DLT

Where the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway threaded through Barnstaple there were two crossings ever wide roads. Both had four gates, which overlapped each other when closed accross the railway. Details and photos on this page: Lynton & Barnstaple Signalling

The subject of level crossings is a fascinating one. The variations seem to be endless, especially when it comes to light railways and narrow gauge. Here's an example of the setup described by Ray, Horham, Mid Suffolk Light Railway I want to build a skew level crossing like this, but It'll need a new layout. Cheers, Dave.

Scary!!!!

Blowing a gale here in Exeter, glad I'm not on the boat to Lundy today!

Yes, the twinslot stuff is heavy duty, but use long uprights with several screws into the wall. Have used it a lot for shelving both at work and at home. You will find out how flat and vertical your walls are/are not! Beware of single-slot variants, they can be very light duty. You will need a little adjustment/packing when you mount the layout, as the brackets wont necessarily be level.

Many thanks Rob, I SHOULD be able to make Plymouth. All the best, Dave.

That looks really good. I like track disappearing under canopies and into buildings. Cheers, Dave.

I think I've caught up at last! Stunning work Mr. Wiggo, looks very "Forest of Dean". I'm envious of your speed of production, I'm forever getting bogged down in details myself. One question, the rear baseboard hinge is covered by the cottage, but where is the front hinge? Or have I missed something? All the best, Dave.

Wonderful stuff Rob, so effective. Where/when can we see it? many thanks, Dave.

Hi Richard, I always simplify the internal brakegear. You can't see it when the loco is on the layout, and you can give it some stronger structural integrity. What is often supplied in kits is so flimsy as to be unusable. In the words of Basil Fawlty; "Rapid movement of air could harm it irreparably"... As others have said, you are making really good jobs of some particularly awkward kits. All the best, Dave.

Looking forward to seeing this at SWAG. Cheers, Dave.

Looking superb James, and I'm envious of the speed you work. Will we see it at a show sometime? Or at Taunton SWAG? Many thanks, Dave.

I have still not managed to see Sherton Abbas for real, had to miss the Taunton SWAG do when it was there.

Looking very nice indeed.

I don't think anyone has mentioned "Pendlebury" by Herbert Topping on here, (with it's amazing trees) or have I missed/forgotten it? I was reminded of it coming across a Revisiting type article way back in MRJ No.48. Does anyone remember which magazine(s) it first appeared in? IIRC Model Railways, late 1970s? Many thanks, Dave.T

With all the springing attached to the pickup plate, the pickups themselves were re-routed around the springs to reach the wheel backs. Then comes the fiddliest bit of all, assembling the brakegear, pretty much by my usual methods. The etched pull-rods were not correct, and so fine and flimsy as to be unusable. So I used my pragmatic method of two brass rods to create some strength and hold everything together. As its virtually invisible on the finished loco, absolute correctness isn't an issue. So putting it all together: That pretty much completes the creation of parts, time to start working out a sequence of assembly and painting. Dave.

Just discovered this topic, I have a somersault in the to-do list, so I will be studying. Many thanks, Dave.T

Looks a great show, as ever!

Having taken some time away to continue the layout refurbishment, its time to get this project back into action. A while ago I alluded to the rather basic mainframes of this kit, having no suspension detail, and my commitment to providing some. The very helpful Mr. John Bateson came to my aid and supplied me with spare spring etches. They are not absolutely correct for a Nelson, but very close, and will be perfect for the silhouette seen through the spokes of the drivers. As the springs were going to be attached to the pickup plate, the hangers had to be bent at right angles. I held them in the bending bars and pushed them over with a slab of steel. Then it was a matter of holding them in the correct position and soldering. Please don't look too closely at the large blob of solder... And the view through the wheel.

Nobody will ever be able to tell you you've got it wrong.

Listening to this today, following the death of Wayne Shorter.

Fantastic piece of work.

Markits switched to stainless steel due to the massive price increase and poor availability of nickel silver. Their driving wheels are very good, with improved fixing/quartering, and probably cheaper than if they had stayed with N/S. Only thing is you can't chemically blacken the stainless. Unless anyone knows otherwise???