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brammie

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Blog Entries posted by brammie

  1. brammie
    Clouds on the horizon? No, not a new scenic feature for the Clackwick layout, but a slightly alarming discovery made yesterday whist prepping the layout for a visit by a fellow enthusiast from UK later this week. Whilst spring cleaning the track prior to test runs I noted a white deposit on some of the rail joiners. Having been directly involved in aircraft avionics for all of my working life, my immediate reaction was "galvanic action". This is a chemical reaction that occurs between disimilar materials when in contact with each other, significantly increased when an electrical current is passed between the materials. The obvious conclusion is that I don't have enough droppers from my power source to ensure that all parts of the track (including points) are individually supplied. I also noted slight sparking when my two Class 20 locos in consist passed over certain of the points (not previously seen). The obvious, though unwelcome, conclusion would be that each individual stretch of track (including every point) would have to be separately supplied through a "ring dropper". Whilst I shall start to install new droppers as soon as time permits, I reflect that my layout is some thirteen years old and may simply be worn out. I wonder if this is inevitable, and whether other members have similar had experience.
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  2. brammie
    Reflecting on earlier thoughts that much of my layout was underpopulated, I am gradually recruiting more staff and attracting new people to the area.
     
    The Golden Fleece landlord has seen an upturn in business, and taken on an additional staff member to cope with new customers:

     
    The Area Inspector chats to the Grey Green driver, whilst the conductor arranges with his mate to meet in the bar later:

     
    The local market now enjoys music from a small band:

     
    A replacement footbridge has been brought in from a closed station, and seating provided for the increased number of waiting passengers:

  3. brammie

    Clackwick - Locos 1

    By brammie,

    I have to say that my choice of locos for The Clackwick layout has been significantly influenced by my experiences as a 13 year old trainspotter. Certain locos stuck in my mind from that time and I begin to think that it is no coincidence that several of them have returned to steam or smoke again. By the same token, a well meaning wife has been behind a certain element of "authenticity corruption" in her choice of birthday/christmas presents, who's origins cannot be attributed to any part of Essex. Oh well; "Guest Locos"
     
    Steam locos to be regularly seen on the Clackwick line include the following classes; J39, B1, Britannia and Ivatt Class 2. On a trainspotting day trip to Ipswich Docks as a young man I was absolutely captivated by a working Class Class 20 Diesel, and it became a must for my latest layout. So, my locos:
     
    J39 64838 passes over Holland Brook with a light load.

     
    J39 64970 in repair at Clackwick shed.

     
    B1 61010 Wildebeeste at the Coaler.

     
    B1 61399 waits for the turntable after completion of shed work.

  4. brammie

    Clackwick Locos 4

    By brammie,

    In the mid 'fifties Ivatt Class 2 number 46464 operated regularly between Clacton and Wivenhoe, with occasional trips to Colchester. This odd loolking little loco became a firm favourite with "spotters", and invariably attracted a small crowd when in steam. I am reminded that I need to do something about the five minute weathering job I carried out on this loco!

     
    Collett Goods number 2260. An excellent slow runner. Certainly "out of region". Can't remember how it came to be part of my layout, but happy to have it.

     
    J72 68727 The bulk of these locos were employed in the NE of England, but I suspect that I may have seen one at Ipswich as a boy - which would explain it being on my layout. Suffers badly from "the Bachmann lump". Think I read somewhere that a new model (with sound) is in the offing.

  5. brammie

    Clackwick Buildings (2)

    By brammie,

    A few more images showing other buildings on the layout. The first being the local garage:
     

     
    The local pub; The Golden Fleece:

     
    Boleyn Way Nissen Huts, Jaywick. We lived at No 15 (with my Mum and my dog outside) on the edge of the Jaywick marshes for several years up to 1955:

     
    "The Big House", at the opposite end of the layout. The RH is about to leave for the railway station - his chaffeur, having changed from his labouring clothes, also makes his way to the Armstrong SS.

  6. brammie

    Clackwick at a Standstill

    By brammie,

    Following completion of recovery work on numerous lengths of track, I started testing the Clackwick layout on Dec 24th. It was clear the following morning that Santa had brought more than the usual range of presents, but nothing whatever appropriate to my layout. However, one large package contained a build-your-own wooden HMS Bounty. The parts schedule includes no less than 135 product lines ("Deadeyes" for example numbering 52), so I can't even guess at the total number of parts. I do know that after four days of graft I am probably halfway to having the hull completed. Meanwhile Clackwick waits patiently for its' former attendant to return to the railway room.
  7. brammie
    Removed the remaining panels this afternoon, and checked out the supply connections to the related track lengths and points:
     

     
    Final tally; five or 6 rail lengths and two sets of points to be individually wired, but some lengths of track (virtually out of reach with the side panels fitted) need to be cleaned and polished. Recovery work starts tomorrow.
  8. brammie
    Following a busy period on the domestic front, I was finally able to make a start today on what I percieved earlier as significant problems with the track supply on Clackwick. Having constructed the framework and side panels in 2005 I didn't quite know what to expect, but once I got going it was a relief to find that I had built the supporting timberwork with some degree of foresight. Twenty or so screws removed, two panels lifted out, one mains plug disconnected and all was revealed:
     

     
    It was also pleasing to discover that I appear to have incorporated track/point supply pickups to the majority of individual sections. I identified those found on the first area investigated by attaching a short length of masking tape to the track - topside:
     

     
    Two or three track lengths/points within this area were found to lacking individual supplies and these will be added to the "worksheet", for corrective action later in the week. Tomorrow will see a further area inspected, but for the moment I am much relieved.
  10. brammie

    Visitors!

    By brammie,

    An old schoolfriend is visiting next weekend - a fellow layout enthusiast, albeit on a slight smaller scale. I'm tied up getting the layout ready for him to have a "sit and play" session, but I have to wonder whether I am in the minority with my layout being constantly "out of action - in development".
  11. brammie
    First to be completed in the latest upate (all courtesy of Langley Models) is the Eastern National Depot on Church Road:

     
    The Grey-Green terminal has seen the addition of one of those open top sea-front route buses, so popular in the summer months at Clacton. I need to change the livery to reflect Eastern National ownership, and occupy with some passengers:

     
    A visiting family of holiday makers are offered carriage of their luggage "in me barrer mister" in front of Clackwick Station. A tidy some of money was to be earned by local lads in this manner at weekends in the summer months. A paper seller has joined the general melee in front of the station:

     
    Charlie Wheeler's - with better lighting (I think).

     
    A small shooting party from "The Big House" with their dogs, unaware that just over the hill are the Nisen Hut boys poaching rabbits.

     
    OMB has erected a scarecrow on his veg patch in the hope of saving some of his greens from maurauding crows:

  13. brammie
    The Eastern National Depot on Church Road Clacton now renamed to reflect 1950s ownership, and distressed and weathered to reflect condition. Awaiting oil drums, tool boxes, engine parts and the "depot cat" - all on order from Langley.
     

  17. brammie

    Clackwick Diaoramas 4

    By brammie,

    Mr Syrett, one of our Elm Grove neighbours in Gt Clacton during the mid '50s raised two pigs for Christmas slaughter every year. Those who had passed on their kitchen scraps throughout the year were rewarded with a fine joint of pork every December. With Elm Grove not being represented on the Clackwick layout, I have relocated the pigsty to Jaywick, adjacent to the Nissen huts. Mr Syrett can be seen in conversation with "young Bramwell" who is on his way home from school. Looking on is Mr Syrett's helper.
     

     
    Another local with thoughts of the approaching Christmas joins the gathering with a sack of fare for the pigs.
     

  18. brammie
    Adjacent to the Nissen huts at the west end of Clackwick stands an old wartime bunker. This was used in the early '50s by local lads and lasses for liasons that warranted discretion - the scene below being fairly typical of the time. The young lad who lived at number 15 is being entertained by the twin daughters of "old man Belcher" (OMB), who lived at number 21:

     
    What is not appreciated by any of those present is that OMB has had his suspicions for some time, and is making his way from number 21 to the scene:

     
    Very shortly after this, the yound lad was to be seen scampering at speed from the scene, clutching his trousers to stop them from falling down, with OMB in hot pursuit.
  20. brammie

    Clackwick Diaoramas 3

    By brammie,

    Passengers await the arrival of the 10.07am to Liverpool Street, stopping at Colchester and Shenfield only. Immediately in front of the weather shelter stands B/E Bramwell; his summer leave now over, the 10.07 will take him part way to his RAF station in south wales. On the nearside line a local train to Wivenhoe waits for signal clearance.

     
    In "Clackwick Diaoramas 1" I made reference to a split backdrop that needed attention. The backdrop in question was a cutting from Townscene Sheet 6 and, contrary to my self-criticism, was exacty as it should have been. Anyway, to make it easier on the eye I have done another cut and paste:

     
    The Coal Merchant has seen an upsurge in business, and taken on another two workers at his yard:

  21. brammie

    Clackwick Diaoramas 2

    By brammie,

    In earlier pictures the warehouse had all the signs that it had been abandoned, so more detailing was urgently needed here. The first of the new scenes concentrates on the Goods In/Goods Out area where a new (Langley) crane has been installed and supporting staff added. Collett Goods 2260 waits to shunt back to the loading bay to offload its cargo.
     

     

  22. brammie

    Clackwick Dioramas 1

    By brammie,

    In an attempt to break up some of the wide open spaces on my layout, I have included several small dioramas. Most are based on my experiences growing up on the edge of the Jaywick marshes and in later years on a council estate in Gt Clacton. Having considered my first round of pictures showing various aspects of the layout, it became clear that many areas were simply too short on detail. As part of an ongoing review, the first three are now just about there:
     
    To the right can be seen the local scrappie's yard. On the left is the coal merchant's. (I've just noticed that I need to do something about that backdrop split in the corner!)

     
    A closeup of the scrappie's yard.

     
    "Charlie Wheeler's" bunker, near to Gt Clacton. This was Charlie's "office", where he cut firewood to sell. He could regularly be seen cycling about the area touting for custom in the mid '50s.

  23. brammie
    Several locos go to make up my static display, these being:
     
    Class 03 Shunter D2280 has been part of both my layouts since the start of the first build in 1999 - although little used on either layout. Notwithstanding, in common with many of my Bachmann locos that incorporate conductive wheel bearings, it has adopted a "fully disabled lump" when running. Ergo, D2280 had been relegated to being a member of the "static display team". However, it occurred to me in the last few days that a diesel loco (as opposed to steam) should be at the front of the crane and recovery kit on the basis that it might well be required in an emergency - and so should be ready to go, rather than waiting to be "fired". J72 68727 has been retired to a quiet corner of the layout - meanwhile, I am on the lookout for a replacement 03 Shunter.

     
    Standard 4 Loco 75075 was a "previously owned" purchase by my wife when she attended the first of two "toy fairs". Having opened the box of my present, a cursory inspection of the underside of the loco was enough to persuade me that I would need to create a new area on the layout for static display. I am not aware that 75075 ever had any connection with Clacton, or even Essex.

     
    The second (and last) "previously owned" toy fair purchase by my wife. My first look was enough to book a further place in the static display.

  24. brammie

    Clackwick Locos 3

    By brammie,

    Following a day trip to Ipswich docks as a thirteen year old trainspotter, it was inevitable that if I took up modelling a layout it was bound to include at least one Class 20 Diesel loco. The subsequent model layout evolved to its' present form and, although not noted on the Clacton line in earlier times, a "previously owned" Lima in 1950s livery joined my layout - D8041. It ran reasonably well on DC, but when fitted with a Lenz Silver decoder improved significantly. The fly in the ointment was my layout point arrangement which included up to four consecutive turnouts on one leg - the Lima Class 20 stuttered and stopped routinely. The answer, it seemed to me, would be to run two Class 20 Locos together, nose to nose. Then Hornby announced their Class 20 TTS and, despite the chassis number and livery, I ordered one. By this time my original ZTC 505 controller had expired in a big way, and I had acquired an ECoS controller - "consist" had become a keyword.
     
    When the Hornby arrived the body was changed for D8041 and the decoder address changed to suit. Meanwhile, I had obtained a second "pre-owned" Lima Class 20 D8024, to which I fitted a Lenz decoder, and ran it on test. Not good, but it ran. The D8024 body was then switched to the old D8041 chassis, giving a good running Class 20 in the livery I wanted. Feeling that I was well on the way to achieving my "consist", I then fitted a stand-alone TTS Sound Decoder to D8024. Bingo, two Class 20 Diesels wth sound. The problem came with trying to speed match; there is a 30% speed difference for the same throttle setting - and no CV5 or CV6 on TTS. Re-fitting a Lenz decoder to the motor enabled speed control as required but, with the TTS wired for sound only, it was (to coin a phrase) mute. At the moment, the TTS decoder has been re-installed, and 4ohm 4watt resistors are on order in the hope that in-line connection with the motor will have the desired effect.
  25. brammie

    Clackwick Locos 2

    By brammie,

    Britannias were regular visitors at Clacton. Three models grace my layout and, whilst I cannot be sure whether all or any ever operated out of Clacton, they represent those that did. I can recall now, sitting in class at the high school a couple of hundred yards from the main line and hearing that siren whistle. I prayed for the end of the school day, and then raced to the tracks hoping that the "Brit" had not departed.
     
    "Britannia" 70000 with carriages. This model is fitted with Loksound decoder. Awe inspiring sound!

     
    "Robin Hood" 70038 with a goods load.

     
    "Firth of Clyde" passing the top signal box.

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