Mulgabill Posted March 16, 2020 Author Share Posted March 16, 2020 Must have been enjoying myself, it's so long since I updated this. Time flies. I will try to make a few posts to catch up, and then hopefully settle into at least a weekly update. With or without pics. At the end of the year I mentioned that we had completed the point rodding on the club layout (London Gloucester Road). Well some pics are now available. I'm sorry they are not as sharp as I'd hoped, but you get the gist,I hope. Following on from that I've been doing the diesel fuelling facilities, which has rather overtaken all else, including Helstonish. However that progress seemed to be quite slow, inspite of seemingly spending much time on it. I will share a little of that next time as it is now almost complete, just in time for the club to be closed until at least the end of the month. Guess I'll have to keep it at home without breakings it!!! Good to be back on here, will return soon. TONY 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mulgabill Posted March 18, 2020 Author Share Posted March 18, 2020 Won't be going anywhere soon, so a couple of update pics before an afternoon starting to wire the 2nd Huckford Road board. A nw arrival courtousy the Yate exhibition sales stand. A bit noisy but otherwise ok, and I'm not anticipating a great deal of use. Hopefully it will become a Bath Road example sometime. And the starting point of the diesel fuelling build All the best TONY 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mulgabill Posted March 23, 2020 Author Share Posted March 23, 2020 Just remembered to post on recent progress. To bring up to date on the oil tanks, let me first tell you that Ian at the club has a 4mm figure, who appears regularly, to help guage proportions of buildings etc, under construction. He is universally known as ALBERT. So let me introduce my "Albert", needed to judge the sizing and positioning of the fuelling canopies. As I've probably already said, work on this has now ceased, until we are allowed back to the Awdry building, who knows when! This past week work has progessed slowly on Huckford Road, mainly wiring on my part, and basic work on scenic trays by Mrs MB. This will continue, and when we start on proper scenics I hope to do a bit on the Soudly Cottage garden, to improve Helstonish. Will try to keep these updates coming, all the ebst TONY 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mulgabill Posted April 4, 2020 Author Share Posted April 4, 2020 Again - sorry for not posting an update sooner, but I have been modelling. On the Huckford Road extension we have been working on the landform' This is the 2nd tray,and the high bridge end of the North side. And now we start on the 2 trays for the South side. Nothing that really fits for here, but I will be posting details on the Huckford Road thread,. Were 3 weeks into our shut in, and I still haven't run any trains, where does the time go? All the best TONY 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mulgabill Posted April 9, 2020 Author Share Posted April 9, 2020 Have updated Huckford Road with a post yesterday, as there has been no actual progress on Helstonish. However I have extracted its predecessor from the garage, for ecovery of materials. Before starting on this coffee break project, I did take a couple of pics for the record. The boards are 48-50 years old, I built them at school! The trackwork was done in the 80s, with no real info to work from. First is an overall shot of what is the layout of Avonmouth Dock station. The full (straight) length was 10'8" Next gives an idea of the pointwork Unfortunately this eventually did get to the point of operating, when we decided to move house. So it all went into storage. And hence came to Helstonish. Oh and we didn't move! All the best. TONY 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mulgabill Posted June 6, 2020 Author Share Posted June 6, 2020 Have updated Huckford Road, and hope to have something to put up here soon. Stay safe TONY Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium St Enodoc Posted June 6, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted June 6, 2020 7 hours ago, Mulgabill said: Have updated Huckford Road, and hope to have something to put up here soon. Stay safe TONY Look forward to it! 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mulgabill Posted June 29, 2020 Author Share Posted June 29, 2020 At last a snippet of progress for Helstonish! Whilst most work in lockdown has been on Huckford Road, on the kitchen table, a and with Mrs MBs help, the (Soudley) cottage has also finally received some attention. A while back I showed it to Graham, resident gardens expert, at the club. He suggested that whilst it was supposed to be early Autumn, the garden needed a bit of colour, maybe some roses? Well alongside making weeds for Huckford Rd, we also made some "plants" for the cottage. In line with the cartoon principles, none of the plants are identifiable, but some do hopefully look a bit like roses. Hopefully I'll soon find time to bed it back in the layout, and tidy up the fencing, which I was doing an age ago. All the best TONY 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mulgabill Posted December 21, 2020 Author Share Posted December 21, 2020 Well some things don't change I've not summoned the enthusiasm to update here since about June or July. So once again I am starting with an apology, to my regular readers and friends. It's not that I've not been doing any modelling, although I've often thought there has not been much end product. More a case of feeling I must take the chance to get on with some modelling, rather than "waste" time on here. Although that's a bit of a cop out, as I have spent much time on the computer, and RM web, just not getting my act together. None of this is down to the virus, in fact my kids have said they don't know anyone better suited to cope with lockdown, they know I'm quite happy to be shut away, especially in the train room. But I have been getting used to 15 tablets a day, and their side effects, which has rather taken over life, much as I am disinclined to let it rule. I seem to be getting on top of that one, and as an early Xmas present, am scheduled to actually meet the consultant on Christmas Eve. That's only 13 months after going to the doctor. Not sure that I really want to go to Gloucester Royal, I feel safer shut up at home, but there's still time for them to cancel! So back to a more positive note, I will find another pic to end, and do have a few more odds and ends to share. (Some re work that has been done, work that is currently under way, and quite a few new additions to the inventory). Oh yes we have done an inventory off all rolling stock. (Doe's Helstonish warrant 100 loco's???). One of the new guys, 53808 ( and there's also 53809 and 53810 story will follow in annual report). I will put up a few more posts over the holiday period, by way of an end of year report, in bite sized chunks, and will try to keep it up into next year. In the meantime, please have a good ("little") Christmas, and lets all look forward to a better 2021, but above all stay safe. Merry Christmas TONY 8 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium St Enodoc Posted December 21, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 21, 2020 The very same to you and Chris, Tony. Good to read your words again! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
treggyman Posted December 21, 2020 Share Posted December 21, 2020 Hi Tony Good to see you back.... Look forward to the promised pictures... All the best for the 'Festive ' Season ' & the New Year... Bill 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew P Posted December 21, 2020 Share Posted December 21, 2020 Hi Tony and Chris, Good to hear from you and have a good Christmas and all the best for the 24th mate. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeithHC Posted December 22, 2020 Share Posted December 22, 2020 Hi Tony seasons greetings. I agree with you about the Gloucester Royal, my wife and I have stopped running for winter not the weather but to reduce the risk of falling and breaking something. Mind you we are ready to go to the Vale for a prick in the arm. Keith Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mulgabill Posted December 23, 2020 Author Share Posted December 23, 2020 22 hours ago, KeithHC said: Hi Tony seasons greetings. I agree with you about the Gloucester Royal, my wife and I have stopped running for winter not the weather but to reduce the risk of falling and breaking something. Mind you we are ready to go to the Vale for a prick in the arm. Keith Good to see you back on here, and that you are well, Keith. I had started back to running early this year, and lockdown certainly helped get me over the initial hump. Following my Parkinsons diagnosis, I have managed to keep slowly building it up. Thankfully having a treadmill, means I don't have to run out, so can pick and choose. Just doesn't feel like it used to. About 30' is my limit at present, the 5 London Marathons are a distant memory now, unfortunately. Have a good Christmas. TONY 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mulgabill Posted December 27, 2020 Author Share Posted December 27, 2020 Well, I survived my visit to GRH, on Christmas eve. And after a shower and change of clothes, it was off to visit one set of grandchildren, before we were all promoted to tier 3. This was done with great care, by not going into their house, but sitting at a distance, in an open sided cow shed. Just the 2 kids, their parents, us and about 20 calves, and 3 sheep. Quite like our own nativity. Mind you it was Bleep Bleep Bleep cold and draughty. So on with the first part of the 2020 end of year report. The early part of the year saw us working on Huckford Road, which got to the stage where the layout board, and 2 "North- side" scenery trays are complete, bar final detailing. The South trays are yet to be started. This work took us towards mid year. Very little was done on Helstonish. At the beginning of July we were finally allowed to go back to our caravan, next to the West Somerset, at Blue Anchor. We therefore did spend quite a lot of the Summer there, and when home there were quite a number of DIY things to get done. So modelling was restricted. However there was a notable event, in late August, our nearest Auction house, had a large quantity, of mostly OO lots, from and estate. I managed to win 7, although prices were higher than I'd hoped, and I missed out on some of my preferred lots. You have already seen one of the S&D 7Fs and I will show pics of some of the other wins. This saw the inventory grow with the addition of 3 x S&D &F 72xx 52xx Std 4mt 2-6-4T BR Warship Type 4 (D800) A number of Hawkesworth coaches (Blood & custard) A number of Collett coaches (GW Choc/Cream) - the maroon set went too high! 3 Birdcage coaches (Maroon) A small collection of Bristol area PO wagons. 24 Peco Wonderful wagon kits. In turn these acquisitions gave me some work that could be done whilst away. As it happens I already had an example of the same Warship, from a previous auction in 2007. The 2 were stripped, as both were non runners, having thrown their drive shafts. The original one was suffering from mazak problems with parts of the internal frame, both had parts of the suspension brackets damaged. The new one was missing 3 buffers. And I gathered new drive shafts were difficult to source. How would I get on? What would you do? We'll address these questions in the next part. More to follow soon, stay safe TONY 8 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mulgabill Posted December 30, 2020 Author Share Posted December 30, 2020 2020 in Helstonish pt 2 Whilst hiding away at the caravan I checked over all the recently acquired locos. It was not the trouble free inspection I had hoped for. I have already started on the saga of Sir Brian Robertson x2. Of the others 3 needed attention to bent and inoperable pick ups. Whilst the Std 4mt tanks motion was jamming. The pickups were straightened and each loco was cleaned and fresh grease and oil applied. The 4mt motion was poked at with a stick, and miraculously, all seemed to run much better when power was applied. Indeed at this stage even the 2 warships were running. Alongside this I built a few of the Wonderful Wagons, which is effectively my reserve, for any spare time whilst at the caravan. (There's been plenty of that this year with the WSR not running). State on 7th July , with stop blocks in place, and weeds taking over. This the up end of Blue Anchor Station. On a visit home the locos were tested on the layout, all bar the Warships ran well. Although the 72xx did point out a few track issues, of which the resident fleet were more tolerant. The Warships however, after threatening to run ok'ish, both threw their drive shafts away! They were duly scheduled for a revisit to Blue Anchor Works (aka Doris). So the saga continues......... I realise there's not been much re the layout here so include a taster, before part 3. So on the promised day, when the jab should become widely available, did anybody else notice that where they had talked of over 60s before, they now only talk of over 80s? If you too have been shunted into a refuge siding, take care and be safe. Even the slowest freight gets there in the end. TONY 7 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium St Enodoc Posted December 30, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 30, 2020 7 hours ago, Mulgabill said: all seemed to run much better when power was applied. I find that is usually the case Tony! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mulgabill Posted January 8, 2021 Author Share Posted January 8, 2021 Longer posting gap than intended, but it seems Boris understands and has given us all some extra modelling time. Nearer to home, our Doctors, along with 3 others, have completed the (1st) vaccination of all their over 80's. Mind you I'm still not convinced they'll be given enough to carry on to Mrs MB and me. The Warship saga continued, when next at Doris, I addressed the various problems i.e. Driveshafts - all refitted and all were original Bachy ones. However it should be said that the 2 I had made did work, although they were not as well balanced as the originals. One was made from a piece of sprue, the other a matchstick. I would happily use them again, in the absence of the originals. Stance - both were slightly off kilter vertically, probably (? entirely) due to my suspension bracket repairs ( I strut plasticard filed and superglued to the gear towers). I decided to make 1 good one using the best bits from both. (the 2nd is now buried in storage pending future attention. Blue Anchor works, D800 after a Heavy General overhaul, and new and repaired stock, ex Works The good one has been in regular use, shunting a string of wagons around the layout, to both clear access for other work, and test certain sections of track. A job it managed very well, until one day it stalled, and threw a drive shaft again. This was resolved (I hope) by fitting a wire retaining loop around the shaft socket on the drive tower. The other problem is the wheel retaining plates work loose, causing the brake hangers to be liable to catch rail joins. This sudden interuption can also cause the shafts to play up. At the moment superglue is my friend, but it does feel as though the class 42 is one of the most prototypical models around. I seem to recall the originals were "resting" quite a lot in 1958-60 also. I'll stop there, with a promise to talk about the layout in the next edition. There has been stuff done there, but it has been good to finally get my hands on some loco's and stock. I could mention a 94xxx or some Collett coaches, but they'll have to wait. Another taster, the same train crossing Soudley Crossing. Stay safe TONY 13 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mulgabill Posted January 11, 2021 Author Share Posted January 11, 2021 Back to keep my promise, something about the layout. Mind you I'm not sure how much difference will be noticed. As I have said before, there has been work being done all through the year, but it felt like I was mostly fidlling about, not really having much direction. Until the November lockdown, when I gave myself a good talking to, and sorted some jobs to get on with. These included a few bits of trackwork maintenance, which had been kindly pointed out by the 72xx. The board joints at the Fiddle Yard exit were initially given a checkrail, across the oblique board joint, which was superglued in place. Although this did work the glue joint failed, so a new piece of track has been laid, and rod in tube connectors added for track alignment. Seems more reliable, but still a bit rougher than I would like. Much of the station approach throat also had its ballast lifted, and replaced and retamped. This took away the uneven board joints that had developed there. The same was done at the other end of the station. With the trackwork running much better, I have also started on a job which has been needed ever since the layouts visit to Taunton. That was the station, particularly the platform, which bowed when the pva dried when the platform surface was applied to the polystyrene base. This created steps where the main platform met the short lengths on the adjacent boards. A new main platform has been made on a stripwood frame, with some long bolts engineered to both hold the building in place, and act as handles to remove the section from the layout. As it overhangs one side of the board. This now needs the fencing, lights seats etc replacing. The cottage has been replaced on the layout, after the wooded area around the tunnel mouth had received quite a lot of fiddly filling out. I think it is better, but we still need to rough up the triangular area which is just grass at present. And Dan Beechworth's picture is getting better. 2 pics of the cottage area, with much more undergrowth added. There is also some actual railway modelling going on, at last. I got a mainline 57xx,off EBay, and the chassis is being fitted into a Lima 94xx which I got from Beatties when they first came out. It won't be as good as the New Baccy one, but I will have done it. And it's at least easier than the Farish one that I started on when Helstonish was first up and running. (Couldn't get anywhere drilling for new handrails). I've also got part way through fitting a Hawkesworth full brake body, to an old triang=Hornby chassis, and some baccy bogies, but getting the ride height right, is holding me up. I was actually getting on with this better at Doris, so it may wait until were allowed back down there. There are also 2 or 3 building projects waiting for a start. But I had also spent time away, learning to do the cad drawing, with a view to perhaps getting a cheap laser cutter. But they're not so cheap now, and the urge has consequently faded a bit. Soon I'll have to decide which way to go, cos I need to do some more buildings. That's pretty much up to date, although there is still plenty to be done. All the best, and stay safe TONY 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mulgabill Posted January 12, 2021 Author Share Posted January 12, 2021 Today I got sidetracked. I decided to tidy up the front face of the Truthwell Halt section, where it had been trimmed, when it was retired from the main layout, to make way for Soudley Crossing. As it is now a sort of portrait setting, it does need to be a bit more presentable. And it will become connected by a new scenic section, at some point. So I made a new fascia from foam board, and fitted it. I had already been replacing the old half crossing, with something more appropriate. Then at lunchtime I had a ferret around in the shed, and found some green(ish) paint, which was applied to the new fascia. But I didn't stop there, hence the sidetracked. So a couple of pictures, of paint drying...........Nooooooooooo OK then, a couple left over from the last batch. Off to photo the paint drying now. TONY 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew P Posted January 12, 2021 Share Posted January 12, 2021 All looking very good Tony, Dee has her first Jab tomorrow, so hopefully yours will come like mine, sometime in Feb / March. ll the best to you both. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mulgabill Posted January 17, 2021 Author Share Posted January 17, 2021 I've been off on another side track! In the job of repairing the static grass machine, I have been attempting some upgrades. More details and maybe pics when I've evaluated the results. Alongside this I did run a couple of workings, in front of the camera, so will share the results over a few posts. I will not go out of my way to enhance the offerings, you will probably get exactly what was captured, pretty much in order. We start with an unusual working, engineers from St Blazey area(?), 42xx a rare visitor to the Helstonish branch. And then the arrival of the FSO Cornish Riviera relief behind Warship D800. (It's still running). Will be back for a look at some of the Saturday workings. Keep safe TONY 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mulgabill Posted January 18, 2021 Author Share Posted January 18, 2021 On the Saturday the same working came in behind the branch 45xx assisted by a pannier. I don't know whether I mentioned them before, but in the background is a stand of "budlia" trees. A marked improvement over the non-descript greenery that was there before. Other examples have also arrived (grown?) around the layout I'm wondering what will wok in to take the return working..... TONY 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mulgabill Posted January 19, 2021 Author Share Posted January 19, 2021 Same arrival, with first glimpses of the new platform still under construction. (I did realise that the station roof has not been seated properly in this set of pics.... sorry). The 42 The 42xx has come off shed, and awaits departure with the engineers train. All the best TONY 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mulgabill Posted January 20, 2021 Author Share Posted January 20, 2021 Guess I should point out. the coaching set sees probably the first appearance of the BR Maroon Colletts (+ Mk1 Restaurant), on here. Uncoupling Meanwhile the loco for the return working has been despatched Light Engine, from Long Rock shed. A photographer has been following it's progress. First seen exiting the tunnel ......... and we find today it's D800 Sir Brian Robertson...... again. Much the feeling I recall having re the 12" : 1' version, it seemed to turn up every time I was near a railway. Next time we'll follow it's progress down the Branch. All the best TONY 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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