Ruffnut Thorston Posted April 11, 2015 Share Posted April 11, 2015 Not done much on the layout recently, it's peak time for the garden and allotment to be sorted out and got ready for a new season. However when I went to Ali pali I took the opportunity to buy a couple of packs of the Bachmann Mini couplings, and thought I would save on postage. I was a bit surprised by the price however, £8.95 a pack, but apparently that is the retail price! Anyway I have spent the last couple of days removing my old bug Mainline couplings on the goods wagon and all now for a couple of old wrenn wagons now have all the same couplings That is what I was doing...the Bachmann short and long Mini couplings, screw-on type, also fit Tri-ang Hornby (sometimes the two side holes need slight adjustment). Having finally got hold of some Kadee couplings, I am now considering going that way. To this end I am intending to see about fitting NEM pockets to most of the Ffrwd Locks stock. That way I can go either way, Kadee or tension lock. I must get around to selling off the bag of Mainline/ early Bachmann larger type couplings! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulcanbomber Posted April 11, 2015 Author Share Posted April 11, 2015 Since I run trains in fixed formations not really interested in kadees Grandchildren coming to stay for a couple of days on Sunday, whilst their kitchen is being done at home, so been told by my wife to make sure trains are running properly so as to help keep them occupied! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulcanbomber Posted May 16, 2015 Author Share Posted May 16, 2015 (edited) Just returned from a holiday on Ross on Wye Edited May 16, 2015 by vulcanbomber 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulcanbomber Posted June 4, 2015 Author Share Posted June 4, 2015 After a bit of a break, just getting back into modelling There is a new android app called Snapspeed which is brilliant for improving pics taken on a mobile phone, which I use. So I thought I would post some of the modified pics A view inside the forge, with the glow of the farriers fire Gas works at early dusk The Clock Tower City Of Bath crossing the viaduct The church without it's roof The completed church A view of the station 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulcanbomber Posted July 24, 2015 Author Share Posted July 24, 2015 Haven't worked on the layout for while to may other jobs on the allotment and in the garden. However today's weather gave me no other option and had an enjoyable afternoon working a new schedule for manual train operation, gone completely off full computer automation, will have it just driving the shuttle train instead. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulcanbomber Posted July 25, 2015 Author Share Posted July 25, 2015 (edited) Been rewriting the computer program today The rail car runs along the back of the layout as a shuttle using the automatic mode. I have modified the rest of the program by just retaining the blocks, so I can show locos in them, by dropping an loco assignment into the block especially in the out of sight fiddle yard. The sensors are still there to show the loco position, but not tied to a block. So in the out of sight fiddle yard, I just drive the loco in slowly until the sensor lights on the display, and then assign the loco to that loop in the display, so I know where loco is. Also I can still control all of the points from the computer display and it shows their positions. Edited July 25, 2015 by vulcanbomber 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bgman Posted July 25, 2015 Share Posted July 25, 2015 GWR gets my vote every time and this thread is well worth reading. I've very much enjoyed the past Hal hour or so, I will certainly put this one done to watch in the future. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulcanbomber Posted August 10, 2015 Author Share Posted August 10, 2015 (edited) Been struggling for a while to find any enthusiasm to finish the terrace behind the station, that usually means it is wrong some how. Also the terrace was set too far back from the station with a lot of empty space in between Then I saw this by baconbutty The terrace is just too big and can't be done in stages, I prefer to build in stages and change as bits progress, especially with regards to buildings So the thinking cap has been put on, and I'm enjoying mulling over ideas again Been struggling for a while to find any enthusiasm to finish the terrace behind the station, that usually means it is wrong some how. Also the terrace was set too far back from the station with a lot of empty space in between So the thinking cap has been put on, and I'm enjoying mulling over ideas again Edited August 11, 2015 by vulcanbomber 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulcanbomber Posted August 19, 2015 Author Share Posted August 19, 2015 Rainy afternoon so finished changes to control panel If I set Rocrail into Auto the only thing it now controls is the shuttle train which runs between two blocks Platform 1 and the Tunnel all by itself All other trains are controlled manually. I have done this by keeping most of the blocks and disconnecting them from the sensors, Rocrail no longer cares which train is in which block. I have kept the sensors mainly in the storage loops, so I know when the train has entered it's section and I can stop the loco. I can keep a check of which storage loops are occupied by manually assigning train to the block and also clearing it when it is assigned else were like a platform. The point are controlled by placing a mouse pointer on each point and selecting it, the panel shows the position of each point. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulcanbomber Posted November 14, 2015 Author Share Posted November 14, 2015 Barkham Green comes put of hibernation after the summer holidays I have had the door changed so that it opens outwards instead of inwards , my wife was concerned that if I had an accident it would be very difficult to get in the room with the flap down This gives some new night time views of the layout which have been taken from outside the door Any way had an enjoyable rainy afternoon running trains again. I was very pleased that other than one point, which had moved mysteriously over the summer ,everything worked first time. Next thing is to fill out the new schedule index cards and re-build the area behind the station. 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulcanbomber Posted November 24, 2015 Author Share Posted November 24, 2015 (edited) After a lot of thought now know what I want to acheive behind station. So I did a mock up in card. Basically keeping the upper part of the terrace building (partly already cut out) and adding a row of shops at the front, with the gap to the station filled by pavement and redutex cobles Any before I do any more have to do some emergency baby sitting and visit Warley on Sunday for bits. Should keep me going for the Winter!! Edited November 24, 2015 by vulcanbomber 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulcanbomber Posted November 30, 2015 Author Share Posted November 30, 2015 Whilst I've been waiting to get more bits from Warley I've been taking a critical look once more on how to operate the layout. As I've already said my last decision was to run the trains manually, well one visit from the Grandchildren soon dissuaded me of that!! You can't keep an one on two trains and one 2 year old and one 4 year old all at the same time! So I decided to go back to having one line manual and the other auto. I've now devised a schedule for the up line and have tested it successfully. This runs as follows The auto train shuttles backwards and forwards as before. The Goods train leaves the storage loop 4 and does one circuit without stopping at the station After a 20 second delay, to create a sense of anticipation for the children, the 4550 with B set runs from loop 5A into Platform 3 The auto-coach can then be run from loop 5B into platform 2 The B set next departs from the station to return to Loop 5A now that Loop 5B is clear The Pullman train next arrives from Loop 6 after a 20-s delayed start After 20s the Auto-coach reverses out of Platform 2 and waits for the Pullman to leave Next the Pullman returns to loop 6 The Auto-coach then passes through the station without stopping Before returning to Loop 5B Every thing is now back to the start point The sequence then stops ready for me to restart it manually when I am ready 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulcanbomber Posted December 4, 2015 Author Share Posted December 4, 2015 Brought some trees and walling at Warley to nearly complete the back scene for the Church. Still need another 3 lengths of the walling though. to go on the left. Wanted to see how it looked first I've now straightened the statue! 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulcanbomber Posted December 5, 2015 Author Share Posted December 5, 2015 I've now moved construction of the station shops to a separate topic to keep everything together http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/105795-station-shops/ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulcanbomber Posted January 2, 2016 Author Share Posted January 2, 2016 Well the mix of automated and manual operation, worked very well, when I demonstrated the layout to my sister-in-law and her husband. I was able to answer question about the layout whilst trains where moving around, without any distractions causing problems. Took a break from the Shops behind the station to fit a new yard light I brought at Warley, It's amazing how much time a little task like this can take, with all the wiring, painting and blending it into the scenery. 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulcanbomber Posted January 7, 2016 Author Share Posted January 7, 2016 Finally got around to painting some figures I brought at Warley from Dart Castings Just popping around for some sugar The twins like the same colour clothes Doing some wweeding with a robin looking on 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules Posted January 7, 2016 Share Posted January 7, 2016 Nicely painted figures - I have quite a few from Dart Castings to paint, but as it is one of my least favourite tasks I keep putting it off. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulcanbomber Posted January 7, 2016 Author Share Posted January 7, 2016 In my view they are the best, never any flash to remove and very crisp molding, not cheap though. I buy a few at a time, that way the wife won't notice how much I'm spending on little figures!! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulcanbomber Posted January 19, 2016 Author Share Posted January 19, 2016 Making progress with station shops, just wanted to see how they would look 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulcanbomber Posted February 10, 2016 Author Share Posted February 10, 2016 Thought I would post progress to date here, more details can be found on the separate thread http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/105795-station-shops/ Fortunately the brickwork matches the station! This will have to do for now as we have the Grandchildren coming on holiday, (the scalpel and Stanley knife have been hidden) and then we are away just after for a couple of weeks ourselves. A major hold up now is acquiring some more brick styrene sheet wilthout paying exhorbitant postage, probably wait until Ali Pali 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
class"66" Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 Luv looking over your church scenes!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulcanbomber Posted February 27, 2016 Author Share Posted February 27, 2016 Thanks for kind comments, not replied before because out of country on holiday 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulcanbomber Posted April 16, 2016 Author Share Posted April 16, 2016 I know the building of the Station Shops exists as another thread but I still want to keep this one live, since not much else is happening on the layout. However I have a birthday next month so you never know. It's been raining recently so I have made quite a bit of progress 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Removed a/c Posted April 23, 2016 Share Posted April 23, 2016 Just had a read through this thread. Smashing layout. I have enjoyed reading about the station shops too. Regards Scott Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulcanbomber Posted April 24, 2016 Author Share Posted April 24, 2016 Thank you very much always nice to get positive feedback Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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