Brian D Posted January 18, 2018 Author Share Posted January 18, 2018 I was going to post yesterday but the internet connection was playing up as it was earlier this morning. Fingers crossed for this one then. On a well known auction site I successfully acquired another old style Hornby Gresley carriage in crimson and cream. Warning - rivet counters look away now. As with the other three I already have, I gave it a light makeover. Firstly, it was dissembled into its constituent parts... ...so that the bogies and in built couplings can be replaced with Bachmann Thomson bogies... ...simply bolted to the Hornby chassis... ..., the nut having a small drip of super glue to hold it in place on the bolt leaving sufficient slack to allow the bogie to swivel and tilt. Finally, concertina style black paper corridor connectors were added... before adding to the other three in the rake. Makes a change from 3D jigsaw scenics Regards, Brian. 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew P Posted January 18, 2018 Share Posted January 18, 2018 Nice make over Brian, I like the Corridor Ends. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian D Posted January 18, 2018 Author Share Posted January 18, 2018 And so, back to 3D jigsaw scenics.... These bits... ...go in this hole... ...like this. The edges of the jigsaw bits obviously need attention but, from a distance, the river valley is coming along nicely as below. Regards, Brian. 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian D Posted January 22, 2018 Author Share Posted January 22, 2018 In between minor scenic improvements.... My latest rolling stock acquisition, the Thomson blood and custard full brake (second hand from Ebay), joins the parcels rake and departs V1 hauled. Later, a Q6 departs Deneside tender first to the colliery... ...to collect the loaded hoppers. That's all for now. Regards, Brian. 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew P Posted January 22, 2018 Share Posted January 22, 2018 (edited) In between minor scenic improvements.... My latest rolling stock acquisition, the Thomson blood and custard full brake (second hand from Ebay), joins the parcels rake and departs V1 hauled. 20180122_165159rev.jpg 20180122_170519rev.jpg 20180122_170700 copy.jpg 20180122_170935 copy.jpg Later, a Q6 departs Deneside tender first to the colliery... 20180122_173246 copy.jpg 20180122_173416rev.jpg ...to collect the loaded hoppers. 20180122_173657 copy.jpg That's all for now. Regards, Brian. Nice one Brian, I've just picked up the same one, (almost) S/H in BR Blue for my Parcels Train. The V1 looks very smart mate. Edited January 22, 2018 by Andrew P 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian D Posted January 29, 2018 Author Share Posted January 29, 2018 Nice one Brian, I've just picked up the same one, (almost) S/H in BR Blue for my Parcels Train. The V1 looks very smart mate. Belated thanks Andy. This V1/Thomson Brake combo comprises my newest piece of rolling stock, albeit second hand, with one of my oldest locos Regards, Brian. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian D Posted January 29, 2018 Author Share Posted January 29, 2018 Despite the onset of the "dreaded lurgy", recent endeavours have focused on trying to make this end of the metal viaduct... ...look a bit like the other end. Because a picture is worth a thousand words, here are a few thousand words worth of progress pics. More pics hopefully tomorrow after the necessary greenery has been added. Regards, Brian. 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian D Posted February 2, 2018 Author Share Posted February 2, 2018 Unfortunately the "Dreaded Lurgy" ratcheted up a gear or two since I last posted so I haven't been able to get into the shed until today now I'm feeling a bit more like normal. The two bits of landscape have therefore now been grassed, one insitu... ...and one not. I have also gotten round to fitting some headlamps on some of the trains. I'll post some more pics of the scenics tomorrow once the excess grass has been collected and the non insitu piece put where it belongs. Regards, Brian. 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian D Posted February 4, 2018 Author Share Posted February 4, 2018 I was hoping to fit the Scalescenes Garage kit into this space, coming off the bend... ...but it's too big to fit in the space without surrounding it by improbable retaining walls. However, a building about 60 x 90 (or 80) should fit so the usual detailed engineering drawing was prepared... ...and using some elements of the kit, mainly the advertising details, the smaller building was made this afternoon. It was subsequently placed in its intended position to see how it looked... ...and with some vehicles... ...and with a train passing overhead. I can now commence the scenics in this corner to accommodate this structure. Regards, Brian. 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
danstercivicman Posted February 4, 2018 Share Posted February 4, 2018 Like it Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zomboid Posted February 4, 2018 Share Posted February 4, 2018 Looking good as always. If it has to run round in the station area anyway, wouldn't the colliery collection run be tender first with the wagons? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian D Posted February 5, 2018 Author Share Posted February 5, 2018 Looking good as always. If it has to run round in the station area anyway, wouldn't the colliery collection run be tender first with the wagons? Probably. I have two Q6s which in the main station area point in opposite directions so no need for tender first running and I haven't fitted the front couplings to either loco yet but I probably should as you suggest. Regards, Brian. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian D Posted February 10, 2018 Author Share Posted February 10, 2018 The scenics referred to above have commenced... ...but before completing this embankment I have to build a signal to protect the main line from the colliery branch. The reason I need to build and install the signal now is because I want the signal to be fully operable probably my some sort of mechanical control. To install this control after the embankment is fully complete would be tricky in the extreme. So, enter Ratio kit number 486 "LNER Lattice Post Signals". It has been a while since I've made one of these and I had forgotten how fiddly they are. Some years ago, at an exhibition, I bought an MSE kit but I was put off going down that route by the instructions requiring three different melting point solders. So Ratio it is and a single lattice post has been assembled... ...and placed in position. I've now got to design a control system for this signal and (likely) all the others to follow and install it. My previous layout, Hawthorn Town, utilised the Ratio chord system but I'm hoping to come up with something more reliable. I have a few ideas. Regards, Brian. 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian D Posted February 25, 2018 Author Share Posted February 25, 2018 Not much progress since I last posted due to family stuff taking priority. Me and Mrs D also had a short break in West Sussex at half term and both enjoyed a trip on the Bluebell Railway on the way down. This was our train engine, something called an S15, quite a handsome loco - we usually get tank engines when we visit. If I wasn't already dedicated to all things BR(NE) region, I might be tempted to go Southern. Anyway, I've been giving some thought to the mechanical signal control. I'm all in favour of letting gravity do most of the work, as on the real thing, so I am thinking about using alloy tubing sliding up and down over plastic rod. I need to concoct some means of raising and lowering the alloy tube which will be linked to the signal's plastic balance lever. So far, I have attached the plastic rod to the underside of the signal thus.. ...but I have just realised that I need to build another signal (a bracketed junction signal) on the main down line in the same vicinity. This signal will require two mechanisms so I'm still going to have to experiment a bit more methinks. Regards, Brian. 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew P Posted February 25, 2018 Share Posted February 25, 2018 Hi Brian , good to see such progress still, and love the REAL THING pics as well mate. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
danstercivicman Posted February 25, 2018 Share Posted February 25, 2018 The Southern did produce some great looking locos 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian D Posted February 28, 2018 Author Share Posted February 28, 2018 Work/tedium continues on the bracketed junction signal. I've also decided to abandon the idea of using aluminium tube to partly operate the signals. I reminded myself the hard way this afternoon that you can't solder anything to it! I'll have to source some equivalent brass tube from somewhere. Ho, hum. Meanwhile, a J72 has taken over station pilot duties... ...and a Q6 waits to be turned. Regards, Brian. 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
danstercivicman Posted February 28, 2018 Share Posted February 28, 2018 Nice Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian D Posted March 2, 2018 Author Share Posted March 2, 2018 Signal construction continues...slowly. Meanwhile... The Station pilot has placed the empty stock for the London train in platform 4 awaiting its train engine... ...a very clean V2 which having been prepared... ...backs on to its train... ...and departs southbound. Oh well, back to the signals. Regards, Brian. 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
danstercivicman Posted March 2, 2018 Share Posted March 2, 2018 Looking really good Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian D Posted March 3, 2018 Author Share Posted March 3, 2018 Looking really good ...but far from complete as you can get a flavour of in the 6th shot. I carefully crop what I put on here . Thanks again for your interest Dan. Regards, Brian. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
380John Posted March 3, 2018 Share Posted March 3, 2018 Hi Brian, It's taken me days off and on to read through the full thread. What a cracking layout this is. I'm a big fan of the station area, the back scenes and operational variables of your layout. Especially station pilot work and shunting. A great number of movements to stop interest being lost and all manageable by just one operator. Well thought and I must say very inspirational. Thanks for sharing, John 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian D Posted March 4, 2018 Author Share Posted March 4, 2018 Hi Brian, It's taken me days off and on to read through the full thread. What a cracking layout this is. I'm a big fan of the station area, the back scenes and operational variables of your layout. Especially station pilot work and shunting. A great number of movements to stop interest being lost and all manageable by just one operator. Well thought and I must say very inspirational. Thanks for sharing, John Wow, kind words indeed, John. Thank you so much for your lovely comment and your patience in ploughing through my ramblings. I was going to take some better pics of the station area with the DSLR for you but the battery is flat. 99% of the pics on here are camera phone shots sometimes photo-shopped slightly. I'll take some DSLR pics tomorrow if I get the chance. Once again, many thanks for your interest. Regards, Brian. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian D Posted March 4, 2018 Author Share Posted March 4, 2018 Work continues on the signal. What a faff! I've decided to omit some of the operating cranks (life's too short) and just use full height wire from balance lever to signal arm bent to shape which seems to work OK and doesn't look overly obtrusive - see below. This is where this signal will sit on the layout. I've learn't that it's best to leave the ladder and hoop till last, the ladder is so easily damaged while I'm messing around with the operating wire But with this sort of faffing it is easy to get distracted so meanwhile... ...a J39 arrives with the daily goods... ...and the J72 waits in the head-shunt to dissemble and reassemble the goods train. The shunter having detached the train into the head-shunt, the J39 heads to the shed for replenishment and turning. Some time later, the shunter has assembled the outgoing train and the J39 has backed down and awaits its departure slot... ...and shortly departs. This signal building lark is a slow process. More updates will follow no doubt. Regards, Brian. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theakerr Posted March 4, 2018 Share Posted March 4, 2018 Don't know if it will help but here is a summary of how I made my ration signals. FYI I use servo motors and love them. First I make a steel base and solder on two sections of brass tubing. The steel base is so that I can use magnets to position and level. I attach the steel base to the plastic base. Thread the actuating wires through the tubes and attach to the weight arms. Final picture shows a signal in place. Can provide more details if appropriate. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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