Clayton Underwood - BR 70-80s

[Davexoc]

So, 47901 was out on a test run today, hauling 50+ MSVs....

 

 

It started life as a Freightliner 57 from the bargain bins which gets the sandbox fitted underframe, has had new roof panels and exhaust section added, plus cantrail grille modifications, and the headlight moved to under the driver's side tail-light. Whilst not 100% accurate, it does look different to it's regular class 47 stablemates. It has had a coat of matt lacquer and will get some more weathering soon and will be at home on a rake of Foster Yeoman PGAs....

[Davexoc]

Running in the other direction was 47566, a vanilla Stratford duff....

This one checking that the ETH jumpers don't foul the couplings, and that the NGS KPAs and Sheerness Steel PXA all run after (re)build.

 

 

This also started out from the bargain bin but as 47701, the one with the much maligned car headlight representation. LED shrouded and 'shove-duff' front end features removed necessitating a touch-up to just the yellow paintwork. Numbers and nameplate removed with IPA (not the good stuff!), and more suitable battery boxes fitted.

[Davexoc]

A bit of a theme going on here, yet another bargain in the form of 31602, now appearing as 31408. Network Rail Yellow has given way to BR blue, 31408 being an early recipient of a centrally mounted head light, so the ideal candidate, and seen here on a partial OC Breakdown Train.

 

 

The headcode lights and front screens were left in-situ for the respray, I didn't fancy trying to prise out the light guide assembly, so the panel has been touched in by hand. And those dog-legged cab handrails are not the easiest of things to get back in their holes, I certainly wouldn't want to be on that production line.....

 

 

[dave55uk]

On 06/11/2022 at 21:33, Davexoc said:

'Shunt Limit' markers made up and fitted. These are the older style backlit sign design that predated the two red shunt signal type in use today. They are currently packed out with blutac to hold them in place, so a bit more ballast work for the P-way gang when they are passing. Note that there is a ghost of a passing down NSE train in this shot....

 

 

Then telephones and signal numbering added to the shunt signals.....

 

 

Sorry to put a spanner in the works, but in the top photo showing the Limit of Shunt markers, the left-hand one shouldn't be there. A LoS marker means absolute stop for everything and so wouldn't appear on a running line in the direction of travel.

Edited February 24, 2023 by dave55uk

[Davexoc]

Progress has been a little slow recently, too many things getting in the way, and a quick power-up to ammuse the grandchildren revealed that the up line appears to have developed a strange fault powering up the parcels loop when not selected. As it should be switched out by the point motors, I'm guessing the problem lies beneath the boards....

 

Back indoors in the warm and rediscovering part built kits, a bit closer to completion are a pair of Mill Lane Sidings laser cut Ferry Vans. They have some extra detail added in the form of wire grab handles/rails, and brake gear and steps. The photo reveals a bit of paint touching up is required plus weathering too.

 

 

Then the Sheerness Steel wagon has had some rusting added (now needs a coating of grime with the airbrush), plus a real scrap metal load of etch fret waste glued with pva on a strip of foam. This was done in the wagon while lined with cling film so it is removeable. This having been successful, I can see this being repeated over 100 more times to simulate loads on the HAA and PGA fleets with coal and stone respectively....

 

 

The BAA fleet has had the cradles glued onto the wagons ready for weathering too. So, hopefully with the warmer weather returning, I can fire up the compressor and finish a load of stock off. And fix that power problem too....

[Davexoc]

Dropped the scrap yard board in over the tunnel section to see how it blended in, not too bad really. The overhead crane is a bit freelance, being made from bits of a NGS Borail kit for the crane section, with a cabin fashioned from plasticard and windows reclaimed from modified RTP buildings. The framework is from the RTP power station turbine hall, with added plastrut beams.

 

 

Investigation of the parcels loop power issue is a bit weird really, the catch point was thrown the wrong way, but the point motor was working but back to front. Now this works in tandem with another point and has done so for some time now. Reversing the catch point motor put everything back to normal, but I can't understand why the motor operation suddenly seems to have reversed..... Anyone else had a Cobalt IP do this?

[47475]

I don't know how it has taken me so long to discover this thread. What a fantastic layout. Absolutely my era as well - every bit of stock appeals to me. I will certainly be following this from now on!

[Davexoc]

A few bits and pieces progressed this weekend. With the weather starting warm and dry I gave the backscene a coat of matt laquer to offer some protection, and while removed, I tweaked some of the scenery to add some extra texture/colour, while also hopefully sealing and securing any loose bits. All stock removed to the fiddle yard and points etc. were masked, but some track cleaning will still be required...

 

 

Some of the motive power at rest on the shelf. I'm thinking of sticking a load of cheap track up there and then organising stock in eras rather than ascending classes...

 

 

And finally, the control panel removed and undergoing a revamp/tidy up. I originally just wired up four zones, up main, down main, yard, and shed. I decided now is the time to divide those zones up to bring the required operational flexibility. I suppose I could have gone DCC, but being a sparky, I'm not afraid of a bit of spaghetti. Probably comes from tracing faults on class 31s, 47s and 50s. At least my wiring is clean and does't disappear into a dirty cubicle or conduit...

 

[porkie]

Wow

Just caught up with your latest updates.

 

The NGS tiphook Hopper's look brilliant. Definitely a set of wagon kits I need on my shopping list.

Love the long distance pic's. 

Didn't realise how long your layout is. 

Keep the updates coming

 

Phil 

[Davexoc]

The Bank Holiday weekends have allowed some progress on the control panel. Eighteen toggle switches of four different varieties have been added to break up the layout power and provide more than just loops, yard and shed. Most of the extra connections will be connected using redundant capacity in the original 9-pin network, of which there are ten plus another that provides connectivity between the two main boards. Just had to add one more to make the final few feeds. There are actually four more 9-pin sockets that supply the majority of the signalling, but these are wired directly to the various switches.

 

The back of the panel while removed with most wiring tidied up a bit, but once the panel is refitted, the outgoing connections can be shortened and loomed to suit the best cable routing between panel and layout.

 

 

Front of the panel now back in place. Eight mainline zone switches on the left allowing more than one train on the line in the scenic section. Ten more at the other end to better control to and from the yard and shed. the layout can be run from the four main controls, but the handhelds allow the shed and yard to be controlled more locally, or they can be switched to the mainlines to operate from the front of the layout for visitors.

 

 

Looking under the layout at the panel we have from top left;

handheld terminals, 2 x CCBs for transformers, CCB for power supplies, mains power terminals, 16v AC terminals, 12v PSU for point motors, 10v PSU for lighting and second handheld terminals. Below is the connections to those eleven 9-pin leads and sockets.

 

[shanks522]

Very impressive wiring Dave, gives me shivers!!!
Years ago I had to adjust wiring on an 0 gauge layout I’d built the night before an exhibition, ended up ripping it out and pulling out of the show 🤦‍♂️. 
 

Graham 

[Davexoc]

Progress recently has been a little slow, and then with a week off work which should have yielded more, grandchild number six popped onto the planet just prior to the bank holiday. A few sections connected up so that trains could be run, but with the weather turning warmer more glue and paint based things progressed.

With the airbrush out spraying shades of grey on the road surfaces, the Tiphook hoppers took a quick dusting to tone down the blue and look used. Then the following day darker shades and dirty black was the order of the day, so a whole host of the loco fleet passed through the spray booth and were joined by some of the steel carrying fleet. Next session will have to be brown underframe/brake dust shades.

 

 

 

[Davexoc]

More rewiring recently, interspersed by a visit to MKMRS show last weekend. Picked up a few bits from P&D Marsh, and 4 more MSV 'Stone' tipplers. I know the underframe is wrong, but they do look the part when in a longish rake, totalling 40 now.

Annoyingly after creating four track sections on the up road last week, I find this week there are only 3, all thanks to the heat expanding the rails and reconnecting at a board joint. Down road is now 4 sections after getting the slitting disc out, but the up is right next to the platform and a bit awkward. Might have to split the boards slightly and just dress the end of the rail up with a needle file. Testing now proves I can get 4 trains visible out front on the mains, so, so far so good. Now I need to move onto the yard and shed areas....

[Davexoc]

Not alot of progress to report really, family birthdays and rockin' at The Bowl with Muse, Royal Blood and The Warning eating into modelling time. A bit more done to the great wiring tidy up, and a little running, just because....

A few phone shots, because it can get where the big camera can't....

 

 

 

[Davexoc]

More re-wiring going on under the boards, meanwhile shuffling back and forth testing the sections was this interloper, some way from home.....

 

[Davexoc]

The Great British Summer has allowed a little extra time for on-going works. Middle baseboards split to dress the ends of those rails making contact over the gap which was negating the isolation sections. Then added a few extra switches to the control panel meaning I've got to re-label some, and I left a couple of spares that can be wired in later if deemed necessary.

 

 

Oh, and of course, all that requires a bit of testing, meaning a little playing with the trains too....

 

 

47209 with a rake of Polybulks crossing over from the down line into the yard.

 

[Pannier Tank]

Nice 'Control Panel', I'd be interested to know what method you used for the printing etc

[Davexoc]

14 hours ago, Pannier Tank said:

Nice 'Control Panel', I'd be interested to know what method you used for the printing etc

 

I borrow this one from work when I need it

 

https://colour-laser-printers.co.uk/printer/PT7600VPZU1/PT-7600 .php

 

It does several tape widths and colours in a durable laminate. It has got alot of characters/symbols etc. and does multi-row (or column) along with the usual array of font styles. Mainly use black on white, yellow or clear. Not cheap, but effective...

[5BarVT]

I have this one

https://www.labelzone.co.uk/products/pt-e100-brother-p-touch-pte100-hand-held-label-printer?gclid=CjwKCAjw_aemBhBLEiwAT98FMryZlafpC9tgihgI7TPMy1BpyA2aDUfNZmNkmyJHfdp6uanh39WnZRoCvdYQAvD_BwE

Type in what you want and press go.  It has a tab function so with care and attention you can print a strip in one go.

A bit like printers and inks, it’s the consumables that cost more over time, typically £20 for 8m tape.  Mind you, that’s quite a lot of labelling!

Paul.

 

 

[Davexoc]

Yesterdays weather played a part in getting more wiring sorted, which of course means running trains in all manner of route combinations. Relabelled most of the control panel too, but here are a few shots around the yard...

 

 

 

 

 

And a birds eye view looking north....

 

[Davexoc]

Not much time for trains this week, but a family BBQ required a bit of running. Funny how the oldest two grandchildren are less enthusiastic now, whereas the middle two get quite excited to see the trains running. The youngest two are still just too young....

 

Control panel gone through a bit of a relabel

 

 

Class 60 on petroleum tanks entering the yard. 60054 needs backdating to the old style of OHLE warning flashes, and some light weathering as it would have been very new.....

 

[Davexoc]

I have been sitting under the boards again, unravelling and trimming cables, so no we have gone from this

 

 

to this

 

 

And then progressing further along

 

 

Still quite a bit more to do, but making progress....

 

Not much running this weekend, but something I didn't report last week when SWMBO brought our eldest grandaughter into the railway room was the comment on noticing the loco shelf above the fiddle yard, 'OMG, look how many trains you've got.' Turning to our eldest daughter, 'And he still wants to keep buying more.'

What she didn't see was the large draw full of wagons, and two large stacker boxes of coaching stock. Phew.....

[Davexoc]

So, as pictures of wiring are boring, and tidying spaghetti is all that I have been doing in the little time available recently, here are a few shots taken earlier...

 

 

 

And as the nights are drawing in....

 

[shanks522]

Really like the night time shot Dave, very atmospheric. 👌

 

Graham. 

[Davexoc]

The spaghetti sorting continues, and I sometimes think I should have dismantled the boards and worked on them at a comfortable height. But, that would have curtailed the running, especially when a two year old insists on seeing the 'choo-choo's'....

 

Local traffic today, with DMUs crossing in the station. Must be off-peak judging by the lack of passengers....

 

 

Next 'up' is a route learner.

 

 

And next 'down' is a pair of buuble-cars...