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scanman

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  1. scanman
    Laying the foundation for the '2012 comp'!
     
    As previously mentioned, the stone wharf will provide the scenic block to the fiddleyard & will be based on an amalgam of the wharves at Box and Corsham stations. The actual buildings, cranes etc will be the basis of the comp - but they need something to sit on, so the last ten days - apart from working - have been spent building track for the wharf siding & its run-round' loop -
     

     
    By the end of this evening I was somewhat tired of clenching rivets, soldering rail & staining sleepers - so it was time to do a bit of scenic work!
     

     
    The wharf itself has a base of high-density urethane foam - an offcut from a previous baseboard. Luckily it is 17mm thick - just right. It is faced with 2mm 'Depron Foam' - whose virtues I have extolled on other blogs. Cut to the right height it was first impressed with a 'stone' pattern (using a 0.3mm pecil) of large blocks supporting the wharf - which would have seen point loads of up to 15 tons... The foam was then attached to the body with a limonene-based adhesive. Both Depron & imonene are used in the 'flying scale model' fraternity & can be obtained from any shop supporting that hobby.
     
    Once the adhesive was set, the 'stonework' was washed over with (very) dilute black acrylic - this will allow the stones to be picked out indvidually - probably over several days! However it will provide a break from laying the track, setting pms & wiring etc. Or vice-versa..
     
    Only six more working days left - then it's on with the serious modelling!
     
    ('Did I hear you mention housework, dear?')
     
    Regs
     
    Ian
  2. scanman

    Itch scratched...

    By scanman,

    Over the last couple of weeks, packages have begun arriving at chez scanman - amongst them two packages from shop 2 of the 2mmSA. The advice on the Associations website is to 'start small' and try a wagon. So I decided to try several - which would work the 'quarry' line. This photo (use with permission)
     

     
    shows Corsham Station stone wharf around 1910, with a variety of different planked wagons, most used in stone transporting.
     
    5 packets of 'RCH 1887 5-plank' (10 kits) gave me:-
     

     
    and then the underframes arrived... I should have pre-read the instructions on the website which states 'build the underframe first'. Oh well, no harm done -
     

     
    When the Association says 'start small' - they're not joking! The 'triple-layer axlebox overlay' has the highest 'ping' factor I've ever met - and one 'box will need to be carved from plastikard. Anyway, the 'itch' is now 'scratched' - I can (just about) work in 2mm!
     
    Tommorrow it's back to 'big boys toys' - starting the baseboards for 'Ambridge'
     
    If anyone want to see historical background for the Box Quarries - follow this link -
     
    http://www.choghole.co.uk/PHOTOGRAPHSOLD.htm
     
    My grateful thanks to Derek Hawkins for permission to use the image above.
     
    Regs
     
    Ian
  3. scanman
    Just back from the most frustrating site visit ever! Some people have commented on the depth of the cutting at this pont. It's more like God wielded an axe! The situation is worsened by the fact thatr the railway boundary is demarcated by 2m-high 'anti-climb' fencing and worse, it's set well back from the cutting's edge. Even the undergrowth got in the way...
     
    There is absolutley no view of the portal from the cutting sides, and any attempt to take one from Pootley Road Bridge (a mere 800m away!) was frustrated by lingering fog. Potley Road Bridge will form the other end of the layout (I know I was going to take it to the next bridge but that would be a massive compression) and I only managed one half-decent shot from the cutting side -
     

     
    However, not to be defeated I made my way to Chippenham & caught a train to Bath Spa. An HST with OPENING vestibule windows! Potley Road Bridge again - from the train -
     

     
    By now the train is travelling in excess of the 'ton', and with lighting conditions in the cutting below optimimum I switched to video on the run in to the Tunnel itself.... And from here on in you'll have to trust me 'cos my movie-making program doesn't recognise the latest 'mts' format! So I can see the product but (at the moment) I cannot post it.
     
    Currently available images show (Maggs, & some web images) show that Brunel's orignal portal has been infilled somewhat, using blue engineering brick that shows up well in the video. So at least I can now make a determined effort on the 'civil engineering'. The current 'entrance' to the quarry trunnel looks more like a pill-box (perhaps something to do with the Ministry Of Defence occupancy later in its life?) (If the MOD have left the site, why are the MOD police still visiting??) Just for 'Old Times Sake'? One of their patrol vehicles passed me as I was walking back to the car...
     
    All in all, not a bad day out in the end!
     
    BTW I got this
     

     
    Brunels original drawing - from the 'Network Rail Archive' -
     
    http://www.networkrail.co.uk/virtualarchive/
     
    courtesy of a 'heads-up' from the GWSG e-mail list. The archive is small, but growing & worth a visit & bookmarking.
     
    Right, back to the model making. As I hinted above, Potley Road Bridge will now form the right-hand end of the sceninc section. The cutting is massive enough that I will have to cut it out of the intermediate walls (I was hoping the bridge would provide some lateral support there) but as the majority of the scenic work will be in urethane foam, rigidity (I hope) will not be a problem.
     
    I've also got lots of new toys from 'shop 2'...
     
    Regs
     
    Ian
  4. scanman
    The scene modelled for the 2010 Competition that is... We have to have our old house including (obviously) the workshop, and as previously mentioned this scene will not fit in the new room. So having saved the dairy itself, the rest of the scene now awaits a trip to the recycling centre :-(
     
    Ah well, scope for improvement anyway! There wont be any more blog updates on all three this week - too busy moving!
     
    Regs
     
    Ian
  5. scanman
    It's starting to come together... A large-ish packet arrived from 'Worsley Works' at the weekend.. Tiny or what! Then today a package arrived containing a '5700' body. (if you're reading this - cheers Ken). Just need the chassis bits from the shop now.
     
    Meanwhile a start has been made hacking at the boxes.
     

     
    2 layers of 6mm 'depron foam' were cut to represent the main tunnel portal and a 'road' from the quarry siding into the fiddleyard box. This was then used as a template to mark the apertures on the box itself. The openings were then cut out using a succession of drill-holes which were then linked up. You will notice that I've reduced the tunnel-mouth height at this stage, trying to re-create the effect inside the prototype.
     

     
    The foam tunnel portal has been lodged in place for effect. The quarry line is to the right - but the actual tunnel entrance is set forward of the main portal - you can see the outline of where it will be.
     

     
    Just for effect - and proving that the end cut is a little 'tight'. Some easement required! Better now than when the scenics are in place! I've used 3mm ply (perfect match for the Depron) - to stiffen the exit points from each module. The first five sleepers will be attached to them. Power leads (fairly thin wire) will be let into the foam & taken to the back of the boxfile. prior to ballasting.
     

     
    The other end of the boxfile was similarly treated to represent the run under Potley Lane bridge. This is a real 'generic' opening as I've not yet found an image of the bridge (or the nexrt up the line) to work out how high they are. I am hoping that they will lie within the bounds of the boxfile depth. Site visit next week methinks!
     
    Regs
     
    Ian
  6. scanman
    Not on the actual modelling (one track panel is all there is so far) but in aquisiton!
     

     
    Four box files - with the scenic section in the middle two - the end boxes for cassette-type f/y's and storage.. I've also sent off fairly large odrers to Shops 1-3, 'Masterclass', Ultima' etc.
     
    The driving force? RETIREMENT !! We learned on Friday that subject to unforseen problems, we'll be mortgage-free on 29th Feb so we will definitely be 'leaping' that day! I'm jusr short of the 'big 65' - but have an 'enlightened employer' who lets us retire at sixty and gives us our entire Annual Leave entitlement if we do so... I reckon to 'pull the pin' on 4th March, walk out the door & not look back!
     
    Now on to the 'nitty gritty' - the box files are only 'standard' ones from WH Smith (£7.99 for three). Following BCNPete's comment about the height of the tunnel mouth, I did check out various stationers for deeper boxes, but they do not seem to be easily available. However, this is actually not a problem.. Whilst the portal arch is very high (about 21' to the Keystone and 30' to the decorative portal arch) the box depth should allow me to model the distincive portal complete to the parapet. Close inspection of the image that I have tends to indicate this portal is very much a 'false front' as I can detect the actual 'normal' tunnel commencing some few yards inside the tunnel. Might even model this as the f/y entrance...
     
    Track will be code 40 on PCB sleepers, with a trackbase of 2mm thick 'Depron Foam' - a very close cell urethane nore commonly seen in fast-food boxes. Being emminently 'scribable' I will probably use it for the tunnel portal as well. The cutting at this point is lned, with the lining 'stepped back' - I'll look at casting them from a master.
     
    Right 'snuff' for now - got to do an entry for 'Ambridge'!
     
    Regs
     
    Ian
  7. scanman
    A warning! Despite the 'avatar', THIS layout is definitey 'EM'!
     
    Having decided to split 'Ambridge' and 'Upton Dene' into two separate layouts in two different scales, it's probably less confusing to creat a new blog for Ambridge, so here goes! (Upton Dene will continue in a distant future!)
     
    I always like to creat card mock-ups (see the 2010 comp entries) and 'Ambridge' with it's Cotswold setting, cries out for this approach if only to investigate landforms etc, so this week - interspersed with the requirement to work (more on that later) - has been spent 'mocking up' the first four boards runnung from the fiddleyard to the station approach.
     

     
    I'll now split the boards down I describe how I plan to make them. The first point to make is that most will be 'open frame' from braced 6mm ply.
     

     
    The fiddleyard board will be from 6mm ply as stated above - the 'working bit' will be based on cassettes, hidden from (public) view by a stone wharf with integral backscen. This will be accessed from a turnout just off the viaduct (see later) and wil be based on one I saw at Box station many years ago plus images of other locations like Corsham Quay.
     

     
    First of the main scenic boards - and a radical departure from the norm. As it carries no turnouts it will be built from layers of high-density urethane foam - the basic layer will be 75mm deep, with the cutting carved through it. The cutting wil be crossed by a roadbridge at the mid-point and the entrance to the f/y will be a tunnel portal. Other layers will add extra contours through wich the stone wharf approach will wend it's way (I'm not happy even at this stage with the 'straight run' as depicted. This 'twig' off the branch will be modelled in a very overgrown state - crossed by an ungated crossing after the road overbridge. The left end (closest to the camera) will be the location for the dairy. The whole will be framed in 6mm ply - basically there to hang baseboard legs & conectors!
     

     
    Again, this will not be as 'flat' as depicted... The track base will be 6mm ply cut & formed to shape, wwith the main landforms again made from urethane foam. Those who followed the 'Dairy' entry in the 2010 comp will recognise this as the site of 'Angel Cottage' (never finished) - and it will be again - which leads neatly on to
     

     
    the viaduct board. Again this is a 'carbon copy' of the viadut fom the previous layout (never finished and now unusable because the radius needs to be tighter). Again I'm toying with the idea of cutting this from a solid sheet of foam - but I will probably build it on a 'tray' of ply.
     
    From here the track will swing on a curve into the station environs - more of those next week I hope!
     
    Oh yes - see my 'Box in a Box' blog for an update on the work front! Basically I will be retreating from it in about 6 weeks time!!
     
    Regs
     
    Ian
  8. scanman
    Whats all this about? Believe me I have never been to a horserace in my life (sheltered upbringing & all that!). HOWEVER, with the proposed chages to 'Upton Dene' scalewise I now have to justify the presence of rakes of 'main line' coaches appearing at Ambridge ('Raceday Specials' etc)! It will also be a good excuse to get on with the 'D&S' horseboxes my wife bought me for Xmas... Might even consider upgrading the route to a 'Blue' route to allow the odd 'Manor' or 'Hall' to run!
     
    Regs
     
    Ian
  9. scanman

    The First Steps.....

    By scanman,

    Having said I'd probably not be doing tooo much to this project... Well I just couldn't resist! Having spent most of the day on carboard mock-ups of the 'Ambridge' baseboards, I needed something different. Plus it gave me a chance to try out my new avatar, coutesy of Paul Martin from the 2mmSA. Several inches of snow (which kept me at home) also helped! So what progress today?
     
    1st - renewed m Association membership (its that time of year!) E-mailed PM following BCNPete's suggestion - result at top left! Ordered 5 5-plank PO kits + chassis & wheels etc from the stores. Then decided I need a track-panel to try them on.
     
    A quick blat with 'Templot', doublesided tape to hold it to the ply and then attack rail & sleepers with a soldering iron. I've been 'lurking' in 2mm for a coupl of years now - almost made the change from 'N' to '2mm' - but went for 'EM' instead - so I have got gauges, rail etc
     
    ...
     
    Just got to wait for the wagons now. Still it will give me time to research the liveries in use at the quarry.
     
    Right, back to 'Ambridge' and the 'Big Big Trains'!
     
    Regs
     
    Ian
  10. scanman

    Box in a box Pt 1

    By scanman,

    Well, if you've read my latest 'Upton Dene' entry, you might guess what's coming next!
     
    Basically I need a 'test bed' for a 2mm layout, and I rather like the 'boxfile' idea. All credit here to people like BCNPete who carry the idea out so well! The other inspiration for this entry came from a chapter entitled 'Corsham to Quarry Tunnel' in Colim Maggs's book 'Branch Lines of Wiltshire'.
     
    The building of Box Tunnel revealed the presence of large quanitiies of Bath stone, easily winnable and the GW even provided a single line 'branch' running from the quarry entrance by Box East Portal to Corsham station. Early in the quarry's life, there were crossover access from the Main, but later these were removed as large stone wharves were erected at Corsham . Even better, the track is crossed by two road-bridges whhich along with Box East Portal will provide ideal 'scenic breaks' athe box edges! So the overall layout will be thus:
     

     
    Whilst the whole section (in real life) runs in a deep cutting, the view pont will be from the 'southern' side as though the viewer were half-way up the cutting side - eg trespassing!
     
    Access to 'GoogleEarth' shows several good (if 'modern image' - Yughhh)views of the area.
     
    With only plain track, the build should not take too long - it will then be populated (slowly) with prototypes that will - eventually- run on the 2mm version of 'Upton Dene'. It will also provide a nice counterpoint to working on the 'Ambridge Branch' as discussed in my other blog.
     
    This blog will very much be an 'as & when' development so don't expect regular updates!
     
    Anyway at last I can give in to my craving to visit the local stationers and look at their boxfiles!
     
    Regs
     
    Ian
  11. scanman
    Ive spent the last few days mulling over track plans for 'Upton Dene' station. Bearing in mind I want a range of facilities usually found at a secondary main line station (goods shed, cattle dock, coalyard etc) and transfer sidings/mileage yard to serve the branch, plus the branch bay itsel., I was a little worried by the available (12' x 6' 6") space. The maximum radii were never going to be greater than 3', and I felt that everything would look too cramped. I even considered modelling just the platform ends - butnothing seemed to work that wouldn't end up looking like a glorified trainset.
     
    I almost resigned myself to just modelling the branch - then inspiration struck. Why not model the main line in 2mm? Loadsa space, sweeping curves and 'railway in the landscape'. Downside - having to start from scratch! However, I'm already a member of the 2mm Association and this months Newsletter carries the news that the Association has designed chassis for several GW prototypes to fit proprietary bodies.
     
    Of course the other inspiration has come from people like BCNPete with his boxfile layouts & 'Smokey Bacon's 'Calne Branch' (any update Steve?). So all this is leading on to another story (blog!)
     
    Regs
     
    Ian
  12. scanman
    Where were we? Ah yes, waiting for the timber delivery...
     
    The track panels havn't made their appearance yet (but neither has the timber!) - the thought of hand rivetting about 1000 sleepers made me wonder what happened to the rivet-closing tool I'd bought many years ago at an 'ExpoEM'. Still cannot find it! However a really useful list on 'GWR.org.uk' in the links section has provided the e-mail of the person that used to make them. I'm hoping he still does!
     
    So I had to find another way of keeping myself amused (apart from going back to work for the first time in five weeks...) I mentioned in the previous entry that I'd been following a blog about 'upgrading' a GWR 'Toad' - the Bachmann model. I wanted to do the same myself, but initially decided (because there was another entry) against 'blogging' it. However, removal of the handrails is a major part of the 'mod' and I hit on a way of doing it (probably nothing new, but here goes).
     
    Having given the problem some thought I came up with this:
     

     
    It's simply a short length of 'Junior' hacksaw blade ground down to a blade witdth of about 1mm. I used a 'Dremel' with a slitting disc - doing it in short burst so the blade didn't overheat. The 'chisel' is then held in an 'Exacto' blade holder for comfort. The sequence is:-
     

     
    drill the stanchion positions. Doing this first ensures they will be in the right place on re-fit.
     

     
    Nick the rails with a new blade (nothing new in that trick)
     

     
    Use the tool to gently shave off a sliver at a time until
     

     
    the job's complete.
     
    All I have to do now is make the stanchions (not handrail knobs!) from 5 thou brass strip & bend up the new rails. These will be bent up in 0.6mm steel wire using a small jig. More later!
     
    The other job - hinted-at in the previous post was to replace the crossing timber at the heel of the switch-blade. The afore-said problem of rivet closing appears to leave some poorly closed & liable to 'pop out' of the timber. not toooo much of a problem on plain track (unless they all do it!) but a definite problem when it's the only rivet holding the rail in place!
     
    My solution was to add a washer to the underside of the timber. These were created by drilling holes in 10 thou brass strip
     

     
    tin them, part them off then lay them over an inverted sleeper with the rivet poking through
     

     
    lightly close the rivet then add a little solder.
     

     
    A test revealed that as the blade was operated the washer did rotate slightly. The washer is slightly proud of the sleeper-base so this will be compensated by relieving the underlay at that point. At least the strain of rotating the rivet purely in the wooden sleeper has been relieved.
     

     
    The only other 'progress' has been in a 're-org' of the railway room as yet more of the household items that 'graced' it have been removed! Doubltless a lot of them will make their way back over the coming months - a planning application has been granted which is going to result in about 6 months upheaval - although I'm hoping that the railway room (one of only two rooms in the house unaffected) will remain a haven of insanity!
     
    Regs
     
    Ian
  14. scanman
    This 'weekly update' is somewhat delayed - mainly by the inability of the timber merchants to deliver the ply on time - however, the time was not wasted - more later...
     
    The last update mentioned the 'tea trolley' fiddleyard, designed to be moved into and out of the operating well to allow access. This has been constructed from 9mm birch ply (good quality & worth the wait). The deck is 5' x 2' and has 3" 'lead-in' at each end - the cassette length will therefor be 4'-6''..
     

     
    The legs were also constructed from ply, with each side being 3" wide. The ends were also blocked by ply - the upper end to provide support for the board and the lower to provide a mounting for the castors. Additionally of course they keep the legs straight!.
     
    The legs were then strengthened by more 3" deep ply at the bottom & mid-height. These will also act a supports for internal shelving for cassette storage
     

     
    The legs were then attached to the underside of the deck,
     

     
    and longditudinal stringers added at the base. The final step was to add the castors. A days work, a sheet of 8x4 ply and I have the biggest tea-trolley in the street!
     

     
    As I mentioned earlier, the delay in delviery wasn't wasted. In addidtion to decorating the downstairs cloakroom, the lobby & upstairs bathroom, I also completed the basics of the test track.
     
    Two of the parameters for track construction were 1) to use 'ply & rivet' construction, and 2) in the scenic sections to fit cosmetic chairs. My reasoning was, that having had experience of both 'ply & rivet' & 'plastic chairs & sleepers', I have to say I prefer the former for two reasons a) during construction (& testing) 'ply & rivet' allows a certain amount of adjustment, and B), as this layout will have to last me out, I'm not convinced as to the longetivity of solvent-based joints - the technology doesn't have that long a history!
     
    So that meant slicing up 'C&L' chairs... First find a suitable container - (my wifes old contact lens holder comes handily marked 'L' & 'R'!)
     

     
    - the 'chairs' are then sliced up whilst attached to 'double sided tape', then individually lifted off & glued to the sleeper covering the rivet head. Here I found the only serious problem. Some of the rivets (really old stock) are 2.5mm against the modern 2mm. Therefore some rivets wern't treated. time would tell if they would notice. Lesson learned - use 2mm variant only!
     

     
    The switch blades do need to be supported between heel & tie-bar. 'C&L' do them (I've got some!) but I decided that small squares of brass strip would be better..
     

     

     
    The chairing-up took a couple of evenings & the untreated sleepers were then brushed with a solution of Potassium Permanganate (cheers 'Black Rat'), and finally the rails were painted...
     

     
    As stated in an earlier blog entry, the intention is for this piece to be a bench-mark test bed based on the smallest radii pointwork. To that end it's been mounted on 4"-deep ply (courtesy of the timber merchant!) & will also contain a 'Tortoise' PM and a 'Dingham' uncoupling magnet whilst I evaluate the couplings.
     

     
    This will also be 'scenicked' WHEN my 'Grassmaster 2 arrives (but thats another story!).
     
    Oh yes I also (half-built) a Ratio 'Toad' with a compensated chassis. I'll finish that in the next couple of days (someone else is currently running a blog entry with similar conversion) http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/853/entry-8452-gwr-toad-pt1/.
     
    Next job - order more timber for the main scenic area - about 3 sheets of 8x4 should do it! Whilst waiting for that - build some 'half-track' lengths (using 2mm rivets!).
     
    Regs
     
    Ian
  15. scanman
    I thought I'd probably make weekly updates for the foreseable future - there's a lot of other stuff going on - trying to move the old house (now 'sold STC') into the new whilst still decorating the new house etc!
     
    There has been some progress - the testbed track has been basically laid - just got to solder up the secondary rivets (those that are on plain track..) However, the rivet method has one advantage when constructing a 9' straight switch per GWR practice.. In real life the heel of the switch blade rotated in an open chair as the rail itself didn't flex at all. By 'soft closing' the related rivet on the timber, this now acts as a pivot for the blade. I'm also going to investigate the practicality of soldering a 'washer' to the bottom of the rivet as this might provide a stronger pivot. I'm a little worried the rivet alone may work loose. I'm also going to make 'slide chair bases' out of 0.60mm brass strip - practically this should support the switch blades during their travels. The blades will be operated through TOU's as described in the 'Dairy' entry on the 2010 comp.
     
    Just to make sure everything worked, I constructed a 'test vehicle' - soldering 'D&S' compensation units to another length of brass strip at a nominal 16' wheelbase. So this 'vehicle' effectively becomes the first piece of 'rolling stock' built at the new house! Does it's job and I have a nice little video of it gliding through the crossing (after some 'tweaks' of course!).
     

     
    As referred-to in the earlier post, the 'test track' will in fact be a mini-baseboard - I'm awaiting the arrival of 9mm birch ply to complete it's framing etc. The same order will provide the wherewithal to make the moveable 'tea trolley' fiddleyard envisaged for the lower level. It's due Monday, so may figure in the next weeks update if 12"/foot modelling doesn't get in the way!
     
    Have a good weekend folks
     
    Regs
     
    Ian
  16. scanman
    This should be subtitled ' Reality Strikes'!
     
    Those following this blog (and the entry in the 'layouts' forum) will remember the initial concept was for a series of dioramas depicting a Great Western secondary main line and an associated branch - the branch would leave the main and gain hieght (effectively on a helix) - mostly unscenicked - reaching the terminus at Ambridge via an intermediate station & various lineside industries. The concept was designed round the layouts original home in a large garden shed with a layout area of 10' x 7' 6". The hope was that, at some distant future, the layout would move to larger premises and become more 'lifelike'. However, you will appreciate that there have been fairly drastic events in the last year - and the layout is now going to be constructed in a space of 12' x 6' 6".
     
    From the outset I felt it would be difficult to create what I wanted in a layout with about three interconnected levels and some hard thinking (aided by a calculator) showed that really the concept was impractical given the requirement for baseboard clearances, working gradients etc. Something would have to go - either the 'main line' (a 'roundy-roundy' or the branch & it's terminus. Neither option really appealed - I wanted the ability to 'watch the trains go by', and shunt the terminus with associated industries such as the dairy, a brewery, a gasworks etc (greedy, aren't I!)..
     
    At last the light dawned. I could get about 80% of what I wanted by bulding TWO layouts, one above the other..
     

     
    Ambridge & its environs will sit above 'Upton Dene' with a decent heiinterspace of 450mm (about 18"). Whilst there is no direct linkage, by using a 'cassette-type' fiddleyard on both layouts, the 'branch' trains can leave Upton Dene, arrive on a cassette on the lower level & be hand-transported to the upper level to complete the journey. I'm pretty certain this is not an idea unique to me - in fact IIRC Peter denny used the same sytem on 'Buckingham' - and even automated it!
     
    I hope the above diagram makes everything clear, including access to the operating well. The lower f/y will be mounred on wheels, somewhat like a tea-trolley & be capable of removal into the operating well or aisle (it backs onto the workbench area). Operators will then 'duck under' the upper layout whilst passing through the gap.
     
    Desgin parameters:-
     
    These have not changed really. Set in GWR territory (Cotswolds area) with a time span of 1920-1934 and modelled in 'EM'. Track construction will be the 'EMGS' 'rivet & ply' method using 2mm headed rivets. Cosmetic chairs will be added to scenic areas. Minimum radius (unfortunately) will be 36" ( set by the 6' 6" operating area). Baseboards will be 9mm ply for sides & trackbed with high-density urethane foam for ground-work - see the 'Dairy for Ambridge' entry in the 2010 comp. Operation will be via DCC - and yes, I'm aware it is not as easy as 'two wires does it al'!
     
    One regret is that the dairy/viaduct scene will have to be re-built as this originally spanned 7' 6", but hopefully the modelling will improve anyway! I will also take the opportunity to add another lineside industry (to mask the f/y) - probably a railhead for a cotswold stone mason ( a little like the one at Box).
     
    A major consideration is the minimum radius that all stock will have to negotiate. Whilst I do not imagine a 'King' & 14 thundering by on the main (the fiddleyard will only be about 5' long!) I do have a 'Hall' in the 'wundy box' andthe 'Bulldog' under construction may need 'adjusting' too. To that end, modelling has already commenced with a 'test track' - a B6 LH curved point, 9' 00:straight-switch (GWR Practice before 1925) with sufficient leads on main and branch to take a 4-6-0 tender loco or a 70' toplight coach. It will also allow me the opportunity to evaluate 'Dingham' & Sprat & Winkle' couplings etc. as it will have to be a 'mini-baseboard' to accomodate the 'Tortoise' PM &electrics!
     

     
    Of course, I've still got the old workshop to absorb into the new room, and decorative work to do on the new house. And of course - sell the old one. Anyone want a nice 3-bed semi with workshop, garage & chalet shed???
     
    Regs
     
    Ian
  17. scanman

    Retail Therapy....!

    By scanman,

    Best treatment for stress....
     
    Once upon a long time ago I owned an 'Emco Unimate' - one of the 'real ones'. Unfortunately, with the advent of children it had to go (feeding the family was deemed more important)!
     
    With retirement in the offing and a little spare money around - meet the new toy -
     

     
    Its a tad bigger than the old Unimate - but does have one thing in common -
     
    I NEED TO LEARN HOW TO USE IT!
     
    Back to the instruction book/DVDs (didn't have those in the '70s!)
     
    I've had to school myself to get on with the house tho' & treat the railway room as an 'escape' for a couple of hours - in the morning, the afternoon, the evening.....
     
    Regs
     
    Ian
  18. scanman
    Well, the last entry on this blog series was some seven months ago, and life since then has been a real roller-coaster. Since losing Zoe's dad, we have found out that, for tax purposes - and to protect her should he have had to enter full-time care - Jim had put the house in her name. Unfortunately this was only done some three years ago (when Zoe's mum passed away) so she was not going to be fully protected vis a vis inheritance tax. She had maintained all along that she did not wish to move into the house and our personal planning had moved on other lines (hence the original intention to make 'Upton Dene' a modular layout with scenic & hidden sections, making any move into another proerty (hopefully in the dim & distant future) a point at which the railway could be more fully developed. But it was not to be. Taxation issues meant that we really had no choice but to move in. Not only would Zoe be liable to inheritance tax (which she actually didn't have to pay in the finality) but she would be liable to Capital Gains Tax on the whole value of the property if she sold it! The b*****ds will get you if they can!
     
    Having decided to take on the property (a very nice '60's-built 4 bed detached) Zoe naturally wanted to make it 'ours'. The gas 'hot air' CH would have to go - along with all the auxilliary gas fires, and the house would have to be completely redecorated. We then found that beds 1& 2 had built-in cupboards over the stairwell, which if conbined would make a nice en-suite shower room. Bed 1 being Jims bedroom was out as a master bedroom so I suggested that (at 2.8 x 3.5m) it would make a nice railway room. Very tongue in cheek - but Zoe agreed! So the house became a building-site - all tools disappeared into it and all modelling ceased. Temporarily I thought....
     

    By mid-September, this was the railway room. A little bare!
     
    As usual with building projects, snags, time & cost-over-runs arose & we didn't move in until 15th November.
     

     
    Us - and over 100 boxes (most of them in the railway room!) THe house was still a 'project in progress' (and still is) with light switches & plug units hanging off walls, ceilings still at the 'bare joist' stage (Oh yes, as I stripped the wallpaper in most rooms the plaster came with it!)
     

     
    However, by 11 dec - all the boxes were gone & serious planning could start.
     
    'Upton Dene' was conceived as a branchline modelled in it's entirety, running from 'Upton Dene' (loosely based on Moreton in Marsh to 'Ambridge' (based on Abingdon) passing through one intermediate station and some 'lineside industries) see the 2010 Comp entry on 'A dairy for Ambridge'. Unfortunately the dairy section, built on a curve minimum radius 3' 9" is not going to easily fit the new site! The layout was always envisaged nas having to 'climb round the walls' of the existing workshop unit that far-off move when it could all be laid out properly. Ah well, the dreams of mice & men! Mustn't complain tho' - there are people who would kill for the space I've got...
     
    So initially the junction station will be built. To allow for a 'round the walls' approach, the 'roundy-roundy' bit will be at 1m AGL, and the branch will lap the room twice in it's ascent to the terminus. So the first element is the staging to carry the lower level -
     

     
    Well, all those boxes had to be emptied somewhere!. Once emptied -
     

     
    They become the 'Wundy Boxes' (one day I'll get around to building the kits in them!') Normally the kits reside in drawers etc, but
     

     
    With a 3m workbench down one wall (complete with sink & H&C taps), the drawer units will hold tools etc
     
    So here I am at the present. Oh yes - two days aftr we moved, my mum passed away - so I've lost three close relatives in 7 months, done a very stressful house-move (still stripping floors at 3am on the day we moved in) and to cap it all both Zoes' job & mine have been under threat! I went to the doc's today - I'm now off work 'til 3 Jan '12 - but I'm not allowed to handle sharp tools....
     
    There may be more poss before Xmas - a track schematic, plan of works etc. However, stress levels are such that decision-making of any kind is somewhat difficult. In cse I dont post agin - have a great Xmas and a modellers ew Year!
     
    BFN
     
    Ian
  19. scanman
    Well, the inspiration for this build finally reached his 'safe harbour' early Friday evening. Rest in peace, Jim - you will be sorely missed.
     
    So little work (obviously) in the last few days - however, the error has now been fixed, and the tender sits on it's wheels properly for the first time.
     
     

     
    Hopefully, now the pressure is off I'll take more time reading the instructions...
     
    Raymond James (Jim) Trim
    2 Jan 1923 - 27 May 2011
    Master Mariner
    'Finished With Engines'
  20. scanman
    It's been a while since the last post - been spending most of the time backward & forward to hospital, visiting the inspiration for this build. Without being overly dramatic, I don't think Jim will see the finished loco. An added bugbear was looking out of the bedroom window after a period of wind to see the shed-roof felt protecting the lawn! Fortunately it didn't rain before I got it fixed.
     
    So, on with the build. It looked to be mainly a case of detailing parts - and the first to go in were the sandboxes. The righthand box is not a problem - it's a box...
     
    The lefthand one is a different matter..
     

     
    It has to fold round the top - and we're dealing with a piece of brass about 12mm square which has to be folded in two opposing rightangles and follow the curved contours of the top!
     

     
    So far so good - then
     

     
    problems - all the heat had hardened the brass and the 2nd fold snapped as I was trying to form the first rounded corner...
     
    Solution?
     

     
    Treat it as a separate piece, make the bends & then solder it all up again... It only took two hours - honest!
     
    However, it got there in the end
     

     
    and was then sweated into place
     

     
    The front floor of the tender had to be cut to fit round the sandboxees, and soldered in at the correct height. Not having built the loco, I worked that out from the rail-footplate height on the drawing. Time will tell...
     
    The coal plates front & rear went in quite quickly, using an engineers square to ensure squareness
     
    Now it was time to marry the tanktop with the chassis.... Oh dear....
     

     
    Fairly obvious that the footsteps which are supposed to fit outside the tender frames - don't. Back to the instructions, and yes I'd missed something. Do you remember thos tabs which slot through from the tanktop former and bend over?? I missed one important word - 'outward'. I applied the standard procedure and folded toward the etch line. RTFM!
     
    At the mo' I'm busy stripping off the steps & valances to resolder them some 1 mm outward of their original location. However, I'll temporarily attach the two main units together whilst this is in progress - just to make sure...
     
    Regs
     
    Ian
  21. scanman
    Well, a royal wedding and the father-in-law in hospital - but progress has been made...
     
    Friday night I 'tweaked' (another technical term) the tender flare misusing a pair of engineers clamps, then assembled the rear bufferbeam (overaly & backing). Soldering that in place led to a certain amount of headscratching. The instructions state something like 'solder the rear bufferbeam in place leaving a slight overhang' Slight overhang? How 'slight' is 'slight? Eventually, using drawings and photographs I hypothesised (guessed) a position and soldered it in place.
     
    Next came the valances. Lucky I didn't file off the side-tabs - the valances locate against them
     

     
    A fairly straightforward job - fixed the rear end to the rear tab, ensuring the valace is hard against the buffer-beam, the work forward. Seemples. It's here that the earlier comment 'leave a slight overhang' can come home to roost. Luckily my valances came to the front face of the tender, providing a mounting for the draw-bar beam which again is sweated together & then soldered in place. Again the instructions are not clear about this - the drawing shows the drawbar being soldered to two small brackets on footplate part 22. Unfortunately mine is using part 23 - no tabs... Once again an 'guesstimate' and it was soldered onto the front of the footplate and the valances.
     
    Finally, it was time to marry body with chassis
     

     
    A 'test fit' to ensure the mounting points coincide'. They don't. The chassis is about .75mm to far forward. Maybee that 'guestimate for the rear bufferbeam was wrong. Anyway tommorrows first job will be to remove the requisit amount off the rear of the chassis. Ain't blacksmith engineering' fun??
     
    Regs
     
    Ian
  22. scanman
    Something of a mixed weekend... The inspiration for this build took up a fair proportion of our time - memory loss & not eating properly/taking medication is taking its toll... However, I managed another 4 1/2 hours on the build.
     
    At this point the modeller switches away from the running gear to building the basic bodyshell. The tank former also carries the coal plate brackets and these are thin sticky-up bits! Whilst the basic folds make up a neat box, the front and inner front sides to the coal bin also need to be folded. I started with the rear folds and worked my way forward. On reaching the front folds, reason deserted me! The right-hand side went well - the front and inner front need to tuck under the top. For some reason on the left hand side I bent them round the top, and did not realise my mistake until I had soldered the unit to the footplate and started to add the tank wrapper. I'll show what I mean later.
     
    Next to be added is the 'tank top overlay'. Out with the RSU. The easiest way to do this would be to lay the parts upside down and sweat them together - but remember the sticky-up bits! In the end I did just that - carefully bending the 'sticky-up bits' so they became 'sticky-out bits'!
     
    The unit is now soldered to the footplate. The etched tabs and slots were perfect. The tabs are bent over under the footplate so I must remember to check clearances etc. My guess is they will be perfect also. The various mounting holes for items such as the tank filler, fire iron rest etc are then drilled through. I've merely made registration holes at present - the holes will be opened to size later.
     

     

     
    These two views show the progress thus described.
     
    Next to be added was the tank wrapper. This requires the tank-top flare to be preformed. I used a lngth of steel rod for the former, and MF thoughtfully provides a check-jig. However, once soldered in place, it was fairly obvious when checking with prototype photos that I've been far too conservative! The wrapper was again sweated in place - the base unit has large cut-outs to minimise the heat-sink effect and having well tinned both parts I found they went together easily enough with my trusty temperature-controlled iron. Again I started at the back and worked my way forward soldering each side in alternate steps. Amazingly, the left-hand size fitted perfectly, but the right-hand side is about 0.5mm too long!
     
    The final overlay to be added was the interior of the coal bin - and it was here that the afore-mentioned error reared it's head. I had to split the three-sided etch, soldering the back and left side as one unit, having carefully filed the back right edge and the right-hand side's back edge (does that make sense?) to ensure a reasonable fit!
     

     

     
    The images show the progress to date - the encircled area shows the mistake! Ignore the apparent gap along the upper edge of the coalbin wrapper - it gave me a shock when I first saw the image, but having checked the model I'm happy that it was just a trick of the light... Honest!
     
    I'm currently back at work on 'earlies' so little progress will happen this week. The 'Royal Wedding' would have offered the perfect excuse ofr disappearing down the wokshop - but unfortunately I'm head chef (and bottlewasher) for the family celebration barbie. I'm praying for good weather so I can stay out in the garden away from the 'gogglebox'!
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
  23. scanman
    After a couple of days sorting out problems with various family members I managed to get a few hours to myself today.
     
    I spent some time pondering the chassis issue (whether to separate or not) and perusing the building instructions, with some regret I've decided it's not really practicable. There is so much pipework etc that encases the wheels that to resolve it would mean iether cutting through the undergear at strategic points (in which case it would probably be very vulnerable to damage) or adding unprototypical support forms. So eventually I meekly followed the instructions and soldered the side-frames to the tank well. This actually meant a trip to the model shop (Alton Models) as I'd forgotten to request an extended axle from AG. Bob the proprietor is an 'old time' model shop owner - if it's not on display just ask,,, On this occasion out came an old tobacco tin full of various axles! However, I also needed some 10BA cheeshead bolts & nuts. The build requires 4 at this stage, and there's oly two in the kit. Anyway, onward... By the time I got home having sorted out one of the relatives - I'd lost the little package, so it was back to the shop! That took care of yesterday... At least the assembled chassis runs well!
     
    Todays work mainly revolved round the water-scoop operating gear and the brake operating mechs. Typically Finney there are many small parts that make up the whole. Doubtless some of them could be left off - but then why pay that price for the kit??
     
    One thing that did suprise me was the nondescript vacuum pump cylinder cast in white metal. This was going to be soldered to the subframe fairly early on and might be vulnerable in future soldering operations. Therefore an hour of the build time was spend resolving that issue, using two diameters of brass rod.
     

     
    After that, the work was 'just' a case of removing the various tiny parts from their frets, opening up the various wire-size holes and putting it all together..
     

     
    Shows the front of the tender under the fall-plate - with the vaccum cylinder in place.
     

     
    So, 8 1/2 hours in to the build, this is where it's at. Overall I'm quite pleased with progress - it about equates to the progress on the MSWJR tender - and gives a much better product.
     
    There won't be any progress over the next six days - work calls!
     
    Regs
     
    Ian
  24. scanman
    As usual I start with the tender. This is the 3000 gal variant - and thanks to CraigW on ths site I now have a very nice image of the loco & tender. Coupled with the images & drawing in 'Russell' and kind contributions from other lists (GWRSG & GWR- E-list) I now have quite an amount of information! The one thouht that occurs to me is - when a loco went to Swindon for (say) a heavy overhaul - did she come out with the same tender? seems inconceivable that the tender would sit around (sometimes for several months)... Anyway, thanks to Craig I have photo evidence bang on period!
     
    This shows a 3000 gal tender fitted with tie bars rather than tie-rods - so on with the chassis..
     
    This is a Finney kit - just follow the instructions! Okay, I didn't... Section 1 'fold up the side frames, then impress the rivet detail'
     
    'Ahh - if I do that I won't get the rivetting tool in'. So I did the first side rivets first - and spent some time 'tweaking out' the inevitable distortion. It then occurred to me that the setting of my rivetting tool (basically an M6 rod with a hardened tip and adjustable nuts controlling the travel of the slug could be adjusted! The other sideframe followed the instructions to the letter - bingo! No distortion.
     
    So after 4.5 hours work -
     

     

     
    Work stopped when I hit a slight snag - a missing part. Or rather a missing fret... At 11.00pm I guessed it would be politic to drop Mr Finney an e-mail rather than 'phoning him! Shouldn't delay the buid too much - I need the wheels next to set up the chassis.
     
    Having said I would follow the instructions, there is one 'mod' I am considering... The side frames are 'temporarily' located by 10BA bolts passed through the holes visibll in the plan view. I'm thinking about making that arrangement permanent, allowing an element of disassembly. It will depend on other construction elements yet to come!
     
    Hopefully I can make some progress tommorrow, as the tender body is not dependent on competion of the chasis. However with three of us involved in hospital visits tommorrow, time may be somewhat short!
     
    Regs
     
    Ian
  25. scanman
    No - not a jingoistic outpouring, but a model being built in tribute to a very nice man - a true 'Brit' and an ex-master mariner to boot. Not only is Jim my father-in-law - he's also my uncle. Before anyone gets a banjo out, Zoe my wife had the good fortune (her words) to be adopted by my aunt & uncle. The reason for building this kit (a Martin Finney 'Bulldg') is explained in the last section (to date) on the MSWJR 4-4-0 build.
     
    So now an appeal - if anyone has any photo's or references to 'Kingfisher (3448) as running between 1920-1930 - I'd be delighted to be aquainted with them. Usually I enjoy the research almost as much as the buiild - but in the circumstances time appears to be pressing.
     
    So onward...
     
    As usual I will start with the tender... This is the Churchard '3000 gal' variant. Whats in the box?
     

     
    I'm tempted to say 'the usual Finney product'... Superb cleanly-etched shiny brass etches, very nice castings and a set of instructions to drool over... Martin states that from this kit you can build ll variants of the prototype and I doubt I will prove him wrong!
     
    First step (for me) is to lay the parts out in a desk tidy (of which I have several!) - this ensures that no parts go astray.
     
    Next step is to order the wheels (Gibson) and motor/gearbox (High Level) - will speak to Chris this a.m. for advice - the kit was originally designed round a portescap, but I'm guessing that Mr Gibbon's got something in the armoury!
     
    Tommorrow evening will be spent poring over the instruction-sheets (which include a nice guide to the etches), and familiarising myself with the various parts. Who knows, I might even get some soldering done! However, whilst I do feel somewhat 'under pressure' I will resist the temptation to rush it...
     
     
    Regs
     
    Ian
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