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sigtech

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  1. sigtech
    Howdy folks,
    It's been a long time (well over a month ) since my last missive about the goings on in Sproston, - my only excuses are 1. it's been cold in the loft, and 2. I have had a bad cold.
    The major project which had been ongoing for at least a month, and had been held up by a lack of available parts ( Bachmann 14mm dia coach wheels ) was the improvement of the Dapol Stove R. This has now been completed successfully, by carefully following the steps outlined in Ray's ("Silver Sidelines") RMWEB blog entry entitled "The Dapol Stove R - a show stopper or half baked?"
    I now have a Stove R that is running on the correct size wheelsets, closer coupled than before and with a rigid conventional underframe that behaves itself on points without the "anyway it feels like going" chassis arrangement that was originally fitted by the manufacturer.
    UPDATE 30/10/20 :  Stove R wheels, (both sides) and roof gutters repainted using Humbrol matt black enamel 33. Frosted window (one side only) added using Humbrol matt light grey 147. as per Coachman's article  on rmweb detailing  his attempt to improve the model, see "Stoking up a Stove R". from 29th Jan 2011.
     

     


    I have also been busy increasing the population of Sproston - the main street no longer resembles a ghost town!!

    At last the signalman has a decent garden he can be proud of, and the occupants of numbers 1-3 Cider cottages (who are now all Railway staff ) also have their horticultural skills on show, which brightens up the view from the platforms.

    Even so, not to be outdone the station staff have resorted to a colourful display of plants in large pots, arranged beneath the station running-in board.

    The owner of the hardware shop in Church Street obviously has less time to spare, but still keeps his small garden neat and tidy .Everyone tries to grow a few veg wherever possible- it's a sign of the times.

    The Pway gang are busy sorting out a pile of sleepers next to the signalbox - it keeps them out of trouble I suppose.

    There appears to be a disagreement in the goods yard, concerning the 6 ton mobile Coles crane, and a couple of very large crates - I suspect someone is being told exactly where to put them...!

    Another Bachmann BR (ex SR) PMV has turned up- (I don't know where that came from Guv - honest...!) this time in BR Maroon, we seem to have quite a strong ex SR influence in the npccs stock..
    The local coal merchant,Trevor Compton surveys his domain.

    A consignment of machinery parts for the creamery has recently arrived, it looks like the BRS driver is re entering his lorry cab again for the paperwork.

    So there you have it- more news later...
    Regards,
    SIGTECH (Steve).

     
  2. sigtech
    Well, here we are, and this is my first blog entry using the new software/website, so fingers crossed here we go!!
    I have always intended to add some illumination to the layout, and the first item was  the Hornby class 121 'Bubblecar', using a lighting kit by 'Blackcat' models, this provided internal head and tail lamps (polarity sensitive), plus passenger compartment lighting.  All this work has probably now been eclipsed by the new model from Dapol, with future offerings from Bachmann too, - to date I have not been tempted to replace my model. We shall see....
    Next came five Dapol  lower quadrant semaphore signals, to reduce the brightness of the lamps I run them from a redundant plug - in mobile phone charger which provides 5.8v dc, to give a yellow oil lamp effect, I painted the lamps with 'Tamiya' x-24 Clear Yellow acrylic paint.  I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of there GWR 2 doll bracket signal. This may prompt a minor resignalling at Sproston!
    Finally, I have fitted two 14v. 0.2ma miniature panel lamps ( in parallel ) inside 'All Saints' church, this was a straightforward process - I already had the lamps, and had previously drilled a 10mm hole through the baseboard ( flush  door ) to feed wires through. To power the lights I used the (at present spare ) second 12v/1a dc. output, from a  'Gaugemaster' floor - mounted mains twin transformer rectifier, ( the other 12v dc. output is used to power  the two mini cameras and tv screen monitor used for viewing the fiddle yard.)
     
    The lamps were soldered directly to wires which run to a choc block above the board. and from there two more wires run through the exit hole and down to the floor mounted transformer terminals - all very simple...I have tried to ensure the lamps are not in direct view, as they are rather bright. The best effect is seen with all the lights out.
    So there we are - and hopefully without the need for devine intervention, here are some photos of the last item...
    I hope you approve, comments good or bad are always welcome, until next time....
    Regards
     

    (SIGTECH)
    Steve.
  3. sigtech
    A somewhat belated Happy New Year to everyone, the latest blog entry is a general look into the nooks and crannies of the layout, and it could be easily retitled 'where abouts can you put a compact camera'?
    Anyway enough of all that malarky - on with the photos.
    The first depicts the business end of platform one - looking towards the Stationmasters house. Unfortunately the noticeboard cannot be read on this shot - but it says 'Summer Timetable now available at the Booking Office'. - Useful information for the travelling public.
    The second shot is the same area, taken from the Bay side. The photographer is standing behind a couple of empty Horseboxes waiting at the loading dock.

    For the third shot of the same area the photographer appears to have climbed onto the roof of the parcels lock-up (I hope he had permission to do that!)

    Next comes a full frontal view... of the Signalbox, not much can be said about this, except the Signalman must have been called away whilst busy sweeping up spilt coal around his coalbunker, as he has left his broom behind.

    Now we move to the 'Loco' - this is the back of the shed, lots of 'railway clutter' dumped round here, as its hidden away from prying eyes and authority.

    We follow this with a view into the shed - the auto fitted pannier is busy elsewhere, and the Depot is bereft of Engines, only a lonely 16t mineral wagon loaded with coal sits on the spur beyond the turntable. Looks like the Shedman is busy emptying the ashpit - rather him than me...

    Now comes a visit to the other side of the tracks, and a glimpse into the Sproston Creamery loading siding, taken from behind the box. The private siding is unusually empty and the gate is open allowing study of the overhead tanker washout pipes, beyond them is the white milk filling hose,with above that a water hose hanging at the near end of the loading platform.

    Following this we move to the Goods yard, Starting with the coalyard, which has no coal wagons in it at present - though the coal merchants lorry is fully loaded,so maybe we should have been here yesterday.

    Next view is the other side of the wagons, and here there is much activity, most of it involving a Coles 6 ton mobile crane. A couple of staff seem to be having a disagreement regarding the unloading of the open wagons.

    For our last photo taken on Railway Property, we go to the back of the Goods Shed behind the cattle dock, with a view into the shed just showing the 10cwt internal crane.

    The final photo is of the 'Station Garage' prop.S Dingle,this is just behind the station goods yard,and the staff are still working on what appears to be the main bearings on the front end of an old steam roller - its obviously a long job...so we had better leave them to it.

    Well, thats the end of our little photo trip around Sproston Station - do come back for another...
     
    Comments, good or bad always welcome,
     
    Regards,
    (SIGTECH)
    Steve.
  4. sigtech
    Good evening everyone, following on from the news of the layout extension, we have a short progress update.
    The grass is now 'growing' well over the new bank area, some railway clutter has started to appear and the grounded ex GWR van has received dramatically accelerated weathering. Vegetation is once again starting to encroach around the perimeter of the site including a new hedge, and the bufferstop along with the turntable deck has been re-instated.







    The 'wartime incident' alluded to in the title has left some physical traces - but only if you know where to look for them...
    The cause of this can be traced back to the dark days of 1941, and the night bombing campaign on this country by the Luftwaffe.
    At this time, the searchlight Battery at Sproston was fully operational as part of NW AA Command. It had been established at the end of 1940, tasked with the illuminating of raiding formations of bombers en route to their primary target of Liverpool to the North, and specifically the docks there. Most of the bombers assigned this target followed a North West flight path up the country.
    During one night attack, the incoming raiders attempted to avoid the main belt of AA guns situated around major urban connurbations in this area( Manchester,Leeds,Sheffield Derby and Birmingham ) by 'jinking' on their track from NW to W then back to NW again. This manouevre brought them closer to Sproston.
    The Battery here was already at 'readiness' when the raid was reported closing from the South at 10,000' and was ordered to stand to and Illuminate targets for the AA guns..
    However one of the aircraft in the German formation took great exception at having a very bright light suddenly shone straight into his cockpit and ordered his gunners (in German of course!) to 'Put that bloody light out'...
    The gunners tried very hard to do exactly as ordered, and 3 streams of heavy machine gun fire arced down onto Sproston - faced with this, the Battery Commander did the only thing possible in that situation and quickly extinguised the light, the bullets fortunately missed their intended target, but struck another...

    Little remains now to remind one of this incident-except if you cast your eyes in the direction of the Sproston Creamery administration building - specifically the North tower offices, at ground and first/second floor level. Fortunately at the time of the raid these were all empty, being used by the Creamery day Managers only, but a fair amount of damage was done - many windows were smashed, and the brickwork was heavily 'pock marked' with diagonal streams of bullet holes from the aircrafts gunners.
    Most of this was repaired quite quickly, being wartime no photos of the damage caused are know to exist. However if you look at the SE corner of the building as you walk down the hill on Chapel Road towards where the battery once stood, the rough wartime repairs to the brickwork are clearly visible on the first two floors..
    Well thats the end of the story!
    Comments, good or bad are always welcome.
     
    Regards
    (SIGTECH).
    Steve.
  5. sigtech
    After a 2 month gap, I have some news to report. - Sproston is being extended... (by 4 inches!!) Whilst I realize that this is not earth shattering news, - it is nevertheless a useful and important event.
    The extra 4" of code 100 streamline track is on a new sub-base of ply on the far side of the Heljan Turntable. This was originally just a bufferstop, but is now a short spur capable of comfortably holding a 16t loco-coal truck, and with a hidden magnet located just under the baseboard to allow a loco to shunt a wagon onto the spur and uncouple from it.


    This allows the turntable or locoshed road to be cleared if required, - and as there was no other suitable place to shunt said coal wagon,this represents an operational improvement!
    The only structure on this small new land area is to be a grounded ex GWR ventilated van body, in use as a store. This is a timely free gift included in Decembers Railway Modeller.

    A small raised grass bank has been constructed on the left side, continuing the contours of the existing ground located behind the turntable.( Foam offcuts, cut to shape and glued with PVA, Then covered with a couple of layers of 'MOD ROC', and painted with poster paints (Burnt Umber). This will have extensive low foilage growth added once the ground cover Jarvis 'rough pasture' (scatter) has been applied to it. Behind the bufferstop there is low stone walling.The track has already been ballasted and will have some DAS clay added later. Jarvis brown earth scatter has been applied to the 'ground' elsewhere.

    Due to the larger locos in the rewitten timetable using the coaling and turntable facilities at Sproston frequently, I assumed that the 'powers that be ' i.e. BR.(WR) and BR.(LMR) would consider the cheapest option to solve the problem that increased coal consumption had caused.- a larger capacity coaling stage would appear to be required. I already had an old section of a Metcalfe loading bank in the scrapbox which seemed suitable, and this was mated with a R9727 Hornby Lineside Platform with steps at each end- this proved to be an exact fit. Add a large pile of real crushed coal ontop with the handle of a shovel protruding from the pile and 'Voila!!', a second coaling stage..

    This was positioned alongside the track just before the points leading to the turntable, allowing a visiting loco to take water at the crane alongside the platform loco release spur, then come onshed, coal and turn without having to draw alongside the smaller capacity coalstage outside the branch shed. This seemed a feasable solution to the problem, along with the new spur off the turntable, to accomodate the additional loco coal wagon deliveries to the shed.

    Well. thats it, no more news, so its TTFN!!
    Comments good or bad always welcome.

    Regards.
    SIGTECH.
    Steve.
  6. sigtech

    Shunting at Sproston.

    By sigtech,

    Hello again everyone, after a considerable gap, the more comfortable temperatures in the loft have enabled some modelling activity to resume on Sproston.
    One of the pannier tanks arrived light engine from the junction, and after a brief visit to the loco shed for water has been shunting the yard, assembling an up freight.
    This train consists of five fitted wagons and a BR standard brake van. Once shunting has been completed, and the line is clear, the train departs.






    In a seperate developement, I have abandoned the attempt to make the '4-ground' model shipping crates - they seem very poorly made, and it is difficult to obtain a good finish, (they are intended for wargamers really...) I managed to finish one then tried a second, lost my patience with them. and they ended up in the bin!!
    However help was at hand, I mentioned this failure to Job - a fellow modeller on here from the Netherlands, and he kindly sent me some crates to copy and assemble,( this method is new to me ) - I have so far managed 3...

    I have also been attempting to improve the detailing in the creamery, adding a water hose used for the tank washouts, and a seperate milk filling hose for the tankers. Photos will hopefully follow in the next blog entry.
    Well thats it - until next time from Sproston. Comments, good or bad are always welcome.
    Regards
    SIGTECH,
    Steve.
  7. sigtech
    Hello again, having said that the Gresley BG was to be the LAST item of rolling stock purchased for the branch, I have a confession to make, I lied...! - Though not intentionally, as this has come about by carefully checking rolling stock and their couplings, - I found a spare Brian Kirby type hook fitted where it was not really needed ( on the driving end of the Bachmann autotrailer - the loop here is sufficient as it is only going to be required occassionally to haul a tail load ). So, hook removed and refitted to a spare Bachmann small loop, and that along with the other spare complete B.K coupling that I had also forgotten was on my workbench ( in a placcy bag ), has enabled me to buy ONE more wagon!!

    Enter one BR Conflat 'A' (Bachmann), sourced s/h from Ebay ( sold without the container, as I already have two type BDs with diferent numbers but only one 3 plank wagon that is suitable for their loading ). Lamp irons fitted , in my usual way ( staples ), couplings changed, back to backs checked and into service on the layout. - Quick and simple!! ( - good name I thought for a firm of solicitors...)

    Other 'minor works' carried out recently have involved painting and placing more whitemetal scenic details, from Wills, their 'Farmyard Clutter'.( In this case spread around various parts of the layout, not just the barn area..).


    Other news - my rolling road (Baccrus) is now fully operational, so this completes the maintenance and testing facilities that are installed on the layout.

    Next project is to assemble some wooden laser - cut shipping crates from 4Ground Models, have never tried these before.
    Until next time.
    Comments, good or bad always appreciated.
     
    Regards
    (SIGTECH)
    Steve.
  8. sigtech
    Hello everyone, well I suppose this was inevitable, I have given in and purchased ANOTHER BG - this time it is a 61'6" Gresley one, ( and very nice Hornby model ) in BR maroon. This will make a pleasent contrast to the BR MK1 BG from Bachmann, in crimson and cream that I purchased last month. This will also be the last vehicle for which I have two sets of B.K. modified couplings for - so technically my last rolling stock purchase. - We shall see...
    ]
    Since then both models have had new lamp irons fitted, using my normal method of small staples and matt black paint ( Humbrol 33 ) to enable them to carry a tail lamp - if necessary, the Gresley model has had its inside sidewalls and ends painted brown, and the end gangway doors a scruffy teak colour. The ride height has also been adjusted using a couple of homemade fibre washers fitted over the bogie pivots. The pics will hopefully explain it all...Still to do is paint those horrible shiny buffers matt black!


    Other little jobs involve fitting an extra driver in the rear cab of the class 22, and also in the rear cab of the 'bubblecar'. I have found that for a diesel or dmu to arrive with an obvious visible crew in the cab, only for the unit to depart later on with the leading cab empty is not a good look!! ( problems of a branch terminus ) Steam locos of course do not suffer this problem. So a compromise is to fit a single driver into the rear cabs - I suppose he could always be hitching a ride or route learning...

    That seems to be it for this month - more goings on from Sproston next month...comments - good or bad always welcome!
    Regards
    (SIGTECH)
    Steve.
  9. sigtech
    Hi People,
     
    Well it has happened, it was inevitable that it would - I have given in and purchased a BR MK1 coach, - a BR MK1 57' BG in crimson and cream livery to be precise...( Bachmann ). I did however ask the knowledgeable people on RMWEB, if this vehicle was likely to have appeared regularly on such a branchline.
    This latest item has now joined the growing ranks of NPCCS seen at Sproston and will be assigned to: Parcels Special no.1 (as per the new timetable, see the blog entry for 31st December 2017 ).
    The Timetabled WX 10.40 Parcels Special, consisting of 3 vanfits ( one an ex GWR MOGO ) and BR MK1 BG - arrives in platform 1, as the signalman replaces no 2 and no 1 signals ( Down Main Home ) behind it .The loco uncouples and draws forward to take water from the column at the end of the line, when complete a whistle to the signalman who reverses no 24 and no 11 points, and then clears no.25 disc ( Engine Release to Loop ). The loco moves onto the loop running round its train, passing the already cleared no.21 signal, ( Loop Starting ), before running onto the Main and stopping alongside the signalbox, where the driver exchanges a few words with the signalman. The signalman replaces his signals, and resets the road before clearing no 2 signal. ( Down Main Innner Home to Platform ) - the driver acknowledges this with a whistle and draws forward, stopping short of the train before easing onto the stock and coupling up. The signalman now replaces this signal before he clears no 19 signal ( Main Platform Starting ), another whistle, and the loco draws its train out of the platform - pulling it out until it's well clear of no.8 points, - which are then reversed by the signalman, ( after he has replaced the signal cleared for the previous move ), then finally no 4 signal ( Down Main Inner Home to Bay ) is cleared, - another whistle and the train is propelled by the loco into the bay platform where it stops and the brakes are applied. It is now ready to be unloaded/loaded.
    I will let the photos speak for themselves. Note the Prairie on shed buffered up to the loco coal wagon.
    We finish with a view of part of the town, with the site of the derelict WW2 Searchlight Battery , now a farm shop in the foreground and 'All Saints Church' in the background.












    Comments good or bad - are always welcome!
    Until next time....
    regards
    (SIGTECH)
    Steve.
  10. sigtech
    Hello Everyone, - this is the first blog entry of the year, and as you can see there has been very little to write about in Sproston!.- After a nasty attack of 'lack of modelling mojo' I have completed a long outstanding task painting, installing and detailing two coach loads of passengers. (don't laugh!) This consisted of 35 'little people' from my store, obtained from China (via Ebay!). Unfortunately they have all had to have their feet amputated to enable them to sit correctly in the Bachmann Stanier 'Porthole' stock, - this however I believe is a common problem (and they won't be needing them anyway whilst stuck inside those coaches...).- just wish I had found out before carefully painting 35 pairs of shoes and boots !!


    Along with painting the people, the coaches have also had an internal makeover as recommended by Dave 'Coachman' of RMWEB in his review of them, i.e the inside ends painted brown, matt 119 (Humbrol) enamel, seats matt Carmine Red, (Revell 36) Acrylic and rooves matt white 34 (Humbrol) enamel.The photos should make everything clear. Reassembly followed after all was dry.






    Finally, the train consisting of a BR (M) Fowler class.2p 4-4-0. 57' BSK.57'SK.+ PMV ( cycles ) was assembled in the hidden sidings,- and the Sundays only 08.00. CTC GB special, ( Cycle Touring Club - Great Britain ), departing from Rugby ( with engine change at Stafford ) to Sproston arrived as per timetable in platform 1 at 11.20 ....








    This delightful BTF film from 1957, explains the use of the ex SR PMV with 'cycle' logo as a 'cycle van' attached to a Sunday special from Rugby. ( now produced by Bachmann, cat no.39-526z ).
     
     
    Well there we go another missive completed,
    Comment good or bad are always welcome,
     
    Until next time!
    Regards,
    SIGTECH
    (Steve.)
  11. sigtech
    Just time to sneak this blog in before Christmas.
    After much prevaricating Sproston now has a Timetable to operate from. This all started out as a posting on a discussion thread on RM Web some time ago, requesting help creating a timetable suitable for a branch line - not my work I hasten to add, but I could see it had potential, and so have spent some time 'adapting' it to suit the layouts requirements. Who ever you are who came up with this idea, then I would like to say, thank you!
    This is the original copy of the timetable that I had to work from.

     
    This was the final version that was produced
     

    Over the last month or so I have been adjusting some of the times and refining the sequence, finally printing it out and after a few test runs on the layout all appears satisfactory.
    Other news is I have finished adding passengers to another coach - Maroon Collett 57' corridor 2nd (Hornby) this leaves just two left to be completed ( Bachmann 'Porthole' stock in Blood and Custard.- visible in two of these photos
    and that I have finally given in (again!!) and bought more rolling stock.... 1 New Hornby R8624A.. Bulleid (ex SR.) cattle wagon in bauxite (left hand end of rake) and (from TMC) limited edition ex SR. PMV (cycle van) in BR. crimson. This will be the 'van' mentioned above in the timetable for the CTC-GB, (Cycle Touring Club of Great Britain.) Sundays only Special train.


    Both are very nice and this brings the total layout stock level to 75 items...
    Some minor scenic details have been added/repositioned in the goods yard and alongside the private Creamery siding area with a repositioned hut on the site of the ww2 searchlight battery.


    So there you have it! Comments always welcome - until next time (next year...)
    Wishing you all:
    "MERRY CHRISTMAS from SPROSTON"
    Regards,
    SIGTECH.
    Steve.
     
    P.S.
    Just to prove it is now correct a couple of shots showing the corridor side of the collett coach, - and one of the two Sproston coal merchants lorries


  12. sigtech
    Hello and greetings once more from Sproston.
    With Autumn now here I thought a few more general views of the layout might be appropriate, rather than just concentrating on the locomotives and rolling stock.
    At the present time I am busy attempting to construct a timetable for the layout - trying to provide a suitable framework and purpose to the running of the railway.
    This is proceeding fairly well, using a template previously published in RMWEB and adjusted to suit the circumstances and layout of Sproston.
    More on this next time.  Now to the photos
    The first two are views of the mainline as it skirts 'Sproston Creamery' .The first features the Up Advanced Starting signal, which is still mounted on a tall wooden post due to the sighting difficulties faced by trains leaving the station and approaching Sproston tunnel. The loco shed can be seen in the background, along with the end and part of the rear wall of the signal box.
    The Creamery seems to be busy with a road delivery (by B.R.S.) of sacks and crates, along with its normal processing activities, another load of milk in churns is being unloaded and tested.
    The second picture is from above the tunnel mouth, showing the Down Outer Home Signal - much shorter to allow it to be seen from inside the mouth of the tunnel, note the lush green grass around here.!

    Then we move round to near the turntable, the PWay are busy shuffling some sleepers about alongside the signalbox, close to their hut - looks like there will be some spot resleepering going on nearby soon. They are being observed by one of the workers in the Creamery - probably a member of the 'tank wash gang'.

    The fourth picture is my favourite and is taken from the top of the loco water tower looking towards the station, obviously taken at a quiet time, with no trains present.
    Further proof that there are no trains signalled may be found in the next picture, taken standing in the 4' and looking towards the stops - truly 'the end of the line'......
    The Guard on the platform is about to chastise the photographer for contravening a number of British Railway Bylaws, and setting a bad example to other passengers. By contrast the porters chatting in the background near the station do not seem unduly worried...the shunter in the yard looks on disapprovingly.

    Picture six is the small loco shed, this shelters the branch push pull tank loco and it is obviously 'out' at the moment, in fact the only item ' on shed' is a single 16 ton mineral wagon with a fresh supply of loco coal. The railwayman on the coaling stage looks like he has had enough for today.

    Picture seven is a view into the Creamery yard from the gap between the main admin block building and the boilerhouse/water tower .Looking at the sky, rain is threatening!
    The next photo of All Saints Church was taken from the roof of the Creamery, the photographer (holding the camera at a drunken angle) has also captured the derelict WW2 pillbox on top of the high ground bordering Chapel Road.

    Pictures nine and ten show the location of "Much Fiddling", - this is the next station along from Sproston.and the location of the hidden sidings, which despite being extended to be double decked are still no where near big enough to hold all of the rolling stock that I have amassed.

    As I have run out of pictures, this seems to be a suitable place to end this missive, so until next time.
    Thank you for looking in, any comments are always welcome
    Regards,
    SIGTECH.
    (Steve.)
  13. sigtech
    Good Evening people,
    Life in Sproston is generally quiet, but occasionally something happens to upset the 00 gauge apple cart, as has happened just recently.
    The Hornby 'B' set has had the incorrectly painted black roof extended down to and including the cant rail (which in this case now becomes the 'can' rail ....!! feeble attempt at humour).- one step forward.

    The Hawksworth autocoach now has its roof painted white internally, the non driving end inside wall is finished in a fetching shade of wood brown, and the coach has had its ride height (which was slightly low) adjusted by putting a 1mm plastic collar round each of the bogie pivots to raise the body,- so the buffers now line up with the loco (64xx pt), and a small tension lock coupling has been re-fitted to the driving end. This had been removed previously (as it fouled the vacuum pipes and scale couplings fitted, due to the coach body being low) but will be required now to enable the autotrain to haul tail-traffic, necessary on the draught timetable I have recently produced for the layout.- Second step forward.

    ]
    All was going well, until one of the Seep slave point motors driving the panel LED's that repeat the lie of the points in the (hidden) fiddle yard refused to play ball. After much fiddling.( good name for a future GWR branch line layout?) I managed to make a second seep u/s... at this point I decided to quit whilst I was still ahead, and rushed out to my local model shop here in Kings Lynn and purchased two replacements.
    Half of the next day was spent swearing and cursing, sitting in uncomfortable positions, burning myself and occasionally hitting my head on the underside of the layout framework, however at the end of the day the two defective slave motors had been renewed, and the indications on the panel once again were all working correctly.- One step back.


    Until next time, "That's yer lot"...comments always welcome,
    Regards,
    SIGTECH.
    (Steve.)
  14. sigtech
    Greetings from Sproston,
    The Hornby 'B' set is now back in service after some protracted modifications that involved removal (by filling) of the incorrect window next to the Guards door (on one side only) on each coach.
    These windows were not installed on the real vehicles by the GWR, - but Hornby thoughtfully provided them anyway!!
    If you couple two' B 'set coaches together correctly with the brake ends outermost, then the windows concerned to be removed are on the left hand vehicle facing you as you look at them, i.e one window on each coach next to the single Guards door as viewed with the brake end on the left.
    The Hornby model is R4293D.
     

    I referred to the article by Tim Venton on Bristol Division B sets, available on the GWR modellers society website for all the additional information : www.gwr.org.uk/b-set-notes.html
    First an additional layer of transparent plastic was carefully chosen,cut to shape and glued to the existing window to make up to the level of the coach sides, next the area was carefully filled and levelled using - of all things 'typp-ex' correcting fluid!! (don't laugh!!) and it worked...
    Small Bachmann tension - lock couplings were fitted to each end, with BK pattern hooks substituted to use my coupling system. For the coupling between the vehicles I used Bachmann small tension - locks again but cut them shorter, and fixed into NEM pockets with superglue - I know it should be a coupling bar, but I needed to be able to separate the two coaches, and this seemed an easier solution. They are however clos(er) coupled.
    Careful sanding was now carried out using 1200 grade wet and dry paper, trying to cause as little damage as possible as I did not want to repaint the entire vehicle, just the repair area.
    So far so good, then came trying to match the factory applied BR Carmine colour - this was not so easy and in hindsight it would have been simpler to just repaint the entire body, anyway onward etc..
    I had already made a trip to my local modelshop to research the closest matches, and had come away with three, two acrylic and one enamel, a mix of Revell and Humbrol colours.
    There then followed an extended trial period with them involving paint on/let dry /sand/repaint/let dry/sand/repaint - you get the picture...
    Eventually I hit on an what I considered an acceptable match - Revell 331 acrylic Purple Red (silk matt) not totally right, but close enough I felt (if you don't look too closely).

    Then followed the addition of internal "First" and "No Smoking" transfers (HMRS SHEET 14) to a couple of the windows on each coach, using the most useful 'B' set thread/discussion that has been running for some time on here. I also altered one of the vehicles numbers, so they were no longer identical.
    Having already removed the incorrectly applied "1" from the other carriage door panel on each coach, along with painting the seats , internal roof, and adding some passengers this was as far as I wanted to go in correcting the 'errors', for want of a better phrase - that are present on this ( it has to be said venerable ) model.


    Finally the roof on each was given a spray coat of Humbrol matt (33) Black and the wheels and axles blackened with paint. This improved the appearance greatly.




    So there we are - better (more accurate) than they were, but still not quite 100%
    Comments are always welcome.
     
    Regards
    SIGTECH
    (Steve).

  15. sigtech
    Good evening everyone,
    Time to update on the 'goings on ' on the layout, first a few small new scenic additions - a bench behind the loco shed, parcels platform weighing machine, chocolate machine for the passenger platforms, oh and some guy sitting on a bench with his hand on the stations wall!.....Not very interesting but this leads us on to..


    The main subject which is the alteration of the existing layout wiring to allow for the installation of a Woodlands Scenics 'tidytrack' wheel - cleaner, and an additional powered track for testing and (eventually) a Bacchrus 'rolling road.'  This project has been 'on the drawing board' for a couple of months, and was awaiting a suitable enclosure to fit the new switches that I already had.
    The purchase recently of the above scenic items from Hattons provided a suitable unit.....
    I had already worked out the wiring alterations, and written down a progress diagram for the stagework (green ticks mean wire run or step completed and tested.)This is the diagram used for the job.
    Some time ago at a model railway exhibition I had purchased on impulse, a pack of two subminiature dpdt slide swiches made by 'Radio Shack' from a trader, thinking to myself "these will come in useful" - and so it was to prove...

    These were mounted inside the plastic box which usefully had a hinged lid, with apertures cut for the sliders, a thin metal plate from the scrap bin was found, existing holes filed to shape for the switches to pass through, then the plate was sprayed matt black (Humbrol) to improve its appearance...and fitted to the outside - Yellow electrical tape being used to make areas suitable for labels. All was held together with the supplied four small machine screws inserted into the threaded portions of the switches . So far so good! A hole for the wires to pass through was drilled in what was now the bottom of the box.
    The unit was fixed/screwed into position vertically next to the remote controller (B) which is on the hidden sidings side of the layout. Due to the design it would be impossible for the operator to use any of these new functions from the main control panel side of Sproston as he would have no view of them.

    New wiring was installed by 'breaking -in' to the existing wiring using the (positive) feed 5 for the hidden sidings, and taking new wires via a choc-block to the switches which were connected via an
    internal wire and then further wires taken again via another choc- block to the test - track + and wheel -cleaner+.
    The negative path was created by adding another Terminal (T6) to the layouts common return 12v dc (controlled) bussbar (next to the main control panel on the other side of layout), and running it to yet another choc-block fixed onto the new 'test bench' - that I acquired from next door recently and saved from the rubbish tip.....from here the wires were run to the respective negative side of the two test devices.

    Splitting the wiring up using chock - blocks allows me some flexibility to disconnect and move the test bench.(Especially useful when some small item from a loco goes "ping" - ask me how I know...
    The switches were then labelled - it's far easier to look at the pictures than explain!

    Finally this was all tested and the wiring tidied - and it indeed does work as I hoped - I just need to buy that rolling road now!!
    Comments are always appreciated,
    Regards
    SIGTECH.
    (Steve)

  16. sigtech
    Afternoon people, have been looking around for a small project - to fill a couple of days of otherwise idleness, and I suddenly remembered the Corgi Trackside horsebox I had bought a few years ago for the layout.
    This had sat on my modelling shelf in the spare room for some time, as I had become unhappy at the lack of internal detail in the cab - along with the fact it was possible to look through the windscreen and down the full length of the vehicle,- this was obviously not correct...!
    The model is a Harrington bodied AEC Maudslay finished as a Midland Region vehicle in the British Railways standard livery of blood and custard.
    Looking at prototype photos it appears reasonably accurate, and as this was only to be a quick project I limited what I was prepared to do.
    First the body needed to be removed from the chassis - this was not going to be easy, two large metal rivets secured it all together.
    So - out with the electric drill and remove the rivet heads using a 4.5mm hss drill, then carefully remove the plastic chassis- and at this point the wheels fall out! it also becomes clear that the chassis is made in two parts so the second part (with the cab detail on it) is removed, also the radiator grill and lights pops out. The remains of the rivets were filed flat as they are used to locate the top chassis accurately.

    Ist job was to make a partition wall between the cab and the body of the horsebox - I used thin card cut to shape by offering it up to the vehicle to gauge the size required, then cut to approximate size, glued to the rear of the cabseats which are moulded in with the lower part of the cab rearwall.

    Then this partition was cut accurately to the correct size/shape and painted both sides - I used Humbrol paint ( enamel matt 110 natural wood ) also painting all the rear floor area of the vehicle.
    There followed some searching to find two "willing volunteers" from my dwindling stock of little people from China (ho scale) to crew this vehicle. I settled on a BR type hatted driver and a gentleman farmer complete with his stick.
    Both had to have their feet amputated (unfortunately) to fit in the space - but then it cannot be seen and they will not be going anywhere now except in this lorry.....

    After painting them in suitable colours, they were firmly fixed in place with Bostic all purpose 'Glue and Fix'.
    This was followed by making a foglight, this was to be fixed just below the right had side of the vehicles front bumper - a simple scrap of suitable plastic sprue of the correct size/shape was found, again glued in place and painted.(Humbrol enamels matt black 33, silver 11.)The radiator grill and lights were refitted- they are just a tight push - fit.
    The inside of the cab was also painted at this stage, the seats were finished in RevellAqua colour. Leather matt brown. The steering column in Humbrol steel HS217 and black, with the flooring Dark Stone. 187.
    Some spare paper front and rear numberplates were found in the scrap bin and added.

    The top of the chassis was refitted into the vehicle to check all was ok, then the front axles were carefully 'adjusted' using some long nose pliers to obtain a degree of front wheel turn.
    These were then installed in the lower chassis which was then refitted- it can all if necessary be easily removed.
    Finally all the wheel hubs were painted using Precision Paints matt B102 BR Freight Maroon to approximately match the lower body half colour, as this seems to be a more accurate finish.
    I have not bothered to secure the chassis assembly as it is held in place securely when refitted, and being able to remove it easily again may become an advantage at some stage later.

    Well there we are, small cosmetic changes to try and improve the model, nothing really major but after all "it's a horsebox Geoff"....
    Comments good or bad always welcome...
    Regards
    SIGTECH
    (Steve)
  17. sigtech
    Hello everyone,
    I must admit that I have been rather remiss and have not updated this blog for over two months, but I have not been idle during all that time, the latest project involved the cleaning up, painting and fitting of no less than nine sets of "Springside Models" fireirons to all steam locos (This is a project that has been 'in the pipeline' for some six months or more) -
    The Ivatt 2mt mogul however did not require them, as it has I have found out a purpose made "fireiron tunnel" on the right hand side of the loco's running plate.

     
    Positioning the irons and other tools realistically on some of the other locos required a certain amount of ingenuity, it was certainly easier on the ex GWR classess, using the thoughtfully provided hooks and spaces in the tenders or on the rear of them  I tried to "'ring the changes' a little, so all the locos vary to some extent in the positioning of certain items of equipment.
     

    While I was at it I decided to 'coal' all 11 of my locos using real coal ,- one of the tasks on the 'to be done ' list.
    This made a great improvement along with the already fitted full lamp irons and crews that they carry.
    The downside is that all this extra detailing requires the loco to be handled carefully....(and lots of little things to avoid dropping off....)

    Other jobs attempted at the same time were painting of the internal detail of the Bachmann Hawksworth autotrailer and adding some passengers - this requiring much amputation below the knees....

    A few items were 'omitted from a couple of the stud - using the 1950's mantra of 'make do and mend' and these were repurposed around the layout, so, the coal merchant has gained a small shovel, the loco-shed has likewise gained another shovel and there is now a broom leaning against the parcels dock fence beside the Parcels lock-up.


    On a different theme, I have been reusing an old worn kitchen scouring pad torn in half roughly with highlights of light green Humbrol enamel paint applied in patches to produce what I hope vaguely resembles heavy growth of brambles trailing down the embankment above the tunnel from along the fenceline.

    Well there seems to be very little writing here for jobs that seemed to take a long time, although now being retired it's more a case of - there's always tomorrow... so I will just let the pictures fill the gaps.
    Any comments or critiscisms are always welcomed.
    Regards,
    SIGTECH
    (Steve).

  18. sigtech
    Hello again everyone, I hope Christmas was full of good cheer for you all!   Things were very quiet here, likewise in Sproston, where I have only a couple of minor changes to report....
    Last month's free gift in the' Railway Modeller' (market trader's stall) has been assembled and painted, - but instead of the wares supplied in the kit, several potted flowering plants and shrubs have been placed on the stall, which has been positioned near the searchlight mounting - this must be a new enterprise that the owner of the Farm shop is beginning.

    The two advertisement hoardings near the creamery have been resited yet again - this time to a position between the searchlight revetment and what was the Battery accommodation (Nissen hut)facing the road. They have also had substantial diagonal bracing struts added to the rear.

    I finally have a storage solution in the loft - it's nothing pretty, but functional furniture, and should be sufficient to hold most of my rolling stock safely, thanks to the new neighbours next door (it was going down the tip anyway...).

    I am considering trying to modify the BK style tension lock system as used on Sproston mainly in an attempt to improve the reliability, trials will begin soon. - I will try fitting MEDIUM sized loops on each end of ALL locos if possible. (instead of the small ones supplied, but still WITHOUT any hooks).This will hopefully help with coupling up issues on curves.
    In addition I am going to attempt retro fitting the stock with the ORIGINALLY FITTED Bachmann non - magnetic hooks in the small loops but with new staples fitted the original BK way ( glued parallel with the rails- instead of the present method used of fitting them at right angles on the end of brass replacement hooks.) I have found these are prone to fouling on the pointwork if they do not return to the lowered position after activation....I would like to standardize on only Bachmann Hooks, for all rolling stock but we shall see...!!
    Well that's yer lot!! Comments always welcomed..
    Regards
    SIGTECH (Steve).
  19. sigtech
    Hello.
    Latest new project for Sproston is the construction and installation of a vertical milk storage tank in the creamery, along with some new pipework associated with it (this is still very much a work in progress - particularly with regard to the present extent of the pipework), which eventually will allow the loading and washing out of the rail tanker traffic.
    I have been aware for some time that the design of the main (Metcalfe) three storey building lends itself to the fact that the lowest (cellar) floor is just large enough to have had a 6,000 gallon rectangular storage tank constructed/squeezed in during its conversion into a creamery circa 1925.This is where the milk is stored on its arrival, after it is tipped from the churns, before it is processed/pasturized or alternatively made into cheese or butter.
    What was missing was a suitable storage tank for the treated product awaiting loading into the railbourne tankers for onward shipment to London.
    Calculating the maximum probable size of the cellar tank ( I assumed a low ceiling , say no more than 6' below the ground floor this gave a tank size of 5' high by 12' wide and 17' long, holding just over 6,000 (uk) gallons.( enough to fill two 6 wheeled rail tankers )
    This allows for a 3' wide full depth passageway containing the pumps and pipework, and running around two sides of the tank, accessed from the floor above via steps all contained within the walls of the building.

    Now what about the external storage tank? This seemed to be more difficult, and after an extensive search for suitable kits of storage tanks online, I was reduced to looking at toilet roll cardboard tubes....almost out of desperation!!
    Then by chance I found a new site online called "Simpastures-Gate-Miniatures" who make a oo gauge model suitable for use as a silo or vertical storage tank, with a good selection of pipework/valves included. The model scales out at 21'6" high and 8'6" external diameter, with a domed top, mounted on a concrete base, and could hold just over 6,000 galllons (uk).
    Price was very good £10.60 inc post and packing and arrived within 7 days. They also make a small selection of other railway related accessories in various scales.


    There are no instructions as such - so it is best to draw out a plan on paper for the layout of the pipes and valves/supports/junctions, to ensure you get the arrangement you require.
    Extra packs of the pipework are available to extend if needed.
    There is enough whitemetal pipework included with the kit to have a incoming tank fill pipe, outgoing tank delivery pipe and a tank wash out pipe, all with valves and pipe supports and a drainage pit cover/manhole
    The valves and pipe fittings have a lot of flash to remove, but otherwise construction is straightforward. I painted the tank using Humbrol enamels, assembled it with uhu, and then fitted all the pipework using cynoacrilate, leaving them in bare metal finish to represent stainless steel pipes.  The result can be seen in the photos, probably much better than I would have produced from a toilet roll tube!!
    The pipe run to supply the rail tank wagons is not completed yet - but I thought I would take this opportunity with one of the side backscenes removed for access to take some photos from angles not normally possible.


    Well as has been said before "That's yer lot " (for now at least).
    All comments - good or otherwise are welcome
     
    Regards
    SIGTECH (Steve).

  20. sigtech
    Hello again everyone - as you will be aware from reading a previous blog entry on here, the method of 'seeing' where the trains were, ( or indeed where they were not!! ) in the hidden sidings was achieved by means of eight photo-electric detectors positioned two under each of the four tracks, and linked to a clever ic 'gizmo' that connected them to red and green LEDS on a small indication panel, red being track occupied and green track clear.
    Good though the system was, it suffered from the indifferent lighting conditions in the loft which caused both red and green leds to be occasionally lit simultaneously or to flash, this caused much confusion (and naughty words) .It also made the precise meanings to the operator rather ambiguous, requiring much mental work to reason out what was really going on " behind the scenes" as it were, often having to resort to going around and having a look....
    The better answer to this problem would probably have been to use infra red detectors (IRDOTS), but again there is no substitute for actually being able to see what is going on, so I decided that things had to change.
    I was galvanized into action after reading about another excellent layout on RMWEB 'Aylestone West' by Shanks 552 in which he used hidden CCTV cameras and a monitor to view his storage sidings - so thanks Graham your help is much appreciated!!
    After a quick search on Ebay revealed just what I needed ; two cctv cameras (with Infra red), all the connecting cables, and a remote control, plus 7" cctv monitor (made in China, of course....(designed for in truck/bus use overseas) and running on 12vdc, all for just under £40....Is it my imagination or do we only make mistakes and errors in this country, leaving everyone else to manufacture the useful "stuff"?? (Rant over).

    Mounting the two cameras was the most difficult part of the process. I used several different sizes of zip-tie to hold the cameras in place, fixing them to blocks of wood to enable movement forwards or backwards (the cameras are fixed focus), or some very stout cardboard glued to wooden supports fixing them onto the existing baseboard framework.
    The 7"monitor simply occupies the space where the IC 'gizmo' was previously positioned. This gadget was made by "Blocksignalling" - I still have all the instructions and bits if anyone is interested in it?/ and would like to purchase.


    The final requirement was for more illumination, (This would have partly solved the original problem), there followed a " Maplin Moment" and I purchased a half meter long self - adhesive 12vdc led strip which was stuck midway along the underside of the middle timber that forms the 'roof' of the hidden sidings. Two thin soft wire loops were wound around it for extra support and with a 3w resistor soldered into the positive leg, dropping the voltage to 12.2v from 14.4vdc.
    I should add at this point that all these items, the two cctv cameras, the monitor and this led striplight are all fed from the output of the 'Gaugemaster' controller via the 12vdc (uncontrolled) bussbar.

    The system is now up and running, and although the pictures from the cameras are rather "grainy" and would not win any prizes, it is possible to see by switching between them exactly what is going on anywhere in the hidden sidings - as an extra bonus (although not required as I have indication lights on the control panel) I can also see and identify the lie of two of the three sets of points using the cameras, it is possible to monitor the train as it moves and spot any derailments, along with being able to accurately 'park locomotives and stock on already occupied tracks, in short it is a much easier to use and more flexible arrangement than the previous one. Very Pleased...

    Well that's enough theatre for now!!
    Comments good or bad always welcome. Until next time.
    Regards
    SIGTECH (Steve.
  21. sigtech
    This is a short entry to describe how I made a rotary steam churn cleaner/washer for the creamery at Sproston.
    I had seen several illustrations of this device, and it appears that no self respecting creamery would be without one, so I thought I had better get cracking!
    Let me say from the start that this is a 'representative' model, just using a couple of photos and not modelled on any one particular machine.

    The idea is that the full milk churns arrive from the outlying farms by lorry. the milk is inspected, tested and then tipped into a large below ground holding tank.
    The empty churns are now inverted, and inserted one at a time into the rotary steam cleaner until it is full (about 10 churns). Then the door is closed, steam valve opened and the churns are spun around and cleaned by the action of high pressure steam being forced into them. Then they are removed whilst still wet, reunited with the lids and loaded on to the lorry for return to the farms again.

    The main part of the model consists of the paved plastic base from a 'Peco' Modelscene' cycle stand, painted dark matt grey (Humbrol ) with the slots for the tyres filled with model filler - married to the plastic top of a PVA glue container, painted silver, with a hole drilled in the top for the flue pipe - added from scrap plastic( round sprue,) a couple of control valves made from dressmakers pins painted black,fixed with superglue and more scrap plastic used to make a control box, along with a couple of staples to represent guard rails and other pipework.
    The sliding door in the front, to enable the inverted empty churns to be inserted/removed is simply a rectangle of thin card painted black.
    Originally I got carried away - and made a girder support frame for the vertical flue pipe (from more scrap plastic), but soon realized when offering the item up for installation on the ground floor of the main building that the internal ceiling height was not enough, so that was quickly removed, along with reducing the height of the flue pipe.

    Once the steam churn cleaner is mounted inside the building of course it can hardly be seen - but I know it's in there!!  Disclaimer (No new items were purchased for the manufacture of this...!!)
    Well there we are, all comments - good or otherwise always welcome,

    Regards,
    SIGTECH (Steve).
  22. sigtech
    Hello people, I've just visited the loft - "phew"- it's still very hot up there...  So no work done to the layout, - despite my best intentions!!
    Some rearrangement of road vehicles has been attempted, but options are limited on a layout of this size!!  However, I decided to take a few photos, from what are slightly different viewpoints, I hope you approve.





    Regards
    SIGTECH (Steve)
  23. sigtech
    This will be just a quick entry - as it's rather hot in the loft at the mo! - Hence the reason this operating session will be short...
    Decided to run a couple of parcels trains, mainly trying to sort out some reliability issues with the B.K. couplings system that is fitted to all the stock used on Sproston.
    The locos are a Bachmann 43XX mogul and a Collett Goods, both now capable of displaying the correct npccs train headcode and tail lamps.
    Parcels stock are a couple of Bachmann ex SR pmv's and ex SR 4 wheeled passenger brake( van BY )


    A 64xx pannier tank stands in the bay, awaiting departure time with the next up autotrain, - it appears the crew have not yet changed the lamps over!
    A horsebox can be seen standing at the loading dock (alongside the bay) brought in by the previous parcels train.
    The mogul will be engine for the up milk, which can be seen loading in the creamery siding behind the signalbox.
    Until next time,
    Regards
    SIGTECH. (Steve)
  24. sigtech
    Good Day everyone, it has indeed been a long time since I wrote anything new on here (2 months), but I have been busy replacing the lamp irons on all my rolling stock, and fitting them where they are required, but are sadly missing, this has been a long process, with about 25 fitted wagons, 10 locos, 3 non-corridor bogie coaches and a dozen NPCCS vehicles completed- still to be done are 6 gangwayed bogie coaches.
    This all came about when I realized that I was not really happy with just attaching the Springside lamps with glue permanently, or 'black tack' temporary, to my rolling stock - no, I wanted to be able to "ring the changes" and set the correct lamp code for the duty each loco was performing, and add a tail lamp to whatever vehicle was at the rear of my trains- I also wanted my brake vans to be able to carry removable side-lamps too.

    So, what to do?, the answer was found in the Railway Modeller for June 2015, an article by Owen Edis titled "New lamps for old locos" (p514) in which he suggests using small staples cut and bent to shape, to represent lamp irons for his locos and rolling stock.

    I cannot therefore accept any praise for this idea- it's his, I have simply copied it.   First I drilled out 0.7mm holes in the centre of the base of all the lamps, to depth of just over 2mm using a pin-vice (drill).
    Next step was to take the paper staples (10mm) and cut them with a small pair of side cutters, using the bends already in them to get the shape required and approx 2mm high. This is reasonably easy for ex LMS or BR locos and stock - but much more difficult for ex GWR ones due to the double bend in their lamp irons, tricky....I used a small pair of flat blade pliers.

    It was at this stage I found that the "Carpet Monster" claimed many of my products as they 'pinged ' off into space never to be found - except by my wife when she hoovered the carpet days later...
    Once you have obtained a suitable lamp iron, the job of fitting it begins, using the internet to search - lots of "Googleing" of images to ascertain the correct positions for my stock with no lamp irons fitted.
    Next drill the hole 0.7mm diam in the loco at correct location (if required for a new lamp iron) or use existing holes from the previously removed one, then superglue it carefully in place and finally, a coat of matt black (Humbrol 33) and plenty of time to dry.  Repeat endlessly...


    My stock is a relatively new mix of Bachmann/Hornby/Dapol so many of them had some lamp irons of various types and sizes - most of them I removed, (trying to be clever and standardize) many, although in the correct place scaled out at over 6" wide and would not fit the holes drilled in the lamps,some were moulded and of no use for fitting lamps onto, some also were made of fragile plastic and although looking nice clearly would not be man enough for the task, and others although well made (metal) and of the correct size were just too close to the body to allow a lamp to be fitted on them - this being a product of the fact that the hole was drilled in the centre of the Springside" lamp base ...whereas the real lamps had the slot to fit them onto the lamp brackets either at the side (ex GWR, and side-lamps) or at the rear.

    I also fitted a couple of new lamp irons for the "spare lamp" positions on the left hand side of the running plate that seem to be peculiar to all of my ex GWR locos.

    All this was going very well until I came to my last loco - a Bachmann 3mt Prairie tank, This is my favourite and it is exquisitely detailed, it has a full set of scale metal lamp irons (GWR pattern) fitted, so time for a bit of thinking on this one....
    - and I must confess I baulked at the prospect of tearing them all out and then substituting bent staples...So what to do??
    Plan B. Drill out all the head and tail lamps to a larger diameter (0.9mm)- no problem and hurrah! they fit onto all this locos lamp irons, but were now a bit "loose" on the other locos with the staple versions, this would not do...more thinking, and then the solution was found."Simples"!!
    ,"Black tack" to the rescue!! a small piece was inserted into the drilled hole in every lamp (except the holes in the brake van side-lamps which I had not enlarged, as they were only ever going to be fitted to my 2 brake vans).
    Success!! The lamps could now be fitted to any of my locos front or rear, and could show the correct codes, likewise all my NPCCS,the 3 coaches and all my fitted wagons could ,if necessary carry a tail-lamp...Result!

    All that is left now is to tackle 6 corridor bogie coaches, which seem to have the lamp bracket moulded in soft plastic on the l.h side of the gangway connections at each end, more shenanigans with staples methinks!!
    This has been a long struggle to equip all my stock,and many nasty words have been uttered (by me...) but now thats nearly it.
    So my next task will be to add whitemetal fire-irons (Springside!) where possible to all my locos.....wish me luck!!
    Lastly I would like to apologize for the poorer quality of the photos in my blog now, I was previously using an Iphone 4s belonging to my company (Network Rail) to take photos of Sproston - it was very handy for getting into small places, crap as a phone - but very good as a camera!!

    It was about 4 years old, and the only thing I asked if I could keep when I recently retired after 24 years railway service - but they said no!!! (I expect it was given to one of my managers children as a freebie, - my replacement would have been given a brand new Iphone 6s to use )
    So NOT a caring company really....
    I am now using a cheap compact camera - which has not got such a good quality lens.
    Any observations - good or bad always welcomed....please feel free to comment.
    Regards
    SIGTECH(Steve).
  25. sigtech
    Back again after nearly two months abscence,- doesn't time fly??
    I have been busy attempting to improve some of the detailing on the layout - the first task was to fit five large extractor fans to the creamery walls, these were positioned three on the non - rail side of the north- light pattern roofed building, one on each roof apex, the other two being mounted similarly on opposing walls in the roof apex of the three storey main building . These are laser cut items produced by modelrailwayscenery.com, and were all very straightforward to make and position.


    Next, I dismantled a Bachmann Collett "sunshine" 60' full 2nd coach, to fit interior detailing and passengers, using some peel off transfers found after a search on the internet. These are relatively cheap and manufactured by LAURENCEHOGGPRODUCTIONS.CO.UK.

    I found these rather fiddly, and it was difficult to achieve a good finish, but the effect seems o.k - especially after the addition of some suitably painted ho scale (Chinese) passengers.
    I have at least one more coach still to do - but find it's a job you can only put up with in small doses...

    Other tasks involved painting some more loco crew (Dapol) this time in what appears to be the correct colour overalls (Humbrol matt Blue 109. WW1 German infantry!.)
    I used the steam loco crews supplied by "Bachmann" as a colour guide to match, my original guess was on "Duck Egg Blue" but this proved to be far too light, and looked very"washed out".

    Finally, after an accident involving a Hawksworth 60' Brake 2nd, (Nose dived onto floor - broken bufferI and of course Hornby don't stock it as a spares item, - any ideas on a fix??)
    I have constructed a small workbench in the loft. This firstly involved a good "sort out" of all the empty boxes stored up there, followed by a bit of carpentry using my supply of scrap timber and screws 'recovered' from work - this will be an avenue no longer available to me soon, as I officially retire from Railway Service on 14th of next month....(hooray, free at last....)
    However it has given me a small level and stable platform, where I can safely work on items of rolling stock,buildings, etc, with a selection of useful tools and bits and pieces all stored tidily and readily to hand - and it's very sturdy, having cost me nothing apart from a couple of splinters!!
     
    So thats all the progress for now, - any comments are always welcome!!
    Until next time.
     
    Regards
    SIGTECH(Steve)
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