SRman's Current Layout - Newton Broadway

[SRman]

A package arrived from Accurascale today. Among a few other things, there was a pair of FNA-D nuclear flask wagons (set C), and an ESU LokSound decoder with their Deltic sounds on it.

The flask wagons supplement the older Bachmann FNA-C type, and could be seen running together in trains for a few years. I have a pack of suitable batteries on the way to operate the built-in tail light on one of the new wagons.

 

I fitted the LokSound decoder to 'Deltic', but the most suitable speaker I have was actually in my Dapol class 59 - EM1 or Accurathrash speakers are too large to fit in the space available in 'Deltic'. So, I popped the top off the 59, unsoldered the Zimo Double Dumbo speaker and soldered in the EM1 speaker I had sitting spare, with its end screw hole extensions clipped off. The 2-pin plug was also snipped off (a shame as it is a useful fitting, but I have saved it for use elsewhere) and the wires soldered to the tabs on the Deltic PCB, and then it was tested. At full volume it was very loud, so I turned it down a bit, but it was very successful overall. Of course, the Bachmann model doesn't have all the lighting functions of the Accurascale model, so I will have to adapt to what functions are available. In the meantime, the 59 sounded slightly more bassy and quite a lot louder, so that too was turned down a bit. I will do a video at some time in the near future of the end results for both locomotives. The illustration of the Double Dumbo speaker is from the YouChoos website (where I bought it from).


 

 

I know one of the guard irons has gone missing (again!) from 'Deltic'. I'll do something about that later.

[Southernman46]

It's a lovely thing isnt't it 👍 - I wonder for how many that was technically the first DELTIC they ever saw - I went to the science museum on a school trip way before I ever made it to KX in '73 as a 10 y.o.

Edited July 17, 2023 by Southernman46

[SRman]

Two new short videos from me: the Dapol class 59 now fitted with a larger EM1 speaker which enhances the bass reproduction a bit, and the NRM Deltic now with Accurascale sound and the Zimo double dumbo speaker taken from the class 59. I haven't made any adjustments to the running of the Deltic yet, but its mechanism seems a little stiffer than Accurascale's, so I do need to do a few tweaks.

Also, the nuclear flask train is something I don't think the real Deltic has ever hauled! I actually had the Accurascale class 37/4 on this train, but it happened to be convenient for testing the Deltic.

 

 

 

 

[John Tomlinson]

Haven't sadly got a picture of 59206, but this is 59204 on a train not dissimilar to yours (a bit longer!).

 

It is heading through Sonning Cutting on virtually the last working day before the overhead electrification posts went up.

 

Clicking on the photo will bring up the details.

 

 

John.

[SRman]

6 hours ago, John Tomlinson said:

Haven't sadly got a picture of 59206, but this is 59204 on a train not dissimilar to yours (a bit longer!).

 

It is heading through Sonning Cutting on virtually the last working day before the overhead electrification posts went up.

 

Clicking on the photo will bring up the details.

 

 

John.

 

That's a great photo, John. Thanks for posting that.

 

[SRman]

I ran the ESU "auto tune" feature (CV54 = 0, then press F1) on 'Deltic', but the running after that became rather slow, so tried again with the same result. I tried a few adjustments to the BEMF parameters with only very marginal results, so ended up resetting the decoder to the Accurascale settings, then simply altering the acceleration and braking to suit my tastes. Using the "auto tune" feature usually works for me, but not always. It is still a useful technique to try, seeing as it is built-in to all ESU v4 and v5 decoders.

On a different track, I have been doing more work on the class 74. The paintwork is still rough in places but it is presentable at viewing distances, and once I have added the transfers, I'll satin varnish it, which will hide more imperfections. It is gloss varnished  for now to allow a better surface for the transfers when I apply them. Currently it has the end handrails fitted, although they are rather annoyingly sloping downwards at the cab sides, so I'll have to adjust that. The glazing is from the Hornby 71, but I managed to damage a couple of edges in trimming it all down slightly, but overall it looks better than the vacuum-formed glazing that comes with the kit. I had to cut my own for the three narrow side windows.

Still to fit are horns, cab door handrails and door handles, kick plates under the cab doors (they were moulded on but not in high relief), the high-level jumper and air cables, and the Pullman rubbing plates. Ignore the scuff marks on the sides as that was just the paint picking up dirt from the cutting mat.

[SRman]

I like the Accurascale 3-pack Nupak nuclear PFA wagons but couldn't justify them on the grounds they were a bit expensive for something that didn't really run in the south, and they would be hot on the heels of the pair of FNA-D flask wagons I bought direct from Accurascale. Anyway, Rails had them going at a considerably reduced price so I succumbed and bought a set. I'm justifying them using Rule 1!! Here I am showing off all of them, including the pair of older Bachmann FNA-C flask wagons (yes, I know I posted the first two pics earlier).

 

 

 

Edited July 26, 2023 by SRman

[SRman]

I must stop this addiction! Another Accurascale class 92 has lobbed in on my doorstep. This time 92 009, 'Marco Polo', wit sound again.

After quickly testing on the programming track and then on the main lines, I adjusted the volume down a bit, made the maximum pantograph height lower (CV360 and CV368 both set to 45), took a photo then removed the coupling and fitted the extra front end detail at the #1 end, and the etched name plates. I haven't taken the body off to fit a driver and sun blinds yet, but that will happen soon.

Of course, it worked perfectly right from the start, as I have come to expect from Accurascale. The finish on it is spotless.

First photo is out of the box appearance, the second is after fitting the details.

 

 

[St Enodoc]

4 hours ago, SRman said:

I must stop this addiction! Another Accurascale class 92 has lobbed in on my doorstep. This time 92 009, 'Marco Polo', wit sound again.

After quickly testing on the programming track and then on the main lines, I adjusted the volume down a bit, made the maximum pantograph height lower (CV360 and CV368 both set to 45), took a photo then removed the coupling and fitted the extra front end detail at the #1 end, and the etched name plates. I haven't taken the body off to fit a driver and sun blinds yet, but that will happen soon.

Of course, it worked perfectly right from the start, as I have come to expect from Accurascale. The finish on it is spotless.

First photo is out of the box appearance, the second is after fitting the details.

 

 

You need a bigger layout, my friend...

[SRman]

Part two of the 4 EPB conversion from two Bachmann 2 EPBs. I have been putting off doing this for a while, having successfully converted one of the centre coaches before, but I finally got out the spare EPB body and marked the cutting guides with masking tape, before using the razor saw. I removed just one pair of glazing units per side, and the roof, filing off all the unnecessary detail but leaving the vents in place on the latter. For these two centre cars, I have kept the roof as one piece for extra strength, filing the cab end square and removing (and saving!) the horns. The inside leading edges of the roof were filed into a tapered profile to match the non-driving end. 

The underframe was squared off too, and buffers, buffing plate and dummy buckeye coupling all removed and saved for future use. The ex-buffer beam was filed flat and smooth. The interior mouldings were also cut back slightly but at this stage I have left the cab in place, minus its control desks and handbrake stand - this makes it easier to keep the interior lighting working, although it may all have to go when I cut in the kinematic coupling arrangement like I did with the previous conversion. We shall see!

So, where I am right now is with a 4 EPB centre coach that has not actually had any glue or filler applied yet: I think I have achieved a fairly good fit of parts. The trailing bogie with shoe beams needs to be swapped out (easy enough as it only involves one screw!), but I will wait to do that after I modify the coupling arrangement at that end.

 

The last photo shows the leftover bits of EPB bodies with a driving cab at each end held together by the roof.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[SRman]

4 EPB, continued: the 2nd car still has bogie with shoebeams and no kinematic couplings yet, 3rd car has lights disabled because I had to make room for the kinematic coupling mechanism. The mismatched coupling arrangements are why the gap between 2nd and 3rd coaches is too big at present. 

I haven't renumbered either driving end yet, so both ends still bear the old 2 EPB numbers (5745 and 5764), plus the now redundant black triangles.

For all of that, it is almost there and looks quite passable even now.

 

 

[tjf4375]

I love the 4 EPB, you've done a smashing job there. I've been wanting to do a similar thing but never quite got round to it!

[SRman]

Just a small improvement to the Accurascale DB Schenker class 92, 92 009 'Marco Polo': I fitted a driver in the leading cab (no coupling fitted at that end and the extra detail added there), plus a pair of sun blinds.

 

 

As an aside, also on my workbench at present are five bus kits (the other half of my hobby!): two white metal RTC Kits for Marshall Capital bodied Dennis Darts (two different lengths), two Nigel Roberts resin Daimler Fleetline/Northern Counties kits, one Southdown single door, and one longer dual door version as run by Brighton, Hove & District, and lastly, and MBF resin kit for an Alexander Enviro 300 M.A.N. but going into Stagecoach livery.

 

 

 

 

 

[SRman]

I have resumed work on the sloping road and hill behind the engine shed lines. I have had it sitting there with bits of grass matting perched on it while I decided exactly what I wanted for it. An inspiration came when I decided to resurrect the old Albion Garage I scratch built using an Alphagraphix card kit as the basis but using Wills sheets and some plain plastic sheet as well. Among other things, I increased the depth to allow a normal model car to sit withing the shorter workshop bay, something the original design could not permit.

I removed the whole section of hill from the layout to permit easier access to it, so it is currently sitting on the floor (on newspaper) with some wet paint and wet glue, and freshly laid static grass. Earlier today, I mixed a batch of plaster to fill gaps and smooth things over a bit. I added some black and brown poster paints to the mix so no white chips will show if there is any damage later on.

The photos show some of the progress with restoring the garage, which I intend to appear a little dodgy (note the oil pools on the floor ... cars rebirthed, anyone?), and also with applying the textures and scenery to the hill itself. The bases for the garage and Nissen hut are not yet level, but everything is posed to give a rough idea of how I envisage it.

There is another section of the hill leading to (eventually) a bridge over the railway and then off-scene. That hasn't been touched yet.

The first pic shows the garage as it was on my old Middlehurst and High Cross layout. It has been in storage since around 2009.

[SRman]

I have tidied the hill side up a bit, although it isn't any where near finished yet, I needed to get it off the floor to make room for visitors tomorrow. The glues aren't entirely dry yet, either.

The garage and Nissen hut have been packed up a bit at the back, but they are still not level yet. 

Anyway, this shows it in situ now, and I can see how it is all going to fit, and I can plan the for retaining walls at the back. There is a double track line right behind it.





 

Edited August 18, 2023 by SRman

[SRman]

I have done more work on the scene, including replacing the card base for the garage and Nissen hut with a sturdier foam board base. It is on the floor again for now while I work on it. I used some printed road textures from Scalescenes on that base. Work continues with the grass and grass mats, with another layer of static grass to follow shortly.

I am toying with the idea of adding lights in the garage to negate the need to remove the roof to actually see inside it. I'm also thinking of drilling a couple of discrete holes in the road to allow wires to pass through to illuminate a Rapido Daimler Fleetline (one I have de-branded so it is no longer from the West Midlands), and a motorcycle with working headlight.

 

I swapped the original Hornby Nissen hut for a Bachmann one, then decided the Hornby one looks better in this location.

I was experimenting with some Bachmann barbed wire fencing, but the "interface" between the road and the rough field really needs some hedges.

Anyway, here are a few photos of the continuing progress. Sorry about the background clutter, but I need the various glues and paints for the work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[SRman]

Just a little more work done on the scenic hill section, with some more static grass added, a new bit of grass mat, and some filler blending in the levels. The road surface needs more work and some texture, but it is all coming together, gradually.

 

[SRman]

A slight diversion from the garage/hill scene (on which work still continues on the detailing), my LSWR cross-country set arrived from Kernow today. After a couple of quick photos, I swapped the internal couplings from the tension locks to some Hornby short magnetic couplings, which do look better and also close up the gaps a little. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[St Enodoc]

54 minutes ago, SRman said:

A slight diversion from the garage/hill scene (on which work still continues on the detailing), my LSWR cross-country set arrived from Kernow today. After a couple of quick photos, I swapped the internal couplings from the tension locks to some Hornby short magnetic couplings, which do look better and also close up the gaps a little. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Those couplings look ridiculous (personal opinion).

[DougN]

On 28/07/2023 at 20:22, St Enodoc said:

You need a bigger layout, my friend...

SRman, I have some time comming up... we can make it bigger...... you know the wall with the sliding door... straight through take out the window... or put a new smaller one in....😁

[Gwiwer]

There’s always the Great Outdoors 

[SRman]

11 minutes ago, Gwiwer said:

There’s always the Great Outdoors 

 

We used to know someone who did that ... can't think who ... 😜

[SRman]

Just a little more progress on the garage scene: a couple of birds planted on a fence and a roof (I should do a few more), VW Karmann-Ghia satin varnished to take off the extremely high gloss finish Oxford Diecast provide, then fixed to the ramp with wire so it won't fall off when I move the whole thing, and old-style petrol pumps from P & D Marsh in the process of being painted, but posed for effect. I still want to do hedges along the road sides but barbed wire fence along the top of the railway cutting at the back. The derelict Oxford Renault 4 needs to be sunk into the grass a bit (nail scissors to act as lawn mower!!), and eventually I'd like to modify it to have lost a wheel leaving a rusty brake drum showing. There are a few lumps, bumps and gaps to fix up, but overall I am very happy with the way the scene is shaping up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[SRman]

I have placed the scene back on the layout for the moment, as I have to wait for a delivery to do the hedges that I want. The level crossing (right-hand) end is not sitting down properly but once it is complete, I can pin and/or glue it all down properly. I have pre-drilled a couple of holes to allow for wiring of lights in the garage and forecourt later, and for the bus, which is a de-branded Birmingham/West Midlands model from Rapido - it'll be a compromise if I leave that on for pre-1980s running sessions, but I may just buy one of the earlier half cab buses with lights that Rapido did and swap them over. Again, it will be de-branded or even fully repainted, representing private operators buying used buses after the major operator has finished with them.

Anyway, this is what it looks like in place, incomplete as it is.

 

 

[SRman]

I decided to do a new cab ride/train ride video around the upper level this morning.