The Fatadder

Nice job on the new front, I keep debating on how I am going to tackle it on my 80s 'Skipper', the horngrill makes me want to etch it, but the fact that id prefer to get the unit finished makes me think plastic.....

With the weight box, I'd say get rid of it! theres a bit of space where it was located that you can fit some lead sheet, and there are a few locations inside where some more lead sheet can be added. Should be able to get the same weight of lead without the box.

The make lots of layouts to give opportunities to run it on was partially where I was thinking originally, but the space issues do get in the way of that some what.

Mostly because too much of my stock is built up in full mainline rakes (and hence you need some fairly large layouts to have a chance of running it all.

A further consideration which has come up this afternoon with the 80s stuff, was the realisation that I dont actually like 80s passenger trains. The multiple units have absolutely no appeal, and for the most part loco hauled workings (with the exception of my short 4 coach mk1 rake) take up too much space.

One thing I did rather like were the DCC couplings that Jim SW was showing off on his work bench a few weeks back, quite tempted to have a crack at converting a couple of wagons with those and maybe think again at a smaller 80s freight layout.......

If we're on the brink of the 4-CEP , it may be worth factoring into this, though whether that's compatible with 456 + 466 I don't know.

Either way the 456 and 466 arnt going to be compatible I think (at least not without a lot of modellers licence) so I suspect that the 466s will be disposed of. The problem with the introduction of the CEP (and for that matter the EPB or any other EMUs that follow the CEP) is that it pretty much comes out at exactly the same point that I am in at the moment, in that its back to just buying RTR, minor detailing for a couple of hours along with a rewheel and putting it back in its box...

The risk is that when you start again you'll want to use a lot of things you sold off- and can't replace without a lot of time effort and money

that is a big part of the problem. Certainly at the moment there are certain bits of stock, such as 37207 or my GWT HST set that are ringfenced from sale simply because I know how much of a pain they would be to replace. Other bits like my prototype deltic it gets a bit more tricky to decide.....

The idea is that if I think a post is of sufficient substance it gets added to the index, and is then further split so that for example for the work im doing on my 150 you have part 1, 2 and 3. helping to keep multiple posts on the same subject organised.

@Stubby

I've tried coming up with a similar terminus layout but shrinking the platforms down to 4ft and trying to compress the throat into 4ft, but all this does is limit train length too much (the 5 ft platform will handle a loco on 4 mk1s, or some pretty long modern DMU formations), and the thoat just looks like a model rather than the prototype (having to use shorter, tighter points and making everything much too crammed up.

The big problem I have at the moment is that after spending a show opperating Blackcombe, I was bored silly of shunting after about five minutes. I guess part of that was down to the couplings getting tidious (I'm planning to go down Jim SW's method of DCC controled couplings coupling up with the screwlinks hook on the locos, with prototypical couplings between wagons within the rake) but even so, shunting layouts just dont hold my interest.

Conversely I spent a day operating on Dagworth at the Stroud show earlier in the year, and a day on another terminus passenger layout last year which kept me much more entertained for longer. The beauty of the Bodmin plan is that in enables me to not only run the intensive passenger service that keeps me entertained, but it still offers plenty of freight to run (which I enjoy modelling more.) And does this without the need for a large continuous run that I just dont have the space for (or for that matter access to a decent sized operating team locally to help at shows).

@Ravenser

Quite sensible advice there. Will definitely have a througher think before making a decision. Something that appeals to some extent is to go through my current fleet and sell everything that dosnt fit a single era (given that I still have stuff from 4 main periods). that way I can concentrate 4mm scale modelling around that one area and be done with it.

Part of the problem I have at the moment is that for the most part I am running out of challenges with my modelling, and certainly is one of the areas that does appeal about trying something new. It just seems to be the same old jobs of changing wheelsets, fitting new grills and renumbering rtr stock thats got a bit repetitive. I was thinking about it the other night and came to the conclusion that once I've done something once and proved that I can do it, I've satisfied the challenge and want to try something else (maybe thats another reason why these layout challenges are so appealing to me.) While Bodmin does offer some interesting new things to do (mostly focused around building flat bottom trackwork) that is pretty much all it does offer as practically everything else is just using refined versions of the same techniques that were used to make Blackcombe.

2mm scale does offer some new challenges, with a lot more etched kits to build and a slightly different approach to track making.

Will see what happens.....

According to my old DMU spotter guide 150232 was made up of units DMSL 52232 and DMS 57232 - does this help?

Thanks, very handy as it confirms what I was thinking (only thought after posting that I could just look at the rtr model and see what numbers were on the other end of that...)

Just got the problem now that the modelmasters destinations are only in yellow and orange so I will have to make up the Plymouth destinations as well as the Bodmin ones....

the Freightliner one is 47370, and sadly has the cut away buffer beam

One ebay try different spellings of Vi Trains when you search, theres often a load that are miss listed and hence get less views (And lower prices) (though I probably shouldnt have said that )

As an aside with this, I'm sure Brian wont mind the extra publicity, but I've just found out that Shawplan are about to release a new 47 roof grill (along with some simply awesome class 56 bits that are shown in the latest Rail Express). the 47 grill will be rather handy for improving the Vi 47 that little bit further!

Seriously considering picking up a couple of cheap limby ones in Blue Pullman Fraggonset now for a bit of detailing to cheaply finish off my Blue Pullman rake, given the new etches, along with some old fashioned detailing I think it can be brought up to scratch without having to mess about respraying!

The 2nd hand prices are down to around ?? 35-40 now, and hattons have been doing the Intercity and RES releases for ??52 new recently.

I had hoped that the original release in large logo with the iffy yellow ends would have hit the bargain bin as well, but it looks like all of the blue releases so far have sold very well annoyingly!

so are you going to make the etches available for Sales to others? The results look very good.

Yea they will be available, watch this space after the weekend for more details hopefully...

While I would have prefered to use the 'Branchlines' wheels, given that they have better pickup and dont have the little holes in them (which risk catching on the pickups). According to my data a 47 should have a 15mm diameter wheel in 4mm scale, so the 14.5mm Maygibs are pretty close to scale (where as the 14mm branchlines might look a tad on the small side.)

I'm definitely going to be on the look out for more 2nd hand, though it does look like the blue releases are holding value a lot better than the sector liveries.

Really need to add at least one in Intercity Exec, one in Railfright grey and probably one in blue. Not to mention needing a couple more with the cowling to do the Blue Pullman pair......

Have had a look at their website but it does look like it might be a bit expensive for what I'm after given all the prices seem to be for large A4 sheets (and 4 logos will fit in an area of a couple of square inches.) The other problem is that they dont accept cad files, and I havent managed to get my artwork into another program without screwing up the sizes. the usual method of exporting as a jpeg just isnt working (resulting in a mess)

Still, will drop him an email tomorrow and find out how much it would be.

Jim, have attached a couple of photos which should show it. on the Bachmann one the blue suround to the window is part of the model though...

Sounds an interesting project, looking forward to seeing how it turns out.

Would be interested to hear how long these wagons lasted until, though I suspect it wont be late enough for me!

Really looking forward to getting them back from the etchers, hopefully wont be too long. For those who are interested, assuming this works I will have 4 locos worth going spare. Not going to know the price until I get the invoice back from the etchers, but it aught to be roughtly comparable to what Shawplan charge for a similar amount of parts (the development costs of doing these has been pretty substantial given the number of tests that have had to be done, Hoping that the sales of the 67 (and mk1 bits) will fund the development of my next couple of designs (which are being worked on at the moment.)

This includes etched walkways for the ex Bowaters china clay TTAs and ECC TDAs and hopefully PRAs, etched HST roof grills (which will enable the conversion of the Hornby model to the alternative types so that I can finally get the roofs of my HST fleet accurate to the numbers I have modelled!) and finally I am looking at doing an etched sprung chassis for both the Bachmann clay hood (which will be the first chassis I attempt) and the Cambrian Mermaid (more of a long term project that I'd much prefer to talk Pixie into doing!!!)

On the seriously long term project list is the plasser Network Rail track recording DMU, but I want to get a lot more experience of design work before attempting something so complicated.

I am also going to at some point have to etch a load of parts for the bridges on Bodmin.......

Thanks again for that,

Just need to get on and find some 2nd hand mk1 pullmans at a sensible price now.............

Definitely sound useful thanks!

Just realised that I had managed to switch the first post in the blog to draft (hiding it from view), which kind of answers some of these questions. Anyway....

The layout is in P4, with flat bottom track work which will be built using the Colin Craig range of parts for points and Exactoscale for plain track, the Wenford branch and the siding at the front are bullhead and will both be built from Exactoscale components.

Things such as the engine shed & storage sidings which can be seen on the B&W railway today are not being modelled (given that if the line was still in active service these wouldn't have been built (and the originals wouldnt have survived.) Its a bit of a shame really as a small fuel point in that location would have added a few extra movements, but my thinking is that with both Laira and St Blazey so near, its just not needed.

(though despite saying that, I may well go back to Templot and have a play to see how it would look............

Guess I will have to ask the oblivious question,

What's the source of the resin nose ends? Look pretty good!

thanks that would be handy.

Cool, will have a play and see what I can come up with....

This looks good. I seem to remember seeing some track plans that there was an engine shed siding above the two running lines, please correct me if I'm wrong. Do you have plans to add this ?

keep up the good work

Regards

The plan for the layout is a modern 'what if' based upon Bodmin, so the engine shed etc has all been removed.

Good to see more progress, really is looking like the next time I make it down its going to be finished!

I had a similar problem on my last layout.

A solution which I was recommended was to glue the templates down with Superglue, as that will prevent them from wrinkling up even if they do get damp again.

Looks like an interesting layout, look forward to seeing more!

I have managed to get a copy of that series for articles, which has been incredibly useful in working out what I am doing. I had completely forgot about it though...

Looking again today I found the bridge drawings which have been particularly handy given the lack of photos on the net!

Coming along nicely!

Is there an estimate on when its going to be finished? Just thinking that I am going to have to make sure that I manage to get down to devon to get a proper look!