hayfield

Hi Samantha,

 

I'm in the process of building the LMS Prize Cattle Van, WK219.  It's a Jidenco production and was bought part built, so it may be that some aspects of the kit have been changed since.  However it's in line with most of my experience of the range and so while it's fresh in my mind I thought I'd make some observations which might help you.

 

Instructions.  The Jidenco ones are terrible.  There are a number of parts on the etch which the instructions simply ignore.  The order of assembly is haphazard (droplights are easier to fit to a flat etch, not after it's been folded into a box).  When I built the GC 6 wheel brake van, the instructions suggested adding handrails, then about four steps later told you to fit the corner overlays - which the handrails pass through.   On this vehicle there is a half etched groove for door beading, but that is not mentioned at all.  Ideally someone needs to build each one and review the instructions as they go.

 

There are no references to published photographs and drawings.  Adding these in would be very helpful.

 

The Jidenco foldup W irons which seem to be fairly common in their kits give a ride height which is way out.  When I bought the GC brake van kit, just after you acquired the range, Nigel put some MJT W irons in the pack and they were spot on.  As an aside, I used the Jidenco part for the V hangers and brake blocks, but the V hangers ended up way off being opposite each other.   Supplying the MJT part would be a big help.

 

The turned brass buffers in the kit are nice, but nothing like the reality.  I used Dave Franks 1'8" RCH type.  There isn't an equivalent one in the MJT range, but you'd probably get them cheaper from Dave than having the brass ones turned up.

 

It did occur to me that you might ask the different line Societies whether they'd be prepared to help with any of this - they have often published the drawings and photographs themselves, they may have a modelling steward who can find you a volunteer for things like test builds and revising instructions and they would also publicise the kits to the group who would be most likely to buy them.

 

I can't remember whether this was mentioned on the other thread, but I'm sure that if you requested photos for the website people on here would be willing to let you use theirs.  I have a couple you'd be welcome to.

Totally agree about the W irons, built two or three Jedinco vans definitely a part of the kits which need revising

Just picked up a Wills Finecast GWR King etched chassis for £16.50 plus postage, no idea if it includes either brake gear or a tender chassis. Not too bothered as I have a couple of Wills kits with whitemetal chassis, can always buy a tender etch from SEF for about a fiver, The currant price for the SEF King chassis is £37.50, so reasonably pleased and as I will not be going to a show where SEF are attending till the spring, I would be paying postage anyway

Also try a Pictorial history of Southern Locos by Russell. My copy is in storage so I cannot check if it includes drawings, someone else may be able to check

Whilst I applaud you for building a budget layout, but if its fun to operate are you going to allow yourself some extra funds to develop it ?

Thinking about laying some track soon and I was wondering if 12/13/14 inch diameter curves would be alright. I don't intend to run any locos with more than 6 coupled wheels. Would that radius be alright if not which radius would I need to change to?

Luke

After a visit to the Ffestiniog I contacted them about the size details of the turnouts on the new section, they replied and included a drawing, admittedly neither of us will be running large Garretts, but even at half the size it would look wrong on a small 009 layout. You are correct at thinking about both the practicalities and visual appearance.  As far as I am concerned the questions are does it work and does it look right

A couple of evenings work and you could have it looking like this

 

Pannier 7777mail.jpg

 

Nowt wrong with the K's Pannier - built as per the kit using K's wheels and motor. (A night of  beer was bet on being able to build this as per the original kit......so it works perfectly. The K's disbeliever lost big time). Sold on all my Bachmanns as my K's fleet run better, haul more and do not have a top feed!

 

Mike Wiltshire

All these Keyser detractors, the kits are what they were designed for, which was a complete kit with a budget price, allowing entry into kit built locos back in the 60's.

The early kits were a lot easier to get running with the pre-quartered wheels and 5 pole motors which worked well. The main issue with these were the chassis which had Keyhole stamped axle slots to accommodate the pre-quartered wheels. There are many examples still running long after their RTR counterparts of the late 70's

As a young teenager I longed after Wills kits, but once you bought all the parts they were twice the price of K's kits

The decline of the kits came when plastic injected parts were included, initially the new wheels "D" type, then that awful HMP2 motor, followed by the plastic hand rail knobs and 8 ba nuts and bolts. These kits are greatly improved with the addition of new wheels, better motor and gear sets and in some cases new chassis. This now takes the kits away from the budget price

Nucast did improve the kits with better chassis, but took the kits away from the budget entry level.

What now ? They are in the safe hands of Southeastern Finecast with many eagerly awaiting the re-introduction of the range.

On the other hand many will crop up both built and un-built, sort out the wheat from the chaff and some bargains will be had like the Adams Radial I have just bought, which will be transformed with a £14 or £16 Highlevel Models gearbox. Or a pannier tank with a set of Romfords just looking for a refurbishment.

On eBay there is this P2 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VINTAGE-ORIGINAL-KEYSER-KIT-GRESELY-THANE-OF-FIFE-LNER-P2-OO-GAUGE-RAILWAY-TRAIN-/382204297517?hash=item58fd26c12d:g:MvUAAOSwl7JZnIkI  Starting off at a modest price, certainly it deserves new wheels, motor and gearbox, I doubt if the new owner will get his hammer out, but will have quite a few pleasurable hours building it

Something I have wanted for a few years is a k's/Nucast LSWR/SR Adams Radial tank, trouble is so does so many other modellers and I did not want to spend lots on it. This week on Tuesday just before 6 pm a Nucast model was up for sale and the bidding had reached £31, I put in a cheeky bid of £40 not thinking I had a chance of winning. As it happens got it for just under £35 with an extra £4 for postage. Looks reasonably built, downside is its in BR livery, also states a non runner which normally means everything needs a quick clean

 

If it is the Nucast version there will be no K's wheels or motor plus a better quality chassis. There is no photo of the chassis but I think the wheels are Romfords. Am looking forward to seeing what arrives

The loco arrived today and very pleased, on the down side whilst the loco was in its box there was not enough bubble wrap to stop the model moving in the box, both buffer beams have been bent, easy fix, the nut in the smoke box which front fixing bolt screws into is loose/ not there. Otherwise a nicely built and painted kit.

Plus side

Nucast chassis, Romford wheels and a Mashima 1224 motor

It was stated as a non runner, its all down to a motor mount with a set of Romford gears which has not meshed, nothing that cannot be sorted using a Highlevel Road Runner gear box will not fix.  I guess I could fettle the motor mount into working, but I doubt if it would ever be anywhere near as good as a Highlevel one. Will alter to EM gauge at the same time. My plan is to build my version of Bodmin General in preservation, recently all I have bought has been SR locos may have to rethink perhaps Bodmin Town as it might have been, trouble with both is it would have to be a mirror image of either as I need the end of the line on the left and would prefer the station building at the rear

Looking at what I have, which basically is a well built kit that is available would cost about £90, wheels about £25 motor £20 all for just under £40 plus a new gearbox at £14/£16. Ready built except for a couple of hours changing the motor mount over.

Some of you will have been aware from my Leesburg On30 thread below of my interest in Welsh narrow gauge, and principally the Glyn Valley Tramway in 0-16.5.

 

I have amassed some Peco kit-built and bashed rolling stock, and a yet un-built 12' turntable from Kitwood Hill Models.  Now that I am not constrained by the limitations of fitting the layout into a (8'x2') half oval I can start planning a more representative layout, probably based on Chirk.

 

I have been trawling the internet and can only find an 009 GVT layout.  I'm sure 0-16.5 ones exist and I would be pleased to see pictures of any to perhaps channel my ideas.

There is a thread on here mainly about the buildings   http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/97776-glyn-valley-tramway-infrastructure/  Just search Glyn Valley on here and there are quite a few results

I think Branchlines did a motorising kit for this in the 90's ?

Harrow model shop did one in the 70's in whitemetal, works very well

I then built another one using a DS10 motor in a motor mount fitted to the axles, axles ran in pinpoint bearings in the axleboxes, I cut a hole in the floor and made a housing out of plasticard, also worked well but a bit light

Bid on two new generation Hornby B12s, put an £85 bid on each not expecting to get either and ended up with both, one at £83 and one at an unbelievable £62.

Must be the summer holidays, perhaps with a touch of midweek blues/nearing payday etc

Something I have wanted for a few years is a k's/Nucast LSWR/SR Adams Radial tank, trouble is so does so many other modellers and I did not want to spend lots on it. This week on Tuesday just before 6 pm a Nucast model was up for sale and the bidding had reached £31, I put in a cheeky bid of £40 not thinking I had a chance of winning. As it happens got it for just under £35 with an extra £4 for postage. Looks reasonably built, downside is its in BR livery, also states a non runner which normally means everything needs a quick clean

If it is the Nucast version there will be no K's wheels or motor plus a better quality chassis. There is no photo of the chassis but I think the wheels are Romfords. Am looking forward to seeing what arrives

Luke

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/112167-four-arches-halt/page-1

Go to post 10, look at the last photo, then look at the other 4 or 5 photos. Many ways of building the boards to achieve the desired results, plus a piano hinge could be used rather than 2 or more but hinges, a great idea for modern sized houses, nothing to stop you from doing the same in larger gauges 

Two identically shaped baseboards, inside the track circle add risers, for instance 3" (above the base boards) then join with 2 hinges on top. When folded over will give a 6" gap between the boards, the scenic section in one half must be kept below this height

I guess on on the non scenic board the more ingenious could make a fold back extension to the scenery

Hi Andrew, yes they are the ones from off the rails which are made to suit S7. I'm not working to F7 but using MF 31.5mm standards. This means all the parts need a fair bit of tinkering to make them work. I'm generally finding I have to saw cut the chairs under where the rail sits and also between rails to get them to fit. It makes a lot of extra work but I like how they look. Another case of me making life difficult for myself again!

Chris

I have been using the Exactoscale special chairs for some time in 4 mm scale, with the exception of where the chairs actually make the gauge (check rails, wing rail etc) the chairs seem to work fine whether its P4, EM or one of the 00 variants, quite often a quick fudge like cutting through one part of the chair on the check rail chair solves the problem, or using a different centre part of the block chairs to fit the gap better

As for chairs on Shapeways I have been tempted to buy some is the price, accept its far cheaper in a bulk pack but had there been a pack for turnouts to be used along with the existing range of C&L/Exactoscale parts they could be far more cost effective, unless that is I am missing something.

I have often thought the range of C&L "special" chairs would look far more impressive in 7 mm scale, what you are doing will make me look at the range again

Wow! I remember seeing that layout at the goathland show. If you make an rmweb thread about your build I would love to follow it. That is also what id like to build but I am unsure wether to build a fiddle yard for the potential of taking the layout to an exhibition (a life time goal I've not yet achieved). I will probably increase the baseboard size as you say and also change scenic breaks as I would like to experiment with building a railway cutting and bridge.

Luke

Lots of different things that you can do with this type of layout. I like the idea of being able to fold it up and walk away. My plan is to just have a simple small layout to operate which is quick to build. As for scenery a town setting is fine for narrow gauge winding itself along roads or between buildings, by equally could be a country side layout

I think I said I wanted to copy the layout idea on 3 arches its actually 4 arches halt. well its the baseboard design of 4 arches halt

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/112167-four-arches-halt/

A super idea for a compact layout, I may slightly increase the board size and scenic breaks

I think we are now spoiled for choice, I can remember reading 1960's Railway Modeller/Constructor/News mags which were full of articles of making items from scrap materials, Bic biros were often used, beads, cardboard, old tins etc. Modellers used their imagination to recreate models.

I can remember coaches had one livery on one side and another on the other. 

Ahhhhh. Ok I see now. Looks good. That brass kit looks great!

These kits are super value, as I said I was looking for locos I could convert into overhead electric. I will pit some lights and cables on the front, after painting and glazing I will fit partitions.

Details can be what you want, made from scrap tube and wire, metal or plastic, or you can leave them plain

The pantographs are very cheap off eBay  

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kato-n-scale-11-404-DC-Pantograph-PS16A-2pcs-n-Gauge/191948641212?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

hardly breaking the bank

Here is another style of loco from the same company

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/009-Kit-78-Freelance-Diesel-Locomotive-for-the-kato-11-1903-Chassis-/142477871866?hash=item212c57cafa:g:6aAAAOSwXcRZbLjL

These are the pantographs

Single masts

Gantry for double track

Very nice. : ) I've always liked the idea of modelling electric narrow gauge but I don't think it would look right on my planned layout. Building the catenary system must be tricky!

I bought some N gauge Sommerfeld masts (at a competitive price) which to my eyes look about right except for their height, I plan to build concrete blocks from plastic square section tube to raise them. 00 scale is far to tall and big, TT scale is probably right but the cost of buying new for a bit of fun is prohibitive

This is the loco I referred to earlier, minus roof

Mock up of system

Tram with roof

Another view of proposed idea

I have bought quite a lot of H0 Continental buildings, also bought a Bemo H0m loco so the buildings will go on a larger model with dual gauge, a small layout based on the 3 bridges idea will be a starter with minimal scenery. I have used a Kato N gauge pantograph on the tram loco, waiting for a bit of bling to be added once I can get to the spares box, then a paint

Just done a quick search on eBay for TT items, most quite reasonable

Triang

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2487218.m570.l1313.TR12.TRC2.A0.H0.Xtriang.TRS0&_nkw=triang&_sacat=30654

I would also go to the local model railway shows and look at s/h traders, I have bought a few locos buit from whitemetal kits on RTR chassis quite cheap on eBay. Just a question of keeping your eyes open and on the look out

Looks good. A nice easy transition into etched brass loco kits.

Yes a very simple set of etches that slide on to the Kato chassis, once I get my railway room and unpack my stuff I will go through my bits boxes to add some cosmetic detail. My own plan is for a small overhead electric line so looking for locos that will look the part with pantographs on the roofs

The one issue with PVA is if the plastic moves/expands it could come away from the PVA

With double sided tape use a good quality tape, as cheap ones tend over time to dry out allowing the join to fail

They were listed in the Ks catalgoue, though these days they are in the GEM range.

 

Ks cat.jpg

Which of the GEM kits are the K's narrow gauge please,for instance is it the 3 Ffestiniog coaches, the van looks like the L&B, the wahon I have looks like the Hudson, is the bowed end wagon the L&B wagon ? If so where did the other wagons come from ?

I have bought and built one of these using a Kato chassis, very pleased as I have fitted a pantograph to it

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/009-BOX-CAB-KIT-Etched-brass-bodyshell-Easy-to-make-starter-kit-/142474620658?hash=item212c262ef2:g:6x4AAOSw2GlXEry-

Also does other style of bodies

Copydex or other Latex glue, coat both surfaces allow both to dry and use as an impact adhesive

Or

coat one side, join both together and weigh down until the glue has set