Leaderboard

Having had some paint problems, mostly very slow drying (maybe temperature related, it's not that warm in the loft at this time of year), the SR van is parked to one side while things go off. So to avoid practicing I've started the BR 12T pipe wagon kit. With a bit of luck I can do one while the other's paint dries and so on. The box is what you'd expect - a box really. Inside there's somewhat less a number of parts compared to the SR van - and no need to pre-paint stuff. The instructions start with assembling the couplings and fitting them to the draw bars. Ah. The kit comes with three link couplings, whereas being fitted it should have instanters. Instanters ordrered. I'm going to skip the couplings and do them when the proper ones arrive. If I can get hold of the supplier I'm keen to fit roller bearings as this one is for Soddingham, but that may have to go by the board. Anyhow, assembling the body presented no problems, and a few minor mould marks and very little flashing. The instructions suggest fitting one end to the floor, then a side, other end and other side, but just for being a bit easier to hold I did one end, then both sides. I'm glad I did as the floor was just a tad long meaning the door closing pins at the tops of the doors didn't quite meet up with corresponding mouldings on the end when the end was square to the floor. A little filing fixed that and tra la, one body. Next, having checked the axle box backs move freely in the axleguards (2 did, 2 didn't quite) the sole bards were offered up to body. These needed a bit of timping to get them to sit nicely in the backs of the drawbars, but no rocket science required. I've not fixed these yet as I wanted to see if the 'pips' on the chassis frame should stay or go as there aren't mentioned in the instructions. Stay is the answer, with them there the chassis it at the right height to fit flush to the drawbar (its a little warped when not being held in the photo). I'm assuming that's how it goes as it 'looks right'. The chassis is notably shorter than the distance between the two drawbars, about 1mm each end. Not a lot I can do about that without getting entirely carried away with plasticard. That's for tomorrow, or the day after in the van paint has gone off.

I hesitate to call this 'Bricklayers Arms Stables' because that's not what they are. However, they are the stables for Bricklayers Arms which is confusing I know but I'll explain. Whilst Bricklayers Arms station building, goods shed, carriage and loco sheds and coke depot are recorded (some photographically, others as outline drawings) the original 1844 stable block is not. There appears to be no record at all of its appearance. Therefore I have chosen to model the 1856 stables at Camden (because I like them) and position them in a relatively useful position behind the cattle yard to form an interesting backdrop to what would otherwise be a rather dull open space. Much of these stables still exist and form part of the famous stables market which makes it easier to model as reference can be easily made to the buildings. I am indebted to a good friend who braved the elements on a freezing February day just before Lockdown to take some invaluable photographs for me. Since there were several identical 'bays' to produce I chose to model one and use it as a master to cast duplicates in resin and stitch them all together to form the full block. The cart lodge and office at the eastern end was constructed in the same way but not used as a master as only one was required. Cutting the masters from embossed styrene sheet. Completed masters. Rubber mould with resin casting. The kit of resin castings. Bit of a jump but this is the assembled resin castings primed and in the process of having roof slates applied, (card strips on double sided sticky tape). Another jump to the finished article. I really am rubbish at taking photos as I go! The rat catcher calls... Arty black and white shot to finish.

With the completion of ballasting on the upper section of the layout yesterday I decided to get the security fence up between network rail and port authority land. This was laser cut palisade fencing from scale model scenery. Having painted it a suitable olive drab green on the sprue I predrilled holes with my hand drill and glued down. (security fencing in place) I had some further signage to put around the tunnel mouth along with a temporary crossing for road / rail vehicles at the tunnel mouth for maintenance. (Road / rail crossing and signage has now gone up) (another view) A nice surprise today was found in my porch. A neighbour who is a fellow train fan dropped some old n gauge catalogues through my door. Lots of childhood memories with the Lima catalogue and some interesting stock and track plans with the other ones Many thanks for reading