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Kaolin2FS

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  1. Kaolin2FS

    Intro

    By Kaolin2FS,


    Locomotives
    This is a blog about *finishing* rolling stock conversions! The last year has seen an increasing number of locos and coaches in various states of disassembly filling up all available flat surfaces awaiting an upgrade of one sort or another. Sound familiar? As the end of 2021 approaches, it’s definitely time to start finishing some! For those who’ve not yet taken part of the paint finish off one of their £100+ locomotives or £35+ coaches, read on…
     
    I’m aiming to finish four conversions/upgrades per month for the next few months, using this blog as a vehicle to keep momentum. All the models are derived from the latest-standard Graham Farish products and converted to 2mm FS by swapping the axles for 2mm drop-in wheels. Varying amounts of work are being undertaken to either individualise them or convert them into the types of rolling stock needed for BR operations in the late 80s/early 90s. Hopefully the results will show it’s not particularly difficult to create something a little bit different or unique that can add up to recreate a prototypical train formation.
     
    To start with, something pretty straightforward with some custom transfers that I ordered a while back; conversions of 47535 into 47526 Northumbria and 37407 into 37412 Loch Lomond.
     
    The conversions were very straightforward. The original white printed-on numbers and nameplates were carefully scraped off with the end of a cocktail stick. After that, I created a gloss surface to best accept the transfers by masking the surrounding area and using circular motions of a cotton wool bud dipped in a little toothpaste. There is just enough abrasive in the paste to create a shiny surface on the existing paint finish after 2-3 minutes. Once the toothpaste was wiped off, transfers were applied from Railtec Transfers.
     
    I’ve no connection with Railtec other than being a very happy repeat customer, because their transfers are high-quality and simple to use. The detail in the transfers even goes down to the correct spacing of the numbers for a particular locomotive and the location of rivets on the 3D printed nameplates; they really are so much simpler to use than etches.
     
    Both engines still require a couple of light coats of varnish to seal. I probably shouldn’t admit this, but I’ll point it out first before someone else does - 47526’s BR Large Logo should be at the No.1 end, but given that the factory finish had it at the No.2 end and I didn’t want the hassle of a repaint, I’m going to live with it for now… I’m also undecided whether or not to lower 37412 by a mm or so, but I’m treating them both as ‘finished’ enough for the purposes of this blog!


  3. Kaolin2FS

    #3: Mk2C BFK Conversion

    By Kaolin2FS,


    Coaches
    Here's the first coach to break cover from the Workshop and one that's been worked on in the background for a number of weeks. This started off life as a Farish Mk2A BSO in Blue & Grey livery and it's had a number of mods, including the open interior swapped for a corridor interior, roof vent alterations and water tank added, toilet window amended and vent added, first class/no-smoking signs added (thanks to Railtec for introducing the 2mm-3007 transfers), wheelsets swapped for 2FS and a full repaint. These coaches plied the country in XC rakes in this livery throughout the late 80s before they were displaced to lower-profile workings by the Mk2D air-cons. Most of them had the window bars painted the same Exec Dark Grey as the upper body, but I've found photographic evidence of at least one with silver bars which is not only more visually appealing but also saved me a lot of time. 
     

     

     

  4. Kaolin2FS

    #7 NSE BSKs

    By Kaolin2FS,


    Coaches
    To complete the carriage types needed for the late 80s Thames NSE rake I upgraded a Mk1 BSK and created a Mk2A BSK to run with the Mk2A FK and Mk1 SKs. 
     
    The Mk1 BSK (35475) had some minor tweaks from the existing Farish 374-193 model. NSE logos were removed and replaced at the right hand end of the passenger windows, a parcels cage added from another Farish BSK and roof vents changed to the later, in-line pattern above the compartments. The orange cantrail stripe was also removed. The position of the NSE logos appears to have been a depot-specific choice initially; Old Oak formations seem to have had the logos applied to the right-hand end of the coaches when repainted from Blue & Grey livery in 1986/7, whereas Euston Downside had theirs on the left and this appears to have been standardised from 1988 onwards. Many formations out of Paddington had a mix in the late 80s.
     
    The Mk2A BSK (35500) was a conversion from a BSO. Other than swapping the open half of the interior for a compartment interior, modifications were much the same as the Mk1 with the cage this time coming from a TPM etch. Farish seem to have a been rather inconsistent with their half-brake cages; some batches have the mesh represented whereas on other models it has been omitted completely.
     
    As ever, 2mmFS wheels have been swapped in and transfers are from Railtec. 
     

     

     

     
     
     
  5. Kaolin2FS

    #8 NSE Full Brake

    By Kaolin2FS,


    Coaches
    No, this isn’t a full repaint! This is a cut-and-shut of two NSE BSK bodies that I had spare from another project (married to a repainted BG underframe and roof) and I decided it would be just as easy to make a BG this way than to fully repaint one. The join isn’t perfect but it’s passable at normal viewing distance. This example represents 92315 with Commonwealth bogies (number transfers from Railtec and fitted with 2mmFS wheels) and will run with the NSE Mk1 corridor rake.
     
    The two brake ends from the BSKs before careful filing back and mating:

     
    And the finished BG:

     

     

     
     
  6. Kaolin2FS

    #10 Mk2D BFK Conversion

    By Kaolin2FS,


    Coaches
    The latest installment to the Corridor Brake First (BFK) upgrade family is 17144 in InterCity Executive livery. This one is based on the Farish Mk2F BSO model (374-692). Railtec transfers were used for the First class stripe, First Class door numbers, First Class / No Smoking Logos and bespoke coach numbers. Interior seats have been cut out and a corridor insert added, with an interior rail on the corridor side and curtains added in the compartments from tissue paper. Purists will note that the compartment spacing is not quite wide enough for this variety of Mk2, but given the alternative was a series of cut-and-shuts of the one-piece coach bodyshell, it's something I can live with! 2mmFS wheels to be added following my next order from the 2mm Shop. This model will grace a Paddington-Penzance loco-hauled rake with the previously converted Mk2C BFK getting use on Newquay/Penzance-bound Cross-Country services.
     
     

     

  7. Kaolin2FS

    #9 Scotrail BFK

    By Kaolin2FS,


    Coaches
    Whilst awaiting the Farish Mk2A TSO in Regional Railways livery (374-712), I converted a Farish NSE BSO (374-682) to Scotrail BFK 17064 using the same process as per my other BFK conversion here. I found that Phoenix No. 179 NSE Dark Blue was a better match to the Farish shade than the Provincial Dark Blue (154) which came out a little more purple in colour (albeit possibly more prototypical). The tiny Railtec First Class and No Smoking transfers were added to the windows to finish off. The window bars on the top third of each window were a close enough colour match to avoid a very time-consuming repaint! This coach will marry up with Scotrail-rebranded TSOs to form a 6-coach rake as used on the Edinburgh/Glasgow-Highland Class 37-hauled services of the early 90s. 
     
     

     

     

  8. Kaolin2FS

    #11: Mk1 BSK Generator Coach

    By Kaolin2FS,


    Coaches
    Sometime around 1990, Mk1 BSK 35469 was converted to an ETH Generator Vehicle for Flying Scotsman Services and ended up in regular use on InterCity Land Cruise services to the Highlands for the next few years, carrying the number '196'. This conversion started off life as Farish Mk1 BSK ref. 374-187 and had the conversion treatment including additional boxes underneath the solebar, Commonwealth bogies to replace the BR1s, removal of the coach end steps, etched grilles to represent the ventilation louvres, curtains in the windows, BR roundels and correct coach numbers on the sides and realignment of roof vents. Just need a few ICC Mk1 FOs to go with it...
  9. Kaolin2FS

    #5: Mk2A FK NSE Repaint

    By Kaolin2FS,


    Coaches
    For my current project I need a Paddington/Thames Valley commuter rake in late 80s condition so this week’s upgrade is the first of a few coaches to get a NSE rework. These services primarily consisted of Mk1 SKs (later replaced by Mk1 TSOs or strengthened by Mk2 TSOs), a Mk1 BSK or Mk2 BSK/BFK and a Mk2 FK. Fortunately, for NSE’s 30th Anniversary, Farish released TSO, BSK and FK Mk1 coaches, followed by a Train Pack which included Mk1 RMB, Mk2 TSO and Mk2 BSO all in the earlier, lighter blue variant of the livery. The Thames Valley set can therefore be achieved with minor tweaks to existing models, apart from the Mk2 FK which demanded a full repaint from a blue & grey example (donor 374-950).
     
    After gently removing the raised white lining and the coach numbers with a cocktail stick, the coach was painted with Phoenix Precision Paints NSE Light Blue and NSE Grey before bodyside lining was applied from Fox Transfers. First Class and No Smoking window signs were then carefully added from the Railtec range, along with the yellow first class cantrail stripe and curtains made of orange tissue paper.
     
    Next up: Mk1 NSE SKs. 
    Graham



  10. Kaolin2FS

    #6: Mk1 SK Conversions

    By Kaolin2FS,


    Coaches
    Following on from the FK repaint, the next Farish coaches for attention were the Mk1 TSO (cat 374-016) vehicles which needed to turn into Corridor Seconds in the 18XXX number series (1986-88 condition, following their BR repaint from Blue & Grey livery).
     
    Work here included: changing the open interiors for corridor interiors; moving the Network SouthEast logos to the right-hand end of each coach and the coach number to the left-hand end; removing the orange cantrail stripe; removing the end roof access steps and handrails at one end; and replacing all the roof vents to represent the later-build lots from 187XX onwards which had in-line vents. The first 3 are complete and I'm still working on a few more, one of which will be an example from the 186XX series with B4 bogies and earlier roof vents.
     
    Next up will be the BSKs.


  11. Kaolin2FS
    Given Graham Farish produce a Mk2A BSO it’s not surprising that they haven’t produced another half-brake variant. The BFK is a very useful model though; it was a staple of many loco-hauled services on secondary routes and appeared in a range of liveries during its life. 
     
    Fortunately converting a coach from BSO to BFK is a fairly straightforward business. I took a second-hand Farish model (cat no. 374-680), applied yellow line transfers to half the length, added ‘1’s to the passenger doors, swapped out the open seats for a corridor insert (from a Mk2 FK I’d used in another project) and swapped out the passenger windows for ones with first class markings on them (from the same FK). The only other alteration, aside from the 2mmFS wheels, was to correct the roof vents. These were carefully filed and sanded back before drilling holes at the correct alignment, adding track pins for vents, and painting.
     
    Hopefully it looks convincing; now I only need to decide whether to add ScotRail branding or not!
    Graham



  13. Kaolin2FS
    Despite a new job, new house and a move to the opposite corner of England, progress has continued slowly but surely over the last year. Spurred on by a recent 2mm North East Area Group meeting, here are some recent photos showing scenic progress on Board 1:
     



     
    The layout is operational, in that I have a total of 2 wagons with DG couplings at each end which can be run-round in the loop and shunted by the 37 (still waiting to get my hands on one of the new class 37 releases from Farish with a more appropriate livery), with the DGs being operated by an under-the track magnet attached to a long splint of wood - this allows wagons to be uncoupled at almost any point on the scenic section of the track.
     
    Next to do is replace the cardboard mock-up with a properly constructed dries, construct a scenic break for the entrance into the fiddle yard and complete the ballasting before moving onto Board 2. Time is of the essence before a baby arrives in 7 weeks and counting down...!!!
     
    Here's a video clip showing a short train being dropped off at the Dries (it appears a little jerky due to frame compression; it's a lot smoother in reality):
     

    Graham
     
    [edited on 15 Mar 15 with video link]
  14. Kaolin2FS

    Dries mock-up

    By Kaolin2FS,

    Quick shot of progress so far with work well underway on embankment and a mock-up of the dries and slurry loading point in cardboard/paper. All now running moothly over the concrete and both sets of pointwork; the pointwork is operated by wire-in-tube with no difficulties just yet! The siding in the foreground will be ballasted before weathering with a covering of clay muck. Next for attention: board 2, with the disused linhay.
     

  15. Kaolin2FS
    Lesson one: if you use steel instead of nickel silver rail, don't worry, you'll always be able to tell where the tracks are underneath wet concrete:

    Lesson two: If you don't smooth the top off whilst still wet, sand off the filler very, very carefully when in proximity of point blades... Or they go ping... On the last trial, I'd encountered shrinkage which necessitated a re-plaster so this time I didn't smooth the top off when wet. Nothing 10 minutes with some grade 120 paper didn't fix, making sure I had a vacuum close to hand! The filler was filed down so that the rails stood just proud, to make my life easier when cleaning...

    Lesson three: if you are going to introduce any substance near to the rails that might impede electrical conductivity, be fastidious with cleaning the rails afterwards. I used a thin file (50 thou I think) run along the inside of the rails to clear out any remaining filler, followed by a soft brush and a vacuum to remove any small particles which might find their way between rail and wheel. I also took the opportunity to clean locomotive wheelsets whilst I was at it. At this point I discovered that my 37 is designed to only pick up from 4/6 axles... and as the pointwork was still not totally flat (Lesson four: don't use coiled rail for building pointwork - I know you've all told me this already ) this was causing juddering and stopping at low speeds. Another 10 minutes with a finer grade sandpaper to level out the top of the rails and 20 minutes with a soldering iron and two soldered pieces of scrap brass, and the 37 was picking up from all axles, noticeably improving performance.
    After surveying the initial results, the concrete gang moved in once more to enlarge the initial area and now 3/4 tracks on the western board are 'set'. The departure siding I will ballast and then weather with a healthy dusting of spilt china clay. This is the state of play so far:


    Now it's time for some scenic work and a backscene of some sort - plenty of inspiration on this front from the Nottingham show. And what a good show it was! Also good to meet the likes of Bryn, Richard, Laurie, Gareth and Andy and I know there were a few more I didn't get the chance to say hello to. Very envious of Laurie's pointwork for Yeovil - now that's something to aspire to - no pouring concrete over that lot!
    Graham
  16. Kaolin2FS
    Here goes nothing - it is a test layout, after all! Before and after shots of the P-Way following a visit from the concrete pouring gang:
    Before...

    After...

    Once dry, the filler will be sanded until the rails are slightly proud of the surrounding concrete (I sanded the tops of the rails level beforehand) and then the flange recess on the inside of the rails gently scraped clear. Clearly, I've left the pointwork for the next batch of concrete after I've see how the rest of the job has turned out!
     
    On the rolling stock side, I've now got the 37, 150 and 153 all happily converted and running over the layout without issue, so I've had a go at converting my old Farish 08 to 2FS and DCC. This is a stopgap until I've got a new Bachman 08 bodyshell and have purchased the parts for and built a 2FS chassis - some way off yet. I purchased a TCS Z2 decoder which nicely fits inside one half of the cab, although the running is a little jerky still which I think is probably due to my dodgy soldering rather than any CV values (the re-profiled wheels and track are spotless) although any other ideas gratefully received!
     
    Decoder added

    Fitting neatly inside the cab

    And afterwards, with re-profiled 2FS wheels added


     
    More on how that concrete turned out later in the week!
    Graham
  17. Kaolin2FS
    After much moving house, a little wagon building, some minor procrastinating and a great deal of trackplan re-working, Trevanion Dries has re-surfaced, at last in a more permanent guise. The new siding arrangement, although not maximising the amount of 'visible' trackwork, does increase the operational possibilities by some margin over the last plan. The two boards measure 100 x 30cm each and the trackwork is raised 5.5cm above the floor to allow for an embankment. In a flat without a proper spare room, this allows the boards to be slid under furniture when not in use by detaching the backscene. Most of the trackwork is complete and wired, with just the turnout to the departure siding and the siding itself to finish. As this project is a testbed for new skills and techniques, turnout construction is a mixture of 3 methods. The turnout at the St. Austell end is Easitrac, the departure siding is PCB built using a jig, and the crossover is PCB built on top of paper template using gauges (very early stages covered in an earlier blog). All will be powered by simple sliding switches connected to wire-in-tube, simultaneously changing frog polarity.
     
    Simple schematic (NB the run-round loop will accommodate up to 6 CDAs. Longer trains can be run round prior to shunting by using the road through the slurry loading terminal):

    Plan view of work on 'scenic' side (viewing area 110cm wide):

    Fiddle yard at 'works' end, which can align simultaneously with all 3 roads leading into the works. Tracks are splayed to the left of the photo to allow for fingers in between rolling stock:

    Turntable at 'St Austell' end (still in progress with 4 more roads to add), inspired by Jerry Clifford's 'Tucking Mill':

    Lastly, a view from eye level. Not especially neat or tidy! The thin MDF backscene is a temporary measure:

    Next stage is completion of the trackwork, connection of the point blades to the sliding switches, painting of the track, and setting the 'concrete' by the loading area after thorough testing. I've also been reading up on the Association's 08 replacement chassis which is looking like a very tempting project...
  18. Kaolin2FS

    Launch The Fleet!

    By Kaolin2FS,

    Whilst I'm working on my wagon fleet, I had the wheels on my 2 DMUs sent away for turning and gauging to 2FS standards. Now they're back, here's a visual comparison of the Dapol 153 and the Farish 150, both in Regional Railways livery. They both look great and run superbly (although the Dapol model does have far better slow speed control than the Farish), both before and after conversion to DCC. The blues used for the main body side colour and the lighter blue stripe are slightly different, not enough to be an issue for each model in itself but enough to be noticeable if viewed closely side by side. The real difference is the yellow on the end of the units with the 153 being a far brighter yellow than the more orangey 150. As I don't intend to run them together it's a moot point for me but may be of interest for other modellers.
     
    The 150 is coupled using the shortest rapido couplers supplied with the model, which makes the carriage connectors butt up against each other on straight track - as this does not have a close coupling mechanism which opens out on curves (unlike the 153), a more generous coupling shank length would have to be chosen if a layout is anything except a straight end-to-end affair with the resultant compromise in appearance on straight track.
     

     

     

     

     

     

     
    The trouble now is, they look so good I'm just going to have to incorporate a passenger line into the china clay works branch plan!
     
    Graham
  19. Kaolin2FS
    Naturally, after coming up with a great little layout plan, construction has been terminated as the landlady called to give us notice that she's selling up. As the new place will be only a temporary fix for a few months and space will be at a premium, I've decided to concentrate on building stock and flushing out the gloat box of kits and detailing items - whilst also kicking myself that I'd not followed Pete M's example a long time ago and built myself a 2FS micro layout!
     
    I'm still taking a short break from the CDAs so in the meantime I've been resurrecting a little rake of HEA domestic coal hoppers I built from TPM kits over 15 years ago but never got around to fitting the detailing parts to. Here's the rake with the excess underframe mouldings cut away, couplings removed, top hat bearings and 2mm wheelsets added, together with whitemetal hopper discharge doors and brass handbrakes and ladders now fitted to most wagons ready for painting.
     

     

     
    I've got a couple of pretty serious wobbles on two of the wagons and I've yet to investigate if it's due to poor alignment of the brass bearings in the enlarged holes in the axleboxes or if the wheelsets have been knocked out of 'true' during fitting!
     
    Time to get myself some more detailing packs at the York show...
  20. Kaolin2FS
    After a prolonged absence forced by work and the French , modest progress on the Trevanion Dries project has been achieved. Depending, of course, on how you define 'progress'... Further research has revealed the original plan just isn't prototypical, but fortunately, as I'd not yet built it in 2mm, there was nothing to rip up... . So I set to work again with paper and pencil and a few plans later, with help from google satellite view, I'd re-created Goonbarrow Jn and exchange sidings! Of course you'd need a good few feet to recreate this, even in 2mm:
     

     
    After that I came back down to earth and as this is my first proper 2mm attempt, I scaled back the design to something far more achieveable in a realistic timescale. Thus Trevanion Dries has been re-born as a run-around loop and siding attached to a clay dries. Very simple in concept, the emphasis will be on slow moving clay trains with detailed wagons, running in front of a disused clay dries, with the entrance to a modern facility at the far left of the track plan.
     

     
    Here's a quick mock-up in N gauge with some cardboard and timber I had lying around:
     

     

     

     

     
    Must finish those CDAs...
     
    [edited to remove thumbnails now I've remembered how to correctly attach pictures again!!]
  21. Kaolin2FS
    Trevanion Dries is the name of a long-term project in 2mm finescale. It's an attempt to re-create the atmosphere of the railways in the clay country of South Devon and Cornwall primarily from my memories of growing up in the area in the mid-1990s. The period will cover the CDA hopper operation and Speedlink wagonload services of the late 80s and early 90s stretching through to the introduction of the first EWS-liveried Class 37s... roughly 1988-1997.
     
    Trevanion Dries will be a small model of a fictitious clay dries located in the Trenance Valley to the north-west of St Austell. The facilities, including Buell and rotary driers, have not been modernised for a few years and production is under threat of being switched to the nearby Blackpool Dries. The limitations of the site mean that it can only accommodate small trains (in a similar fashion to the Drinnick Mill branch), a further reason why its future is not guaranteed. In the meantime, however, there is a reasonable amount of activity with the St. Blazey 37 fleet dropping off a wide variety of wagons for the works' ex-BR 08 to shunt, before being tripped to St Blazey, Fowey or further up-country as required. The occasional train of domestic coal in HEA hoppers, fuel oil in TTAs and timber traffic in OTA wagons may also appear en route to some private sidings a little further up the valley, but china clay will be the mainstay of interest.
     
    In terms of modelling, this will be a 2mm finescale railway utilising predominantly RTR stock with changed wheelsets, couplings, extra detailing and weathering. The intention is to have a super-detailed rake of CDAs as the centrepiece, complemented by visits from ICA, PAA, PBA, PRA, VDA, VGA, TSL Polybulk and Cargwaggon variants, with HEA, TTA and OTA making guest appearances on occasion. Control will be DCC and the layout will be small enough to be easily portable, albeit larger than box-file size. Focus will be on the stock first.
     
    I've started this blog for a number of reasons: firstly, there's rarely any better motivation than the positive or constructive comments of others - and as I'm often prone to starting more than I finish, this should help me focus my efforts! Secondly, having viewed so many excellent blogs on here over the last few months (especially bcnpete and rods_of_revolution) I wanted to share my own experiences of ways I have tackled similar problems - realistic couplings in 2mm and track inset into concrete to name a couple. Lastly, I'll definitely need help along the way as there are many gaps in my knowledge and skills - this is my first 2mm venture - so this is a plea in advance for assistance when I come unstuck!
  22. Kaolin2FS

    Points arising

    By Kaolin2FS,

    Pathetic progress this week as work is getting in the way but a tame start has been made on the first two PCB turnouts, with sleepers in place in preparation for the first rails to be laid. As only the rails will be visible alongside the dries I've only laid every third sleeper to speed the process. This may yet prove to be a bad idea if the rails are not sufficiently supported, in which case I'll sneak in another one in each gap.
     
    When I got to this point and tried to straighten the coiled rail to lay on the sleepers, I belatedly realised there's bound to be a jig for this, at which point I had a quick rummage around the 2mm Association shop list and found one (shop ref 1-218 ). I may well invest in this very soon but in the meantime, here goes anyway:
     

     
    To lay the plain track I'm planning on clipping the first rail to a straight edge using paperclips to get a straight edge, then using triangular gauges to lay the other rail. With only 52 days to go until Christmas, I should have this - along with my previous attempt in easitrac - all complete, wired and operational by then!
  23. Kaolin2FS

    Tracks in Concrete

    By Kaolin2FS,

    There's been plenty of debate on RMWeb over the best way to achieve the look of track inset into concrete at industrial facilities, so I thought I'd add my method used on the Trevanion Dries test-track. I've gone for the simplest solution possible and used a general household shrink and crack-resistant filler that was lying around after the last room redecoration. A few quick photos by way of description (trackwork at this stage is still N gauge):
     

     

     

     
    When applying the mix, the knife was used at a slight angle in order to leave a very slight 'U'-shape between the rails of each track and between each track. This means that when track cleaning is required, the rails stand slightly proud of the surrounding concrete. Once it had been left to dry for 2-3 hours, an old piece of rail was scraped along the inside of each of the running lines in order to remove the filler from where the flanges will run. The mixture shrunk very slightly as it settled and dried out and so it needs another quick skim (or sandpaper) over the top prior to painting/weathering to hide the slight bumpy effect and smooth everything out - it's still a bit rough and ready as you can see.
     
    I've yet to establish if this process will work with steel rail or if the filler applied next to the rail will start off the rusting process. I've read quite a lot on use of steel rail elsewhere on this site, and for layouts which will stay inside in non-humid conditions it seems the jury's still out. I want to use it for appearance so if anyone has got any more observations on use of steel rail, especially in relation to inset track, then please let me know, otherwise I'll post results here after I've had a trial!
     
    Graham
  24. Kaolin2FS
    Here's a couple of shots of work in progress on the first CDA conversion. The donor body for this wagon was a Minitrix HAA. After making an approach to Peco, they kindly allowed me to purchase a small quantity of unpainted hopper roofs and end discharge covers, which is allowing me to convert a small fleet of HAAs I've built up over time. The roofs require some careful filing to fit snugly inside the hopper body but once that's done I think they look the part. The second photo shows the prominent plastic roof roller guard which I'll replace with brass as per the third photo. Most of the detailing parts added to this one have not yet been painted, leaving painting, transfers and weathering in order to complete:
     

     

     

     
    As I've acquired a collection of different makes of MGR wagon over the last few years, I thought I'd give a quick run-down and visual comparison for those who may be interested. From left to right, the Peco CDA hopper (£13-16), which is based on their HAA hopper (£11-13). The hood is produced as a clip-in 2-part moulding and end housing is fitted as 4 simple press-in mouldings. Next, the Farish model from the China factory which can be picked up for about £9 in HAA and HFA variants. On the right is the older Minitrix version, now out of production but often to be found on ebay from £7-8. I've left the hoods off the Peco CDA in some of the photos and the Farish HFA in all of them.
     

     

     
    Top - Minitrix
    Middle - Farish
    Bottom - Peco
     

     

     
    There are mutliple small differences between all of them; the Farish model is the only one with correctly shaped curved hopper end lips and automatic discharge operating equipment but the end staunchions, although finely replicated, are a little flimsy; the Peco version sits slightly lower and also has closer coupling than the others but, I've just noticed, smaller buffers which could be enough to cause buffer-locking issues if mad enough to use 3-links ; and the older Minitrix is a little chunkier in the mouldings but can be had for the lowest price. My personal favourate at the moment is the Farish, but ask me again when I've converted a dozen or so...
     
    Graham
  25. Kaolin2FS

    Track Planning

    By Kaolin2FS,

    As mentioned in the opening blog post, Trevanion Dries is a small facility with the run-around severely limiting train length. Before I plunge headlong into handbuilding any more 2mm pointwork however I want to make sure I've got a workable track plan which bears as much resemblance as possible to dries in the area bearing in mind the huge compromise I'm making with space. The current plan is below:
     
    From top to bottom:
    Line 1 - enclosed within the dries facility for loading of any wagon type
    ---
    Works
    ---
    Line 2 - beside dries facility, with canopy for loading of swing-top wagons/CDAs, run-round loop suitable for 6 CDAs or equivalent
    Line 3 - beside bagged/palletised clay loading area
    ---
    Raised hardstanding for loading of bagged/palletised clay
    ---
    Line 4 - other side of bagged/palletised clay loading area
    Line 5 - Loaded wagons for collection

     
    Off-scene, there are 3 storage roads, with plenty of space for handling - this could be replaced by a traverser, or interchangeable stock sections in similar fashion to Welton Downs:

     
    The boards on this 'tester' have been designed to store inside each other with the track (and stock) on the inside to make storage easy when the guest bedroom railway room is in use by visitors. I'll use a different design for the finished version. The track will be tweaked until I've got a plan I'm happy to go firm with in 2mm although the concrete area is pretty fixed for the time being! The concreted area will eventually comprise the visible areas of lines 1, 2 and 3 to just short of the pointwork at the throat. I'm also planning to increase the length of the boards on the final 2mm layout to allow for 9 or 10 CDA hoppers in the run-round loop. In fact, the whole scenic board will probably be increased by a minimum of 50% in all directions to allow for greater scene depth and train length.
     
    The concept of operation is a train will arrive in line 2, the train engine will run round in line 3 before shunting, or departing and leaving the shunting to the works 08. PAA, PBA, PRA, and Polybulks will use Lines 1 & 2 for loading, the VDA, VGA, and Cargwaggons will use lines 3 and 4. I'm still trying to work out where the slurry loading point would be for the ICA and TTA slurry tanks, but with a board extension I could easily build a slurry loading shed somewhere on Line 3.
     
    Here's another from a better viewpoint as track laying had just been completed. Line 1 is on the left with Line 5 on the right.

     
    All comments and suggestions most welcome!
     
    Graham
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