ullypug

Fab! These will go nicely with my Ivor the Engine coasters. I’m sure P4 won’t be an issue

As the owner of Cheddar, I presume some of the above applies to my layout and I can only apologise for its sporadic running. It was only ever meant to be there as a work in progress. My impending wedding in 2 weeks meant i was undercooked heading into the show and I didn’t have time to fully test the fiddle yards which caused no end of bother. I can assure you we were all very frustrated especially with items of stock and the main crossover which hitherto had not caused problems when they decided to play up all weekend. The layout won’t be going out again until it’s finished and I am happy with it. At the moment I’m not!

So, some eleven and a half years after my first post on here, Cheddar is about to break cover on the unsuspecting public (and operators too) at Wells this weekend. I’m thankful it’s going as a work in progress because there are quite a few things I’m a bit apprehensive about. The first showing is always a little stressful but Wells is such an enjoyable show in beautiful surroundings I can at least drown my sorrows on the boutique scotch egg stall in the market square on Saturday if it all goes to rats. The last minute dash to the finish line has seen both fiddle yards completed, along with screens to hide them and to allow the turntables to swing without kneecapping anyone in the process. I’ve still some stock fettling to do tonight. How much I get done remains to be seen. The lighting rig and backscene are still just pipe dreams along with a few of the buildings. Sadly the waterworks building and Five Ways Farm haven’t progressed. I do have a rake of herrings though, albeit they’re a bit too clean! But I’m really looking forward to being able to share my progress so please do come and say hello.

Very nicely done!

Surprised no ones mentioned it yet Show details Railwells 2024 including Scalefour Southwest Organised by the Wells Railway Fraternity The Town Hall, Market Place, Wells, Somerset BA5 2RB Please note for show parking follow the Railwells parking signs as you enter the centre of Wells, Somerset. Saturday 3rd August, 10.30 to 5.00 Sunday 4th August, 10.00 to 4.00 Admission Adults £10.00 Accompanied Child (14 and under) Free Wheelchair-bound Free Children up to 17yrs £5.00 For further and up-to-date information – Organiser Chris Challis 01308 897539. Railwells 2024 Including Scalefour Southwest and special sections for The EM gauge Society and The 2mm Association

With just over a month to go to Wells and having recovered sufficiently from surgery, I have finally managed to make some progress on the fiddle yards. I have modified two of the trestles to provide a level of adjustable support and duly joined both fiddle yards to their respective end boards. I’ve then laid tracks across the gap at the Wells end and started to lay the fiddle yard track itself . I’ve settled on 6 roads which at just under 5ft long should allow me to store 2 short trains at some point in the future. I’m using brass shoot bolts to transfer power and provide alignment. The Axbridge end will have the added complication of the Cheddar West siding to worry about. Also today I was able to visit the Waterworks site courtesy of some very helpful people at Bristol Water and take photos ahead of modelling a couple of the buildings adjacent to the line. It’s amazing how much detailing went into an industrial building then compared with how much the equivalent would now. I doubt these will be ready for Wells but I should at least have a mock up.

A straight wheel swap is impossible in P4 and I suspect EM. The cradle housing (as highlighted) supporting the spring clashes and will need to be removed. At that point a number of options will be available. I bought two tanks hoping they would be an easy conversion. Sadly not.

Very nicely done indeed!

How did you get the tank off Mark? Is it just the 2 screws and loosening the 4 retaining straps? Or do the ends need to come off too? They appear to have spigots fitting into the end of the tank

Sadly, the tanks are not easily convertible to EM or P4 on first inspection. The sprung cradle seems to be encased in a housing which clashes with correctly spaced wheel sets making a wheel swap impossible, even with Exactoscale. Axles are 1.5mm parallel end, 23.9 mm long. I shall see if I can disassemble one of the two I’ve bought and investigate further. Initial thoughts are trying the Dave Bradwell sprung carrier sitting in the existing W iron, one of Rumney Models’ chassis kits or trying to fit individual Bill Bedford units as I have with other open framed wagons.

Just a short update of the progress I managed to make before having my op this week. Home now with an extended sick note so hopefully will be able to do some modelling during my convalescence. The rake (or should that be shoal) of Herring are finished and awaiting a date with a rattle can. Just some holes to fill first where I’ve moved the handrails. Coupling hooks are Ambis and I’ll fit the instanter couplings once painted.

Looks great Tim. For those of us not fortunate enough to have an order with Ultrascale, do you see any reason why your new method wouldn’t work with Gibson wheels? I’ve one to do at some point.

I know what you mean. My ‘that’ll do’ point is a lot closer to the start than some folk on here. Adam I’m talking about you now!

Trouble is I have a box with many Rummey chassis of various descriptions. Can’t resist them!

Not much going on at the moment due to the house going on the market, but the tinking table is still working of sorts via a travelling modelling box. On the go at the moment is a rake of 6 ex GWR P22 hoppers. These are a straight build from the Cambrian kits and when finished will represent a fully loaded stone train. As they'll also be filled full of lead I'm not too worried about springing or compensation, though the pin points have been filed down a bit to induce a little slop. One was completed as a trial and uses buffers from Lanarkshire Models. The others are being built in a batch The empty rake is another story. That will be from 6 of the Rumney models kits and will be sprung. The aim of all of this is to have an empty rake that gets pushed into the McAlpine stone loading point in what would have been the Cheddar West siding before reappearing fully loaded. Or something like that as the exchange will actually be conducted via the fiddle yard.