wireman

Is some 3rd rail electrickery a step to far to the dark side? Regards Brian ( wireman ).

A little more on the hill but the arrival of a new toy has delayed things again. I have fitted a Zimo sound chip but some detailing to do, Regards Brian. ( wireman )

A start on the grass etc. Have started the main hiil as well, if all is well I'll put a picture on here as soon as the glue has dryed. Taking forever to dry in my shed at the moment. Regards Brian. ( wireman )

73050. In the booth and outside of the signal box at Coleborne. This was a factory weathered loco. but really not that convincing, so, although I'm told it was more difficult t o do than starting with a pristine unit, the result is I think, well worth the effort. Cab window needs cleaning. Regards Brian . (wireman ).

During my last visit to Coleborne, I collected the five coaches which I had taken for weathering. The two following pictures were taken at Brampton road where the lighting on a really dull day was not the best. Really pleased with these, once again thanks to Nick. MK.1's next ?? Regards Brian. ( wireman )

I have collected the five coaches which I had taken to Coleborne Junction for weathering. This picture is of 82016 ahead of coach set 390. Once again, I'm really pleased with them. Thanks Nick. Regards Brian. ( wireman )

The sides were infilled with bits and pieces of card and paper and the intention was to use ModRoc plaster to cover this and form a smooth surface. Unfortunatly, my packet of ModRoc was quite dry and really unusable, probably because it had been left in an open packet for the last six years or so. Undaunted I used it anyway and covered the whole thing in PVA. This took three days to dry, then a light coat of spring green artist oils. At this point the temptation to buy a few model skiers and call it quits was a possibility. The tunnel kit comes as two tunnel mouths, so by using some of the remaining pieces, cut into 24mm. high strips, this wall was constructed. The allotement , built back in 2017 for the previous layout configuration still existed in one of those drawers that store things which may be usefull one day. It needs a bit of fitting and renovation but I think i will use it here. Static grass next, although I may add a liitle more contour over the top of the tunnel. ModRoc in dustbin now. Don't be put off, ModRoc works really well in the right hands. Regards Brian. ( wireman ).

My last post, in April, was still showing work on the fiddle yard. Scenically, things have not changed much in the last six months. I have been operating the layout and fitting sound chips when finance allowed, but at last a start has been made to allow access from the scenic side to the fiddle yard. A Metcalfe single tunnel mouth kit was built and fitted. Because of the angle in which the track enters the yard, the tunnel mouth is hardly visible from normal viewing position, but at least I know it's there. The next step is to infill the sides, hopefully it will not be another six months before this is done. Regards Brian. (wireman ).

Late arrival pictures of the S15, Regards Brian. ( wireman )

Perhaps someone could tell me why I'm getting these long blank areas after I finish typing

The picture of the pressure gauge above also shows the S15 in the spray booth. This loco. is now finished, and at the risk of becoming repetitive showing weathered stock, I have three pictures below showing this engine. As weathering is a relatively new venture for Nick, he has been experimenting with enamel paints with this one. Although our visits to Coleborne have been curtailed again, I have taken a few of my own coaches from Brampton road over to Nick, where hopefully, they will receive weathering attention. In the meantime, stay safe. Regards Brian. ( wireman )

As an aside to the recent weathering pictures, this is a recently planted Fog man hut in the new sidings. It has been assumed that the shunters cojoled some one to leave a redundant one here so they could warm up on cold mornings and make a brew for themselves and may be an loco.crew. Whilst out walking a couple of days ago, I found this same type still standing along side the old trackbed between Wimborne and Broadstone. The old trackbed here forms part of the Castleman Trailway, formerly the line from Bournemouth west to Brockenhurst. Regards Brian. ( wireman ).

A short update on the spray booth. Going back to page 17, there is a picture of the spray area completed. The compressor is mounted under the work bench on the left hand side. This has worked well, it is easy to reach under the bench to adjust air pressure but difficult to see the pressure gauge. The solution has been to remove the gauge and position it in line of site behind the booth. So, a bit of hose and a few connecty things and all fixed. More to follow, as there is pressure showing on the gauge, I assume the S15 in the booth is receiving attention Regards Brian. ( wireman ).

30315 finished, many thanks to Scott for the above video and for picture below. Thanks also to Nick for the excellent weathering of loco. and van. I believe one of Nicks S15 engines is next in line for the spray bay. During Scotts visit this week, he brought, as normal, one of his yellow things, which, I have to say looked splendid with its train of ballast wagons. Perhaps you could put a picture of it on here Scott. The wagons had been weathered just using powders and deserve a wider audience. Regards Brian. ( wireman )

No, just a change for this week although I think Tuesday may be the last visit for a little while. Regards Brian.

Regards Brian. ( wireman ).

Next, a couple of pictures showing progress so far. Looking good, hopefully will see it on Tuesday, but visits are obviously going to be curtailed again with the alarming increase of the covid 19 cases. A minor point compared to the hardships this pandemic is creating for many people. Regards Brian. (wireman ).

My own loco. 30315, following Nicks through the spray bay. First picture is in pristine apart from the coal load. The coal has been added at this stage because to be able to fit a sugar cube speaker into the tender meant cutting away a part of the the moulded plastic coal load. I happened to have a complete removable plastic coal load from an S15 which with a bit of bending and glueing fitted over the exsposed part of the speaker. This increased the coal height , but having found a couple of pictures of the real engines this seems about right with a freshly filled tender, in fact it could have been even higher. Next, a start has been made witha light dusting over the boiler top.

Mmmm. May be. Thanks for taking a moment Tony. Always pleased to know well meaning opinions. Regards Brian.

The next pictures are not before and after as we forgot to take a before photo. Instead the first pic. is the same type of van as the one which has been weathered. This vans home depot is Brampton Road along with a Black motor 700 which is currently in the Coleborne weathering shop. Regards Brian. ( wireman ).

30315 back to the layout. I'm not sure what's next , but there is another one of these on shed at Brampton Road. It may have to visit Coleborne before to long. Regards Brian. ( wireman ).

First pictures of the start on weathering of the 700. Coming along well. Regards Brian ( wireman ).

I mentioned before that one of the old control units would be used to power a short length of track for use in the spray booth. A short length of track fastened to a similar length of wood was wired for this purpose. Although this worked ok, it was found to be cumbersome when needing to turn an item though 180 degrees. So, plan 2. Plan 2 involves the same bit of track but with a plug at each end. Simply remove the connection, turn unit and connect feed to the other end. Hope pictures clarify the above explanation. The 700 black motor is next in line for a visit to the spray booth. Regards Brian.