Jump to content
 

Recommended Posts

Hi Mikkel,

 

Thanks mate! I really appreciate the kind words. The animals are the sort of thing I'm prepared to be a little over done in order to provide a bit of visual interest for patrons - we are supposed to be entertaining after all.

 

14 hours ago, Mikkel said:

 

In the midst of all the madness I'm also enjoying the layout photos, this one in particular.  Keep 'em coming please.

 

 

Every now and then it just clicks and you get a shot which just looks right - we are really pleased with it! I'm glad the madness comes across too. Sir would have most definitely have approved...

 

All the best,

 

Castle

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock...

 

Hi All,

 

Gus The Rhino

 

Definition: Fawley has a full size, fake rhinoceros. His name is Gus. He occasionally gets dressed up. last time he had a Hawaiian motif with garlands of flowers and very stylish he looked too... Gus lives on a sheet of plywood that is, itself mounted on castors so you can simply and conveniently move your fake rhinoceroses where you need it. Quite WHY you need a fake full size rhinoceros called Gus to roll about and dress as you please is, however, up for debate...

 

The first item in the agenda for this post is that our battle flag has been reinstated! This sign was made up by Miss Trees for 81M William Street Shed and had been attached to that layout since. The sign needed a little light touching up to bring it back to A1 condition so Miss Trees took it home and waved her magic wand over it once again. The loco numbers are, of course Fawley’s Hudswell Clark 0-6-0 No. 31, Fawley’s Swindon built Class 03 No. D2120, with former McAlpine engines - 4472 Flying Scotsman and 4079 Pendennis Castle.

 

Note the earlier version of 'Flyer' spelling...

 

image.png.c06f178fc63f0bba167482c9ac5354c2.png

 

Now we have all the correct leads, the re-purposed monitor, displaying the DVD from a lap top in this instance. The displays are going in. A number of cheap plastic photo frames from one of the multitude of bargain emporiums that litter the landscape these days were employed. They are attached with those brass plates that are supposed to screw to a wooden frame but have been bent and bolted ion here. The wagon labels under the monitor are the real deal.

 

image.png.e97df4e0a2f52e87705a38cc9f6d5727.png

 

The rear of the fiddle yard showing the cassettes in a stack, the bell code system at rest, the monitor at rest and the only extension lead required to power the whole shooting match. There is an 8 gang adaptor on the main layout board. The mains power connection for both the photo frame and the monitor are looped up ready to connect up to the main layout which is already in position behind it.

 

image.png.a626026e1faef2193fae4a82460a6f67.png

 

5 bolts and a few electrical connections later and it is ready to go. The speed of set up was vital for us. With a full team on site, the layout can be running in as little as 20 minutes...

 

image.png.404a0e5fdd0047e3f28ce34c32c23bbc.png

 

An end view. This session was a test of all systems except the lighting rig which had sadly been delayed. The temporary positioning of the bell code instrument and the cheat sheet is shown here.

 

image.png.18c852568bb795f6c02d07c8c49245c1.png

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

Not only is this a remarkable shot of Leigh performing the worst photo-bomb in history(!), it also demonstrates the working side of the layout. On the left is the model section. The small switch panel bottom left controls the model lighting (on/off and dimmer) and the water crane display (a start and a reset button). Next is a cheat sheet to refer to and the ‘signal box’. Then the centre box for the bell code machines. Under that is the main power on/off for the converted ATX (PC) power supply.

 

image.png.00a7350b0669632dfcf6da18e578a136.png

 

A few scenic shots to finish off this post. The far end of the scenic section.

 

761318264_thumbnail(1).jpg.615441f8f6282b3de38a8b2aa6d11be4.jpg

 

About 2/5ths down from the entrance.

 

841765640_thumbnail(2).jpg.5ef50f28089fb261b4a815b35493147b.jpg

 

The entrance from the fiddle yard. The bridge still needs starting so won’t be in place for the first exhibition.

 

79646279_thumbnail(3).jpg.14c25527147620a6c4cfb0029b59231a.jpg

 

Then an overview with Harry working hard on a something...

 

493767882_thumbnail(4).jpg.a54472aefa821908f0e6affa1a050121.jpg

 

This was the last full technical set up, the next set up is the final one before show one! We spent rest of this day was spent playing with the stock and seeing what worked. I guess you would like to see that looked like...

 

Don’t you just hate a cliffhanger?

 

It's really awful when people get to the exciting bit and then just stop isn't it?

 

All the best,

 

Castle

 

Stay tuned for the next exciting installment of William Street Yard!

 

Remember: The completed William Street Yard will be on display at Didcot Railway Centre  over the weekend of 15th & 16th February for the 'Delivering The Goods' Event alongside a whole host of other exciting events and demonstrations. We hope you can come along and enjoy the fun! For more information please click the link here:

 

https://didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk/product.php/55/delivering-the-goods

Edited by Castle
  • Like 5
Link to post
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Dress Rehearsal - places people!

 

Hi All,

 

Tactical Greenery

 

Definition: You can’t quite resolve that bit of scenery. You don’t know what to do. You have a piece of layout hardware you can’t remove. There is a really obvious gap in what you are working on but you can’t get to it to sort it out. What to do? Slap something on it to hide it obviously! Hence - Tactical Greenery. It may take the form of a weed or grass for smaller problems, a bush for mid-size issues or a tree for any utter disasters. It has related sub- genres. If greenery is inappropriate. These are called Tactical Ballasting, Tactical weathering and Tactical Flocking. Be VERY careful with the spelling of the latter...

 

Well, did the rehearsal go well?

 

Yes, yes it did! We enjoyed using the layout at the end of the day and hopefully that will be reflected in the public enjoyment of the layout. It really only fully comes alive when it is full of stock and here it is.

 

image.png.34455d83380c45fbd134a94f7f613ecc.png

 

This really is the perfect environment to show off the Little Didcot freight fleet. The layout and stock really gel together. Here we look out over the rear of the layout. The end of the departure road is where the brake vans live. The sheer variety of stock preserved at Didcot means that the variety on the layout is excellent too!

 

image.png.06ede7722f5dc824d4df24534d5e9671.png

 

Here, a fitted freight has just pulled into he arrival road while a Dean Goods awaits the off in the departure road. The Dean Goods Train consists of a pair of girders supported on the POLLEN E Wagons.

 

image.png.2dfc93aafe6806f28f0ad5117db5fefd.png

 

 A Grange is refreshed after its exertions while a pannier prepares to shunt a CORAL A in the middle yard. The panniers that will be on shunting duty on the day will both be equipped with a shunting trick with additional pickups installed. 

 

image.png.8a47f8a2ad4f76152557751c5d5c6718.png

 

  • Like 6
Link to post
Share on other sites

Another shot of the Dean Goods - ready to go!

 

image.png.fa334a605c0371b6db5fdca462a4673d.png

 

A look down the belly of the beast from the fiddle yard!

 

image.png.e57c8139d2c10dd3cf1813c6de5a2b1f.png

 

Right at the end of the day, Captain Phil came through, sending us photos of this little beauty! Amazing stuff! Fitting will be next weekend.

 

image.png.8bdf7bc331e37b4248dde275f075733d.png

 

The all important list of stuff left to do on the last Sunday before the show:

 

1) Fit the lighting rig. Obviously! It will need a 24v transformer as it uses the same fittings and lamps from a railway carriage. Are we taking authenticity too far here?!

2) The centre tree needs to go in. Miss Trees is nearly there with this one!

3) The last few figures and detail parts need to go in.

 

That’s it - after that it is ready to go! I doesn’t seem possible that we have come this far in just a few months but here we are!

 

All the best,

 

Castle

 

Stay tuned for the next exciting instalment of William Street Yard!

 

Remember: The completed William Street Yard will be on display at Didcot Railway Centre  over the weekend of 15th & 16th February for the 'Delivering The Goods' Event alongside a whole host of other exciting events and demonstrations. We hope you can come along and enjoy the fun! For more information please click the link here:

 

https://didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk/product.php/55/delivering-the-goods

  • Like 7
Link to post
Share on other sites

  • RMweb Gold

A most impressive lighting rig. What kind of carriage are the lamps from?

 

8 hours ago, Castle said:

Tactical Flocking

 

For the really big disasters, try tactical fogging.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi All,

 

Thanks for the likes people!

 

Mikkel, - by lamps, I mean light bulbs. They are of the 24v type used in passenger coaches of a certain era...

 

The lamp shades MIGHT have a railway origin but we aren't sure.

 

All the best,

 

Castle

  • Thanks 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

Myself and a couple of other Severn Valley volunteers popped by the layout yesterday while at Didcot and was very impressed and found it an inspirational day out really, we all really enjoyed watching the water crane and handle move and after we had walked over to the Swindon Panel, we heard the surprise cow! Very good. Keep up the good work, see you when the Saint comes up!

  • Thanks 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

Last Chance Saloon!

 

Hi All,

 

Badgers

Definition: For some reason, one of our number has a thing for Badgers. Little white metal badgers to be precise. We think it derives from his fascination with the famous foreign version of this animal, the Honey Badger. This animal (if you don’t know) is about as close to indestructible as is possible, is evolution’s answer to the biker gang and a seriously good escapologist - all rolled into one furry little psychopath. They will eat anything at any time and disable Male opponents by, well, you get the picture. Really - look it up! He wants badgers (European) to be acting as footplate crew, guards, stationmasters, signalmen, you name it, he’s suggested it. When asked why he doesn’t want the badgers painted as Honey Badgers, he claims that it ‘wouldn’t be authentic - Badgers in the UK have a different livery so that would just be, well, wrong...’

 

Words often fail me.

 

Sorry for the late upload for last weekend - the show at Didcot was very successful if very tiring and it completely slipped my mind that I hadn't done it! Double rations this weekend. We return you to your regularly scheduled nonsense...

 

The gangs all here to make the final push! Even Henry the Hoover is here...

 

image.png.ddbbafe1aa22ffb4a3f442fda1ab8a4a.png

 

The centrepiece tree has been ceremonially planted by Miss Trees. Very nice it is too!

 

image.png.3afcadd05a5c8ea2ce7b71d1c97536ef.png

 

The lighting rig is also in! Captain Phil really did a fantastic job on this one. The old school industrial shades really make top it off too. Phil and Leigh make a few adjustments. It sits on a shelf arrangement at the far end that the bell code box and cheat sheet sits on. There is even room for a mug of tea...

 

image.png.143fbba21d94181444784f6218e677c5.png

 

Even if we end up in a dark corner, shunting can continue. It gives off a really nice even spread of light across the whole layout.

 

image.png.1c6c278258403a4517a236a7e06810ea.png

 

The only thing we want to do is to tone down the shiny a bit - we reckon a nice coat of black paint is in order. Miss Trees and Alan have kindly volunteered to sort this one out for us.

 

image.png.fa9fda9b666c9ab193576d136517972d.png

  • Like 4
Link to post
Share on other sites

Captain Phil and Leigh having a mini - shunt with the room lighting off to prove it can be done. It passed with flying colours!

 

image.png.e1b1a09806bfb1c2db28ade479d26295.png

 

The recent batch of figures are in too. Here, Sir William chats with one of the shunters as a driver looks at the loco lamps and ponders the coming day’s exertions.

 

image.png.c4ac71833ebcf16e2d90cb07d016b0ff.png

 

I like to call this one “Hurry up and finish your tea driver, we are going to be late!”. There are a pair of P/Way workers in the background by their tools. A robin is sat on the grindstone, expectantly in hope of a small crumb of food from the monkeys in clothes.

 

image.png.de787f960f684a38195ae1b50203504c.png

 

A number of display items were added, including the logo of the GMRC to tell people of its now far-distant origin...

 

image.png.02720216c2f904a66618ecb672f870b3.png

  • Like 3
Link to post
Share on other sites

...and to balance it out at the other end, a suitable and relevant genuine BR wagon label!

 

image.png.bd4d1f0d34c289d6b5683820df7161de.png

 

The lighting rig went home with Alan and Miss Trees and then primer. A black top coat occurred later...

 

image.png.b0072e4bd9f5d378c2628b7587da079a.png

 

Nothing we can do now but turn up to the show.

 

All the best,

 

Castle

 

PS: As I hope is obvious, the posts up until this point are very much history providing a background to the layout and how we built it. Here is a 'future echo' of what we got up to last weekend at Didcot. A write up will occur in due course. What an amazing setting by the way! 

 

image.png.615ff8cd58c7174a6a6ed72cb88e7bc7.png

 

PPS: Thanks for the kind words 7812!

 

Stay tuned for the next exciting installment of William Street Yard!

Edited by Castle
  • Like 3
Link to post
Share on other sites

Show Time!

 

Hi All,

 

Bacon Seeds

 

Definition: We were once shown a lovely picture of some really cute little piglets. You know the sort of saccharin heavy, insta-vomit sort of a thing. Awwwwww! One of our members stepped forward to the picture profferer and uttered the immortal words:

 

“Those aren’t piglets - they are bacon seeds.”

 

Now try looking at a piglet the same way again...

 

Well, the Beaconsfield Model Railway show 2019 awaits... How did we get on?

 

Pretty darn well for a first try I would say! Undoubtedly, the worst part about was the traffic on the set up evening. There was a short window of opportunity to get in and get set up and the traffic was awful! We managed to deliver the layout but not set it up which is not how we wanted to play it.

 

Thankfully, set up of the actual layout takes far less than 30 minutes on a good day so that was a bit of a bonus in the morning. We were there and it all worked so I guess that is section one of the mission completed!

 

image.png.6194357969c557f97f0a924d9a3f1b07.png

 

There was a fair bit of interest in the layout. With a larger than normal crew due to giving people a bit of down time from concentrating on the shunting, there were explainers as well as operators. I always quite like chatting to layout personnel at shows so this went down well. Here we see Harry and Miss Trees.

 

image.png.9ac8afe26ab8068827c4493936e2fdf7.png

 

Shunt those POLLEN Es one at a time - it avoids incidents!

 

image.png.d6acb0cc5ccfcc554d488196f02964c8.png

 

Laura operating the fiddle yard. Alice and her looked after the fiddle yard most of the day.

 

image.png.c46c4b950028d7aa4bc9c358ff49fbbf.png

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

Serious business this shunting lark! Captain Phil and Leigh, hard at work. We found that at table height, it is very difficult to shunt the front yard from the back. We are pretty sure that if the night is increased then it will change the angles that people are trying to operate at and make it easier. Legs required me thinks...

 

image.png.1e47ca2115a5c1101ab1b7d06c74b938.png

 

A few overall shots to give the idea!

 

image.png.7ad2eefe8a25ecb55c1309275dfc706b.png

 

image.png.addcda9432dfaad82bf8482b4312098f.png

 

image.png.dad50e22878ca45357f377aa908d8156.png

 

image.png.810b0d117fff7c936f2ea68808a6f759.png

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

image.png.97fec2bcbbbb88ebe62b7ffea469e516.png

 

image.png.2e9d573bd77a717552c5d42cf92421ab.png

 

The Fawley Flyers, triumphant after a good day’s running at our first show. We were all, what is best described as ‘well pleased’! Left to right:

 

Miss Trees, Captain Phil (being a twit), Laura, yours truly, Alice, Leigh, Harry and, Moses like with his staff (!) Alan.

 

image.png.b3fa034c864ab9f5da4e1de441df458e.png

 

As the designer of the layout, I always said that if it takes longer to put the stock out than to put the layout together then I shall be a happy man. Turns out, this is the case! Hours to put up and take down a layout is time taken away from playing with it as far as I’m concerned and it means that it is easy for us to include at Fawley and Didcot Running days.

 

image.png.390e09b8226b6382c1527222015321a0.png

 

We already have two bookings at Didcot this year and all the Fawley running days but we are of course open to other offers. If you want any more details then please send me a PM.

 

The day wasn’t perfect and there are a few jobs still to do so we will concentrate on those in the next few posts. Still- well pleased!

 

All the best,

 

Castle

 

Stay tuned for the next exciting installment of William Street Yard!

 

PS: William Street Yard's Next public show is the Railway Modeller's Weekend at Didcot Railway Centre on 11th & 12th July - for more information please click the link here:

 

https://didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk/product.php/66/railway-modellers-weekend

 

We hope to see you there!

Edited by Castle
  • Like 2
Link to post
Share on other sites

  • RMweb Premium
12 hours ago, Castle said:

 

Well, the Beaconsfield Model Railway show 2019 awaits... How did we get on?

 

It's good to know that the Fawley Fliers do time travel as well, perhaps they could go back further in time and get some photos of the real thing.

 

 

  • Funny 2
Link to post
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Hi Noel,

 

Long time no chat! They are some of, if not the most popular freight vehicles on the layout for the visitors. We get more questions asked about them than any of the others. Thanks again for producing the kit!

 

All the best,

 

Castle

Link to post
Share on other sites

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 account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...