RichardW1

Julia, The spokes are rally fine, but I am not sure about the translucent con rods! (Shoulda gone to specsavers!) RIchard

Julia- in the end it was easy- I held the led in an aluminium vice and use a very hot iron ----very quickly! Thanks for your advice ( and Rich B) I've not fitted the flicker unit yet- I have some,,,,,,, somewhere!, (but where?) It will be a relatively simple job to modify the wiring unit.

It seemed appropriate to show a picture of the bits that make it work. The servo motor is self explanatory. the brass plate screwed to the small block of ply is the main below baseboard drive. The red and black wires power the LED. What may not be so obvious is the double crank arrangement for the signal. Just below the red and black wires can be seen a small section of copper Mercontrol tube, a steel wire attached to the signal is guided through this to a small hole on the crank, which is very close to the pivot screw. Now to get this wire bent in the correct place is no easy task, so the crank is mounted on a swivel link. the pivot for this is to the left of the crank pivot. this enables the position of the crank to be adjusted to suit the actual position of the bend in the operating wire. Once set the swivel arm is locked in place with Cyano. The next pictures show that I have actually now fitted the ladder, and made good the hole in the platform. only the finial and spectacle film to add.

It has long been a task to get Lambourn's platform mounted starter signal into operation. In fact the original non-working signal was broken some time ago. A fit of enthusiasm, and a wet weekend (Well two actually) has seen the task completed. the signal was sited at the end of the platform, and so was unusual in that the balance weights were mounted high on the post, an early example of 'elf and safety'! I confess that the model is actually too tall, ( it should be a bit lower for the driver to sight the arm from below the canopy, but that'll be our little secret eh? The arm is actuated by a servo drive, and illuminated by a tiny (1.6mm x .85mm x .65mm) surface mount LED. I destroyed one as the cast brass post held too much heat which destroyed the LED. Finally I attached two fine enamelled wires and these are hidden in a filed slot in the post, which was finally filled with thick paint. The wires are carried below the platform level and soldered to thin PCB, from which normal layout wires connect to a battery pack below the layout. The fine enamelled wires are protected by 'potting' them in rapid setting resin. At the time the pictures were taken I still have to fit the ladder and finial, but it has been a satisfying project and transforms the layout.

Looks good Julia, when will we see it again?, On another matter could we talk re the LondonAG -it would be good if you came and gave us a talk! Richard

Mark, The arch is in two pieces, folded in the middle. The track bed is roughly 4 imperial English feet above the floor (depending on where I set the adjustable feet) The underside of the arch is about 2 feet above that, A little less I think ( can't measure it now. Cos it is all packed away) I guess that we should have made accurate drawings all based on 'the golden ratio' to get all the dims to perfection! But anyhow it looks ok to me!

The visual impact of your trackwork is very impressive Don, I would be surprised if, at first (or second) view it would be possible to discern the difference betweeun this in 2mmFS and that of other scales. I take my hat off to you. Richard

We'll done Richard, these show off the layout well. I took this on Friday evening to show off the new Arch and lighting

Hi Mookie It was an article in BRJ that was the initial spark, it carried all the relevant info. For the building I just counted bricks, and filled in the rest from guesswork. R

These are really good, I have at least 3 to convert for Lambourn, and I guess a barrier van with DGs at one end will be needed to couple yours into a train. See you at Keen House.

Thanks Jerry-you'll have to bring your one to Keen House , so I can see how JG put the mech together. Not that I want to copy it, but it might give me ideas so that I can copy it! Thanks to all for the positive comments N15class - 2mm is big enough thankyou , mind your 3130 is very fine! Richard

I'm pleased to confirm that it is. Thank-you

This blog was originally set up to document progress on my Midland Railway modelling, and layout Maxstoke. So after a brief excursion to GWR metals, and a rummage through the gloat box, the next loco has been started. This will be based on an etched (10 thou NS) originally produced by Nick Dearnally many years ago, under the name of Lodge Coachworks. The basic etch components are reasonably well defined, Those on my etch are marginally mis-aligned, and some of the etch fold lines were less defined that they should have been, but using these pieces will be a whole heap easier than scratch-building. There is a chassis, but one of the spring hangers has etched out, and I have yet to decide if I will use the main frames. This class of loco has outside frames, so clearances will be tight. I have therefore decided not to start with the chassis, as would be my normal process, but to make a start on the main footplate & body work, so I can check clearances as I progress. The main outside frames and footplate assembly was carefully folded to shape. I found that the artwork design over estimated the curved splasher length, so I have opted to cut these into three sections. There will be a joint in the footplate at the top of the curved section of each driving wheel, but this joint will be filled in and hopefully not be evident later. They can be seen clearly in the running plate view below. The cab sides have a simple pattern of rivets, that in modern etches would be half etched in. The designer in this case has half etched them from behind, a sharp scriber, is used to push the rivets out - the pictures explain the process far better than words. The cab sides and spectacle plate are then soldered up, keeping everything square. Half etched rivets on cab side. Punching out the rivets Half done All done, ready for assembly. The basic cab assembly is now test fitted in place, after carefully filling back the inside for the rear splashers to provide clearance, making sure that all sits centrally on the footplate. The boiler was first annealed to allow it to be rolled - a tricky job at the best of times, but I do find that the annealing helps. The spectacle plate has an etched line to show where the boiler should fit, This can be seen in the next picture. holding the parts in place shows that there is excess material below the fire box that will have to be trimmed back. I have temporarily tacked the boiler in place on the cab front to measure and file back as required. The boiler will be removed later during chassis assembly to cut away more material to provide clearances. This represents a full day's work, and is for me very fast progress. The next task is to look at chassis and gearing etc. But right now I'm going to have a quiet drink! Happy days Richard.

I envisage a diversionary route from Bath to Inversnecky, to keep you supplied. I have dark thoughts about ancient copper boilered, peat burning locos being converted into 'condensing' types by Compton Mackenzie to confuse the 'cizeman.... Tank wagons of iron banded oak.....Politicians washed up on a deserted shore....... Five and twenty ponies, Trotting through the dark-- Brandy for the Parson, 'Baccy for the Clerk; Laces for a lady, letters for a spy, And watch the wall, my darling, while the Gentlemen TRAINS go by! 'pologies to Mr Kipling- I've eaten too many of his cakes! (However there is a certain history of 2mm layouts and Ealing Films.)

I really like the model of a typical railway modellers workshop, delightful clutter. The boxes look well, I look forward to seeing them on Lambourn, ( and will have to convert my rather heavy, unconverted Lima jobs! Richard

As ever, a first class piece of work. What milling m/c do you use? Richard

The flywheel was machined as a solid piece! The problem is my awful Chinese lathe - tail stock is not quite accurate enough - i am looking at a new lathe for my birthday I am looking for your email to send you a longer clip Thanks for the comments Richard

Weathering on the top of the boiler is superb- how have you managed to get it to stay put? I never have any success with powders.( probably not reading the instructions!) Richard

Jerry, I agree no oscars (RMW's limit on file size), but I am happy with the running. I did consider a fly wheel, but it made things worse. I need t find a way to true a flywheel on the motor shaft. Richard

A (very) short clip of the first run of my new 2-6-2 running through the Lambourn countryside. Untitled.mov

Yes this is the same layout

I like that idea- thanks Nigel

It was- This afternoon's working up session was a great joy- what have I let myself in for?

Andy- not many people remember that I had it- even I forgot sometimes!, and you're quite right- the 2-6-2 was acquired specifically to run on Lambourn. It will be a real incentive to finish it- In fact the valve gear was assembled on Friday and the chassis now runs, but I need to order the pony wheels, (assuming 6mm wheels are in stock!) Richard

Hello just as a reminder- I took a couple of pictures today: still pretty as a picture