Wright writes.....

[Theakerr]

All the point rodding you Guys are doing is just fantastic.  I keep thinking about it and then I think again.  Now I think (I do a lot of thinking) I have come up with a solution.   Grimsby, which my station is based on, had electrically heated points round about 1956/57.   So it is highly probable, at least in my mind, that they also had electrically powered points for the main routes.   Much easier to put dummy point motors in and I think the one DCC Concepts sell was in service as early as early as 1948. 

[Tony Wright]

2 hours ago, 31A said:

 

Thank you, Tony!  I quite agree.  I started building this layout over 20 years ago (I don't rush into things!) and if I was to start now I wouldn't start from here!

 

Thanks Steve,

 

My comment was a bit tongue-in-cheek, even slightly hypocritical. 

 

I had the 'man of wisdom' build by scenic-side trackwork.

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

[Tony Wright]

42 minutes ago, Theakerr said:

All the point rodding you Guys are doing is just fantastic.  I keep thinking about it and then I think again.  Now I think (I do a lot of thinking) I have come up with a solution.   Grimsby, which my station is based on, had electrically heated points round about 1956/57.   So it is highly probable, at least in my mind, that they also had electrically powered points for the main routes.   Much easier to put dummy point motors in and I think the one DCC Concepts sell was in service as early as early as 1948. 

Someone is bound to have a picture........

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

[Tony Wright]

Having taken more 'broad-sweep' shots of LB of late, I thought why not one or two 'more-intimate' pictures?

 

 

This coal wagon used to reside at the end of a siding on John Houlden's East Ranford, complete with a guy shovelling out the fuel. 

 

This is just how it was done at Little Bytham.

 

 

The station forecourt, with Geoff West's little porter still sweeping away.

 

The ancient taxi has seen better days. It, the Riley and the BR van are all built from white metal kits; by whom, I have no idea. 

 

Ian Wilson's station building is in better condition than the real thing! 

 

 

Another of Geoff West's wee porters ponders on how to load a barrel into a van. Judging by its size, he'll need help!

 

 

 

PMP's little shunter ponders on the mysteries of Sprat & Winkle couplings. He must have figured them out, because he's managed to switch the vans around! 

 

 

Something all pubs are short of at the moment; guests.

 

Eric Kidd's little couple ponder what to do with their day as a van pulls up to deliver some provisions. The van was built for me by elder son Tom, as a Christmas present. 

 

Bob Dawson's Willoughby Arms is always admired. 

 

Many thanks for all the pictures and comments of late. Please keep them coming! 

 

 

[polybear]

1 hour ago, Headstock said:

Despite my stumbling from one mini crisis to another at the moment, I did mange to fit the centre wheels to my BZ. I also fitted the door furniture and end details. The roof is just sitting in place at the moment, however, its interior bracing has been fitted to give it shape. The roof details, such as lights, vents and cornice are still to add.

 

The main modifications are with regard to electric lighting, the cutting away of the steps for battery boxes and the dynamo, unusually, this is mounted on the other side with the dynamo mounted inwards. Other alterations include the LNER type grab handles fitted to the guard's door. I'm determined to stay in now and model for Britain.

 

 

 

There's not so much as a speck of solder visible anywhere.  You must've superglued it together - that's cheating.  I'm telling sir.

.....S-I-R......Andrew's been using superglue again.....

[gordon s]

Those pictures really are wonderful and it’s the attention to detail that makes the whole railway so special. Thanks for posting them, Tony. A lovely set of very realistic figures.

[brightspark]

10 minutes ago, Tony Wright said:

Having taken more 'broad-sweep' shots of LB of late, I thought why not one or two 'more-intimate' pictures?

 

 

This coal wagon used to reside at the end of a siding on John Houlden's East Ranford, complete with a guy shovelling out the fuel. 

 

This is just how it was done at Little Bytham.

 

 

The station forecourt, with Geoff West's little porter still sweeping away.

 

The ancient taxi has seen better days. It, the Riley and the BR van are all built from white metal kits; by whom, I have no idea. 

 

Ian Wilson's station building is in better condition than the real thing! 

 

 

Another of Geoff West's wee porters ponders on how to load a barrel into a van. Judging by its size, he'll need help!

 

 

 

PMP's little shunter ponders on the mysteries of Sprat & Winkle couplings. He must have figured them out, because he's managed to switch the vans around! 

 

 

Something all pubs are short of at the moment; guests.

 

Eric Kidd's little couple ponder what to do with their day as a van pulls up to deliver some provisions. The van was built for me by elder son Tom, as a Christmas present. 

 

Bob Dawson's Willoughby Arms is always admired. 

 

Many thanks for all the pictures and comments of late. Please keep them coming! 

 

 

Hi Tony,

I am looking forward to another visit to LB and pint in that very pub.

 

[Atso]

Hello all,

 

I've been slowly making progress on my Cambridge Buffet set.

 

The whole set, with a Dapol Third standing in for the unstarted ex-GN 61'6" Composite (middle carriage in the set).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Still plenty to do, but I'm pleased with how they are turning out. 

Edited April 6, 2020 by Atso

[Headstock]

11 minutes ago, polybear said:

 

There's not so much as a speck of solder visible anywhere.  You must've superglued it together - that's cheating.  I'm telling sir.

.....S-I-R......Andrew's been using superglue again.....

 

I was a bit over zealous with the cleaning up the handrails, I've reattached them about five times but at least I now know that they are firmly attached. I can still see lots of blobby bits that need cleaning up.

[Headstock]

21 minutes ago, Atso said:

Hello all,

 

I've been slowly making progress on my Cambridge Buffet set.

 

The whole set, with a Dapol Third standing in for the unstarted ex-GN 61'6" Composite (middle carriage in the set).

 

Still plenty to do, but I'm pleased with how they are turning out. 

 

What the world needs, or at least my bit of it, are some 4 mm versions. I'm sure I could stich the two parts together at the edge of a door if the printer lacks length capacity.

[Buhar]

Hi Tony,

 

When a previous post appears in your reply box you should also be presented with an option to "Clear Editor".  Click and banish.

 

In respect of generating a PM, click on the person's avatar and then in their profile you will find the familiar envelope located in at the top of their profile section in the middle.

 

Alan

[Tony Wright]

10 hours ago, gordon s said:

Those pictures really are wonderful and it’s the attention to detail that makes the whole railway so special. Thanks for posting them, Tony. A lovely set of very realistic figures.

Thanks Gordon,

 

None of the figures is my work, of course. They've all been donated to the layout by friends who've all painted them exquisitely. They just wanted to contribute something personal to Little Bytham.

 

This view has appeared recently.........

 

 

Geoff West's stationmaster makes sure all is in order as the southbound non-stop sweeps through his spick and span environment.

 

 

He's been doing the same thing for a few years now. Even before the smoke deflector plates were added to the footbridge!

 

There are a few more 'figure' scenes. I'll take some more pictures today.

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

[Tony Wright]

One of the nice things about photographing a trainset over a period of time (in LB's case 12 years now) is seeing how much progress has been made.

 

Take the point rodding.........

 

 

I started by making it protruding westwards from the signal box. The near ends just wave about.....

 

 

After that, I started at the north end. With only one, then two, then three runs, progress was quite swift. 

 

 

Enthusiasm then ran out for a time! It now extends beyond the length of 'The Queen of Scots'. 

 

Just the length of the station to do now (actually just a bit less). 

 

 

[Gravy Train]

Hi Tony,

thank you for the kind comments and the photos and to you to Mike for the Box photo, I remember this model had an unusual slate roof arrangement but perhaps it was typical for the Maryport & Carlisle.

Little Bytham, looking impressive and point rodding, once started there is no turning back with this element of detailing.

Peter

[grahame]

That architectural modelling on Carlisle is beautiful and very impressive. It's something to aspire to. Thanks for posting the pics.

 

Nonetheless I've plodded on with my own efforts (in a much smaller scale) and here's some overnight progress. It's still a jumble of unattached sub-assemblies (including elastic band) but I've got some blocks of colour on and I can now contemplate making and adding windows/glazing.

 

There's lots to do, not least the shop fronts . . . . plus details (like chimney tops/flaunching/pots, down pipes, signage, etc.,), and dirtying down. I had a bash at some of the horizontal stripes on the end building but this was as far as I got. I don't seem to have the same steady hand I had when younger. Curse the rheumatoid arthritis in the small joints.  

 

This pandemic lockdown and time indoors means you can play around with things and experiment. Here's a black and white pic - the only decent 1980 pic of the actual 'Antigallican' pub I have is in black and white so it helps with comparison. Was it really 40 years ago when I went in there. It sold Courage Directors on handpump back then. 

 

[Coach bogie]

I finally finished my 633 tank. I had expected to finish in a week, as I am at home, but home working turned into longer hours than if I was at work. I cannot believe how many people,email, in the middle of the night and expect an immediate answer. I was far too busy with late night/early morning modelling. I must have too much time as I made a full cab (not provided in the M&L kit) from brass rather than plasticard. I even made the half circle tunnel for the hand brake and it is hollow, rather than a dummy from plastic, when I am short of time.

 

All was going well and it was being run in. The DS10/gearbox then kept slipping. I wasted  much time adjusting to keep in mesch. Too much time. I then robbed a D13 and mount from another unbuilt kit, and it was running again in a couple of hours. It is also much quieter.

 

 

All finished and painted. 638 was allocated to Frome. I could not get the plates so this is 635 on temporary loan until 638 comes back from Swindon overhaul. Hey it's my trainset!!!!

Here it is doing what it should be doing, hauling short freights from Radstock collieries. As a cast kit, it is quite heavy and was able to pull the 35 wagon long goods. I might have to think again about what duty to use it on. Now then, back to coaches or another loco?

Mike Wiltshire

 

 

[gr.king]

17 hours ago, Theakerr said:

All the point rodding you Guys are doing is just fantastic.  I keep thinking about it and then I think again.  Now I think (I do a lot of thinking) I have come up with a solution.   Grimsby, which my station is based on, had electrically heated points round about 1956/57.   So it is highly probable, at least in my mind, that they also had electrically powered points for the main routes.   Much easier to put dummy point motors in and I think the one DCC Concepts sell was in service as early as early as 1948. 

 

Have pictures of your Grimsby layout appeared on here at all, or elsewhere please? If not, could you treat us to a few glimpses?

[Tony Wright]

I'm astonished at how much I'm able to do in this lock-down situation. 

 

I've started work on a D16/3 (pictures to follow later this week), worked on locos for Geoff Haynes, done as much as the point roddng as I have materials to proceed with and taken more LB pictures than ever before. How do folk in isolation cope without a hobby?

 

Anyway, I've taken some 'figure' shots this morning. Here are the results..................................

 

 

A solitary trainspotter (in typical garb of the day) observes the passage of a local B12/3. Allocated to Grantham, it's unlikely to be a cop. I can't remember who donate this little boy, but Teaky's platform barrows are a real asset. 

 

Note that all locos are crewed as well. 

 

 

This must be the ultimate in model railway snobbery; to have oneself on a layout! I was scanned by ModelU, and painted brilliantly by Anglian. 

 

I wonder if the picture I'm taking of the Down Flying Scotsman will come out?

 

I'm using an uncle's Voightlander 'Bessa' 8 on a 120 bellows camera (well I did when the real 60156 was running, but I was much younger). With its Tessar (is that the right spelling?) lens, it produced some excellent results until the bellows started to leak light. 

 

 

It has done!

 

Of course, I'll have to wait for Boots to process the film. 

 

 

And make sure I wind the film on.........

 

Others observe the passage of The Flying Scotsman as it sweeps through Little Bytham on its way north.......

 

 

A local businessman shows some interest as he waits for his local to take him to Peterborough, where he'll then get an express up to town. 

 

Again, I can't remember who donated this figure. 

 

 

Geoff West's little porter has seen it all before.

 

 

As has his stationmaster.

 

Anglian's little reader is too engrossed in his book to even look up.

 

 

However, Anglian's snappily-dressed dude takes mental note.  

 

 

Another of PMP's shunters figures out how Sprat & Winkle couplings work. 

 

One of the loco crew members looks a bit like the elephant man! 

 

The majority of the figures on the main line bit have a peg/pin attached to one of their feet. These then fit into strategically-placed, pre-drilled holes, allowing them to be moved around if needed. 

 

 

Goff West's signalmen on the M&GNR. 

 

One offers advice as his colleague prepares to deal with the token.

 

Anyone for tennis?

 

 

It would appear that the fireman wasn't quite ready and the train has stopped for the tokens to be exchanged. 

 

 

A more-awake fireman on a different 4F this time, as he cheerily waves goodbye having received the single line token. 

 

Obviously, these last three shots are 'staged' for the camera, but I think, if nothing else, they're amusing. Blu Tak temporarily holds the little figures in place. 

 

What these beautiful little figures illustrate is yet another example of how impossible it would have been for me to create Little Bytham on my own.

 

Once more, thanks for all the recent positive comments. I'll have to think of some more ideas for subject matter for my next LB pictures. Any thoughts? 

 

 

Edited April 7, 2020 by Tony Wright
to clarify a point

[jacko]

I can't help think it would have been fun if you'd had yourself scanned in shorts, anorak and satchel to represent yourself reliving your spotting days Tony

 

On a more serious note, I used to paint ho/oo airfix soldiers as a hobby and even with young eyes it was a difficult job. The painting of your 'snappily dressed guy' is as good as I've ever seen.

 

Graeme 

[Tony Wright]

3 minutes ago, jacko said:

I can't help think it would have been fun if you'd had yourself scanned in shorts, anorak and satchel to represent yourself reliving your spotting days Tony

 

On a more serious note, I used to paint ho/oo airfix soldiers as a hobby and even with young eyes it was a difficult job. The painting of your 'snappily dressed guy' is as good as I've ever seen.

 

Graeme 

Thanks Graeme,

 

The painting of (all) the figures is very well done. They're observed with great subtlety and most are inactive. 

 

Too many layouts (in my opinion) have characters who look more like cartoons, with grossly over-exaggerated  features, indulging in all too-vigorous activities; brawls, sports, parades and so on. When I used to play cricket at Claypole, bowling from the 'railway' end, one had to wait until trains had passed. 

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

[thegreenhowards]

18 hours ago, Headstock said:

 

What the world needs, or at least my bit of it, are some 4 mm versions. I'm sure I could stich the two parts together at the edge of a door if the printer lacks length capacity.

Isn’t that what Isinglass are doing? Admittedly only a few diagrams so far, but he’s getting there.

 

Andy

[Headstock]

2 hours ago, thegreenhowards said:

Isn’t that what Isinglass are doing? Admittedly only a few diagrams so far, but he’s getting there.

 

Andy

 

Evening Andy,

 

good question.

 

Isinglass are not producing anything that I am interested in. They are producing some popular stuff granted, but stuff were there is often an excellent option already available in brass. On the other hand, GNR stock is currently as rare as hens teeth in brass or any other media and is an essential component of both yours and my modelling interests. I would add that Atso's work is of a very high quality, he obviously has a great deal of understanding of GNR/LNER carriages. It is a great achievement, many manufactures have come a grief, aesthetically if not financially, trying to produce these types of carriages over the years.

[Tony Wright]

10 minutes ago, Headstock said:

 

Evening Andy,

 

good question.

 

Isinglass are not producing anything that I am interested in. They are producing some popular stuff granted, but stuff were there is often an excellent option already available in brass. On the other hand, GNR stock is currently as rare as hens teeth in brass or any other media and is an essential component of both yours and my modelling interests. I would add that Atso's work is of a very high quality, he obviously has a great deal of understanding of GNR/LNER carriages. It is a great achievement, many manufactures have come a grief, aesthetically if not financially, trying to produce these types of carriages over the years.

 

 

Good evening Andrew,

 

I think it's Andy Edgson's plan to expand the 3D-printed range to embrace older carriages as time and resources permit. 

 

I'm sure his dad drew many GN carriages. 

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

[Tony Wright]

One thing which has taxed my brain (something easily done) down the years is the issue of going on/offstage to/from the fiddle yard(s) on model railways. All too often realism is compromised by lines going round tight, right-angle, visible curves as they go on/offstage. This is a particular problem on main lines.

 

One of the reason for choosing Little Bytham as the prototype to model was that there are two handy overbridges, one at each end of the scenic section. This means that the (very fast) main line goes on/offstage on the straight; essential for realism.  

 

One of those overbridges was the MR/M&GNR girder bridge, so beautifully-finished recently for the layout by Dave Wager from Jamie Guest's etchings. When the trackplan was being sorted, we were left with two options on how to represent the MR/M&GNR. The space available was (is) 12' x 4' 6" (massive for a train set, but a bit restrictive for a 'scale' model). The options were to make a circuit within that 'footprint' or just have a dead end scenic break, with non-working tracks going dead straight for 12' (as it should be). Had the latter option been taken, the length of the main line scenic section would have been near as damn it dead scale (instead of being 14" short). However, a circuit was decided upon. It gave us a second trainset, and some Midland Region locos and stock for me to build. 

 

Now 4' 6" width doesn't give much of an end radius if 'realism' is to be achieved, does it? 

 

The dodge was to put two overbridges over the centre of each exit/entrance as they went round their right-angle bends. The radii were progressively tightened as they disappeared from view, leading to a minimum curve of 24". A train set curve, really. Both bridges had to be moved nearer than scale, the one at the west end by some eight miles! Talk about modellers' licence. The east end bridge is about 600 yds nearer than it should be.

 

Have the bridge dodges worked? Perhaps, up to a point.

 

 

 

 

This is the bridge at the east end, carrying the private road to Lord Willoughby's Grimsthorpe Castle. It still exists, and a green lane now runs beneath it. Bob Dawson built this elevation and I completed the rest. 

 

The curve is really far too tight, but I think some element of disguise has been achieved. 

 

 

 

And the bridge at the west end. The actual prototype existed at Wymondham, and is long-demolished. I 'made' it by modifying a Hornby resin product. 

 

The lower view really does emphasise the tight curve, with a pronounced front overhang, even with a small loco. 

 

I think the right decision was made to have a second railway, even at the cost of such compromises.

 

Any thoughts appreciated, please.

 

Do others have solutions for getting their trains on/offstage without the curves looking too tight (other than not having tight curves at all)?

 

 

 

Edited April 7, 2020 by Tony Wright
typo error

[Headstock]

39 minutes ago, Tony Wright said:

 

 

Good evening Andrew,

 

I think it's Andy Edgson's plan to expand the 3D-printed range to embrace older carriages as time and resources permit. 

 

I'm sure his dad drew many GN carriages. 

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

 

Good evening Tony,

 

Indeed, he did. Though the GN 56'6'' BGs (that were cascaded to the GC section and operated until the 60s) are not in the Isinglass catalogue.

 

I believe that a number of people on RM web have ordered kits. I'm looking forwards to the results of these builds being published in order to get a feel for them.