The Junction & Conwy

[JackB95]

Been a while since the last update. Not much has happened thanks to June giving us some scorching temperatures. 

 

The Virgin 390 drag is waiting on couplings to arrive from WHWW. It's certainly a thing of beauty.

 

 

I had a couple of mates over who brought some trains too. The 009 selection was particularly fruity. 

 

 

The big project I'm working on at the moment is the control panel for the scenic pointwork. A control panel top was commissioned and built by JSM, and I love it! I've fitted the on off on toggle switches, and just need to wire it up and get it all working! 

 

 

Cheers

[TT100 Diesels]

Hello JackB95, really liking this thread, just seen it for the first time and nipped back a page or two.

 

Very nice neat control panel. Loving the rolling stock, the 57 and pendo drag is awesome......

 

The ATW 158 look very tasty too. The pics of it just absolutely capture it for me. 

 

A real nice project. In fact just the sort of fantastic rolling stock to tempt me back from 3mm hair shirt land....... Well a bit tongue in cheek, I am probably too far committed now.

 

But loving what you have going on here,

 

Cheers

 

TT100 Diesels

 

 

 

[JackB95]

10 hours ago, TT100 Diesels said:

Hello JackB95, really liking this thread, just seen it for the first time and nipped back a page or two.

 

Very nice neat control panel. Loving the rolling stock, the 57 and pendo drag is awesome......

 

The ATW 158 look very tasty too. The pics of it just absolutely capture it for me. 

 

A real nice project. In fact just the sort of fantastic rolling stock to tempt me back from 3mm hair shirt land....... Well a bit tongue in cheek, I am probably too far committed now.

 

But loving what you have going on here,

 

Cheers

 

TT100 Diesels

 

 

Thanks very much! Welcome to the thread. Hopefully there's something for you. 

 

Come back to 00 😉 we won't bite.

[WCML100]

57 Drag looks good - would love to see some pics of the coupling area once they arrive! 

[JackB95]

48 minutes ago, WCML100 said:

57 Drag looks good - would love to see some pics of the coupling area once they arrive! 

 

Cheers! Yes, absolutely. Will get you some once they arrive.

[JackB95]

Bit more progress! 

 

I'd forgotten about being short of two point motors. Other than that, after lots of upside-down soldering, testing, and getting confused, we now have this... 

 

 

 

This is the mess underneath that does the magic

 

 

The common positive bus bar goes around with all the middle terminals of the switches going to that. Initially I used white and lilac wires for the point motor links, but I ran out, so went for green and yellow afterwards. When installing, I sometimes miscalculated the length needed, so extended the wires using whatever colour came to hand 😂 I'm screwed if I have to fault find... 

 

 

The power is provided by a universal variable-voltage laptop charger off eBay. The original mains cable to it was too short, and very non-compliant! So that was disposed in favour of a longer compliant cable. It then runs as DC into a Capacitor Discharge Unit from eBay that then feeds the control panel. The black return wire goes to a daisy chain of wires from the point motors. 

 

It was quite a faff getting it up and running, and despite my best efforts, some switches needed rotating 180 degrees to work as intended. That said, it works, and is very effective. 

 

The final two motors are due at some point soon, so will get them fitted asap. I think a running session will be required afterwards! 

 

Edited July 22, 2023 by JackB95
Whilst clearing the loft, I discovered two new point motors! So much for needing two more... Oh well! They're now fitted and working

[JackB95]

Did a bit more fettling with one point motor that wasn't properly working. I spent one evening adjusting it with no success. Decided to take a closer look and I noticed one of the wires wasn't properly soldered onto the terminal. A combination of resoldering, and upping the voltage from 16v to 18v, has sorted the problem. Result! 

 

I decided to clean the rails using Colas 37421, and as a first, put the RHTT set behind for the banter. Snapped this photo whilst it went around. The EWS 08 had not long shunted the Mk4 rake off the mainline to allow track cleaning. 

 

[JackB95]

 

Decided to put together a short running session video yesterday afternoon. Something a bit different! 

[JackB95]

Popped in by my mate @CazRail's the other day. This came off his workbench back to York with me 😉

 

 

Bachmann's newer 158 tooling was dispatched to North Wales in EMT livery, and has returned as TfW 158830! The model has been beautifully painted by Caz, and was reunited with a chassis and glazing this afternoon by yours truly. 

 

A beautiful model that, typically, was commissioned before Bachmann announced one! But, that said, it now matches my 153 and 150 😉 

 

 

A gorgeous line up that'll soon be complemented by Caz's TfW 153 that he doesn't want any more. Oops! 60026 GBRf Helvellyn is currently on his workbench for me also. 

 

The 158's original roof vents are the more common design, but TfW and ATW ones have a simpler design. I've commissioned Track3D to design me the right ones, and they'll be fitted once they arrive! 

[GWRPhil]

On 26/07/2023 at 17:08, JackB95 said:

Did a bit more fettling with one point motor that wasn't properly working. I spent one evening adjusting it with no success. Decided to take a closer look and I noticed one of the wires wasn't properly soldered onto the terminal. A combination of resoldering, and upping the voltage from 16v to 18v, has sorted the problem. Result! 

 

I decided to clean the rails using Colas 37421, and as a first, put the RHTT set behind for the banter. Snapped this photo whilst it went around. The EWS 08 had not long shunted the Mk4 rake off the mainline to allow track cleaning. 

 

I used to do similar albeit with colas 66 instead of 37. If your brave, given cost of the rail cleaner and risk of getting wrong. What I did was to etch prime the tank of the cleaner and the knob on the top then painted network rail blue and applied decals and weathered it. Then it looks like random extra tank wagon. Great fun at the end of first day at exhibition running round the layout and watching the slightly perplexed looks on the faces of exhibition visitors trying to work out what the ‘wagon’ is. Sorry I don’t have any photos the great rmweb crash and a data loss of my own put pay to those. 

Edited August 21, 2023 by GWRPhil
General sentence construction.

[JackB95]

Check out my nu(clear) wagon! 

 

 

Revolution's new FNA-D wagon has landed at the Junction, and is a thing of beauty! For the price, you get a lot of intricate detail, crisp printing, and a very smart wagon overall! A perfect introduction for my Valley Crewe flask train 😉 Might have to play around with couplings to reduce the gap between the vehicles. 

[JackB95]

Having fixed up my 56, I decided to bring it out. After all, it's approaching RHTT season now 😉 

 

 

 

The eagle-eyed of those will maybe notice a second TfW 153 has joined the fleet. My mate, who does the resprays for me, sold me his un-refurbished 153. As a result, I've now got two different TfW liveried dogboxes running around the layout. Oops 😉 

 

As I type, I'm yet to receive dispatcher emails for my Bachmann D213 and Accurascale 37606 👀 both are due imminently... 

[JackB95]

18 months since I last did some proper work, the main station building for Llandudno Junction has FINALLY received a roof, and some more paint!

 

Until now, the building had received its core colours, and canopies had been painted cream, with the fronts painted green. For some reason, I never painted the roof of the canopies... Also, the roof tiles have FINALLY been fitted! They were rather easy considering how smart they are. Strips of laser-cut paper, fitted with patience and Roket card glue...

 

 

 

 

Doesn't half make a difference to the look of it all! I think the canopy above the booking offices/waiting room needs slate roofing too, but I'll do that another time.

 

 

[JackB95]

Oh helloooooo! 

 

 

DPD - we'll be with you between 0936 and 1036... 

Doorbell at 0936 - DING DONGGGGG. 

 

Look what's arrived 👀

 

 

 

Accurascale's new 37/6 in the beautiful DRS Compass livery has arrived at Llandudno Junction. I opted for a WIPAC one over a more traditional looking 37/4 on the basis of how niche the /6s are, and how frequently they appeared down the NWCoast not that long ago. Both 602 and 606 were regulars, but I opted for 606 on the basis of a photo I took... 

 

 

The model is absolutely beautiful, well presented, and couldn't be better in my eyes. The sound is stunning too. Phwoarrrr!

 

Another hellfire engine is due to arrive imminently when Royal Mail pull a finger out...

[WCML100]

16 hours ago, JackB95 said:

Oh helloooooo! 

 

 

DPD - we'll be with you between 0936 and 1036... 

Doorbell at 0936 - DING DONGGGGG. 

 

Look what's arrived 👀

 

 

 

Accurascale's new 37/6 in the beautiful DRS Compass livery has arrived at Llandudno Junction. I opted for a WIPAC one over a more traditional looking 37/4 on the basis of how niche the /6s are, and how frequently they appeared down the NWCoast not that long ago. Both 602 and 606 were regulars, but I opted for 606 on the basis of a photo I took... 

 

 

The model is absolutely beautiful, well presented, and couldn't be better in my eyes. The sound is stunning too. Phwoarrrr!

 

Another hellfire engine is due to arrive imminently when Royal Mail pull a finger out...

 

Looking good mate - the real life prototype pic comparison is great too!

 

Ive got 606 on order so excited for mine to arrive too!

 

[JackB95]

Just when you thought it couldn't get any better...

 

 

Hellooooo Andania. I was lucky enough to have this beast on a railtour from Crewe to Llandudno/Holyhead and back in 2018. When Bachmann announced a model, I couldn't say no! It just needs a suitable rake of mk2 ans mk1s now in red and cream 🙃 

 

It's also got sound 😉 

 

 

 

The model comes with two sugarcube speakers, which is okay, but they're not brilliant. Thankfully the new electronics made for a really easy upgrade to two 27mm round speakers from Roads & Rails. 

 

I forgot to attach a video of 37606 thrashing the other day, so here it is! 

 

 

 

Andania is having discs and side grill covers fitted, as included in the box, so that'll look absolutely fit as once done. I'm sure I've got a North Wales headboard I can pinch off Green Arrow too 😉 

 

[JackB95]

Posted on a Facebook group the other day that I was possibly selling my Network Rail IOA wagon rake (13 in total), and wanted to gauge some interest. Turns out, there was! And sequentially, I've now used the funds from the sale for a rake of JNAs!

 

 

 

I've owned IOAs since they first came out over 10 years ago. Back then, my modelling criteria was 'anything goes'. Now though, I'm trying my absolute best to stick to the North Wales theme. As a result, the IOAs didn't have a bright future with me. JNA wagons for an engineering train was the plan! And that plan is now reality. 

 

I've got some fake ballast loads ordered from a shop called Tomahawk on eBay. He's done my other loads too. Amazingly, 8 of the wagons were part of a cheap bundle that Olivias were doing! Cheap! Olivias! Who'd have thought it?! A 9th one arrived from Tony's Trains, and that'll get renumbered as it's a duplicate. 

 

I'm keeping an eye on a thread on here as some MLAs in EWS livery would look the part 😉 

Edited November 14, 2023 by JackB95

[WCML100]

19 hours ago, JackB95 said:

Posted on a Facebook group the other day that I was possibly selling my Network Rail IOA wagon rake (13 in total), and wanted to gauge some interest. Turns out, there was! And sun sequentially, I've now used the funds from the sale for a rake of JNAs!

 

 

 

I've owned IOAs since they first came out over 10 years ago. Back then, my modelling criteria was 'anything goes'. Now though, I'm trying my absolute best to stick to North Wales themed. As a result, the IOAs didn't have a bright future with me. JNA wagons for an engineering train was the plan! And that plan is now reality. 

 

I've got some fake ballast loads ordered from a shop called Tomahawk on eBay. He's done my other loads too. Amazingly, 8 of the wagons were part of a cheap bundle that Olivias were doing! Cheap! Olivias! Who'd have thought it?! A 9th one arrived from Tony's Trains, and that'll get renumbered as it's a duplicate. 

 

I'm keeping an eye on a thread on here as some MLAs in EWS livery would look the part 😉 

looking good mate, I too have been doing the same the last year or so - selling off some rakes that dont quite fit the bill for absolute realism for the location im modelling. Frees up funds for rakes that do fit the criteria!

Olivias and cheapo do not usually go together in the same sentence so well done on finding that deal!

 

Im also in the boat for some MLA’s (& a couple of IEA’s too!) - all 4 types would be great if they were released in RTR form. I keep badgering accurascale about them at each show I see them at! 

[JackB95]

15 minutes ago, WCML100 said:

looking good mate, I too have been doing the same the last year or so - selling off some rakes that dont quite fit the bill for absolute realism for the location im modelling. Frees up funds for rakes that do fit the criteria!

Olivias and cheapo do not usually go together in the same sentence so well done on finding that deal!

 

Im also in the boat for some MLA’s (& a couple of IEA’s too!) - all 4 types would be great if they were released in RTR form. I keep badgering accurascale about them at each show I see them at! 

 

Cheers! Yeah, it's a useful way of getting more what you want. I just haven't got the balls to sell all my non-NWC stock. Got a pair of Bachmann 350s that I just don't want to remove. Half-tempted to sell the /2 and get the /1 resprayed into TfW for the shiz and giggles. And yep, I had to double check. I suspect they've probably got more than they can shift. Individual prices are average, but the bulk packs were too good to say no to! 

We'll have to keep an eye on another RMwebber's thread together won't we haha. It's annoying because Dapol announced the MLA, but then dropped it for whatever reason.

[WCML100]

1 hour ago, JackB95 said:

 

Cheers! Yeah, it's a useful way of getting more what you want. I just haven't got the balls to sell all my non-NWC stock. Got a pair of Bachmann 350s that I just don't want to remove. Half-tempted to sell the /2 and get the /1 resprayed into TfW for the shiz and giggles. And yep, I had to double check. I suspect they've probably got more than they can shift. Individual prices are average, but the bulk packs were too good to say no to! 

We'll have to keep an eye on another RMwebber's thread together won't we haha. It's annoying because Dapol announced the MLA, but then dropped it for whatever reason.

Yes I agree! I have got a Eurostar purely for nostalgia!

 

A real shame that Dapol dropped the MLA, would have been a real seller I think, especially as they compliment the JNA falcons! Yes lets hope our friend can make some progress, if not lets hope the manufacturer steps in sooner or later!

[JackB95]

Not much has happened recently, but enough for me to put a post together. 

 

The fake ballast loads for the JNAs turned up, and they look marvellous. I utilised the very good Black Friday sale that Hattons had. The opportunity to grab a TfW mk4 DVT (82229) for £33 was not to be missed! This means I've now got two, and both will eventually get advertising wraps as per the real thing when I can get the graphics sorted. Also in the Hattons order was two sets of Evergreen containers. This has filled my storage yard a bit, and the variation of greens is really cool! 

 

 

Other than that, very little has been going on, so here's a round-up of photos taken this lunchtime when I've been having a small running session.

 

 

 

 

 

The running session included D213 cleaning some rails, and 70006 with the new engineers train. 

[WCML100]

Nice! Loving the depot scene - a nice array of stock! An impressive fiddle yard too! 
 

which evergreen containers have got and from which manufacture(s)? I myself picked up x2 from Dapol at Warley and wanted to build up a few for a container yard in Greenford (see pic below) and they too had variations of Green! Particularly interested in the shorter 20ft examples, Cheers 👍🏻

 

 

[JackB95]

7 minutes ago, WCML100 said:

Nice! Loving the depot scene - a nice array of stock! An impressive fiddle yard too! 
 

which evergreen containers have got and from which manufacture(s)? I myself picked up x2 from Dapol at Warley and wanted to build up a few for a container yard in Greenford (see pic below) and they too had variations of Green! Particularly interested in the shorter 20ft examples, Cheers 👍🏻

 

 

 

Oh that's smart! Not sure I'm afraid. I bought some second hand from someone. 

 

Hornby and Dapol for sure. Maybe Bachmann too? Deffo no CRail ones. 

[big jim]

I was gutted about the TFW DVT at hattons, I picked up the TFW 67 from Hornby for £99 and as I’d seen the DVT in hattons I decided to grab one to eventually build a rake up,  it was £33 when I checked them but when I went back 5 mins later to buy it said 1 in stock and had raised to £69! 
 

 

[JackB95]

13 hours ago, big jim said:

I was gutted about the TFW DVT at hattons, I picked up the TFW 67 from Hornby for £99 and as I’d seen the DVT in hattons I decided to grab one to eventually build a rake up,  it was £33 when I checked them but when I went back 5 mins later to buy it said 1 in stock and had raised to £69! 

 

Ahhh no! I checked the evening of the sale, and they were down to 3, but still at £33. Their sale did what they wanted - it emptied shelves!