john dew

Brilliant shots Rob.......love the doubleheader. Its something I was just about to set up on Granby. What were the GWR rules regarding doubleheading........was there some limited distance before the assisting loco had to be coupled behind the train engine? Second question if I may......I have been admiring your coach boards for some time......if home made, what font should one use? Kind Regards from Vancouver John

Thanks Mikkel that's very kind of you . I suspect I should add plates now as standard.......so that's coal,crew,lights,irons,plates and of course the chip......I don't think I should add that lot to the cost of the loco though....book it under miscellaneous instead Like many of us I tend to skip around like a butterfly but amongst all the little jobs I try and have one major project on the go. I have been putting off doing the sidings for far too long Cheers

Hi CoY The sidings aren't supposed to be scenic! In truth they are a bit too tight. Adjustments to one rake can have unexpected knock on effects on others. You do have sharp eyes.......I was very happy with the Wellington and was able to pre order a second at the original price. It's renamed "Broughton Castle"........Rob very kindly sorted that for me......right tender,shedded at Chester and it has some local Connections for me....perfect. The only downside is the name plates are just a tad undersize........I keep meaning to post a photo......should I have removed the original plates? I will take a photo later

Thanks Rob. It's easier than a 57xx because of the level floor. It still took a few attempts with tweezers round poor Dai's neck. I actually used a Monty's LHD driver.......that way I could put a spot of glue on his left hand. I think a guy with a shovel would be tricky. Cheers John

Back from the walk......dont know about the UK but its an absolutely stunning day here......warm and sunny but with a pleasant crispness in the mountain air.....great Thanks for the likes guys........that was quick. So here is the 64xx (suitably resized) passing the Down advanced starter....... pushing and pulling the autocoaches on its regular journey to and from Ruabon. At one time it was Ellesmere but when Coach moved his Delph layout there I thought a change of location would avoid comparisons! I like Black and White shots because I think it suits the atmosphere I am trying to re create........but it also has the added advantage of toning down the artificial back scenes. When I started this layout in 2007 I didnt know about the availability of photographic back scenes.......sorely tempted to rip these out and start afresh but I rather doubt that it will happen now Passing Granby #3 box on the Down Main before entering a time and distance envelope and arriving at Ruabon Ruabon......more accurately known as a 29" block on Storage siding U4.......just in front of an Iron Ore train from Bidston Docks Birkenhead The storage sidings are normally concealed behind rows of Metcalfe sidings and occupy virtually all one side of the Railway Room. I guess this is a clumsy segue into next weeks post but meantime reverting to the 64xx .........like almost all purchasers I am very happy indeed with the model. I operate DCC and RR&Co.....I had to fiddle with Cv 2 and the threshold speed rather more than I normally do with a 57xx but once done she operates very smoothly and is ultra reliable. The train used to be run with a Hornby 14xx, with pickups on one of the coaches which also contained a Lenz Gold chip and enormous capacitor. I have dismantled the pickups and the 64xx is loose coupled and runs beautifully off the 6 pin Lenz Mini. The shuttle runs to a timetable and the 26" train stops perfectly in the 29" block without ever endangering the 8F.......and all this out of sight.......I am a happy camper. This weeks project.....boring electical stuff re assigning block lengths in the storage sidings.......which first have to be emptiedi

I am sure you are right MIB.......funnily enough., now I think about it, I recall the colour difference from my Army service but that was in the dim and distant past. Eventually I will pick up the courage to weather my locos......mind you I have been procrastinating for so long some locos are now naturally weathered. Thank you for the likes Gentlemen........as promised more locos.....this time my latest acquisition the 64xx Remembered just in time I only needed to add a Fireman and no Head Code Lamp. She will be permanently assigned to the Granby -Ruabon Autotrain A couple of shots in comparison with a 57xx I should invest in more etched number plates. They do make a difference I had intended to post a few shots of the journey (fictional) to Ruabon but forgot to resize them so for now I can only show the leading autocoach being pushed out of Platform 3 at Granby More later but first the dogs are demanding their walk.

After all the building it was nice to start operating again. A couple of relatively recent acquisitions Hornby Castle "Wellington" and the earlier Bachmann Hall "Colston Hall" moving on to the Turntable at Granby Shed. First an uncropped overall shot.......sorry about the background Colston Hall is about to enter the TT, Wellington waits on the water crane loop and in the distance Brockton Grange is on the Coaling line head shunt. For those interested this whole sequence is automated from the moment a returning loco enters the Booking in block to the moment it comes to rest in its allotted place in the shed. Determining which road the TT would move to and which way the loco was facing could best be described as an interesting project.......I keep meaning to do a video The difference between Bachmann and Hornby's different interpretation of GWR green is quite marked! I know the Hall shouldnt have that head lamp code but I am afraid the locos are assigned a particular roster and then stuck with it Here are a couple of black and whites.....more realistic perhaps Last Saturday was pretty exciting...... 3 hours non stop roller coaster rugby. The championship resting on the last lineout in the last minute of the last match.........even the dogs got excited. Next post .....change of pace. The 64xx is getting crewed (painted), coaled and hooked up to the Granby-Ruabon Autotrain

Well don't leave us in suspense for too long! Regards John

Well I have to talk to someone about it............as you must know Rugby is not exactly the most popular sport in North America although it has a surprisingly high participation level After the Wales game I posted on Football Focus .........but I was met with a stony silence They appear to be only interested in soccer! Maybe with the World Cup coming up I should start a Rugby Roundup on wheeltappers? Regards from Vancouver

Thanks for all the likes guys.......and thank you M.I.B., in particular, for responding . I am not sure that it resembles North Wales particularly closely but I do hope it captures, to some degree, the black smoky atmosphere that was so typical of northern industrial towns in the 40s and 50s PS I am really enjoying your "non layout" thread North Cranford. You have a super collection of rolling stock. Kind Regards from Vancouver

Well Wales certainly beat Ireland.......less certain that England hammered the Scots........I guess I have to hope that Scotland beat Ireland on Saturday but somehow I doubt it. I fear England will be regretting all those opportunities squandered. The pub section is now completed. Added a few customers: You will probably recognise these as all coming from the Airfix/Dapol stable Not sure about anyone else but I find that the figures produced by the different manufacturers are markedly different in style and proportion. I tend to group them by manufacturer so the differences are not too obvious. . In addition to the pub I built another terraced house block on the other side of the bomb site . This time, happily, there is no gap. .....the top most floor has a protruding gutter and has to sit exactly on top of the front wall which is 74mm high. The side walls are made up of two 35mm internal walls between which are sandwiched two floors made of 2mm card.....ie a total of 74mm.......but there is no allowance for the 4 layers of paper cover layer or tolerance for errors The lesson is to depart from the sequence in the instructions and have the front panels cut out before assembling the internal walls........I had to trim 2mm off the top bedroom walls to get a no gap fit. The War Damage Commission contractors have just repaired the end wall hence the rendered finish Here is the remaining bomb damaged house with the end wall supports (I got the idea for this from one of Chubber's threads) More figures added.....this time from Langley Models The Northern Housewife's unrelenting, never ending battle with grime: One assumes the Davies family knows the shunting schedule before hanging out the washing This shot is something of a duplicate but I wanted to draw special attention to the gap in the fence. It was by just such gap that, over 60 years ago, I and my pals used to get into Edgehill Shed. Fortunately, in our case, there was never a railwayman standing on the other side! So thats it......job done Here is the complete row......Parcels Depot (with stable!) Terraced Houses, Bomb Site and Pub Before and Afters are always good for morale Here is an early photo showing the storage sidings that are now covered over with the lift off scenic sections So whats next? Here is a continuation of the lift off. and the reverse angle: A narrow street runs parallel to the platforms leading to the main station building............ in front of which is a temporary loco parking lot......there is usually a coffee mug or wine glass there as well. The station building needs to be completed with annexes on either side and the final roof module added. The loco park has to be converted into a bustling station square.........and I have to find another place to put my coffee mug. In addition to the above I plan to run a few trains......courtesy of a controller from Australia

Thanks John.......I am so glad you like my continued allusions to Merseyside........I was actually thinking of Southport with "Chapel Street." Should we ever have a pint together, which would be splendid, I think we will try and find a niver pub than the Great Eastern! I cannot tell a lie about the flashing........its straight from the printer courtesy of John Wiffen! Best Wishes

Hi Chris Thank you for replying to my enquiry My autocoach is presently hardwired to a Hornby 14xx. The decoder and stay alive capacitor are in the coach. I am debating whether to continue this set up with the 64xx. When I added tender pick ups to the Bachmann 3F it was quite easy to remove the entire decoder socket and the wires were helpfully identified on the socket.......I wondered if that was the case with the 64xx? Regards from a sunny Vancouver

Not a great week Ireland beat England and sad to report still no trains running on Granby.......the Repair guy is still "travelling" and Tony's Trains dont know when Lenz will deliver the the replacement throttle I ordered in January. Time to put plan B into effect. An internet friend in Australia is lending me a replacement........its on its way across the Pacific as I write...................coming across the Atlantic in addition to the throttle (?) is a Hornby Hall and a Bachmann 64xx.........so perhaps the next post but one will feature the new additions to Granby Shed. The good news is that the pub is finally completed......this post shows the finishing stages Covering the raw wall edges with printed cover strips Incidentally thanks for the likes guys . It occurs to me the you may like the post because I seem to be quite adept at identifying things one should NOT do and then suggesting bodging remedies. I had a genuine moment when covering the centre wall edge shown below: The exposed sides are not printed ........hastily re-read the manual and there , right at the beginning,........wrap and glue the cover layer before fitting the inside walls Dew's bodging solution : Insert sliver of Brick paper into fortuitous gap between side panel and wall. Trim down centre wall cover layer (which should have been fitted three weeks ago) and fit Attic floor with wrap round guttering added........one of the key things I have learned from both this build and the terraced houses (which have a similar construction) is that it is absolutely essential that the attic floor fits precisely over the side walls.........any cutting error or variation in board thickness of the internal walls and floors can prevent this. I kept checking by dry fitting the side panels.....when I got to the second floor I realised I had a problem.......so the second floor bedrooms lost their skirting boards.....2mm trimmed off solved the problem.......no gap Having fitted the roof supports (I added some additional ones) it was time to start tiling.......a job second only to ballasting in terms of boredom Initially I used to tile with entire sheets but it is undoubtedly better to lay in single strips.......provided you keep them in order to preserve John's weathering effects. Here is the roof finally done with just the last chimney stack cover layer to be fitted I had a problem with the supplied roof cover strips.....too narrow.....or perhaps my gap was too wide So I substituted trimmed down strips left over from one of my warehouse builds So here is the finished pub in situ Street detail added....Lampost, Pillar Box ,Phone Booth.......pedestrians to follow. I even managed to get a loco into the shot........a Pannier naturally! Hanging Pub Sign plus I replaced the first floor entrance window with a similar sign........its shown like that in the two storey kit but not, for some reason, in the three storey kit.......I think it looks better this way. Two home made street signs .....I always try and suggest there is life beyond the base board ......so here the idea is that Chapel street ,the main road, chicanes away off the baseboard while the narrow street (Penny Lane!) of railway cottages leads on to the Parcels Depot Side view showing poster on large blank side wall that can be seen by all the trains entering and leaving Granby. "Sam the Ram" best bitter...........the market leader in Granby Thats it......all done While I wait for the controller I will get a few people painted and finish off the Bomb Site..........hopefully Wales will beat Ireland (never ever thought I would be cheering Wales on!) and England will hammer the Scots

Has anyone had the body off to fit a decoder?

Heard this morning that mine is on its way to Canada from Liverpool. Typically takes a couple of weeks..........would appreciate some feedback about running performance ..........its going to replace a Hornby 14xx that is hardwired to an Autocoach containing the decoder and stay alive capacitor ..........it would be nice if I could run it without all this..................in which case I need to order a 6 pin decoder Regards from Vancouver

The pub will be part of a narrow scenic strip at the front of the layout. Part of this strip covers a lower level storage area which will need to be removed from time to time Originally I had planned to mount the terraced houses and pub on their individual Scalescene foundations and make them removeable sub units on top of the lift off section.......this didnt work out too well with the terraced houses.....the corners tended to curl. So I glued a larger street foundation on the lift off section which overlaps on to the baseboard I guess this segues neatly into interiors! John Wiffen is very enthusiastic about interiors and provides all manner of printed accessories .....book shelves , pictures, rugs etc. I must confess that normally I dont bother but in this instance, bearing in mind the large pub windows, I thought I had better install some detail So that lone edifice above is John's very cleverly designed bar counter........complete with wash up sink! To which I added: Benches, tables and a few customers and of course Bronwen the blonde bombshell barmaid I was getting quite carried away with all this. Most people are familiar with the Airfix/Dapol figures........there are a couple of signal men......one pulling a lever: pulling a pint perhaps......the other figure has an arm outstretched: just like a dart player I thought........and I had cut out the facsimile dartboard and glued it to the wall. The people painting factory was in full swing..........then a reality check......I wondered how much one could actually see once the pub was in position The answer............not a lot Even with flash and a mega zoom: Not sure I want people to look that closely anyway......they might spot that the net curtains are not hung very well So work on the people painting factory stopped abruptly.......if anyone would like to buy a half painted Dapol signalman holding a 4mm scale dart......send me a PM Moving right along Here is the wall finally separating the pub and Bronwen from the track..........on the left you can see the join of the next lift off section.....the narrow ramp running along side the station. Hopefully I can conceal that with a Belisha Beacon style pedestrian Xing This is a continuation of the street in front of the pub The street is fairly narrow and will only allow two lanes of traffic.....I may have to make it a one way street........I kind of like the idea of bus stops similar to Skelhorne Street at Liverpool Lime Street. I need a fair number of people but its surprising how few models there are available in walking or running mode.......bus queues might well work to populate this long stretch.........I am going to leave a decision on this until I model the square outside the main Station Building.......thats a couple of months away Finally here is what it might have looked like in 1947.....you just have to imagine the people......and the smoke! Hope you like it

Hi John Thanks for confirming that rather fragile link. As it happens the GWR took over the Granby-Chester Junction Rly in 1858. But I suspect you knew that already Best Wishes

..Thanks for the likes guys.......as I said earlier, I was uncertain whether to post this "how I did it" style update on RMWeb but as it appears to be of some interest here is Stage 2 dealing with the end and centre walls. These create the core of the building. The kit is designed to be attached to the end wall of a row of Scalescene Terrace Houses. This isnt the ideal shot to start with but unfortunately, yet again, I forgot to to take the key initial shot!......bear with me On the right is a standard Terrace house end wall mounted on 1mm (medium) card An inner end wall marked out for individual floor wall panels is mounted on 2 mm (heavy card) A centre wall, similarly marked for individual walls is is made up of 2 x 2 mm card glued back to back This centre wall is glued at right angles to the endwall. So you finish up with a very substantial T....... a 9mm end wall joined to an 8mm centre It is very important that the centre wall is at exactly 90o, dead centre and that the individual floor markers all line up. To achieve this accurate cutting is essential......you do need to focus to ensure the blade cuts are at 90 o Initially this T structure is quite vulnerable but once the individual wall panels are glued to the end and centre walls and a floor panel added the structure becomes increasingly stable. When I built the terraced houses which use a similar technique I didnt fully comprehend the importance of both the floor panels in forming a rebate into which the front panels will fit The next shot.....a close up....hopefully shows this It is so easy to miscut these small panels by half a millimetre or so........3 floors the error accumulates quite quickly. Its very important all the floors and walls are flush otherwise the front panels will not fit properly This shot shows the end section added.......this section should use components from the terraced house kit. I had to change this because it would have been too deep for my layout so I used another centre wall and cut it, and one set of walls, back by 2mm so it would accept a front panel In the instructions you are supposed to build the core floor and walls before starting on the front panels..........I think it is far better to build the front panels first .........so you can use them for dry fitting as below I kept doing this checking throughout the build and it gave me a far clearer understanding of how the model would finish up The two back panels glued in place And now the front panels are fitted. Fitting the centre doorway panel is very ingenious........see the shot below Lots of dry fitting before I applied any glue! John Wiffen recommends leaving the fascia until the very last when the building is mounted on the foundation board. This is sound advice because it enables you to conceal any minor gaps by adjusting the fascia position. However I got in a catch 22 situation because I had to custom build the foundation to fit in with the layout and also sort out any interior detail.......I will cover this in the next post. Here is a shot with the fascias fitted.......you can see that despite my best efforts the rear wall is a little under 2mm higher than it should be and the floor sags a bit .......there is an eaves layer still to apply and it may cover it but I may have to do something more drastic I mis-spoke last post when I said fascia cover sheets were not provided......I found them, but by then I had made my own from black core mount board (very handy if you can get off cuts from a picture framer). The centre fascia is trickier and I am still working on it Real net curtains mounted on Brass Rod! Hint of an interior.....more about that later.....Oh and there wil be a wall between track and pavement. Not sure about the Pub name.......Great Eastern on a GWR layout! At least the "Great Eastern" was designed by Brunel so I suppose thats ok I think I can get away with the lettering style and colours.......but will pass quickly over "Real Ale" in 1947. Its the one downside of Scalescenes for me........the buildings are fine but the signage is invariably based in the 60s and beyond. Chippies were definitely not called Take away in the 40s and 50s Next job ......the roof and trim for the walls........thats when all the nasties emerge

Thanks for the likes guys......I wasnt at all sure this topic would appeal. Thanks for the reply John.......I am glad I am still bringing back for you shared memories of Liverpool! Net curtains in Yates....you are right I dont think so either. Frosted glass would be more authentic and I remember vaguely how to do it.....briefly dipping the film into plastic solvent......but its going to be curtains I am afraid as I have just finished fitting them........genuine net by the way......donated by Doreen Kind Regards from a damp and muggy Vancouver

Ok on with bulding the pub........not quite as dramatic as loco shots but I thought it best to keep all my Granby posts together. I suspect many members have already built this kit.........but for those who havent...... . All John Wiffen's kits are ingenious.....this one is no exception. It is primarily designed to add on to the end panel of a row of his terraced houses. In addition the kit includes a number of alternative shop fronts (Butcher, Laundrette, Chippy etc) which can be substituted for house fronts thus creating a row of shops Component assembly is standard Scalescenes...........from time to time I have added words of advice........based ......believe me ......on bitter experience From the left : Base layer or template glued to thick (2mm) card........sometimes you can take chances with John's recommended thicknesses......dont mess about with Base Layers.......if he says 2mm .......2mm it is Top Centre Base Layer with apertures cut out...........change the blades frequently.......lots of shallow cuts rather than attempting one deep slash! Bottom Centre Cover Layer before cutting out apertures Top Right Cover Layer glued to Base Layer This is a completed back panel. Aperture overhangs wrapped and glued. Windows and door fitted. The window sills are finicky but worth the trouble......a door step gets added after the panel is in place The camera angle shows the white cut line at the top of each window.......it doesnt show at normal viewing angles so I didnt bother painting it out . Completed Panels for the shop front.........these are basic panels that are used for all the shops The next shot shows my first variation from the standard design The back panel I showed earlier (top left) is also designed as side panel to be placed next to the shop front panel with door way.....top right. I didnt care for the contrast between the un-linteled windows on the back/side panel with the more elegant linteled windows above the shop fronts.........so I did a bit of Kit bashing using a shop front base layer with a combination of top layers from the shop front and the back/side Here is another shot showing how I mix and matched the top layers to in an effort to link more harmoniously with the adjacent shop front The next shot shows how the individual shop fronts are created Top Left Shop front base layer mounted on to film Middle Sub Layer Bottom Shop Front Top Layer .......wrap and glue The centre shots show these the components assembled together with its associated sub components: Shop Sign Base* Window Sill Plinth * For some reason, unlike the butchers etc, the Pub Sheet doesnt include a a sign base but I chose to make my own .......I think it looks better and finally, on the right a completed shop (well pub actually) front panel. Bottom right is a suggestion of how to handle the clear glass.......my memory of pubs in Liverpool was a sort of frosted glass in the lower half etched with signs like "Walkers Warrington Ale"........"Saloon Bar" etc but maybe net curtains will work? Will discuss the name of the pub next post

England 21 Wales 16 Off topic.......but I had to share it with someone! Not exactly a majority sport in Canada........had to jump through hoops just to watch it on telly

Its straight off the printer! John Wiffen (Scalescenes) offers an alternative finishes pack for his terraced houses.....1.99 GBP. In addition to that end piece there is a cement rendered end and cement rendered fronts painted in various colours......perfect for a Cornish fishing village or a gentrified terrace in this century. Its a neat way of adding variety to the model. I am going to add some supports and debris to the wall shortly Regards

Operating has come to bit of a halt. The Lenz DCC Controller/Throttle stopped working . My attempts at repair (replacing the cord) have not been successful, in fact, they may have made things worse! What was a sick or resting parrot is quite possibly now a dead parrot . I cant have my diagnosis confirmed because the sole Lenz repair technician in the whole of North America is away on a trip until mid March. Tony's Trains have been very helpful and understanding but they are out of stock of a replacement until at least Mid February. I can still run trains, throw points etc through the computor with RR&Co but the controller is useful for day to day movements and I do need it to programme some decoders. So all in all......a bit tiresome.....and expensive. Lots of time now, and no excuses, to press on with modelling the strip on the North end of the station The plan was to fill the space between the Parcels Depot with terraced houses and a Pub. I was a bit uncertain how the space would work out ......I am very poor at visualising.........so, before Christmas, I built a trial run of Scalescene Small Terraced Houses I got too far into the build before I realised I hadnt taken any photos. If I am honest I am now rather relieved. I have to confess this building only barely makes a pass grade. On reflection I dont think it does! I guess its a case of pride comes before a fall ......having built a couple of Warehouses and the big Roof and Station I thought this would be a breeze. I found the build extraordinarily difficult and in addition to the more obvious flaws there is a nasty 2mm gap at the back where I failed to get the gable ends to mate properly I am not certain exactly what I did wrong but its some consolation that John (Brossard), a fellow Canadian and far better modeller than I, said he had a similar problem at the back. I always said this would be a warts and all thread Before moving on ......note the boarded up windows in the end house above John Wiffen has produced some alternative sheets for the end gable thus providing me with a perfect time stamp for 1947/8 and now I come to think about it.....a rather feeble excuse for the c**p build. Doug (Dooferdog/Chubber) did a brilliant cameo of a bomb site with a supported wall which by coincidence re surfaced on YMR quite recently. I remember being very impressed with it at the time and filed it away for future use. As I said its a perfect time stamp for 1948.......the sites were semi cleared.....some piles of brick remained....weeds and even small trees and shrubs appeared. Perfect playground for kids......in fact I used to play cricket on just such a site. Its astonishing the varied effect a bomb blast can have.....in 1947 we moved into a house that had been repaired by the War Damage Commission.....there were a few similar houses..... others with no apparent damage (I guess they had new windows!) and others totally flattened.....those sites were still empty 10 years later........and all from one land mine! So here is the site of this months project I have made a bit of a start with the Bomb site......which also provides a convenient viewing lane on to the railway. After the site, two more terraced houses which I will record and get right this time and finally the Scalescene Pub Regards from Vancouver where we are enjoying (?) yet another "Pineapple Express" (read Wet.....very wet)

Nice job with the breakdown crane guys.........something I have always been meaning to attempt.....just keeps edging down the list Spoke too soon about the weather....cold and wet but I guess cold is a relative term if you are enjoying -17o ..........in the rain forest 6o is considered cold! Kind Regards