ianLMS

Deleted as Admin moved post for me to correct area.

Thanks

Ian

Good evening. I will be building a P4/S4 model of Oxenholme engine shed set in 1939. I believe there was a very tall LNWR signal box just by the engine shed over-looking the bridge so it could see the station. Would anyone have any details on what type of box it was or any other details on dimensions etc? 

Thank you

Ian

A couple of 4mm Foden models/kits listed here. Not for sale, just a directory I believe but at least you know what to search for in Ebay!

http://www.modelbuszone.co.uk/tmb/lists/Model_Kits.htm

Ian

Thank you all for another great weekend and i really enjoyed it. Looking forward to next year already!!!!

Ian

For those of you who would like to follow me on my new adventure into P4, here is the new thread I have just started.

Oxenholme(ish) Engine Shed - c1939. A P4 Layout for the Scalefour Jubilee Challenge - Layout topics - RMweb

Thank you

Ian

For the last 11 years or so, I have been building my OO gauge layout, Jencaster and many of you on RMWeb have followed me, supported me and gave me so much advice. I didn't operate it much, and with bad knees, difficulty accessing some of the areas on the layout, and a damaged ceiling to contend with, I decided to have a re-think. This was a couple of years ago!!

During the last 2 years or so, I contemplated what to do next and seriously thought about 3mm scale and was very tempted. I then came across a couple of P4 layouts which really interested me. I joined the Scalefour Society while meandering around the Warley Show in 2022, and after attending the Missenden Modelling Weekend in Mar 2023, and seeing the difference between the track and standards of modelling, I was convinced this was the right direction for me.  The thought of building my own track however daunted me and trying to build to that level of accuracy was indeed something which needed time to think about before making the final decision.

I came across an article in the Society's quarterly publication about a competition designed to encourage members, non-members and novices to build a P4 layout and join the club! There is a post already on RMWeb which goes into more detail about the rules etc, so I won't repeat the information here. The main stipulation was the scenic area cannot exceed 18.83 sq ft and the track plan has to have at least 3 operational turnouts. This could be the push I needed.

The hunt was then on for a suitable track plan, and many LMS stations etc were looked at until I came across Oxenholme, on the Kendal to Windermere line. It's the right area for me as I love the North West, Lake District etc, and it would be LMS of course. Oxenholme seemed to tick all of the boxes. Formerly LNWR owned, it comprised of a station, goods yard, junction, 3 signal boxes, road over bridge, engine shed, turntable and coal/water staging area. Perfect I thought, until that is I started measuring on Google maps and realizing the whole area would need something along the lines of 40 feet in 4mm to do it justice. No amount of compromising would get me to shrink that down into 18.83 sq ft!!! 

I then started to compartmentalize the whole track plan and worked out that the turntable, engine shed, one signal box and coaling/water staging area would fit if I trimmed off the edges a little and tapered the scenic part of the baseboard. 

Oxenholme(ish) was born!!!! I played around with the various maps etc and researched as much as I could via Google and Facebook as well as discussing it on the Scalefour Forum before moving ahead fully. I also purchased a point kit from C&L as I wanted to make sure I could at least build simple track without getting into all kinds of muck n muddles.  I downloaded Martin Wynne's excellent Templot track design software, and using the guides, help pages, Templot forum and You-Tube, I managed to get a track plan that followed the real plan relatively closely, and would work in the space constraints.

Further posts will cover the build and hope you will join me as I progress along this journey.

Ian

PS. See you at Missenden in a couple of weeks if you are going!!!! I will be slinging paint, thinners and bow pens around in the Painting & Lining course with Mr Geoff Haynes. I hope he has as much patience with his students as he does skill in his chosen subject!

OS Map Oxenholme Engine Shed - 2.5 inch to Mile - 1912.pdf

51 minutes ago, Graham T said:

A shame to see this one go, and having just dismantled my own layout, I know how it feels!  But looking forward to seeing the next one.

It is a painful process, especially after 11 years of investing blood, sweat, tears and money. Having said that, what I have learnt during the build, re-build and dismantling of this layout will pay dividends going forward, and, to be honest, I hadn't operated the layout for a long, long time and in a way, it was inevitable. Entering into the Scalefour competition gave me the final push I needed.

During the dismantling phase, I have managed to salvage most of the buildings, some in mini-diorama's (like the garage & forecourt, church & farm, cottages, terraced houses etc) which I will try to sell on so hopefully someone can make good use of them. If not, they will go into storage. 

I will sell the points (scenic ones are weathered, and all of them are electrically modified, have holes for pins and the tie-bars trimmed so I don't expect much for them) and some of the track from the fiddle yard which is perfectly re-usable. The rest will be binned. Point motors, auto-frogs, DCC Concepts solenoid decoders (ADS-8SX & FX) etc will hopefully be sold off to go towards the cost of the new layout.

One last photo before I go.

I have, after many days/weeks of agonizing, decided to move to P4 and enter a layout in to the Scalefour Jubilee Competition. In order to make space, repair the ceiling and re-organize the railway room, my OO layout Jencaster has had to be dismantled. Due to lack of foresight and over-engineering, the layout is basically being ripped up and destroyed. I will close this thread im a week or two and open a new one with the new layout which is going to be based on Oxenholme Engine Shed during 1939. 

Thank you all for your kind words, advice and support over the years and hope you will continue to follow me when i start building the new layout.

Ian

On 23/12/2023 at 20:19, fulton said:

 after that the spare wheel travelled in the passenger foot well.

Not recommended. A newly married couple from work travelled home from their honeymoon. They must have noticed a problem with the tyre as it appeads they swapped it for the spare.  Apparently, they carried the damaged wheel on her lap probably so they could keep the wedding gifts and dress in the boot of their sports car without getting them wet or damaged. The tyre blew while on her lap and killed them both! 

I used chinchilla sand which is superfine and gritty rather than powdery and sets solid using traditional water/pva/fairy combo. Easy to colour with paint as well.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/303114739853?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=CuWFuocgRry&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=h-I8RE2kQg-&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

For ballast of that colour, i would look at Greenscenes scale ballast. Now sold via Squires i believe.

https://www.green-scenes.co.uk/store/product/gs405-ballast-2mm-scale-light-brown

They used crushed shells and dont change colour unlike traditional granite chippings. 

13 hours ago, Portchullin Tatty said:

IanLMS,

 

I look forward to as many LMS entries as possible!

 

 

 

Mark

It will probably take me until dec 2024 just to come up with a suitable prototype location and a layout that will fit in the space i will have!!! I plan on a 9' x 2' scenic part with fiddle yards at both ends, whilst trying to keep within a min 42-48" radius. My room is 14' x 12' but a fair bit is taken up with my workbench and storage lol!!!! I am open to ideas though! I prefer to model the LMS during the late 1930's in the North West or Midlands. I have a few books on various LMS and S&C stations which i am trawling through but very few are jumping out at me. 

On 09/10/2023 at 19:22, Penrhos1920 said:

Previous challenges have allowed people to use a car & trailer to transport the entry.  Is a trailer allowed this time?

The rules states:

d. The layout has to be portable and capable of being transported by a single car or similar size vehicle and exhibited by two people (see also

expense rule 14).

I was planning on starting a P4 layout so this might be the nudge i need!!

Just purchased one of the Stevenson TPO coaches to build from Squires stand at Warley. He had a few different TPO kits, LNWR as well as LMS depicting the TPO's with and without nets.

Will let you know how i get on when i eventually get around to building sometime during this decade!!!

Brass to brass = solder if possible. Superglue works well

Brass to plastic. epoxy or superglue should work. I would drill a hole in the plastic and push the rod though to secure

Brass to wood. As with plastic. 

I am sure others may have better solutions but i have only used superglue, evo stick or epoxy in similar situations.  

Next coach, BSL Stanier 57' Corridor 3rd D1899 ready for priming with Phoenix Precision 2-part etch primer from the airbrush, before top coats of Gloss Precision Crimson Lake and Satin Black for the ends, chassis and bogeys. Bogeys are MJT white metal non-sprung with AGW wheels. Will be fitted with microscope slide cover glass and homemade corridor connections, MJT screw couplings and a few peeps which need to go under the surgeons knife to fit the ratio seating!! Will paint the interior a sort of brown for varnished wood and the seats i do with Tamiya colours. Base grey with colourful splodges for a pattern. 

I picked up one of these from my model shop. Work quite well and does the job. Guagemaster now sell a similar model.

https://www.rolsontools.com/products/household-hobby/hobby-tools/3-6v-33pc-cordless-rotary-tool-set/

Ian

I used twigs as the main trunks and boughs of trees, then drilled holes in and inssrted sprigs of seamoss. Sprayed with adhesive and applied flock of various types.

The two larger trees in the pics were done this way.

Ian

Finally finished the BSL Brake 3rd D1905. Used the Comet Aluminium roof, MJT bogeys and more heavily weathered (too much perhaps, but im still figuring weathering out!!!). Deciding which to build next as i have several BSL coaches in my to do box!!

I have 100 or so take away tubs from the local chinese for static grass, flocks, off cuts of card, brass bits, loco spares etc. They stack easy and i just put a label on the front.  For smaller tools, glues, etc i use a large 20 drawer storage unit. For tiny bits, i use one of those draper type drawer units. For larger tools i use magnet strips to hold them. 

Examples;

Britten & James 40 Drawer Storage Cabinet Organiser Unit Black ideal for Workroom, Workshop, Garage or Shed https://amzn.eu/d/9IunAUm

Maison & White Storage Cabinet 44 Drawer | Multi Draw Garage, Shed, & Home Organiser | DIY Tool Box with Small/Large Drawers | Chest Tools & Craft Boxes | Pukkr https://amzn.eu/d/45kkmt9

I would recommend you pick up a book like this to start with.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Railway-Modelling-Construction-Modellers-Library/dp/0900586001/ref=asc_df_0900586001/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=500909826360&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9211282746566188887&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006589&hvtargid=pla-1187797607438&psc=1&th=1&psc=1

It will help with explaining the basics for building and operating a model railway which you can take your time to digest and refer back to when you need. There are several different books out there. The one above is the first one that popped up in Google! It covers most things and newer books will have dcc and analogue content to help you decide. 

As others have said - its a great hobby, have fun, enjoy it and good luck. 

I was starting to get issues with my Sparmax Max4 which i have had for over 5 years now and use mostly for etching primer and weathering. It was blotching and struggling to get a good even spray even when i adjusted between 15-30 psi using enamels. Ordered a new 0.4 needle and nozzle as i have a feeling the nozzle is worn from regular cleaning/reaming and i detect a tiny burr on the end of the needle. I also have an Iwata Neo for spraying locos etc and finer work. Ptfe tape around the nozzle and crown threads help seal aswell and prevent air leaking out. For cleaning i only use Premiair Liquid Reamer. Gets rid of everything, even melting the latex gloves i wear!!!

I use the smokebox numbers from Fox transfers available in different fonts.

No offence taken Richard. Its definately a consideration when it takes several years to accomplish what we set out to achieve in this hobby. My next project will be mobile so at least i can move it/expand it at a later date if the opportunity for more space arises. I can give my wife back our spare room then! Loft conversion or decent outbuilding is looking at around £12K whichever option i choose. At least with an outbuilding, toxic paint and glue fumes wont interrupt domestic bliss as it does at the moment!!

On 11/08/2023 at 10:57, 30368 said:

 

How old are you Ian? Do you have enough time to start again? A big step that needs careful research - fortunately plenty of good advice is available here.

I really admire your layout - the scenery look very familiar to a Buxton dweller!

 

Kind regards,

 

Richard B

Thank you Richard. I am in my early 50's so hopefully will be a while before i will be pushing up daisy's lol!!! Like the vast majority of us, limited time, space and finances make things a little more challenging, but where there is a will..........!! The first step is going to be the hardest. Taking a hammer to the layout i spent 10 years working on, but rarely use will definately motivate me to move to P4 or EM. I enjoy building kits rather than operating but would like something to show off the stock etc. A motive depot is the easy answer, but would still like to see a decent freight or passenger train rumble through!

On 11/08/2023 at 08:54, Jol Wilkinson said:

Although building P4 track is time consuming compared to using RTP OO track such as Peco, it isn't difficult. Having some good P4 gauges and few hand tools are all that is needed. There is an excellent topic on the S4 Forum by Tony Wilkins on track building https://www.scalefour.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=5727, as well as plenty of other information. I mainly follow Tony's method but use ply and rivet in just a few locations such as under the nose of the crossing Vee, with Exactoscale chairs threaded onto the rail elsewhere. This photo shows the first P4 track I built.

 

 

The new Finetrax P4 point kit has also been found to be a good starting point, although only available as B7s so far. https://www.scalefour.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=8730

Stunning trackwork there!!! Definately something to aspire to. I am a member of Scalefour so will check out the thread. The toughest part is finding a station/track layout that is going to be relatively simple to begin with but interesting to operate and will try not be too ambitious. Those point kits look interesting. Again, its knowing what points to go for and knowing the difference between B7, B6 etc, etc. Lots to read up on!!!