Tony Teague

Fascinating - especially for someone who merely attends exhibitions, rather than exhibits. It shows just how much really goes in to a quality exhibition layout. Tony

The question of whether 3D printing will soon take the place of kit-building has been raised here a couple of times, but with Tony's permission, I'd just like to share my latest experience which I hope may be of interest to others. I noted on another RMWeb thread (that I now cannot find!) that someone had very kindly drawn and 3D printed the body for a slightly obscure SE&CR 20T 6 wheeled brake van (SR d.1558) and that it was available from Shapeways for just over £30: https://www.shapeways.com/product/L6DEMGDN4/a-76-secr-6w-brakevan-1?productConfiguration=63882627&etId=168957135&utm_source=automated-contact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=order-shipped&utm_content=2 I thought that this would add a bit of variety to my fleet and so, even though the body has no floor and will need a chassis to be built, I sent for one which duly arrived a week or so later. Unfortunately part of the step board was missing on one side and the tie bar between two of the axle boxes was broken on the other, and so I reported this to Shapeways who agreed without any fuss to replace it. The replacement arrived yesterday and although the step boards are complete, one of the tie bars again has a gap in it; in neither case were any broken bits inside the very secure packing and so one can only assume that because this part is extremely fragile, there has been a fault in printing it. A picture showing the two prints is attached. I can't fault Shapeways service, and the 3D drawing is clearly excellent, but having decided that both the step boards and the tie bars are way too flimsy I shall not ask Shapeways for a third print, but will replace these parts with more robust materials. Turning to the surface quality of the print, this is in a material called "white strong & flexible" and it is certainly white! I am not going to put the other two qualities to the test but I can only say that it appears to me to be rather more flimsy than I would like, and as others have found, the surface itself is considerably less smooth than that of a plastic injection moulding - but I knew that before I placed my order. So yes, I have got my model of an unusual prototype which is not available RTR or in kit form, and I do not regret my purchase; whether the model will actually appear on my layout or stay in a stock drawer probably depends on how much effort I put into completing it and whether I can put up with the relatively rough looking surface texture. For me, 3D printing is still very immature and not yet a viable alternative to brass, nickel-silver or plastic injection moulding! (Just my opinion!) Tony

So I believe!

One major issue that I have yet to deal with is that almost none of my locos or stock is weathered - and I certainly intend to remedy this but it is a big job! I mentioned a couple of posts back that I had attended an excellent weathering course at Missenden Abbey and since then I have acquired a new spray booth and set things up to start the weathering job so, at great risk of being told I should do it differently - or better!, here are a few of my first efforts! I don't regard any as finished, all are "work in progress", some are air-brushed, some dry-brushed and some use a mixture of techniques including powders. Most require a bit more attention / rust, to the underframes. I started with the local Private Owner stock: Tom Chinnery is the Stowe Magna Coal Merchant The Stowe Magna Gas Light & Coke Company operate the local gas works, which has a private siding just beyond the station. A local builder also makes use of the goods yard: I also attended to one or two wagons from further afield: Finally, one of those white Belgo-Anglais Ferry Van coal wagons that I first showed in post #47 I'll add some further pictures as I make progress and get more practice! Tony

Apologies! Must be recent as the front page was updated on 3rd October. I last placed a successful order almost exactly 12 months ago. Let us hope that the problem is temporary. Tony

Still going strong? - http://www.pdkmodels.co.uk/ Tony

I recently discovered this amazing thread, having exchanged mutually supportive posts with Alan on another thread (belonging to a certain Mr Wright). Since then I have diligently worked through every page - until, imagine my horror! - I found that Kingsbridge was to be destroyed. What a shame! I must say that I was impressed throughout with the standard of modelling and what I especially liked was the way in which Alan worked through the timetable, showing in one post after another, the arrivals and subsequent departures of each train as the day progressed. Whilst this may seem an obvious way to report things - mingled with a smattering of progress reporting - I had not seen it done so well elsewhere and will now certainly steal it as an approach for my own thread. Despite my recent arrival at Kingsbridge, I shall miss the layout and it is certainly good that it will be preserved through RMWeb and this thread. I wish the new layout every success and will be following with interest. Tony

Speaking as one of those errant modellers who has chosen not to model a real prototype location, I must say that I agree entirely with what Tony has said. I have been researching the signalling requirements for my Southern Railway 1938 - 1948 layout, and not only do I need to establish where the signals should go, I have to specify what function each should perform, what type of post, bracket or gantry should support each one, how tall each signal post should be and so on. Of course no-one can tell me that I have got the railway fence in the wrong position, but I can't help thinking that an actual prototype location might have been easier...! (By the way, good to see you today at Warley Tony, and all good wishes to Mo for a speedy recovery). Tony

Thanks Alan After responding to your post on Tony Wright's thread I am just working through your own - right from the beginning, and it is certainly most impressive. I'll make further comment over there! Tony

Apologies for my very late response on this but I have been playing catch-up. I just wanted to say that you are not alone! I am a great fan of this thread and get a lot of inspiration from it, and LB in particular, but I certainly used to feel a bit inadequate in the loco-building department - despite building my own baseboards, doing 90% of my own wiring, building & painting wagon kits, coach kits and until recently all of my scenery, I either bought RTR or commissioned the loco kit-builds from others. Tony then very kindly gave me a lesson in loco-building and I have now almost finished two - but to be honest it is never going to be the favourite aspect of railway modelling for me - plus I really have to admit to having far too many locos! So, do I now feel inadequate in any way, or that I am not a 'proper' modeller? Not at all, because I am doing what gives me the most pleasure and using what skills & competencies I have, plus when I buy RTR or commission work from others I am helping to keep the hobby alive. Tony

What about switching to DC and leaving the decoder out? (Only a suggestion from an old Luddite!) Tony

North Norfolk Railway, yesterday. WD 90775 approaching bridge 303. Tony

Congratulations on the article Graham; the pictures are excellent, however, I find the MR house style irritating - especially the "3 things we like", "what makes this layout great" & "Things you may have missed"; I have recently cancelled my MR subs! None of my prejudice takes away from what you have achieved - the level of detailing is excellent and I look forward to seeing the layout at an exhibition soon. Tony

Sounds good! Will be in touch. Tony

Andy Great video! Makes me wish that we had found time to run your stock here when you paid a visit - next time perhaps? For the future - I have found personally, that it is easier to upload videos to You Tube and then paste a link in here. Tony

Adrian Thanks - its an idea - I see this pond as being rather contaminated by oil and coal etc, although it is not quite as black as the picture represents. Tony

Thanks fozzy, that sounds like a better idea! Tony

Between Stowe Magna station and Stowe Magna shed, a small drainage ditch or stream emerges from underneath the railway and then flows alongside the entry road to the goods yard into a small dirty pond, before disappearing off the baseboard edge. I have been working to finish this area and with some scenic help from friend Mike, plus some Aqua magic, the stream and pond are now looking pretty good, however, I have hit a small problem at the baseboard edge where I have failed to get a neat finish. I have explained the problem in a separate post and asked whether others have experience and / or a solution to this problem, as I have two other places on the layout where I want to use this approach. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/127994-using-deluxe-materials-aqua-magic-at-baseboard-edge/ All thoughts appreciated! Tony

Does anyone have a patent method for blocking off the edge, where a stretch of water comes to the end of the baseboard? I have a small stream that starts next to my loco shed and opens into a pond that lies along the front edge of the baseboard. I have used Aqua Magic to fill it and it looks pretty good, but I have struggled to get a clean line at the board edge. I decided to wrap a length of mount board in cling film and then I staple gunned the board to the front of the baseboard; I then sealed the bottom edge of the join with Maskol and this arrangement certainly ensured I had no leaks! Over a period of about 2 weeks I added 3 or 4 layers of Aqua Magic and once it was all completely solid I removed the staples and mount board, however the Aqua Magic had stuck to the cling film and pulled it inwards, away from the mount board in places. Although I have cut it free with a scalpel, the edge of the water is not as neat against the board edge as I would like - see pictures: I have another similar area of water elsewhere on the layout to deal with, and so any suggestions as to how I might better seal the edge would be appreciated. Tony

May I pose a question related to your picture of WD No.3165 please? (please excuse my ignorance in advance!). Most of the pictures that I have seen that date from before these locos were re-liveried & re-numbered seem to show the tenders as being plain black - no lettering, logo or numbers, but a few show "WD" and fewer still then have a sort of upward pointing arrowhead between the W and the D. I have Richard Derry's "book of the WD..." but I can't seem to find a definitive answer about what is correct, what & when were the sequence of changes and so on. Any help appreciated! Tony

What great little book! - not seen before. Tony

That's about right; on photo charters such as the one where this was taken, and especially where the sky is very flat and grey, the fireman will be specifically asked to throw some dust or whatever into the firebox to provide contrast in the smoke, that is missing in the sky. Makes for a good picture but unlikely to look how it was 'back in the day'! Tony

Tony Hope you will forgive my self indulgence, but your post brought back a more recent memory for me, of photographing the same loco, which still exists on the GCR - in 2015. Tony

Applying this approach to my home layout, I am constantly working at eliminating poor running and improving consistency, whether the problems relate to track, rolling stock, couplings or locomotives, but there is one further phenomena that I have experienced more than once, and which I find plays havoc with reliable running, and that is to have Tony Wright visit one's layout! Even if one had been running without error all night, his approach to the railway room door seems to bring out long dormant faults!! (But I am sure that I don't need to say that you are always most welcome Tony!). Tony

....Kadees....