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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
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Hunslet inspired loco

As mentioned in my first post the layout base/scenery rotates and the train stands still at the front, which means the loco needs no motor.    Inspired by a Hunslet design and a picture I found online of a little engine called "Valdora" I set to work with some plastikard and the chassis from under a 00 coal wagon.   I did find running the OO wheels once re gauged to 9mm was a bit tight on such a small radius track. So I did what all good problem solvers do, I cut the chasis i

RJRdaydreamer

RJRdaydreamer in Hunslet

Ballast

The mounted 9mm crazy track was previously sprayed with RailMatch Sleeper grime and the chairs picked out in silver. So the next logical step was to apply the ballast (O gauge) its just short of a meter in circumference, so I was able to take a leisurely pace and focus on being tidy. Ballast then stuck with a standard mix of PVA, water and washing up liquid 

RJRdaydreamer

RJRdaydreamer in Ballast

Back scene

Because Kallax units have no backs the layout will need its own. Just to make life hard for myself I wanted some curve to it, So I part sliced two 6mm MDF sheet and then glued them together, whilst clamped over a pair of concave templates. Mounted on vertical timber frames on either side, which slot into the base to allow removal.    Once everything was dry the MDF was trimmed to width on a band-saw and sanded flush. Finally the forward face was painted with Matt Emulsion which is off

RJRdaydreamer

RJRdaydreamer in Backscene

Oxford Diecast 2CV6 Charleston detailing. Or happy reminiscing.....

The Oxford Diecast 2CV has been around for a while. I have always been tempted by one but put off due to a number of flaws in the model.   As a student nurse and when newly qualified I actually owned three 'Deux Chevaux' throughout the 1990's at one time or another. My last one being a beautiful Blue Celeste Special model I sold to two spinsters from Bodmin believe it or not.   The Charleston model from Oxford Diecast represents a version available from the early 80's through

46444

46444 in 46444 Blog

A GWR Hydra with a parcels van

Finally managed to finish something. Too much scattered modelling recently. But my GWR Hydra is now done, a dia G11 well-wagon in ca. 1910-13 condition, using a modified kit from 247 Developments. Plus the usual horse element, of course!     Ten G11s were built in 1899 for running in passenger trains, with a 6 ton capacity. They originally had Thomas brakes, later DC brakes were fitted. The photo above shows a G11 in 1947. In 1908 another batch of ten were made. They had

Mikkel

Mikkel in Wagons

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

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

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

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

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

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 - 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

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

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

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

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

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:

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

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

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

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

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
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