Popular Post Les Green Posted October 25, 2020 Author Popular Post Share Posted October 25, 2020 I regret to inform all our RmWeb readers that Brian Pickersgill passed away last week. Brian was one of the main men on the Lime Street model in the early days. His engineering skills resulted in the sector plate and turntable at the fiddle yard end of the layout. The sector plate and turntable were both driven by stepper motors and the sector table was mounted on a ball bearing system all designed and manufactured by Brian. Thirty years or so later the whole system still operates flawlessly. Brian was also a member of a demonstration team, demonstrating model loco and rolling stock construction . The other two members being myself and John Holden. We demonstrated together for forty years or so at exhibitions, mainly in the North of England. My lasting memory of Brian will be sat beside him modeling at exhibitions. We learned so much from each other and had such a good time together. He was always willing to help fellow modelers, and, as all good demonstrators do, he preferred the chat to the modeling at the shows. RIP Brian. 1 44 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ardbealach Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 Sorry to read about the passing of Brian. He was someone who said little but gave a lot. And a first class modeller. Very sad - Alisdair 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Popular Post Steve Hewitt Posted December 1, 2020 RMweb Gold Popular Post Share Posted December 1, 2020 Quiet but not idle.......... John has kept the team up-to-date with the progress he's made duing Lockdown. You'll recall that he had to interupt the installation of the Point Rodding so that the Ballasting could be completed. He has now completed that mamouth task, and the associated Board Crossings. The gaps in the ballast are left for the Tie Bars and Point Rodding. Special attention is needed where baseboard joints occur. I think John uses waxed paper clamped between adjacent boards as a "release agent" whilst the adhesive is drying. This picture shows the task ahead for Rob who will have to paint and weather the new ballast, and match it with that done previously. John is now on with the Point Rodding - no rest for some...... Steve. 24 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Les Green Posted December 1, 2020 Author Popular Post Share Posted December 1, 2020 (edited) Definitely not idle! A Comet model of an Ivatt Class 2 loco for Lime Street. Now in the paint shop. Edited December 2, 2020 by Les Green Comet model, not DJH! 19 1 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
barrowroad Posted December 1, 2020 Share Posted December 1, 2020 On 11/10/2020 at 13:11, Steve Hewitt said: John has taken advantage of unrestrained access to his railway to tackle one of the "elephant" tasks - Ballasting and Point Rodding in the Station and Station Throat. Steve, what ballast and method of glueing does John use? Robin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Steve Hewitt Posted December 2, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 2, 2020 Robin, John has sent me this response: "Robin, The ballast I used was Woodland Scenics Granit Ballast the N gauge variety, I like most others find the 00 offering a little oversized. After the rail sides had been painted a suitable rust colour the ballast was laid and dressed down between the sleepers until I was happy with it's appearance. I then followed the well practiced method of saturating the ballast using a fine spray of water with a few drops of washing up liquid in, followed by diluted PVA glue dripped on using a pipet. I find that individual stone chippings will somehow magically move up onto the sleepers during this process, so using a fine tipped scribe they can be pushed back where they belong. The secret is not to try to do too much in one sitting, I usually only do about one foot of double track in one sitting, this gives you time to adjust any problems before the glue goes off and also protects your sanity ! I had an immense area to do but just working through it methodically it soon starts to take shape, the upside to Lockdown is that it has been a great opportunity to get this job out of the way! So now it's on with the point rodding. Cheers, John." Steve. 1 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
barrowroad Posted December 2, 2020 Share Posted December 2, 2020 Steve, please pass on my thanks to John for that information, I really must get down to the job of ballasting Barrow Road but I'm enjoying making some scenic units at the moment - that's may excuse for the lack of ballast on my layout. Robin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Popular Post Steve Hewitt Posted December 5, 2020 RMweb Gold Popular Post Share Posted December 5, 2020 On 01/12/2020 at 16:47, Steve Hewitt said: Quiet but not idle.......... John is now on with the Point Rodding - no rest for some...... Steve. Pointing in the right direction........ I have previously shown how John laid out the point rodding prior to the recent Ballasting activity. Apart from the Stool runs, this was then dismantled so the ballasting could be done relatively easily. Leading out from the base of the Signal Box. Crossing the Station Throat. And so on to all the points, and their locking bars. This was then removed and carefully put to one side whilst the Ballast was laid. Once replaced, the crancks were all connected up. Twenty-four point rods in this section. The rodding is 0.8mm square (IIRC) Nickel Silver, the Cranks are assembled from a Les Green etch. A thin plasticard insulation is inserted between each rail and any rod which passes beneath. Baseboard joints require special attention. The rodding is laid across the joint and the joint separated with a fine cutting disc. To ensure an "invisible" joint, the boards are temporarily assembled with a spacing piece the same thickness as the cutting disc. Once all this work is painted and weathered it will look much more subtle. I just hope all John's time and effort is appreciated by spectators. Are the Lime Street Crew considered "critical workers" and eligible for the early vaccine? It seems ages since we ran any trains........ Steve. 16 9 3 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Popular Post Steve Hewitt Posted December 5, 2020 RMweb Gold Popular Post Share Posted December 5, 2020 Now you see it.............. John has just sent me the latest pics of his handywork. The baseboard gap, with the rods accross the join. The rods separated by the slitting disc. The gap closed up. Steve. 24 18 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ponthir28 Posted December 5, 2020 Share Posted December 5, 2020 That’s just superb 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gz3xzf Posted December 6, 2020 Share Posted December 6, 2020 Wow, that is wonderful; well done John/Steve really looks the part. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackB95 Posted December 8, 2020 Share Posted December 8, 2020 Mother of... that detailing is just mindblowing. Big congrats to everyone involved here. There's finescale, and then there's this. 5 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
billy_anorak59 Posted December 9, 2020 Share Posted December 9, 2020 20 hours ago, JackB95 said: There's finescale, and then there's this. Limescale!! 1 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackB95 Posted December 10, 2020 Share Posted December 10, 2020 On 09/12/2020 at 07:40, billy_anorak59 said: Limescale!! I'll give Barry Scott a call 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Les Green Posted December 11, 2020 Author Popular Post Share Posted December 11, 2020 Another loco completed and ready for Lime Street post lockdown running! 24 1 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Popular Post Steve Hewitt Posted December 23, 2020 RMweb Gold Popular Post Share Posted December 23, 2020 Finished in time for Christmas............ John has completed the "Point Rodding" installation and Galvanising - Grey Primer paint. The farthest from the Signal Box - in Platform 11. Looking back across the Station Throat towards the Signal Box It won't look this pristene when Rob gets his hands on it. Weathering of the Ballasting and Rodding, to blend with the previously completed sectons, will be a priority once travel and meeting are permitted. In the meantime from John and all the Lime Street crew. 38 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ponthir28 Posted December 23, 2020 Share Posted December 23, 2020 I have said it before but that’s just superb. 5 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Popular Post Steve Hewitt Posted February 16, 2021 RMweb Gold Popular Post Share Posted February 16, 2021 On 23/12/2020 at 16:04, Steve Hewitt said: Finished in time for Christmas............ John has completed the "Point Rodding" installation and Galvanising - Grey Primer paint. It won't look this pristene when Rob gets his hands on it. Weathering of the Ballasting and Rodding, to blend with the previously completed sectons, will be a priority once travel and meeting are permitted. What next?.............. John has spent many hours on maintenance works, particularly point motors, and some electrical installations in preparation for other developments........ The extent of the Ballasting and Point Rodding, shown in these photos he has taken during the re-assembly of the layout, shows the size of the "Weathering" task that is unlikely to be tackled until "Lockdown" eases and visitors are permitted. (At least all the Lime Street Crew regulars have now been Jabbed). Without the Roof and Lighting Pelmets - a view not normally possible. The new additional lighting at the rear will increase visibility of the station buildings and the backscene. John's wife, Pauline, has helped him to erect all the baseboards so the layout will shortly be running again and complete apart from the Hotel. Waiting impatiently, Steve. 27 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ponthir28 Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 (edited) I was looking forward to seeing it in Bristol last year. Just hope to see it somewhere in the near future. Edited February 16, 2021 by Ponthir28 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Les Green Posted March 11, 2021 Author Popular Post Share Posted March 11, 2021 It was announced today that our layout of Lime Street Station has won the 2020 Railway Modeller Cup. A big thank you to any of our RmWeb followers that voted for us. 10 1 40 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Steve Hewitt Posted May 23, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 23, 2021 (edited) This weekend the Layout has been taking part in the EM Gauge Society's virtual Spring EXPO. See it here: Enjoy, Steve. Edited May 23, 2021 by Steve Hewitt 9 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leander Posted May 24, 2021 Share Posted May 24, 2021 Didn't he do well! Handled it like an old pro. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Steve Hewitt Posted June 5, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 5, 2021 A little more progress........ John has been working on enhancing the Loco Servicing area of the station. The latest devlopment is a small building/workshop/lamp room????? The model was 3D printed by Les Green, painted and weathered by Rob Harrison and the interior completed by John. He has sent the following information about the lighting and the building's installation. "The first shot shows the footprint of the building, note that it straddles the two baseboards. The far pin is purely for location, and the near pins locate and provide power from the three phase gas supply." I have used veroboard to wire the lights up, two internal ones and one wall lamp on the gable end. They are LEDs, you can see a capacitor on the end of the board to convert the gas effect to an electric light effect. Finally the building in place lit up ! I believe there are a few more deatails to be added, such as a Bike Shed, but no doubt I'll reprort on those as and when. Steve. 12 5 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hodgson Posted June 5, 2021 Share Posted June 5, 2021 Love it. Paint the capacitor red and it will pass for a fire extinguisher! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Steve Hewitt Posted June 24, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 24, 2021 Latest contribution.......... Many years ago I built a DJH 8F kit in 00 gauge for the Blackburn club's "Oxenholme" layout. The layout is now sadly just a memory, so I've converted the 8F to EM gauge and relivieried it into Wartime Black. Here's a little video of it being tested prior to asking Rob to touch up the paintwork and weather it. Steve. 16 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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