Ressaldar

(almost) finished at last! This is the BR version of the ex LMS Diag D2046 Inspection Saloon, built at Swindon in 1962 to BR Diag 1/550. This is the corridor side which is identical to the ex LMS Diag D2046 Inspection Saloon Close up of the front end, all of the transfers seen here are by Precision Labels, the ETH is from JLTRT and the orange band is from Trim Line. The 'cable on the ETH is as supplied but I will be experimenting with some 'Shrink wrap' to see if I can get a better result. Here we see the revised elevation - the left hand end (small saloon) is now a mirror image of the other side. The EW&S and the logo are from Fox Transfers. The step ladder is scratchbuilt based on photographs found on Flickr. Precision transfers again. Close up of the revised window and door arrangement, I have as usual put track plans on the tables. Nearly all of the photographs that I have seen of DB999504 in this livery have white faces to the wheel treads, whilst that is fine as it was being manoeuvred around the yard in and out of the paint shop, but I wanted it a few weeks into service hence the grimy rims. The oily treatment to the springs, axle boxes end such areas on the bogies will be applied next week as I now have to get my stock ready for tomorrows Wirral OGG Open Day. It will also be populated when I source suitable figures. regards Mike

The digital gremlins seemed to be hard at work yesterday and put a blue hue over the photos, so here are a couple of 'clearer' shots taken in the garden today. Hopefully, the Diag 1/550 in EWS livery will follow sometime next week. regards Mike

Not quite an ex LMS Diag D2046, but one of their cousins from the GWR - a Hawksworth Diag Q13 from an Orion kit painted using Railmatch enamels, transfers by Precision Decals, orange stripe by Trimline, figures by Omen Miniatures, curtains by Peter Cowling. Air horns (in the Solebar) by MMP There are areas that need touching-up, the long handrail on the Guard's side needs re-bending and I may also weather the chassis. It will be getting a good runout at the Club this evening behind Railfreight liveried 37.674 The BR Diag 1/550 in EWS livery should be out of the paintshop this time next week. regards Mike

A reminder that 15th October is not that far away, we would like to see you there. regards Mike

Hi all, I have the Railfreight liveried version to finish as 37.674 (to be the Prime Mover for the Q13 Inspection Saloon) and suffered the non-removable screw problem which I resolved by using an end milling bit in my Proxxon drill and a call to Howes at Oxford is on the cards for tomorrow to get a replacement (The Railway chap only does Monday and Thursday) The reason for the body removal is to install a re-blown Loksound 3.5XL. which requires not only a carrier piece but also spacer pieces at each end to allow for the 'under gubbins' to fit. todays task is to extend/alter the Heljan wiring and install the speaker in the fuel tanks. Once it is back up and running, comes the delicate operation of removing the nose radiators and replacing them with Pete Harvey's version - the jury is still out regarding the skirt issues. There are also issues with the LEDs appearing not to be in line with the lens on the blocked up headcode panel. Headlights will also be fitted. regards Mike

I should have included this in the last post, just to give the orientation. regards Mike

Whilst Management is recovering from her Birthday lunch at her favourite local restaurant, I have managed to slip out into the workshop and grabbed a few 'progess' photos - 'short view' of the two road shed from Timber Tracks, I built this slightly differently to the first one, most notably using a ring beam around the base as opposed to the full floor as this would have been too thick for use Peco track - (C&L track used at the Club and with the sleepers removed and individual chairs used in lieu it worked fine). The roofing is 4mm scale Southern Finecast 'wriggly tin' which I think suits the later period of the shed rather than the paper slate provided in the kit. Having painted and weather the interior I have fixed the roof to the walls on this one and it sits in place so can be removed for the application of external weathering when the mood takes me. 'long view' of the approach to the shed. At Telford I am collecting a laser cut arched wall with the aperture cut in, for the 'connection to the rest of the network, this fits across the layout behind the far end of the shed. I still have to fit the make up pieces of coping stones to the boundary wall along the back of the layout. Also due for collection at Telford is an Intentio Coal stage which is based on the one that was at Slough and a 70' diameter Cowans turntable which will be driven by DCC. So enough to keep me going for the foreseeable, especially as there are two locos to complete and two diesels to detail with Pete Harvey etches to go with the Inspection Saloons seen in the above photos - at the rear, a BR Diag 1/550 which was based on the ex LMS Diag D2046 this has the correct window/door arrangement for the small saloon (although in the above picture, it is the large saloon that is in view) and the other one is an ex GWR Diag Q13 to be finished in Inter City livery as the Are Civil Engineer's Bristol Saloon - pictures sooner rather than later - I hope. regards Mike

Hi Rich, Apologies, it's old age catching up with me - confusing names when replying to threads. I amended it last evening before I saw your post. Might be able to sneak a few photos on here later today. regards Mike

Hi Rich, many thanks for resurrecting this thread for me. The short answer is - not a lot! External events resulted in a change of plan, not just at home but also at the Club, both scenarios 'revolving' around the turntables - pun intended. Suffice it to say that both problems will be resolved at Telford in a few weeks time. Hadlow Road now has its own Timber Tracks two road shed - yes I succumbed to building another one with both the original one and the coal stage and ramps going down to the Club Update photos to follow next week as it SWMBOs birthday today and we have things planned for the weekend - so the workshop is definitely out of bounds! regards Mike

I trust that I am not 'speaking out of turn' but I know that Debs has suffered a serious medical problem over recent years which probably accounts for the non-movement on these items. I am sure that we all wish her a speedy return to full health as soon as possible. regards Mike

Herewith details of the dates for this years Open Days at Corporation Road, Birkenhead. I look forward to meeting you there. Open Day poster 2017 1.04.2017.pdf regards Mike

A very useful mornings work in that I fixed the remaining two points into position and then 'filled the gaps' between the points with flexible track but came to a shuddering halt when I ran out of rail joiners and track pins! Hence the loose laying of several pieces just to show the intention. Still it gave me a chance of seeing what the future holds the fleet lined up in the yard with the 9F on the entrance/exit road to the rest of the system. I think that I will continue with my idea of just a low relief entrance to the shed which will allow better opportunities to photograph the locos in the yard. I'm holding back on which turntable to go for at present so that I can get the feel of that area of the layout, there is space for a 70' table - just! regards Mike

Hi Rich, I, like you think that the 9F sound is superb - the Lionheart Pannier takes some beating and the Mogul in the shots above is even better! What I need to do though is reign in the speed of it as it is more like a King with its top speed, so a bit of experimentation on the Club's continuous run is called for this week. regards Mike

Hi Rich, Many thanks for the comment.The 9Fis one of the Finescale Brass models, I collected it at the Doncaster show earlier this year. It is one of the original Bidston allocation and as such would have been very dirty very quickly hauling the Shotton ore trains. It will be weathered in the fullness of time, I just cannot fit it in with other requirements at present and the weather itself does not help matters. However, I have coaled the tender and have a crew waiting to clock on as wll. regards Mike

Back in the land of the living again after three weeks of flue! Time was not entirely lost as I was able to make slow progress with the painting of the ramp and extension, especially in respect of the near 300 fence posts. having now put the items back out into the workshop, I can see what jobs remain. the fitting of the extension to the coal hole entrance, the ladder from the hatch platform the adjustments to the staircase once the ramp is fitted correctly to the coal hole then the three items will be removed while the trackwork is fixed in place - only five of the seven points are fixed at present, so this will give me something to aim for during the week. My latest acquisition seems to fit in well with its new surroundings, I'm impressed with the sound decoder (why shouldn't I be - it is a Zimo MX645, as fitted by Lionheart) it had a good run at the Club last Thursday and I just need to bring the maximum speed down and adjust the acceleration/deceleration to suit and I'll be a happy bunny. The lamps do light but I shall replace them with a more in scale non lighting variety. Crew are supplied and will be fitted, if only to arouse comment regarding the seated fireman. regards Mike

Hi Paul, applied the CVs as you suggested above and all is working fine - many thanks. Am I correct in thinking that by Adjusting CV60 to say 170, I will get 2/3rds brightness on the lights? cheers Mike

Hi Paul, many thanks for the info. I will give it a go tomorrow and let you know how I get on. I successfully did the same exercise for the Heljan O Gauge Western and Warship using MX695s, but could not fathom out how to apply the same principle to this decoder, not knowing where Aux 1/2/3 were. regards Mike

Hi Paul, Regarding lights, only F0 - Lights on/off. F20 - F26 reserved. The date at the bottom is 14th May 2016. regards Mike

Hi Paul, I have installed the MX644D (supplied by Digitrains with your Active Drive V15.5) so how do I get the shunting lights to function? regards Mike

Still under the weather, but painting on between coughing bouts. Individual bricks and string courses seem to have been the order of the day followed by a 'mucky wash' that was the brush cleaning jar it is unfortunate that the brick courses around the windows and door are not sufficiently 'in line' to allow a representation of Staffs Blue Engineering bricks to be painted - just about got away with it around the wagon archway though. and a close up of the latest acquisition - ordered sooo long ago as a blue TOPS version, I could not resist the black version as it will be the only diesel in the fleet - Zimo MX644 sound decoder to be fitted over the weekend when I have satisfied myself that it has run in sufficiently on the rolling road. cheers Mike

Hi TTG, agreed, but my shed will be 'low relief' and stop short of the first set of windows - all part of the cunning plan! cheers Mike

After the election result over the pond, today has to be Black Wednesday - so I thought it would be appropriate!

Hi Simon, as you say, a brilliant photo and strangely enough, I was looking at similar photos last night of Oxford shed and they too got the juices flowing. The E Lyons/OPC GWR Engine Sheds 1947 states that it replaced the timber framed coaling stage in 1944 and there is a photo in More GWR Steam on Shed/ Bradford Bartton dated 1957 showing the windows clearly as non standard GWR - Black? I will ponder. cheers Mike

Hi TTG, a good question, (Southern) green sounds very tempting, but I may go for/stay with the two GWR colours for the wood/ironwork - I'll have a think about it while I get on with the individual brick painting today. Another distraction will be the arrival of the Black Dapol 08 sometime this morning - Zimo MX644 and sugar cube speaker quietly waiting to be fitted after running in on the rolling road. Cheers Mike

Hi TTG, Martyn & Simon, many thanks for the comments. I am happy with the finish/colour achieved on the MDF surfaces - ie all surfaces except the outer skin of the building itself which as I said above is a veneer and very dark green in colour and it is that that has caused me the problem of 'colour matching' with the MDF. Wanting a basically yellow colour for the brickwork, I should/could have used a white primer (as if I was doing warning panels on diesels) but all of the white primers that I have seen are of the 'high build' variety and I therefore assumed that they might clog up the laser cut coursing and therefore went the 'acrylic wash' route. I shall decide what/if I need to do anything else once I have finished the ramps. Rule 1 could always be invoked - architects trial for new bricks on the market - never did get on with architects in the day job so they are a good body to blame for the 'Corporate inconsistency'. At least it gives a good contrast to the bricks in the recessed panels. regards Mike