Sweven Posted September 3, 2014 Author Share Posted September 3, 2014 Unlike westerhamstation I wasn't able to nab any suitable cotton from the wife's sewing box - in my case to use for the signal pulley wires rather than a fence. All the cotton in the sewing kit had more hair than a Highland Cow, so I have ordered some EZ Line which will take a few days to arrive from Australia. In the meantime I have started work on the semaphore starter signal opposite the signal box as shown in this photograph. It is a classic MR lower quadrant wooden post signal which I am constructing from the MSE kit (S4/KM5). My soldering is painfully slow, but it seems to hold together. The hardest part so far has been opening out the holes to the correct diameters. The 'wooden' arm and spectacles plates are constructed first: And then the post, cut down to the correct length, drilled with 0.8 mm drill for the axle for the arm and with fittings added. I haven't dared to try any 70 degree white metal soldering so the post fittings are attached with CA glue. I have drilled the 0.4mm holes in the lever arm for the operating cables (attached to the casting sprue at top right) but I need to get a #73 drill bit today to open the holes to attach the lever arm to the post. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweven Posted September 4, 2014 Author Share Posted September 4, 2014 It is always those little lines in the instructions such as "File down the sides of the bracket so it matches the width of the post." that can take so long! However that was achieved, the holes were drilled out to the correct diameter, the balance weight attached and the bracket and lever arm are now attached to the post. As a bonus the lever arm moves on its bearing as expected. The next step will be to construct the platform and ladder. Apologies for the quality of these photographs. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
allan downes Posted September 5, 2014 Share Posted September 5, 2014 Quote of the week. "All the cotton in the sewing kit had more hair than a Highland Cow" Sweven. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaz Posted September 7, 2014 Share Posted September 7, 2014 superb modelling....I can't solder for toffee, and Kal is so fast I never 'get' it. Very impressed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweven Posted September 7, 2014 Author Share Posted September 7, 2014 Thanks everyone for taking a look at the signal. It was a busy weekend. I started by building a new cupboard fir dog food and on top of this a new "Station" - for charging phones and tablets (the top lifts off and underneath is a wall plug with USB sockets). Spring has also sprung, so there was time to go to the local beach for a walk in the sunshine. And then some further progress on the signal. Soldering the handrails was challenging, but I am happy with the outcome. Next steps will be to clean it up and get some paint on. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
allan downes Posted September 7, 2014 Share Posted September 7, 2014 "Spring has also sprung, so there was time to go to the local beach for a walk in the sunshine" Looks like Cleethorpes to me... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweven Posted September 8, 2014 Author Share Posted September 8, 2014 A first coat of etch primer Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaz Posted September 8, 2014 Share Posted September 8, 2014 Well I think getting the shape is likely the harder part, so expect the painting to be just icing on the cake.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweven Posted September 9, 2014 Author Share Posted September 9, 2014 I have continued icing the cake... including a dash of silver on the lamp lens. The arm is off in a separate workshop getting its coat of red paint. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweven Posted September 11, 2014 Author Share Posted September 11, 2014 A nice arrival in the post today - the Bachmann Midland 1F. I couldn't resist popping it onto the fledgling layout with the new signal and taking some quick photographs. Here they are. The signal is in roughly the right location, but not bedded down yet. I popped a fireman into the cab, but from this angle all you can see is the top of his shiny cap. And one in black and white for good measure Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweven Posted September 15, 2014 Author Share Posted September 15, 2014 The next step for the signal build is the pulley wheel and then the cabling and pulley posts. So last night I started putting together the necessary parts, beginning with the 10" pulley wheels. There were two or perhaps three further signals to the south beyond the road bridge carrying The Slough (A448) over the line. These will be off the edge of the layout (the bridge will be the boundary) but their cables run along the embankment bottom from the signal box. Similarly there were two further signals to the north towards Redditch and also double point rodding from the signal box running north to the yard entrances. The pulley wheels are from the Brassmasters half-etchings. I put five together and as I made the fifth one I was thinking very proudly to myself that I had managed to make them all without dropping one and having to crawl around on the floor. Guess what happened next. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweven Posted September 17, 2014 Author Share Posted September 17, 2014 The EZ Line has arrived, although I believe the version I obtained from Australia is re-branded (I got to the distributor via the EZ Line website). It is 0.08 mm thick, hard to snap, stretchy like a rubber-band and smoother than the mayor of a large city closer to you than to me. I had concerns about threading it through a couple of dozen 0.4 mm holes that I reamed out in the signal pulleys - however it is surprisingly easy to work with (under decent light) and it didn't take me too long to string it up. Because it is stretchy snagging it is not a problem as it just bounces back into place. Here are some progress photographs. Firstly the product itself. Then a view of the threaded signal cables. And another of the new 1F posing for the stationmaster. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaz Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 A nice arrival in the post today - the Bachmann Midland 1F. I couldn't resist popping it onto the fledgling layout with the new signal and taking some quick photographs. Here they are. The signal is in roughly the right location, but not bedded down yet. oners.jpg I popped a fireman into the cab, but from this angle all you can see is the top of his shiny cap. cab2.jpg And one in black and white for good measure twobw.jpg Signal looks the business. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
C&WR Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 Wow! It's the little things like that that make the scene. The average person wouldn't know what they were or particularly miss their absence (I wouldn't) but once they are there all seems in order Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweven Posted September 23, 2014 Author Share Posted September 23, 2014 Speaking of little things I have been constructing the pulleys and other bits and pieces for the point rodding that are sited outside the signal box. Here is a progress photograph. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold westerhamstation Posted September 23, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 23, 2014 That is just so good, they really look the part. all the best Adrian. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweven Posted September 28, 2014 Author Share Posted September 28, 2014 I have completed the signal pulleys and installed them opposite the signal box. It was quite a fiddle threading the cables and rods. Two of the pulleys are spare for use to the north and the signal rods to the yard will be installed at a later date. I also built the walkway that crosses the cables and rods in front of the box. My first attempt was from coffee stirrers but it was too chunky so I reverted to plasticard sanded for wood grain effect. This photograph is very similar to the first one, but with a different focal length. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold westerhamstation Posted September 29, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 29, 2014 Hi, that second picture is shows it off to perfection, lovely job. All the best Adrian. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
freebs Posted September 29, 2014 Share Posted September 29, 2014 Absolutely fantastic work. The level of detail makes it all the more special. It's funny how you notice little things after they've been pointed out. I was stood at a car dealership on saturday, gazing up at the viaduct leading into Huddersfield station, when I suddenly realised that the strange little fence posts I was looking at were actually relics from the past: (I was actually taking ref pics of the stonework colour) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweven Posted September 29, 2014 Author Share Posted September 29, 2014 Thanks guys. Great picture freebs - it would be a good bridge to model with the closed in arches and wonderful range of colour in the stonework. Cheers John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
freebs Posted September 29, 2014 Share Posted September 29, 2014 The skew bridge looks devilish.. check it out as I pan left... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaz Posted September 29, 2014 Share Posted September 29, 2014 The skew bridge looks devilish.. check it out as I pan left... pan.jpg pan2.jpg looks like a secret graffiti artist has been working there... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaz Posted September 29, 2014 Share Posted September 29, 2014 I have completed the signal pulleys and installed them opposite the signal box. It was quite a fiddle threading the cables and rods. Two of the pulleys are spare for use to the north and the signal rods to the yard will be installed at a later date. I also built the walkway that crosses the cables and rods in front of the box. My first attempt was from coffee stirrers but it was too chunky so I reverted to plasticard sanded for wood grain effect. Complete1.jpg CloseUp1.jpg This photograph is very similar to the first one, but with a different focal length. Complete2.jpg absolutely gorgeous looking, details like this are what really lift it above the average model. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweven Posted September 29, 2014 Author Share Posted September 29, 2014 The skew bridge looks devilish.. check it out as I pan left... Ah yes, that would be a challenge. Some 'interesting' angles. The half arch is strange, perhaps a change down the years? And the detailing along the top of the girder is really nice. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweven Posted October 8, 2014 Author Share Posted October 8, 2014 A new visitor to the line is Hornby's new R3020 Fowler 4P tank. One of the first OO locomotives I bought was the R055 version of this tank (in 1981 I think) so I was curious to see how this revamped version compared. At the time I thought the first version was a very good representation. The chassis, wheels and brake detail of the new version are certainly much improved and the valve gear is finer. One of the most noticeable improvements is the chimney. The new version has separate grab-rails rather than moulded as part of the body, sprung buffers, much finer lining, makers plates and additional rivets and detail such as the sliding roof vent. It no longer has a protrusion in the cab interior, but doesn't come with crew like the original. I am certainly still impressed by the detail of the 34 year old version! Apologies for the quality of lighting in this photograph. I needed to get out some better lamps but just back from holiday and too many other chores to attend to! Here is the new version with a much older Hornby coach! Mr Fotherington is not impressed and continues to read his racing tips. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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