Dymented - the Serious stuff starts!

[Philou]

@railtec-models, @Geep7 and @lezz01:

 

Merci to Steve at Rail-Tec for the heads-up, yes, they are your transfers, but I hadn't cottoned on regarding placing them in-situ and THEN wetting them off the backing paper. I did it the olde worlde way of in a saucer with luke-warm water, let it slide off the backing paper and into place (that was the very first time like a v ......... oh no, wrong thread). The second time I put it into the saucer for a much shorter time and then presented it to the part on which it was to be applied but I didn't do the table-cloth trick - too slow! It didn't help that the bridge side wasn't really secured and as it was on its back, which is curved, the see-sawing motion ....... you can imagine. The gauntlet has been thrown and I've picked it up and the challenge is on, though I shall keep it for when I'm away next week for a few days teenager-sitting.

 

No problem Chris, no confusion regarding the make, though I felt it would have been unfair if I'd said so-and-so transfers are rubbish when it was down to me and a slight of hand. I'd already used Rail-Tec transfers before and I was pleased with the outcome, but they were coach and loco numbers and not so fine nor long.

 

See, I've learnt something today and perhaps others visiting this thread will as well.

 

Lez, thank for the update regarding the tube. 500mm or half-lengths will be fine - if that's OK. PM on its way.

 

No photo today but the card faces and cut-outs are ready and waiting for their various paper coverings so the viaduct should be ready to go back in place in a couple of days time.

 

More later,

 

Cheers,

 

Philip

[Philou]

Hello chaps and chapesses,

 

I hadn't posted up as there wasn't much to say - real life is getting in the way as we prepare to be off on Thursday to do teenager-sitting - a 1,000mile round trip. I was going to take the bridge with me to do the rivetting, but as the paint is fragile and scratches quite easily, I've decided to leave it here and attend to it when I get back.

 

Progress has been slow in dressing the viaduct - bit like wading through treacle - but a little is being done daily but not enough to warrant a photo, yet.

 

I shan't be back until the end of the month and I doubt that I shall have much to say whilst I'm away - unless I find a model shop nearby!

 

Keep safe everyone,

 

Philip

[Philou]

Hello chaps and chapesses,

 

I have arrived at destination - took a while as I was with Mrs Philou and her sister and I chose to use some back roads to do some sight-seeing and naturally it took longer.

 

I do have a photo for you of what I was doing before I had to pack up my things back into the railway room (I do tend to spread out!):

 

 

^ This part of the viaduct is to become a transition piece between the Dymented part and the Ledbury viaduct proper hence I've moved off dressed stone and into aged brown brick and (insofar as I can make out from photos) blue brick corbelling and secondary arch above the brick arch.

 

The corbelling, whilst fiddly, is doable by using two lengths of 1mm thick card cut into strips 2 and 3mm wide. These are covered in Scalescenes blue brick, glued together in a stepped manner and then topped with a piece of 2.5mm thick card cut into a strip 4mm wide. This too is covered in blue brick but I enlarged it by about 50% at the print stage so that it would fit the card and look as if it was a 'special' thrown brick for the viaduct construction. In reality the top corbel is rounded and, I suspect, of a bigger dimension. This was then glued on edge above the other two pieces. I have some aged red brick infills to be inserted in the arches, whereas the Ledbury part will be open (when I get rowntuit).

 

I have the other side to do in the same manner when I get back. The rest of the the Dymented viaduct will altogether be a simpler affair with simple dressed stone infill between buttresses. This too, will be done when I get back.

 

I need to find out whether Google SketchUp will allow me to print in 2D. If I can, I can print the the secondary arch onto some 1mm white card and then cut around - I don't have access to a silhouette cutter - before papering. My curved hand cuts are not terribly symmetrical and I'll have 30 of them to do when I finish this bit plus the Ledbury part!

 

I can't wait to get back to doing the modelling.

 

The sun is shining and the weekend is nigh!

 

Cheers,

 

Philip

 

 

 

[Philou]

I'm still about and I'm boooooored!! We have been indoors for the last week due to rain and I've no modelling with me so unable to carry on for the mo'. The sun has decided to poke it's nose out today - so at least that's a Good Thing!

 

Don't get me wrong about being stuck indoors, but we have been out a bit in between showers. This area of France (little Britain) is very nice and we're about 1/2mile from the sea that has been very agitated over the last few days. Disappointingly no worthwhile railway modelling shops hereabouts so no stocking up for me on landscaping materials. There is one on our journey home but it means a detour and I don't think it'll pass muster before Mrs Philou!

 

Anyway, keep smiling and speak soon,

 

Philip

[Philou]

^ As an add-on to the above: Mrs Philou and I took advantage of the sun (with thunderclouds looming in the distance) and went with one of the three dogs that we're also baby-sitting (the two had already gone out). As we were on the beach I said in my sweetest, syrupiest voice possible 'Do you think we can make a detour on the way back home?' 'Ooooh? What do you want to see?' 'A petrol station.' 'Eh?' 'Yeah, it doubles up as a railway model shop.'

 

After a bit of additional explaining, she knew the town and she said 'Yes.' What a good egg! I had already checked the site and opening times, plus the additional travel time. It'll add a few miles and 45minutes (plus browsing time) extra travel time on a road parallel to the motorway home. They seem to have stock of static grass so I should be able 'to get some in' and maybe a newer static gun as my tea-strainer one doesn't seem to make the fibres stand on end any more. The Noch ones are up to €99 - oo-er.

 

Definitely a good afternoon from me and from her :),

 

Philip

[Philou]

Huzzah and hurrah,

 

Tomorrow we head home and hopefully I shall pick up some modelling bits on the way back. Whether I'll be allowed to 'play' on Thursday or not remains to be seen.

 

Mrs Philou's grandson will be with us for a month and he is keen to help me with the layout. Unfortunately, I don't know what I shall be able to give him to do as he needs someone behind him saying you can't do this way nor that way but this way only. Tends to want to do things as quickly as possible! (H'mmm ...... where have I seen that said recently ^ :)) ?)

 

More updates very soon.

 

Cheers,

 

Philip

[JeffP]

Ha ha, the joys of delegation...😁

[Philou]

I'm home!!

 

Got back yesterday late due partially to the weather - awful rain towards the end of the journey with huge spray given off by HGVs - and also diverted to the model shop. I was a bit disappointed by the shop as it had very little in stock and also I think I was flashed by a speed camera getting there - though if I was, I'm going to dispute it (but that's not for here).

 

The shop IS part of a petrol station and the petrol sales and modelling part are under the one and same proprietor - though you have to ask at the desk to have access to the modelling part being greeted with a 'wha' yer wan'?' and not a smile until you pull your notes out, pffff. Shan't be rushing back there very soon then.

 

Mrs Philou's grandson who had a bit of money really wanted to spend it and bought an LS Models' 'Corail' coach (think loco hauled stock - very little now exists on the SNCF). Nice bit of kit and lucky for him it was at a discounted price - a gnat's under €50. As for me, not a great selection of static grasses - all Noch and in small sachets, so I bought a quantity of assorted colours - but very limited in lengths. He did have a static gun by Noch and having been discombobulated by the speed camera I bought it - wish I hadn't really as I probably could have got it cheaper elsewhere, but what's done is done. It oozes quality though and should see me through to doing the 18m² of surface I have to do. I shall get some bottles of static grass from elsewhere, but it seems there's not a lot of it about at the moment.

 

I was right about not modelling today as the grandson wanted to get the table-top type layout I'd built for him eons ago out of the barn and onto the mezzanine - which meant dusting it down, transporting it up the stairs onto the mez. and then lightly vacuuming and cleaning the track - though that was a palaver as I couldn't find my track rubber and had to use some exceedingly fine wet'n'dry (it's Code 100 so plenty of spare to wear ;)) ) and then finding some rolling stock to match his newly acquired coach. We found some matching stock (though far now inferior quality in comparison) out of what my late father had bought years ago. Not one loco worked - they're live, but not picking up mainly due to oil having settled over the years onto the pick-ups and wheels. Guess who has got the job tomorrow of stripping and cleaning the locos? Yup, me. Luckily they're mostly Lima and Jouef pancakes and seem to have just two screws holding the bodies to the chassis. Probably leave me some of the afternoon to restart my own modelling.

 

Good to be back and more tomorrow,

 

Philip

[lezz01]

Go here buy static grass job done.

https://www.wwscenics.com/

Have it sent to me and I'll post it on if they don't post to France.

Regards Lez.

[Philou]

Hello chums and chumesses,

 

@lezz01 Thanks for the offer, but I see that WWS (I have had some of their big bottles) DO deliver worldwide and I'll give it a try later in the month. If it's a hassle, then I'll take you up on your kind offer.

 

Today, real life got in the way (again) due to a safety valve on our 150l hot-water tank leaking and I had to change the valve. For those of you that don't know, the norm over here is that hot-water tanks are fed directly off the cold water mains without any intervening header tank. The valve is there in case the water becomes too hot or if there's an unexpected rise in mains pressure. These things normally last for years but our mains water has a particularly high iron content (goes yellow after a few days of standing still due to rust forming) and is corrosive against copper and leadwork - who's got copper piping throughout, eh?

 

Anyway, the water munches the safety springs inside the valve and it gradually starts to leak after about three year's use. That was today's foray into the world of plumbing -  two hours to empty the tank (there's no turn-to-empty tap) waiting for gravity and air pressure to do their respective jobs. I'm glad I emptied the tank as the amount of liquid rust that came out was quite perturbing - a new tank soon, methinks. Five minutes was all it took to take the old valve off and replace and to reconnect the water feed and overflow pipes (bl**dy silly system!). Perhaps @Andy Hayter may know of another quicker way!

 

I did however manage some railway related work this morning by taking apart two locos for the grandson. The one, as I suspected was too much oil - it wasn't oil as such but some thickish blue gear grease that must have melted/oozed over the last couple of years and had affected the phosphor bronze back-of-wheel pick-ups. A quick wipe with some IPA, rebending of the strips to ensure a more positive contact, removing some excess gunge and the wheels burnished with my trusty fibre pan. Job jobbed. The second loco had disgustingly dirty wheels (possibly tyre deposit) and dried out gear drive. Again, a quick bish-bosh with the fibre pen and a wipe-over of oil via a very fine paintbrush and it ran perfectly. He's happy and therefore, so am I.

 

I had a look at what's to be done to my viaduct, but I didn't have any courage to actually start today - so it'll be a case of jam tomorrow!

 

Cheers everyone,

 

Philip

[JeffP]

Ah, the good old "group de securite"😁 That's French for your safety valve.

Funny you mention that: we arrived home from our birthday weekend for the wife on the Ile d'Oleron at around four pm to hear a strange snorting coughing noise coming down the utility corridor.

The valve on the boiler was opening rhythmically under pressure, and the drain pipe for it was overwhelmed.

Nice flood.

It turned out that the water company, who have been working locally to replace century old iron pipes, had turned up the pressure too high...to around 20 bar🤪 We normally have around ten.

And now, no more yellowish water from iron, although with a pH of around 6.3, don't open your eyes in the shower🤔 No limescale, but a blue ring around sinks etc.

[Re6/6]

Philip

 

Big discounts available at the moment.

 

https://www.wwscenics.com/product-category/static-grass/2mm-basing-grass/

[Philou]

Hello chaps and chapesses,

 

I've been lying low at the moment as there wasn't much too report due to the grandson taking a lot of spare time. As I mentioned above, he's rediscovered the layout I built eight years ago for him and of course he wanted to get his trains up and running which of course meant taking apart and cleaning.

 

He also wants to go for a train-ride so that'll be a day-away :( .

 

Anyway, I'm back onto the viaduct and hopefully it'll be done tomorrow and ready to be repositioned.

 

Thanks to all of you for the heads-up regarding the WWScenics scatter - I'll give them a call and order some material in different lengths and colours. It seems good value given the quantities available.

 

More later with possibly a photo.

 

I've just realised that during next week, I could be laying my very first piece of track - so there'll be wiring and ballasting to do as well - which means getting point motors in too - aaargh!

 

Cheers,

 

Philip

[Philou]

Just a quick update: Scatter material ordered with a detailer static gun and should be on its way very soon.

 

I also spoke to a very knowledgeable person at DCC Concepts as I was particularly interested in their mimic board pack (12 point motors plus wiring, DPDT switches and LEDS) and wished to know if the digital PMs could be used analogically and then go for full digital if I wished. Indeed I can OR I can update analogue ones by buying the necessary decoder modules later - good to know. When I said I had an ECoS, oh, he said I might be more interested in this ..... he is going to send me details via email as seemingly I can have mimic boards and the ECoS working in tandem via the built-in Sniffer in the ECoS. I shall stop there and say that I didn't completely understand everything (or anything ;))! ), but the possibilities seem to be endless - so control in different areas via mimic boards if club members come around or via the ECoS if I'm all alone - at least that is what I HOPE I understood =8o !!

 

I shall order enough gubbins to ensure I can motorise all the pointwork at Dymented right from the start at the weekend.

 

Cheers,

 

Philip

Edited Tuesday at 19:06 by Philou
I, he, she ..........

[JeffP]

How do you find ordering from the UK?

I recently tried to buy a 4" (100mm) engineer's try square here in the Limousin.

Nearest I could find was cast, 6", (150mm), and €27.99🤔 So I tried from the UK.

£7.60....plus £10 postage, plus £4.60 tax.

I shall await my next trip home.

[Philou]

1 hour ago, JeffP said:

How do you find ordering from the UK?

 

Hello @JeffP, I find it a bit hit and miss regarding ordering. It depends a little on the courier. DHL WILL always ask for a payment of VAT (TVA) + fees, whereas Royal Mail/La Poste will sometimes just deliver. I think I'm ahead financially. Times are very variable, I have had parcels through within three days (!) whereas some others will take up to two weeks - just can't tell. DIY stuff over here I find can be quite a bit more than ordering direct from the UK (got to allow for the VAT element though). Funnily enough, I shall need an engineer's square at some time too. Don't do Ebay as due to their Global Shipping Programme, it seemed to attract a postage fee of around £50 - on a £5.50 Ratio signal kit that I wanted - stuff that for a game of soldiers!

 

@Andy Hayter may be able to throw some additional light on ordering from the UK.

 

More later,

 

Cheers,

 

Philip

[Andy Hayter]

My experience like yours has been very hit and miss.

 

DHL and UPS will always demand payment before delivery if they have your email address - indeed UPS will over-demand and then refuse to  communicate.

 

La Poste, if they have your email address on the commercial invoice offer on-line payment with reduced fees.  If not sometimes they charge and sometimes not.  Like you I am probably ahead but it irks when they charge 10€* for the Bachmann Times magazine issued as part of the collectors club offering.  If they did it every time (and they don't) it would more than double my membership fee.  

 

* 2€ VAT and 8€ fees. 

 

As for Ebay's GSP (Gotcha stupid purchaser) least said the better.  It has killed the majority of my purchases from the UK.

Some time ago I saw a number of line specialist magazines on offer.  No mention of international sales, so I contacted the seller to establish that he was happy to sell to me in France and could we do it outside of the GSP.  He kindly agreed and I won 7 or 8 auctions at just under £4 for each.  As soon as Ebay realised that it was an international sale, they grabbed the first one and wanted another  £22 to deliver.  We both complained and made clear that the basis of the auction was an agreement to do this outside of the GSP.  Ebay agreed not to intervene on the other auctions - reluctantly - and the seller withdrew the one they had captured.  Instead of £35 ish  I would have had to pay in excess of £200!

[Philou]

1 hour ago, Andy Hayter said:

I would have had to pay in excess of £200!

 

Eeeesh!!!

 

I am surprised that La Poste pick on your magazines. In the reverse direction, I send my brother periodically some car porn (Citroën addict - can't get him off the stuff ;)) ) five at a time. The postage comes to about €3.50 and the brown envelope is clearly marked 'Imprimés/Printed Matter'. He's never been asked to pay and nor have I when I receive my monthly fix of RM - bizarre that.

 

More later,

 

Cheers,

 

Philip

Edited Wednesday at 12:36 by Philou
Postage info

[Andy Hayter]

Ah but printed material in the UK is 0% VAT rated, unlike here where it is 20% rated.

 

I am not sure if it is La Poste picking this up or customs.  It is quite possible that La Poste have a team operating on behallf of customs.

[Philou]

Hello chums and chumesses,

 

All quiet on the western front and so I've got on with a little bit of modelling - no photo, as I hope to do one tomorrow. The elevated section retaining walls are almost complete. I have one buttress to make up, all the copings, cappings and corbels to cut out and glue and then the pilaster to do once the bridge is in place.

 

As soon as I have placed the viaduct, I shall have to go back to 'rivetting' the skew bridge girders and get that finished. After that will be some track laying along the branch as once in place the bridge can be fixed more or less permanently. I shall also do the main through lines at the same time. I realise I'm making it sound as if it'll be all done next week, but I now need to set myself some targets - too easy to let things drift along!

 

So that things should now proceed in an orderly manner, I've also bought a mimic pack from DCC Concepts so there should be no delays in 'getting on with it'! They will very kindly supply me wall warts with continental style plugs - so all good there.

 

More tomorrow,

 

Cheers,

 

Philip

Edited Thursday at 20:04 by Philou

[Philou]

Hello chaps and chapesses,

 

I do have photos but it's still WiP - not much to do but it's the fiddly stuff that's left. I did the corbelling this afternoon leaving the copings and caps. The one side is done - unfortunately it's the short side!

 

Here we are:

 

 

 

^ In the top photo you can see that the viaduct has been set to a curve - the nearest part is at about 2.0mR and further away (no, not the Father Ted one) the curve is 24.0mR. You can also see that the left hand side is complete including the copings and cappings. The grooves in the buttresses on both sides are deliberate so that I can slot the Ledbury viaduct in place (when constructed :)) ).

 

^ In the lower photo, it's just a side-on view showing the transition of what will be the Dymented viaduct (on the right) and the Ledbury viaduct to the left. All that's missing is an arch detail over the bricked in part - I mentioned the need of a silhouette cutter so that the curve can be cut accurately as my hand cutting is not up to much.

 

No update tomorrow as we're going for a train ride - on a Coradia, but not a UK one. This is a Coradia Liner - ooooooh. I'll take a picture of it and possibly the Alsthom factory that isn't far from our intended destination - Belfort.

 

Cheers,

 

Philip

Edited Friday at 17:33 by Philou

[simonmcp]

I don't know if you've tried the technique for cutting out circles of moving the item you're cutting and not the knife? Some people find it easier to cut circles that way. Also you can buy (or at least you could years ago) compasses with extension arms and fittings that hold blades for cutting. Ofla so small diameter versions but I don't think they do large diameter ones.