barrowroad

Hi John, do you have a different rating plan to the one I have?

Hi Tim, All the window frames are scratch-built - see photo 3 - using clear plasticard sheet and pieces of plasticard strip Robin

Having spent some time recently converting RTR models to P4 I decided I needed a change so here is a bit of scratchbuilding. The office for the shed foreman was situated in front of the roundhouse entrance. Looking at the maps and the photographs in my collection, I noticed a discrepancy in size of the shed and realised that around 1949 the length of the building doubled. This being confirmed by an aerial photograph in my collection. n. Using photographs I produced a scale drawing. Followed by a set of parts made out of plasticard. Assembly followed. With added detail. Heater chimney and vent pipe. il. Guttering is filed down tube whilst the downpipe uses a pair of Modelu holderbats. Some photos on the layout. The roof is not permanently fixed at present and I am aware some of the photos show a gap between it and the end wall.

I assume you intend lifting the bridge to compensate for the increase in the track base? Robin

Certainly South Wales, and Derby. Glad you like them John.

Barrow Road shed had a number of locos visit yesterday and the following photos give a flavour with locos belonging to myself and a number of friends from the Scalefour Society. You know who you are.

Nice collection of engines David. Robin

Hi Chaps, Dave - I have one converted Hornby Black 5 which is up and running which I'll show you next week. John - Glad to hear you're back in one piece - you didn't fall off the bike then? I don't remember the Jubilees that clean either although the cleaners did keep their allocation cleaner than most other sheds. I have a lot of weathering of my locos to do when the weather warms up!! David - I have another 4 or 5 in stock. However further modifications are on hold at present as Colin of AG Workshop still hasn't produced my wheels!!!???? Phil, glad you like the project. The best way to avoid the shed foreman was to climb over the wall at the back in Days Road. In 64 they even greased the top of the wall as a deterrent and when that failed they added a 2 foot wire fence. Still didn't stop us:-)

Another Jubilee is now allocated to Bristol Barrow Road having just completed another P4 conversion of a Bachmann RTR model. Saskatchewan - 45561- is the latest added to 45577 Bengal and 45662 Kempenfelt which I have converted in addition to Patriot 45506 as shown in my last post. The other Jubilee 45572 Eire is on loan from David Clarke.

Hi David, They look rather nice,which BB are you using. I could do with something similar for BR Mk1's and LMS 9ft :-) Robin

Damn I've just realised I didn't renew my subscription last month. Having just looked at the renewal form I note it is only for the next four issues - previous forms have been for 8 if I'm not mistaken. Is there any reason for this?

Hope you got a lift up there John. Where is that and what have you done to the vegetation? Robin

My latest conversion is a Bachmann Patriot which has the same chassis as the Jubilee. Wheels are again Alan Gibson with Markits crankpins which have been spaced using 4 x 1mm washers per axle. Brake shoes have been removed an refixed with additional plasticard spacers. The tender has a Dave Franks Fowler sprung chassis. Below is a link to youtube. Question: - how do you upload videos from youtube these days? https://youtu.be/yib4hZZ-TbI

Simply stunning, thanks for posting. robin Pleasure and glad that you like the video. Do check out some of the others that I've posted over the last 5 years.

Very impressive Andrew it looks superb. Robin

To the north of Bristol Barrow Road shed and Lawrence Hill Junction there is an incline on an 1 in 60 gradient to Fishponds Station in the NE of Bristol. The gradient starts at 1 in 89 immediately under Barrow Road Arches, which is the road which bisects the shed yard. The working timetable limits the number of wagons descending this incline to 30. With this in mind I have just finished converting 15 Bachmann 16T minerals to P4 to add to some Parkside wagons to give a rake of 30. Here is a video. I will give details of the conversion later. https://youtu.be/oUMnIFhPAL8 As promised here are details of the conversion using a Bachmann 16T mineral as an example. This photo shows a completed wagon fitted with P4 wheels. It is one in the rake of wagons in the video. The principal tool used for conversion is the Knowle Wagon Works - 2mm Brass Bearing Tool. In this photo the tool is bottom left. First remove the 00 wheel sets followed by the couplings. Then remove the body by unscrewing the two self tappers on the underside. The photo shows the selection of tools and items used for the conversion. Shown are four flangeless bearings, two 26mm pin point axles plus a back to back gauge, file tweezers and a chisel knife. The Brassmasters gauge at the bottom is to ensure the axles are square and level. The first task is to remove the two ribs at the back of the W Iron using the chisel knife. You will also need to remove plastic below the ribs in order to gain width for the replacement P4 wheel sets. Next drill out the holes in the rear of the wagon W irons. This task is done using the Knowle tool. You will need to measure the width and depth of the bearings you are using and set the drill in the tool using the grub screws and the allen key. This photo shows the rear of the W Iron after the plastic has been cut away. It also shows a new bearing fitted after drilling. The Knowle Tool in position for cutting deeper bearing holes in the W Iron. The tool can be turned using fingers, a tweezer or an 8mm spanner. Once all four holes have been drilled out insert the new bearings and hold in position using the two 26mm pin point axles. If you have the depth correct the W Irons should be parallel and vertical. Use the Brassmasters gauge to set the axles ensuring they are square and parallel. Once satisfied use a dab of Butanone to fix the bearings in place. Refix the body to the chassis and fit the P4 wheels after checking the back to back using the gauge. You may need to file some material off the brake shoes to gain clearance.

I hope to model Barfleur and Trafalgar but both are long fire box engines and the later Bachmann Jubilees are of the short firebox version. I will need to do some work on the model to replace the firebox. Robin

Hi Michael, These are the Crankpins I have used obtained from Roxey Mouldings. I consider the crank itself, although rather good looking, to be rather overscale so I have discarded it. However I did use the crankpin itself which I have modified to take the original Bachmann crank. Robin

Thanks Tim. I do have a small problem to resolve - the rivet at the expansion link/eccentric rod joint occasionally catches the connecting rod. It needs a little more clearance. Robin

I have started to convert some of my Bachmann short firebox Jubilees to P4 in order to run them on my layout. This project had been stalled for a while as I pondered on the best way to do this, however a visit by Dave Holt, David Clarke and Steve Ridgeway in September gave me the necessary push to get on with it. My conversion replaces the wheels with an Alan Gibson 3mm axle set of drivers plus bogie and tender wheels. Replacement crankpins are Markits stainless steel products. The only other modification is to use a Dave Franks Stanier chassis kit on the tender. r. Here is a youtube link to a video showing Bengal moving in the shed yard. Sorry but the media link refuses to work. https://youtu.be/IzwQGyGImDw Seasons greetings to all readers of my blog. Robin

Here's another at Bristol Barrow Road taken in 1965.

I have just had a Digital IP replaced by DCC Concepts after it decided to stop in the wrong position - in reverse when my NCE procab was showing normal. I removed the unit and tried to reprogram all to no avail. I think a diode ceased to work preventing the motor from operating in the reverse direction. DCC Concepts have not explained what was wrong with it only that when tested it was 'dead'. The replacement has just arrived. Robin

David, I appreciate your concern but the Midland did not have 'ridge tiles' on the hipped roof angles. The above photo is of the prototype Engine Shed Sidings. Robin

Dave, Neither did I - I'd have called them down pipe brackets! As you say we live and learn. Robin

Engine Shed Sidings signal box is now finished and has taken it's place on the layout. The box is constructed from a Churchward Models etched brass kit I picked up from Ebay, and contains a detailed interior from Springside items with armchair and signalmen from Modelu. The final items, shown in the photos, are the two downpipes which are attached using Modelu cast iron holderbats. Only the two nameboards to make. I visited the Ambis stand on Sunday and purchased a pack of etched LMS letters for the signal box nameboard. A bit of a fiddle to make but I'm pleased with the result. Individual letters were cut off the fret, cleaned up and given a coat of Halfords white primer and the board with red. When dry the letters were attached to the board using PVA.