Carterton

[Chris Chewter]

We set up for the bus museum last night, so first thing morning was nice and leisurely! I swapped out the CDU for a smaller unit and fitted a different 16v power supply.
 

That worked nicely until 2pm when the magic smoke appeared from the capacitors.  I eventually found two wires touching in the point switch unit. A work around was hastily found and the layout continued until closing, with the third point being switched by hand. So some repairs required before it’s next outing in May!

 

 

We also had some Great Western action on the layout.

 

 

Plus a visit from a certain blue tank engine at one point.

 

 

I think he’s got lost, as he’s a long way from Sodor!

[Chris Chewter]

With the club open day quickly coming up on Saturday 13th, I’ve been doing a few jobs on Carterton. Apart from changing the CDU and sorting out a few electrical gremlins, I’ve also been fitting Kadees to overcome the tension lock tangle!

 

Ive also, with the help of Railtec transfers, sorted out the text in the toad. I didn’t do the whole “5:15 from Fairford” business, because it would come out in microscopic text, so I’ve gone for a different text instead.

 

[Chris Chewter]

Another successful outing completed for Carterton, and no special smoke from the CDU!

 

 

The day started with the pickup of the van at 8am. The van was helpfully loaded with the assistance of one of the club members who in exchange received a ride to the open day.

 

 

Upon arrival the layout was set up. Strangely the fiddle yard point motor wasn’t working, but it was found to be the terminal box that sat between the wiring and the point motor. A fairly quick fix.

 

 

The layout ran fairly well with quite a few club members having a go. Having fitted kadees to the rolling stock, some were running a little low, so the day was used as an opportunity to check which were running well and which were problematic.

 

 

A few locos put up a fight.  One pannier stopped working and another was running a bit fast.  A buffer fell off a Collett Goods and a screw worked loose off the other Collett. However there were more than enough panniers to keep things running. (You can never have enough panniers!)

 

 

Before long, the open day ended. Left over cake quickly consumed to summon the energy for the take down. Some club members were put to work and the van was loaded. Now with the return trip made, Carterton can be put back into store.

 

[Chris Chewter]

One thing that came out of exhibiting is that, whilst unusual, 14xx worked the branch. Finding a Hattons 14xx in lined green is like searching for hens teeth, so a green Hornby Railroad 14xx has been sourced.

 

A chip and stay alive has been fitted, plus  a crew, but more work is going to be required to make the model look right.

 

So first up, let’s compare the Hornby model against the Hattons/DJM model and see what needs to be done.

 

From the front, lamp irons seem to be an easy fit. That door looks odd, but I don’t want to loose the number. Windows need glazing but a spot of clear fix will solve that. The moulded door handles have to go.

 

 

Side view. Not sure I’ll do much here. I know some people don’t like the top feed but I don’t want to mess about with it.

 

 

Lamp irons and tool brackets seem like an easy win here.

 

 

I might add what I think are the injector pipe work. Nothing a bit of brass can’t fix.

 

Kadees have been fitted. The old Hornby tension lock coupling has been removed. A long NEM Kadee has had its NEM legs removed, and a hole drilled. The screw that holds the keeper plate in position also holds the Kadee in place.

 

So some etched lamp irons plus a brass door dart has been ordered. You can’t order any tool brackets, so this afternoon I’ve been twisting them out of brass.

 

 

These have been sized by comparing a Hattons 14xx

 

 

The door handles have been removed and clear fix put into the windows.

 

 

Now to wait for the postman to turn up!

 

Im a little undecided about the smoke box door, but I’m not sure I can bring myself to do that just yet.

[Chris Chewter]

Well the postman popped the bits through the door. A comet models set of brass door handles and some Mainly Trains etched lamp irons.

 

 

 

And a splash of paint on the front.

 

 

Ive got to work out how to match the paint on the back, because Hornbys colour is nowhere near Railmatch BR loco green! Weathering will hide the sins.

Edited July 7, 2023 by Chris Chewter
Other brands of coffee mugs are available! Amazing what you can find in Debenhams!

[Chris Chewter]

Well Tamiya olive green seems to be the closest match I can find for whatever self coloured plastic the loco is in.

 

 

I might try mixing it with a bit of black to tone it down (Or hope it’s less noticeable post weathering 😆)

[Chris Chewter]

I nearly forgot to post on progress with the Hornby 14xx. I decided to live with the olive green back and tone down with weathering.

 

 

 

 

Crew is from Modelu. Brass work from Mainly Trains. Lamps are springside, because this loco has to be more robust to handling than the Modelu ones can cope with. Weathering is Humbrol powders, which are then t-cut away from the tank sides and boiler barrel.

 

 

And a quick trip to Tetbury to try it for size. The logos are a tad shiny as the weathering process wore off the Hornby printing, and they had to be replaced.

 

I need to fit some etched numberplates as the edges also wore off during weathering, but I’ve only just ordered them so I’ll have to wait for a bit!

 

I’m also waiting for the paint to dry on a set of springside fire irons I found in the modelling box. Looks like I’ll be fitting them tomorrow.

 

Edited July 6, 2023 by Chris Chewter
Improved photos added and comment about fire irons added.

[Chris Chewter]

Actually the fire irons dried fairly quickly!

 

 

And of course, the obligatory hanging bucket!

[MrWolf]

Do you know who makes those obligatory hanging buckets?

 

Thanks

Rob.

[Chris Chewter]

The bucket comes as part of the Springside DA61 fire iron set.

However if it’s just buckets you’re after, the Springside DA58 fire bucket set gives you a set of six, you just need to file off the ‘F’ on the side of each bucket!

[MrWolf]

Thanks, I've got a few of those fire buckets that I've picked up at exhibitions.

I'll file off the F, don't want to have to say "Sorry about the F in fire buckets."

 

I'll get my coat....

 

[Chris Chewter]

With Oxrail on the horizon later this month, Carterton got its legs stretched to check that all was OK, and to give it a bit of a photo shoot. Other that a bit of a loose joint with the fiddle yard point motor, it works perfectly out of the box. Something tells me that when it comes to Oxrail, the inevitable will happen…

 

 

I’ve also changed some of the end boards. Hardboard just isn’t robust enough so three sheets of plywood were cut to replace the sub-standard panels. The club laser cutter has been drafted in to engrave the covers so we know which one goes where!

 

 

Now onto Oxrail in a few weeks time!

 

More details about the exhibition can be found here:

 

http://www.oxfordmrc.org.uk/exhibitions/

[Chris Chewter]

Well that’s Carterton exhibited at a larger exhibition, albeit a home club exhibition. As one of the exhibition managers, it’s a bit difficult to truly enjoy yourself when your mind is also on what’s going on around you, but it was a successful day for the club, so that’s all good.

 

 

The layout was partially loaded into the van, whilst stock was taken in my car. Some club items also needed to be moved by the van.

 

 

The layout was quickly assembled and tested. Everything worked out of the box, so I could concentrate on my exhibition manager duties which were split with another club member.

 

 

Doors opened, and the show could begin. Sadly the first loco seemed to put up a fight. Panic! The multimeter showed it was the loco not the layout, so it was swapped out for another pannier.
 

 

There appeared to be a good flow of people throughout the day.

 

 

 

I ended up with a pannier, collett and 14xx pretty much running the whole time, although I did get a play with a Rapido 15xx that another member wanted testing.

 

 

(I did dust off the plywood debris before the event got into full flow.)
 

The 14xx I acquired from NHY 581 was a particularly lovely performer!
 

 

The event seemed well attended, with quite a few compliments on the backscene and people interested in the history of the Fairford branch.

 

 

Because the layout is so easy to operate, a few children politely asked to have a go. Because they were so polite, I had difficulties to say no. So they were talked through how to operate it, and seemed to pick it up very quickly.

 

Sadly I didn’t really get to nose about the rest of the exhibition much, but it looked like people were enjoying their day as I headed towards the nearest supply of tea!

 

 

At 4pm, everything was put back into the stock boxes, panels put back on and the layout transported home.  
 

I even managed to use the clubs laser cutter to knock up a few coasters for the many cups of tea consumed through the day. After all, I don’t want tea rings on the fiddle yard!

 

 

But I’m not sure what to do with the exhibition plaque? If it went on the layout side, it’ll just get knocked off. I’ll have to give that a bit of thought. Although I might fire up the laser cutter one more time…

Edited September 18, 2023 by Chris Chewter
Typo

[caradoc]

I enjoyed the exhibition, and of course Carterton; Being within walking distance of my Mum's house was a benefit too! I did have a mad moment when I saw the bookshelves behind Carterton and briefly thought a  second-hand railway bookseller was attending...

 

 

[KeithMacdonald]

On 06/07/2023 at 22:31, Chris Chewter said:

you just need to file off the ‘F’ on the side of each bucket!

 

Good move.

i can never find a good bucket when I need one.

There's no F in bucket. 😉

[Chris Chewter]

I decided the 14xx was lonely and needed another. I managed to acquire a Hattons 14xx in lined green with an early crest. The plan was to change the crest and weather it down.

 

 

Seems to have come out alright. I just need to find it a crew and a set of lamps.

 

(In case you’re wondering, it’s the one nearest the camera!)

[Chris Chewter]

I'm very excited that Carterton is attending Ally Pally in March! 

 

https://www.rmweb.co.uk/shows/ally-pally-2024/

Of course, there are some things that need to be sorted on the layout before then! They are unfortunately non-photogenic items such as the backscene which has developed a wrinkle.  I did try to loosen and refit it, however the backscene tore.  Thankfully I was able to find the original artwork and a replacement is currently at the printers, but fitting a backscene isn't exciting to report or photograph.  

 

I've also thought about a skirt for the layout, however given that the exhibition uses barriers, I'm not sure that's necessary. I don't know whether velcro on the layout front will also interfere with the protective panels and perspex. Something to think about. 

 

Theres normally enough locos to run if one fails, but it probably won't do any harm to get them cleaned, oiled and on a rolling road. Theres always one loco that just doesn't seem to want to run straight out of the box until it's been on the layout for a bit.  

 

If you can't make Ally Pally, its also booked for SW Herts exhibition in Watford: https://www.southwesthertsmrs.org.uk/exhibition/ and Silver Fox in Milton Keynes, but I don't know if I've let the cat out of the bag on that one, as their website hasn't caught up yet!

 

[Chris Chewter]

Replacement backscene has arrived. I pulled up just as the delivery van was leaving. Good job it wasn’t raining otherwise it would have been a soggy mess!

 

[Chris Chewter]

The good thing about working from home is how you can spend your lunch break! Well instead of lunch, I’ve taken off the backscene boards and replaced them.

 

This is the remaining backscene, and as you can see, where I attached it at the edges only, it’s gone wrinkly!

 

 

The backscene comes from the printers in a whole 10ft roll.
 

It’s a slightly different size which is a pain, but at least the colours are the same.

 

 

Well that’s Lunch over. Back to the laptop before I can fit these tonight.

[Chris Chewter]

Disaster struck when I took a look at the layout. It looks like the sheet metal used to mount the backscene on expands and contracts a fair deal. When it’s in the workshop, the backscene crinkles up. But bring it back into the house, the crinkles disappear.

 

 

So two sheets of 3mm ply were obtained and the spare backscene was mounted on them.

 

So far, I’ve been out in the workshop for an hour and we haven’t got anything as bad as Backscene mk1.

 

 

Not perfect, but that’ll have to do. 
 

Fingers crossed it doesn't ripple like backscene v1 😬

[Chris Chewter]

With Ally Pally coming up on the calendar very soon, it’s time to exercise the loco stock and give them a run, clean, oil and general service.

 

[Chris Chewter]

Well that’s the set up day at Ally Pally completed. 
 

Carterton is being exhibited this weekend at stand L2 at the London Festival of Railway Modelling under the rose window.

 

It was decided to reduce expenses by taking it along with another club members layout which had been invited, so only one van was hired. We wanted to maximise the set up time, so the van arrived at 8, and was carefully loaded up.

 

After loading the second layout at 9, we arrived at Alexandra Palace about 12 where we received our exhibitors wrist bands and unloaded.

 

 

We found our layout slot and set about assembling the layout. Thankfully all worked fine with the exception of the connector to the fiddle yard point, where a couple of wires had worked loose. Looks like the soldering iron might be brought into action tomorrow to fix that permanent niggle!!

 

 

Onto testing and all complete. Track cleaning was left for tomorrow so that any work wasn’t undone. However one of the panniers ran up and down without any issue.

 

We also had a chance for a quick run with another members 14xx and some GWR Rapido wagons, which fitted into the landscape beautifully!

 

 

They are exquisite wagons and ran perfectly!

 

 

 

I also couldn’t resist running the short Titfield train just to see how it looked!

 

 

If you hear me shouting ‘Can’t go yet, Squires not here!’ I apologise in advance. Model railway are a serious hobby after all. No, who am I kidding! The Titfield Thunderbolt will be exercised at some point over the weekend! 
 

A brisk wander round, and I was tickled by this sight:

 

Obviously something ‘N-gauging’ on the Bachmann stand. Sorry, I couldn’t resist the joke!

 

The team then headed for the hotel and settled in before a delightful curry in a nearby wetherspoons.

Now looking forward to a weekend of running model trains. What’s not to like!

 

 

And another Rapido wagon shot. Lovely!

 

Edited March 16 by Chris Chewter

[Chris Chewter]

Day one of Ally Pally and we arrived bright and early just as the doors opened for exhibitors.

 

 

Track was cleaned and tested and all was good to go.

 

Doors opened and before long, there was a line of people watching the layout. Loads of great conversations with passers by, some from people who recalled travelling in the Fairford branch.

 

 

There were a few issues, but I think most issues were due to operator error in not setting points correctly or loosing themselves from the three train sequence.

 

 

There were a few minor stalls, but hopefully they were forgivable!

 

The Titfield Thunderbolt put in a show just to mix things up, which was met with loads of photos being taken of the small train making its way through Carterton station.

 

 

Before long, the day was over and the exhibition and covers put back on ready for day two.

 

 

If you’re visiting on Sunday, pop across and say hello, as we love to chat as well as operating the layout.

Edited March 18 by Chris Chewter

[Chris Chewter]

Day two of Ally Pally and after breakfast at the hotel in St Albans, we headed down to Alexandra Palace for the doors to open for exhibitors.

 

 

Upon arrival the layout covers were removed, trackwork cleaned, and locos removed from the stock box.

 

 

Lots of comments about the ZTC panel I was using, however we noticed that locos running on the hand held controller were running slower and slower, until we realised that the plug on the back of the unit had been knocked loose.

However the fiddle yard point managed to last two days without issue!

The day seemed quieter with far less congestion getting around the exhibition.

 

 

We also had a lot of comments about the backscene, which later proved to be a perfect backdrop for Rapidos 44xx and b-set prototypes!

 

 

 

Before long it was time up, however this time the layout had to be packed away. The covers were refitted and it was loaded into the van ready for the journey home.

 

 

I know that for some, exhibiting layouts can be daunting, but we’ve had great fun! The layouts now back into its store room ready to be sorted out for its next outing.

 

Goodbye Ally Pally, it’s been a blast!

 

Edited March 17 by Chris Chewter

[Chris Chewter]

Back in the land of the day job, and over lunch I've been looking through the photos and videos on the internet, and one thing that strikes me is the perspex.  It does get in the way a bit.  It's necessary as without barriers, kids will put their fingers on the edge of the layout, so a small lip is required.  However the current perspex can certainly be reduced in height! I'll have to measure it and order a smaller replacement.  It also needs a skirt to hide those legs, although that wasn't so noticeable.  I better get ordering before its next outing!