paulprice

Stunning as ever

A little work with some tools that does not include my favourite big hammer has resulted in the first of the layout boards nearly completed, the hardest bit was sanding all the profiles to remove the chances of that most evil of things SPLINTERS. The scary thing was the accuracy of the initial cuts, which means I am on the verge of becoming a WOODWORKING GOD , once the profiles where smooth I added blocks of softwood to aid in the next steps of construction. Being a forward thinker I decided to drill some holes in the profiles to create wiring runs as construction of the layout gets to the wiring stage, well that's what I told the Domestic Overlord they were for, when really it was just an excuse for me to use a cutting drill . As the profiles where attached to the front face of the baseboard, and the top surfaces where attached it actually started to look like a baseboard. Being brought up with old fashioned chip-board baseboards, it still amazes me how light and strong ply-wood boards can be, the strength was improved further by the addition of the integrated back-scene/rear support board. So there you have it, board number one nearly complete and its only taken about 200 screws, yes the baseboards are light, but the weight of the screws that's another matter. I must admit I do like this approach to producing layout boards, its cant be that hard because after all I can do it. This will probably be the only time the underside of the boards looks tidy, as sooner of later the wiring will have to happen, yes I know I have a support block missing from the top left but this has been fitted honest

As with my other layout Foster Street I decided to go with lightweight ply-wood baseboards, but this time rather than just gluing and pinning them I decided to use screws to make stronger joints (the previous method I used on Foster Street is still going strong), mainly because I find it hard to give up old habits. The other slight change to the previous layout was that with the exception of 3mm ply for part of the alignment templates, all the construction was to be made from 6mm ply-wood of the marine type, where as the previous layout used 3mm for baseboard tops. Once I had the cutting plan finalised for the basic layout boards, it was time to actually cut some wood, and pretty soon a jigsaw of parts was created

Well after threatening it for a while, I have actually made a start on my second portable N gauge layout (Foster Street being my first), the difference is that this one will also be built with possible exhibition attendance in mind from the start. Without going into too much detail at first, the basic outline for the new layout is as follows (some of it will be a challenge) 1 No more than 3 boards including the storage yard. 2 No more than 8 feet long (main scenic boards 4ft x 2ft) 3 To be constructed from ply-wood and to be as lightweight as possible. 4 To be multi level - to avoid the flat layout syndrome. 5 To be based in the LMS years in the northwest 6 To be very, very urban. 7 All buildings to be scratch built (well may be not quite all of them) So looking at the above it should be a quick and easy? shouldn't it, I mean what could go wrong? For those of you who may be interested keep reading, and I will post updates as progress is made...............

Well I managed to find a little time this weekend to spend on the baseboards for the new layout, on Foster Street my other layout I constructed the baseboards with plywood, and as an experiment to create lightweight boards I used glue and pins in the construction. This led to a very lightweight and strong build, and they seem to have lasted well, but for the new layout boards I reverted to using screws in the construction. and I slightly more engineered approach to each board. Everything is cut from 6mm marine ply, and is very well glued and screwed during construction, today I had to buy another box of 200 screws and the first box was nearly empty (lightweight baseboards, but very heavy metalwork ). Most of the time today was spent sanding the near finished board down to just tidy up a few edges and remove any risk of splinters, as can be seen from the picture of the underside of the bard construction is very simple (I just need to add a batter on the top left section, its already cut and waiting). Even with thousands of screws the board is very light and strong, and is easy to manhandle and move about even for a 4ft x 2ft board, god knows how much it would weigh if it was made of chipboard like in the good old days. My intention was to deign the boards so that they could be "crated" to aid transport to exhibitions (if invited) or just for movement and storage around the house. To make this easier I decided that the back-scene should be an integral part of the construction, so they form part of the baseboard structure and in some places 15 inches for me to provide low relief buildings or painted scenes (oh dear) The second baseboard should be easier to build, as although it is on two levels like the first the raised section will be at the back of the board, rather than string off in the centre like the first (but in modelling is anything ever simple?). In preparation for this the back-scene board has been marked and made ready for drilling and the cross members have had their supports fitted. All I need to do now it get the time to put them together and then test the alignment, and then work out the height the layout should be at, but for the moment I will just bask in my smugness, as despite using saws, drills and other sharp tools I still have all my fingers I AM A WOOD WORKING GOD I kind of like viewing my layouts from eye level, but unless I view the layout kneeling down it may need long legs as I'm six seven tall. I need help on this and am open to any suggestions on what you think would be the best height

I may live to regret the two level approach, Foster Street is still alive and kicking, and will linger for a few years yet

I tend to favour 6mm marine ply, it seems to work for a ham fisted oaf like me

Stunning, have you ever considered making models in N gauge for me

Well a couple of weeks ago, I decided to make a start on a new layout, this one was to be a small space (made up of two 4feet x 2feet boards not including fiddle yard) and is to be a terminus station, somewhere in the Northwest. A little initial work, resulted in the cutting of a couple of sheets of plywood into a kit of parts to create the baseboards for the layout, to avoid the flat board look the plan is to have the running lines above surrounding street level anyway more about that can wait until later much, much later. So flushed with the success of having the cut the plywood into the rough profiles needed and still having all my original set of fingers, I set about sanding the cut edges to remove the risk of splinters (far more painful that cutting off a finger or two), and set making progress of the first of the two boards, Once I had sanded all the profiles to remove the chances of splinters (actually I got bored) I added some 1"x1" timber to the areas the track bed and side members will be. A couple of holes were cut in each profile to allow the future wiring to be safely and tidily located (see thinking ahead, it will never last) and the four cross pieces were attached to the from cross member, the rear will have the backscene attached to it. The fifth cross member has not been attached yet, as it will for a pair with the first cross member for board 2, and will be built as a pair so I can accurately locate the alignment dowels. Before I called an end to this legendary woodworking session, I decided to test fit the track bed and lower road surfaces to the front and back of the boards just to get an indication of how the finished board will look. So that's about it for the first entry on what may become a regular update as the build progresses, now that is a treat, be afraid be very afraid.......

I think there may be a goods depot, or at least a factory..........who knows

Tofu I tried it once it was a vastly overrated experience. You will regret trying to get me doing more posts

Well it was bound to happen, with my life full of mayhem at the moment with a new job, two crazy Jack Russels and numerous other demands on time, a normal sane person would think to put any idea of modelling on a back burner. A with me being a sensible, logical person that's exactly what I did, until the alignment dowels I ordered turned up not that I had anything planned but I just thought it would be handy to have a couple in stock. I believe some modellers plan the builds down to the last track pin, and I commented on this to the Domestic Overlord as we had a brief period of respite from the two puppies (they were asleep). As we mused on various topics, being the crafty little ###### that I am, the problem of cutting plans popped up, and how the efficient thing to do was to get as much usable parts from baseboards from the least number of for example ply sheets. Before long our conversation led to the solution of many problems, the downturn in the pound, Brexit talks, the North Korean problem, a justification for Tofu, and theoretical cutting plans for a new layouts baseboards (only joking nobody even us, can justify the existence of Tofu ) It was soon time to get back to the domestic duties, and like a good little chap I got onto them and a little detour on the way to the supermarket let to the surprise find of some ply-wood that just happens to have been cut in the dimensions I would need, if I was planning a new layout which I'm not..and I did not lose any fingers in the progress I suppose, it would be worth a little time seeing if something useful could be made from them, I mean it does not necessarily mean it will lead to a new layout does it? If it did though, does it mean I would have to start a layout thread?

Well my 7F's have had their final run around the layout before they are off to the Wigan show. Hopefully everything will go well, but I have cleared some space on the workbench of Doom for any failures

Hopefully everything will go well, fingers crossed

There will always be Elephants, I cant seem to escape from them

Well I completed the final bit of prep on some of the Locomotive fleet today, on some examples from a lesser railway, I don't mean the Southern, but the LNER. I know I'm and LMS man, but Foster Street is based in the Northwest so even though I hate to admit it the LNER got into the area, so I have a little collection for the odd inter-regional train. When Farish released the V2 I held out for quite a while, before I finally gave in an bought one, it sat in the fleet occasionally getting a run, but that was about it. Over the last couple of weeks its had a coating of grot adding and a little fettling to try fit it in with the look of a working loco, I think it needs a little more grot though. Having a dwindling supply of older Farish chassis hidden away, like most of us N gauge modellers I try to find a use for them, because I couldn't come up with a better idea for them they sort of ended up as the NE copy of a decent engine the Black 5. So I have a couple of B1's in the fleet, one is on a old A3 chassis the other is on a Black 5 chassis but nobody has noticed yet The first one was such a pain to finish in the apple green livery and made me seriously consider my sanity it was a such an effort. In fact I enjoyed it that much the second one appeared in the same livery. What I do like are six coupled goods loco's and have quite a few in the collection but I did not have any none LMS ones, that was until I decided to build a couple of NE types, and knocked together a representation of a J39 and J38 which I then lined (I have no idea why ) So that's my shame is out there for all to see, my name is Paul and I have some LNER locomotives, but only 5 of them . On the bright side, they say there is always inspiration to be found from the most unusual source........ and I have an idea for the next layout a SCRAPYARD Well Im not doing anymore prep work I think its done, so until next time, as ever Happy Modelling

Easter interlopers, me NEVER The damage is not too bad, the frustrating thing is when I was test running the Loco, it managed to lose the tender drawbar and fixing screw somewhere on the layout.....spooky

Well a little more prep has been completed on the Locomotive fleet before the weekend, actually I was just playing train, but they are my trains so I can if I want. I have been slowly re-painting a second Jubilee on post-war lined black, and she has now got her identity and a spot of weathering. So she joined her sister for a few laps of the layout, no lamps have been fitted yet, as I think she may end up double heading. I would hate anyone to think I only have fancy passenger locomotives, so I thought I would look at some of the freight allocation. I know the proto-types to use a technical term were a bit "pants" but I king of have a soft spot for them, and have a 3rd example that may get off the workbench at some point (maybe). There was one calamity however, and it involved my Stanier Mogul, all I can say is it needs a little more work now before its completed, as I dropped it and it did not bounce so the picture below is pre-drop. This would have meant that I have examples of all the principal LMS moguls, oh well it gives me something else to do, that's if the two Terriers and the Domestic Overlord will let me, only kidding (just in case the Boss reads this). Until next time Happy Modelling

Top idea, I never thought of that, fancy being my Exhibition co-ordinator for me?

I think you right bout the lamps, I have some black ones in stock and on a few loco's but they are very hard to spot. I think if the show starts to go a little wrong I can always hide under the layout, I tried it in York and it seemed to work

Hey if I can do it anyone can, thanks for the kind comments though, even if it made me blush

Well as part of the preparation for the Wigan exhibition at the weekend, I thought I better get some prep done one some of the locomotives I might run. I thought rather than concentrate on the more elegant locomotives in the fleet, I would start on the tank engine fleet, so I started some of the larger tanks first (I know this is sensible, I don't know how it happened but I thought I would give it a try). The first to get some attention was my attempts to represent a Fowler and Fairburn 2-6-4Ts, thankfully the Fairburn did not require any lining, there is something to be said about plain black. I think I need to work on the trailing bogie on the Fowler, but that can wait until after the weekend, I have also been harbouring thoughts about a second Fowler but in crimson, but that would mean more lining As I was on a bit of a roll I thought my Stanier 2 cylinder hatchet job would be next, again the trailing bogie needs to be replaced, but fingers crossed she runs well so I may not mess around with her just yet. I know both her and the Fowler are a little too clean and could do with a little weathering, if only to hide the dodgy lining. The next to get a little attention, where the crimson section of the tank fleet, they really need a little weathering I think, but the lining took that long to finish to a reasonable standard I'm a bit afraid to get the grot out (it wont be long before I do thought). The Flatiron is a bit of a strange looking beast but I kind of like them, and I could not resist finishing her in crimson. The Johnson 1P is incredibly lightweight but I have run out of places to add anymore, so her haulage capacity is not brilliant. My little pet though is my attempt at a Fowler half cab, I know the purists will hate her, as she is in a fictitious livery, but its my trainset so there, and she runs as sweet as she looks I will say though that, I will not be lining anymore locomotives for a long while, plain black is the way to go for me (that is unless I find any bargain at the Wigan show, waiting to be rescued from horrible BR liveries). So there it is, until the next time Happy Modelling

Which means I have the following big tanks to cover some of the local passenger duties? My Fowler and Fairburn builds My attempt at a Stanier 2 cylinder Yet another attempt at a Flatiron and Johnson 1P I know one thing though, I have had enough with lining tanks engines, and tender engines, all over black is the way to go I think

Well I have got this lot serviced in prep for Wigan, still lots to do PANIC PANIC

I have now got 5 LNER locomotives to head the occasional inter-regional working on Foster Street, and I think 5 is more than enough and I will definitely not be adding anymore to the fleet, honest