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RedgateModels

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  1. RedgateModels

    Harry Detailed

    By RedgateModels,

    Some of you might have seen in my status updates that I've been fiddling with Summat Colliery's resident shunter "Harry" this week.
     
    He's received a small Stay Alive capacitor pack to his ancient Lenz Standard (not Plus) decoder and I've now turned my attention to the outside.
     
    I started adding some real coal to the bunker, and then went a bit mad sprinkling coal dust and a few large lumps to the footplate.
     

     
    Needs a quick waft with some matt varnish but I'm pretty happy with the improvement over Roomey's initial light weathering done all those years ago
  2. RedgateModels
    I thought I'd settled on the final track plan - until Ian Allen posted a 1:5 double slip in O gauge on the Templot forum. Why didn't I think of this in the first place? When Martin advised me that a 1:4 would not be practical I went for a 1:6.
     
    So, have a go I thought. This meant that most of the layout had to be redrawn, including the position of the 1:5 turnout leading to the goods shed and of course the run-round turnout was made a 1:5 too.
     
    here's the final, final plan. It's got to be as I start building next month at the Mansfield Show!
     

     
    Pretty pleased with this now, the compromise of a tighter radius slip has given me a good 12" of run-round now, good enough for most tank engines methinks
     
    So, come along to the Mansfield Show and see it all progress. I will have a full size plan spread over two 6 foot tables, with the buildings etc in place. As the track progresses over the weekend it will be laid on the plan too.
     
    Must get four 1:5 crossing Vs made up before then though - anyone want two 1:6's
  3. RedgateModels

    My first V

    By RedgateModels,

    Following Brain Harrup's excellent example here I've made my first V
     

     
    It's a 1 in 6 - taken with a similar one from a Waverley point kit (the Waverley is the one at the top)
     
    Nose is a bit blunter than I'd like, but it should be okay.
     
    Right, one more #6 and a #5 to do then it's onto switch blade practice
  4. RedgateModels
    No, not vanished, varnished
     
    Two coats of fresh PP satin varnish applied by 6 quid eBay airbrush, used just under half a tinlet, so the thinned varnish went back in the tin for next time
     

     
    Will let it harden off overnight then commence assembly. After that it's coal, weathering (light!) then glazing and crew. Decoder will be a TCS-DP2X
  5. RedgateModels
    Yes,
     
    I've finally got round to finishing the lining on the Duke of Gloucester - prompted by Narrow Planet sending me the proof for the plates which have now been paid for and will be away at the etchers soon.
     
    As soon as the plates are painted and in place the whole loco will be varnished then I can get it back together for an ex-works photo shoot. It will probably get a "2 weeks into service" weathering after that.
     
    I also have a DJH example in for refurbish, well, rebuild chassis wise I've also ordered a set of plates for this one too.
     
    Will be good to compare the two side by side sometime to see if it's true about the DJH boiler being too short
  6. RedgateModels
    I'm in two minds with the trackplan. At the "dead end" of the station area I currently have a very short 1:4 point to maximise the length of loco that can clear the switch blades and run round the train. This has resulted in an ugly curved section with a pretty tight radius between the point and the double slip as the slip is based on 1:6 diamonds. If I replace the 1:4 with a 1:6 and make the section between the point and slip straight it looks much better, but I'll only ever be able to fit an 0-4-0 or maybe just an 0-6-0 tank into the "headshunt".
     
    Here's the plan with the 1:4 point, note kink between point and slip
     

     
    and here's the plan with the 1:6 point - nice transition between slip and point
     

     
    So, do I knock a hole in the sidescene and have say a 12" bolt on single track "fiddle yard" and have the prettier track arrangement? I'd have to hide the exit with trees or somesuch scenic device, or maybe resite the signal box to the other side of the tracks.
     
    Or is it just too contrived and would make the layout more awkward to fit into exhibition plans with an extra foot being needed just for a sticky out bit of track???
  7. RedgateModels

    The Duke's Plates

    By RedgateModels,

    I received the plates for the Duke of Gloucester Saturday morning, Narrow planet have done a fantastic job, etching using thinner brass than for the 2-8-2 which has allowed a much better detail for the works plates etc.
     
    Here's the nameplates fitted
     

     
    I'm still trying to get the rest painted with white raised text etc, might not work due to the thinness of the etching, but I'll give it my best shot.
     
    My large tin of pre-thinned PV72 satin varnish went off, maybe in the cold of the office, it was fine a couple of weeks ago when I finished the lining but late last week it had turned to cottage cheese.
     
    After a couple of failed attempts to catch Brian of Shawplan in at home I've now ordered a couple of 14ml tinlets from Modeller's Mecca - hopefully they will turn up over the hols and I can get the airbrush fired up when SWMBO's not looking
  8. RedgateModels
    Bit of progress on 4gig - I've bought a couple of Lima MK1s from BlackRat of this parish and am pleased to see that they clear the goods shed when on the run-round loop. It's not going to be a "normal" move but I can foresee the need to shunt them into the loop to release a long guest loco that can't clear the point.
     

     

     
    The above shots are using the Templot print, but I have since checked on the real trackwork and it's fine. So full steam ahead Santa, Marcway gift vouchers please
     
    I've also started a Scalescenes engine shed, but this probably won't be finished until after Christmas, current plan is as below
     

  9. RedgateModels
    Well, work on the Duke will be suspended as I've run out of bits!
     
    The ex-JE etched deflectors will be posted out next week, so I'm told. Chris at Golden Arrow is chasing his supplier for the missing buffers - he already has the cylinder drains.
     
    So I thought a few pics of the current state of play might be a good idea.
     

     

     

     

     
    I still havn't sorted out the cab details yet, although I have found a pair of Hornby crew that will do fine. Big question is how to fabricate the panel/window behind the driver's seat.....
  10. RedgateModels
    So having completed the goods shed I thought I'd better check to make sure that locos and wagons would get past it, so armed with board 1 and a Templot print I started arranging things last night.
     

     

     

     
    It's a wee bit tight entering the shed past the office building and the longest item of stock I have at the moment is the Toad brake van. I hope to have a Lima coach soon, so I'll have another check when that lands. There's no real need for coaching stock to pass the shed on the run-round, but if I have any guest locos that are longer than 12" wheelbase I will need to use a pilot loco to release the coaches and shunt them into the run-round.
  11. RedgateModels

    Goods Shed Done

    By RedgateModels,

    So the goods shed is done, save for some much needed weathering and fitting out etc.
     
    Here's a couple of snaps of it in place on the Templot plan.
     

     

     
    Next step is to get some Peco flexi and a couple of wagons to check clearances etc
     
    Cost? - a 20 ml tube of UHU - £1.50 ish, 2 36g gluesticks - about £1. Scalescenes download £4.99 Card was salvaged from work and the prints didn't cost me owt either
  12. RedgateModels
    Had a day off today so started to remove the bits of 4gig mk1 that are no longer needed
     

     
    The platform will be reused but the cinders are in the bin. I was relieved to find the pva softened easily with water - still made a mess of the kitchen though!
  13. RedgateModels

    A Shed Load of Card

    By RedgateModels,

    Over the last few lunchtimes I've been busy with some free card and the Scalescenes Goods Shed kit, again the OO kit blown up to O gauge on the printer.
     
    Here's how it stands at the moment, with mug to give an idea of scale
     

     
    rafters are glued to the card and are drying under a box of paperwork (knew there was a use for it )
     
    There's a lot more corrugated card in this one than I normally use, and the main walls have been made a lot thicker than designed to give a bit more rigidity.
     
    Must print off the track plan again to make sure it fits!
  14. RedgateModels

    A Growth Spurt

    By RedgateModels,

    Following two consecutive weekends helping out on other's trainsets I have unashamedly nicked sought inspiration from Ian Morton's shake the box for track plan and Chris Nevard's Catcott Burtle for the water feature at the front and have come up with the new, bigger, improved 4gig
     

     
    I've got to extend the depth of the current 4ft board by 6" and make another 4x2
     
    I'm currently cobbling together a Scalescenes goods shed, again the OO kit enlarged on the printer to O scale to ensure it will all fit in. The siding next to the shed and coal staithes will be inset, so I'll probably use DAS clay and then scribe some concrete type joins in it etc.
     
    So, Santa, please bring loads of cash for a shopping trip to Marcway for lots more sleepers and BH rail. The double slip looks fun to make
     
    The layout is already penciled in for Wycrail 2013, so I'd better get a move on
  15. RedgateModels
    One of the reasons for lack of progress on the Duke is that I've been distracted constructing what has turned out to be a multifunction rig for shows and home.
     
    I've been wanting a programming track when exhibiting for some time, as I have at least one loco still running an R8215 decoder that resets itself to 3 when a short occurs. I have had to seek out a friendly trader or other layout who can reprogram the chip for me. Sociable though that is, I really wanted to be self sufficient.
     
    I've also fancied a more "commercial" rolling road than my old home made one - so combining the two ideas I bought a Hornby rolling road and combined it with a spare PCP panel and an autoSW to give me this:
     

     
    The box is 18mm gloss cream faced MDF left over from doing the kitchen, so does not look out of place on the kitchen table it's also VERY sturdy. The rolling road is wired to the autoSW so becomes a programming track when the appropriate mode is selected on my PowerCab. A flying lead with a 2 pin DIN speaker plug on the end is connected to the MAIN output of the autoSW and simply plugs into the existing socket on Summat Colliery.
     
    Since taking the photo I have also added a speaker socket to the front that is fed from a changeover switch so that I can switch the rolling road to an external input for use with the SPROG or good old DC at home when testing etc.
     
    I do not now need to buy a PCP panel for each layout I build, just add a speaker socket and away we go!
     
    However, I now have a "spare" PCP panel that was fixed to Summat Colliery when I first got a Powercab. I think I will move this to the front of the layout so that I can link them up and operate from the front if the mood takes me
  16. RedgateModels
    It's been a while, as pointed out by Pete Harvey. Well, I've been busy exhibiting and building by Powercab PCP panel/rolling road setup, but I have managed to get the RHS lined up
     

     
    keen eyes will notice that I have brushed some pre-thinned PP satin varnish over the running plate lining to beef it up ready for me to tackle the other side ........
  18. RedgateModels
    Well, the Duke is ready for lining. All the detail painting is done including some picked out pipework and the cab has a few touches of paint around steam pipes and the gauges are picked out in white with black pointers.
     

     
    Tender is also ready, so there's really no excuse not to get the pressfix out is there?
  20. RedgateModels

    Boston Show

    By RedgateModels,

    This weekend gone was Summat Colliery's first time out since the Member's Day in July and what a great weekend it was.
     
    The show was held in Stickney Village Hall in Lincolnshire and just at the edge of my limit for a show without accommodation, so it was an early start and quite a few miles under my belt in the Scooby (not all bad then )
     
    Summat performed brilliantly as usual, most problems were caused by operator error (me) in the main. Can't thank my two helpers over the weekend enough - Aaron and Dave from the Boston MRS who took to the Powercab and Summat's complicated shunting sequence like ducks to water. Even Wendy left the kitchen on Sunday afternoon and took the controls for a spell.
     
    Couldn't resist this shot, I wondered why the tender on the 8F had tipped over, and this is what greeted me on investigation
     

     
    As I said, operator error mostly
     
    I bagged a bargain loco from one of the traders too - a Standard Class 4 mogul 76079 for £45, that turned out to be already chipped when I opened it up on Sunday morning to add a Lenz Standard It was immediatly pressed into service all day Sunday - Don't tell it it's likely to come under the knife when the GWR 43xx body arrives .......
     
    Oh, and I was acutely embarrassed on Sunday afternoon when presented with this
     

     
    :) :)
  21. RedgateModels
    71000 is getting ready for his before primer photo shoot
     
    I've drilled out the chimney and finally sorted the air bubble holes with some gel type cyano (Screwfix Mitre bond - who says doing the kitchen can't help with the modelling )
     

     
    and I've bit the bullet and fashioned the cab partitions behind the driver and fireman out of plasticard, also a representation of the fireman's seat. The driver as usual comes with a cast in seat
     

     
    So, just waiting for the buffers from Golden Arrow and I can get the primer on ........
  22. RedgateModels
    So the much hinted at etched valve chest covers from Pete Harvey of PH Designs arrived on Saturday, I've folded one up as a test and rested it on top of the Golden Arrow resin version for comparison.
     

     
    Looks like Pete got them spot on, there's even a half etched lip at the rear of the lower edge to allow the cover to sit on the top of the cylinder body to give a slight overhang as the prototype
     
    Big thanks to Pete for offering to do these without me asking, a real credit to Pete and the power of the forum for bringing us modellers together to produce such a collaborative effort yet again
     
    I'll get the files out later this week to shape the resin behind to represent the valve chests and re-locate the operating rods etc to more realistic angles.
     
    The deflectors are all soldered up and adjusted to fit. I will temporarily glue them in place for a final photo shoot before the paint goes on.
  23. RedgateModels
    Just a quick update today. The deflectors arrived last week and one is assembled. Mods need to be done as the Duke's footplate is further forward than a Brit. Other issue is that CTMB don't supply the handrail knobs, good job I have some in stock.
     
    Better news today was a text from Pete Harvey, etched goodies on the way that will make my Duke unique, well until he does his too.
     
    More to follow
  25. RedgateModels
    After a short spell with a hacksaw and 8BA tap we have the following arrangement
     

     
    I've lost the whole section of chassis from underneath where the body fixing sticks out, so the drawbar pin and it's carrying plate plus the whole lump that supported the flangeless pony wheel has gone to make room for the swinging rear pony.
     
    The exisiting pony fixing hole was drilled out 1.8mm and tapped 8BA to take a triang/Hornby bogie screw. A conventional 8BA cheesehead screwed into the tapped hole in the pony and Robert is your Father's brother, as they say
     
    The photo shows the drawbar set with the largest gap, the close coupled option is still workable for layouts with very gentle curves/display purposes .....
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