BWsTrains

A couple of photos, more to follow once I've finalised "marrying" the station with the base structure, a few gaps still to manage. I can see plenty more track detailing needed if I want to have photos from this angle. While the filler sets O/night, it's back to the Engine shed.

I've realised I've not said anything recently about my progress on the station build while busily writing about travels, updates on uncoupler installs and platform matters. That's not to say nothing has happened, it's just that the closing stages of the build have been a litany of minor jobs and it didn't seem worth posting ongoing photos of "still not quite there" steps of my progress. Variously, I've completed all the guttering surrounding the canopy skylight cavity, added gutters and down-pipes (Auhagen 48 643) for the remainder of both buildings, the remaining quoins, the footings of the extension section plus various painting jobs to complete these off. It was when the gutters and down pipes finally went on that a sense of nearing completion emerged 😎 Presently it all sits upended, allowing gravity to assist the final joining of the two sections. Photos to follow. On yet another topic, The ex-Granby engine shed. @john dew's generous donation to my project arrived here an embarrassingly long time ago now, and after a quick inspection and minor repairs has sat in careful storage. It made a brief uncredited appearance during pannier week here: Engine Shed at Pannier week My recent flurry of activity had me energised to dust it off for a more detailed examination. Further repairs to more of the aging kit joins were needed, some proving fortuitous as I could access the roof ventilation structure to repaint it. The aging bluestone building looked out of keeping in Southern Devon and the 1960 Kingsbridge photos have given me some ideas for a suitable stone engine shed of the era / region. Initial steps have involved repainting fresh coats of GWR Stone #3 on the doors, guttering and downpipes, and other peripherals, thereby undoing some fine weathering applied to suit the 1948 Granby setting. Encouragingly, my home blended #3 Dark Stone proved to be a good match to John's Railmatch shade. Next up I need to look at the question of the stone work, getting it suitably lightened in colour. Some experimentation is in order.

Progress also made on the loading platform of the bay line. I've used 2.5mm foam sheet as per @Mikkel's method, finding benefits in both the EVA an PS materials. In this photo the edging pavers have been made by scribing the smooth EVA sheet then painting with acrylic. The broad area behind has been made from the PS foam, less useful for scribing (it can be done with care but the PS is more brittle) but its benefit comes from a more open surface texture. If you don't use too thick a paint, the rough structure gives a satisfactory variable finish. The smooth edge pavers have been given a dirty wash to suggest the ongoing loading of traded items. While it doesn't show i this shot the surface has washes applied to give some good variation in tones. This might be better seen in a side on shot. With the loading area fitted, some level adjustment was needed, presently plastered

I think you've missed my point here Nick. If these were firm /binding requirements, viz enough money, health insurance, etc. then I'm confident that our Govt would be warning us about them in bold print. The only warnings they have for us on Germany are for increased terrorist risks. That they don't address other issues says a lot when the Germans tell incoming UK nationals about those particular requirements. Perhaps we need to agree to disagree here?

A rare wet and miserable day in Melbourne has resulted in progress on several fronts. Mostly activity revolved around the Bay line and loading area but first I needed to install an uncoupler in the approaches. Here I chose to try one of my Kadee #308s rather than a home built one. The location was convenient being at the front and with no supports or hardware underneath. The Kadee #308 under track decoupler is very good but at 5.9mm thick I needed to cut out a hole to mount it. That will in time give me a chance to try some sort of lowering mechanism if unwanted uncoupling occurs on departure from the bay (I suspect, Not) Here the hole has an under-support and a 3mm spacer to raise the top of the uncoupler to just under the rails. It is of course easier to cut a complete hole rather than a suitable rebate, if only supports, hardware , wires and other items didn't occupy so much space. For this spot I got lucky. Finally with the uncoupler in place; to compare a home built one sits in the adjacent track. While I had the platform removed I decided to install another uncoupler, this time in the spur off the run-around loop. Not so lucky this time, a nearby Cobalt prevented cutting fully through so a home built one will go here. I've described these earlier. around 4 mm or two of the 5 ply layers chiselled out.

"Ah ha! That's where your argument falls to the ground" (with my apologies to Monty Python...) We fell into the RotW group for our arrival at Munich and were asked for none of the information in the UK list beyond the self-evident need for a valid passport. I just checked the Australian Govenment's site for its travel advisories into the EU (and Germany in particular) and could find none of the other items from my earlier list noted as requirements.

Returning to the Platform, my next task was the bay loading platform, which I will model based on the one at Kingsbridge. This Peter Gray / Great Western Trust photo has many fine details useful for my project and provided much help with resolving the main station dimensions and structure. This close up extract of the bay platform shows that the loading side surface has a different structure, and possibly was totally paved (for heavier traffic) like the area in front of the station building. Any thoughts? I noted that the trade side platform has a square profile, no overhang and longer but narrower edge slabs. It also sits closer to the tracks. Progress has been made at Upper Hembury on building the base structure and platform edging, seen sitting a little high here as its not yet fixed down. Additionally I've had a mark II effort on the forecourt area, resorting to strengthened Plaster of Paris as the base to manage the sloping profile (down L -> R). Needs some dirtying up and traffic marks to complete but from this angle it looks rather lighter than as seen by the observer. The top coating of <0.5mm gypsum was lightly sprinkled onto the surface which had been painted with 1:1:1 mixute of my muddy brown household paint, PVA and water. Left to dry completely, the excess is lightly brushed off.

Before leaving the topic of MIA, I've got to report that both Heds (SWMBO) and I were taken aback, even shocked, on arriving at Munich Airport and duly joining the immigration queue for non-EU travellers. What could trigger this reaction but a VERY prominent sign directed only to UK passport holders. Not those from the Middle East, Africa or other remote and troubled places, but only citizens of Old Blighty were singled out for special attention. They were warned to hold: A Valid passport. (doh!) Health insurance (such as private travel insurance or an EHIC/GHIC). Enough money to cover your stay in the EU. Return or onward travel ticket. and AFAIR, also proof of accommodation arrangements for all the time while in the EU. This struck us as being distinctly OTT.

Some more at the top of the Schafberg https://youtu.be/STzeX5Vh55g https://www.youtube.com/shorts/5sYw3Hw47lU Wonderful scenic views, all 360 degrees as well. The first to the SW, is that the Berghof some 30km away? The second to the North

Was MIA - but now back home. As with any OS trip, many memorable things of interest were seen / encountered. Just a brief summary of a few miscellaneous railway items..... 1) Germany. Our trip was short, Munich Flughaven into the city on a local S-Bahn. Could barely believe my eyes as we neared the Hauptbahnhof when I spotted a DB loco which had apparently been driven right into the middle of a meadow. Sadly no camera to hand to record this bizarre event! Take-two, weed control not high priority as they ranged from 600-900mm tall throughout the stabling yards. So high no rails were visible. 2) Munich again - total chaos the night before our scheduled journey to Salzberg and beyond. Someone brought down a main power gantry (it seems) and shut down the entire mainline and S-Bahn system around the Hbh. We wondered why our tram was jam packed at 3pm, only finding out later. Disruptions were expected for two days and I'm thinking hire car? In the end they fixed it all up and we had a 90 min delay. Station was total chaos but a local told me that was pretty usual situation. 3) Salzkammergut Region - for anyone who's not been here, I strongly recommend adding to the bucket list. My highlights included the ride up the Schafbergbahn to 1800m elevation (HT to @Mr Portillo's GCRJ Series 1 #2). We had a superb day and steam was in operation. For anyone interested there's lots of info on Wikipedia which I wont repeat except for a photo of the unique light oil fired steam locos. Other days were filled with some excellent walks. During COVID times I was given a fine book on Lost Railway Journeys of the World and the very first chapter is devoted to the Lokalbahn of this region, running from Salzburg to Bad Ischl. This has been replaced by a highly efficient bus service which we used, 7 Euro for the 31km. Sadly no traces remained of the lokalbahn in St Gilgen where we stayed, other than the old route now turned into laneways and streets. I tried! 4) a brief detour to the realm of Chuffnell Regis and a most enjoyable dinner spent with @Graham T. The time flew away but we did find space to discuss CRII issues and options in some depth. It was not possible with our schedule to see Mark I in the flesh but I didn't mind as the many fine images we have here let us see everything in great detail. 5) Bologna to Milan - aside the normal state of "fretta" prevailing, travelling by Frecciarossa is generally efficient and the stations well set up. Bologna high speed lines sit directly below the main station, about 5 levels down but unlike the topside there are comfortable spaces and plenty of seats to await your train. It takes about 67min to cover the 201km with a top speed of 300kph reached. Not as smooth as the Shinkansen by quite a way but better than I've had on UK lines. Good value at 44Euro pp., you could pay that much for a taxi from airport to city in many places. Now back to reality.

Hi John, just sent you a PM, Colin

Melbourne has until recently lived in the Victorian Age WRT level crossing management. There remained until the last 10 years around 180 gated crossings and in my time here some of these were manually operated, very slowly. There still remains intact the gatekeeper's hut at the Park St and Brunswick Rd crossings and probably more on the Upfield line. Some Many of the crossings were across major arterial roads such as Springvale Rd (3 lanes each way) imagine the chaos each rush hour as the gates closed to allow for key suburban line trains to flow.

This appears to open up all sorts of Rule 1 opportunities 😈

Bravo! Just looking at your photos is enough to give me a headache. Keep us posted on your progress, it is a most interesting extension from the simple base kits

Seeing @gwrrob's recent post on Weymouth Quay prompts me to provide an update or two on my MIA period over recent weeks due to local disruptions in the Space-Time continuum. Not quite Tardis travel but it sure felt like it after 4.5 years anchored under the "sun drenched splendour" of home as we headed North for our first OS trip. First up, having flown into Munich we travelled ~20km to a small insignificant local suburban station on the S-Bahn. There was little remaining evidence of the branch line spur leading to what must be the most tragic disused BLT station of all time. The more so that it was easy to miss this as we arrived at the memorial gates. This is all that remains of the disembarkation platform and tracks at Dachau. It was a sombre reminder of events at the Camp which should never have happened; dating from the early thirties and being the prototype for the larger and many hundreds to follow. We came away deeply moved by the descriptions and seeing the key buildings where the various terrors were inflicted. Accepted its somewhat OT but I feel important enough to be worth sharing all the same.

As it's metal to metal bonding, acetone or MEK (and even possibly Ethyl Acetate) should do the trick of softening the set CA enough to separate. I been told acetone is what they keep in Casualty for when various careless folk's body parts become firmly glued together thru accident or protest. Clearly, any solvent should not get near the molded PS components.

The brake lever is too long. Is it a "one size fits all" component which needs shortening at the connection point (and located above the bottom of the V) or just one for a longer wheelbase wagon? Colin

Thx Andy, and also for your help. I only wish I could emulate your pace of work, my own feels like it's crawling along Best wishes, Colin

do the resident LMS experts have an opinion on which is the more accurate shade? I've the odd kit of that era to build myself.

surely plus one to man the BBQ and Esky?

Miss Prism, This fascinating topic suffers from the loss of the key images in post#1 due to the great crash. Any chance of reinstating them for us please? PS Then again, I have this sudden deja vu that this info lurks somewhere on GWR.org. Might that be the case? Colin

Hi Graham, I'll email you the info I was describing yesterday as copyright means I can't share it on here, even if the originals were lost in the great wipe out. By some minor miracle I found I'd cross loaded those downloaded / saved files to my local PC, they provide good views of the setting and (amazement) even a plan / dimensions! Hope this proves of interest. Colin

Is that on ZIMO chips? If so I'd never spotted it, tell me more pls.

Fair enough too, that's usually my domain! Best wishes from over here, Colin

Having made some satisfactory progress with the macadam on flat surfaces of the platform I’ve moved on to tackling the area of the station approaches where the land falls gently way from the main building towards the river. This threw up a few issues, mainly because my card sub-structure was stepped, albeit gently at 0.3mm per step but this gave me problems when attaching the EVA and top layers. After one troublesome attempt + rescue, I’ve yet to decide if I can mask the remaining imperfections or need to start over. Hence the delay with any reports. Also, other matters at this time of year have drawn me away from modelling for some time so reports will be rather thin on the ground. Normal service will be resumed as soon as the present distortion of the Space -Time continuum around here returns to normal # # In an idle moment, it did occur to me that many bizarre but everyday occurrences can readily be explained thanks to Special Relativity (thx @einstein). Those of us with SWMBOs will be familiar with the all too common situation walking thru a shopping centre or High Street when suddenly SWMBO is drawn by a powerful, irresistible force towards a shop window, offering fashion, jewellery etc. In reality this is simply a local +ve distortion in Space-Time, creating a powerful gravitational pull on the susceptible. Strangely, Space-Time distorts in exactly the opposite sense for SWMBOs should a hardware (or worse, Model shop) be encountered.