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87 101

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  1. 87 101

    The Class 89 project

    By 87 101,

    For many years I have always fancied a model of 89 001 Avocet. Lack of funds has always prevented me from buying a kit so the only other option was to scratch build. A few months back I was given a pair of Hornby hst cabs so a couple of weeks ago I made a start on the project. The power of the ac electrics book provided me with a plan to work from. When I worked out the mesurements in 00 I relised that the plan was actualy to scale so basicly I photo copied it and then cut out paper templates for the body sides. The sides were then cut from 1mm stryine sheet.
     

     
    The Hornby cabs were then glued on
     

     
    The ends were then modified and internal cross bracing added
     

     
    Then the roof was built up
     

     
    My 89 uses a modified lima 47 chassis
     

     

     
    So far only one cab end has been built up the other end still needs modding. For the bogies I have two options both a compromise. Option is to use a set of lima class 60 bogies. These are a direct replacement for the 47 ones and can then be modded to resemble the 89 bogies. The other is to scratch build some bogie sides then cast them in resin. I could then add them to my westcoast website. For now though I will concentrate on finishing the body. B)
  2. 87 101

    Manchester Piccadilly

    By 87 101,

    Over the past year I have been working on my first comissioned layout build. The layout is 00 gauge and is based on Manchester Piccadilly. Tonight I have finished the control panel so that I can start wiring it in tomorrow afternoon.
     

     

     

     
    With 21 point motors to fit its going to be fun wiring it up !
  4. 87 101
    Here's the loco shed with all the windows fitted..
     

     
    Before I can finish off the building I need to finish of the loco on the lift first. So first job has been to scratch build some bogies. Origanaly I planned to make a mold of some streached Hornby bogie sides but the silicon didn't set properly. Doing a bit of research on the internet yesterday I discovered that howes are supplying Heljan 86 bits as spares but as time is now tight I have had to make do with what I have at hand. The remains of the chopped up Hornby frames were sorted out....
     

     
    and reassembeled on to some plasticard..
     

     

     
    Now pics of the real thing are proving difficult to obtain although I did manage to take a half decent one of an 86 in mid air at crewe works in 2003. The other pics are from wnxx.com..
     

     
    Due to the lack of information I had to do some guess work starting with the pivot point in the centre. This was cut from 3mm foamex..
     

     
    The end sections were again cut from foamex and curved at the ends to match the pics. This is the underside showing the additional webbing added in the centre..
     

     
    The missing pieces were replaced on the bogie side frames..
     

     

     
    With potters lane I want to model stuff that is not normaly seen on layouts like the locos traction motors so again using foamex..
     

     
    The motors again are pure guess work but as they wont be viewed close up I should get away with them. The motors were mounted into the bogie frames and then additional bracketry added again based on the limited pics I have..
     

     

     

     
    A coat of black paint followed..
     

     

     

     
    The second bogie was built in exactly the same way..
     

     

     

     

     
    They should look realy cool when sitting under the loco body being lit from the pit lighting!
  5. 87 101
    This morning I picked up the RTV silicone from the post office that I ordered mid week. This morning I will be making the mold for the 312 cab ends using the master I made last week...
     

     

     

     
    Im hoping that by modifying the master I can produce three variations of cab to cover an early 310, a refurbished 310 and the 312. If sucessfull the cabs will be available through my website. Adam at electra graphics is working on the vinyl bodysides for the 312 and I have to say that from what I have seen so far the finished unit should look great.
     
    Whilst browsing ebay last night I stumbled upon a job lot of two 117 centre cars and one driving end. This combination is perfect for another EMU conversion that I want to try so I have my fingers crossed that I can get them for a reasonable price. If sucessfull the three coaches will form the basis for a 304 conversion. Watch this space.
  6. 87 101
    Latest pics of Kyle station buildings...
     

     
    For the chimneys I have learnt a new skill of over laying air dry clay onto a foam core and then scribing in the stonework. I will be doing similar on the viaducts on Manchester Piccadilly.
     

     
    I have added a couple of boxes on the outside walls matching the prototype pics
     

     

     

     

     
    For the guttering I ended up carving them from 3mm foamex
     

     
    The only job left is the front edge of the canopy that I want to complete today
     

     

     

     

  7. 87 101

    Another year older !

    By 87 101,

    Had a good laugh this morning when I opened my cards. Im going to frame this one and hang it in the railway room..
     

     
    Now that I have some funds I think a shopping trip is on for some people and details for finishing off the layout.
  8. 87 101

    Bletchford Trent Valley

    By 87 101,

    Hi all first my apoilgies for not posting much recently as I have been realy busy with a few projects. As well as working on Manchester Piccadilly I have also been working on a huge 00/N gauge layout located in a very big shed up in weardale!
     
    Anyway back to Bletchford this is the name for my new home layout that replaces the Heatherburn garden railway. Bletchford as the name suggests will be a blend of Bletchley and Stafford and im hoping that I can mix the buildings and features to create a convincing WCML station in a similar way to when I built the Potters lane module a couple of years back. I might even push the boat out and start a layout thread !
     
    Other current projects include a couple of lima 87's , my class 83 (now motorised), class 325 royal mail unit (kit of parts available hopfully in the next few months) and the 323 project. The 323 is still in the devlopment stage as I have very limited funds at present but I have done a basic cab end mold and also a mold of a pair of the aborted 323 kit brass bodysides that I aquired a couple of months ago.
     
    With the forthcoming class 85 from Bachmann next year hopfully 2012 will see an increese of uk 25kv layouts emerging onto the scene.
     
    Merry Christmas everyone.
  9. 87 101

    The new plan

    By 87 101,

    Ok here is current masterplan for the new WCML layout...
     

     
    The layout will be built with 3 levels. The top level is the red track and will consist of the station and depot.
    The blue and green lines are the up and down main lines. With this layout I want to recreate a 4 track section of the WCML. The slow lines feed into hidden storage sidings whilst the fast lines go straight through. As with my previous layouts I want to incorprate different scenic areas of the WCML rather than model one particular place. At the left will be the Linslade tunnels whilst the flyover off my Trent Valley module will be reused for the flying junction. The feeder station relay room will also be relocated here. The right hand side the railway will be on a curved viaduct with the lines to the station on a higher viaduct. With this section I want to recreate the canal scene from the old heatherburn layout ( now sadly demolished ). The main lines will then dissapear into twin tunnels. The yellow line is the bottom level. This is the return loop for out and back working from the station.
  10. 87 101

    Overdue update

    By 87 101,

    Hi everyone first my apoligies for the lack of updates recently since returning to full time work there just is'nt enough hours in the day.
    Right well since the last blog entry Bletchford is no more. I had issues with the baseboards and to cut a long story short I moved up into the loft and started again. The replacement layout is on 3 levels and will be a long term project work concentrating at the moment on the building of a new show layout. AC lines is also no more as this has also been scrapped. The layouts last outing was Hornby live back in the summer but after not getting any pics of it in the mag I lost intrest with it and it was axed !! My new show layout is Wemblesden and is my take on the WCML in north London. The layout is16'x8' and will eventualy be automated so will make showing it a lot easer. Currently awaiting my membership of MERG to be activated so I can get on and plan the layouts control electronics although im getting a bit worried as I paid the membership fee+joining fee nearly 2 weeks ago but still hav'nt herd anything back. Fingers crossed is due to christmas and not they have done a runner with my money .....
  11. 87 101

    The 312 Project

    By 87 101,

    Following the last outing with Potters lane I decided that I realy need to do somthing about the lack of EMU stock ! Whilst working on the Manchester Piccadilly project last week I was discussing with the client about converting a lima 117 DMU to a 304 EMU by swapping the cab and gangway ends round and replacing the 117 cab with a 304 one from DC kits and replacing all the bogies with thompson ones from Bachmann. Unlike that thing that was sold on ebay the other week the conversion would look a bit more convincing !! This got me thinking about other possable conversions. The other EMU type that is associated with the WCML is the 310's. These units were based on the mk2 coach bodyshell that was currently in production at the time. So after looking for some decent pics on the internet an old Hornby mk2a made its way to the chop shop to have some serious modification ! Whilst not 100% correct the result is not that far off and would work out a lot cheeper than building the southern pride kit. What supprised me was that no sooner had I posted the first pics up on a forum I got a serious enquiry about building a second unit for someone else. This has got me thinking about producing the cab ends as a resin cast to make any future conversions easer as although I have modified the coach end on my unit I carnt get the slight angle of the cab right. My project started out as a 310 but got changed to a 312 as I want to finish the unit in blue/grey but the wrap round windows looked a bit difficult for the first attempt. The unit will be powered by a Hornby HST power bogie. I have mocked up the power bogie using an old Hornby unit and the wheel spacings are a perfect match for the B4 bogie sides off the original coach.
     

     

     

     

  13. 87 101
    The past week I have been working on a model of Kyle station building for a customer. The building mesures 3 feet long and has been built in half relief to fit on a narrow baseboard. The model is being finished in green/cream as the station was in the late 1980's and will form the ideal backdrop for the customers fleet of class 37's. Heres a couple of pics
     

     

     

     

  14. 87 101

    More projects !

    By 87 101,

    Its been a busy couple of weeks for me with several westcoast projects lined up to do. Last week saw a LMR 15 signal box in NSE red/white dispached to its new home whilst another NSE station building project is currently taking up space on my workbench. I have a show to do at Shildon in a couple of weeks so I have been installing the OHLE on the Trent Valley module
     

     

     

     

     
    Im hopeing to have the rest of the flyover done before the show. Another project that I have just started in the past couple of days is a loco that has been on my wish list for a long time
     

     

     

     
    This started out as a Hornby class 86 shell and was seriously butchered to make it into a class 83. For a first attenmp im well pleased with it.
  15. 87 101

    Website problems

    By 87 101,

    Hi all we are having problems with the PC that the westcoast website is run from. The problem is that it keeps switching itself off !! A new motherboard is due to be fitted that will hopfully cure the problem and in the meen time an earler version of the website is running as a back up. This will be replaced with the latest 52 page version tonight.
  16. 87 101
    Im curently in the process of updating my website and have decided to add a free forum aimed at 25kv electric modellers. Currently the forum is just my own layouts and projects but it would be good if a few others were intrested in being involved. The forum can be found at http://twentyfivekvmodellers.freeforums.org and hopefully the westcoast website will be updated over the next week. The new forum also has a built in chat room facility.
     
    Other news I have been offered a set of class 83 bogie sideframes for my latest scratch building project. Currently im working on the master for the locos chassis with the intention of casting this in resin as I eventualy want to add a couple more 83's to the fleet. The chassis is being designed to accomidate the lima class 87 motor and trailing bogie as they are a close match for the 83's wheelbase.
  17. 87 101

    AC lines expands

    By 87 101,

    This weekend has seen the construction of a second module for my AC lines project. AC lines will be my future exhibition layout and will incorprate Potters Lane as part of the line up. The idea is for a group of modules that bolt together to form an intresting display of different scenes that feature snapshots of the 25kv electric network.
     

     

     

  18. 87 101

    New NE Forum

    By 87 101,

    After a few technical problems I have now set up a model railway forum aimed at modellers in the north east of englend. The forum can be found at http://nerm.freeforums.org and all NE members are welcome.
  20. 87 101

    Another update

    By 87 101,

    The Westcoast website has just been updated again with a few pics of my latest building Portishead. With this update I have put all the text into text boxes so hopfully that should cure all the problems with the pages. The other update is that my exhibition layout Potters lane is to be rebuilt before its next show in March. Potters will form part of a bigger layout that will be known as AC Lines. AC lines will be a series of modules that will feature different scenes of the 25kv network. The first new scene will be a 6' section of line with a relay room. This will be built as part of an artical I will be writing for a mag. Other scenes planned will be Hest bank crossing and Tebay viaduct. A fellow modeller is planning a section of the LTS that will also link up with the AC lines project. Going to need a big hall though !!
  21. 87 101

    End of an era

    By 87 101,

    Well its offical the Heatherburn is no more. As mentioned elsewhere I am starting a new layout soon but to make way for it something has to go. Had things been different the Heatherburn would have now been finished and giving me the enjoyment of opperating my stock instead of being mothballed and overgrown for the past couple of years. The outside section is still intact and will be for a while yet but inside the garage is a different story. Thankfully I have managed to reclaim the pointwork by pouring boiling water over the points then easing them up gently once the balast had softened. I have taken pics of the distruction but I think that it would be better to remember the Heatherburn for its good bits like the canal area. So after almost 5 years its time to sign off with this project and move on to the new layout.
  22. 87 101

    Website Updated

    By 87 101,

    Just to let everyone know I have updated the westcoast website tonight. This latest update includes a few embedded video's.
    http://www.westcoastminiatures.com
  23. 87 101

    Time for change

    By 87 101,

    OK are we all sitting down........ right....... Tanfield show ( sept 10-11) will be the last outing for AC lines so if you havn't seen it this will be the layouts last show appearence as I have big changes in the pipeline !!
     
    Currently the situation is this...
     
    I have an N gauge layout that is beyond repair. The framing for the baseboards has sagged in the middle and TBH the track isn't that great so this will be scrapped. It will be replaced by a new N gauge exhibition layout in the future.
     
    The Heatherburn. This will also be disposed of as I have lost intrest in it ! One of the ply baseboards outside is rotting away + other outside issues so the time has come to call it a day.
     
    AC lines. As most will know this started out as a YMR module and as such I have a few headaches with it !! Trent valley is only part complete so not much point in going any further with it. I had considered selling the modules but I wouldn't get back what I put into them so I will be reusing all the track and buildings.
     
    This brings me on to my next issue what is the best way of reclaiming track especialy the point work ?
     
     
    Now before everyone starts trying to talk me out of it I have not taken the decission lightly to dispose of the layouts. What I want is a layout that I can actualy opperate at home but could go to a show if required. I have mesured the inside of the garage and relisticly I have 8' x 16' to play with. This time I will plan the layout properly so to incorprate all the features I want given the smaller space. Scenic wise the layout will be a mix of potters, heatherburn and trent valley as I intend to reuse all the structures and features from the existing layouts. A terminus with some through running would be ideal so im looking at split levels so plenty of visual intrest. Now that I have finaly made a decission im going to have a play with anyrail.
  24. 87 101
    Work is progressing well today on finishing the shed. The rear wall has now been clad in brick paper and the walkways are being added on the depot floor. Heres some pics...
     
    86 412 tries to hide behind the wheelie bin..
     

     
    I love this pic as the shed is starting to look so relistic..
     

     
    The same shot as the first now with the walkway added..
     

     
    Just to prove that it's not real !
     

     
    A couple of shots through the roof..
     

     

     
    and one from the door. Just a shame that it's blured!
     

     
    More later.
  25. 87 101

    Badger comes to life

    By 87 101,

    New loco makes an apearence at Potters Lane....
     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     
    Still a long way to go with this build but for my first scratchbuilt loco im well pleased with it! B)
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