10800

Thanks Gordon - yes, mine are sold as 'Landes' type so strictly speaking they are incorrect for my location. I could remove the crossbars I guess but then you lose the option of angling the catenary don't you? These then are 'Causses' ogives, taken at Millau in 2017.

Thanks Gordon. The ogives are etched kits from Atelier CJ Models/Ardennes Modélisme. I have etched Midi catenary also which will be at an angle. There's a lot of variation in ogive design apparent from photos; the line that inspired the layout (secondary line running west from Bedarieux on the Causses line) was never electrified but is in my world!

Haha! For me it was 'don't think about how you're going to operate it or you'll never build it'! Most of the stock will come as a byproduct of Balcombe and Eridge 😎

I've been remiss in not updating progress on here since before the RMWeb Taunton show in April (some nice film by Callum here from about 13:35) The layout was also shown at the FRS show at Lenham in Kent a couple of weeks ago (ref comments from Simon and David above). So in lieu of that, here is a selection of photos taken over the last few months. I'm happy to answer any questions about them!

Many thanks David, and apologies for the delay in replying. I did indeed buy the ogives etc direct from Atelier CJ Models (no problem as long as the order is less than €130 where import duty potentially kicks in). I need another one but they are o/s at the moment, I have a notification request in to advise when they are available again. Until that time I can't finalise their positions let alone fit the catenary! You may have noticed that the ogives on the platform have been widened a bit to allow for adequate clearance - using the same H-beam section then sold by Eileens. We were only running a small selection of stock at Lenham due to severe problems with the fiddle yard cassettes; that is the next major issue to fix, although the layout is packed away at the moment pending work on other projects. Cheers

Great film as ever Callum, thanks!

Oi !!! That's my photo! 😀

Good to see you yesterday Rob, thanks for making the journey all the way down here. And thanks for the heads up on that book, now purchased! I was very pleased in general with how Laxfield performed (its last outing was Scaleforum in 2009), especially after the wiring lash-up which only ended on Friday evening. I couldn't for the life of me work out what John Watson had done in places originally so 'converted' it to common return/cab control. This makes conversion to DCC a doddle with installation of frog juicers for the pointwork. Nick (Brinkly) and I are also thinking about replacing the fiddle yard in time for Taunton next April. Watch this space.

One aspect of St. Martin I was a bit disappointed in was the absence of dappled sunlight around the auberge and shops which I'd been able to get with some directional lighting at home. So, to augment the LED strips (one warm white, one cool white) I got some clip-on warm white spots from IKEA which create some nice shadows (but not much on the backscene!). Not bad at £15 each!

Lovely pictures Jamie, thanks for spending the time on it. One point about the ogives - I did originally try scratchbuilding them but quickly discovered that you can't anneal an alloy like brass so bending H-section became an issue. Fortunately, along came a French supplier* who did etched kits in nickel-silver with brass and other bits, so the curved bits are flat onto which you solder two other strips inside and outside to form the H-section. The cross pieces are brass section, and on the two shown I had to widen the overall structure to accommodate platform clearances; fortunately the brass section was exactly the same as that previously sold by Eileen's so that wasn't a major drama. * https://ateliercjmodels.com/epages/631c379c-594e-4ae7-bdda-fdf984f11fd8.sf/fr_FR/?ObjectPath=/Shops/631c379c-594e-4ae7-bdda-fdf984f11fd8/Categories/4/13/Les_supports

Callum's (SDJR7F88) excellent video now published

Back home now, (very) large G&T is taking priority over unloading the car, which can wait until the morning. Thanks all for a great day, not least Rob for organising it all and Grahame for manning the kitchen. And thanks to all who made nice comments about St.Martin-sur-Orb (which I now realise is the first layout I've ever built as a solo project as opposed to collaborative efforts!) and for the associated discussions.

Car loaded before expected rain kicks in. Just a few bits and pieces to go in.

I've done as much as I can on St.Martin-sur-Orb prior to loading the car tomorrow. To fulfil contractual obligations there are now ogives and a mechanical signal. No wires yet, and they need to be detailed and painted (after Taunton) and may yet be repositioned. But you get the idea. Safe travels everyone, see you on Sunday.

This is the catenary, in 0.4mm thick N-S. Comes from Atelier CJ Models, now part of Ardennes Modélisme - as do the ogives. https://ateliercjmodels.com/epages/631c379c-594e-4ae7-bdda-fdf984f11fd8.sf/fr_FR/?ObjectPath=/Shops/631c379c-594e-4ae7-bdda-fdf984f11fd8/Categories/4 . The style is specific to Midi 1500V catenary in Les Landes.

PS another complication might be the catenary itself - I'm using etched catenary in nickel-silver which represents the Midi style (photo later). Apart from giving me loads of scrap NS, I don't know yet how flimsy they might be when fitted.

<laughs hysterically> Good question! In principle the catenary lengths that cross joins will have to be 'hooked' into place, which I think is the Sommerfeldt way. I don't want to resort to soldering and unsoldering each time, but I've never installed catenary before so I'll be relying on John (Re6/6) for guidance. Obviously if the layout was permanent then you don't need to worry. The entries to the fiddle yards will have short sections of rising contact wire to allow the pans to 'engage'. (Wires won't be in place for Taunton I'm afraid, but hopefully the ogives and masts will be.)

Never a bad time for a coffee and a chat

I think I'm a combination of both at the moment! Mais, je ne panique pas 🤪

Farmhouse coming along, although le fermier et sa femme will have to be careful on the steps until I work out how to do an inclined railing. And the backscene behind will need sorting 🙄 Pic of the day

One issue to think about is the white 'buttresses' between boards, part of the Tim Horn construction. Putting vegetation in front of them won't be easy because of the proximity of the back siding. Flat shrubs might work, together with some 'pointillisme vert' or more use of my own photos (this is a possible solution for the vineyard too).

More trees planted (big trees are removable for work/transport). Work in progress on end board - this is less busy than the other two. Plenty more scenic detail to add. Last building in process, a half-relief farmhouse. Core is 1/8" plasticard, wall is Redutex again (different style), windows and shutters are laser cut from Decapod, door is an Architecture & Passion leftover. This is based on my friends' farmhouse outside Mons La Trivalle. If it wasn't for this none of this would have happened!

Today my loco arrived back from Micron, and very pleased with it. There had been a bit of to-ing and fro-ing as we discussed the best way to do it. Putting it all in the loco would have been possible - just - but with bits showing in the cab and having to use the smallest versions of everything. Eventually we went with having all the battery, receiver etc in a 'match wagon' which gave more freedom to use bigger components. I also asked for the 2-wire connection on the loco to be at both ends. Just to prove it's r/c:

So today it's been a few details. Firstly, the edge of a vineyard has appeared at the far left end of the layout. The white blobs are PVA, they will go clear when it dries fully. I need to work out a way to 'extend' the vineyard into the backscene. Meanwhile, the crossing-keeper's tomatoes are doing well. He's thinking of sending some to friends in the UK ... And at the épicerie Mme Fromage has been busy displaying her vegetables. They're quite big, must be the climate. Don't laugh at the name, the real épicerie in Mons La Trivalle really is (or was) run by a Mme Fromage. I will be making some cheeses to display in the other window - probably including three grades of Comté. (All the vines, tomatoes and veg are Faller products btw.)

Well why not now? Still a work in progress though! I need to stop scenic work soon and get back to operational matters in the run-up to the RMweb Taunton do. And finish the ogives and other OHLE masts. It never stops surprising me how big ogives are!