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ullypug

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Blog Entries posted by ullypug

  1. ullypug
    Evening all.
    After a very enjoyable outing to Scalefour North last weekend, this week I have been mostly back on the WC&P.
     
    The middle board platform's had a coat of paint and the lineside fences added from Evergreen strip and EZ line elastic.

    All three boards have been temporarily reunited so I can work out the line side fencing for the last board.

    As can be seen it's going to be mainly scenic, with an occupation crossing at the Weston end of the loop.

    The final scenic blitz is going to happen once I've done the remaining board fencing.
    Couldn't resist taking a photo from the back of the layout.

    I'll probably build the lighting rig before I do the last weathering, over spraying etc so I can gauge how the layout's going to look. I'll be using the fish tank fluorescent tubes again but hopefully a warmer shade than the blue tint for Wheal Elizabeth.
  2. ullypug
    Merry Christmas and festive compliments of the season (whatever they are - that's a moist turkey etc.) to you all.
    Following some sound and appreciated advice, I turned with some trepidation towards the Walschaerts valve gear on the 2MT.
    But, as was predicted, I took things steadily and didn't really have any problems at all (Thanks Dave!). In fact I enjoyed it. So much so I want to do another one!
    I've used a 16BA nut and bolt to join the two halves of the valve gear on the expansion link pivots. Not prototypical but it will allow disassembly should it ever be required.
    I used the rather lovely Markits milled crosshead and valve rod. I'm not completely sure that it's exactly right for this engine, but it's as close as I care about, more refined than the lost wax Comet one and a joy to use. I'll be using these again for sure.
    The grooves for the slide bars have to be opened out a bit but that's no bother. The return cranks are Gibson, tapped 14BA to screw onto the crank pins.
    I took advice from John Brighton's Steamline blog to halve the connecting rod at its joint with the cross head and did my usual trick of halving the leading coupling rod boss. The Comet chassis have been clearly thought through for the wider gauge modeller and I had no problems with clearances at all. I've spaced out the connecting rod with a couple of washers to keep its orientation roughly parallel to the chassis side frames and all appears well. Certainly everything rolls round as its pushed up and down the work bench, though I haven't tried it under power yet.
    I did blacken everything with gun blue but I didn't like the effect and removed most of it off again with a scratch brush.
    The cylinders need a bit of filler and detailing to finish, but all in all I'm a happy boy.

  3. ullypug
    Some more videos:




    Who says P4 doesn't work?!!
    I spent an enjoyable day on the layout today, running a selection of stock to check alignments on everything. This was the stock from Wheal Elizabeth which I knew worked on that layout. So any problems would be the new layout not the stock.
    A couple of board alignment issues came to light that hadn't previously but a quick dab with soldering iron sorted that out.
    After a while I was prepared to try the propelling move from the down main into the down yard which ultimately will involve a couple of as yet unbuilt siphons. These were stored in the yard here for fruit traffic. I'm pleased that the two Hawksworths had no problems at all. They're on Masokits sprung bogies so I know at least they work.
    Somewhat amusingly, the long wheelbase Hornby Van C which is uncompensated or sprung didn't fall off anywhere either. I did find out the auto tank is wired back to front though!
    D6342 is the loco that started it all off for me on Cheddar. I found a photo on a book of it circa 1963 hauling a two coach train at the station and I thought. 'now there's an idea...'.
    So once I was happy with the layout I put the stock away and spent the rest of the afternoon terraforming embankments by five ways bridge. It'll be nice to do something that isn't wiring. Like painting rail sides and chairs. Deep joy.
    As a distraction I'll hopefully be cutting wood for the main station buildings this week.
    Oh and building a few wagons in-between. But that'll be on the other blog.
    Here are some photos of various moves. I'm going to need a lot more engines and stock yet!
  4. ullypug

    Cheddar P4 - playtime

    By ullypug,

    I've put the two latest boards together and after a little bit of fettling am properly playing trains.
    It only represents a quarter of the layout but by golly is it fun! I'm really enjoying shunting wagons around. Just playing for 5 minutes puts me in a better mood. Must be something in this hobby malarkey.
    It's quite interesting how the odd wagon derails occasionally for no apparent reason then when you really, really look, you see some tiny defect that explains why. Oddly satisfying.
    I've taken a couple of short videos. Hopefully the links work


    Up yard and twin train operation.

    I'm testing with class 08s only because they're the closest things I had to hand. The photo shows a more appropriate pannier shuffling about and the building mock ups add a sense of scale. The last photo shows the much improved alignment into the down yard which I'm much happier about.
  5. ullypug
    I'm glad I started to put the year in my blog updates as progress has slowed!
    Pleased to report that the panel/frame for Cheddar has reached my 'that'll do point', for the time being at least.
    I finally managed to get the MSE lever frame into some semblance of working order. I think it is probably one of the worst things I have ever had the misfortune to make. It certainly shows it's age and the fact that the art work for the etch was hand drawn
    If I was starting down this path again, I would use the Scalefour society's kits for these as they're much, much better in comparison.
    In the end I gave up with the sprung catch block because the parts as supplied had a working clearance of about 3mm on all sides, rendering them pretty much superfluous. I put the first one on but as it didn't work and had no bearing on the operation of the switches connected to the tail of the lever, I duly stopped. I also had to drill holes closer to the pivot of the lever so the arc equated to the throw of the DPDT slide switches shown in an earlier picture, but that's obviously not the kit's fault!
    I've put all the other switches in along with the ability to change from DC to DCC at a future point in time should I ever go down that path.
    To keep my sanity, I've also been building a couple of Slater's MR 5 planks for eventual use on the PDSWJ layout which may or may not be called China House Quay. That I'm still thinking about!
    So I've attached some really interesting pictures of the panel and the rats nest of wiring under board 4. It will get tidied up, I promise. At least with the panel finished I can carry on wiring the Cheddar boards over the winter. I'm sure I said the same thing last year mind you...
  6. ullypug

    February 2016 update

    By ullypug,

    Afternoon all
    Not much to report this month. We had a great time at the Southampton show and I ended up coming away with another delightful little loco from CSP. More of that anon.
    Having had a bit of a break from Cheddar, it has been good to crack on with some more of the track work and I can see the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel, scenic section at least, now that the Axbridge end crossover is done. Whisper it quietly but that only leaves the water works siding turnout... Once again it's time to change the boards round and replace the completed one with the next. Two to go.
    Four of the boards are up in the garage and in my mind it's starting to look a lot like Cheddar. Or is that Christmas?
    Inbetween bits drying, I've also dug out some long term residents of the to-do pile. Nowhere near the standards set by others of this parish I admit, but enjoyable none the less.
    The PMV is out of the box Bachmann and just rewheeled. The Ratio toad will be diag AA20 I think and the
    Parkside conflat is being converted to an ex GW diagram (I hope). The latter two are sprung.
  7. ullypug

    January 2016 update

    By ullypug,

    Evening all
    not much by way of an update as my Christmas project, pannier 5757 hasn't quite been finished and I'm off to Southampton this weekend with one of my other layouts.
    The next board beckons and as usual, ply trackbed and laminate flooring underlay have been applied. This board has the main Axbridge end cross over/end loop and the entry into the down yard. It also sees the start of the Callow Hill quarry stone loading siding which rose away towards the Five Ways bridge. Not entirely sure why but I think it was to aid gravity shunting of the siding which had a covered loading bay.
    There'll only be one more turnout to build after this and two more boards to do. Most of that will be plain track so the end is in sight, albeit still a long way away! In the meantime I've been cutting sleepers and punching the occasional rivet. Now if I could just find my cutting broaches...
     
    I've been transferring 'completed' (they're not) boards to the garage and you can see three of them in this picture, together with the remaining two stacked at the end.
  8. ullypug
    Another month another update!
    As I've had some time off I've been playing with the Palight sheets I bought and I have to say I'm really impressed with this stuff.
    It's a foamed pvc sheet, denser than foam board and no skin as such, the material being the same consistency all the way through. It cuts with a scalpel, can be sanded, scribes really nicely and can be glued with Loctite 401.
    I've used an artists scraper board blade ( no idea what the technical term is) much the same way I scribe DAS.
    I'm just trying various paint options using Tamiya acrylics to represent mendip stone. Not quite there yet I think. It's too dark at present and needs a bit more experimentation.
    However, once I've got the colour sorted I'm sure I'll be using this for the station and goods shed buildings.
    The light wasn't the best but I've attached some photos so you can get the idea.
    Edited to upload photos with lighter stonework.
  9. ullypug

    Cheddar update July

    By ullypug,

    Evening all
    Time for an update, even if it's not all that interesting.
    Modelling does slow down in the summer. Must be all those long sunny evenings (looks out window at rain and damp seagulls flying backwards in the wind)...
    Inbetween the golf and the odd walk or two, I've found a little time to make a bit of progress on Cheddar.
    We're on to board 5 which is where things start to get interesting track wise. This is bar far the 'busiest' board, as the tracks fan out into the up and down sidings. The sequence is the same though. The boards have the combination of ply track base and foam every where else. Tonight I've been sticking the foam laminate floor underlay down onto the ply track bed.
    The Templot track plans have been laid temporarily just so you can get an idea.
    The track has been laid across the board 7 to 6 join including the up sidings. I'm rather pleased to have acquired some of the LMS models short GWR buffer stops which will be perfect here. These were the sidings that housed a camping coach and the old Perry coal yard.
    I got distracted for a week or so, playing around with the station drawings on Coreldraw. Don't think I'm too far away from the finished plan and being ready to cut some mdf. Still pondering the best method of doing the stonework though.
    Modelling wise, I've managed to paint a couple of wagons but that's been about it.

  10. ullypug

    WC&P in the movies

    By ullypug,

    Had a great weekend at the Eastleigh show last weekend so I thought I'd try to take a couple of movies. It's taken an age to upload the first, so I'll need to sort out a few things before I upload the second...
    The locals don't even seem to notice the 11.30 from Weston...
  11. ullypug

    Backscene

    By ullypug,

    Evening all
    I have been a bit preoccupied with the backscene of late. I must admit to getting really stressed doing them. SWMBO is quite a talented artist and has helped with the last two layouts but it very nearly ended in divorce last time...
     
    The plan for Clevedon has always been for a continuous backscene. This will include the town at the Portishead end, pan round including Hangstone Quarry then flatten out to reflect the levels towards Weston.
    Originally I envisaged a photo stitched thing but it soon became apparent that Clevedon (despite what some of my friends who live there think) has actually moved on since 1940 meaning the original aspect had been affected by more modern buildings.
    So one Sunday, I found myself wandering the streets taking photos of various buildings. Luckily a supermarket car park and a sports field give a pretty good vantage point.
    We are fortunate to have Martin Goodall in our EM area group and he has written articles about backscenes in MRJ's 221 & 222. I didn't quite want the Cotswold stone look but an evening watching him demonstrating his painting techniques convinced me I could have a go.
     
    The backing medium is 1700 grade lining paper which is sprayed with a blue and a white Halfords car aerosol (Olympic Blue and some white or other) to get the basic sky pattern.

    Buildings were sketched out using the principles of parallel perspective and then transferred onto the paper using tracing paper.

    The painting then commenced using artist's acrylics.
    The initial attempts were a little 'Costa del Clevedon' with too much terracotta.

    Once the blocks of colours had been laid down, the building details were added with watercolour graphite pencils. The applied shading softens when moistened with a paint allowing a representation of windows, cills, bargeboards etc to be laid down.
     
    I've attached some photos of the final results. I wouldn't call myself an artist at all so I'm really pleased with how it's turning out. There's still a bit to do; the green will be lightened to reflect trees and bushes and the quarry will include a bit more detailing. Still, you get the idea.

  12. ullypug

    T9.1

    By ullypug,

    Evening all
    am on my hols at the moment and finding time to make a bit of progress with the T9.
    The chassis is finished, having had all manner of detailing bits, overlays and bits of pipe attached.

    This took some time to sort out because I wanted to have the wheels removable. I made up a couple of bits to support the rear and front springs which are curiously a mixture of coil and leaf springs.
    The brake control rods have been fixed with 16BA screws so the whole thing can be disassembled for painting and subsequent maintenance.

    I've now turned my attention to the footplate. The kit has an ingenious fold up jig whereby you make the whole thing into a tube effectively before attaching various parts.
    Have just attached the coupling rod splashers which were interesting. The first one went on fine at which point I took a photo, feeling very pleased with myself.

    Sods law. The second took two attempts to get right but is now fixed (though no photo).
    Cab sides and wheel splashers will be next, but that's for another day.
  13. ullypug

    T9

    By ullypug,

    Evening all
    It's been a while since I put anything in here, other than the odd photo but...
    In a quest to build the oldest items in my kit cupboard before I buy anything else, I've been looking at the Finney T9 kit I've had for ages. And looking. And looking.
    With the realisation that there aren't going to be too many more shows for Wheal Elizabeth I finally stopped looking and decided the time had come to make a start.
    At least this time the RTR model has appeared before I got round to building the kit, unlike the usual way of things.
    I've not build any Finney kits before but so far I have to say I'm impressed.
    The chassis has gone together very nicely so far. I have replaced the Flexichas bearings supplied with High Level Hornblocks, just because I think they're better. Gear box is also High Level with a D2 stretcher and the motor will be a Mashima something or other, replacing the as designed Portescap 1616.
    The model will eventually be 30709 I think.

    Bogie

    Main frames

    Trial Assembly

    Gearbox
  14. ullypug

    Silver Bullet

    By ullypug,

    Have had a play around with the Dapol Silver Bullet I purchased at York. Re wheeled with Alan Gibson disc wheels and replaced the ladder and handrail assembly with ladder etch from Model Signal Engineering and origami in 0.33mm brass wire. I've given it a light weathering blast with the airbrush. I'll probably add some drybrushed white and rust streaks yet, but probably not in time for the Epsom show this weekend. Any RM webbers are very welcome to come and say hello.
    Now the ladder's been trimmed back, the wagon is in gauge and fits under the clay slurry loading point on Wheal Elizabeth. Photos attached below.
  15. ullypug

    Sunshine in Clevedon

    By ullypug,

    As it's been such a beautiful day, I couldn't resist putting a few bits of stock out on the layout and taking a few pictures.
    Progress since the last update has mainly comprised making the various signs and putting some (hopefully correct) 1930's film posters on the hoardings. Eventually I'd like to make up some flyposters for the Curzon cinema and Knightstone theatre but they'll do for now.
     
    Railcar creeps over the River Yeo bridge

    Railcar emerges onto Lower Queens Road

    Hesperus and coach No 4 on a Weston train enters Clevedon station

    Portishead on a Portishead train

    Weston train approaching the platform

    It must be a sign

  16. ullypug

    Lower Queens Road 3

    By ullypug,

    Have just about finished the building in Lower Queens Road.

    DAS was applied to the plasticard building shell and stonework carved with a pasteboard scraper when dry.
     
    Paints are a mixtures of acrylics and emulsions for the Bath stone decorative sections.
     
    Just a little toning down required with the airbrush, but that's for another day.
  17. ullypug

    Lower Queens Road

    By ullypug,

    I've started so I'll finish.
     
    First some bad news. My trusty modelling chair and I have parted company. Literally. Unfortunately it gave way during a modelling session. Thankfully the replacement has been sourced. It swivels and tilts and everything. The only problem is the incessant bleeping every two minutes. Da da da daaaaa, da da.

    Now that my buttocks have returned to a comfortable place, the other bad news. The pva river didn't work. It dried clear but with lots of tiny bubbles. I wonder if this is a reaction to the paint. Thankfully I was able to remove it without doing much damage.
     
    On the good news front, the second idea which uses artists acrylic gel medium has been much more successful. Two coats have been applied and as it holds texture, it is going to give me the effect I was after. I wasn't trying to replicate dappled sunlight playing on the water but it's quite pleasing.

    Lower Queens Road is starting to take shape. I've made bases for both sides of the line. The one in the foreground will have a couple of the houses on the left hand side (on of which was owned by the railway). The one at the back has a representation of the planking that bridged the river and allowed access to the WC&PR station. The gate gave access to the GWR goods yard. I'll put a bit of track to represent the stub end of the siding and yes it will be P4 just because I can!

    The station building has had its initial paint coat and I'm pleased with the colour.

    It's the same as the tanks which now have tops, some lining out added and added detail for the water level indicator and other bits.

    edit : Forgot to add the photo of the classic entrance view...

  18. ullypug

    Van B

    By ullypug,

    Evening all.
     
    I've decided to break with tradition and build a kit after the corresponding RTR model appears. Usually it's the other way round
    The subject matter was a Ratio Van B kit that I've had in the cupboard for years. Well actually I had two but the other one's going to be sold to make way for the new Hornby one, but I digress...
    This will be for the Wheal Elizabeth passenger line to go behind a West Country or T9.

    It was built pretty much as the instructions but used Bill Bedford 8ft sprung bogies which were built once I'd worked out what the instructions were trying to tell me.
    It took most of the Jubilee week to build but made for a pleasant exercise. As others have said, it's an old school kit that means you have to stick about four parts together where nowadays it'd just be one moulding. Still I didn't lose any bits of hinge.

    It's had the initial coat of weathering but needs a final waft of gunk and some touching up here and there. I haven't bothered adding the transfers as it's going to have a very heavily weathered finish.
    One word of warning: I used the Roxey Mouldings etch for the bars behind the windows and treated them with gun blue. I then used Johnsons Klear to stick them to the rear of the glazing. You can just see that the bars have developed a green tinge which I'm guessing is the Klear reacting with the gun blue. I'm not that bothered about it as the windows are going to be sprayed over with the final weathering coat. Otherwise I'd be removing it all and starting again.
  19. ullypug
    Wheal Elizabeth is out and about this coming weekend at Cheltenham. Do come and say hello if you're going..
    The modifications to the layout are all but complete, just some point rodding, facing point lock and a lever frame to add.
    The slurry loading facility has been relocated, allowing a rake of tanks to be filled, so expect to see the bullet train this weekend.
    Also, Wheal Elizabeth has secured the lucrative contract to supply Tulis Russell, the papermakers so expect to see their own private owner PAA hoppers making an appearance too.
    Luckily, I was able to snap a few shots of the test train this morning.
     
    Jamie, the works R&H shunter bringing two tanks into the yard

    Jamie, the omnipresent small engine pushing the hoppers up towards the slurry loading point.

  20. ullypug

    Clevedon - it lives!

    By ullypug,

    At last, I'm pleased to say that over the last couple of weeks, the final wires have been attached, the panel finished, the turnout operating rods attached and everything checked. The result of this is that this afternoon I connected the power box and switched it on. Playing trains commenced shortly afterwards!! There are a couple of tweaks to sort out but importantly, nothing shorted. As the weather was glorious, I couldn't resist putting some of the stock on the layout and taking a few piccies.
     
    The finished panel.

    The railcar crosses the River Yeo bridge. Bridge and river not yet built...

    No 4, Weston, one of the American coaches and No 7 in the shed/yard. No 7 is presently being restored at Boston Lodge for the London Underground museum at Action. Alas it's being retrofitted to its original Metropolitan Jubilee Stock form.

    Railcar where the platform will be. In the back ground, from left to right, the roads are:
    1. Original Transfer siding
    2. Engine shed with pit
    3. Engine shed with inlaid track
    4. Carriage shed road
    5. Carriage shed road
    6. Carriage shed road
    7. Sand store/shed
    8. Dump road

    No 4 and the Met coach No 7 in the shed roads

    Once I've sorted out the minor electrical gremlins and a couple of trackwork adjustments, the plan is to start scenic works on the main shed board. With this in mind, I've started to prepare working drawings of the sheds.
    The wiring has taken an age to get through. I'm now looking forward to doing some real modelling.
  21. ullypug
    Evening. It's been a while hasn't it?
     
    Fear not, the silence doesn't indicate lack of layout activity, just the ongoing and rather mundane electrical wiring of Clevedon WC&PR. The second board is now done. I linked the two together for the first time on Saturday and we had trains running. Just the third one to go. I couldn't bring myself to post photos of the rats nest of wiring, but I have attached a shot of the underboard turnout operating unit involving an Exactoscale mounting plate and a roller microswitch. The operating rods are not yet shown but it works well. I need to buy one or two bits from Scaleforum next week so have crated the boards back up for a while.
     
    And so to something completely different, namely the Steam and Things kit for the WC&PR's 2nd Fordson tractor. Those of you who have seen Weston WC&PR will know I've modelled one of these in 4mm EM, but this is an etched brass kit in the 7mm scale. I had a rather pleasant afternoon soldering bits of metal to other bits of metal and the photo below shows the result. I don't think I'm likely to go over to 7mm, it's all a bit too big for my liking, though it's easy to solder bits and pieces with the RSU. Again, I now need to purchase things like wheels and motors at Scaleforum. The tractor with the milk trailer will eventually make its way to the WC&PR group for display on their stand at exhibitions.
  22. ullypug

    O2.5

    By ullypug,

    Hmm, wonder how many versions I'll get through before I finish the loco.
    Anyhoo, you know when you do something really stupid... well I had my own doh moment when I remembered I'd bought a set of GW Models rolling bars off the bring and buy at Scaleforum.
    2 minutes later and I had my boiler.
    The wrapper quickly followed and I made a new outer wrapper with the GW rivet tool (must be keeping George in business). I bit of filing here and there and it's starting to come together. Front end is sitting low and will need packing up I think. Good job as there's a gnats whisker above the rims to the splashers.
    Gearbox and motor seem to fit. Onwards and upwards.
  23. ullypug

    O2.4

    By ullypug,

    Hmmm
     
    Two steps forward and one back. Made a start on the body work. Goes together quite nicely. All well and good.
    Then the smokebox. The instructions did not prepare me for the hassles to come. 'Roll wrapper and fit to boiler. Apply outer wrapper'. OK so I was supposed to prepare the whole thing dry and apply heat. I just about managed to do this with the aid of the RSU on warp 9 and some choice expletives, but the results are not brilliant. The thickness of the boiler tube didn't help. The smell of burnt flesh and wood has just about dissipated from the modelling room. All of this is somewhat irrelevant as I've found the boiler tube won't fit between the side tanks anyway.
     
    Mark 2 will comprise getting hold of some smaller 21/32" tube and making my own thinner wrapper. If I can't reuse the outer wrapper I'll make another with the riveting press.
  24. ullypug

    O2

    By ullypug,

    No, not the mobile sort, but the ex LSWR 0-4-4 type. I just wanted to make sure Kernow do one and as we all know, building a kit is the best way of ensuring a r-t-r offering appears.
    Mine is the Gibson variety, acquired years ago for a Christmas present. It doesn't really fit any particular theme, other than a some point in the future passenger alteration for Wheal Elizabeth. It could appear on a non clay goods I suppose.
    I decided that I needed to free up space in the modelling cupboard and the 02 was one of my earlier purchases. Other things are going to be offloaded at the bring and buy at Scaleforum or ebay. I've a Maunsell P set which should suit the 02 very nicely.
     
    Edited 23:26 Hmm. Thought as much!
     
    Anyway. Pics attached. I am going to spring this one and am using High Level hornblocks with the springing anchor.
  25. ullypug
    Having taken the day off to get ready to take Wheal Elizabeth to the Epsom show, I've finally got around to putting up all the baseboards and taking a picture or two. My carpentry is never going to win any awards. Nothing in our house seems to be square or flat and my baseboards are no exception. Mark1 track plan has been laid to give a flavour. After the Epsom show, I've a break until it goes out to Scaleforum. The plan is to start trackbuilding on the Bristol EM demo stand next weekend and see how far I get over the summer. As it's flat bottomed rail on copper clad, it's quicker than conventional chaired track, though I am tempted to replicate the track spikes using staples this time.
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