airnimal

I have not done anything about the design of the layout but I have started another wagon this time a L&Y single plank steel under frame open. I made one of these before in finescale many years ago. The basic under frame is is complete but without any details applied. I am quite pleased with the result although one of the solebars has got a slight curve along its length. i have taken the details from Vol 1 L&Y wagons page 106/7. I have both buffers and axleboxes in stock but not the small brake shoes which are such a feature of these wagons.

I have finished the bodywork on the latest loco coal wagon. I must get back to trying to design a small layout but domestic means modelling may have to take a back seat for a while.

I have attempted to simulate the iron hoops on the dumb buffers after all this intrest. I did think of putting on hoops made from 5 thou plastic strip on but the drawing looks like the hoops are flush. So I scribed them on with my Olfa cutter, not to sure wether it looks right or not. It is very easy to take close up images when the wagon is in the unpainted state.

Compoud2632, i dont know the answer to your question I just follow as close as possible the drawings and photo's at my disposal. I try to model with what we have available of prototypes built over 140 years ago and at best, we will never get 100% accuracy.

Well it looks like we are staying put and not moving house so I have been stripping wallpaper and preparing to decorate. We also had grandchildren to stay for the last week so very little modelling time. i did a small amount on one of my many unfinished wagons putting on the small rivets on the corner plates. There is still lots more to do but it's a start after a couple of weeks off. i still have not drawn up a track plan for my proposed layout, but I will have to get going soon so we can get the baseboards made while the weather is kind to us as my friend Peter's woodworking machines has to be taken outside his workshop to be used. He has so kit that he has to wheel most outside to use hence the need for good weather.

Tricky, if you are wanting to model a standard LNWR wagon then any from Dia 1, 2, or 4 would be perfect. They all share the same headstock shape which is why I made a jig to to ease construction of my models. I dont really think you need a blow by blow account on how to build any of these wagons with your level of skills having seen the quality of models on Midlands in Bristol. I would recommend Vol 1 of LNWR wagons which is brilliant with lots of drawings and photographs. Ian, as you say it is not easy for S7 modellers especially with the lack of space in modern houses. I have laid out on the floor in my workshop a B6 template next to both B7 and B8 types and i think the deference between them is worth making a B7 the minimum for visual reasons. You only save a couple of inches between a B6 and a B7. Another problem is both my wife and I would both like to move house. We have lived in this house for 35 years and before we spends lots of money renewing things we have to find a house that fits both our needs in a area we both like. And then there is the cost. My wife wants lots of bedrooms for our grandchildren and I want a bigger workshop. Who do you think will win !

Tricky, thanks for the vote of confidence in my ability, I wish I had as much in myself as you do. Laying out a couple of templates on the floor along side a rule gives a clue on how little room I have for a S7 layout. A B10 turnout is 24" long with a B7 at 21". So I think B7 is going to be the largest size I am going to use. Laying out my chopper tank and 6 wagons on the floor works out at 38". Some people have the vision of what they want from a railway but I have never been blessed with that skill.

I have started to clear my workshop ready to start my small diorama type layout. It's amazing how much stuff we collect that we find hard to part with. If I place the layout at a height of 4' high I will have a space of 14' long by 3' tapering to 1' 6" at one end. So basically a small shunting plank. I have bought a small glass cabinet to store and display the models so far built or bought and the layout will be placed above this along with space for a couple of bikes underneath. I now need a track plan something along the lines of Arun Quay built by Gordon Gravett. The problems I have that in S7 the length of the points will be nearly double that of the layout built by Gordon in finescale. Anyway the room has nearly been emptied ready to make a start. Another new addition came today in the form of one of Minerva's Manning Wardle saddle tanks which will need converting to S7. I will take it to my friends layout later to give a shake down to check everthing works as it should, but I don't think I will have any worries as it looks very well made.

Well it's time I got back to the workbench after all the family duties. Decided to start to clear my workshop because I have put off for too long the start of a layout. In the clear out I found a LNWR one plank body doing nothing in a box, so I have put some wheels on it and it can now join the queue of wagons awaiting to be finished. I also made a new pattern for the brake levers for the ballast wagons. I just need to take it to Dave at JPL models to mill me a couple from 22 thou brass or nickel.

Tricky, your abandoned coach body reminded me of a small bit of Midland Railway coach that was placed behind Stockport Edgeley engine shed. I took a small black and white photo when I was a lad of 13 back in 1964. It still had the door handle on and was use as a small store. The light was not very good to take photo's and I only had a box brownie camera but I have not seen any reference to this in any books about Stockport's railways.

Jim, yes that is Perth in WA. My middle daughter lives there just outside in Mount Claremont. I have been to help her in her new house as well as seeing some railway stuff. The photo of the signal box about the tracks is taken at Mount Claremont station on the line to Freemantle. Nickel Line, my bike was as clean as yours many years ago but after buying it in 2006 it has been to more than 10 countries. I did think about having it repainted but not all the places I go are as clean as Austraila. While i was away my good friend has bought a Connisseur bogie brick wagon which he wants me to build for him ? I don't know when I will get the time to build this as my better half want me to decorate all the down stairs rooms. My planned start for a layout looks to be getting pushed back even further.

Well the decorating at my daughter's house is now done and I have to return home. I will miss my daughter and the sunshine and cycling without getting wet but I will be able to get back to the workbench and see my other half and children.

A couple more photographs from my friends layout. Even through I model a different railway and time, good modelling always wins me over.

Not at the workbench at present but I would like to show some superb weathering from a friends stock. All are American of course but rust is the same the world over and ageless.

Compound2632, I have to agree with you about iron work on these LNWR wagons, it's just a pity I didn't notice last year when I was building them. Mike

Rich, I don't mind the topic going on to other railway related parts. I went in to the workshop this morning intending to do some more on the ballast wagons when I had I horrible feeling that I had made an almighty mistake on the loco coal wagons that were sat next to them. I had fitted all 3 of these wagons with internal side knees as on the Dia 4 open wagons. Quickly I got all the wagon books out only to discover that they may not have had these side knees at all, only coach bolts. Is too late to do anything about the ones already made but the dumb buffered example still in the building stage will be alright. The 3 already built will have to loaded with some fine Staffordshire loco coal to cover my mistake.

A little bit of slow progress on the small ballast wagons. I have made all the small latches on the end of one wagon, the other 2 will have to wait untill I return from Australia. I am going shortly to help our middle daughter do some decorating and I will get a week of cycling in as well. Thanks to Rich for the positive feedback, it all helps to encourage me to keep going when I make such a hash of things. I saw your layout at the Swindon exhibition last year and and enjoyed it very much. I would like something similar only a bit bigger with a bit more in the way of trackwork. The little hut was only a test piece and wasn't intended to be used on a layout. I also made a few other bits to see if I could paint models covered in Das clay. None were successful as can be seen from these bits but I will keep going.

Gentlemen, I am very grateful for all your input and offers of help. Unfortunately my ambitions and painting skills do not match in any shape or form. I am embrarrassed to say I went on a night school course for water colour painting. I also went on a course at Dovedale models to teach me how to paint model buildings that have been covered in Das modelling clay. The results in my case were dreadful. I must say that it wasn't in any way the fault of the course or the teaching but my own complete lack of paint/eye co-ordination. I am sure most people can be taught how to paint, but in my case I am a lost cause, the equivalent to someone who takes about 30 attempts to pass there driving test.

Sir Douglas, I am pleased you have been able to use the wagon bits I gave you. Turning the long low wagons in to bolster wagons is up there in true Colonel Stephens fashion. I can't wait to see the tank wagon finished. Mike

Not a lot happening this week. I found a old body that I made the master for over 20 years ago. Also on the clear out I found a couple of test bits that I made to see if I could build and paint when I start my intending layout. This weigh bridge hut was made from foam board and covered in Das which I am happy with. What I am not happy with is the painting. I attempted to paint this hut with oil paint without success, so I removed what I could and this is what you see here. I will have another go with some other paint but painting of anything is my Achilles heel.

I hope my new password works because I have been struggling to log in.

Tricky, if I could build anything half as good as your Midland in Bristol or your other layout I would be well chuffed. I blackened the buffers and coupling this morning instead of doing my household duties. I also changed my mind on the the spring arrangements because I didn't think there was enough room to use the Peco buffers as intended. So I drilled a hole in the end of the buffer rams and was going to thread the wire through that. But when I came to try and insert the wire I could not bend it enough without grief. So in the end I shortened both the buffer rams and the end collars and everything fitted prefect. I will be going to the Bristol show on Sunday because I can go and visit my eldest daughter along with the rest of the family. I will be staying in Swindon for a couple of nights first. Not much on my shopping list but it will be good to catch up with old friends.

Penrith Beacon, Yes indeed it does show the remains of the engine shed. When the station was demolished a coupe of light fingered chaps were caught stealing the large copper ball cock, it was in all the local newspapers. Mike

I have found a few more shots around Stockport Tiviot Dale station and Brinnington Junction. They were all taken by me as a young schoolboy.

Dave,thanks for the tips, but as I don't enjoy making loco's this chopper tank will probably be my last. As I have already soldered the spectacle rims in place I will have another go at my method before I cut out some plastic ones. Tricky, thank you for confidence in my ability, some would say unfounded. I have two problems with a layout. The first is lack of space along with the curves of S7 and the second is my lack of vision. I don't have much experience with layouts only helping out a couple of times with other people's. I think even a small layout moving around a few wagons is all I will be able achieve. I have started a couple of layouts in the past including building a couple of baseboards around the walls bedroom at the age of 15. I have a couple of different interests about layouts. One aspect that I like are goods yards with industrial buildings, and the second is a simple rural layout like the Cromford and High Peak Rly. As I am now 67 and I scratch build most things time is not on my side. Whatever I chose, will it be the right choice and will it give me satisfaction. Mike