P4 Fryers Lane v2.0

[Siberian Snooper]

I was always under the impression that the layout was set in the West Midlands, rail ferries on the cut? That's interesting!

 

 

[AY Mod]

13 minutes ago, Siberian Snooper said:

rail ferries on the cut?

 

[Siberian Snooper]

Andy, that looks long enough to take a ferry van, hopefully there won't be too many bridge strikes. Only problem is I can't see any rails.

 

 

[AY Mod]

2 minutes ago, Siberian Snooper said:

I can't see any rails.

 

Spams' shunting will sort it.

[2ManySpams]

9 minutes ago, Siberian Snooper said:

Andy, that looks long enough to take a ferry van, hopefully there won't be too many bridge strikes. Only problem is I can't see any rails.

 

 

 

Slight drainage problem, ballast looks a bit damp.

[Siberian Snooper]

😂😂😂

[2ManySpams]

4 hours ago, Siberian Snooper said:

I was always under the impression that the layout was set in the West Midlands, rail ferries on the cut? That's interesting!

 

 

 

Dudley Port?

[Siberian Snooper]

Just now, 2ManySpams said:

 

Dudley Port?

 

International ferry port?

 

 

[Enterprisingwestern]

2 hours ago, 2ManySpams said:

 

Slight drainage problem, ballast looks a bit damp.

 

The suns out, soon be sorted.

 

Mike.

[Mark Forrest]

I finally got around to taking the layout back upstairs tonight and assessed the damage from my failed attempt to juggle with a couple of the stock boxes.  I'd assumed any damage would be limited to the box that hit the floor so started there.

Nothing too major, a couple of axles had popped out of their bearings, a lost axlebox and some bent buffer heads.

 

Unfortunately the ferry coil wagon didn't do so well, losing two buffers and one of the door lock mechanisms.

 

I think I have some of the correct type of buffers in stock (from S Kits) which I was intending to use on a second one of these wagons.  The lock mechanism I might try to make a replacement from scratch.

 

Surprisingly, in the box I didn't drop (but must have given quite a shake) the bogie sideframe and wheels had come off the 47 and the 37 has suffered a couple of broken air horns.

 

All fixable and not the end of the world; could have been worse!  I've made a point of not putting the damaged items away with the rest of the stock otherwise I'm likely to forget what needs doing. 

 

[Mark Forrest]

On a more positive note, here's an excellent video from SWAG member's day including some footage of Fryers Lane in action.

 

 

 

[Mark Forrest]

That's the damaged buffers sorted with some cast replacements from LMS.

Having seen the improvement it makes over the Bachmann buffers, I'll probably do the same on the rest of the fleet.

I've always thought the weathering on this particular wagon was too black, it needs some brake dust to bring out the underframe details - especially as it has etched brake levers (something else I want to add to the others).  So while it's on the workbench I might as well sort that out.

 

[bcnPete]

Great to meet you and chat last week at SWAG Mark.

 

The layout looks fabulous 😄

[Enterprisingwestern]

On 29/04/2023 at 21:18, Mark Forrest said:

That's the damaged buffers sorted with some cast replacements from LMS.

Having seen the improvement it makes over the Bachmann buffers, I'll probably do the same on the rest of the fleet.

I've always thought the weathering on this particular wagon was too black, it needs some brake dust to bring out the underframe details - especially as it has etched brake levers (something else I want to add to the others).  So while it's on the workbench I might as well sort that out.

 

 

I'm presuming the buffers aren't finished and fitted?!

 

Mike.

[Mark Forrest]

6 hours ago, Enterprisingwestern said:

 

I'm presuming the buffers aren't finished and fitted?!

 

Mike.

Fitted, but not finished 

[sb67]

What pattern buffers are they Mark, are they standard Oleos? 

[Mark Forrest]

18 minutes ago, sb67 said:

What pattern buffers are they Mark, are they standard Oleos? 

Yes.  The BR diagram suggests 520mm long with 457mm heads which I believe is BP06 in the LMS range.  The VDA pictured actually has the slightly longer (620mm - BP05) which would be more appropriate for a VGA.  I'm weighing up whether this discrepancy is noticeable enough to make me change them when the packs of BP06 that I've ordered arrive.

[sb67]

Thanks Mark. To me the difference doesn't look noticeable at all. They do look so much better than the Bachmann version. 👍

[2ManySpams]

12 hours ago, Mark Forrest said:

Yes.  The BR diagram suggests 520mm long with 457mm heads which I believe is BP06 in the LMS range.  The VDA pictured actually has the slightly longer (620mm - BP05) which would be more appropriate for a VGA.  I'm weighing up whether this discrepancy is noticeable enough to make me change them when the packs of BP06 that I've ordered arrive.

 

It's about the difference between EM and P4... Nobody will notice 😜

[Mark Forrest]

10 minutes ago, 2ManySpams said:

 

It's about the difference between EM and P4... Nobody will notice 😜

True, but it's one of those situations where I know it's wrong and it's potentially going to annoy me if I don't put it right.

[Mark Forrest]

This afternoon I thought I'd spend a bit of time clearing a few things off my workbench.  Inevitably I got a bit distracted and started tinkering with a few projects that have been hanging around for a while.  I did consider starting a separate workbench topic, but (for now at least) think I'll keep it here.

First up, a Parkside RCH 5 plank receiving its brakes.  The recent arrival of vol 5 of David Larkin's "The Acquired Wagons of British Railways" on my bookshelf has some useful prototype info.

 

This pair of Chivers Crabs are long overdue a trip to the paint shop.

 

From a slightly earlier period, I've made a start on applying transfers to this Midland D299 in LMS livery.

 

As usual, the layout has become a shelf for unfinished wagons!

[Gilbert]

A change is a good as a rest...allegedly.....go for it..

[2ManySpams]

On 08/05/2023 at 20:03, Mark Forrest said:

This afternoon I thought I'd spend a bit of time clearing a few things off my workbench.  Inevitably I got a bit distracted and started tinkering with a few projects that have been hanging around for a while.  I did consider starting a separate workbench topic, but (for now at least) think I'll keep it here.

First up, a Parkside RCH 5 plank receiving its brakes.  The recent arrival of vol 5 of David Larkin's "The Acquired Wagons of British Railways" on my bookshelf has some useful prototype info.

 

This pair of Chivers Crabs are long overdue a trip to the paint shop.

 

From a slightly earlier period, I've made a start on applying transfers to this Midland D299 in LMS livery.

 

As usual, the layout has become a shelf for unfinished wagons!

 

 Nice bush

[Mark Forrest]

One of the things that was discussed during the layout's outing to SWAG was the need for something else in the yard area at the back of the layout.

@mudmagnet had a very nice oil tank with him on his sales/demo stand and I was able to try this for size.  It looked good, but the configuration of pipes and ladder didn't quite work.  Fortunately, thanks to the versatility of 3D printing and Richard's skill in designing stuff, it was possible to tweak the design to suit.

It arrived in yesterday's post and looks fantastic - I'm really looking forward to painting and weathering it.

 

[2ManySpams]

8 minutes ago, Mark Forrest said:

One of the things that was discussed during the layout's outing to SWAG was the need for something else in the yard area at the back of the layout.

@mudmagnet had a very nice oil tank with him on his sales/demo stand and I was able to try this for size.  It looked good, but the configuration of pipes and ladder didn't quite work.  Fortunately, thanks to the versatility of 3D printing and Richard's skill in designing stuff, it was possible to tweak the design to suit.

It arrived in yesterday's post and looks fantastic - I'm really looking forward to painting and weathering it.

 

 

Looks right at home there Mark. We did try a few options but that one looks spot on IMO.