Ian Smith

Richard, I have found that locos often seem to run better in one direction. One thing that happens is a slight sideways movement of the gear wheel caused by friction with the worm, gear moving left in one direction and right in the other. Because of the need to shorten the muff, I rarely get a square end on the muff and have witnessed the “high spot” of the muff rubbing on the bearing in the frame. Might be worth looking to see if you are experiencing this in your chassis.

Ian

Dave,

That's a very worthwhile addition to the layout, it fulfils all of the original criteria and I'm sure that if we ever manage to take our train sets out to entertain the public again that it will only add to their enjoyment of what an Edwardian railway would have looked like.  I look forward to seeing the next instalment.

Ian

Anthony, that’s coming along really nicely. It’s nice to hear that I’m not the only one that sometimes has to make it up as I go along (or rather revise my plans) 

Ian

She’s coming along very nicely Anthony. Really enjoying this build.

Ian

Mikkel,

Your Dean Goods looks lovely, I hope that mine turns out as good!
 

Soldering the coal rails really isn’t too difficult - I think I mentioned in my thread that it does help to use different melting point solders but then I was soldering the completed rails to a metal tender.

No 2487 is obviously very popular, Dave Stone’s (Wenlock) carries the same , and mine was also going to be 2487 (I even drew up the plates and included them on an etch I had done) although when I built the chassis I decided to model one with fluted coupling rods instead, so will need to source some different plates when she’s finished.

Ian

For info, “research” was not something I really did when drawing up my artwork. I simply found photos of wagons that had the two different designs and used the numbers and dates that I could see - for me the dates were irrelevant as when printed for 2FS those dates we’re virtually illegible (at the time I wasn’t even sure if the dates were production dates or return to base dates).

Ian

I used a Canon inkjet. Initially printing on ordinary A4 paper, then taping Rizzla over printed tarpaulins, then feeding same piece of paper through printer again to print on the Rizzla.  It will be necessary to print in something like “draft” mode as otherwise too much ink is dispensed onto the Rizzla.

Ian

Richard should have mentioned that he and I both model in 2FS, so Rizzla cigarette papers are ideal for 2mm scale tarpaulins. For 4mm scale you would need a much larger thin paper.

Ian

Dave,

Whilst I can see the logic for adding the intermediate board (from an operational point of view more than a visual one), I for one never consider what goes (or be seen) on in a fiddle yard as a distraction of the layout as a whole.  From a viewing perspective, the time taken during the action of realigning the fiddle yard roads is probably realistic as stock would have to clear the point, a signal made to the signalman to indicate that it was safe to throw the points (which would have a FPL on them too so not a single lever action) before the shunting move could continue.

Originally, the fiddle yards boards on Modbury were painted white (I thought it would help being able to see things in a sometimes dark exhibition hall).  What I soon realised was that being white (or light coloured) drew attention to them when viewed through the mouse-holes on the scenic section (especially on photographs).  I therefore repainted them in a dark grey and they instantly became less obvious.  Clearly my mouse-holes for 2mm scale are considerably smaller than your 7mm scale ones, so that "solution" may not suit Sherton Abbas.

If you do decide to go ahead with the additional board, could it be better to use a Y point configuration?  That should require less length and provide the two angled diverging roads to meet the existing scenic trackwork?

Ian

Anthony,

I'm looking forward to seeing the progress on this.

Are you going to fit phosphor bronze bushes in the axle holes?  I must admit I didn't on my Metro Tank, but I did on the Buffalo Tank and the Dean Goods that I've just started.  Although my locos aren't going to be doing Copenhagen Fields distances so I don't think the wear on my Metro Tank is anything I need to worry about!

Regards,

Ian

For what it's worth, my own view of the photos shown above is that all of the wagons would be red.

My understanding is that the grey livery came in with the large 25" lettering in 1904 (or perhaps with the cast plates in the mid-late 1890's). The wagons all show the smaller G.W.R lettering which apart from brake vans (which are reported to have been grey for a period prior to the switch over) I've assumed would be red.

Ian

PS luckily I've adopted an all over colour for both my red and grey wagons.

I'm glad that you found Modbury (top photo) inspirational 

Ian

Hi Mikkel,

I feel your pain, I think we've all suffered with orange peel effect at some point (and like everyone else I have no idea what causes it).  I'm pleased that the model hasn't suffered any real long term damage, but it does look like the chimney has become slightly detached in the last photo - there is a visible gap between flare and smokebox that doesn't appear in the "before" photo (but it is the other side of the model).

I look forward to seeing the finished model - Dean Goods are among my favourite locos, especially round top firebox ones :-)

Ian

I have various scanned images of the drawings for 645, 655 & 1501 classes that David Burton sent to me.  He saw my 1854 and embryonic buffalo at a show a couple of years ago and I think pity got the better of him so provided me with the fruits of his research labours :-)

Ian

Rich, I found when I converted a pannier to an 1854 class saddle tank that the donor was considerably too beefy. Although as a first attempt at getting something running in 2fs I decided to accept the oversize compromises - the cab on mine is too tall and wide necessated by the width of the tank and hence its reshaped height. When compared against my scratchbuilt to scale buffalo the 1854 does look like it's been working out :-)

Ian

Brilliant Mikkel, quite brilliant.  Your story telling ability knows no bounds 

Ian

Dave,

To finally see Sherton Abbas in the flesh was a real pleasure.  Also to be able to put a face to a name was good too!   The award for "Best Layout" is truly deserved (especially as the competition was exceedingly high).  As others have remarked, the layout looks better in real life than it does on the computer monitor.  Congratulations.

Ian

Looks good to me Pete, would stippling the concrete paint on work?  I'm thinking that it might impart at bit of texture to the surface.

Ian 

What a lovely paint job, you've captured the look of stone very well.

Very ingenious!  One thing that I can see is that the geared handle might get in the way as you try to remove the lift out section (the handle on the lifting section being close to the end).  It might be necessary to move the handle of the lifting section a couple of inches inboard to mitigate against that.

Ian

Very effective Dave.

I can fully sympathise with the trade offerings not being quite right - you think you have problems in 7mm, you should see some of the abortions that are N gauge / 2mm scale!

Ian

PS. I see that you are at Aylesbury Railex in May, hopefully I will get down to see Sherton Abbas.  Although I had an invite myself from David to bring Modbury a couple of days ago but unfortunately I've had to decline.

A lovely, characterful little building.  I did notice that on the photo of the prototype that there is evidence of the roof rafters projecting along the length of the roof along the building side - just thought I'd mention it in case you'd missed it and wanted to include them.

I look forward to seeing the build progress.

Ian

Looks suitably murky and water-like, and in the first photo especially looks like slow moving water to me.  Very nice.

Ian

What a delightful set of beautifully painted little people.  

I also insert a stub of wire into the lower extremities of my little people, but being 2mm scale I use a short stub of 0.3mm wire (obviously in a same sized hole), an example of them below :

Mine are all Andrew Stadden models (they are by far the best I've found in 2mm scale), but I understand that ModelU are now producing "pre-grouping" station staff which may be suitable for Edwardian period layouts.

Ian

Another delightful model and scene.  Quite inspirational.

I think the addition of the nose-bag is a success but probably needs the addition of a strap around the back of the horses head for that finishing touch.  I'm sorry but I can't for the life of me understand the reason behind the name used, unless "Smith, Jones & Ratkin" are a local firm of solicitors :-)

Ian