SMR CHRIS

Hi Bob the 42 is looking very nice you have done a great job on the build in a very quick time. Looking forward to seeing it running on the layout.

I have use fishing line to stop single items of rolling stock from rolling away just tall enough to touch the axle bit like the idea of long grass but can be achieved with a single piece oh line and has no effect when a loco pulls the wagon away. An alternative if you want to allow the wagon to roll down the siding for loading etc is to use a check rail that is activated against the back of the wheel be it manually controlled or electrical. The check rail will hold the wagon then with a press of the control button will release and the wagon can roll.

Hi Bob yes I can say myself and Peter were the only ones who presented their model railways in a Modern professional way at the Show I got lot of nice comments from Modellers and public viewers that made my day On Sunday mostly familys the kids loved 3805 and being able to blow the whistle as I was using wireless control we could stand back talk with the public and Modellers etc. Flyer for the show at Murrurundi

Thanks Chris With a small layout I only need 3 locos on the layout at any one time but have a few spare at the shows to interchange as the day goes on same with stock like the passenger train keeps things interesting. Previously I has a small table with the box of models at the fiddle yard end and everyone always wanted to see what was in the box so thought why not build a beam that sits above the scene and displays the extras and it provides 8ft of display. I made it foldable so it easy to transport with the layout a set of suit case latches keep it together when folded and when open, some recycled Perspex fronts the display track to protect the models A bonus is it can also be used as a test track I have been using it this week whilst the layout is not set up. Folded ready to go Above the layout display box the back lighting in the hall made it hard to photo My better half Shunting the Goods with the 49class Diesel

A week after the show and I have finally recoverd haven't set up the layout yet may stay packed up as have be invited to another show the Murrurundi Model Train Festival 21st- 22nd October 2017 at Murrurundi in the Upper hunter valley yet to be confirmed. A few photos at the Newcastle Show last weekend. The layout all set up had the best lighting at the show lucky as with the back light from the big glass windows at the end of the venue behind the railway would have been very poor if I was relying on natural light The 49class diesel got a quick weather on the Friday befor the show and looked the part Plus the crowd favourite and my favourite, Streamlined Pacific 3805

Moonan Flats will be on display at the Newcastle NSW Australia Model Show this weekend.Sat + Sun If your A down under modeller and are attending the show pop by and say Hi

Your moving a pace with these builds Bob The 40 is looking good and the 44 in the previous post Nice work

Hi Bob I recon flash would be if they were motorised, but that's just like hard work servos or motors wires back and forth, when a manual lever will do the same thing reliably. good old mechanical opperation just like in the real world on a country branch no electric's out there.

We have working signals at Moonan Flats I got a bit of time to play signals tonight, the bit I wasn't looking forward too, the under board part lucky the layout is quite high and I could sit on a low stool to install a bracket for the return springs and a couple of eyelets for the wire guide Mounted the 2 levers previously posted about on the little shelf that I add to the front of the layout, connect the link from the lever to the signal actuators and added the return springs to a bracket that I bent up, Then tested, amazingly it worked first go the lever throw is just right for the signal action. Link to YouTube video of the working signal. Link to Facebook page with Video if you use FB https://www.facebook.com/groups/PLATFORM1MRC/permalink/1442538742468420/

Unfortunately I walked right past it as didn't need a tank.He was probably run off his feet lots of people this year and a lot more traders there as well, the last 2 years it was a bit lacking on the big stuff, I'm guessing the majority of the farming industry up that way must be doing well this season.

Scenic's around the Signal matched and Signal placed back in position. I need to find a suitable brass ladder I did have a set but can't find that safe spot that are stored. I Picked up some suitable springs for the return mechanism for the manual opperation of the signals from the lever frame, yesterday whilst at Aquip in Gunnadah NSW one of the biggest Rural trade show it's A great place to get tools and parts like bolts springs steal rules etc, at county prices not over inflated city prices and in bulk not the single item you get in the city shops. So the next thing to do is use some of the items picked up to get the signal mechanism operational from the levers that were repurposed a couple of posts ago. Photo with CPH RM11 having been given the right o way In the back platform is another of the 1950's scratch built passenger cars. A BS first class compartment car.

I'm guessing an old broom was a bit of a painters term for a broad brush Marty as from all the literature the painter's really took pride in there work and this is reflected in the workshop photos even the humblest S truck when it left the paint shop was shiny Black. On one of the face book pages recently there was a photo of a freshly out shopped K truck shiny jet black it looked out of place in the train of dusty dirty wagons all looking like the colour every one calls gun metal, but that was because it was so shiny Looking at the work shop photos it also dose look like the paint shops have several shades of Black to Gray colours for Freight wagons, one photo shows a New LLV Bogie louvred van in a Gray colour and it looks like it has a slight metallic fleck may have been to aid with heat over the full black black or was it Just for the work shop photo so the detail of the louvres where visible as there is also a photo of the same type of LLV in full black being out shopped. Original Paint colours is one of the biggest talking point amongst NSWGR people. Now when they uncover paint during a restoration, at the Museum it is spectrum scanned and some of the colours are very different to what is generally guessed at.

Hi Marty as Bob noted these cars are very old Belived to be 1950's era and are all hand painted, back then Modern bench top spray gear wasnt available to the masses. Now we are lucky enough to be able to pick up a set at Aldi when doing the weekly grocery shop LOL there were 3 sets left at my local Aldi this week. Plus spray cans like we can get now were but a Dream back then. Whilst they don't stand up against the modern kits they look the part from a viewing distance and with some tidying up buffers installing etc will look ok Going to use the Big River Models screw on Buffer beams and some of the corridor pars etc

Hi Bob you are right re the cars they have the cast brass or bronze bogies with 3 rail wheels Re painting with an air brush your spot on, even in 1970-80 airbrushing was considered a luxury most of my dads locos built in the late 70's early 80's were all hand painted but your hard pressed to tell even his GWR metro tank that won the AMRA trophy was hand painted. The existing layout doesn't have to go but if it is wanted by someone it can go to a new home. Moonan Flats being modular and portable can be put to one side and stored, I have a few people who keep saying they want it as well. I keep telling them to make an offer when they really want it in their garage, the first one that dose will have it, and the others will be disappointed LOL. I have to say I run trains most days even if it's only for a few minuts, since building Moonan flats I find it very therapeutic to just shunt a few trains around then swap locos/stock around for the next operation. Who would think you can enjoy a layout with only 2 points.so much. I think Shelley prefers Moonan Flats being set up, as it is the smallest of the 5 layouts that I have. Although the Rio Grande HOn3 is smaller is base board area to Moonan Flats, it takes up more space as it's an L shape but narrow shelf style base boards. Re Newcastle rebuilding I have a large table that I work at and will set each module up on that to work on, as I can then sit on a stool to do the work plus turn each it on its side to do the work under the boards electric's point motors etc (I don't do under layout so good any more working upside down) and when I need to do over join work etc I can set up in the place of Moonan Flats

Finally got to doing some scenic's around the signal The base was painted with the same burnt umber paint that I used when the initial layout scenic's were done 2 coats then when dry I brushed on some quick set PVA and added the Ballast and ash Surface. Signal base scenic's applied Then the same was done with the area around the signal Scenic's around the location of the signal base added and some random grass tufts around Whilst I had the box of scenic's out I decided to add some random tufts around this area as it looked a little uniform down between the tracks Also in this photo is a MAL 12 wheel sleeper car it is 1 of 5 cars I was given, it is believed to have been Scratch built from timber and balsa in the 1950's Scenic's around the location of the signal base added and some random grass tufts around

MartyOne was green 4458 not the best green colour it's the same as per the Indian railways Green and white. 4458 still in service may have carried more colour schemes than any other having been blue with yellow stripes as well, it's now running in silver IRA livery. Link to a photo of 4458 trailing with the most colourful 44 ever http://www.trainman.id.au/photos/nsw/diesel/44class/4488-4458_PAT2_Enfield_2-8-02.jpg

I found this some time ago whilst doing a google image search It's a list that f the 44's that received the Red Terror livery may be helpful for numbering.

Now that's looking the part nicely done Bob Reminds me of the last years of the New England line with dirty Red terror and Candy 44's rumbling along to Tenterfield I'm guessing that what has inspired you with livery

Lots of activity going on, on your work bench at the moment Bob all looking good. Your NSWGR locos are increasing in numbers, so it's fitting that the 4F is returned from its extended on loan to the NSW coal fields to the LMS.

The 40 is getting closer and closer to the paint shop. Looking good. It's going to look good at the head of a rake of passenger cars running round the yard.

Yes Bob it will keep me busy for a little while hopefully not too long as the hard bits (the large structures) are done.The base boards and track are the easiest bits to do it all the little details that really take the time As far as having one part DC and the other DCC I plan to have the point control on the parts between the two sections interlocked so can't be changed whilst separate controls being used the most basic way will be to use 4PDT switches from Jaycar for the switching of the DCC/DC to that section it will also allow for the crossing points to be set to prohibit access to the section using the other set of poles. It's not likely to occur too often but I'd like the option so it's possible to test a DC loco etc or for friends visiting DC locos to be able to be run without having to do to much other than switch the section over. I did see an article once with a electronic module that automatically switches sections for DC/DCC opperation but may be a big pricy I'll have to look into it The switch is a cheap and easy option though.

The 44 is coming along nicely Bob It's going to look the part when finished and painted. And should perform well the the mec you built 30 points sounds like a good score, that will be a big addition to the layout then coming up

Hi Bob Yes at least the platform boards will need replacing a fresh start with these. The signal box - level crossing board is ok so may be able to keep that one and as it needs track work I and add the extra line in to have the 4 lines on the station approach across the crossing.

Hi Bob I will set it up as DCC for main opperations as most of my locos are DCC fitted, I will set it up as several power districts with circuit breakers that can be isolated and switched between DCC or DC. With it set up like this you could have the main line platforms 1-2 set for DCC and platforms 3 or 4 plus yard set to DC for visiting locos also helps for not disrupting the entire railway if a short issue occurs it will only effect the one section and if someone else is running won't stop there opperation or trip the DCC system, really good for exhibitions situations. As I have to do some major rebuilding with new sub boards etc mostly new track points etc I'm going to add the 4th track across the front of the signal box for the rail car siding and head shunt. This will also increase the operational ability of the layout It would have been nice to be doing just a scenic revamp etc but it's a bit beyond that with the condition of the 2 station boards.

Hi Chris Great set of photos of 3801 Re the line no it's all gone track removed remains of the other stations along the truncated section are being removed at the moment Newcastle Station itself has plans for offices, markets etc being floated the developers in the area want to buldose the lot for the foreshore land grab, but heritage orders stand in there way thankfully. Grass where once rai was As for getting photos you can now stand wher the track once was to get photos etc that you couldn't get before the signal box taken from where the head shunt track once was Looking across the former location of the level crossing to the signal box