Two Sister's Farm

[Broadoak]

As I had another exhibition coming up, I set the layout up to check clearances and the running of the Fordson rail truck. The controller I use on Two Sister’s Farm gives slightly slower running than a similar model on the switching layout that I used for testing the machine originally. I am pleased to say it runs very slowly and smoothly if a little noisily. I think this is due to the feedback controller as much as anything.

I have added a few more bits and dusted it over with chalks. I wanted to see what it looked like in an agricultural setting. I think the flash used in the photos make the driver look a little paler than he really is.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Peter M

Edited April 20, 2018 by Broadoak

[Broadoak]

Andy my ever reliable helper took a few photos while we were at at a show in aid of church funds in Rushden Northants.

They serve to illustrate a couple of minor additions I have made to the Fordson rail tractor. They are the addition a throttle control rod to the carburettor and a control rod to the magneto for the advance retard device.

The Porter has had the high bulkhead between the footplate and the boiler removed which has I think improved its appearance. Another figure has been added as company for the driver.

 

 

 

 

 

Peter M
 

Edited April 20, 2018 by Broadoak

[Broadoak]

I did a show at Reading last October and it being a two day affair I was kindly assisted on the Saturday by Simon Andrews (he of Badger’s Bottom fame).

On the Sunday when things quietened down in the late afternoon I had a wander round and found on the organising club’s stand a box of mixed figures all in different scales. I bought two 1/32 scale figures for 50 pence. They were un-painted and made of a hard white plastic. They both had thick bases and quite a lot of flash. After a lot of work with a scalpel and various files they have cleaned up quite well.

I painted both with acrylics and placed them on the layout these pictures show the two figures.

I have since found out that they are both from the old Airfix 1/32 Track Officials and Spectators set.

Apparently, these moulds were eventually acquired by MRRC and might still be available from Pendle Slot Car Racing - http://www.pendleslotracing.co.uk/

 

 

 

The mechanic in grubby brown overalls with a fuel can.

 

 

 

The estate owner’s brother in a duffle coat, walking stick and deer stalker has probably cadged a lift on one of the freelance shunters

 

 

 

Peter M

Edited April 24, 2018 by Broadoak

[rue_d_etropal]

just checked the website and I think those figurescare available. Although they are a local company, I think they only do mainly online business. Seem to remember a few years ago when I was running shop, only a few miles down the road, but I had people saying they could not visit them. I think they were in process of moving, but it always amazes me to find hobby businesses hiding down local streets. I think they might have some useful items for me though and they do list opening times for their showroom.

[Broadoak]

Hi Simon,

 

The figures look very good value at around £10 for 12 assorted characters.

I thought the two I have captured the look 1960's rather well as far as motor sport was concerned.

They are well moulded and could be altered with a bit of work.

 

Regards Peter M

[Broadoak]

I hadn't posted anything about Two Sister’s Farm for ages so I hope Mick Thornton doesn’t mind but here are three of his excellent photographs. They were taken at NG South Sparsholt College, Winchester.

 

I very much regret I cannot find the original photos.

 

Peter M

Edited April 24, 2018 by Broadoak

[Broadoak]

The old red bodied Simplex with the man riding on the bonnet has never looked quite right to me. So I have made a new body out of plasticard which is supposed to represent wooden panelling. It is very loosely based on a device working on the Fleet Light Railway which is pictured in Stewart Squires excellent Lincolnshire Potato Railways book. The body on mine is lower to clear the bridge into the fiddle yard. The one in the book looks as if you could stand up on the footplate, mine caters for a seated driver only.

 

 

 

 

Peter M

Edited April 25, 2018 by Broadoak

[Broadoak]

Sadly my old PC died in early 2013 so I have had to get a replacement. Among the features it has that I didn't have before was the facility to change colour photos to black and white or sepia. The new PC has this option so I thought I would give it a try.

I thought it would give a few of my pictures a sort of period look. With such a small layout there is not a lot more you can do. I say my pictures but they are all by Mick T or Andy K of course.

Overall I think I prefer the sepia look.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Peter M

Edited April 24, 2018 by Broadoak

[Removed a/c]

It does add a vintage charm, very nice. Merry Christmas !! 

[Broadoak]

Many thanks Scott,

 

A very Merry  Christmas and a Happy new year from  all the staff of Two Sisters Farm.

 

Regards Peter M

[Broadoak]

2013 was not a good year for electronic devices for me. Firstly my old computer died after some eight years use, then screen packed up and then to cap it all my wife's compact camera cried enough also. It has taken many images over the last thirteen years so I suppose I shouldn't complain really.

I have never owned a digital camera, I always borrowed the one belonging to my wife in the past. With that no longer working I have had to lash out on a device of my own.

 

These are a few images I have taken with the new camera while testing the layout and stock in readiness for the narrow gauge exhibition at Swanley.

 

 

 

 

The re-bodied Simplex working in the yard.

 

Peter M

Edited April 24, 2018 by Broadoak

[Broadoak]

I must admit I am very pleased with the Camera, it is a compact Canon and was on offer at half price. Its performance when used for close ups seems especially good. The image files are very large however and I was concerned about reducing them so that I could post the photographs.

 

So here are a few more taken before I try some file size reduction experiments.

 

 

The area under the rear wheel arch looked a little bare on the Quad so I added a small air tank and its associated piping on the offside. On the near side I added a small wooden toolbox.

 

 

The men outside the workshop put me in mind of a formula one team waiting for their car to pit for tyres and re-fuelling.

 

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Bachmann V tipper chassis and a rudimentary wooden body made of plasticard with an engine and other items piled on it to be repaired in the workshop.

 

 

It's Sunday morning and a quiet period in the yard, with the wooden bodied Simplex and Tilly resting between assignments.

 

 

Peter M
 

Edited April 25, 2018 by Broadoak

[ThePurplePrimer]

I love this layout and those newer pictures look great to me

[Broadoak]

Thanks Rob, put it down to the Camera. It's Canon Compact SX160 IS.

 

I have long admired your figures, it is probably best you don't look at mine.

 

 

Peter M

Edited December 21, 2014 by Broadoak

[ThePurplePrimer]

Hi Peter

 

I really like your figures actually. They look well painted to me and in my opinion they are some of the best placed and posed figures I have seen on a layout.

 

I have been mocking up some Gn15 ideas actually but your 32/35th scale stuff has a lot going for it - tempting

[Broadoak]

Hi Rob,

I am really chuffed that you like my figures, I just use watery washes of acrylic colour a little at a time.

 

With regard to having a go at 1/32-1/35 I can thoroughly recommend it. When I started Two Sisters I thought about GN15 but I wanted locos and rolling stock with a bit more heft, if you know what I mean.

Have a look at the figures mentioned in post no 78 and I'm sure you will be tempted by them.

 

Thanks again for your interest.

 

Regards Peter M

[Broadoak]

I have reset the camera to the M2 setting which gives images from 400 odd kb to 700 odd kb instead of 5 mb.

The only thing I'm not too keen on is the instruction manual is on disc and not hard copy, but then I am very old fashioned and I was a printer in my working life.
 

The quality is nearly as good from a posting pictures point of view as can be seen from the following pictures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not bad results from a camera on offer at half price costing around £80.

 

 

 

Peter M

Edited April 25, 2018 by Broadoak

[ThePurplePrimer]

Peter those pictures still look great for web work to me

 

You said the track is code 100 - is it all Peco Setrack ? - if so do you have any problem with slow running over the points

 

Also could you tell us a bit more about those lovely tractors

[Broadoak]

Hi Rob,

Yes the track is all code 100 Peco flexible with about a third of the sleepers removed. The points are dead frog Setrack, I tried 7 mm narrow gauge points but they took up too much room in the small area I had available.

Most of the rail trucks and some of the shunters run on Athearn chassis, these have five pole motors flywheels and pick up on all eight wheels. So they all run superbly, slow and smooth.

Some of the smaller four wheel shunters use either a Model Power with loads of weight added. The Fordson tractor based one runs on a Tenshodo bogie, the tractor is a white metal kit so is very heavy. The little Ruston runs on a Bachmann 44ton bogie. These vary and care is needed when negotiating the dead frogs, but plenty of weight seems to help matters.

 

With regard to the tractors I will give more details, both model and prototype, when I post some more pictures.

 

Regards Peter M

Edited January 31, 2015 by Broadoak

[Broadoak]

 

 

This is a Fordson Major E27N 1945-52 and is an early type without the three point linkage they were fitted with later. This means a 3 furrow plough for instance would have to be towed, in a similar way that a single furrow plough used by horses was. It as run on (TVO) paraffin but started on petrol, then changed over when the engine was warm. They had a three speed gearbox, a pulley for powering stationery equipment, like a threshing drum and a power take off at the rear just above the tow bar.

 

The model is a Scaledown white metal kit and they cost around £70, this particular model is rather delicate so I tend not to use it at exhibitions. The lubrication chart on the wall of the workshop is actually for this model.

These are my favourite tractor and as a lad I used to sit on the seat with the engine running with strict instructions not to touch anything, while my older cousin had his lunch. They were often known as tall majors because when sitting on one you are quite high up. It was to give better clearance over crops.

Incidentally it is the same model used on my railtractor.

 

 

 

Photo M Thornton

 

This is a Fordson Model N 1929-45 a precursor to Fordson Major, it used the same engine and transmission. They too had a power take at the rear. The smell of a tractor running on paraffin is like the smell of a steam engine never forgotten, one that would be good if you could put it in a bottle.

The model is also a Scaledown kit and like the major would be used to tow a plough as it had no three point linkage. I remember these as a lad too as the local farm had two of them, the drivers usually stood up when driving them.

 

 

Peter M
 

Edited April 25, 2018 by Broadoak

[ThePurplePrimer]

I don't know anything about old tractors but there is something very appealing about them

 

When I started to look into GN15 1/22.5 or 1/24 scale I was disappointed that I couldn't seem to find any tractor models in these scales

 

Just off to look at your tractor pictures again :-)

[Broadoak]

Coming a bit more up to date this is a Fordson Major E1A, 1951-64 a most successful diesel tractor, although not much more powerful than the tall major in its original form it was more reliable due to a much more modern diesel engine. It also had a six speed gearbox and three point linkage so ploughs and implements could be mounted on the tractor. This meant the tractor was easier to turn and took less room on the headlands in the fields.

The model is actually of a 1958 Fordson Power Major a more powerful version that had been developed by Ford. This is a ready made model by United Hobbies and comes ready made if not brilliantly glued together. But for around £20, ten minutes with a tooth pick and super glue to fix the loose attachments I still think it a bargain.

 

 

 

The small red tractor is a Massey Fergusson 35 and is fitted with a 3 cylinder diesel. I'm not sure how many gears it has, I should know I have driven one on a local farm.

The model is another Universal Hobbies version costing around £20. On Two Sister's Farm she is used for light yard work only.

 

 

 

A back view of the Fordson E1A blue colour, showing the three point linkage for fitting mounted implements to. She is used for heavier work on the farm.

 

A look at farmmodels.co.uk site will show the range of stuff available, but be warned tractors are addictive I have found.

 

I have got several 1/16 scale tractors and they are also made by UH and are superb.

 

Peter M
 

Edited April 25, 2018 by Broadoak

[Broadoak]

This little Fordson N or Standard should really be painted bright orange which is the colour they were when built. Ford quickly changed the colour to dark green as loads of orange tractors at Dagenham made an excellent guide for German bombers in the last war.

Mine a Scaledown kit is painted the same colours as the ones on the farm were I played when I was a lad.

 

[

 

Peter M

Edited April 25, 2018 by Broadoak

[Broadoak]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some pictures taken by David Pennington a visitor to the ExpoNG exhibition at Swanley.

David has kindly given me permission to post them.

 

 

Peter M

Edited April 23, 2018 by Broadoak

[Broadoak]

A few pictures taken a small exhibition in aid of church funds at Braunstone Leicester.

The exhibition itself was inside the church and is an annual event that specialises in small layouts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Peter M

Edited April 23, 2018 by Broadoak