Tom F

Today marks the first piece of rolling stock for the Mid Sodor Railway.....finished! 'MSR No. 2 Brake Van. The Van was fitted with Vac gear so that it could be utilised as a passenger break, and therefore painted MSR passenger blue to match the coaching stock. Its duties however would more likely see it rostered on the MSR's daily goods 'The Horse and Cart'. I am really pleased with how the blue has turned out now weathered and given a spray of Humbrol 'Matt Cote'. For passenger stock and locomotive No. 3 'Falcon', I'll retain the gloss finish as the weathering will tone it down just enough. For this brake van though, a more matt finish was appropriate. The Greenwich couplings have really blended in too.

Been a bit quiet over the past few days. Not felt myself, and just trying to get my head together. The modelling has helped though. Tonight I've built a coal wagon (WHR prototype). One of various types used on the Mid Sodor railway, however it’s dwarfed in size by the one the local railway men call…. the ‘Big ‘un’! I also made a decision to buy a certain 4-6-0T. It will require some remedial work to make it right for the layout.

cheers Jay! Well the good news is the Greenwich couplings work with the magnets!

Morning all! Quick update. Sadly the sale of Cwm Prysor has fallen through, so the layout is available for purchase.

My friend @Quarryscapes is in the process of making me a wiring diagram for the layout. I have the wire in a tube on order from Eileen's Emporium but it hasn't arrived yet. I'm probably going to leave the point wiring until next weekend. My aim this week on an evening, is to make a start adding the greenwich couplings to the wagon stock I've made. I really also need to make a start on putting together loco 'No.4' too in the next few weeks.

Tonight I've cut the lengths of track on Ballamoddey. It is starting to feel like a real place. I'm particular pleased with the curving nature of the main line running through the station. I need to make a start thinking about wiring (groan).

Thanks Neil. It is making me chuckle how much smaller 'Cora' is than the Glyn Valley and Welsh Highland van!

More MSR stock branding this evening. Touch of homage to the WHR van fleet with some of the branding. Hope to weather them this weekend.

Brake van brigade on this very cold January morning! Just about ready for weathering.

That's really useful! Yes thank you. I've ordered some wire from Eileens (the switches look very similar to the ones I've ordered from amazon, so hopefully we should be ok).

Thanks Bill! Well even though my focus is now on the new layout, I'll make sure to keep some cameo photos coming for this thread.

Some photos from today's lovely trip up the Eskdale valley.

Start the new year with how you mean to go on…..with trains Happy New Year!

I hadn’t twigged I was setting up the scene with that shot! ‘45 minutes later…..’

'The Military Patrol watches on as No.3 'Sir Handel' passes by with empty MOD vans.' Scaca will begin to take a back seat as Ballamoddey takes shape, but I just wanted to thank everyone for the wonderful support. So, as they say on Sodor... Blein vie Noa!

Happy New Year Neil ....or for us Sudrians, 'Blein vie Noa!

Thanks for all the feedback and advice. It’s greatly appreciated. Some tweaks to the track plan now utilising a Y point which works better. Line to the goods shed bearing off to the left, to the right at an angle, the coal line. I was very much inspired by the angle of the coal line at Beddgellert on the old Welsh Highland I am now thinking ahead to wiring the entire layout (I’ve just about got my head around the points). The layout will be analogue. I’ll need three isolating sections, both lines making up the loop and the sidings. Both sidings can be one isolating section. I’ve never done isolating sections, so this will require some help. Here is the plan:

Ah I understand now. Right I’ll give that a go today! I’d forgot I’d need the cut in the track too.

Thanks Butler I just don’t want to get into a mess requiring buying new point work. The larger point seems easier to deal with.

Morning Paul Ill be honest, it’s still confusing me (I really I’m a bit thick with all this). I’m very tempted to leave the point as is and avoid any cutting. I would still like it powered and rely on point blades, so what should be wiring exactly? Just the green frog wire?

Many thanks fo all tis Paul. So for my smaller point, which doesn't appear to have a frog wire, would doing something like this look right.

Thanks for all the feedback, it is very much appreciated. So I don't have to cut the wires between the blades and the frog? I'm unsure why the smaller points don't have this adjoining bit underneath. I've buried my head in the sand for a long time with wiring point work, but want to get this right. Just something that is reliable and works with the slide switches.

Some advice would be welcome please. If I’m not careful, Ballamoddey could grind to a halt, as I’m approaching the area I’m most uncomfortable with……wiring. Scaca used the points manually and unwired, which was fine but relying on the point blades to supply the current has its issues. I would like to do Ballamoddey with fully wired points abs slide switches. Firstly, does the screen shot of the slides switches look about right? Secondly. I will need to hardwire these points, what will be required doing to them, as the smaller points look slightly different to the longer ones. I’d ideally like to get on with this sooner rather than later, otherwise enthusiasm I know will begin to ebb.

Had a nice visit from @BritishGypsum4yesterday. We did some Awdry research discussing MSR matters, before looking at the layouts. Ben was fettling my Royal Mail Land Rover in the photo. I then gave Ben some tips and advice on airbrushing, so took the opportunity to spray my MSR brake van blue. We went out for a lovely meal before some discussion regarding other types of road vehicles I’ll need for a 1937-38 layout. All in all, a great day!

With the top layer of boards now glued down, I’ve made a start on cutting out the formation for the Peel Godred - Arlesburgh over bridge that the MSR passes over on the approach into Ballamoddey.