Firecracker

I think (I haven’t got one to hand to check) but any ex. Dapol/airfix RTR short wheelbase wagon body should be a simple clip on/off. Certainly the 5 plank body in my photo above did, so their 12t tank wagon should as well. I’ve tried running it without the runner, however due to the point work in the yard throat it stalled repeatably (this is not a criticism of Hornby, more a comment on my tracklaying). Owain

And let’s show it off with moving pictures! Phone set up on an extemporised tripod of a ‘helping hands’ soldering jig, but gawd, that microphones sensitive! As per the title, ‘The 1130 departs Sedbergh’. Owain

And a few more! I’ve been carrying on with the weathering of the coaching stock. The major difference is that I wanted the maroon rake to be a bit more varied in condition, to suggest some coaches are due an overhaul. At this point I was browsing the paint rack in games workshop and I found one of their dry brushing colours, the wonderfully named ‘Verminlord Hide’. To my eyes, this looked like faded BR maroon, so the rattier of the two SO’s had this dry brushed on the sides, with the brushstrokes kept vertical and the difference with the second SO behind below. And in the platform. I’m still rather fond of the Ruston, so after rearranging the yard (it’ll happily shunt 6 wagons, any more than that requires an ‘all or nothing’ driving style that anyone who’s driven an underpowered car will recognise), it collected a short train for the station group (tree pruning and brush-bashing?) And later returned to the yard. Owain

And as threatened, moving pictures! Ignore the heavy breathing, I really must sort something other than my phone for these. Just knocking a rake of Parkside Dundas vans and a Bachman brake van about. Owain

The loco fleet expands again! I’ve fancied one of these little Rustons since Hornby announced them and today, following a good natter about DCC’ing the little beast, one followed me home from Monk Bar Models. First up, despite the tiny size, it’s got to be one of the easiest installations I’ve done. Pop the body off (remember to remove the coupler blanking plates and push the sockets for the pickups on the runner into the body) and a gaugemaster 6 pin chip (wrapped in tape as insulation) slotted on top of the motor with no problems whatsoever. The other mod I did was to swap the conflat body on the runner for an open wagon body, to give a bit of variety and what might be used as a runner. Then it’s onto the temporary programming track (a wonderfully fancy name for the short cassette connected by wander leads to the controll setup). Finally, on the track. Really pleased, superb near silent slow speed running straight out of the box. Lifted a rake of 6 wagons out of the goods yard with no problems and over several points. Moving pictures to follow... Owain

One of these lovely little beasts joined the roster on Sedbergh today care of Monk Bar Models. Possably the easiest DCC instal I’ve every done, body came straight off, Gaugemaster 6 pin decoder popped straight in on top of the motor. Only mod I’ve done is to swap the conflat body for a 5 plank dropside body I weathered earlier. Superb slow speed near silent running straight out of the box. Very impressed indeed. The Queen Anne livery was chosen because a) it’s different and b) earlier in the year I got ‘volunteered’ into clearing and sorting a load of ham radio gear. It came packed in Queen Anne Whisky boxes! Owain

Here we go! The last day off and a bit further! The station building has been finished and blown over with grey primer. I’m also tackling the weathering of the coaching stock. Having studied the prototype, it seems the heaviest weathering is on the roof, mostly soot, road dirt on the chassis and the sides reasonably clean. So, the roofs were attacked with a black wash, with weathering powder dusted on for a bit of texture and cinders. Then around the doors was done similar with the excess wiped off. And in the platform Just got the other rake to do now, the spares, the BG and the diner rake..... The SO on the left was done earlier, it’s being kept as a tatty example hat can’t be far off due an overhaul. The BCK is secondhand and had its roof repainted before I got it, so that’s staying different and cleaner as well, to suggest it’s been repainted recently. Nearly got the figures finished as well, just the last touch up and tidy up skin tones. Owain

And a last post for 2019! The amount I’m getting done, anyone would think I’m on holiday! The clutch of 12t vans mentioned earlier have had the pick of the litter fitted with kadees and tweaked. The differences in roof and body colour are entirely intentional, to create a bit of variety. Two members of the loco fleet have been gently weathered (I’m aiming for used but kept clean). So a bit of black along the top of the boiler, cab roof, bit of muck on the running plates, gently rusting the tender top around the filler. Used humbrol rust wash, typhus corrosion (both stippled and dry brushed) and dark brown/black weathering powders). Also added a crew to the 4F (driver, fireman and cleaner on a rideout, with it being a preserved railway). Found these metcalfe laser cut picnic benches a while back, so made them up and trialed with occupants. Finally the station building has found its way onto the bench, for final fitting of the roofs, filling various gaps and finishing off. Playing with some bits out of a woodland scenics set picked up a while back, think the railway has a fundraising stall on the go. Anyway, all the best for 2019, the chaos and lunacy will continue in 2020! Owain

And just a few more tidbits, the pug has been let out to play. First with the PO wagons, then a single Mk1. I’ve seen a photo of the steamable survivor with the vintage carriage rake at Embsay, so I’m assuming a mk1 is within its capacity. Just needs some extra coal in the runner. The lowmac has been weathered further and fitted with no5 kaydees plus the steel ballast weight removed and replaced by lead shot set in hot melt glue (steel ballast weights and kaydee magnets are a recipe for frustration). Owain

On the hit list of ‘things I’m keeping an eye out for’ is a cheap Hornby peckett (I understand that’s what’s underneath the tin work), so I can do this (not my photo) That and I’d buy a Sirapite tomorrow if it was available in OO. Owain

Right. Now we’ve got this Yuletide nonsense out of the way, we can crack on! Let’s be about it! As I mentioned on my blog, I’ve just rebuilt my modelling workbench. As a result, various little projects have risen to the surface (most notably a box containing 8 12t vans awaiting Kadees. They must have been breeding, I thought there were only 4 in there). Anyway, this little Dapol pug (incidentally the first detailed loco I bought with my own money, in early 1990-something, from a departed model shop in Penrith. It was this or a terrier. I chose the pug because it was built at Horwich, where several generations of my family worked). Hang on, I’m getting distracted again...... Anyway, earlier in the year I insinuated a DCC chip into the saddle tank (it’s on my blog as ‘Pug and Chips’). At the time it got no further, due to the back to back of the wheel sets not liking the points (curiously, these aren’t the original wheel sets, they’re Hornby replacements following the drive gear on the original stripping). It surfaced from the pile of loco projects (which is now down to 2 08 shunters, that jinty and the sentinel). First up, tweak the wheel sets until they accepted the point work. Then add a crew and also a runner/tender. My logic for the tender is as follows a) it may need further pickups, b) I’m assuming the station uses track circuits and small wheelbase locos can disappear off track circuits c) The coal capacity on these is tiny and my logic for it appearing is that it’s ex industry, owned by a volunteer and appears on high days and holidays to trundle around on brakevan rides, short goods or (I’m pretending it’s vac brake fitted) short passenger trains. To do a decent run, it needs an extra coal supply. The owner found this wagon and restored it as well. Plus d) I picked up the wagon due to the name on it (as I suspect a lot of engineers did) and it’s an excuse to run another P.O. wagon. It’s going to get some bits and bags of coal added. To ensure that it won’t uncouple unexpectedly, the Kadees between the two have had their operating tails snipped off. A ratty lowmac (bought cheap off the club secondhand stall at Shipley). Timbers weathered, steel and kadees in progress. A queen Mary brakevan. This is the the spare Pway brakevan, hence the ratty finish. It’s a mixture of an unknown dark wash, dry brushed humbrol 121 for the wood effect and typhus corrosion on anything steel and exposed. Fitting kadees proved entertaining. There isn’t enough space between the floor and the bogie for a body mounted no 5, so a piece of styrene was glued into the bogie and a surplus Bachman NEM pocket glued to this. The a No.19 was plugged in and away! Finally, batch 4 of figures are coming along nicely. Taken with these from Hardies Hobbies, they’ve got good detail and the realistic poses/body shape that comes from 3D printed figures. I can feel another order going in soon... Owain

Here’s my quick, easy and dirty way to get plastic to look more like wood. Here were attacking the interior of three wagons, two Hornby and one Bachman. Most of the ideas were nicked off various YouTube tutorials and demonstrations of various products. One important thing is that this will give a grain to the finish, so identify which way this is running (usually along the length of a plank) and your brushstrokes should be in that direction. First, here’s what we start with. The interior of a Bachman 8 plank P.O. wagon, which has been manufactured in a shade of olive drab. Makes a change from red oxide or chocolate brown (I’m looking at you, Hornby). Give the interior a coat of a light tan (in this case, humbrol 121). Using a flat Hog’s hair brush (introduced to my by an artist friend, who also commented when seeing the paint drawer ‘haven’t you got any cheery colours?’), dry brush with a dark earth brown and a light grey (humbrol 28&29). As mentioned, drybrush in the direction of the grain. Finally treat it with a grey wash (in this case humbrol dark grey) and remove the excess with a cotton wall bud. Don’t rush the removal, else the original paint may start to show through (as seen on the Armstrong Whitworth 4 planker. This is going to end up as a runner/tender for a L&Y pug, so those bits will get covered in bags of coal and ‘stuff’). Certainly those ejector pin marks need hiding. A variant, for a more bleached look, omit the dry brush stage and go straight to the wash. You can also vary the degree to which the wash is removed, as the war flat behind the lowmac shows. The lowmac has also had rust from the steel beams in the deck spread to the timbers. Anyway, quick, easy and I think it’s not too bad. It’s certainly an improvement on the original. Owain

Thanks for that, it’s very much appreciated. Your last sentence is exactly what I’m after. Also if it’s plug and play (which I assume any new SPROG ordered once I get the wallet prised open will be), then it’s about my level of IT work. Excellent, many thanks. Owain

Right. First up, many thanks for those shots, that’s exactly the sort of stuff I’m after. I’d found the SPROG’s online separately, but wasn’t sure of the setup. I’d also found the JMRI site, which I’d done a disservice by assuming it focussed on the control rather than programming. My mistake. Excellent, thanks for your help. Owain

Right, I’m rapidly coming round to the idea of a laptop and SPROG. Thanks all, particularly Izzy for those screenshots, very much appreciated. I think the new year laptop upgrade to put a boot under my stagnant CAD abilities just got a second string to its bow. Thanks again, I’m sure I’ll have further stupid questions. Owain

Right, I think I’m getting it! (As you may have guessed, I’m not the most IT-savvy tool in the drawer). Thanks one and all, please keep it coming (and thanks for the idiot proof descriptions so far!) Owain

Right. Thanks all, please keep them coming. A couple of stupid questions if I may... 1) Kaput - Decoder pro is the software, right? 2) I’m assuming SPROGS (which my initial poking of google had exhumed) will connect via USB? Any restrictions or requirements for operating system of the laptop (having slept on it, I’m more accepting of a computer interface, provided it’s plug and play and it will run on a laptop) in question? Anyway, thanks all, please keep them coming. Owain

Right mates, as above I’m after your recommendations for a DCC system, specifically for programming chips/tweaking CV’s. A few points to help: 1) I’m conversant with DCC, but I’m 10 years out of date with how DCC kit has developed. 2) Already running a Lenz LH90 handset on the set 90 (?) setup, like it as a controller, however the tiny LCD display is a pain in the joint fundament when programming. Looking for something that’s got a clearer display and a more straightforward interface. 3) In the first instance, this is to be dedicated to a test bed/rolling road/programming setup, not driving the layout. 4) Budget - not bottomless, but will pay for good kit. 5) Not adverse to something that requires a laptop/PC, but would prefer a stand alone system. Me and computers have an understanding, I don’t poke around inside them and they don’t mess me about. 6) Must be able to talk to any chip and anything programmed by it must work with the existing Lenz system. Thanks in advance. Owain

And a few more, following on... First up, the fergie has had a splash of paint and a driver has been found, he’s nattering to the PWay gaffer. The Bobbys have reported for duty and signed on. A quick testing and development session lead to this short formation coming out for a gentle trundle. Based on a rake run at the moors at their gala. The SO in that rake has had passengers added. From the job lot of Bachman figures I bought cheap, they’ve just been popped in and I think they really bring the coach to life. Finally , these two shots of the station. I’m really pleased with how this is looking now, I think these figures are about right. Owain

After a rather hectic last week before the Turkeyfest holidays, here’s a few more bits. First up, some immaculate wagons picked up at Manchester, which aren’t quite as immaculate now. A Heljan dogfish (playing with washes to get a stone dust effect) And a Bachman 20t brake van. On the vehicle front, this Springside TE20 has been hanging around for a while. It’s a bit of a curates egg, some of it’s nice (rear link arms, posable front wheels). On the other hand the rear wheels are wrong (think they’re off a fordson Dexta) and the steering box (a rather obvious lump, directly behind the engine) is missing completely. However, I decided it needed to be doing ‘something’. So a few bits of styrene and it got a topper added. This can be how the station group manage the various grass areas around the station. It’s also had a roll bar added. Finally on the figures front, a few Bachman figures picked up very cheaply have been breathed on. They include this couple (due to their dress, I aged them a bit). These figures are nicely sculpted, just the painting can leave a bit to be desired. Then we had a couple with a pram. However, I wasn’t convinced by the pose of the husband, so a subsitute Monty’s figure (with a slight tweak of the head angle) was used. The spare them ended up with the gaffer in the mobility scooter (unknown figure and Langley) in the car park. Owain

And a little nightcap for one and all! As I said above, always try new techniques and materials. I picked some of this up and wanted to give it a go. A suitable candidate was the cab windows of this Airfix/Dapol JCB 3. So run a bead round the edges and pull the film across. It was then held as level as possible whilst drying. Finished, with a spot of weathering from various Games Workshop products. (Also the exciting debut of a new cutting mat!) Batch 3 of the figures is nearly done, with a family, random passenger (playing with skin tones here, to see what works and looks right) and the first of the Bobbys (because they’re going into a building, so I’ve not gone to town on shading). Some of the local wildlife (Langley). And a hound and owner (Monty’s), with said hound being taken for its mid-morning constitutional in the goods yard. (Must get rid of that bit of lead shot) Finally batch 4 of figures have been given a waft of primer. These are mostly Hardies Hobbies (ordered Thursday morning, arrived Saturday very well packed, so impressed). The mobility scooter is Langley, with a figure of unknown origin (nothing wrong cosmetically with the original Langley figure, he was just a bit heavily swaddled for a scene set in June). There’s also another Monty’s figure in there as well. Owain

Just a quick note from a very happy customer. Whilst laid up with the lurgi I ordered an assortment of figures on Thursday morning. They arrived Saturday, very well packaged and are very nice to boot. One very impressed customer here, I’ll be ordering more. (The delay in posting is due to me having to collect from the sorting office, since following an episode of a postman with illegible handwriting, me on autopilot, the green waste bin and the dustman, the Royal Mail won’t leave things that won’t fit through the letterbox any more) Owain

Right mates, I’ve been upgrading the facilities. First, a bit of history. 11 years ago I bought a garage with a house attached. The garage got equipped quite rapidly as a workshop. 4 years later, due to a difference of opinion between my then boss and me, it started to look like the plan B for a wage involved the contents of said garage and me using them. I then got a new job. Fast forward a few years and my rentry to the hobby. There was some space in the garage, with the departure of some tools to the the new job. However, there wasn’t tons of space, plus a brick garage in December isn’t the warmest place in the world. However, I wasn’t sure if I’d stay interested in the hobby, so I didn’t want to upset the applecart. That was 18 months ago. I decided I was definitly into the hobby. So at that point, this was the bench I’m doing most of the work at (there are another two in there, but this is the only one you can get your legs under). It’s a mess because a) I work at it and b) it’s too small. It’s also too low, as my back regularly reminds me. So, an upgrade. But where? I don’t want it in the main body of the house, there’s no room in the garage. But is has to be warm, easy to get to and ideally has natural light. A bit of experimentation showed that the small conservatory on the back of the house (used as storage in winter and somewhere to sip a bear or three in summer) with the addition of a small blower heater could tick all these boxes. Note the title, one of the joys of living on your own, your gaff, your rules. So.... A bit of experimentation gave a height of 800mm, and an available length of 1500mm. It needed storage and after a bit of research I found these cabinets at Halfords. They’re intended to bolt onto the end of a workshop rollchest. I’ve got two Halfords industrial rollies, one at work (along with a giant Machine Mart effort) the other in the garage, so I was happy with the quality. Just need to add a few bits (hardboard offcuts and ally tube) to reach the desired height of the worktop. Next, a top. 600mm deep 12mm white faced hardboard from B&Q (other DIY superstores are available). Cut to size in store, to give the top and end panel (plus fit in the car). A 20x45mm batten goes along the back as a stiffener and it’s held together with L brackets and joining cubes. And finally, we move in! The height according to my back is much better, it’s warm, so I’ve got no excuse for not getting on now. Keeping it tidy, that’s another question.... If anyone is wondering,, the bin started life as a 25l drum full of industrial ethanol. That got used, I acquired the drum, filled it with water and cut the top off. Owain

It’ll do! It’s not too bad for someone who’s only been back in the hobby for 18 months. What I would say is it’s the product of being inspired by other people and experimentation. Don’t be afraid to try something new and also don’t be afraid when it goes wrong or you know how to make it look better to rip it up and start again. For example....the batten that forms the base of the northbound platform is too close to the running line by about 6mm. It’s also rather solidly glued down. So that’s going to be fun. Idea is to remove anything fragile and then split/pare about 6mm off with a chisel. There’s no excuse, it’s a simple cockup. But if my mucking about inspires one person, then I’m well capped! More power to your elbow. Owain

Aaaand a bit more! The platform edging on the southbound platform is complete and looks rather good! Just needs a gentle weathering and touching up in odd spots. The scrap pile is from a pack of woodland scenics castings with a length of guttering that fell off the provedor store and a faded stop board of unknown origin. Batch 2 of figures have been finished off. These are Monty’s, Model U and Bachman that have had their paint job breathed on to various degrees. Some have been planted. And batch 3 (including two shitehawks, the bobbys and an old English sheepdog) is underway. On the subject of figures, this photo sums up for me the effect I’m aiming at. All of those people could easily hold that pose for a minute or two. Finally the experiment with the dipping washes and skytrex sleepers looks promising, in daylight they’ve acquired a slight greenish cast, so look just like they’re gentling rotting (two dips in burnt sienna and one in black washes, if anyone’s wondering, over grey primer). Owain