AireValley1962 Posted June 12, 2018 Share Posted June 12, 2018 As always, I look forward to your updates, Brian. It is, I think, the list of things left to do which make modelling that much more rewarding. I still have things to do on Bishopdale, which less than an eighth the size of Deneside. Cheers, William Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian D Posted June 13, 2018 Author Share Posted June 13, 2018 As always, I look forward to your updates, Brian. It is, I think, the list of things left to do which make modelling that much more rewarding. I still have things to do on Bishopdale, which less than an eighth the size of Deneside. Cheers, William Thanks William. Your attention to detail on Bishopdale is immaculate - I really don't have the time or the patience. I go by the old adage that if it looks alright from "normal viewing distance" then that's all right with me Thanks again for your interest. Regards, Brian. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian D Posted June 13, 2018 Author Share Posted June 13, 2018 In between the dentist's appointment, the doctor's appointment and a trip to number two daughter's flat to dissemble more of her furniture (she is moving out soon and coming back to stay with good old Mum and Dad for a while - oh what joy ), I've managed to make the jig/pattern thingy - see below. All I've got to do now is chop up an awful lot of Evergreen styrene angle and strip. Regards, Brian. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian D Posted June 17, 2018 Author Share Posted June 17, 2018 To celebrate Daddies' Day, I have failed Falcon and replaced her with Deltic number 17 Durham Light Infantry on the Deneside Pullman, seen here departing. That's all for now. Regards, Brian. 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian D Posted June 19, 2018 Author Share Posted June 19, 2018 I have at last started to manufacture the station roof girders. Here is the construction jig and the principal tools and materials. The top and bottom members are styrene angle and the internal diagonals are strip. First I made one "half" girder... ...followed by a second identical one (thanks to the jig). They were then carefully cemented together back to back to give the final "crisscross" appearance of the internal girder members. I am quite pleased with how they have turned out. They are a little tricky to release from the jig so I have to take care. Only another seven to make, oh, and the longitudinal beams, the columns, the canopy elements and, of course, the finalised station building. Regards, Brian. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian D Posted June 22, 2018 Author Share Posted June 22, 2018 I was going to press on with the station roof girders but discovered that I didn't have any Evergreen number 291 angle. I have therefore sacked the quartermaster I then felt another mock up coming on in the colliery area (ooh errh matron). There is a hard corner in the backscene hiding the elevated fiddle yard... so I thought I would make a small building/colliery office in part full and part half relief for this location, thus. Later, the sentinel diesel having assembled a train of full hoppers... the main line diesel loco backs down the colliery branch, couples up to its train and departs the colliery. Still a lot to be done in the colliery - lots of bare baseboard and the mock ups need to be replaced by proper buildings. Regards, Brian. 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 5BarVT Posted June 22, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 22, 2018 That looks excellent. The full relief round the corner makes it look complete throughout. Brilliant. Paul. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian D Posted June 22, 2018 Author Share Posted June 22, 2018 That looks excellent. The full relief round the corner makes it look complete throughout. Brilliant. Paul. Thanks very much for your kind words Paul. That was exactly the impression I was trying to achieve. regards, Brian.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian D Posted June 22, 2018 Author Share Posted June 22, 2018 Yodel have just delivered my latest purchase from Hattons - a class 05 Hunslet diesel shunter. This purchase was prompted by a photo of a class member at Percy Main shed in the 60s. This pushed me to check what numbers were available from Heljan and the one purchased at a much reduced price was shedded at West Hartlepool according to my references - so a proper North East engine then. Here she is on the headshunt. An absolute peach of a runner straight out of the box but what a phaff to fit the couplings and get them to work. As supplied the Hornby type coupling is in a small bag. Fitting requires removal of the red blanking plate in the buffer beam. But the already fixed three link coupling hangs down and interferes with the Hornby coupling so I looped it out of the way. However, the coupling droops alarmingly and the hook dropper catches on pointwork. So the hook was removed and the coupling loop inserted upside down. This is almost the right level if a little high but allows the three link to dangle down through the coupling hoop and still allow normal coupling up with Hornby/Bachmann wagons. I have only fitted such a coupling at one end, the front, and I will leave the the other end as supplied with no Hornby type coupling in place. This will be fine for shunting. Regards, Brian. 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian D Posted July 20, 2018 Author Share Posted July 20, 2018 We have been away again so the loco rosters have been changed. The diesels have been packed away and a selection of kettles have taken their place(s), prominent of which is the latest acquisition, my birthday pressie from Mrs D, a Hornby B1 "Stembock". Unfortunately this loco disappointed on its debut by derailing on the curved masonry viaduct. After a bit of investigation it seemed that the cab doors and/or fall plate were fouling the tender front so the cab doors were removed and the fall plate bent upwards slightly. Anyway, here she is with a stopping passenger head code but, bizarrely, no vac pipes or name plates. The next service is a parcels train K1 hauled seen here arriving. Note to self: play trains a bit less and get on with finishing the layout. Regards, Brian. 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
380John Posted July 20, 2018 Share Posted July 20, 2018 Layout is looking lovely Brian. Great to see the new addition. Surprising a locomotive of this size had trouble negotiating the generous curve of the viaduct. Glad all is sorted now. Cheers, John 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les1952 Posted July 20, 2018 Share Posted July 20, 2018 Yodel have just delivered my latest purchase from Hattons - a class 05 Hunslet diesel shunter. This purchase was prompted by a photo of a class member at Percy Main shed in the 60s. This pushed me to check what numbers were available from Heljan and the one purchased at a much reduced price was shedded at West Hartlepool according to my references - so a proper North East engine then. Here she is on the headshunt. 20180622_181018copy.jpg 20180622_181140copy.jpg 20180622_181556 copy.jpg An absolute peach of a runner straight out of the box but what a phaff to fit the couplings and get them to work. As supplied the Hornby type coupling is in a small bag. Fitting requires removal of the red blanking plate in the buffer beam. But the already fixed three link coupling hangs down and interferes with the Hornby coupling so I looped it out of the way. However, the coupling droops alarmingly and the hook dropper catches on pointwork. So the hook was removed and the coupling loop inserted upside down. This is almost the right level if a little high but allows the three link to dangle down through the coupling hoop and still allow normal coupling up with Hornby/Bachmann wagons. I have only fitted such a coupling at one end, the front, and I will leave the the other end as supplied with no Hornby type coupling in place. This will be fine for shunting. Regards, Brian. I wish you a lot better luck with this one than the one I have running on No Place. That one is the loco which was shunting the screens when a punter asked "is the buffer beam supposed to fall on the track?" It does run beautifully when it isn't shedding bits all over the layout.... Les 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew P Posted July 20, 2018 Share Posted July 20, 2018 Keep playing Brian, as the pics are great mate. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian D Posted July 21, 2018 Author Share Posted July 21, 2018 Layout is looking lovely Brian. Great to see the new addition. Surprising a locomotive of this size had trouble negotiating the generous curve of the viaduct. Glad all is sorted now. Cheers, John Thanks for your kind words and interest John. I think basically the tender and loco are effectively too closely coupled. I looked in the bag of bits that came with the loco thinking there might be a longer coupling bar to fit but there isn't so the cab doors had to come off and the fall plate pushed up a touch as I described previously. I wish you a lot better luck with this one than the one I have running on No Place. That one is the loco which was shunting the screens when a punter asked "is the buffer beam supposed to fall on the track?" It does run beautifully when it isn't shedding bits all over the layout.... Les Sorry to hear about that Les. I'll keep an eye out for any similar problems. Keep playing Brian, as the pics are great mate. Thanks Andy. But I am conscious that there are large areas of the layout unfinished what with so many mock up/temporary buildings on the layout(the entire colliery, the station building and roof and little Easington), the pub still has no name or signage, the signal box whilst NER pattern is probably too small, there are unfinished scenics around the loco shed and elsewhere and the photo backscene is incomplete, signalling hardly started, etc. I carefully crop the pictures I put up here to try to hide the extent of it really Regards to all, Brian. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toftwood Posted July 23, 2018 Share Posted July 23, 2018 Thanks for your kind words and interest John. I think basically the tender and loco are effectively too closely coupled. I looked in the bag of bits that came with the loco thinking there might be a longer coupling bar to fit but there isn't so the cab doors had to come off and the fall plate pushed up a touch as I described previously. Sorry to hear about that Les. I'll keep an eye out for any similar problems. Thanks Andy. But I am conscious that there are large areas of the layout unfinished what with so many mock up/temporary buildings on the layout(the entire colliery, the station building and roof and little Easington), the pub still has no name or signage, the signal box whilst NER pattern is probably too small, there are unfinished scenics around the loco shed and elsewhere and the photo backscene is incomplete, signalling hardly started, etc. I carefully crop the pictures I put up here to try to hide the extent of it really Regards to all, Brian. I have two Hornby B1's having got rid of a Bachmann split chassis one which kept shedding the rear axle. Both Hornby Locos are superb runners. Nice to see you back Brian ! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew P Posted July 23, 2018 Share Posted July 23, 2018 Thanks Andy. But I am conscious that there are large areas of the layout unfinished what with so many mock up/temporary buildings on the layout(the entire colliery, the station building and roof and little Easington), the pub still has no name or signage, the signal box whilst NER pattern is probably too small, there are unfinished scenics around the loco shed and elsewhere and the photo backscene is incomplete, signalling hardly started, etc. I carefully crop the pictures I put up here to try to hide the extent of it really Regards to all, Brian. So? That's this week sorted, what will you do next week? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian D Posted August 3, 2018 Author Share Posted August 3, 2018 It's been a bit warm in the shed of late... ...but the coal fires are still burning so a Q6 has been dispatched to the colliery to get some supplies. The colliery shunter having assembled the train, the Q6 couples up and departs. The last photo prompted me to remove the bridge deck for maintenance. I fear too many buses on the bridge have caused the deck plasticard sheet to detach slightly from the supporting edge girder. I hadn't noticed this until looking at this photo. The "sag" is clearly visible. Regards, Brian. 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
manna Posted August 3, 2018 Share Posted August 3, 2018 G'Day Folks Under Beeching, that bridge would have been the death of the branch, but since he's now departed, carry on. manna 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian D Posted August 19, 2018 Author Share Posted August 19, 2018 I've been itching to get the 9F back on the layout so here she is arriving with a coastal movement of a train of empty iron ore hoppers. The Bachmann model of this impressive prototype is such a beauty - great presence and such a silky smooth mechanism. The close couple tender causes no problems on my tight curves. Unfortunately, the model is much too shiny and not a "proper North Eastern" loco. It really needs surgery to convert it to one of the air brake fitted Consett/Tyne Dock engines, renumbered, dirtied up and possibly a new tender (not sure whether the Tyne Dock locos had the type that my model has). I have an article (Model Rail January 2013) which tells me exactly how to do it. Something else for the "to do" list then. Regards, Brian. PS Over the moon, "The Lads" won today, up to 4th in the league. I can't remember the last time they won 3 nil. Their highest "league position" for a long time albeit in a lower league than I'd like. Good for the city to have a winning team. Onward and upwards. PS2 Apologies for the grainy phone pics. 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian D Posted August 26, 2018 Author Share Posted August 26, 2018 The barrow crossing at the platform ends consists of some laser cut kits I bought at a show. I've always thought they looked a bit overly thick and a bit bright, see below. So I took them off the layout, turned them upside down and scanned them to form a printable image. Once the jpg image was stored on the PC, I gave it a light Photoshop to adjust the colour, printed it on plain paper and glued it to 1mm thick card (grey board). The various shapes were cut out and the cut edges treated with brown felt tip. I'll leave you to judge but I personally think this is a vast improvement visually. Regards, Brian. 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian D Posted August 28, 2018 Author Share Posted August 28, 2018 I feel another mock-up coming on . The signal box on the layout belongs to my previous layout "Hawthorn Town" ... ...and is basically too small for a station like Deneside, not enough levers and, due to its location, not tall enough. It's a typical NER northern division standard small box. There were a lot of tall boxes on the old NER but finding decent images (so I can count bricks and brick courses to draw them in TurboCad) of them has proved illusive. They were tall enough I imagine so that signalmen could see over adjacent bridges and that is certainly the problem at Deneside. However there are or should I say were in some cases notable examples at Billingham, Prudhoe, Hexham (I think) and South Gosforth. It is the South Gosforth box that I have chosen might make the basis of a suitable model for the layout. An images can be found here https://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.disused-stations.org.uk%2Fs%2Fsouth_gosforth%2Fsouth(alan_lewis12.1979)gosforth11.jpg&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.disused-stations.org.uk%2Fs%2Fsouth_gosforth%2Findex33.shtml&docid=CHubUv8xhSjoMM&tbnid=SLBcJjXa3Nr8lM%3A&vet=10ahUKEwisntW6ppDdAhXKB8AKHY54CIsQMwg_KAAwAA..i&w=450&h=680&hl=en&bih=669&biw=1366&q=south%20gosforth%20signal%20box&ved=0ahUKEwisntW6ppDdAhXKB8AKHY54CIsQMwg_KAAwAA&iact=mrc&uact=8 It was on a sweeping bend which located at the bottom of the U shaped layout is appropriate for Deneside. I have taken YouTube cab rides on the Metro through South Gosforth but it seems the box is long gone which is a shame. So I have cobbled together a somewhat grotty mock-up to see how it sits on the layout - see below. The model will be based on South Gosforth, not an exact replica. For a start I have "handed" it and I do not have a picture of the rear. There seems to be some sort of timber addition at the back so, lacking any details, I shall omit this - not really an issue as you can barely see the back of any structure at this location. Construction will be as the Hawthorn Town box using Scalescenes techniques. That's all for now. Regards, Brian. 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 5BarVT Posted August 28, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 28, 2018 Like the box, like the position, but I’m afraid I don’t like the steps! Could you put a full half turn on the landing and direct them back away from the running line? Paul. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
380John Posted August 28, 2018 Share Posted August 28, 2018 The barrow crossing looks great, a big improvement, the thickness of the "homemade" effort looks much more to scale. John 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian D Posted August 29, 2018 Author Share Posted August 29, 2018 Like the box, like the position, but I’m afraid I don’t like the steps! Could you put a full half turn on the landing and direct them back away from the running line? Paul. I tend to agree, I was just copying the original in the mock up but the stairs were more of a c*ck up than a mock up The barrow crossing looks great, a big improvement, the thickness of the "homemade" effort looks much more to scale. John Thanks for your comment and interest John. Regards, Brian. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian D Posted September 12, 2018 Author Share Posted September 12, 2018 I have spent the last week or so building walls to enclose both the loco depot and the site of the enlarged signal box. A pair of gates have also been added to allow road coal deliveries to the coaler. I have also been covering up bare baseboards with granite setts Scalescenes "brick paper", adding a bit more ballast around the two roads leading off the turntable, adding another grassy mound behind the TT. I've also given the coaler a repaint (more to be done on that). Here is a panorama shot of the area concerned (apologies for the sub standard phone pics used in the panorama and the trackwork disconnects show the joins between the individual pics). I have also been making some loads for my (empty) iron ore wagons. These comprise an oblong of 2 mm thick card (29 x 64 mm) liberally doused with pva glue and heavily sprinkled with beach sand sourced locally from the River Thames (oven dried). These pics should give you the idea. I don't know whether this looks like iron ore but the commercially available ready to fit "iron ore" loads look a bit orange to me. Regards, Brian. 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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