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ullypug

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Blog Entries posted by ullypug

  1. ullypug

    Tractor painting

    By ullypug,

    Evening all
     
    apologies for the lack of updates. Primarily due to my camera having to be repaired. I don't see the point of blog posts without photos.
    As the title suggests, I've got the Muir Hill Tractor to the painting stages and have managed to get something approaching a wooden appearance, after a couple of false starts. Just the transfers to add, one or two painting defects to rectify, a little light weathering and we'll be done.
     
    Clevedon has been put away for Christmas, having been wired up and now awaits construction of a panel before I can start again. Meantime, I've been playing with Wheal Elizabeth but that's another story.
  2. ullypug

    Shed Complex

    By ullypug,

    Have rediscovered the modelling mojo and engaged on Clevedon.
     
    Firstly, the water tank panels have been soldered together resulting in a pretty good representation of the WC&PR tanks. Does anybody know whether Braithwaite tanks were open topped or did they have a lid? My guess is the latter.

    Having spent a considerable time trying to work out how the various shed buildings and water tank interact, I came to the conclusion (surprisingly) that as the engine and original carriage shed were there first, that would be the logical sequence to constructing the model.
     
    So a drawing was sketched up and plastic (Evergreen Car siding) duly cut.

    The sides are two layers of 20thou, fixed with Limonene solvent with the planking facing outwards as both faces would be visible. Uprights, cross beams and diagonals from Evergreen strip.
     
    This shows the rough construction sequence.

    The rear wall has some added detail in the form of door through to the workshop. I presume the corrugated iron was a repair measure. Thankfully I have a couple of good photos taken inside the shed.

     
    I fixed the shed slab down to the baseboard with pva and constructed a rudimentary pit from 30thou. As far as I can see the pit walls are concrete, so all has been given a basecoat of Sandex exterior paint. This will be weathered after final assembly. I'm going to use air clay for the track infill to the original carriage shed.

    The sides for the engine shed have been placed together for the photo. Next step is to paint the shed sides before final assembly.

    I'm enjoying this!
  3. ullypug

    Water Tower

    By ullypug,

    Having decided to start on the structures for Clevedon, the question was which one?
    I finally decided on the water tower because it is pivotal for the engine shed complex.
    I'm modelling the second set of tanks. The first were an all timber affair, spanning the original engine shed road.
    The second was made from Braithwaite panels and was comprised of two tanks and incorporated a water softening plant.
     
    Having consulted many, many photographs, I came up with a drawing that looks a bit like this:

     
    The panels are available from Alan Gibson and to date I've spent an enjoyable few hours making up the tank sides, which are 2x2.
    The panels are edged with 1mm brass angle and have 1mm T section between.
    I'm tinning all parts pre-assembly, then using the Resistance Soldering Unit to join together. A lot easier than trying to solder conventionally.
     
    So here we have a panel under assembly. Angles and sections are mitred and filed to fit.

    Complete panel.

    Complete tank side components.

  4. ullypug

    Retirement

    By ullypug,

    Not mine alas, but of Weston WCPR. Thanks to all who came and said hello this weekend at Camrail. A good show to finish on.
    I really should crack on with Clevedon.
  5. ullypug
    I decided to fit a brass sleeve to the piston rod. It was during the exercise I discovered that the cylinder ends can be removed from the main cylinder moulding and so a cunning plan was hatched.

    With a bit of filing, the ends were pushed out 0.5mm allowing the sleeve to be fitted further away from the main chassis. I was still debating whether I'd need to move the slide bars out as well, but on reassembly it all seemed to work quite well. The black plasticard spacer is to push out the cylinders so they are parallel with the side of the chassis. So far so good.

    The rear pony truck has been refitted and the ash pan castings from Albert Goodall glued on.

    Starting to come together.

    I also took the opportunity to snap the Bachman N mogul which has emerged from the painting/weathering shop.

  6. ullypug
    I'm not quite getting to the point where I wish I'd gone down the etched chassis route, but I'm beginning to wonder...
     
    So, I sorted the keeper plate issue by chucking it away and replacing with a new one fabricated from double sided copperclad. The benefit being the pick ups could be soldered to the underside. Gaps cut obviously for isolation.

    I chiselled out a route for the pick up wires in the upper keeper plate and countersunk the hole through. Wires are 7/0.2mm.

    The whole thing reassembled with the bogie temporarily fitted. I think some form of spring is going to be needed, but it happily ran up and down the test track before I removed the idler gear.

    The slide bars have been fitted and held with cyano. Here is (as predicted) where we start to have a problem. The additional crank throw of the Gibson wheels does indeed cause a problem, which I initially thought was limited to the crosshead in the slide bar. You can see if here pretty much in its full forward position, yet the crank pin on the wheel is not yet at 9 o'clock. There's a definite movement in the cylinders, though I'm not sure if that's being transferred from the piston, or it's actually catching something inside. I'll take the cylinders off again and see where we go.

    Somewhat trying, but the end result I'm sure will be worth it. I've put the body on to see how it's going and it's already starting to look the part.

    I've also cut out a replacement tender drawbar from copperclad and will use this with the transferred Hornby bits. No photo of that though.
  7. ullypug
    Evening all,
     
    been a while hasn't it?
     
    Wheal Elizabeth's glacial conversion to incorporate a running line is almost complete. We now have a dividing railway fence, facing point lock with protection bar, lever frame, rodding etc and all the details I've been meaning to get round to. I'm sure someone out there can tell me what colour the levers should be for a point lock and point lever (which operates a pair of points in case you were wondering). Fencing is EZ line and the track details a variety of Dart, Ambis, MSE and Brassmasters bits and pieces.

    Also on trial is the Bachman N mogul I started converting at the Bristol show. It follows the EMGS manual sheet and Tim Shackleton's articles in MRJ. No dramas really. I changed the coupling rods to Alan Gibson's universal ones and also replaced the return crank. The tender has a new Mainly Trains chassis and very nice it is too. I had to space out some of the rods, cranks to stop them touching but I think we're getting there. This will be for one of the through freight trains for the front line.

     
    Only the the West Country and Standard 4 tank to convert, plus the Finney T9 and a couple of Van B's to build and then I can say there's nothing left to do on Wheal Elizabeth (yeah right...).
  8. ullypug
    A couple of successful evening sessions has seen the rods made up and fitted. The upper keeper plate was fitted and happily the chassis ran up and down on the test track under finger pressure and when relatively slightly sloped. Huge sigh of relief as always!

    I've also fitted 60 thou black plasticard overlays to the chassis block. Some bits have yet to be hacked off (rear pony) and won't be until the last moment so I don't take too much off.

    We're now in the realms of having to choose the prototype so this one will be Watersmeet 34030 as it was a long term Exmouth Junction resident. There were so many variances between the different engines and one of them is the knuckle position in the rods. This one will be behind the con rod which (if I've understood it right) matches the 21C101-31 engines. Others were forward, until some of them were modified.
     
    The front rod is only a single thickness on the crankpin to allow for the crankpin nut to be clear the con rod/slide bar.

    The Irwell Press book really is a must if you're contemplating doing one of these. It also gives a couple of very useful front end shots of the bogie. I decided I needed to do something about where I'd got to so far and added some detail from plasticard and 8BA brass studding. This configuration was one of a later series of modifications, meaning Watersmeet is going to be a 1962 condition with the cut down tender. The original raves were not cut down until 1960 according to the Irwell book.

    Next it's the cylinders and con rods. I'm going to use the Hornby con rod. Gibson bushes have been fitted. I've found some brass tube and will see if I need to sleeve the piston rod.
  9. ullypug
    Not much progress in the last couple of weeks due to work commitments, but I have managed to complete the bogie and get the wheels quartered.
     
    The wheels trial fitted in the chassis block. I used a mixture top hat bearings and ordinary 1/8" washers to suit. The wheels were quartered using my NWSL quartering jig, which I find easier for RTR conversions than the GW Models one. I'm wondering whether to fit cosmetic sides from plasticard. I might make some up with slots than can be put in later on.

    I'm also having a think about the keeper plates and am inclined to squeeze the brake gear out rather than cut and shut.

    The original bogie is cut down the middle and a new stretcher was made from 15 thou nickel silver. The whole thing was epoxied together. I didn't bother with the cut out as per the EMGS manual as the material's so small I don't think it will be noticeable. The swing link pin was fitted using a 2mm top hat bearing for the sleeve and fixed with a 10BA nut & screw.

    Lastly, the cylinders have had some plasticard added to fill the void. I'm planning on shaving off the 3/4 cylinder head cover and fitting a new one. Thinking about fitting a bush to take the piston rod

  10. ullypug
    Just like buses eh?
     
    The Van B Link here needs something to pull it and rather than start on the Finney T9, I've gone for the quicker option. I want to have something ready for Manchester in October.
    So this is a (hopefully) straightforward conversion of the Hornby West Country pacific, using 605 Squadron as the donor engine and following the EM Gauge Society manual sheet as the basis of conversion.
     
    First step is to take everything apart. It's quite scary when you get to this stage:

    Next bit is to convert the tender as it's easier. I've changed the body it came with for a cut down version. The keeper plate just comes off, you drop out the wheels, put in new ones and put it all together. Took about 10 minutes and didn't have to file anything down. Wheels are from Alan Gibson.

    Onto the loco and the first bit to covert is the pony truck. The keeper plate is prised off and replacement wheels inserted after a bit of filing down. I've also taken off the lower part of the ash pan as I'll be replacing this with parts from Albert Goodall (now available from RT Models). The truck has been cut back to a more prototypical shape. The keeper plate needs to be screwed back in, so a couple of holes were drilled and tapped to do the necessary.

    The front bogie's been cut in half (mazak I think and it made a mess) but I forgot to take a photo of that.
    More to follow next time.
  11. 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.

  12. 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.
  13. ullypug

    Clevedon wiring

    By ullypug,

    Hmm. New month. Must be time for an update.
    Wheal Elizabeth's modifications are virtually complete. All boards are wired up and last few scenic bits to finish off in time for the Cheltenham exhibition next month. Not that the layout will be running in end to end format.
    Having completed that, my thoughts and soldering iron have turned towards Clevedon again.
     
    I'd not previously installed the electromagnets and had been putting the job off for a number of reasons. Firstly, because it involves routing out sections of (already wired) foam baseboards. Secondly because the extra electromagnet feeds would mean reconfiguring all the various board plugs and there are a lot of sections switches as I'm doing this in traditional DC. And thirdly, wiring really is the most monotonous part of the model making process (for me anyway).
     
    Also, not being content with all the extra work I was already creating, I decided to replace all the previously installed topside turnout switches (a mixture of Caboose Industries ground throws and SPST slider switches see previous instalments) with the same Exactoscale TOUs and rocker switches I'd already used. Anyway, all three boards are complete with the exception of a couple of din jack plugs to be added for the controllers, of which there will be 2. The layout will be cab controlled so each operator can control the yard.
    Some piccies follow but they're not that exciting.

    Told you.
     
    The principle of installation is quite easy for foam boards; just stick a piece of ply to the board using No more nails or something similar and screw into it.

     
    It's a lot of work for very little visible progress. You can how wiring is involved when you look at the panel top. All those circles are switch locations. I've laminated this and intend to stick to a plywood box for the panel top. Turnouts will have rods extending to the baseboard front.

    So the last job to complete will be the panel, after which I can do some proper modelling, oh and run some trains when the mood takes me.
  14. ullypug

    Clean Hoppers

    By ullypug,

    Finally got round to painting the Hoppers and adding the transfers.
    Thought I'd take a photo before I apply suitable layers of crud.
    Must tweak that out of line hopper discharge wheel or else it'll bug me...

  15. ullypug
    The ongoing addition of a running line continues. Here you can see the new bridge with a bubble car where the new platform will be on the viewing side.

    A shot without the bubble car and the addition of a background blocker. No photoshop here! The bridge was made from cut and shut sections of the existing retaining wall, so the colours match the original bridge exactly. I didn't fancy trying to replicate the stonework from fresh.
     
    The change in levels from the original to new bridge is unfortunate, but I didn't want to destroy the original. I'm debating what to put in the foreground between the two. One of Kernow's Type 4 stone LSWR signal boxes would fit but would be a bit over the top and would have no realistic reason to be there.

    At the other end of the layout, I'm planning to relocate the original clay slurry loading point and add a couple of tanks as scenic blockers. Both lines behind will extend onto the fiddle yard meaning we can load a rake of tanks, rather than a couple in the original location which will be used as a coal siding/loading bank and occasional stabling point for the works shunter.

    One of the bubble car just to prove it's green!
  16. ullypug
    Cor it's been a while hasn't it? Whereas I used to be able to count my modelling activity in hours, now it's minutes. Happy to report I've finally finished off the bubble car. Well I say finished, there's a mist of weathering, head codes to add, etc etc.

    I'm really pleased with the way this has turned out. Ok so you can buy a Hornby bubble car in green but that's not the point. This model means a lot to me personally because it's taken so long to build. I bought the donor unit 27 years ago when I was working at the model railway in Weston (not a bad summer job as they go) and the Craftsman conversion kit I reckon was bought from the Bristol Model Railway show about the same time (when it was still at the exhibition centre - I caught the bus I seem to recall). So we've got history.
     
    The lining is Fox transfers and having now used them twice for lining, I have to say I'm really impressed with their stuff and service - they made up a special pack of all the bits I needed. Yes I know the upper stripe should be the same thickness as the mid body stripe it being a West Country engine but I don't care! I'm still chuffed to bits with it. Glazing a mixture of flush glaze and err actual flush glazing, all secured with Johnsons Clear.

    Photos attached. Taken in poor light so apologies. It is green honest!
  17. 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.
  18. ullypug

    O2 - 30200

    By ullypug,

    I'm pleased to say that the O2 had a successful try out at Uckfield this weekend. The photos I took there were not good enough to post so I've taken a few tonight. Not the best lighting conditions but I'm really pleased with the way this has turned out.

    I only had the one 3/4 shot aft so apologies for the out of focus. I like it though!

    Also had a little shunting session with the Ruston. This will be the works shunter when I reconfigure the layout and it needs a headshunt. We tried the basic operational concept out using the class 03 in the wharf to move trains about at Uckfield and it worked well.

    Just need to get on and do it now!
  19. ullypug

    Clevedon turnout no 1

    By ullypug,

    Have been playing with the mechanism for the first loop turnout on the Clevedon station throat. The other end of the loop will have something similar as these are going to get the most use. The others will be surface mounted throws similar to those used by Chris Nevard on his Brewery Quay. Also took the opportunity to adjust some of the trackwork.
  20. ullypug
    Next weekend will see Weston-super-Mare WC&PR rolled out for one last time. Never say never and all that but I'm not planning to do any more shows with it.
    It'll be at Camrail along with some other cracking Colonel Stephens layouts.
    Come along and say hello (or goodbye) as we look to recreate May 1940 and the last train from Weston...
     
    Camrail details
     
     
    In the meantime, here are some photos I never got round to posting including an original (courtesy D Walrond).
  21. ullypug

    O2 bogie

    By ullypug,

    I've stripped down the O2 chassis to find the cause of a slight bind (this was the reason it wasn't released to traffic at RailEx) and took the opportunity of changing the bogie pick ups to something much cooler I saw on the Scalefour website forum. Basically, it uses Alan Gibson sprung plunger pickups bearing on a gapped copperclad stretcher to transfer power from the wheels. The two plungers also mean the bogie is sprung. Pick ups from 36swg phosphor bronze were added including a link to the back of the plunger. Lots of loops to allow for movement.
     
    There is virtually no resistance to the bogie (compared with the previous wire links). Bus bars from 0.3mm brass transfer feeds along the chassis. I've since put the body back on and pleased to say the whole thing now runs much better. I'm really impressed with this system and will be using it for other engines.
  22. ullypug
    Sorry for the lack of updates but I've been busy continuing with the programme of modifications to Wheal Elizabeth which will eventually result in passenger running.
    First came the removal of the loading dock and platform almost immediately after Trainwest.
    Next came the attachment of the new fiddleyard board and painting.
    Next the start of an overbridge based on Bugle. The stone work is from Kibri styrene sheets. Very good and not as pronounced as the usual Wills offerings.
    Then the addition of concrete platform edges and bridge painting. The trains will just poke out when stopped at the station, which as yet doesn't have a name, though Demelza Lane is my present favourite.
    Finally some detail shots of the effect so far.
    The fiddle yard board has now been removed and once the platform surfaces are set in place, then the layout will revert to a single ended operation for Railex in a couple of weeks time.
    I've already bought bits of styrene to make a set of steps down from the overbridge. The next outing after Railex is in October so I'm hoping to have made more progress by then.
  23. ullypug

    O2.12

    By ullypug,

    Final assembly tonight. I'm quite pleased with this. A few details to add, crew, coal, route discs and a few spots of paint required, then I can call it done. May have to tweak the chassis a bit when I get it out on the layout for a good run in (the crossover on Wheal Elizabeth's always the killer). Something to haul coaches when I get round to converting the Hornby Maunsells.
  24. ullypug

    O2.11 & bubble car

    By ullypug,

    They both work!! Always a huge sigh of review when they move under their own power.
     
    O2 Motor wired in and pick ups added. Over sprayed varnish to deal in transfers added. Buffer beams & final detailing awaiting, then weathering. Couldn't resist a photo opportunity for a Maunsell coach too!
    Bubble car has had a coat of primer to show up the blemishes. A bit of rubbing down is required and beading to the end window.
  25. ullypug
    Where did the last fortnight go?
     
    Some progress with the bubble car. Second end finished. Just waiting for the handrails to arrive courtesy of Southern Pride and 'courier'. Think I'll have to lower the original end a bit looking at the photo. Got the High Level lo-rider power bogie installed finally. Was a bit of a struggle as I'd cut off most of the Lima mounting bits when I originally built it. Anyhow, it seems to fit now, though I haven't tried it under power yet. I think it looks alright though.
     
    Managed to make headway on lining the other side of the O2. Just the numbering to do and the last bits of black on the valance. Yes I will clean up the tank sides (looks like some methfix residue still clinging). Oh, and the motor arrived so I can think about pickups and finishing off.
     
    As for layout progress, don't ask! There isn't any (although I did look at the baseboards earlier today, but that doesn't really count!).
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