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Tor Giffard 2 1951-71 in P4 - North Devon/Cornwall LSWR (former routes)


Torr Giffard LSWR 1951-71

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Aft'noon all,

 

Some progress with the aluminium zig zag concept today. The first step being to create the tool to fold the 4 inch deep strips that will form the zig zag. 2 x 6 inch lengths of 1 inch sq. steel bar were used to sandwich a short length of the 2mm aluminium sheet used for the zig zag. The sq. bars had a 10mm hole drilled through the pair to take an M10 tommy bar of threaded rod, secured with Nylok nuts. This assembly has the beef to withstand a turning motion on the 4 inch deep aluminium whilst it is folded into shape.....

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....clamped into approximate position ready for drilling/machine screwing to the baseframe....

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....once each end of this frame has a similar strengthening attached then I'll repeat the corner propping test to check for improvements over the chassis design of baseframe. If further stiffening is needed then a centre zig zag will be added amidships to each side of the baseframe. One potential advantage to this approach, if it can be made to work, is that once a Templot trackplan has been bonded to a new baseframe surface, the zig zag pattern can be tweaked to avoid areas with e.g. point motors and yet still retain its designed function.

 

Dave

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Aft'noon all,

 

Working on part constructed frames is complicated by being unable to work on the underside whilst the deck is flat on the glass reference surface. Using two identical plastic storage boxes to support the frame and keep it level whilst the first zig zag was fitted was unorthodox but did the trick.... 

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The zig zag stiffening adds considerably to the rigidity of the frame.

 

The end result isn't as neat as it would have been if it had been part of the initial design but isn't bad for a modification....

post-7795-0-77826900-1452960820.jpg

 

To speed up the fitting of similar zig zags to the rest of this frame and to the other frames 10 ready cut sections have been ordered of the right dimensions in 2mm sheet aluminium from 'The Aluminium Warehouse' http://www.aluminiumwarehouse.co.uk/?gclid=CK6Zs5fhrsoCFdZsGwodWOwNbw

 

A bench mounted bender https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/cmf24-sheet-metal-folder/?da=1&TC=GS-051210170&gclid=CMiy2cjirsoCFepz2wodNUwKJg

has also been ordered to give more reliable results with bending the strips into shape.

 

Dave

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Aft'noon all,

 

Sorry to announce that due to an upcoming & enforced spell as church warden at our village church, with the associated commitment, as well as trying to manage monthly holidays with Is due to her health issues....and trying to work full time, something has to give. Therefore, I am scaling back my modelling ambitions to a moderate size end to end P4 layout which will fit into my work room and which I stand a reasonable chance of having something running on fairly soon. Apologies to those who have assisted with TG1 but the run of events over the last year or so make a large P4 layout unrealistic.  I may as well continue this thread as TG2, as the essence of its construction techniques and geographic location/period will be similar.

 

This is the outline sketch for the revised Tor Giffard. Not specifically geographic to any part of North Devon/Cornwall due to the constraints of the workroom (app 15ft x 7ft)....

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....the single track high level route (top left to middle right) isn't linked to the low level route, although the suggestion is that the junction/station is off scene to the right, other than by sharing a split level fiddle traverser/loco turntable unit at the right hand end. The traffic on this route will be similar to that on the North Cornwall route Meldon jnc to Wadebridge....T9 with 3 coaches or 2 coaches with milk tanks/parcel van etc. The low level route main feature will be a Fremington style quay off the single track branchline, similar to the Torrington branch. The quay will feature working china clay stone chutes discharging into a vessel moored at the quay from sheeted HJV/HKV hoppers (or earlier variants), whilst the second berth may be occupied by a coal boat bringing South Wales coal to North Devon/Cornwall for steam locos, or possibly a nearby power station. Two similar cranes to those at Fremington will have grabs fitted to suggest dealing with china clay stone in open wagons, or else unloading the coal boat. Opposite the quay will be a single lead under the high level route embankment to sidings serving a Holman style factory dispatching compressor plant. A hidden two wagon traverser allows loaded/empty conflats/lowfits to appear correctly loaded/empty in each direction. The compressor factory neighbours an Octel plant receiving/dispatching chemicals by rail. Beattie well tanks will arrive from the coastal (bottom left) end of the branch with the china clay traffic, whilst type 2's handle steel plate traffic along the branch for the local shipyard. An occasional Warship or Western will work ballast hoppers for loading at a nearby quarry along the branch. The branch will also have a 2 coach M7 worked passenger service/mixed similar to the Torrington branch. The traversers will be similar to those used by Geoff Kent on his Black Lion Crossing layout although the high level route traversers will also feature 1ft dia. turntables for the tender fitted steam locos. Scenically the essence is cliff-scape running down to the sea.

 

Two man operation will be ideal with left and right hand end operators sending traffic to each other.

 

Templot plan to follow.

 

Dave

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Aft'noon all,

 

Current progress with TG relates to preparing the workroom for the new layout design. The reference bookcase has been halved in height and will now sit beneath the 2 level fiddle traverser at the right hand end of the plan shown above. Less important books/files have gone to the charity shop or been rehomed to make way for the 1st baseframe. The end protector for the shelved storage area will be modified to allow the two single line feeds/egresses to pass through....

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One baseframe is already being modified for use under the split level traverser. One and a half feet will need to be removed from one end to create the four and a half foot frame needed. 18 inch heavy duty ball bearing drawer runners will be used under each traverser level. The current intention is to make it that the top level can be slid either side of the lower level to allow the layout to be operated from either side in an exhibition situation.

 

Innovative space saving solutions are having to be found to rehouse numerous modelling stocks.....here the sliding keyboard rest on the former computer desk has had 'sides' added to contain enamel paints and yet keep them sorted/easily accessible.....

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Rehousing everything is likely to take a few days yet.....after which some modelling can begin.

 

Now that most of the modelling stocks & tools have been re-homed there is space to set up the bender. This proved ideal for bending the 2mm aluminium sheet used for the zig zags which will sit beneath each frame....

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....almost time for modelling to restart....

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Dave

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Evenin' all,

 

Current progress with TG2 relates to modifying a TG1 baseframe to become that for the split level traverser. The frame has been sliced to length (at just over 54 inches it fits nicely twixt wall and end protector for the fitted shelving) and is about to be fitted with the end plate/metal dowels frame connector....

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.....a length of pre-cut 2mm aluminium zig zag strip is ready for a spell on the bender once the dimensions are known on the new frame.....

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.....40cm heavy duty ball bearing drawer runners will allow both levels of the traverser to slide/align any of the 6 roads to the egress/exit track....

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Dave

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.....more baseframe progress today producing the strengthening sections.... 

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....test fitting for dimensional accuracy...the actual assembly will be done on the plate glass reference surface to make sure that all is square....

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....using the first section as a template makes bending to similar angles more straightforward....

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Dave

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Aft'noon all,

 

Speed & accuracy with the bender improve with each strengthening section produced. This morning saw a full set of strengtheners machine screwed to the underside of what will be the split level traverser....

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The deflection measured in the 'prop one corner' test is one centimetre across the four and a half foot frame...i.e. one corner has to raised by that amount before the corner on the same side at the other end of the frame lifts off the plate glass. A dramatic improvement on the chassis style of frame construction. Adding the traverser slides should further stiffen the whole.

 

....with ball bearing runners in place....the traverser deck with mating parts for the runners will fit on top. 1mm PTFE strip will be used as separation twixt the steel alloy runners and aluminium surfaces.

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.....the 1mm thick PTFE strip is hard wearing and of uniform thickness. A heavy duty hole punch is ideal for creating the crisp holes necessary for the 4mm machine screws to pass through cleanly.....  

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....design work on the Templot plan continues....most important just now is to ensure that the overall dimensions and layout shape are right for the room. The grid is 1ft squares. I'm hoping to model the oversailing signalbox of the prototype between the single line and goods loop as well as providing a halt style (a la Meeth Halt) platform on the split level traverser side of the siding passing under the embankment. The village will be Clovelly style sloping steeply down towards the quay from between the high & low level routes with an operating space to the left hand end. Each of the 3 traversers will need to be specifically designed for the space in its allotted corner....

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....steel plate traffic to the (Appledore) shipyard beyond the quay on the low level demands a reverse curve to allow the loaded/unloaded wagons to appear correctly. The reverse curve will be hidden beneath the steeply sloping villagescape. The small traverser at the split level traverser end allows wagons to be transferred to/from the other end of the reverse curve ....

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Dave 

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Evenin' all,

 

A productive day fitting out the lower deck of the split level traverser.....

 

....marking out PTFE strips for punching ready to separate the steel alloy top part of the ball bearing runner from the aluminium deck itself....

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 ....a mock up of the 6 approx track positions pre cork track beds being bonded down/sanded level. Each pair of tracks will have a 1ft traverser on top of the main deck at the far end to allow even the longest locos to be released down the next road. Also, each pair of tracks is planned to have 1 full length train and one part length train....to let the release happen. One of the two different period Beattie well tanks will always be on pilot duty and a pair of small traversers at the entry/exit end of the main deck will allow a well tank to get on the back of an inbound working to propel it back across the 1ft traverser to the buffer stops...allowing the train loco to fit onto the outbound end of the train.....  

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....the deck slides easily throughout its range to allow all 6 track positions to align with the entry/exit track....

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Measuring up the capacity of the main traverser and lengths required for the two small loco run round slide traversers.....a Western (the longest single loco likely on the low level), a Well Tank (the shortest loco type for use as traverser/yard pilot) and 3 Mk1 coaches are easily accommodated....

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Dave

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  • 2 weeks later...

Aft'noon all,

 

Current progress relates to the small 'well tank' traverser of which there will be 3 locations for 1 or 2 of these on the low level of the main traverser....design & build in progress.

 

Clamping the PTFE track base flat whilst the Evo Stik sets.....

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.....testing for size....an Ultrascale P4 converted well tank sits within the tiny traverser....

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Good to welcome members of the Scalefour Soc. Crewe area group on Sunday 14th Feb....an enjoyable session of discussing progress with TG; sharing a discussion of new models & tools and watching a couple of railway DVDs together.  

 

Dave

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  • 2 weeks later...

Evenin' all,

 

A busy session fitting out the lower level of the split level traverser today....all legs assembled & fitted and the adjustable legs used to level the deck. The traverser is now in its intended position waiting for the upper level to be assembled and machine screwed into position....

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In fully extended mode there is just enough space to stand between the traverser & the bookcase opposite. The first 4 lengths of C&L straight section cork strip are now bonded into position. Once a third layer of cork is bonded down on top and the bigger of the two loco traversers fitted in position (nearer end) then the PTFE and cork surfaces will be sanded level across the full length of the traverser....

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The first freight stock for TG2 is already partly constructed and will be completed once the first trackwork is laid ready to serve the Octel private sdg off the scenic section of the layout. The first passenger stock is likely to be an AC railcar (Heljan) forming the last passenger workings along the low level branch (mid 1960s) before it became freight only. Replacement P4 12mm dia. wheelsets from Black Beetle/Branchlines await the transfer of gearing from the OO model. Destination blinds will be all white as seen on the Bodmin services whilst the passengers will come from the Preiser seated people sets imported from the U.S.....

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A range of tasks will be undertaken on this railcar in order to prepare it for TG2:

Destination blinds removed by taking out the overthick glazing and discarding the blinds....I've not seen north Cornish destinations on the blinds in any pictures of these vehicles, just the white end of blind displayed. I then opted to paint white primer across the aforementioned glazing. Once dry a coat of matt varnish should give the impression of a white blind behind glass. The two pieces will then be replaced on the railcar.

 

The traverser deck pictured above will now be used for a range of experiments re how best to secure the track to the cork/aluminium sheet deck. Needing to sand the cork flat/level with the PTFE either side means that the cork has to be secured to the aluminium. That said, I have a feeling that the section which has the cork bonded to the aluminium sheet already is going to struggle with having holes drilled through it to house the brass ento pin/silcon tube....the dried Evo-Stik may tend to wrap around the drill bit.

Experiment 2 will see the twin Templot track prints bonded to the aluminium sheet first using an aerosol glue. The pin/tube holes will then be drilled before the cork is bonded to the aluminium sheet through holes in the Templot print.

 

Dave

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Aft'noon all,

 

Experiment 2 with the pre-drilled holes in the traverser deck and cork sections bonded on afterwards is now in isolation in the workroom with the Evo Stik drying and the door closed to keep the fumes from the rest of the house. Pictures to come. Next came the P4 conversion of the AC railcar.....

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Weathering will include repainting the roof in a lined/mottled darker grey shade....not many trips through the carriage washer for these vehicles and certainly not to wash the roof. The ends of the roof around the destination blind went unwashed too with various track dirt/brown shades accumulating here. Similar along the skirt at the bottom of the bodyside. All shiny bits around the underframe will be toned down too. The windscreen wipers will have to be adjusted too as they sit right in the middle of the drivers field of view.

 

....crucial to have all feet on the floor in P4 and plate glass is a good surface to check that on....

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....the task of P4ing this vehicle was made unnecessarily difficult by Heljans failure to incorporate space for P4 wheelsets in the underframe at the design stage. Taking a disc cutter to a brand new model and thinning running gear from behind/grinding an arc into the cast underframe to allow space for the wheel rim/prevent shorting is 1990s modelling....wake up Heljan. I now have to cosmetically repair several components touched accidentally with the cutting disc, also several components were vibrated loose at this stage and await refitting. The brake shoes will be reattached once they have been widened/lengthened to fit the new gauge. 3 of the six threaded holes for the screws retaining the wheelset keeper plates had been stripped by overtightening screws at the Heljan factory....more misery. The pictures above show the model immediately after conversion once a proving run had tested the pick ups/motion/absence of shorting. The brass washers limit sideplay along the P4 axle width. The destination blinds are still awaiting a matt varnish layer to replicate the glass.

 

Glazing alterations will show most of the sliding toplights open and the fully closed drivers droplight windows altered to fully open/limit of travel. A BR taillamp from Springside will be fitted at the rear....each traverser will have an associated 1ft turntable so turning the railcar won't be an issue.

 

Braving the fumes in the workroom. The NWSL guillotine is ideal for chopping the straight lengths of C&L cork (nice square ends) to fit between the pre-drilled holes. Flipping the strip over allows the cut to be completed cleanly. The cork pieces are well weighted with solid square bar to keep them flat. The varying lengths between ento pin fastenings are to test how frequent the fastenings need to be to keep the track rigid. A new narrow levelling/averaging sledge is being created using a 1m spirit level...

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The token railtour on TG2 'The Devonian' will be the end bit of a 1960 Waterloo to Ilfracombe double headed type 2 thrash along the old LSWR main line behind two of the then Southern region allocated 24s.....some of the 1960s enthusiasts must have welcomed diesels. Dividing at Barnstaple most of the train went to Ilfracombe behind the 2nd loco but 3 of the Bulleid coaches continued to Tor Giffard quay behind D5000 (SLW launch model...D5000 had no small yellow panel at this date, the loco was allocated to the Southern region and the 5th bodyside grille had been added in 1959)....plenty of work to do yet but here is a mock up of the 24 with its headboard.... 

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Dave   

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Aft'noon all,

 

Another session with the NWSL chopper this morning creating the cork strip sections to bond between the ento pin/silicon tube locations on the traverser. Once the sections were glued & weighted down it was time to shut the door on the fumes and wait for it to cure.

 

As seen on the avatar a Springside BR oil tail-lamp has been prototypically added to what will be the rear of the AC railcar.

 

Moving into the superb sunlight available in the conservatory it was time to remove the upper body of the railcar and start work on the interior. The worksheet published by the EMGS described the stages of the job step by step and the upper body was soon eased away from the rest....
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post-7795-0-47115600-1456417612.jpg

 

....the usual birds eye view of model railways highlights how much attention modellers pay to the prototypical appearance of the rooves of vehicles/buildings etc very quickly. I have around half a dozen good close up colour pictures of the AC railcars and all suggest that cleaning stopped at cant rail height....probably because that was where the carriage washer or long handled brush reached to. The grey section part of the model railcar roof has therefore been primed ready to receive a weathered grey shade in keeping with how the cab roof area around the destination blind is seen in the above pictures. When painting models I work on the basis that if I can't see through the layer of paint applied then I've put too much on/haven't thinned the paint sufficiently ..... 

post-7795-0-86183500-1456417592.jpg

 

....the human complement of the railcar comprises the driver, the guard and four passengers: the slouching youth is on his way to his dentist in Halwill and is far too preoccupied with the impending visit to the chair to pay attention to the young female reading her book. Also in the railcar today are an older lady on a shopping trip to town and a similar aged gent going to collect his car from repairs at the garage. The lack of depth twixt seat bottom and floor means that they are all amputees. All figures are in the early stages of priming/shade altering and come from one of three Preiser unpainted/seated figures packs. The driver is probably from a Bachmann RTR diesel ....  

post-7795-0-09296000-1456417575.jpg

 

A trawl of internet based pictures of the AC railcars inc. preserved examples shows that the interior was mainly a pale formica style surface or else orangey/red leather/upholstered seats. The drivers desks were black with silver controls.

 

Dave

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Aft'noon all,

 

Another session with the NWSL chopper this morning creating the cork strip sections to bond between the ento pin/silicon tube locations on the traverser. Once the sections were glued & weighted down it was time to shut the door on the fumes and wait for it to cure.

 

As seen on the avatar a Springside BR oil tail-lamp has been prototypically added to what will be the rear of the AC railcar.

 

Moving into the superb sunlight available in the conservatory it was time to remove the upper body of the railcar and start work on the interior. The worksheet published by the EMGS described the stages of the job step by step and the upper body was soon eased away from the rest....

attachicon.gifP10206561.JPG

 

attachicon.gifP10206571.JPG

 

....the usual birds eye view of model railways highlights how much attention modellers pay to the prototypical appearance of the rooves of vehicles/buildings etc very quickly. I have around half a dozen good close up colour pictures of the AC railcars and all suggest that cleaning stopped at cant rail height....probably because that was where the carriage washer or long handled brush reached to. The grey section part of the model railcar roof has therefore been primed ready to receive a weathered grey shade in keeping with how the cab roof area around the destination blind is seen in the above pictures. When painting models I work on the basis that if I can't see through the layer of paint applied then I've put too much on/haven't thinned the paint sufficiently ..... 

attachicon.gifP10206591.JPG

 

....the human complement of the railcar comprises the driver, the guard and four passengers: the slouching youth is on his way to his dentist in Halwill and is far too preoccupied with the impending visit to the chair to pay attention to the young female reading her book. Also in the railcar today are an older lady on a shopping trip to town and a similar aged gent going to collect his car from repairs at the garage. The lack of depth twixt seat bottom and floor means that they are all amputees. All figures are in the early stages of priming/shade altering and come from one of three Preiser unpainted/seated figures packs. The driver is probably from a Bachmann RTR diesel ....  

attachicon.gifP10206611.JPG

 

A trawl of internet based pictures of the AC railcars inc. preserved examples shows that the interior was mainly a pale formica style surface or else orangey/red leather/upholstered seats. The drivers desks were black with silver controls.

 

Dave

Good luck putting it back together - especially the steps and handrails.

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Aft'noon all,

 

Another session with the cork strip and Evo Stik left to cure in the workroom...with the door shut....whilst an AC railcar interior decoration session got underway in the conservatory..... 

post-7795-0-22904900-1456500956.jpg

 

...originally the guard was the seated figure nearer the doors but appeared too casual (became an off duty railwayman travelling passenger) so a standing figure was added in the vicinity of the doors which gives the impression that the guard is checking tickets or else preparing for an approaching station stop....

 

....the floor has been painted pale brown as per the colour pictures discovered to date, whilst the uprights have been shaded pale green as per the same source pictures....

post-7795-0-26527300-1456500942.jpg

 

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post-7795-0-56788700-1456500918.jpg

 

Dave

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Aft'noon all,

 

More cork strip pieces bonded down on the traverser then it was into the conservatory for a little toning down of the exterior of the railcar....

 

...a few views of the early stages....

post-7795-0-97226300-1456576345.jpg

...the brass washers spacing the P4 wheels have been toned down with a marker pen to avoid paint build up affecting the running of the railcar.

 

post-7795-0-02697000-1456576333.jpg

 

post-7795-0-29786400-1456576322.jpg

....my preferred approach is numerous very thin coats of suitable track dirt shades applied with a range of techniques. Sponge with small holes is ideal for the spattled distribution of track dirt around the lower body/underframe area...just a light brush of paint onto the edge of the sponge with a paintbush and dab along the bodywork....this effect can be made more complex with two or three different shades consecutively applied. Studying a few good, colour close ups of the relevant prototype soon shows how weathering patterns were usually specific to individual types.

 

post-7795-0-88006100-1456576311.jpg

.....the Duck tape is to prevent damage to neighbouring glazing areas whilst a variety of open/closed & half/half situations is created with the railcar windows.

 

....artists dimple pallettes are ideal for keeping a range of shades available whilst weathering...

post-7795-0-90268000-1456577395.jpg

 

Threatening noises from higher management about improving weather conditions and the start of the conservatory season for its intended purpose (means dismantling the large workbench used for levelling baseframes) at Easter (end of March) forced a review today of the work necessary (using the plate glass topped workbench, in the aforementioned) to prepare baseframes 2 & 3 for installation in their intended positions in the workroom. Baseframe 2 is the 3ft length sliced from an existing TG1 frame....needs the zig zag strengtheners fabricating/fitting along with fitting the sector plates. Baseframe 3 is also a former TG1 frame which requires zig zag strengtheners fabricating /fitting.

 

Roads 1 & 2 on the lower level of the split level traverser now have all cork sections in place/curing but need baseframe 2 to be levelled in its intended position before the averaging sledge can do its work to prepare the trackbed for the track to be laid....

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....there is around half a millimetre between the surface of the PTFE and that of the cork....

post-7795-0-37581900-1456667688.jpg

 

Dave 

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Evenin' all,

 

Some progress with the sector plates for baseframes 1, 2 & 3 today as well as preparing baseframe 2/checking to ensure that point motor positions aren't affected by underframe strengthening.... 

 

....securing the sector plate to the end of the traverser lower level whilst checking that all is square....

post-7795-0-54034300-1456768343.jpg

 

post-7795-0-94078800-1456768330.jpg

 

....positioning the Templot print relative to the entrance to the traverser. Sector plate & zig zag strengthening yet to be fitted to baseframe 2 ...

post-7795-0-71302600-1456768304.jpg

 

.....the short length of track nearest the traverser will be the hidey hole for the traverser pilot (Well tank) ready to drop onto the back of an arriving train.....

post-7795-0-61028700-1456768294.jpg

 

....slight modifications to the Templot plan for TG2

post-7795-0-30951900-1456769325.png

 

Dave

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Evenin' all,

 

A short session on a short baseframe today...No2 now has its sector plates fitted (need checking for vertical squareness) and awaits its zig zag strengthening....

post-7795-0-91968300-1456857046.jpg

....the Templot prints for this section will be perforated before being bonded to the baseframe surface with aerosol adhesive to ensure that the Evo Stik can grab the aluminium (more paint to sand off first) through the prints.

 

Dave

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Evenin' all,

 

Todays progress has included a spell with the bender fabricating the zig zag strengthening sections for baseframe 2. These have now been machine screwed into position and the sector plates reattached once all was flat/level on the plate glass surface....

post-7795-0-64641000-1457462771.jpg

 

....two Tortoise point motor locations have been marked on the underside of the aluminium deck and the zig zag strengthening sections adapted to avoid where the point motors will be....

post-7795-0-72428800-1457462783.jpg

 

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Dave

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  • 2 weeks later...

Aft'noon all,

 

With the nice weather recently I'm warned by SWMBO that the return of the conservatory to its design function is imminent. With this in mind I've finished off the work on baseframe 2 today, requiring the use of the plate glass reference surface on the large workbench.....

 

Some of the 2" aluminium angle is a true 90 degrees and machine screws to the end of its baseframe at 90 degrees relative to the glass reference surface, whilst other L sections need to have a degree of adjustment built in so that the important perpendicular jointing face on the sector plates is achieved....

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....acheiving the important perpendicular across the 2' sector plate width....

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....a spaced inboard L section with machine screws at 2-3 inch gaps is sufficient to provide the adjustment to bring the sector plate face into square.....

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....the reward of ensuring that each sector plate jointing face is perpendicular.....a good close fit to neighbouring baseframes with little or no gap. The PTFE layer will be machine screwed at the corners on the non scenic frame sections to guard against snagging/being pulled off of its sector plate top....

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....a set of extended leg supports to produce now for baseframe 2...with 2 weeks of afternoon shifts approaching I'm looking at/negotiating the chance of adapting the remaining TG1 frame into the main wharf scenic section frame.....it is then on to bonding down the cork track bases ready for levelling/tracklaying....

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Dave

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Mornin' all,

 

Some work with the track base positioning Templot print this morning.....3M aerosol 'Photo mount' was used to grab/stick down the print but plenty of triangles were sliced through the print to ensure that the Evo-Stik holding down the cork track base sections can get good purchase on the deck of the baseframe....

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.....a screen grab print of the overall Templot layout design/grid helps with ensuring that the angle of the main wharfside baseframe is correct relative to the split level traverser when the remaining TG1 baseframe is sliced ready for use on TG2.... 

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.....once the holes have been drilled for the Ento pin/silicon tube assemblies to hold down the track then the cork bases will be bonded to the deck of the baseframe....

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Dave

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Mornin' all,

 

Just a short session available today, allowing a new shape of PTFE sector plate top track base to be trialled, several are bonded in position/weighted down whilst the Evo Stik sets.....

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....the design is easy to lengthen for areas where multiple tracks cross the sector plate and should be resistant to being snagged/pulled off the sector plate due to its rounded corners.

 

Dave

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Mornin' all,

 

A session planning how to best orientate the main wharfside baseframe Templot plan/mark out the lines for slicing the frame ends this morning....

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....there are various point motor positions to allow for on this frame as well as the profile of the dock edge to consider. Fortunately, 'The Torrington Line' by 'The Irwell Press' contains useful close up images of Fremington quay from various angles. The track with the Grafton steam cranes (not shown on the Templot print) is right on the dock edge and space must be allowed for the cranes to rotate on their own axis without striking any adjacent railway wagons.

 

An unexpected find in the IP book was that the trackwork for the Grafton cranes was not only of the same gauge as the sidings but was connected by pointwork to same, also that the cranes were photographed in positions around the sidings....suggesting other than immediate dockside usage. This led to modifications to the Templot trackplan for the quay to reflect this. The cranes on the model will be static so the pointwork which would have allowed them into the other sdgs will be non-functioning and is ideal as the first crossover to build/practice on. The frame has now been sliced/altered to fit the Templot plan. The alterations to the dock edge profile will be done once the Templot plan has been bonded to the deck of the frame in the correct position.....

 

....the line nearest the bottom of the scan is the immediate dockside sdg which the two scratchbuilt cranes will stand on. The pointwork connecting the sdg to the others will be non-functioning and therefore ideal to practice on. The gap between the sdgs and the single track main line will be occupied by a wooden goods platform to allow vans etc to offload sacks of clay etc ready for the cranes to hoist them onto a waiting vessel. The oversailing signal box will be at the left hand end of this platform. The wooden passenger halt with shelter will be on the other side of the single line....

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Tor Giffard (TG) 2 features a Fremington style quay mainly used to export clay/import power station & Exmouth jnc steam loco coal. Trip workings from Exeter via Barnstaple reverse in the run round at TG and head down the branch to the shipyard sdgs, Associated Octel, the Power station or else the China clay works. The clay works is served by Beattie well tanks due to the tight curvature/low RA of the route. Heavy gradients on the branch & moderate runround facilities at TG limit train lengths. Sdgs for Compair compressors & the local dairy can also be found at TG. The Halwill to Okehampton route passes along a high embankment in the background and features North Cornwall passenger trains/freight traffic inc. stone quarry traffic. The junction layout at Halwill favours freight traffic for Exeter returning via Barnstaple.....some through traffic from the Halwill end travels via Barnstaple to Exeter.....

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....the aim is to provide an interesting operating scenario on TG with a range of movements/traffics.

 

With baseframe 3 sliced to the correct shape attention turned to ensuring that the 7 point motor positions (two points unpowered, making 9 in total) were unimpeded by the frame strengtheners. Two of the four needed repositioning before the zig zag strengtheners were formed/fitted.....

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....adjusting the position of two of the strengthening longitudinals has created a need for more diversity in the shape/size of the zig zag stabilizers. A bit of practice with the bender is however paying off in terms of the rate at which the job is being done. The weighting is to keep the deck flat to the plate glass whilst the strengthening sections are fitted.....

 

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Dave

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