Jump to content
 

Graham_Muz

RMweb Gold
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    4,090

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    2

 Content Type 

Blog Entries posted by Graham_Muz

  1. Graham_Muz
    With respect to the Southern Railway Mogul 2-6-0 locomotive fleet most people probably immediately think of the Maunsell Moguls, the N/N1 and U/U1 classes. Their origins lead back to the SECR for the 5’6? driving wheeled N class followed by the later Southern built, also under the design auspices of Maunsell who was now CME of the Southern, the U class with their larger 6? driving wheels.
     
    The missing mogul in more ways than one is the ex London Brighton and South Coast railway (LBSC) K class designed by LB Billinton. First introduced in 1913 the eventual 17 members of the class were the first 2-6-0 locomotives on the LBSC and the first with a Belpair firebox, and like the Maunsell N class also had 5’6? driving wheels. They were generally seen as one of the most successful LBSC locomotive designs.
    luebell Railway was formed, however obtaining one was considered too expensive at the time.
     
    Although mainly employed on the central section for freight use they did occasionally wonder further west and east. I am not sure if one ever made it to Salisbury or not but the Brighton to Cardiff trains that changed engines at Salisbury could sometimes throw up a surprise loco from Brighton so it might have been possible.
     
    My K class number 2346 shown below is built from an old Keyser (K’s) white metal kit, and makes an occasional appearance on Fisherton Sarum.
     

     
    Sadly the K’s kit is not available anymore, so even in model form the class is still the missing mogul both in either Ready To Run (RTR) or kit form.
     
    This is an extract from my blog at www.grahammuz.com
     
    The full entry with additional information and images can be found here
  2. Graham_Muz
    I am getting Fisherton Sarum ready today for its appearance at the http://hamptoncourtmrs.co.uk/ Tolworth Showtrain this weekend. I am much looking forward to the weekend playing trains, it has been a while since it last been out and fully set up. If you are coming along please say hello.
     


     
    Further information here https://grahammuz.com/2017/10/30/november-exhibitions-and-open-day-fisherton-sarum-wycrail-showtrain-and-warley/
  3. Graham_Muz
    Firstly I would like to thank all the readers of my little corner of the blogosphere whom took the time to enter my little competition to win a brand new Hornby R2620 Urie N15 King Arthur Class number 746 ‘ Pendragon’ in Bulleid post war malachite green livery. The competition set in my post here in conjunction with Fisherton Sarum’s appearance at the Barnstaple Model Railway Club exhibition last Saturday, and celebrating ten years of exhibiting Fisherton Sarum, asked the question “where has Fisherton Sarum has so far made its furthest west appearance“. The answer as many of you correctly deduced was its appearance at the Wadebridge show in 2008.

    The lucky winner whose name was literally drawn out of a hat, by my own mother ably assist by another long standing Fisherton Sarum operator Daniel (who operated at Fisherton Sarum’s first exhibition when he could hardly see over the top of the fiddle yards), at the Barnstaple Model Railway Club exhibition on Saturday was Jon Summers of Devon who advises me (being a man after my own heart) that malachite green is his favourite colour! Well done to Jon, the locomotive is winging its way to you by Royal Mail (unfortunately not 21C3).


    Secondly; the Barnstaple Model Railway Club exhibition was a pleasure to exhibit at and it was as ever great meet up with old friends, make new ones and put faces to names with whom I have communicated with either on here or my main blog at www.grahammuz.com .
    If you have you not visited this show before then all I can say is try and make it next year, it really was a superb line up of layouts and humbling to have been included among them. I can confirm that the date of next years show will be Saturday 29th July, Richard (Mudmagnet of this parish) , the exhibition manager, and his team at the Barnstaple Model Railway Club are rightly gaining a reputation for putting on a quality show and I wholeheartedly recommend a visit to anyone who can get there.
    Thuis is an extract of my blog at www.grahammuz.com
  4. Graham_Muz
    With a nod to a lyric from the Genesis track ‘Deep in the Motherlode’ from their ‘Then there were three’ album (did I not mention before I am a bit of a Genesis geek) Fisherton Sarum is celebrating its 10th birthday (its first exhibition was in back in 2006) by heading West on Saturday 30th July to be at the Barnstaple Model Railway Club exhibition.
     
    This one day show is organised by my friends at the Barnstaple MRC, and has gained a reputation for enticing good quality layouts to North Devon. The exhibition is being held at: Christ Church, Bear Street, Barnstaple EX32 7BU.
    It is open to the public between 10.00 am and 4.00 pm

    Fisherton Sarum will be in the company of some excellent layouts that I can recommend seeing including: Portchullin (P4) a Scottish DCC layout of small coastal station, Banbury (N) a model of the real station in Oxfordshire set almost in the current day, Tidworth (00) a fictional station and yard in Networth South East era, Bratton Lane (00) a small shunting yard and Wantage Narrow Gauge Tramway (009) a narrow gauge model based upon the real location. Also a selection of traders will be present and refreshments will be available.
     
    Competition Time
     
    It is a first for my blog, but I thought I would have a competition, as a celebration of Fisherton Sarum’s 10th birthday, for you my readers to be in with a chance to win a mint boxed and brand new Hornby R2620 Urie N15 King Arthur Class number 746 ‘ Pendragon’ in Bulleid post war malachite green livery.
     
    Head over to my main blog, of which this is an extract, at https://grahammuz.com/2016/07/08/go-west-young-man-fisherton-sarum-at-barnstaple-exhibiton-3007-and-win-an-Hornby-n15-pendragon/ to find out how to enter!
     
    Good luck in the competition and come and say hello if you are able to get along to the show in Barnstaple on the 30th.
  5. Graham_Muz
    November this year sees the 10th anniversary since the first exhibition outing for Fisherton Sarum.
    Wycrail 2006 , the annual exhibition of the High Wycombe and District Model Railway Society
    , was the first public appearance, and was the first time the layout was actually fully operated. I was however able to set the layout up for the very first time at the Society’s clubrooms the week before and some very last minute corrections to wiring etc. (thanks again Mark!) ensured that on the day itself things went pretty much to plan.

    Getting a new layout on the exhibition circuit for the first time can sometimes be tricky owing the chicken and egg conundrum that to get exhibition invites you often need to be already seen on the exhibition circuit. Being a member of a Model Railway Society or Club is often a way, as in my case, of getting an invite to the Society’s own Wycrail show and therefore that first public appearance.

    In the ten years since that first outing I have enjoyed exhibiting across the country, at now nearly 30 shows, ranging from Wadebridge in the South West, Manchester, Hartlepool, Doncaster in the North, The Warley NEC show, Tonbridge and Worthing in the South and of course on Salisbury station
    itself.
    Fisherton Sarum returned to Wycrail in 2014 and will also be making an appearance at the
    High Wycombe and District Model Railways Society’s open day on Saturday 21st May 2016 see here for more details.
    I will continue to exhibit Fisherton Sarum, as it has always been enjoyable, but have always limited its appearances to approximately 3 shows a year and the current small number of booked appearances can be found here , although a couple more are in discussion so watch this space.
     
    This is an extract from my blog at www.grahammuz.com
     

    The full post with additional information and images can be read here http://grahammuz.com/2016/03/17/from-the-archive-3-making-an-exhibition-of-myself-or-fisherton-sarums-first-outing-10-years-on/
  6. Graham_Muz
    I have now just about recovered from three enjoyable consecutive weekends exhibiting
    Fisherton Sarum twice and, in between, assisting fellow High Wycombe and District MRS
    member Alan Paley with is exquisite pre-grouping Loughborough Road layout.
     
    The first show was the excellent Worthing MRC exhibition which by all accounts was a great success for the Worthing MRC with visitor numbers up on previous years, which is always good to hear, and the fact that they had taken to step to utilise more space within the venue which afforded us plenty of room.
    As I reported last week it was the first time that we had operated the layout following the relocation of the
    main control panel from the rear of the layout to the front left hand corner and it certainly, as hoped, made interaction with the audience easier and more pleasant, whilst keeping things in the shed area moving.
     
    As I have said before each show tends to be memorable for one reason or another and this was no exception. My model of theBulleid Leader as usual provoked much interest and discussion and one visitor in particular was notable in being only the second person I have ever spoken to that saw the actual Leader in operation, as he worked at Brighton Works during its development and initial trials, a hugely interesting conversation indeed!
    The failure of the turntable mechanical drive system towards the end of Sunday afternoon was the only negative aspect from the show.
    Last weekends visit of Fisherton Sarum to the Great Electric Train Show organised by the Hornby Magazine was another great weekend and once again visitor numbers have steadily increased in the three years the show has been run. This is I am certain due to the number of quality exhibits and traders on show, if you have not managed to get along to this show I can very much recommend it.
     
    Being located pretty near to the main entrance meant we were crowded around the layout within literally seconds of the show opening. In places throughout the venue the aisles were a little narrow and I was pleased that I had been able to set the layout back from its intended location to widen the aisle by a few feet. The crowds remained for most of the weekend with only a slight thinning of onlookers very late on in the afternoons.
    The Friday evening set was a bit fraught due to finding out the turntable fix deployed after Worthing had not gone totally to plan and some glue seepage had occurred locking everything up. However after some hope and brute force being applied and careful reapplication of glue, followed by waiting overnight and reprogramming the indexing on the Saturday morning all appeared to work well for the rest of the weekend, phew!
     
    The Sunday saw as promised a guest engine make an appearance, in the form of the Bachmann N Class No.1848 that Irepainted and numbered into post war SR black livery for friend and fellow post war period modeller Robin Sweet (Gwrrob) as can be seen from the picture she looked quite at home on shed, No. 1848 having been a Salisbury allocated engine.

    I did have a slight issue with one of the fiddle yard cassettes on the Sunday morning where the screws holding down the aluminum angle had come loose causing a few derailments on the exit to the fiddle, but once the cause was found it was duly fixed and more reliable operation continued for the rest of the day, I apologise if you were watching during this period of time (and also possibly to my operators at the time whom were initially getting the blame!). The use of cassettes in the fiddle yard is always a talking point at shows and will be the subject of a future post.
    This is an extract of my blog at www.grahammuz.com
    The full post with additional information and images can be read here
  7. Graham_Muz
    This coming weekend, 10th / 11th October 2015, Fisherton Sarum will be at the
    Great Electric Train Show organised by the Hornby Magazine at the Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon
    Fisherton Sarum’s last outing at the excellent
    Worthing MRC annual exhibition two weeks ago proved that the relocation of the main control panel from the rear of the layout to the front left hand corner worked really well and it will be retained in this position for future shows. It certainly, as hoped, made interaction with the audience easier and more pleasant, whilst keeping things in the shed area moving.

    Unfortunately towards the very end of the weekend at Worthing the turntable operating mechanism failed, which upon further inspection was due to a fairly catastrophic failure of the plastic boss that connects to the operating shaft on the underside of the Peco deck itself. This has now been drilled out and replaced with a new turned steel boss and refitted. Limited time available has meant that it will have to be tested and the

    MERG indexing system reprogrammed
    for the first time tomorrow evening once set up at the GETS show, so fingers crossed it all works properly again!


     




     
     
    Hopefully on Sunday a guest engine will be making an appearance on Fisherton Sarum, in the form of the Bachmann N Class No.1848 that I
    repainted and numbered into post war SR black livery for friend and fellow post war period modeller Robin Sweet (Gwrrob) for use on his excellent, albeit GWR, layout ‘Brent’ based on South Brent in Devon. 1848 will in a way be coming home as she was in fact a Salisbury allocated locomotive during this period.
    This is the third year that
    Hornby Magazine have organised this show which already has a reputation for being a quality show with a great line up of layouts and traders, with the added bonus of visitors also being able to also wonder around the Heritage Motor Centre (Banbury Road, Gaydon, Warwickshire, CV35 0BJ). The show is open to the public between 9.30am and 5pm on the Saturday and 9.30am and 4pm on the Sunday.
    Once again I will be kindly and ably supported by fellow members of the
    High Wycombe and District MRS to operate the layout over the weekend and on the Sunday there will be four generations of my family involved (if you count the model of my Grandfather as a Ganger on the layout) as my Dad and teenage Nephew will also be helping!I hope some you are able to attend and I look forward to seeing you there.

    This is an extract from my blog at
    www.grahammuz.com
  8. Graham_Muz
    Since the introduction by Hornby of the Bullied 'West Country / Battle of Britain' Light Pacifics I have always been meaning to get round to either making or sourcing a representation of the cyclinder drain pipework.
     
    Later Hornby models such as the N15 and Rebuiilt Light Pacific's have these supplied as part of the accessory kit but none of these are suitable for the original style Light Pacifics.
     
    As can be seen below there is quite an obvious gap at the fornt end without the pipes fitted
     

     
    when compared to the image on the Semg website here
     
    I had been either looking at commissioning an etch myself or convincing a small manufacturer of detailing parts to add them to their range. I then stumbled quite by accident on the RT Models website run by Robert Thompson (RThompson of this parish) and he has a simple little etch for the drain pipes for a couple of quid each. I have therefore purchased a few and fitted to my fleet of Light Pacifics and also one of my original Merchant Navy Pacifics.
     


     
    They also have the added advantage of providing extra strength to the front step, that can be prone to being knocked off, by gluing the drain pipes to the rear of the steps.
  9. Graham_Muz
    There are many reasons why I choose to take Fisherton Sarum on the road a few times a year this include: the enjoyment of exhibiting something I have built, having fun operating the layout with my family and friends and to meet a wide range of fellow modellers; many of whom have a common interest in all things Southern, and it is great that they take the time to show an interest in what I have done.
    There are of course downsides, some of which include: having to load and unload the layout / vehicle twice for each show (although even at a total of 20? long Fisherton Sarum was designed specifically to fit into the back of Ford Mondeo estate car!), the loss of a few days of vacation, the travelling (often hitting the Friday rush hour) and the inevitable damage that can occur both to the layout and rolling stock.
    With a couple of exhibitions on the horizon later this month (Worthing MRC) andOctober (Hornby Magazine Great Electric Train Show), as I have previously posted I have been able to up Fisherton Sarum at the clubrooms of the High Wycombe and District MRS.
     
    In addition to a few changes and repairs to the layout itself I have been taking the time to check every item of rolling and carry out some routine maintenance, running repairs and getting round to adding a few extra bits of detail here and there. Yes, although I only usually take part of my overall fleet to a show it still amounts to nearly 80 locomotives, 20 or so coaches and 50 plus wagons!
     
     
     
    The maintenance and running repairs I have been carrying out includes, where applicable: wheel cleaning, light oiling, pick up adjustments, touching up paint work and repairs to any structural damage.
     
     

     
     
    I have also taken the opportunity to complete a few detailing jobs either for the first time or sometimes re-affixing some of the small detail items that have got knocked off either during transportation or handling at previous shows, including: fitting cylinder drain pipes, front steps, brake rodding and headsignal discs or lamps.
    If you are able to attend either of the two exhibitions come up that Fisherton Sarum is attending
    , please make sure you say hello, as I said earlier meeting fellow modellers and or other Southern Railway fans is very much a part of the reason behind exhibiting that I enjoy.
     
    This is an extract of my blog at www.grahammuz.com
     
    The full post with additional information and images can be read here http://grahammuz.com/2015/08/29/workbench-witterings-3-maintenance-and-running-repairs/
  10. Graham_Muz
    This I suppose only just counts as ‘A view from the line’ type post as in reality it is a guide to my method of painting brickwork that I have used on all the brick buildings seen on Fisherton Sarum. I tend to construct most of my buildings using embossed plastic, mainly Wills material packs, which have more pronounced embossing when compared to for example than the A4 embossed plasticard sheets from the likes of Slaters. The method I am outlining below is also therefore possibly more suited to such heavier bossed materials. Although this post is primarily about brick painting the principles can also be aplied to stone work (with obviously a change in the colours used).
     

     
    The colours that we see in brick walls also vary depending on the distance that we view the wall from as colour unlike a physical item does not scale in the same way. When we look at a real wall close up we see all the variations of individual brick colours, however when viewed from a distance the colours tend merge into a smaller more uniform palette. In model form we actually need to view from a far greater representative distance to achieve the same effect therefore if each individual brick on a model is separately painted whilst this would correct in close you would have to stand back a proportionally greater distance than in real life for those colours to start merge together. The step by step guide I outline on my external blog here http://grahammuz.com/2015/07/12/a-view-from-the-line-15-another-brick-in-the-wall/ helps to deceive the eye to overcome the effect of colour not scaling
     

     
    This is an extract of my the full post on my external blog at www.grahammuz.com
    The full post with a step by step by step guide to my brickwork painting method , with additional stage pictures, can be read on my blog here http://grahammuz.com/2015/07/12/a-view-from-the-line-15-another-brick-in-the-wall/
     
    This method is a variation on that used by excellent modeller Iain Rice in his book “Modelling with Plastic Structure Kits”
    published by Wild Swan
    . Like many things with modelling, this is just one way of doing and the way I prefer to use, there are other ways and other approaches successfully used by many other modellers.
  11. Graham_Muz
    Fisherton Sarum will be exhibited this weekend, the 28th and 29th March, at the London Festival of Railway Modeling
    at Alexandra Palace, North London N22 7AY. This well established and popular large show is organised by
    Warners publications, the group behind the British Railway Modelling Magazine and of course RMweb, in association with
    The Model Railway Club.
     
    Fisherton Sarum will be stand 101 located at the organ end of the main Great Hall.
    There will at least 40 layouts at the show, manufacturers including Bachmann and Hornby along with the usual mix of traders and demonstrators. As with the shows organised Warners there will also be the BRM Village including examples of current projects, an interesting programme of lectures and a chance to meet the team behind the magazine.
     

     
    I hope to see you there, please come and say hello. As usual I will be ably and gratefully assisted by fellow members of the High Wycombe and District MRS and also my Dad. If you unable to attend this weekend then perhaps you might be able to get along to see Fisherton Sarum at one of the other two shows I will be attending this year, see my exhibition diary page on my external blog here for details.
     
    This is an extract from my blog at www.grahammuz.com
  12. Graham_Muz
    Fisherton Sarum will be exhibited at the Princes Risborough and District Model Railway Club’s Risex show this coming Saturday . This nice little local show that showcases a number of local layouts, is being held at the Community Centre, Wades Field, Stratton Road, Princes Risborough, Bucks, HP27 9AX. The show is open between 10 am and 5 pm and is well worth a visit, so come along if you can and say hello.
     
    Making their debut on Fisherton Sarum at the show will be two ex LSWR locomotives.
     
    Firstly is a repainted Hornby Drummond M7 to represent Salisbury allocated, long frame pull push fitted number 60. I have repainted this model from her original Southern olive green livery into post 1946 Southern Railway black with Bulleid Sunshine lettering to match my modelling period.

    The second locomotive to make her debut will be ex LSWR Adams A12 class 0-4-2 number 652, to work on either a secondary passenger or freight turns. I can not lay claim to the build, as she was built by friend and excellent modeller Dave Taylor DLT of this parish, (some of you my have seen his fantastic 0-16.5 narrow gauge layout Bridport Town
    ). She like 528 has been expertly built by David from a Nu-Cast kit and his build can be read about here on Dave’s inspirational Southern Locomotives kit build thread . She needed a new home once he finished her, although a few final details have been completed by myself, and I could not resist the opportunity to own such a quality model, it will be an honour to have her running on Saturday at the Risex show

    This is an extract from my blog at www.grahammuz.com
     
    The full post with additional pictures and information can be read here.
  13. Graham_Muz
    I have a bit of a soft spot for all large tank locomotives and a number of classes of large tanks existed on the Southern Railway such as the H16 4-6-2T, W 2-6-4T, the Z class 0-8-0T that I featured in my
    Talking Stock# 19 post here and the topic of this post the G16 4-8-0T. The H16 and W classes will I am sure be the subject of future posts.
     
    The ex London and Southern Western (LSWR) Urie G16 class of four 4-8-0tanks were introduce in 1921, the same year as the larger H16 4-6-2T. The two classes shared many common parts such as boilers and fireboxes.
     
    Having eight-coupled wheels of 5? 1? diameter, they were clearly intended mainly for hump shunting duties at Feltham yard and spent most of their lives to the shed there. Weighing in at 95 tons they were certainly heavy tanks and with a Tractive Effort of 34,000 were the most powerful locomotives on the LSWR. In common with the T14 4-6-0 ‘Paddleboxes’ and H16 class were the widest steam locomotives in Britain.
     

     
    My model of the G16 makes the odd occasional appearance on Fisherton Sarum which must be a running in turn from Eastleigh works, as Salisbuty would have been a bit far for a trip working! It has been constructed from a Golden Arrow Products resin kit mounted on a modified Hornby 8F chassis. This is somewhat of a compromise as the G16s had an evenly spaced 5’1? driving wheels on 6? centres whereas the 8F has 4’8? drivers on unequal spacing.
    This is an extract from my blog at www.grahammuz.com
     
    The full post with additional information and further images can be read here.
  14. Graham_Muz
    Fisherton Sarum as I am sure regular readers will know uses Salisbury shed as its basis and inspiration. The London and South Western Railway (LSWR) buildings and their relationships with each other are modelled to create the spirit of Salisbury shed, that hopefully to some is instantly recognisable. Albeit somewhat modified and condensed to fit within the quite limited space that I had available. This enabled me to use available drawings of the actual LSWR designed buildings along with photographs to portray the location as an adaptation.


    The weekend of the 10th and 11th May Fisherton Sarum will be returning to the Salisbury area to be exhibited at the

    Salisbury and South Wilts Railway Societies 50th Anniversary exhibition.
    The exhibition is being held at the Michael Herbert Hall, South Street, Wilton and being their golden anniversary should hopefully be a special event. It is open to the public 10.30am to 4.30pm on the Saturday and 10am to 4pm on the Sunday. In addition to Fisherton Sarum there are 14 other layouts across a wide range of scales attending including a number that are Southern related.








    If you are able to get along to this show,and help the

    Salisbury and South Wilts Railway Society
    celebrate its 50th anniversary, it will be good to see you.



     


    This is an extract of my blog at
    www.grahammuz.com


     


    The full entry with additional information and images can be read here.



  15. Graham_Muz
    A particular pet hate of mine is viewing layouts that have no backscene, even simple a plain blue or grey painted back board is better that nothing. The last thing I want to see is the clutter behind the layout and the midriffs (being kind) of the operators. A good backscene helps create impression of depth and finishes the overall illusion that we are trying to create with a layout.
    There are a number of methods that can be used to create the backscene from the simple single colour plain painted board to full wrap around photographic images that are now being very successfully used on layouts such as: Chris Nevard’s Catcott Burtle , Paul Marshall-Potter’s Albion Yard
    and the RMweb team behind Black Country Blues .
    In between these two extremes variations include: fully hand painted, commercially available printed or photographic images such as available from PECO or International Models.

     
    On Fisherton Sarum I am indebted to fellow High Wycombe and District MRS member Ron North who, from a couple of grainy black and white images of the rooftops of Salisbury and its cathedral, kindly and superbly hand painted my backscene. This not only uniquely helps create the illusion I was after but also places the layout as being based on Salisbury so well, even if we have moved the cathedral to the north of the line!

     
    In addition to the hand painted scene, at the western end of the layout I have a row of low relief terraced cottages backing on to the line that have been constructed from Langley Models vacuum formed mouldings suitably painted and detailed fixed to the backscene. Their back gardens and yards are on the layout itself.

     
    The illusion of depth is further maintained by avoiding where possible sharp angles between the back of the layout and the backscene itself. This can be achieved by a number of tricks such as; curving the ground level up on the backscene, carefully placed fences or hedges, or the use of perspective with slightly smaller scale models just in front. It is also good practice to avoid things roads meeting the backscene at or near 90 degrees as this is very difficult to blend with a backscene (it is better to curve the road into a backscene to allow the actual join to be concealed behind a hedge or similar).
     
    This is an extract from my blog at www.grahammuz.com
     
    The full entry with additional images and information can be read here.
  16. Graham_Muz
    Although I have been exhibiting Fisherton Sarum since November 2006 feedback from my operating team has resulted in suggestions and ideas for ways to continually improve the way we operate and exhibit. The main and largest change to date was as reported in my Controlling interests #1 post that added a third controller to enable independent up and down main line operation whilst still allowed movements to carry on in the shed area.
     
    We now operate with each fiddle yard operator driving trains towards them, each fiddle yard operator has a small indicator panel to communicate the type of train to each other (as different length trains require different length fiddle yard cassettes to be positioned) and this also shows them that a train is set up in the opposite fiddle yard and ready to be driven. Following this modification the indication panels gained a switch to enable them the approach signal without having to move across the to the main control panel.
     
    With this method of control now having been used at a couple of exhibitions there have been occasions when the next departing train is set up the previous train is either still moving or the controller has been left on causing the next train to start too early. To overcome this a push button has been added to fiddle yard indications panels that an operator will have to press to energise the power feed to the train they about to drive in the opposite fiddle yard. Once on the main board the push button can be released and the train will carry on.
     

    The Fiddle Yard Indicator panel.
    The lamps are switched by the rotary switch at the opposite FY
    The red ready send button is pressed when a train is set up and illuminates the green lamp at the other FY.
    The light green push button is the new switch to energise the track feed at the opposite FY exit.
     
    This is an extract of my blog at www.grahammuz.com
    The full entry can be read here
  17. Graham_Muz
    The topic of Bulleid coaches has come to the fore again via a number of mediums. Firstly; the new Graham Farish Bulleid coaches in 2mm N gauge have hit the shops, a good review of them by Nigel Burkin can be found on the Model Railways Live website here. Secondly; current Model Rail magazine editor Ben Jones included a bit of crystal ball gazing in his editorial within the magazines Winter issue No. 191 mentioning that an upgrade of the now long in the tooth Bachmann 4mm Bulleid coaches as a possibility for being announced this year, on the basis of the additional research having been carried out for the all new Graham Farish versions.
    The original Bachmann 4mm Bulleid coaches were first introduced back in 1993 and were before the level of detail on the subsequently introduced BR Mk1 coaches such as close coupling, flush glazing, separate water tank filer pipes / end handrails and finer underframe detail, it does leaves the Bulleid range slightly lacking. Further information on these models can be found on the page I wrote on the Southern Email Group website here.
    Both the new Graham Farish and old Bachmann Bulleid coaches are based on the BR 1950's built versions reflecting the type of underframe detail and the most obvious feature of the BR Built examples the 15" deep window vents as opposed to the Southern Built versions with 10" deep vents.
     
    My modelling time frame of 1946 to 1949 therefore excludes the Bachmann versions so I have had to look elsewhere for the coaches in my fleet.
     
    My First example is 3 coach set no. 984 comprising of Bulleid 63ft Multidoor stock (i.e. a door for each compartment) first introduced in early 1946 built from the now unfortunately unavailable
    Southern Pride kits. This type of kit comprises of a pre printed colour overlay on a clear shell giving a near flush glaze effect. I have two of these three coach rakes although I do feel their version of malachite to be slightly on the bright green side of the spectrum. Although the Bulleid kits are no longer available from Southern Pride they are still a valuable source of coach detailing parts.

    Following on from the multidoor stock, later in 1946, Bulleid introduced a new design layout with compartments no longer having individual doors and access being via the corridors and vestibules . These as explained above had 10" deep ventilators which easily identifies them from the later BR built versions. Illustrated left is 2 coach set no.63, built from
    Southern Railway Group’s Phoenix (ex BSL) range of aluminum bodied kits , comprising of Semi open brake 3rd No. 4371 (kit reference SC50) and Brake Composite No. 6700 (SC51)
     
    I can not say at this point if Bachmann will update their 4mm Bulleid coaches or not but If they do my guess is that they will still, as per the Graham Farish range, be the later 1950 BR built versions.
     
    This is an extract from my blog at www.grahammuz.com
     
    The full entry with additional information and images can be read here
  18. Graham_Muz
    Although still October, the December 2013 issue (Number 189) of Model Rail Magazine hits the newsagent shelves today and features an article about Fisherton Sarum.

     

    The article is written around a completely new stunning set of photographs by
    Chris Nevard. As well as the obvious details about the layout the article focuses through some of the text and the great photography on my kit built rather than Ready-To-Run rolling stock.
    Those using the iPad app will also be able to view a gallery containing ten additional pictures not used in print along with a short video clip of the layout in action. I apologise in advance for the dodgy baseboard joint in the video clip as I wasn’t expecting to have to actually run the layout during the photoshoot!

    I hope you enjoy both the photography and the article and I welcome any feedback.


    For further information see my blog at www.grahammuz.com
  19. Graham_Muz
    The London South Western Railway (LSWR) first started using pneumatic control, rather than traditional wire and point rodding, at Grateley in 1901, using the system from the British Pneumatic Railway Signal Company that used low pressure air at 15psi to operate the signals and points. Following this successful trial Salisbury station, that was in the process of being rebuilt at the time, was also so equipped with the two new boxes, Salisbury East and West both containing a 64 slides frame (slides replaced levers on such system). Air compressors and reservoirs were located next to each box. The system was brought into use in November 1902. Unlike the systems installed at Grateley (1915), Baskingstoke to Woking (1966) , Staines (1930) and Clapham (1936) the Salisbury system remained in service until 1986.

    The two signals on Fisherton Sarum are based on the down advanced starter and the up inner home bracket signal for the approach to either platform 1 or 3.

    Andrew Hartshorne proprietor or Model Signal Engineering
    , from photographs of the actual two signals, kindly provided me with the correct combinations of his kits and parts to most economically make up the signals. I have also included a representation of the air cylinder mounted just below the balance arm.



    Each signal is operated via aViessmann stall type motor mounted directly beneath the baseplate that the signals are constructed on and this allows the signal to removed from the layout for maintenance if required. Unfortunately it appears that these motors no longer are available and I would therefore think about using a slow motion stall motor type turnout motor in the future. As the mentioned above the signals at Salisbury were pneumatically operated and therefore did not exhibit any ‘bounce’ so this was not incorporated into the control system.
    I think it always good to see working signals on any layout, although a little fiddly to build the effect is well worth the time taken.
     
     
    This is an extract from my blog at www.grahammuz.com

     
    The full entry with additional information and images can be read here.

  20. Graham_Muz
    The third and final series of
    Bulleid’s Merchant Navy Pacifics
    were not introduced until after the formation of British Railways in the Autumn of 1948. As a result they were numbered immediately into the new BR numbering series 35021 to 35030 but still initially appeared in malachite green whilst British Railways developed their own new livery schemes.
     
    he locomotives were built at Eastleigh and five of the first seven were finished before the completion at Brighton of their 6000 gallon tenders and were introduced into service paired with Bullied Light Pacfiic tenders, either 5500 gallon (35021/22/24) or 4500 gallon (35026/27) versions for a few months.
     
    During this period of time they were finished in unlined malachite and had there nameplates fitted but covered up with wooden protective boards.
     

    Once coupled to their proper tenders they there finished in fully lined malachite although the lettering style varied between BR Gills Sans or ex Southern Sunshine style depending on when the 6000 gallon tenders were available.
     

    My models illustrated here have been built from Millholme models white metal kits although the tender paired to 35022 is a repainted
    Hornby
    5500 gallon tender. Numbers 35021 and 35022 are nearing completion and left the workbench for the first time during the recent bank Holiday weekend and join the ever growing fleet some more of which can be found on my
    very first Talking Stock post here.
     
     

    35023 completed a while ago (although still requires a couple more details added) is shown here also as a further livery variation example.
     
     
    This is an extract of my blog at www.grahamuz.com
  21. Graham_Muz
    One of the characteristic views from the coach window when travelling on our railways , until the late 1970's was the continual dipping and rising of the telegraph wires. Telegraph, telephone and signalling block instrument communications were all carried alongside the line suspended from the iconic multi-arm telegraph poles. Whilst the poles themselves are often modelled, there being a number of manufacturers of such in the popular scales, creating the actual wires, especially to scale is somewhat more of a challenge. I have seen fine thread and fine wire used by others but these have always proved to be very delicate and easily damaged.
     
    On Fisherton Sarum I have modelled a short stretch of the telegraph poles and wires. I have used suitably painted Ratio telegraph poles, using more greys than browns. The distance between the poles has also been somewhat compressed, although a change in direction of the route has given a reason for the close proximity of a couple of the poles.
     

     
    For the wires I have used a product called ‘Silk worm – magicians invisible thread’ this is in fact very fine elastic and at the time was available either in clear or black. The clear is exactly what it says on the reel and is pretty much impossible to see so defeated the object for using as telegraph wires somewhat, so I used the black. Even so, using the black, the wires often tend to go unnoticed by many viewers of the layout and also depends on the angle that they are viewing from and the point at which they are trying to focus on.
     
    This an extract of my external blog at www.grahammuz.com
     
    To read the full entry with additional information and images click here
  22. Graham_Muz
    Douglas Earie-Marsh will probably be best known for the popular and graceful H1 and H2 Atlantic express engines, although these were essentially Ivatt designs from the Great Northern with whom March previously worked. His fist design of Atlantic tanks the I1 and I2 classes were not at all successful performers. The I3 tanks however changed that and quickly gained an excellent reputation especially with respect to fuel economy. When used on the ‘Sunny South Special’ between Brighton and Rugby, a superheated I3 could could do the entire round trip without need for water en route or re-coaling at Rugby!
     
    They could often could be seen on the Brighton and or Portsmouth to Cardiff services being replaced by an other railway company loco at Salisbury and between 1938 and 1943 four of the class were allocated to Salisbury itself. This gives the excuse for one to be seen from time to time on Fisherton Sarum.

    My model of 2084 has been built from a Wills (now South Eastern Finecast) white metal kit in the form with the cut down cab and fittings to fit the SR composite loading gauge and is finished in my usual Bulleid post war black livery.
     
    This is an extract of my blog at www.grahammuz.com
     
    The full entry and additional images can be found by clicking here.
  23. Graham_Muz
    Firstly a quick Happy New Year to all the readers of this blog as this is the first post of 2013, I wish you all a peaceful and prosperous year ahead with hopefully plenty of time of modelling all things Southern!
     
    One of the regular sights on Fisherton Sarum is my Z class pushing loaded loco coal wagons up the incline to the coal stage. Maunsell Z Class 0-8-0T number 957 was allocated to Salisbury primarily for shunting the East yard, this was due in part to the fact that the yard was shunted 24 hours a day and being three cylinder locomotives the Z class had a much softer exhaust beat than for example the ‘bark’ of a traditional 2 cylinder locomotive such as the G6 Class. It was reported that on the days when the Z Class was on shed for routine maintenance such as boiler wash out etc. the locals would complain about the additional noise of its replacement in the yard!

     
    My model of number 957 is built from an old Milholme white metal kit powered by a Portescap motor that ensures that like the prototype she is quiet, very powerful and does not slip. She may well at some time be pensioned off to be replaced by the excellent DMR etched brass kit that is in my pile of kits to build but that is likely to be some time off yet.

     
    This is extract from my main blog at www.grahammuz.com
     
    The full post including additional information and pictures can be found here
  24. Graham_Muz
    I mentioned in my
    Talking Stock # 17 Drummond’s 4-4-0s more than just T9s! that whilst Drummond had managed some successful 4-4-0 designs his various 4-6-0’s for the London South Western Railway (LSWR) were somewhat more variable in performance. This was quite worrying as increased passenger loading, the requirement for faster schedules and in general heavier rolling stock increased the demands of the locomotive fleet. His previously introduced 4-6-0 class such as F13, E14, G14 and P14 classes did not live up to the expectations of performance. His final 4-6-0 was T14 class of ten locomotives that performed slightly better than his previous 4-6-0 attempts and gained further improvements once superheated, although coal and water consumption was still relatively high.

     
    Under the auspices of Maunsell the entire class was rebuilt in 1930/1 with raised running pates replacing the driving wheel valance, that lead originally to the class nickname ‘Paddleboxes’, although the smokebox saddle that curved to meet the top of the cylinders and the length of low running plate at the front end was retained. Mechanical lubricators were also fitted that cured the class of the hot axle box issue that blighted all of Drummond’s 4-6-0s.

     

    My model of T14 number 461 is a Nu-Cast white metal kit and is in fact in early 1948 livery on one side (like a number of my fleet) as number 30641 and ‘British Railways’ in Southern ‘Sunshine’ style lettering as she carried until the early 1950’s.




    This is an extract from my blog at
    www.grahammuz.com.

     
    The full entry and additional images can be read here
  25. Graham_Muz
    This post highlights some of the examples of Dougal Drummond of the LSWR 4-4-0s that I have models of (some of his other classes will no doubt be the subject of future posts) and can sometimes be seen running on Fisherton Sarum. Many of these these examples have been kit built.
     
    Although not his first 4-4-0 design for the LSWR, that was the C8 class, his second is probably his most well known and much loved being the T9 class known as ‘greyhounds’. First introduced in 1899 the 66 strong class had a 10' wheel base and a 7’4" firebox (both 1ft longer than the C8) with 6’7" driving wheels. once superheated during the 1920?s their performance was legendary. The first twenty engines were built at Nine Elms between June 1899 and February 1900. At the same time thirty engines were built by Dubs & Co A further fifteen engines were built at Nine Elms between December 1900 and October 1901.This batch were identifiable by having wider cabs and splashers which enclosed the throw of the coupling rods unlike the earlier batches with narrow cabs and separate additional smaller splashers for the rods.
    Whilst most people associate this class with the Drummond 4000 gallon inside bearing ‘watercart’ tenders a number were paired to 6 wheel 3500 gallon tenders and these weere swapped about during the lifetime of the class.

     
    In 1901/2 Drummond introduced the K10 class known as “Small Hoppers”, a class of 40 which shared the same cylinders, boiler and firebox as the earlier C8 class but with 5’7" driving wheels for mixed traffic duties. Like the C8 class their steaming ability was not great so they generally were kept on secondary routes.

     
    1903 saw the introduction of the ‘Large Hoppers’ officially the L11 class again of 40 locomotives, these were in effect the slightly larger brother of the K10 class, still with 5’7" driving wheels but with the same longer wheel base and firebox of the T9 class. Like the K10 they were never superheated.

     
    1903 also saw the introduction of the 10 locos of the S11 class essentially an adaptation of the T9, also superheated but with smaller 6' drivers and larger 4’9" boiler. This class was followed by the L12 class of 20 locos in 1904 that was a further adaption of S11 class with the larger boiler but higher pitched on the essentially same chassis as the T9. I am yet to add these classes to my fleet.
     
    The final 10 Drummond 4-4-0s introduced were the D15 class which was a verson of the L12 class but with a longer boiler and firebox, with an overall 18" longer wheelbase than the T9. The D15s performed exceptionally well and were put to work on the Bournemouth line run where, apparently, many drivers preferred them to the less successful Drummond 4-6-0s designs. They latterly saw extensive use on the Portsmouth line.

     
    This is an extract of my blog at www.grahammuz.com and the full post with additional information and pictures can be found here.
×
×
  • Create New...