SRman's Current Layout - Newton Broadway

[SRman]

Projects for the last couple of days, on and off:  

Ballast the curves at the 'eastern' end of the layout. I am experimenting with powdered glue mixed in with the ballast but am unsure of what proportions I need. Result with the outer track was that it didn't set at all, and I had to do it the old fashioned way of soaking with detergent and water then dripping diluted PVA glue in. The inner track has a lot more of the powdered glue mixed in, but is still wet in the photo, so the jury is still out as to the success or otherwise of this mix. 


P_20190706_171610_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr



I have also been constructing some Hornby deciduous trees, varying my techniques a bit to improve the appearance. I also bought a job lot of trees from our friend Malcolm's deceased estate, with some being quite usable with a bit of thin wire drilled into the bases of their trunks. I planted four of these plus one of the Hornby ones beside the overbridge where the main lines cross the underground tracks, and a couple more of the Hornby trees next to the steep road hill near the programming track. None are permanent, yet, while I assess in my mind how successful or appropriate they look. More of the Hornby trees are drying at the moment on the workbench. 


P_20190706_171552_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


P_20190706_171754_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


P_20190706_171833_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr

[SRman]

The track ballasting has been successful this time, with the powdered glue setting properly on the inner track.

Here is BR(S) N class 2-6-0 31860 with a ballast train. I think the men working on it must be on their tea break, perhaps hiding somewhere in the village High Street nearby.


P_20190707_104554_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


P_20190707_104639_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr

[St Enodoc]

2 minutes ago, SRman said:

The track ballasting has been successful this time, with the powdered glue setting properly on the inner track.

Here is BR(S) N class 2-6-0 31860 with a ballast train. I think the men working on it must be on their tea break, perhaps hiding somewhere in the village High Street nearby.


P_20190707_104554_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


P_20190707_104639_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr

Looks good now. Details of ballast type, glue type and proportions please!

[SRman]

9 minutes ago, St Enodoc said:

Looks good now. Details of ballast type, glue type and proportions please!

Oh dear! The ballast is a mixture of Woodland Scenics stuff: some fine grey ballast, some fine brown ballast, some fine turf in dark brown soil colour, some desert mix (i.e. dry brown and yellowish) turf, and for the finishing touch, a little real sand. I deliberately vary the proportions of each colour for every strip of ballast laid to get away from any uniformity of colour. 

For the powdered glue, I managed to get hold of some Cascamite on eBay as it just doesn't seem to be available anywhere in Oz. I even drew on DougN's knowledge of the building industry, and he didn't know of any equivalents available here in Australia. I used (very) approximately a quarter of the volume of the ballast in the mixing jar for the successful mix. The first, unsuccessful, attempt used rather less of the glue. This is a very unscientific process, basically the try-it-and see-if-it-works method!

One thing I will say, though, is that in spite of the extra cost of the glue, it is a big labour saver for me, and also a lot kinder to my back.

Edited July 7, 2019 by SRman

[St Enodoc]

5 minutes ago, SRman said:

Oh dear! The ballast is a mixture of Woodland Scenics stuff: some fine grey ballast, some fine brown ballast, some fine turf in dark brown soil colour, some desert mix (i.e. dry brown and yellowish) turf, and for the finishing touch, a little real sand. I deliberately vary the proportions of each colour for every strip of ballast laid to get away from any uniformity of colour. 

For the powdered glue, I managed to get hold of some Cascamite on eBay as it just doesn't seem to be available anywhere in Oz. I even drew on DougN's knowledge of the building industry, and he didn't know of any equivalents available here in Australia. I used (very) approximately a quarter of the volume of the ballast in the mixing jar for the successful mix. The first, unsuccessful, attempt used rather less of the glue. This is a very unscientific process, basically the try-it-and see-if-it-works method!

One thing I will say, though, is that in spite of the extra cost of the glue, it is a big labour saver for me, and also a lot kinder to my back.

Ah, I wondered whether it might have been Cascamite. That was always recommended in the 60s and 70s when I was starting off. Thanks.

[SRman]

Earlier this year I purchased a green Heljan Western diesel-hydraulic, D1002 Western Explorer, off an eBay seller. I got it at a good price, and it came with etched plates fitted and a bit of nicely done weathering. I like the Heljan Westerns, but they do have the error in the cab roof shape that results in a large peak over the windscreens. With my previous Heljan model, D1007 Western Talisman in maroon, I filed the roof shape down until I had it much closer to the correct profile. I couldn't match the maroon precisely, so weathered the whole roof to disguise the colour mismatch. I have now spent an hour or so filing down the peak on the green one, although the shape is not quite right yet, looking slightly too domed. I was able to closely match the green, and once I get the final shape right and can weather the newly painted cab roofs, I should be able to blend the new back into the old. While I was at it, I also fixed a loose lamp iron, which the previous owner had fitted, then painted all four of the lamp irons.

Here is the 'before' for the cab roof shape:


P_20190309_121728_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


And the 'after', as it stands now. Western Talisman is posed beside Western Explorer to show what I think it should look like once I refine the shape a little further.


P_20190707_162431_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


P_20190707_162443_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


Western Talisman also features some home made wire brake rigging and adapted (hacked!) Heljan mouldings for the brake blocks.

[SRman]

 

A little improvement to the upper level scenic area in the form of some track painting. I really should do this before I ballast the track, but once I put the third rail in, that has to go in after the ballasting anyway, then has to be painted - any other order results in difficulties and bare areas on the rails where they have slid through the 'pots'. I have left the inside areas of the point blades unpainted where they contact the running rails.

The ancient Mainline brake van has Bachmann metal wheelsets fitted, and is being used to test flangeway clearances after ballasting.
 

P_20190708_223238_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr

 

P_20190708_223335_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr

Another major improvement was to wire up the Heljan turntable, which is now fully operational, albeit I am still on a steep learning curve as far as programming it goes. The tracks leading up to it are not yet properly laid and are not yet wired, either. Excuse the clutter around the turntable - this whole area is still very much a work in progress.


P_20190708_223252_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


P_20190708_223305_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr

[St Enodoc]

22 hours ago, SRman said:

Another major improvement was to wire up the Heljan turntable, which is now fully operational, albeit I am still on a steep learning curve as far as programming it goes.

From what I've heard, you're not the only one.

[SRman]

Bulleid 10202 has arrived from Kernow Model Railway Centre at Newton Broadway, and after a suitable running-in spell on DC on the rollers, has had a Zimo MX638D decoder installed. I noted that on analogue DC, it gave a little lurch each time the controller was turned on, before accelerating smoothly from zero again. This occurred in both directions. With the Zimo decoder installed, it behaves perfectly. I programmed my usual settings into CVs 3 and 4 (values of 25 and 18, respectively).

I like the differences on the roofs between 10201 and 10202, with the exhaust ports and roof hatches exhibiting the main ones.


P_20190711_172027_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr

[St Enodoc]

3 hours ago, SRman said:

Bulleid 10202 has arrived from Kernow Model Railway Centre at Newton Broadway, and after a suitable running-in spell on DC on the rollers, has had a Zimo MX638D decoder installed. I noted that on analogue DC, it gave a little lurch each time the controller was turned on, before accelerating smoothly from zero again. This occurred in both directions. With the Zimo decoder installed, it behaves perfectly. I programmed my usual settings into CVs 3 and 4 (values of 25 and 18, respectively).

I like the differences on the roofs between 10201 and 10202, with the exhaust ports and roof hatches exhibiting the main ones.


P_20190711_172027_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr

I noticed something similar with my D601 when I was running it in on DC. I put it down to backlash in the rather lengthy gear train between motor and wheels. I'm not worried about it.

[SRman]

Here's the roof shot: 10201 with the four small circular ports, 10202 with the strips. For the hatches between the sets of exhaust ports, 10201 has 1-piece sections across the roof, while 10202 has them split down the middle.


P_20190711_194112_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr

 

I have to find that missing buffer for 10201 too. Probably in one of the storage drawers.

Edited July 12, 2019 by SRman

[SRman]

Experimental printed concrete wall texture from Scalescenes on the Underground branch line, to replace the 'temporary' Hornby Skaledale brick walling. The shape of the top of the wall needs trimming, but I think I like the effect overall. At present, the printed paper walling has been stuck to some card and is just leaning in place - the slightest gust of wind will bring it crashing down on the train!


P_20190713_210550_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


P_20190713_210619_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr

[SRman]

Southern Electric contrasts:
 

Late 1960s plain (read 'dull') BR blue adorns 4 CEP unit 7119 as it passes by. It wasn't long before these main line units were painted in BR's blue and grey. This is a Bachmann model, limited edition from TMC, and is fitted with a Lenz Silver+ 21 decoder.

 

P_20190726_213111_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr

 

 

Still in the late 1960s, the same 4 CEP passes the same location, this time with an MLV, 68004, trailing, also in plain BR blue. These units also quickly gained blue and grey. The MLV is also a Bachmann model fitted with a Lenz Silver+ 21 decoder.

 

P_20190726_213521_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr
 

 

Zipping forwards in time, a recent colourful livery on a class 73/2 electro-diesel was this Southern green and white applied to 'Thunderbird' 73 202. This is a recent Dapol model, and has been fitted with one of their own Imperium decoders. The lighting works as it should on this model, unlike previous Dapol 73s. F0 turns the directional high-intensity headlights, F1 and F2 are the headcodes at each end, and F3 and F4 are the cab lights at each end. To get this latter working properly on DCC, I had to move the 3-position switch on the PCB to the centre position.


P_20190726_210720_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr

[SRman]

More Southern Electrics from me. 

These are all 4 CEP (class 411) units illustrating the transition of liveries from the mid to late 1960s onwards. 

Green unit 7126 with small yellow warning panels is seen with blue and grey unit 7113. 


P_20190727_102015_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


P_20190727_102045_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


Later on, 7113 is seen in multiple with plain blue unit 7119 with full yellow ends. 


P_20190727_101534_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


P_20190727_101608_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr

Other intermediate liveries (not modelled here) included green units with full yellow ends, and plain blue units with small yellow panels. All of these liveries could be seen together in mixed formations of up to 12 cars (3 x 4 CEP, or 2 x 4 CEP and 1 x 4 BEP - the Buffet units have not yet been released by Bachmann but are on the way). They could also have one or two Motor Luggage Vans in green, blue or blue and grey attached. Also around 1968 or so there were some converted standard BG (Full Brakes) in blue and grey as TLVs (Trailer Luggage Vans) that could be sandwiched between an MLV and a CEP or BEP unit; these saved on having all the extra traction motors and current consumption, but made shunting them in and out awkward as they had no driving controls.

[SRman]

Some more Southern Electrics, this time looking at Motor Luggage Vans (MLVs) of class 419. I have six of these in various liveries, representing five out of the 10 members of this class - one unit is represented twice, in early and late liveries. As you can see, for a small class of unit, they have been in many different liveries over their long lives, something ideal for a model manufacturer to take advantage of.


The earliest livery I have is 68006 in Southern Region green with small yellow panels, from the mid-1960s. Originally they would not have had the yellow when they first went into service in 1959.


P_20190727_224613_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


Next is blue and grey 68009, with slightly earlier 68004 in plain blue behind.


P_20190727_224435_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


Then we get to more modern liveries, although the blue and grey lasted for over 20 years: 68008, as unit 9008, is in the fairly short-lived London & South East 'jaffa cake' livery.


P_20190727_223236_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


Another short-lived livery was the Royal Mail red applied to a couple of MLVs, with 68004/9004 (again) showing this livery. It was soon realised that this livery made them attractive targets for thieves, so those so treated were repainted quickly into NSE livery.


P_20190727_223749_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


Which brings us to 68002/9002 in Network South East livery.


P_20190727_224122_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


They were originally used with 4 CEPs and 4 BEPs on London to Dover trains to cope with passenger luggage for the ferry and cruise ships serving Dover. As such, the earlier liveries can be run in model form with Bachmann's 4 CEP units, or even Hornby's 4 VEP units, but as there are no models of refurbished 4 CEPs, the later liveries have to be run on their own or in pairs (which did happen quite regularly in their later years). 

The MLVs were versatile in that they could run for short stretches off the electrified third rail, using on-board batteries. They also had both vacuum and air brakes, and could convert braking systems if sandwiched between stock with the different brake types, as well as being able to multiple with the EMU stock with the standard SR electro-pneumatic brakes.

Edited July 28, 2019 by SRman

[SRman]

I received a 'ghost sign' transfer for Lipton's Tea from Scale Model Scenery yesterday, and couldn't wait to apply it seeing as I had a spot already planned for it. Here's the result, on a Hornby Skaledale terrace house building. The instructions say these stick-on transfers are designed for card models, but I had no problems applying it to the resin building.


P_20190730_175049_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr

[SRman]

Following a little advice in another topic, I played around with the settings for CVs 4 and 349 on the Zimo sound decoder in my Hornby 700 class 30693. This has YouChoos sounds with the brake function on F2. With the default settings from the shop, I felt that the braking was a bit too sharp, meaning I had to achieve it with a series of short dabs on the function key. I prefer the idea of being able to hold F2 (or rather, the momentary-acting 'Whistle' key on the NCE cabs), meaning I had to reduce the braking effect somewhat. Setting a higher value in CV 4 (it was already set to 100) is then balanced by setting a lower value in CV 349. At present, I have CV 4 = 120 to 130, and CV 349 = 35 to 38 (depending on the individual loco's characteristics), which allows me to bring the locomotive to a nice progressive stop. I think I need to tweak it slightly further, but it is close to what I had in mind.

Next, I'll do the same with the S15, 30830, and the LBSC E4 which also has YouChoos sounds and the F2 brake function. Then I'll move on to the two Sutton's class 24s with Zimo sound decoders.

I'm on a roll!

Edit: I forgot the S15 was an earlier YouChoos project and doesn't have the F2 braking function. Still, I tweaked CVs 3 and  4 to higher values while I was fiddling.

Edited August 5, 2019 by SRman

[SRman]

Some of my efforts from the Caulfield exhibition in Melbourne yesterday (Saturday 24th August), where I was on the BRMA stand.

Of course, much of the time was spent talking to people, seeing as it is really about PR rather than modelling, but I completed the two Metcalfe Models station clocks, seen here upside down or sideways, because one is a roof-mounted clock and the other is wall-mounted, built the Ancorton sleeper-bult hut, and fitted glazing into two Smallbrook Studios LSWR brake vans. I glued the roof onto one, but the other needs a little more fettling before I do so for that one.

One of my fellow BRMA members on the stand very kindly soldered a white metal bus body together for me. This particular bus kit from RTC Models for an Optare Vecta has been giving me trouble for some considerable time, and resulted in being put back into the 'too hard' basket every time I pulled the kit out again! Anyway, I now have no excuses for not completing the model in due course.


P_20190825_093954_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr




 

[SRman]

See that raw laser-cut wood sleeper-built lineside hut from the previous post that I put together at the exhibition recently? Well, I have been painting and weathering it, although I am still not entirely happy with the result as it stands. There needs to be more variation between individual sleepers, and perhaps a bit more dirty black in there too; the colour is far too even at present. The chimney brickwork also requires a bit more variation.

Here it is, posed on the layout but definitely nowhere near its final position. That has yet to be decided.

 

P_20190904_211757_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr

 

P_20190904_211724_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr

[SRman]

Some items that have been languishing on my workbench for some time:

I have been doing a little more work on two resin LSWR brake vans from Smallbrook Studios. I have fitted the roofs, although one needed a complete replacement as I wasn't happy with the job I did on the earlier example. The D.1541 road van still has a little too much overhang on the new roof, but that is easily fixed. Aside from fixing up the paintwork, most of what's left to do is fitting handrails and adding transfers. Both vans are quite capable of running on the layout as they stand now.


P_20190926_110437_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


P_20190926_110510_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


An even longer term project has been the detailing and upgrading of an old Triang L1 4-4-0 locomotive. I added separate handrails and pipework many years ago, and put full-sized scale diameter (27mm) wheels on it. However, as Triang locos already tended to sit rather high, this put the buffers a full 2mm too high compared to "normal" stock. So, discouraged by this, I have left it sitting in a corner of the workbench for some time. Anyway, inspired by a couple of other BRMA modellers' efforts using 24mm diameter wheels, I ordered the replacement driving wheels a week or two ago from Scale Link's website, and they turned up today. The appearance suffers a bit from the too-small driving wheels, but it seems a bit more practical as a usable model. Work still needed includes adding numbers, crests and BR mixed traffic lining, a 5-pole motor and DCC decoder once all that works properly.


P_20190926_110616_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr

[SRman]

Just back from our local swap meet: I picked up this Heljan class 58 in Mainline blue for $AUS120. Tested perfectly on DC, so now has a Lenz decoder fitted. It joins three other Heljan 58s in my fleet: one in original Railfreight red stripe grey, one in Mainline greys, and one in EWS maroon. I wasn't really looking for another 58, but a bargain is a bargain!


P_20190926_221243_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr

Edited September 27, 2019 by SRman

[SRman]

Earlier, I bought a green Heljan Western, D1002, and started reshaping the cab roofs as I had done before with a maroon example (D1007). My  initial efforts left it a little too domed, although the overhanging peaks over the windscreens were pretty close to the final profile. I have now hit it with the file again and flattened the profile back towards the hatch, and I think this is much closer to how it should look.

Aside from this error in the Heljan Westerns, I do rather like them. They are less delicate than the Dapol ones (a little less detailed too), but they run more quietly and seem a lot more robust.


P_20190928_182554_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr

[SRman]

A quick update on the recently purchased Heljan class 58. I have now removed the original style cab door handrails and added the supplied newer style combined barrier and handrail mouldings (compare this with the earlier photo in post above). Here 58 050, Toton Traction Depot, is seen posed with 58 004 in slightly earlier Mainline three-tone grey (ex-Railfreight livery), also with the later handrail style fitted.

I must do this to the EWS liveried version as well, once I find where I have squirrelled its extra parts pack away!


P_20190930_213319_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr

 

[SRman]

After just over a year since I did the first two coaches of my Bratchell class 455/9, I have now added the Electra Railway Graphics South West Trains vinyls to the third car, the remaining Driving Trailer. I still have the last one to do to complete the four-car unit. There are some livery touch-ups and corrections to do yet, so this is still very much a work in progress. 


P_20191003_124418_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr

[saxokid]

Had nic catch up here!!

great set pictures..