figworthy

Apologies if this has already been asked, can the cutter be set up to scribe rather than cut ? I'm thinking in terms of "wooden" buildings, and as well as using it cut out the various panels, also use it to scribe in the planks. Adrian

I'm not on a position to confirm or deny the above, but I'm fairly sure that 30 years ago we had a PRS licence at work (we had the joy of canned music in our reception area). If it wasn't the PRS, it would have been something similar. Adrian

Fantastic. I can see some useful hints there for when I get around to trying to build mine. Is it a trick of the light, or are you using brass section under the platform and along the top of the walls on the inside ? Adrian

Another month, and not much progress. I had a very pleasant week away, and amongst other things, I stumbled across this rather lonely looking signal box. Meanwhile back at the manor, I've started on making the new bridge for the approach to Nether Blagdon Station This has been done using the Ratio parts. The bottom section is load bearing, and only the front will be seen, so, I've put one strip onto 20 thou styrene, and on the back, it is braced with strip to stiffen it both lengthwise and vertically. 40 thou card is used between the two sides to hold it together. It twists slightly (not a problem once installed), but shows minimal flexing. I've also knocked up a prototype signal box, which is based on the Gloucester Carriage & Wagon works such as the one at Compton, but the proportions don't look right (it seems deeper than it is wide). Adrian

John, Thanks for the reply. Hintock is one of those that I look it in awe and wonder if I can manage something half as good. Figworthy is really a first effort, I did do a couple of scratch built buildings the thick end of 40 years ago, but they would be rather poor by the standards of today. Adrian

I've spent part of the weekend playing around making up prototype buildings. An office for the quay side, and a goods shed for Nether Blagdon. I think is probably about the right size for the office building, all it should need is a desk, somewhere to put the paper work, and a fire (which would be able to boil a kettle). The goods shed is a bit more involved Not that clear from the picture, but the road access is at the far end, rather than along the side. A trail run also suggests that the rail entry/exit is a bit tight. How wide should it be ? I think the end nearest the camera will end up with a lean to office attached to it. Adrian

Nice set of photos. Not a criticism, but I think a bit more clutter in pictures 2 and 3 would give just that bit more realism. Adrian

Hi Steve, See below. The right hand side is Figworthy station, the left hand side is Nether Blagdon, and the plan only shows the standard gauge part of the layout. The outer loop is all off scene, so the part across the top would not be seen at all. The space in front of it I'm hoping to develop into Figworthy quarry (the other end of the narrow gauge route). The point on the outer loop (bottom right) leads off to the fiddle yard. This arrangement allows me to run trains into either station from the fiddle yard (with a reversal for Nether Blagdon), or to run shuttles between the two stations, either directly, or after several trips around the outer loop. The section across the bottom will be hinged, so I don't have to crawl under to get into the inner area. Ah, having previewed it, I see that I'm missing a section of track across the bottom (including the turnout to the fiddle yard). How do I get Templot to include that ? Adrian

It's been a while. A combination of it being too hot to work in the loft, and a grumbling back. So, some progress since the last post. The rest of the quay side has been "Das'd" and scribed, and the initial paint job done. The one of the curves on the outer loop has been lifted and relaid. I reckoned that I'd got it in at 2nd radius, but it was noticeable that whilst 4 wheel wagons went around OK, six couple locos weren't entirely happy, so out came Templot, the largest possible radius was worked out, and printed off. The old track was lifted, and then relaid on the new templates. Whilst I'm not going to do much scenic work just yet, for guidance purposes, I've fitted the divider between the outer loop and Nether Blagdon station. The outer loop is meant to be "off scene", hence the divider. I've made a start on the platform for Nether Blagdon station. So far all I've got is a box frame made from 2mm ply, but it is a start and gives a feel for what is going where. Last weekend by way of a change, I started to build a NSE GWR Stop signal. I don't think this one will find its way onto the layout as my workmanship is fairly ropey, but it is my first attempt at soldering brass work together, and I wasn't particularly expecting a good result from a first attempt. Some pictures below. The quay side, I think the rest of the ground will end up under foliage or "bare". I suspect that a small office will appear at the foreground end of the paved area. The start of the station platform. Adrian

I love that brick work around the lock. Adrian

I've had far more butterflies here this year than I've had in the last 13 summers, I think it must be a good year for them. Adrian

Garsdale to Hawes was Midland, Hawes eastwards was NER, Hawes station was a joint station. I think NER had running rights to Garsdale, I don't think Midland had rights beyond Hawes. Adrian

In principle a good idea. From various comments made, I suspect (to preserve domestic harmony) that there are some on here who may wish not to mention how much the various bits cost. Adrian

Wow. Some lovely pictures, I particularly liked the first big one. Adrian

For more detail on Puffers, BBC 2 are showing "The Maggie" at lunch time tomorrow (Monday) Adrian

Sounds like it might be time for a clue. NER branch, closed early/mid 60s Adrian

Ah, excellent, my reading of the FAQ was that it couldn't be used. Try this one : The map is 1947, the colliery shown at the top (as far as I remember) closed in 1926. Adrian

I like the idea, and the answer is Barnsley. I would put up another challenge, but I'm not sure where I can get hold of copyright free bits of Seventh Series. Adrian

A bit more progress. The quay side has been laid, scribed and I've started to paint it. The white panel at the on the side of the quay will get covered in more DAS, and that will become a cliff face (I've almost run out of DAS, so that will have to wait). Following on from my enquires about goods sheds http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/72494-goods-shed-design/ I've extended on of the sidings at Nether Blagdon, and with the aid of some Lego, put in a rough prototype for the building.

You appear to need to have a Yahoo account Adrian

Nice pictures. Looks like a much better day than Friday, I didn't envy those on the brake vans in the wind and rain. Adrian

Right idea, but several counties out. Adrian

We seem to be struggling with this one. Try two squares. Adrian

Another month, another update. The 6 turnouts on Blagdon Quay have been fitted with motors, and a JMRI panel built and the whole lot set up and working. I've done a bit of work on the basin, and I've started on the paved area along side the quay. In due course the walls around the basin will be finished with stone work, then the paved area on the quayside will be extended to the quay side. scenic works needs to be done towards the back of the quay area, then a new bridge can be built and installed allowing the upper area (Nether Blagdon) to have the scenic work done. Adrian

Thanks, I'll have a rummage at the local shop. Adrian