Philou

Hello chums and chumesses, Call me confused! I have spent all afternoon sorting through all the parts that I have pre-cut and I find I have parts for at least three other modules (end-pieces mainly) that I had forgotten about. Then having gathered all the bits together for the corner module I got myself muddled up in which was what side or what end - now sorted. I have also some selected planks ready to strip down tomorrow into battens - so I'm getting there. No pictures as there was no building work, but perhaps a picture of a curvy corner tomorrow - I hope so! Cheers everyone, Philip

Hello chums and chumesses, Yesterday was turned on its head work-wise as Mrs Philou and I had to go collect a certain item in the morning from the Funeral Director that sent Mrs P into a rather depressive mood - which is understandable. Despite doing a bit of therapeutic shopping afterwards (paint and bits and bobs) to re-do the bedroom, it didn't do much good and in the end I decided not to do any work in the afternoon. This morning was scrubbed as I thought I'd better start on the redecoration of the said bedroom which meant taking the french (well, they are in France) doors out to give them a new coat of paint as they've been natural oak until now - a lighter coat will help get more light into the room. They were heavy to shift! Luckily in France, hinges in most cases are lift-off and so no faffing with screws - relatively simple and straight-forward. Having been a good boy and given them their first coat, I got back into the swing of things and this afternoon, completed Module H and everything is nice and square. Here are a couple of photos showing Modules E and F 'in place' with the others already completed: I have decided that for the next few days, and to show willing, I'll be doing work on the bedroom in the morning and then the modules in the afternoon - it won't be as quick as I should like, but it'll all be going in the right direction whilst earning Brownie points. In that case, I shall revert to re-starting the corner that I let drop when I had overlooked the slight increase in the floor area. I know now by how much I need to increase the curve length which I can do within the bits already cut to size. However, as with every module so far, I shall need to cut more planks down as battens and glue-blocks to get me under way. More tomorrow, Toodle-pip, Philip

I did spy a lot of glassware on one stall that I considered enough to make up a decent still for 'la goute' (think potcheen) - the only thing that was missing was a graduated thermometer! When I read you'd bought a steelyard I thought wow wait but that's huge, but then I thought, a model one ...... I think I may have been out in the sun too much today! My only purchase in about 10 years of going to 'brocantes/vide greniers' were three Bachmann Blue Riband GWR coaches for €5 each a couple of years ago. My nephew at another one nearby picked up a Hornby Elite brand new for €10. Cheers, Philip

Sunday came and went and I overlooked the fact that here it's the equivalent of the Bank Holiday today - so shhhh no noisy work either. Lunch lasted forever anyway AND we went to a brocante this morning (think stalls full of tat - expensive tat at that (bursts into song: 'On Ilkley Moor baht tat .....')). I only went 'cos Mrs Philou wanted to go and I did think that I just might get lucky and pick up some UK outline stuff - did once - but it wasn't to be. Too hot, too many people and too much sun. There were some bits of O and HO but the 'good' stuff was Maërklin which is no good if you're into 2-rail DC. Hopefully a proper restart tomorrow with an update. Cheers, Philip

....... into the bush?

I too, I too :( and it ain't the beer (or wine) causing any droop ................

Hello everyone, there was no update yesterday as when I was replying to Chimer's kind remarks, we lost contact with the UK - must've been fog in the Channel! Luckily, I copied all wot I wrote like, and saved it an' all I has to do is copy and paste it back - clever innit? So here goes: @Chimer I've it done this way as I was lucky to have the space in which to do it. I decided that I wouldn't do vertical compression if I could avoid so doing. Unfortunately, save for the two principal stations, there is much horizontal compression. I've had to take licence regarding gradients as the two stations are as near as dammit on the same level in real life. Much head scratching on my part to recreate the climb out of Ledbury through the tunnel and make it look as if it's still climbing when it reaches the other end - it is but it isn't - Schroedinger's gradient methinks. I'll explain: The prototype gradient out of Ledbury is 1:80 and this I have set this out on the relevant module - it doesn't look steep enough, but it is what it is. The climb is maintained right through the eastern tunnel mouth until the trains burst out of it at the next signal box that controls the entry from that side - it's also double track into a single one. If I had maintained that grade throughout, then my Pontrilas station would have been all wrong as that has a gradient through the platform and also to both sides inn the same direction - that I wanted to recreate as well - especially as there are four tracks on the Hereford side that I considered might look impressive too. So what to do? In my Ledbury tunnel immediately on entering, the track drops on a falling grade (nothing severe) until at a point it can start rising again to give a 1:80 grade on exiting the eastern tunnel mouth. Where I have had to comprise on grades is at the Ledbury viaduct end. In reality the real thing is on a slightly falling grade, but my model is on a rising grade to get over the branch line AND to connect with the rising grade out of Pontrilas - but that is where 'Dymented' resides so it's my bit of Rule 1 - between Ledbury station throat and the throat at Pontrilas. In any case to recreate Ledbury viaduct correctly it would have needed to be 3 times as long and on a continuous straight leading out of the station. I have respected the size of the arches and their heights above the River Leadon, though. As for the trackbed itself, because of the changes in gradient, I have gone for a sort of open-plan frame where I can attach suitably levelled risers to the cross-members and the trackbed to them. Hence why I have made the Ledbury Hill modules in two halves so I can get to the cross-members and screw some risers to them later. I shall cut the trackbeds out of singular pieces of ply so that changes in gradient just cannot be made abruptly (unless there's a change at a module interface :( ). The modules for Ledbury station were a bit different as the footprint of the station is in excess of my self-imposed limit of 900mm width (short arms, see) and as it's level, I had no need of making it open framed. Pontrilas is narrower, it's on a grade and there is land falling and rising along the one platform edge and the yard is above ground level, so there will be open framing so allow for landforming as appropriate. There is another thread started by @AY Mod 'Things you wouldn't see in real life' and one of the items seen is the flat-topped tunnel especially with a Church and grave-yard over it and unfortunately, the junior modellers at the club are just as guilty! I'd allow for cut-and-cover tunnels but where the building above is older than the tunnel with the crown just 3ft below, no-go, and so I was determined that if I had tunnels I'd have proper ones. In the case of the Ledbury one, it is at a true 4mm scale height. In doing the 3D drawing, I laid out the track-bed as determined by the Scarm elevations and then using OS contoured maps of the areas concerned I overlaid the original landform above the trackbed and then constructed the cut and fill from the trackbed. Here I have compromised as I've used slopes of 1:1 rather than 1:1.5 otherwises the cuttings would not have looked so impressive. Once the cut and fill area were done on the 3D plan, I determined the heights of the module side walls hence their wavy shapes. Yesterday I had a bit of a doubting day with a lot of whataboutery - but I cracked on and this evening I give you Module F. Not quite complete as I need to attach some castellations (location pegs, I suppose) onto the upper part - the lower one is finished. A bit of bevelling to be done where they interlock and the job's a good'un: This side mates up with Module E. I'm giving consideration to making a hand-of-god hole here too: This is the operating well side. Here, the two tunnels lead towards the sector/fiddle/storage yard with cut-outs already in place and will also join onto another short tunnel module: This should connect with Module G. I haven't as yet checked whether I need a hand-of-god access here as Module G should be a cutting leading into Ledbury Tunnel from the eastern end, my Pontrilas. I think there's only a short tunnel here - if required I'll get the jigsaw out! And the backside, the wall side, so nothing required here. The chief overseer was unimpressed: Some may be asking why I've put cross-members in the upper part. They're there to minimise any flexing of the sides and it's somewhere where I can rest my polystyrene when I start doing the landforming. I'll have a nice clear space underneath for the trains to run unhindered. No work tomorrow as shhhhh its Sunday and we're having a lazy lunch to enjoy the sun while it's out and about (27° in the shade today!). Enjoy your Sunday wherever you are and whatever you're doing, Cheers, Philip

Will you be wanting a map with that, or can you find your own way?

Thanks for the 'clever' icon - but I haven't shown you any close-ups! The proof of it all is when I will come to do the great assembling, then we'll see if the artful bodger got it right or not ;) ! Cheers, Philip

Well, this evening came and ........ it's done! Module E, for that's its number in my , er, numbering system, was completed. The two halves went together with an interference fit - which is what I wanted. Here are some photos: This is the Pontrilas end that should lead into Module F and also the sector plate/storage yard: This is the operating well side with two, hopefully, generous access holes for the hand of god if anything goes amiss. I have to say that I can just about reach the track-bed. I think I'll one of those pincers on a stick that we used to use in Bud Morgan's to reach stock that was on the higher shelving - just in case. I don't know what they're actually called - probably used as an aid for people with restricted mobility. The lower cross-beams are at about formation level: This is the Ledbury end that will be attached to the first constructed curved section (way up there ^). Unfortunately, the cut-out is of little use as I constructed the curved section differently and there's a strengthener running right through the opening! I'll find a work-around no doubt. I see M. le Maire got into the picture too (and no, the module isn't THAT big!): This is the back-side. As it's against the wall, no cut-outs required: It all worked out well, and I have all the parts to Module F except for the castellations. I have a whole day to myself tomorrow, but I have a morning of pressure-washing the sun-deck in the morning whilst it's in the shade. I can work on the module in the afternoon as my work zone will then be in the shade. It was too hot in the sun today - the temperature touched 30° on the deck (in the sun). I'm not allowed much sun due to pre-cancerous blotches that appear on my skin that have to be surgically removed! Despite the very hot and sunny weather last year, I had a clean bill of health during my annual check-up, and I should like to keep it that way! Cheers everyone and perhaps more good news tomorrow, Philip

@JeffP I paid €34.95 per 1.22 x 2.5m sheets, though the quality is variable as is the thickness. I had one sheet that was 8mm thick, but it could have been someone just putting it on the wrong pile, the others vary between 9 and 10mm. I'm not complaining at the quality as for what I want, and especially as I'm hacking it about and it'll be in a dry room, it's perfectly adequate. The nearest equivalent was €126/sheet but cuts were free (if you asked nicely). Today I griddled some more of my loins and got stuck in. Despite having a school governors' meeting interrupt my workflow, I now have four sides to the upper part of one of the modules done - just the castellations to do and I should have the two halves 'mated' by tomorrow evening (hoorah!). Hopefully a picture or two to show tomorrow, Cheers, Philip

Thank you all and Richard for your 'friendly/supportives'. Very kind of you. I was on the periphery of it all as Mrs Philou and her two sisters organised it all between themselves - I was doing the metaphorical tea and biscuits and passing out the hankies as needed. He'd been ill for some time with colonic cancer that had spread into his liver, and unfortunately for him, he was into alternative medecine which when you're up against cancer, is a certain loser. By the time he decided that perhaps traditional surgery could help, it was far too late. He was with us for about 7 weeks and I have to say even I was surprised by the rapid deterioration especially the last 5 days. Guys and gals, DO take notice of changes in the way your body is working and go to the quack asap. It could make a big difference. Right, let normal service resume - over to you Mr Johnster. Cheers, Philip

Well chaps and chapesses, I'm back! I've just caught up with this thread after Mrs Philou and I had a bit of a trauma at home (we're fine but her brother passed away here in the house and caused a bit of a hiatus for her and her kin) hence no maps from me since the end of April. After reading all the comments, I'm pleased to say it seems that you probably managed without my help! Good reminiscences there @The Johnster, keep 'em coming. Cheers, Philip

Hello chums and chumesses, I am back at my familiar keyboard (how do others manage on a mobile?). Nothing to report for today as I'm pooped as the journey took 10 hours yesterday and I'm just not in the mood - pity really as the weather is brilliant at the mo'. Nonetheless, here are the two photos of the completed subframes. I'll start the tops perhaps tomorrow (though I have promised Mrs Philou that I would give the lawn a coupe de grace). Anyway, I'm back! The first step will be to put some castellations around the tops of the subframes and similarly at the bottoms of the upper parts. Longitudinal strengtheners (battens) will be screwed'n'glued to the upper parts plus corner glue blocks and then assembled. It'll take a couple of days as I want to cut out some hand of god openings in the sides in case any stock decides that it prefers the dark rather than daylight and jumps off the track. Of course, MY track is going to be laid perfectly with transitions curves both horizontally and vertically AND laid flat with no vertical rail joints - won't it!? Hmmmmm - we'll see. Cheers everyone, Philip

As it so happens, I do! :)))) In between times, I found that the call box is a model PA3 again designed by Tench. The Cardiff one (IIRC) differed by being square-cut at the top and had and orange light rather than a red one. It didn't carry the City of London arms neither, but what it had as a symbol (if it had one), I don't remember. PA3 PoliceCallBox.pdf Cheers, Philip

There was one for a long time opposite the junction High Street with Castle Street in Cardiff immediately adjacent to the entrance to the castle. It was half the width of the Tardis and probably not much room inside (only kidding, there wasn't any room as it only contained a telephone on a shelf). There was a notice on the outside of it saying that it was also for public use (presumably linked directly to the police switchboard). I saw the orange light on a couple of occasions blinking, but never saw a PC answer it. I believe it was scrapped when personal radios and Panda cars arrived. Cheers, Philip

Our luck is in @JeffP, fibre passes within 5m of our front door, but no actual connection within the village - we're not considered important enough. They were doing works in the street though last month to do final connections and we have been 'promised' fibre by the end of the year (aerial cable, not underground) AND we're having a new relay telephone mast in the next village next year so we may be connected to the 21st century yet! Haute Vienne? Is that in France? (Only kidding). Good luck with Orange - not very good our way either. Cheers everybody, Philip

Hello chums, A quick message from the wild west of France. I did manage to assemble the second subframe before we left. I had also taken a photo to show but, but, I have the camera and I have this 'ere mobile phone but no way of linking the two! Oh well, such is life. Another update later in the week. Cheers, Philip

There was also a Fishguard (Harbour?) to Paddington (v. early morning) service. Philip

'Sboring. The heavens opened just as I was about to let the dog take me for a walk. I had to rush to get all my tools and wood back indoors before everything got wet. As soon as I can, I'll be back out doing assembly of my bits. I cut down a plank into battens this morning, but the clutch on my circular saw has died - any ideas? I also prepared some more cross-members. Right, I'm off with the dog and perhaps into the barn afterwards. More updating later, Tootle pip, Philip

Hello chaps and chapesses, Bad news - the weekend is nearly over! Time wasn't with me this morning as we had a luncheon engagement, but having been re-invigorated yesterday, I did manage an hour's worth of glueing and screwing, and so I have another sub-frame ready for assembly tomorrow - yay! Once assembled and squared-up, I'm going to have to cut yet more battens so that I can tackle the landform parts of the two modules - probably take me into Tuesday. Unfortunately (for me), Mrs Philou wants to go see her grandchildren waaaaaaaay over on the west coast, so as from Wednesday I shan't be adding to the thread as there's no wifi in the house she's rented for a few days - c'mon man, this is the 21st century, everyone has wifi, don't they? Normal service should be resumed next Tuesday. I shall probably be updating the 3D plan instead of surfing - so another job will be done. Talking of wifi, my nephew is an electronics wiz, and he has kindly offered to advise me on how to set up a local wifi for the ECoS system. I managed to secure an unused one (as new) for not a lot. Granted, it's got to get from the UK to here but I don't need it just yet as I shall be testing all the wiring and track using my Gaugemaster controller under 12v DC in the meantime - but I'm not even at that stage yet! Keep safe one and all, Philip

What a difference in two days! Time was short today but nonetheless I managed to fabricate a complete sub-frame to one of the modules ready for its demountable scenic upper part. In the afternoon I went and did a short stretch of ballasting just to show my method to my nephew. It was a very short length but I found it quite calming - especially as it looked OK when done. My nephew and I had a good chin-wag regarding his approach to ballasting and his going forward with his 'shunting plank'. He's doing a 3m long 'plank' set in post-2000 with a re-instated urban branch two platform terminus station and a parallel 'works' where rolling stock is brought in for a touch of TLC - a good reason to show off his stock and honing up his landscaping skills. Good luck to him I thought - and at least he asked 'how?'. I came away much re-invigorated and I'm looking forward, if time permits, to get the other sub-frame done tomorrow. Hopefully more tomorrow, Cheers, Philip

Well, rats! I jinxed myself yesterday by suggesting pictures might have been available today. Ho hum. Continuous interruptions today and the time I set out my stall late afternoon, the rain came back. I managed a couple of battens and a few glue-blocks and I had to put it all away again - and so did my mojo. I've had a cry for help by my nephew-in-law who lives nearby for assistance in ballasting. Provided he doesn't have to go get my niece from the airport tomorrow afternoon, then I shall do a bit of ballasting with him - might do me some good too. In the morning I'll restart from where I left off and continue battening. I have a funny feeling that I shall need quite a bit of battening too. Not much done, but it'll be that much less to do later. Cheers everybody and have a good weekend, Philip

Thanks for the 'Friendly/Supportive' s, the difficult day turned out to be not too difficult overall. There were only thirteen of us (unlucky for some!) all told, so it was decided to 'do' lunch beforehand particularly as it was quite some distance for many to travel and the timing was a little awkward. We then all had a cuppa and a cake afterwards. One of my nieces had given up her birthday day to be there, so she had a special cake from the patisserie and we all sang 'Happy Birthday' (much to her embarrassment - she's 34!), that put a smile on everyone's faces and the day ended on a rather positive note - that I thought was very therapeutic. Mixed bag today that came with the mixed weather - I did manage to cut out all the cross-members and glue-blocks and mark all 16 parts to make up the two new modules ready for glueing and screwing before the rain returned in the afternoon. First job tomorrow will be to cut the battens to length as strengtheners and fix them to the various pieces. If time permits THEN the sub-assemblies will commence. I'm not going to say rashly 'pictures tomorrow' 'cos it'll ensure it won't happen! Cheers everyone and stay safe - the weekend is nearly here! Philip

Chaps, Thank you for the clarification. Silly me, it had to be wifi as the club have set up their own specifically for use with their smartphones via the Roco. I was interested in the possibility of using smartphones as additional handsets if and when the layout is completed and the members of the club could then come and have a thrash. They're very much into the electronic side of things (the club does cater for both DCC and DC) and I've been converted to DCC but know next to nothing except that I like what I have seen so far at the club. They operate locos under DCC but still use analogue for point and signal control, with automatic signal protection. More food for thought. Cheers, Philip