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hayfield

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Blog Entries posted by hayfield

  1. hayfield
    Those who read my track building thread will know earlier this year we moved to Essex, a nice house in a nice village and space for a railway shed. Well that was the plan, but the more we looked into it for many reasons building a wrap around extension seemed a much better idea.
     
    For some time I have wanted to build a small demonstration piece which will have the full scenic treatment, the turnouts into the engine shed at Bodmin General looked a good candidate, and the track could be extended at first to incorporate the shed later. If this went well I could when space permitted include the station and goods area. Still if only a cameo it will be something I could use to run a loco or two
     
    I have plenty of unused C&L and Exactoscale GWR chairs and plenty of pre-cut sleepers and timber strip
     


     
    After seeing Mikkel's latest project and as the first phase is for 2 turnouts I decided to hand build the turnouts and track on ply sleepers and timbers. First thoughts were to 00SF standards, but if I was going to build the plain track (I want it not only fully chaired but have keys in the chairs) why not do it to EM gauge
     
    Looking at the first photo the turnout into the shed has 2 trap points built in
     



     
    I could quite easily build this turnout, but for demonstration purposes a slip would be better and would give a little added interest as a layout. As I said Bodmin(ish). I fancy altering the shed, either going back to a single shed or one that looks a bit tidier. Plus have ash pits outside and inspection pit inside.
     
    The first step is to start the Blog, and perhaps get some input into the project
  2. hayfield

    Shelf layout update

    By hayfield,

    I am building a shelf layout in my workroom as a test bench for my locos, storage for them and to play trains. My main interests in the hoby is building whitemetal loco kits and building turnouts.
     
    The space I had available was 5' 3" long by 12" at one end and 18" at the other. Locos would enter the layout from the right from a fiddle yard (which would be hidden from view by a coaling plant) under a road bridge on one of 3 tracks. On the left hans side will be a 6 road engine shed and a head shunt for the coaling stage.
     
    I built the board and played around with various track plans, once set on a plan I built a mockup of the shed in card based on the Wills 2 road kit
     
    Once settled on the plan I started to build the walls
     
    Monday morning my local shop had some cork sheet in so I layed this last night and as I had built a second wall on Monday I could put the shed in place and double check the track plan
     
    The track plan need slight adjustment and I need to buy another shed kit to build the next bay.
  3. hayfield
    Been given a copy of Bodmin (historic) station plan, which is a great help
     

     
    Obviously similar but not quite the same as today's layout, but then I am not copying it. Thrown a spanner in the works as I was going to start the right hand turnout, still have visitors coming to see us tomorrow so my plan of having Thursday as my modelling day has not even lasted the first week
     

     
    Close up of the engine shed area, the trap points are after the turnout not in it. However the I have the area the track is in. Will go for the modern layout with double engine shed rather than a single one with a carriage siding
     
    Looking at the plan getting from the station building to the bridge is between 12' and 13', that will be the length of my railway room, so there will need to be some form of compression, part of the station building low relief, shorten the gap between the turnouts and shed. Also shorten the distance between the end of the shed and the junction, bring the bridge a bit closer, curve the track more on the Parkway route, loose 6" on the platform length. Still none of this alters the cameo
  4. hayfield

    BEC LNER J52

    By hayfield,

    I have started to rebuild a BEC LNER J52 I got off Ebay quite cheaply,the paint job was not very good. So a soak in Nitromores last night and a wash clean, all there was then to do was picking off the odd bit of paint and glue.
     
    Tonight I have stuck the two body sides/tops to the bunker casting, smoke box and footplate.
     

     
    I noticed that where the 2 body halves joined, the joins was not very good (the builder had put some filler on them). So I decided to do likewise and will leave the filler for 24 hours to set completely
     

     
    I am re-building this loco as a thank you for a friend who did me a good turn. I have 2 other of these. One I built 2 years ago from an unstarted kit, and have a body built by someone else (another Ebay item which no one was bidding on) neither of these show the same problems, either I forgot that I had to do a bit of filling or the castings were better.
     
    Also won another Wills 2 road engine shed off Ebay tonight (see layout blog) got it a couple of pounds cheaper than the Ebay shops and hopefully it will arrive quicker that the one I brought a couple of months ago as I had to wait nearly 2 weeks.
  5. hayfield
    Not listed much lately, one of the reasons is that I had a problem with a couple of programs including my camera link,another having new windows fitted to the house (had to tidy up the workroom and stop using for a few days)also sorting out the seedlings in the greenhouse and planting some of them out, but most of all the bench has been full of turnouts for the past 6 or 7 weeks.
     

     
    EM gauge junction which was built on a gentle curve just to add a couple of complications. Brooke Smith timbers and C&L chairs and rail. The turnouts are slightly different in size as the inside one is on a sharper radius.
     
    The build took longer than I thought, but mostly as other things got in the way (bank holidays and the above) but once a couple of problems were ironed out with the curved part of the crossover it was an enjoyable build.
     

     
    EM gauge B7 turnout built with C&L plastic sleepers and chairs. As you can see I build these on tracing paper and attach the sleepers to it with thin strips of double sided tape for transit.
     

     
    3 different methods, top turnout EM B6 with Brook smith ply sleepers, middle the C&L EM B7 (plastic sleepers) and the trusted Copperclad turnout, this one is a P4 A5 which I built just to see if I could build one in P4
     

     
    A close up photo of both wooden and plastic sleeper built turnouts. Which is better? close up I think the wooden sleepers look best, but then its easier getting a good finish with wood stains than painting plastic. However those with artistic tendencies can paint the plastic sleepers to look like wood. Then again from normal viewing distances can the average person tell the difference ? And from a distance well finished copperclad track looks superb.
     
    Anyway back to the trailing crossover which is on the bench
  6. hayfield
    Alternative plan with a turnout as per Bodmin now instead of a slip, but with old style goods yard layout
     

     
    Platforms, buildings etc
     

     
    Close up of the initial area to be built
     

     
    A quick lash up of the trap point, will be done as per prototype though
  7. hayfield

    LNER J52 update

    By hayfield,

    Over the weekend I finished building the loco, the most tedious job was to make the steps from brass sheet. I swapped the split pins for brass hand rail knobs. Fitted etched rear window grills and I fitted some whitemetal steam pipes.

     
     
    For the past few nights I have undercoated and sprayed the loco gloss black, I will now pick out the buffer beams and other items which need painting different colours and will number and letter the loco over the weekend, then a coat of satin varnish will tone the loco down.
  8. hayfield
    Should be going to B&Q but decided to take another look at the track plan, I think I have something which looks about right. It's never going to be an exact replica as the real turnout has a smattering of non GWR chairs. I have decided to build the engine shed to a slightly different style, more like the original but 2 roads and the signal box will be from a suitable kit.
     
    Anyway it will keep me on track so to speak to at least cut some timbers tomorrow
  9. hayfield
    Just had a play with Templot using a Bing map as a rough guide
     

     
    Nothing in stone, may need compressing. Do I keep the 2 road shed or go for a single road shed. I have used B8's except for the curved turnout, though I may just vary the sizes just to be echonimical with the common crossing packs
     
    As I plan in in a preservation era, as I can use locos from both GWR and SR, also varied liveries and use locos which perhaps would never had been used.
     
    As for the slip (which is a diamond just for speed of design) do I have a single, double or perhaps a Barry slip ? or just build the turnout as is with 2 catch points in built. Still the idea will be to build the trackwork between the signal box and engine shed
     
    The plan is about 10' in length, this I may need to compress though
  10. hayfield
    Looking at the old plan I was sent whilst the details are different I am assuming both the running line and the engine shed positions are the same
     

     
    I have altered the size of turnouts and added a coupe of trap rails, I guess I should extend a couple of the timbers which the outer catch point is on
     

     
    Overall shot of the area, will try and see if this matches with the photos of the actual turnout
  11. hayfield
    The timbering has been finished, but my thoughts turned to an eBay purchase of a Southeastern Finecast 02. Bought it as a part built 00 gauge loco, badly painted and in 00 gauge with a M7 box and a few parts from said M7 not the 02. Still did not pay too much and missing parts plus a new chassis etch and box ordered from SEF( The M7 box can hold one of my Wills M7's)
     
    Anyway back to the 02, the Body was badly painted in grey and had a few traces of black paint. Chassis removed and the body was soaked in a caustic soda solution.
     

     
    All the paint softened and washed off and the glue in most places degraded, so the parts can be cleaned up, the footplate had to be repaired and I decided not to remove the sides as they are a good fit. I also removed the old foot step pegs which had broken off into the footplate. At the same time as I ordered the new chassis I won a lot on eBay which had a set of Gibson milled frames along with other parts, so in theory I have 3 chassis
     
    I now need to look at some photos as I need to know which version to build. I will use Markit wheels with a Highlevel gearbox, I would like a small can motor 1015 ? It came with a 1024 open frame motor and Gibson wheels, might be worth moving these on.
     
    Will start on the common crossings for the track over the weekend
  12. hayfield
    As it happens I do have a few scrap bits of wood in the shed and found a suitable scrap piece of ply (old draw side which happens to be of high quality wood),a nice wide strip of pine beading was stuck to it, then a slot with a razor saw was cut at right angles
     

     
    A start was made on cutting the timbers, as it happened I had to stain a few timbers as several lengths of thicker ply had got mixed up with some thinner ones. Anyway a few mins work and all will be cut
     
    A new etched chassis for the Southeastern Finecast 02 arrived today along with a few parts which were missing on the loco. Looks like the kit is of the Isle of Wight version with the larger bunker, still modellers licence may occur. Another thing is that it needs 19 mm drivers, I have 18 & 20 mm Romford wheels, so the former will be used.
     
    For those modelling the GWR, the Nucast Partnership has the 16xx kit (is this the old Stephen Poole kit?) available with a new etched chassis, if so I will get a chassis for my kit. The prices are £97.50 for the full kit, £65 body only, £34.50 for the etched chassis. They are offering on limited availability (till stocks last) a body with the old style Autocom brass chassis at £80
  13. hayfield
    Far too little to report as I have not achieved mu goal. As the loft is a little cooler I managed to retrieve the plain sleepers and some rail, I also bought down some loco kits and went through my chassis box, the latter failing to realise what I need for a G6. On the plus side I have a Southeastern Finecast M7 kit which can be rebuilt to EM standards. I really need to get my kits out of the boxes and find some GWR locos
     

     
    Packets of plain sleepers, mostly 8'6" but I also have some 9'. I have seen many remark how painful it is to stain individual sleepers, I will get a sheet of cardboard put some double sided tape on it and just put a line either side of the tape and it will take seconds to do, none of this messy soaking the timbers etc.
     
    I have a box of PSM code 75 bullhead nickle-silver which I got off eBay ages ago as were the sleepers, following BGJohn in using up items I had for some time.
     
    Went to B&Q last week and looked at their ply, all I could see was thin stuff which was warping and was called exterior !!. At the moment I have no room to buy an 8 x 4 sheet and cut it into 4 x 2 sheets, will look at Wicks and see what they have, I need a couple of 4 x 1 sheets for storage purposes and put a simple frame work under it
     
    This Thursdays goal is a couple of common crossings (fitted)
  14. hayfield

    Turnouts finished

    By hayfield,

    I have finished the 2 turnouts I was asked to build, the first was a SMP 60" radius built to a B6 size, Its some time since I have used SMP products, I feel that the Paxoline sleepers are not as good as C&L fiberglass ones as the widths seem to vary a bit (the ones in this kit were quite good)and the material seems a bit weaker than fiberglass. Also the rail seemed to be softer.
     

     
    I did use the SMP tiebar, but found my normal style easier to fit the blades close to the stock rails.
     

     
    Next was the C&L turnout, I fit the common crossing first, then the stock rail.
     

     
    Followed by the other stock rail, the switch and check rails. I have also soldered a wire from each stock rail to its switch rail as an electrical bond. Both have been tested and run fine.
     
    Thursday I did a bit more to a GWR pannier chassis I am building in P4, hopefully I will be able to do some more tomorrow. I also put a couple of body parts of a K's 57xx into caustic soda to remove the paint, last night these were removed and washed, all the paint came off and the 4 bits which had been glued came appart.
     
    I have a spare set of 4'7" drivers in P4 so the 57xx may become my third P4 loco. On the other hand I might just build it using the K's chassis which came with it.
     
    Also yesterday a Jamieson GWR King (body and chassis)arrived in the post, its missing some tender axle boxes and front bogie. The question is do I build it as per the kit in 50's standards with the brass bar chassis, or do I add extra detail and use a spare Comet King chassis I have.
  15. hayfield

    K's GNR Atlantic

    By hayfield,

    Not too much done tonight (had to make some jam) The splasher has been filed back, just need to grind the rear back with a mini drill to clear the wheels. Rear step units fitted (nice new castings) along with the cab roof, buffer beam, dome and drivers seat.
     
    There is a dent in the side if the fire box that I have just noticed, it needs pushing out a bit and the point of the dent filled. The hand rail nob holes have been filled ans sanded. Also found the tender bufferbeam, so only a tank vent and 2 buffers missing.
     
    Happy with progress to date
  16. hayfield

    Engine shed

    By hayfield,

    A bit more progress on the roof.
     

     
    The first 2 bay roof is installed and this part of the shed is becomeing quite ridgid. I have started fitting both roof and wall cappings. It look like I am going to see if Wills will sell me some extra roof sprues as I will need some more roof capping and if I use them the smoke jacks. I will also need 2 more packs of slate roofing. Still quite pleased with progress so far.
  18. hayfield

    Engine shed update

    By hayfield,

    A second kit arrived yesterday so I could continue with the build. I have started to built the third bay.
     
    I have tried to load a photo but its not happenning, still nice to have the web back. Will post a photo once I find out what the problem is.
  19. hayfield

    North lights

    By hayfield,

    I have started to build up the north lights
     

     
    A backing piece of 15 thou, then 2mm strips to build up the window bar detail. I then cut out the window blanks then added 1mm bars on top of the 2mm bars. Hopefully once the bars are painted they will look a bit thinner. Only 40 more to make.
     
     

     
    I have champhered the tops of the lower pelmet, on the picture the added depth this detail makes is not as noticeable as it is in the flesh. I now need to saw the brick courses in.
  20. hayfield

    Bodmin General(ish)6

    By hayfield,

    I have been doing a bit of what Gordon S loves doing with his Eastwood Town layout which is printing off track plans, my efforts are nowhere near to his standards, thought I would see how everything would pan out in full size,
     
    I have also been looking at how close I can get the platforms, plus looking at how I can kitbash a couple of Ratio stations into something similar to Bodmin
     

     
    This is the start or engine shed end of  the second board, I changed the turnout into a single slip which not only adds to the selections of trackwork but gives me an additional loco stabling area, bottom left is the workshop
     

     
    The platform area showing the second platform
     

     
    I could not resist printing out board 3. Top right is the engine shed road, nest down is the second siding which follows the branch to Wrenford. The next pair of lines are the branch to the mainline Bodmin station and the siding which follows it. Bottom right are the 2 roads for the workshop, these may end up being a bit longer. The crossover and following turnout will need moving a few inches left to avoin the baseboard join.
     
    Still now the plan looks fine and certainly the first two boards seem settled.
  21. hayfield

    Layout

    By hayfield,

    View from the fiddle yard
     
    The track will be SMP flexi track and (C&L) copper clad built turnouts all in 00, I thought about making them from C&L plastic parts but I decided against this
  22. hayfield

    K's GNR Atlantic

    By hayfield,

    I have started to build up the cylinders, they are now glued together and I have started the filling process with Milliput. More filling is required along with rebuilding the cylinder fronts.
     

     
    I also need to work out whow high the cylinders should be.
     

     
    They are just a push fit into the chassis / body at the moment.
     
    Next job is to rebuild the crossheads
  23. hayfield
    December since I last posted about Bodminish, the run up to Christmas was busy and with retirement looming due to the hours my shifts were I was getting too tired to do much else, plus I had a few jobs outstanding prior to the carpenter coming to fit new doors downstairs. I had a weeks holiday the week before last and supposedly another 6 weeks until retirement. That was the plan before Boris stepped in, now on furlow till the 1st of May when I retire
     
    Well the past 2 weeks I have been converting a Wills E1 and E2 to EM gauge plus finishing off a second E2, one E2 is primed the second is waiting for the steps to be fitted so it can be primed, The E1 is waiting for a couple of gears from High Level and has one of their new coreless motors powering it. Now I need a better test bed for both what better than start laying track for Bodmin
     

     
    The track is in place, now needs fishplates, wiring and I have fitted temporary tiebars, the E2 in the photo supports a Comet Jinty chassis (the Wills E2 is designed to take the Triang Hornby Jinty chassis) and is powered by a High Level Kits coreless motor, the Kirk coaches are waiting for either EM wheels or whitemetal EM bogies (still undecided). The E2 was part built but off Ebay. The second photo was another part built (to EM gauge) buy from Ebay, primed today.
     
  24. hayfield

    Junction Finished

    By hayfield,

    Tonight I finished the Junction, I fitted the tiebars and gave it a thorough testing, a couple of minor tweaks were needed, mostly to open up the check rail gaps a fraction.
     

     
    Testing is a bit Heath Robinson with wires crock clipped to the rails.
     

     
    Photo of it in 2 parts, thankfully it fits back together.
     
    Now to get out the sleeper stain on some Brooke Smith ply sleeper strips
  25. hayfield

    Rails now in place

    By hayfield,

    A couple of photos of the junction now all the rails are in place
     



     
    I must make more room on my work bench, using a building board 4' x 1' is a bit large for my bench.
     
    Next job is to cut the isolation slits with a cutting disc and fit the tiebars, at least I can do this with the turnouts off the building board and they come off in half as they have been built as two units.
     
    Now the moment of truth testing with a loco, loco wheels are thicker than my wagon wheels so there may be a bit of tweaking so all runs smooth.
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