Focalplane

This morning I attacked the sheets of 10mm ply with my new jig saw. What a pleasure this tool is to use. It’s by Bosch and has a vibration free (almost) motion, even when using the orbital setting. The ply cuts like butter. I made a master 1.8 meter radius track base and then used this to make several more. I also cut a straight strip off one side of a separate sheet and this was so easy and I never used any guide other than a pencil line. Paul

Having set up 7.4 meters of L Girder I decided to add some cross rails and track supports. The location is approximately where the station building will be located. At this location there are three tracks. The one at the back is the hidden circular route, then the hidden track leading to the Barmouth fiddle yard, then the scenic track which includes two points at the western end of the platforms. Any spare timber can be used for the uprights. The tops of the uprights have an extra strip added for stability. 10mm plywood will be used for the track bases. Paul

Thanks, Andy The timber situation is getting better. Unfortunately I only heard of a really good plywood source in Perpignan after I had ordered 6 sheets from elsewhere and eventually got them delivered. As to falling off the step ladder I only bruised my ego and it is quite resilient, now fully recovered and ready for me to repeat the act at will. Some people never learn! Paul

Here is a link to an unedited series of films with no sound using footage shot at Cookes in the 1950s. A fascinating glimpse into life back then. The location is now an industrial estate adjacent to the Cambrian Main Line, but no longer any sidings. Paul PS I just tested the link but it doesn't work in France - so-called rights issues!

I have always been confused by the Wiggins companies, Berry Wiggins and Henry Wiggins, not surprising really as I also worked for BP in the 1970s and at the same time my stepfather worked for Henry Wiggins in Birmingham. Off topic, sorry! Paul

I think a gunpowder van would be appropriate for mid-Wales, given Cookes factory at Penrhyndeudreuth and the many quarries in the area. For some reason I remember seeing gunpowder vans at Penrhyndeudreuth in the 1950s with a white diamond marker on the sides. Or was I imagining it? Paul

At last, progress! The L Girder framework along the scenic "back wall"of the railway room is complete, now awaiting cross members, track base supports and track bases. The foundation is rock steady and level. Moreover, it can be dismantled and used again should I ever move or get tired of Penmaenpool. I sincerely hope that neither will apply! Paul

Quick thought - Y points are shorter than L and R points. Looking good, Andy Paul

Larry Thank goodness you are detailing this as I was worried you might delete the previous post. I need to do the same with mine. But I don’t know when given all the other stuff I am working on. Paul

Due to a continuing lack of quality timber for the L-Girders I have been concentrating on the lighting and have now taken on an important job in the workshop - erecting a wall to separate the workshop area of the rest of the garage, This latter project takes me back to remodelling a house in Houston 30 plus years ago. The problem is that while I haven't forgotten the skills, I don't know all the French words. Sheetrock and "mud" are not in the French language, though I bet there are slangs words for plaster. Come to think of it, sheetrock won't get you far in a British builders merchants either! The railway room lighting has taken a back seat for another reason - I fell off the step ladder the other evening. Nothing damaged, just my ego. Paul

I spent this afternoon researching timber options and gave up. I am back on trying to resolve the railway room lighting and have found LED strip lights that will do the job. So a change in emphasis until Leroy Merlin restock their timber. I am also getting some heat for ignoring other pressing priorities! I did run the Ivatt Mogul this evening, though, and it sounds great in the railways room. Paul

Dave First apologies for the typo, I know it pains because I am often an Aston. But thank you for the simple explanation concerning the position of the Home button on my iPhone when taking photos. Paul

First of the L-Girders: Close up: Here is my "yard stick" showing the three levels plus "datum". The latter is actually the level in the doorway where the scissor crossing will go. The scenic layer goes in last, for obvious reasons! So, as you can see (I hope) the framework has little to do with the ultimate layout. Hopefully all will come clear as the build progresses. Paul Edit to add that the second and third photos need to be rotated 90º. Why RMWeb cannot do this automatically I know not but Dailfly, if he is around, will explain.

Andy, six along each long side, three on each end. I think. The first one took a while but the rest won’t take too long. The beauty of the system is that the base units are easily re-used should I decide to do so. But first, I need to finish what I have started! Paul

At last. Progress. Three supports built today ising the new table saw (which is very very nice). The first one has been fixed to the floor and is temporarily held in place while I go and buy the timber for the L-Girders tomorrow. The supports will be 1.2 meters apart while the cross pieces will be 1 meter front to back, placed wherever needed, onto the L-Girders. I plan to document the build in some detail as I am not sure how common this technique is in the UK. Paul

Yesterday the wind blew hard and overnight the rain blew in with it. A huge storm not far away (east of Toulouse) with lots of lightning showing up on France Meteo's maps. Presumably part of Ella, we are in the zone where east meets west and things get interesting. But no snow, just coastal flooding and wind damage to contend with. The best place when the weather is like this is to be in a room with no windows and I have been busy clearing up the railway room as well as the workshop side of the garage. Yesterday I did venture out to Leroy Merlin and spent some hard earned cash on a table saw, drill press and new zig saw. The help and advice I received from Monsieur Tool Guy at Leroy Merlin resulted in me buying a British table saw, the Evolution Rage 5S. The on line reviews are excellent and it is great to see a British* product being recommended in France! It took me 2 hours to assemble the table saw which is par for the course apparently. My training at the house of IKEA helped a lot. The big plus with the Evolution Saws is their blade which cuts wood, aluminium, mild steel and plastics. Not having to change the blade is a huge advantage in our particular hobby. The drill press is German and a bit crude by comparison but at an excellent price. I had not heard of Sheppach before but it has a ten year guarantee. The Bosch model next to it in the store looked much more up to date, electronic, etc., but nowhere near as robust. So, the tools are set up, but so far very little timber to work with for the layout structure. Fair weather is coming, they say, so I may go and buy some 3" x 1" nominal for the L-Girders. I do have some good quality plywood in house which I plan to rip into 8 cm wide strips for the diagonal bracing to the leg supports. That I can work on later in the day. Paul * The company is British (based in Sheffield) and the design is certainly British but I don't know if the actual parts have been fabricated in Britain.

It's interesting reading all the snow stories. The snow never reached us but major problems were around Montpellier (they seem to be as well prepared as the Brits!). Instead we have had coastal flooding from the Mediterranean and the coastal area is completely flooded. Last night there were easterly gales up to 100 kph. We don't live there so the railway room is high and dry and we are somewhat smug. So I went to Leroy Merlin this afternoon and bought some workshop power tools. Prices in France seem to be significantly lower and the level of service significantly higher. I am still not convinced about how the French store their timber, though, and that is my next headache to resolve. Ironically we drove all the way down here, starting Saturday evening and arriving Monday afternoon (berth of Brittany Ferries, hotel at Brive) and had glorious blue skies and sunshine all the livelong day. Now the skies are grey and wet. But good psychology for the railway room visits! Good to see you posting "beaucoup" Andy! Paul

Taking photos in a home cinema isn’t easy! Paul

Back in France with lots of sunshine until this morning, so I have now spent some time in the railway room (which as it has no windows is a good place to be). No snow but Montpellier is suffering apparently. The railway room has been a repository for all sorts of junk and packing materials, plus I can't find anything in the many railway boxes. Well, anything I am actually looking for. The first priority is to buy several power tools to upgrade my workshop (I haven't had a workshop since leaving Texas in 2003, when I gave away several Sears Craftsman power tools). Then I can start to make the L-Girder framework and the L-Girders. Today I set up my test track and ran the Jinty for the first time in a few months. The sound-proofing (or is it sound-absorbing) in the ex-home cinema means that the DCC sound is muted and definitely not rebounding from the walls. I am hoping this will mean that the sound of trains will appear to move across the layout, along with the trains. Photo to follow! Paul

Chris I apologize, I really could have sent you the link, but we have been under the weather this past week and short of brainpower. I have struck up a good rapport with David by phone and email and have yet to met him in person, but he is personable and listens to his customers as to their needs and wants. Note that he does carry the odd kit in stock as well, so it's always worth contacting him. He will also give up to date advice on which motors and gearboxes, wheels, etc. you will need. Paul

In my working life I worked for several very wealthy people. To do so is risky business sometimes as they do tend to see and tell it like it needs to be seen and told. Wealthy people get wealthy either by being clever and lucky or by being ruthless. I put PW in the former category. He needed to make a difficult decision. Paul

Chris Send an email to David! Paul

Very sad news for Gauge O modellers - Just Like The Real Thing is closing down. I had certainly looked into reserving their upcoming Dukedog model with ?3D printed body, but recent news that David Andrews is releasing a few of his kits this summer had me thinking again. Other JLTRT locomotives on Mid-Wales lines in the 1950s would include the Manor and Mogul but I have these covered as well. Their coaches will be missed by many mid-Wales modellers but there are alternatives both in kit and RTR form. This is a big hole in the Gauge O world. Paul

I can't get it to work with Adobe Reader 9, Adobe says that scaling is not possible. I always use Apple's Preview equivalent which works fine with all other Scalescene's files but as this file can be customized I have to use an Adobe product. Looks like Illustrator may come to the rescue though my version (pre-retirement CS5) is far from user friendly on an occasional use basis. Paul

I have framed prints using Epson inks (of the day) which were made in 1999. The prints have been exposed to light for most of the time yet I can see no loss of colour or vibrancy. The paper used was indeed best quality Epson or Ilford Glass using the highest quality settings. The printer used is long gone and to be honest I don't get such good print results with the latest printers and the latest inks. A lot more print head cleaning is required. I agree that in 7mm scale the etched plates would look much much better but as an interim I think the printed signs will be fine. Now I realize that my railway room will be ideal in that it was a home cinema with no windows and very, very dark. The prints could last for ever! Paul