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-missy-

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Blog Entries posted by -missy-

  1. -missy-
    Hello
     
    As the weather yesterday looked like this...
     

    I had the day off work and carried on with the control panel for Highclere...
     

     
    I have also made a start on the power supply for the layout, is there any reason why I cannot use one of these?
     

     
    Missy
  2. -missy-

    I hate Woodwork!

    By -missy-,

    Hello.
     
    I really admire people who can make things from wood. It really is a talent, and a talent which is still beyond me. Today I have spent ALL day trying to make a box for my control panel and I have reminded myself why I hate it! Today hasnt been a great start to the new year and hopefully one which wont continue, there has been temper tantrums, tears, and lots of moments where I just had to walk away, I just cannot do woodwork:(
     
    Anyway, here is the result of all my efforts today, in all its embarrassing glory (remember this has taken me ALL day)!
     

     
    Give me an etched kit anyday! The really annoying thing is I HAVE to get these done no matter how much I hate it.
     
    Missy
  3. -missy-
    Hello
     
    Just time to squeeze another post in before I call it a night tonight...
     
    Today I have mostly been trying out an idea I have for my control panel. I drew the track plan with corel draw which was then given to my local friendly engraver who engraved it onto some clear acrylic. When I got it back I sprayed the back of it black and then stuck blue LEDs along the top and bottom edges of the panel. Here are the results....
     

    Panel in daylight
     

    Panel at night
     
    The idea is to illuminate the plan where its been engraved just enough that if I ever run the layout in the dark (its a big plan of mine) then I will still be able to see the switches and stuff. It still needs tweaking like adding more LEDs to the sides but the idea kinda works I think?
     
    Missy
  4. -missy-

    Now with added backscene

    By -missy-,

    Hello
     
    I am very very happy. With thanks to Ron North of the High Wycombe Model Railway Club who has done fantastic work on the backscene for Highclere. Its something that I would never be able to come close to and although I no doubt will get some stick for not attempting it myself, I just wanted the best for Highclere and Ron has definately done that for me.
     

     

     

     
    Thank you again Ron.
     
    (A very happy) Missy
  5. -missy-
    Hello
     
    Finally! I have decided to leave the Q1 alone and move onto the next thing there is only so much tweaking I can do on something before I get bored of it so I have decided its done.
     

     

     

     

     
    Here is what I have done to it...
    Changed the engine wheels to 2mm FS using 2mmSA wheels using nickel silver replacement bar and plastic insulation bushes. Machined the tender wheels from N Gauge to 2mm FS and added the wheel detail Changed the plastic front steps to metal ones (soldered from wire and etch left overs) Replaced the huge plastic driveshaft and universal joints for smaller metal ones Changed the motor to a fulhalber 1016 one
    Replaced the coupling between the engine and tender to a pcb one and decreased the gap between the two Added a driver and fireman Changed the handrails for finer metal ones Added lamp irons (front and back) made from etch left overs Added real coal in the tender Replaced the lubricator linkage made from brass bar to give a finer apppearance with etched handwheel
    Changed the coupling rods for finer etched ones from the 2mm SA Weathered by the brilliant Terry Hadler Added a Train Control Systems Z2 decoder in the tender (wired in, not plug in)
    And there you have it! Im very happy with it. Now onto the next thing....
     
    Missy
  7. -missy-
    Hello
     
    I have managed a little more today. Hopefully its getting close to completion now with the motor being the only major bit left to do on this engine. Today I have added a few details to the engine like new finer handrails and lamp mount bracket thingys instead of the moulded ones.
     

     
    I have also spent a bit more time on the tender wheels. The plain ones were erm, too plain, so with the help of a dividing head (thank you Mark) I added a little bit of detail to them.
     

     
    They finally turned out like this..
     

     
    OK, not exactly how the real ones were like but they look better than plain disk wheels plus you wont really be able to see much of them once fitted anyway. Half of them have been dunked in brass blackening solution by the way.
    Its off to the paint shop tomorrow (Hopefully)
     
    Missy
  8. -missy-
    Hello
     
    Well, that is the question going through my head today. Its something that has been bugging me for quite a while now. I really wanted to do point rodding on Highclere and the stools were kinda like the 'missing link'. I managed to persuade Ivan of Southwark Bridge Models to reduce an etch of his point rodding stools down to 2mm scale and as they arrived today through the post I couldnt wait to have a go...
     

     

     
    I think they look great but will anyone notice them? Let me know what you think...
     
    Missy
     
    P.S. Thank you Ivan
  9. -missy-
    Hello
     
    My attention has now turned to the tender. There are 2 things that I want to do with it which are 1. Change the motor to something better, and 2. Change the wheels to 2mm standards.
     
    As nothing really exists for the tender wheels I thought that this was an ideal oppertunity to have a go at machining some N Gauge wheels to 2mm SA standards so armed with a drawing of the wheels and my little lathe I managed the following..
     
    BEFORE...

     
    AFTER...

     
    Its kinda cool that they seemed to have worked out ok as its another thing I know I can do, although I really must sort out some decent tools for my lathe to cut brass as the ones I have now are rubbish! Before I blacken them I really would like to add a bit of detail to the face of the wheels but to do that I have to get my hands on a dividing head for my milling machine.
     
    So now I have a basic frame for the tender..
     

     
    And finally this one shows the difference between an untouched tender chassis and the one after I got my hands on it!
     

     
    Missy
     
  10. -missy-
    Hello
     
    After removing the huge joint inbetween the engine and tender for a smaller, finer brass one I was left with a huge hole and a rather blank cab so tonight I quickly put together a kind of cab just so it doesnt look as blank. Its not prototypical or anything and it was quickly glued together but hopefully it fills the gap ok. The new joint is now going through the firebox door.
     
    BEFORE...

     
    AFTER...

     
    Next is the tender...
     
    Missy
  11. -missy-

    Missys Q1 Chop Shop

    By -missy-,

    Hello
     
    This week I have been mostly working on a Dapol Q1. The Q1 is my favorite engine and I have had one lying around now for a while so it was about time I turned my attention to it. The Dapol model is fantastically well detailed so I dont really need to do much to it.
     

     
    The only thing that bugs me about it is the N Gauge wheel standards, the wheels on the engine arent hidden in any way so its more obvious than usual. Fortunately the 2mm SA do a set of replacement wheels so I got hold of those but I didnt want to scratch build a chassis for it. I came up with a plan on how to convert it using some nickel rod, converted 2mm SA wheels and some small plastic insulating bushes.
     

     
    Other things I have started to change include changing the huge moulded plastic drive between to tender and the engine for a finer metal one as well as lowering the height of the drive with a little gearbox.
     

     
    There are still plenty of bits to do including the front steps, the tender, handrails, etc, but its comming together slowly
     

     
    Missy
     
     
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