Mr Pix

Hi ... I have a Hornby class 60 014 with the EWS big beastie sticker, I would like to remove them and replace with Metals Sector decals.. Not keen on trying T cut, have seen mention of Mr Muscles oven cleaning been used to remove decals with out damaging paintwork.. Any advice would be grateful. cheers Jez

Hi all. A little more progress on the minerals loading structures. The first building is a feeder that will supply minerals via a conveyor to the main loading bunker that will also be able to load road vehicles also , it will have conveyors either side linking to other structures. The second is the main loading bunker which has had some weathering and will have more detail added at a later date. Jez

Hi all. A little progress... a bit more ballast added to the storage sidings and more weathering to the flood loader, also a new loco added to the roster a Metals Thornaby 37 perfect for my timeline. Have started slowly weathering my fleet of wagons will show progress shortly. Jez

Hi Not much progress to show... ballasting the reception sidings, trying to achieve a heavily work stained area with a bit of greenery that's managed to survive the oil and industrial grime, will go over the track with the airbrush to add some more grime. Also had a go at weathering an OCA and HEA hopper wagons..... a bit of dry brushing and airbrushing. Jez

How about this pair of 20s..

Hi ... it comes from local stationary supplies in 3'x4' sheets in various colours. It's easy to cut and is very flexible. Not sure who manufactures it and store is currently closed. Jez

Hi all A little more progress on the loading bunker, added some more steel to the supports to the overhang and a rooftop which will be covered in corrugated cladding along with one more end. jez

Hi all. A little more progress on the loading bunker. Starting to cover the structure with some blue ribbed card which gives the look of corrugated iron cladding it's easy to work with and will be easy to weather.... Also starting to construct a steel structure that will support the overhang of the building the conveyor will enter. Three packs of PTAs in British Steel Blue have arrived from Accurascale, they are superb in all ways and they will be a great addition to the layout. Jez

Hi all A little more progress ... stating with the flood loader ,started constructing a more permanent structure that will sit on a concrete base, ready for the Accurascale PTA tippler wagons that should be on their way. Very happy with the Cavalex BBA's managed to find some coils to fit the cradles. Jez

Hi Fran... Great news about the coil packs.... Sorry to be a pain, could you tell me know the dimensions of the Coils. cheers... Jez

Great looking wagon very impressed with attention to detail. Removed the stanchions very carefully and have given them a coat of rust. Used some 4x4mm steel box section cut into 12cm lengths to try and create slab loads, there a fair weight as are the wagons themselves. cheers Jez

Hi.. Ordered a pristine one from Hattons yesterday. Stock levels 10+.

We're looking after a friends G.S.D , he's the big boy on the left who's only a year old!!!. He's a big softie and loves to play with our girl who is a a good size for a female.

Hi... Made up a sign with all the Railfreight Sectors to add to the one with the depot plaques. Thought I would show the progress on the layout so far and the space I have availabl and how the loop that runs hidden around the back of the depot. Jez

Hi all Not much to show, trying to add more foliage to the rear of the layout to help blend in with the backscene foliage and to add some cover around the half relief conveyor and associated structures. Put some Depot plaques along the interior of the shed to brighten up the place too. Jez

Hi... you can always half the Walthers kits and put them end to end doubling your money if you don't want to much depth that's what I did. The Coke Ovens is a good kit you can spread it over a long area depending on where you situate the conveyors. Oxford do a British Steel livery Janus shunter which looks the part, but it seems to be the most popular and I've never seen it reduced unlike the other liveries they do which can pick up at a reasonable price. I'm modelling late 80s early 90s so I'm trying to run stock from that era. The hopper wagons are Bachmann HEA/HSA they were normally used for hauling Coke for the Ovens but also used for mainly domestic coal also. You can get them on eBay I just picked up a few at a time and built up a fleet. Coal was delivered to Steelworks in my time period in HAA (merry go round hoppers) hopper wagons which Hornby manufacture it's been around for a long time and I'm not keen on it at all. I'm waiting for another manufacturer to bring out one hopefully Accurascale or Cavalex. Limestones was delivered in CBA/CDA hoppers to some works in Wales I think and Lackenby in HGA and PGA hoppers. Steel coils and slabs etc can be handled by various Wagon types. Bachmann do OCA for smaller products and BAA, BDA bogie wagon for larger slabs and coils, and Cavalex are going to do a BBA and BLA bogie wagons which look very good . PTA tippler wagons were used as for Ore and some other products deliveries to some works I think Ravenscraig and Lackenby. Here is a photo of a Metals livery class 37 on CDA hopper limestone hoppers heading to a works. Jez

Hi ... My previous layout on this forum was a steelworks themed layout in N gauge" Lackenthorpe". I used some Walthers buildings kits they were excellent but they are N scale so will not be much use for this one. They have more variety in oo/ho, you can modify them very easily. I got mine whilst I was on several holidays in the US, there are quite expensive especially if your in the UK, but they are great. I use ribbed card for the cladding bought from my local stationary shop for the exterior of the buildings so far and the frame work out of left over bits of wood or aluminium sheets. Steelworks structures and buildings tend to be on the massive size and very dirty, lots of grime . Works also have gas mains (pipes)running all over the place some raised high on stilts above ground level or attached to the exterior of buildings. Good look. jez

Hi all A little more progress on the layout, had a go at scratch building two half relief feeder buildings that are connected by a conveyor. They are fed from the structures that appear on the backscene of the Works. The taller of the the two will then link up over the running line to the main flood loader via another conveyor. Lack of materials is stopping the start of the main Loader building, plus I need to get on with the wiring and with converting to DCC ...etc . Jez

Great idea Rich.. never crossed my mind I'll look into it ...cheers Jez

Hi all Have been experimenting on a way of loading the wagons whilst there been drawn through the loader. Came up with using funnels which will be hidden inside the structure which will have a whole in the roof where I can pore the material which has been pre-measure as the wagons slowly draw through, may have to use a pitch roof to hide the hole as much as possible. Had some trial runs seams to be ok but once the cladding will be added won't be able to see and judge the right moment to pore the material. I may have part of the bunker sat on H section girders with space so I can see the wagons as the pass through so I can get the time just right. The large funnel feeds into the smaller one which slows the rate of flow down quite nicely just need to experiment a bit more and try different materials to represent coal and iron ore pellets. thanks for looking. Jez

Hi all Made up a dummy flood loader out of cardboard just to see how the dimensions I had in mine would look and where abouts to position it. Used the PFAs for a size reference ( waiting for the PTAs to arrive later in the year) against images of other loaders I'd looked at which were all at collieries. Will position some conveyors later if I'm happy with dimensions and look of the mock up. Will need separate conveyors for coal and iron ore, will have one at right angle going over the running line towards the backscene that runs along side the bunker and another longer one heading straight over where the 37 is sat at a slight angle connecting to smaller one for the loading of HGVs, like the one in the bottom photo. Jez

Hi all. A little more progress , have completed a permanent oval of the shed. Decided to attach the lift out section to the door rather then a hinge arrangement. Seams to be working fine and I always lock the door whilst I'm working on the layout, don't want any unwanted interruptions whilst running trains !!! Jez

Hi all. A change of plan regarding the mineral handling facility. I've been a bit over ambiguous with a rapid loader with two lines which was capable of handling ore and coal separately , like the one at Hunterston. Not enough space to do it justice, because I still would like some sidings for steel coils, slabs and hopper wagons ..etc. So i have a decided to have a single track loading facility with separate conveyors for different products something like the first photo. Not sure on how the structure will look but something like in the photos below, I like the small feeder buildings linked by conveys at different angles and I would also want a facility for loading lorries as well. The line that the Cawoods PFAs are on will be for the rapid loader, with the change I've been a able to fit a siding in for crippled wagons or loco stabling which is where the pair of 37s are sat. Jez

Hi all. My first attempt at weathering track with an airbrush, it's around the depot area so will have to go with some oil staining along the track centre line, but happy with the overall depot area. Used dried up tea leaves to represent the dirty ballast that you see at depots and yards, will probably use them in the yard with different shades of colouring. jez

Hi all A little progress on some of the rear backscene scenic area, been focusing on trying to blend rear of the layout with the backscene foliage, along with a disused plate layers hut that has been taken over by nature. Also added some HEA and HSA hoppers to the fleet for the movement of coke to the works. Jez