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TurboSnail

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Blog Entries posted by TurboSnail

  1. TurboSnail
    Not much modelling done today - busy running the printer and packing up kits in the hope that I can get outside tomorrow to the Post Office. Planning to tie it in with a food run and picking stuff up from the office.
     
    So instead, a request for help. I'm trying to decide on a livery for my freelance coal wagons and have done a few in slightly different styles. Personally, I think I prefer no. 21 so far, I think it suits the 1910-ish time period best. Any comments? Think I should probably add tare weights somewhere as well. I prefer the grey to the blue, but both will get weathered down the line to tone them down. Would the inside of the wagons be bare wood, body coloured or painted another colour?
     

     
    Stats:
    Number of times ventured outside (in the first week of lockdown): 5
    3D printer running hours (in the first week of lockdown): 78
    Cumulative push-up counter: 525
  2. TurboSnail
    I've finally managed to print an SER brake without too much warping - there's still a bit, but much less noticable now. So here it is in primer. I've already broken off and re-attached one of the buffers, so I'll have to be more careful with the rest of it. Next job is to fit all the handrails, which is not going to be fun as there are a lot of them...
     

  3. TurboSnail
    I've recently finished 3 new wagon kit designs, an SER ballast wagon, an SER coal/goods wagon and a few variants of an LBSC steel-framed Open A. I've been trying out a few different constructions methods and doing a load of test building - they're not perfect but I am pretty happy with them now. Wondering where to go next, probably an SER d1553 brake, but I've got a few locos to finish too. After about a month of issues with the 3D printer it's good just to get some prints working reliably now so I can get back to CAD work (and adding stuff to my new layout baseboard).
     
    If anyone would like one (or more!), more info on all three is available here, along with contact details: https://ts3dmodels.blogspot.com/p/wagons.html
     

     

  4. TurboSnail
    This mostly completed railbus has been sat around on my workbench for absolutely ages, just waiting for figures to add to the interior. Painting people is another task I don't particularly enjoy, so I did a whole batch in one go for this and two other locos. Then stuck the roof on, which is loaded up with lead to try and keep the unpowered front wheels turning. This works on the whole, so I'm happy to call it done and it can take it's place on the layout (once the layout is eventually done) as the workmans' train.
     
    The model itself is the KESR Ford, built from a kit I designed a while back. It's not the easiest thing to build and get running, so I'm not planning to offer it as a full kit, but if anyone wants a set of 3D printed parts for it, let me know and I might be able to make some for you...
     

  5. TurboSnail
    I think I might be addicted to the SER/SECR/SR R and R1 classes...
     
    From left to right:
    -standard Wrenn R1 body (will become an R class someday)
    -Wrenn R1 body with 3D printed cab detail and cab window infill piece
    -R1 body being converted back to R class with new boiler and cab
    -R/R1 class 3D printed chassis (currently in development), will go under the R class conversion
    -detailed Wrenn R1 body on the first test print of the 3D printed chassis (unpowered)
    -original R1 in SR olive green, which has sentimental value hence why it hasn't been messed about with!
     

  6. TurboSnail
    So, no big question then. I've been struggling for a while to find a decent colour for the early SECR wagon livery - I've previously been using the darker grey here (though it looks a bit darker than it is in reality). However, the Illustrated History of Southern Wagons III suggests the shade was lighter earlier, before being made darker with the switch to the later Wainwright lettering. Other sources don't acknowledge a colour change at all, so it's all a bit confusing! The lighter shade I've used here is fairly similar to the Bachmann wagons produced a while ago, but lighter than the equivalent Hornby effort (though darker in reality than it looks in the photo! I think the phone camera artificially turns up the contrast a bit too much). 
     
    Have I got it about right? Or do I need to go back and find something in between the two shades?
     

  7. TurboSnail
    I've realised that adding handrails might be one of my least favourite modelling jobs - but at least it's over now, and I'll admit it does add a lot to the visual effect of the loco. I've also added replacement steps and buffers, which I managed to attach without gumming up the spring this time! I doubt that the springyness will survive painting though...
     

  8. TurboSnail
    I didn't do any actual modelling as such yesterday (it was too hot for anything involving moving about and soldering), instead I had a think about some of the challenges I can do on my layout.
     
    The main challenge is the classic inglenook, using the headshunt at position 1 (that fits 5 wagons) and the sidings at 2 and the through line at 3. The sidings at 2 can hold up to 4 wagons, possible 5 small ones if I want to increase the difficulty that way. Then additional challenges can be added. I'm thinking at the moment, I want to add a brake, which needs to be sorted out from the incoming train at 1, stored on the run-round at 4, then re-attached to the back of the completed train. This gets a bit complicated as the loco has to run round and finish at 3 instead of at 1. The other challenge is having a certain van that needs to unload at point 5, then get sorted back into the outgoing train in the usual random order (probably to be decided with a shuffled card system). Maybe I could try both extra challenges at once, but I'm not sure that's actually possible with the brake blocking the run-round loop!
     
    Any idea for any other challenges I could try?
     

  9. TurboSnail

    R1 project

    By TurboSnail,

    The other day, I got some Duck fresh discs through the post. Slightly bemused, as I had not ordered anything like that, I had a closer look and it turned out to be the Wrenn R1 bodies I bought off eBay. Some guy seems to be selling old factory surplus, so I picked up a couple of bodies to have a go at detailing them, and it doesn't matter if they get too damaged.
     

     
    Assuming I get at least one of them into a reasonably good state, I'll need a chassis. The old Wrenn ones are very difficult to come by without a body attached and would need a lot of work anyway, so that's not an option. Maybe I could use a cheap RTR chassis, but none seem to have the same wheelbase as the R1, so I'd have to live with the inconsistency. The most promising option at the moment is to buy a wheelset and rods of the correct diameter, modify the rods and fit them to a 3D printed chassis, unless I can find an old Wrenn chassis block without wheels and motor. The CAD is easy and I can get dimensions from another complete R1 I have (which has sentimental value, hence why I'm not cutting that one up), and I may even be able to include motor mounts and other fancy things. It will probably be slow progress as I have hardly any modelling time at the moment, but if all goes well I might end up with a detailed, slow running R1 for probably under £30 outlay.
  10. TurboSnail
    I've come to the conclusion that the job I hate the most while modelling is removing lead weight from previously finished locos. It's difficult, potentially poisonous and there's a big risk of breaking the loco, as the lead/glue is often stronger than the loco itself. So far, I've had to attempt this with three locos - the only one that's survived is this one, so maybe I'm getting better at it. 
     
    Incidentally, the reason for doing this is that I'm fitting a new chassis to a different design, with a higher mounted motor. Which hopefully will run better than the last three or four chassis I've built for it!
     

  11. TurboSnail
    The CAD drawing stage of this project is over, and it's ready to go to print! Before anyone points it out, there are brakes, I just haven't bothered to add them to the virtual assembly! I'll need to do a bit of maintenance on my printer first to try and make it behave itself.
     
    Is there anything else I'm missing off this model? I hope not, the number of features and rivets etc. is making it run in the lowest graphic settings possible, and my processor still feels like it might melt!
     

  12. TurboSnail
    More progress on the controller, I've managed to put some code together to make the controller respond to a potentiometer, operating as a centre-off (as I prefer that to having a reversing switch). Experimenting with throttle curves and various amounts of dead zone in the centre too, so it buzzes less and has nice smooth control at lower speeds. 

    So the next part is to make this all into a nice neat PCB. I've started on the schematic in KiCAD (free PCB design software), and so far I have the following additional specification:
    12V aux connector (for powering lights etc.) Additional reverser (in case I wire up a motor the wrong way round) Two terminal block inputs for additional inputs (might run a shuttle in future) Additional switch input (for some sort of future expansion) erm... Tea maker? Heath Robinson sandwich constructor?  


     
    Stats:
    Projects I've started to avoid having to paint a backscene: erm... at least 3
    Adequate reasons for making a controller rather than buying one: Not enough... apart from fun 
    Cumulative pushup counter: 2275
  13. TurboSnail
    Some may remember a while ago I made a kit for Hunslet 22hp 4wDM 1786, also known as 'Courage' or 'Sweet Pea'. However, the Mk1 was a bit too fast to really be usable, and eventually got broken while trying to modify it to reduce the speed. Now I've worked up the 'Courage' to have another go at it (sorry), and the Mk2 is underway, and works! The pickups are a bit crude, but work, and it's much slower than last time, although I've only managed to test it with a 9v battery so far. Time to get the controller out...
     

  14. TurboSnail
    I recently bought a Hornby Railroad 0-6-0 in SDJR colours because it was cheap. I really need to come up with better reasons for buying things... Anyway, as I don't model the SDJR, my intention is to use the relatively modern, well-running chassis to underpin something a bit different. Initial thoughts were to replace the chassis of an old Wrenn R1 so it looks less terrible, but the wheel positioning is wrong for the R1 so I'm not sure I'd be happy with that for long. Mind you, there is enough wrong with the Wrenn body that you might not notice... An alternative idea is that the chassis seems to be the same one that is in the Railroad Class 08, so it might be possible to put a Golden Arrow Maunsell diesel shunter body on it, and I've wanted to do one of those for a while. The issue here is that a) it's expensive for me and b) the body is intended for a more modern chassis, so some modifying would have to take place and I might end up with the motor showing in the cab. Another option is the unique SR S class tank, but that's more expensive, but being whitemetal, probably more detailed. Maybe there's something obvious I haven't thought of? Any SECR/SR based suggestions welcome...
     

  15. TurboSnail
    Does anyone still use scatter? At least for representing grass, as I still use it for mud areas and am happy with the results, but I recently added a pub garden to my layout using scatter and I'm not all that convinced by the results. I started with 3 colours mixed together and made a test piece, but it's still pretty vibrant:
     

     
    Toning it down with a wash of light grey helped a bit:
     

     
    Once laid using PVA, it sticks pretty well so that's good at least. It was then given another wash of light grey, shown here partway through application.
     

     
    Once dry, it looks like this:
     

     
    Not exactly a perfect match for the grass next to it...
     
    I'm actually not too bothered by this, as the layout is meant to be a learning platform for me - if I was trying to make something for exhibition or a club layout, it would get redone. I still may revisit it some time down the line, but for now, I want to get the rest of the scenery done so I have an overall picture rather than worry about each little bit.
     
    But going back to the original thought, does scatter really cut it as grass any more? The rest of the grass on my layout is hanging basket liner, which while not perfect, stands up a lot better (metaphorically and literally). Scatter doesn't even have the excuse of being the cheap option any more, since static grass is not that much more expensive unless you're modelling vast expanses of it. I think I'll have to upgrade my methods for the next layout, although fortunately for my wallet that looks like being a long way off.
  16. TurboSnail
    With that rather unwieldy title looming over this post, I thought I'd revisit the O gauge plan from a few days ago, copied again below. Why would I bother making this layout as a minimum space O gauge, if I could fit more in the same space in OO? This question was nagging me, so I thought about what I could add that would increase the reliability, interest and fun factor of the layout. 

    Firstly, I love tiny locos. Manning Wardle Class B/C, small Rustons, Planets etc. Short, fixed wheelbases tend to have pickup issues so why not try out R/C? This wouldn't be possible in OO, but might just be able to squeeze into an O gauge version of my MW Class B.
     
    Secondly, the small size allows access to all areas of the layout, which in turn means things like working point levers, scale shunter's pole for uncoupling etc. Maybe also moveable cranes, adding a puzzle element to the layout. Start with a train of empties, rearrange it and fill a few specific wagons with produce in the process. Maybe one crane down by the wharf/quayside, another up in the top left by the production facility of whatever this enterprise may be.
     
    Finally, having R/C control could mean having other elements to add to the puzzle. A working road vehicle to load, for example, or a shunting tractor replacing a loco. 
     
    Of course, this is all pretty fanciful, I haven't yet built the other micro layout and will have no space for another until I move somewhere bigger! But planning things like this is fun when you haven't got the motivation to do any physical modelling.
     

  17. TurboSnail
    So a few days ago, I mentioned how the original version of this mod wasn't working properly... well, now it is! Having tightened everything up, and given it a bit of oil, it's working. It's not hugely slower than the original, but it will get tamed when the heavier bodywork is put back on, the plastic chassis is very light on its own. But you can see from the old motor mount just how much smaller this motor is, which will allow me to build some less chunky locos on it. Now the question is, do I still need to finish the second version with lower gearing?
     
     
  18. TurboSnail
    Following on from yesterday, I've assembled the mount and motor unit, with the new compound gear. The previous version had a 3:1 gear ratio, multiplied by whatever the original Hornby gear ratio is. The revised version is 4.6:1, so it should make a noticable difference. This motor also has a rear shaft for a flywheel! Now I need to find a loco to put it in...
     

  19. TurboSnail
    I finally plucked up the courage to paint the footplate and other black sections of this loco by hand - it's come out alright, I suppose. I had to go back over some of the lower frames to cover up the overpainting, but hopefully that will hide behind some weathering later on. It'll probably be another couple of weeks before I can face doing that!
     
    I need to pick an appropriate colour for the dumb buffers too - any suggestions?
     

  20. TurboSnail
    Finally got round to finishing the remote uncoupler installation, which finishes off the track work for now. It's nothing fancy or electronic, just a manual cam-based system made of ice cream sticks and offcuts of wood and metal. This shows how rubbish I am at baseboard planning, having hacked a hole in the supports to fit the system in. Fortunately it's not a wide baseboard, so still has plenty of strength.
     

     
    Lining the whole thing up was a bit of a nightmare, but it seems to work pretty consistently. I tried taking a video with my rubbish phone, but hopefully gives an idea of how it looks.
     

     
    More info in this thread if you're interested: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/113032-remoteautomaticdiy-uncoupling-methods/
  21. TurboSnail
    My modelling workbench chair is one of those cheap office chairs, with a gas strut providing the lifting mechanism. I've got a sinking feeling that the gas strut has a leak...
     
    I rediscovered a couple of old projects (while looking for bits for another project), the NER Class H (later Y7) and the AEC shunter. Cue some faffing about curing intermittent pickup issues, and a short while later, the H is running happily up and down the test track on a 9v battery (video below). Nice and slow and smooth, too.
     
    The AEC is a different story, the chassis sort-of works, but has nowhere near enough traction, being 2-wheel drive. The body is already very heavy, so I can't add more weight to help it. This means a chassis redesign to make it 4wd, not too hard, but will take time.
     

     
     
  22. TurboSnail

    Day 5: Coaling

    By TurboSnail,

    Done some more work on the wagons, finished the painting, and added coal. I added some lead in the bottom of the wagon, covered it in a sheet of thick card, then added the coal over that - unfortunately I forgot that lead and PVA don't mix well, and now I have some authentically bowed-out wagon sides. Oh well...
     

     
    And the Hudswell contractors loco got coaled too.
     

  23. TurboSnail
    Just some wagon painting and transfers this time, on a couple of kits that I've had lying around for a while. The paint is Halfords Ford Polar Grey, and don't tell anyone this, but I've cheated with the ironwork and coloured it in with a Sharpie. I'm still trying to work out a final 'Kent Coal' livery, hence why all the wagons are a little bit different! Hopefully for tomorrow, I'll have the wagons fully painted and the rest of the transfers done.
     

     
    Stats:
    Pasta stocks: worryingly low
    Soldering burns (since start of lockdown): 3
    Cumulative pushups counter: 195
  24. TurboSnail
    I've recently finished testing a kit of the SER ballast wagon (D1741/2), which lasted up to the 1930s in some areas. I can make a set of prints available for £9 + P&P, it just needs wheels, bearings and coupling hooks to complete. Drop me a message if interested!
     

     

  25. TurboSnail
    I've recently finished a model of the Middleton Railway's Hunslet 22hp 4wDM, nicknamed 'Sweet Pea'. Allegedly the smallest standard gauge diesel in the UK! Which made it somewhat of a challenge to motorise... see size comparison photo with the Terrier. The roof hasn't printed perfectly but the rest of the body has come out pretty well. It's got a micro motor driving both axles, and a tiny flywheel that I'm not sure does anything to help. Runs a bit quickly but considering the space I had to play with (or lack thereof), I'm quite happy with it. 
     

     

     
     
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