NeilHB

Little bit of progress on finishing the tramcar over the last few days in between DIY and what felt like hundreds of trips to the tip! I’ve now sorted out the doors into the Saloon, with beading and windows added. I’ve then added another step to each end (on one side so far at least), as they were still quite high off the ground, even with the smaller wheels. Today’s project has been an attempt to finish off a project started some time ago, and put to one side because at the time I wasn’t happy with it. Some years ago Giles Barnabe wrote an article in Scale Model Trains, about using Peco’s 7mmNG coach sides to create a small standard gauge 4-wheel coach for his Stratford Waterside layout. I was rather intrigued by this as I like things a bit out of the ordinary, so purchased two packs of sides from the annual Trent Valley Open Day last January. I had originally planned to make a couple of small mods to the beading as it is supplied, but couldn’t get it to look right and left it for the best part of a year whilst I decided what to do. So I took the plunge this morning and put the chisel blade in the craft knife, and all the beading and raised detail on the sides was dutifully removed, effectively leaving me with a nice blank canvas. Out came the micro strip, and the results can be seen below: I decided that as I’d removed all the detail, I might as well go the whole hog and make it into a brake coach at the same time, with a luggage compartment with double doors at one end. I’m rather pleased with how it’s turned out. I just need to find some buffers from the spares box and sort the buffer beams out, plus seating for the two third class compartments. What do you all think?

Just a small bump as it’s really not long to go now! Couple of small changes: Severn Models won’t be there (that’s my fault as Andy had already told me he couldn’t make it) Blackham Transfers will be there, and bringing the 5.5mm Society/Area Group demonstration with them Looking forward to seeing you all in 11 days time - can I start to panic slightly now?!

If I remember correctly the following components were mutilated in the construction: 1x Bachmann Emily’s coach 6-wheel chassis - centre wheels and accoutrements remover 1x Bachmann Emily’s coach body, sans roof 1x Bachmann Annie/Clarabel roof and glazing (possibly). Add to blender and blitz until a West Norfolk 1880’s first is the result! Details are a little hazy as I think I started work on this well over 5, maybe 6 years ago...

Very glad to see that the West Norfolk first of 1880s vintage has proved useful. Sorry to hear of the frustrations and visitations from the black dog - an all too familiar feeling here as well. Keep going, and perhaps a break from layout building and some therapy in the form of a wagon kit or two? Sadly too far away (though not as far as Annie!) to be of any real use and suport, but I shall send moral support in abundance (and hope it proves helpful).

No more photos of Castle Rising or it’s lovely village unfortunately Edwardian, I must apologise most humbly. We only stopped in to let the doodles have a leg stretch on our way to Brancaster to celebrate OH’s birthday (he’s only ever been to Norfolk once before, so I’m endeavouring to introduce him to my childhood home from home). I can offer a photo of Brancaster beach instead if that’s any consolation?

I’m sure our host and many of our parishioners will recognise my current location!

Elsbridge (Wharf) is not dead (yet), but it's certainly still not fully alive either...does that make it a zombie?! Anyhow, having managed to (finally) make the train room/office habitable after far too long as a dumping ground, I've managed to actually get to the modelling desk and do some modelling. The tramcar has been seen numerous times before on this thread, but I think it's finally heading down the route to completion. Since our last visit to the workshops at Elsbridge, the tramcar has received new ends to the body, and yesterday gained a new set of axleboxes and wheels. The wheels came from San Juan models, via Paul at EDM, and nice and small and eminently suited to a low slung tramcar. Now all I need to do is sort out the railings on the end balconies, and remember where I put the buffers and couplings... I also dug out it's companion coach that will run with it, and will make an attempt to get this one finished off as well soon! This is from Peco's coach parts, and is a simple 3 compartment all third, with centre third saloon. This just needs the footboards adding to the other side, and a final coat of paint and glazing before entering service. The two of them together make a rather cute little train, which will no doubt also make an appearance on Duddon Bridge!

Update time on Duddon Bridge. After a quiet couple of weeks, the navvys have been out in force again. The Broughton Mills branch has now been connected to the rest of the world - hurrah! Just the last couple of bits of rail to sort out on the trap point first. This has been laid with C&L sleepers. Sadly these are about 10thou too low compared to Peco’s own sleepers, but nowhere seems to have Peco’s individulay in stock anywhere (and that includes Peco!), so we’ve stuck a strip of 10thou plasticard underneath, and et voila, they match! Sticking down each chair individually made a change from soldered track construction, but I think I can safely say that I prefer soldering track (and those who know me well know how much I detest soldering!!) Having sorted out the Broughton Mills branch, we turned our attention to sorting out the coal siding for the station. Quite pleased with how the siding has turned out, with a nice flow to it. Compared with our original plan, the siding now has a lot more capacity, which is always good. You’ll also note that Tim has been very busy since the last update, and has laid the coal stock/rag shed siding completely. This siding is very tight, which is fine as we’ll only be using short four-wheel wagons and locos on it. There will be no shunting of the siding with any of the Broughton & Dunnerdale locos...severe fines will result! You can see the next phase of tracklaying has commenced, as we’ve started the other trap point, which protects the main line from the timber tramway. There will be about 2-3inches of chaired rail passed the toe of the trap, before there will be a gate across the line, and the transition to code 100 flat bottom rail up the tramway commences. The track along this section will be pinned to actual wooden sleepers, with a greater spacing between them to give it a very lightweight look. Obviously there is a rather large hole in the board before the timber tramway itself is reached, and Tim has started, and pretty much completed the lightweight steel girder bridge which will carry the the line over the mill leat: This is constructed from a pair of Wills 4mm bow girder kits, which make a nice lightweight structure in 7mm scale. Tim has done a cracking job with the bridge, especially as it’s on the skew to cross the mill race!

The 7mmNGA's 39th AGM & Exhibition will take place on Saturday 9th June, 2018, at the usual venue of Burton on Trent Town Hall - King Edward Place, Burton upon Trent, Staffs. DE14 2EB. The doors are open from 10.30 am till 4.30 pm. There is limited on site pay and display car parking, but there are other car parks located nearby, including a large pay and display car park at the railway station, which is located a short walk away from the Town Hall. There is a licensed bar on site, and refreshments will be available. Entry costs £5 for adults, £3 for members of the Association - partners and children get in for free. Confirmed (so far) to be attending this year are: Layouts: Mers Les Bains, 1:32, Peter Smith Gamle Carlsbeg, 1:45, Tony Bennett Questa, 0n30, Andrew Jones Bryn Llwyd, 0-16.5, Bernard Morgan Abbey Light Railway, 0-14, David Malton Pentewan Quarry, 0-14, John Clutterbuck Bunny Mine, 0-14, David Rae Ashcroft Industrial Museum, 0-16.5, Robin Edwards Pyn Valley Railway, 09, Christopher Payne Ramma Woods, 09, Simon Andrews Redwood Lumber, 0n30, Charles Oldroyd St Laurs, 1:45, John Green Trent Valley Builder's Yard (WIP), 0-16.5, Alex Bingley Traders: Mercian Models S&D Models Port Wynnstay Models Minimum Gauge Models Grainge and Hodder Baseboards EDM Models Locos n Stuff James Corsi Andrew Neale Books A1 Models PLM Cast-a-ways Avalon Line N-Drive Productions Severn Models Skytrex (2013) Ltd. MyNGR.com Demonstrators: David Wright - Model Buildings Paul Holmes - 0-14 demonstration West Midlands Area Group – display Societies: Slim Gauge Circle Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society More details will be added when confirmed. The Trent Valley Area Group are looking forward to seeing you all on the day! Abbey Light Railway Mers Les Bains Questa Redwood Lumber

Ooh this just gets better and better - wonderful news!

Brilliant work (as usual) Andy - the Tin Turtle looks excellent.

Yes same here - that’s what I’d painted my A1 and Hudswell Clarke locos in anyway. Don’t think it wants to be as dark as the FR Indian Red though - perhaps more of a crimson colour? Agreed that it’s a shame we haven’t got more to go on - but then again it does leave us to free to put our own outlook on things.

Must admit it’s rather tempting to finish one in a what-if W&S livery!

The D1/Cambrian small goods looks superb Gavin, shall have to sort out getting one (and the E1) - though really must sort out getting the rest of the J1 first asap!

Not sure of the loco livery Edwardian, but there is a useful site about the railway, with plenty of photos of the locos etc.: http://www.cumbria-railways.co.uk/brampton_railway.html

The Midland ones were from Baldwin (very un-British like with their bogie tenders) and Schenectady - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midland_Railway_2511_Class The Schenectady examples are rather handsome, and I shall get round to building one, in the distant future in 7mm scale. After all, I’m sure one or two were sold to the nascent North Western Railway during its motive power crisis of 1915... Lovely drawing of them courtesy of: https://rlkitterman.deviantart.com/art/Midland-Railway-Schenectady-Mogul-2512-564811154

Well the signalman/stationmaster/porter/shunter at Duddon Bridge can no longer complain about getting wet when working in the ground frame - it has a roof! Using the rafters supplied with the kit, I then added a layer of plasticard either side of the ridge line last week. Last week I ordered some of York Model Makings laser cut roofing slates (they really are rather good, and speedy delivery too!) which have been applied this evening after work. Dead simple to apply, being self adhesive, and very easy to cut through being card. Plus they actually look like slates so all in all I’m rather pleased with how it looks now. Hopefully this means that it should be able to stand up the Cumbrian weather a bit better than the (plastic) corrugated iron supplied with the kit. Need to get cracking now and paint the window frames and the door...

I managed to get some actual modelling done yesterday evening. The first road vehicles for the later time periods on Duddon Bridge: This started out as a Russian Gaz kit, which was basically a clone of a Ford lorry. I bought this part built from Tim a couple of years ago, and have now got round to finishing it off. Just needs the last few bits sorting (number plates, transfers and some weathering) before it’s good to go. Next up is an Tamiya Tilly 10HP car kit. I’ve modified this one by mounting the spare wheel under the rear of the chassis, rather than on top of the cab, and then filled in the recess on the cab roof. I’ve also added a bulkhead between the cab and the rear, canvas roofed section. Just the glazing to add to this one. Oxford Austin 7 - lovely little car! I’ve painted the seats and dashboard on this one (you can just about see the seats through the windows) just to show up the interior a bit. It really needs a coat of satin varnish to tone down the shine!

Brilliant, many thanks Jamie. Some very useful ideas there for Tim and I to think about.

Thanks Jamie. We did consider having the coal feeder line as loco operated, but decided it just wouldn’t look right. I had forgotten about the coal feeder line at Lakeside, will have to dig some photos out of it and have a look. There are some useful ideas there, so if you could post some photos please that would be great thank you.

There was lots of progress made on Duddon Bridge yesterday during the site meeting. I’m getting better at this soldered track malarkey now! First (of many) checkrails installed - this is on the mill siding where it crosses the main road. As you can see we’ve made some alterations to the Peco settrack points - fairly easy to do now we now what we’re doing. I don’t think any of the points on the layout are now as Peco intended them to be... And the other rail in, and the main line check-railed for most of its length: Just the far end of the main line to go where it crosses the board joint into the second fiddle yard. Having sorted the checkrails out, we set up all three scenic boards together for the first time! I’d say it’s definitely starting to look like a layout now! From here we are looking up the line in the direction of Ulpha. I’m quite pleased with the flow of the main line through the layout. With all three boards up, we could start looking at the alignment for the coal stacks and rag shed siding, which is at the rear of the layout, and runs across all three boards. The main road curves off the edge of the board here, as represented by the lengths of wood. The siding will swing out closer to the main line, crossing the road at an angle, but curving back towards the rear of the board to run parallel to the road. The siding here serves three purposes, firstly it houses a small loco shed for the paper mill shunter, after the shed is the coal stocks, served by a short length of hand operated narrow gauge which feeds the mill boilers, the line then crosses the road to serve the rag/waste shed. Once all the track is in place, we can then start to build up the road surface to top of the sleeper height using more cork floor tiles. However we’d welcome suggestions for what to use for the top surface of the road in order to bring it up to just below top of the rail height please? Having sorted out the alignment for the siding, we then took it all down again, and set up the last scenic board and second fiddle yard, ready for Tim to finish off the main line checkrails over the board joint. He’s been busy again last week and laid all five roads on the second fiddle yard. Central three are for the main line. The two outer lines will serve the mill siding and the timber tramway respectively, by rotating the board round 180degrees so that their roads line up - simples! Thoughts and feedback welcome please.

You’ve done a cracking job so far Ruston - it’s looking very good.

Absolutely brilliant stuff - well done Edwardian and Miss T! The dog looks like an ‘eat-everything-in-sight-even-if-it’s-hooman-food’ dog - also known as a Labrador/Bottomless pit!

Called in to see Tim on my way home from work this afternoon - he doesn’t hang around and has laid even more track since Friday! Start of the main line on Board D - this line here will be running down the main road - over to one side, but still in the road surface which means lots of checkrailing to do and lots of infilled track. Where the line reverts to normal track will be where the road starts to swing away towards the rear of the layout. The sleepers for the mill line are next to be laid - again more inset track for these...! You can see the start of the mill line here on Board C - sorry not a great photo as it’s down at the moment while Tim works on Board D and the second fiddle yard. The mill line here will be inset where the main road comes across it.

I really do like the 0-4-2 tank Sem - looks like an ideal light railway loco!