TT100 Diesels

Hi Signaller69, Wow, what a brilliant thread. And fantastic modelling. The stabling point just captures the atmosphere and the high level carriage road as a transition into the carriage shed back scene......genius. I can almost smell diesel exhaust and the whiff of lube oil and diesel fuel from the sodden ballast. Very much liking the motive power variety, an interesting point in time / history with the green to blue transition together with the last hurrah of earlier classes. I am very impressed with this, it's superb observational modelling. Cheers TT100 Diesels

That is a very nice thought from both Bradfordbuffer and Cowley 47521, but as the layout is still progressing, I am finding that having a layout thread on RMweb to be the most versatile way of showcasing the layout, traction and rolling stock, progress and build history. And since the working semaphore signals (still lots of wiring to do) and 3d print ground signals are the latest move forward in an effort to "finish" the layout, the attached pic shows the two at the far end of the main running line and loop. As usual, my type 1 and 2 traction seem to be getting in the way again.......😉 Thanks for the continued interest.

Hi EJI, I am presuming you are looking for 3mm scale, point rodding needs to be 2" square. I measured some at Peak Rail a while ago and it was 2" square flat U channel. So I replicated that with 0.5mm square section plastic rod. Possibly Evergreen or similar type supplier (sorry forgot the actual one). It is mounted on plastic strut channel sections to "represent" the support / rollers. Steve M666 above looks to be the gold standard. 0.5mm brass wire is also a nice fit for 3mm scale. A picture below shows my representation, if that is any help.

The strathclyde orange mat camm unit is stunning. The post above, first pic of 27052 from behind is obviously a real shot of the real loco and train. It can't be a model....... All the latest stuff is mega though. Cheers TT100 Diesels

A sleepy afternoon at High Peak Junction. DPU 55995 sits on the blocks. 50227 is the rear car of Met Camm power / trailer twin set waiting time. Just a note on the DPU, it was originally scratch built by Adrian Westbury. I refurbished, upgraded and turned it blue. Full details in my High Peak Jnc layout thread.

Wow, absolutely cracking modelling in this thread. Had a dip back a few pages or so, to get a flavour (its a massive thread), great to see another Derbyshire layout. Sorry to hear of your health issues, hopefully the modelling proves to be a distraction. Best wishes TT100 Diesels

Hi Bradfordbuffer, that is very generous of you to say. There is no focus stacking trickery, I dont have the facilities available, the camera is set to 64 ISO setting for picture quality, 6.8 f stop (after this the camera jumps to f 13 but strangely that is less sharp ?), and thus usually a very slow shutter speed. In these shots the camera is placed on the layout for low level access and stability. Some shots were also on the macro focus setting. I too like the shot you highlighted, its a proper late 70s run down ness. The Met Camm was really hard work painting, multiple livery elements don't come easily to me, it very nearly ended up all over rail blue! Thanks again for your interest and also everyone else who drops by and enjoys HPJ.

To bring things up to date, I took a few pics today down at the station, now the signal posts are finally in. Mechanical wire in tubes to point solenoids and wired to local zone connector blocks. Still need to sort out switches on the control cubicle and the new wiring looms from there to the zone connector blocks. And scenic around the signal post bases...,. and add ladders...... But it is some progress. Anyway, a few DMUs were about E56070 and E50227 have got the road out of the bay platform and are ready for the off. M55995 sits up on the blocks. Nobody about as usual, may as well be an ECS run ! Was able zoom in from the barrow crossing, makes a change from the platform. So quiet, so nipped down the ten foot to shoot this pic. Nobody was bothered anyway. And awayyyyyy*....... The Met Camm power / trailer twin set rasps away past the water crane. The 101 was based on a Neville Hill based genuine pairing circa 1980 onwards. Still need to glaze the passenger windows, so apologies for the unfinished state of the unit. I will have to do a build feature on this unit in due course. Hope this is of interest. * With apologies to Bob Mortimer.

Hi BoD, Your comments are most kind. I have already seen your Inspired by Crianlarich and can say the same for your own work. But thanks again for your generous comments and interest.

I find the post above by Jonathon AG of the footplate view truly outstanding. I have never ever seen an "on train" based model picture before. I would guess there is some photoshoppy stuff going on but, honestly, wow! Folk on RMweb just keep throwing absolute treasures into the mix, fantastic.

I have found another pic of 97201 stabled in the yard with 25071 and 25125. The old workshop building in the background needs some ground cover along the base, photos are good for showing up those little jobs that still need finishing off ! Thanks to all for the continued interest.

Hi Paul, Thank you for your kind words. I do try hard to get an overall consistency, perhaps it is because I try to make sure everything on the actual layout is weathered, plus all t&rs that is "finished" is weathered plus rattle can matt varnish, I find it tones down and keys everything together. As I have mentioned up thread, I dont think gloss and shininess scales down well. Its nice to know that my work is spurring your own modelling back into action, good luck with it.

Busy times in High Peak Junction yard. 97201 waits to move back onto the Tribometer Test Train after an earlier fault required a light engine test run, while 25071 has just arrived back from Toton with an independent snow plough that had required maintenance. Not quite sure where they are going to put the revenue traffic!

Hi Cowley 47521, Thanks for the link to your other thread on RF, I have ploughed through it all, the first 20 ish pages were a great how I built Lapford. I love your attitude to modelling, hmmm, I need an "xyz", hmmm, so I will build one then. Superb. Also, your observational modelling is spot on. Loved all the back story as well, justification of traction used and train formations etc. Really brought it to life. Really top notch stuff. Take a bow. Cheers TT100 Diesels

Hello JackB95, really liking this thread, just seen it for the first time and nipped back a page or two. Very nice neat control panel. Loving the rolling stock, the 57 and pendo drag is awesome...... The ATW 158 look very tasty too. The pics of it just absolutely capture it for me. A real nice project. In fact just the sort of fantastic rolling stock to tempt me back from 3mm hair shirt land....... Well a bit tongue in cheek, I am probably too far committed now. But loving what you have going on here, Cheers TT100 Diesels

Fantastic stuff, Peak District in model form, what's not to like! Loving the limestone cuttings, tunnels and engineering features. Very very impressive modelling.

With all the kind folk looking in and also liking etc, I had better add some more interest, a few pics featuring 31109 since it was the most recent loco build feature in this thread. An EE fest! (well power unit wise), 31109 is stabled on the turn table, while 37099 ticks away ready for its next job. And a Brush fest! Type 2, 31109 remains on the turn table, while Type 4, 47205 is stabled up on one of the turn table dead end roads. Of these three locos, in real life, I believe the 31 is long since scrapped, the 47 is preserved and the 37 is still active on the mainline with Colas Rail. I hope these pics are of interest, they represent the earlier days before my core traction was built (20s and 25s). The 31 and 37are now considered rare visitors, assuming Derby 4 shed men who signed them were around to relieve a March crew on a Whitemoor to High Peak Junction job. 47205 was an LM allocated machine at the time the layout was set so more plausible.

Thank you Hunslet 102, like the other replies to my layout thread, most generous and kind comments. Thank you so much. Best regards TT100 Diesels

Sounds great, an 83 as well! Dare I suggest a little diorama, perhaps a small corner of Longsight Depot, some OLE for the 83 and the 24 ticking away next to it........ And of course with dead rail locos on r/c, no pesky track wiring required. I am really looking forward to seeing how you progress with this lovely little project.

Hi Red Devil, Looking forward to seeing more pics as this build progresses. Any ideas yet on which 24, skinhead or headcode, green or blue? Cheers TT100 Diesels

Lets crack on with the 30 to 31 conversion. This underside view of the body / chassis shows a bit more of the work that was required. The white plasticard to the left and right are the new bogie mounting points needed for the lowering job. As a result of lowering, the two bogie inner locating and rotation limiting slots required some material removing from the mouldings. A lot of filing as it was awkward to get at. Because of the holes cut into the centre bodyside doors to fit the extra grilles, the underfame module locating tabs were lost, so new plasticard ones were added. This still needs to be removable to access the roof securing screw. You need the roof off to access the bogie securing fasteners. Its in primer, this view shows the front end additional detail that was added. Top of nose doors, 0.3mm dia wire handrail added, plus windscreen washer jets covers from plasticard. Level with the lower headcode discs, two footsteps were drilled in and opened out slightly. Then on the buffer beam, representative MU jumpers / sockets from plastic, brake pipes and draw hook from wire. Finished. Wire cab door handrails aldo added. Painted and weathered and all windows were glazed with "glue and glaze". this was in the days before I had started to do hand cut flush glazing. Its parked next to a standard Triang 30. Of note, my loco was finished as 31109, one of the 20 ? skinhead blue star 31/1s. I had 1975 era photos and it still did not have the boiler filler and access steps plated over, so is good for 75. Fast forward a few years and for an old Triang TT loco, it kind of scrubs up okay.

Yes I do get a little wobbling sometimes on any of my Triang 31 bogie based locos. Not from the method of fixing the bogies in to the bodies but from the actual powered wheelsets. The trailer wheelsets have solid steel axles and plastic wheels (solid true running qualities) but I dont use them in the trailer bogies ! I get spare (second hand) power wheelsets from the 3mm society spares shop, which have the nylon axle and gear wheel and metal wheels, so I can add extra power pick ups to the trailer bogies. Some of these wheelsets wobble anyway but I have to pull the wheels out a tad to clear the flangeways in Peco HOm pointwork, so probably magnifying any nylon axle out of trueness in the process. Comes with faffing about with 1957 designed kit. And it was all manufactured before circa 1967. "Full Fat" did not exist in those days....Yet more compromise.... But having said that, the mechs are c 60 years old and still going strong apart from throwing new carbon brushes at them. So its not all bad news.

So, its time to drop back into loco's again. This was my first effort in 3mm, the venerable Triang Brush Type 2, the only mass produced rtr main line diesel. It started out as a skinhead pilot scheme Mirrlees engined class 30 example as produced by Triang. Going back to the early days of the layout in 2016, the main jobs I undertook were to lower it as it has a large gap twixt bogies and body, make the external mods to represent a later EE engined class 31, add some front end detail and repaint to rail blue. First job was lowering. The body is also an integral chassis. The power bogie on the right mounted into the plastic between the rad fan grilles, seen here with that section cut away and a new plasticard mounting point added. Similarly, the non powered bogie on the left had its plastic mounting opened out to allow clearance for the centre pivot casting. A new mounting point of plasticard is fitted. The thickness of the original plastic cut away is the same as how much it needs to be lowered, which turned out to be rather convenient. Both new mountings were initially secured by mechanical fasteners in clearance holes so I could adjust the positioning of the bogies correctly, then accurately mark the positioning, remove the fasteners and bond in place. This shows the difference between a standard Triang 30 on the right and the loco being worked on (lowered) on the left. Next job was the 30 (Mirrlees power unit) to 31 (EE power unit) body mods. The lower part of the centre door requires a grille, see top, started to chain drill out the new aperture. The unfortunate bodyshell below it is the grille donor, the smaller of the main rad fan grilles is perfect, correct number and pattern of louvres. Both were cut out from one side. The first of the two grilles has ben let in, contrasting with the unmodified as built Triang 30 on top. The other grille is for the opposite side. The other obvious EE conversion external feature were the exhausts. As built Mirrlees on the right. These were carefully shaved off on the left hand roof and EE style exhausts made up from plasticard. That is about the pic limit so a convenient point to end this post. More Brush 2 chopping about to come...... In a foot note to the lowering, I worked from photos of real 31s to achieve the right body to bogie gap (and look). However, it actually makes the loco look lower than my other subsequent loco builds, the more I completed, the more obvious this became. I am not quite sure which is correct, but as I only want to achieve consistency across my fleet, last year I added packing washers to this lowered 31 to half the amount of lowering, so it is a compromise between the original lowering and the big gap on the as built Triang loco.

A quick peek at the fiddle yard and the later additional track, then it will be back to a closer look at the T&RS. Back in 2016 with just the track down. The fiddle yard to the right hand side. 3 through roads and 2 long sidings. The shortest through road mainly kept clear as a run through / run round loop as its too shot for the freights, which max out at 12 x 10' wb two axle wagons and a brake van. This is the max capacity of the scenic side yard head shunt plus a shunter loco so defines the rest of the layout really. Lots of isolated sections, with the 2 long sidings being split into 4 sections each, 3 of each are 1 x diesel main liner long (average) for loco storage. More storage space was required, so, last year, a major capacity increase was added, there was enough room to add a crossover on the far rhs, into a long head shunt and equally long kick back. Operationally, its can be a bit of a jig saw puzzle, but does at least give quite a bit more on layout storage. Looking the other way. The main running line curving round to the right (at the far end) also effectively doubles up as the main head shunt for the fiddle yard. It has nearly the full 180 degrees of the turn before emerging out of the short tunnel scenic break thus allowing this useful facility. The siting of the new crossover was all about finding a useful location that was not needing a lot of existing wiring moving and avoiding bracing timbers/ point solenoid conflicts.......my good friend "compromise" again!

Thank you Cowley 47521, you are very very generous and kind with your comments. Honestly, I just try to learn and do better as I progress. Obviously, there is a mountain of brilliant stuff on RMweb, but I went to a lot of exhibitions and looked at every layout to see how folk did stuff. And asked a lot of questions. I learnt a lot from the people who I am grateful to for taking their layouts out on the road. Not being able to buy locos from Hornby et al certainly means I have to approach things a bit differently, and have to understand I can't reach injection moulded and factory painted levels of fidelity, but I do work the "compromise" element of modelling to the max. I am really pleased you enjoyed the layout tour and some of the T&RS modelling in this thread so far and you find this inspiring. Thank you again for your interest and very kind words. Cheers TT100 Diesels PS And my ongoing thanks to folk who drop by and to those who are interested enough to like etc.