88C

What I said earlier about Llanforen appearing to work wasn’t entirely true. I decided to have a different selection  of locos available and use some pure GWR types rather than the kit built absorbed stock. Most engines didn’t give any trouble but Hornby models with pony wheels were derailing at one board joint. Initial investigation suggested the boards weren’t quite level however adjustments didn’t solve the problem. Since everything else with pony wheels stayed on the track the problem most be a combination of track and pony truck design, back  to backs were fine although I did think the pony trucks were a bit light but they didn’t give trouble anywhere else. So it must be the track over the baseboard joint. At the joints I soldered the rails to copper clad strip and cut the rails once down. This particular joint is on a slight curve, although that fact is not really relevant, I checked the gauge with a micrometer and found it to be slightly under 16.5mm, out with the soldering iron and a slight easing of the gauge seems to have cured the problem, let’s hope so.

 I do find it hard to believe that the locos have not run round before.

The other, minor, thing that I came across was that my large prairie, an older Hornby model was just catching the platform. Closer examination showed how wide the model is over the cylinders, when I built the layout I used my tender drive King to test for clearance, make of that what you will.

All part of the fun.

Brian.

This is a very interesting project and taking over someone else’s layout has its challenges. Being Arley must make it extra special. At our club we have trestles like yours which we use for three different layouts when we take them out, makes setting up a lot quicker.

Brian

I have just had chance to have a quick look on here since the outage, thanks of course to Andy for all his hard work, to see what is missing. It will take some time to replace photos and seeing as dinner is nearly ready I won't be doing it today.  The more observant might notice that I have replaced my avatar, might not be a good thing!

Good to be back.

Brian

I have only just tried the site again and so pleased that it is back. I can only echo the thanks expressed by others to the dedicated team that have worked so hard on our behalf.

Brian

Thanks for all of the updates on forthcoming models, looks like an expensive year coming up.

The weathering certainly brings models to life, I have just started to experiment myself with some older models.

Brian

Mansfield show over for another year, what looked like a lot of wagons soon got swallowed up on the layout. An enjoyable weekend and we have been invited back next year. Yes that is my LMS Castle on shed and a rake of my wagons on the train.

I have had chance to do some modelling, the vans I bought at Doncaster have just been finished and so has something a bit more unusual. When I was buying some nameplates from Brian Mosby of @247 Developments I saw that he had on sale 3D printed  bodies for a Great Western cordon wagon, so I bought one. The model is not to scale because it is designed to fit on a RTR chassis, Brian had used a Dapol one, however it gave a good impression. For my chassis I used left over bits from plastic wagon kits, don't throw them away you never know when they might be useful!

I am pleased with the final result and it will add something different to the end of a train.

The Llanforen layout has been put pack in place and seems to work, a fair amount of scenic items need replacing so plenty to keep me busy.

Brian

I forgot to mention, the cordon is also available in 2mm.

No pictures this time, the layout has been more or less put back in place but I haven’t had chance to test it yet. I have been doing a bit more wagon building, more details later. Quite some time has been spent assembling wagons for use on Radford Mill at Mansfield this weekend, I didn’t realise just how many I have acquired over the years and they are not all going. Being an LMS layout other members will be supplying locos and brake vans. 
 

Say hello if you are visiting.

Brian

Nothing to report on the layout as it hasn't been put back in place yet, a long story but it is unlikely that I would have done much anyway.

Most modelling time has been spent working for the club, the stable block is virtually complete, it needs some gutters but whether I get chance to do that before the Mansfield show is anybody's guess. This is how it looks from the operating side.

A good day was spent at the Doncaster show where I met up with cousin ChrisF, sadly most of our usual meetings at shows this year haven't or will not be possible, nothing we can do about that. There were some nice layouts to look at, not to mention some shopping. More wagon kits purchased and well on the way to being built, nameplates for the modified Hall and the surprise buy, a used 8750 pannier. I have been on the lookout for one of these for some time and finally struck lucky.

The respected retailer sold it as tested and a quick run up and down all seemed fine but when I started doing more shunting there were odd times when it refused to start even with a gentle nudge. Running with the body removed a quick turn, by hand, of the gear got it going again, for a while. Eventually I think, hope, I tracked down the problem to the pressure on one of the motor springs, since making a slight adjustment it has worked perfectly. No complaints about the retailer but this problem was probably why they had it for sale and were not informed.

Plans for the future, well the British Railways locos need weathering, shiny black does not look right. I will probably build more wagons, not because I really need them, I just enjoy doing it. There is a 2021 pannier to finish, it has not been as straight forward as I had hoped, it has been a long time since I did a whitemetal kit. I still have to decide on which cab to use but I'll get there.

If you visit the Mansfield show say hello I'll be with Radford Mill, down stairs.

Brian

A lovely model and lifted by the subtle weathering. I must say that I much prefer a grey roof compared to white even though the latter may be correct. On a model when seen from above the white is too overpowering.

Brian 

On the link to the Dapol announcement, scroll down and it is just above the red invitation to pre order at you favourite stockist.

Brian

Not to mention corridor coaches in development.

Brian

Not to mention corridor coaches in development.

Brian

Surprised to see a South Notts bus on this thread, especially on a bridge.

Brian

Making a card mock up is always a useful idea to get a feel for a building. I took this picture of the bread oven way back in 2015, was it really that long ago.

I don't if you have had any thoughts about the cottage, I used the Ancorton laser cut terrace as a basis and it saved a lot of work, even though I clad it with plastic sheet to get a better stone finish, there are some pictures on my Llanforen thread. I will get round to fixing them in place sometime!

Brian

Good to see the turntable working, a long saga but hopefully worth it in the end.

Brian

Nothing in the way of progress on the main layout, it has been partly dismantled to enable some work to be done in the garage. Although never intended as a portable layout I am pleased that I made the decision when building it that it should be dismantable (if that is a real word).

Modelling time has largely been spent on building a stable block for a club layout which is due to attend the Mansfield show in March.

That's all for now.

Brian

Well that's another year done and looking back  I have made some progress. On the layout itself the cottages are nearly finished but now need  placing properly with paths, gardens etc to do, that will have to wait for warmer weather.

I have also made a start on getting stock for the BR period partly prompted  by building wagons for club layouts. Lucky enough to buy some good second hand Mk1 stock but locos, surprisingly, have not been forgotten.  A Castle and modified Hall at reduced prices, a mogul and a couple of panniers, a 16xx and a 94xx. Nearly all of these need some work doing, renumbering and weathering to make them more realistic.

What for next year? Well more to do on Llanforen and the bedroom layout, work for the club, hopefully visit some shows. 

As for purchases, a railmotor and Manor are on order and we will see what else turns up. Having experiences the quality of the 16xx and 94xx, both superb runners what I would like is a 57xx/8750 to the same standard. My current 8750s are both K's, they were built long ago and it shows.

Finally may I wish you all a happy new year and, hopefully, a return to normality. Thanks to all of the regular posters whose reports I regularly read for inspiration, no names, I don't want to miss anyone.

Brian

On my Llanforen layout thread I mentioned why I chose Bradley Manor, well this is why.

I don't have clear memories of manors working but I do remember this image quite clearly, possibly because it was away from the main scrap yard. The image is a scan from a photo I took in August 1996.

When I was searching the internet for more pictures I came across one that is almost identical taken by @phil_sutterson 22nd July 1966. Phil's photo does show General Steam Navigation in the background which is only partially visible in mine.

Brian

Despite telling myself that I don't need a Manor I have succumbed and ordered a Bradley Manor. The pictures of the painted samples have convinced me that I was wrong, the detail is superb and to my eye the green looks spot on.

It is also refreshing to see the response to comments made by knowledgeable posters on here, well done to the Accurascale team.

Brian

No progress on the layout recently, most of my modelling time has been spent on the early stages of building a stable block for a club layout. The other thing is that there is some work that needs doing in the garage towards the end of January which will involve partially dismantling the layout. It was designed so that this would be possible but not as easily as a portable layout, needless to say space under the layout has been filled.

Despite telling myself that I didn't need a Manor I have succumbed and ordered a Bradley Manor from Hornby Magazine. I don't remember seeing Manors working at Barry, most of the specials I recall were hauled by Halls, Granges and the occasional Castle but I clearly remember Bradley standing along side the goods shed awaiting it's fate, I have a photo to prove it. I must have seen some working because not all of the ones that I have underlined have been preserved.

Finally can I wish you all seasons greetings, keep safe and let's hope that things do get better, I'm sure that most of us have had to change plans recently.

Brian

Really enjoyed seeing Tetbury this evening, superb modelling, well done.

Brian

Looking at the overhead view, the Dapol model would certainly benefit from the inside of the chimney being painted black.

As for which is better, I don’t know because I haven’t seen either model and I do not have one on my wanted list. If one feature sticks out as wrong to a prospective buyer on one version, go for the other, we will never all agree.

Brian

It’s a Bachmann model and a nice runner. The coupling couldn’t be more basic, a simple bar with two holes from the loco and a very small peg on the tender. Nothing inherently wrong with simple but in this case I have found it hard to get the bar engaged and get the loco and tender onto the track still joined. Not sure yet how I will change it, I tend not to rush into changes when a model is still covered by a warranty.

Brian

The latest loco being run in.

There is no tender because the loco-tender coupling is the worst that I have come across, it will have to be modified!

Brian

I recently mentioned buying some second hand Hornby Mk1 coaches, James at Smiths Model Railways was keen to point out that the couplings had been modified and some weathering had been done and showed me what he meant. The modification was removing the NEM box, for want of a better word, and gluing the tails of the coupling into the housing keeping the coupling height the same.

The photo is not that clear due to the glue that was used.

The effect is to close the gap between coaches. The photo is taken on a 2' radius curve on the entrance to the fiddle yard.

Unmodified coaches.

Finally Swordfish on the train.

Brian