Chris64B

Yep don't worry Gary, those are under construction!

So as mentioned last time, I’ve decided to tackle one of the bigger structures required on the layout – the curved bridge that takes the single branch line around the layout up and over the main lines onto the upper level. As per the photo above, it’s just been a bare piece of plywood since the layout was made so I thought it was about time to do something about it! It’ll be quite a challenge to construct something, not only because it’s the first time I’ve attempted scratch building something substantial like this, but also because in places, it’s a pretty tight curve unfortunately. It’s also right up against the edge of the baseboard but I wanted to keep it as it adds some interest and play value for the kids. I’ve been scouring Google and RMweb to find some real curved bridges from which to draw inspiration…they are few and far between but I narrowed it down to two…. First, I wondered about some sort of more modern concrete construction rather like the curved viaduct at Cotgrave, Notts: Forgotten Relics website: http://www.forgottenrelics.co.uk/bridges/gallery/cotgrave.html Cotgrave Viaduct by tall_dude, on Flickr …but I just can’t fit those sort of support legs at all because of the curved double track underneath. Then I found the curved bridge over the River Taw in Barnstaple – perfect! Barnstaple railway bridge (1970s) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], by Lamberhurst (Own work), from Wikimedia Commons So my plan is to construct something along these lines that’ll look at least vaguely prototypical. I used a whole load of Willis Varigirder kits, cardboard and plasticard and started sketching out: I wondered what to do about the deck, I was quite keen not to ballast it, mainly to give a bit of variety compared to the rest of the track and I found some good shots of Tamerton viaduct's metal deck construction in ‘Torr Giffard LSWR 1951-71’s thread here: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/52291-tor-giffard-2-1951-71-in-p4-north-devoncornwall-lswr-former-routes/?p=1275617 I decided to use lots of off-cuts from the Varigirder sprues to create the effect of that metal ridged deck: …and cut the sleepers out of some set track pieces to give the impression of the continuous bearing/ladder type rail fixings (needs a bit more work and painting etc!): With the plate girder sides balanced on top, it was starting to look like this: And after a few more evenings I had the sides fixed onto the plywood and a mocked up cardboard support at the end: Next up, the central support legs, the brick end pillar/support and on into the eight arch brick viaduct… Cheers, Chris

Hi all, Just a quick update - I treated myself to a couple of new 'Oxford Diecast' cars recently - a Vauxhall Cavalier Mk2 and a Volvo 240 DL Estate! I'm really pleased with them but I thought I could detail them a little bit more - so I had a go with the Cav' first: Before: During: And after: As you can see I had a go at painting in the rubber window surrounds, improving the wheels and adding a hint of colour to the lights - think it came out alright. The next big job is to do something about the rail overbirdge as I can't stand looking at a bare plank of wood any more (it's been like that forever, 20 years plus!) - the main challenge being it's curved and there's a curved double track below! Here's a picture of it when I was relaying the track a while back: I think I'm going to have to use a lot of modellers licence and come up with something that at least looks vaguely realistic within the limitations of the space and layout - should be quite a challenge! I'm planning to take inspiration from the Barnstaple Taw bridge: Google image search results Nice little video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKUBV_ethdQ More bridge building updates to come soon! Cheers, Chris

Thanks Gary - looking at that picture you can see they do look a bit more solid and bulky.

Fantastic work James - the latest loco weathering is superb! Thanks for sharing your techniques with us all too Cheers, Chris

Thanks Mike! It'll look good with a few Brutes and a couple of workers hurrying about!

Hi gang, Well I haven’t done much better keeping you all up to date, sorry - Summer Holidays are to blame! I’ve managed to keep on with a bit of modelling though, so here goes… One of the things I’ve been working through is dismantling and cleaning the motors and gear-trains from the old Lima locos I have. I found a few useful guides: https://chippedblade.wordpress.com/index/improve-the-performance-of-old-lima-motors/ MikesMovies YouTube guide https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_66Yq4NkgE I’ve been surprised just what a difference this has made to the general smooth running and low speed response – here’s an example of how mucky one of my Lima class 31’s was after nearly 30 years so it was well worth doing! I’m going to add some extra pickups to some of them too further down the line to improve their behaviour over the insulfrog points. I’ve also been making some new platform canopy supports. At the moment I have several of the ‘modern style’ Hornby canopies and I couldn’t decide whether to keep them or whether I should look for something else. I wasn’t really sure that some of the more old fashioned wooden ones would be right/in keeping with the 80’s vibe and from an extensive Googling session I found some great shots of Banbury and Slough stations in period that have 'modern' canopies and supports very similar in style: Banbury station by '7bells' on Flickr - https://www.flickr.com/photos/ifalbums/33241618546 Slough station by 'Sunil060902' on Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slough_railway_station#/media/File:Slough_station_westbound.JPG Class 128 at Slough by 'Ian Buck' on 'www.Railcar.co.uk' - http://www.railcar.co.uk/images/8057 Class 128 at Slough by 'Malcolm Clements' on 'www.Railcar.co.uk' - http://www.railcar.co.uk/images/2485 (Love this shot!) So I thought lets stick with them and try and improve them a bit more. First step was to construct some more supports as I only had a couple of the original Hornby green ones and thought I could do a bit better – so out came the plasticard and various plastruct pieces! With some extra support beams and lighting (LEDs on order) underneath the canopies, then a decent paint and weather I hope they’ll turn out alright - here are some interim shots: Cheers, Chris

This is really coming on - great work! The perspective in the modelled landscape and backscene is really effective. I do like the look of the BR blue stock running on it too! Cheers, Chris

Cheers Rugd' and thanks for those photos - I hadn't seen 'BAP 245B' before but I can see the likeness! Here's a bit more info about mine as requested.... It was actually my first car and I've hung on to it all these years until it got past the point of no return with the dreaded tin worm! Notice the skid marks....ooops... I carried out the resto around 2007-09 and I did everything bar the panels and paint. Here are a few before and after snaps of the work! The rear subframe mounting and subframe itself were 'interesting' to say the least! A few years after I bought it, we swapped out the old 'Gold Seal' 850 engine that was in it with a 998cc Cooper engine which we rebuilt and fitted a stage one kit. It also has Cooper S discs and drums. The interior is unchanged apart from the steering wheel which is actually a 'Styla' so nothing fancy but a nice looking and feeling wheel. And a couple of other photos for luck: Thanks for reading, Chris

Just been catching up on all the cracking Mini chat! Thanks for sharing the Beaulieu pictures Nidge! I couldn't make it this year but looks like it was a great show as usual. Here's mine.... If you're not on it already, here's a plug for the best website and forum I use for all things early Mini: http://mk1-performance-conversions.co.uk/mk1_index.htm http://mk1-forum.net/index.php Cheers, Chris

Yep, definitely going to paint the odd yellow colour frame as you've done! I was also planning to clad the brickwork with some better painted brick sheet, make a little extension on the back end to lengthen it a bit which will also to include a small staff block and also site the fuel tanks/pump house on one side - I haven't got a lot of space to play with so it'll all have to be quite compact! Cheers, Chris

Yeah lots of interest there for a small space. Those fuel tanks/pump building would fit nicely on mine too. I found this nice overview shot of Kings Lynn which might help - I was going to link to it but I can't find where I got it originally so I've uploaded it but done my best to credit it - Kings Lynn April 1988 - Philip Stuart: Amongst others, yards that have inspired me are: Ebbw Junction: https://www.flickr.com/photos/rivercider/10421884584 https://www.flickr.com/photos/rivercider/10421884374 Buxton: https://www.flickr.com/photos/andy_hoare/6564218065 Cambridge: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/uploads/monthly_02_2014/post-13196-0-25891200-1391724751.jpg Shirebrook: http://www.railwayscenes.com/uploads/1/8/8/9/18895187/4610686_orig.jpg - nice inside shot. https://www.flickr.com/photos/blue-diesels/15970086034 Rivercider and Jeff P's photo threads on here have been really useful as well as good old Google! Cheers, Chris

Brilliant, thanks for that guide Jon, that's really helpful for a novice building builder like me!

Thanks mate! I've enjoyed surfing the web for photos of depots and yards in their peak of 1970s-80s dingyness!

I also meant to say, to stop the light bleed around the LED in the cab, I'd suggest painting the insides of all the areas where you don't want the light with a few coats of matt black, filling/sealing any gaps that might let the light through before hand. Cheers, Chris

I've enjoyed catching up with your progress Jamie - your buildings are superb! The DMU looks excellent too, I love the cab detail, it makes a real difference. Such as shame about the last minute hiccup though! I agree that you should have a little break, then go back and sand/repair the affected areas, it'll be a lovely model so well worth the effort. Cheers, Chris

Liking the look of this one! The buildings look great - do you have any more 'in progress' photos of their construction? Thanks for sharing and looking forward to seeing more! Cheers, Chris

Hi everyone, Thought I'd share some progress I've made ballasting the yard and finishing the concrete hardstanding and fueling point over the last few weeks.... Ballast was laid fairly quickly - in the yard I've used Woodland Scenics fine light grey: Then stained with a grey/brown acrylic wash, applied with a brush: I wanted to create a 'walked line' down the middle of the yard from the concrete hard standing near the yard to the barrow crossing down near the parcel siding. I tried using a thin smear of household filler to create the effect of a compacted path in the ballast - it's turned out alright but might need a bit more work blending in colours wise as with more paint on it looks a little bit shiny compared to the surrounding ground (see later photos): I've painted up all the fueling point bits and made some extra details like a little water tap and hose pipe. I've also weathered and stuck down the concrete hardstanding: I still needs more work here and there, but I'm happy with the overall effect that's starting to emerge: Still to do: Re-work/enhance the Hornby depot building; Build the retaining walls along the side of the yard; New fencing; Fix the yard lamps and ballast up to them; Add some more yard details and detritus! Cheers, Chris

Great progress! The scenic work and trees are looking fantastic, well done. Love the views into and from the cutting, it looks very realistic. Cheers, Chris

Brill, thanks - there's some good stuff there, I'll place an order!

Just catching up - love your close-up photos of the passengers on the platform and in the carriages! Superb! Where did you get the water taps from by the way? Cheers, Chris

Thanks gents!

Hi everyone, I’m still here! Apologies for the lack of updates for the last few months, can’t believe it’s been that long, life gets in the way doesn’t it?! Hopefully some of you are still interested in the thread after all this time!? I’ve had a lot to do on my cars, new brake discs and pads all round on the modern, and an oil change and other bits on the old Mini and we’ve recently adopted a pair of rabbits from the RSPCA, so much of my time has been taken up with building runs and hutches, buying equipment and reading up about them. They’ve been with us for a few weeks now and are settling in nicely so I should have a bit more time for railway modelling again, my son is getting withdrawal symptoms although he’s been getting his fix with his wooden railway and trips to the NRM and GWSR! I had thought that I hadn’t made much progress since the new year and my last post, but looking back at the last photos in the thread I realise that I have done quite a bit, so I’ll try and bring you up to date in the next few days - here’s the first update…. Before I could start ballasting the yard, I needed to decide on the final location of any concrete hard-standing and also decided to fit a couple of inspection pits into the shed. For these I used the Scalescenes downloadable card kit, and treated myself to the Black Cat lighting unit designed to fit them – I’m pleased how they turned out: Cutting some big holes in the baseboard - eek... Chopping up the base of the Hornby shed (I've decided to keep it and kit bash/enhance it!) - double eek... Scalescenes inspection pit dropped in nicely: And with the lighting unit temporarily wired up to test - looks great I think! I also built a little barrow crossing out of scrap plasticard and starting ballasting: More ballasting, weathering and fuelling point progress next time… Cheers, Chris

Thanks Peter, that's helpful! Gives me an idea of what to look out for and what mods might be worth making. Cheers, Chris

Ha! I dunno, guess I was just thinking you see quite a few on various layouts - like the idea of the 'general crud' though! I did a bit of ballasting a couple of days ago, it's taking aaaagggeess to dry in this cold damp weather!