Dukedog

Details sent via PM Cheers! Frank

Hi Tom, thank you for your comment. The short answer to your question is "Yes" but I will have to see how reliable this method becomes after some use and some wear has set in. If there is a problem then a rethink will be on the cards. I want to avoid any trailing cables or slip rings if at all possible. Cheers! Frank

Hi Dave, Thanks for your kind comments. As far as the centre pivot of the turntable is concerned it's nothing fancy at all, as this was built "on the cheap" to prove a point then all I used was a simple nut and bolt. Details here http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/852/entry-9478-on-the-fiddle/ I hope to make some improvement over time once the layout is up and running. Cheers! Frank

Thank goodness for some decent weather so work can be continued outside on the East fiddle yard for my new Cambrian modular layout "Steam on the Cambrian". Those who have read my first post on this subject will know that the layout requires two such fiddle yards, one at each end of the modules. Both fiddle yards will consist of a three road turn table so that complete trains can be turned at each end without having to lift off any stock or cassettes. Today's progress on the east fiddle yard is shown below. All three roads have now been laid and checked for alignment. Peco code 75 track being used here simply because it is cheaper than the C&L stuff on the scenic sections and I had some lying about! Wiring is almost complete (just waiting for some nylon cable ties to tidy the wiring up.) I need to make a set of legs and some sort of end stop so that failure to stop the train won't result in a major disaster! I made a start on the paint job but again ran out of matt black emulsion! Must go shopping soon! Another update as it happens. Cheers Frank

Such a nice day here at Dukedog Manor I decided to have a modelling session outside on the front deck. So, after returning from our Sunday lunch at the pub I set to and made up a few little bits that I am going to need soon for a little "project" I have on the workbench at the moment. (more on that as and when) One of the jobs was to make a replacement Brake standard (Well water scoop standard actually) to replace one on a Bachmann GWR 3500 gallon tender that got dropped by me( Clumsy so and so as I am!) Here's the result of a Sunday afternoon's work. Not much to show for it but I enjoy making little bits like this. As well as the standard I made 2 x Steam heat pipes with shut off cocks, 2 different types of Vacuum brake pipes and a set of fire irons. Materials used are 1.5mm brass tube, brass or nickel silver wire 0.7mm dia, 5Amp fuse wire and some scrap brass from etches. I know I could have just nipped down to my local model shop and bought all this stuff but, what I like about railway modelling is actually making stuff like this. It adds to my satisfaction when a loco, wagon or coach is running on the layout with home made bits like this. Then there is the cost, I'm not tight (Even though I have Scottish blood) but that little lot above would have cost me about a Tenner! As it is, it has cost me coppers and time that's all. Maybe this post will encourage some of you to have a go and save money whilst enjoying your hobby. More soon Frank

Nice weathering jobs. I particularly like the chalked on markings, Can we have a run down on how you did that? Cheers Frank

Shame I can't get down to the SVR this weekend. (family commitments) Even though I only live 8 miles from Kiddy and 13 from Bridgnorth. i would have liked to have seen your diorama/layout as well as visit the parts other weekends don't allow. Hope I get the opportunity again sometime. Cheers! Frank

Bob, I have sent you a PM with connection details Cheers! Frank

Hi Nick, I'm glad you decided to resurrect Much Murkle here on RMWeb, such a great layout deserves a bit more exposure on this forum. Having seen the layout in the flesh I can confirm to the other readers of this thread how good it really is. I have a feeling it won't be long before exhibition managers start sending you emails! Cheers nick and talk soon Frank

This months model takes us back to steam traction and another one of my favourite locos The Ivatt 2-6-2T By Bachmann. I originally bought this model with the intention of converting it to a BR Standard class 2 2-6-2Tank, However I chickened out once Bachmann announced their intention of doing the same thing! I did however fit the motion support brackets that Bachmann in their wisdom omitted from the model. The loco has been Heavily weathered as they were in real Life by 1962! Although I never recall seeing one of these on Cambrian Metals the model does not look out of place either on Pen Y Bont or Morfa Bach. Another model of the month in August (If I remember to update this blog!) Cheers! Frank

My Cambrian modular layout is now nearing the stage where I need the proper power supplies for testing. (Also tied in with this entry is this thread from this forum entry on RMWeb.) As a qualified person I am quite capable of building my own electrical equipment for my model railway projects. However I must state here that anyone contemplating building anything involving 230V mains equipment should be aware of the consequences of their workmanship, and if in any doubt do NOT even think about building a project like this. The electrical requirements of my modules requires three separate and independent supplies of 16Volts a.c..at 1.5Amps for the Fulgarex units, lights and l.e.d. panel lamps and two further 12V a.c .at 2 Amps for the two track controllers. One thing that any modeller who knows about electrics will tell you is to keep any 230V stuff outside of your control panel. To this end my PSU (Power Supply Unit) is housed in its own aluminium box which connects to the layout via a multicore cable and heavy duty polarised multi pin plug & socket. The PSU then sits on the floor away from the layout and out of harms way. Here's a couple of pictures of the PSU showing the construction. Note from these pictures that the 230V mains wiring is first of all protected by a 2A fuse, in the panel mount fuse holder just above the mains cable entry. The 230V wiring is all kept to the nearside of the case well away from the low voltage side of the PSU. Note also that the case and the frame/screen of the transformer is well earthed. Both transformers are salvaged ex equipment types that have been thoroughly checked and tested before being used. The Transformer on the right is the 16V supply and the one at the left has two separate 12V windings. The view from the other side shows the low voltage wiring. The 16V supply is protected by a glass fuse of 2A rating and the two x 12V supplies have their own Thermal over current self resetting cut outs. (Ex H&M I think) The flying lead and multipole plug to the layout can be seen on the right. Take note that since these pictures were taken I have made and fitted some Plasticard fabricated shrouds to cover the exposed terminals of the transformers and on/off switch. When I built a bigger PSU for a club layout some years ago, I also incorporated a cover interlock switch that disconnected the supply if the cover was opened. I have not done so in this case as it will only be me that opens it and I hope I don't have to for a long time! Once again before closing I will repeat, if you have any doubt what so ever then do not attempt this sort of job, get some one who is qualified to do it for you. Cheers for now frank

The DAS infill looks great, just a couple of questions if I may. How did you form the flange ways? by hand or by pushing some old stock though? What sort of paint is suitable to cover the DAS? Enamel? Acrylic? Emulsion? Thanks for the inspiration Frank

Hi Jan, I am happy that you found inspiration from my layout Pen Y Bont. I agree that some times simple is best, and believe me I have some fun operating the layout and working out shunting movements. Good luck with yours and I will watch out for updates here. Cheers! Frank

I think the colour schemes depended a heck of a lot on the painter on site. They probably had instructions from Swindon on what should be which colour but, quite often these instructions were not followed and the painters did what they thought was best.. Each team of painters having their own "Tag" so to speak. Nice idea about the "free benches" though I must get round to building up a set I have had in the draw for years! Cheers! Frank

Hi Pete, Been there done it got the T shirt! It's always a downer when something like this happens and I too have had more than my fair share of failures. Some of the failures I have had though have often worked out to be an improvement over my original thoughts, so as people have said above a rethink and some super glue and paint could solve the issue. Whatever the resolution is I hope it works out to your satisfaction. Cheers! Frank

Yes I certainly agree with Jeff. Getting the camera down to track level certainly adds a lot more realism to your photographs. (much prefer some steam motive power though!) Cheers! Frank

Just another update to say that all the track is now laid on Penmaenpool MPD. Well almost all, There is still about 75mm of track to be laid on the L/H exit-entry road.This will be laid once the West fiddle yard is started and aligned so as to ensure good track alignment across the baseboard joint. All flexible track is C&L Finescale with hand built turnouts. The track is glued down direct to the baseboard with no cork or any other material between track and wood. I don't subscribe to the "Silent running" brigade, I like to hear the trains running, I have no DCC sound either so no point in making the effort for silent running. In any case at an exhibition who is going to hear the train wheels drumming above the general noise levels of the show. In the pictures you will notice that the "running line" stops short of the baseboard edge for the reasons already described above. Looking from the other(West fiddle yard) end. The base for the engine shed is fixed in place, the superstructure will be removable for transport and storage and slot on to the top of this base when the layout module is in use. There is a bit of a dilemma over the ash / inspection pits. In C C Greens book "Coast lines of the Cambrian Railways" the shed area track plan shows two pits in front of the shed. Looking at pictures in the same book fails to reveal any sign of these pits. I'm therefore inclined to believe that the drawing is wrong and the camera never lies. To this end I have decided to have two internal pits and the Plasticard base has already been cut to provide this on the No2 shed road. Finally I include a picture that I have found of the prototype location to give you the reader some idea of what I am aiming to achieve with this layout module. Note the piles of ash and clinker at the shed entrance. not an ash pit to be seen. The ground disc for the running line access, the down starter and up home signals will be modelled as will all the other buildings water tank and coaling stage except for the foreman's house at the rear of the shed. Another up date soon (I hope) Cheers! Frank[

What else can I add to the above? Not a lot! Just to say another fantastic piece of 2mm modelling! Just love this layout it's one of the best on the forum. Cheers! Frank

Nice paint job! You are not cheating using HMRS boiler bands, Looks fine to me. Cheers Frank

After what seems like ages work as again restarted on the construction of my new Cambrian Modular layout Morfa Bach / Penmaenpool MPD plus fiddle yards. Poor weather for outdoor "wood butchering" and taking a holiday abroad have contributed to the long delay since the last update. Today has been the first opportunity to get the modules built so far or under construction linked together for the first time. This picture shows the three modules that have been built /under construction to date. From front to back we have... Penmaenpool MPD Morfa Bach & East fiddle yard. Until I decide upon legs the layout is supported on plastic trestles. This is Morfa Bach, the first module to be built but still needs work doing to it. I have changed the back scene for something a bit more suitable for Wales! Grey cloudy sky over hills. To the right of Morfa Bach the East fiddle yard is attached aligned with dowels and clamped up by two over centre catches. As described in a previous post, the fiddle yard here will consist of a 3 road turntable so that complete trains can be turned without having to revert to cassettes. (a lesson learned from Pen Y Bont where turning a complete train on a 3ft cassette is a hair raising experience. One false move and it's game over!) Here we have the turntable unit albeit with only one out of the three tracks fixed at present. I have decide to use Peco code 75 FB rail in the fiddle yards and non scenic areas purely on the grounds of cost and convenience as I had a few lengths of Peco 75 in stock. The Peco rail is the same height as C&L code 75 BH rail but has thicker sleeper bases so a bit of sanding, cutting, filing and packing had to be done to get a smooth transition at the base board joint and at the turntable proper. It all runs through nice a smoothly though, the test wagon in the picture with Gibson wheels having no problems pushing or pulling over the joint gaps. This is a closer look at the turntable joint. I have used PCB copper clad material to make the track ends as rigid and as strong as possible, cutting insulation gaps as required with my Dremel and slitting disc. To keep the rails aligned and to provide electrical connections I have made some "door bolt" type fasteners from 1/8" Brass tube and 3/32" brass rod for the bolts. Soldered into place after checking that no stock will foul on the bolts. The little switch panel is the yard operators "cab control" and isolator switch for the yard. I have also been working on the second scenic module "Penmaenpool MPD" and will post a separate blog post soon for work in progress at that end. Keep an eye out for that soon! As you can see it is still a very much "work in progress" situation here. I shall have to put this project on the back burner soon though because I need to get Pen Y Bont out of store, cleaned and titivated ready for some up coming show commitments. More soon Cheers! Frank

Not forgetting Stevens & Williams (Royal Brierley Crystal) whose factory was right next to the OWWR line just south of Brierley Hill station in Moor lane. The glass works cones at Wordsley (Stuart Crystal) and Webb Corbett at Amblecoat also come to mind. Good grief, It's certainly bringing back some memories for me just thinking about this project. I hope I get to see it finished. Cheers! Frank

Forgot to mention a PUB! Another essential ingredient of Black country life! Must be a Bonk's house though! you know the sort I mean, fight a night places! Cheers! Frank

Hi Mark, Some sort of canal scene is essential even if it is just the line crossing on an overbridge. There were several steel works in the Black country all rail connected of course, Round Oak (Brierley Hill) with it's own internal railway and branches (The Pensnett Railway) Patent shaft steel works (Wednesbury) and Stewarts and Lloyds at Bilston (the only one of the 3 to have a blast furnace) Iron founders and brass founders were every where. Brick works,Both building bricks and refactory (plenty to choose from) Meat abattoirs Again plenty, Palethorpes, Marsh & Baxter, Devis, Gills to name a few. As far as "Grot" goes, Being dragged up in the Black Country It was an every day thing for me and others, we never took much notice as far as we all knew this was the "Norm" I could go on but let's see what others come up with. Cheers Frank