Signaller69

Finally able to get to a Toyfair after 2 years! Llangollen seemed well attended, prices much as they were before lockdown much to my relief. I came away with a Railroad 40, Mainline Restaurant Car and another Hornby 25 body. The Restaurant Car is earmarked for a ScR Griddle Car. Happy days!

I now have some answers regarding 5147. By photographic elimination, if it did have rail script numbering on one cab panel, it was the No.1 end Secondmans cabside. Also it did retain a plated over original round exhaust (perhaps up until painted into Blue, when it seems to have lost it), with the later exhaust position being on an almost flush-to-roof panel, although the dates the new exhaust was fitted have eluded me thus far. Either way it will enable me to crack on with it soon. In the meantime, 5098 has had its blue & yellow colours applied. The roof grille and fan have been soldered up this evening, ready for painting and then fitting. I've not been able to get onto Railtec's website today to order numbering for both locos (comes up with a permission error?) But I will try again tomorrow.

Hi Dave, Not sure how I missed your thread until now so will follow along. I know what you mean regarding indecision and lack of mojo over the past year though! Interested to see what you decide both about which version of your layout to do and also if you go to EM. Regards, Martyn.

A question for those who may know (which I also shared on a FB group): Class 24 D5147 (later 24 147) retained green FYE livery until at least late 1974 and by 1973 had winged headcode boxes at both ends. A Google search produced no useful images outside those in the page linked below, and the good 1973 photo at Fort William in the Strathwood book on the 24s/25s shows the "wrong" side to answer the following queries: 1. It is reported that prior to TOPS numbering the loco had 3 cabside numbers in italic style and one in rail alphabet style - does anyone know which cab side had the rail alphabet? 2. A photo in green TOPS livery on the Derby Sulzers site: https://www.derbysulzers.com/24147.html appears to show the original round exhaust position still in situ (though could be just a circular plate over it), but there is no sign of a raised exhaust panel in the later position - the angle though is not conclusive. Again can anyone confirm which arrangement this loco had c.1972/3? Many thanks for any pointers to conclusive images.....

The 24 is now in primer at least. I modelled a missing bodyside battery isolation switch cover on this loco (or rather, an interpretation of what is behind it) as this is a feature sometimes seen in photos from the early 70s, and not provided for by any of the RTR models. Lots to do yet.

If it were me I would go with the long version of the Shed, on the grounds that, from previous experience, eventually it would irritate me knowing that it was too short, particularly when viewed with reference to the scale length Train Shed/Station Building behind, and having everything else scaled as accurately as possible, even if no-one else knew that it was short. It's the usual question of what you can live with? If you were tight on space it would be an understandable compromise, but if not I would say go long?

This Triang CK has been in my "almost finished" box for a while now. It has had the bogie centres corrected, etched gangway end plates, Replica vac cylinders and dynamo, plasticard footsteps and Hornby "scale" wheels added etc, along with a repaint (including interior) to late 60s condition with maroon ends and yellow first class stripe added. Lining and lettering from the respective HMRS sheets and SEF flushglaze fitted. I have just fitted the corridor internal handrails and replaced the Lavatory windows as I wasn't happy with the overly white look of the first attempt. I use a single layer of thin tissue paper applied onto wet Matt varnish inside the glazing to get the frosted effect, which can give some random variations as it dries. As a loose coach, this one has NEM Kadees at both ends, but screwed to remnants of the Triang bogie coupling mounts, which are the correct height for such shenanigans. Yet to be added are the doors inside the corridor connection (to hide the Triang circular hole and roof slot) and water pipes to the roof toilet water fillers. The roof will be "grotified" at some point too.

Thankfully as the layout has been stored for so long, it has remained largely dust free; miraculous given that much decorating was taking place in the Clubroom for the first few months of storage. No major damage has shown itself so far either, although a full electrical test has yet to take place. A small amount of work has been started though, namely the National Carriers Goods Shed has been removed and some TLC bestowed in the form of new guttering fitted (as some disintegrated during removal) along with refitting cosmetic lamps over the doors and a new coat of green paint based on the colour used at Kyle of Lochalsh c.1970 (on which it is loosely based). I am currently undecided whether to 1) move this to where the Provender Store sits, mainly to allow a longer carriage siding where it is currently located, or 2) to move it closer to the front of the layout with the siding running behind it, although both options would necessitate some other track changes too due to the restricted width of the site. The first option would also allow the MacBraynes Depot building I built a while back (below) to be incorporated near to the Station Building. This would also involve road alterations in the same area; I've never been entirely happy with how it looks anyway, but equally I don't want to change the character of the station area too much, or make it look more cramped than it already is. Due to a lack of Exhibition invites currently though, now would be a good time to carry out such work. The only recent photo of the layout is this one, with a couple of my old Lima CCT's which have recently been lowered using cast axleguards, flush glazed etc. But at least the mojo is coming back as and when time allows.

Good thinking, 3D printing should provide a much better/easier solution. Please post a photo if possible when you have some, I'd be interested to see how they turn out. Cheers, Martyn.

Hi Dave, sorry for the delay in replying as I don't come on here so often now. I find resin is very difficult to get good results on very small and/or thin parts, particularly where there is a pronounced "lip" to items such as the exhaust on the locos you mention. The exhaust panels I made for mine suffer a high rejection ratio due the difficulty in achieving a satisfactory thin and curved finish; it probably would have been quicker to make several from plasticard to be honest; I think trying to make just the small exhaust port would be beyond my abilities sorry. For my own locos with the same set up I have cut plasticard blanks, fixed them in place with Mek Pak and then drilled through to create the exhaust port once dry. All the best, Martyn.

Whilst I am waiting for more roof vents to arrive for the CCT's, I have felt like doing a little more on the languishing fourth Hornby Class 25 conversion, which will become Class 24 no.5098 in BR blue c.1971 condition. Namely sanding the filler on each cab end as well as the side foot/handholds, drilling out new tail lights and scoring the triangular bodyside access panels (which are not as prominent as the photos might suggest), removing the moulded roof fan grille, plus fitting LMS buffers as usual. Small jobs, but it takes the project a step nearer to completion! The cab roof domes are next up for sanding back. Etched parts such as cab roof vents, boiler compartment blanking plates and lamp irons will follow, with headcode discs and handrails to be added after painting.

Very little modelling done lately, but I have revisited a couple of Lima CCT Van's which have been lowered using a stash of cast axleguards (ABS?) and flush glazed which required making up new window bars from Slaters Microrod. A bit more weathering to be applied on the chassis to blend in the new parts.

Damn, I thought I recognised the guy sitting next to me.......

Thanks for the info Clive, you have indeed got me thinking of building a Dia 167 via your method, another to add to the "tuit list"!

Hi Clive, Was it some of these which survived to carry blue/grey livery (some/all later transferred to WR?) As I have in mind to do one at some point - I believe the most recent Hornby model in such guise has an incorrect window layout for same? A Mk.1 ScR Griddle car is still on the same list too. Best wishes all. Martyn.

Thanks all for your kind comments, they are much appreciated! all the best!

After a year with little progress and cancelled events, loss of mojo etc (with more of the same in the immediate future) the only progress has been that the layout is now set up again at the club, hopefully some work will be undertaken in the new year (not least to check if 2 years of storage have taken their toll on the wiring). In the meantime, Merry Christmas to all and here's hoping for a brighter 2022. Martyn.

Sorry, it's all very well Admin putting an apology on top of the page apologising for all the pop up adds, but you CONTROL the page for goodness sake!!!! Anyway I'll stick to Facebook in the meantime, if you want a 2 tier page to push overpriced Chinese made models. Rant over. Later folks.

A few photos from the show today on a quick mooch around. Rycroft Arena, superb small space "N" scale. Weaver Hill, 4mm WCML with a great variety of modern stock running. Phil Mason's lovely "Culthwaite" S&C in "N"

Managed a few new phone camera snaps of Dunnington today, had a very good day at Alsagers Bank show and hopefully a few more invites for the future.

Hi Rich, I think the wagon was an ancient pre-grouping one from memory, and more a mid grey colour in service, but possibly had been repainted for use as a grounded store by this time. Martyn.

Thanks Monty, interesting to see a photo in that direction, looks like a grounded van body just visible behind the loco. Edit: there was originally a kickback siding alongside the wall of the Grain Driers at this point with a covered loading area at the far end of the building, where the large sliding door can just be seen. Martyn.

Thanks mate, I may do a 122 Driving Trailer at some point if I find another 117 going cheap, plus the planned 131 conversion so will keep your spare cab in mind!

I cheated! It is purely a commercial HO card sheet (by Faller iirc). It looks quite reasonable but has no texture close up, so the jury is still out on it...

The Grain Driers siding now has a full length infill in the 4ft, another job that had been on the "round tuit" list. The real one seemed to vary over the years in this respect.