Popular Post cornish trains jez Posted April 17, 2013 Popular Post Share Posted April 17, 2013 (edited) Good evening all, This layout has been developing very slowly over the last 2 1/2 years due to a house move, wedding, change of job and related work commitments. It started life as an N gauge project based on Par station and its movements during the 80's as I wanted to be able to run a wide and interesting variety of stock, from passenger to freight and parcels, and anything else that may have run during this period. However over the past few months I have been gently persuaded to convert the layout to 2mmFS and I have decided to take the big step and rip up all the Peco code 55 track work and replace with easitrac from the 2mmFs society. The track work and turnouts will still be to N scale standards as I couldn't face converting all my rolling stock as well as I have collected quite a number of items over the past few years. The layout is 3.5m long with the station to one end allowing me to run scale length trains which will be put together using reference photos/videos and information offered to me from many of the brilliant members on this fantastic modellers site. So, I thought while I am waiting for my order of new turnouts to arrive, I would start a layout thread detailing the layout to date and document it's progress and conversion to 2FS, with all associated projects relating to the layout posted here. With our first baby due next week , I'm not sure how far I will get in the next few months, but posted below are a few pictures to show where I am at so far before the track is replaced with 2FS easitrac. I plan to move the layout to the loft in due course as a permanent fixture and future plans will be to build St Blazey depot in 2mmFS and link the two together. So here we go with the photos currently in N scale..... Early days of the layout: First bits of scenery going in, platforms and road overbridge: Platform paving scribed onto the card platform tops. Plenty of this still left to do! Recent photo of the layout: Station building and in position on the layout: The footbridge was built from scratch from plasticard apart from the steps which were from a Ratio kit. Plenty of headaches and swearing while building this one!! A couple of items of rolling stock: I have now started scratch building the signal box and I will post some photos of progress on this one over the next few days. That's all for now! Best regards, Jeremy Edited January 20, 2018 by cornish trains jez 22 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest oldlugger Posted April 17, 2013 Share Posted April 17, 2013 Very nice class 50! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cornish trains jez Posted April 17, 2013 Author Share Posted April 17, 2013 Thanks Mickey! I'll post those pictures of the signal box tomorrow evening. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian b Posted April 17, 2013 Share Posted April 17, 2013 I've looked at Par a few times- has loads to offer and looking forward to see this develop! Totally agree with oldlugger- is it a cjm 50? Ian B 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cornish trains jez Posted April 18, 2013 Author Share Posted April 18, 2013 I've looked at Par a few times- has loads to offer and looking forward to see this develop! Totally agree with oldlugger- is it a cjm 50? Ian B Hi Ian, It is a CJM class 50. Chris Marchants work is exquisite and I had to have one of these for the layout. Best regards, Jeremy 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fender Posted April 18, 2013 Share Posted April 18, 2013 very good. looking forward to seeing how this develops. good luck with your new arrival too! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cornish trains jez Posted April 18, 2013 Author Share Posted April 18, 2013 very good. looking forward to seeing how this develops. good luck with your new arrival too! Cheers mate! The sleepless nights are looming.....!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indomitable026 Posted April 18, 2013 Share Posted April 18, 2013 Following with interest Good luck! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cornish trains jez Posted April 19, 2013 Author Share Posted April 19, 2013 Good afternoon, Here is a photo showing the early stages of the scratch built signal box for Par. I'm using sheets of plasticard doubled up to get the right thickness and slaters 2mm brick sheet. Microstrip will be used to make the outer window frames and then transparent plastic sheet will be used to produce the windows with the frames scored on and then filled with white paint. I haven't thought about how I will do the roof tiles yet but any suggestions would be most welcome. The section below the windows cut into the brick sheet will be below the platform as in this photo. Best regards, Jeremy 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cornish trains jez Posted May 5, 2013 Author Share Posted May 5, 2013 Good evening, The permanent way gang moved into Par today and started the long task of laying the new easitrac. Once the code 55 track was up, I noticed that the trackbed needed to be heightened so I decided to lay sheets of card, cut to size, giving me an extra 1.5mm. This brings the rail height to about 6.5mm below the platform level, which is there or thereabouts on par with 2mmFS standards. The West bound side of the mainline has now been laid on board 2 and I anticipate finishing off the East bound side tomorrow. The original wire droppers have been re-used and I managed to carefully solder these to the underside of the rail which, once ballasted, will be totally hidden. Here are a few pictures showing some progress. I have also mounted the current progress of the signal box into place, using bluetac, just to give an idea of how it will look. Showing the signal box in place. 50030 Repulse is in charge of the Plymouth-Penzance local. Correct rake minus an extra MK1 SO. View looking West, showing the difference that 2Fs track makes compared to the code 55 in the foreground. Is it wrong to put orange squash into a Tribute Cornish Ale branded glass!!!??!! Best regards, Jeremy 12 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cornish trains jez Posted May 5, 2013 Author Share Posted May 5, 2013 I was just thinking about Par!! not models, not really railways but I was there in my head and then this popped up spooky!!! Hi Mickey, That's really spooky! Were you thinking of 37's clagging through on china clay or 66's on CDA's? Maybe a 50 on an express? Best regards, Jeremy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold roundhouse Posted May 5, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 5, 2013 Good evening, The permanent way gang moved into Par today and started the long task of laying the new easitrac. Once the code 55 track was up, I noticed that the trackbed needed to be heightened so I decided to lay sheets of card, cut to size, giving me an extra 1.5mm. This brings the rail height to about 6.5mm below the platform level, which is there or thereabouts on par with 2mmFS standards. The West bound side of the mainline has now been laid on board 2 and I anticipate finishing off the East bound side tomorrow. The original wire droppers have been re-used and I managed to carefully solder these to the underside of the rail which, once ballasted, will be totally hidden. Here are a few pictures showing some progress. I have also mounted the current progress of the signal box into place, using bluetac, just to give an idea of how it will look. P5050011.JPG P5050013.JPG Showing the signal box in place. P5050014.JPG P5050015.JPG 50030 Repulse is in charge of the Plymouth-Penzance local. Correct rake minus an extra MK1 SO. P5050016.JPG P5050017.JPG View looking West, showing the difference that 2Fs track makes compared to the code 55 in the foreground. P5050019.JPG Is it wrong to put orange squash into a Tribute Cornish Ale branded glass!!!??!! P5050009.JPG Best regards, JeremySome nice photos of but that last one just isn't right! Ian 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cornish trains jez Posted May 5, 2013 Author Share Posted May 5, 2013 I'm looking to model this pub when I've finished the signal box. I think during the period I'm modelling it was called the Wych Way. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cornish trains jez Posted May 5, 2013 Author Share Posted May 5, 2013 Some nice photos of but that last one just isn't right! Ian Hi Ian, Heading to the supermarket tomorrow morning to find something more appropriate to fill this glass with! Best regards, Jeremy 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cornish trains jez Posted May 12, 2013 Author Share Posted May 12, 2013 Good evening, A small update today with progress on the signal box. I have one side left to produce on the Western end. Looking at the camera shots, there is a bit of tweaking to be carried out on the Eastern end but nothing a bit of careful filing can't cure! The signal box has some wood panelling to the sides which I was going to represent by scribing this onto plasticard. However this proved very tedious and didn't look that good so a sheet of embossed plasticard representing planking was purchased at yesterday's Burgess Hill Model Railway show and this has been carefully cut and glued into position on the front of the box. The result is pretty convincing and will just need painting once the main frame has been completed and window frames have been installed into place. I just need to add the planking sections to the other sides of the box. Still plenty of work to do!!!! Anyway, here are some progress shots. Front of the box Rear of the signal box View of the front where the box will finally sit, just held into place for the time being with blue tac to give an idea of how it will look. Best regards, Jeremy 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cornish trains jez Posted May 24, 2013 Author Share Posted May 24, 2013 Good afternoon, A small update this afternoon. I have been working on modifying and renumbering one of my 37/0's to Cornish branded loco number 37181, as she was during the mid 80's. I needed to cut down the cowlings and rebuild the buffer beam which I detailed in my blog here http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/990/entry-11378-par-station-in-n-gauge-soon-to-be-2fs-a-cornish-class-37-37181/ I have now added the numebr transfers, "Lizzie the Lizard" cornish emblems and also the etched snow ploughs but there is still a bit of work to do, namely the etched roof fan and grill, buffer beam detailing, a bit of weathering using powders and a mist of acrylic matt varnish to seal the deal! Anyway, here are a few progress shots. I hope to make some more progress on the signal box over the weekend. Head on view of the snowploughs. Jusr realised that the left hand snowplough is not quite straight so will need adjusting.The camera picks up on everything!! Best regards, Jeremy 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
treggyman Posted May 24, 2013 Share Posted May 24, 2013 Hi Looking great I know the feeling with the camera....You do your best...Stare at the end result from all angles...SPOT ON....Take a picture...Hmmmm But great work... Keep the updates coming Cheers Bill 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
winterbournecm Posted May 25, 2013 Share Posted May 25, 2013 Another surreal moment.... Reading this whilst working Par box! The layout is looking really good mate. We 00 gauge guys can only dream of nine coach platforms, you can make a realistic stab at the proper lengths etc... No 50s on the stoppers, but the Newquay trains start in earnest today a 9 car voyager out at Newqauy this morning, and a HST about to swing across to join the branch and wall to wall sunshine too! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bri.s Posted May 25, 2013 Share Posted May 25, 2013 Looking good really nice size layout for full length trains Will be watching with interest Brian 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tricky-CRS Posted May 25, 2013 Share Posted May 25, 2013 Looking good, I have a 37 earmarked for this conversion, got etched detail kit just need transfers, oh and some time. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cornish trains jez Posted May 25, 2013 Author Share Posted May 25, 2013 Hi Craig, Thank you for your kind comments. 9 car voyager at Newquay. Is that a first or regular for the summer timetable? Best regards, Jeremy Another surreal moment.... Reading this whilst working Par box! The layout is looking really good mate. We 00 gauge guys can only dream of nine coach platforms, you can make a realistic stab at the proper lengths etc... No 50s on the stoppers, but the Newquay trains start in earnest today a 9 car voyager out at Newqauy this morning, and a HST about to swing across to join the branch and wall to wall sunshine too! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cornish trains jez Posted May 25, 2013 Author Share Posted May 25, 2013 Thanks Brian! It's the first time that I have built a layout of this size so quite a challenge. Best regards, Jeremy Looking good really nice size layout for full length trainsWill be watching with interestBrian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cornish trains jez Posted May 25, 2013 Author Share Posted May 25, 2013 Looking good, I have a 37 earmarked for this conversion, got etched detail kit just need transfers, oh and some time. Thanks mate! It really makes a difference to the 37 to do the bogie conversion, and the etched brass buffers make a difference too. I agree with the "time" thing, it's a real struggle to find any these days with our 4 week old son, but nice when I do get a little modelling time in here and there. Best regards, Jeremy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
winterbournecm Posted May 25, 2013 Share Posted May 25, 2013 Hi Craig, Thank you for your kind comments. 9 car voyager at Newquay. Is that a first or regular for the summer timetable? Best regards, Jeremy It's a regular summer working Jeremy. Only one Voyager is available for passengers. The other one must be opened up (at Plymouth??). 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cornish trains jez Posted May 31, 2013 Author Share Posted May 31, 2013 Good evening all, Just a small update tonight. I have been spending a bit of time here and there over the course of this week and built a bit more of the signal box. I have concentrated on the entrance end. All achieved using plastic strip of various sizes and thicknesses. The panelling is slaters embossed plastic sheet, hence the different colour, but all will get a coat of white paint to finish it off eventually, then I may attack it with my weathering powders.......depending how brave I am!! This end is nearing completion now, with just the door and steps to do, and then some plastic filler to fill in some of the small gaps and then sand smooth to finish. Here are a couple of progress shots for now and hopefully after the weekend I will be able to post further progress. Best regards, Jeremy 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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