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Down Ampney Layout Build & Workshop Thread (For All Things 7mm FS & 0-16.5)


CME and Bottlewasher
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On 21/05/2020 at 10:27, 37114 said:

Hi Martin, sorry to hear you are poorly, wish you a speedy recovery. Some great modelling here, like the work you have done on the Dinky models.

 

Re the IXO Bedford TK, they do a rigid version as well as Lion carrier:

thumbnail_20191118_202444.jpg.d1fcac95199cf92891a76a78ddb13b94.jpg.1d43e784821e9538a8f91025e3416176.jpg

The body is removable so I created this

thumbnail_20200128_192427.jpg.0fa9eeefbd1705036344650d43e078f2.jpg.5572d7c7bea95b409a1a867aa93102e4.jpg

 

I agree about the D series being a major gap in 1:43, I would also love a Leyland Ergomatic cab for a Blue Circle Cement tanker but am probably going to have to compromise with a 1:48 model from ASAM, they are doing a Lynx and also a number of the cement tankers already.

 

Very nice work! And I agree. Good to hear ASAM might be doing some more kits. Nice to have something to look forward to. Thanks for the kind words too.

On 21/05/2020 at 20:08, Barnaby said:

Take care Martin and partner may your health improve greatly with each passing day.

 

Best

Thank you, recovery is slow and not linear, up and down, a strange and insidious bug.

On 22/05/2020 at 05:56, Hal Nail said:

Sorry for hijack but may be relevant to Martin. I've picked up one of those lions versions - have you shortened the chassis slightly or is that as it came. I thought it looked quite long initially but looking at your photos, that strange low body may be causing that illusion.

 

Secondly did you source bedford transfers or mask the existing badge? I know a few people looking as it's been discussed elsewhere

No worries about the hijack good to have something to focus upon.

On 22/05/2020 at 17:32, mike hughes said:

That's really sad to hear of this Martin. I really wish both of you a good and speedy recovery.

 

Kind Regards

Michael

Thanks for the kind wishes Michael much appreciated.

 

Thank you everyone for chipping in with the modelling and kind words and well wishes. All much appreciated, always good to see others' work, inspirational.

 

I hope above hope that this virus burns itself out across the world, as it's horrible.

 

We've had to "Long Tail" version and it seems to affect folk differently although this version/effect was affecting a few more. And the Chinese are claiming that us Europeans/Brits have given this version back to them?

 

Stay well everyone and take good care of yourselves and your families.

 

On better days I've ordered one or two bits, or should I say preordered as several things are out of stock, hopefully when they get here I'll be feeling better. Exhaustion, sensitivities in my chest etc means that solvent welding or soldering is a no no, even a tiny bit of dust affects us - one's body seems hyper alert, over sensitive. Fingers crossed that will pass.

 

Looking forward to model making and getting that last garden board in! LOL!

 

Kindest regards, thanks again,

 

Martin.

 

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11 hours ago, CME and Bottlewasher said:

Very nice work! And I agree. Good to hear ASAM might be doing some more kits. Nice to have something to look forward to. Thanks for the kind words too.

Thank you, recovery is slow and not linear, up and down, a strange and insidious bug.

No worries about the hijack good to have something to focus upon.

Thanks for the kind wishes Michael much appreciated.

 

Thank you everyone for chipping in with the modelling and kind words and well wishes. All much appreciated, always good to see others' work, inspirational.

 

I hope above hope that this virus burns itself out across the world, as it's horrible.

 

We've had to "Long Tail" version and it seems to affect folk differently although this version/effect was affecting a few more. And the Chinese are claiming that us Europeans/Brits have given this version back to them?

 

Stay well everyone and take good care of yourselves and your families.

 

On better days I've ordered one or two bits, or should I say preordered as several things are out of stock, hopefully when they get here I'll be feeling better. Exhaustion, sensitivities in my chest etc means that solvent welding or soldering is a no no, even a tiny bit of dust affects us - one's body seems hyper alert, over sensitive. Fingers crossed that will pass.

 

Looking forward to model making and getting that last garden board in! LOL!

 

Kindest regards, thanks again,

 

Martin.

 

Martin,

Wondered what had happened to you as not seen anything from you for sometime.

Best wishes to both of you from both of us.

Kathy and Alan

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  • 3 weeks later...
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45 minutes ago, Owd Bob said:

Your nicely clipped and shaped Lonicera has gone a bit to pot CME, you've had a bloody good excuse as to why though.;)

 

I made the mistake of pruning everything for the first time this year. Had gorgeous blossom in spring but now cant actually get into the garden for the rampant growth.

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35 minutes ago, Hal Nail said:

 

I made the mistake of pruning everything for the first time this year. Had gorgeous blossom in spring but now cant actually get into the garden for the rampant growth.

It's been ideal growing weather over the past few weeks, warm then wet, then warm then wet again.  Lonicera will always come back no matter how long you leave them or hard you have to scalp 'em, they are just a typical privet.

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4 hours ago, Owd Bob said:

Your nicely clipped and shaped Lonicera has gone a bit to pot CME, you've had a bloody good excuse as to why though.;)

Yes, indeed, OB.....sadly........not sure if our health will ever be the same, it's an unknown and at week 12 there is improvement, but its three steps forward and two-four steps back. But we are luckier than some, even if it doesn't always feel like it...

3 hours ago, Owd Bob said:

It's been ideal growing weather over the past few weeks, warm then wet, then warm then wet again.  Lonicera will always come back no matter how long you leave them or hard you have to scalp 'em, they are just a typical privet.

Sadly the wind, rain through winter has bent one privet hedge double and messed up taller Lonicera, bent that double too. Swmbo pottered for 15mins, made a slight dent in it, left us feeling cr@p and struggling for breath.

 

I may have to chop one Privet hedge back to brown wood - not sure if it'll come back from that or not.  I usually cut the tops out of new privet to strengthen the base, this winter one privet stood firm, the other lost all it's leaves then sprouted all over the joint and I got ill so it got left....

3 hours ago, Hal Nail said:

 

I made the mistake of pruning everything for the first time this year. Had gorgeous blossom in spring but now cant actually get into the garden for the rampant growth.

That happens, all the wind and rain on clay ground? Like a quagmire. Then the heat wave through May? Mullered some plants, split asunder the patio and steps, split bricks. All the while we were indoors battling away with the you know what blissfully unaware. Now I'm having to reconsider lots, including the garden and railway.

 

I'm hoping for the best, but best start planning for the worst.

Edited by CME and Bottlewasher
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  • 3 weeks later...

Thought I'd post a few photos.

 

My, thankfully spritetly, 86 year old father came and did some work on our Covid 19 garden. We helped, with ultra light duties and were halted by breathlessness, burning chest pain and extreme fatigue. Week 17 of this now. But we've survived into the new world order, comrades:D:rolleyes:

 

More photos to follow as I'm up to my 10mb allowance - sorry, beyond my control.

 

Oh and our paving plus patio is split assunder due to rain, frost, wind, and Swinedown clay shift - oh b#gger!

 

Dare not look at the baseboards and track - until I'm more sustained and recuperated.

 

Good news though the privet had realigned with previous remedial prune and although battered didn't require cutting down to half its size. We will get some more height out of right hand hedge in late September.

IMG_20200707_160928.jpg

IMG_20200707_160939.jpg

Edited by CME and Bottlewasher
editing due to silly 10mb photo rule
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Looking very neat and tidy CME, you've got clay shifts, and ive got coal shafts :D Both take it easy and do'nt over do it. :agree: Only God knows how much in sixpences i've had to spend since i turned 50 and how many Horses have bolted. :crazy:

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On 07/07/2020 at 20:26, Owd Bob said:

Looking very neat and tidy CME, you've got clay shifts, and ive got coal shafts :D Both take it easy and do'nt over do it. :agree: Only God knows how much in sixpences i've had to spend since i turned 50 and how many Horses have bolted. :crazy:

Thanks OB.

 

We had a cost effective garden contractor to do the front garden, local chap, excellent. But that'll need remodelling too in a year or two.

 

I've had another relapse, seems like even light duties are beyond me. I'll keep bouncing boundaries though, even if I get it wrong from time to time.

 

Another photo, my 10mb allowance is back, I must have been a good boy :rolleyes::D

 

Stay safe and well all, the restrictions are lifted and the madness descendeth.

 

TTFN,

 

CME

IMG_20200707_160942.jpg

Edited by CME and Bottlewasher
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4 minutes ago, railwayrod said:

Sorry to hear of your problems so lets hope that you will soon be back to normal. Garden is looking well though and once you are fit again I am sure your will enjoy running a train around.

 

Rod

Thanks Rod,

 

Funny old game really, bit like snakes and ladders. Doing better than some though, so God willing it'll all come good.

 

How are you these days? Well I hope.

 

Kindest regards,

 

CME

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Hi Martyn.

 

Yes we are fine so far. Have kept up my daily walk and just lately have been walking in small groups within the guidelines. Last Saturday we did a 15.6 mile walk to Berry Pomeroy castle. Great to be in the fresh air and to meet up with a few friends.

 

Rod

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23 hours ago, railwayrod said:

Hi Martyn.

 

Yes we are fine so far. Have kept up my daily walk and just lately have been walking in small groups within the guidelines. Last Saturday we did a 15.6 mile walk to Berry Pomeroy castle. Great to be in the fresh air and to meet up with a few friends.

 

Rod

That's good to hear, excellent news in fact. My mobility isn't great.

 

Stay safe and well.

 

ATVB

 

M.

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  • 4 weeks later...

My snakes and ladders journey with SARS Covid 19/2 continues.

 

I thought I'd just mention here for those that hadn't heard, the passing of Adrian Swain (ABS).

 

The loss to the hobby of a highly skilled, kindly, knowledgeable man and his superb products. A big loss to the hobby in every respect. His knowledge was wide ranging and in depth to the esoteric level.

 

We won't see his likes again.

 

RIP Adrian and condolences to his sister and wider family.

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  • 1 month later...

A brief(ish) update.

 

I havent looked closely, but outdoor, baseboards look okay, some show a minor bubbling of the MRF, we had hoped, with father's help, to get last 2' of MRF down, but Long Tail CV19 is still the gift that keeps giving. And we are trying to play catch up with chores, car servicing etc. Plus my partner's health is severly challenged again. And I'm not far behind.

 

If we/I can't beat this illness, then I will have to have a major rethink of my modelling activity. Also my prsecence here too. I'm still considering a vlog or blog, or maybe one of the specialist garden/larger scale sites. My line is 50/50 (or one day might be) 50% garden 50% garage. There are other issues, with aspects of this forum, present company excepted, that have become tiresome and unsavoury. I have to try and balance those against the positives, Eg the camaraderie, the brotherhood, the help, support and wealth of knowledge here. I'm still pondering such, I'd like to find somewhere with less of a levered, commercial bias, whereby considerate factual free speech is welcome and the modellers/buyers come first. I'm still not sure if such things are possible in this 'new world order' of 2020, but I am hopeful.

 

The garden requires the patio and steps being repaired which is beyond us at this time. And recommendations for decent traders are mixed plus thin on the ground. That requires some thought and expenditure.

 

I'm happy that our H&BLR has been a success, has been used as a vehicle for multifaceted charitable works. I always wanted to do more to/with that railway, but this adventure into 7mm 'grewed like Topsy'. My hope? That Down Ampney doesn't become a white elephant.

 

Unless we have warm weather throughout October, my health improves, and all the chores are done, this season for garden railway modelling will soon be at a close - for me and Down Ampney.

 

I shall reassess it all in the Spring, the birth of this line has been tougher than it should have been. First we were misold timber, lesson learnt, the hard way, then my partner and I suffered numerous health challenges, operations and procedures since 2015.

 

As I'd written elsewhere about such matter's, the loss of people such as Adrian Swain, Chris Klien, a few years on, Jack Ray et al, coupled with health challenges, has kind of knocked the wind out of my sails. Hopefully next spring will see sails pulled out of the water, dried, a new course set, and a fair wind behind me, maybe on a new lake or ocean. Fingers crossed and time will tell.

 

I think that this winter will be, for many, many, people, a very significant time. I've said throughout 2020 that we will all be better informed by Spring 2021.

 

TTFN and best wishes to you all, stay safe and stay well (written with sincerity).

 

CME.

 

 

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2 hours ago, CME and Bottlewasher said:

with aspects of this forum, present company excepted, that have become tiresome and unsavoury.

 

Er.... Hate to put a dampener on things but who has said you are an exception???!!! :)

 

This will be the first year in his adult life that my 73 year old Dad hasn't played cricket but with covid etc he just doesnt feel like it at the moment even though technically they have restarted, albeit with no tea or beer! Seems a real shame for him not to finish on his own terms and we are all hoping come next year and (hopefully) things improved, the enthusiasm will be back.

 

Just one of many examples but my point is its affected many people in strange ways and I wouldn't give anything too much thought at the moment and just get through to next year and see how things are then. (I say this while putting the house on the market as ive had enough of it!)

 

Chin up!

 

 

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