Medway East - 1990s Kent coast mainline in EM

[Timara]

37 minutes ago, Mike Storey said:

 

Ah, new signs!! Have you decided now?

 

 

Indeed I have!  Your suggestion of Medway East was exactly what I wanted.  It also has a gentle nod to the original name, in having both a point of the compass and a geographical location.  I'll be updating the topic in the fullness of time though; I've got work to sort out first!

[Mike Storey]

9 minutes ago, Tim said:

 

Indeed I have!  Your suggestion of Medway East was exactly what I wanted.  It also has a gentle nod to the original name, in having both a point of the compass and a geographical location.  I'll be updating the topic in the fullness of time though; I've got work to sort out first!

 

Most excellent! That means I can name my (eventually to be built) layout "Isle of Sheppey" to avoid confusion - mine will be a portrayal of Queenborough to Sheerness, assuming I can fit it all in....... It was just going to be called Queenborough, but I soon realised that would be a little boring to operate.

 

Very best wishes with your progress!

 

[fulton]

On 06/09/2022 at 08:38, NWJ said:

There is also Upchurch, Lower Halstow and Otterham Quay to the East of Rainham. Otterham Quay is nothing more than a cottages, a pub (I think it's still there) and a wharf on the River Medway. Upchurch and Lower Halstow are a couple of villages on the coast but, in another world, each could have potentially had a station on the mainline (albeit some way from Lower Halstow so it would probably have been Lower Halstow Road...). Also, to the South of Watling Street and Upchurch is the small hamlet of Meresborough.

 

Neil

Just for interest, there still is a section of the narrow gauge railway at Lower Halstow, buried under the main road, while working there in the 1980's we cut through it for the sewer connection to the "new" houses on the old brickfields site, we also found buried a collection of rusted out hopper wagons,  still have a cast iron point lever I found there.

[TravisM]

On 09/08/2022 at 14:58, Tim said:

It's been (quite) a while since I updated things, not least because of work and my musical activities monopolising my time.  To be honest, having any free time to do anything for myself is a bonus these days!!

 

I've managed to make further progress on the 465/2, now I have a full 4-car unit; there will eventually be a second unit (see end of this post), which will be mechanically the same as this one when I get round to it.

 

It's well known that the original mechanism is absolutely gutless, so I'll be using the complete drivetrain from an old Bachmann 158, though with the cardan shafts shortened.  I've already done this on an AC Networker of mine, which runs like a dream and has more than enough grunt to shift its three cars (and more) around.  Here are some in-progress photos showing how I go about building bogie supports and fitting them to the underframe.

 

 

I start with four blanks of 80 thou plasticard, which then have the upper two corners cut off and fitted lower down and another little bit chopped off the bottom to allow a piece of 40 thou adding, so that it fits onto the underframe; all paint in the areas is removed, so that when the epoxy goes on, it's fixing to the bare metal instead of paint.

 

 

 

 

I'll be doing some milling away of the ends to allow a Kadee #143 to sit in a small recess, given the bogies preclude them being mounted on top.  I'm still working out what to do for the gap between the middle two cars, as I've merely chopped the dummy buffers off and filed back the necessary metal to let the body sit on properly.  I'll rebuild the fairing to match the other end in due course.  Once this is all done, I'll then fit the bogie brackets in place and add the mounts for the gear towers, again from 80 thou.

 

Re-wheeling to EM is a fairly straightforward affair, using DCC Concepts 10.5mm wheels, with the axle ends filed flush to the wheel faces.  I carefully blacken the rims, so that the eye "sees" a disc brake surface on the otherwise bright nickel-silver wheel face.  I've had to offset the wheels in the bogies, so that a complete unit can use one of the carriage sidings, as the curvature is sharp enough to cause the walkway to interface with the underframe fairings; I've already taken a file to the corners of them as it is, so it won't now catch!

 

 

 

As mentioned above, there will be a second unit to join this one, allowing me to run 8 car trains.  Back when I took the layout on, there had been a desire to run more than just 4 car trains; I can get 5 in at the most.  It's just as well I hadn't started on the new curve at the station end, as I will now be rebuilding the trackwork on the board the station building currently sits on, to allow me to have platforms long enough for two full units.  I've already purchased some Airfix canopies, so that I can extend the existing ones in the same style that Malcolm originally built the current ones.  The layout will also acquire a new name, seeing as I've decided to move it to the Kent coast mainline, somewhere between Rochester and Sittingbourne, as it allows me to retain all the freight traffic to Sheerness etc.  There will be more on this as and when, especially once I decide upon the new name....

 

Following the 465 build with interest and I was wondering how different or difficult  it would be to create a 365?  The only difference I can see is section in the roof where the pantograph goes, but I’m sure there’s a whole host of detail differences.

[Timara]

5 hours ago, jools1959 said:

Following the 465 build with interest and I was wondering how different or difficult  it would be to create a 365?  The only difference I can see is section in the roof where the pantograph goes, but I’m sure there’s a whole host of detail differences.

 

They're quite a different animal from the Met-Cam 465/2s, not least in their body shape, doors and especially windows.  I'd be more inclined to 3D print one in kit form, than heavily modify the Hornby model (which isn't perfect in itself!).

 

I'll be honest, I wouldn't mind a couple of 365s myself, as well as a pair of the ABB/BREL 465s.  I've got enough on my plate for now though!

 

Hope that helps 💁🏽‍♀️

[TravisM]

3 hours ago, Tim said:

 

They're quite a different animal from the Met-Cam 465/2s, not least in their body shape, doors and especially windows.  I'd be more inclined to 3D print one in kit form, than heavily modify the Hornby model (which isn't perfect in itself!).

 

I'll be honest, I wouldn't mind a couple of 365s myself, as well as a pair of the ABB/BREL 465s.  I've got enough on my plate for now though!

 

Hope that helps 💁🏽‍♀️

Of course, the 465/2’s were built by Metro-Cammell, as well as the 466’s. The 465/0’s and 365 built at York and all supposed to be parts interchangeable except someone forgot to tell BREL/ABB and Metro-Cammell

 

Does anyone do a 4mm 3D print of a 365?

[Timara]

19 hours ago, jools1959 said:

Of course, the 465/2’s were built by Metro-Cammell, as well as the 466’s. The 465/0’s and 365 built at York and all supposed to be parts interchangeable except someone forgot to tell BREL/ABB and Metro-Cammell

 

Quite....  For what was meant to be a "standard" unit, they were anything but!  Still, the model is mostly there when it comes to the 466, other than being completely gutless!  The mechanism I've put in my Scottish class 324 (fictional) is the same as what is going in the first of my two 465/2s and is more than powerful enough to shift the other three cars along.  I'm almost tempted by an unpowered 466 for when I don't want to have a pair of 465s running, but being able to split two units off is more useful and works for the planned sequence.

 

19 hours ago, jools1959 said:

Does anyone do a 4mm 3D print of a 365?

 

Annoyingly, no.  I'd be having enough to do an 8 car in a shot, never mind the 465/0 and /1......

[Ragtag]

6 hours ago, Tim said:

 

Quite....  For what was meant to be a "standard" unit, they were anything but!  Still, the model is mostly there when it comes to the 466, other than being completely gutless!  The mechanism I've put in my Scottish class 324 (fictional) is the same as what is going in the first of my two 465/2s and is more than powerful enough to shift the other three cars along.  I'm almost tempted by an unpowered 466 for when I don't want to have a pair of 465s running, but being able to split two units off is more useful and works for the planned sequence.

 

 

Annoyingly, no.  I'd be having enough to do an 8 car in a shot, never mind the 465/0 and /1......

 

Might be worth suggesting to CMAC

[m0rris]

I've always had a bit of a blind spot when it comes to Networker drawings (remember... the 325 is a Networker in cab only!). 365 is something I'd consider doing if I could get hold of a decent set of drawings for them.

[TravisM]

11 hours ago, m0rris said:

I've always had a bit of a blind spot when it comes to Networker drawings (remember... the 325 is a Networker in cab only!). 365 is something I'd consider doing if I could get hold of a decent set of drawings for them.

I agree about the 325 being a Networker in cab only as it’s actually based on 319’s electrically.  As I live in the Peterborough area, it would be great to get a model of a 365 both with the original and modified cab. 

[Timara]

On 12/09/2022 at 04:14, Ragtag said:

 

Might be worth suggesting to CMAC

 

I may well do that....  It's not a major priority though, so by the time one perhaps becomes available, the printing technology ought to be even better than the huge improvements over the last few years!

[Timara]

I've managed to find a little bit of time to get on with changing the bogies on my second 4-CEP unit (I have three at present).  Rather than doing my usual of just blitzing the lot and showing merely the end result, I thought I'd do a bit of a step-by-step instead, especially as it might potentially be of use to others.  This method is also applicable to the original bogies, for anyone who wishes to convert any of the SR EMUs to EM gauge.  It may also be useful to those modelling a refurbished CEP in 00, for that matter....

 

My start point are Bachmann Commonwealth bogies, available as spares from most stockists.

 

 

As they come, they're designed to go directly under the mk1 loco-hauled coaches in their range, instead of EMUs.  First thing I do is drill out the slots to accept the pickup strips, which are modified from their original state (bearing cups snipped off and then the remainder bent back 90º) so that I can use standard length axles (26mm) from the DCC Concepts range, thereby retaining the ability to collect current.  I also lightly drill the bearing insides, as the axles can sometimes be a little tight overwise.

 

 

 

As can be seen above, I mark out the centreline and slot positions, drill two holes (1.4mm) and join them together.  Note the corners of the bogie frames have been rounded off, as per prototype.  The next job is to cut some pickup mounts from 80 thou plasticard and bogie pivot hole reducing sleeve from 3/16" OD/1/8" ID Evergreen (226) tube.

 

 

There needs to be a little gap between the block and the inside edge of the bogie, so that everything fits nice and flat inside.

 

 

I then take a small segment of the tube out, thread the spacer over a tapered reamer and fix it inside the hole with butanone, adjusting the position of the reamer to make sure it fixes tightly in place.  The reason I use this instead of a wooden spike or old paintbrush handle is because the butanone tends to stick to the wood and/or paint and the slightly melted plastic comes off the stainless steel without any issues once fully set.

 

 

Once all that is nicely set, I trim back the spacer a little more to match the hole in the top of the bogie, drop the modified pickups in place, drill a 0.9mm hole in the block for the little screw to go back in and drop the wheelsets in place.  The tail of the pickup spring is slightly trimmed so that it pokes into one of the holes and is soldered in place very quickly, so as not to melt the bogie frame in the process!  As can be seen, I blacken the wheel faces with Birchwood Casey's gun blue, using a cotton bud to minimise the chance of it getting on the tread.

 

So, there we have the running gear sorted out.  The same method is used for the dummy motor bogie.  I'll explain how I do the motor bogie in future post, using the same wheels.

[Timara]

With my extension plans now starting to gather pace, my attention has turned to the warehouse/shed next to the station.  The original one Malcolm built used a pair of heavily modified Hornby HST maintenance sheds, built end to end.  Here's a view from two years ago, with my now-weathered 37170 posed with a Cargowaggon.  I may yet rebuild this end slightly, to lose the plain frontage above the tracks, which feels a little out of place.

 

 

I was lucky to be able purchase a brand new one (via a good friend) from a swap-meet for just under a tenner, which is remarkable; these kits are most of 30 years old now and this still had the cellophane on the box!  There will be a load of handy spares from this, which I can use on another building I've got planned for the former wasteground by the carriage sidings, but I digress.....

 

 

The main parts I'll be using are these below, plus some other bits from the roof sections, which I won't be needing as per the original kit construction.  Some of that is likely to replace the outer end, as mentioned above.  Note that I've already removed the central pillar from the end; it'll need reducing in width as well, in order to match the existing shed.

 

 

Thanks to using my phone's front camera plonked on the tracks, I worked out that the roof on the existing shed is made from 2 packs of Wills corrugated sheeting.  This extension will just need another pack of the same, with associated bracing from plasticard strip, cut to match what's there.  This view from a couple of years ago helps to give an idea of all that, plus also putting it in context with the rest of the layout.  I may keep it in the current bright blue, but part of me fancies a full repaint....maybe!

 

 

I'll document the assembly of it all, plus the replacement office building that will go on the non-railway end of it.  I'm still pondering what to have, but it won't be the Pikestuff add-on that's currently there.  I am open to ideas and inspirations though!

 

Cheers for now.....

 

[Timara]

Progress on the shed.....  The two sides are more or less built, though I'm still deciding upon the final position of the side door on the public viewing side, hence the wider gap in the brickwork under the cladding; the extra brickwork links in with the existing shed.  I elected to retain the position Hornby provided on the other side, as it was in what I regarded as a sensible place.  I have, however, set it in by 60 thou, instead of flush with the cladding. 

 

 

I realised it was far easier to replace the end with a new one, instead of cutting the existing one about.  The opening is 5mm higher, but that means I'll be able to get my hand inside easier to clean the track or retrieve anything derailed in the far depths.

 

 

Fitting said end in place wasn't as easy as it might sound, but it's gone in without much fuss.  I'll cross the bridge of painting when I've done the rest of it.  I included a photo with a VGA in place to illustrate the difference in height above.  The long siding to the right is due to be extended by a couple of feet, when the new boards are sorted, which will allow electrical continuity along the full length of it for the first time ever.  Currently, the last foot or so is dead.....

 

 

[Timara]

I've realised it's been quite a while since I last updated this thread; lots been happening, but I've either not felt able to post up stuff or just forgotten to take pics...  Anyway, progress, finally, on my first 4CEP, which has somehow taken me almost 3 years to get to this stage, having bought it not long after taking the layout on.  I've still got the other two cars to finish, but I've long run out of the specific superglue I used for the window frames and my attention diverted to other things (my attention span can often resemble that of a hummingbird on crack, trust me!).  Anyway, photos....

 

 

 

 

It's a little laborious and indeed tedious having to carefully remove paint off the frames, taking care not to lose all of it, but it's worth it in the end!  I decided they looked better doing it this way, rather than paint the entire unit and then carefully fixing the frames on afterwards.  I didn't want to risk getting glue where I didn't want it to be!  Couple of side-on pics of the two vehicles done so far; DMSO(A) and TBCK.  The unit modelled is 1562, which was the first CEP I caught on camera; seems to have had an interesting life too, having started out as mostly a BEP and with two very different trailer cars inserted during its lifetime, the TSO being a late-ish phase 2 with different roof vents from the other three cars.  I'll cover that in a future post once the rest of the unit is painted up.

 

 

 

I'm hoping to have the rest of it ready for painting within the next week or few, so that I can have the whole unit more or less finished by mid-late July.  I do, however, have three major concerts to prepare for and give in the meantime, so time is indeed at a premium!

 

[James Makin]

Looking very nice indeed! 😎

[Timara]

On 13/06/2023 at 15:21, James Makin said:

Looking very nice indeed! 😎

 

Thanks James!  It's been worth the effort getting it to this stage, I feel!  The end is in sight.....