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hayfield

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  1. hayfield

    Bodmin General(ish)10

    By hayfield,

    Now I am happy that the turnout off the main road and slip are what I require I have printed off  their plans and stick them on to a building board, next up will be cutting and fitting the timbers, hopefully Christmas will provide the time to build it
  2. hayfield

    Bodmin General(ish)3

    By hayfield,

    I have finally started the trackwork, at Scaleforum I bought a bag of part used Exactoscale turnout timbers, which equated to the best part of 3 complete frets, I have in my cupboard a box of PSM code 75 NS rail and a few bags of C&L 2 bolt chairs. I also bought a pack of C&L baseboard alignment dowels and time has come to start building the layout. In addition I have a 2 meter pack of Exactoscale EM fast track bases
     
    First up will be the platform trailing crossover. Temporarily I will fit it on a length of 9 mm ply to give me a test track for some locos I am both building and converting to EM gauge, I will also use it to test platform heights and distances
     
    I made a plan in Templot with 10' track centres as there will be a row of water stand pipes between the platform road and the run around track. Still a few chairs to be added. Tiebars initially will be copperclad timbers for testing, also bonding wires will need fitting
     
     
     
     

     
    A very untidy work bench and a close up of the crossing
     
    I have used 2 bolt chairs on the crossover though the Exactoscale fast track bases have 3 bolt chairs. I will see how noticeable they are on the test plank
     
    I will go and get the birch ply tops and ends cut to size in a week or so.
     
  3. 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
  4. hayfield

    Bodmin General(ish)4

    By hayfield,

    A Stephen Poole 54xx loco kit has now joined the queue of locos to be built for Bodmin,
     
    I  went to my clubs local show and there on the members sales stand was a Stephen Poole 54xx box, being priced at £15 I wondered why no one else had bought it
     

     
    I had a quick look and saw it had hardly been started and at £15 was worth buying without a another thought
     

     
    All the body parts are there, looks to have been superglued, so will be easy to disassemble, the main parts are well cast, some of the smaller ones are not so good and may need replacing
     

     
    It has a Stephen Poole brass bar chassis , missing the coupling rods and crank pin bosses, Has a Mashima 1224 motor with a flywheel, Branchlines motor mount and gears and Romford wheels. The pickups work, but as there is no coupling rods and the centre wheels are slightly raised, the centre wheels just spin
     
    I could do a simple conversion using Markit EM chassis spacers and axles, but still would need coupling rods, I could  buy Alan Gibson Mainframes and coupling rods. But I see High Level Kits do a 64xx chassis, I have a  Pug and 57xx High Level chassis made by someone else and they are stunning, Only negative is they look a bit daunting to build.  Plenty of time to think about this one, I would have bought a High Level gearbox anyway, plus needs coupling rods so the extra spend is not too much
     
    Also bagged a box of Peco 009 track (18" lengths)for a tenner for anther project
     
     
  5. hayfield

    Bodmin General(ish)5

    By hayfield,

    For once a major step forward, Thursday I visited the timber yard and got a sheet of 9 mm ply stripped down. Only one error in getting too many of the 3" strips cut in half, thankfully a had an offcut at home which I could cut 2 strips from. Thursday was a preparation day and made one board yesterday and the second today
     

     
    A full length view station area top left, entrance to the engine shed bottom left and goods yard bottom right. The Templot plan is a bit of a mess, its an old one which is a bit angular and was designed for 00SF gauge, I converted it to EM, but as I am going to alter it slightly I did not bother realigning the turnouts and plain track, as they will be altered
     

     
    Last night I roughly scaled up the North London Groups Bodmin plan which is on the internet, I am not going to build a scale model of Bodmin station, but kitbash a couple of Wills Station buildings, just wanted an idea of the station area building sizes and platform length and width, my trailing crossover is roughly in place. As said before I will be using a bit of modellers licence, it will have a second platform, a goods shed will remain, possibly a third siding at the station end. A single road engine shed. As for the loco works I will do something not quite certain yet
     
    Two more boards to be built, the next 4' board will have the engine shed and works, A 4 th board will be L shaped 2' x 3' will have both curved exit routes (the bridges will form a natural break) and a short 5th board will hold a fiddle yard Cassettes?
     
    Still a good step forward and will allow me to more focused
  6. 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.
  7. hayfield

    Bodmin General(ish)7

    By hayfield,

    As I was working yesterday I had a late start today, first I looked at as many photos of Bodmin General station as I could just to get the general arrangement of the building with doors and window placement just to see how I can kitbash a couple of Ratio stations into a similar size and style, certainly not an exact replica
     

     
    I have started to lay the trackbed with 3mm closed cell foam from C&L next up is to build the platform. I will be using Peco platform edging. Rather than use the brick paper in the packs, I will use brick embossed plasticard. For the platform surface I am thinking of using Wills sheets
    Next up will be to work out the platform height 
     

    Also I will need to work out the final position of the crossover, temporarily I am using 00 track and stock either side of the crossover to check lengths 
  8. hayfield

    Bodmin General(ish)8

    By hayfield,

    This afternoon I have continued to experiment with Peco platform faces, faced with slaters brick embossed plasticard and the platform surfaces being Wills sheets. progress looks to be promising
     

     
    The Wills sheets need the joins hiding, I have had a go with a couple using Milliput, seems to be OK. I was going to have the second platform a bit shorter, but decided to have both the same length. at a rough calculation I need another 3 packs of paving
     

     
    As I said I will kitbash a couple of Ratio station buildings, a quick look at the parts I have from 2 kits top will be the front of the station building facing the forecourt, next the same building facing the buffer stops, second from bottom will be the rear of the platform building. botton the front of the platform building. all of these will need a lot of butchery. With the 2 kits I have 2 station canopies, I have worked out I will need at least 3, last night I bought another station building kit for the price of a canopy kit
     
    Initially I was not going to model the rear of the platform building, but as you see I am not far off having enough parts to build all 4 facings. Last night I bought another station building kit for the price of a canopy kit, this not only gives me another canopy but additional sections to play with, not only to fill the missing facing but it may also give me some more options on the other wall. Still looks like it will need a lot of surgery and filler.
  9. hayfield

    Bodmin General(ish)9

    By hayfield,

    Progress has slowed up owing to another project taking priority. I now have laid the closed cell foam track bed for the two main roads and engine shed entranceI have moved the turnout which gives access to the goods yard on to the next board, but I think it still needs to co further back a couple of centimeters. I also think the goods yard needs moving a couple of centimeters further away  from the station platform as the track is too close to the platform and the rear wall of the goods shed needs to fit in
     
    With this in mind I must start thinking about a goods shed, must look in earnest on eBay for the odd kit at a reasonable price, and of course start the build of the turnout and slip for the engine shed
  10. 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
  11. hayfield

    Engine shed

    By hayfield,

    Over the past few weeks work and other things have got in the way of progress. The first turnout is built and tested, this was the easy one as it is a straight B6, nice and simple.
     
    Over the past couple of nights I have worked our where each wall meets the sides and fixed them together. Now on to the roofs.
     

     
    I have started at the rear first with the 2 single spans. The rear gentler slope is easy but it is the steeper one with the north lights I need to work out. I decided to make them in 3 sections, top and bottom in full length and the middle the width required. these are all glued in and waiting for the solvent to harden, so I can file the tops flat to fit the capping.
     
    I thought about makeing the roof a seperate lift off section, but decided to make the whole building lift off. Walls still need the bottom vallance fitting, window sills, windows etc. I an just trying out the different parts wall capping, bargeboards etc to see how they look and they are just lightly tacked in place.
     
    I have 2 tileing sheets which were stuck together to make a double span drying/hardening to start the next section, I will make a couple of the Wills smoke jacks to see how they look and have a go at the north light windows themselves.
     
    Now I know the exact size of the shed I can finalise the curves to the approach tracksEven though I extended the shed by 1 Bay, it seens to have shrunk about 3/4" from my initial estimates. I am still toying about whether to fit inspection pits inside or out.
     
    Hopefully I will be able to do some more tomorrow afternoon.
  12. 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.
  13. 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.
  14. hayfield

    GNR Atlantic

    By hayfield,

    Well I have given the gears 1 more go, I took the 2 wheels off and took the axle out, degreased all the parts including the chassis and motor bearings. Re-drilled the holes, then reassembled the parts. I dropped epoxy down the holes and rotated them hopefully dragging the epoxy down arround the axle. I will now give it a day to cure.
     
    Had a few bits arrive in the post yesterday. I brought an old Eames Prairie loco some time ago. Someone decided to rebuild the chassis, well they got as far as fitting a new set of Romfords but lost all the other parts. I notiiced on Ebay an Airfix plastic kit with a motorising chassis on it (minus motor and gears) took a bit of a leap of faith. Well the chassis seems well built and the wheels and motion run freely, the front fixing is in the correct place just need a new rear fixing plate.
     
    At the same time brought a Comet coach part built, poor photo and description. Well it turns out to be a BR mk1 compo. Needs buffers roof and underframe details, its been very well put together.
     

     
    Also I brought a Southeastern Finecast M7 with wheels and motor along with a Wills etched M7 chassis (need this to replace an old Wills cast chassis). So been looking at my new bits.
  15. hayfield

    GNR Atlantic

    By hayfield,

    This picture shows the lumps of Milliput which I have used to build up the gap on the corner of the coal rails on one side and level up the poor fit on the other side. Also some other bits filling the joins above the buffer beam.
     

     
    I used a mini drill to level the tender sides on the inside, then I filed the filler flat with the body. I used a razor saw to start the gaps between the coal rails followed by a needle to open up the gap. All looks fine now.
     

     
    Poor picture but shows the cylinders taking shape, should have been 5 parts but ended up as 8 parts. I will fit the slide rods before attaching the cylinder sides. Then try and fathom how the fit the cylinder assembly to the chassis
  16. hayfield

    GNR Atlantic

    By hayfield,

    Last night was one step forward and one step back.
     
    The good news is that electrically the chassis works on its own and when attached to the loco, no shorts on the bodywork.
     
    The bad news is the axle, or rather the gears. The plastic gear which is a pushfit on to the axle slips. I have tried drilling a hole to the axle and filling it with Superglue and epoxy. Neither held.
  17. hayfield

    GNR Atlantic

    By hayfield,

    Very slow progress last week, if any at all. As I have been building turnouts for someone else.
     
    I cleaned the chassis, then primed it and sprayed it, but the paint is wearing off at the edges. Should have given it a better clean using Fairy Liquid rather than a wash in white spirit. Still once the chassis is finished I will touch up the parts with a brush.
     

     
    The gear wheel on the axle has lost most of its grip (its a push fit), because of the space between the frames gluing it to the axle first is not an option. I drilled a couple of holes in the side of the gear and dropped superglue into them. It was a bit better then I drilled out one and put some epoxy in it. Its not locked on but a bit tighter. I may have to find another gear set.
     
    Glued a PCB board on to the chassis to fit the pickups on to tomorrow night, when I may be able to fit the pickups. Lets hope the heat soldering them on will not effect the glue.
  18. hayfield

    GNR Atlantic

    By hayfield,

    A realy slow week modelling, time has been short during the week and the past 2 weekends, also I have spent a bit of time fitting a motor into a Deelet 999 / class 3 which I won on Ebay. The chassis now works, the body needs rebuilding but that will be another story.
     
    I have stripped the Atlantics body and primed it. hopefully will be able to spray it black tomorrow.
  19. hayfield

    GNR Atlantic

    By hayfield,

    The weekend has been busy, however the bottom of the side has been built up and re-fitted. Its a bit straighter now.
     
    The additional filling on the front of the footplate has come off, so I will try again tonight. At some point I will have to address the cylinders, but that will be the last job. There are a couple of bits missing so I will try and check the parts.
     
    I now have a copy of the k's body parts sheet, unfortunatly no details of the bogie or cylinders.
  20. hayfield

    GNR Atlantic

    By hayfield,

    All I seem to do is add a bit more filler and sand it.
     

     
    This evening I sanded those parts I filled last night.Pity I had not read the other threads first, however this kit had been hacked about a bit and I might have ruined the footplate had I tried to solder it up on its own. Its not a 100% square, the photos make it worse though
     

     
    Every time I look at the loco I find missing parts, for some reason a lump of the footplate has been sawn off, back with the Milliput.
     
    Also you can see the state of the cylinders is a bit of a problem, as they have been hacked about, I will have to think what to do with them.
     
    I will now read the info I recieved this morning.
     
    I also recieved a Lima Prairie today in the post. It was advertised as a K's kit, the photo was not that good so I took a gamble. I emailed the seller with the problem and he has already sent my money back and will pay for the return postage, can't ask for a better service than that. Pity it stated that it had Romfords as my 44xx has old K's mk2 wheels
  21. hayfield

    GNR Atlantic

    By hayfield,

    Not much done tonight, other than 3 out of the 4 splashers fitted, filler in the roof joins and firebox side. Also I decided to add a bit more filler to the rebuilt splasher to get a smother finish, before that I used a round grinding stone on the mini drill to shape the rear of it.
     

  22. hayfield

    J52

    By hayfield,

    Been at the in laws this weekend and got the farther in law to letter half a dozen locos, unfortunatly I told him to put the wrong size LNER transfers on the loco.
     

     
    The body needs a bit of a clean up, (black paint would not set), if it cleans up OK then I will leave alone or I might try and life the transfers and put smaller ones on. If not it might be a repaint job. All the other locos were fine I just made a mistake on this one.
  23. hayfield

    J52

    By hayfield,

    As I said The loco has been sprayed black and have started to paint the cab, buffer beams etc. Going away to see the inlaws for a few days and hope to get the farther in law to help me letter this loco and a few others. Mad rush last night to finish off painting a couple of other locos and get my bits together.
  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

    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
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