Mister Spoons Posted July 1, 2014 Author Share Posted July 1, 2014 @ Catweasel; my memory may be a touch faulty but I think the terminal turning circle was still there up until about 1990. Could be wishful thinking though! If you take a look at the video in Post 162 right at the end it shows Isleworth Depot as it was in 2008, a self-storage depot..... I'll pop down there over the next few days and take a photo as it is now; Fingers crossed it doesn't get demolished to make way for more soulless people-hutches! The architecture of that period still looks good, a plain unadorned building that doesn't look 80 years old - similarly the Isleworth Fire Station on the corner of Spring Grove Road, it has that 'Underground' station look that was so common in the 1930's, they really did have a flair for design in that decade, both for utility buildings and for public transport in particular - the trolleys, the RT bus, tube stations & stock; all with clean lines and 'style'... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mister Spoons Posted July 1, 2014 Author Share Posted July 1, 2014 (edited) Here's the offside upper deck seats, handrails to be added and fitted to a ladder, same method as downstairs - I've also made the horizontal handrail that goes on the window at the head of the stairs; in some pictures it looks almost like a halfdrop, see the offside view of 1058 (the full-size one!!) on the last page and you'll see what I mean. While the seats are drying I'll build the ladder and cut seat back handrails...... Edited July 1, 2014 by Mister Spoons 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium PhilJ W Posted July 1, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 1, 2014 I wonder if this was to do with insulation? Insulators suitable for 300V will be smaller and lighter than those rated for 600V. For a tram the rails have to be at earth so the overhead must be at working voltage, just like electrified railways. I did read about problems with stud contact systems where horses could depress and energize the stud with their hooves leading to unfortunate consequences, but perhaps this is an urban myth. I have really enjoyed following progress of this build. I remember trolley buses in Derby, Reading, Cardiff, Walsall and of course Bradford most;y seen as incidentals to train spotting trips in the 60s. When going to Leeds for my University interview in 1971 I did take a trip to Bradford for a quick ride on a trolleybus. My only experience in the UK. I also remember seeing what I think were ex LT trolleybuses near the railway station at San Sebastian Spain in 1973. As you said the rails had to be at earth putting the overhead at line voltage. The London trolleybuses in the isolated Woolwich system at least must have been at line voltage as in some places the trams drew power from the trolleybus overhead. In fact this may have been the case in most instances as most trolleybus systems replaced trams inheriting a lot of the infrastructure such as sub stations and power feeds from the trams. Also in many cases trams and trolleybuses ran together sharing that infrastructure. On the subject of studs the Hastings stud system had a wire brush attached to the rear of the cars connected to a bell that rang when it passed over a 'live' stud, the conductor then hit the offending stud with a rubber hammer. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mister Spoons Posted July 1, 2014 Author Share Posted July 1, 2014 (edited) As you said the rails had to be at earth putting the overhead at line voltage. The London trolleybuses in the isolated Woolwich system at least must have been at line voltage as in some places the trams drew power from the trolleybus overhead. In fact this may have been the case in most instances as most trolleybus systems replaced trams inheriting a lot of the infrastructure such as sub stations and power feeds from the trams. Also in many cases trams and trolleybuses ran together sharing that infrastructure. On the subject of studs the Hastings stud system had a wire brush attached to the rear of the cars connected to a bell that rang when it passed over a 'live' stud, the conductor then hit the offending stud with a rubber hammer. You are right about trams sharing trolley overhead Phil, and I'm sure I read that when the trams went that the voltage was then on this +300/-300 - I have just found a reference to floating/grounding and +/- voltage on David Bradleys excellent site here: http://www.trolleybus.net/subhtml/picture152.htm by Irvine Bell., I had a good chuckle over the Hastings scenario and will be keeping my eyes open for a Hastings Corporation Tramways rubber hammer on Ebay....... Cheers David Edited July 1, 2014 by Mister Spoons Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mister Spoons Posted July 6, 2014 Author Share Posted July 6, 2014 With the 1058 project drawing to a close, wipers and mirrors are built and fitted, and the depot code IH applied and running number 3 added; the construction of the last few seats for upstairs is proceeding and the upper deck stairwell panel with its handrail should be finished later today or Tuesday... Once the upper deck internals are complete, a quick blow out with an airduster to ensure nothing is trapped within, and the roof will then be permanently fitted, allowing a few more roof detail parts to be added. I'll be having a play around with motorised chassis ideas for a while as I have been expressly forbidden by Mrs. Spoons from commencing with my next project before our holidays, which is to be L3 1497; allocated to Fulwell and operating to the bitter end..... And here she is, leaving FW on a 605 journey in the very last days of operation - the yellow strip poster in the next-to-last window is the giveaway there. I've already got much of the material to construct the L, and should only need to buy wheels, tyres and maybe trolleypoles, if I don't build those from scratch, I even have the Co-Op 99 Tea ads from the 1058 project to use! I think that 1058 will be completed this week as a static model - animation to be added once it all works, and 1497 will be built to accommodate the same type of working chassis. 12 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ozzyo Posted July 7, 2014 Share Posted July 7, 2014 I do hope that 1497 is NOT leaving the depo. as she has not got a driver. A very nice looking build, looking forward to the next one. OzzyO. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mister Spoons Posted July 8, 2014 Author Share Posted July 8, 2014 I do hope that 1497 is NOT leaving the depo. as she has not got a driver. A very nice looking build, looking forward to the next one. OzzyO. Well spotted there OzzyO, I also have a picture in one of my books which looks to be taken on the same day, of 1497 in the exact same position without 1381 passing by - the cream van with the maroon stripe is in the same location as is the vehicle parked to the right which is a Morris Minor - I've reproduced it below- this photo has the driver, white summer cap cover worn as per Rule 7 'Drivers and Conductors must wear their white cap covers from 1st May to 30th September inclusive.' At a guess it looks like a crew change has occurred...... I recently bought a copy of the LT Rule book for Tram & Trolleybus staff, and it's very interesting in terms of what crew were expected to do! The black and white photo was taken the day before abandonment - 7th May 1962, and I think it's a sure bet the colour one was too. 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nzgresleyfan Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 Loving the talk about the prototype. I spent 12 years driving trolleybuses here in Wellington and am still involved in the preservation of them. The overhead and pole technology hasn't changed much, the carbons are checked each night, and they still dewire. These days however we have automatic retrievers to stop the poles swinging up and ripping down the overhead; they usually work! 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mister Spoons Posted July 9, 2014 Author Share Posted July 9, 2014 Hi Rob Feel free to post a pic of a Wellington trolley here; preferably an old one! I was quite young when London trolleys were withdrawn but luckily have access both to preserved vehicles and a chap who has an immense knowledge of the vehicles and operating procedures etc. What I've tried to do is capture the character of the real thing, almost the 'smell' of it, and although I look at some things that are not 100% and utter a silent 'tut', I think the model looks right, and the next one will hopefully avoid a repeat of the same mistakes. I have to admit to grinning stupidly when I look at the model as I am pleased with the result. Seat production has ground to a halt today but I think all will be done and dusted at the weekend! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobby (John) Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 You should be grinning from ear to ear.......it's a masterpiece of modelling. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium PhilJ W Posted July 9, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 9, 2014 I posted a film of the Wellington trolleybuses on RMweb a while back. What amazed me was how fast they were on battery power. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nzgresleyfan Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 I posted a film of the Wellington trolleybuses on RMweb a while back. What amazed me was how fast they were on battery power. One of the new generation vehicles I take it? All previous Wellington trolleys stopped running as soon as the power went off! Hi Rob Feel free to post a pic of a Wellington trolley here; preferably an old one! Thanks! Unfortunately I'm a numpty when it comes to posting photos on RMWeb. I tried and it didn't work... So instead I'll post a link to our Society for you to have a look at. The particular bus I've chosen to take you to is my favourite, B.U.T. RETB/1 #88. Built in 1964 she was refurbished in 1981. The initial plan was to upgrade the whole fleet but with the down-sizing of the network and purchase of 20 new vehicles from a cancelled Auckland order further refurbishment was deemed unnecessary. 88 ended up being the last B.U.T. to operate in scheduled commercial service here, when I took it on my regular shift to promote the festival we were running to celebrate 50 years of trolleybuses in Wellington. That was in '99 so unless other cities were still running British trolleybuses, she's the last to have run anywhere (with the exception of preserved networks of course). http://www.omnibus.org.nz/fleet/88.html We're also here: https://www.facebook.com/OmnibusSocietyNz If anyone wants to see more photos please PM me and I'll see what I can organise. There are a few photographers I'm in touch with but don't want to post links to their collections without their OK. Enjoy! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mister Spoons Posted July 16, 2014 Author Share Posted July 16, 2014 After a few days inertia the last of the seats are assembled, upholstered and fitted with handrails, apart from the rear one, which readers 'of a certain age' may remember as the seat to aim for if travelling with female company, that cozy space by the rear nearside window! The seats are on two separate strips to aid insertion. Also in the pic is the upper deck stairwell screen, handrail to be added once the paint is dry. Once the upper deck items are fixed in I'll be fixing the roof in place and adding some final detail, pictures to follow later.... I'll add the lifeguards to the sides, and when it arrives int' post, a brass 'makers plate' that I've ordered from the bay of E 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mister Spoons Posted July 16, 2014 Author Share Posted July 16, 2014 That's the lifeguards made; the bottom one is ready for test fitting to ensure it sits at the right height; the fixing has not been glued to the actual lifeguard yet - the construction method should ensure durability, rather than just glueing the wire ends to the inner body..... 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mister Spoons Posted July 16, 2014 Author Share Posted July 16, 2014 Upper deck innards now in place...... 12 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobster Posted July 16, 2014 Share Posted July 16, 2014 Superb work there David - Lovely model. Cheers, Bob. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mister Spoons Posted July 16, 2014 Author Share Posted July 16, 2014 (edited) Definitely in the final furlong now; lifeguards fitted, there's a couple of roof components to do, which will minimise the joints, and I'll be concentrating on the motorised chassis for a while and looking forward to going on holiday at the beginning of August; be very sure that it will involve a little play with various trams and trolleybuses in Germany and Poland, as well as a trip across the the Nyborg Bridge between Denmark and Sweden (Yes, that bridge where the bodies were found in the TV series!) and a day in Ystad where Wallander is set; Now you know how we spend our time when I'm not at the workbench...... Edited July 16, 2014 by Mister Spoons 15 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobby (John) Posted July 16, 2014 Share Posted July 16, 2014 I'm lost for words, absolutely sensational modelling, you are a craftsman......take a bow. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Evil Bus Driver Posted August 2, 2014 Share Posted August 2, 2014 That is seriously amazing! Well done! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hammy Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Brilliant Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suddaby Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 (edited) I followed this thread with great interest, and just wondered if you decided to motorise it or not? It's a superb piece of modelling! Kevin Edited December 14, 2014 by Suddaby Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mister Spoons Posted December 16, 2014 Author Share Posted December 16, 2014 Glad you enjoyed the build Kevin; I'm still working on the chassis side of things - I built 1058 with the ultimate aim of having working trolleybuses in my front room! Real life has impinged on modelling as we have totally redecorated the flat, laid laminate flooring and generally jollied the place up, so sadly limited time has been available for the good stuff - I have decided I hate decorating and my knees bear the scars of lamination hell..... I've experimented with building a simple standardised chassis that will fit this model, and the next one, an L3 class - I've done a good few drawings for steering gear and once the Christmas period is over (got the in-laws coming over from Poland so will have zero opportunity to work on the model) I'll be getting stuck in with a vengeance..... I'll be starting a thread on the chassis saga in parallel with the 1497 build, hopefully the lessons I've learned from 1058's construction will lead to a model without the flaws of 1058 (Yes, there are things I look at and think 'tut - must try harder', as my school reports regularly stated......) but 1497 will probably have errors and glitches of its own! Game plan is butchered Faller system mechanics on brass ladder type chassis, the motors are miraculously small and powerful enough, and power from rechargeables means I don't have to construct live overhead although 1058 COULD be powered through the trolleypoles, and 1497 will be similarly capable - I just don't have space in our flat for a permanent layout - perhaps when we move..... in an ideal world a full-size table layout; a little 1/43 slice of West London in April 1962 would be rather splendid but I don't think Mrs. Spoons would go for balancing her dinner on her knees Ad Infinitum, while a faithful replica of Gunnersbury Roundabout takes shape on her Ikea tabletop...... Hope everyone has a good break next week, Regards David 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
edward66 Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 I love the film on the first page, fascinating to see the other traffic too. It must have been shot in 1959 or the very early sixties, plenty of Minis which appeared in 1959 but no Mk1 Cortinas which appeared in 1962. When did these trolleys go out of service? Great model too! Edward Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium PhilJ W Posted January 9, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 9, 2015 The last London trolleybuses ran in May 1962. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suddaby Posted December 12, 2015 Share Posted December 12, 2015 Hi David, Have you done anything else to this, maybe got a fleet of trolleybuses by now? Kevin. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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