GeraldH

The need for diesels during the winter low season means that the BNR's paint-shop have sped things up to clear the backlog. Two of the BNR's best running diesel have been out of action since last winter awaiting modifications and repainting. No 3 is a Lima Hornby hybrid running on an 0-6-0 chassis and is one of the BNR's earliest locos. It originally had a Mainline J72 chassis, but that became unreliable and crews were not happy with the limited space in the cab. This was replaced with a Hornby Toby chassis, but this had to be replaced due to corrosion issues. A second Toby chassis was then fitted. The loco in this form always seemed a little unbalanced and so it entered the works again for modification to the chassis mounts and some other improvements. No 9 is a modified Hornby Class 06 with a replacement, more controllable, power unit (Johnson 111) and changes in weight distribution to improve haulage on the line's steep gradients. No 11 is a Bachmann Junior diesel with the addition of suspension to the rear wheel set, an improved exhaust and changes to the weight distribution. Visibility through the cab windows has been enhanced and access to the front engine doors improved.

The mail bag is in place ready for the Ivygale Postal. Do not lean out of the window while passing through Globble Island! The mail pickup stand was fabricated in the BNRs workshops using some recycled plastic tubes (from a pen) and some surplus wire (from an old clockwork toy). The paintshop seem to have been a bit slapdash when repainting that clerestory.

If you cut the Hornby brush springs in half with some scissors it will greatly reduce the pressure. It worked for me .

The BNR's workshops were recently asked to restore a Saladin armoured car that the military had picked up for a good price. As is often the case, the gun barrel had been blown off. The workshops had some spare steel available (a nail) and some suitable brass tube with which to make a muzzle (pen refill) After a repaint, the Saladin is now ready for action against the Goolies (insects) who regularly invade the railway.

The superstructure of Lima Plymouth diesel's are regularly used by the BNRs workshops to fabricate suitable locos for the line. No. 3 also utilises the cab from a Hornby Class 06 diesel and a more reliable Hornby power unit from a Toby the Tram. No 3 seems to be undergoing constant rebuilds lately. The first was due to workshop staff rushing the body work. No 3. along with one other, was then struck down with mazak rot in the Toby power unit. Problems with the front coupling means that No 3 has again been in the workshop. The opportunity is also being taken to move the wheels a bit further forward to give the loco better balance. Improved handrails are being added to aid the crew and No 3 will then finally receive its decals and number.

The BNR are always keen to investigate opportunities to acquire short coaching stock, which is better able to negotiate the sharp curves on the line. Tests have therefore been carried out with some of the earlier Triang coaches. A comfortable interior has been constructed from recycled card and wood. The original wheels would not reliably negotiate the line's points and created significant drag, so the original bogies were removed and replaced by some spare ones in the workshop. The new bogies did, however, raise the coach slightly with their larger 12mm wheels and increase the distance between adjacent carriages. Staff have now found a source of good quality 10 mm wheels (Peter's Spares) and so it is likely that the original bogies will be reattached and modified with new bearings fabricated with recycled timber (matchsticks). This approach has been successfully used on numerous items of rolling stock in the past, including one of the DMUs used on BR services to the mainland. Workshop staff have recently refined their approach and now drill a small hole in the centre of the inward end of the timber: this ensures that the axle sits in the centre of the wooden bearing.

The BNR's management have been receiving complaints for a number of years about inadequate seating on platforms. Management investigated the seating available from the usual suppliers, but did not consider them sufficiently robust. It turned out that the workshops had quite a large supply of recycled timber from coffee shops and in keeping with the company's environmental goals, it was decided to investigate the construction of benches using this material. Some existing seating and two passengers were brought into the workshops so that the design team could mock up some seats. The process went very well and the result was six new double sides benches. These have now been painted in the BNR's corporate colour scheme and installed on the railway, just in time for high season. If any other railways are interested in the design, the benches are 3cm long with a 2.5 cm long reinforcement underneath between the legs. Care should be taken to match up the recycled timber as there are slight variations in width and thickness. Workshop staff used a small razor saw, a sharp knife, a fine flat file and emery board during construction. The benches have been painted in the BNR's corporate colour of Humbrol 14 French Blue. Passengers were brought in for final bench testing . Workshop staff also found two broken wheel barrows in the stores. The over enthusiastic track gang had broken both wheels many years ago and have had to make do with only one wheel barrow between them. Workshop staff managed to create two new wheels by carefully slicing the end off some spare plastic rod - good as new

Here's a product of the BNR's workshops which didn't quite work out. A Triang Top Tank with separate handrails and a few other additions on a Dapol Terrier chassis. It was difficult to find a good way of fixing the chassis to the body, so that it could be removed for maintenance while permitting a nice interior for the crew. It was also a noisy runner and the chassis being designed for a tight space was a bit fiddly. The Top Tank has now been rebuilt with one of the latest tamed Hornby 0-4-0 chassis which the body fits like a glove.

One problem with these locos is the jackshaft which can flop about excessively from side to side. I've seen people put split washers either side of the frames to reduce this. I've had some success with a different approach. I found an old nylon pen refill which was a slightly larger diameter than usual, split this on one side lengthways and clipped it around the axle between the frames. It's now been secured and the gap filled with epoxy. It's worked well for several years and is completely inconspicuous.

Somewhere off the South Coast of England lies the independent state of Ballybongle. The island is ruled by a benevolent dictator and its citizens have always been fiercely independent. As a result, the island's railway and the track in the tunnel connecting it to the mainland was built to a gauge of 4 foot 1.5 inches to reduce the likelihood of the British invading. In recent years, the fear of invasion has subsided, but the track gauge remains the same. Through trains run from the UK to the island using vehicles with convertible axles, or using mainland stock which has been re-gauged. The special nature of these services meant that when the UK’s railways were privatised, BR services to Ballybongle were kept under state ownership and as a result of an agreement with the island's authorities, these services continue to be run by stock in BR's pre-privatisation liveries. The sharp curves and steep gradients on the island make more modern stock unsuitable in any case. The island's own railway system is operated by the BNR (Ballybongle National Railway). The company has a mix of it's own liveried stock and various locomotives which were purchased from the mainland cheaply and re gauged when they were withdrawn. The railway soon realised the potential for tourism by having these old locos and has kept most of them in their original BR liveries. The island has a booming, seasonal, tourist trade and private motor vehicles are severely restricted on environmental and health grounds. The line has been rebuilt several times, due to earth tremors and there was a hiatus in operations of around 20 years after a particularly severe quake around 1990. The BNR's current administration originally commenced operations in around 1979. The peculiar circumstances of the island means that railway remains a key transport provider and it continues to flourish...

Biostrip destroyed my Replica BG and it didn't even remove the paint. I'd avoid it on plastic models at all costs.

I've recently spotted what appears to be a new acrylic paint stripper on our favourite auction site. It's called "VMS Clean Slate" Acrylic Paint Stripper and seems to be designed for polystyrene models. Looking at the feedback from previous buyers, especially on the Australian version of the auction site, it seems to be getting positive reviews. Has anyone here tried it? I've no connection to the company/seller. I'm actually trying to remove the paint from a Bachmann Junior diesel, so far I've tried Purisol, Modelstrip and meths without success.

BNR No 7 is a Lima/Hornby hybrid with a few bits of Wrenn 08 and two large staples for glazing bars.

No prizes for guessing the origin of this one, although the height has been reduced somewhat.

Excellent bit of modelling. I love the detail and finish.

I do like what you've done with the cab on that pug.

Thank you. It was your posts on here, along with those of Corbs and relaxinghobby that inspired me to add a little bit of BNR into the mix.

Well spotted! it's a Wrenn Class 20 with a Wrenn Class 08 cab at either end, with the windows reversed on one side and opened out a little.

I've been trying to remove the original paint from a Bachmann junior loco that I'm tweaking. I've tried Xtracrylix Purisol and Modelstrip so far, but it's had little impact. Has anyone found something effective that doesn't damage the plastic?

Here's a more recent one with custom made decals.

Here's one of the BNR's fleet, first constructed back in the 1980's and due for some updating.