cornish trains jez

That looks impressive and really nicely built.

Best regards,

Jeremy

Evening all,

I’ve started scratch building my first portal. It’s going to be in plastic but once finished, I think it will be a very sturdy structure. The contact arms will of course be in brass. Most of the other portals will be completely in brass.

This is the type of portal I’m trying to recreate, albeit my version will be spanning four tracks.

Here are a couple of initial shots of it blue tacked on the layout. There are still lots of parts to add before it’s finished but hopefully I’ve got the height right. Any comments on this most welcome.

Best regards,

Jeremy

On 13/08/2023 at 17:30, DavidMcKenzie said:

I cannot look at a photo from above anymore without realising how little the wires show from this perspective. Possibly because I hardly ever see this view on the real railway....yet we see it most of the time with the models. 

 

 

Not my photo, linked from Flickr. 

 

All the best,

Dave

Hi Dave,

Many thanks for your comments, especially about the wires. I'm still on the fence on this one but I am gradually leaning towards not having the wires. Having said that, and like you say, its best leaving any wires till last in any case so as not to damage them during the layout construction.

On the subject of track, I have gone for Peco code 55 on the scenic section. Like you, I tried code 40 rail but the flanges fowl the sleepers. My initial plan was to scratchbuild the entire track work using 2mm association track and then narrowing the rails through the crossovers so that I did not have to re-wheel all my stock but the flange issue put this to bed quite quickly.

I think if I extend the layout, I'll use copper clad sleepers and code 55 rail from C&L finescale.

Best regards,

Jeremy

Hi Dave,

The layout is looking fabulous and I love the intercity liveried stock that you are running. I think the extension will add a nice contrast to your more built up city scene, lol forward to seeing the plan and the extension progress. Will this be on the other side of the layout or to one side?

Best regards,

Jeremy

2 hours ago, swisspeat said:

Nice video.

 

Footbridge looks first class.

 

Whether to add wires or not! A dilemma. Many modellers in CH particularly in N scale do do add wires. Masts are enough for them.

 

I model in HO mainly and generally have added the wires but on my last project I did not. See attached glimpses of my Einigen project based on the real location in BLS territory. No wires here and I could just about live with that...

 

Wishing you further success with the layout...

 

Peter

Hi Peter,

Many thanks for your comments and photos. Your Einigen project looks very nice indeed. I’m certainly leaning more towards just having the masts and it will certainly save a lot of unnecessary additional work.

Yes, I’m pleased with footbridge too! I’ve added some additional scratch build details to finish it off so hopefully it will look the part once painted/weathered etc.

Best regards,

Jeremy

Evening all,

I’ve finally found the time to put together a short video update showing a bit more progress on the layout. Includes my latest Swiss purchase!

Hope you all enjoy!

Best regards,

Jeremy

On 31/07/2023 at 10:19, SBB1 said:

Latest additions to the collection: this ubiquitous pair, new from Fleischmann. The Bt is DCC fitted for controllable lighting. I pre-ordered mine but Scograil currently has them at a good price.

 

 

I'm halfway to being able to field an 8 car Re460/EW IV rake - just need to get on with building a layout to run it on! What I have in mind is a scenic test track based on the well-photographed, snaking section of line between Burgdorf and Wynigen. It would be a double-track oval with a through fiddle-yard off-scene; the idea being a relatively simple layout to test and run full-length trains on, as well as practice my scenic skills. My question is: does this sound like a good idea for a first big project, or will I regret the lack of operational interest? Keen to here your thoughts if you've ever done something similar.

 

Cheers,

 

Andrew

Hi Andrew,

Your layout idea is really good. My current layout is a four track mainline through a Swiss industrial scene allowing me to run scale length trains, a bit of a “watch the trains go by” layout. So I’d say go for it!

Love the new purchases by the way. I have 3 bt coaches however I really wished Fleischmann would stop moulding the front end pipes using a semi-circle piece of plastic for each one. It doesn’t look great.

Look forward to seeing the layout!

Best regards,

Jeremy

Loving the pictures Andy! Always a pleasure to see!

Best regards,

Jeremy

On 27/06/2023 at 14:11, DavidMcKenzie said:

Hi Jeremy,

 

Interesting find there with the nbrass gantry. I think that would look very good and I will be looking forward to seeing how that turns out.

There is also a type of gantry in Colin's nice photo of the double headed DB freight train (roughly in line with the back end of the second loco), which doesn't look so complex (as other options would be) to scratch build. 

Then possibly a few of the more expensive ntrain options in positions where you are likely to view/video/Photograph? 

 

The scratch built buildings look great. I love the singal box. It looks superb. Weathering something like that is always a challenge isn't it. There are many different colours, tones and shades in a weathered building aren't there. The number of different washes which then need pulling together with a last very fine layer of 'dirt' always amazes me. 

 

Thanks for the videos, very interesting and motivating.

 

All the best,

Dave 

Hi David,

Thank you for your comments.

I think there could be a variety of different gantries possible for the layout which would certainly add some interest, and definitely in terms of photographing the layout.

I’m going to work on the gantry next week and see how I get on. I’ve been watching a few more cab rides which are excellent for getting some close up front on screen shots of the different styles.

The signal box has come out well. It’s the first time I’ve weathered a building and like you say, it takes time to build up the layers. I think it needs a very thin dirty wash now just to finish off the lower section. 
 

I’ll do another video soon on the gantry.

Have a good weekend and hope all is well with you and the family.

Best regards,

Jeremy

Evening all,

Here is my latest video update including some thoughts on overhead catenary. I'd welcome your thoughts on my future experiment.

Best regards,

Jeremy

Morning all,

Latest photo on the Lemke Facebook page of the new Re4/4 iv in N. Looks really good so far with an abundance of separately fitted parts. Might have to order all 3 variants!

Best regards,

Jeremy

8 hours ago, SRman said:

Over the last few years I have acquired quite a few European items, mostly from Denmark, Germany and Sweden where I have done a few travels, with a few Swiss ones thrown in as well - I have not yet been to Switzerland but I like the looks of their stock. Some of these have been older models from the likes of Roco and Lima, but all have been converted to DCC. Those with sockets were easy, of course, but the older ones were hard-wired, retaining their circuit boards (usually only single-layered) with copper tracks cut through where necessary, and any pantograph connections soldered lightly to avoid accidental switching to overhead.

None of these are entirely recent purchases, but all date from 2020 onwards.

The Re and Ae 6/6 locos are from Lima (which has a decent can motor and flywheels driving eight of the  wheels) and Roco (I have two of these, one older model and one newer DCC-ready model), and the new-style Re 4/4 was also from Roco. Finally, the BLS Vectron was a Trix loco with sound, on special from Modellbahn shop Lippe.

There is a set of coaches bought as a job l ot from Ellis Clark Models second-hand. One of these is visible behind the locomotive in the top photo. There are also sundry wagons but the nature of freight operations in Europe allows me to mix them in with those from other European railways in the one train.

 

 

 

 

I hope I haven't bent the intent of this topic too far by including details of my entire Swiss locomotive collection. 🙂

No rules broken really! That’s a great collection!

9 hours ago, Gordonwis said:

 

 

I think it may be just sun/wind fade. I found this Georg Trub photo of 620 075 in March 2009. The loco was outshopped three months earlier in Cargo livery 

 

https://www.railpictures.net/photo/647740/

 

 

 

That’s a good photo Gordon, thank you for posting. The roof grills are white too. Perhaps I’ll alter some of mine to reflect both the “just repainted” look and “worn” look.

28 minutes ago, Gordonwis said:

 

Yes, the Kato body is about 3 and a bit mm longer, but we ran both together on the test layout and it didn't grate. (see my rather nice piece of luck at Brig in May, when the only freight train of the day was a northbound pair and they departed up the mountain route!)

 

I went to messrs Scograil in Ipswich (combined with a freight grice around Trimley on the Felixstowe branch) and by special arrangement took my Kato Cargo Re6/6 for direct comparison before I went ahead with the Fleishmann purchase. 

 

I should also mention that the Kato Cargo lok I have is not the most recent Kato moulding, so has the older sized cab side windows

 

 

 

 

One thing I’ve noticed with the Kato and Fleischmann Re6/6 Cargo locos is that the roof colour seems incredibly dark compared to any photos I’ve seen. Or is this just the way they ended up over time? I’ve searched various photo websites and cannot find a single photo of one with the SBB Cargo dark grey coloured roof. They all seem light grey.

2 hours ago, Moselbahn 181 said:

Hi,

 

You need two or a repaint Jeremy 😂

 

Cheers, Colin

I can do the two!

Best regards,

Jeremy

Hi,

A couple of photos of the signal box in situ on the layout. Trying to replicate Colin’s photos of the box with the DB loco behind. Not quite the DB294 but I’ve gone for the DB185.

Best regards,

Jeremy

Hi,

A bit of an update.

Started painting the upper floor shutters, barge boards, gutters and down pipes, and building up the weathering layers. Still lots of weathering to do.

Here is the latest progress shot.

Best regards,

Jeremy

4 hours ago, Moselbahn 181 said:

Looking really good, the cleaned up graffiti area works well.

 

Have you considered using a scalescenes paper to replicate the tiles on the upper floor? The aged grey brick or aged clapboard may work?

 

Cheers, Colin

 

 

PS - would you like me to post some more pix from Prattlen on that day? did you say you were thinking of making the Co-op building too?

Thanks Colin. I’ve already started the upper level and weathering so it might be a bit late for me to change it now but thank you for the suggestion.

With regards to the Co-Op building, I will be building this too for the layout so if you have any photos, they would be much appreciated. Thanks!

Best regards,

Jeremy

8 hours ago, Gordonwis said:

Fleischmann's N gauge Re6/6 in Cargo.

 

I've decided the shape (particularly the cab ends) is better than the Kato (ex Hobbytrain) Re6/6 which is now a long in the tooth body moulding. However I have ...several...Kato Re6/6 so will have to decide what to do with them. In the interim, the broadside comparison isn't too bad.

Very nice Gordon. The Fleischmann model looks like it has a shorter body?

Evening all,

Ive started the weathering process. First time for me weathering a building.  The ground floor level has had an initial coat of plastikote suede textured paint sprayed on. Then two thin washes of Matt white to tone it down a little. Then I’ve mixed up some dark grey to represent the staining to the side wall and stippled this on with a flat brush. I’ve wiped away the area where it looks like some graffiti has been cleaned off.

What does everyone think? I think a wash of grey to pull it all together? What does everyone think? All comments welcome!

I’ve yet to finish the upper level. This will be next.

Thanks in advance.

Best regards,

Jeremy

1 hour ago, Moselbahn 181 said:

Glad it's of help. This shot is a bit more of a frame filler for detail. The tiling on the upper floor is interesting.

Thanks Colin, that ones even better. I’ve decided not to do the tiling to the upper floor, I didn’t fancy trying to score the lines that close together to represent the tiles. From normal viewing distances it’s not too noticeable in N.

Best regards,

Jeremy

On 09/06/2023 at 19:01, Moselbahn 181 said:

Hi Jez,

 

I've joined RMweb at last so can share those Pratteln photos I mentioned on YouTube some time ago. 

 

Thought you might like this one of the signalbox taken on 09/07/2008 before you paint your model which looks fantastic.

 

Hope you've got a DB 294 to go with it :-)

 

Cheers,

 

Colin (somewelshbloke)

 

Hi Colin,

Thats a brilliant shot thank you. I’ll be using this one for painting and weathering the model which I have started tonight.

Will keep the progress shots coming.

Best regards,

Jeremy

4 hours ago, DavidMcKenzie said:

Some brilliant modelling there Jeremy. I'm really enjoying watching this all take shape. It's going to be a layout with incredible character and interest with all of the scratch built buildings. 

All the best,

Dave

Thanks Dave. It’s great to start getting these buildings to a point where I can start painting and weathering. The next one on the list is going to be the tall building next to the postal depot.

Best regards,

Jeremy

Evening!

Well I decided to get the cab of plastic primer out this afternoon and thought I’d give my two ongoing projects a good dusting.

Here is the signal box pictures earlier and the ABB building based on the one at Baden. You can really see the layers of detail now it’s primed!

Just got the roofs to do now and then some additional detailing before final painting and weathering.

Best regards,

Jeremy

Afternoon all,

Been spending some time working on the signal box based on the one at Pratteln. I’ve decided to build it in a “closed/decommissioned” state and added shutters to all windows.

Here is the almost finished building. Finished fitting the downpipes this morning made from 0.88mm plastic rod.

Will prime it next.

Couple of current progress shots.

Best regards,

Jeremy