Whats on your 2mm Work bench

[Caley Jim]

Thanks for the kind comments.

 

The lettering is all done freehand.  I now use acrylic paint, thinned with a little slow drying gel.  I use a very fine pointed brush (Windsor & Newton Cotman III size 00) which I wet and blot slightly on a paper towel before picking up a tiny amount of paint on the tip, perhaps only enough to do one stroke of the small lettering.  I might get way with a second pick-up of paint before washing the brush again.  For the heavier lettering you can pick up more paint each time.  I generally 'outline' these letters before filling them in.  A second coat is usually needed, but I don't try to make the lettering too 'dense'.   By using acrylics, a second wet brush can be used to tidy up small errors and sharpen corners (or completely wash away a letter if it's all gone pear-shaped, which it often does!), provided you're fairly quick, without damaging the base colour.  Sometimes it goes well and I can do up to a couple of wagons in an evening, other times nothing seems to be going right and I leave it to another day.

 

I suppose, yes, it's partly down to 40+ years and over 100 vehicles of experience although nowadays I have to use either 1.5x or 2.5x magnification!

 

Edited to add that the fact that the top and bottom of the letters on the Dixon wagons are on plank lines makes keeping the corners sharp much easier.

 

Jim

Edited November 22, 2017 by Caley Jim

[Branwell]

Back working on the buildings for Lightcliffe - the signal box is finished, the main station buildings are nearly there (need to add the signs and posters as well as some ventilators for the WCs), the stone staircase is being painted, and I've just started work on what we think was a warehouse/store on the Bradford bound platform (there was no rail served goods shed at Lightcliffe nor was there any accomodation for the porters in the main station buildings).

 

The latter building has actually been a real pain to work out. There are a number of decent photos of the platform side of the building and from those it looks a pretty straight forward construction - two windows and a door. The Bradford end of the building's a plain stone wall so that's simple as well, but then a photo came to light that showed that the Halifax end of the building had a door in it ... and that said door was at a lower level than the doors onto the platform. So we've got a split level building.

 

Frustratingly, none of the photos that I've found show the whole width of the Halifax end of the building and we've haven't come across any yet that show the non-platform side, so that's going to have to be guesswork, the only help being an aerial photo that appears to show a loading area.

 

Anyway, I've deliberated enough and windows and doors have now been marked out on the sheel of the building in readiness for cutting out.

 

Photos I've previously posted of the other buildings have disappeared due to Photobucket blocking images, so I'm attaching some more as well as a couple of photos showing the marking out of the warehouse building.

 

[D869]

Not sure if 'virtual workbenches' are allowed here, but I'm slowly progressing with turning the 10T Hurst Nelson oil tank into a kit. The picture shows the revised 3d model - the most obvious change is shifting the top of the filler off the tank and onto the sprue. Hopefully this will avoid the 'shadow' cast by the top ring of rivets which spread all of the way down the sides of the filler upstand and was tricky to clean up. There are also some minor changes to the arrangement for ensuring that the tank stands up straight when assembled onto the wagon.

 

Once printed, one of these should become a pattern for resin casting by a specialist firm.

 

 

As a reminder, (Blue Peter quote...) here's one I made earlier

 

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/722/entry-18393-1907-hurst-nelson-10t-tank/

 

[Edwardian]

Very impressive, wagons, there, Jim.

 

Then I reflected upon the fact that the bottom pair (Dixons) appear on my screen and what must be over twice their actual size.  Very, very, impressive.

Edited November 27, 2017 by Edwardian

[Hendreladis]

Finished the pointwork and it all seems to be okay though I confess the file was applied aggressively in one area to reduce a bit of rubbing. The eagle eyed will see a vague 'Minories-esque' feel to it. The station site is actually sandwiched in a cutting between two overbridges with an elaborate footbridge over the platforms. Lots of visual clutter to allow it to be run as a terminus.

 

Unfortunately I don't have any more pcb strip so this will go on the back burner. Not sure it will be available in the particular thickness used - I bought the original pack in 1985 or so. The 'plain' mixed gauge lines will just use up stocks of the Associations's original plastic base for plain track with a bit of cutting and splicing. The difference in heights is manageable.

 

In truth this was a project to test the viability of bendy stick trackwork planning in anticipation of the ultimate goal of a model of the Aberdare terminus which is much more interesting. That requires three 3-way, mixed gauge turnouts and setting those out accurately so that the glaring misplacement of vees evident in the pictures attached is avoided will require Templot. After years of practice and countless frustrations getting to grips with standard gauge, let alone mixed gauge, I fear that Templot will again defeat me but Aberdare offers an engine shed and turntable with standard gauge rails crossing sides plus a turntable with four rails. At scale it could be squeezed in to a 6' by 18" board. That will be done with chairplates hence the need for accurate setting out.  

 

But first I'll finish off the BG wagons I started in the 80s. And a loco. Maybe.  

[Donw]

I cannot see glaring problems with the trackwork. Full size trackwork is not without the odd wiggle here and there. I am not sure I would fancy trying to design mixed gauge trackwork with Templot.  If you can align it all from the common rail it helps but the side swapping then throws that into confusion. Adding Chairplates will reduce the options of adjustments. Still were would we be without those brave enough to make the attempt. I look forward to seeing Aberdare in due course.

 

Don

[Nig H]

Currently I'm building Fowler 2-6-4T test etches. I've created a topic showing progress in the 'kitbuilding and scratchbuilding' section, tags 2mm 2FS Fowler, if anyone is interested.

 

Nig H

[Chris Higgs]

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/128847-fowler-2-6-4t-in-2mm-finescale/

[Ian Smith]

In among a variety of other things on my workbench at the moment is this GWR 6 Wheel Full Brake coach.  It is a diagram V13, and is one of a set that I drew up and had etched by PPD a couple of months ago.  This one (for a little variety) will have oil lamps.

 

The body still needs the G scroll handrails to be fitted to the luggage doors, the door handles, and a vertical brass bar handrail on the guards compartment.  It also needs the handrails on the step end to be made and fitted and also the covers that sit near the oil lamps that were used to plug the holes when the oil lamps were lifted out.  The door furniture will be the etched N Brass fittings like I used on my 4 wheelers, and will be soldered on next (before painting), and once painting is complete will be scraped back to bare brass before varnishing.

 

The roof is sheet nickel silver as the rooves I had drawn up are marginally to narrow - I forgot that the sides sat outside the ends, so when I measured the arc of the end (for the width of the roof) I didn't allow for the extra 0.5mm for the thickness of the sides - DOH!  On the next one I might try soldering 2 lengths of 0.3mm wire along the edge of the roof and sanding flat to broaden the width - You live and learn :-)

 

The chassis has only just been started, as the foot boards, and brake detail all need to be added yet.  For this (experimental) chassis, the centre set of wheels will be housed in U slot inside bearings which hopefully will allow the centre wheels to slide across the chassis to allow easier negotiation of curves - I expect to have to add a small phosphor bronze wire to bear on the centre of this axle to keep the wheels in contact with the rails (although the U slots should not have much vertical movement).

 

Ian

[Richard Hall]

Taking shape on my virtual workbench, a set of etched components for a North British 3500 gallon tender. This started out with me reviving my coupler design project that stalled a couple of years ago: having got to grips with the design software (DraftSight) I thought I would try something slightly more complex and it sort of ran away with me.  It is designed to take a small motor and shaft drive, hence the large semicircles at the end of the bodysides, but has an alternative top with correctly shaped coal space for those who prefer to put the motor where God intended. Needs a bit more work, all the half etches doing and then the components arranged into a fret with tabs.  If it works I'll make it available to others and then start on a loco to go with it, either a J35 or J37 (or both!) Meanwhile if anyone can see any obvious snags with what I have done so far, please feel free to point them out before I ruin a perfectly innocent sheet of brass.
 
Richard

 

[D869]

The main issue to check for at this stage is minimum component width and just plain dumb getting stuff wrong (forgetting holes, mis-counting copies etc). Once you get to the half etches then more opportunities to get it wrong will present themselves.

 

FWIW, I often put multiple different versions of the same component onto an etch if I'm not sure whether something is going to work when I try to build it. The same apparoach can also work if overetching or underetching will have a big impact on a particular component.

 

Good luck.

 

Regards, Andy

[Caley Jim]

I'd second what Andy says.  Also make sure that any holes and slots have not been accidentally 'filled' by the software.  You can't be too thorough with your final checks.  I know from experience!   I use AutoCAD, so am not familiar with Draftsight, but from the screenshot the interface looks very similar.

 

I'd also recommend putting several spares of any small components, brake blocks, springs, axleboxes etc. on the etch.   The carpet monster has a penchant for such things!  Finally, I'd also recommend Nickel Silver as the metal of choice.  Far easier to work than brass as it holds it's shape better and also solders much more easily as it doesn't conduct the heat away quite so quickly.

 

I assume you've read the guide to etching artwork that Bob Jones produced some time ago?

 

Jim

[Phil Copleston]

I assume you've read the guide to etching artwork that Bob Jones produced some time ago?

 

Jim

 

I've heard about this before. Is this guide available on-line, Jim? Or is a copy only available direct from Bob?

[2mm Andy]

I've heard about this before. Is this guide available on-line, Jim? Or is a copy only available direct from Bob?

 

Bob placed a copy of the notes in the files area of the VAG, but could probably supply a copy by email if you contact him. I believe the basis of the notes was a one-day course that he ran some time ago.

 

Andy

Edited December 19, 2017 by 2mm Andy

[Phil Copleston]

Bob placed a copy of the notes in the files area of the VAG, but could probably supply a copy by email if you contact him. I believe the basis of the notes was a one-day course that he ran some time ago.

 

Thanks Andy. I should have looked on the VAG. So will do now... 

[Chris Higgs]

Bob placed a copy of the notes in the files area of the VAG, but could probably supply a copy by email if you contact him. I believe the basis of the notes was a one-day course that he ran some time ago.

 

Andy

 

Yes, still there. For "some time ago" read 15 years. Really, that long?

 

Chris

[Caley Jim]

Yes, still there. For "some time ago" read 15 years. Really, that long?

 

Chris

Indeed, but still all valid!

 

Jim

[Branwell]

Further progress on some of the buildings for the Pennine Area Group's model of Lightcliffe:

 

Platform face of the goods warehouse (the timetable/poster boards are losely positioned at the moment)

 

 

Rear of the goods warehouse

 

 

Ends of the goods warehouse

 

 

Front and left hand end wall for the gentlemens toilets on the Halifax bound platform (the holes on the front wall are for the guttering)

 

 

Right hand end wall with guttering losely fixed in place (the rear wall is plain)

 

 

And the beginnings of the weighbridge hut in the goods yard

 

[Hendreladis]

Probably the ugliest broad gauge locomotive ever.

 

I offer you the Vale of Neath's numbers 14-16 saddle tanks. 'Purposeful' is a word.

 

A full length saddle tank that pretty much hides all of the doings makes for plenty of space to hide a motor. Obviously pic just shows a preliminary fit to test the running etc. but it all looks practicable. The motor will sit much lower in the cradle once the blue tack has been replaced with something better.

 

When clearances etc are better understood maybe it'll be possible to do an improved version by photo etching these and he other locos in the Vale of Neath stable.

 

The association etch of coupling rods will be cannibalized to add some texture to the bosses as the 15thou nickel silver is a bit too flat and wibbly wobbly.

[Rammstein2609]

Hi All

 

I've been working on the plans for a new modular fiddle yard over the last few months and have finally nailed down the design.  Long story short, the idea is that this fiddle yard can be built with the straight sections in multiples of 4ft to allow any length of scenic layout to be slotted into the front.  The curves can then be connected together on their own to create a 360degree test track.  The whole fiddle yard when built is too big to fit into my workshop but the curves once setup in their test track formation, will fit into my workshop so I can at least 'play' trains or run stock in once re-wheeled.

 

This week I've been working on one of the four curved D12 crossovers built with flat bottom rail.  The switch rails aren't connected to any TOU yet as this will be done once the crossover has been laid on the baseboards.  The crossing isolation gaps also haven't been cut yet but so far I'm happy with the way stock pushes through with ease.  The reason for such large turnouts is to allow faster running of stock through the fiddle yard and to also cater for the two 11 car Pendolino's I've got on order.

 

A few photos of progress so far:

 

 

In total, the fiddle yard has 48 turnouts with 24 of them being curved D12 variants so I'd better get cracking with the rest!

 

Thanks

 

Martin

[CF MRC]

Might be an idea to increase the sleeper density a little. It’s surprising how much heat and cold can get track moving, especially unballasted track.

 

Tim

[65179]

I've been doing a bit of tinkering with some of the wagon chassis that are available from the 2mm Scale Association.

 

The first two views show my part complete LMS container chassis produced using a combination of bits from LMS fitted van chassis (2-375 intended for the N Gauge Society vans) married to the carcasses of Peco tank wagon replacement chassis (2-384). I did this to give a bit more of an impression of the open nature of the ends (the rest will be hidden by hidden by containers in due course), but with hindsight might have been better cutting away at the original basic chassis in the way that Nick Mitchell did with his shock open chassis in the Magazine some time ago. The fixings are filed and folded up from nickel silver strip with the chequerplate from N Brass.

 

 

 

The first 2 are earlier diagrams 1813 and 1838 - the latter is still missing its end stops for the container:

 

 

The second two are for the later D1976 flats:

 

None are up to the standard of David Long or Tim Watson, but they should look ok as a bit of variety in a passing train. If anyone plans to do an etch for an LNER conflat S then please shout now before I start working out how to scratchbuild them.

 

 

The next 2 views show work in progress on an LMS 3 plank medium goods to D1927 (David Long's work on one of these features earlier in this thread). The first shows the Farish model as it comes - nicely detailed bar the OTT plank grooves with a reasonable 4 shoe chassis and a neat rendition of the LMS bauxite livery:

 

There's a lovely picture in Essery's An Illustrated History of LMS Wagons Vol.1 showing just this wagon ex-works (plate 141). Looking at this picture one thing is immediately apparent - the real wagon was built with the LMS 8 shoe fitted chassis, a rather different beast to the chassis supplied.

The second view shows the wagon body plonked on top of an Association fitted chassis (2-375 destined to go under a van) to see what a difference it makes. I'll eventually build another chassis for this wagon as this one has the wrong axleboxes and various other things wrong with it.

 

Simon

Edited January 20, 2018 by 65179

[DavidLong]

I've been doing a bit of tinkering with some of the wagon chassis that are available from the 2mm Scale Association.

 

The first two views show my part complete LMS container chassis produced using a combination of bits from LMS fitted van chassis (2-375 intended for the N Gauge Society vans) married to the carcasses of Peco tank wagon replacement chassis (2-384). I did this to give a bit more of an impression of the open nature of the ends (the rest will be hidden by hidden by containers in due course), but with hindsight might have been better cutting away at the original basic chassis in the way that Nick Mitchell did with his shock open chassis in the Magazine some time ago. The fixings are filed and folded up from nickel silver strip with the chequerplate from N Brass.

 

 

 

The first 2 are earlier diagrams 1813 and 1838 - the latter is still missing its end stops for the container:

 

conflat1.jpg

 

The second two are for the later D1976 flats:

 

conflat2.jpg

None are up to the standard of David Long or Tim Watson, but they should look ok as a bit of variety in a passing train. If anyone plans to do an etch for an LNER conflat S then please shout now before I start working out how to scratchbuild them.

 

 

The next 2 views show work in progress on an LMS 3 plank medium goods to D1927 (David Long's work on one of these features earlier in this thread). The first shows the Farish model as it comes - nicely detailed bar the OTT plank grooves with a reasonable 4 shoe chassis and a neat rendition of the LMS bauxite livery:

 

3plank1.jpg

There's a lovely picture in Essery's An Illustrated History of LMS Wagons Vol.1 showing just this wagon ex-works (plate 141). Looking at this picture one thing is immediately apparent - the real wagon was built with the LMS 8 shoe fitted chassis, a rather different beast to the chassis supplied.

3plank2.jpg

The second view shows the wagon body plonked on top of an Association fitted chassis (2-375 destined to go under a van) to see what a difference it makes. I'll eventually build another chassis for this wagon as this one has the wrong axleboxes and various other things wrong with it.

 

Simon

 

Nice work, Simon. Interesting choice of prototypes with the LMS container chassis'. I've been intrigued by them since seeing them in LMS Wagons many moons ago. They seem to be remarkably elusive in terms of photographs and I have no idea how long they lasted. I have a suspicion that it may not have been been much longer than the late-1950s as they would be swamped by the BR Conflat builds but that is nothing more than conjecture.

 

The LMS medium goods is a nice little model despite the plank lines. This has been remarked on in 4mm models as well and it is baffling why Parkside can make their plank lines quite subtle but still noticeable but seems to be beyond Bachmann. The underframe is certainly incorrect for the LMS builds which were either Morton unfitted or standard eight-shoe fitted. In later life, towards the late-1950s, those that were to survive were mostly vacuum fitted by BR and received the four-shoe brakegear. Both of my examples shown earlier, which were for the PW fleet, have this brake gear. Even though current Farish underframes are way better than Poole examples they still have a chunkiness that can only really be solved by an etched version. And as for the couplings . . .

 

Good to see you on here again. Any progress to report on Chorlton?

 

David

[65179]

Thanks David. The LMS container chassis are interesting as a simpler alternative to the other big four conflat designs with a solid floor. I've a late '30s photo of a CLC goods where the first half of the train has a pair of LMS chassis mixed in among a load of LNER conflats and reasoned the same train wouldn't be dominated by BR or GWR conflats by 1950. The LMS ones lasted to 1959 at least. Don Rowland's BR wagons the 1st million has a view at Symington in 1959 showing one. I presume it's part of a London meat train and shows a BR BM meat container on what may be a D1975 chassis.

 

No real progress on Chorlton. My brother keeps on threatening to build some boards, but his 2 and 5 yr olds are rightly his priority at the moment. I've been given some NCB milk floats for Christmas so I may make a start on the dairy/creamery that will be at the front of the layout at some point later this year.

 

Simon

[Branwell]

Construction work on the next batch of buildings for Lightcliffe is now almost complete - on with the paint and then it's just a case of tiling the roofs and adding the final details.

 

The platform side of the warehouse building on the Bradford bound platform ...

 

 

 ... the reverse side of the same building ...

 

 

 ... and the end with the steps up from ground level to platform level ...

 

 

 ... the gentlemens toilet on the Halifax bound platform ...

 

 

 

 ... and the weighbridge hut from the goods yard ...

 

 

 

 In addition, I've also now fitted the vents and roof lights for the WCs on the main station building (I knew the vents were there, but didn't know about the roof lights until I acquired an aerial photograph of the station) - the ridge tiles need tidying up, but I'm pleased with how these alterations I've worked out. If was doing if from scratch, I'd have built the rooflights into the roof and glazed them, but that would have been difficult with the already constructed building so I've cut away the tiling to fit the individual lights.

 

 

And then there are some terraced houses, though these aren't for Lightcliffe - they're for my DJLC entry which I'll be starting a thread for shortly.

 

 

 

Regards,

 

David V.