JZ

I have decided that the engineering works at the far end of the private siding will be named Griffin & Fudge Ltd. An odd name you may think, but it is named after a real company in Bradford-on-Avon, that closed it's doors for the final time only a couple of months ago, after more than 50 years. My connection is that my late father was a personal friend and business customer and that my oldest friend has worked there for the best part of the last 20 years. So this is my little diorama named after them. On the layout they are a small engineering company with a railway workshop which can be used for light wagon repairs or as a fabrication shop. Another building will house a machine shop, although I have yet to find a suitable kit. This building is Kibri #9808. The building has been lined inside with Wills brick sheet and the lathe drill and bench is from the Wills workshop set. I need a few odd things for blacksmiths to go in the corner. A bit of clutter needs to be added, a few figures and perhaps a few sheets of steel stored against a wall. And, of course, the driving belts to the machines.

Knocked up a Dapol mineral wagon kit as a static for the coal merchant. Part loaded with a figure inside shovelling the load out.Thomas Muir's son perhaps. Also looks like they have invested some money to help load coal sacks a bit easier. I don't know the origin of these bits as they came in a box of stuff a friend was clearing out many years ago.

I have put together a Dapol mineral wagon kit modelled with the door open to go behind the merchant's building, once in place I will dust the area with the finest coal dust I can filter.

NO. just brush the PVA down and sprinkled the coal over it. As the layout is not portable, I didn't see the need to seal it. I did vacuum up the excess after 24hrs.

Mostly working actually. But I did spend a little time on Somercombe and now I have a week of annual leave starting tomorrow, I hope to get more done. Firstly I purchased a granite pestle and mortar from Tesco for the princely sum of ??7. Then, in return for a helping hand, I got hold of a tubfull of fine coal from one of my neighbours. Some of this has been ground up and graded, first through a cheap metal tea-strainer to get the dust out, then through some 1mm mesh for something that can be used to represent anthracite or phurnacite nuts, the rest can be used as household coal, with any larger pieces going back to the pestle and mortar. Then different grades were put into the coal staithes. On the truck I have used Pecoscene(Ex-Merit) coal sacks, glued in place with Bostik, dry brushed with a dark brown. When dry I lightly brush the tops with PVA and sprinkled some of the 1mm coal over. The coal in these wagons is the same grade glued over the top of either the Dapol/Airfix coal load or the ones from Parkside. Made a start on putting real coal in all my steam loco's St4 2-6-0, Fairburn tank behind. T9 Westward Ho! Super D I have used a mixture of sizes on these. I am about halfway through the fleet at present. I think the most diehard enemy of coal must admit that the real thing scales very well and looks so much better than any of the artificial alternatives. Finally, my one modern loco has to haul something. For this I have a rake of 7 HHAs. I have added weight using liquid lead, put in plasticard tops for the false load, represented the humps using modelling clay then PVA'd it when dry and used the finest coal dust over it with just the odd bits of larger sizes. Also added a little spillage over the sides and ends. They now weigh-in at 250gms and do sound the real deal rumbling around the layout. I would just like to add that when grinding and sieving the coal, it is best done outdoors so as not to breath in the dust.

Mine arrived yesterday and has already been seen on the ACE Good to see that the valance is easily removable. I have disconnected the blind lighting as I don't think it really needs them. Did the same on my Clayton as well. As for others comments on the typeface, I thought that this was unique to Kestrel. Painted the exhausts black and also the front of the horns as can be seen on my Somercombe blog. Overall very pleased with it, although I am still trying to work out why I bought it in the first place . It doesn't fit in my time frame and it was never seen around these parts. But then again, I like it. Now that Heljan have brought out Falcon and Kestrel, one can't help wondering how long it will be before they announce Lion.

for my duck

A stranger on the ACE . Well CK assures me it ran over the S&D, so it could easily come this way As today has been a rest day, I decided to do a little real modelling and build some signals. Using the Ratio kit for LNER lattice post signals, I built these. You may think I have left the wires a bit on the long side, but they are only loosely in place. These will do for the meantime but will be replaced by MSE signals in the long term. As for making them work..................Not sure yet. I think plastic is a bit frail for this. But if any of you have successfully made them work, please let me know. Finally today, here is Stroudley, the station cat, sitting on a luggage trolley. Painted by my daughter as her contibution to the layout.

The ground signals are static. My eyesight and patience aren't up to making them work. The main signals will be working. I think I will be finishing off the scenic work in the station area before installing to save any accidents. As for period, around 1960-66, but subject to a little time warping on occasion.

Built my ground signals yesterday and got them painted up and fitted last night. For the position of them and the type I am very much indebted to Beast 66606 for his advice. These have been made using the Ratio kit. I still need to fit operating cables, but this will done when the main signals have been built and placed. The same goes for point rods. Here we have the calling on signal at the exit to the yard. Next we have the triple signal which controls the movement to the bay, down main and the movement to the next ground signal. And the double that control movement to up main and to the yard. OK the pictures don't show them very large, but it was a compromise between showing the signal itself and it's position.

Edit post Report this post Reply with quote Re: Somercombe. Burnt figers. by JZ on Mon Sep 14, 2009 4:23 pm Spent yesterday evening soldering up some benches and luggage trolleys. All from Langley, set 129a, LMS seating and trolleys. At this scale they look good enough for me. At least they are not GWR cast ones. This morning decided after painting them, to get some figures painted. Didn't realise how quickly time was slipping away. I started just before 10am and was a bit surprised later when I looked at my watch, 15:30 Good job today is a rest day. With the Gent's open to the elements, it needed a figure. Obligatory Nestle chocolate machine on the platform. A couple of porters going about their jobs. A view along Station Terrace. A handful of people awaiting the Exeter train. And now I ask advice. I am thinking of putting up a small canopy over the entrance. Nothing elaborate, just big enough to cover the door along to the window. Maybe sticking out about 6 scale feet. Edit post Report this post Reply with quote Re: Somercombe. Burnt figers. by JZ on Mon Sep 14, 2009 5:22 pm Decided to make a small canopy. It bugged me a bit without it and browsing the A Modellers guide to the Southern Region, I can see that most country stations had some form of canopy over the entrance.

Had a bit of a play today. Then stopped to get some photo's. Plymouth and Westward Ho with a Seaton to Newcastle service that will go up via the S&D. T9 30310 on a stopping Salisbury to Exeter Central service. xGW pannier waits in the bay with the local to Yeovil. Meanwhile 'Jinty' 47315 waits to take some empty wagons from local coal merchants back up to Radstock. Bus service appears to be lost passing Clench's Bottom farm (blind says Paulton via Timsbury, must get a new one for this layout) Unusual to have two pick-up goods in the yard at the same time, must have been signalling problems somewhere. 46440 shunts loaded coal wagons to the merchant while on it's way from Templecombe to Exeter. Looks rather clean, can't have just come out of the works as it still has a cycling lion on the tender. 30310 stops to take on some water before continuing. Last edited by JZ on Fri Sep 11, 2009 6:39 pm, edited 1 time in total. Julian.. Re: All change at Somercombe.by JZ on Fri Sep 11, 2009 4:14 pm All steam in the last few pictures. But things were soon to change. The local to Yeovil is now a DMU and works down from Westbury. The Salisbury-Exeter stopper still runs, but for how much longer A BR type 2 works the Templecombe-Exeter pick-up, while a Clayton is on "The coal" to Radstock. Meanwhile 'Falcon' storms through with an inter-regional express. I have it on good authority that both the Claytons and 'Falcon' saw service over the S&D.

More work done. Now there's a change. Fencing up on rear of platform, watercranes in place and loading guage. Lights and running in boards in place. Not sure about this. The station requires an entrance/exit for when the ticket office is closed. I made this from the steps of a concrete footbridge. It will be gated at the top. Does it look right My excuse is that the old one was rotten and needed replacing. I wasn't too happy with the looks of the station building. Just not right in my eyes. So I added a canopy this morning. I think it looks so much better now, even before painting. Anyway, off to work now.Julian. Rest day today Time to get more done on the railway. Now that the lamp-posts are in, I thought I better get some signs on them. These are from Station Signs. Hot dogs needeed a little care and patience to cut out, but well worth it. Ratio spear fencing has been fitted along Railway Terrace. Another view of the new station awning. The London bound platform needed some kind of shelter, so I knocked this up using Wills sheet, Evergreen scribed plasticard and Ratio valancing. I do have a better picture, but I do like this view.

The fiddle yard in pictures. Longest loop will take a loco + 9 coaches, the shortest, loco + 3. 4 sidings in the corner, the longest of which will loco + 5 and the shortest an M7 + 3.Julian. With all the track down now, thoughts turn to the scenics. With money in short supply this month due to my combi-boiler breaking down , I am getting on with the areas I do have the parts for. So I decided that to do the station area next. Finished building the goods shed(Ratio) and the modern extension(Peco), the later needs some weathering. Most of the ground is covered with Carr's ash ballast and the area in front of the shed uses Slater's stone setts. These will extend up the ramp to the roadway. The coal merchant's shed(Ratio) is reversed from the normal way around to give a covered area for filling sacks. A Will's coal office and staithes are used outside. Wooden fencing will go along the back of the platform.Signs for Somercombe are from http://www.stationsigns.co.uk/ and are excellent value for money. Concrete running in boards are Dart Castings. I have yet to decide on lighting, but I won't bother having it working. You may notice that one siding is very close to the edge, but a wall will be going here. Just noticed after posting, that a join in the cork tiles shows from this angle . Have to get that disguised with grass. This should hopefully be full of photo's of the yard and station area. Julian. Progress of late has been a little slower. What with holidays and other calls on finances, I have stuck to jobs that have the materials in hand. No major scenic work has been done, just a few embellishments around the station. Also moved the location a few miles, so Somercombe lies between Chard and Axeminster. This gives me an excuse for the local you can see in the bay Local for Yeovil sat in the bay. The wall will be topped by railings. Eight terraced cottages will extend this way. At some time in the future I hope to replace the Metcalfe kits with something scratch-built. But in the meantime they are good enough. Looking down from the High St. The retaining wall behind the yard is now in place. This also stops things falling to the floor if I shunt too heavily. Looking up through the station in the Exeter direction. A wooden fence will go along the back edge of the near platform. Lights have yet to be added, but will be Ratio SR concrete type. Lord Nelson at the water crane(actually behind the firebox and not yet fitted). Which also reminds me that I have yet to make provision for a water tower Two views of a farm I built a few years back. It uses The old Airfix thatched cottage and Waterloo farm buildings with a few alterations. It nicely fits into a corner. Maybe a bit close to the town Somercombe Station building. Sign are from http://www.stationsigns.co.uk/ Lamps are from the off-cuts from the Ratio concrete ones. One thing I didn't account on. Painted the barrow crossing a few weeks ago. Ran the CMX clean machine around the other day and it took the paint off Also need to fit a loading guage. Am I right in saying that this would go on the road out of the goods shed And would there need to be one on the private siding, which serves a timber yard and small wagon repair works.

Spent this morning wiring up the tortoises, yet to power them though. Checking for shorts and that the frog polarities are correct. Put the feeds in for the headshunt and private siding and the next section of mainline. This is where I hit a snag. I can do some shunting in the yard. Spent a happy hour or so playing when I could be doing something else. Let's hope tomorrow work can continue instead of play. No more pic's at the moment, but progress continues. Spent this morning putting in power to the tortoises, now all the points in the station area are powered and, more importantly, work. Had a bit of a break this afternoon and decided to just make a start on the river bridge. Got carried away rather and finished it Will get some pictures Thursday after work, as I'm off to the University of Manchester tomorrow to do a bit of work for my old firm.Julian. So, now that I have a bit of time, I can put some pictures up. The bridge. Showing construction. H and rectangular section is Plastrut. Chairs from C&L. Railings are from an old Peco turntable and the lattice is Knightwing, it is actually VVVVVV sections glued back-to-back. Plasticard deck. Now with a coat of paint on the top. There are several bridges with this style of top between Southampton and Portsmouth. Some have planking between the rails and in the six foot. But the one thing they all have in common is the same overall colour. The butresses are from Will's sheets, wing walls will be added later when in situ. The underside now has been given a coat of Halford Peugot Cossak grey as have the railings. The other thing waiting to be photographed is the control panel. Decided to use KISS* principles with this. It just controls points in the station area and two gates on the private siding. Points, as mentioned, use Tortoise motors, the gates will use two Fulgurex ones that I have lying around. Blue represents the main through lines, black the sidings and bay, yellow/green the interlocked crossings. *Keep It Simple Stupid Did a little more to the river bridge today. Added the wing walls and given the buttresses a coat of brick red. Is that an MP's second home on the horizon. You wonder if the moat has been cleared or the gardening done Or indeed if the mortgage has been paid off.

Work continues on the bridge. Abutments finished on the town side. Note the use of prototypical 1960 stock. A bit more track laying done over the weekend. Starting to think about the layout of the goods yard. Only three sidings. One through the goods shed and cattle dock. Another will be for the coal merchants and one for.......well, just as a siding. The track on the left of this picture is from the previous aborted attempt. Looking up from the station throat. Again using typical 1960's stock. Over the yard towards the station building. I think it is time now to power some of this up to check it all works. I will fit droppers to each rail section and maybe, if I'm really keen, get some tortoises in tomorrow. Spent some of this morning putting in the droppers to the power rail. For this I decided to use mains cable, stripped at intervals. Soldered this all up at lunchtime and checked for shorts as I went. All was going well until the area in front of the signal box A bit of head scratching and swearing followed before I noticed the problem. I had added a couple of copperclad sleepers to a point yesterday and forgotten to gap them Problem quickly sorted and at 14:35 today the first loco ran under it's own power. Didn't run very far, but this was fortunately down to dirty track, a quick wipe over with fingers was enough to get it going again. Next job is to fit Tortoises and wire these in. Once I am happy with this stage I can press on and complete the circuit. The next problem I see ahead of me is that when the circuit is complete, will I want to play trains or get on with the scenics.

Track laying starts afresh. Put in the crossover between the platforms. This will enable trains from the branch, not modelled, and the local train from Salisbury to run around before shunting into the bay. Laid a single line around the curve back to the doorway as well today. This will dissappear into a tunnel(now there's a novelty). Maybe get the second line through the curve tomorrow after work. A few of shots of progress so far. M7 sitting on the crossover. View down through the platforms. Second track laid in the curve tonight. With luck I may get the track through the platforms down tomorrow. Did some more work in the station area today. Track is now laid through the platforms, but work has stopped while I wait while the cork is glued down. Road bridge over end of platforms. Put this here to disguise the entrance into a fairly sharp, 30"rad, turn. Beyond the curve it will run through a cutting towards the tunnel. My attempt at an atmospheric shot. Spoilt somewhat by the sun through the window. The two windows in the shed that get direct sunlight through them are fitted with UV blocking film. Same shot as above but using flash. edit for lousy grammar

A trial to get a rough idea of where things go. The bay will now go on the far side of the station and have no loco release. Trains will be terminated in the main platform and be shunted unless it is a push/pull or DMU. The shops behind will just have a wide path in front. This will become a row of houses as it get further away from the town centre. The far polyblock will be at road level and be an area for dropping off/parking. The near block will be the position of a footbridge. The goods yard will be at the front of the layout, which will make it easier for the use of 3-link couplings. While deciding on the revised trackplan I decided to get some proper modelling done. Ratio covered footbridge. A little more painting to do. Yes the smoke pans are supposed to be to one side. Always wanted a covered footbridge and this one is probably the best of the kits short of turning to brass. I have the Knightwing kit, but I think it looks a little GWR and is also not designed for platform mounting. Now that Fred's Llandaff South is finished I can finally get back to Somercombe. The station building has be 'anglicised'. Chimneys added and a door set in the end at road level. Retaining wall has been made using Ratio kits. The retaining wall nearest the camera is only resting in place and held by the weight of the car.It will be more upright when finished.. This will be the main entrance to the station. Looking up the other way. The road bridge is made from the Will's vari-girder. The row of shops will extend along the top, gradually becoming smaller premises and finishing in a row of terraced houses. No road access along here, just a footpath. The retaining wall will be topped by spear fencing. Looking under the bridge into the station. Main entrance.

So, back to laying track. Ballasting being one of those jobs you love or hate, and I hate it. I want it to be quick, easy and to look good. So I thought I'd try a short test piece. I cut the cork to width, slapped on some PVA, lightly pinned track down, then left it for ten minutes and turned it over to remove the excess ballast. Not bad, I thought. Now, how would I turn the shed upside down. So a quick trip to Argos to get a rechargable vacuum cleaner. Tonight I started with the curve that will enter the station. Pressed down the ballast, left it for the ten minutes and then vacuumed away. Not perfect and will require a bit of touching up, but much easier than laying the track first, then dry ballasting and going over with an eye dropper. I decided now would be as good a time as any to paint the platform edges. I wanted a well worn and faded look to it, so I used Tamiya flat white, fairly well thinned and dry brushed. Quite happy with the result. So over the weekend I will fit a crossover between the platform ends. Progress a bit slower now as hand built pointwork is new to me. I need to get hold of some more tortoises, as I just have the one at the moment. Still looking for a suitable bridge to cross at the far end of the station. I don't know what I really want here, but if I see it, I will get it.

I am in the process of copying over my Somercombe thread. I will be editing post on the way so things may seem a bit fra g me nt ed. But bear with me, I havn't gone and pulled it up and started again.

Before any track laying takes place, I want to see that all I want will fit. The last thing I want is a cramped feel to it. If it means losing a siding, so be it. Tonight I did some test placings of buildings in the station and yard to get a feel of what I am trying to achieve. The line through the goods shed will have an end loading dock close to the station building. Coal staithes will be in the shed in the background of the first shot. The bay platform, with the 121 in it, will have a loco release big enough for a 4MT tank or Q1 only. Fairly happy with this, so Friday I will perhaps get some more track laying done. The base board here is 36" wide, just about the maximum to comfortably work across.

All fully insulated now. Baseboard height will be level with the bottom of the windows. I will be putting 38x38mm timber around the walls at that level to support the cross beams and also the power. The layout will for the most part be 24" wide, easy enough to reach over and leaving me a good sized piece of free space for other projects in the middle. Not sure about a duck-under or lift out by the door, but most likely it will be a lift out section to allow better access. Scenic side of the layout will be away from the windows which are on the north side of shed. Tapings not too straight, is it. :oops: :oops: Since my last post I have been on earlies, which means I can't get much done in the evenings until the power is connected. All the sockets, 10, are in now, as is the lighting. All circuits have been checked by my neighbour, a qualified electrician. All that's left now is to connect it up to the house supply. But that can wait for a bit. Next week is lates, so I can spend 3-4 hours out there before work. The first boards are up. The fiddle yard, station and other areas where the railway is going to be in a cutting, are on flat top boards using 9mm ply. This will be covered with cork tiles, And yes I do know where I can get enough. I will be using open frame for the areas with embankments and maybe a viaduct. I wish to include a canal with possibly a lock. Here's a few progress shots. Placed a few building around to get the feel of what I am trying to achieve. The shops will be on a slope with a bridge over the end of the station in the gap, with just a fence on this side of the roadway. The station approach will come from in front of the lefthand building. I'll go away and draw up a plan of what it will look like.Since my last post I have been on earlies, which means I can't get much done in the evenings until the power is connected. All the sockets, 10, are in now, as is the lighting. All circuits have been checked by my neighbour, a qualified electrician. All that's left now is to connect it up to the house supply. But that can wait for a bit. Next week is lates, so I can spend 3-4 hours out there before work. The first boards are up. The fiddle yard, station and other areas where the railway is going to be in a cutting, are on flat top boards using 9mm ply. This will be covered with cork tiles, And yes I do know where I can get enough. I will be using open frame for the areas with embankments and maybe a viaduct. I wish to include a canal with possibly a lock. Here's a few progress shots.

At last . The shed is up. Next thing is to get it secure and cozy. I'll be fitting laminated glass in the windows. The side door will be fixed and panelled over, as will one of the double doors at the front. The other will be rebuilt, you could call it my Bulleid door :roll: :roll: , with 9mm plywood inside the planking, replace the batons and insulate it. Security locks will also be fitted and an alarm. Outwardly I want it still to look like a shed, so as not to attract attention. I was fortunate with the weather last weekend, nice bright sunshine whilst putting it up. Clear weather again on Monday enabled me to treat the outside. The basic shed had double doors at one end and a single door on the side. The side door and one of the end doors have been fixed in place and panelled over, leaving the larger of the two end ones for access. Work continues inside.I have laid in the power cable, and will get all the wiring done and checked before connecting, it also gives me an excuse to get out of there when night falls. Insulation is ordinary loft insuation behing plywood panels. Focus have a BOGOF on these rolls at the moment. The ceiling has thermal wrap, a bit like heavy duty bubble wrap but silver. I have used this in the loft before and cannot recommend it enough. Focus also have a 3 for 2 on this. I will also be using this on the floor under the boards. Also put up extra roof braces as I felt that one on a 20' length was insufficient, also handy for putting the lighting on. Progress so far. Work continues apace. Today I put the flooring down. Loft storage panels. Under this went a layer of the foam used under laminate flooring and a layer of Thermal Wrap (the stuff like heavy duty silver bubble wrap). Not cheap, but it claims to be equivilent to 50mm of foam insulation. I have used it before in my loft and found it very effective, I also have it on the ceiling of the shed. Focus have been doing a 3 for 2 on this stuff at ?‚??24.99 a roll. When I went back for some for the floor they only had 3 rolls left with the labels missing, so I was only charged ?‚??14.99 a roll and still got the 3 for 2. Bargain Still have to finish lining the back wall and then I will think about putting the power in. Question is, do I put the sockets high level, or under the baseboard height :?: Today's task. Guttering. Probably one of the most important things, and one I probably should have done at the beginning. Most rain will hit the roof, so you don't want it dripping down and being blown against the side of the shed and possibly pool underneath. Anyway, it's done now and another ?‚??72 spent. Talking of costs, it must be remembered that the shed itself can be less than half of the total cost if going down this route for your railway room. Obviously a smaller shed will work out less, but not neccassarily proportionally. Costs so far:- Concrete base - ?‚??286 Shed - ?‚??994 Gutters - ?‚??72 Insulation - ?‚??155 Panelling - ?‚??149 Floor - ?‚??86 Alarm - ?‚??40 Lock - ?‚??37 Light and power ?‚??100 - I was lucky in having another shed within 4' of this one and was able to extend the power from it. But you may need a qualified electrician. Security glass - ?‚??94 Extra timber for doors and extra roof joists - ?‚??75 - actually bought far too much, but will use that on baseboards. Screws and nails - ?‚??10 Wood treatment - ?‚??12 Other bits and bobs - ?‚??50 And last, but not least, my helpers. ?‚??170 That all comes to ?‚??2268. My budget was ?‚??2500. But was to include the cost of the framework to support the railway. So I still have?‚??232 left for that. Maybe they should put me in charge of the Olympics

Finally I am getting somewhere. But where :?: Well had to get the holidays out of the way. Then had to wait until my help had a week off and the days he was available had to tie in with my rest days. So, last week we dug out the base and yesterday poured the concrete. We had to barrow it around the back as unfortunately the developers who put up my terrace didn't have the foresight to make the access wide enough for a concrete mixer. But I suppose they didn't have many back in 1904. Anyway, it took an hour to get 3cubic metres (about 6?‚??-7 tons)of the stuff shifted. 24 hours later and my arms are still stiff. But at least it won't need to be done again. The shed is ordered and should be here at the tail end of next week. Other things happening. Got my DCC controller last week. I was so impressed with my son's Roco multiMAUS, that I went for one myself. After scouring ebay for weeks without luck I spotted Rails selling an unused Roco starter set. Class BR112 loco, 3 carriages. And of course, the multiMAUS. Ended up paying ?‚??188.02 including postage. It says on the box "lots of fun at a low price". Gaugemaster are currently selling this set at a price of 'only' ?‚??344. Obviously some peoples idea of low price is different to mine. :what Quite impressed with the quality I must say. Superb running,seperately working cab lights on function 1 & 2, 3 gives half speed for shunting and 4 switches off preset acceleration and braking. The carriages have DCC lighting and one has tail lights as well. One bugbear though. The flanges, particularly on the coaches, seem quite large compared to what we expect on British models today and certainly larger than on my Lilliput SVT137. On other fronts. I have been thinning my loco stud. I still have far too many, but I am unlikely to be buying any more........apart from a 4MT or 2, a T9, a Schools and a Super D. Oh plus a Clayton, a class 22 and possibly a couple of DMUs and a teddy bear. And I now have 30 decoder fitted, one behind my schedule of fitting one a week since I took the decision to go DCC. More pictures next week when the shed is up.