Brian D

Thanks Will. The Smart Models shed is quite a lot longer than the Scalescenes shed and I think it sits well with the layout, if also a bit of a view blocker. How is the lock down going in Canada? It is starting to ease a touch in England if not quite the whole of the UK. Keep well mate. Regards, Brian.

Progress is currently at a standstill - my soldering iron has packed up and another is on order. In the meantime I have turned to another kit build - the Smart Models goods shed kit. Anyone interested in following that build can catch it here (towards the bottom of the page) - Regards, Brian.

I have absolutely no problem with your intervention, John. I will also benefit from the information that the guys have provided. Thanks for your interest and comments. Regards, Brian.

The kit is slowly taking shape but I decided to kit-bash it a bit as follows. The current goods shed and loading bank arrangement is as below. I have decided to swap the positions of the shed and bank as shown in the pic below (which also shows the partially completed new shed). The new shed includes a ramp and a truncated external platform, the texture sheet for which is visible under the front corner of the shed. The existing loading bank, which was very much a freelance construct, I think now looks out of place so I have decided to extend the exterior platform of the kit as below. The crane will be recycled from the old bank and I need to modify the ground cover but I am quite pleased with the look of this - more like a proper "installation". Regards, Brian.

Construction of the goods shed continues. Here are the elements assembled so far posed on the layout. And the real McCoy. This last pic has prompted me to think that I might put some granite sets down. Regards, Brian.

Speaking of the diesel era, a parcels service is held at the outer home signal... ...while a passenger service traverses the station throat and departs... ...allowing the parcels train to enter platform 3. These Bachmann and Heljan Bo-Bos are such sweet runners. Regards, Brian.

Another mini project is in hand. I have decided to change the goods shed. The current shed is a straight un-bashed Scalescenes kit which I'm increasingly beginning to think looks a bit out of place, more GWR than NER. So I have made a start on the Smart Models shed which is quoted as being the former NER shed at Ashington but looks identical to that at the Beamish Open Air Museum which I have photographed in the past. Progress is as shown below. Further pics to follow as progress allows. Regards, Brian.

I only get the occasional derailment always due to pilot error.. I had a fleeting look at your terminus layout thread and the layout looks seriously impressive. I'll read it properly later. Indeed, lots of operational interest on my layout what with 4 platforms, goods yard, mpd and the colliery. When I get bored I change era (diesel to steam or visa versa) which usually keeps the mojo going. Thanks again for your interest and kind comments. Regards, Brian.

I've just uploaded another video featuring a Peak on a "Wind Cutter" train of minerals. This consist is not something I remember seeing back in the day. It's sort of inspired by the current day Great Central (Heritage) Railway and is not really a typical NER (BR) sight to say the least but I was reading the other day about the introduction of the Peak class and noted that they were so heavy that they didn't need a brake tender on unfitted freight trains so I thought I would put it on the front of my minerals and it looks quite good I think. The video is here... Enjoy or otherwise. Regards, Brian. PS Please forgive the wrong headcode on the Peak and the SPAD at 6 minutes in.

Hi Jon, Thanks for your comments and this is how my kit is looking at the moment... ...so I agree that I seem to have the extended smokebox/superheated version. But, stupidly, I've attached the safety valve seating without thinking or researching and I can't easily remove it now without damage. I've perused all the BR era pics in Yeadons but can't find an example with the frames of the type in the kit and small smokebox door combo with this type of safety valve seating. I'll research some more but may end up leaving it as is knowing it to be "wrong". Thanks again for the pic of your build and it would be great to see your finished D20. Regards, Brian.

Sorry to take so long replying Pete. The short answer is that there is no indexing. It's all done by eye. The turntable motor and gearbox is an Expo Tools item powered by a 6 volt battery pack through a switch I purchased on ebay which controls the speed and direction of rotation of the table. There are pics and a fuller description earlier in my thread. I'll just have a quick scan back to see if I can find the post number. Regards Brian PS Having had a quick look, more detail is shown on this page -

My latest video production is available here... ...which features a Class 26 hauled Engineers' Train. Regards, Brian.

I've opened another thread concerning the construction of my DJH D20 kit which is proving challenging. If you are interested you can read it here... Regards, Brian.

Thanks for the info about super heater smoke box extensions on p4 of yealdons which I perused but I can't see any images in the book to support this idea. My potential prototype is 62396 (see page 51 of Yealdons) which shows no "overhang" of the smoke box as far as I can see or is it a case of just lengthening the smoke box and its support? As regards "upper footplate extentions" "Raven build" all I would say is that I am basically trying to model something to look right on my layout but also matches the info in Yealdons as far as my poor modelling skills will provide. Thanks again for your contribution to this thread. Regards Brian

Thanks for the advice micklner and t-b-g, the Romford wheel tips are really useful. I won't be adding a smoke box extension rowanj. My copy of Yeadons shows some D20s in BR days without it so I'll leave the boiler casting as is, although I might have made a mistake with the safety valve casting - you are right in that the BR versions seem to have plain valves without any seating. I've been fettling the chassis and the motor gearbox unit and have eventually achieved a nice fit of the unit between the frames and tested it electrically as below. I have also grasped the nettle once more and added the cab side splasher units, cab front and roof to the footplate casting as below. The boiler unit has also been test fitted... ...as has the chassis and motor gearbox. Progress is a touch snail like but I'm enjoying the build and its best to be sure before moving on. Thanks again for your comments guys. Regards, Brian.

Here are some progress pictures. The axle bearings have been sweated into the frames which involved opening up the holes in the frames. A one eight inch diameter drill (actually it was a 3.2 mm diam) was then used to "ream" out the bearings for the Romford axles. All great fun and resurrection of long forgotten metal work skills but it does beg the question as to why they don't make make all these holes the right size in the first place? Anyway, the chassis was assembled with a view to soldering in the so called motor support which, because of the new forward facing motor gearbox, had to be cut to fit. This pic was taken after the saw cut was made, the unwanted part (which prevents the use of the motor gearbox) is on the right. The motor gearbox is an extremely tight fit between the frames but was trial positioned as below. The truncated "motor" support is clearly visible here. I suppose it adds a little stiffness to the chassis so I thought it best not to omit it. The motor was removed and the Romford wheels trial fitted and I now have a chassis that rolls, see below. The only comment I would make (and advice is sought quite frankly) is that it is extremely difficult to get the Romford wheels completely true on their axles without any wobble. Am I supposed to use a wheel press of some sort? I welcome guidance on this issue. The main boiler fittings (chimney, dome and safety valves) have been fitted. The smoke box door is only loosely fitted and the dome fixing "pip" which locates into the hole in the boiler has had to be severely shortened because it fouled the motor gearbox unit within the boiler. I am at the moment summoning up the courage to fix the various cabside/splasher, cab front and roof elements to the main footplate casting to ensure that all is square and tidy but the fit of these parts is not great. The instructions tell you to fix one cabside/splasher unit to the footplate and then follow with the cab front and opposite splasher/cab side but I'm minded to do it differently. Still pondering this one. Regards, Brian.

A quick update on progress. Regrettably, no soldering has been done as yet. Low melt solder and flux were eventually procured from Gaugemaster and flea bay, Eileen's having reimbursed me due to the current situation at that time as they could not full-fill my order. However, my brand new soldering station's soldering iron failed, a replacement is on its way. So various fettling of parts has been carried out and this afternoon all sorts of holes drilled in the smoke box/boiler/fire box casting for the chimney, dome, safety valves, snifting valve and handrail posts. Hopefully I will have some pics to post soon. Regards, Brian.

I've got two of those Scott - both acquired as donor chassis. The first one went in to a detailed Lima J50 body and then Hornby released their J50. The second one was due to go in to a South East Fine Cast N7 body and then Oxford Rail released their N7. Ho hum. Your scenics look great Scott, the train has a proper journey to make. Regards, Brian

Adnams Southwold Brewery is my lock down savior, delivered to my door. Shortly to be consumed and then to bed. Night night all.

'Hope all goes well with the move Andy and you are back on the interwebby thing soon. Regards, Brian.

Before Paul sent me looking at Newcastle, I found these in BR Deltic days. So, I have decided to compromise. I have left the two cabinets at the platform ends where they are (as per KGX and NCL) but moved the other two to the side, as below. Meanwhile, the Deltic pics above inspired me to get "The Durham Light Infantry" out of its box. Regards Brian. PS I'm probably running roughshod through copyright rules with these pics of pics so if anyone objects I will freely delete them.

You mean like this Paul? Regards, Brian.

Well spotted and that thought did cross my mind but the pic was taken last week, not in 1950/1960 when the layout is set. H&S wasn't so in your face in those times. The orange army didn't exist. However, I take your point and I need to research contemporaneous pics to see whether they were sited as they are today. They are not glued down so I can move them if need be. They are coming off later so I can draw on doors and hinges so will try and research a bit more before putting them back on the layout. Thanks again for your comments and interest. Regards Brian

While summoning up the courage to tackle the DJH D20 kit now I have flux and low melt solder to hand, another mini project has been tackled today. Part of our daily "lock down" exercise walk takes me and Mrs D alongside the local railway line where, spotting one of these... ...has reminded me that none exist on the layout and should be provided where the colour light signals are located. I took a few other pics (all from outside the railway fence) to try and guesstimate the relevant dimensions an d a start was made using two thicknesses of plasticard as below. They were given a few coats of acrylic paint... ...before being placed in suitable locations on the layout. Meanwhile, a parcels service arrives. Regards, Brian.

The building shielding the main switch panel is now complete although I might give it a name. Meanwhile, a Clayton and brake tender arrive with the afternoon goods train. Regards, Brian.