DonB

Ian.

OK, and thanks.

Perhaps I was being optimistic in trying to use it for a 4mm scale model, even if it does stand about 175mm high (say 6.5" in old money) and for a fairly complex shape, as a first venture into a new (to me) material. Some you win .......!

Thanks for the interest, and information.

Killybegs, thanks for the encouragement.
 
Ian, 
I think it may have been one of your posts where I saw reference to foamboard, It's nice to have someone to blame! (whoops, no smileys!)
Seriously, what thickness do you use, indeed is there a range of thicknesses available?
Appreciate that you are 'tother side of the pond and will not know of UK situation, just wondering whether it's worth searching.

Is there "Master Class" on using Foamboard on the web? I'm particularly thinking of window apertures.

Mikkel, the Railway has a web site for an overview at

 www.bridgnorthcliffrailway.co.uk/

The pedestrian way up from Low Town to High Town is via the nearby "Historic Stoneway Steps"  which allegedly have 200 very irregularly spaced steps. Have walked up just once but was too exhausted to count them!  

There are hundreds of photos of the Railway on the 'Net, mostly taken from the same 4 or 5 vantage points, and few older than about 1995.

I too laughed out loud at your account of Mrs. Marillier's corset being the inspiration, and at the "one-hand" query.

Your modelling and research leaves me in despair of my puny efforts. A superb model, and a well constructed master-class. Thank you!

I really wanted to click several of the "comment" icons!

Thanks for the comment.

You overestimate my CAD capabilities, I'm afraid. Although I had some Cad training while at work, (now 14 years ago) and can use the basic Autocad program, The program resident on the computer which I bought from my employers is a 1998 version, never updated, and will not do 3D work! The commands are recognised and ignored!

I now have Google sketch-up on a newer laptop but finding it hard work ... old dogs and new tricks applies.

I wish I lived as close to the Cliff Railway, I could do with another visit to clear up a few lingering doubts / inconsistencies in the info to hand, and in the way of these things, more are bound to arise!

With a number of family and domestic priorities in the immediate future, it looks like October before I can get there again.

It's a bit too late for you, but the Black country Blues have picture of the inner strengthening in a steel water tower at post #145 in:-http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/67294-black-country-blues-blackrat-does-a-water-tower/page-6#entry1005013

Welcome back! can't speak for anyone else, but I missed your blogs on this one. BUT where is Pointing Man??, 

Mikkel,

I asked the Manager who gave me permission to photograph. The company had only been there for a few (3 ?) years and knew nothing of the building's history.

Thanks for that link to the Dovecot. My Father was born in Cirencester, I really must go there one day!

That cave / garage is visible on aerial pictures and, if you know it is there, on Street View, but neither show it clearly and it wasn't until I ventured into the yard that I could see what it is.

The more I look at the photos which I took, the more I think that some of it is beyond my capabilities! However, nothing ventured......!

Like this a lot! the first pictures have a great foreboding look. And the last two show your handy-work nicely. (Does Mrs.S take commissions??)

What a great entrance to a fiddle yard.... Abandon hope all ye who enter here!!

It would be just my luck! & Thanks for the kind words. 

If a RTR version were to arrive, the owners of the real Cliff Railway might like to know. When I approached them for permission to visit / photo / measure, they expressed an interest in having a model for themselves! More recently, that thought seems to have been dissipated by more pressing maintenance and modernisation projects. The Railway is almost 115 years old.  

Yes, the photo and setting is excellent. It's all there. Note also the guy in the window on the extreme left of the enlarged version.

The weighbridge man had an important job. He would be keeping records (In-coming and outgoing) of every wagon / van over the Pooley deck. Details of wagon number, tare and net weights and date in and out. All these were needed to collate and check various charges from the rail companies and material suppliers. All done in a neat hand in large ledgers in those pre-computer days.

In 1947, the chances are that the weighbridge mechanism would be a manual "steel-yard" type, none of your fancy direct read-out dials!!

Thanks for the comments. 

No Mike! (and Andy)  there is no schedule for completion any longer. Originally I foolishly said that the  prototype was completed in 18 months and that I would match that time frame. 

The phase "biting off more ...." comes to mind!

Mikkel, thank you, that mock-up was a necessity for me to see where things fitted since the site has very restricted access, and the maps available have minor discrepancies, and do not indicate the shape / height of the cliff face. I have to admit that a visit to the site is very deceiving, It looks so simple! Had me fooled anyway!

My memory of the interiors of non-corridor 3rd class coaching stock on one of the GWR lines into Wolverhampton (Low Level) was that there were 3 sepia pictures (prints?) in wooden frames, similar to your photo, on each bulkhead, just below the luggage rack. What the scenes were is lost in the mists of time and my failing memory. I only recall there being a single image in each frame.

Brilliant depiction of your school day trials!

As far as I know, you are unique in being both exhibitor at, and organiser of, the same show. And now doing it again! A glutton for punishment!!

Julia,

Your edit above re. concentricity takes us (ie you!) back to the original option 4!

Don

Julia,

The old fashioned cart wheel rims were heated (red hot) before fitting, without forcing, the shrinkage of the steel on cooling "clamping" the wooden components to give a firm wheel. 

A few thoughts and questions on the problem:- Bear in mind however that my experience stems from shrinking starter gear-rings onto car-engine flywheels many years ago!

Would the FUD plastic allow you to heat your rims slightly, say in boiling water, to ease the strain while forcing the centres into the rims??

How do you ensure that the components are "square" to each other when force fitting?

What are the tolerances of the FUD centre's outer diameter? Consistency here would be essential, (I think!) perhaps it may be necessary to machine the FUD as implied by Paul (Halfwit)?  

I assume that you are machining your own rims, and are happy with the tolerances of the inner diameter.

Option 4 seems the way to go, and if a slightly loose fit to axle results, (A la Bill Bedford) then Loctite is your friend.

In admiration of your determination to push the boundaries...

Don 

Edit... re-reading the other items above

"Rather ironically the broken wheels occurred while the wheel center wasn't fitted to the rim, I have never had a broken wheel while fitted to a rim." implies that an axle being inserted caused the fracture. Doing so would put the outer diameter of the FUD into tension (equal and opposite force to the force-fit compression axle-to-wheel).

This then raises the question of what are the tolerances of the 3D centre's hole?

Don

The natural light inside your school rooms was very good, and at least one layout owner was moaning that he had not brought his camera along !!

I greatly enjoyed the show as did my guest who had never been to a model show previously! He was impressed as he stepped into the school by the display of motorised Meccano vehicles, took me a while to prise him away!

Only disappointment was that we were too late for the "Cream Tea", all the scones had gone! The plus side is that it indicated a high footfall at the show.

A very friendly atmosphere with space to see the exhibits and stop and talk to the exhibit owners/operators, with many chairs to sit on, but since this is a Primary school, they are a bit low(!) meaning that getting up again found the creaking body.

So pleased that Andy's efforts were rewarded with such a fine show, and achieved the aim of raising funds for the school, (that and winning a bottle of wine in the raffle!)

looks to be a Facebook link? i don't have a (or intend to have) a facebook account. & can't access link either!

Adding a word of thanks and praise to RCAR6015 for his generosity (in many ways typical of the spirit of RMweb), allowing the rest of us the opportunity to see more of Barry Ten's modelling.

That's a lesson to remember... check and check again before firing-up!

Don't know your prototypes, and the models are a work in progress, but I would have expected them (the prototypes) to show evidence of neglect (a la Stubby?) perhaps one of the doors being reluctant to shut properly, with evidence of rot at ground level, and a liberal coating of clay dust. Whatever you decide, these should test your weathering skills! A nice cluster of huts to enhance the layout. I like the works gate too.

I worked a short distance from the bridge on Baseboard 5 in th 90s. I recall a larger fan of sidings on the west side which seemed to be full of wagons due for scrapping. Sorry no photo to prove this, Andy Y has expressed an interest in Burton Station a while ago, he may have photos. There is a lively Railway Club in Burton who may be able to help. Are you local to Burton? If so I'm probably in Egg-sucking mode!

It was, I believe, in the late '40s when the Gov't decreed that there should be a beer at 10d per pint, and pretty weak it was too according to my father who served the stuff across his bar. Don't remember the rate of inflation back then, but 2shillings a pint in the early ''60s sounds about right to me.

Not wishing to be contentious on this VERY important issue (the price of beer is always important!)

Paul, if you have not already done so, you might be interested to see the Two prototypesof your Hunslet which are at the Statfold Barn Railway (between Tamworth and Ashby). next open day is Sept. 15th.

Best £8 worth around. Applications for an Invitation at http://www.statfoldbarnrailway.co.uk/downloads/2012%20dates%20Statfold%20Barn%20Steam%20Railway.pdf

Multiple steam locos but also diesels on this NG dual gauge system.

Steep? Yes, 38degrees according to their website, which agrees mathematically with the lift and track length. See my first blog above for the risk of avalanches!