Graham T

1 minute ago, Gopher said:

I think Herefordshire has been "discovered", and this is reflected in the house prices.  Certainly quite a few people come here to enjoy the rural life (including me), or retire.  I'm not sure all who move to the rural villages understand some of the challenges they will face though.            

I'd prefer to be in a town really Clive.  Or at least somewhere that has a decent pub within staggering distance!

Most of my family are in Hereford, apart from my daughters, who live with a dragon in the south-east US.  Strangely, house prices in Hereford itself seem to be higher than in Kidderminster, Stourport-on-Severn, and so on.

So I think that's the area I'll end up in!

So, I've managed to save nine points from the layout.  One or two of them might need some repairs, but I think they'll be ok for using in a fiddle yard.  One other point didn't survive being lifted, and I haven't even bothered with the single slip...

This evening I got all the point motors removed as well.  A useful reminder of the joys to be had working underneath a baseboard.  When I build CR Mk II I'd like, if at all possible, to arrange things so that I can do at least the lion's share of the wiring before I actually fit the boards in position, so that I can flip them over onto a workbench and deal with them more comfortably.  I need to give that some thought too!

Tomorrow I'll make a start of dismantling the baseboards, which promises to be all sorts of fun as I appear, for some reason, to have made them strong enough to withstand a low-yield nuclear explosion 🙁

20 minutes ago, russell price said:

If you were interested then, im sure i would be able to give you a couple of commissions, Welshpool Goods Shed for starters? That is a serious question. 

Hi Russell.  Yes I'd be very interested in having a crack at that for you.

1 minute ago, Mikkel said:

Sad to see the layout go, Graham. But as others have said I'm sure something new and excellent will rise from the ashes. Did you save the large oak? A bit of a signature piece for Chuffnell Regis, in my mind.

I did manage to save all the main trees, yes.

1 hour ago, Andy Keane said:

Graham, yes I do think you could build and sell models. Not sure the hourly rate would be great but given the quality of what you make you could surely try.

1 hour ago, Fair Oak Junction said:

 

I definitely think that could be something for you to consider. There are people out there looking for quality model building makers, and your buildings are without a doubt high quality!

43 minutes ago, Gopher said:

I echo the comments above Graham.  Your buildings are definitely good enough to sell commercially.  No idea how you price them though, given how much time and effort you put in. 

 

Would you also consider taking commissions, (or is that what you mean by bespoke buildings ?)   

Thank you all for the vote of confidence!  I shall have to give it some more thought.  Clive, yes I think commissions would probably be the way ahead.  Did you have something in mind?

3 hours ago, Gopher said:

Those buildings are great Graham, lovely modelling 

3 hours ago, Andy Keane said:

They would fetch a pretty penny if you ever sold them on eBay. They are beautiful.

3 hours ago, longchap said:

 

The station building in particular is beautifully modelled with skill and attention to detail and would do credit to any Great Western branchline.

 

Thanks very much for the kind words chaps.  You have given me an idea (uh-oh).  Seeing as I'm still one of the great unemployed, do you think I might be able to sell bespoke buildings?

1 hour ago, Gopher said:

Graham  -  sad to see CR disappearing before our eyes.  I actually found it very difficult to scrap Dewchurch 2.  I tried not to think about the hours and money I had invested in the layout.  

Same here Clive - hard to make a start on scrapping it, but I'm committed now (or perhaps I should be...)

1 hour ago, Gopher said:

 

I salvaged buildings and the easy to remove scenic items and kept telling myself I could easily put them all back.   Once I started track lifting and severing my electrical mess (otherwise known as layout wiring), there was no going back.  I managed to salvage all but two of my Marcway points/crossings. Took ages of gently prising the points up from the cork underlay, and wetting the ballast if necessary.  I found that where I had used Ballast Bond (as opposed to diluted PVA,/washing up liquid), it was very difficult to lift the points.  The stuff had set like concrete.  I had to repair a couple of points when retrieved, and check all were still lying flat (on our kitchen work top) so not bent/warped in any way and in gauge.  I did not bother trying to salvage the SMP track, just bought all new for Dewchurch 3.   I was nervous about using salvaged points on the new layout - given that they were about 15 years old.  However once I had salvaged them, checked them and made necessary repairs, I knew they would be O.K.     

I've managed to lift all the buildings and trees.  It's only the cattle dock that, so far, refuses to budge.  Doesn't look very much when they're all put together like this.

1 hour ago, Gopher said:

 

When I built Dewchurch 3,  I invested in very good quality baseboards (so agree with Andy's comment above).  I took ages laying and testing the track. (I re-laid some sections a few times until I was happy).  I used Tracksetta templates to regulate the curves.  I was also far more disciplined with my wiring, colour coded, and wiring notes.   

All excellent lessons that I will try to follow Clive!  I may get bespoke baseboards made, or build my own (carefully).  It will depend on finances I suppose.  And I will actually use a couple of buses for the wiring next time, rather than have a repeat of the snakes' wedding that is currently dangling underneath the remains of CR Mk I.

1 hour ago, Gopher said:

 

Anyway taking my time with the basics has paid off.  So far so good,  the new layout has proved reliable.  Sorry if I am waffling on and stating the bloody obvious.  I find the basics a bit of a chore and am always keen to move onto the scenic modelling.   

 

CR Mk II will be an excellent layout with all you have learned on CR, plus you already have some excellent buildings, rolling stock etc from CR.  So lots to look forward to. 

 

If you do end up living close to/or in Herefordshire, you already know you will have access to some excellent model shops, including  my favourite Hereford Model Centre.  Derails and Cheltenham Model Centre are also excellent.  I popped into Footplate Models in Kidderminster a few months ago, nice range of items.   If you have a day out in Cardiff - head for Lord & Butler.  My go to railway model shop when I lived there, and still pop in if I am in Cardiff.     

One of the things I'm looking forward to is browsing some model shops in the real world again.  I tried to visit the Hereford Model Centre last time I was in England, but it was closed unfortunately.

5 hours ago, Neal Ball said:

Tip for removing track - wet the ballast and generally the PVA will give and you can free the track from the baseboard. 
 

Some track might only be suitable for the fiddle yard, other sections you will be able to use again.

Thanks for the tip Neal - the track is marinating as I type!

11 hours ago, BWsTrains said:

 

A lot depends on if you need it portable, to attend shows etc. For a fixed setting it's hard to go past the L-Girder method which provides lots of rigidity yet flexibility regarding managing different levels. "Mid-Cornwall lines -..." by @St Enodoc being one outstanding example.

 

Colin

Thanks Colin.  It will be a permanent structure (hopefully) so that's another option to look at.

That's what I had in mind - get someone else to do all the cutting for me.

Separately, on a first quick look I think it will be more economical to use Peco bullhead flexitrack rather than trying to recycle my existing rail and buying C&L sleeper panels.

That's an idea - but I couldn't find those on the C&L website?

Ah!  Yes I can.  Need to do some maths now.  Time to take the shoes and socks off...

1 hour ago, Andy Keane said:

Looking very forlorn - but as you say onwards and upwards. When you come to new baseboards I would very strongly recommend the laser cut ply kits made by several suppliers. I had mine all done that way to my overall shape and got a custom kit which went together really well and left me a completely flat, light and very stiff base to work from.

I'll take a look at that for sure Andy.  Or I may try making my own using this technique.

Meanwhile, in the "not news at all category", I can confirm that it's a tad quicker to destroy a layout than it is to build one...

Also, I don't think I will be able to salvage much, if any of the track and points.  It's ballasted of course, and pretty solidly attached to terra firma.

3 hours ago, Neal Ball said:

Morning Graham, greetings from the sunny Costa Blanca.

 

How about this as a possibility……. Would you believe that at one point, Henley-on-Thames also looked as bleak as CR?

 

If you look back in my thread, you will see in about February 2019 in preparation for the move to Spain, the layout was cut in half and then folded into itself. Wood was braced between the two sections and the thing was wrapped into an old duvet in case it should rain when it’s going into or out of the removal truck!

 

Just a thought.

 

Good luck with the move, Neal.

Good morning Neal, and greetings to you from a dry but rather windy Vienna.  I did take note of your ideas about cutting Chuffnell R into sections for the move to the UK, so that I would have something to run stock on in the new house.  But the inherent problems that I built into the current layout - wonky baseboards and track, coupled with shoddy electrical work - make me think that it's probably not worth the effort.   What I might do is preserve the "fiddle yards", so that I can at least trundle a loco up and down for playing testing!

11 hours ago, Tortuga said:

I can imagine that taking it all apart and packing it away must be quite hard after all the effort you put into it.

 

However, look how far you’ve come since you started!
Reading between the lines of some of your later posts - the repeated mention of “Chuffnell Regis 2” - it’s obvious that your skills have improved to the point where you feel you “could do better” than what you’ve already created.

 

Now you’ve got the perfect excuse to start again, but with the advantage of already having stock and buildings ready to go. You’ve often mentioned the baseboard and track not being quite as good as you’d like, so you’ve also identified skills to improve on.

 

Given your dabblings with the LMS, have you considered modelling a junction between them and the GWR? Not necessarily a station, but maybe a set of exchange sidings?

I still cringe when I think back to some of my original ideas for a track plan (please don't look!)  I had absolutely no idea how a railway actually operated.  And despite the enormous amount of really helpful advice and encouragement available through this forum, I didn't have much more clue as to how I should go about baseboard building, track-laying, and wiring.  All of that stuff is equally embarrassing!

But as you rightly say, I have made some progress.  And this is a good opportunity to build something better, rather than being seen as a shame having to take apart something that isn't all that good anyway.

As you mention, I do like the LMS as well, so that will no doubt be a feature of the reincarnation.  (Lazarus Junction anybody?!)  I have toyed with the idea of a fictional addition to the S&DJR, where I could even run some Southern stock as well.

More to follow no doubt 🙂

Hopefully not rotten!

But quite possibly scrambled...

30 minutes ago, John Besley said:

Graham when the new CR arises will you start a new topic or carry on from here to keep all of the developments in one place?

i think I’ll just continue on with this thread John.  Put all the eggs in one basket !

15 minutes ago, Harlequin said:

Hi Graham,

 

Don’t feel too down about what you’ve got to do. Chuffnell R is immortalised on RMWeb and its development has delighted and entertained loads of people. I’m sure you have hugely enjoyed making it and sharing it with us. Job done!

 

Change has to come and we’re all looking forward to seeing what you do next, whenever and whatever that might be!

 

Thank you Phil.  You can rest assured that I will be pestering you for planning ideas as soon as I've identified a new home for Chuffnell Regis 🙂

22 minutes ago, 5BarVT said:

See what happens when you cheat and read the last chapter first.

:-)

Still plenty of good reading left in between.

Paul.

The butler did it!

Well the axe hasn't fallen yet, but I began boxing up my rolling stock today 🙁

43 minutes ago, 88C said:

Have you done the continuity test with the loco plugged to the tender, I believe that’s how many models are wired these days?

 

Brian

That's a good point Brian.  They were separated so I'll try with them hooked back up.

33 minutes ago, Barclay said:

Unless there's a short somewhere? Ideally you would test the motor with it electrically disconnected from the loco, which means, of course, cutting the wires, but if it then works, it's something shorting in the chassis somewhere.

I could disconnect and test the motor I suppose.  If it works I just have to find where the short is then!  Might the copious amounts of oil swilling about in the chassis be causing a short?  I've cleaned up as much of it as I can.

I've adjusted the copper contacts as per @Harlequin's suggestion, and tried a continuity tester across the contacts on the motor.  No reading there.  Electrickery is by no means my forte, so am taking a pause as I'm not sure how to proceed.  Perhaps best to mull it over for a while...