Churminster & Stowe Magna, Southern Railway

[Michael Edge]

I did all the drawings for the S11 for a subsequently cancelled order - might be of some help to you there.

[Tony Teague]

23 hours ago, Michael Edge said:

I did all the drawings for the S11 for a subsequently cancelled order - might be of some help to you there.

Mike

Yes, certainly would be if you are happy to share them.

Tony

Edited January 1, 2023 by Tony Teague

[Tony Teague]

Happy New Year to all followers of this thread!

 

Continuing the Annual Review of 2022, this post will cover Coaching Stock - where similalrly little has happened!

 

Just two new coaches and one NPCS vehicle were added during the year; the two coaches being a pair of Hornby's SR Maunsell 3rd class dining saloons which historically ran coupled to Kitchen / Buffet vehicles of the same origin:

 

 

These are nicely finished vehicles to the consistently high standard that Hornby have achieved with their other Maunsell coaching stock; my pair need the addition of corridor connections and perhaps some roof & underframe weathering prior to entering service.

 

The single NPCS vehicle acquired is one of Hattons generic 6 wheel coaches - in this case a Full Brake Tool Van to run as part of a future Churminster breakdown train:

 

 

Whilst the finish is good it is going to need some work to change it's (LMS) running number and to remove the work "Crewe" from the side, plus it is so fiercly black that it doesn't look quite right against the gray of the Bachmann breakdown crane - and there is no way that will get re-painted!

 

I saw this as a relatively quick way to complete the breakdown train since the remaining vehicle has been sat on my workbench for at least two and a half years - after I reached a difficult bit and couldn't work out how to finish it off (I still can't):

 

 

This is from a Branchline kit and may one day end up as a 'riding / tool' van if I can just work out what to do with the 6 wheel undergubbins! Overall I think the train could look about right, and in terms of livery, the "Southern Style" bible says variously, gray, dark gray, and black - so the right shade is in there somewhere!

 

Tony

[Tony Teague]

Continuing the Annual Review of 2022, this post will cover Wagons & Freight Stock - where, given my weakness for building wagons, it is perhaps surprising that none were built so far as I can recall! Nevertheless, there were some additions to stock, largely down to some interesting new RTR releases becoming available:

 

 

Back in February I picked up a couple of Oxford Rail's GER / LNER vans as I especially like variety in my van trains; Graham Muz then described how a number of the NE banana vans were loaned to the SR and re-lettered / numbered in the process - even better! I made the required alterations but the vans now need some weathering to hide the re-varnishing that occured once the new decals were in place.

 

Ultimately these will be interesting companions in a full length banana train, once the newly announced Accurascale  SR vans become available (and there are also a couple of ABS white metal SR banana vans in the fleet).

 

As reported back in November I also added a tranche of the new Rapido ex-SECR wagons & vans to the fleet - not just because they are really very good models but also because historically I have far too many private owner wagons in the fleet and far too few SR owned vehicles - so may aim will now be to dispose of some of the PO wagons.

 

 

The additions include 2, 5, and 7 plank vehicles - all of which look far too shiny!

 

 

A couple of the 7 planks are fitted with frames for canvas hoods which I hsll have to acquire and add.

 

 

Detailing on the vans is particularly striking and weathing should draw this out further.

 

 

The two planks are to be added to my Engineers train.

 

Finally I added a couple of the Rapido Gunpowder vans to work on the short supply trains into to military base at Charmy Bottom:

 

 

I'll conclude this review in the next day or so by covering scenery and equipment, where thankfully there is a bit more to say beyond "what I bought into stock"!

 

Tony

 

[St Enodoc]

12 hours ago, Tony Teague said:

if I can just work out what to do with the 6 wheel undergubbins!

Might be worth replacing it all with a Brassmasters Cleminson truck.

[Tony Teague]

5 hours ago, St Enodoc said:

Might be worth replacing it all with a Brassmasters Cleminson truck.

 

Thx will look into this possibility but I'm not sure it will solve the problem that I have created!

[Michael Edge]

PDF of my S11 drawing attached, I had spent some time getting this far when the order was abruptly cancelled - at least before I had done any etching work.

Screenshot above and pdf file below.

t.pdf

I'm still trying to work out the best way of getting my dotted lines to work with pdf, they do now show up clearly as you zoom in - I thought at first that they weren't there at all.

[Tony Teague]

Right, lets finish the Annual Review of 2022 which was not the most stunning year for the layout; we can only aim for a better 2023! This post will cover everything that remians, principally scenery & equipment, and it is perhaps the former where there has been most progress.

 

Back in February I was finally able to report that the Control Desk was 'finished' - and largely that is the case, there being only some additional logic to be added behind the scenes as we implement the remaining semaphore signals, and this will complete the 'interlocking':

 

 

I have just got to learn how to use it better!

 

 

The control 'suite' also includes the small, remote, side panel and both have provision for a small number of accessories yet to be implemented:

 

 

Additional LED lighting to the layout was also installed, plus the power supplies were tidied up - but I won't repeat those images which are available above!

 

Turning to scenery, much of the effort has focussed on the large remaining 'unscenic'd' area down the centre of the room, which looked like this at the start of 2022:

 

 

The unpainted backscenes shown here have since been completed by Mike Gascoigne - a significant achievement - although they are currently uninstalled so as to allow access to the rear of this area which is almost 6' across at the widest point; the narrower strip to the right / front of this area has been ignored for the time being since it is easily accessible from the front and so will be dealt with last.

 

At the near end of the central section, work is now all but complete, including the park gates to the estate of a large country house (which is situated just behind the backscene...); this view in the opposite direction to that above, looks back towards Churminster & the rear of the control desk, but the park lodge has not moved:

 

 

Beyond this, the landform is all but complete and a first layer of static grass is in place but a significant effort is still needed to complete it (excuse detritus!)

 

 

At the far end sits the former country halt at Charmy Bottom, now requisitioned and inside the perimiter of the RAF station; this too must be completed before the backscene goes back in:

 

 

So, considerable progress in this area which is probably 15' long and between 3' and 6' wide, but  a further big push will be needed to complete it.

 

Finally & in the last weeks of the year, the low profile factory building for Stowe Magna was completed and installed, leaving the site to be cleaned up in the New Year.

 

So overall there has indeed been progress but not on the scale of previous years, and I am hopeful of re-raising the pace in 2023.

 

Tony

 

 

Edited January 2, 2023 by Tony Teague

[Tony Teague]

8 hours ago, Michael Edge said:

PDF of my S11 drawing attached, I had spent some time getting this far when the order was abruptly cancelled - at least before I had done any etching work.

 

I'm still trying to work out the best way of getting my dotted lines to work with pdf, they do now show up clearly as you zoom in - I thought at first that they weren't there at all.

Many thanks Mike - I am sure this will help considerably!

Tony

[St Enodoc]

4 hours ago, Tony Teague said:

Right, lets finish the Annual Review of 2022 which was not the most stunning year for the layout; we can only aim for a better 2023! This post will cover everything that remians, principally scenery & equipment, and it is perhaps the former where there has been most progress.

 

Back in February I was finally able to report that the Control Desk was 'finished' - and largely that is the case, there being only some additional logic to be added behind the scenes as we implement the remaining semaphore signals, and this will complete the 'interlocking':

 

 

I have just got to learn how to use it better!

 

 

The control 'suite' also includes the small, remote, side panel and both have provision for a small number of accessories yet to be implemented:

 

 

Additional LED lighting to the layout was also installed, plus the power supplies were tidied up - but I won't repeat those images which are available above!

 

Turning to scenery, much of the effort has focussed on the large remaining 'unscenic'd' area down the centre of the room, which looked like this at the start of 2022:

 

 

The unpainted backscenes shown here have since been completed by Mike Gascoigne - a significant achievement - although they are currently uninstalled so as to allow access to the rear of this area which is almost 6' across at the widest point; the narrower strip to the right / front of this area has been ignored for the time being since it is easily accessible from the front and so will be dealt with last.

 

At the near end of the central section, work is now all but complete, including the park gates to the estate of a large country house (which is situated just behind the backscene...); this view in the opposite direction to that above, looks back towards Churminster & the rear of the control desk, but the park lodge has not moved:

 

 

Beyond this, the landform is all but complete and a first layer of static grass is in place but a significant effort is still needed to complete it (excuse detritus!)

 

 

At the far end sits the former country halt at Charmy Bottom, now requisitioned and inside the perimiter of the RAF station; this too must be completed before the backscene goes back in:

 

 

So, considerable progress in this area which is probably 15' long and between 3' and 6' wide, but  a further big push will be needed to complete it.

 

Finally & in the last weeks of the year, the low profile factory building for Stowe Magna was completed and installed, leaving the site to be cleaned up in the New Year.

 

So overall there has indeed been progress but not on the scale of previous years, and I am hopeful of re-raising the pace in 2023.

 

Tony

 

 

Is the country house the Officers' Mess?

[Tony Teague]

3 minutes ago, St Enodoc said:

Is the country house the Officers' Mess?

 

Regret that the Official Secrets Act precludes my answering your question - that's even assuming that I knew the answer, of course...😎

[St Enodoc]

10 minutes ago, Tony Teague said:

 

Regret that the Official Secrets Act precludes my answering your question - that's even assuming that I knew the answer, of course...😎

I'll take that as a yes.

[Graham T]

It's an RAF station - I doubt that a mere country house would have enough stars for them ...

 

[Tony Teague]

34 minutes ago, St Enodoc said:

I'll take that as a yes.

 

Drat!

[Podhunter]

On 31/12/2022 at 12:50, Tony Teague said:

LSWR Drummond S11

PDK recently announced etched kits for the S11 and L12.

[Tony Teague]

1 hour ago, Podhunter said:

PDK recently announced etched kits for the S11 and L12.

 

Thanks Podhunter - so they have.

This has been on the cards for a while but one never knows whether or not it will happen in one's lifetime!

I shall review and decide how to proceed.

Tony

[Sandhole]

On 31/12/2022 at 12:50, Tony Teague said:

Time to bite the bullet and start the Annual Review for 2022 - it will be short, as witnessed by the whole year being covred in less than 2 pages of RMWeb......

 

First off, locomotives and the missing list where my aims for the year seemed modest at the time, however, none came close to being achieved.

 

There were just 2 RTR stock additions in the shape of a pair of A12 Jubilee's from OO Works, but having only reported on these very recently I shall not repeat the images, and of course they did not affect the 'missing list'; no, the only saving grace here was Mike Edge's very recent delivery of the diminutive C14 loco - seen here with some other tiny friends (please excuse poor image):

 

 

 

The lack of acquisitions from the major RTR manufacturers is as striking as my own lack of progress, however, there were just no new offerings of Southern interest delivered in the period. This must be the smallest increase in loco fleet size in any year since I started railway modelling!

I am aware of the completion of two kit builds of very long gestation but postal issues mean that these will now be delivered in 2023, and in any event they do not affect the "Missing List" which now comprises just 8 types and stands as follows:

 

(The number in brackets represents the total number of each class originally built)
 
LB&SCR Billinton E5X  (4) - I have no excuses and this is now back on my workbench; it uses a 3D printed body and SEF E5 chassis, each of which  that has been in stock for more than

                                                  three and a half years! (a disgrace!)..

LB&SCR Marsh C3        (8) - Arun Sharma's 'kit of parts' for the loco and related B2X tender, are both with the intended builder & awaiting a slot in his work queue.

LB&SCR Marsh D3X     (1) - the solution proposed is via a 3D printed body, and use of the chassis from a Chivers D3 kit (in stock), however, design work on the body

                                                 has yet to start so this one is not going to be a quick win.

LB&SCR Billinton B4X (12) - A commission for this to be built from existing etches has been agreed, and so this one awaits its turn on the builder's list.

SECR Wainwright F1     (9) - Mike Edge's offer to build an ancient Jidenco kit has been accepted, although this will have to wait its turn in his workbook.

SECR Wainwright B1    (16) - SER Kits have had designs and drawings in hand for a 7mm kit for several years; they have indicated they are prepared to scale down to produce 4mm etches but

                                                 I am not aware of any recent progress; I was also made aware of a proposal to produce 3D printed models of this (and of the F1) but I have heard nothing further
LSWR Drummond S11 (10) - Andy Sparks has offered to assist with the build of what is a set of L12 body parts (S11 = L12 with smaller wheels or T9 with large boiler & smaller wheels); I have

                                                   yet  to acquire the correct driving wheels which are now available from Markits; the plan is to use an adapted SE Finecast T9 chassis.

SR Maunsell I1X       (18) - Development of a 3D printed body was halted by the pandemic but has since re-started; the intention remains to combine this with Alan Gibson milled chassis

                                                frames which are in stock

 

So we are now down to 8, which I classify as follows:

   'certain solution / within forseeable future' = 5: E5X, C3, B4X, F1, S11

   'some issues remain to be solved' = 2: D3X, I1X

   'very vague / need firming up' = 1: B1

 

The key question is, will I live long enough?

 

Tony

 

I think mortality is an ongoing question for a lot of us!

[Tony Teague]

3 hours ago, Sandhole said:

I think mortality is an ongoing question for a lot of us!

 

Yes, I have always understood that life is a sexually transmitted terminal condition 😟 - so it must affect everbody!

[Jack P]

On 01/01/2023 at 01:50, Tony Teague said:

So we are now down to 8, which I classify as follows:

   'certain solution / within forseeable future' = 5: E5X, C3, B4X, F1, S11

   'some issues remain to be solved' = 2: D3X, I1X

   'very vague / need firming up' = 1: B1

 

 

Hi Tony, 

 

Fantastic, Love the end of year updates. 

I'd be very interested to know how you get on with the C3. 

 

I've pestered Mike about the B4x, the one on Ian Rathbones site is an absolute marvel to behold.

 

Happy new year!

[Tony Teague]

I paid a most enjoyable visit to Tony Wright's Little Bytham this week and took along a couple of locos that had recently been delivered:

 

 

Mike Edge's C14 no.3744 looked superb shunting a couple of vans on LB's goods dock, whilst No.21C134 'Honiton' performed exceptionally well in hauling a heavy rake of Pullmans:

 

 

Taking these two to LB could be regarded as a high risk strategy since I had not had time to run either of them at home - but I was relived that they both performed faultlessly!

 

I have not previously shown the West Country on here but in fact it is one of a pair delivered only a week ago, being the last two kits that I had with Chris Phillips who has retired; he both built and painted this pair.

 

 

The PDK kits have been modified with some Albert Goodall / RT Models parts and whilst someone will probably tell me that they are still not accurate, they are certainly a lot better than the rest of my WC / BB fleet which are all based on two Hornby RTR models.

 

Tony

[Tony Teague]

The most recent pause has not been down to that old mojo, which I am pleased to report is alive and kicking!

No, its just that I've been busy and life got in the way of modelling.

Over the weekend have now managed to repair all of the 6 pairs of terraced houses that were damaged when being removed to fit the new, low profile, Stowe Magna Manufacturing building as well as completing the site clearance:

 

 

Aside from the street lights which will need re-seating and their connections checked, a number of the houses had lights in them, mainly grain of wheat bulbs, wired in series pairs, and these were all disconnected during removal; I have taken the opportunity to re-wire them in parallel as they really were too dim to give much light.

 

Four of the pairs also lacked chimney pots and some residents had complained of smoke inhalation, so this too has been fixed.

 

At the end of today the first four pairs were back in place, with the last two ready to follow:

 

 

There will then be some further detailing to do, paving to re-lay, wiring to re-connect beneath the baseboards etc, plus I have decided to replace the low wall and gate to the right of the new factory building as it now stands out like a sore thumb!

 

In an ideal world I would probably have replaced the houses themselves, but with so much to do I felt it better to put my efforts in elsewhere.

 

Tony

 

 

Edited January 15, 2023 by Tony Teague

[Tony Teague]

The postman brought me an interesting parcel this morning from those nice people at Kernow Models; this is what it contained:

 

 

A pleasant surprise because this was only ordered in November.

This is what was inside the very nice packaging (no, this is not an 'unboxing' video!):

 

 

It is SR, ex-LSWR cross-country Set No. 253 and at first sight it looks very good - dare I say it, a lot better than the Kernow / DJ Models Gate Stock of 4 or 5 years ago.

 

 

The 3-car set comprises two 4-compartment d.124 brake 3rds, plus one 7-compartment composite coach:

 

 

The set has yet to emerge from the box but I'll post some further pictures once it is on the track. I am sure that someone will review it in the meantime and point out any errors but my impression is that it really looks very good.

 

Receipt of this set brought me to thinking that although I have featured some of the coaching stock that operates on the layout before, it is some years since I have done so, and whilst this includes some 35 'fixed rake' numbered SR sets (plus a few un-numbered rakes such as the 'Golden Arrow' etc), only 9 of them have ever been shown here.

 

So, as a bit of a diversion from progress with scenic work I intend in the next few posts to illustrate some further coaching stock sets of varied quality & pedigree!

 

Tony

[chris45lsw]

A minor and simple improvement, Tony, would be to add a third class number '3' to each passenger door of the brake thirds.

 

Chris KT  

[Tony Teague]

8 hours ago, chris45lsw said:

A minor and simple improvement, Tony, would be to add a third class number '3' to each passenger door of the brake thirds.

 

Chris KT  

Yes, sounds like a simple but significant improvement (I hadn't yet noticed!).

[Tony Teague]

A bit of a gap as usual, but a small addition to stock arrived in the last 24 hours in the shape of two GW V6 iron minks:

 

 

These are the latest from Rapido and are just as detailed as their other recent offerings. Although I don't really do GWR, I like to have a good balance of wagons and vans from the 'big four' and these really fit the bill. My 2nd shot shows them with another recent Rapido release - a GW gunpowder van. All now need weathering - especially those white roofs!

 

 

In my last post I suggested that I might illustrate some of the numbered SR coaching stock sets available to run on the layout, so here are the 1st couple - please excuse a couple wonky images!:

 

 

Quite what happened when I put these on the track for photography I do not know - the wheels look to be on the track, but the whole set looks drunk! You'll have to believe me when I say that it doesn't run like that....

 

Set No.502 is an ex-LBSCR Isle of Wight set comprising No.4168, a 54'5", 5-compartment brake 3rd:

 

 

No.2416, a 54' trailer 3rd:

 

 

and No.4170 a 4-compartment brake 3rd:

 

 

The set was built for me by Ian Willets from Alan Gibson kits, painted by Larry Goddard, and is seen here (still drunk!) behind U1 class No.1901:

 

 

The loco was built & painted by Chris Phillips from a DJH kit.

The second set for this post is No.749, an ex-LBSCR 'Balloon stock' pull-push set - I say 'set', however, there it contains only one coach, No.3844 a driving trailer:

 

 

When this was built for me about 15 years ago from a Roxey Mouldings kit by Ian Willets (painted by Dave Studley), I was unable to find a kit for suitable trailer 3rd and so I commissioned etches for one from another source but sadly they never materialised.

 

 

If anyone can point me at a suitable kit I'd love to complete the set and would be most grateful, although how I would now get it lined to match this one, I have no idea!

 

 

Seen here with an ex-LBSCR loco, although the one I chose is not pull-push fitted, but I'll not tell anyone if you won't!

 

Tony

 

 

Edited February 11, 2023 by Tony Teague