Duncan.

9 hours ago, Cowley 47521 said:

I mean I’m no photographer but what I find works well when I make videos on the phone (and I imagine that it’s a similar situation) is to take a step back and then zoom in. 
For some reason in a smaller scale like N it seems to give it a lot more presence.

 

I’ve just taken these two to show what I mean:

 

Standard:

 

and then taken from further back but zoomed in:

8 hours ago, Northmoor said:

There's a good reason for this improvement and and it's just simple maths (beautiful layout by the way)

 

Depth of field is about focus at a distance +/- from the subject.  In the first image, I'm going to guess the loco is 1' away and the trees behind, 2'.  In the second, the distances are maybe 2' and 3'.  Therefore the relative distance of the trees is only 50% further compared to 100%.  If you were to stand on the opposite side of the room, it might be 10% and the whole layout would be in focus (but obviously you'd have a much grainier image).

Thank You Both. The layout will be running again today. I will try some more videos and post any that are OK

Cheers

Duncan

1 hour ago, Padishar Creel said:

So looking forward to Oktober. Is the Wigan still expected to take place, as of now?

 

es grüßt

pc 

Morning PC, Book your flight! I had confirmation from the Wigan Show Manager yesterday!

Cheers

Duncan

9 hours ago, branchie said:

Stunning model Duncan. Never fails to impress me.

 

Hope all is well.

Nice to hear from you Branchie. I hope all is well with you too. I hope you can come along to Wigan in October.

Cheers

Duncan

4 minutes ago, Cowley 47521 said:

It’s really nice to see it running.
Did you film it on a phone Duncan? I’ve got a couple of ideas that might be useful.

Hi Nick,

No I used my Canon DSLR camera... does that make a difference?

Shirebrook Junction

Here are a couple of photos of 37167 and 58017 at Shirebrook Junction. The first two show 37167 negotiating the junction with a short train of holdall vans coming from the Tuxford/Clipstone direction.

Below 37167 is on the return run to Tuxford with PCA cement tanks. Meanwhile 58017 is returning to Shirebrook  Depot light for refuellinf and an A exam.

Cheers

Duncan 

41 minutes ago, DavidMcKenzie said:

Looking good Duncan, weathered enough to dull down the brand new look. I like how a lot of the detailing on the wagon is still visible, but a bit less 'in your face' as the brand new look, which I guess would of only been prototypical for the first few hours of the wagons life. 

 

Looking forward to seeing the 37 and 58 out on the layout. Will they be part of your upcoming running day?

 

All the best,

Dave 

For sure Dave they will get a good 'running in'. I may even post a photo or two here!

Cheers

Duncan

Revolution IWA Holdall Vans.

The photos below show a weathered and straight out of the box examples. Looking through prototype photos it looks like the vans became dirtier year on year until the data panels became completely unreadable when those areas were cleaned back to 'as new'. I have based my weathered examples on vans photographed 1-2 years after they were introduced. 

I think my photographs make the weathered example look cleaner than it looks in the flesh. That said I was aiming for a light weathering as the vans were introduced towards the end of the core period of our Shirebrook layout and therefore would be relatively clean.

Cheers

Duncan

Class 37 and 56 from the Shirebrook paint shop

Once again, sadly not my locos but they will be available to run on Shirebrook. They belong to one of the Shirebrook team.

Both models are standard models as available from the manufacturers. I have renumbered both locos and fitted detail parts to one end of each loco, (air and vac pipes and dummy couplings). Certain detail painting was undertaken to match prototype photographs I found on the interweb! Both locos have been weathered using airbrush techniques and varnished. I am looking forward to seeing them hard at work on Shire brook.

37167 from 37239

58017

I am really happy how the models have turned out and I hope my friend will be equally as happy.

Cheers

Duncan

Hi Nick,

The only change I would make to our track plan would be to form a run round in the P- way sidings. This simple addition would give you just a little more operating potential.

Cheers

Duncan

44 minutes ago, DavidMcKenzie said:

Thanks Phil, I hope you are well. 

 

Slow and steady progress here, made a start on weathering a set of IZA wagons. To start with I thought I had just ruined a lovely set of wagons, but with patients and building up a number of layers of grim, they are starting to look ok. 

 

They seemed to vary in appearance a lot over their lifetime, I found reference photos from the mid 90s when they were grubby, but not yet covered in graffiti, patched up, or had the information panels re-painted. 

 

Still plenty to do picking out little details and weathering the blue ends + buffer beams, but looking forward to getting them out on the layout behind a 90 or 92. 

 

 

All the best,

Dave

Hi Dave,

I hope you are keeping well. The wagons look terrific, your remark about repainted information panels is incorrect i believe. They panels were just cleaned... maybe with a steam cleaner... I don't know. I felt exactly the same as you when I weathered my vans but don't worry they look like minature prototypes now not toys.. great work.

Cheers

Duncan

Hi Nick.

Looks like you have the basis for a successful model railway which  is ideally suited for N gauge, allowing realistic sweeping curves with plenty of space for scenic development.

Cheers

Duncan

Loco and Rolling Stock Update

Hi, 

I have been repainting and weathering locos and rolling stock recently.

The only loco I own in this view is the class 20. However, all the locos can be seen on Shirebrook as they belong to other members of the operating team.

The RTC 31 and coaches have also received a weathering again owned by one of the operating team members.

I have used Taylor detail kits for the BIS sand  hoppers.

The four class 56s I have worked on have all had their cantrail grilles replaced at number 2 end to return the locos to original condition. The roof radiator grilles and fans are replaced with those available from Mercig Studios. Some of the locos have been renumbered.

PS. I haven't had any takers from RMweb for the next running day (see above), so if you want to come please PM me asap to reserve your place.

I'll post some more photos shortly

Cheers

Duncan

Hi Andy,

No not at Doncaster. Please look out for my 'Running Days' when the layout is set up at home, with the added advantage you can operate and run your own stock!

The layout is booked for Scarborough (Pickering) in August and Wigan in October.

Cheers

Duncan 

A great question Carl. 

Pictured here is a Smithywood (Chapletown nr Sheffield) to Tinsley working. I wonder if this working was regular or a one off.  And where indeed would it be unloaded, I don't think I've ever seen coke in HAA mgr wagons before. 

I assume that the wagons could only be unloaded by the fixed equipment at power stations. Does anyone know the final destination of this train?

Cheers

Duncan 

1 hour ago, Andy_C said:

Hi,

 

I’m late to this layout, and I came to it by accident. I was looking for track plans of the old Mansfield Railway Station, goods yard and TMS from the 1950’s and 60’s. I did a search for Shirebrook, which took me here. 
 

As a 12 yr old, our neighbour was a driver based at Shirebrook. Gordon, who became an ‘uncle’, got chatting to my dad. He mentioned I had an 00 (eventually an N Gauge) layout. Gordon invited us both several times to the depot at weekends, whereby loco’s needed shunting and getting ready for the following weeks work. 56005 was one of the locos. I got chance to stand with Gordon whilst he moved stuff round, including 56005. I spotted it earlier upthread. Fabulous memories. 
 

Id always had a fascination with the Type 2 Class 20 locos, and again got to see them up close.

 

This layout, especially the Class 56,  the maintenance shed and offices brought back lovely memories. 
 

Lovely layout. The previous positive comments have said it all. 
 

Once I get started again, and when I get brave enough to do weathering, I’ll remember this layout and read up again on the techniques used. 
 

With kind regards,

 

Andy

Many thanks for your comments Andy. When the layout was at the Doncaster Show a lady visitor repeated her childhood memories to us. Sitting beside the line near Station Road overbridge  she would, with her friends, try to guess the number of wagons on the next train, pointing to the spot on the layout.

These are the reasons why we made the model, to rekindle memories of the area now gone forever, it is most satisfying when we hear those memories.

Many Thanks

Duncan

Shirebrook Open and Running Day.

Hi,

Work has continued on the layout throughout the winter. Not very photogenic work...replacement and addition of power supply wires replacing damaged electrical connections and point motors.

I have modified 4 class 56's as shown earlier in this thread, changing cantrail grilles back to original types and fitting of Mercig studio roof grilles and fans. I have also continued the process of weathering stock used on the layout. 

The running day is scheduled for Saturday 19th February, the layout will be available from 10 am until 4 pm. You are welcome to bring along a model of your own such as a loco that needs running in or needs a load test! As ever a light lunch and drinks throughout the day will be available.

Please PM me if you would like to attend, places are limited. 

You will be able to operate the layout, talk models and modelling and generally have railway fun. We look forward to seeing some of you.

Cheers

Duncan

Happy New Year Simon.

You must be busy /excited about the plethorea of new products available that are suitable for Dallam. It is a bit quiet over at Shirebrook, looking forward to the Revolution Class As and PFAs. Currently just back dating 5 class 56s and I have a Peak to detail/modify and repaint! 

Sometmes I think you have repainted your entire loco fleet- excellent variety now Simon.

Cheers

Duncan

10 hours ago, DavidMcKenzie said:

 

Thanks Jeremy, I hope you are well.

 

The 92 has come out nicely, but I must say most of the credit there lies with the guys at revolution who have put together a brilliant model. When first opened, the model almost had a 'toy' look about it. I don't mean that in a bad way, but the more modern locos tend to look that way (in my opinion at least) when modelled well and completely clean and new. The model has taken very well to a light weathering. 

 

The class 31 below is probably a slightly worse final model, but somehow I am more proud of this one because it needed a lot more effort with wire hand railings on the cab front, washer nozzel covers, bufferbeam and boggie modifications. All of which are at the absolute limit of my modelling skills, but have been a fun challenge, even if not done perfectly. 

 

A huge thanks to Duncan for this model as well, both in help with sourcing the correct transfers and tips he gave a while back about roof detailing which were put to good use on this model. 

 

 

 

I am looking forward to getting them both out on the layout before long. 

 

All the best,

Dave 

Happy New Year Dave. Thanks for the mention re 31. Both the locos are looking very good. I totally agree with the toy train feel with the straight out of the box locos.... especially the 92. I very lightly weathered my 92 ... takes away that plastic look and makes the loco look 'heavier'. I attach photos as a comparison to your model

Cheers

Duncan

Great to see an update. I think you have created the most evocative N gauge colliery scene I have seen, and in such a small area. Looking forward to see the vehicle placements and the rolling stock on the layout

Cheers

Duncan 

I first became aware of Chris and CJM models when I became Trade Liasion Officer for the N Gauge Society in the mid 1990s. He was the most skilled, determined and enthusiastic (N Gauge) modeller I have met.  He had a very down to earth and straight forward approach in all modelling aspects.

I cannot think of anyone else that has had a more valueable contribution to the raising of N Gauge modelling standards. We developed a long friendship and I was lucky enough to have airbrushing lessons from the master. During our frequent discussions he related many tips to me, I think this was the most important - it is always in my mind when I am making models. We were discussing accuracy, Chris said;

'It's not any more difficult to get something right as it is wrong. A measurement of 15.5mm is no harder to achieve than 15.0mm.'

Thank you Chris.

Condolenses to Matthew, Gareth, and Marian. 

Duncan.

Hi,

Our next running day will be Saturday 20th November. If you would like to attend and run some of your models you are welcome please PM me for a place and information.

Cheers

Duncan