2996 Victor

Frustrating beyond measure  Hope you've managed to collect the stuff successfully!

Cheers,

Mark

Work train looks great!

11 hours ago, JZ said:

Managed to track down a copy at a reasonable price.. Thanks Mark

Excellent! There's also an interesting article on the Lake City branch as well.

6 hours ago, JZ said:

Just won a Blackstone supply car on eBay. These are very rare and usually fetch in the high 70s over here. I got it for a reasonable £36.80, whereas a Micro-Trains reefer went 20 minutes earlier for almost £50. Usually in the 20-30 region.

Also picked up a Jordan Models 1925 Ford Roadster. While it may be out of period, I will be doing it up like this Buick (?) I came across in Silverton.

The white flecks in the picture is snow. It was June after all.

Well done with the supply car, I saw it but it's too late for my period.

The Ford could be hot-rodded as was popular after the war.

Cheers,

Mark

Great work on the bridge abutments, it's looking really good and the bridge will make a great feature on the exhibition layout.

Incidentally, not sure if you knew but there's a very interesting article on the Creede branch in Colorado Rail Annual No.14.

Cheers,

Mark

Whatever happened to this fantastic layout?

Cheers,

Mark

9 minutes ago, JZ said:

Baldwin Branch

Thanks, Julian, that's brilliant!

Ouray is an interesting layout as mentioned by @pH - there's an excellent article in the Colorado Rail Annual No.11 for 1973.

Cheers,

Mark

Great pictures of Creede; I'd also like to know more about Baldwin. I'm looking at D&RG branch line terminal stations for inspiration for my HOn3 project.

Grainge & Holder baseboards are excellent. I'm using one for my current L&BR quayside micro build and will certainly be going back to them.

Looking forward to seeing your next instalment.

Cheers,

Mark

21 hours ago, JZ said:

Hudson Hornet from Classic Metalworks

Fabulous!

Hi Eric,

Hope you're keeping well? Having been away from RMWeb for a while, I'm just revising/catching up on some of the build threads I was following. Roswell Mill was looking really rather lovely, but I'd be interested to know if you managed to solve your loco running and rolling stock wheel slop issues. A few more photos of the layout would be nice, too.....!

Kind regards,

Mark

14 hours ago, JZ said:

My bedtime reading has arrived.

 

Thanks for the reminder, Julian! Just ordered myself a copy following your recommendation, looking forward to receiving it!

Cheers,

Mark

11 hours ago, JZ said:

Kadee truck are the easiest to get hold of in the UK. They can be a bit fiddly to put together, I find it's best to get them fitted to the car before adding the wheels. They roll nicely and have a small amount of compensation. They do lack any form of brake rigging, but, unless you go around inspecting every car at eye level, it hardly shows. Grandt Line on the left, Kadee right. I will be honest and say Grandt Line, now San Juan Models, are my preference, but shipping is the problem. I will be stocking up as I intend to pay them another visit this summer when I visit Colorado.

My main supplier is this one on ebay, who I believe is M G Sharp and I've always had a great service from them. For couplings I use Kadee #705 from same supplier. They come ready assembled, look better and are compatible with #713/714. They require a little widening of the coupler opening. Also, should you get any Micro Trains cars, they just screw in.

You might be interested in joining the Slim Gauge Circle. Only a tenner per year and covers all scales/gauges of North American narrow gauge modelling with regular sales of stuff. They have a Facebook group, but only accessible to members. One Facebook group worth looking at is this one. While mostly US based members, there are quite a few in Europe and Australia and you will find links to RGS, D&RGW and Colorado NG groups.

Anything else I can be a help with, PM me.

Julian

 

PS. The E&B/MRRGS kits come with styrene trucks and wheel sets. Bin the trucks and use the wheelsets for loads, or just dumped around the depot.

 

PPS. I have a spare E&B RGS 0404 caboose kit should you be interested. It also has parts for a D&RGW version.

Hi Julian,

many thanks once again for your kind and patient answers: its enormously appreciated.

Interesting about the trucks - the Kadee versions look nice, but once the lack of brake gear is seen, it can't be unseen! But as you say, at normal viewing distances it isn't too obvious. Thanks also for the heads-up about the E&B/MRRGS trucks and wheels.

I've had a few Kadee couplers in the past when I was contemplating a logging layout and starting building a few flat car kits, and I was very impressed with their quality. I'm afraid your eBay link doesn't work for me, but I've googled MG Sharp.

I've recently joined the SGC, and over Christmas I've been happily reading the sample Circulars that I received. I've also joined a couple of FB groups, one of which is the one you've linked to, again thanks.

Thanks also for the offer of help - any advice is welcome, and I'm sure to have at least a few more questions about the subject. I'll PM you about the caboose kit as well, I've been looking at those on eBay!

All the best,

Mark

12 hours ago, JZ said:

Don't think I have a preference. The Rail-Line ones have the advantage of being supplied with preformed metal grabs, usually with loads of spares. The last ones I have put together are E&B Valley( now Model Railroad General Store). A little more complex the the R-L kits, but go together well and include parts for different versions. PSC do a 34' version and this went together well. I have yet to try the Grandt Line, now San Juan, kit of the C&S/RGS, but judging by some of their other kits, these should also be good. Next up is to order a Leadville Designs laser cut one. Only the PSC comes with trucks, though I can't say I'm enamoured with their plastic ones, go for brass trucks. Funnily enough, the 34' cars were designed to also carry lumber, 2x16' lengths. History here.

So all in all, not much to choose between them, you pay your money and take your choice. I would happily get any that appeared on ebay, although I probably have more than enough now.

Hi Jules,

many thanks for your answer - that's a huge help to a newbie in the arena like me! The E&B stock cars look great, and its good to know that they're still available. Funnily enough I've been eyeing up the MRGS listings on eBay, particularly the multi-packs, as a good way to get some stock car kits on my work bench, plus their flexibility sounds like an added bonus as I'm not completely decided on which era I'm going to model. Good advice on trucks as well, thank you - what are your thoughts on Kadee trucks?

Thanks again and best regards,

Mark

2 hours ago, JZ said:

Just put together the last of my stockcar kits, but hampered by a shortage of 3'7" trucks.

No doubt you've mentioned this and I've either missed the reference or forgotten, so apologies, but whose stock car kits do you favour? 

Thanks,

Mark

13 hours ago, Jeff Smith said:

I am considering a similar On30 layout with very similar features.  Mine will loosely be based on Maine 2' gauge practice and my research suggests that US (narrow gauge) terminii were pretty similar the UK branch line terminus practice.  It will be a small layout 6'x2' with 3' turntable/fiddle yard.  It will feature a 9" turntable acting as the loop release and having a single line loco shed.  There will also be a warehouse/freight dock on one siding and a station building on the loop.  Also a car siding and probably a logging car siding.

 

The reason for both turntables is to accommodate a single cab diesel railcar towing a trailer and I don't want to handle the stock in the fiddle yard - I'll pretend there is a wye somewhere that turns the whole train.......

Hi Jeff,

many thanks for your reply, that's good to know! I hadn't considered using a turntable loop release: a great space-saver. I know there were quite a few terminii in Ireland with them but didn't know about them in the US. Wyes seem to have been quite common, so your fiddle yard turntable premise seems perfectly plausible.

Next questions for those that know: did the D&RGW have a "house style" for its buildings? As mentioned, I'm thinking mainly station/depot building and freight house, but what other minor buildings could there be?

Thanks!

Mark

Hi,

thinking of planning an H0n3 layout, end-to-end, set on a fictional D&RGW branch around 1910-1920. It would probably be a small through station or terminal depot. Features I would like to include are station building, a siding (passing loop), a team track that also serves a freight house and another spur serving a stock race.

Do these features seem plausible? I'd be grateful for comments or suggestions!

Thanks in advance,

Mark

18 hours ago, F-UnitMad said:

I just tried the website address and it doesn't show anything. With the demise of other UK retailers of US outline I think we'd have found out sooner if this chap was still trading.

Consider it closed.

Sad times. I've contacted NG Trains and they may have some Micro Engineering 3-point track gauges in stock; if not they will be ordering some direct from ME in the New Year.

Cheers,

Mark

Thread resurrection: I could do with some N 3-point track gauges. Does anyone know if The Sidings is still trading?

Thanks in advance,

Mark

On 15/11/2020 at 21:42, The Evil Bus Driver said:

And every night, when the moon gives light, the ghost of the miller is seen
As he walks the track with a sack on his back, down to the Black Borheen
And the mill wheels turn though the night is still, and the elf lights flash from the ruined mill
He haunts the station, he haunts the hill and the land that lies between!

.....and his ear-hole painted green! 

Hi Rob,

I've not been on from RMWeb for a while, and when I come back I find this latest masterpiece unfolding! Superb, studied, delicate, understated work as always!

Kind regards,

Mark

On 20/11/2020 at 05:25, Mikkel said:

Hi Mark, good to see you posting in the thread.

 

Sounds like it's been a trying time. A shame about the collection, but at least there was something to sell. I did the same thing during the 2008 crisis, and have found it didn't really matter that much in the long run, as long as there were a few kits left to work on.

 

I look forward to seeing progress on the wagons in due course. And good luck with the Chairman's competition - I thought at first you were running for Chairman, but I take it that's not what it means 

Hi Mikkel,

many thanks  its good to be back! I know many people have had a much harder time of it than Jane and I have had, so we're being thankful for small mercies, and in many respects, its helped to have a bit of a de-clutter and rationalise. For instance, it's made me realise that I'm never going to build that HO scale Colorado Midland layout! I don't think the EMGS are looking for a new Chairman just yet  

I'm having fun building aeroplane kits at the moment, but the time is coming to restart the wagons. A gentle start by finishing off all those Cambrian opens will be a good way to begin. And I'm surfing eBay to try and replace some of those CooperCraft kits I sold!!!

Cheers for now,

Mark

Well, it's been nearly seven months since I made any progress on anything railway related. Thanks to Covid in fact, in a very real sense, my railway modelling took a huge leap backwards.

I was out of work until early September, and in order to try to maintain a degree of input into running the household virtually my entire model railway collection was progressively sold off. Not that my better half at any time ever suggested that I should do so, wonderful girl that she is. The part-built wagons are lined up on the shelf in my work room but otherwise its back to square one.

In the meantime, in an attempt to maintain a degree of sanity in these insane times, I got a few aeroplane kits out of the loft and latterly have bought a few new ones. I've been rather enjoying the experience of building some of these, something I've not done in 25-plus years, even digging out my Badger airbrush from all those years ago. On the bench at the moment I have a Tamiya 1/72 scale Mitsubishi A6M2b Zero, which has been an absolute revelation in quality with incredible detail and amazing parts fit.

Now that things seem to be on the up again I've decided to enter the EMGS Chairman's Competition, and I actually hope to do something rail-related. Realistically, it'll be after Christmas, and the first step will be to order some new trackwork and see about those baseboards, and I can also complete all those part-built wagons!

Cheers for now,

Mark

On 25/10/2020 at 18:45, RectoryLane said:

Mark

 

Scanning through your pages I can’t spot where you have said which “grey” you have used for your Cambrian wagons. Apologies if I missed it. 
 

My son and I are building a number of Cambrian Railways wagons as a distraction from our main model railway project. 
 

Thanks

 

Kevin

Hi again, Kevin,

apologies for not posting last evening, but unfortunately some family matters took over and I wasn't home until after nine o'clock.

The colours I've used are both from Tamiya's aviation range of aerosols. I like the even finish these give, and the choices of colours were merely what appeared good to me eye. Both the colours are available in jars if you prefer to airbrush.

For the dark grey pre-1899 livery, I've used AS-10 Ocean Grey (RAF), and for the light grey post-1899 livery, I chose AS-2 Light Grey (IJN). I mentioned the external ironwork and interior base colours above, the internal planks being tinted progressively with a wash of dirty brown-black. The external weathering is by Humbol weathering powders. I tend to seal everything with a light coat of matt clear lacquer, again Tamiya acrylic.

Hope this helps!

Kind regards,

Mark

On 25/10/2020 at 18:45, RectoryLane said:

Mark

 

Scanning through your pages I can’t spot where you have said which “grey” you have used for your Cambrian wagons. Apologies if I missed it. 
 

My son and I are building a number of Cambrian Railways wagons as a distraction from our main model railway project. 
 

Thanks

 

Kevin

Hi Kevin,

many apologies for not having replied sooner - I've been over on Britmodeller for several months, playing with aeroplanes!

The greys I've used for my Cambrian wagons are from Tamiya, from their aerosol acrylic range. I'm at work at the moment, and can't quite remember which it is (I used a similar colour for the light grey for my S&DJR items), so I'll check when I get home to be absolutely certain. The ironwork was Tamiya XF-84 Dark Iron, again acrylic, in the little jar. For the interiors, I used Tamiya AS-29 IJN Grey-Green as the base for the wood colour, then tinted planks individually with a thin dark/dirty wash, building it up in layers to create the variation in tone.

Kind regards,

Mark

1 hour ago, Rail-Online said:

Now that is a term I have never heard before - had to look it up - Scottish origins?

 

Tony

The opposite of turnwise 

2 hours ago, rcf said:

Hi Mark and Adam, thank you both for your comments, particularly regarding Bude Quay. The intention is that both sidings will be operational via a connection further up the line. The operational side is something that has been occupying the 'little grey cells' but I think I have it sorted by using the traverser which will incorporate a sector plate. I want to avoid having to handle the stock which has always been an issue on the other layouts. 

 

Regards Rob

Hi Rob,

That sounds like an excellent idea, and I think it'll be a very interesting layout to both operate and watch. I could do with a bit of a Eureka moment myself with a couple of planned projects!

I'm really looking forward to seeing your progress and to watching this evolve, so do please keep the posts and photos coming!

With kind regards,

Mark