BR traction instructor Posted March 27, 2023 Author Share Posted March 27, 2023 (edited) The operation of Mostyn at Macclesfield was a game of two halves…Saturday afternoon saw some operating difficulties that you might expect with a large and complex layout but Sunday saw hour after hour of reliable and consistent running/operating that underscored the reasons for working so hard to get this layout onto the exhibition circuit twice per year. I spent many hours shadowing two club newcomers operating the complete Bi-directional, exchange & dock sidings sulphur/steel/Crumps sequence, requiring approx seven hours continuous operation…a rewarding way to help the upcoming operators of the layout. Interacting with the paying public is a visible and essential aspect of this outer operating position…we shared considerable good humour and conversation with those effectively paying the bills for the weekend. BeRTIe Edited March 28, 2023 by BR traction instructor 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BR traction instructor Posted March 29, 2023 Author Share Posted March 29, 2023 (edited) Getting modelling under way post Macclesfield, for the Spalding exhibition in November includes gathering together the six tippler kits (Rumney etched underframes, Parkside bodies, LMS buffers, Ultrascale wheels) that I have on hand, destined for the Penmaenmawr to Hope St consist on Mostyn. The first 1/180 is almost complete, a 1/181 at the rolling chassis stage and a 10ft wheelbase 1/183 plus 3x unfitted 1/184 on the starting blocks. These will edge the demountable bromine tank in terms of priority so that an eight wagon (ten with a brakevan at each end, already built) Hope St consist (hauled by 24063, already finished) is on the cards for Spalding (6 new tipplers combining with the 2 rebuilt 21/25 tonners already running). Justin is about to dispatch the remaining etches for our order to increase the rake to eighteen tipplers/mineral opens…a five tippler fitted head of 1/184s the main element… BeRTIe Edited March 29, 2023 by BR traction instructor 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BR traction instructor Posted March 30, 2023 Author Share Posted March 30, 2023 Useful LedLenzer head light borrowed for coupling/uncoupling in the Mostyn fiddle yards under poor lighting conditions at the weekend led to me purchasing one…very useful… BeRTIe Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BR traction instructor Posted March 31, 2023 Author Share Posted March 31, 2023 (edited) Duplicate post BeRTIe Edited April 12, 2023 by BR traction instructor 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BR traction instructor Posted April 1, 2023 Author Share Posted April 1, 2023 (edited) Duplicate post BeRTIe Edited April 12, 2023 by BR traction instructor 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BR traction instructor Posted April 6, 2023 Author Share Posted April 6, 2023 (edited) Justin at Rumney has produced/printed these leaf spring/axlebox combos to enhance the accuracy of our multi diagram Tippler build… BeRTIe Edited April 6, 2023 by BR traction instructor 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BR traction instructor Posted May 12, 2023 Author Share Posted May 12, 2023 (edited) Getting back underway now that our Canadian visitors have returned across 'the pond' has led to some eye bending work today. Two of the four fitted 1/184s will have 1ft 8 1/2in OLEO buffers rather than the 1ft 6in self contained variants. Those with the OLEOs had screw couplings. Using the Ambis CC4 screw couplings etch I've knocked up the nearest type that I can see in the close up pictures to hand. The middle length links clear the underside of the drawhook, comfortably attach to an adjacent drawhook and don't drag on the track/hang too low... BeRTIe Edited May 13, 2023 by BR traction instructor 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BR traction instructor Posted May 21, 2023 Author Share Posted May 21, 2023 (edited) Deep mid project with 10 of 24 (numbers revised upwards to cover as many variants as possible) Rumney Tippler underframe etches progressed...4 x 1/184 fitted, 4 x 1/183/184 unfitted and 2 x 1/180/181 unfitted. This week has seen a productive 4 day modelling session in the clubroom at Barrowmore. There are 14 underframes still in the etch...7 x 1/180, 1/181, 1/183 (9ft), 3 x 1/184 fitted and 4 x 1/183, 1/184 (10ft) in the post. The number of underframes needed increased with the realisation that the 1/183s came with either a 9ft or 10ft chassis. An extra eight Parkside bodies(ordered) will cover the build of 24 and leave three spare for providing the additional body height of the 1/180 & 1/181 variants. The complete Penmaenmawr to Hope St will now consist of 24 Tipplers of 6 body/underframe styles from as many batches of prototype construction as possible; the 2 rebuilt 21 tonners and 2 brakevans...28 wagons in total. Quickly progressing two more 1/180, 1/181 9ft underframes to join the ten already underway will neatly split this extensive Tippler project in half, the other twelve starting once the initial dozen are finished & running on Mostyn. A Saturday morning treat is a full English breakfast adj. the Harley Davidson showroom in Chester. Adding to the spectacle is a procession of club members with their machines, gathering for a ride out together... BeRTIe Edited May 27, 2023 by BR traction instructor 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BR traction instructor Posted May 30, 2023 Author Share Posted May 30, 2023 (edited) Another milestone today, the first batch of 12 tipplers on their feet for the first time...4 x 10ft 1/183, 1/184 unfitted; 4 x 10ft 1/184 fitted and 4 x 9ft 1/180, 1/181, 1/183 unfitted. Many hours invested but many more required. All drawgear is now completed on the batch. BeRTIe Edited May 31, 2023 by BR traction instructor 2 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BR traction instructor Posted June 9, 2023 Author Share Posted June 9, 2023 (edited) The somewhat time consuming but rewarding process of fitting the brakegear to the four vacuum fitted 1/184s just now... BeRTIe Edited June 9, 2023 by BR traction instructor 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BR traction instructor Posted June 16, 2023 Author Share Posted June 16, 2023 (edited) A three & a half day modelling session at the Barrowmore club room has seen considerable progress to the underside furniture of the four fitted 1/184s...no shortcuts, just perseverance...some tidying up to do of excess solder yet. BeRTIe Edited June 16, 2023 by BR traction instructor 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BR traction instructor Posted June 27, 2023 Author Share Posted June 27, 2023 (edited) The first of this batch of four fitted 1/184s progresses beyond the soldering stage and onto the two part Araldite stage, with the fitting of the printed axleboxes/leaf springs. A test fitted of the body...just some cleaning up of joints/edges, etched body corners, vacuum pipes, painting, decals & loading to go. PVA sealed polystyrene load former fitted. Wooden toothpick used in top of former to keep the bodysides bulging slightly. Two sizes of vacuum cylinder to cover off the loaded/unloaded changeover that features on these heavy for their size wagons when loaded... BeRTIe Edited June 29, 2023 by BR traction instructor 3 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BR traction instructor Posted July 5, 2023 Author Share Posted July 5, 2023 (edited) Next along the production line is this unfitted 1/184 tippler that carried distinctive Hybox axleboxes in the Mostyn period. Solder work is almost complete and two part Araldite work will start shortly. The period image below of this wagon at Chester WRD, in the correct pool for our modelled traffic flow is courtesy of Trevor Mann (copyright owner). Meanwhile a useful find on Ebay recently was a set of course notes for training instructors of BR guards/shunters on freight train loads at Faverdale, Darlington. Dated 1968 and 1969 they contain considerable explanation of the subject and help our understanding of the formation and operation of the rakes that we're recreating on Mostyn. Our next exhibition appearance will be at Spalding in November 2023... BeRTIe Edited July 6, 2023 by BR traction instructor 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BR traction instructor Posted July 6, 2023 Author Share Posted July 6, 2023 (edited) Taper sanding approx a quarter (from scale tippler measurements) of the bodyside/end tops dramatically reduces the overscale/overthick moulded plastic issues with the Parkside kit...after all this will usually be the area of the model most visible to anyone observing it. Many tipplers had plating repairs to strengthen thinner sections as wear & tear from hard commodities/digger buckets/corrosion took its toll, therefore a range of plate thicknesses will be found within the same rake of wagons... BeRTIe Edited July 6, 2023 by BR traction instructor Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BR traction instructor Posted July 17, 2023 Author Share Posted July 17, 2023 Three with bodies and three more in the process of having them fitted will recreate 2x 1/180, a 1/181, 1/183, an unfitted 1/184 and a fitted 1/184... BeRTIe 6 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BR traction instructor Posted July 20, 2023 Author Share Posted July 20, 2023 (edited) With so many Octel tank variants in the queue for the 3D print/bespoke etched underframe route to Mostyn it may be years before the five diagram 1/161, 1/162 ex ironstone hoppers get to the production stage that way, therefore the next best option has been resurrected...five Superstripped/refined/upgraded, cut & shut/extended Mainline hopper bodies will be paired with modified Rumney 9ft wheelbase tippler underframes to produce a finescale version of this hopper type. The incorrectly modelled Dave Goodwin version seen near the start of this thread will surrender its body to the project in the process. Cutting the hopper body into six segments vertically (outside of the centre section/panel), lengthening the end sections by 2.8mm (5.6mm extension of the body altogether) and widening the body by 2.6mm; adding 1mm to the base and heightening the upper bodysides by 1.8mm will get us into the ball park for the prototype dimensions. The scale 1/161, 1/162 wagon drawing by David Monk Steel in his recent hopper book provided the necessary dimensions to work out what is required (RSL diagram shown)... BeRTIe Edited July 24, 2023 by BR traction instructor 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BR traction instructor Posted July 22, 2023 Author Share Posted July 22, 2023 (edited) Meanwhile the tippler rake stands at six with bodies now. More orders have been placed with Rumney for underframe etches & axleboxes/leaf spring styles in preparation for the coming together/modelling of the 5 diagram 1/161, 1/162 ex ironstone hoppers... BeRTIe Edited July 23, 2023 by BR traction instructor 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BR traction instructor Posted July 23, 2023 Author Share Posted July 23, 2023 (edited) Duplicate post Edited August 30, 2023 by BR traction instructor 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southernman46 Posted July 23, 2023 Share Posted July 23, 2023 Brutal 😵 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
saxokid Posted July 23, 2023 Share Posted July 23, 2023 10 hours ago, BR traction instructor said: Just about as dismantled/razorsawn as the Superstripped Mainline 1/161, 1/162 hopper bodies are going to get. Reassembling/extending/refining and upgrading work starts here, ready for mounting on a modified 9ft wheelbase Rumney underframe. Widening the central section of the hopper body with square section styrene...the wagon will be modelled loaded with stone, therefore intrusions into the body space at low level aren't an issue. All square at this stage...slight issue with the styrene square not fully down but that will disappear under the flat 1mm styrene section that will be bonded to the base of the hopper to increase the lower body height to prototypical dimensions... BeRTIe Great modelling here,im now following 👍 cheers neil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BR traction instructor Posted July 24, 2023 Author Share Posted July 24, 2023 (edited) Welcome to the thread Neil. The remaining three hopper bodies (Ebay purchase) of the build of five vanish quickly into the Superstrip, minutes after the postie delivers them and the toy underframes have been removed... BeRTIe Edited July 26, 2023 by BR traction instructor Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BR traction instructor Posted July 25, 2023 Author Share Posted July 25, 2023 (edited) Replicating a pure rust shade usually means mixing two or three colours to achieve a base coat (that I'm happy with anyway) ready for decals. Red oxide primer, matt black and GWR freight brown (all Phoenix enamel shades) mixes on a dimple pallette and applied as thin washes (plenty of enamel thinners) got me to here (a somewhat patchy finish more typical of rust, rather than a thicker, uniform shade). Once the decals are applied and sealed with Rowney matt varnish then I'll apply a few washes/dirty matt varnish to replicate stone dust etc. The underframe needs more priming and its frame dirt washes yet. Carrs white/grey weathering powders to finish. When painting I avoid thick coats of anything (very seldom use gloss paint) and unless modelling a rare ex works wagon use thin washes to build layers of patchiness/only just covering, allowing the layers beneath to show through. This I believe is the most convincing way to replicate paintwork thinning/weathering/deteriorating. Meanwhile the last three 1/161, 1/162 hoppers are stripped & ready for the razorsaw... BeRTIe Edited July 26, 2023 by BR traction instructor 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BR traction instructor Posted July 27, 2023 Author Share Posted July 27, 2023 (edited) The first six are still absorbing the hours involved in adding detail like plating repairs and tweaking stone loads to ensure that they're convincing. Four still need etched corner strengtheners on the bodies. The lettering/decals for each are different and gathering together the right ones/applying them takes time. The 26T capacity for the fitted tipplers reflects the weight of the brake gear restricting how much stone could be added and them still be fit to run once weighed. The wagon weights recorded on the weighbridge at Penmaenmawr would be forwarded to the local TOPS office in order for a valid train list to be generated. Overweight wagons would cause a rejection, no drivers slip and they would either have to be shunted out or have a quarry operative manually shovel stone out/mechanical grab remove the overload before the wagon was reweighed. The taller bodies of the 1/180, 1/181s were tempting to overload and led to future wagons having lower height bodies to prevent this. Another feature of the period was stone cascading off the bodysides of some wagons and risking broken windows on passing trains/point blades obstructed/platforms contaminated with chippings/passengers & track workers hit by them whilst en route. The unfitted 1/183, 1/184s were most likely to have this happen and yet still be ok to travel weight wise...27.5T capacity but having the lower height body. Different capacity wagons within the same rake were a period problem and caused headaches for the bunker operator at the quarry when loading trains from above as their view was restricted and they relied on a list telling them how much stone each wagon could carry. The bottom picture illustrates the stone spilling off the body tops issue and demonstrates a uniform rake of similar tipplers loaded equally. This was the progression from the situation that I've modelled below... BeRTIe Edited July 27, 2023 by BR traction instructor 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BR traction instructor Posted July 31, 2023 Author Share Posted July 31, 2023 (edited) The awful wet weather up here is dictating decal work and etched body corners for today...no enamel paintwork progress as plenty of ventilation is needed. Makeshift soft cradles for repairs on loaded wagons...carved out of sponge scourers. Preferred matt varnish for sealing decals has been the Rowney one for some time. The usual technique is to immerse the bottle in warm to hot water and give the soluble varnish a good stir to evenly reduce viscosity/drag/application thickness as the thin layer is painted on, however, there is a distinct shelf life for this as over time its willingness to thin reduces. I'll be changing my bottle annually from now to retain those qualities... BeRTIe Edited July 31, 2023 by BR traction instructor 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BR traction instructor Posted August 1, 2023 Author Share Posted August 1, 2023 (edited) Varying shades of thin/patchy rust/faded grey colours are going onto the first six tipplers as today's dry weather permits...decal work once the rain returns. White primer is the base for the grey tipplers, with post 1964 freight added to produce a tired version of the original. The rust shades are based on red oxide primer with GWR freight brown added, the darkest two tipplers had some matt black added to the paint mix... BeRTIe Edited August 1, 2023 by BR traction instructor 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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