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Dad-1

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  1. Dad-1
    Because I grew up in the days of King Coal and was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne it's not surprising that
    I fancied a few of these new coal hoppers. They didn't last too long in the required sector, but were used
    for many other products, even sugar beet ?
    In my opinion a super little kit, very little to complain about and I'm currently running 2 without any decals.
    Must road test before finishing, partially while trying to decide what loads to add, be it sand, coal, iron ore,
    sugar beet. The load will help regarding the very light weight, with nowhere to add much invisible ballast.
    They weigh in at 11.06 grams, with a shred of lead in the voids behind the buffers I've reached 12.46 grams.
    Much to my surprise one in lightest form was able to pull 33 wagons around my garage layout that has some
    1st radius curves. A bonus from trying to run my stock in it's lightest reliable condition, having said that the
    Bachmann 3F Jinty couldn't pull the train, but a Hornby J94 could !!.
    Seen in a much shorter train :-
     

     
    Geoff T.
  2. Dad-1
    The Wagon Works has been active since the end of January when I last posted in my Blog thread.
    I'll have to check through exactly how much as once a project is finished, or nearly finished I just
    get on with the next thing and forget what's already gone under the bridge.
     
    One I have done half-cock as per usual is a Cambrian 10 ton ballast wagon. I thought I'd add some
    spoil from a small job, but was too impatient to await weathering first.
     

     
    I should add some more 'stuff', but this wagon is on my 'new' shunting layout that I've probably not mentioned on RMWeb
    An interesting project to drive, but also difficult to get the required slow running through Peco insulated Set-Track points.
    Then sorting out the Kadees. Nearly there, I think.
     
    Geoff T.
     
  3. Dad-1
    My Blog tends to chart my workbench activity. With more than a few wagon builds as I needlessly add
    even more to the overall collection.
    I've decided to try and clear some inherited kits which while very good at their time of issue are now
    beginning to fall short of later models. However first I thought I'd add a picture of the Cambrian Dogfish
    in it's current decaled but not weathered state.
     

     
    Right, next I started was a very old Ratio kit, one of a few that have disappeared from the Ratio range.
    The Ratio GWR Open 'C', LWB timber/pipe wagon - kit number I don't know, not bothered to search for that !
    The kit has the modern Ratio problem of 'W' irons being rather too far apart for modern wheel sets. You need
    to add plasticard, or any other material spacers between the ledge of Top Hat bearings and the axle hole. Here
    you see before & after.
     

     

     
    Having got this far I realised I had much missing, the 'V' hangers in particular, although mouldings were there for DC III brakes
    there were no levers. Add to having no instruction I asked and will be getting instructions in the near future to back into a box !
     
    O.K Ratio kit number 1501 from the 'New' 1500 series. My packet had the original wrapping from Ratio at Chorleywood on it
    there was a pre-decimal postage stamp. As Decimal currency was introduced in 1971 this kit must be OVER 50 years old !!
    I started without any searching and when built I thought I'd look to see if there was any information On-Line for a 5 plank
    Coke Wagon ? Nothing !! As coke was light the problem was volume not weight so all the information I could fine referred to
    7 & 8 plank wagons - Why would you uses only a 5 planker ?
    Markings will have to be fictitious, my thoughts are of a small towns gas works P.O. wagon.
    Any suggestions on this would be welcomed - but not scrap it !!
     

     

     

     

     
    My problem now is getting Bachmann narrow couplings, where I need the NEM pockets for my Peco PA34 mountings. I have good
    rolling chassis, but to test will need to rob couplings from existing stock.
     
    Geoff T.
  4. Dad-1

    Blog Entry
    I'm talking about Moaning and not Groaning, the latter always arrives with age and most noticeable when having to return to standing
    after sitting down for a while.
    I think we moan more than younger people because we've been around a long time and seen things done better. When you're young
    it's easier to accept crap as you don't know better. Please discuss and comment on any supplementary reasons.
     
    Decals, transfers ? be more specific Waterslide Transfers. The use of Americanised Decal will not cause an international incident.
    The story is :- I inherited half a dozen Ratio GWR 5 plank wagons, in individual plastic bags, but no decals, or instructions. I don't need instructions
    having already build quite a few. I contacted Peco who confirmed they could do me 6 sheets, but they wouldn't be posted out until the New Year.
    All very efficient and customer friendly as is the usual Peco way.
    The Transfers arrived on a strip, as if they were made on a roll, great !
     
    Now I'm using Railmatch paints more than ever because Humbrol has turned into sludge. Can you really call it paint if on first opening a new tinlet you
    could invert without the contents spilling out !
    The new transfers are very highly glossy and printed on a full carrier film, requiring individual items to be cut out before use. Not that unusual.
    My wagon sides were raw Railmatch finish, this is a fine satin sheen and usually takes transfers directly without any problem. To just help bedding
    in I use a little Micro-sol and leave to dry out overnight.
    The next day the transfers were barely hanging on, in fact a 'G' had fallen off !! I added more Micro-sol around the 'W' and on standing the wagon back on
    it's wheels I saw gravity pull the 'W' to the lowest part of the fluid bubble - UHhh what is going on !
    I do have in the emergency set a couple of bottles of Tamiya varnish, 1 gloss & 1 Matt.  I painted all the wagon sides with gloss varnish. Next day all set the
    finish was hardly any more glossy than the original raw Railmatch finish. This time I proceeded with a full Micro fluid application. Adding the decals onto
    a patch wet with Micro-set. When almost dry patted softly to remove any remaining moisture, when all transfers on one side gave a coat of Micro-sol.
    This time it seems to have worked, more from the Tamiya varnish than anything else.
     
    As I have so many of these wagons I needed to make up my own numbers from individual digits. These needed to stick well first time because of all the
    additional numbers that have to aligned tightly alongside. I wouldn't even try with the new decals, but managed to find enough left from previous builds
    to meet my needs. They were a dream, SO MUCH better to work with. What has gone wrong ?? Perhaps I should have guessed problems were coming
    when I saw the super glossy finish. I did a couple of 'New' Ratio Iron Mink kits last year. For numbers and livery markings I used HMRS pressfix, but used the
    Tare & tonnage marking from the Ratio transfers and yes they dried out and fell off !!
     
    I've seen the odd bad transfers before from the hundreds of aircraft models I've made.  I doubt few people will have used more than me in my lifetime (78)
    and I probably have in excess of £1K worth of aircraft transfers in my stash. What Ratio/Peco used to use were fine, these are just not up to standard. Faults ?
     
    Too inflexible enough carrier film
    Take a long time to release from backing paper
    Inadequate adhesive
     
    Are they from a new, more efficient, cheaper, source ? Another retrograde quality move !!!!
     
    I feel better for letting that out - sent much the same to Peco, wonder if I'll get a reply ?
     
    Post transfer line up behind the 7 mm wagon.
     

     
    Geoff T.
  5. Dad-1

    Blog Entry
    I have finished a few more wagons, usually by stripping couplings from either Bachmann RTR, or earlier kit builds.
    This one used a pair of long couplers that I found in a box of spares. With a longer overhang I could set the mounting
    blocks slightly further back to keep my closer coupling in line with earlier production.
     
    So my Parkside PC49 LMS goods brake van :-
    Some 'rough' interior colour in case anyone is daft enough to try and look in.
     

     
    Seen here alongside it's brother a duckett less version.
     

     
    I only had 1 length of wire for grab rails and finished off using my slightly thicker 0.5 mm wire.
    I've never bothered to add entrance safety rails before, but this time I thought I'd try.
     

     
    I'll have to weather slightly at some time, but otherwise an easy build.
    Somewhere in the lost dates between postings I made a Parkside 21 Ton hopper. One that had been opened and
    one of the inner hopper sections missing. I think I managed a half decent job so perhaps another posting soon ?
    Still early enough to wish all who sail at times on RMWeb a Happy New Year - Stay in doors & build kits !!
     
  6. Dad-1
    I have ceased wagon production at the moment due to the severe shortage of Bachmann short narrow tension-lock couplings.
    I have temporarily pinched from 4 wagons to complete builds in progress, but that is not sustainable.
     
    In the meantime a nice to look at, but deceptively inaccurate very old Ratio GWR Open 'C' is reaching the end, short of weathering.
    This was inherited from a friend who passed away.
    An incomplete Ratio Open 'C' in a plastic bag. The fact it was incomplete was not found until I opened the bag. No instructions,
    buffers missing, brake 'V' hangers missing. Not a brilliant start
    Perhaps some spacers were there to overcome the excessive width, but I didn't identify as such. I'm used to Ratio kits needing spacers
    between the axle boxes and current (more of less) standard axle lengths. I add plastic washers.
     

     

     
    Missing brake 'V' hangers were made up, relying on the lower strengthening being hidden behind the solebars.
     

     
    In my spares I had a set of yellow buffers from an old Airfix Presflo. I decided these looked rather like GWR self contained buffers.
    when painted they would pass O.K in a moving train !
     

     
    Rather over sized, but needed to add strength to my 'V' hangers some 1.0 mm rod was glued between them.
     

     
    I'd already decided that i was making a O19 version, because of the buffers. Now I looked at the brakes realising that they were
    wrong and had Morton type brake levers, regardless of the fact that the wagon body had DC III lever mountings !
    Again the spares box came up with the goods, a pair of DC III levers.
    The brake arrangement as supplied was cut up re-built to something near enough photographs I have. I then added my end
    DC III frame, shortened to accept my coupling arrangement.
     

     
    When looking at photographs the underneath looks quite empty, but a brake rod is visible, so I added a wire that only can be seen
    in low angel photographs. Note some fine wires in the photo are fence wires !!
    Then disaster struck. I'd never bothered to check the wheel base measurement. While adding decals the end sections seemed short
    against what I thought were reasonably accurate decals. The kit gives me a 13 ft 9 inch wheelbase, rather than the 15 feet it should be.
    Will I add the Tare weight ? If so it'll have to be on the corner ironwork.
     
    Regardless of all that, in a moving train it'll look rather like an Open 'C'
    Kit manufacturers, many of these wagons were produced in 5 different series, giving options of buffer and brakes. An ideal subject for
    a new accurate kit !!
     

     
    I did enjoy making it, rather a damper on finding it's so short, but then Bachmann have marketed a cattle wagon 4 mm too long.
    If ever there was a reason to loose the Ratio moulds, I think I've found it !!
     
    What with sitting too low
    Too short
    Inaccurate brake parts
    Wrong axle boxes
     
    Don't make the mistake of pointing out the end strapping - Some had straight as the kit and in the O19 version I've sort of made, others
    did have hockey stick strapping, just one of the variables.
     
    I quite enjoyed making it and will run with any pre 1939 freight i decide to run.
    O19 made between 1917 & 1927. Two number series 94747 - 94930, & 99825 - 100000
     
    Geoff T.
     
     
     
     
  7. Dad-1
    It's not my fault, blame John of Cambridge Custom Transfers. As he's pointed out the decals I require are all on one of his giant decal sheets
    I've placed an order. What do I do in the meantime ? Make another wagon that has the markings included on said decal sheet !!
    As a result I started last evening without the camera by my side and made up a rolling chassis for the Cambrian Dogfish ballast wagon. I have
    said before that Cambrian have a few quirks and often need some experience to get 'right'. One of those problems to look out for is finding
    what is flash and needs trimming away, and what is needed as you key the parts together.
     
    Here is one of those places of doubt. Do you trim off the thin edge to the chassis cross members ? NO you do not, and leaving the one where
    it's attached to the runner needs care.
     

     
    The footplate sections have this ridge all around, the parts have this below the top edge of the solebars. Easy where there is a moulded stop, but
    there is no 'stop' for these to sit on.
     
    The packet and bits this morning
     

     
    I  sat wit the rolling chassis in my hand, very squishy and deliberately twisted it until I had the axles lining up exactly. Ahh and I'd put the
    wheels in holding in with a rather loose elastic band around all 4 axle boxes. The rolling chassis is now flat no diagonal rock at all.
     

     
    More tonight, all being well.
     
    Geoff T.
     
     
     
     
  8. Dad-1
    That must be an old fashioned saying, but you get the idea. You buy something, but before you start you're distracted by some other project and layers of dust settle. Never quite forgotten and to be done at some time !
    Two postings ago in my blog there are some pictures of a pure shunting layout I've been making for the club. To help complete a nearly believable scene the platforms need some sort of traffic, just as I did with my mate Derek when we made our previous shunting layout. He made some "4GROUND" packing cases which I thought were very good, a purchase was made and since 2016 2 packets have been in the loft, now made up for the new layout.
    Sorry about the cat, I didn't want to spend a tenner, or more for a cat to go on the clubs layout. I can be tight spending club money and a set of 8 to 10 cats and dogs wasn't justified.
    Our dear little moggie given by a club member is to say the least indistinct, but I suppose it doesn't take much imagination to recognise it as a cat.
     

     
    The edge of a 20p piece gives an idea of the scale.
     

     
    I now have 24 packing cases !! I can give the club a few to sit on our platform.
     
    Geoff T.
  9. Dad-1
    For the last few months I've been busy on layouts. Both for the club and while intending to get some club
    input the Corona Virus shut down has left the option of do nothing until the club rooms open again, or do
    it myself. All interesting and keeping me busy, but apart from the '0' brake van I've not touched a wagon.
    Couldn't go much further without making something with wheels !!
     
    What's in stock - too many, but the Cambrian GWR/BR 18 Ton Sleeper Wagon caught my eye. Through Autumn
    I'd been making engineers stock and this was intended as part of the set.
     
    Cambrian kits can be brutes to make and I would usually advise against any beginner trying one. This one
    has been so easy it's fallen together in a few days. Almost no wrinkles of confusing instructions with parts
    that once cleaned up fit well.
     

     
    As with all Cambrian kits they come without wheel sets, bearings, hooks, or decals. All these things cost
    money, but the kit was cheap enough at £7.20
    I tend not to use the recommended Gibson wheels often using Hornby sets in my wagon builds as their flanges
    are somewhat deeper giving running security should you end up with a less than perfectly flat chassis. There is a
    danger as some Cambrian kits have so little clearance and these would foul however no problems with this build
    as A). I had no spoked Hornby wheel sets. B). My only spare spoked wheel set was Dapol, and these do have smaller
    flanges.
     

     
    Very simple and fell together in a few hours.
    White Metal hooks from the 'spares' box, I nip off half the fixing stub, otherwise it could foul my method of
    fixing couplings.
     

     
    This was on the edge for fixing couplings due to a tie bar between the solebars. Already well glued in before I thought
    about couplings. A moment of panic as I couldn't find any Bachmann short narrow tension-lock couplings. These have
    been in short supply since last Autumn and this build has taken my last 2 !!
     

     
    With my small platform stuck in it was almost impossible to get a NEM pocket in between it and the tie bar.
    I trimmed about 0.5 mm off the tie bar and used a file to create a small groove in the NEM pocket. Even then 
    I couldn't pull the coupling down the last fraction of a mm to get 100% matching height to my standard of basic
    Bachmann RTR height.
     

     

     

     
    Once in there is no way you can change either the wheel sets, or remove the NEM pockets. If you want obviously
    you could snap in Kadees, but this is not destined for a Kadee layout.
     
    The made up model less stanchions weighed in at 8.6 grams, VERY light, but was run in a train with 11 wagons behind
    it over 3 set track points and some 1st radius curves showing no signs of distress or de-railing. The kit has no brake
    hangars meaning the wheel voids are quite empty. I used this space to add some lead sheet, salvaged from Jordan F1
    wheel balance weights, this brought it up to nigh on 24 grams and I'm certain give additional running security.
     

     
    Now painted black for early BR it'll have to await some decals and weathering before any more photographs.
    Conclusion an easy model to make of an unusual wagon. Can sit with my Mermaids, Catfish, Dogfish and Shark !!
     
    Dad-1
  10. Dad-1
    I've just spent 10 minutes trying to find my Blog, there used to be a link found by ones name icon, but I can't find it now. Perhaps they're old hat and destined to vanish ?
    Thought I'd add what I've been doing since lock-down, O.K it started before that.
    With my mate Derek we made an inglenook shunting puzzle layout, always popular with club members and went out a few times without myself, or Derek present. It was
    damaged and I then put my foot down at the end of last year saying it would never go out again without me being there.
    There was then pressure for us to make a specific Club layout. It fell to me as the requirements are very exacting and it was supposed to be a club project. Just before lock-down I was presented with the 48" x 16" layout board.
    I laid the track, tested, and sorted out the problem resulting from using Frog Juicers. In the very limited track the frog juicers were creating spikes that disturbed the locomotive decoders. I had to make up a small circuit to dampen out the spikes. Wasn't expecting that little problem !!
     
    After 5 months it's almost finished, scenics as well, just tidying up now, although the list of minor jobs is longer than I'd expected before I began putting it on paper !!
    Here we have a few pictures :-
     
    The Headshunt end.
     

     
    The crossing
     

     
    The sorting end
     

     
    A rescued building from a 'late' club member, salvaged from a dismantled layout.
     

     
    I wish I could do better signs, but 4 point type face is my printers limit and I can't do white on a black background that's readable.
    Just before 12.00, waiting for the gates.
     

     
    It's the driving that counts !!
     
    Geoff T.
  11. Dad-1
    I've always found that the help and support between model makers top most things in this soured modern world.
    I had a surprise package arrive at the start of the last week of November. A cyber friend that I've communicated with
    since 2008 sent me a kit from his collection as a present citing years of help and encouragement. Not only that, but he's
    North East and mostly Blue Diesels ..... shock even post privatization, sometimes !! Being GWR this would never fit his
    modelling eras.
    GWR, great that's my hunting ground. The kit was the Ratio ex Taff Vale Railway bogie bolster, kit No.562.
     
    This was an old kit, including Plastic Wheel Sets.
    Now if you've not made an old Ratio Kit there is a glitch, the kit was made for the longer than standard axles supplied. Yes,
    you can and should fit brass bearings, but even that leaves Very loose wheels, unless ......
    Note how short the front Hornby set is
     

     
    The moulded holes were loose for Top-hat bearings so no need to drill out. To space out bearings it would be best to fit fine 2.0 mm
    washers under the ridge, but I didn't have any so used superglue on a pin head to help stick the bearings slightly out of their seating.
    Just make certain none gets on the axles !!
     
    The other wrinkle was the fitting of couplings. I didn't even try the enclosed parts wanting to use Peco PA34 mounting blocks with
    NEM pockets and Bachmann couplings. They can't be fitted without surgery much earlier in the build, but the simple wire loop
    works fine when used with wagons that have hooked couplings.
     

     
    Test running was fine and no problems, although one will have to take care on the alignment of couplings when reversing.
    Decalled and weathered it looks fine, runs well - Thanks Dave, a real gentleman
     

     
    Now I'm trying to find if any of these Taff Vale wagons lasted into early BR times ? Why, simply because I'd like to know !!
    It's my railway and I'll run what suits me.
     
    Dad-1
     
  12. Dad-1
    Well I suppose you can always add a little touch here and there, but as far as this one goes
    it's reached the end. Today I brought in from the shed to add reeds along the back of my pond.
    The PVA still wet, but by tomorrow morning it'll be back in the shed until later in December when
    it'll be entered into the clubs annual diorama competition.
     
    A bit Photo heavy. Out of interest this 'picture' has cost me just over £5 for the bridge, everything
    else was laying around from previous projects, or even club member 'give aways'
     


     

     

     

     

     
    Time to think about 2020
     
    Geoff T.
  13. Dad-1
    Our Youngest Son is moving into a New house this weekend ...... Strange I shall be very busy ?
    To clear decks I moved a few 'almost' finished wagons to the loft layout for safe temp[orary
    storage. The two sidings have 22 wagons that I've made up since June or July. A surprising
    number are from original Airfix kits, a few from the Dapol versions, something like 13 of them.
    The Engineers train from Cambrian kits, as is the Borail, but that was made up a few years ago.
    With just a couple of Parkside, I've made many Parkside over previous years.
     

     

     
    All sitting on my "Two Short Planks" made 2008, a mere 12" wide long plank that in places has 6 lines, I was told it couldn't be done,
    but it did a few exhibitions around Milton Keynes area starting at the Train Collectors Club exhibition in 2009. Now retired to my loft !!
     
    Geoff T.
  14. Dad-1
    That last posting at the end of August saw me starting a few wagons. Since then I've made 4 Dapol 16 Ton minerals, 7 Dapol 'Esso'
    35 Ton GLW tanks, 2 Cambrian 'Catfish' Hoppers, 3 Cambrian 'Mermaids' and tidied-up a few others. I just never got around to posting.
     
    Currently I'm having a rest from Wagons !! and working on my 2019 diorama scene. The initial inspiration came from my love of rural
    scenery and the Ratio occupational bridge ......
    Placing bits out to try and visualize a complete picture on the scrap warped piece of ply.
     

     
    I had in mind one of those dirt roads that only get used by farmers, and dug out this old Hornby building.
     

     
    Because I try to make a 'new' diorama each year they have to be quick, with mostly stuff laying around with the resulting negligible cost.
     

     
    Foolishly I thought it needed water somewhere so at the last moment a pond was excavated !
     

     
    Under the date stamp you'll see the VERY old trick of using coconut matting as growing corn. Youngsters will be surprised at how tall corn
    used to stand, the new short development something from the last 50 years !
     

     
    Still a few jobs to do, but well on the way, my next postings should show it finished.
    This will be on show at the Bridport Clubs January Exhibition with any other entries into our 2019 diorama challenge.
     
    Dad-1
  15. Dad-1
    My last posting, after our exhibition was stating I'd be back to wagon building.
    While I build too many I do so often move on before weathering and gather a backlog of almost there projects.
    After getting some secondhand kits I decided to make up the Airfix Presflo. I already had one made in 2015 still
    unfinished, well at least without weathering and these did get very dirty with white cement dust.
     
    At last not only the new build, but my old one made to look like a working wagon. Seen here alongside Bachmann
    models in the two later colourings used by Blue Circle.
     

     

     
    One thing I didn't do was add the wire grab-rails at the ladder tops. I decided they looked O.K without
     
    What next ? Perhaps a couple of very old Cambrian kits, so old they include plastic two part wheel sets that I will NOT
    be using.
     
    Dad-1
  16. Dad-1
    It was a once a year outing, Castell Mawr back in the shed again.
    While it does everything I wanted at the time, it has become something of a white elephant. Too big to have up and running
    at home. I can just assemble on our patio which is high and catches wind, easily enough to take stock off !!
    I really don't know what to do with it ? Jamie one of the original group of 4 builders/planners came down to Dorset from Cambridge
    just to run it for a day, he had a great day and so did I.
    Seriously though what do I do ?? I'm too old to hire just a van, so I need to have a van and driver to take it anywhere and with just
    me and one helper it takes over 4 hours to set up. No it's not that complex, but to keep storage requirements under controlthe boards
    are all packed tightly into pods. This prevents any but the smallest buildings being attached. Every vehicle, person, building, signal
    has to be attached after initially getting all on it's legs and checking all electrics are working
    Last year it was voted best in our show and this year missed out by just 3 votes, so people DO like it, but practicallities of something
    this size when you're 77 say it's cloe to the end.
     
    My Fiddle Yard is scenic exchange sidings
     

     
    A busy builders materials yard
     

     
    An overall view taken during set-up and testing.
     

     
    Could you break this up ??
     
    Dad-1
    .
  17. Dad-1
    The last time my large layout saw light of day was the end of July last year at my clubs Summer Exhibition.
    I originally was contemplating it being the last outing. Too big for me to manage by myself and needing to hire
    a van and driver to get it anywhere, once you're over 75 no van hire insurers will cover you .....
     
    My trouble was it was voted best in show (Stick chest out in pride) and our exhibition manager insisted it came back
    in 2019 to defend it's position ! Double Groan !!
     
    We started having problems last time out with our Peco PL13 frog polarity switches being very intermittent. Plus 3 of
    the station platform lights going out ? No idea why ?
     
    Enter June 2019. One of the 12 boards was taken out of it's storage pod, 2 dead lights and the most iffy PL13. Cleaning track
    and checking points was fine except that iffy frog switch. My extensive testing showed that it was dead, simply not switching
    to either side. Luckily I knew where a new spare was and recovered it from the loft. I don't know if anybody else uses cyno
    (Superglue) to hold switches onto their point motors, but mine often fall off. Not this one, it took great care with a Stanley knife
    to remove. New switch soldered in fine, all works as it should !!
    Now to my station lights. LED's just don't burn out, not on 4.5V anyway. What could have gone wrong ? Can you damage resistors
    overheating them during soldering ? I de-soldered, removed the resistor and put 3V through, the light worked fine !! Put a new 1K
    resistor in dead ???? I worked on the second failed light and on this one replaced the 1K resistor with a 220R and behold light !! A
    little too bright compared to others, but again proving the LED's were fine. I went back to the first and changed to a 220R and that
    one works now. What Was Wrong ??? Now I hate to criticize my workmanship, but wonder if I had dry soldered joints ? I'm still
    puzzling, but at least it's now ready for exhibition, just another 11 boards to go !!
     

     
    Note that bright central light, 220R not 1K as the others that, thankfully are still working from original fitting.
     
    Preparing for an exhibition takes time if you want everything spot on - As you should.........
    Starting early makes sense.
     
    Dad-1
  18. Dad-1
    What's a skeleton in a cupboard ? .......... For too many railway modellers it's hidden, half, perhaps in some cases completely forgotten
    project and, probably half built !!
     
    Well a recent one of mine was and still is a Parkside PC86 Z2 gunpowder van. Started towards the end of April, but bypassed by the recent
    multi build of V12 - 16 vans shown in the last two blog entries. While watching the 'test' train circle slowly my eyes fell on this part finished
    wagon. Last evening I decided to number and add tare and tonnage stencils.
    Much to my annoyance I'm still stuck. I require some smallish red decals G P and V, these were mounted on both ends and the left-hand of
    each side. Probably time to search all my RAF WWII decals to see if Bomber Command used these letter in red, but will I have 4 of each ??
     

     

     

     
    I don't want to do detail painting, or weather until I can find and fix the missing letters. While I can print decals at home the one thing you can't
    do is match the paint colour of the surrounding area and would you fancy your chances of cutting neatly around small letters ?
     
    Sensible suggestions welcomed !!
     
    Dad-1
  19. Dad-1
    I do dislike waiting for paint to dry, but it's a basic essential.
     
    As of this morning I have 4 wagons, all with some paint too damp and sticky to handle.
    At least I've made the decision on what the final V16 livery will be. No not BR unfitted
    grey, but GWR grey.
    The clubs, and my V12 as well as the GWR V14 will all be liveried as 10 Ton. The BR bauxite V14 and that indecision V16
    will be 12 Ton liveries, a result of up-rating.
     

     
    It's at this point where a production line build starts to make sense. Initially all the same strikes as being over the top, but once
    painted with subtly different shades and later with different livery decals it'll all be fine !
     
    Dad-1
  20. Dad-1
    I opened my last 2 Parkside PC84 GWR Mink 'A' kits without paying too much attention.
    Today while getting on with them I couldn't find the small black sprues on which the laminated
    buffer heads are located, wagon hooks and a couple of drop door stops (Multi Purpose sprue).
    These two 'new' kits also had the small ModelMaster decal sheet included, on reading I note
    that all the markings are for BR period wagons and the sheet is clearly marked "Ex GWR 10T
    Mink, Mink 'A', V12,V14,V16" Does this mean that they will cease to include the louvre vent ends?
     
    I can imagine most sales are for GWR modellers and not BR periods. I could of course be wrong,
    but think a letter to Peco to find out is called for.
     
    It's such a small sprue and the lack of GWR period decals is not difficult, let's face it they never had
    decals included before, I hope they will keep including the early buffer heads, probably not a deal breaker,
    but retrograde ?
     

     
    The two on the right fitted with couplings, test run and fine, still working on the other two.  My 5th was for the club and not here at present.
     
    Dad-1
  21. Dad-1
    Ouch, almost 2 months since I last posted. I've not been exactly sleeping at the wheel.
    A few more wagons into the fray.
     
    I didn't think I had many Lowfit wagons and decided to have a shot at the Parkside kit.
    Initially I was a little miffed by instructions saying they were all wooden solebars, but
    that was me forgetting that while BR made steel chassis versions LNER had kept to timber
    on their version.
     
    These are very light and quite simple, I was past the making before I dug my camera out.
    Belatedly I took a couple of shots where I was fitting lead sheet into the small voids on the
    floor mouldings underside.
     

     
    Before decalling they were put behind a locomotive and reversed several times around a layout with some 1st radius curves. They were pushing 19 other wagons, these were No.20, & 21 some load ! yet not a single derailment.
     
    Now Decalled, both from a ModelMaster sheet included with the latest Peco 'Parkside' release. My other kit was an earlier one without decals. Note the use of Peco 'Parkside' PA34 mounting blocks into which I always use Bachmenn narrow tension-lock couplings.
     

     
     
     

     
    Construction is now moving onto Parkside GWR Mink 'A' wagons. I liked the look of one made for the club back in November and now have two others well on the way, with another two currently not started. So many options louvre end vents, bonnet vents, fitted, unfitted, GWR, or BR liveries. I have a mixture in mind
     

     
    That's enough at present, more later some time.
     
    Dad-1
     
  22. Dad-1
    Rotten cold, don't dare doing anything, or it'll go wrong.
    Still, nice to just run a train around, and video it.
     
     
    I have loads of trees to add, but welcome to my small cornish backwater.
     
    Dad-1
  23. Dad-1
    I'm running out of jobs to do on recent layouts, have virtually run out of space to anything new.
    Even difficult to find storage for my last little demonstration and test piece.
     

     
    Not quite desperation, but sitting in my garage after some 10 years is a small roundy-roundy that I call St Oval.
    The name is simply what the original plan was a Set-track Oval. This has been in constant use since I first had
    it fully live, simply because being a roundy-roundy I can run-in locomotives, for hours if necessary. It also is a
    good testing ground for kit-built wagons and harmonizing wagon couplings to allow reversing trains of around
    15 wagons length.
     
    Well work begins again !!
     
    Perhaps a very old picture first to show an essential for most of my layouts, the placing of the track-bed on risers.
    This allows scenery to go both above and below. In the case of St Oval into a space of just 6' x 3'. With such a compact
    foot-print it was essential to include some 1st radius set-track curves. My favourite locomotives tend to be small, but
    you'd be surprised what will go around without de-railing !!
     

     
    Holes in the chip board base are part of a weight reducing programme as once this was to be used at the occasional exhibition.
     
    A half decent bridge - I wanted a viaduct, but there are limits with 6'x3'. A passing loop behind the back scene to allow short trains to pass.
    A village to be behind the viewing line and falling from an over bridge at one side to a creek on the other.
     

     
    The village started taking shape, with half & half scratch built buildings and kits
     

     
    So as not to prolong your agony ...... Now a jump forward until being installed in the garage in Dorset after moving home in 2013
     

     
    Progressed so now some views that are in my own opinion quite good.
     

     
    A high level station
     

     
    Look even a C*** 0-6-0 locomotive can't spoil the view !!
     

     
    Well I MUST have something to work on, and my thinking is this offers me another few years !!! Started early 2010 to finish ........... ?????
     
    Dad-1.
  24. Dad-1
    I know I'm not alone. Most of us start things that get left behind, sometimes for years while others
    get priority.
    Back in August when I took the clubs new layout home to work on it I'd already started a Dapol
    BR brake van kit. It has sat on my small 'coupling height' track section ever since, quietly mocking
    me.
    Well club layout gone, so time to finish ?
    Now added a TrainTech motion activated tail lamp. I can now finish if and when I find the rest of the kit !!
     
    I'm struggling a little with the new format, I put the above in and lost my way. When I closed out I thought all
    would be deleted. However here it is when I come back, but I can't seem to find out if the pictures are still around ?
    I fear I'm an old bumbler, certainly not IT savy, hence hating change (usually just for the sake of it !)
     
    Dad-1
  25. Dad-1
    At Beaminster Exhibition on 12th January the new 'West Bay' will have it's first outing.
    Currently still in my shed, but with the Kadees almost behaving, lighting fixed and
    functional, even a couple of wagon kits finished except weathering (That may not get
    done in time) I'm no longer stressed !!
     

     
    As I write the fiddle-yard board is in my kitchen for a few prettying jobs. Why ? It's a
    fiddle-yard ? Ahh you should see how hard visitors will try to see what's behind the
    scene - Been there and done that !!
     
    Dad-1
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