Jules

February 11

A neat solution

July 6, 2023

Some splendidly different models there, very nice.

July 1, 2023

Nice. Used to be a regular walk of mine out to Hurst when I lived it Christchurch. Haven't been back for 10 years or so the collapsed wall is a bit of a shock!

June 18, 2023

On 16/06/2023 at 11:38, Kelvin Pinnock said:

I think you've posted a picture of a real location by mistake!

Fantastic layout and no mistaking where it is set.

June 11, 2023

I too have a mildly upgraded Lima siphon - bogies are Bachmann, buffers replaced with some whitemetal jobbies and I replaced the end handrails with wire (hard to see in the dodgy pics). I seem to remember getting the bogies to fit, at the correct ride height without interfering with the solebar was a bit of a fiddle.

Hauled by one of my many small prairies - you can never have enough of them 😄

June 10, 2023

Time for another set of dodgy pictures!

This time of my 'vintage' train.

Why vintage? Well, all of the models are at least 38+ years old.

The loco is an Airfix 14xx, converted to be a 58 xx by removal of top feed, and the auto gubbins. Smokebox door replaced with a Mainly Trains casting and all molded handrails replaced. Driving wheels were also replaced, not quite correct as they are one spoke missing.

Onto the wagons...

The first two were built by my late Father while he was working away from home, in around 1977/78. The first is the Ratio bolster, slightly battered and missing a few bits. Second is a Peco Wonderful Wagons salt van. There was another one of these (Saxa salt? It was red) but I seem to remember the running gear collapsed and was scrapped many years ago.

The next lot are all my efforts! These would have been built in the early 80's in the years before my O levels. First is a Ratio Iron Mink, one of a pair I built. The next two are both Slaters, kits that just seem to fall together.

Finally the Ratio brake van.

All of the wagons are still used as part of the goods stock on Mayshill. The brake van is not really used anymore, newer offerings are more detailed/painted better etc.

The 58xx gets limited use - it can't pull a lot round the curve leading to the station. I also need to add some washers to the driving axles to stop so much side play. The replacement wheels are narrower than the Airfix ones so tend to lose contact with the pickups, so running can be a bit erratic! Other than that, it is a good runner

June 10, 2023

Looks good even before the paint!

June 9, 2023

I managed to straighten the handrail kink with just a pair of normal pliers, and cut off the excess once in place.

I think the worst part of removing the top feed and associated gubbins is actually starting it - as you say it isn't actually too difficult if you take it slowly.

June 7, 2023

I like the sound of that!

I have leftover Ratio bits, and also an old Mainline load...might do a bit more research next time before chopping things up!

June 7, 2023

😀

I'd forgotten I had also fixed the dodgy window on the Oxford Toad - I think I used a bit salvaged from a Ratio kit and cut to size with a bit a plastic strip to finish the job.

June 7, 2023

3 minutes ago, MrWolf said:

I like the shortened Toad, do you have any details of how it's done?

Unfortunately nothing of much use!

I had purchased a Oxford Rail 6w Toad and quite liked the shorter version as it allowed me to get a longer goods train in the run-round loop.

I had a spare Airfix/Hornby Toad so just sort of cut it up to to match the Oxford Rail one. The roof was the easy bit...

So although from a distance it looks ok, it can't really be considered that accurate as I'm not sure how accurate the dimensions (body panel widths, underframe etc) are.

I seem to remember I was bored one weekend so just took the saw to the Toad without much planning...

June 7, 2023

Thanks :)

Now I have done that one, I need to do the other one as well, hopefully learning from my previous errors!

Another couple of shots with a recently built Slaters 3 plank MR wagon, and a shortened Airfix/Hornby Toad

June 7, 2023

On 09/11/2022 at 16:44, Jules said:

I keep looking at my panniers and think I should do something about the top feeds. I'm slowly working upto taking knife to plastic!

It's been a while since my last post (again!), but I finally took a knife/chisel/sandpaper to a top feed!

I have a a later style pannier (87xx?) for a while, but it always irritated me as the join where the bunker met the cab didn't line up, and no amount of fiddling seemed to resolve it, so it was sidelined.

I was also after a 57xx version for some variety, but these don't appear to have been produced in GW livery for some time, and any traders at shows didn't seem to have any used either.

Anyway, at the Weston shoe back in I think February, I picked up this body:

This would allow me to re-use the chassis from the 'irritating' 87xx, but if it all went wrong I had just messed up the 57xx body and will still be left with a complete 87xx (with dodgy cab...)

So out came the tools to remove the top feed and associated plumbing:

As can be seen, I also replaced the smokebox handles, added missing lamp irons and handrail above the side steps.

I didn't take any more pictures until it was complete:

Unfortunately the other side has ended up with a slightly wonky handrail:

I had to replace some of the knobs as the existing ones snapped during removal.

Overall I am quite pleased with the result. The finish where the pipes have been removed could be a bit smoother, but from normal viewing distance it is ok.

June 1, 2023

I would totally agree with what you say about getting tested. On international mens day (or whatever it is called) the company I work for has arranged visits from 'CHAPS' ( a mens health charity) who do the PSA test. Fortunately for me, on all three occasions I have been clear, but for at least two of my colleagues, it has shown raised levels and subsequently required treatment.

Neither of them showed any symptoms.

I hope your results come back negative/no treatment required and you can go back to playing trains!

May 13, 2023

Thanks for the info. I can see why you are proud of it!

May 12, 2023

That full brake is rather nice. What is the origin of it?

February 16, 2023

Those coaches are really nice and look great behind the loco

February 2, 2023

Lovely layout - I think the river/water looks very convincing

February 2, 2023

No comment on the plan as such, but looks like it should give plenty of operational fun!

I am in a similar position with my layout - there are a few electrical issues (mainly voltage drop) and dodgy track work where points have needed to be replaced, so I am building myself upto having to bite the bullet and do some serious rebuilding before too long!

January 2, 2023

I agree - the are some great conversions of the old Hornby offerings - and some nice tidy painting too.

December 9, 2022

A great loss to the 'warbird' community, as well as her family. I seem to remember that her late husband was also killed in a car accident, which is what led to her taking on the spitfire and learning to fly it.