RMweb Premium Popular Post 31A Posted August 29, 2021 Author RMweb Premium Popular Post Share Posted August 29, 2021 Some Motive Power developments recently, of which more later. But today I decided this long standing item of motive power had offended my eyes once too often. 61270's always been a good runner, and I'm quite pleased with how the weathering turned out, but this is a 'wiggly pipe' too far! I don't think it can have been like that when I got it otherwise I would have noticed, and the same pipes on the other two Hornby B1s are dead straight (as they are on other Hornby locos). So I don't know why this has happened, but today it was time to sort it out. Not difficult to do - a piece of 1mm brass rod, and two split pins did the job. Looking at pictures of real B1s, it seems this pipe was only clipped to the boiler in two places, at the first and third boiler bands, whereas Hornby have put a 'peg' at each boiler band. So I plugged the two unnecessary holes with bits of plastic rod, and painted them black. Here is the body, with the new pipe temporarily in place. I then took it off again to paint it, and then put it back on again. No glue was used; I just bent out the legs of the two split pins inside the boiler; the front of the pipe fits in the hole in the smokebox, and the rear end passes through a hole in the cab front. Job done; back in traffic: 32 6 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Popular Post 31A Posted September 1, 2021 Author RMweb Premium Popular Post Share Posted September 1, 2021 I mentioned the other day that there had been Motive Power developments; it has been an expensive month! Those naughty chaps on Merseyside seemed to be having a clear out and waved some nice Hornby engines under my nose; a K1 at £74 - would have been rude not to! I think the Hornby K1 is a lovely model, so I didn't need to think very long about getting a second one. This one is a 'late crest' version so I thought I'd keep it looking fairly presentable. 62065 was a North Eastern loco all its life though, but 62066 spent most of its years at March which was a lot more suitable, so there was a quick change of identity. I just changed the last digit of the number using HMRS Methfix transfers. The Hornby digits are a bit more 'yellow' than the Methfix, but after some weathering I don't think the difference is too obvious. No sooner had the bank card been put away than I learnt that Monk Bar Models had the new Bachmann Class 24 in stock, and I'd had one on order for a while. So off we went down Goodramgate and came back with this shiny new Diesel. I'd intended it to be a replacement for the old Bachmann model that I'd had for years, but looking at the old one again I don't think it's that bad and I'm happy that they'll sit alongside each other. Although D5054 will need its cab handrails mending on the other side! So I got all the 'fiddly bits' put; on all but the screw coupling could be fitted I think, and then gave this one some light weathering as well. Looking at pictures of diesels when they were new in the late '50s / early '60s, a lot of them seem to have remained quite clean for quite a while so I was restrained with the weathering. Thanks to @Clive Mortimore for confirming that this batch of Darlington built locos had unpainted bodyside grilles, which make this one look distinctively different; however I thought they were a bit too 'bling' and toned them down a bit by running some thinned 'grot' colour into the louvres. Coincidentally this was also a March loco when new, but then went in short order to Stratford and then Finsbury Park; I've put it into the "Inner Suburban" link together with D5054 although I'm not sure quite which depot lays claim to it at the moment, however it has still got 31B shed plates on the ends. 32 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Blenk Posted September 2, 2021 Share Posted September 2, 2021 Always look forward to posts on F.P. they never disappoint! IB 3 5 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium 31A Posted September 2, 2021 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted September 2, 2021 1 hour ago, Ian Blenk said: Always look forward to posts on F.P. they never disappoint! IB Thank you Ian, very kind of you to say so. There isn't always much to report! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Popular Post 31A Posted September 11, 2021 Author RMweb Premium Popular Post Share Posted September 11, 2021 The new K1 62066 has been slotted into the Great Eastern Link on the loco roster, and coincidentally after the photo session this meant it was in the right place in the Loco Yard to work No. 20 Down in place of the D16 62530, which was also in the yard. This meant that 62530 was 'spare' on shed and cluttering the place up. Eventually a means of working it away was devised, coupled ahead of the booked loco (J15 65390)for the Loco Coal Empties. Here we see the Sweedy pair making their way along the Down Slow; a surplus of power for this short train! 26 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium PhilJ W Posted September 11, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 11, 2021 Isn't it normal practice for the lighter engine to pilot when double heading therefore the J15 should be in front? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium 31A Posted September 11, 2021 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted September 11, 2021 20 minutes ago, PhilJ W said: Isn't it normal practice for the lighter engine to pilot when double heading therefore the J15 should be in front? Too difficult to shunt them round that way, Phil - they're only going a little way. It's just a marriage of convenience! Anyway the Claud hasn't got a tension lock on the front!! 3 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Popular Post 31A Posted September 16, 2021 Author RMweb Premium Popular Post Share Posted September 16, 2021 (edited) Recently I've been doing point rodding, or rather trying to avoid doing point rodding. About a year ago I did this section between platforms 3 and 4, as a trial (it was). The rods lead off beneath the platform, at the bottom of the picture. Emerging from the other side of the wooden platform, they then need to run between platforms 1 and 2 to reach where the signal box will be. As this is an area where shunters and other staff would be working, it occurred to me that I could avoid modelling the rodding as a whole by instead modelling a boarded covering. Nevertheless, I would have to model one of the rodding runs, as it would be visible from the side. This is the beginnings of the project, with the boarding made from 1.5mm ply, chamfered at the edge to make it look thinner. The actual rodding is made from the 0.45mm square N/S wire that Wizard Models sells for the purpose. The 'legs' are also 1.5mm ply; in reality I suspect these would be metal stands with the rods passing underneath, but hopefully this subterfuge is not too obvious when finished and painted. The visible ends of the rollers are pieces from the Brassmaster etched rodding rollers, cut off and soldered to the side of the rod. This shows the finished item, viewed from the north end. After leaving the cover, the rodding runs have to cross the platform 1 and dock siding lines, to reach the cess. Having not anticipated this when I laid the Peco Streamline, the rodding runs had to be made up of separate sections between the rails. Needless to say, the sleepers didn't line up with each other either, so getting across the lines is all a bit of a fudge really. I have tried using the etched brass rollers from Brassmasters, but couldn't get on with them. So the stools and in the foreground are represented by sections of copper clad sleeper, with a piece of 1mm square wire soldered across it to represent the roller. The rodding is then soldered to that wire, and a section of 0.45mm round wire soldered across that to represent the top rollers. Where the rodding lies within the four foot, I soldered pieces of the rodding wire to 'staples' made from 0.45mm wire, which could then be pressed into the cork underlay. Luckily, the ballast (which had been stuck down with dilute Copydex) was easy enough to dig out from the sleeper 'bays'! This view from a similar angle shows the continuation of the rodding beneath the dock siding, in the foreground. I decided the above method was too complicated, so for this bit I cut pieces of black plasticard to fit into the sleeper bays, and represented the rodding in the four foot by sections of 0.5mm square plastic rod painted grey and stuck to the black plasticard. I think this method is the way forward for rodding within the four foot, as it was easier to get the rodding to lie flat, and to at least try and make it look as if it's a continuation of the rodding from the six foot! There will be more 'ground cover' in this area eventually, but before that there will need to be more rodding installed to the right. This view from the other end shows where the rodding crosses the platform 2 road and the middle road, and the runs under the cover between the middle road and platform 1. There is another short boarded section to the left; as well as shunters walking, this is approximately where loco cab steps often come to rest. I have blended it all in with an application of 'ground cover grot' and a wash of thin grey / brown acrylic. I still need to do the bit where it disappears under the platform. This is all a prelude to replacing the dummy colour light Platform 3 & 4 starters, that have been there temporarily for about 20 years, with a gantry of proper semaphores (although don't expect to see that too soon!). Edited September 16, 2021 by 31A Remove photo posted in error! 21 14 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Popular Post 31A Posted September 18, 2021 Author RMweb Premium Popular Post Share Posted September 18, 2021 Saturday morning line up in the Loco: 30 3 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium TrevorP1 Posted September 19, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 19, 2021 My eyes went straight to the excellent brick building. Kings Cross Passenger Loco? 1 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium 31A Posted September 19, 2021 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted September 19, 2021 1 hour ago, TrevorP1 said: My eyes went straight to the excellent brick building. Kings Cross Passenger Loco? Thank you , Trevor! The whole area is sort of based on that, as is the building but it isn't an exact copy of anything. I think I took the proportions of doors, windows etc. from the old Prototype Models kit of Heckington station. The lean-to lobby at this end is inspired by one on a building at Top Shed. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Chas Levin Posted September 19, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 19, 2021 19 hours ago, 31A said: Saturday morning line up in the Loco: Triffic photo Steve, full of real atmosphere. Very neat trick using real sunlight on a layout, only seen that once or twice before but it really works... (if that's not real sunlight, I fully accept my poor observational skills...). 3 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium 31A Posted September 19, 2021 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted September 19, 2021 1 hour ago, Chas Levin said: Triffic photo Steve, full of real atmosphere. Very neat trick using real sunlight on a layout, only seen that once or twice before but it really works... (if that's not real sunlight, I fully accept my poor observational skills...). Thanks Chas, yes it is sunlight. It's an unusual viewpoint; I poked my head under the girder bridge that defines the entrance to the fiddle yard and that was what I saw, with the morning sun shining strongly yesterday morning. I thought it looked quite good so I did a quick snap with my phone! 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Mark C Posted September 19, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 19, 2021 On 16/09/2021 at 17:39, 31A said: Recently I've been doing point rodding, or rather trying to avoid doing point rodding. About a year ago I did this section between platforms 3 and 4, as a trial (it was). The rods lead off beneath the platform, at the bottom of the picture. Emerging from the other side of the wooden platform, they then need to run between platforms 1 and 2 to reach where the signal box will be. As this is an area where shunters and other staff would be working, it occurred to me that I could avoid modelling the rodding as a whole by instead modelling a boarded covering. Nevertheless, I would have to model one of the rodding runs, as it would be visible from the side. This is the beginnings of the project, with the boarding made from 1.5mm ply, chamfered at the edge to make it look thinner. The actual rodding is made from the 0.45mm square N/S wire that Wizard Models sells for the purpose. The 'legs' are also 1.5mm ply; in reality I suspect these would be metal stands with the rods passing underneath, but hopefully this subterfuge is not too obvious when finished and painted. The visible ends of the rollers are pieces from the Brassmaster etched rodding rollers, cut off and soldered to the side of the rod. This shows the finished item, viewed from the north end. After leaving the cover, the rodding runs have to cross the platform 1 and dock siding lines, to reach the cess. Having not anticipated this when I laid the Peco Streamline, the rodding runs had to be made up of separate sections between the rails. Needless to say, the sleepers didn't line up with each other either, so getting across the lines is all a bit of a fudge really. I have tried using the etched brass rollers from Brassmasters, but couldn't get on with them. So the stools and in the foreground are represented by sections of copper clad sleeper, with a piece of 1mm square wire soldered across it to represent the roller. The rodding is then soldered to that wire, and a section of 0.45mm round wire soldered across that to represent the top rollers. Where the rodding lies within the four foot, I soldered pieces of the rodding wire to 'staples' made from 0.45mm wire, which could then be pressed into the cork underlay. Luckily, the ballast (which had been stuck down with dilute Copydex) was easy enough to dig out from the sleeper 'bays'! This view from a similar angle shows the continuation of the rodding beneath the dock siding, in the foreground. I decided the above method was too complicated, so for this bit I cut pieces of black plasticard to fit into the sleeper bays, and represented the rodding in the four foot by sections of 0.5mm square plastic rod painted grey and stuck to the black plasticard. I think this method is the way forward for rodding within the four foot, as it was easier to get the rodding to lie flat, and to at least try and make it look as if it's a continuation of the rodding from the six foot! There will be more 'ground cover' in this area eventually, but before that there will need to be more rodding installed to the right. This view from the other end shows where the rodding crosses the platform 2 road and the middle road, and the runs under the cover between the middle road and platform 1. There is another short boarded section to the left; as well as shunters walking, this is approximately where loco cab steps often come to rest. I have blended it all in with an application of 'ground cover grot' and a wash of thin grey / brown acrylic. I still need to do the bit where it disappears under the platform. This is all a prelude to replacing the dummy colour light Platform 3 & 4 starters, that have been there temporarily for about 20 years, with a gantry of proper semaphores (although don't expect to see that too soon!). I particularly like the variation in ballast appearance and colour in the nearest track in the final photo. It very realistically and subtly recognises that ballast is not uniform in either and is affected by dripping water, steam and oil etc etc. How did you achieve that? Thanks Mark 2 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium 31A Posted September 19, 2021 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted September 19, 2021 17 minutes ago, Mark C said: I particularly like the variation in ballast appearance and colour in the nearest track in the final photo. It very realistically and subtly recognises that ballast is not uniform in either and is affected by dripping water, steam and oil etc etc. How did you achieve that? Thanks Mark Thank you Mark! I'm glad you like it; scenic work is not my favourite task. The track ballast in the loco yard is mainly done with Woodland Scenics Fine Cinders, but I mixed in all sorts of other stuff; real ash, sieved sand, Polyfilla. Some bits didn't come out as I'd expected so I went back and did them again, so there is quite a bit of variation I suppose. I see there seems to be a few sleeper bays with no ballast at all on the right hand line off the point; I hadn't noticed that before and it isn't really apparent from usual viewing angles. The areas between the lines were covered by painting with Sandtex masonry paint (a mix of black and French Grey paints) and then 'ground cover' sieved onto it while wet using a tea strainer. The 'ground cover' is a mix of sand / Polyfilla / Cascamite powdered wood glue / black powder paint. Again I wasn't always happy with the result and went back and did some areas again. After I'd finished, I thought the area between the road looked too rough so I went over it again with the Sandtex paint mixture, which has made it a lighter colour, as well as smoother. Here is another view from a more usual angle, and with more normal lighting. The ballast on the line nearest the office building is meant to look a bit tidier; it is Woodland Scenics fine grey ballast mixed with the fine cinders. 17 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold simon b Posted September 19, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 19, 2021 (edited) On 16/09/2021 at 17:39, 31A said: This is all a prelude to replacing the dummy colour light Platform 3 & 4 starters, that have been there temporarily for about 20 years, with a gantry of proper semaphores (although don't expect to see that too soon!). Is that the Ratio LNER signal kit with ekon color light heads? I'd like to make something similar. Edited September 19, 2021 by simon b 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium 31A Posted September 19, 2021 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted September 19, 2021 Just now, simon b said: Is that the Ratio LNER signal kit with ekon color light heads? Nearly; but they're not Eckon colour light heads, they are the non working ones from the Knightwing plastic kits. I never meant them to work, they were only meant to be 'place markers' about 20 years ago! 3 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold simon b Posted September 19, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 19, 2021 2 hours ago, 31A said: Nearly; but they're not Eckon colour light heads, they are the non working ones from the Knightwing plastic kits. I never meant them to work, they were only meant to be 'place markers' about 20 years ago! Thanks for that, they have just the sort of look I'd like to recreate. I shall have to shamelessly borrow your idea. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Popular Post 31A Posted September 19, 2021 Author RMweb Premium Popular Post Share Posted September 19, 2021 1 minute ago, simon b said: Thanks for that, they have just the sort of look I'd like to recreate. I shall have to shamelessly borrow your idea. Please feel free to borrow! They're not based on anything real, I had in mind a kind of LNER 'might have been' if Finsbury Square had been resignalled in the 1930s like King's Cross and a few other places were, although I don't think they actually used semaphore style lattice posts anywhere. It's not impossible, though. Here's a picture which shows it better. I think the discs were from an old MSE etch of upper quadrant signal arms, but you could probably cut them out of thin plasticard with an office punch. The thing on the stick is meant to be a roller blind type route indicator for Down Slow or Down Fast from Platform 3; the kind of thing that was used at King's Cross and other places. 21 1 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
manna Posted September 20, 2021 Share Posted September 20, 2021 G'Day Folks Always a treat when we get a update. manna 1 3 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Popular Post 31A Posted November 14, 2021 Author RMweb Premium Popular Post Share Posted November 14, 2021 And so, the twenty year jigsaw puzzle that has been the Finsbury Square station buildings is at last finished, with the last section of the Platform 4 buildings finally in place! The proportions of the brick building are loosely based on the old Prototype Models card kit for Heckington station, with a Gents added at the left hand end. The windows are also from that kit, having been sold as a separate item by Freestone Model Accessories; I'm not sure whether they're still available but if not it's a pity. They're printed on clear plastic, but provide for the sash windows to be modelled in relief. The roof makes use of various bits from the AIrfix (Dapol) Platform Canopy kit, as do the other canopies on the station. Most of the rest is from plasticard, and the skylight is Ratio. It's clear from the unpainted pictures which is which! The finished building, with added gas lamps and sign. Unfortunately when it's in position a lot of this won't really be seen. As with the other buildings, it sits within a recess cut into the top surface of the platform. And finally, in position. 28 9 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Clive Mortimore Posted November 14, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 14, 2021 Hi Steve It looks cold and drafty like many GNR stations......even in summer. 3 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullie Posted November 14, 2021 Share Posted November 14, 2021 1 hour ago, 31A said: And so, the twenty year jigsaw puzzle that has been the Finsbury Square station buildings is at last finished, with the last section of the Platform 4 buildings finally in place! The proportions of the brick building are loosely based on the old Prototype Models card kit for Heckington station, with a Gents added at the left hand end. The windows are also from that kit, having been sold as a separate item by Freestone Model Accessories; I'm not sure whether they're still available but if not it's a pity. They're printed on clear plastic, but provide for the sash windows to be modelled in relief. The roof makes use of various bits from the AIrfix (Dapol) Platform Canopy kit, as do the other canopies on the station. Most of the rest is from plasticard, and the skylight is Ratio. It's clear from the unpainted pictures which is which! The finished building, with added gas lamps and sign. Unfortunately when it's in position a lot of this won't really be seen. As with the other buildings, it sits within a recess cut into the top surface of the platform. And finally, in position. Looks superb. Martyn 3 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold lezz01 Posted November 14, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 14, 2021 Another fab build and equally fab paint/weathering job Steve. Regards Lez. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Mallard60022 Posted November 15, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 15, 2021 (edited) I bet that Station is cosy almost all the time during the day due to its' position. In winter it might get a bit murky due to the smoke from the various fires and locally, as well as the locos of course. I can even imagine the smell on a busy Summer's day. A heady mix of Sulpher, Dettol and Creosote and that was just the Buffet. Clive needs to get a vest as he is a softy Southerner. He knows nuffink. When I were a lad down west, even in August, we used to have to set light to our spotter's Books to keep warm and we never had any shoes, just old sack that we nicked from the Tin Mine Manager's Bothy. Here is a pic of my School Bus in mid Summer: P Edited November 15, 2021 by Mallard60022 To observe that Bere Regis isn't in Devon. 1 1 15 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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