Salmon Pastures

[salmonpastures]

1 hour ago, gr.king said:

 

Maybe I'll see you again at a genuinely safe exhibition if there are such things next year?

I certainly hope so Graeme,,,, "talk about Stir Crazy".  

I've been into the garage on several occasions,,, played with my trainset for a short while,,, took myself off to the workbench,,, sat and looked at it for a while and then on each occasion been overtaken by a most concentrated wave of "I just Can't Be Ar*ed" 

Now the CBA's are not unusual but I've never had it for 5 months before,,,,, anyway the "tingle-finger" is back and so I went out and celebrated this morning and invested in a Hornby Q6,,, a lovely feeling and a lovely model.

 

There is some good news on the exhibition front,,, Ipswich and Aylsham have both been in touch asking if I'm available when they decide to go ahead,,, so the CBA's have given way to the Get Stuck In's,,, I'm sure we will be shunting into each other at some point in near future. 

As I closed the garage down tonight I'm sure I saw the L1 smiling at me from behind a can of Baker's Fluid!!!

[salmonpastures]

Having braved the warmth of the garage, ignored the Niagra Nose, and turned the bottle heater up to regulo 3 

I have finished off the D21 twiddly bits, whistles, lamp irons, etc and refixed the chimney in an improved position.

 

Having taken both the loco and tender chassis from the body's I am aware that the levels all need realigning, and I will do that when I have found all the bits of plastikard which are now strewn over the garage floor.

 

Have become quite interested in the NER loco's whilst jousting with this one,,, enough to go out and buy a Q6 to accompany my DJH Q7,,,, and I also have a D16 to have a go at in the near future.

 

Will attach a couple of shots of it on the turntable and a repeat shot of it before I started converting it from whatever it was into what it is now!!!  

 

Can I offer a sincere thanks to everyone who has offered technical advise and information to help me in this process it really is much appreciated,,,,, I do whish it would warm up so I can finish a few more off!!

 

SAD

 

 

 

 

Edited November 4, 2022 by salmonpastures
progress

[salmonpastures]

The sun is out,, the iron is hot and I've had quite a good day in the garage!!

After far too long work has restarted on the L1 Zeppelin and today I have been adding cab detail.

Finding out what it was really like inside an L1 cab has proved difficult so this is "my interpretation" gleaned from what few photo's I have of the ugly so and so!!

Now it is soldered in place doubtless somebody will have a detailed photo of what it was really like!!!

I look forward to hearing from you!! [ I really do!!]

 

Tomorrow after cleaning a lot of my OTT soldering out of the way I hope to be adding the distinctive bunker coal rails,,, but who knows,,, I might sit down and suddenly decide to do something else,, one of the many joys of retired modelling,,, you can do what you bloomin well like!!

 

SAD

 

Edited November 4, 2022 by salmonpastures

[gr.king]

I'm impressed. I've never given a moment's thought to the possibility that there might that "chimney breast" sort of arrangement in front of the bunker. Perhaps I should have paid more attention to photographs?

 

Satisfied owner aside (and that's the important consideration of course), how many will ever notice that it is there, once the roof and the black paint are on?

[salmonpastures]

Problem solve Graeme,, that's at least 2 of us happy with a "Robinson chimney breast" so it looks as though it is there for keeps!!!.

I have one picture which shows the locker above the coal hole with very nicely rounded corners on the rear wall.

Falling into a sharp 90deg angled locker at speed must have been VERY painful,, typical GC,,, early ergonomics!!!

I put a driver in there to see the scale etc and the cab is surprisingly roomy,

Had a look at my Craftsman A5 as well and back in the day an enclosed empty square box/hole for a cab was more than acceptable,,, those were the days!!!.

SAD

[salmonpastures]

Another good day on the Zeppelin putting the coal rails in place.

 

What a Phaff,,,, but after I've cleaned all the excess solder out of the way they should be acceptable.

 

 

SAD

 

Edited November 4, 2022 by salmonpastures

[gr.king]

Even before cleaning up, they look good in that image.

 

I remember at that same stage with my L1 making myself a swan-necked bit for my iron, from 6mm or 1/4" copper rod, so that with the bunker base already in place I could still solder the rails in place with the tip of the bit beneath them, notwithstanding the fact that the rest of the iron had to stay above.

[salmonpastures]

Evening Graeme,

I'm glad it isn't only me that struggled with the coal rails,,,, if I had known you had a special tool for the job I might have  thought about justifying / organising a trip to North Lincs,,,,,

 

First attempt was to solder a gate arrangement and then bend it to shape,,, ha de ha ha,, far too complex,,, and bending it to shape popped about 25% of the joints,,, it looked pretty straightforward on the drawing!!!

 

In the end I put side runners in first and then fixed the length beams on top of the sides whilst in situ.

Which was OK for the first side as you can push and bend to shape but as you mentioned when the first side is in you can't get access to the opposite underside.

 

The good news is I already know which side the photo's will be taken from and I haven't even painted it yet!!

 

Good fun??? not really,, but they look the part and and as you mentioned earlier when it is black, weathered and coaled who is going to worry about it.

 

I took it down to the local club night this evening and it trundled along with about 25 wagons without any fuss at all,,,, had a bit of a problem stopping it though,,,, I thought the bogie brakes was supposed to cure all that!!!

 

Looks like I will be doing washout plugs and a host of decidedly shapely lumps on the firebox tomorrow, oh what fun we have!!

 

It's some time since I had a bout of tingle finger as good as this one,,, I've missed it more than I realised.

 

SAD

 

[salmonpastures]

It's been a good day for Mudhole covers and washout plugs,,, the joys of the murky end of the firebox,,, and sticking with the basic plumbing I've made up a couple of U bends for the tanks and the water filler caps.

As usual I've still got a whole load of cleaning to do but it is now starting to look the part.

Next challenge after fitting the tank filler caps will be the smokebox door area.

That should put a smile on it's face if I get it right.

 

Have now got to start thinking about sourcing a suitable chimney and dome,, I can see an old craftsman A5 kit getting pilfered if I can't find anybody who sells any suitable whitemetal bits.

 

I have to say "back in the day" you could walk into quite a few half deceent model shops and they usually had a drawer full of suitable detailing bits,,, Michael at Wakefield Model centre had several drawers which one could rumage through to your hearts content  [and I did on many occasions] and some of the bits had been there for years,,, but not any more,,, sourcing some of the even mundane stuff  these days is getting to be a problem IMO.

 

Wait for it,,, now I'm getting close somebody will release an all singing all dancing L1/L3,,,, sure as eggs are eggs.

 

SAD

Edited November 4, 2022 by salmonpastures

[salmonpastures]

Got a bit more done on the L1 today and have been adding detail to the tank tops and side of the smokebox door.

Also got the smokebox door started with the distinctive hinge.

 

SAD

 

Edited November 4, 2022 by salmonpastures
progress

[salmonpastures]

Another good day on the L1 and I couldn't resist a quick BluTac special!!!

Cab roof, chimney, dome, smokebox door and smokebox side valve access panel all gummed in place,,, my excuse is for the first time I can see the finishing line.

 

YooHoo,

 

SAD

 

 

 

Edited April 2, 2022 by salmonpastures

[westerner]

Smashing work SAD

[salmonpastures]

A bit more progress on the L1,,, all the fiddly bits are now coming together and although very time consuming they do make a difference.

 

A good weekend on it has produced  a few front smokebox area steps  vac pipes and some lamp irons,,, more to fit tomorrow on the bunker.

 

Have been having problems with the digital brownie which was never good at closeups,,, but this "pre-owned" find is much better,,, all I have to do now is fathom out the best exposure/flash settings,, slowly slowly.

When you can get this close you suddenly realise how much more "cleaning/positioning" you have to do!!

 

SAD

 

Edited November 4, 2022 by salmonpastures
progress

[salmonpastures]

IF ANYBODY WANTS TO LOOK AT ANY PHOTO'S THAT HAVE GONE WALKABOUT THEN SEND ME A PM AND I WILL SEE WHAT I CAN FIND.

 

HAVE A NICE DAY!!!

 

SAD🙁

 

 

[salmonpastures]

Well as the caravan season is now behind us it is back to the garage,,, spent a fair amount of time fighting through the cobwebs and have started wrestling with the L1 cab roof.

As you can see some way to go,,, the first task will be to try and smooth out the uneveness of the basic plate.

I thought about one of those miniature rolling devices,, but at £100 + vat I'll have a go with some judicious  [look the other way] backstreet tin bashing first.

 

SAD☹️

[westerner]

Pleased to see you've added to your Blog.

[salmonpastures]

Thanks for that Alan,,,, I thought I would get in front of the almost certain reprimand for not updating on any progress,,,, but to be honest how can you report on progress if there hasn't been any??

 

Whatever,, the caravan is now safely stored for the winter and I am preparing myself for another productive winter in the garage!!!

Oh what fun we have.

 

SAD 

[salmonpastures]

Having managed to successfully destroy the plate for the L1 roof I decided to have a quick look at yet another "on going" project,,, bought from the same source as the D21,,, where the price was definitely much more important than the quality!!!

Good old Ebay,,, this LMS Scot wasn't as rough as the Worsdell offering but it came a close second.

As it stands it is an early Wills body and basic white metal chassis block with a set of Comet valve gear.

Apparently the valve gear is designed to go with the later etched chassis not the original white metal lump like mine so there was a fair amount of blacksmithing required to get them to fit but it is coming together,,, and needs a lot of realigning of various bits & brackets that hold all the moving bits together.

It also gave me a good excuse to have a play with the close up features on the recent camera,,, much better than the old one. 

 

SAD☹️

Edited November 8, 2022 by salmonpastures

[salmonpastures]

Definite progress made with the Scot over the last couple of days.

Got the brakes fitted to the loco chassis with just the link bars to add.

Dome, chimney and  cab roof fitted permanently and the deflectors "blue tacked" just to see what it looks like.

Had it on David Ortons Epsom & Ewell layout last night and it was cruising round with 8 coaches,,, RESULT.

[salmonpastures]

A successful couple of days in the garage,,, especially now the temperature's have gone up.

 

The Scot is getting very close,,, just a few lamp irons, handrails and lubricators to go,,, the nameplates will be added after painting.

 

The Jersey Lilly now has stone guards, not the aforementioned boulder guards as highlighted in previous

pictures and it looks so much better.

 

Both are going out this evening for their annual Xmas thrash and if no running problems arise we can then start the preparation for paint.

 

Merry Xmas to one and all. ☹️ SAD

[salmonpastures]

Good news,,, at last.

We have been invited to join the M&GNR Society at their exhibition at Sheringham High School Norfolk on Saturday 2nd September 2023,,, let's hope this one isn't cancelled!!!

 

Could be a great day out for anyone who hasn't been to Sheringham,,,, not only the exhibition,, but you can also go on the North Norfolk Railway from the preserved station,,, wander round Sheringham town centre or for those so inclined go for a paddle!!!!

 

As we haven't exhibited at a show since Xmas 2016,,, there's a fair amount to be done,,, to hell with the temperature in the garage,,, I can't wait!!!!

[salmonpastures]

Had a few good days getting ready for Sheringham,,, only 7 weeks to go,,, when I was reminded that we are getting very close to J.G.Robinsons birthday,,, on the 30th of July it will be his 167th!!! 

 

I doubt if he will be joining us,, so as recognition of his lifetime's work I managed to shunt this little line up together to remind us of his efforts.

 

For me the interesting thing is none of them look the same but you can still see who designed them,,,, unlike some railways I could mention !!!!

 

His C4 Atlantic will also be joining the in the fun,,, at the moment it is in the paintshop,,, having been painted and now awaiting the lining.

 

So come and join us and "have a nice day"

[salmonpastures]

The L1 is very nearly finished!!!!

Apart from,,, painting the inside of the cab,, weathering,,, and fixing the cab roof permanently [it has been BluTacked for at least the last 5 years!!!]

 

Don't time fly when your having fun!!!

But,, where did that 10 years go!!!

 

The next one will be a Fish Engine,,, how appropriate for Salmon Pastures.

 

Edited July 16, 2023 by salmonpastures
error with upload

[westerner]

Certinly a beast of an engine. Can't wait to see it on Tuesday.

[gr.king]

I was hoping I'd be in North Norfolk for a few days holiday around the date of the Sheringham show, so that I could call in and say hello. Alas, it looks like any such holiday arrangements will have to be delayed until later in September, if we get there at all.  I'm not at all sure about the alternative of attempting a special one-day Saturday trip for the NNR and the show when it will still technically be "school holidays" and the route from here involves the A17 and A148 holiday makers' route. I might get there only just in time to set off home again...

Edited July 17, 2023 by gr.king