Great West Road - transfers & I’m not talking football!

[southern42]

Andy, thanks for your post.

The print out is of a drawing for a freight item.   I spent today cutting out and assembling the multilayered parts.  Just a finishing job to do on it tomorrow, then I will put up a photo.

Hope you can stand the suspense.      

 

Polly

[southern42]

TA - DAH...!

 

 

 

 

Next trial will be to make a container using a cutting machine.  That should be fun!

 

On the model above, the bracing is just stuck on card top to bottom.

On the prototype, the bracing holds a container with angled corners.  The idea is to prevent rubbish inside getting stuck in the corners (so I read, somewhere).  On the outside, it means you can see daylight along the top and bottom edges.  There are quite a few details left off the model but I could not resist adding the Transport Avenue, Brentford "West Waste" label - just so we know! 

 

Underneath, on the yellow bin liner, were DB Schenker ex-EWS FCA container flats still in EWS livery.  The forthcoming Bachmann FFA/FGAs are too early, and the FEA-Cs were used on Freightliner Heavy Haul domestic waste service (the green bin liner). [Then there are the Hattons forthcoming FEA-E/S.  A suitable alternative to the FCAs, possibly, or are there some FCAs looming on somebody's forthcoming releases?  I wish!]

 

Some examples of West London Waste containers I used for reference: https://ukrailwaypics.smugmug.com/The-Humble-Box/Non-BIC-coded-bulk-containers/Waste-Containers-Binliner-West/

 

 

Thanks for looking in and for your comments and ratings.  Very much appreciated.

 

[southern42]

FEAs.  I have just checked these out.
The FEA, a spine-type design with the container mounting points carried on substantial outriggers
EXCEPT
the Freightliner FEA-C which is quite different having smaller headstocks and continuous solebars.
(LTSV Wagons, Profile 51 http://www.ltsv.com/w_profile_051.php)
 

 

But for now, link to some pics of the FCA bogie container flats needed for a Brentford binliner:  http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/ewsfca

 

 

Currently, working out what I need to do to make the containers using the cutter.  It may take some time but I will report on progress.

[southern42]

Hi all, just to wish you all a Merry Christmas.

 

New to Great West Road is its own Toad, with Southall number, recently outshopped from Grimy Times. 

 

 

[Andrew P]

And a very Merry Festive greetings to you and Ray.

 

Hope to see you in 2019. 

 

Watch out for BALA!

[ChrisN]

All the best to both of you, have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

[southern42]

Happy New Year

2019

BLWYDDYN NEWYDD DDA

 

 

Some photos to welcome in the New Year.

 

These show a job in progress with Great West Road's Toad and the Peckett, on their first turn of duty, returning to Reading out of Snow Valley Station after delivering tins of Christmas Biscuits for the Parish Christmas Bazaar.  I believe the biscuits sold out like hot cakes!

 

 

 

Now, do come straight home...

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/c6/f1/b5/c6f1b5cfb3338104a01726f6fc27488e--christmas-biscuits-christmas-ad.jpg

 

and don't drop the biscuits...

http://www.historyworld.co.uk/images/retro41.jpg

 

...if you don't want Santa to fill your stocking with COAL...!

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/43/fa/f4/43faf4727f391826c6accc6cc62caa01--s-christmas-vintage-christmas.jpg

 

Now, that gives me an idea for next year - replicate some of those tins of biscuits for the wagon!  Tin dimensions, anyone?

 

Other arrivals, begging for work on GWRd, turned up, the other day, direct from a newsstand at Euston Station.  You know the ones, something to do with BRM staff and 3D printing.

Ah ha!  I thought.

Oh, no!  I muttered when we got home.

It's the wrong trousers, Gromit!  Wallace piped up.

The driver and fireman don't fit in the H&P loco cab.  They are too tall.

Ah, you say.  That is why the driver is standing by the H&P loco in the magazine and the fireman is hiding in the background.

Oh, well! I decided, I will have to find them another job to do!  On a preserved King, perhaps.  And the other two standing on the footbridge capturing night departures or reporting on mainline steam operation for the modeller.

 

Meanwhile, the search for a loco crew for the Peckett W4 goes on.  An industrial driver was interviewed but realistically, and not wishing to be nonPC, although he is short enough, he is not thin enough to get in the cab.  His application was turned down with a promise to upgrade him to something a bit bigger!

Oh, no! He said.  Not the 4W DIESEL!

 

 

Work to do on Snow Village include:

Making a deck for it to stand on with space below to hide the wiring;

Adding track to the viaduct (laser cut kit from local supplier, Torri Laser) which was built some time ago and painted Christmas Day*; ballasting and extending, etc....  Next December, then.

* Well you have got to do something when the TV is banned!  

 

Hopes for construction of GWRd are giving way to a new rival railway (sounds rather prototypical, that!), i.e., an exhibition layout but, hopefully, things will carry on here as well.  There are still lots of small projects to do...and new tools and materials to try out...

 

Just keep me motivated.  

 

 

Lastly, did you spot the New Year Quiz question?  Answers, much appreciated.

 

Thanks and all the best for 2019.  Keep chuffing.

 

[ChrisN]

Polly,

Mikkel has on occasions used Preiser HO people as they are small enough to fit in cabs and they are not near anyone else so you do not notice how small they are.

[southern42]

Thanks, Chris. I used HO figures towards the back of CQ to give a sense of distance, Preiser and Bachmann.

 

For the Peckett, I am considering using figures by Pete Goss as I have 6 sets of crew waiting to be used.  Care will be needed to place the driver as the hand brake sits at the rear of the cab between the regulator lever and the reversing lever.  One false move and....I best not think about it.  The fireman will only need a short handled shovel so a bit of shortening might be done or long handled shovel converted to broom!

Edited January 15, 2019 by southern42

[southern42]

Well, it is time to try out some of my Christmas presies:  coloured pencils, dust free eraser and pencil sharpener; Rotring ink; and Gyro-Cut value pack from Harvey Models.  The pack came with cutting tool, cutting guide, A4 cutting mat, sticky mat adhesive, and spare blades.  I came across the cutting tool on the web and then saw a demo of it at Warley which confirmed its place on my wishlist.

 

 

I started with the Gyro-Cut cutting tool. 

 

 

My first cut used the cutting guide on the card sheet that came with BRM February 2019.  I simply cut off the bottom.  This required several cuts as I expected and I made heavy weather of it.  Then I cut out the picture above.  The first cut was with the cutting guide, then I went round anticlockwise freehand.  The left-hand edge was the cleanest.  I was getting the hang of it.  The key is to cut with the point of the blade and keep the blade upright, so says the instructions.

 

 

I will carry on cutting up the rest of the card and see what I can do/achieve.  Tempting, are a set of figures.  They are at the top of the card so I should have gained a bit more skill before having a go on them.  

 

 

The tool can be used on plastic sheet - buildings and other structures come to mind.

 

[southern42]

One of the little staffing projects got off the ground today.

 

Eventually, I got the glue to ease its way, reluctantly, out of the bottle to stick the Team on some wooden stirrers.

 

Removed from the sprue, cleaned up - but don't look too closely  -  primed and the Team is ready for some colour.

 

 

The February Four

 

Waiting for the paint to dry...

Edited January 18, 2019 by southern42

[southern42]

I had intended to start painting the figures, today, but decided to do some detailing first.

One figure took a couple of hours. That was the difficult one.  One more thing to add after painting.

Other bits of detailing should be a bit easier - I hope. 

[southern42]

As I said, I wanted to do some more detailing on the figures.

Yesterday, after several attempts, the driver acquired a driver's hat which replaces the cap - in imitation of the driver in this H&P photo: https://www.Hornby.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/832-peckett1.jpg

 

The fireman will retain his cap - as in the photo - but, since his tour of duty is set in midwinter, he will keep his jacket on.

 

 

A bit more detailing planned before I start painting.

 

Many thanks for your "likes", much appreciated.  

 

[southern42]

Continuing with detailing elements, I downloaded a couple of photos I took of the side and top of a Huntley&Palmers biscuit tin I bought with a gift voucher.

I printed out a plan of the tin and pasted the cut-out onto a small 4mm square block of moulded blutack.  Approx size representing a 12" square tin (more ye olde shoppe size).

My tin is 6" square which scaled down is 2mm square from the printing point of view. I will try 3mm (9" tin) first (below) - 2mm maybe too insignificant.

 

Edited January 28, 2019 by southern42

[southern42]

So, on with the biscuit tin.

 

Over the last few days, I made a shallow 3mm square tin - though not exactly square!
This time, instead of blutack, I used the 4mm square clay block I made earlier which had dried out and hardened.  It took a few attempts to cut off a shallow section to be happy that it might work.
Because the clay tended to crumble when sliced, I decided to carve the "tin" out of it, first, using a scalpel to scrape off the clay so that it was (approx.) 3mm square-ish.
Then, before slicing it off, I tacky glued a 3mm plan over it and cut it off on the slant so that it will protrude out of the knapsack  - the old word for it...

 

Oh dear!  Now, this comes to mind:

I love to go a-wandering,
Along the mountain track,
And as I go, I love to sing,
my knapsack on my back.

Val-deri, Val-dera, Val-deri,
Val-dera-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha
Val-deri, Val-dera.
My knapsack on my back.

Florenz Friedrich Sigismund (1788-1857)

Music: Friedrich-Wilhelm Möller / Words adapted by Edith Möller (late 40s-50s)
26 non-consecutive weeks in the charts (Top 12), and popular in the Scouts, I gather!

 

OK, back to business!
Close up view of the tin

 

and closer to actual size!

 

I have just got one more piece of detailing to do.
My feeling is that since three of the Feb Four have had little extras added, the fourth must have something as well...
I mean, can you imagine the heartache back in the BRM office if one of them has been left out? 

OK, it is cold out and the fireman's jacket looks a bit thin...

Sorted!

Now, ready to paint.

 

And to play us out...

 

[southern42]

So, at last, the FEB FOUR and two biscuit tins find a job to do...

starring in the Cake Box Challenge 2019 Round One - Waiting for the Train

 

My entry, "LASER CUTTING," started with a block of insulation foam, a spare bit of track, some remnant laser-cut MDF railings, and some snow-making products.  Its connection with Great West Road is the appearance of the Great West Road brakevan (with tail lamp) at the rear of the Snow Train which runs through after the track has been cleared by railway workers.

 

This photo is not on the BRM Challenge entry but does show the tail lamp nicely!  You may also notice that the driver's hat is a size too big or so.

 

The scene came from the Geoffrey Jones film, SNOW (see below)

Bridge scene @ 0.34 and 1.23 

Brakevan coming into view @ 1.40;

View from inside the brakevan @1.42

Coming into view @ 1.54-2.00.

 

Could I get a pannier tank with snow plough as well as the brakevan in the cutting?  There might be a few gauging issues as there were with the brakevan before I cut away even more snow!  Maybe, I will try it when next Christmas comes around!

 

You can find "LASER CUTTING"  HERE on the BRM Cake Box Challenge 2019: Round 1 - List of entries.

Your VOTE would be much appreciated  

 

And special thanks to Phil for adding my late entry to the list.

 

 

 

[southern42]

Happy Boxing Day

Hope you had a good Christmas Day

 

Santa has been more than generous, this year.  A Class 66 in the stocking!  And just in time for collecting the Christmas refuse!

 

66005 was one of the Class to haul the containers for West London Waste from Brentford. So, sorting out some FCA's or look-a-likes is the next job.

 

But, in the meantime, there are more urgent things to tackle, like the Christmas cake... the loco stepping in because I used my other Christmas decoration, a circle of fir cones and holly, on my Bowler hat on the lead up to Christmas on the Conwy Valley Railway.

 

The tree is right back in the corner because it comes with a short cable to a battery holder, empty this year as the tree looks an awful lot better unlit. 

Enjoy the rest of the season's festivities.

Keep playing trains.

______________

Chuffing along

Best wishes

Polly

Edited December 27, 2019 by southern42
Seeing double!

[Andrew P]

Hi Polly, Merry Christmas to you and Ray. It's good to see you posting on here again, how is the Track laying going on both this venture and Ray's new project?

 

Missed you at Manchester as I didn't get there, but I hope to get to Stafford and that will probably be my last major Show up around here before I move back to Amp Sher in the New Year, I hope.

[Barry O]

Hope you and Ray had a great Christmas Polly... although that wagon and loco both look a bit clean!

 

baz

[southern42]

' Morning all.

 

23 hours ago, Andrew P said:

Hi Polly, Merry Christmas to you and Ray. It's good to see you posting on here again, how is the Track laying going on both this venture and Ray's new project?

 

Missed you at Manchester as I didn't get there, but I hope to get to Stafford and that will probably be my last major Show up around here before I move back to Amp Sher in the New Year, I hope.

 

Hi Andy, Hope you and Dee had a chuffing Christmas.  Track laying is on hold until the new layout is up and running.

Manchester was good for layouts but, unfortunately, lacking in specialist modelling traders, so no spendy on materials.  The piggy bank was pleased, though!

 

I'm looking forward to Stafford so, hopefully, we will get to meet up before you go souff.

 

23 hours ago, Barry O said:

Hope you and Ray had a great Christmas Polly... although that wagon and loco both look a bit clean!

 

baz

 

Christmas going well.  Lots of cooking, eating, mugsodecaffcoffee, and snoozing...  and a bit of TV.

Just waiting for the some family members to arrive and the Board Games to be opened...

 

Ah! The loco and wagon.  Looks like the shed staff have been busy with the Mr Sheen!

 

***********

Great to see other GWRders back as well.  Hope you had a great Christmas and here's wishing everyone a chuffing New Year.

 

________________

Best wishes for 2020

Polly

 

 

Edited December 27, 2019 by southern42

[southern42]

' afternoon all.

 

Delighted to report the arrival yesterday of pride-of-place item for GWRd's Shed.

 

 

This will do just nicely standing in front of my Stirling Single GNR No.1 which is being shunted into Southall's shed for The Railway Children at Waterloo in this screenshot.

 

as in Frame 4:45 of video below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bTSwkyUoYg

 

The video was taken in 2010 but the production also took place in 2011 with GNR No.1 hauled to Waterloo on 5 January:

http://uksteam.info/tours/t11/t0105p.htm

 

I would never have envisaged the old crane and the Stirling Single in the same scene, but that is the beauty of the real world.  So much to look forward to!

 

Thanks for popping in.

And here's to a Chuffing New Year 2020 for all of us.

____________

Best wishes

Polly

Edited January 1, 2020 by southern42
typo

[southern42]

Hi all.

So, we are well into 2020 and things on GWRd are progressing, if a bit on the slow side.

Sadly, I will not be able to lay any track for awhile.  Sorry folks.  

Talk about patience! 

 

Anyway, looking positively forward, among GWRd's allocations is a newly named Modified Hall.

6988 Swithland Hall (82A 1959-63), which was originally going to become 6967 Willesley Hall as at 81C 1958-63, has been, thanks to Steve (Grimy Times), magnificently transformed into 6998 Burton Agnes Hall (81C 1964-65).

This is yet another loco with a 1960s resident/user of the Southall Depot which is preserved - this one at Great Western Society's Didcot home for the elderly   and duly visited on several occasions.

 

 

Thanks for looking in.  Your support and comments are greatly valued.

________

Best wishes

Polly

 

Edited March 19, 2020 by southern42
Deleted image required for following post!

[southern42]

Great to see you all back and hope you are all well.  Thanks for the ratings.

Tbh, I am hoping  the thread (and RMweb as whole) will help keep my/your chin up in the coming months...so feel free to pipe up/join in as you like...I would be delighted to hear from you, too.

 

Back to business, then.

Another transformation by Steve turned one of GWRd's pannier tanks into No. 9642 (81C 1959-64, the first of its class to be preserved and currently under overhaul).  As I have enjoyed several brake van rides, all on different railways, I was most keen to model the Imperial College Railway Society driving experience along the Brentford Branch on 3rd March 1963.

 

Awhile ago, I came across this image on Flickr which shows the headboard quite clearly.

 

More recently, I came across this colour image which got me thinking: I could do with a better rendition of the headboard than this to print out for my model.

So, I had a go at recreating the headboard design.  I could not find the crest of the Railway Society (it is now Rail and Transport Society with completely different logo) and decided to google the college crest and Stephenson's Rocket. I used the font Avenir (in my laptop fonts) to (approx.) match the initials I.C.R.S.. Not so easy as the headboard is at an angle to the camera.  The oval shape and dimensions are also approximate.

 

This is the result.

 

 

To give an idea how this will appear on the model, here it is reduced in size but it will need to be printed out even smaller!  Just goes to show what we are up against working in 4mm.

 

 

I just need to get some printer ink to print it off and see what it will look like on the model.

Why is it, when you need the printer, the ink has run out?  Duly ordered...

___________

Best wishes

Polly

 

 

[Barry O]

Looking good Polly. 

 

Yes, when you need to print something the printer ink supply is ghosted away by the Elves and Pixies.

Baz

Edited March 22, 2020 by Barry O

[southern42]

Thanks, Barry.

Printer inks turned up, yesterday, so I hope I can print out a headboard that looks OK.

 

Polly

 

 

Edited March 22, 2020 by southern42