The Fatadder

Very nice, I had been thinking about getting some for Brent as it progresses. Really like the double bladed knife!

Thanks, I'm quite pleased with the curve, it's worked out better than I expected. I'm looking forward to adding the branch curve as well to finish the look...

Another day another update, trying to fully make use of a month during which I should not need to travel for work! Today I have managed to fit the two vees to the slip, along with fitting the first switch rail to the C9 along with a quick test.

Without wanting to post yet abother me too post, Could I get a copy as well please... Thanks Rich

Very nice Nick, look forward to seeing it progress.

After some discussion here http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/113541-single-slip-building-help/ I think I have a way forward on the single slip. So tonight I put together a simple jig and then soldered up the first vee, the second will follow tomorrow. More straight track was also laid, connecting the down main to the start of the lift out section. I also added some copperclad strips to reinforce the rail at the baseboard edge. Finally the other outer rail was fitted to the C9, which is now ready for switch rails. (Which will not be prepared until post jig purchase at Wells. Of course the lack of filing jig means that I can't make much more progress on the slip, other than fitting the vees. So my main plan for the next working session will be completing the main work on the crossover at the Plymouth end, along with a start on some wireing....

It's the ex Exactoscale product from C&L, only available with BR 3 bolt chairs and the grain is a bit over done, but I much prefer it over the thin C&L stuff.

This evenings work saw the fitting of the first point Vee (C9) along with the rest of the approach track, I was presently supprised how well this went together given that it was something like ten years since I last made my own Vee. Given all the curves I have been trying to keep rail lengths as long as possible, with the Vee forming part of the outer rail of the single slip (before being cut once built to isolate.). Tomorrow I aim to file the second switch blade and hopefully test it. The slip has been giving me a lot of trouble, as I am starting to think I've made it far too short. The problem is that I cannot see how I am going to to add the switch blades (which are very short), at most it seems to only give one or two sleepers to attach them to. Advice is very welcome

It's been a while since there was any progress worth showing, holidays and the warm weather getting in the way of getting out in the garage. However today I finally found some time to get started, with the mainline laid between the first two points in the up and down directions. Gluing down with evostick 1 minute as per my usual method (although I forgot that with a much bigger layout it uses a lot more glue. Will need to stock up before the next track laying session. The next job will be the Exeter point in the up direction and the single slip in the down direction. Or alternatively the crossover between up and down main at the Plymouth end. This will require fixing the baseboard under the yard double slip which has bowed up slightly. I have also been completing more research into formations, armed with a 1946 to June 47 carriage working file, passenger timetable and finally the working timetable. Coupled with another carriage file for Plymouth in the mid 50s to assist in filling in the gaps. From this I have completed a master timetable with something like 100 workings, and appropriate formations so just need a 50 road fiddleyard in each direction! It did leave one question, with a workmans train scheduled to stop in Brent early in the morning but no return working in the evening. The freight is a lot trickier, but that can wait...

Fingers crossed someone takes the range on!

What a fantastic layout, I cannot wait to see it at an exhibition!

Interesting to see a photo of that operation, I need a bigger fiddleyard!

My first thought was would it be better to have a direct connection from the down main to the Penzance loops rather than crossing the up main? Either way I would certainly go for the revised plan in some form or another, if the original is going to limit train limitation is likely to cause more annoyance over time (and may well lead to redoing the whole lot after a couple of years.)

Very nice, look forward to seeing more photos

In that case I assume the photo I have seen must have been the first of that batch, and delivered at the end of '47. Would be interesting to know what Swindon's production rate was on these coaches... So in reality would certainly not exist in my late June period. However for the mean time a slight bit of modellers licence will be needed, as with the other Hawksworth coaches using on the Ltd sounds most plausible.

i have seen a lot of second hand mention of GWR Hawksworth coaches in service prior to nationalisation, including a formation on the Cornish Riviera Ltd containing BTKs and TKs, and a second Ltd formation in the Kingstorre article in MRJ containing the same. I have also seen mention (including one photo of a coach only) that Hawksworth BCKs also saw service in 1947. I was hoping that someone might have came across more photographic evidence of this, including what the rest of the formation was comprised of. I couldn't resist adding another BCK to my fleet last night, and now need to find a use for it....

Interesting to read before I start building again, particularly as in the past I always bought in the Vee / wing rails ready made and can't justify it on Brent given the large number of points to build. I do have one question, what should be used for check rail chairs in OO?

Just wish I had bought some when they were released, the breaks and break composites seem easy to find. (Although I've only seen one photo of the latter and I have not seen a mention in a formation.) The thirds on the other hand seem more like gold dust, I need to get another two (and possibly another break third) but no luck yet. Not exactly expecting another batch from Hornby! I keep hoping that someone will do a decent range of sunshine stock (at least a BTK, TK, CK and Restaurant) leaving kit building time to make up more interesting Dreadnaughts, Concertinas and Topligts, (not to mention other variants of the sunshine stock)

Very nice!

Thanks, I had a nagging feeling I had seen it before, and couldn't place where given I definitely don't have the two articles mentioned.

I think the article has about 5 or 6 different fast / secondary services broken down by coach type (not to mention a good number of colour photos of an amazing layout.) Left me wanting to find a copy of the earlier MRJ and BRM articles on the layout!)

Rob, there's an article on 1947 coach formations in the current MRJ which may be of interest.