SparxD428

2 hours ago, Rich Papper said:

Hello

Just found this and had a very enjoyable few evenings reading through from the start. I really like the depot scene (particularly when full of 50s), and I'm a big fan of anything underground. I have a tube station myself with EFE trains on a shuttle fitted with Metro Models motor bogies. Interested in the new motorised EFE version too though as mine are starting to show their age.

Seeing your platforms with lights makes me want to get on with mine too. Thank you for sharing.

Rich

Thanks Rich, I have followed you thread too for inspiration on the underground. I'm hoping in the future to finally have something running on the underground and am too interested in the new EFE version that's forthcoming. Might jolt me in to finishing off the underground board 2 (no scenic just somewhere to run a train up & back) although there's an awful lot of wires in the way right now due to no forward planning!

Cheers,

Stu

Tonight I thought it was about time to have a short running session under the lights after some further modelling. The retaining wall and bank is coming along by the TMD. I've fitted the (aesthetic only) coupling to 50024 and lightly weathered the ploughs.

It's late night Saturday in Winter 1987...

50029 Renown rolls in with the Down Midnight 1C02 23:25 Padd-Penzance, additional stop Acton Green

On Platform 3, the 23:35 Padd-Westbury pauses behind 50024

Late night Vac action at Acton Green

In the yard, this week's pilot is a CF 37 whilst an "ECS" Routemaster crosses the bridge

Back in daylight and the scenics are progressing on the TMD frontage

There are also a couple of new arrivals which will soon make their bow on Acton Green, more to follow after Santa has been..

Merry Christmas all,

Cheers,

Stu

Another busy Sunday on the layout. I have made up some non working ground signals from the kits available and planted them on the TMD, as they're old style and just for show, probably not anywhere near where they should be either. I've also continued building and painting the front retaining wall on the TMD and also finished the messy polystyrene cutting.

Also I couldn't resist having another go at sticking ploughs on 24. Result is OK, will need a bit of light weathering and fitting of some beam pipework and some sort of coupling needs constructing

A few pics of 24 and of the TMD ground signals

TMD 

Cheers,

Stu

A trip to Alton Model Centre yesterday for some supplies resulted in coming home with 3 x Blue/grey TPO carriages, so now as well as the Down & Up Padd-Penzance Sleeper, I can run the Down & Up TPO train as well.

For now though the TPO is running in daylight hours whilst I continue work on the layout.

I am constructing a removable embankment at the front of the TMD to draw the eye away from the woodwork, using the old reliable hanging basket liner method, as well as constructing a retaining wall at the front of the TMD. Progress is steady as cutting up polystyrene is so annoyingly messy. I Will be adding a bit more subtle greenery to the HBL when done in keeping with the colouring of the rest of the layout.

Also I have switched the office I built from the speedlink depot to the TMD fuel point and added some protective railing, which meant I also finished the brickwork at the building rear. Just need a few finishing touches to complete this now.

A few pics..

2 x 33's on the fueller with the new fuel offices

47593 having windscreen wiper repaired on shed

50004 on the new TPO

TPO on platform 3

Cheers,

Stu

TMD

Trackwork looks superb. A very nice layout coming along here.

Cheers,

Stu

Done some work on the layout(s) over the last week.

TMD:-

Retaining walls are complete on the scenic break of the TMD. I've started building a small front wall, and as it sits on a cradle above the storage yards I may add a separate sloping bank to make it more aesthetic to view, once I've finished the last of the retaining walls.

Also had multi meter at the ready due to a couple of dead spots , maybe these have been due to atmospheric/temperature change in the garage. One fishplate bypass soldered and some minor filing of rails to fix a poor point blade connection and everything seems to be back running OK.

Main Layout:-

Whilst the electrical kit was out I finally fixed the dodgy point that leads to the speedlink platform, it seems to spring back a tiny fraction to lose contact and this is one of my ones where the point motor polarity is shorting in one direction when the frog was connected. Removing the point motor proved it was the point itself, so an incredibly careful operation to tin a thin layer of solder on to the point blade, then file to profile seems to have finally fixed this problem. Now the short wheelbase Loco's go over the crossing in to the speedlink platform without stopping.

Of course, some pictures below:-

Sunday TMD line up

50029, 47402, 37284, 50032, 08(in shed), 33025, 47593 having wiper fixed in depot, 50028, 73137 and 31268.

Meanwhile on the fueller 50004 with 50031 in the carriage sidings waiting to take the ECS for the Down Midnight to Padd. Next time I might get some better pics of the finished walls.

At the station 31102 is parked for the weekend with a trip freight of supplies for the depot

50014 thunders through Acton Green on the Plymouth-Paddington

Weekend duty for an ETH Duff. 47500 on an engineers train with the down main under possession

Cheers,

Stu

An interesting aside, going through some of my old photo's I found something rather intriguing I took which I dated on the back of the print at the time as April/May 1987. It shows 33008 in revised green on platform 9 at Reading facing west, with a rake of Mk1s/2s in Blue Grey and NSE. The headcode shows "95" which would suggest it is a diverted boat train from Waterloo to Southampton Eastern Docks.

I am intrigued to know whether it did originate at Waterloo and was a boat train, if so why did it divert via Reading, and which route did it take out, bearing in mind it would have been very unlikely (but not entirely impossible) to have originated at Paddington with a 33 on the front.

I took a photo of the photo on my phone as scanner is not setup at the minute.

Be intrigued if anyone knew anything about this working and whether it was unique?

Might have to copy this post to a different forum.

Any of my SR expert friends feel free to comment

Cheers,

Stu

I actually managed to finish replacing the retaining wall at the weekend on the TMD.

A little bit of extra ballast, green and clutter was added in the void.

Also laid a concrete "barrow" crossing in the gap I left halfway down the carriage sidings, due to my laziness with cutting and fitting sleepers between flex joins !

Managed to finish weathering on 2x ballast wagons, and make removable ballast loads for them too. Might just whitewash one of the wagons a second time as yellow still looks a bit too factory. Still have 2 more ballast wagons to ruin to complete the short rake.

I also managed to construct and paint the large retaining wall behind the fuel point too, now I just need to plant that and join it with the scenic break bridge and add fencing, path etc.

Just one pic of the TMD and ballast wagons today on shed behind the 08, with some o the retaining wall thats been done visible behind.

Cheers,

Stu

Those flats are absolutely spectacular Richard, along with the rest of your work of course.

Inspiring.

Cheers,

Stu

50 minutes ago, P.C.M said:

Hi Stu, the layout and recent additions are looking great. I am sure i have a pic of 31117 somewhere I will dig it out.

 

Cheers Peter.

Thanks Peter, Just replied to Rob above that if I remember back that far 31117 was adorned with headcode discs, and just had another thought it was always quite clean too so may scupper the look I've just created on 102.

16 hours ago, rob D2 said:

Nice one , hope you got a bargain on 102.

 

I got one too, I may do 117 or 121 eventually but I got caught up in making white stripe 413 to go with my inspection coach .

 

incidentally mine came with no white head Code discs so I contacted Margate and got a whole bag of them 

Hi Rob,

Yeah think I got 102 and a cheap 8 pin chip for £112 all in so not too bad in these modern price times. Yeah didn't get any headcode discs with it and if my memory goes back far enough sure 31117 was adorned with them. 

Cheers,

Stu

Nearly 4 months on and not much has happened on Acton Green or the TMD although I have begun to do some work again. The brick sheet arrived so I am slowly replacing the printed brickwork on the TMD with Wills sheets.

Also a few months back I purchased 31102 from the Hornby outlet in Swindon before it closed. Started to do the first layer of weathering today, a little different to my normal style, using some brown/black acrylic mix brushed and wiped to damp down what was very shiny BR Blue.

Hoping to do some more this weekend on the TMD.

A few pics of course - tried out my work iPAD for pictures so hope quality is OK

31102. I will in the future renumber this to former OC favourite 31117

47500 on parcels

50032 on shed

Cheers,

Stu

Last week off for a while so cracking on whilst the sun has disappeared and the rain comes down.

The TMD has had a few oil drums and barrels weathered, road numbers added amongst other things.

The upper shed has had a pile of hedgerow dumped on top (though not yet stuck down) to give an overgrown look but actually it's to disguise the small gap in the backscene sky join.

I've been weathering some stock recently including the old Dapol Mk2D TSOs and BSO, as well as renumbering and weathering a BG NDV today (80710). Just need to do the roof on the BG now.

A few images on shed today

50028, 47500, 50020 & 33025 

BG 80710 in the stock sidings

Hidden round the back of the depot, some non WR traction awaiting removal home for repairs and the like

Still waiting for the bricksheet that never comes to re-do the printed retaining walls of the depot.

Cheers,

Stu

On 21/07/2020 at 15:54, Temeraire said:

Looks good Stu, needs dirtying up though. I’ve got the Dapol bubble in NSE just waiting for the 117 to match. You back working full time now? You’ll have to bring the 50s over to Exford for a thrash.

Off next week Ian, then back for 3 weeks in August before another 2 weeks as holidays so would be good to bring a few vacs over to Exford and see how it's all coming along mate. Let me know when you're free or having the next get together. Cheers.

Couldn't resist the new Bachmann 117 in Blue/Grey. L426 has arrived.

Never know if they will sell out and become rare and more expensive so took the plunge whilst stocks are good.

Have to say I am very impressed with this model, although coupling the thing up and getting it on the rails was a mission in itself, eventually done upside down in the six foot to get the pin couplings aligned properly which connect the internal lighting. Just couldnt seem to get along with the coupling assistance tool but now it's on the rails I won't be removing it again, maybe to detail the fronts and remove the couplings.

I now have a Bachmann 117,  Dapol 121 , with the Heljan DPU 128 in the DMU fleet as well as the old Lima 117 which will be semi retired now.

L426 on running in turn

The new DMU order on Acton Green out in force

Cheers,

Stu

Not much to report the last 4 weeks or so. But I'm going to be back in the garage this week and hoping to have a new arrival on the rails although I don't know how long it will be before my brick sheets arrive. Will be back on next week after some work has been done.

Nearly the end of another round of furlough and most of the TMD is now done.

All of the passenger services for the timetable have been added although I don't have headcodes for all of the HST services or any of the DMU ones.

The sidings ballast is currently drying. Still waiting on brick sheets to finish the scenics, but some mountboard has arrived courtesy of Mrs.P visiting hobbycraft yesterday so I can complete the shed roof.

A few photo's this time no loco's but just of the empty TMD section.

You can see the storage roads for Acton Green beneath in this shot.

Cheers,

Stu

Went up in the loft and retrieved the last remnants of the used flexible track from Westquay which has been cleaned and painted ready to be laid to finish the sidings on the TMD.

On a heavier note my brain is fried as I have decided to put together the passenger timetable for Acton Green as planned for the Summer 1987 timetable period, with loco diagrams (but by gum not for HSTs or DMUs as don't have the diagram data and don't own enough stock ! )

2 days spent rummaging through the BR Passenger timetable which has seen better days and is missing a critical page from Table 116 and from Table 135 although I have enough data to piece together the missing HST workings I think. Split in to 3 sections, (Mon-Fri, SO and SUN) the spreadsheet is growing. So far I have all HST and Loco Hauled passenger workings for all days, as well as DMU workings on the Down line for Mon-Fri. When it's finished I will post a copy of the spreadsheet if anyone's interested. As a bit of licence I have moved some of the Ealing Broadway to Greenford services to start at Acton Green, just those that leave at xx:25 and will do the same on the return trips.

Don't know if I'll ever run a full day but my idea is that if I have a working TT I can dip in and out some hours when the trains are run.

Hope to have more pics of the TMD in next day or two once final tracklaying is done.

Cheers,

Stu

Whilst tidying up the garage yesterday I came across a box which had a strip of backscene from Westquay rolled up inside it. Almost enough to cut down and use as a backdrop for the TMD, just a gap to fill above the shed which I'm sure I can construct something to hide or paint the join. As there's no sign of the materials for the retaining walls yet I've decided to make the backdrop a little more rural even though the TMD is set at the London end. Just waiting for some more track to lay and complete the last 2 sidings now.

I also have finished the fuel office and added a little bit of growth to the open area where the depot emerges from the scenic break. Added another few bits to the TMD roof as well. For the large retaining wall by the fuel point I will use the printed brickwork I made for now, with a view to covering with the Wills brickwork when it arrives.

A couple of pics of the recent efforts

50024 about to go on the fueller

Morning duties awaited for a small stable of locos today

Aerial view of pretty much the whole TMD layout

Meanwhile on Acton Green after many trains yesterday a quiet morning. 33004 has replaced the 31 on station/yard pilot duties. I'm hopefully off to the loft later to find the old Summer 1987 timetable so I can start updating the times the UP passenger services would be due through Acton.

Cheers,

Stu

Coming along very nicely mate. Hope the Z21 programming all goes well, looks like you've got it covered

Cheers,

Stu

It's looking good Rob. I like the pipework from the tanks. Looking forward to seeing 31413 when she's done too.

Cheers,

Stu

Right then. Lockdown savings duly spent now.

First job was to get a 6 function Imperium decoder for the new 121. This is now running so much better at slow speeds and has full lighting functionality so very happy on that front.

Also I couldn't resist to purchase 33025 from Kernow with an ESU Loksound v5.0 SWD Sound decoder.

I know it's the old Heljan body but it will do for me and my layout. This evening I finished off lightly weathering the bits of the white roof that have not been done at the factory to give it a better look.

I also managed to fit the small speaker in to the top of the loco body behind the No.1 cab so no need for drilling and soldering. Getting used to the many sound functions although a fault with my Prodigy unit (from birth) has been no shift functions so only have f1 to f9 for now.

Also got a Mk2A FK and Mk1 BSK in NSE Livery and another Blue/Grey Mark 2A TSO so have a nice "NSE" rake for the Padd-Oxfords.

I've also nearly finished the fuel tanks for the fueller and have a new hut under construction.

A few pics.

A nicely running and lit 121 W55020 on a Slough-Paddington service

The new kid in town on the fuel point with its sister loco.

W55991 and a few vacs on shed

The fuel tanks from the air. The hut will be situated in front of these.

Cheers,

Stu

Progress on the fuelling point so far. Structures similar to the Bachmann Kit I have on the main layout, but all made from old bits of card, plastic strip, copper pipe, wood and a bit of Wills corrugated sheet.

Not the best pics but it's coming along.

Need to finish off the fuel hut and storage tanks now. 

Fuel point has dual fuel points for 2 locos if needed.

Cheers,

Stu

On 06/06/2020 at 14:29, rob D2 said:

Good stuff.

Furlough is a double edged sword isn’t it ? I’ve had plenty of model time, little cash, but the joy of modelling is normally it’s an escape from work.....a break....and not so at present !

 

And I know full well there’s no job to go back to, so I need to get on with it as the next job may well be the other side of the world.

 

lookign forward to seeing the TMD progress 

Hi Rob,

Sorry to hear there's not likely to be a job to go back to. My company is running furlough teams doing 3 weeks on/off at a time so I hope as the year goes on there is still a job in the future for me. It's been a bit of fun having some time to do some modelling as supplies have been limited I'm glad I never chucked out the offcuts box for sure !! Hope things pan out OK mate.

Cheers,

Stu

Some ballast has arrived this week enabling me to complete the ballasting of the lower level of the TMD.

Just need to grime up the 4 foot on the last lines down there now. I've also been continuing painfully slowly with the TMD roof and also started a template to scratchbuild a fuel point, but to be honest once the weather turned this week and being back on furlough , just ran a few trains around Acton Green.

Which can be a terrible thing as it gives me too much time to think and contemplate things, but for now I'm pressing ahead whilst there is plenty to still do on this layout. 

I've always loved trying to run realistic operations to timetables and diagrams, which for a layout like this is just not feasible due to the sheer amount of stock (and storage roads !!) that would be needed.

Some of the older loco's I hard wired are beginning to show their age so have been consigned to the stored unserviceable (U) back of the cupboard. Also not particularly impressed with the new 121 but until I can get a 5 function decoder holding court on whether its the DCC chip or the Dapol motor. So the operational fleet is dwindling and in need of reinforcements.

So to keep me going at the moment I am putting together the data for loco hauled services that ran into/out of Paddington in the Summer 1987 timetable (and believe me I was on plenty of them) so I know what the diagram requirements would be to run full days timetable of Loco hauled services.

Of course HST, DMU, Freight and possibly Parcels would be ad-hoc.

Hope to have some more pics of the TMD later

Cheers,

Stu