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Chrislock

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  1. Chrislock
    Greetings.
    Since a memorable holiday in Switzerland a few years ago I have been intrigued
    by the narrow gauge railways of the WAB and SPB.
    Alas the available RTR such as hrf are astronomically priced, though superb model.
    I have been discussing various possibilities with a friend Paul, who is a big fan of the WAB
    in particular and one way of creating a rack system for a reasonable figure is to adapt
    the Fleishmann N gauge system to HOe.
    The subject of how to recreate a little He2/2 has been a frequent topic between us.
    And so I decided to try scratchbuilding a body from plasticard.
    The plan was that the body would slip over the fleischmann rack loco, the compromise being
    that it is a 3/3 not a2/2! However once the skirts and bits were added we thoight it
    would be hardly noticeable.
    Here is my first attempt:
     

     

     
    Regards
    Chris
  2. Chrislock

    Two coach Train

    By Chrislock,

    Greetings.
     
    I have now completed the Ratio clerestory coach, bar some more screw links which I am waiting for from Smith's.
     
    I looked at the transfers available from Fox, and concluded that I was happy to paint the lining on by hand once again, in the spirit of keeping costs down for this project.
     

     
    I think the result is ok - maybe i should have bought some numbers - but in the end both coaches create the right impression when attached behind the engine. I hadn't ctually realised the size difference between the suburban and clerestory stock - but the oddness is pretty Midland really.
     
     

     
    My second Ratio suburban brake arrived today, but as I only intended 2 coach handling there is no rush to complete this one. I will be interested to see in the box how the mouldings compare to the older ones. Certainly the packaging is different.
     
    Next up are the two wagon kits still remaining to build.
     
    Cheers
    Chris
  3. Chrislock

    Coincidence...

    By Chrislock,

    Last night I stumbled across this thread:
    http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/63247-shock-horror-wf-does-midland/
     
    which was an interesting read, being able to compare my experience of the Ratio 2-4-0 with someone who appears to be a more experienced kit builder in 4mm.
    I think the biggest difference is the quality of finish on his wheels, which has made me wonder - should I paint mine, or daub on blacking solution?
     
    On another tack, the clerestory lavatory third is coming along, the sides being sprayed and windows glazed; the ends and solebars painted black and the roof and detail added but not painted as yet.
     

     
    I have also to fit some couplings and obviously the bogies. I have to say I like these kits, and have ordered a suburban brake third from the Gas Cupboard, for the princely sum of £13.75+ PP.
     
    BFN
    Chris
  4. Chrislock

    fiddler on the roof

    By Chrislock,

    I've just been trying to finish off the carriage by adding torpedo vents to the roof. Unfortunately the flash was very bad around these mouldings and I've ended up with some half vents...
     

     
    I havebeen browsing the books I have for evidence of these locos hauling freight in their later years. I have only uncovered this, an 800 class though, in charge of a freight near Leicester in the 20s:
     

     
    Also this one:
     

     
    These will have to serve as a precedent!
    Here is my class 179 posed with a short freight...
     

     
    I have been perusing my Midland Locos Volume 2 looking at the style of LMS graphics, as I am not keen on the yellow/red/gold style. Clearlya number of engines of the late 20s early 30s seem to have the simple straw insignia, which suits me just fine, so these have duly been ordered from Fox, who from what I can see, make the best transfers.
     
    Finally, last weekend I jumped on a train down to St Albans as it was open day at the reconstructed Midland box.
    Well worth an hour of my time and to get the view along the mainline. Apologies for the quality of phone pics:
     

     

     
    Chris
     
     
     
    .
  5. Chrislock

    Group record

    By Chrislock,

    Greetings
     
    The rolling stock built so far, in the past 3 weeks:
     

     
    The lining of the coach was tricky, but I wanted to do it by hand, rather than pay out substantially for any more Fox transfers.
     
    Note the crew on the loco ( well, you can see the fireman at least). These came incuded in the Ratio 2-4-0 kit.
     
    I have still to put together a 48' clerestory, a 48' suburban brake and 2 more wagons.
     
    I need to supplement the goods stock with one or two items, but these are not urgent and can wait until I've decided what an exchange siding is for!
     
    Enjoy your weekend folks.
     
    Regards,
    Chris
  6. Chrislock

    Movement

    By Chrislock,

    Greetings again.
    I have been working on loco and rolling stock as time has permitted, and rather feeling my way through a ratio coach kit build, making a few mistakes due to unclear detail in the instructions. The coach kit is neither as flash free as the wagons and loco, and I suspect must be one of the last off the production line before the moulds gave out completely!
    This will give you an idea of the trimming that has had to be carried out on a lot of this model:
     

     
    However, I think in spite of one or two slight adjustment cuts, the result thus far is certainly useable.The ends sit slightly proud of the sides - a result of me somehow attaching the buffers slightly high on the floor. However, the roof seemed to cover this up when dry fitted, so it may not require filing.
     

     
    The loco has had a prime and topcoat of Games Workshop chaos black, a finish which I particularly like on locomotives. I have picked out the brass parts with a mix of acrylics, and again I think it is acceptable. There are still a few things to add.
     

     
    Four of the wagons have been painted, Fox transfers added and weathering. Smiths three link couplings have been added to the wagons, and screw links to the engine. The 2-4-0 and remaining wagons will be set up with LMS insignia, in keeping with the idea of a sleepy forgotten branch somewhere, in between the wars.
     

     
    So far so good.
    This project has to move or risk it stagnating like my last (2mm) effort!
     
    Regards,
    Chris
  7. Chrislock

    Three in a row...

    By Chrislock,

    Well I'm trying to complete a bit each night on the Ratio 2-4-0.
     
    I heard on another thread that these kits did not have a great reputation for running well, so it was with trepidation I set off on building the chassis tonight.
    Again, it has been a relatively easy buildso far, although most holes needed to be opened out slightly to accomodate the bearings and axles, and I have yet to fit the gearbox and motor..
    However, no soldering was required, though I did add a dab where the pick up wires attached to the brass outer frames.
    A faux pas I made yesterday was thinking that the second lead weight was for the tender - it suddenly dawned on me that it was designed to sit low between the main frames of the engine! Fortunately, I had not glued down the tender top, so was able to retrieve, file and fit it to the chassis.
    Needing another weight for the tender, I suddenly remembered the remains of an N gauge Union Mills tender
    body which I had part butchered some time ago. Glued in the front end of the tender, this adds a perfect and very appropriate weight beneath the now attached tender top. Real coal may be an option for another time methinks.
    Since epoxying the lead weight into the loco chassis it doesn't seem to roll as freely. I suspect that the frames may have been unintentionally moved by the width of the lead against them, squeezing in on the muff, so I need to remedy this before adding the motor.
    Offered up to the body this is what it looks like so far.
    Purists would no doubt say I should have blacked the wheels and chassis before assembly, but I am happy to black it once I know its all working.
     

     
    Finally, my Ratio coaches were waiting for me when I got home today, and a brief look suggests while they are more complex than the brake, they shouldn't be too taxing for me.
     

     
    Regards,
    Chris
     
    Morning update.
    As I was on something of a roll, I worked on the chassis last night to complete it. Adding the motor etc was not a difficult task and the wiring simplicity itself; especially compared to working it all out for yourself on your own designs.
     
    A quick test on the a piece of track and it ran - a bit grungy, but after oiling and a few trips up and down it sounded a bit looser, but I will have a look at the meshing when I get back from work - it is designed to be correct when the motor is in position, but as we know it only takes a fraction of a millimetre to make that difference.
    Pleased though it all works, and here is the loco assembled with tender for the very first time.
    My it looks sooo good...
     

     

     

     
    Keen observers will notice the broken tender brake but this has now been repaired - unfortunately after the photoshoot!
     
    Chris
  8. Chrislock
    Greetings.
     
    After a pleasant morning at the 2mm Association AGM in Bedford,returning quite a few quid lighter with some 2mm bits and pieces; and a after pint with some of the lads over lunch followed by a quick market visit to keep the other half happy, I decided to make a tentative start on the Ratio 2-4-0 kit while listening to Forest beat Peterborough on the radio.
     
    Getting the two boiler halves from the box, made me realise the old problem with having a join line running through chimney, dome and valve. I considered replacing these with brass fittings, but decided to go ahead and see if they could be made good instead by some careful filing and smoothing. I actually think that a lick of paint will be enough afterthe clean up, but you can judge for yourself from the attached photos. And it is in keeping with the ethos of this build.
    I have found hardly any flash on so far on any of the Ratio kits I've made, which is nice cos I hate cleaning it up, it reminds of those cheap foreign plastic kits I used to occasionally be bought as a boy!
     
    As you can see, I have gone some way towards completing the loco bodywork, and it is already apparent what a handsome engine this is..
     
     

     

     

     
    Extension of original entry:
     
    The handrail knobs were a bit of a pig as the holes were not drilled out enough for the wire supplied with the kit - I am assuming that it IS the wire. In the end, I substituted some slightly finer guitar string, which passed through with a little encouragement ( and stabbed fingers!)
     

     

     
    So that's the loco body more or less done. You will see that I managed to clumsily spill some excess glue on the boiler...
     
    Regards,
    Chris
  9. Chrislock

    Little and Large...

    By Chrislock,

    I've done a bit more on the loco and tender, and its time to review the progress so far.
    Firstly, these plastic kits go together quite quickly, with a little pre planning and setting out of parts of course.
    The comment I made about flash I will now retract a little, given the amount on the tender - especially the coal rails, which had to be cleared of a dense quantity of the stuff.
    However, the tender is now completed.
    Both the loco body and the tender are supplied with substantial lead weights, which will greatly help adhesion to the track eventually.
     

     
    The trickiest part was by far the handrails so far. Let's see if I am still saying that when the chassis is completed!
     
    Building this in 4mm has really made me realise how much I like the look of these engines. The 2mm version I scratchbuilt just doesn't have the same presence. I would dearly ove to find one of the 2F goods kits, although a craftsman 1F might provide the second engine eventually. The 2mm engine I built last year:
     

     
    I have just sent off to Smiths for some couplings for the stock I am working on at present.
    I have a photo of No70 at Bedford in 1930 with screw couplings, although it appears to be in crimson lake.
     
    I rather fancy painting this one in black and then weathering it some. As No70 was scrapped in 1932, perhaps I can pretend it was sent out to farm somewhere instead, and received an LMS repaint at some time?
     
    The goods stock of course will be fitted with 3 link, the carriage ends screws. I am intending to fit hook and coupling links to one end of each wagon, with a hook only at the other end.
     
    Hopefully the carriages I bought on ebay will arrive early this week. I am curious to see if they will be as easy in the construction, relatively speaking of course - although it's nice to see what I'm doing for a change!
     
    Regards,
    Chris
  10. Chrislock
    Greetings.
     
    As some of you who follow my 2mm thread will know, the eyesight has leaned me more towards a larger scale in recent months, (though I have not given up the little ones either as I have invested a fair deal ). This second blog is to cover my efforts in a different scale.
     
    I set to thinking about what I would really like in 4mm scale, and the idea of a small Midland Railway terminus/micro layout appealed.
    Even though the allure of sound chips eg in my Robinson is great, in the end I am a Midland man, and there's no escaping that.
    So I decided to take a hundred or so notes, and see where that would take me in the Bay of E....
     
    Here is what I found, and I am pretty pleased with the outcome, even though all are by necessity, kits to be built:
     
    A rare Ratio Johnson 2-4-0 tender loco, complete with gears and motor. Cost £50
    Two Ratio coaches - a 48ft clerestory and a suburban third. There is the branchline passengers taken care of for an outlay of £18.
    (I missed out on a Johnson 2F 0-6-0 kit, though that would have taken me well over the 100 mark!)
     
    Cooper Crafts then supplied me with 5 MR Slater wagon kits and a guards van kit for £42
     
    So for the princely sum of £110 I have the basis for a small branch terminus perhaps in late LMS days, to where a rather ancient 2-4-0 has been retired to work out its days.
     
    Of course, I already have the track and turnouts, courtesy of C+L , though I have not ruled out attempting to use Templot more creatively and building some more flowing trackwork from scratch.
     
    After all, we have some long winter nights ahead of us....
     
    On that note, I'll raise my glass of single malt and say,
    Cheers!
     
    Chris
     

  11. Chrislock
    Hi.
    A little has been taking place on the new plank since my last entry.
    I have been looking for examples of platform architecture on small wayside type stations/ halts, and have in the end tried to render some of the ideas from different areas of the Midland and its predecessors in Derbyshire stone.
    One of the advantages of halts, is that they were often privately built and taken over by the main railway companies.
    I am reasonably happy with the outcome, which is part waiting shelter and part storage lock-up for the loading bay.
    Possibly the wooden framework around the shelterlooks a bit heavy, and the same could be said about the windowframes perhaps.
    Need to now paint and weather.
    Regards,
    Chris
     

     

  12. Chrislock

    first fall

    By Chrislock,

    Greetings.
    This afternoon was first opportunity to get on with this board in some time.
     
    I have been doing a bit of this and that, mainly tinkering with my Single trying to improve the pickup and running, and taking the usual 2 steps backwards and 1 forward in the process!
     
    I have also been waiting to add some flock powder to the landscape of my latest shunting board, to cover some of that brown paint which resembles rock too much...
     
    I decided to take a couple of photos to show how this has been going.
     

     

     

     
    On the Glenfield layout front, I can't remember if I mentioned that I have decided to part company with it, and send it to a good home, if I can find one.
    The significance of this project was never the change over to finescale, nor the modelling methodology involved, but the fact that it has become a 3D historical research reconstruction.
    I am discovering that it isthe building of things which tends to interest me more, rather than the operating - at least this far anyway.
     
    I decided to contact Leicester County Hall, which of course is at Glenfield, and see if they might like a static model to display somewhere for visitors. Then months passed... but a couple of weeks ago I got an email reply from someone at County Hall to say that they had passed my email onto someone at Leicester Museum Services. Said chap rang me last Thursday, we had a chat about size etc, that they would need really to supply a case, etc, and I directed him to this:
     
    http://glenfieldstation.weebly.com/
     
    and he has gone off to measure up a space, and consider whether they would want to purchase some of my MR rolling stock.
    This to me seems a fitting end for this little layout, if it comes off - and also creates space for my current venture.
    However, I noticed the other day that the cat has been using it as a launch pad to the open window above it, and I am going to have to do some repair work to the pine trees which are looking quite forlorn now!
  13. Chrislock

    Bridging the gaps.

    By Chrislock,

    Nowt to do with Cadbury ( for those old enough to remember that rather iffy advert), more to do with building and fitting a couple of canal bridges and trying to achieve that Derbyshire stone look. Once the sculptamold is painted in and a earth coloured powder is brushed onto the stonework, I think it will look ok.
     

     
    Yesterday I had my grandsons round. I handed my eldest, Jake, 7, the Power Cab, showed him how the point changed and left him to run the 24 with a wagon back and forth over the turnout. It stood up well.
    Sorry no photo.
     
    Finally, rewindingto the weekend, I spent Saturday at tge Silk Mill in Derby, helping the MRS to catalogue some of the vast material which is sitting unopened on the shelves of the Study Centre. I was allocated accident reports between roughly 1880 and 1910, and found them fascinating, as an insight into how thr railways of the time were actually operated!
     
    Anyway, while I was there, I snuck a few ( poorish) photos of the excellent 7mm layout which is being constructed upstairs, for anyone who is interested:
     

  14. Chrislock

    Summer arrives...

    By Chrislock,

    and with it time to complete the ballasting and adding some sculptamold to flat bits and slopey bits alike, with the opportunity of getting in some good quality drying time.
     
    Ballasting.
     
    Aaarrgg!! What IS it about Easitrac and getting effective ballasting!
    i know now, I've worked it out. The sleepers at an accurate 0.82mm are too shallow to hold the ballast well.
    By comparison, Code 55 is easy to get to look good., being a whopping overscale 1 foot 6 inches deep - and so holds the ballast well!
     
    In the past I have used dilute PVA + w/u liquid on N ballast; Copydex and w/u on ballast and ash; and finally I tried a spray of surgical spirit as a wetting agent followed by PVA, but using fine sand as the ballast, as it is supposed to sit better between the sleepers than the angular rock variety.
     
    This is the second layout where I think the track has looked worse rather than better after ballasting - and believe me I was careful. It's not just the colour - it has gone patchy in places.
    Indeed, I would say that Easitrac would lend itself well to a ballast patterned underlay, if one were available.
     
    I'll just have to hope that a few washes improves things and that it will be less obvious once landscape colour is applied.
     
    Sculptamold.
     
    What could go wrong? Used it before in some tricky situations, also gone on well.
    Well this time it has dried quite lumpy.
    This is not a major problem, but just another job to - sand smooth when dry.
    I do wonder if it was a result of sticking the board outside to dry in the sun?
     
    While adding the scupatamold, I took the opportunity of adding sites for TWO canal bridges!!
    I realised that a barge horse wouldn't in fact be able to cross the lock gates to access the tow path on the other side!!
    So a bridge by the lock is required, but that's ok cos I like bridges...
     

     
     
    Lock Keeper's Cottage.
     
    A quick search of t'net revealed that the old GF (?) cottage is no longer available, though I found oneon ebay for thirty quid!
     
    So, it was down to do it yourself once more.
    I spent an hour or so trying to find acottage on the Cromford, with no success. One ruined cottage, too run down to see much at all. So I had to widen my search and found this one near Wigan:
     

     
    and then this, location unknown, but looking pretty convincingly Derbyshire stone:
     

     
    So I decided to combine the two and came up with this:
     

     
    which is still in need of gutters, drainpipes and flashing - and of course, painting and weathering.
     
    I considered trying to locate some etched windows, but then using thin plasticard strips is not that gruelling, and I think the overall look ofthe windows is ok.
    There is no interior - I don't do interiors in 2mm - well only in railway buildings anyway.
     
    I hope that this time I do not lose all of this entry and have to type it out a third time!!!
     
    Regards,
    Chris
  15. Chrislock

    Summat Afoot.

    By Chrislock,

    A short and rather truncated clip of my 24 running through the three wayer.
    Also showing the browning of the land ready for scatters etc.
    .
    Next up though are the painting of the canal bed and making those canal bridges...
     
     
    wharfs end v3.wmv
     
    Chris
  16. Chrislock

    shifting earth

    By Chrislock,

    Well sculptamold - eventually!
     
    Work since last blog:
     
    - Levelling the area between the lowered level of the siding and the wharf area. There is still a slight gradient trackside, but not really obvious. I used polyfilla and have rough painted this with brown acrylic.
     
    - Adding a foamboard backscene, using formas and reverse knife cuts to curve it and glue-gunned it in place.
     
    - Infilling the siding with polyfilla to represent ash and clinker. Stippling lightly with a brush while still soft and again given a light grey/ brown wash for the time being. Nevard used DAS for this, but I tried it on a spare bit of track and found it difficult to and messy to work inbetween sleepers in this scale.
     
    - I did use redDAS on the station platform, however, as I also wanted a surface of paving and clinker/ash.
    It proved quite challenging as it had to be applied very thinly., Finishing involved washes, stippling greys and browns and dabbing with paper towel, and I am still not happy with the effect.
    I used a stone layer plasticard for the front edging and behind where the loading dock is.
     
    - Added some foamboard scraps to layout the shape of the banks. These will be infilled with newspaper screwed up, and then overlaid with sculptamold / polyfilla.
     
     
    Nothing exciting, I know, but this little project is at least edging forward gradually. I suppose that is an advantage of a microlayout - each part is manageable in an evening or so.
     
    Also had my 25 apart as when I ran it it was decidely rough, don't know why. Replaced two of the pickups and refastened the wires which attach by screw only to the chassis block halves, and hence to track. Haven't set up the DCC controller yet, so unsure of how much running is improved. Fingers crossed.
    ( I wonder if Bachmann have plans to retool the 25? )
     
    Regards,
    Chris
     
     

     

     
    If you're wondering about the cutaway on the left end by the canal - so am I at this moment. I haven't quite fathomed how to make the canal disappear from the scene - I don't like it when they end abruptly at a flat wall!
  17. Chrislock

    a bit of progress

    By Chrislock,

    HI.
    I thought I'd add a brief post and photo to show how this micro-layout is going.
     
    I suppose the annotation says it all at this stage.
    I am largely making this up as I go along - it's quite good fun, actually, after the rigorous research required by the Glenfield model..
    Also I am following suggestions from Chris Nevard's articles- where I can. The foamboardin the construction has worked very well.
     

     
     

     
     
    Cheers,
    Chris
  18. Chrislock

    Getting on slowly

    By Chrislock,

    Hi.
    I have managed to do a little modelling this week on the micro layout.
     
    The buses, feed wires and point motors are connected up, and today I cycled over to Maplins for a couple of point switches, a 3.5 jack socket for the 12v supply ( I'll borrow the one off Glenfield) and a din plug for the DCC controller input.
     
    I have some aluminium sheet lying around and I am wondering what I would need to do to use these for fascia plates for the switches and sockets, as aluminium is a conductor?
     
    Yesterday my new Dremel 300 arrived, (and the little chuck and collets) for it, so I am keen to get to use it for something!
    It really feels like quality compared to the Rotocraft I've been putting up thus far. (One of my goals before I take early retirement is to update some of my tools.)
     
    Someone posted a decent diagram for wiring the 3-way, and it wasn't too far from my own workings-out, so I've gone with my own idea. Once the motors are connected to the power supply I can test it and find out if the logic is sound...

     
    .
     
    I also sat my modified 25 on the plain track and fed some power in just to keep the interest going!
     

     

     
    Unfortunately as I recorded some time ago, I managed to damage one of the bogies on this but I can't find a spare online or on ebay, so it has a slight wobble at present.
     
    It's a shame I had to butcher the plough to get the DG to fit, but I wanted to have it connecting at each end. I have one set left if I change my mind!
    I think it just about looks better as it is than it was without it.
  19. Chrislock

    New beginnings.

    By Chrislock,

    I'm not sure who will still follow this blog as it has been sadly neglected for some time.
     
    This has been partly due to the death of my father and all that that entailed; but also down to a disappearing work ethic, then a number of side-tracking issues, ranging from Swiss mountain railways (!) to dabbling with that( lovely) OO Bachmann Robinson 04 - choo choo!
     
    Anyway, try as I might to readjust, the draw of 2mm is just too strong..
    I like the "small club" feel of belonging to the 2mm association, I like the people I've met through it, I respect and admire the work they do and at the end of the day, once I began to have ideas about a 4mm Eastern layout, S-P-A-C-E reared its restrictive head!
     
    Thankfully, I have rediscovered the history research bug once more and also I can now at least move on to more or less complete Glenfield with my latest research information. Only one conundrum remains, and I may sometime in the future come across the answer to the layout and use of those buildings…
     
    However, as I write this, I have a small new tracked board standing on its end across the room.
     
    Let me explain:
     
    1. On my shelf ( and I blame BCNPete entirely for this ) a blue class 25 and a class 24, fitted out with finescale wheels and with DCC on board; but with nowhere to go. They look completely out of place on the Glenfield board - and are wasted on the shelf !
     
    2. I have a 3 way point lying idle. It looks at me and says : “Oy, you made me, I work ( I think see below), now use me!â€
     
    3. I have been inspired by the microlayouts of one Chris Nevard, and have long wanted to try some of his techniques at weathering etc.
     
    4. I want a DCC based layout ( to use the NCE Cab I bought over a year ago).
     

    The new 1000 x 250 board is an attempt to combine these in the form of a shunting plank and has to be:
     
    -Self-contained - at least, I will allow myself a cassette on one end only.
     
    -Able to shunt without a loco disappearing off the main board(!), and with reasonable interest.
     
    -Allow me to have a go at modelling a canal with a lock.
     
    -Look like it is set in the Derbyshire Dales.
     
    - Be built to FS standards.
     
    .
    The baseboard is simply a 10mm mdf frame glued and then stapled together with a 10mm top, deep enough to comfortably take the 2 Cobalt point motors required.
    On top of this are glued 3 layers of 5mm foamboard, cut away in various places to provide slightly undulating ground and a cut out for the canal , the lower section of which sits on the baseboard itself. This is not a very big drop in water level I know, but I hope it will look alright.
     
    The canal will be based on a section of the cromford canal which I have some photos of, although I've probably made it wider than it should be, as I originally made it 3x the width of a Fleetline coal barge, which seemed reasonable until I looked up canal widths and discovered they are generally a lot narrower than I realised! A little bit of infil was required, but with lay-bys ( or whatever the nautical equivalent is) before and after the lock gates.
     

    The track plan itself is so very simple it's hardly worth drawing. The three way point allows an extra short siding to be introduced which should make shunting more interesting. A small halt platform +shelter, with a small loading bay at one end , with the longer siding sloping down slightly to a canal wharf. Soldered point combined with Easitrac as usual.
     
    I am following the Chris Nevard MR article quite closely as to how the track is painted and finished. It will be interesting to see if it looks anything as good as his 4mm work.
     
    I have still yet to fathom how to wire up the three way point. After conversations on my own and other posts on RMWeb, I’ll admit I am confused again. I have recently been categorically told that what I thought would work won't! Anyone who has wired up one of these could perhaps give me a diagram, including isolations on the sleepers? I can email a photo of the turnout showing existing isolation in sleepers etc if it helps. Fingers crossed.
     
    Now if this little layout is going to be set in the mid 1970s, I’m going to need a reason for occasional freight to work into this little halt, as the canal wharf will be long disused and overgrown!
     
    Still working on that one, although I have considered there being a modest stone quarry still working nearby from which wagons can be stored in the siding. I’m sure the local farmers might use the loading platform occasionally for their machinery items, as the roads in this part of the dales are narrow and twisting!
     
    It is tempting to look back on the 1970s as the modern world, but of course it was in reality much closer to the 1950s than the 1990s! Dirt and smog in cities was only just being regulated; a lot of old railway line lay untouched still. I’m guessing that rail had begun to price itself out of business as a goods transporting medium, as much was now delivered by road.
     
    Of course, this little project is going to involve making some wagons suitable for the period - can't really use the Midland ones...
     
    Now a few early photos. Nothing much to see really. Droppers have been soldered to the rails and tested, so that I could give the sleepers a primary spray of Halford paints. The point is just sitting in at the moment, until I know what I’m doing with the wiring and its tested. This is now partly holding up progress, although I’m also awaiting some new coloured wire from Gaugemaster.
     
    For the buses under the board, I am abandoning the ( brittle) copper Tape which I used on Glenfield, and which required a bit of patching up) , and resorting to two medium gauge plain guitar strings, pulled tautish and soldered to screws at either end for the + and – rails.
     
    I will update this from time to time as I do something worth showing and there is sufficient interest for yet another micro layout ( yawn) !
     
    Regards,
     
    Chris J
     
     

     

     

  20. Chrislock

    spiral motion...

    By Chrislock,

    G'Day.
     
    Since the resolution of certain pressing family matters back in March/ April, I have turned back to the renovation programme for the improvement of some of my Midland engines.
    First out was the little class 480 goods engine, which is now running reasonably well after some minor tweaks.
     
    Next up is the very first engine I built and described on the thread below, the Johnson bogie single, which on paper, should be the easiest of them to get runing well, as there is no quartering to worry about!
    However, there were aspects of this original make which have niggled since the beginning.
     
    This has resulted in a complete disassembly and chucking away of the original underframe/ chassis arrangement, and some quite brutal hacking about and desoldering in the process. Fortunately, I have managed to minimise the damage to the loco body above the running plate, apart from one blemish to the boiler which I can probably polish out. As a result of the hacking process I will need to rebuild a fair bit below running plate level. The slightly flared ends to the splashers I am going to live with,
     

     
    This photo shows the state of play as of this morning.
    The NBrass bogie takes the association bogie wheels and muffs very well and has been completed and is running smoothly.
    I intend to isolate this completely, as the easier option.
    The 15mm GE driver will be used within a new split chassis which will also house the trailing wheel.
    I also intend to see if I can spring both these wheels to enhance stability and electrical pickup.
     
    (For the time being I am keeping the Union Mills tender drive, although a future project will be to replace this with a heavily weighted scratchbuilt one).
     
    Regards,
    Chris
  21. Chrislock
    I have returned to a little 2mm scale modelling.
    I need to add some more stuff to the Glenfield layout as it is looking very neglected, so have been soldering together a station seat and a hand barrow from Shirescenes. Hard on the eyes but I managed to do it ok.
    I also gave the track a good wipe along to try to get some of the dirt off and improve running, in the process of which I managed to remove the sign ( again) from the Gents.
    I don't think now that the track on this little layout is the best I can do, and I am sorely tempted to rip it up and relay it all. However, if I start this it is likely that I will chuck the whole board and try somewhere different!
    The evidence for that is my mark 1 attempt at trackwork, Barnoldswick, the board of which is in my garage propping up a wall, rails rusting nicely..
    So instead I chose the option of trying to complete the scenery and put up with the odd glitch - after all, it's never going to be exposed to public scrutiny and is purely for my own amusement.
    This led me into running a train behind the converted Union Mills 2F, of which I have attached a couple of photos. I must also get round to changing the couplings to get closer and more even spacing. That has been on my to-do list for over a year, and applies to the older wagons, as I quickly realised it's easier to get it right at the time of construction!
     
    Regards,
    Chris
     
    Emerging from Glenfield tunnel...

     
    Shunting the yard....

     
    Shunting as black and white image...

  22. Chrislock
    Greetings.
    I have not been doing a lot in the way of modelling lately, although I have been rebuilding the chassis of my 2mm loco 0-4-4T. I am really struggling with this, in particular actually seeing what I am doing. Fiddly does not enter into it!
     
    By contrast, I 've also been casting around ( excuse pun) for a loco crew for my Bachman 04.
    I sent off for figures from Aiden Campbell, Langley, Dart and Springside.
    The best in my opinion, were the Dart castings, (which I've also used in 2mm scale).
    Although they are a tad large ( 25mm?) they are very detailed and not as gross as the Campbell ones, which have great character but seem to have over-large heads!
    A couple of shots of the crew, awaiting "weathering" and matt varnish and adding to the footplate.
    My how easy that Robinson photographs compared to my little 2mm engines!
     

     

     

     
    Having just viewed them again under photographical enlargement, I might have to go back and tidy up some.
  23. Chrislock
    My last entry perhaps came over a bit more glum than I intended, giving the impression that I was abandoning 2mm rather than just having a break for a while to give my eyes a rest! So am adding this one to balance things out a little!
    Firstly, as I indicated I have been tweaking my little 2mm goods engine and am pleased to report that it is now running more smoothly, having traced the cause of the intermittent the short to a frame catching a crank.
     
    I also mentioned that I have been having a go at building some C+L finescale points using code 75 bullhead .
    My experience of constructing 2mm turnouts has been of good use in this process.
     
    Just a quick resume of my method, as I'm not sure I have mentioned this before, and which I have used for the 4mm turnouts.:
     
    First a template is printed off Templot.
    Second, the sleepers are measured and cut to size. With copper clad obviously the isolation cuts are made also.
    The sleepers are then stuck to the template with pritt stick.( This holds them very nicely while glueing/ soldering, and peels off the template easily on completion, with a little water if required.)
    Outer rails cut and fitted using the templates as a guide. Gauges / plain track used to check gauge.
    V crossing constructed - I have used the association jigs and gauges; but also just used the Templot template as a guide - both seem to work as well as each other.
    Switch rails filed and added again using the template as a guide.
    Then a temporary pcb tie bar is attached to allow the turnout ot be tested more easily by rolling a wagon through. When happy, the check rails are added.
     
    Using this method I can build a working turnout comfortably in an evening if I so choose, although with the glued points I like to leave time for the Butanone to dry thoroughly.
     
    I have used the same construction method with a 3 way point in 2mm, but that is the limits of my experimentation.
    Of course, I have not added chairs to the 2mm points, which would improve their appearance but be extremely fiddly..
    If I were planning a sizeable new layout I would need to get to grips with Templot to learn how to print off the complete track plan for better transition.
     
    I have found the C+L turnouts ( all Butanone) relatively straightforward, and because of the increased gluing area compared to 2mm scale, have found the completed turnout strong enough not to add any soldered sleepers, even where a chair has been trimmed for clearance.
    Whether I still think this after fixing them down and running the loco over a few times remains to be seen!
     
     
    Something in the C+L instructions which I completely endorse - point building should be enjoyed.
     
     
    Regards,
    Chris
     

     

  24. Chrislock
    Greetings.
     
    Since I set up my OO Bachman 04 with sound like an executive toy on my windowsill, my attention has turned back to my 2mm endeavours and I have been through a reflective period; trying to decide whether in fact I should continue with 2mm.
    My declining eyesight is one serious consideration.
     
    The Little Glenfield layout has required some TLC as it has been neglected for some months.
    I have had the engines out on parade and find that some of them just don't work reliably enough to warrant any more effort just at present.
    Only the 0-6-0T, the class 2 with UM tender and the Kirtley 0-6-0 goods engine , again with a UM tender, offer any encouragement.
    The 0-4-4T (kit) chassis has given up the ghost completely, and because I didn't build it myself, I have come to a dead end (too), as to why! I have therefore begun to construct a new chassis myself from the parts left unused in my original kit by Damien building the chassis for me. Either this will work, or at least I hope to work out what is wrong with the other!
     
    I am concluding that unless you are a talented and well-equipped micro engineer, or on close terms with one, there is not much of an option in 2FS apart from running diesels or EMUs with drop in wheels, if you want slow and reliable running. Unfortunately, steam is my first love!
     
    I think on the whole that a break from 2FS is probably due. I have travelled some distance- perhaps too quickly,as I had some ground to make up having not been involved in the hobby for many years, and have spent a good deal of time and money. I will continue to study the work of others I admire working successfully in this scale.
     
    I do have plans to build a new layout - but in 4mm, set in an area of Norfolk I am very familiar with, using my O4 and a few sand wagons I have been weathering. I have also built a couple of points from C&L glued parts, which I am very happy with.( How easy compared to 2mm they were ! )
    These, a board six foot by one and the work of Chris Nevard will provide the artistic inspiration.
     
    Thanks to everyone who has been encouraging or even complementary on my N/2mm RMWeb threads. It has been a series of steep learning curves and I have certainly learned a good deal and much of this from advice given by yourselves. That has been a very rewarding aspect of my hobby.
    Whether I continue to wear my heart on my sleeve as I have done in the past remains to be seen!!
     
    Kindest Regards,
    Chris
     

     

  25. Chrislock

    Sounds good...

    By Chrislock,

    Well, I've done it.
     
    For some time, ever since I bought into the potential of DCC in fact, I've been hankering after having sound in a loco. I have never been really taken thus far with the quality of steam recordings I’ve heard, so have been tempted more towards a throaty Sulzer on a class 24.
     
    The problem is, 2mm just doesn't lend itself. Even if you could crank the sound up loud enough, it would somehow be disproportionate to the size of the models in the general context of the landscape.
     
    So as the small 2mm layout is approaching completion, I've been thinking what to do about sound for some time. At
    this moment in time, I fancy doing something a little different which doesn't involve having to make stock always from scratch or kit, and which runs well straight out of the box and is easy to see!
     
    O gauge appeals, but aside from the expense, and the kit building issue, I knew that I could never do it justice without converting a spare bedroom into a railway room, which I am reluctant to do, as we often put up visitors,and because I don't know anyone with an O gauge layout !
     
    Then a few weeks ago a friend invited me round to play with his (OO) trains.
     
    As soon as I saw and heard it I knew I was going to buy one.
     
    I'm talking about the exquisite Bachmann Robinson 04 in weathered finish. The sound quality and synchronisation are just amazing and blew me away - I could have played with it all night, and very nearly did! It is absolutely what I was looking for, I just wasn’t thinking in 4mm.
     
    As a result, I have now installed a Howes’ programmed ESU sound decoder and speaker in an 04, and set it up on a rolling road which I have borrowed, and I think it must be the ultimate executive toy! It is simmering gently in front of me as I type, and lo: The fireman has just begun to shovel on some coal!
     
    The Howes chip also features a shunting mode, and all the clanks and hisses I could want, so I mayset up a small shunting board for home use, though the intention is to keep it on my windowsill on a rolling road of my own.
    Of course, a bonus is I that I can take the loco elsewhere to give it a proper run out with all the animation that the sound brings to this model.
     



    (Tried to add a video clip but couldn't get sound on my phone for some reason.)
     
    Regards,
     
    Chris
     

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