fulton

Do not know what scale this is, if 4mm I would use an etch bending tool, they seem expensive but make bending etched kits easy, particularly where there is not a lot of "meat" to get hold of, I have two a short and a longer one.

38 minutes ago, Chris M said:

 

 

I know I will be a lone voice on this one but I am very happy to not have barriers at an exhibition; in my experience it just isn't a problem. 

 

 

You are not alone, I'm happy either way, nearly all the damage has happened during setting up/ taking down and transporting, as for people leaning on the layout or touching that is just ignorant, I do tolerate children touching if they are careful, most parents are good at controlling them. Not a great believer in signs, but this one caught my eye.

4 hours ago, Andymsa said:

I wonder if this a uk problem, having just returned from the Dortmund intermodellbau most layouts you could go right up to and ppl seemed well behaved in regards to touching layouts, of course there may have been exceptions. On a different note yes they have the rucksack brigade as well. 

Exhibited there with my Port Victoria layout, more then a few years ago, very busy no barriers, shortly after opening a rucksack came within a millimetre of taking out one of my buildings, a piece of 2x1 packing was hurriedly g cramped as a protection post, no other problems. a very enjoyable time.  

37 minutes ago, Jammy2305 said:

Me again! (Sorry)

 

Despite repeat searches, I cannot ascertain what era the 'Albert Usher' wagon represents, or which line/company it's associated with (I'm asking with a view for potential SECR running).

 

Can anyone kindly assist? 

 

Thank you!

 

- James

Must say I selected the 'Albert Usher' wagon for my own SECR layout, only on the bases that they were a London coal merchant, who could have supplied the south east, more information would be interesting, but the wagon would still have a home on my layout.

My other five Rapido wagons now completed for service, being pushed, from the Invicta Engineering Works, to the SECR exchange siding. In reality the board joint does not look as bad as this!

My first two excellent Rapido models, now ready for service, converted to EM, first removed couplings, you will now have to glue the sub floor and weight in place, a little of the brake shoes had to be carved off, EM wheel sets were a straight replacement, had to remove a piece of the sub floor and the slot was increased to accommodate the Smiths 3 link coupling. interior was repainted and the whole wagon weathered, looking forward to converting the other five.

I use one similar to this, they vary in price from around £10 to £30, to me they all look like they come out of the same Chinese factory with different branding, I also add a stainless steel ball bearing to each bottle, some brands of paint have one already, to add mixing. 

My baseboards are built with a permeant back board, I use 12mm ply, when not in use or for transport they rest on their backs, using a four wheel skate I can move, the medium to heavy 4' x 2 ' boards with ease, through doorways or across an exhibition hall, stairs or steps are of course a problem requiring two sets of hands, you can just make out the boards on their backs in my van, the backs do take a bit of a bashing so do need to be robust.

Even modern "proper" stock bricks can vary, we were using Funton bricks, manufactured near Lower Halstow Kent, we were buying the cheaper "seconds" which were generally miss shaped and bigger, so the "gauge" thickness of each layer, had to be increased. My scene of Smeed Dean Yellow Stocks being unloaded, we still did it this way in the 1970s.

8 minutes ago, Oldddudders said:

Surely PO liveries and ownerships weren't directly affected by Grouping? 

Yes, not directly affected by Grouping, but companies came and went, liveries for the same company changed over the years, in the current range, suitable pre grouping liveries are limited, I was interested in one PO wagon from Hornby because it sported "SE&CR", but then discovered that livery was applied in Southern Railway days, by the way the wagon chosen was completely incorrect.

My experience is, I phone to place an order, on the number given, get through each time, have code numbers and card details ready, phone call quite short, goods come in a timely manor, always seems good service.

7 hours ago, Andymsa said:

I note you mentioned about felt and ripping, when you need to replace it think about an under felt or tanking membrane which you felt over. Done propley the roof should last many years.

Never been a fan of shed felt roofing, have used red cedar shingles, on my summer house, fixed to battens, fixed to counter battens, fixed to the felt roof, my workshop and one shed I have used slates, (actually a moulded slate/resin product) and this shed, a bought in Southern Sheds product, to which I fixed plastic coated corrugated steel roofing to, fortunately I have a large garden, the brick retaining wall, I am standing on, was originally built by the SER, now runs through the middle of my garden, there is a waterproof membrane protecting the shed from the damp wall.

Am using the Natural Scenics Mine Run Coal Fine, to me it looks the part for tenders/bunkers, would probably use their other sizes, for coal wagons to give some variety, maybe with a grey or brown wash. I have a bunker of real coal, anthracite, but messy to grade and use.  

I found this book by Ammo Mig explained things clearly, including base coats, obviously promoting their products, they do a large range of video tutorials as well, I order from them regularly with good service, from Spain to the UK.

I built this myself, 20 years ago, 4" x 2" treated main structure, treated shiplap inside and out, walls floor and roof insulated with vapour barrier, bought in timber double glazed windows, slate roof covering, heats up nicely with a small heater, based on a SER ground frame , I think I spent around £1000 on materials, trade prices, would not like to think of the cost today.

Ammo Mig do a large range of colours, for brushing and spraying, I have always found the colour I am looking for, even if it is not labelled as a specific railroad colour, a little mixing will produce any colour you wish, have found their Solution Boxes with instructions to be very help full for weathering.

I use this simple method to keep leads out of the way when move boards, not my original idea. The twin cable with the screw in takes the strain if the lead gets pulled.

On 19/03/2024 at 10:09, fulton said:

I use thin tissue/ tracing paper, the type of thing kits were wrapped in, sprayed black, then lettered by hand using an Epping 0.7mm white gel pen, once crinkled up, the hand lettering looks OK to me, some tarps have various lines as well as lettering, tying ropes (I think called cords in this situation) are glued on, will post photo when back in the UK.

Now back home, they look better from a distance!

1 hour ago, LBSC123 said:

Many thanks, I think I’m going to use this sand designed for aquariums: https://www.trustleaf.co.uk/1kg-tub-of-natural-colour-medium-grain-silica-sand-7360-p.asp

Have had a look, and I have a half bucket left over, it is yours if you can collect from Strood.

23 minutes ago, LBSC123 said:

Many thanks for this, do you know what brand you used? There seem to be a baffling array of choices!

Sorry, it was an unbranded bag left over.

After this thread I did use brick paving sand, colours do vary with different suppliers, I had a bag left over on one of my building sites, I am pleased with the results in 4mm, I think it would work just as well, if not better in 7mm. 

Have just posted on another thread as well, in case you miss that, I will repeat here, was stopped for the first time today by UK Customs at Calais, in my van, used for private use only, documents checked, lots of questions, one why do I use a van rather than a car? I said for my hobbies including model railways, he than asked what scale and gauge? he was a fellow railway modeller in OO! I took the opportunity to ask about taking a layout to an exhibition in the EU, he confirmed a Carnet was required, he was not curtain but thought you would have to get it stamped at the UK Inland Border Facility at Sevington on your way to Dover or Folkestone.

Just to add my experience today, I travel to the EU on a regular basis in my van, non commercial, private use only, I travel on an EU Passport, today was the first time I have been stopped by UK Customs at Calais, vehicle documents checked, these documents are a requirement to have with you in most of the EU, lots of questions, one was why do I use a van rather than a car? I said because of my hobbies including model railways, he then asked what scale and gauge? he was a fellow railway modeller in OO! I took the opportunity to ask about taking a layout to an exhibition in the EU, yes a Carnet is required, he added you may have to get it stamped at the UK Inland Border Facility at Sevington on your way to Dover or Folkestone. 

22 minutes ago, melmerby said:

I've found over time that those squeezy hypo type devices eventually split, causing the remaining lube to go everywhere, 

Experiances vary, my EXPO tools one is several years old, no leak or split.