When TT3 was the next Big Thing

[Il Grifone]

I never measured the real thing, despite living there (after Heljan had left!), but it was my impression.

 

There's one built for TT here  http://dorset3mm.blogspot.com/2011/04/

It's builder states that it is exactly TT scale.

[Golden Fleece 30]

While waiting for more static grass and fencing I have been making a new station building support and stairs. The Skaledale station has a canopy that just matches the Tri-ang footbridge so that will be the way down. I will have to try to get another set of stairs, these two parts were all there was in a collection. There will be little flower pots around the wall to platform joints. Across the road is a new pub, the Masons Arms, which again is a Skaledale building.

I admired Kevin West's work and reasoning for the scenery keeping it in the 60's/70's retro style but I wanted a nice operating layout (which it is, and will be more so when I make a trailing crossover near the goods yard) and to put more modern scenic work on, I am not a scenic modeller though :-). I like the embossed papers and static grass materials as you will have seen and a fair bit more to do. It is slowly coming along but it will not be finished by Christmas though.

Kevin did say the fiddle yard needed a good looking at and sorting out some issues so I am replacing those points with Peco and/or Tillig ones, all the points that is.

 

Garry

 

[Golden Fleece 30]

Had a go at making a new waiting room a little larger that the Bilteezi one. The door width and window size are very similar although door height is about 1mm more. The building is a couple of mm taller with the windows 1mm higher from the base and does not look too bad after the brick paper is on. When the roof tiles arrive I will decide if I should think of making one or two other buildings.

 

Garry

[Golden Fleece 30]

This is what happens allowing your wife to look at your posts on FB and post comments lol.  Does your other half see anything David?

 

Garry

 

Jackie Newlands Just loving all the work you have put into this Garry Hall. Such detail and precision.. I have a kitchen sink that would benefit from such a good eye for detail 

Edited November 30, 2018 by Golden Fleece 30

[Il Grifone]

This is what happens allowing your wife to look at your posts on FB and post comments lol.  Does your other half see anything David?

 

Garry

 

Jackie Newlands Just loving all the work you have put into this Garry Hall. Such detail and precision.. I have a kitchen sink that would benefit from such a good eye for detail 

 

I was undecided how to rate this Garry.

 

No, she just complains that I spend too much time, thought, money etc. on trains...  I don't understand what she means; I would say, "Not nearly enough!".

 

I'd better keep quiet about kitchen sinks.... 

[Golden Fleece 30]

I was undecided how to rate this Garry.

 

No, she just complains that I spend too much time, thought, money etc. on trains...  I don't understand what she means; I would say, "Not nearly enough!".

 

I'd better keep quiet about kitchen sinks.... 

Don't worry David, she knew I would take it in good part and I replied saying "I will book you in on Saturday Evening and Sunday".  What did not copy onto here were all the laughing icons etc she used.

 

She knows what I buy as 1) she often collects the parcels from the postman, 2) she sees all the posts I put up showing the latest items etc, 3) she knows I sell a bit of Dublo to help pay even though not enough to cover everything.

 

Our sink has been waiting about 6 months to get done, but trains always got in the way but after making it public I have to now look at it  lol

 

Garry

[Golden Fleece 30]

A couple of scenes showing a lot of the track painted. I cannot do much more until a couple of points or their motors have been looked at. The little flower tubs and power boxes may go back or elsewhere but at the moment there just for looks. The signal box wall has been redone with my usual embossed paper which is a darker shade.  I had hoped to complete the grassed area on the left where the fence goes to but the static lot has not arrived yet. I even need more fencing which is now on order.

 

Garry

[MikeCW]

The painted track looks really good Garry. ( David Jenkinson would have approved. )   Because of the consistency of the painted trackbed running through the scenery and infrastructure, the permanent way flows - seen to advantage in your first photo looking along the track from a high viewpoint. It's getting perilously close to so-called "finescale"!  Fine, perfectly executed, ballasting might be marginally better, but IMHO, there is a risk, in such a small scale, of less than perfect execution pf ballasting spoiling that realistic impression of clean, well built, prototypical permanent way.

 

Mike

Edited December 1, 2018 by MikeCW

[Golden Fleece 30]

Thanks Mike, I am pleased with how it is turning out now. I think that painting it all has taken away some of the toy look and it has allowed the rail sides to be painted, a chore I never tried to do on other layouts like most. It is just because I used a large brush but you can see where some parts need going over.

 

Due to its construction there are issues I cannot rectify. Sometimes the cork was glued and other places left loose. It means I cannot trim it neatly parallel to the track edge so using the grass to try to keep a straight line.

 

You can see in the bottom photo where I tried to ballasts the end of the headshunt but it does not detract, and I am looking at putting the odd little bit of grass in the track for the last inch or so. You can also see how the fibre sleepers have "warped" which hopefully painting will help prevent it going further.

 

It is a pity I cannot get to the underneath point motors in its position easily to rectify the odd issues. Unfortunately my operating friend has got a new job so cannot get down during the week and with Christmas coming I don't think weekends are an option, maybe during the holidays we will manage it.

 

All the scenic items are 00 but do not look too much out of place, some I had forgotten about until a couple of days ago when looking to see if I had more grass available.

 

The hillside scenery will be a bigger job than I hoped as polystyrene blocks were used, BUT, not shaped or anything so the paper over the top is loose and hollow. It means stripping it off smoothing out the base foundation and redoing the paper/glue top before I can put grass down.

 

I have accumulated a lot of signals but unfortunately not many are suitable for the track layout so I will be making a few to suit.

 

Garry

Edited December 1, 2018 by Golden Fleece 30

[Golden Fleece 30]

Managed some highway vehicles at the local Toyfair today. Buses have always been a problem to find but these are a little smaller than standard 00 but to me look a good compromise, I have left one in a box so you can see whose there are if interested. The dearest one was the BR vehicle at £2.50 and the cheapest the Ringtons bus at £1 so I thought good bargains, British looking, reasonable scale although the Ice Cream van maybe a little over size.

 

I have just looked up the average height of a Double Decker which is 16'3", that scales down to about 49mm and these models are 49mm to the rib tops so to me are near enough TT scale.

 

Garry

[Il Grifone]

Finding vehicles is always a problem. I acquired a Chinese 'souvenir' routemaster the other day (20p at our local charity). It appears to be TT scale, but a bit crude. A decent paint job will help!

Charity shops stock is usually modern Hot Wheels type rubbish, but there is sometimes a Matchbox, Dinky etc. gem. I couldn't resist this 'Evil Twin' though. Mine is black and should have 'flames' along the sided, but thay are badly rubbed. A typical designer nightmare. It would actually be impossible to drive her, with the engines blocking the view forward.

 

https://hotwheelscollectors.mattel.com/shop/en-us/hwc/evil-twin-85508

 

She can keep my 'Batmobile' company!

 

I need 50/60s Italian cars in 1:80 scale. I have an EKO Seat 1500 (= Fiat 1500) but it is a bit undersized being H0. The Matchbox Ford T-bird and Chevy Impala are 1:80, but not really suitable. Only the very rich would have been able to run them with Italian petrol prices and a tax system based on engine size*, not to mention import duties. The inability of American cars to go round corners would have been a great disadvantage too.

 

* The formula was very complicated!

 

David

Edited December 2, 2018 by Il Grifone

[Golden Fleece 30]

Here is a photo of Birmingham New Street station under reconstruction showing that the track has little or no ballast giving me the excuse for mine to be similar in appearance.  Hopefully the main difference is Birmingham is having it's turntable removed and I want to install one, if space permits.

 

Garry

[Robert Shrives]

Turntable site - now the nearly closed power signal box. Other than the retaining wall everything else gone or changed. 

[Il Grifone]

That photo must be early sixties when I was living in the area.

[Golden Fleece 30]

The static grass has arrived and I have done as much as I can on the front for now. I have tried to make the goods headshunt look a little overgrown but not too much as still in use.

 

I may try layering some later but for now this will do.

 

The extra fencing for the ends has arrived so will need to get our little one to start painting again.

 

Garry

[Golden Fleece 30]

A little work on the church/school end. A fair bit was done "blind" as I could not see over the back scene down to where I was working. The view from the church was at arms length so I had no idea what the camera was looking at. There are still a few things to do in this corner but some (not all) of them may have to wait until the layout goes out to a show so I can see what I am doing.

 

Garry

[Il Grifone]

Finding vehicles is always a problem. I acquired a Chinese 'souvenir' routemaster the other day (20p at our local charity). It appears to be TT scale, but a bit crude. A decent paint job will help!

Charity shops stock is usually modern Hot Wheels type rubbish, but there is sometimes a Matchbox, Dinky etc. gem. I couldn't resist this 'Evil Twin' though. Mine is black and should have 'flames' along the sided, but thay are badly rubbed. A typical designer nightmare. It would actually be impossible to drive her, with the engines blocking the view forward.

 

https://hotwheelscollectors.mattel.com/shop/en-us/hwc/evil-twin-85508

 

She can keep my 'Batmobile' company!

 

I need 50/60s Italian cars in 1:80 scale. I have an EKO Seat 1500 (= Fiat 1500) but it is a bit undersized being H0. The Matchbox Ford T-bird and Chevy Impala are 1:80, but not really suitable. Only the very rich would have been able to run them with Italian petrol prices and a tax system based on engine size*, not to mention import duties. The inability of American cars to go round corners would have been a great disadvantage too.

 

* The formula was very complicated!

 

David

 

 

In the unlikely event anyone is interested, the formula is given here (I tried to put just the formula but was blocked )

 

https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potenza_fiscale

 

Potenza fiscale = Fiscal Horsepower,  V = engine capacity in c.c. comma = decimal point* (all fairly obvious anyway). Only a politican could express a power as as '0.6541' You need Log. Tables to work it out!

 

* A strange Continental habit! 

 

Basically based entirely on engine capacity, it led to a whole range of undersized and underpowered motor vehicles*. There was a 900 c.c. version of the Ford 'Dogbone' Escort. The 1100 version we were inflicted with was gutless, so i shudder to think what it was like!

 

*Supposed to save fuel, the resulting need to thrash the thing actually increases consumption. I could never get anywhere near the figures claimed. The 'Popular' version of the above Ford horror claimed 45 mpg. We could only get 25mpg and AFAIK the only difference was in the trim. I drove our firm's Fiat 126 once. To keep up with Turin traffic needed the accelerator hard down.

Edited December 7, 2018 by Il Grifone

[Golden Fleece 30]

Been busy constructing a new road overbridge today. It took a while initially to get the pillars right as I wanted a bridge going at an angle to the tracks with a couple of centre walls. The bridge is square to the baseboard but over a curved section which satisfied part of my criteria. I will need to either move a point motor or put a cut out in the wall as well as for some of the point wires. The goods line was interesting being wider on one side to the other and I wanted to put another centre wall here but no space on one side. It is mainly card construction covered in the embossed paper but I need to touch up a couple of edges. I think part of a new crossover will be under the bridge later.

 

Garry

[Golden Fleece 30]

A little while ago I ordered a few smokebox numberplates in TT gauge from 247 Developments and this is how they arrived this morning. To me they are superb items and will certainly enhance their intended model. As standard they do N, 00 and I think 0 gauge but Brian said he would do some at TT scale for me on his next etch. I am now looking at having some nameplates and headboards done as it is an excellent service and quality so far.

 

Also today these 5 wagons were sent to me free of charge due to being a good customer. They do need the couplings changing but a beautiful little models. They are certainly better than anything I could do.

 

Garry

[Il Grifone]

Hi Garry,

 

The plates are excellent and those wagons are what I have in mind when I start, but inevitably fail to achieve (or leave half finished).    Must try harder!

 

The sand wagon and the LNER vans look like K's kits, but I'm unsure as to th eothers. I'm pretty sure K's didn't produce an LNER fish van or a TOAD E. BEC or ESANEL?

 

David

[Golden Fleece 30]

Hi Garry,

 

The plates are excellent and those wagons are what I have in mind when I start, but inevitably fail to achieve (or leave half finished). Must try harder!

 

The sand wagon and the LNER vans look like K's kits, but I'm unsure as to th eothers. I'm pretty sure K's didn't produce an LNER fish van or a TOAD E. BEC or ESANEL?

 

David

Hi David,

 

Its good to get plates made to order especially when they look good. The only TT ones readily available are from 3smr and are made I think by Modelmaster. These are very poor and I wont use them, pity as their 00 ones are good. Maybe the shop had old stock but it certainly put me off buying them. These here are for locos I have already painted but without a smokebox number with a few for locos in the pipeline like my Crab kit in the not too distant future which is to fit a Tri-ang chassis again.

 

The sand wagon is a whitemetal kit so I assume K's but no logo to see, the others are plastic so I guess more modern like Parkside. Parkside, and possibly a couple of others, do TT kits but these are only availble through the 3mm society not the general public. Whatever, they have been very well done and painted. I just hope the wheels are not too fine for the GEM points on the layout. That will be tested later as today is tree and decorations to put up first.

 

Fox do TT transfers but again not to the public, only the 3mm society and they only do a very small selection.

 

Garry

Edited December 9, 2018 by Golden Fleece 30

[Il Grifone]

Hi Garry,

 

The sand wagon is rather a K's trademark and a very obscure prototype*. Why they didn't do the similar (and far more useful) GER open wagon, I don't know. I have a couple of the EMGS kits based on this  (one bought when i was a member and one acquired since) plus the sand wagon. (IIRC the latter was a present from my brother, as it's not something I  have a lot of use for.)

I'm not sure this 'member's only' is a good tactic. I know they want you to be a member, but is restricting sales really the most profitable way?

 

* Not as obsure as Will's offerings though; an LTSR bullion van (I missed one of these at a fiver - didn't buy it when I saw it and regretted it afterwards) and a gas cylinder wagon which proclaimed M & GN in their ads, but  I've never seen a picture of a real one. Their match truck looks rather generic too.

 

I missed a bargain at today's toy fair. A seller had some Tri-ang switches. Not my first choice, so I passed them over. Another punter asked how much and was told 10p! This ruffled the neck feathers, so I thought I'll have what he doesn't take (a switch is a switch after all!). Needless to say he did a Grifone and took the lot! I did get a job lot of parts from the same seller  to build a factory and an Airfix engine shed which will enable me to finish my long running two road shed project for £4 the lot. Apart from that it wasn't worth going. I did get a Riko card kit for a Foden steam wagon for 50p. Now do I keep it as is as a collectible or try to build it? It has a set of plastic road wheels so it was worth the 50p for those.

 

I'm not sure of the make of the factory parts. They look Heljan style with thick chunks of plastic for the windows, but there is no mention of the kit on their site. I did see some nice DSB coaches though, but At £60 a shot* I don't think SWMBO will approve. The bricks look a tad undernourished, so it's probably TT scale, though the doors say otherwise. Still it's intended for the background of my H0 U.S. layout (the architecture looks North American) when I get around to it so aslong as it fills the space convincingly.

 

* Rough conversion of the Danish price. They are probably a lot more by the time they get here.

 

David

Edited December 9, 2018 by Il Grifone

[Golden Fleece 30]

Hi Garry,

 

The sand wagon is rather a K's trademark and a very obscure prototype*. Why they didn't do the similar (and far more useful) GER open wagon, I don't know. I have a couple of the EMGS kits based on this  (one bought when i was a member and one acquired since) plus the sand wagon. (IIRC the latter was a present from my brother, as it's not something I  have a lot of use for.)

I'm not sure this 'member's only' is a good tactic. I know they want you to be a member, but is restricting sales really the most profitable way?

 

 

David

Hi David,

 

I have odd days at toy fairs thinking it was a waste but then if I had not gone it would be s*ds law to have had something good.

 

I have a K's unmade sand wagon along with 3 or 4 other whitemetal kits to do up.  I like them but they are heavy.

 

It is a strange situation regarding the "members only sales" as there is nothing to stop a member buying for friends or even selling on the likes of Ebay afterwards.  Only recently someone enquired about some axles and the reply was along the lines of "We have a few of those BUT not to be released to the general public", how could that be stopped?

 

It certainly does restrict sales I guess as there are a lot of wagon kits available yet when everyone has what they want what happens to the rest?  It would be better to let some out to the public to get more money in but that is my opinion and they have been going for a long time so it must be okay.

 

Garry

[Il Grifone]

Hi Garry,

 

There's bound to be something at any toy fair. Now I've got one, the Tri-ang Pullmans 'Anne' keeps turning up. There was one today, but they were asking ten pounds and I paid five    Perhaps I should replace 'Mary' as I converted her to a Kitchen car in my youth (she,  'Jane' and No. 79 have been with me since forever (I bought them new), but Ruth and Anne are newcomers) by painting the end windows white, but on the other hand the set needs a kitchen.

 

Yes the K's kits are heavy but at least they stay on the rails. (Pin-point bearings help a lot.) That is as long as the axles are square to the body which is not always the case. I have one or two where I've had to fit internal bearings, because the axleguards are not in line.

My first attempt at assembling a K's GWR 20T mineral wagon was troubled by this. I must have been about 10 or 11 at the time*, but even then I could see that either the body or the axles could be square, but not both. In the end I settled for the axles and filled the gap in the body. I used plastic wood which is probably not the best thing, but all that Woolworths had back then. It now sits on an underframe using Peco axleguards. Later examples of the kit have a separate axleguard casting, but a lot of fiddling is still necessary.  IIRC I have five of them. Also IIRC it was one of the TT kits. I'm not sure how many appeared in TT. I must assemble my milk tank. There is somthing missing but I can't remember what. There is also a TT LMS cattle truck awaiting attention, but it needs new axleguards. Come to that there are a couple of 00 ones part assembled too. I must stop buying new trains....  (just kidding!)

 

* I put it together while visiting my uncle in South Ruislip. They moved from there in 1958 so it must have been before.

 

David

[NCB]

The two vans are Parkside; there's a kit for 9' underframe and one for a 10' underframe. Each kit will do a fitted or unfitted van or a fruit van; the fruit van is the one with roof vents. The brake van is Cambrian Models. Not sure about the cattle truck.