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  • SouthernRegionSteam

    Coastguard Creek - 15 months of planning!

    By SouthernRegionSteam

    Hold on to your socks - this is going to be a lengthy one! (In fact it's so long, I've now split it into 2 separate posts - the next will be up soon...)   I think it's fair to say that you are all long overdue an update on Coastguard Creek. Due to other commitments, no real progress has been made since the last post way back in March 2021; almost 15 months ago! If anything, things went backwards for quite a while, as I kept finding more and more inspiring locations that I really wanted
    • 8 comments
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Kelvinbank, a Caledonian Railway project.

A CR D37 twin wagon build part 1

The CR built 200 single bolster wagons to D37 in 1892. They had semi permanent shackle couplings, so effectively 100 twin wagons. There is a photo and a copy of the St. Rollox drawing in the wagon book, always a good place to start from.   Several people have asked me to give a more detailed account of the way I make wagons and fit compensation. Many may consider this to be teaching granny but this D 37 build will serve as an illustrated example and hopefully persuade folk  that it isn
Dave John

Dave John in General

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Ullypug's tales from the tinking table

GWR/WR Herring in P4 - part 2

Just a short update of the progress I managed to make before having my op this week. Home now with an extended sick note so hopefully will be able to do some modelling during my convalescence. The rake (or should that be shoal) of Herring are finished and awaiting a date with a rattle can. Just some holes to fill first where I’ve moved the handrails. Coupling hooks are Ambis and I’ll fit the instanter couplings once painted.
ullypug

ullypug in Wagon

1
Barry Ten's Blog

A M&SWJR 2-4-0 in 00

Quite a while ago (I think it was at a pre-Covid Railwells) I picked up a Nu-Cast kit for a Midland & South Western Junction Railway 2-4-0 tender loco. I've always been attracted to the M&SWJR as a prototype, with its beautiful crimson livery and distinctly different-looking engines, running through a very attractive part of the country, where it rubbed shoulders with (and was later absorbed into) the GWR. While I've no plans to build a layout based on the prototype, I do like the engine
Barry Ten

Barry Ten in GWR

10
MikeOxon's Broad Gauge Blog

North Star Gab Motion

Although most people know about Stephenson’s Link Motion, there was an earlier period when various different methods were applied to reversing a locomotive steam engine.   There is extensive information about many of these early methods in Clark’s book ‘Railway Machinery’ published in 1855. On p.21 Clark comments that “ln Fenton, Murray, and Jackson's first engines, four handles and a foot-pedal were provided for working them” The task of the engineman was eased by later systems, by wh
MikeOxon

MikeOxon in General

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Engine Wood

Dapol Class 22 conversion to P4 - a new approach

A while ago, I restored some of the photos from my original RMWeb blog on the subject of converting a Dapol Class 22 loco to P4 -  Unfortunately I still haven't got round to restoring the rest of the photos....sorry about that.   However, I have recently converted another of these models to P4, this time for my friend John (Re6/6), for use on his Forest of Dean P4 layout 'Parkend Marsh Sidings'.   This is a green model, with full yellow ends. Only two locos carried this
Netherport and Basuto Quay - GWR 1908 7mm

Basuto Quay - track layout

In the previous post, I set out the ideas behind Basuto Quay, and showed a 3D virtual model of the plans so far. The model does not show the track layout, but is based on a layout that has been worked out on a 2D plan, which is the focus of this post.   Here is the plan:     To put this in context, here is the annotated 3D model again:     The rolling stock is shown on the plan to give a sense of scale, and to ensure things will fit - the plan
wenford dries

Wenford - GoG show Kempton Park

Evening all,   Just a quick update that Wenford Dries had it’s second show appearance at the Gauge O Guild’s show at Kempton Park racecourse last weekend.   Very nice one day show and the layout received some very nice comments having appeared in ‘Model Rail’ mag this month 🤫   Main improvement since the first show was the uncoupling which I have addressed by inserting a miniature strong magnet into a brass tube and replaced a few end 3 links with steel links. This
bcnPete

bcnPete in General

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Netherport and Basuto Quay - GWR 1908 7mm

Introducing Basuto Quay

The concept   I have mentioned on this blog and elsewhere on the forum the concept for Netherport: a fictional port on the Dorset coast, roughly where the real Bridport/West Bay is, with a GWR terminus, set in 1908. I imagine Netherport to be an established port, with coastal and cross-channel traffic, and a growing role as a seaside resort, and as an alternative route to northern France and on to Paris via Cherbourg.   This concept has developed over time, as I gradually wor
Sixties Snapshots - 00 scale

No. 174 Is it a Toy or is it a Model Engine

The train arriving is Hornby’s Caprotti Black Five. Hornby R30227 aka 44755, very well packaged It has been advertised for a long time.  I placed an order and then I cancelled the order.  I didn’t like the look of the fitted lights.  However it has now been pointed out that the lights are removable – so I placed a second order and the engine has been delivered. Straight out of the box it ran very well.  Very well packaged, no broken or missing parts, thank you Mr Ho
DBC90024's Blog

Loco update - 4th June 2024 - 90035 and 90040

New arrivals at Johnson Street   Anyone who has followed my blog here will know that my layout is very much DB and electric traction.   Sadly, in the real world, DB have chosen to retire, withdraw and either sell of scrap its Class 90 fleet.    The less said about this, the better, so, what does this mean for me ? nothing, from a modelling perspective.   One can always model what they wish to, whilst reflecting that I am modelling the real world, as near a
western viscount's Blog

Provender Store for Templefield

I have been remodelling a section of my layout which I never really gave much thought to and has always let it down.   Althought there isnt much room I have lifted the tracks and intend to have a prpvender store, giving the goods yard more purpose, hopefully making operating more purposeful. The remodel comes not long before the next exhibition so I have no messed around.  The body was built from mountboard which is a change from my usual plastikard method. I marked out
What happened next? A blog by Keith Addenbrooke

Episode 9: In which we say "Good-bye" - for a little while

Before we move house in a couple of weeks, I thought it might be nice to bring together some photos of the modelling I've done in the six years we've lived here.  Although this blog (and it's predecessor here), focus more on my inability to actually build a model railway layout, I've also done far more modelling than ever before, have looked at a wider variety of possible projects and ideas than I ever would have imagined, and had wagon loads of fun along the way.  So here's a celebration:
Record Layout

Layout Fascia

I decided at the outset that the looks of the baseboard and "railway surrounds" would be neat and tidy, so this week I have done some work on what will be the front view. Given the entire layout will slot into a Kallax aperture, the sides are not quite as important. The face plate is made from strips cut from a piece of old pallet, run through the table saw then the band-saw to create  thin vertical strips. Once glued on, I dressed them together on the disc sander to create a roundish front. At
Mattington - 4mm Scale Layout

The End

Due to house move this layout has now being dismantled. Luckily I constructed it to go out through a loft hatch measuring 580mm x 600mm so all the boards could be reused.    Have made some mistakes with this one, notably access and wiring. Will be starting a new blog soon for my new layout.
MattB

MattB in General

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Sixties Snapshots - 00 scale

I’ll have a pint please, Bachmann’s Oakhill Brewery

I think Bachmann’s Oakhill Brewery collection is one of those iconic models, similar to their original Blue Pullman.  My Oakhill Brewery buildings are mostly date stamped 2009, with the boiler house chimney marked 2010.  My records show that I purchased my buildings from a variety of retailers in the period 19th to 30th May 2011, almost exactly 13 years ago to the writing of this Post. Bachmann Malthouse and Brewery as arrived - Note the extension piece to the loading bay platform
Ullypug's tales from the tinking table

GWR/WR Herring P22 Hoppers in P4 part 1

Not much going on at the moment due to the house going on the market, but the tinking table is still working of sorts via a travelling modelling box. On the go at the moment is a rake of 6 ex GWR P22 hoppers. These are a straight build from the Cambrian kits and when finished will represent a fully loaded stone train. As they'll also be filled full of lead I'm not too worried about springing or compensation, though the pin points have been filed down a bit to induce a little slop. One was comple
ullypug

ullypug in wagon

6
Playing with 1/50 scale

The 1/50 project, a slat sided wagon.

This is a slat sided wagon. I think typical loads would be light, empty casks, bales of light material, that sort of thing. Overall 6.7 m long on a 3.25 m wheelbase. Not large, but a useful capacity for a smaller railway.   Construction is straightforward. Silhouette cut 10 thou styrene components glued together on the flat and well weighted while it dried. Drill a lot of 0.4 mm holes, Masterclub bolts added. The wheels run on inside W irons soldered to a copperclad sub chassis which b
Record Layout

Movement and track

The final part to get things moving was a connector to fit between the motor flange and the baseboard flange. I turned that from a piece of nylon and added two pegs to create drive. Everything worked well and the turntable rotated freely, powered by a USB lead.     Next was the track laying which took longer than planned, mainly because I was being OCD about having the sleepers aligned to the center point of the turntable. with that done it was time to test the theory!!
Record Layout

Baseboard construction

The layout is being designed to fit into ONE of the apertures of an Ikea Kallax Unit. which governs the size to 334mm square.         Constructed from 18mm MDF for rigidity and most of the work done with a router as there are lots of circles involved!     The top disc is the actual layout baseboard which rotates above the square sub base, Rotation is aided by a microwave plate carrier and powered by a small 5v worm gear motor mounted under the
MikeOxon's Broad Gauge Blog

Spot the Differences

The history books tell us that ‘North Star’ was one of two engines, originally built by Stephenson’s for the 5’ 6” gauge New Orleans railway. That order was cancelled and these engines – works nos.149 and150 - were snapped up by the GWR, desperately in need of reliable engines.   Several changes were needed to adapt these engines to Brunel’s 7 foot gauge. A sketch showing these changes was made in 1837, as shown below:   Copy of original drawing of Stephenson engines no
MikeOxon

MikeOxon in General

6
On Ravensers Bookcase

And Now For Something Different: Into Battle 3

It’s high time I finished the tale of my Airfix plastic kit which has been in suspense for over two years – the tale, not the kit.    We left the 1/72 Fairey Battle here, nearly complete but in need of painting. The last few bits were duly added and the model painted in accordance with the instructions. So far as I can remember all painting was done with the acrylics supplied (there were 15 pots in the gift set). I did my best to reproduce the camouflage scheme freehand and I tried to

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