Bearwood West Yard

Small update on the workbench with the MLA development. I prepped the masters and made the initial patterns for the buffers and AM3’s at the weekend. As it’s been a while since I’ve done any resin work, layout or work wise, a bit of a refresher was needed. So I’ve started small with two moulds, one for a set of 4 buffers and the other for a single AM3. First cast took place last night, with demould this morning. I opted for longer pot life resin, so I’m not rushed on pour time or how long I have to pop any air bubbles should any be present. The results speak for themselves. AM3 was the most successful of all the castings. No defects from the initial cast noted which is good, though I’ll give a more thorough inspection later. Rather pleased with the outcome. As for the buffers, these were as expected with a 75% success rate. Apart from one buffer shank not forming due to an air bubble, the defects on others are simply small air bubbles on the shank mounting plate. Something which should be relatively simple to fix with filler post-fettling. I’m also trying new methods to eliminate these air bubbles, as traditional cup pouring is just not suitable for things such as buffers. All in all, this is a successful first test and I hope to have a few more before I go ahead and produce more moulds for bogies, buffers and more!

Thanks everyone for the encouragement and interest in the MLA! As I’ll be producing them in number anyway for the home fleet, I’ll be experimenting with resin casting again as I’ve some supplies left over from the failed MXA attempts, that are well in date. Yes, I had found that on research. I plan to do all the variants, though I’m still thinking about how I’ll tackle the door. The easy route would be to make the door a transfer, though it would feel like a half job not fit for the home fleet or sale. So I’ll most likely hold on until the main box of the without-door version is complete. If the resin casting method I have in my head works, then adding a 3D printed door to the pattern and producing an extra set of moulds should be straightforward. If it’s not possible then I will settle for the transfer method. In other news, the first end of the fiddle yard which is part scenic for the bridge has been made and I’ve plotted the space available in point templates. To much frustration, the recent small radius curved points don’t have online plans, though I suspect I will end up using them.

Thought I was already following this thread! Excellent work all round on the layout and workbench. Hopefully those dowels make it easier to align the boards when setting up. Look forward to seeing future updates!

With the above recommendations having timed perfectly with payday, I’ve now got all the materials on order for prototype No.1 I’ve ordered some 90* corner magnet clamps from west hill wagon works, been on my list of required equipment for a long time now. I’ve raided Peter’s Spares of IOA buffers as these are the closest match I’ve found, along with Dapol AxleMotion III’s. I’ve looked into the S-kits versions and it seems easier and quicker to obtain Dapol spares, which will do for the first prototype. Had a look earlier to see how my resin and silicone stock is doing and all seems fine despite having not used them for almost two years. Should the prototype MLA come out nicely, I’ll use the bought bogies and buffers as masters for silicone moulds to cut costs - a wagons worth of these spares alone is £10. On another note, I took delivery yesterday of some 0.5mm styrene sheets, found an eBayer that is selling A4 sheets at £2 a pair. I couldn’t resist getting started, so I spent a few hours this evening on the sides, ends and floor of P1.

Very nice work! I like how you’ve used and treated the Muslin cloth for the mesh. I’ve never thought of that approach, looks very much the part! How was it in comparison to metal mesh? I tend to use 0.3mm aperture stainless steel mesh and that can be difficult to work at smaller sizes, not forming easily and difficult to remove unwanted creases.

@WCML100 Thanks for the recommendation! I’ll have a look at the S-kits AM3’s! I may even rebogie the JNA’s if there’s a noticeable difference between them and the Dapol ones. @EWS60065 Thanks mate. It did cross my mind about producing some for sale. They’ll all be handmade from styrene, so I’ve considered getting some jigs made up to ensure I get all the ribs and handrail holes located correctly - also saving lots of time marking out. The CAD is more just a digital sketch for ease of making corrections, but I haven’t ruled out making this available when it matches a correct prototype’s spec. If I do end up producing to order, then it’s likely I’ll use those Dapol Y25 spares for the MLA-A. Thanks for the recommendations!

Last one for September! With a local possession having taken place half a mile down the road at Parkstone over the last two weekends, its fair to say there is a pause on the test train. What was once a pipe dream of a former project has become a frightening reality! It was back in the furlough of 2020 that I drew the CAD's for a 2007-MLA, to which several failed test prints and a lack of time saw the project mothballed... Until this weekend, when the project has been more alive than ever. With the platforms not closed off and Network Rail management close by, its amazing what a polite hello and conversation to who it turns out is a senior manager can do! With a possession train at platform, a few words between manager and driver, I was authorised to take a handful of measurements from the platform - supervised of course! What I was expecting to be a day of just watching the track renewals and photo-documenting it, turned into a much more productive and informative day as well as a great networking opportunity! Safe to say that you never know who you might get chatting to when out 'having a nose', and if you don't ask, you don't get! I've started to use SketchUp for a CAD software, seems easy enough to use coming from AutoCAD... Much quicker, easier to amend and thinner lines than the usual pencil sketch! Proportions seem about right, all I've done is divide my measurements by 76 and round up or down +/- 0.2mm as to what looks better. These are early CAD screenshots of the Snapper in 2D, so far I'm happy. I intend on producing a batch of 5 or 6 for the layout. Ex-GBRF/Metronet and Network Rail MLA-A's will have their Y25 bogies from spare Bachmann examples I have. Though for the EWS MLA-B's and IEA, I will have to look into seeing if I can get AxleMotion-III bogies. Dapol make these for the JNA's so hopefully I can enquire about obtaining some as spares. Otherwise, its to copying and re-learning resin casting. Seeing how this goes, I may also have a crack at the IEA, as it is an internationally registered snapper with different end bracing. That's all for now.

Yes that was on 29552. Was a right place right time moment xD It was a difficult one today as the rain made them an ocre orange with the dirt but as it dried out, it went back to being brown spotted yellow in nature. Definitely a sleeper grime brown. The pattern seems to look as though dry dab with a sponge (sponge version of dry brush) application would be the best method. I’ll need to have a go at this.

Excellent work! Been down the blockade at Parkstone this afternoon, JNA looks spot on. Some pictures fresh from today at Poole that might be of interest to anyone on this thread.

Continuing with the workbench theme, I’ve spent a few evenings on the Bachmann Mk1 BG Generator Coach ‘6261’… this was originally bought in BR Blue. With the sides and roof having been sprayed up last weekend it was time to get the chassis in order. Having looked at Bachmann’s factory produced generator coaches, they are a poor representation with badly blanked out windows and the standard ends. Whereas the prototype has the windows and doors removed, seamlessly patched. The ends have no steps up to the roof, different handrails, no plate above the gangway and have the jumper cables either side to supply power. I’ve done the trick to the sides, so it was time for the ends to get the treatment. It’s not perfect, but for what will be seen when on the layout - I’m satisfied. It’s not quite New Bryford standard, but it’ll do. I’ve included an image of Bachmann’s example to compare the changes I’ve made. Cables and handrails are 0.5mm styrene rod, power outlets are 1x2mm strip, with 4.8mm channel angled as weather covers.

It depends on what you’re modelling. DB Cargo tends to be the brand for their European mainland freight operations. If I’m not mistaken, DB Schenker U.K. have renamed to DB Cargo but their trade image is just DB. I could be wrong though. Best bet is to make your own transfers. It’s more cost effective if you’re using lots. Standard home inkjet printer is all you need to print. It can’t print white so you’d need white transfer paper (can also get clear). I use the MrDecalPaper brand, with Plastikote Polyurethane spray. Saved a fortune on buying transfers. I make the transfers on Paint and use Publisher to size the images

Thanks mate. Yes it is difficult, I’ve neglected the workbench the last 6 months for the layout so it’s nice to finally get some results. I’ll likely start on phase 2 of the layout in October, so it should be plenty of time to get the 3 NR coaches off the bench.

A few more odd jobs done. I spent the better part of Sunday getting re-acquainted with the rattle cans. Attempt number 2 at using Plastikote Crystal clear Matt varnish on the Lobsters. Whilst I was at it, NR Mk1 BG Gen coach 6261 had a second light coat of Yellow, it’s roof also sprayed grey and 977969 has also now been sprayed. Lobster Lacquer attempt 2 came out rather nicely. Although a tad grainy in places, a combination of a few light skims to seal in the transfers, aided by a rare lack of wind and over cautious mixing/shaking of the can all helped. Dried in about an hour with the heat. Weathered using two coats of sleeper grime on the inside, followed by Ammo enamel rust wash in the interior corners and dry brushing white on various surfaces to give a ‘recently entered traffic’ effect. Lots still needs doing on the sides but I’m happy with them for the short term. Given I’ve not done much light weathering or interior weathering, I took most of my inspiration from EWS60065’s workbench thread and his weathering an MXA. Network Rail coaches takes me up to 3 bodies of the test train now in yellow. Just the ends need spraying and hand painting the appropriate colours before I can start drafting and producing decals. BG Gen 6261 seems to be the most advanced at this point so I will most likely return this one to traffic first in Ex-works condition. Sneak peek at the LSWR cross country set and how I’m getting on with the trainsporters batch 2! Long way to go yet but making steady progress.

Having been on a roll for the first 2/3 of the year, I’ve taken a step back for a little while to focus on some of the things that have taken the ‘back seat’ and get everything in order before I start phase 2. It’s nice to take a little break and enjoy the weather as well, when the sun decides it wants to shine! I’ve spent the last two weeks filling up the Trainsporters boxes and slightly modifying the foam to reduce the need for extra boxes. Although probably not recommended and giving some a heart attack, the mods have been a success. With some of the wagons, they have been a little too long in pairs for the longer slot. So I’ve removed the end and added it to the side to extend the slot. Although this gives me one less slot, it enables me to store all 13 HIA’s instead of just 8 with the default layout. I’ve taken this a step further with the Revolution IPA’s… doing the same for 12 covered wagons but the remaining ‘shorter’ slot, cutting recesses into the top and lower parts of the removable foam block to essentially stack the two non-covered wagons atop each other. The same technique I previously mentioned for the FEA’s. Which to recap, these are stored without containers and a pair of FEA’s are stacked with the foam block recessed to take both halves. This has been rather successful and has enabled me to store 3 Dapol FEA twins, 3 Revolution FWA’s and 2 Realtrack FLA’s in the same box. Although the Dapol and Revolution models require drawbars to be added/removed before/after use, this only takes a few seconds. With a nice amount of stock already boxed, I’ve a fair way to go yet. More boxes are on order which should cover the rest of the fleet. I’ve also taken delivery of my pre-ordered EFE Rail LSWR 4-coach Cross Country set packs… No photos yet as I haven’t taken them out of their big collectors type box, but I do look forward to running all 8 coaches behind T9 No. ‘120’ - adding some LSWR grandeur and history to show the layout ‘a hundred years apart’.

Viessmann do a nice 09-3x Tamper in HO if willing to fork out for one. It’s not too far off the U.K. 09-3x tampers, with only the livery needing a change. YDA’s of the HOBC can be made from modified Kibri HO kits, but would be a quick win for AS as they are seen running between yards in singles or half a dozen. If it was departmental, I’d like to think the HQA is in the spotlight. The JJA is well in demand but was relegated to the collectors club in its recent run which doesn’t install confidence in Bachmann to release them wholesale. The Salmon is also another wagon that comes to mind. Hornby have done the early variant, and AS could make a win on the late version, also tooling for the Osprey conversion. Flangeway have done the later Salmon though the lack of updates and an out the window eta don’t install confidence - especially with the ‘shorty’ shenanigans of run 1.

That’s the one. “Class_66_driver” on eBay is none other than Jason from Resin Printed Railways - who is infamous for selling 3D prints that are “90%” there, being generous. I won’t forget the Facebook fiasco in which several notable people such as Mick, ‘New Bryford’, were spoken to in a rather rude manner and subsequently blocked all because the bloke can’t take constructive criticism that would have benefited him and his reputation… The high regard I once held for Jason after this has rather soured. Once had the audacity to say mine were wrong even though they are based on New Bryford’s measurements on here! Apologies if seen as mudslinging, but this couldn’t be closer to the truth!

Yes, I did realise after I’d commissioned the layout that the 37’s had stay alives fitted and were more than just sound fitted. The 59 seemed quite content over the shorter areas of track with no issues either. All the areas I thought had potential to be suspect such as those small pieces on the ends that are too short to have their own droppers have been alright so I’ve approved it for operations. The curves on the outer are 6th rad at the yard end and 7th rad at the headshunt end, hopefully keeping rolling stock at a much more realistic angle on the curve and making the platforms much easier to form. The yard itself will be quite minimalistic, with the appropriate signalling but lamps in the halfway gap between the four primary sidings. I’ve created an updated track diagram on the layout to now include the fiddle yard and correct the track positions. The points for the fiddle yard are quite crude but it’ll be something along these lines. 5 roads per main line with the yard headshunt having its own and joining to one of the main lines.

Ooops! Thought I'd posted but evidently not! Phase 1: Scenic Baseboards: Complete - 8 Months in the making The other weekend saw the final scenic board 'A' finished and the layout assembled for testing. To say it was chaotic would be an understatement with lots to do. Droppers had been soldered during the week though no time was left to install the bus bars and bus wires. So that was completed on Friday night / Saturday early hours! Saturday afternoon/evening saw the track aligned to board 'B' and soldered to the etched sleepers. All board joins having passed the rolling stock test, time for a final inspection before powering up. Out of the 60+ sections of track wiring, one was wired in reverse! I had made the mistake of wiring it in the middle of the the section, enabling it to be installed 180 degrees the wrong way! So a late night replacement of the entire dropper and annoyingly also the etched sleeper was required. The 4 boards were powered up for the first time at 00:45 Sunday Morning, with Accurascale's Sound Fitted 37409 doing the honours having arrived after nearly a year to the day since I placed the pre-order. Being the newest loco and also being sound fitted, it was an ideal choice for slow speed 'dead spot' testing. All roads and points were tested at a slow speed, everything working as it should and no blips on the loco sound - though this could be down to the stay alive fitted. Anyway, testing wrapped up circa 3am. Sunday afternoon saw the boards populated with stock... looking like a proper yard now. 37429 and 59206 were my other locomotives to hand so these got their turns. Very much a 90's feel with the new additions of a Regional Railways Mk2a set - depicting a Bristol to Weymouth working and Seacow/Sealions on the layout. A few pictures here and there, along with some 'playing of trains' and it was pack up time. Early night earned, back to work the next day... It was very surreal to finally commission these baseboards and have the ability to run trains again. It's been 8 long months since I set myself down this path - planning the layout and building the 8 bases to the baseboards. It is hard to comprehend where the time has gone, considering the old baseboards were tipped in February and the raised track bed was completed in April. So this sees the end of Phase 1 with plans being readied for Phase 2: Return Loop & Fiddle Yard. I'll be back shortly! Trainsporters: A modern solution for a not so modern problem! With the amount of wasted space and time incurred with setting up and packing away, I took the plunge last week into ordering a set of Trainsporters storage boxes. These are quite popular for exhibitors, being Really Useful Boxes but with shadow foam inserts. Very clever and I really like them, much more efficient use of space and easier to transport/carry than the manufacturers boxes. With space very limited, these will enable me to keep a nice loco fleet with the layout at all times and enough stock to keep things interesting when Phase 2 is complete. I have modified a some of the inserts to make them longer due to wagon length, and the blocks that come out have been thinned down to enable stacking of FEA intermodals. In one of the smaller boxes, I have somehow managed to fit 2x FLA Twins, 3x FEA-B twins and 3x FWA wagons. Ideally, I'm trying to have a fixed rake in every box while trying to keep it economical. That's all for now!

A few more bits tackled this weekend. The curves of the station were a good refresher and test for track laying curves and best application of the etched sleepers. So time for the trickier ‘busy end’ corner… All lines have been test laid, nothing wired yet. It all seems to flow nicely and no apparent issues with the HEA or Mk2 coach over the curved pointwork. Started to mark the sleeper edges for a guide when I come to wiring and laying the track for good. With the edge cut away, I’ve got a nice large area for scenic play value. Given the intensity of the yard, I’m thinking of contrasting it with the river cutting the corner, surrounded by the plainness of a small unkept field. I’ve plenty of figures - animals and people to utilise for this space. Whether it’s deer crossing the river or people walking the dogs, I’ve got plenty of ideas. That’s all for now

Thanks mate. Plans with the HEA are to have a pair on the end of some FEA-B’s as a sort of enterprise working. I was in Model Railway Solutions in Parkstone when I saw it and remembered in the mid 2010’s the early morning Eastleigh - Southampton W docks enterprise used to have between 3 and 5 FEA twins and a pair of HEA’s on the end, for sand that was regularly dredged from Southampton Water. So I think that’s the idea. They’ll go well with the two FEA’s I won on EBay some months back for conversion into FCA’s. So I think that’s the plan. HEA’s do look good regardless of what working they’re on, so you could get away with having them tagged on to the end of a possession train if it’s going between yards? Mine is in EWS so it’s sort of as late liveried as possible.

An image I forgot to add in earlier is the wiring. Everything sourced on Amazon, from the bus bars to the fork crimps and wire. 0.5mm for the droppers and 1mm for the bus and bus to distribution bars. All stranded copper wire of course for maximum efficiency. Self adhesive cable tidies and ties come as a pack together, a godsend for good cable management.

July ‘23 update With a few weeks away from the layout, I’ve made a start again over the past week to get the ball back in motion. The odd evening here and there has seen the final bits laid and wired on the station board. Had the house to myself the other weekend so got the scenic boards all set up and I’m rather pleased that it’s all slowly coming together. Got everything on the station end board lined up with the points board and soldered to the etched sleepers. At some point I’ll be supergluing these to the cork to be safe of any lateral or vertical movement if the pins vibrate loose through handling. Spent yesterday doing all the hidden wiring under the baseboard. Safe to say that I’m getting better with my cable management. Yet to test any of the boards though I do now have my push fit connectors. For the power buses. Although it’ll be fiddly, it’s cheaper than DCC power dowels which I’ll need a pair of for every track and auxiliary bus. Meanwhile on the additions front, I finally received my sound chip and speaker for 37 425. Worth the wait, just need to wait a bit longer until there’s a layout to thrash upon. I’ve also added three MFA’s and a HEA to the twin axle wagon pool. With Hatton’s and Rail’s have also reduced their prices of the Dapol 59’s… I bit the bullet and bought the DB offering. I’ve been on the fence since they were announced as I lack the appropriate stock, so for now it’ll have to be on the Bearwood - Westbury departmentals as 59003 was for Eastleigh prior to the Salisbury tunnel derailment. I bought the DCC ready version and fitted the latest Biffo 59 chip for it, along with an EM1 speaker. It sounds the business for sure, though the directional lighting needs remapping on it. Functions after the first 10 being completely incorrect to the DC kits guide and the headlights being on when forward, but tail lights being on when travelling in reverse! May need to play around with the cv values. Anyway, I’ve put them both on the curve just to get a feel for how it looks. Yard headshunt curve is 5th radius, inner platform (with 59) is 6th radius and outer platform (with 37) is equivalent to 7th radius but spaced with the 6ft way gauge rather than a tracksetta.

3D print files were for both. MLA and IEA are similar length and body rib pattern. I researched them back in 2020 but that was a while ago now, so I’d have to find and relearn everything I previously came across. I’m sure there’s a length over buffer I can find to get both wagons rough dimensions - then it’s guesstimating the rib thicknesses etc. A real pain that I can’t view or measure the cads I made that hold all the answers.

It’s good to have a theme to work to. Your MLA is looking top notch! Made me want to continue with mine.

Don’t be disheartened by it. What might look poor quality to you now, was the best when you started it. There is nothing that cannot be reworked, even at this stage. Continuous improvement has its pros and cons. IMO, it’s a matter not of how much time do you want to continue investing, but what’s the workbench priority. You’ve highlighted what needs to change on them, and all that needs doing is that plan being put into action. A break from the wagon would be healthy. I know the pain of painting and then going back to reworking - but that’s how we make our models the best we can. One step back to go a leap forward. There’s nothing wrong with sidelining wagons until the motivation comes along. I mean, most of my projects are currently shelved.