Focalplane

It's a pity blogs don't have a "funny" thingy.  I think cubic zirconia dust would be OK for the 4mm lady! 

In case you are wondering what that nut is doing in front of the engine, it is one of four that take my Dremel drill stand.  My workbench is portable, consisting of a B&Q kitchen door with tray handles.  I liked it so much I made another one so that it doesn't have to be portable (One speaks English, the other French!)

Right now I'm gearing up for the rugby showdown against New Zealand.  Allez les Bleus!

Yes, this is my first home with a real view and I cannot believe it at times.  The sunsets, with glass of wine in hand, can be magnificent!

One of the remarks made by many new owners of the Terrier is the lack of coaches to pull, which is why I mentioned the 14XX AND an Autocoach.  In 00 gauge there is a lack of connection between the two, at least since the Airfix combo which is/are definitely long in the tooth though capable of upgrading.

Small passenger tank engines only ever pulled up to three (maybe four) coaches, meaning the modeller's budget doesn't have to be too constrained.  Put together a decent rake of Mk 1 Heljans and the Poor House beckons!

Yes, one of the new innovations that brings an extra dimension is the small wifi video camera.  One of Lee Marsh's 0 gauge promotional videos has scenes using such a camera attached to the side of the first coach.  Imagine one small enough to fit inside a locomotive cab, giving the driver's eye view!  It will happen.

Thanks, Mikkel

One reason for the buildings being at the front is "grandchildren"!  But I agree with you about sight lines, etc.

I'll post a couple more views in a moment (I didn't realize you can't put a photo in a blog comment).

Yes, I agree with you, but to have the local government (Mairie) break in and vandalize might just be too much to forgive!

Some isolated locations can be so isolated to be a fair risk, but I have been advised that this would not be the case with the authorities.  I used to live in Nissan les Ens

Yes, Jim McGeown (Connoisseur) warns of the risk of soldering directly onto the plunger.  I have done this of necessity with the 4mm Alan Gibson pickups and the failure rate was too high.

The tag seems to be an upgrade to attempt to avoid the problem.  For me, at least, it has worked, and if I had thought of Western Star's idea then it would have been a lot less stressful.  Next time will be better.

And next time will be the Connoisseur 4F in which case I might just put the plunger pickups on the tender wheels as well!

Hmm, in retrospect I believe you are correct. This is how we learn!

There is no doubt that Jim's kits are an excellent introduction to 0 gauge.  I jumped straight in with the Jinty and it has gone together very nicely.  Other kit manufacturers have said that this is the right way to go before delving beyond inside motion locos, etc.  My progression (all LM®) will be Jinty to 4F to Midland Compound by David Andrews.  Then maybe an outside valve gear loco?

My initial model is a small shed based on Bushbury 3B/Monument Lane 3E so I don't need more than a few wagons for coal and ash and these can be had from Dapol to allow a focus on locomotives.

Nice work, knapper!

Mine will be one of the Bescot Jinties, probably 47473 as I have a photograph of it on shed.  Go for the Connoisseur kit, it really does go together well.

That tickled my funny bone!

Butanone is a serious solvent so shouldn't let the chairs fall off the sleepers. Perhaps you didnt have them pressed down enough or for long enough.

Sorry to miss this in my previous comment.  The Butanone works fine, it is the lack of adhesion between chair and rail which was/is my problem.

I agree with Tillynaught Junction being outstanding.

Good comments, thank you!

I am hoping that gluing the chairs to the rails will work as I shall have some movement for temperature expansion/shrinkage between the baseboard and the sleepers by using rubber-type cement.  And (my existing) soldered track has no room for movement at all between chair and rail!

Yes, filing down the end of the bullhead rail is essential.  My problem was more with holding the chair between finger and thumb!

I think building the points directly onto the baseboard is the better way to go, that is, if you can.  If I decide to lay more C&L track that is what I would do.

Saw all or most of the layouts and very impressed by all of them, large to minuscule.

Thanks, Bill. Next week I will photograph the same area after a long hot summer and it will probably look a bit drier!

Bill, What exactly is proto-forest?

Paul

Steve

Thanks for the above explanation - yes there is room!  Like you I don't seem to be getting any notifications.  I am back in France now but busy with other things for the time being that are not Shipston related.  My priority from SWMBO is to fit the fascia, etc. as we have family staying here in 6 weeks time.

The horse box will add more operational interest to the layout and I am sure there are other subjects that can be added to enhance the operational aspect of the layout beyond coal, animals and raw timber for the local saw mill (raw in, pit props out according to my research).  I need a GWR bogie bolster for the raw timber but they are not available at the moment.

Paul

Thanks, Steve.  Your excellent work is already the centerpiece!

Yes, I will use the water tower even though it may be on the small size.  The reason is that the water quality at Shipston was considered by the GWR to be poor so water from the well was only to be used in an emergency.  the extra siding (which I am not building but which will be ghosted in as abandoned) next to the engine shed was for a tender of good quality water brought from Moreton.  The Shipston well water was, of course, quite suitable for washing down the cattle pens and ash pit.  Ash pit?  There wasn't one, but I feel that there should now be one, so it will go in front of the engine shed (the inspection pit inside the shed being used for all other maintenance issues).

Back to the water supply, all Moreton trains will have to provide their own water for the return journey.  The Ettington traffic will have first call on the Shipston water supply!

Good news about the horse box, but the space between the cattle pens and the good shed had a 40 foot coach body and a van on blocks (both of which I have suitable kits for).  So where did the horses load/unload exactly?  I could have them unloading through the cattle dock.

Thanks, that makes sense and it's not too late to change. But looking at the photo of the real thing the gauge is anything but stable!

Yes, I need to be dragged into the 21st Century too!  The end result is very natural.

This is an interesting observation: in very small areas the color is not at all green, but the larger the sample, the greener it appears to become.

My use of this, or a similar hue, will be restricted to a panel about 20cm (8") deep along the front of the four modules. It will be painted on smooth hardboard and will have a dull finish. It will be fixed to the modules with brass screws in screw cups.

In addition, I have also got to think about where to place the control panel for the Tortoise motors, interior lights, etc. I will be using a Bachmann Dynamis DCC controller for the actual trains, which is hand held.

Thanks, Richard. The first couple of examples I found on searching didn't look at all green!

Thank you both!  Yes, I agree with the dark olive green option.

Now I wonder how I convert BS10B25 to something in French.  That's a rhetorical question, I am sure I can work it out!

Steve, stay tuned.  I hope to have some photos up over the weekend of your buildings in place.