Popular Post robertcwp Posted November 5, 2017 Author Popular Post Share Posted November 5, 2017 TOPS today. Swindon Class 120 unit, converted from a Lima 117 using the Craftsman kit. I bought it in converted condition nearly 20 years ago. The low camera angle shows how it sits much too high on its bogies. Time for a decent RTR model of this type: P1080217am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr Hornby 'skinkhead' 31: P1080216am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr Bachmann 45 on a newspaper train: P1080215am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr A pair of 56s on iron ore: P1080214am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr Class 37 on cement: P1080212am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr A Class 40 awaits departure: P1080211am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr Cravens and Met-Cam units: P1080210am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr A pair of 20s on coal empties: P1080209am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr A Class 37 entering the station on a special: P1080208am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr Freights pass: P1080207am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr Station scene: P1080204am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr Class 47 on Mark IIa/b/c air-braked stock: P1080203am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr 22 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertcwp Posted November 11, 2017 Author Share Posted November 11, 2017 First YouTube video of my layout - test run of HST after overhaul. It doesn't always run this fast. https://youtu.be/eNSf1agolps 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertcwp Posted November 11, 2017 Author Share Posted November 11, 2017 And another: https://youtu.be/x3rbC9s3MRQ 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leopardml2341 Posted November 12, 2017 Share Posted November 12, 2017 (edited) This pic has a certain 'Blackpool North' feel about it? Even though the stock is totally inappropriate Edited November 12, 2017 by leopardml2341 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Tomlinson Posted November 19, 2017 Share Posted November 19, 2017 Another fine set of pictures. Re. the 120 on Lima chassis, part of the problem is that the bogie frames themselves have too sloppy axle holes and so they sag, if you look closely at your picture the axle boxes in the bogie frames sit well below the wheel centres. Correcting this with pinpoint bearings does help quite a bit, although there is still too large a gap to the body. It has been suggested that the bogie frames themselves are undersize, compared for example to those on the Hornby 110. As you say, probably time for a new effort, although I've always had a soft spot for Lima mouldings in general! John. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
danstercivicman Posted November 19, 2017 Share Posted November 19, 2017 With a layout this AWESOME the height of the bogies does not detract 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ess1uk Posted March 17, 2018 Share Posted March 17, 2018 Any recent pictures? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertcwp Posted March 18, 2018 Author Share Posted March 18, 2018 Any recent pictures? Not yet, the layout has been in winter hibernation as it's too cold in the shed at the moment. Also, busy season at work. If the weather ever manages to get better I shall do some more. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertcwp Posted April 2, 2018 Author Share Posted April 2, 2018 (edited) Some photos from today. When putting these together, it occurred to me that they show lots of stock that is heading for withdrawal given the new releases planned over the next few years. Deltic Crepello on sleepers: P1080244am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr Gloucester parcels cars: P1080243am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr Class 45 Peak - the formation is a Nottingham-Glasgow set c1979 including an RBK: P1080241am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr Two Peaks and a Deltic await departure: P1080240am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr Class 33/2 on ballast: P1080239am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr Peaks on shed: P1080238am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr Class 45/1 on Mark 2e stock - Hornby and destined to be replaced by the far-superior Bachmann 2f stock: P1080237am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr Busy scene: P1080236am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr Class 31 and class 37: P1080235am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr Class 33/0 - this is one of the early Heljan models where the end shape and roof profile are not quite right but I have no plans to upgrade. : P1080234am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr Cravens units continue to proliferate - up to nine now: P1080233am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr A 25/2 heading for withdrawal when the new Bachmann ones appear: P1080231am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr A pair of 20s. The old 21t hoppers are Hornby ex-Airfix and destined for replacement by a set of Accurascale HUOs: P1080230am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr Hornby HST, Lima 117 destined for replacement by the new Bachmann model, and a Bachmann 25/3 also destined for replacement by a new Bachmann model: P1080229am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr More motive power heading for the scrapyard, or really the second hand sales. I decided against a blue TOPS SLW 24 as there were hardly any 24s left by 1979-80. This Bachmann one survives due to lack of sufficient 25s. The 25/1 is also destined for replacement by the new Bachmann model: P1080228am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr A pair of 108s: P1080226am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr Terminus line-up. The doomed 2e stock appears again: P1080225am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr Edited April 3, 2018 by robertcwp 16 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertcwp Posted April 2, 2018 Author Share Posted April 2, 2018 (edited) Layout will be heading back into late 1950s steam and early diesel in the not-too-distant future. Edited April 2, 2018 by robertcwp 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertcwp Posted April 28, 2018 Author Share Posted April 28, 2018 (edited) Two views from today of a very full terminus section of the station: 20180428_202934_001am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr 20180428_204003am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr Some recent backdating or, in one case, forward dating of Bachmann diesels. This is one of the earlier Bachmann 37s I have had since they first appeared. Brian Kirby altered the buffers years ago. I backdated it to pre-TOPS with the help of some spare headcodes I was kindly given by another RMWeb member: P1080247am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr 40 from GSYP to GNYP: P1080250am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr 40 from GSYP to GFYE: P1080252am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr 40 from TOPS to pre-TOPS (possibly should have lost the data panel): P1080254am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr Edited April 28, 2018 by robertcwp 15 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
7APT7 Posted April 29, 2018 Share Posted April 29, 2018 Hi Nice run of loco's and Cl37 6974 is nicely weathered... Regards Jamie Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertcwp Posted May 6, 2018 Author Share Posted May 6, 2018 A couple more additions. This 37 was a joint effort between Brian Kirby, who altered the buffers and painted the ends, and me. It started off as green with no yellow panel: P1080257am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr Bachmann have not done their Met-Cam unit in blue with headcodes, so I backdated one without. Here is a comparison shot: P1080261am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
danstercivicman Posted May 6, 2018 Share Posted May 6, 2018 Wonderful photos Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertcwp Posted July 17, 2018 Author Share Posted July 17, 2018 Layout has now gone back to late 1950s steam and early diesel. However, this train from earlier in the decade has made a guest appearance. P1080262am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr 6 of the new Bachmann Thompson coaches and a kit-built Gresley dining pair which I purchased from John Houlden via Tony Wright when John's 'Gamston Bank' was scrapped. The Hornby A3 Ladas was a recent acquisition to run with this set, which is in the formation of a Marylebone-Manchester train before BR Standard (Mark I) stock made its way into the sets. I had wanted an A3 that ran on the GC in the mid-1950s but I don't think Hornby have done one, or at least not one where the running plate is roughly straight where it is meant to be. The main thing that struck me when getting out the steam fleet is the amount of weathering, dirtying, etc that needs doing. 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertcwp Posted July 17, 2018 Author Share Posted July 17, 2018 Hornby reissued the ex-Lima Met-Cam DMU with a better motor and better livery application some years ago. I had a Lima one which I had repainted in blue with small yellow panels that I wished to retain but its motor was past its best. I found a pretty cheap second-hand Hornby green one on eBay, the same as one I had had from new. Its powered chassis went to my early blue unit and a spare unpowered chassis from a now-withdrawn Lima one replaced it. This gave me an unpowered 3-car set to pair up with my existing one and make a 6-car DMU. Here it is making its debut: P1080264am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr I found that it slipped a bit as there were no traction tyres on the green whiskers one. However, the green with yellow panels one that Hornby did a few years later did have traction tyres, so a quick chassis swap sorted things out and now the green whiskers 6-car set runs very well. 13 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Tomlinson Posted July 18, 2018 Share Posted July 18, 2018 The Gresley pair sit very nicely with the Bachmann Thompsons in terms of similar colours and ride height. I don't have anything like your level of stock, but keeping on top of weathering I find very difficult and indeed fail to do. However, better to have an unweathered loco or coach, rather than one that's been messed up in haste! John. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertcwp Posted July 19, 2018 Author Share Posted July 19, 2018 Some photos from today. They look like a list of modelling jobs to do. Hornby Royal Scot 46102 The Black Watch entering the station. This was one of several Hornby Scot/Patriot models to suffer from Mazak rot. In this case, the chassis disintegrated. I replaced it with one from Patriot 'Planet' which is also suspect but at least it still runs after some restoration by Brian Kirby. The tender is also from 'Planet'. How much longer this one will survive is anyone's guess. It's not on the list for weathering/improvement in view of chassis issues: P1080320am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr A somewhat more sturdy and reliable Bachmann Standard 5MT. Lamps could do with replacing with Lanarkshire Model Supplies ones - as could many others: P1080319am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr 1005 County of Devon. This one is a rescue job. The body and tender are from the County Hornby made in the early 2000s, still with the awful old Dapol-type mechanism. I gave up on it. However, when Hornby put the County into the Railroad range, they altered the chassis to include a new motor, so this one has a chassis from the Railroad version and now runs very well. The body is a bit dated, the firebox doesn't taper enough and the chimney is suspect. I also believe it's too narrow, as is the tender. However, it's better than no County: P1080318am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr A view of the station, including DELTIC. This is a somewhat awkward model to deal with. When I tried fitting the buffer beam detailing, I found the bogies would not pivot, so I gave up on that. It's also in the queue for a bit of dirtying up but it's a peripheral loco for the layout so not a high priority. P1080317am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr Until this year, the only single-chimney, BR late emblem Castle Hornby had done was the limited edition 7037 for the STEAM Museum at Swindon (see below). 5013 Abergavenny Castle has now joined the fleet, partly in view of the issues with 7037 noted below. The formation it is heading is a full-length winter 1958-9 'Devonian': P1080316am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr This is a DJH Black 5 with Portescap motor that I bought second hand almost 20 years ago. It's a good runner and still has a place in the fleet: P1080328am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr This is a BSL push-pull set on bogies off of Airfix Inter-District stock. It was built in the 1990s for another customer of Brian Kirby and acquired by me when that customer passed on. I'm not sure whether the driving end should be crimson or black. Perhaps Hornby will do a model as they already have the composite and are most of the way to the driving brake with their LMS non-gangwayed stock. P1080326am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr A pair of Bachmann Cravens units, which run very well together: P1080325am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr This Bachmann 9F is at or close to the top of the projects list. Lamps need to change and it needs dirtying and some coal in the tender. I might change it to the late emblem too. The wagons are the age-old Mainline iron ore hoppers, which are not scale. Time for someone to do a proper model of those too. P1080324am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr One of the problem children. When Hornby first did their new Castle, the only way to obtain a single chimney late emblem one was to buy the limited edition 7037 Swindon from STEAM Museum. Here it is. Unfortunately, it's the worst runner of my three Castles. It seized up completely a while back and Brian Kirby eventually got it going again. It's seized up a couple of times since and, when it does run, is rather wobbly. Hence, a new Castle has been acquired (see above) as insurance against this one failing completely. No sign of Mazak rot though. The formation it is hauling is the Torbay Express: P1080323am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr Bachmann Modified Hall Thirlestaine Hall. Bachmann messed up the front running plate. This one was altered by Brian Kirby and is the only Modified Hall in the fleet. P1080322am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr Wouldn't it be nice if we had some decent RTR LMS catering vehicles? This is the age-old Dapol one. Dapol never did it in crimson and cream so this is my repaint job. Since then, Hornby has reissued the model in crimson and cream. This one also has South Eastern Finecast flush glazing: P1080321am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr 19 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertcwp Posted July 28, 2018 Author Share Posted July 28, 2018 Some stock built by John Houlden for 'Gamston Bank' and acquired by me via Tony Wright when the layout was scrapped: P1080335am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr Thompson pantry third, Gresley restaurant first and Thompson open first. 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertcwp Posted February 10, 2019 Author Share Posted February 10, 2019 A short video clip from today's running session: https://youtu.be/vhxdReEeeI0 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
danstercivicman Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 On 28/07/2018 at 21:25, robertcwp said: Some stock built by John Houlden for 'Gamston Bank' and acquired by me via Tony Wright when the layout was scrapped: P1080335am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr Thompson pantry third, Gresley restaurant first and Thompson open first. Very nice 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertcwp Posted February 24, 2019 Author Share Posted February 24, 2019 B1 on an express: P1080463am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr If I had planned the shot a bit better I would have put my other B1 on the front as it has express lamps. Formation is an approximation to the winter South Yorkshireman of the late 1950s. This pair have some history to them: P1080464am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr The Kirk Gresley RF came from Tony Wright and is currently sitting on a pair of ordinary Bachmann bogies, rather than heavy duty ones. The pantry car beyond came from the late former proprietor of Comet Models, via Tony Wright. 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertcwp Posted April 18, 2019 Author Share Posted April 18, 2019 Bachmann Mark 2f test run: https://youtu.be/mBotKr9Regw 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertcwp Posted November 17, 2019 Author Share Posted November 17, 2019 (edited) Haven't posted any photos for a while. Here are some from today and last month. Bachmann have not done the roof headcode 108 in green with yellow panels, so removed the speed whiskers and added yellow panels to this one: P1080709am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr Black 5 on a newspaper train: P1080707am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr Class 22 on parcels: P1080706am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr Motive power depot: P1080705am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr Class 37 on an inter-regional service: P1080704am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr Station scene: P1080703am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr Class 45 on an inter-regional train. The formation is that of The Devonian: P1080702am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr D108 and D109 await departure: P1080699am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr Metro-Cammell units (all three of them): P1080698am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr 33 on a short freight - didn't quite get the loco in focus: P1080697am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr This 9F, with a 1F tender, came from Tony Wright: P1080694am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr 108s in the station: P1080692am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr 10203: P1080690am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr London Midland 9F with 1C tender: P1080685am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr First run for a Hornby Lord Nelson: P1080684am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr Edited November 17, 2019 by robertcwp Typo. 18 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertcwp Posted December 21, 2019 Author Share Posted December 21, 2019 (edited) New Class 24s - two in as many days. SLW and Bachmann. P1080710am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr P1080712am by Robert Carroll, on Flickr Edit: just noticed that one of the handrails has fallen off the SLW one! Edited December 21, 2019 by robertcwp 13 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now