Wright writes.....

[Jol Wilkinson]

8 minutes ago, Tony Wright said:

Thanks for that info Mike,

 

Being lazy (and not really knowing how to find out from the interweb), what's the price of a brand new Tortoise point motor now, please? I've had some donated for sale on behalf of CRUK. I've never used the type (though I'm sure they're quieter that the Fulgurex ones I installed and Norman Solomon wired up for Bytham).

 

Regards,

 

Tony

Tony,

 

it seems that the Tortoise is being replaced by the SMAIL, which appears to be a DCC decoder equipped version and significantly more expensive. Tortoise retailed for about £20 new and the only examples on eBay are about half that. However, they will now have rarity value so you might ask more!

 

Jol

[St Enodoc]

17 minutes ago, Tony Wright said:

Thanks for that info Mike,

 

Being lazy (and not really knowing how to find out from the interweb), what's the price of a brand new Tortoise point motor now, please? I've had some donated for sale on behalf of CRUK. I've never used the type (though I'm sure they're quieter that the Fulgurex ones I installed and Norman Solomon wired up for Bytham).

 

Regards,

 

Tony

https://www.digitrains.co.uk/shop-by-brand/circuitron/tortoise-point-motors/tortoise.html

 

Usual disclaimer.

[thegreenhowards]

My experience of Tortoises is that you can pick up second hand ones for between £5 & £10 .

[gr.king]

But tortoises are no use in the winter months because they hibernate...

[gr.king]

14 hours ago, Tom F said:

I began weathering professionally back in 2019. I am a peripatetic violin teacher in various schools by trade. Originally it was only ever meant to be a top up to income, but increasingly I've been beginning to rely on it more.

I've become very frustrated with the teaching, and with 400 miles being clocked up for 32 weeks of the year, I'm looking at a change. I'd like to make the weathering more full time, perhaps moving to twice a week, or potentially three times a week.

 

Good luck Tom with the change of work emphasis towards something more enjoyable and less stressful. Take care to ensure that the weathering work doesn't become a chore as the music-teaching evidently has done.

[Tom F]

37 minutes ago, gr.king said:

 

Good luck Tom with the change of work emphasis towards something more enjoyable and less stressful. Take care to ensure that the weathering work doesn't become a chore as the music-teaching evidently has done.

thanks Graeme

 

I don’t think I’ll drop the teaching completely, but I think working from home and less driving is definitely a step forward. The more I do, the more it helps my confidence.

[NZRedBaron]

Question for any/all of the Little Bytham gang; back in the day, did any of you have a 'pet' engine, that you liked to see when out spotting?

 

How about on the layout itself?

[PMP]

5 hours ago, Jol Wilkinson said:

Tony,

 

it seems that the Tortoise is being replaced by the SMAIL, which appears to be a DCC decoder equipped version and significantly more expensive.

 

Jol

As far as I’m aware the Tortoise isn’t being replaced, it’s still a standard Circuitron product. As Jol points out the Smail is DCC ready, but can also be used on DC. 
The Cobalt point motors have a good reputation in both DC/DCC versions and are smaller. I’ve yet to try one though.

[JamesSpooner]

16 minutes ago, PMP said:

As far as I’m aware the Tortoise isn’t being replaced, it’s still a standard Circuitron product. As Jol points out the Smail is DCC ready, but can also be used on DC. 
The Cobalt point motors have a good reputation in both DC/DCC versions and are smaller. I’ve yet to try one though.

As my Fulgurex motors have failed (some are thirty five years old) I have been replacing them with DC Cobalts and I haven’t had a problem with one yet.  In the fiddle yard I was lazier and started with some cheap H&M SM3s off eBay, replaced a few with SEEP but couldn’t get on with them so have converted the whole area to Peco and they have also been very reliable.

 

Nigel

[Tony Wright]

6 hours ago, thegreenhowards said:

My experience of Tortoises is that you can pick up second hand ones for between £5 & £10 .

Good afternoon Andy,

 

Though technically 'second-hand', the Tortoise point motors I have (x 5) are brand new; it looks like they've not even been taken out of their boxes. Speaking of boxes, they're priced at £12.99 - which might indicate their ages. There are also some 'remote' adaptors. 

 

So, £10.00 seems fair then? That said, it would be nice to get the original asking price! 

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

[Re6/6]

Tony, PM sent 

 

Thanks

 

John

[Tony Wright]

3 hours ago, NZRedBaron said:

Question for any/all of the Little Bytham gang; back in the day, did any of you have a 'pet' engine, that you liked to see when out spotting?

 

How about on the layout itself?

Good afternoon,

 

To ECML 'spotters of steam, a 'Streak' (A4) was always the most-wanted. Certainly, when one came into view at Retford, the shriek 'Streak' from the mass gathering of 'skoolboys' (I never saw a girl trainspotter)  would assault the ears.

 

 

Though not at Little Bytham, the first A4 I saw was the doyen of the class - SILVER LINK. Naturally, I had to build a model of her (from a Wills kit on a scratch-built chassis, which Ian Rathbone painted).

 

Thanks to my model time machine, here 'I' am taking a picture of her! It's been seen before, but worth it again? 

 

Though I suppose the A4s were the most-exciting, I really loved the A1s as well...........

 

 

Thanks to the same wonderful time machine, and a fair bit of imagination, here 'I' am taking a picture of GREAT CENTRAL (DJH/Wright/Rathbone). 

 

Which, given the quality of my model Rollieflex............

 

 

Turned out fine!

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

 

 

 

 

[Tony Wright]

I can certainly recommend Tom Foster's entirely-natural weathering. He's worked his magic on several of my locomotives............

 

 

This Pro-Scale A1 was mostly-built by the late Geoff Brewin. I completed it, painted it and Tom weathered it.

 

 

I detailed/altered this pair of Bachmann ECML stalwarts, then handed them over to him.

 

 

 

Doing the same to this Hornby B1, his weathering really lifts it. 

 

My painting is best described as 'adequate'...............

 

 

Seen here on this DMR K1 I built (with the lining the right way round!). 

 

However................

 

 

 

It's only after the touch of a 'master' that a loco really comes to life!

 

 

 

As seen in this same transformation of my Crownline J17. 

 

Other examples of Tom's weathering work for me include............

 

 

This ECJM L1.

 

 

And this PDK B16/2 (built originally by Mike Edge and painted by me). 

 

Tom's visited LB from its early days...........

 

 

And this splendid quartet of Hornby Gresley Pacifics represents some very subtle weathering. 

 

It's not just locos he weathers............

 

 

 

 

His mastery of stock-weathering is equally evident.

 

The best of luck, Tom, in whatever you do...........

 

Best wishes,

 

Tony. 

 

 

[Bob5860]

Thank you for your comments with regards to B.O.B

 

Mr King, yes the railway is mostly my own work,  I built the baseboards, laid the track and made the kits.  Scratch built the buildings that kits were not available for.  Assistance came from my wife and grandson with scenery, painting etc.  As stated previously the signals were made by my friend who is also a railway modeller.

 

Started in 2018 the fiddle yard boards came from previous layouts, Brackenbridge (ROTM Jan 88 and around 20 exhibitions and from an attempt at Melton crossing on the Hull line which morphed into a freelance 4 track East coast mainline depiction which although started in 2005 and never finished due to a house move.

 

Mr Carrol, the model is 43’ 7” long and 8’ 2” wide and is located in a purpose built loft.  The scenic section is 34’ 6” long or 2625ft just 15ft short of a half a mile (2640ft) and varies from 1’ 6” wide to a maximum of 3’ wide.  The fiddle yards are 2’ wide.

 

Mr West & Grob12324, see below for more photos to the station in the North.  The ballast is still a work in progress.  I started with granite on the viaduct.  I couldn’t find any colour photos to confirm the type of ballast so any help would be appreciated.

 

Thanks Nik

[polybear]

38 minutes ago, Bob5860 said:

The ballast is still a work in progress.  I started with granite on the viaduct.  I couldn’t find any colour photos to confirm the type of ballast so any help would be appreciated.

 

Thanks Nik

 

 

I recall Norman Solomon saying that "Ballast is heavy - so expensive to transport; as a consequence they'd get it from as local a source as possible"; therefore it makes sense to consider (or invent) what would've been available in the local area.

HTH

Brian

[Tony Wright]

40 minutes ago, Bob5860 said:

Thank you for your comments with regards to B.O.B

 

Mr King, yes the railway is mostly my own work,  I built the baseboards, laid the track and made the kits.  Scratch built the buildings that kits were not available for.  Assistance came from my wife and grandson with scenery, painting etc.  As stated previously the signals were made by my friend who is also a railway modeller.

 

Started in 2018 the fiddle yard boards came from previous layouts, Brackenbridge (ROTM Jan 88 and around 20 exhibitions and from an attempt at Melton crossing on the Hull line which morphed into a freelance 4 track East coast mainline depiction which although started in 2005 and never finished due to a house move.

 

Mr Carrol, the model is 43’ 7” long and 8’ 2” wide and is located in a purpose built loft.  The scenic section is 34’ 6” long or 2625ft just 15ft short of a half a mile (2640ft) and varies from 1’ 6” wide to a maximum of 3’ wide.  The fiddle yards are 2’ wide.

 

Mr West & Grob12324, see below for more photos to the station in the North.  The ballast is still a work in progress.  I started with granite on the viaduct.  I couldn’t find any colour photos to confirm the type of ballast so any help would be appreciated.

 

Thanks Nik

Good evening Nik,

 

Very impressive.

 

Ballast? It's my experience that granite ballast turns 'greenish' when wetted. Limestone ballast is more-appropriate for the ECML during your period. It's what was used on Little Bytham.

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

[Tony Wright]

1 hour ago, Bob5860 said:

Thank you for your comments with regards to B.O.B

 

Mr King, yes the railway is mostly my own work,  I built the baseboards, laid the track and made the kits.  Scratch built the buildings that kits were not available for.  Assistance came from my wife and grandson with scenery, painting etc.  As stated previously the signals were made by my friend who is also a railway modeller.

 

Started in 2018 the fiddle yard boards came from previous layouts, Brackenbridge (ROTM Jan 88 and around 20 exhibitions and from an attempt at Melton crossing on the Hull line which morphed into a freelance 4 track East coast mainline depiction which although started in 2005 and never finished due to a house move.

 

Mr Carrol, the model is 43’ 7” long and 8’ 2” wide and is located in a purpose built loft.  The scenic section is 34’ 6” long or 2625ft just 15ft short of a half a mile (2640ft) and varies from 1’ 6” wide to a maximum of 3’ wide.  The fiddle yards are 2’ wide.

 

Mr West & Grob12324, see below for more photos to the station in the North.  The ballast is still a work in progress.  I started with granite on the viaduct.  I couldn’t find any colour photos to confirm the type of ballast so any help would be appreciated.

 

Thanks Nik

Me again,

 

Of possible interest.............

 

 

This rather dark slide shows 60029 heading south on Gamston Bank (a few miles south of Bawtry) in 1961. I'd venture to state that this is limestone ballast, though very dirty. 

 

 

Stoke Summit is definitely limestone country. 

 

 

Which is why WMRC used Slater's N Gauge limestone ballast when building Stoke Summit, though it could be a bit too clean - I take full responsibility, since I ballasted the lot! 

 

 

Norman Solomon also used Slater's limestone ballast when he laid the scenic-side trackwork on Little Bytham. He weathered it more than I did.

 

Finally..........

 

 

Trackwork doesn't have to be ballasted to look impressive. Carlisle (EM), in 2016.

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

[PupCam]

5 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

Tom's visited LB from its early days...........

 

 

Now that is a fantastic photograph!    

 

It is reminiscent of a typical LNER publicity shot set up on a quiet Sunday morning, absolutely brilliant.     

Perhaps another go now the background (and the point rodding ...) is complete is in order?

 

Alan

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 28 by PupCam

[New Haven Neil]

11 hours ago, gr.king said:

Good luck Tom with the change of work emphasis towards something more enjoyable and less stressful. Take care to ensure that the weathering work doesn't become a chore as the music-teaching evidently has done.

 

Sage advice - having run a well-known 'box-shifter' for 5 years with a friend and with 8 staff, it has taken three years since we gave up to get my interest in the hobby back.

[PupCam]

On 27/03/2024 at 19:57, Tom F said:

Evening everyone.

I was having an email chat with Tony earlier regarding my weathering business. Tony kindly suggested I share some of my recent work in here.

I began weathering professionally back in 2019. I am a peripatetic violin teacher in various schools by trade. Originally it was only ever meant to be a top up to income, but increasingly I've been beginning to rely on it more.

I've become very frustrated with the teaching, and with 400 miles being clocked up for 32 weeks of the year, I'm looking at a change. I'd like to make the weathering more full time, perhaps moving to twice a week, or potentially three times a week.

Anyhow enough of my rambling, here's some examples of my work of late.

 

 

 

 

 

 

They are absolutely superb Tom!

 

12 hours ago, gr.king said:

 

Good luck Tom with the change of work emphasis towards something more enjoyable and less stressful. Take care to ensure that the weathering work doesn't become a chore as the music-teaching evidently has done.

 

46 minutes ago, New Haven Neil said:

Sage advice - having run a well-known 'box-shifter' for 5 years with a friend and with 8 staff, it has taken three years since we gave up to get my interest in the hobby back.

 

Sage advice indeed but good luck for a successful and fruitful transition.  It would be a great shame to waste such talent!

 

Alan

 

 

 

[St Enodoc]

8 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

Good afternoon Andy,

 

Though technically 'second-hand', the Tortoise point motors I have (x 5) are brand new; it looks like they've not even been taken out of their boxes. Speaking of boxes, they're priced at £12.99 - which might indicate their ages. There are also some 'remote' adaptors. 

 

So, £10.00 seems fair then? That said, it would be nice to get the original asking price! 

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

Leave the price at £12.99 and see what happens!

[NZRedBaron]

9 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

Good afternoon,

 

Regards,

 

Tony.

That's fair to me; personally I don't have a layout (I don't even have room for an Inglenook shunting puzzle), but I do have a fair assortment of stock, some old and some new- mostly LNER, but oddly enough a couple of BR Late Crest locos from the Southern Region.

 

Fun aside, I have five Gresley pacifics, and none of them are Flying Scotsman or Mallard; what I do have is Royal Lancer (from Hornby's collab with the Royal Mail), Falcon, Golden Eagle, Humorist, and (my personal favourite) Gladiateur (apparently split off from a Queen of Scots train pack).

Edited March 29 by NZRedBaron

[Tony Wright]

10 hours ago, PupCam said:

 

Now that is a fantastic photograph!    

 

It is reminiscent of a typical LNER publicity shot set up on a quiet Sunday morning, absolutely brilliant.     

Perhaps another go now the background (and the point rodding ...) is complete is in order?

 

Alan

 

 

 

 

 

Good morning Alan,

 

It's a good idea, but where the locos are now is anyone's guess. One or two might be on Grantham, which will be running at York over the Easter weekend.

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

[Tony Wright]

I think the A1 below is another example of Tom Foster's weathering............

 

 

Seen on Grantham, which can be seen at the York Show over the weekend.

 

I've actually built a few locos which run on Grantham (they'll probably be seen over Easter), including........

 

 

This SEF J69 (painted by Graham Nicholas himself), which is always employed.

 

 

This DJH C2 (painted by Geoff Haynes).

 

 

And this Jamieson V2 (also painted by Geoff). 

 

York is one of the best modellers' shows in the calendar - I recommend a visit.

 

 

 

 

Edited March 29 by Tony Wright
typo error

[Captain Kernow]

16 minutes ago, Tony Wright said:

I think the A1 below is another example of Tom Foster's weathering............

Talking of Tom's weathering, Tony, he also does diesels really well! This is a D63XX diesel hydraulic (Dapol model) that Tom weathered for me a few years ago. He has done other stuff for me as well and currently has a batch of models with him right now.