MarshLane

That's the realisation your running big boys toys!!! God doesn't the OO look little and toylike in comparison! Rich

Hi Andy, That lorry is nice, what's the make, if you don't mind me asking? Rich

Both Dapol and Tower have told me that the next version will be out Christmas next year/early 2018. Dapol at Warley told me that with various versions and specials, they expect the 08 to stay in the catalogue for four to five years. Rich

Just a thought with you mentioning Liverpool, but two things spring to mind, although I accept they are more stabling than depots. But the approaches Manchester Piccadilly had a couple of stabling sidings in the middle of the fast and slow lines, which could be something different. There are the sidings just north of Preston, see my thread a couple of pages back for a picture someone kindly posted, or Guide Bridge stabling point after the Woodhead route had finished ... plenty of 40s Rich

Hi Barnaby, While I've been very firmly in the three-link camp for coupling, I am giving some thought to fitting some wagons with autos and I like the Lincs system the best - it seems one of the more unobtrusive designs. How have you got on coupling and uncoupling three links on wagons that are also fitted with the Lincs system? If I've read all this thread right, it is feasible to use both? I also believe the Lincs system has a delayed action to it? Do you have any idea what the minimum radius would be for vehicles fitted with these couplings? Rich

Thanks Jon, Id like to say its another string to my bow, but a 50% completion of one kit, doesn't warrant that saying I don't think! But I've enjoyed it. Thanks for your comments. This could have an impact on the history/background and period of main layout (oh god, I hear myself saying!) which may be to your advantage/disadvantage ... as its definitely going to mean more semaphores, and perhaps additional complications in the number of arms! No further work on the wagon today, due to discovering my 1/32nd and 1mm drills appear to have sprouted legs and walked off somewhere! Waiting on some new ones coming before I can finished the kit off. The comment from my family today on the van was oh goodie, something different to buy you for Christmas!! Rich

Hi Simon, Thanks for your input, I'm struggling to visualise how you do it .. any chance of a picture? Rich

Andy, Many thanks, very kind comments, much appreciated. Rich

Paul I would have had the same response as you, but having done this one, I would now say to anyone have a go! Without a doubt, there is a difference between Etched Brass and Plastic, I've yet to build the courage to tackle the former, but I have a feeling I might yet give it a go one of these days! Hi Jinty, (this thing still wants to call you Minty!)Thanks for the comment, I feel really upbeat finding out that it's not the easiest of the Parkside kits! Or maybe I haven't got to the hard bit yet!!! No criticism taken - you know me, unless anyone pulls it apart without offering advice or a better way of doing things, I welcome all comments and queries. The axle boxes, to be honest, were the only bit so far that has caused me problems. I did them as per the instructions with all three sections glued together with the bearing end, but then found that a) I struggled to get the wheel set in, and b) when it was in, the 'W" irons were pushing outwards and the wagon wasn't free running. So having pondered for a few minutes and though, hang on, the way the three parts form up, there is a side groove in each axle box, so gently praised the back section and bearing holder off the other two parts and married them back up again, through the W Irons. They do still slide up and down (although admittedly I've glued one slightly wrong so it doesn't slide!) but with the wheelset in place, the W irons are not pushing out any longer, and the wheels are free running. That is totally different from how the instructions say. Do you do them a different way? Rich

Don't see anything that needs to be excused! Looks really good to me! I do like that slightly raised area. Rich

No problem, I'll have a go and see what I can come up with. Im sure somebody has look at KX stabling point for a layout, if I can find that, that may give some idea of the proper length. Rich

Very nice build image. Really like the coach on the turntable? An LMS variety? Rich

Well guys, I have to say my modelling skills have been given a huge boost this evening, and I've attempted something else I've never done before! Back at the Gauge O Guild event at Doncaster in July, I purchased a NE 20-ton brake van kit from Parkside Dundas. I've often thought of doing kits but really have steered clear as I wasn't happy I could make a decent job of things. I know I have high standards and become dishearten and disappointed when the outcome doesn't match the quality and detail that was in my mind at the start. Its probably the wrong way of looking at things, but thats me! However, with the whole depot building in my mind at Doncaster I thought, well I'll grab what looks like a reasonable kit and see how I get on. Ok, its plastic and not etched brass or anything, but take things one step at a time. So looking around I acquired the PD LNER 20-ton 'Toad E' goods brake van, with the view that they lasted into BR service, so if it worked it could form the first vehicle of an freight to run behind my A2! The kit (PS113) cost £42 and one of the attractions was that it was a 'one-stop' shop - including wheels and transfers. So for an uninformed idiot like me, that sounded a good move. After back and forth chatting with Paul (pjking on rmWeb) over the past few days, the conversation briefly turned to kits and I remembered the purchase from Doncaster that was still sat sealed in the box on the shelf! Well, tonight I've had the evening to myself with no disturbances or distractions, and I've set to it. Given this is my first kit, I didn't think it was a good idea to do a bit by bit write up, I'm bound to make mistakes and there are likely better ways of doing things, so didn't want to be telling people wrong. However, Im conscious that like Paul and me, there are people out there who feel kits be they wagon, coach or loco are well beyond them, so I've done a batch of photos as I've been building this evening, and hopefully they may be of interest to people. The kit is quite neat when it arrives, although the number of parts do make you think what have I taken on here! However, the instructions from Parkside Dundas are good (in the main) and the schematic drawing helps to put things in perspective. Having followed the instructions and go the internal doors glazed, the brass wire door handles added, and the guards look outs glazed, the body is then brought together. The one problem I found was that the long sides were slightly banana shape, and it took some work to get everything to come square, and in the end, I abandoned my Revell plastic cement in favour of superglue - with just a small dab added at the ends to hold things in place, which seems to have worked well. From here, its then on to the start of the under frame, sorting the axleboxes out, in the end, I did these slightly different from the instructions as I just couldn't see how the method in the instructions could work. However, once these were fitted, and the W irons added to the solebars, which were added to the body, the wheels were then added. Thats brought me to the end of the world for tonight, at 11pm, my eyes were starting to go! So time to go curl up with a DVD and a cup for half and hour and watch archive diesels or one of the superb B&R DVDs from the 1950s/60s! Hope its been a little bit interesting for those of you who, like me have never attempted a wagon kit before, and for those that have, well you can probably pick holes in where I've gone wrong! I think there is about four hours work in this so far, so 8-10 hours to complete a wagon build, bearing in mind its the first one I've ever done, I reckon is quite good Will it be the last kit? Definitely, not! I've really enjoyed putting this together, although I'm only half way through it at the moment. Lots of under frame and wheel detail to add, let along painting and transfer - this may also become the guinea pig for trying out weathering! As for what livery it will be finished in NE or BR, I'm undecided - thinking the latter could end up arriving on Marsh Lane shed, while the former could be a preserved example for a brake van trip on the light rail system behind the industrial 08, or maybe a visiting Peckett for some anniversary! With any luck, a bit more may be done tomorrow afternoon. As alway, comments are welcome. Rich EDIT: Forgot the last two images!

Thanks Brian. Not so sure about eyes closed, lol! But hopefully have a bit more of an idea. Need to try and get the 'set' into this crossover, as the light rail vehicles will be running over a bit faster than locos pottering around the depot! Cheers Andy, thats appreciated! Rich

Paul, If you can give me an idea of the length of each siding, i.e. What you want it to hold, I'll have a go at doing KX in Templit for you. Not a master at all, but enough to get by! Rich

Finally made a little bit of progress on the next point work this afternoon in that all the sleepers are down! This as previously commented is a crossover and catch point for the light rail system that will run on a higher level than the shed. The catch points will not follow the plan totally, hence why the longer sleepers stop short. This was my first attempt at sleeper shoving in Templot, and seems to have worked ok! I've now got the evening to myself so another little project that Paul (pjking) of this parish has spurred me into having a go at. It will either be brilliant, kind of average, or a complete disaster! More later Rich

Just a thought as well ... if you are working things out, look at the plan of Marsh Lane which is on page 12, 13 or 14 of my thread that is all working on an 8' length scenic area. Might give you some thoughts as to what you can get on a 4' board. Just don't get disheartened when you realise you need more space than you thought! Rich

Paul,I'd totally agree with Craig. Obviously Templot (or whatever you use) will give you some flexibility but I say 18" for the average point, 36" for a crossover and 24" for a double/single slip. Also bear in mind that a Class 37 is 18", Class 20 is 14" and class 40 is 20" long although I've added an extra inch to each end to allow plenty of space. Remember also where two stabling roads converge on a point you need a good 6" between the point and the end of the first Loco to allow one to pass on the other road, especially with overhang if the road curves. Rich

In the words of Crabtree from Allo' Allo' .... bigger it Rich

I think its another of those lost in the midst of time queries, but I always understood it to be down the sound made by the engine .... round here they always used to be known as 'pilots' or 350s, namely because they were the yard 'pilot' (shunter). Rich

Haha! Should you ever decide to lose that nice blue 31 - let me know Rich

Well done that man! I would say welcome out of the closet, but that may give some folk the wrong impression!! My advice would be take things slowly, weather the 08 first, then give some thought to your fueling point and see how you get on. At that stage you can consider whether to lose the OO gauge stuff or keep it for a rainy day. I think once you'be got that 08 weathered and a DCC sound chip in it, the smile will go to a smirk, then a beam from ear to ear, and you'all be flexing the card to order the 37! At which point SWMBO may start wondering why you have a permenant grin! Have a good excuse ready ... "it's because this 08 runs so smoothly and hums like a real one does darling!" Really won't work ... trust me! Seriously don't make a quick decision and regret it. Your one step on the ladder now, no rush, so enjoy it! Oh ... And I didn't say it earlier, but welcome to the dark side! Rich

Hi Craig, Ah yes, makes sense. I was just thinking you have a 16' width, minus 8' for the two boards, gives you an 8' space, with 2' to get past the end, gives 6' space ... can you get a 8.25' traverser/release road into that 6' at an angle, without blocking the water cupboard or the stairs? With 7 roads, I'm assuming your going for a traverser that is 2' (maybe 3') wide ... thats only 3' space remaining to fit the traverser into? All depends on how wide your water cupboard is I guess! Not doubting your plan, just trying to visualise it, and thinking that the angle of the traverser will likely be very different from how its drawn, although I accept you've said its not to scale. Rich

Evening guys, Haha! Yes that could be true! As for shoes, don't even mention it ... my god that would not be worth thinking about! Nice switcher there Brian, are Atlas plastic bodied, or brass? I've a small interest in American modelling (had around £1,500 of HO stuff, which has been sold this year to fund the O gauge expansion) but what amazed me when I looked at the American O gauge stuff, is there are brass locos out there, ready fitted with DCC sound and lights, brand new, for the same kind of prices we're paying for Heljan! Now that might have changed a little with the exchange rate alterations, but I did think the US O Gaugers were getting really good value for money. Just remember if you decide to deviate, Foster Yeoman had a similar machine (ok it was an SW1000) but similar outline, could always be repainted and become an industrial branch Oh very nice Andy - yes I know what you mean. When the Heljan 47s first came out, I bought a Blue 47, and got it numbered and named as 47222 - decided to sell it several years ago as I hit a period when I wasn't getting any time to model, didn't have the cash to support it, and thought this is silly, sell it and put the money in the bank which I did ... regretted it about six months after, and ever since. ... PS ... If you have a look on your O gauge thread, there's a little pressie for you on there! hope its ok. Yes, I'm seriously thinking that in order to accomplish the options I want with my 47 fleet, I'm going to have to learn kit building. God, that has me reaching for the extra sugar version of Pepsi! (The teetotallers version of the whisky glass) .... I think id probably enjoy it, given the time, but its a bit like the prospect of climbing Snowdon. I know I could do it if I put my mind to it, but there are easier walks and paths to do first .. like building the layout As you say, the Heljan option has its critics, but for me they look really nice models, especially once my mate has put various detailing bits on to them before the repaints! I'll keep my eyes open, if I carry on like this I'll have to upgrade to dealer status! I presume its a green one your after? You know Tower have a few green ones with SYP left? Rich

Andy, Hope the situation with the shed is improving. You mentioned about being stressed ... hopefully this minor gesture, while not improving the water situation, might help bring a smile to your face, and lighten the day (night?) a bit... Feel free to hit delete if its not what you want tho ... or message me and I'll alter it for you. Rich