Graham_Muz

Whilst Fisherton Sarum has now appeared in a number of the regular modelling magazines such as Hornby magazine, Railway Modeller and British Railway Modelling it has now made an appearance in the latest book from the Kevin Robertson, Noodle Books stable “Modelling the Southern Volume 1: Ideas and Inspiration†This 112 page paperback publication by Jeremy English, a finescale modeller and lifelong Southern enthusiast, covers a range of aspects of modelling the Southern Railway / Southern Region from locomotives, rolling stock, stations, architecture, train formations, freight, operation and infrastructure. A couple of pages of images (with thanks to Chris Nevard) and a brief introduction to Fisherton Sarum features in the Modelling Inspiration section, alongside a number of quality and well recognised Southern layouts. This hopefully demonstrates the scope and variety of possibilities when modelling the Southern. This post is an extract of my blog at www.grahammuz.com and the full entry with further details can be read here.

One item of my rolling stock that raises the most questions when I exhibit Fisherton Sarum, and is also one of the most common search terms that readers of my own blog have used to get there, is in connection with the Bulleid Leader. I will not go in to the whys and wherefores of the prototype as there are enough books and online references, such as the Semg website here or dare I say it Wikipedia here although a few myths about it can be seen to be perpetuated such as that the initial intention “was to replace the aging fleet of M7 class tank engines†when in fact it was to have the same route availability, which is not quite the same thing! For my own 4mm model of Bulleid’s unconventional ‘Leader’, I utilised a kit of parts from Golden Arrow Productions. A limited edition ready to run model of this unusual prototype is available but I obtained from them a kit of bits so I could do my own thing when it came to the chassis arrangement etc. The body is one piece resin casting, with additional castings for the ashpan and steam reverser. Being resin the casting is quite thick which is slightly more evident around the windows and is one of the reasons why I did not try and model the roof vent shutters in the open position. Lamp irons and handrails etc were also added. White metal parts make up the power bogies and I have used Markits wheels and axles The power bogie is designed to use a LH19 double ended motor with 40:1 worm and gear drive to two of the axles on the bogie. Unlike the Golden Arrow RTR version that is supplied with one powered and one trailing, I chose to make two identical powered versions. Initially power is collected from opposite sides at each bogie with a single wire between the two, I added additional wire wiper pick ups to each bogie (allowing them to be independent units, useful when testing) and ran a pair of wires between each bogie. This is an extract from my own blog at www.grahammuz.com and the full entry along with additonal photographs and information can be found here

It certainly looks the part Tim, as we dicussed yesterday that was a good value purchase. I don't suppose your Dad had any other Tavern car shots in his colection?

Thanks for the links Peter, very nice work indeed, I have updated the OP accordingly

Mike Threads on your layout and your locomotive / rolling stock building / conversions would be more than welcome. Once you have stated them let me know and I will make sure they are suitably linked from the relevent threads within this group.

I concur with Andy the green used on the USA tanks was never Brunswick (to which I assume you mean by bog standard) but closer to Malachite and it was certainly referred to as such.

Colin I have to say that I have been tempted, my modelling period is 1946 to 1949 so the first couple 35017 and 35026 being outshopped in July 1949 might get a look in at some stage.

A belated thanks to Eric for his excellent update above. For completeness it is also worth adding the announcement this week by Model Rail Magazine of there latest locmotive commission with Dapol being the USA 0-6-0 Tank. See the RMweb thread here and / or further information on my own blog here.

OP Updated to include the Dapol Class 73, USA tank and also the Gate Stock sets from Kernow Model Centre that appeared to have missed being included.

Thanks Ian I have a couple more light pacifics not yet photographed and two more Merchant Navy's on the workbench, one of which will be finished in war time black livery.

For those trying to spot the difference with my light pacifics in the couple of posts above the variations in cab types, smoke defectors, tenders and cab widths are explained on my blog here

Here are a few Merchant Navy pacifics in original form (sorry I still don't like the term un-rebuilt!), further details on these models can be found on my own blog here.

Ian With the exception of 21c121 (which is a Margate version with a Crownline detailing kit, just noticed one set of pipes is missing) all my cylinder drain pipes are from RT Models. I have also now have a box of his latest lost wax brass front steps at home awaiting painting and fitting to replace the Hornby plastic ones.

And a few Battle of Britain's There are a few more to come but they have not reached the light box yet...

Oh Ian, this could become a long thread... Here are a few of my West Countries for starters, see if you can spot the differences BoB's and MNs may follow in due course...

Tim, I consider Fisherton Sarum to be a layout, rather than a diorama which implies it is static. I am not at the moment extending the running lines, but thgey are still just that, running lines, the additional controller and operation method will allow / simplify the main line running and also allow for more movements to occur simultainously hence the increased running.

Although Fisherton Sarum is not currently set up, I am using the time between shows to make a few changes and additions to the operating system. These modifications include: the addition of a third controller for main line operation (see below), the installation of a Model Electronic Railway Group (MERG) turntable control unit with stepper motor, moving of the signal control to the fiddle yard panels and changing all the point motors to slow acting Cobalt types . The other modifications will form the subject of future posts so to coin a phrase watch or follow this space. Whilst operating the layout at the Doncaster Festival of British Model Railways my fellow operators from theHigh Wycombe and District MRS, naming no names (Roger and Mark) hatched a plan for improved operation of the main running lines. Currently the layout has two Gaugemaster ‘W’ handheld controllers for traditional DC Cab control allowing either controller to control any section of the layout. Our default operation is one controller for the shed area and one for the main lines. This does mean that only one of the fiddle operators actually drives the main line trains and does so in both directions. The suggestion was to add a third controller so that two can be used on the main lines, i.e. one up and one down, allowing each fiddle yard operator to drive the trains towards their end. This will also increase the likelihood of trains passing on the main too (already possible but meaning the shed movements having to stop). The plan also includes the addition of remote signal controls to the fiddle yard indicator panels to ease operation too. Time has been spent this weekend modifying the control panel wiring for the new controller, along with the installation of the new Turntable controller (but more of this soon). The final part of the controller installation will be the wiring on the west end baseboard to a socket for the new controller (the wiring harness is already in place with suitable spare cores). Fisherton Sarum’s first outing with the new operation will be Tring and District MRC show 13th October 2012. The above is an entry from my blog at www.grahammuz.com The full entry can be read here.

A very distant horizon I think you will find that announcement is at least two years old! Bear in mind they advise the release appeared in issue 19 of Hornby Magazine and we are now on issue 58!

Pictures of the two EPs can be found here on my blog. One has been hand painted into BR livery.

Great news Robert, I am glad your negotiations, we have previously discussed, have come to a positive outcome, and my offer of any assistance with getting the range back up and on the market is still there.

As well as announcing their plans for the next 18 months at the annual trade model and hobby show last week Bachmann also had on display some of the pre-production samples of the work in progress of models announced last year. One such model on display and of particular interest to Southern Modellers is the much awaited ex SECR C Class 0-6-0. I have been able to obtain some pictures of the pre-production samples that were on display and they can be seen on my blog here.

It iss still a little way off at the moment as there are a couple of original Merchant Navy's and a 3441 in front of it plus maybe a couple of others too!

Looks superb Dave, great workmanship as ever. I have the DMR kit in my to do box (to replace my aging MIllholme white metal version) and this thread will help immensly.