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65243

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Blog Entries posted by 65243

  1. 65243

    Long time - no progress

    By 65243,

    2010 was not a good year for me, and consequently not a good year for my modelling. This time last year I returned to work part-time, which was built up to full time over 3 months. Then I was put in a position where I had no choice but to resign. In my line of work this meant not only losing my job, but losing my home aswell. So Mrs 65243 and I needed to find a new home and then move. I also needed to find a new job - a task that I haven't completed yet, although I have been doing agency work for the last 3 months.
     
    All in all this means that I've had somewhere between little and no time to do any modelling, and not much in the way of motivation either. But I think things are settling down now, so it looks like it's time to get this project out and try to make some real progress with it.
  2. 65243

    Progress at Last!

    By 65243,

    Some progress on the neglected locos has been made.
     
    The RSH is being run in - all looks good so far. I need to attach some detail parts to the backhead, work out some method of current collection, test it and send the whole lot off to the paintshops.
     
    The 16" Barclay has had a motor and gearbox ordered for it.
     
    The jackshaft for the BR 06 has been returned to Judith Edge Kits to be exchanged for a longer one, which leaves only the piano tank ...
     
     
     
     
    which hasn't been touched Still, I have a day off today, so who knows what might happen?
     
    I can't think what took me so long.
  3. 65243

    Making a start

    By 65243,

    Over in Wheeltappers there is a thread entitled "The first models I am going to build in 2010 are ....?" Having cunningly avoided making any resolutions in this regard before the turn of the year, I have now added a list of "promises" regarding my modelling intentions. Promise #5 on the list is to start a workbench blog to record progress - so here it is ! Not bad progress so far . I wonder if I can keep it up .
  4. 65243

    The Hall of Shame

    By 65243,

    We know the destination - a number of loco kits are to be completed - but where are we starting from? Here's a picture of the Hall of Shame - the incomplete and much neglected kits.
     
     

     
    From left to right we have:
     
    A High Level Models RSH Saddle tank; a Mercian Models 16" Barclay; a Judith Edge BR Barclay 06 diesel shunter; and a High Level Models Neilson Piano Tank.
     
    Each is in a different stage of completion, although looking at the photo I'm beginning to see a common sticking point.
     
     
    RSH Saddle Tank
     

     
    This is the closest to being complete. I have all the main sub-assemblies ready. It's really just a matter of bringing them together, running her in and then painting. Obviously there are some details to go on too, but this really shouldn't take long (famous last words!).
     
    16" Barclay
     

     
    From the photo it would appear that there's not too much to do on this one either, but looking in the box at what is left of the etches has me concerned that not all the parts are there. If they are, then I'm having trouble identifying some of them! It could be that I'll need to try and work out what is missing and send off to Mercian for some replacement parts. Also, I need a motor and gearbox for her - the motor I had in mind has gone elsewhere, and the gearbox didn't fit the way I expected it to. This one may take a while ...
     
    Neilson Piano Tank
     

     
    This is the most incomplete, but I do have everything I need to finish her. Comparison of this photo with the one above will show that I have even made some progress since this picture was taken (about 18 months ago), adding the bufferbeams and dumb buffers, the chimney and some other details, and the cab-back!

    BR Barclay 06
     

     
    This Judith Edge kit needs me to send the OO jackshaft back and wait for a replacement part to enable me to complete her in P4. How hard could that be? Everything else I need is in the box.
     
    So, my aim is to complete these 4 locos, before I start any new projects.
     
    BTW - there is a 5th incomplete loco lurking in a box on the shelf. It may appear here in due course!
  5. 65243
    There is progress - at the pace of a geriatric snail. With all those brick buildings, it could take a while. I also have to decide how to control the points - I'm not fond of the thwack that you get with solenoid point motors, and in my experience they play hell with solder joints. More procrastinating called for I think
  6. 65243

    Making Holes

    By 65243,

    In order to get the trains off-scene, I needed to make some escape hatches in the sides of the winebox. Out came the power tools, and with some work and some luck I made the right sized holes in the right places. (Woodwork is not something I'm good at). Feeling pleased with myself, I took some photos through the new openings. Apologies for the depth of field problems - I need to get the camera manual out and work out how to overcome these.
     
    First - a view from the front-right hole.
     

     
    Then a view along the main-line from the right hand end of the layout.
     

     
    And now ... a view along the main-line in the opposite direction.
     

     
    A view of the right hand end of the box ...
     

     
    and a close up of that view.
     

     
    Finally a view of t'other end ...
     

     
    and a close up of that.
     

     
    Bear in mind that nothing is fixed down yet - although I look to have committed myself to making this
  7. 65243
    Layout in a wine box
     
    by 65243
     
    original page on Old RMweb
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Mon Oct 05, 2009 5:47 pm
     
    Out for a walk a few weeks ago I came across this wine box just lying around. It made me think of all the boxfile layouts on here, so of course, I picked it up
     

     
    A little work with a jig-saw (first time I'd used it in anger) and a couple of hinges later:
     

     

     
    I've since cut the screws back - don't want any accidents.
     
    Then I put some track and stock in - just to get a feel for how much room there is in there.
     

     
    Looks like it might have some potential
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by Fat Controller on Mon Oct 05, 2009 6:00 pm
     


    65243 wrote:
    Out for a walk a few weeks ago I came across this just lying around. Of course, I picked it up
     

    Crikey- 14% Chardonnay! We thought we were doing well when we got 12% on this year's harvest.
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by nzovu on Tue Oct 06, 2009 2:53 am
     
    Great idea!
     
    Wineboxes are so frustrating, because they've got this great feel and look, but I never know what to use them for. I have a couple lying around that I was going to use for displaying stock (on the wall, with an added shelf and a glass front), but this is better!
     
    Very curious about the anger and the jigsaw, but I better not ask !
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by Barcaneatpete on Tue Oct 06, 2009 6:57 am
     
    Nice idea - am watching with interest - you didn't say whether the wine was still inside the box when you stumbled across it
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by cornelius on Tue Oct 06, 2009 7:02 am
     
    Looks like some grape potential here.
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by Steve with the Hat on Tue Oct 06, 2009 7:30 am
     
    Looking good - press on!
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by eldavo on Tue Oct 06, 2009 7:44 am
     
    Space for something juicy.
     
    Cheers
    Dave
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Tue Oct 06, 2009 9:53 am
     


    Barcaneatpete wrote:
    Nice idea - am watching with interest - you didn't say whether the wine was still inside the box when you stumbled across it
    Sadly not. No sign of the bottles either.
     
    Away back when ... I'd entertained thoughts of building a P4 layout in a couple of IKEA boxes (SNACK). A serious lack of motivation and the need to use the boxes for their intended function (i.e. to store things in!) means that the track I built then is now available for this project. So this will form the bulk of the trackwork.
     

     
    I'm thinking of making it a small dockside area just now, with all track infilled with cobbles. I need to think about buildngs - it'd be nice if I could fit everything in the box with the lid shut for transport - and fiddleyards - how many and how to attach them to the box.
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by Steve with the Hat on Tue Oct 06, 2009 10:33 am
     
    Its certainly got a more practical feel about the space for modelling, boxfiles seem more like animated dioramas. Could you make a single road fiddleyard on each side that detaches so they can be stored in the box for transport ?
     
    good luck
     
    Steve
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Tue Oct 06, 2009 1:56 pm
     


    Steve with the Hat wrote:
    Its certainly got a more practical feel about the space for modelling, boxfiles seem more like animated dioramas. Could you make a single road fiddleyard on each side that detaches so they can be stored in the box for transport ?
     
    good luck
     
    Steve
    That's what I was thinking - maybe something like Philip Parker did with Melbridge Box Company (http://www.pagenumberone.co.uk/layouts/Boxfile/index.htm).
     
    As I'm on holiday just now, I had time to root around in my collection of kits and bits. I came across a couple of Kibri kits that I "won" on e-bay a while back. I've placed some of the wall sections together on the layout to get a feel for how it might look.
     

     

     

     
    I'll need to think about a backscene, and maybe a wall and some gates to cover the gap in the centre rear, but apart from that I think I like it.
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by shortliner on Tue Oct 06, 2009 4:13 pm
     
    I only just picked up on this - or I'd have offered another suggestion for the cutting of the winebox - not sure of the size, so please excuse the dimensions You are looking down on the winwbox from above - ie this is a plan view
     
     
    winebox.jpg
    (22.83 KiB)
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by rouse2037 on Tue Oct 06, 2009 5:24 pm
     
    Mmmmmm wine! I like the look of the way this is going! Nice one.
     

     
    Roger
    __________________________________________
  8. 65243

    Beginning with Bricks

    By 65243,

    Having laid out a number of bits and pieces in my wine box to see if I liked it, I then went on holiday for a week - Mallorca if you insist on knowing. On my return I took another look at the proposed layout and decided that, with one or two adjustments, I still like it. Normally at this stage I would set off and build the track, but I don't need to do that as it's being recycled from an abandoned project. So, instead I've begun making the buildings that this layout will need.
     
    I have in my store of unstarted kits a couple of Kibri kits that are just the job for what I have in mind, so I set to on the first of them. I won the kits on e-bay and I'm astounded by the sheer quantity of plastic that I got for my money.
     
    The wall sections come "pre-coloured" like this:
     

     
    Hopefully I can make the colouring a bit more convincing, but we'll see.
     
    First, I went over the whole wall section with a coating of "mortar" - in my case B & Q's One Coat Sandstone emulsion, which I bought in a test pot (lots of paint for about ??1.20). After letting the paint become touch-dry, I used a damp make-up sponge to remove most of the paint from the brick surfaces. The result was this:
     

     
    Yes I know, the wall panel has changed! Once it had dried, I used standard dry-brush techniques to add a coat of Humbrol Acrylic No. 70 (Brick Red), working the brush at an angle of about 45 degrees to the mortar courses. I now have this:
     

     
    Looks like I need to go over it again with the drybrushing.



  9. 65243

    On the Fiddle

    By 65243,

    So today I got the power - and other tools out and bashed some fiddle yard boards together. It aint pretty, but it just might work. It's dark outside now, so photos will have to wait until the next dry day - it could be some time. Next on my list is getting track in the fiddle yards, then turnout operation and wiring. I might be able to play trains - errrr I mean operate my railway - in the not too distant future.
  10. 65243
    I am away from home.
     
    So I have a gearbox and motor from High Level and I have a replacement jackshaft from Michael (aka Judith) Edge What I don't have is time to do anything with them ...
     
    On a completely different theme, I also have some Easy Street track from the USA to play with. I want to see if I can get it working in P4.
     
    And ... I discovered that not one, but two layouts have been inspired by one of my designs. Shame my layout is languishing in a track mostly built condition.
     
    "Will you ever finish something?" asks Mrs 65243, banging her head on the wall ....
     
    again!!
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