time painting the 'insides' of the brick parapets.  Another job to add to the list...
     
     
  11. C126

    49. Work done.

    By C126,


    B.R. blue goods yard.
    I have not posted here or done work on the layout for a long while, owing partly to the temperature of the garage and partly to reluctance to start the destructive relaying and points replacements in the goods yard.  I know I will leave this half-finished and unusable for ages if not fully motivated.
     
    Inspired by @Andrew P 's scenic work on Tonleigh Bridge East Yard and @young37215 's wonderful photographs and work on his West Highland Line, I decided to devote the long Easter weekend to doing something constructive, namely the passenger station on the viaduct at the back of the layout.  However, I should have learned by now, "Man proposes, God disposes"...
     
    Spent Friday placing the hard-board 'sky' over the 'Rustic Fletton' stretcher-bond wall I have grown used to, and lifting the viaduct off the back to lay the track.  After a dozen attempts using the fine Peco track pins and bending every one, I gave up and used the thicker pins, to the detriment of the sleepers, not having a fine enough bit to drill the holes before.  The left hand (bi-directional) line into the distance looked too close to the edge of the viaduct, despite repeated measuring and calculating, so I have skewed the lines to run to the right side of the viaduct.
     

     

     
    Looking 'up' the line, the sidings nearest the camera from left to right above are: Milk discharge siding (to depot in arches below), Platform 1, Platform 2 (for locos), Carriage siding.  The conceit being the line was rationalised in the early 1970's, the right hand line is a run-round loop (the points at the Up end being 'off-layout').
     
     
    I drilled the holes for power (D.C.) and siding isolation ends, popped the viaduct back on the layout, and almost looked forward to doing the ballasting on Saturday.  But I had not realised I needed more than one 200g bag, so ran out after covering about a third of the track.  There appears to be a shortage of Gaugemaster N-Gauge grey prior to its release in a new form.  The results thus far:
     

     
     
     
    Used the spare time to spray-paint for the first time a tanker ferry-wagon, which went wrong: the white top-colour being too thick, so needing stripping and repainting.  The Peco platform edging was more successful, including the curving in hot water, so I have ended this weekend by taking a few photographs of trains in situ.  I had hoped the camera would sit lower, and not reveal the lack of platform top.  Must get some head-codes.
     

     
     

     
    33 039 waits to haul the 18.55 Atherington Victoria to London Bridge.  The head-code will be "59".
     
     
     

     
    33 039 again, with 2H 1122 waiting to follow with the 19.14 departure for Tonbridge, the latter's head-code will be "32".  A milk tank sits on the siding.
     
     
    While the above has cheered me a little, I am weary of the lack of progress; I thought of this layout three years ago.  Wanting just to 'play goods trains', I had hoped after this time all would be running, with only the detailing to complete.  Seeing the fun of modern Lego trains (e.g., Fareham station), part of me wishes to sell up and buy some Lego bricks instead.  Perhaps now the weather is warming I can stop sulking, get on with some constructing that gives a 'big result', and returns the operational interest.  I have tried not to be negative here, but feel 'irritated' at the end of a long weekend with high hopes, for want of a better word...
     
     
  12. C126

    48. Working Time Tables, part 2.

    By C126,


    B.R. blue goods yard.
    The garage being too cold for modelling work, I had a burst of ‘compositing inspiration’ to accompany the cough/cold over the Christmas holiday, and made three sets of imaginary Working Time Tables for Atherington Victoria.  The exercising of the “little grey cells” made it an enjoyable distraction.  One must decide the routes’ lengths and imaginary station positions after poring over O.S. maps (and ignoring the geography), comparative train speeds, and head-codes and reporting numbers.  Write all this information on many lists, measure bits of string, wrestle with your conscience as to how far you wish to adhere to ‘reality’, and voila :
     

     

     

     

     

     

     
    The first image, page “F218”, is in a ‘hand set’ compositing style used up to the mid-1970’s (I think).  The filled columns are left-justified, and at this time trains were timed to the half-minute.  I look on bemusedly these days as my fellow commuters and I push onto our too-short train through too few doors, comparing it to the days of the slam-door 4VEPs, when, at some stations, just twenty seconds were timed for a station stop.
     
    But I digress.  The remaining five pages’ columns are centre-justified (and look neater).  My services are:
     
    - F218 and F241 : a 1970’s style passenger service;
    - N66 and N76 : a 1974 wagon-load service;
    - WK109 and WK111 : a mid-1980’s Speedlink (“ABS” and later “SLK” in Southern Region Freight W.T.T.s) and block-train (“COY”) service.
     
    I included a late-’80’s ‘Q’ (‘runs as required’) service to/from Stratford Yard to serve intermittent deliveries of fruit from overseas to Tilling Port, that place being my replacement combination of Eastbourne town and Newhaven.  I am pleased how well ‘Word’ can imitate such a document, and find the results rather pretty, but then documents are my trade.
     
    I messed up the distances between Sanderstead and Farleigh, so replaced the latter with the foolish temporary homage to a much-loved film “Marienbad”, and there are still some minor corrections needed to a few of the fonts.  I am not sure about some of the connections, lay-overs, and turn-around times, — ultimately it is all futile phantasy — but it kept me amused over cups of tea and glasses of port as there was little worth watching on the television.
     
    Thanks to all contributors of comments to previous posts over the years who prompted the idea.  I hope this is of interest, and might help others who “want to make a time table” for their layouts.
  13. C126

    47. Shildon's finest : the VGA Van.

    By C126,


    B.R. blue goods yard.
    I was to write about the Gaydon Great British Model Railway Show I attended yester-day, but forgot to take my camera - it was one of those mornings before departure - so instead will just post a photograph of the new Bachmann VGA (37-601C) I bought there instead from the Cheltenham Model Centre stall.
     

     
    73 124 propels the first VGA to Atherington East Yard and an SPA of plate for one of the light engineering firms nearby.  Closely watched by the Yard Superintendent, the weary shunter waits to uncouple the ED and commence shunting.  The 'Roadline' lorry and fork-lift drivers snatch a quick word while waiting.
     
     
    Built in 1983 by B.R.'s Shildon Wagon Works, the VGA prototype measures 41'1" over the head-stocks, with an aluminium body, and two 'out and over' sliding doors 20' 8.5" x 7' 2.5".  With a maximum load of 29 tonnes they could travel at 60 M.P.H., but loaded to only 24 tonnes maximum speed increased to 75 M.P.H.  However, after modifications in service, maximum load was decreased to 28 tonnes.
     
    I regret I could not get the camera to take better close-up pictures of the model's data-panels, etc., but the printing looks crisp and legible, and the appearance good.  Having missed its first release, I am pleased the wait was worth it.  But if only B.R. had invested in such vans as these, the VAAs, etc., in the 1950's...

    Bibliography.
    MARSDEN, Colin J. - 'BR and private owner wagons' (Ser. : Rolling stock recognition ; 2), Lond. : Ian Allan, 1984.
    Paul Bartlett : https://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/brvga
    L.S.T.V. : https://www.ltsv.com/w_profile_029.php
    L.S.T.V. (New) : https://www.ltsv.com/rd/tops_detail.php?id=T-VGA
  14. C126

    46. Sorry for cluttering up the Blog lists.

    By C126,


    B.R. blue goods yard.
    Please accept my apologies for cluttering up the list of blogs.  Re-numbering my posts is an attempt to get them back in date-order, as 'editing' to restore the lost photographs then puts the post at the head of one's list, and so quite out of date sequence.
     
    I am very sorry for the temporary dominance of the 'front list', and assure readers it is not a crude attempt to 'bump' interest.  I look forward to reading far more worthy entries from others as soon as possible.  Thank you for your tolerance.
     
  15. C126
    Both surprised and pleased with the results of my pretend-ODA first kit previously, I bought a Peco 'Parkside' PC60 BR Ale Pallet Wagon.  An excuse to run something more unusual in my Southern Region goods yard, using 'Rule 1' to extend their working life into the late-1970's wagon-load network for breweries nationwide.
     
    Had I the time and talent, I would write a 'missing manual', but will just offer some tips I should have noted so others, if interested, do not make the same mistakes as me, and their wagons turn out better.  I was going to post Peco's instructions, but this would probably break Copyright law, so instead will describe them.  An A4 landscape sheet, with the instructions of five paragraphs taking up a quarter of the space, on the right side are four drawings of the sprues with part nos., sole-bar (including which parts to remove), underside of wagon to show brake-gear, and side elevation showing door pattern, etc.  There is a "Historical:" paragraph giving the history and operation of the wagon plus a couple of references, and livery notes.
     
    Again, not a 1970's Airfix booklet, so read everything several times and find a photograph of 'your wagon'.  Mine is to be B732383, illustrated on p.34 of Trevor Mann's excellent 'British Railways unfitted and vacuum-braked wagons in colour', Hersham : Ian Allan, 2013.  Photographed at Wigan in March 1981, and "one of the few that survived in ale traffic long enough to receive its 'ULV' Tops code".  Sadly, "ULV" is not included in the decal sheet provided with the model, only "ALE PALLET" and "RBV".  And nor is "B732383".  The mouldings are finely detailed - I am delighted with the thin end stanchions - with little flashing.  Unfortunately, the floor was distorted in all three dimensions and had to be returned to Devonshire for a replacement.
     
    Only after assembly, did I notice the floor was a fraction too narrow for the ends, and I should have glued a strip of 0.5mm. plasticard along one side to make it up to width.  Stupidly, I squeezed the sides onto the floor, leaving gaps at the wagon ends (see top right corner below).  Let this be the first lesson.
     

     
     
    Second lesson: the floor is not symmetrical.  Again, only after assembly did I realise one needs to align the sides' door pattern with the floor side abutting the brake cylinder - marked 'X' above on the moulding - and the sole-bars (again not identical).  To avoid further mistakes, I dabbed some correction-fluid to mark the end with the 'single door' on the floor and sole-bars:
     

     
     
    Now having four sides and a floor, I ignored Lesson 3 ('The Eternal'), 'Read the Instructions!'  Not knowing my 'Sprungs' from my 'Oleos', I used both buffer-beams from the same sprue, thinking they are identical, and it is the buffer that varies.  It is not.  Check your chosen photograph of the real thing.  Two (duplicate) black sprues of parts are supplied, but each has only one type of buffer-beam.
     
    The sole-bars were trimmed of flash and adjusted (removing a bracket on one side), and the brass bearing cups pushed in easily.  Like the ODA, I did not bother securing them with more glue, lest it foul something.  Here one learns the floor is not symmetrical, but has an off-set vacuum cylinder on one side, so check your sole-bars.  I bodged a piece of plasticard as a new mount for the brake-cylinder on the opposite side, and hope I have got away with it:
     

     
     
    I put the axle-boxes over the bearing cups before gluing the sole-bars on.  One then can use maximum pressure to secure them, rather than crushing a wagon in one's fingers, and I did not glue them as well.  Do check your photograph to ensure you have the correct sort.  The wheels were inserted and ran without wobbling: my major fear.  The brake-shoe assemblies had a piece of floor to be attached to, and in line with the 'OO' wheels, so all went well there.
     
    Some of the brake-gear is very fragile.  I have mended mine a couple of times, not helped by my lack of dexterity and shaky hands, and suggest adding it last after painting.  The buffers just push into the buffer-beams, and I added a pair of old Bachmann couplings on the mounts after the coupling hooks.
     
    Humbrol 'Liquid Poly' was used to glue parts, and I have still not learned 'less is more'.  The damage to the nearest end, where an excess leached onto my finger and melted part of the side moulding, can be discerned in the photograph below.
     

     
     
    Paints used were Humbrol no. 70 (Matt) - a guess for the faded Bauxite - and the new panel Precision Paints no. P129 'B.R. Freight Wagon Bauxite (Post 1964) (Matt)'.  I do not know what the interior is like, so chose a 'generic brown' - Revell no. 84 (Matt).
     

     
     
    Weathering and over-head electrification flashes need to be applied to match Mr Mann's photograph of B732383, not to mention a correct number and T.O.P.S. data panel, but until then, here is my model in 'revenue earning service':
     

     
     
    My Dad would turn in his grave if I did not have it being loaded with Harvey's of Lewes's kegs, so please excuse the over-sized promo. steam lorry as delivery vehicle.  The only picture I have seen of a correct Harvey's vehicle is a white Foden, not produced in a die-cast range in 1:76.  Aluminium beer/ale kegs are Bachmann 44-520, supplied with excellent service by post by Morris Models of Lancing, Colletts Models of Exmouth, and the Railway Conductor of Northants.
     
    I hope this will encourage others to try this kit.  However, I might have to start buying two of everything, to iron out my mistakes in the first attempt.
     
     
     
  16. C126

    45. A couple of photographs, including a new wagon.

    By C126,


    B.R. blue goods yard.
    Pottering between jobs awaiting replacement permanent way for the south fan of sidings, I have tried to maintain my motivation by composing a few pictures of wagon-load goods trains.  Taking delivery this week of a new Bachmann 'Pipe' SOV, I included it in a 'military special' from the West Country, pulled by a Hymek - such a handsome loco.  I took @Fat Controller 's idea of having a filing cabinet buttressed by stout timbers in a VVV as a load.  Thanks!
     

     
    The local copper keeps an eye on the wagon with the ammunition, and the Bedford positions itself to take the filing-cabinet.
     
     
    Here a different train arrives - the daily Up Goods from Tilling port - with some home-made steel loads rather too small to see: some concrete reinforcing mesh (to be rusted) and some 6" R.S.J. for the local builder's merchant.  The '71' is pretending to be a '74'.
     

     
     
    Again, the lack of suitable figures is annoying.  I am trying to think of a shot that captured some of the atmosphere of layouts seen recently exhibiting a real sense of abandonment.  Almost a 'last train to clear out the wagons before the track-lifter moved in', with empty expanses of hard-standing and sidings, but I can not get the result wanted in an eye-level shot.  Perhaps just a '73' with only three wagons?  Time next weekend, I hope, to try more compositions.
     
     
  17. C126

    8. 'Do not try this at home'; or, the tedium of ballasting.

    By C126,


    B.R. blue goods yard.
    Having waited a week for the modelling clay to dry, on closer examination I see my method of squashing and scraping with my thumb a large lump of modelling clay across and into the track has caused the sleepers to move and distort:
     

     
     
    My how I laughed!  Thankfully, this was done for only one-third of the layout.  For the right hand sidings (general merchandise) I will make little 'sausages' and cut them off to push down into the sleeper gaps.  For the passenger station viaduct, I will be using granite chippings and P.V.A. glue, so the problems will differ, no doubt.  'Let the shipwrecks of others' misfortunes be your lighthouses', or suchlike...
  18. C126

    44. Working Time Tables.

    By C126,


    B.R. blue goods yard.
    Inspired by @Ray Von 's queries more than a year ago, I have had the idea of a Working Time Table for my layout nagging me for just as long.  Composing a clock-face list of arrivals and departures for a week-day, at last I had chance to play on 'Word' at work one quiet Saturday and draft a sample page.
     
    This meant I had to give thought to station names along the lines, route times, and what of 'reality' to leave and what to ignore or replace.  The following needs its names making fictional, and head-codes and train no series allocated, but I admit I am pleased with its appearance, compared to the real examples I possess.  Sadly, I can not achieve the attractive 'artisan' hand-set appearance of the 1970's tables, but I hope others agree it is a good start.
     

     
    The Tonbridge-Eridge line has been renamed and moved, and I have used the Tonbridge-Hastings line as a basis for the port route.  As a fan of E. F. Benson's Mapp & Lucia  novels and television series, I decided I might as well borrow his fictional Rye.  No prizes for spotting the Spaghetti Western reference; I am still trying to get an idea for one for Bollywood as well.  Please indulge me.
     
    The allocated names bear no reality to the topography of a possible route.  They were just on a suitable line on an O.S. map proceeding to a junction near Sanderstead.  Indeed, I was pleased to discover, when looking at Sanderstead, dear old Col. Stephens proposed an electrified light railway to this very place, so I stole his location.
     
    Now I have merged the W.T.T.s for a 1970's and 1980's goods service, and am busy playing with times for Wagon-load and Speedlink services on a second template.  I will post it later, when done.
  19. C126

    43. 'Three Colours : Red'.

    By C126,


    B.R. blue goods yard.
    ... Scarlet, and Crimson with rage.  A point has broken, so must be dug out thus destroying all the track leading from it, then replaced and ballasted again.  I tried to fix it by soldering a 'jump lead' to the following rail, but did the wrong rail (should have been the inner), and cut the wire too short to move it to the correct one.  My, how I laughed on realising.
     

     
     
    There is plenty of 'real life' going on around me to keep this problem in perspective, but why ballast its replacement when it could happen again?  Dazzled by the scenery on the D.E.M.U. 'Show-case' layouts, I realise my 'modelling clay ballast' looks rubbish anyway, needing 'texture' however fine.  Struggling to see 'opportunities' from this shambles, compared to other layouts there is space to add a 'tram-way' siding down the middle and stage a few more wagons to give the atmosphere of Mr Kevin Lane's 1980 'Guildford Shunt', with the hard-standing up to rail level made from cork sheet.
     

     
     
    If I can get some over-time to pay for the replacement permanent way I might have something to report after Christmas.  Now I am off to make the first strawberry jam of the season and try and forget.  Meanwhile, have a look at @Alcanman 's masterpieces 'Craiglang', completed in just two months, or 'Springburn Yard' as examples of how to do things properly...
  20. C126

    42. A day out : D.E.M.U. Show-case 2022.

    By C126,


    B.R. blue goods yard.
    In an effort to escape the problems on my own layout (see future post), I sought solace last weekend at Sutton Coldfield.  Glad to see it is now rather easier to reach by public transport.  Realising quickly (a) how difficult it is to photograph a layout that captures its atmosphere accurately, and (b) it is impossible to photograph every one, I offer (sadly mediocre) photographs of three.
     
    Being a declining wagon-load goods yard in B.R. Blue, it was inevitable 'Clackmannan Goods' was the layout I wanted to take home with me.  I see how it is designed to put the shunting in the foreground, and uses two fans of sidings.  The air of dereliction was captured beautifully, and by using 'less as more'.  I.e., instead of crowding the mileage sidings (as I have) with lorries, figures, and loads, all is bleak and empty, with a few cameos of coal-yard equipment, pallets, and a couple of skips.
     

     
     

     
     
     
    'Towcester' had a wonderful cameo I will 'borrow' of steel coils being un-loaded, and looking rather better than the models I have.  Again, lovely 'brown stock' running, and a compact goods yard with a siding either side of the old goods shed, one from each direction.  If only I had the space and cash to make an offer for it...
     

     
     

     
     
     
    'Wellpark' was a beautfully observed 'cramped' location, with a couple of derelict scenes: an abandoned shed(?) and a 'King's Cross York Road-style' platform tucked away.
     

     
     

     
     

     
     

     
     
    I was glad of the opportunity to talk briefly to Mr Si Bendall about his splendid 'Modelling British Railways' 'bookazines', published by Key Publishing, Ltd.
     
    https://shop.keypublishing.com/products/modelling-br-wagonload-formations
     
    Pleading for a supplement to v.2, 'Wagonload formations' (China clay, Timber, Nuclear flasks, Scrap metal, and Cargowaggons), I hope he might make up for a copy I never found to buy of v.1 of 'Moving the goods' ('Railways of Britain' ser., Kelsey Media, Ltd.).
     
    https://shop.kelsey.co.uk/product/moving-the-goods-1-serving-the-community
     
    'Wagonload formations' being an excellent source of inspiring photographs, Mr Bendall told me the pubishers are influenced by locomotives being modelled, so he is reliant on them.  I had no idea this was how such monographs are marketed.  Whom should I lobby...?
     
    Despite resisting the second-hand stall on the stage, I still spent my day's budget, not helped by twenty-five per cent. off Dr Michael Rhodes's 'From gridiron to grassland : the rise and fall of Britain's marshalling yards', Sheffield : Platform 5, 2016.  2019 repr.  I remember buying the previous 'Illustrated History' at a 'Brighton Model World' nearly thirty years ago.
     
    Thank you to all the D.E.M.U. members who organised this show, the exhibitors, staff, and venue volunteers, and made it such a success.  I hope it thrives, and am looking forward to 2023's show.
  21. C126

    40. Tarmac, or water in flood?

    By C126,


    B.R. blue goods yard.
    No, it is not a Turner sea-scape, but my umpteenth attempt to get a simple, even coat of tarmac-grey on the loading area for my goods-yard.
     
    I started with a darkened (water-based) Green Scene 'Light Tarmac' textured paint, and failed to apply it evenly.  Then I decided to cover this with a coat of sieved sand, glued down with P.V.A.  This did not adhere evenly either, not helped by my doing it in three areas (if immediately after each other on the same after-noon).  'Bother', I thought, 'at least I can use the faults as scenic details such as puddles.'  So I slapped on a few coats of acrylic paint, and again achieved a 'varied' finish.
     
    After several coats of slightly thinned acrylic, then much thinned poster paint, and all applied by a 1" paint-brush or a natty little sponge-roller my partner found in a charity shop for me, I returned to using the 1" paint-brush with a poster-paint, hoping this would be the last coat.  Alas, not: while it looked beautifully even on application, the paint has dried with pale and white 'flecks' and 'surf froth' I would be proud of if painting a view out to sea one stormy after-noon.
     
    Now I have given up for the moment, and gone back to playing trains...
     

     
    ... while I decide how to cover everything up satisfactorily for the final option: Halford's 'rattle can' primer spray-paint.  If this does not work, I will sulk and eat cake.  What I need is some fine-grained sand-paper in A2-sized sheets one can just paint and glue down.  But then would this 'blister' and warp?  Probably.
     
    Anyway, the wagon inspector visits...
     

     
    ... while the coal merchant leaves him to get on with his next round:
     

     
     
     
    Meanwhile, the mileage sidings are seeing traffic.
     

     

     
     
     
  22. C126

    39. Put that bricklayer's trowel down.

    By C126,


    B.R. blue goods yard.
    The third stage of this task has not been 'fun', I admit.  I will spare the details of what felt like 'one step forward, two back' - see the bodged height of the girder, for example - but I think the viaduct looks presentable now, and have learned much from its construction over too long a time.  Most importantly, paint everything at once, so one does not get variations in tones.
     

     

     

     
    (Not a total success the final picture, but I like the perspective, if too far up the pier owing to a lack of desire to drill a large hole in the baseboard for the camera.)
     
     
    May I thank @Edward and @Nick Holliday for recommending solutions to the lack of capping stones, in answer to a question from me.  I went for a higher pier than expected, desiring a 'monumental' feel to the structure, and leading up visually to the increasing height (leftwards) of the warehouse (yet to be built).
     
    Again, the quality of the brick corners up close leaves something to be desired, but previous readers of my rambles have recommended using foliage to disguise errors, which sounds good.  When I have the courage, I will try and 'rust' the girder to get that neglected 1970's aesthetic.
     
    Only last week did I realise I need more arches, or rather the brick panels above with piers and capping stones, for the far side of the viaduct (facing the viewer) as well.  Doh!
     
    The next stage involves removing the upper base-board to lay the passenger station track, etc., and line the underneath of the bridge with more sheets of brick.  Thankfully, there are plenty more easier jobs in the Goods Yard to finish before I must face this.
  23. C126

    38. Bank Holiday engineering works.

    By C126,


    B.R. blue goods yard.
    I have been spending the last few weekends trying to finish a few projects that have been dragging on for ages.  This, the attempt to finish a section of 'new' track for the yard, has had enough done to it as I can manage.  The conceit is that the entrance to the yard has been relayed recently with the lifting of a short siding against the warehouse/ grain silos loading bay (all yet to be built), replacing the king-point with a 3-way and slewing track to a single, shared siding along the side of the warehouse.
     

     
     
    The project was not helped by my buying khaki ballast during the Covid confinement, rather than the grey desired, the only colour available.
     
    I had mounted the points on paper when track laying, assuming they could be reused easily for a future layout if required.  However, this meant the paper edging lifted, needing disguising with glue and scatter material (again, yet to be purchased and completed).  I need not have bothered.
     
    I spread the dry ballast, weighing down the paper edges with a book-snake, then dripped diluted P.V.C. glue and left to dry for a few days.
     

     
     
     
    Then it was simply a case of painting the sleepers brown and the ballast a Southern Region grey, repainting where I had been inaccurate, and re-repainting until I lost the will to live.  Afterwards, I dulled the sides of the rails with a dilute brown acrylic paint mix, returning a few times to touch up missed areas.
     

     

     
     
     
    I will weather the ballast lightly with the centre-line of spilt oil and a wash of brown soon, but am content with the results thus far.  Cleaning the points of excess paint and glue was as exasperating as expected - the 3-way still sticks, of course, because it is an Insulfrog - but the locomotives run reasonably well over the track.
     
    The results are far from perfect, but I am pleased with the progress made in adding more texture and colour to the layout, and getting closer to something looking vaguely 'realistic'.  It is another task to tick off the list towards completion, if nothing spectacular to show.
  24. C126

    37. My first wagon kit.

    By C126,


    B.R. blue goods yard.
    Happening upon the ex-Pipe 'ODA' wagon in 'government stores' (military) trains, I like the idea of running one as a pleasing visual addition to rakes of 'Vanwides'.  So tempting fate to have a manufacturer bring one out R.T.R., I bought Peco's Parkside wagons PC43 4 mm. kit at Alexandra Palace in March, and have just finished it, thus:
     

     
     
    Paints by Precision Paints, water-slide transfers by @railtec-models .
     
    Unfortunately, I did not do my research first.  Reading the blurb on the Peco web-site, "Additional parts to enable the vehicle to be modelled incorporating modifications made to the prototypes during their working life are included where appropriate", I assumed this meant the revised 'under-carriage' for an ODA would also be in the kit.  It is not; I should have bought in addition their PA30 VEA chassis kit.  The rods connecting the axle-boxes have been cut off, but of course it still does not look right.
     
    However, the results of my bodged fumblings appear to me much better than expected.  The kit goes together easily.  The metal bearings pushed into the axle-box interiors and wheels ran true and do not wobble, despite my lack of abilities.  The body remained square, and parts were easy to assemble and glue.  The only surprises were the assembly instructions' contrast with my memories of Airfix kits of forty years ago - no large booklet of many exploded diagrams here - and the step to attach the brake-gear in line with the wheels.  Unless the wheels are EM-gauge, the brake-gear each side must be set back about 2 mm. from the sole-bar to line up with the wheels, with nothing there to which to attach it.  I bodged it, and put it down to experience.
     
    Painting went well, needing three coats of paint plus touching-up using Precision Paints (also bought at Ally Pally).  I used Rail-Tec water-slide transfers, my lack of dexterity being accommodated better with these than rub-on dry-transfers.  Not having facilities for sprays, I defied the instructions by sealing the transfers with a thin coat of Humbrol 'Matt Cote' varnish.  Having had some loco numbers float away once when doing this, the ODA transfers were left twenty-four hours to dry, and most of the varnish 'brushed off' before application on the transfers.  The rest of the wagon sides were also painted matt.
     
    Incidentally, may I thank Steve of Rail-Tec for enabling me to place a telephone order, as I grew increasingly annoyed at the amount of information the impudent Pay-Pal demand to purchase over the internet, even as a 'Guest': a welcome distraction from the ironing on Wednesday after-noon.
     
    I knocked out a 'sheet' for the ODA (the subject of a future post), using the 'Tunnock Caramel Wafer wrapper' technique cited 'elsewhere in this parish'; I assume 1983 was late enough for the blue plastic.
     

     
     
    Here is a final shot of the ODA, behind a barrier-wagon, in a train arriving, with a new Bachmann VEA behind.  I look forward to staging a new cameo soon.
     

     
     
    Certainly preaching to the converted on this web-site, but I encourage any doubters to try a wagon kit.  If I can do it, anyone can.  There is a ULV to make next, to carry all those orders for Harvey's beer around the country, and I hope I will be as happy with that.  Then I might open the can of worms of 'weathering' at last...
     
     
  25. C126
    Thanks to @phil_sutters selling me some of his surplus road vehicles, I have spent some time trying to re-paint various kits and models, sadly in a quality quite unworthy of his prior work.  The chemical tanker looks as if moulded from icing, so thick is the paint, but all have photographed better than I expected.
     

     
     
     
    Two Bedford chassis will have box bodies made for general grocers' or light engineering companies' collections and deliveries, when I have the inclination.  I am keeping the Army soft-top as escort for meeting 'Army specials'.
     

     
     
     
    Phil's excellent Foden tanker provides an excuse to run the occasional tank-wagon or two, perhaps fuel oil for the barracks.
     

     
    Thanks to Phil for being happy to dispose of some of his collection in my direction.  Only on having posted these, I notice I need to paint a couple of radiator grills : whoops.
     
     
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