FraserClarke

8 hours ago, Il Grifone said:

Scaling from my monitor, on which the etching appears roughly 1.5x actual size, the distance from the fold to the centre of the axle hole is 8mm, which would require about 2mm packing for a typical floor about 4 feet above rail level.

Good scaling    I measured them this morning, and indeed as you suggest 24mm between centres once folded, and 8mm drop to the axle holes.

Thanks for all the input everyone. I will report back when I find an evening to build a pair up :-\   I have a set of old Ian Kirk wagons I'm planning to use these on (from the same secondhand box).

On 02/02/2020 at 11:44, BillH said:

Hi,

 

I was just wondering if anyone has had a go at modeling a salt-marsh like in the photo below? If so what techniques and materials did you use for the samphire  plants and the wet mud. 

 

Cheers

Have a look at Geoff Taylor's Penmaenpool (https://www.geofftaylormodels.com/). The photos on his website don't seem to show it, but from memory (I think mid-2016 BRM articles) he modelled some marsh like that on it. I thought it was very effective when I saw it in the magazine. 

Does anyone recognise these W-Irons? I picked some up cheap from a second hand box.  They don't have any identifying numbers/names, and the etch/drawing quality is not brilliant (and no half-etched fold lines).  They are certainly rather old, and I wonder if they might even be 'home brew'. 

I can't quite figure out how the separate compensating - I presume - fittings are meant to work. Presumably they support a pivot through the central holes of one W-iron -- but then how to match the ride height with the other wheelset?  -- just with suitable packing perhaps?   I build most of my wagons without compensation anyway, so it's not really an issue -- but it would be interesting to know ! 

Thanks! 

Much excitement as the last bit of 'hard landscaping' has been finished on Kinlochmahen. It does look more like the Australian Outback than the West Highlands, but it's a good base for grass and scrub later.

The last 'quadrant' was waiting on me finishing the 'borrodale' tunnel portal, and recovering enough insulation foam to cover the last bit of tunnel.

An LNER J72 pops out of the tunnel with a very out-of-region GWR MOGO in tow...

Overview of the whole layout. Next step I think is to do the road surface, and then start with some grass :-\

Thanks Jim - I did already wonder if that might be the most practical route. I might have some suitable wire lying around already.

@richbrummitt very kindly sent me some spare coupling hooks. I fitted these a few weeks ago, but work has been a bit hectic so haven't managed to put anything on here until now.  The hooks went in OK, with some judicious adjusting whilst the cyano went off.   I did try to find some suitable chain at the southampton show a few weeks ago, but the six year old dragging me around didn't allow the best conditions for hunting!  Will try again at the next show in a few weeks.

On 04/01/2020 at 22:01, Steam Rich said:

Planning a small OO 4ft x 1ft western region steam micro.

Got a couple of OO tank locos, 2 mark 1 coaches and a pile of wagons along with 2 of each short left, short right, small wye points.

 

First is a single track through station with station, coal yard (bottow leftt) and goods siding bottom right, The grey is a road,.  This will have a fiddle yard at both sides.

Small stations, short trains, GWR...  you could do a lot worse than look at the Culm Valley Railway in Devon for inspiration.  Ian Rice has a few plans based on this line. I think "Finescale in Small Spaces" has a few of them.  

The prototype stations to scale would work out more like 7-8ft, but you could compress them a bit. In particular, if you're happy to use the fiddle yard as the run-around loop.  Attached are a couple of ideas roughly inspired by Hemyock, which was the end of the line.  The goods line though extended a bit further to a dairy - so you could have quite a short fiddle stick to represent this.  

I used 'mid-size' points for this, as I think the flow is better even in a small space. 

The first one I swapped the station around a bit. It gives some nice view blocks, but I don't think it really looks very GWR.  The three-way point is a useful tool in this space though.  Headshunt + coal yard/cattle dock would get complicated and you'd probably end up pushing everything to the left. 

Second one uses a single slip to provide the entrance to the run-around and the goods yards in one.  I think this has a more open country feel to it. 

I measured up a 14xx+autocoach, and made the platform long enough for that (440mm).  Hemyock had a cattle dock beyond the platform, which could add nicely to the shunting potential.  The single slip makes the run-around a bit more challenging to use...

View blockers less obvious in this one...

 I'm not sure I'm quite happy with either of these. I think there is a better plan in there (no doubt others have already found it!) -- but the washing up needs doing! 

How much do you want through running for the main trains? I've also been thinking about doing a similar kind of layout -- small scenic section + two fiddle yards, because I want to have some trains run straight through -- even if only for four feet! 

Regrettably, we have made the decision to CANCEL ABRAIL 2020 due to public health and specific volunteer concerns.  

Whilst this will be disappointing to many visitors, exhibitors, and members of the club, the committee feel that on balance and considering our specific circumstances, it is the right thing to do. 

--

The next Abingdon Model Railway Exhibition will be held on Saturday 21st March 2020, at Abingdon and Witney College, Abingdon (OX14 1GG).

We have 21 excellent layouts confirmed for the show, as well as a good selection of traders and demonstrations.

Entry is £8.00 for adults, with accompanied children free.

More info on our website (http://admrc.org.uk/exhibitions/abingdon-exhibition-2020)

Layouts

Old Elms Road  |  4mm / OO  |  Late  1950’s Berkshire mainline layout by Bodmin & District Model Railway Club

Central Works  |  7mm / O     |  Set in the mid-1950s, an O-Gauge finescale layout set at a car assembly plant.

Furnace 5  |  4mm / OO  |  Small layout of a blast furnace tower

Auerbach Yard  |  HO  |  Southern US urban switching layout

Re-united Biscuits  |  4mm / OO  |  A layout featuring a biscuit repair factory! 

Enigma Quay  |  7mm / O9  |  Inspired by the narrow gauge dockyard railways of the 1920s

Ambleton Vale  |  2mm / N  |  1960s branch line terminus by Ray Taylor & Anna Bass

Afon Adit  |  7mm / O9  |  Inspired by the Gwynfynydd Gold Mine near Dolgellau. Martin Rich

Trinity Dock Street Bridge  |  4mm / OO  |  Based on Railway Street in Hull’s ‘Old Town Docks’ in 1939. Gavin Rose

Polbrook Gurney Colliery  |  4mm / OO  |  A small layout set somewhere in the Mendip Hills. Chris Nevard

Lighterman’s Yard  |  2mm  |  A fictitious 1960s goods yard in South East London by the Kent & Essex 2mm group

Buckleigh  |  4mm / OO  | 

Florin Street  |  4mm / OO  |  Tram layout

Jaeger Strassenbahn  |  HO  |  Tram layout

Tunnel Lane  |  4mm / OO  |  by Dan Evanson

Little Quarry  |  4mm / OO  |  by Dan Evanson

Short lane  |  4mm / OO  | 

Leicester (Belgrave Road)  |  4mm / OO  |  ADMRC’s large layout of Leicester in the 1960s.

Sodor Island  |  4mm / OO  |  Interactive layout allowing kids (young and old!) to drive the trains.

Lego City, Abingdon  |  LEGO  | 

Exhibitors

Pendon Museum  |  Find out more about our local modelling world leader, who’s extensive museum is just down the road in Long Wittenham

Medway Queen Preservation Society  |  Society restoring the Medway Queen paddle steamer in Kent

Didcot Railway Centre  |  Our local steam railway centre, and source of all things Great Western.

ADMRC Club Stand  |  Come and find out more about ADMRC!

Traders

JB’s Model World  |  Custom made stock storage boxes

Squires Tools  |  For all your modelling tool needs!

Freestone Models  |  Card modelling expert supplies

Oxford Models  |  Oxford diecast & Oxford rail specialists

Double O Scenics  |  Scenic modelling supplies (e.g. static grass)

Cresswell Model Railways  |  New and second hand stock

Brunswick Railways Ltd  |  Paints and detailing accessories

Kevin’s Trains  |  New and second hand stock

Sunningwell Command Control | DCC experts

Thanks for all the positive comments everyone!

In a typical case of pride before a fall, I tried to do the coupling hooks this evening; and completely banjaxed it up...  I got rather confused by the coupling plate etch, which looks like the slot for the hooks is in the wrong orientation (horizontal instead of vertical). I think though it is a bit of a trompe-l'oeil.   I think I've worked out the right way to do it, but in the process I've cut the coupling hooks too short.  I'll need to source some new ones at some point.

Mark: Yes, it's a very modelable station. The terminus of the short branch - Polton - has been on my 'want' list for lots of years now...  one day... some scale... 

A brief possession on the spare room has allowed me to finish off the base landscaping on one side of the layout.  The platform has been covered in some redish scatter, to represent the interminable red shale/gravel which seemed to adorn Scottish parks, paths, and platform surfaces in the 1980s, and which I don't miss digging out of my knees these days.

The spare room has now been returned to operational duties for the festive period, so back out to the garage for the layout!

I've started sculptamolding the scene in the post above, but the garage is bl**dy freezing now and it's taking forever to dry!  In the meantime, I've moved the other board into the spare room to work a bit on the 'yard' (I daren't risk anything as messy as sculptamolding in there!).  At Rannoch, there is/was a loading dock opposite the station, with a couple of huts on it (at least one is extant and well photographed. The other I think is now extinct).   Aim is for a look somewhat like this:

https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fscontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com%2Fv%2Ft51.2885-15%2Ffr%2Fe15%2Fs1080x1080%2F66818585_218471325784807_6728152426461596254_n.jpg%3F_nc_ht%3Dscontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com%26oh%3D19c80e47a384a5de6b06c5ba0dfbeb81%26oe%3D5E0319D7%26ig_cache_key%3DMjEwNTI4NDg3MjY3MjEwOTE2NA%3D%3D.2&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fpicdeer.org%2Fplace%2F233590789&docid=H9vrlO-rz-DVBM&tbnid=Adn1mhzXn2l2_M%3A&vet=12ahUKEwjRg571xYPmAhWaAGMBHdazBvc4ZBAzKBcwF3oECAEQGQ..i&w=1080&h=1080&itg=1&bih=754&biw=1536&q=Rannoch station&ved=2ahUKEwjRg571xYPmAhWaAGMBHdazBvc4ZBAzKBcwF3oECAEQGQ&iact=mrc&uact=8

The base of the loading dock is just built from grey-board/mount-board, with insets for the huts. Mock-ups in place to check the look. 

I feel this dock somewhat overpowers the small station, but the kids are quite insistent on it going all the way to the end!

Some nice info on the loading dock here. You can see my from-memory mock-up did quite get the aspect ratio of the hut right. 

Next step is to cover the front of the dock in sleepers like the prototype, and then get it set in and the yard area ballasted.  However as I am writing this whilst once again trundling up with WCML for work, that will take a while... 

On 29/10/2019 at 10:20, Reorte said:

 

Probably increasingly few people who feel they'd have any useful skills in that area. Sure, most of us could slap on paint in the right general area but not much more. I wouldn't feel confident in volunteering for anything practical, just don't have the skills beyond basic DIY. But the bigger reason is that, working all week, I'd loathe to lose weekend time (when I was doing the mine exploration it was usually just a once a month thing).

I understand those sentiments, but I wouldn't let them hold you back. I'm in a similar situation, and only manage to volunteer 1--2 times a month (rarely for a full day, and not at all in the past six weeks!).  I work in scientific engineering - but don't have any practical experience with heavy mechanical engineering.  I haven't found either of these things matter! 

I'm finding the operations side hard to progress with this level of commitment, but the engineering/restoration part seems much more feasible.  I suspect that if you volunteer regularly - even if not that frequently - you can fit into most projects. 

My experience with a heritage site is that it does come with some 'heritage attitudes' - but most people I've found are very helpful and willing to teach - at least once you get past the occasional initial clique aspect.  I'd never used a oxy-acetelene cutter, or a needle gun, or even an angle grinder before last year. I wouldn't claim to be knowledgeable in any of these -- but I've been taught a bit, and can work with increasing independence on different bits of the overhaul I help with. Though I always try to remember a quote from one of my colleagues: "the most important skill in a volunteer is knowing when to stop and ask for advice"

I think as long as you're sensible, willing to listen/learn, and don't mind being a bit 'inefficient' - you'll make a positive contribution.  

A quick bump as the Didcot Show is on Saturday. Hope to see some of you there!

90% of the main terraforming is now complete. The sub-base for the last stretch of the A864 (single track with passing places) is bedded in. Tunnel mouth is painted (but not yet weathered).  Almost time to get some more sculptamold out! 

I finally got round to buying a "modern" Gaugemaster controller. I had been planning to make something equivalent built into the control panel - but I think spending money rather than time was the right decision here.  A rebuild of the simple control panel was needed, and that was a good opportunity to get the boy child soldering.  Started with preping and tinning some wires...  (We did finish the drink/food before soldering BTW!). 

and here's the new panel part mounted into the side of the layout. It all worked first time too!  After a little bit of testing, it will be mounted properly onto its frame, which tilts it back to protect the toggle switches a bit. 

Now this is working and wired up, I can progress a bit more with fixing the scenic base down...  

On 18/09/2019 at 17:54, Module00 said:

soon new photos? 

Just for you, a morning photo update from the garage!  Currently making (very) slow progress on the tunnel mouths, and hence landscape around.  A simple 'modelscene' one on one side, and a scratch built version of the borrodale tunnel portal on the West Highland.  Both still need painting, and some kind of internal walls to extend the illusion slightly.  Base landscaping is almost done, but I'm not ready to fix it down and cover it before I've finished installing all the electronics in the control panel.  That's my next job when I find time/motivation!  But next week, I have to come to your part of the world for work

Thanks very much to Nick for spotting that we'd missed the ever wonderful Much Murkle off the list!  The persons responsible have been dealt with immediately...

Abingdon and District's annual Didcot show is back at Didcot Civic Hall (OX11 7JN) on Saturday 19th October, 2019. 

18 layouts and 7 traders this (and probably a couple of demonstrations; TBC).  Free on-site parking, excellent catering, and a generally relaxed atmosphere. 

Entry is £6.00 for adults, with accompanying children free. 

Doors open 10:00-16:30

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/events/429288191272630/

Webpage: http://admrc.org.uk/exhibitions/didcot-exhibition-2019

Layouts this year:

Much Murkle                  OO

Brambledene Junc         OO
Didcot Power Station    N
El Cremallera                  N
Kidmore Coalhouse      OO
Shunting Puzzle             N
Rheinbrohl                     N
Oakgrove Central         OO
Bedford Falls                 On30
Roadwater                     OO
Lego Layout                   Lego
Lemmington Park         HO 
Midholm                         2mmFS
Mowhawk Valley           N 
Sankei Valley                  Z 
Sam's Creek                   7mm
Valencia Harbour         OO 
Sodor Island                  OO
Winterwell-on the-Fosse    3mm

Flyer: 

You could also look at Chester-le-street for inspiration, which has many of the features you're looking for (though not island platform, or turntable).  It would look quite like David's plan above, though with goods facilities instead of the loco dept.

https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=16&lat=54.8573&lon=-1.5794&layers=168&b=1

And of course there is Durham for an LNER through station with a viaduct at the end - but probably bigger than you want! 

On 17/07/2019 at 20:57, ianly said:

At Walligford end there is an additional siding that seems to be used to store wagons and such like. Apparently, they've borrowed/hired a GWR 0-6-0 Pannier tank on a few occasions. Since there is no link to the mainline the Pannier Tank must have been lifted onto the track by crane. May be that's what Fraser was referring to.

It's less dramatic than that usually... A lowloader, a winch, and some inset track usually...  Real-life equivalent of a loco cassette I guess! :-)   Example below.

Mainline connections are relatively rare, especially for 'smaller' heritage lines.  The Princes Risborough example is slightly odd in fact, as the bay is part of the national network, which CPRR are allowed to run into (which I believe gives the odd situation that CPRR has to lock all the toilet doors before they come into Princes Risborough, as they are running over network rail metals and their Mk1 coaches are 'direct to track' rather than having retention tanks...).  But if that's what you want then go for it!!  Plenty of examples exist. I agree with the others that it makes the operation a bit more interesting.  You can also always have the odd 'special' parking on the branch overnight... The Cholsey->Wallingford line - when connected - was apparently used as stabling for the royal train occasionally. 

Quote

> I notice that Fraser's plan has the main double track circuit only visible in scenery for one-quarter of it's

> length, BTW.

 

Yes I noticed that, but it's not necessarily how I intend to portray the scenics.

I just don't like seeing the corners :-) 

Another one, going further away from "West of Reading", is Eridge at the end of the Spa Valley line.  Here the heritage line runs parallel to the (now singled) mainline, and both stop on opposite sides of Eridge station (I'm pretty sure there is no connection between the running lines).  https://www.google.co.uk/maps/search/Eridge/@51.0893773,0.1999344,145m/data=!3m1!1e3

The interesting bit here is that there is no run-around.  So a second engine is stabled in the bay platform or headshunt, and once the first engine arrives with train, it backs on, couples up, and takes the train back to Tunbridge whlist the first engine retires to the headshunt...   Could be an interesting option if you want a bit more 'involvement' in the operation on the heritage side?  Tracks below are based on Eridge, but you could simplify down to a single headshunt if you wanted.  Maybe the headshunt could have some basic loco servicing facilities (though on a heritage line, these would be at the main site only probably).
 

Engine #2 waits in bay (or headshunt)

Engine #1 arrives with train

Engine #2 runs out. Engine #1 uncouples

Engine #2 backs down and couples up

Engine #2 releases train. Engine #1 waits for returning train...

No problem. .any files attached (if I can? -- apparently not, will PM...).

Also here is a version with a link to the down main (trailing point). This just doesn't look right to me... It would be much better to have a trailing point off the up line, with a single slip on the down to make it a trailing crossover.  I just couldn't get it to fit with the curves though (unless you're willing to get into building your own trackwork!?!) 

Also, in my - relatively limited - experience of volunteering at a heritage railway centre with ONLY a rail connection,  I'm pretty sure that a road connection in the modern world is MUCH more valuable!!  Unless it's a engine with a current mainline ticket, moving things by road is I understand cheaper and easier... 

If anyone visits Didcot Railway Centre, you might be interested to know that the new loco access steps in the engine shed were designed not only to fit the engine footplate, but also to fit (by 1") within the W6a loading gauge when on the back of a wagon!! 

On 29/05/2019 at 21:01, ianly said:

I’m looking to model an imaginary location on the GWR mainline from Reading westwards. As such, I’ve shown four tracks and station platforms. I expect to run a mix of passenger (inc. 2+4 HST and DMUs) and freight. I also hope to occasionally run a couple of heritage steamers, although unclear as to the best location for storage sheds and/or a small country type station.

Well you've pretty much described either Didcot or Cholsey :-)  Attached is a layout for a simplified Cholsey-type station with only the slow lines included.  The heritage railway uses the former bay platform, but is completely disconnected from the main running lines.  Cholsey station itself has the fast lines 'below' the station (not serving it), and you could probably fit those in if you wanted. 

As you want it imaginary, I've brought in elements of the branch to Faringdon and the station at Uffington Junction.  This was always just two roads.  It has the advantage of a nice overbridge to cover exit stage left...  In former times, the small goods yard was off-scene beyond the bridge.  You could use a footbridge as the other break, and as other say suggest that the platforms continue off scene.   I've made a very simple modern rationalised plan with no pointwork on the main running lines.   If you wanted an earlier era, you could I think connect up the branch,  add a cross-over near the bridge, and have the occasional cameo of goods trains stopping on scene in the station, and then setting back into the yard off scene. 

Grids here at 6", so all the boards are 2ft, except the bottom which is 2'6", and the right (over your hatch) which is 1ft (could be narrower).   It would clearly benefit from some more flowing design, and more considered baseboard shapes :-)    There seems to be space for 3 road fiddle yards on both the up and down mains (not detailed here), and a 'swap' road in the middle to change from one loop to the other if needed.  The small heritage railway has just two roads, but that's enough to cope with even the most extensive gala events

I can give you the anyrail file as a basis if you want. 

Not really. I've finished off the basic landscaping behind the station, painted the rocks, and made the base of the tunnel portal on the far side -- but I had to pack the layout away to make space to paint some doors, and then work has been so hectic it's not come out again. Things should calm down after July!

I've had Charlestown on my 'long list' for a while too - doubt I'll ever do anything about it though I don't think I've found any pictures beyond the ones already mentioned here.  There was an interesting looking iron foundary just 'up' from Charlestown, presumably accessed by a reversal in the station/yard.  I always thought that would make a nice cameo layout, but I can find little/no information about it.  I think most of the building are long gone, though I remember some unidentified ruins in the woods beside the burn.   I grew up just north of here, and regularly fished the lower reaches of the lyne burn in the early 90s - can't say we paid much notice to the 'MOD property' notices :-\  There was a proper set of gates just the other side of the burn though, so we didn't cross that!  This is all long after Charlestown as you're interested in was gone of course...