happyChappy

Ok, so now I understand, thanks. The thought of butchering the buffer beams of my Minitrains locos to fit NEM sockets is a step too far for me so standard couplings must remain. For close couplings I've managed to get away with the Peco 'hook & loop' couplings but I only run goods stock.

Regarding the 'new visitor' - it's the first time I've seen an actual photo of 'Rusty' in the flesh. I don't suppose you managed to get a closer look at it as a potential chassis donor for other diesel locos? If you managed to give it a run how was it? HC

Hi Nile, I've just noticed your open carriage has knuckle couplers fitted. Are these Dapol couplings? How do you find they perform compared to the standard 009 couplings and how have you fitted them to your locos without NEM pockets?

Drool, drool - what a superb model. I'm really a diesel man but will find an excuse for one of these if they run as good as they look. It will be interesting to see whether this is the same chassis, (minus conn rods of course), that will be used under the Baguley-Drewry diesel loco. HC

Really looking the business now. Trees tended to be kept in check immediately above the magazines as roots could be a problem. Shrubs should be ok though.

Considering you only started to develop this idea earlier this month your progress is amazing. It's really coming together well.

Never really thought about a thread but I'm always happy to help where I can. I also have a Roco diesel which is resprayed the same colour as the Minitrains diesel in the above photo. It's a tad on the drab side, (typical MOD style), but a yellow wasp-striped buffer beam brightens it up a little. It runs ok, although rather noisy, but lacks the motor flywheel that seems to make such a difference to the Minitrains reliable running.

Thanks Luke. The layout is a very small 55cm x 70cm designed to fit in a 'Really Useful' storage box. The loco on the left is a repainted Minitrains Gmeinder diesel and that on the right is a Narrow Planet Baguley-Drewry diesel on a Kato chassis. The Baguley is the most prototypical but the Minitrains diesels run so reliably at low speed that they are my personal favourite.

Back to your original question - at around £2 a pack for Peco SL-310 rail joiners it's worth giving it a try.

I found the Peco flat beds are very convincing with the addition of ends. In the photo attached the 2 wagons at the rear are the flat beds but with scratchbuilt ends made using corrugated styrene sheet with microstrip verticals. The centre wagons are scatchbuilt bogie flats and use Peco wagon bogies available separately. The front 2 wagons are the CW Railways RNAD wagons mounted on the chassis from the flat beds. These latter wagons are excellent models but the ends are very fragile resin mouldings - take care when handling. Crew wagon sounds good if you get round to it. Hope this helps. HC

Those skip wagons are absolutely perfect for an MOD layout. If you can get a look at Nick McCamley's book entitled "Disasters Underground" there's a picture taken at Fauld MOD site, before the massive disaster, where a short rake of near identical skip wagons is stabled in the background. Presumably these were to carry track ballast around on what were very extensive sites. They probably didn't venture into the magazines where the track was all inset into concrete but who cares - they look good and provide you with an alternative train to run. Looking forward to seeing the flat wagon conversion. HC

Probably not what you wish to hear but I'm in agreement with Peter even though, like him, I don't have personal experience of Minitrains track. There's a YouTube video below which doesn't look too promising for the smooth running of your future layout! If you're ok with laying flexible track or go for their range of setrack then Peco seems like a good alternative at this early stage. Hopefully, someone with Minitrains track experience will comment? HC

These storage magazines had to be well ventilated to reduce damp which seriously affects explosives. The 'control box' is probably where the ventilation equipment was housed rather than an armoured command control centre. In most cases the storage sites were mainly staffed with civilian personnel other than at the front gatehouse. My minimum radius is 9" and the RNAD wagons when mounted on the Peco 009 flatbed chassis has no coupling problems. I found standard Peco 009 couplings on each end of a rake with the Peco close couplers between wagons looks good and works a treat. Your layout is coming along nicely now - imagination is a wonderful thing.

Here's my magazine entrance:

I recall that you need to e-mail for current pricing and delivery and the body-only RNAD wagons are very reasonably priced. For scale 'bombs' I've used Pavla WW2 sets https://www.super-hobby.co.uk/products/RAF-WW-2-Weapons-set-part.1-bombs-25lb-250lb-500lb-50lbMC-1000lbMC..html which are good models. Alternatively, the Airfix bomber re-supply kit https://www.airfix.com/uk-en/bomber-re-supply-set-1-72.html has a number of 'bombs' and useful other bits and bobs (including the rapid response bike!!). These are of course all RAF bombs, (which fits my RAF-based layout) but I'm no expert and they look the part. Hope this helps. HC

Bachmann's planned Baguley-Drewry 70HP diesels and accompanying stock will suit your project perfectly (if you are patient and can wait). CW Railways https://www.cwrailways.com/009-ng.html make some excellent RNAD wagon bodies that you may find useful. I use the Peco 009 flat wagon chassis as an underframe as it already has the correct couplings fitted.

Thanks for the info. Good to hear they've survived and are being put to good use. I wonder if anyone has any photos of them on the FR? HC

Thanks - that's good news. The chassis should therefore be very simple and straightforward with the best chance of running well. Coupling rods on tiny models often seem to cause difficulties. HC

Interesting photos. Did the smaller 60/70HP versions with side-skirts also have connecting rods fitted but hidden away and invisible behind the skirts or were they free of conn rods?

I agree about it being really positive news and also your view on the attractive proportions of the smaller 60/70HP version. Another positive note is that the proposed Bachmann chassis may be of use under a wider range of diesel loco body kits that may now be feasible for smaller batch production. The 99HP version has served us well though and will continue pottering around my MOD layout even after it's smaller cousin arrives. HC

An excellent and detailed summary you've provided. These MOD sites must have been fascinating places for all things narrow gauge but off-limits to the general public. There seems to be lots of reference to RNAD sites although Chilmark depot, (and it's satellite sites), were owned by the Air Ministry for RAF armaments. The Chilmark depot survived until the mid 1990s and there's a video preview of it's sub-site at Dinton available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZu1lVZzES4 Note the bogie wagons in use which I don't believe survived into preservation, (anyone know differently?), yet they look to be in excellent condition. One thing of note is that even at the time this video was recorded, which was whilst Dinton was being cleared in the mid 90s, everything is very neat and tidy. Some track is even secured with Pandrol clips! HC

Ok, - sorry for duplication.

Great news from Hattons is that Bachmann is planning an 009 Baguley-Drewery diesel loco: https://www.hattons.co.uk/432094/Bachmann_Branchline_392_026_Baguley_Drewery_4_wheel_70hp_diesel_shunter_in_plain_green__Price_is_estimated_/StockDetail.aspx However, information that the Hunslet quarry locos are still at the early design stage suggests that we may have to wait a long time for this new model to appear. Shouldn't be a difficult model to produce though as those side skirts result in no complicated motion to replicate. My Narrow Planet version may have some serious competition to contend with as I've never been happy with the hugely over length wheelbase of the Kato chassis it runs on. Interesting times for us 009 modellers. HC

You've certainly created the atmosphere of a bomb storage site and your underground section is an inspiration. My, (above-ground-only), transfer depot and magazine storage site based on Dinton is nearing completion so I'll have to learn how to post photos and place some on here. HC

Fabulous models. Along with your 'own build' locos Scarrdale must be operating with some of the best available rolling stock in 009. HC