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RedgateModels

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  1. RedgateModels

    Bridging the Gap

    By RedgateModels,

    Well, progress has been slow on this one, it's quite a complicated job and one that has not been helped by the fact that you really have to get the thickness of the steps right otherwise it don't fit together - It's 3.5mm or nothing in O gauge.
     

     
    I've also built them with 18mm off the back faces so that I can make the overbridge in half relief. The sidescene will be mirrored to provide the illusion of the other half and the station beyond!
     
    EDIT:
     
    And here it is in all it's glory. The span is not glued on yet, I'll do this once the steps are fitted to the platform
     

  3. RedgateModels

    Track Ready to Lay

    By RedgateModels,

    As promised here's a few snaps of the track following painting. The whole lot was sprayed with PP Weathered Wood (let down with approx 50% cellulose thinners and airbrushed using a cheap 7 quid single acting brush). Rail sides were hand painted using Humbrol Matt Rust.
     

     

     

     
    You can just see from the first photo the sleepers have been gapped close to the rail nearest to the viewing side, making them invisible from normal viewing angles as shown in the last photo.
     
    I really need to get the baseboard made don't I
  4. RedgateModels

    A name at Last!

    By RedgateModels,

    After a lot of searching, deliberating etc I have finally come up with the name
     
    Fourgig East
     
    for the layout and station
     
    Countdown fans will no doubt easily spot where it comes from
  5. RedgateModels
    Had another play last night arranging all the bits I have so far made. Here's a few pics for your enjoyment.
     

     

     

     
    SWMBO took one look at the items littering her new kitchen floor and said "Ooooh, Ivor The Engine"
     
    Can seee what she means though. Now, how do I convert the Pug, a sound chip would be good
     
    "Par par!"
  6. RedgateModels
    Well, it had to be done really, even though the average show punter will never see it.
     
    Waiting Shelter has been improved using a stretched front from the Small Station Building kit, you can just see where I've cut the overlays at the planking joins to stretch the doorway.
     

     
    I've also dressed it up with signs etc from the station kit to match. The sticky out Way Out sign is double sided and the advert board inside had to be shrunk (well only enlarged by 140%) to fit as this shelter has a seat back strip attached to the wall.
  7. RedgateModels

    Trackwork Done

    By RedgateModels,

    Found a little window of opportunity last night, SWMBO out at a meeting and #1 son happily playing with his Lego (#2 asleep), so out came the solder and flux and I now have this ready for some baseboards!
     

     

     
    I used the full yard length of rail and will make little cuts in the railhead where the joins should be before painting. I'm going to get the airbrush out to spray the PP weathered wood onto the sleepers then hand paint the rust to the sides of the rail - another first for me B)
  8. RedgateModels
    Was playing last night arranging the various buildings and completed track on the kitchen floor and it struck me that the roof of the waiting shelter stuck out like a sore thumb being a red/brown tile rather than the grey slate effect that all the other buildings have.
     
    So, it was promptly ripped off and replaced with tiling from the station building, that's the beauty of the scalescenes kits - you can just print out a bit here and there.
     
    Here's the modified shelter next to the station - much better
     

     
    More track soldering tonight hopefully!
     
    UPDATE:
     
    Just been looking at the shelter and it occurred to me that with a bit of cut and shut I could add a front with windows so it matches the smaller shelter attached to the station building. Considering that it will face AWAY from the viewing public is it worth the effort?
     
    All feedback greatly appreciated
  9. RedgateModels
    After several lunchtimes the Scalescenes small station building is complete, just needs a coat of varnish
     

     
    Footbridge next!
     
    Track is coming along, I spraymounted a section of the templot plan to some MDF last night, applied double sided tape and stuck down a yard of sleepers and soldered up the track - pretty fast progress for me. Went straight for the phosphoric acid flux and 188 deg leaded solder, lovely job
     
    I plan to notch the rails where the joints should be then fit cosmetic fishplates. Photos to follow once it's all soldered.
  10. RedgateModels
    Once I'd took the decision that I wanted to handbuild all the track a Templot license was bought.
     
    Here's my first effort at a track plan
     

     
    I'm sure I can add more detail etc later, once the learning curve drops of the vertical
     
    Scalescenes signal box is about done, needs a chimney and lever frame adding etc
     

     
    Now, I must get up to Marcway for some more copperclad and code 124 bullhead rail
  11. RedgateModels
    A while ago I bought, amongst other things, a couple of Waverley O gauge point kits from Ian Morton.
     
    Following a succesful test build of a Scalescenes Waiting Shelter blown up to O gauge a seed of an idea for my first layout in 7mm started to grow ...
     
    So, the premise is a preserved railway somewhere in GWR land (as the point kits are to GWR standards). A single track railway doubled at the station. Model half the station with the overbridge forming the scenic break at one end and a tunnel at the other. The waiting shelter could stand on one platform with a small station building on the other.
     
    Here's the shelter
     

     
    and here's the point - a left hand A4, my first ever soldered point and not too shabby even if I say so
     

     
    The wing rail on the straight route needs adjusting as it's a bit tight between the two .....
     
    Finally here's the Pug sat on some track at last B)
     

  12. RedgateModels

    Brakes

    By RedgateModels,

    Those of you who saw my question in the Kitbuilding/Scratchbuilding section will know already that I wanted some plastic brake shoes etc as they are VERY close to the wheels and didn't want to risk short circuits upsetting the Loksound decoder. I've since secured an 8F chassis bottom from East Kent Models with a view to using the plastic brake shoes for the 2-8-2.
     
    Well, first I drilled some 0.5mm holes in the top of the hangers to take some 0.45mm wires threaded through the frames then clipped them off the chassis bottom and cleaned up the bit where they joined on.
     
    Here's the result
     

     
    The weathered finish will be removed with a little Superstrip.
     
    Next step is the pull rod and bottom cross members - I'll use the old Kemilway etches that also contained the metal brakes that I've now discounted.
     
    I've also got the 8F small parts pack which contains the vac cylinder etc so I might try to use that somehow. I do want to secure the pull rod to the frames to lock the brakes in place
     
    UPDATE:
     
    Here's the pull rod assembly in place
     

     
    Kemilway etches soldered to 0.8mm dia wire - note 90 deg bend just after the drive gear allowing the rod to fit into a hole drilled in the spacer. The rod just clears the drive gear (with a slight joggle downwards!) ends of the etches will be trimmed once the blocks are finally fitted to the chassis (after painting)
     
    That'll do
  13. RedgateModels
    The detailing is getting a bit silly now, I need to sit quietly in a darkened room, or just get on with the kitchen!
     
    Trouble is, now I know how the sandboxes are arranged on a Brit and the with daylight visible between the boiler and frames on the 2-8-2, the absence of sandboxes and filler tubes would just bug me.
     
    So, I got busy with some plasticard, EMA Plastic Weld and a scalpel.
     

     
    There's still some cleaning up to do and the tops of the tubes need trimming to ensire that they just touch the underside of the footplate.
     
    It's all bonded to the boiler lower, so the boxes slip between the frames and are only attached to the tubes.
     
    Now the position of the filler tubes is set, I can get on with making the filler caps etc to go on top of the footplate.
     
    Boxes will be painted red (as will the inside of the frames) so they should be visible.
     
    EDIT:
     
    filler caps etc in place now, here's a quick snap of one of them
     

     
    Squares of plasticard with 1.25mm copper wire glued into holes in the centre, tops filed flat.
  14. RedgateModels
    I'm getting better at these ex-JE deflectors, the ones I fitted to my Clan conversion kit ended up having a lot of superglue rather than solder. These for the 2-8-2 are 100% soldered and I'm real happy with them. You just can't beat the right solder and flux (thanks Eilleen's!)
     

     
    I ignored the instructions and soldered the handrails with the deflectors flat, then formed the curve after. It works for me!
     
    Also note lovely Comet buffers replacing the horrid puny Hornby ones.
     
    Now, what about those steps .....
  15. RedgateModels
    I've started detailing the front end and of course as soon as I started looking at a close-up photo of a Brit it's all too clear the the standard Hornby buffers do not, as they say, cut the mustard.
     
    A pair of Comet ones would be lovely, but they come in a pack of four and are no-where near the minimum order charge.
     
    I've put out a wanted ad in classifieds here so if anyone has a couple to spare please PM me
     
    UPDATE: Geoff at Comet made me an offer I couldn't refuse so watch out for better buffers soon! Cheers Geoff, A1 service as ever
     
    So here's the front end with lamp irons and lifting eyes (small washers superglued on then drilled out) waiting for a package from Comet
     

  16. RedgateModels
    For those of you who can't make it, and those of you who can, here's what will be making a guest appearance on Summat Colliery
     

     

     

     
    I've got some more fiddling to do with the chassis and more weight to get in around the firebox/ashpan area but in appearance this is what you'll be getting on Sunday
     
    UPDATE:
    CVs have been tweaked so we now have approx 4 chuffs per rev not 8 and the front smokebox shovelling plate fitted. We'll see what tonight brings .......
  17. RedgateModels
    OK, I admit it, I played with the 2-8-2 for a lot of the day at Trains4U and it behaved itself quite well. Stuggled over the "hump" that appeared at one baseboard joint and proved that 14 wheel pickup isn't necessarily enough
     
    Lots of questions from customers about what/why etc it has been modelled. Anyway here's a few pics
     

     

     

     
    So now it's on with the bodyshell detailing. I bought some brass tube to fabricate the counterbalance spring for the RHS weighshaft bracket and some 10 thou' evergreen sheet to do the cab doors/fall plate etc - more to follow!
  18. RedgateModels
    Detailing has started on the bodyshell, the Comet Britannia/Clan/Duke detailing pack has been opened and the following added so far:
     
    Smokebox dart
    Safety valves
    Clacks and feed pipes
    Vacuum ejector
    Steam manifold
    Carriage warming valve
    Injector steam valves
     
    Here's a quick shot of the right side of the firebox showing the pipework so far.
     

     
    A few more evenings to go with this one then it's the deflectors and footsteps. Once these are done then I think I will be in a position to take some photos to show the whole loco before paint. The intention is to show what has been added to the base donor plastic to better illustrate the work involved.
     
    UPDATE:
     
    Got the main pipes to the Exhaust Injector done plus the rocking grate linkage
     

     
    Note the pipe from the yet to be fitted water valve is too fine and will be replaced with something thicker soon!
     
    Im particularly pleased with the thin pipe that follows the line of the exhuast feed to the injector before taking a different route under the footplate
  19. RedgateModels

    More bits of Wire

    By RedgateModels,

    Handrails and regulator linkage today to be specific. First time I've used Gibson handrail knobs, fiddly to thread on the 0.45mm wire but very nice on the loco
     
    Here's a shot of the loco's face that has not been seen before, showing not only today's work but the vaccuum ejector (blower) too
     

     
    Which has just reminded me that lamp irons need sorting ......
  20. RedgateModels
    well, for now at least.
     
    All the main components are in place and plumbed up
     

     

     
    Handrails and the regulator linkages next then it's probably deflectors.
     
    The chassis needs revisiting as the lubricator supports are still missing and I'd like to add the sandbox filler tubes and possible a sandbox or two between the frames - all fixed to the boiler lower. I've plenty of exhaust steam pipe left to add a representation of it emerging from between the frames up to the running plate before it then drops to the injector.
  21. RedgateModels
    At the Mickleover show it occurred to me that a short siding running up to the end of the coaling stage would
     

    Provide somewhere to store the Colliery "loco coal" wagon
    Fill a space that is a bit empty that has been bothering me for a while

     
    So if I ripped up the shed road up to somewhere next to the coaling stage and slotted in a steamline short radius point would give something like this:
     

     
    The Anyrail diagram is very approximate, I've not measured anything, but I only need enough of a spur to get a Parkside 5 plank wagon in, although I bet a loco hides up there at some point!
     
    I have a spare output on the accessory decoder for this board so automating it would not be too much of a headache.
     
    So, should I go through all the heartache of ripping up the existing track and ballast for a little more operational potential?
  22. RedgateModels

    Cab Details #2

    By RedgateModels,

    More cab detailing. Handrails are fitted, which took a couple of goes to get them right. The knobs are really old stock that I bought at least 20 years ago and the last four. The Gibson ones I bought recently were far too long, hey ho!
     

     
    I've also provided somewhere for the fireman to rest between shovelfulls out of 1mm plastcard. The driver's seat is part of the casting so won't arrive until the driver is fitted (a long time yet!)
     

     
    Don't think much more will be done before Mickleover this weekend, got to get Summat out and checked over B)
  23. RedgateModels

    Balance Spring

    By RedgateModels,

    Take one bit of 1/8" diameter tube (bought at Trains4U last Sunday), drill a 0.6mm hole through the end, elongate this hole with the drill so that two 0.45mm brass wires will pass through. Bend said wires inside so that a 0.7mm wire will pass between them axially down the tube. Repeat at the other end and solder up. Afer cleaning up the ends of the 0.45mm wire you get this
     

     
    cut excess 0.7mm wire off the long end and flatten with a pair of pilers. Solder to RHS weighshaft bracket (burning your fingers in the process) gives you this
     

     
    which looks a bit like the real thing
     

    Thanks to Pinkmouse for this photo
     
    Another bit of detailing bites the dust. Now for the lubricator/cross slide support brackets
  24. RedgateModels
    What a day, Summat behaved itself really well - first time out since the Mansfield Show. Had a few odd track alignment problems at baseboard joins. Most sorted with a quick tweak with pliers
     
    Loads of great questions from knowledgeable punters and a lot of customers went away inspired.
     
    I think Gareth should start stocking hanging basket liner as I had a lot of questions about it's use on Summat
     

    Summat Colliery set up and ready on the upper floor mezzanine ready for the the off!
     

    The first time "missing" BR Standards 2-8-0 and 2-8-2 have met
     
    Knock down went smoothly, there was no repeat of the "only fools and horses" moment at Mansfield when Disco-dave and I held onto one board whilst the other hit the floor
     
    We stayed and chatted until gone 5pm. A very good day.
  25. RedgateModels

    A Sound Investment

    By RedgateModels,

    To say the least, the cost of the 2-8-2 has just jumped up with the addition of a Loksound 3.5 with my own customised sound scheme
     

     
    It all fits in the firebox area behind the motor, all I needed to do to get the standard speaker in was to cut one of the mounting lugs off, file a couple of flats on the outside of the case an fix the other lug to the frame with a 12ba Triang valve gear screw B)
     

     
    I've not cut off the spare function wires yet as I've not decided on lights etc yet.....
     
    The sound file is a modified Loksound german 2-8-2 with all the unnecessary sounds removed. The background hiss and whistles replaced with real Britannia versions. I've also played with the sounds used to make sure that there is some chuff when coasting.
     
    I defy anyone to say it does not sound like the real thing
     
     
    UPDATE:
     
    Just totted up all the parts used so far. Not including wire, solder etc this build has cost me £219.27 so far
     
    UPDATE 2:
     
    I've added a connector twixt tender and loco chassis so with 14 wheel pickup it runs quite well. Anyone wanting to hear it come along to the Trains4U open day on Sunday B)
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