Upbech St Mary, Upbech Drove and Pott Row a journey through 00 and then into EM and 009.

[Calidore]

Hi Martyn, haven't had time to browse much recently so missed this one, but what a lovely project it is. The ground work is fantastic -- I'll look forward to keeping up from now on.

 

Adam

[mullie]

A secret weapon on the layout is a cassette specifically designed to aid shunting. After the train has gone onto the layout this cassette is inserted, at one end it has an S&W magnet and at the other 4 small magnets suitable for use with Kadees. This cassette can effect delayed uncoupling for most shunting moves meaning operation is largely hands free.

 

 

 

The layout now has the wood in place for the back scene, once I take delivery of a new glue gun the artist mounting board will be installed.

[mullie]

Back scene was added last night so scenic detailing can begin. Here are some shots of the effect it has.

 

 

 

[mullie]

Also available in black and white.

 

 

 

[mullie]

So this is where we are up to, this is what you see in the garage.

 

 

Here are some overall views with the other Coopercraft lorry on scene. The silver marks on the point are where I have adjusted some tight spots revealed by the J39, kit built chassis are far less forgiving.

 

 

 

A very basic mpd, the water tower doesn't lean, not sure why that has happened?

 

 

Both buildings on the layout are Wills kits which is a bit of a surprise as I mainly scratch build buildings.

[mullie]

Being quite productive at the moment. I found the Claud today and all the bits to fit some Gibson wheels for its conversion to EM. I don't like to have too many things on the go as I have restricted time so with the scenic side of the layout substantially completed felt I needed to get the J39 finished as well. Here it is back on the work bench for fitting of sand pipes cut off the Bachmann chassis and balance weights cut from plasticard using an Olfa cutter.

 

 

Reference photos from Yeadon were used for positioning. The Claud is too big for this layout and really belongs on the planned extension that I want to start after the layout's debut at Taunton.

[mullie]

Nothing to see here!

 

[Stubby47]

17 hours ago, mullie said:

the layout's debut at Taunton.

 

Really looking forward to seeing it.

[mullie]

The line has limped on until the early 60s and like the Stoke Ferry branch has survived due to the sugar beet traffic though currently bagged content is dispatched by rail, the raw beet arrives by road. Or to put it another way I don't have a 1960s beet train built yet.

 

 

 

The 1960s stock is very basic at the moment and will be detailed and added to in the future.

[mullie]

Wagons waiting at Upbech during the 1960s, the blue wagon suggests post 1965.

 

 

 

i don't find the Kadee's obtrusive in these photos.

[mullie]

Some arty shots

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Claud has been started, the tender has EM wheel sets and the loco drivers have crankpins and balance weights. The LMS brake van has a new roof and I have removed the moulded handrails but nothing worthy of a photo yet. I think the 60s rtr wagons will get new wheel sets soon and some of the Kadees really should be fettled. They are generally reliable but as they are not used that often it is simply a job I haven't yet done. Mainly an issue of finalising coupling height using the gauge.

[NHY 581]

We do like arty farty. 

 

Rob. 

[wiggoforgold]

I always look forward to seeing progress here. It will be good to see it in the flesh at Taunton.

Alex

[Oldddudders]

I hope to be there, and Martyn's presence with this is another inducement. 

[NHY 581]

I shall look forward to seeing you OD. 

In fact it's looking to be a proper chums day out. 

 

 

Rob. 

[mullie]

Better check it has something to stand on! Since Rickett Street was dismantled the frame work and legs haven't been used.

 

Thanks for the encouragement everyone.

[mullie]

Bit more progress on the Claud, tender has a set of Gibson wheels.

 

 

Loco chassis in the Peco servicing cradle, this is the stage before the sand pipes and driving wheel set have been removed.

 

 

No going back now, wheel set removed and with the axle and spacers recovered from the discarded Hornby wheels this photo shows the Gibson axle being measured for fitting of the gear wheel.

 

 

The sharpie is used to mark the gear wheel position. The gear wheel has been put on the axle and fixed with superglue. The instructions say it should be a friction fit but I also found with the J15 that the ft is not tight enough on the axle. Next job, fit and quarter the driving wheels and bush the coupling rods to reduce the size of the crankpin holes.

 

 

[hayfield]

A very informative bit of modelling for those of us who have decided to model in EM gauge, thanks

[mullie]

Found some shots of the line in its final years with declining traffic. Small shunters were not widely used on branch lines in Norfolk because of the loads and distances involved.

 

 

 

I need to re secure the name board. In other news Gibson bushes have been fitted to the coupling rods to enable Gibson crankpins to be used, a simple job with flux and solder. Hopefully fit the driving wheels to their axles during next week.

 

 

 

 

[mullie]

Steam has returned to Upbech.

 

 

The trams are on the hit list to be upgraded later this year as by modern standards they are basic but work well.

 

[mullie]

More developments with the Claud,  driving wheels are on with balance weights, crankpins and coupling rods fitted.

 

 

Bogie with new wheels, quartering jig used on the drivers in the background.

 

 

Loco seen on the rolling road minus tender.

 

 

Here is the final product being tested on the layout. The loco ran well but seems lighter on its feet than with the Hornby wheels so I think I will need to add some weight over the drivers or look into using the tender to add traction.

 

 

However, work still to do but considering the loco has been in its box for nearly two years it has run well.

 

 

Edited March 6, 2020 by mullie

[mullie]

Starting to get things in place for the debut exhibition I needed something to put the layout on. My Rickett Street set up wasn't going to work for a public setting so I found a pair of these on Ebay and assembled them today. Small when folded and nice and light. Buying these was cheaper than concocting something with wood and avoids my wayward sawing!

 

 

 

[dj_crisp]

The stands look great. I'm rather tempted to try some myself too.

[Stubby47]

I use these, as do several other exhibitors.

 

Don't forget to turn the end stops up.

 

The chains rattle in the car, so I've replaced one set with thin, dinghy-type cord.

[manna]

G'Day Folks

 

For a moment there I thought it was you 'New' walker.................

 

manna