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wiggoforgold

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  1. wiggoforgold
    46444's Ivatts have been visiting Diddington recently,so here are some photographs I took. I wasn't happy enough with them to put them in my gallery, which is why they are here,as I thought the event was worth recording

    46444 is a Bachmann Ivatt fitted with sound

    46495 is a detailed Bachmann Ivatt by 46444. More details can be found in his blog. I built 46496 from the Comet kit before the Bachmann model was available.

    In 1959 46495 0n a typicalKettering-Cambridge passenger rake approaches Diddington box. Locomotive is Bachmann,coaches are Hornby. More about the coaches in an earlier blog entry by me.
  2. wiggoforgold
    Work on D6723 continues. As construction of the body proceeded, I repeatedly offered it up to the Bachmann chassis to make sure everything fitted. I removed the moulded ends from the Bachmann chassis,and also the circuit board from the top of the chassis. I had discarded the lights, and I don't use DCC so the circuit board was superfluous, and its removal gave me more space at the top of the chassis for fitting the body.
    The trial fits of the body with modified tumblehomes empasised the fact that the moulded sideframes on the Bachmann chassis were too wide. I narrowed these by removing the sideframes with a razor saw, cleanig up the parts,and reassembling them. The width of the saw cut gives sufficient narrowing. The brake cylinders on the Bachmann bogies looked a bit underfed,though I think Bachmann may have addressed this on later models. I intend to replace mine. The best option appears to be cylinders from the Hornbyclass 50, if you can get them, but unfortunalely I don't think these are available as spares. I have decided to use Roundhouse ones, and am currently awaiting delivery of these. The plan is eventally to fit new brake cylinders, together with the actuating chains for the hand brakes. At the same time, I will improve the bogie steps, and fit a speedometer. For the moment I have just narrowed the sideframes, and painted them.

    After priming, the sideframes were sprayed with a mixture of matt black and dark earth Tamiya acrylics. The springs were picked out in semi-gloss black, and dry brushed with a mixture of NATO black and dark earth to highlight the coils. The sideframes were then sprayed with Modelmates weathering dye (mud brown), most of which was immediately wiiped off with a damp cotton bud, which emphasised the detail. (Thanks to Ian at Antics in Plymouth for showing me this)
    I spent a lot of time studying the fuel tanks before deciding how to tackle them. The tanks on the Bachmann chassis are a one piece moulding. On the prototype,there are seperate tanks, linked by pipes, and suspended from brackets. I found these photographs helpful while considering what to do:
    http://www.brianhans...t/c1481786.html
    http://eastmoor.blog...37-details.html
    After taking a deep breath, and making myself feelparticularly brave I cut the tank moulding from the pastic part of the chassis (there wasn't a lot left of it by then) I separated them into separate tanks, and filled the resultant gaps in the tanks with 40 thou black plasticard. I then cut a rectangle of 40 thou black plasticard to form a base for the tanks and reassembled the tanks on these. The brackets between the tanks and at either end were made from plasticard and plastic strip.


    Apologies for the first photograph being slightly out of focus, but I wanted to show the resultant daylight round the tanks, and I couldn't get the focussing on the camera to improve.
    The tanks were agian sprayed with a mixture of Tamiya matt black and dark earth,with a spray of Modelmates dye. The steps were picked out in NATO black,and then drybrushed with Humbrol polished steel, and a Tamiya black/earth mix.
    Fuel spillage on the smaller tank was done by painting a patch matt black, and then overpainting part of that patch with semi gloss black,before lightly spraying the whole thing with dark earth.
  3. wiggoforgold
    I've given some thought to how the finished layout will look and what buildings I need to acheive this. As I'm going to refer to where the buildings are placed on the layout I'm putting up the track plan again to save the need to refer to a previous blog entry to see where the buildings go on the plan.
    My aim is that a person looking at the layout will be able to get an idea of location and period without a single item of stock being present. An indication of the area modelled can come from two things, The design of the railway and its infrasructure (such as buildings, signals, trackside furniture (eg water cranes and fences) and from topographical features such as the landform, the non-railway buildings and the vegetation. The period can be indicated by things like peoples fashions, posters, railway and road signs, the state of repair and colurs of railway buildins.
    I have also given some thought to the season modelled. Theres a bit of "chicken and egg" here as my tought process ran "I want to run these trains - what season should I model? ( For example in 1950's East Anglia you won't find vans of local fruit being loaded in midwinter.) The thought process could just as easily run "I want to model autumn, what trains are appropriate? I've seen a number of highly atmospheric layouts set in different seasons, although most layous seem to be set in some rather undefined midsummer season. When you think about it summer only lasts about 25% of the year, and it usually rains for at least part of that time - perhaps more layouts should reflect this.
    So, where are the buildings going too on the layout? To start with, here's the plan again to refer to:

    At the StIves/March end of the layout I plan to create a cameo scene depicting the platform end. The bulk of the platforms will be offstage. The main station building will be based on Histon, and will form a view block hiding the exit of trains from the visual part of the layout. Because the layout will only be viewed from one side, I will only fully model the visible parts of this building and some of the others. Opposite the station building will be the signal box on the platform end. I have always liked platform level signal boxes. I was originally inspired by the late Peter Denny's "Grandborough Junction" box. Mine will be based on St Ives (Hunts). At the end of the platform will be a typical GE level crossing. Most of the stations on the line between St Ives and Cambrige had this arrangement, although I think that without exception the crossing was at the StIves/March end of the platforms. Mine will be at the Cambridge end. I'm also wondering about having a water tower, based on StIves, adjacent to the signal box.
     
    I plan a single pen cattle dock on the spur adjacent to the level crossing off the goods loop. The single pen is typical of stations on the line, and has an interesting pentagonal arrangement, rather that the usual 4-sided ones.
     
    The next building will be the goods shed. I'm still thinking about this. Current thought is for a typical GE wooden shed, with brick built offices at one end. St Ives will provide the prototype for the offices, and the shed itself will be generic. The practical function of the shed on the layout will be to cover the baseboard joint. It will be removable, so it fits over the joint. I'm undecided whether to build it on a removable sub base that fits over the joint, or leave a hole in the scenery for it to slot in to.
     
    In front of the goods shed will be a couple of "jigsaw" sections which will further disguise the baseboard joint. Between the runnings lines and the sidings there will be a group of buildings, pssible forming a PW depot, and in the foreground will be a goods yard. Both these groups will be on their own "jigsaw" sub-bases. I haven't dicided on prototypes for the buildings yet, but Godmanchester had a few that might be suitable. Part of the reason I am undecided is I am unsure how many to have, and how big they should be . As well as disguising the baseboard joint, I want there to be a visual block midway along the layout. That way the trains will pass behind the buildings, which will help disguise the length of the layout. It will also help to divide the scenic area into more manageable sections for the eye to take in. The other side of the equation is that I don't want to clutter up the layout with too many buildings, as I am modelling an area which is flat and open, and I am concerned that too many buildings will spoil the effect.
    Finally, where the running lines leave the visible section of the layout at the Cambridge end, I'm planning another view block, this time a stand of trees or bushes. This will also have the effect of visually balancing the station buildings at the StIves/March end.
    These are the thoughts so far - any ideas will be gratefully received!
  4. wiggoforgold
    I said a couple of months ago that I would put up a track plan of the proposed new layout, Fen Drayton. I've finally sorted out the technology to do this, so here it is. The idea is to have a through station with a cassette fiddle yard at the Cambridge end, and a sector plate at the March.StIves end.
    I've invested in Templot, so when I can manage it I'll create a better plan in that and put it up.

  5. wiggoforgold
    Mark (46444) asked if I could weather his Hornby Staniers for him
     
    The coaches made up a 3 coach set in BR maroon.
     
    The Hornby finish is slightly matt. I used T-cut to impart more of a a gloss finish to the sides. I renumbered one of the Brakes as M5599M as both brakes in the set had the same number. I then masked off the sides, and sprayed the roofs with a very thin mix of Tamiya IJN grey with a little dark earth in it. I lightly sprayed the underframes and bogies with a mix made up from Gunmetal, matt black, dark grey and dark earth. I then sprayed the bogies with a further mix with more dark earth in it.
    I brushed the roofs with Carrs powders, and brush painted parts of the underframes with various well thinned mixes of dark grey and dark earth, most of which was rubbed off straight away with a cotton bud. I ran a darker mix into the joints round the doors, again rubbing off any overspill.
     
    I painted the wheels separately with Tamiya matt black, let down with a little dark earth; I would have used NATO black, but I'd run out.
     
    Here are some pictures of the results:



  6. wiggoforgold
    Morning all
    It seems a bit odd that the first entry in this blog for my layout "Diddington" is about planning its successor!
    I've learned a lot from Diddington, both in terms of what ideas I would use again, and what I would change. I was finally prompted to start working on a new layout design because of pressure on space; Diddington has shared its home with a band's rehearsal room; plans are afoot to convert the room in to a full blown recording studio, which isn't compatible with a model railway sharing the space (It spoils the acoustics).
     
    I think it would be useful to post details of the planning process. Hopefully some will find the planning progress interesting, and I am hoping that by posting the planning process it will generate feed back which will help me improve the finished model.
     
    I have considered a number of schemes. All are set on the Kettering - Cambridge line in the 1950's. I considered making a model based on the Western end of the line, possibly a small station based on Cranford in "0" gauge, or an exchange between the industrial Ironstone workings of the East Midlands, with industrial locos, and mineral trains hauled by 8f's and 9f's. I've settled on something a bit further east, set on the section of the line between St Ives and Cambridge. This allows the greatest variety of workings and locomotive types; Cambrige - Kettering services worked by Ivatt class 2's and J15's; Cambridge - March services worked by D16's, J17's;J20's and K1's; Through freights via March and St Ives worked by WD's and O1's (come on Bachmann O4, the razor saw awaits) Cambridge - March parcels trains worked by B17's; Oh, and a 1960's interlude with green diesels. I can't have A4's but then life isn't perfect. A lot of the stock will be reused from Diddington, which cuts down some of the work.
     
    Having got to this stage,the first step in the more detailed planning process was to consider the criteria, both prototype and model, for the new layout:
    Prototype Considerations:
    Period - 1950's steam Location - GE in East Anglia, Kettering - Cambridge Line Double track A platform mounted signal box, based on St Ives (Cambs) A small goods yard A level crossing Through freights Display Considerations:
    "Diddington" was conceived as a home layout; It was only much later I decided to exhibit it. I have enjoyed showing it, but putting it on show reveals some drawbacks, and the new layout will address these Boards will be high level, with a proscenium arch, and "wings" at each end, so the viewpoint is directed into the layout. Being East Anglia, the are no hills and tunnels to disguise the exits from the scenic section, so I will have to use strategically positioned buildings and trees. The high level view point does give difficulties, in that it can exclude members of the potential audience, such as children and people in wheelchairs, so I'm still thinking about this. I am also mindful of the Disability Discrimination Act. Operation from in front of the layout, so the operator can interact with the audience, but the control panel to be sited at the end of the layout, so the operator does not block the audience's view of the display. Model/Construction Considerations:
    The new site will be smaller, so the size needs to be kept down A smaller size will make the layout more easily transportable "OO" gauge; Home made PCB pointwork with SMP plain track, as "Diddington" All points electrically operated with Tortoise point motors. Automatic couplings. Aim for totally "hands off" operation. A properly signalled layout with working signals operated by ex PO relays. Make boards from Ply. When the layout plan is finalized, a cutting schedule can be prepared. A 'roll up" cloth back drop, rather than the fixed backdrop on "Diddington" Having thought those through, layout planning can begin. My starting point was "Bildeston" in Iain Rice's book "Layout Design - finescale in small spaces, though the track pal I am working on bears little resemblance to the plan in the book. I'll put it up in a couple of days, as I would like some input as to its fidelity to prototype, and the placement of signals and catch points.
     
    That's all for now; The next installment will be the track plan.
  7. wiggoforgold
    The new layout has a working name "Fen Drayton". The real Fen Drayton is a few miles East of St Ives; there was never actually a station there, though I think there was a proposal.
     
    The proposed layout is a double track through station. It uses the 'bitsa" station approach, so that the bulk of the platforms at the St Ives end of the station are offstage, and part of the lay-bys and the entrance to the goods yard at the Cambridge end are also off stage. I propose using a cassette fiddle yard at the Cambridge end, which will give access to the lay-bys and goods yard, and a sector plate at the St Ives end.
     
    The main buildings will be:
    Station building: Histon
    Signal Box: St Ives
    Goods shed: Something generic GE, the main shed being wood, with brick built offices at one end, based on Histon.
     
    The design needs some more tweaking for visual effect. At the St Ives end, the exit from the scenic section is disguised by the station. At the Cambridge end, the exit is disguised by a stand of small trees or large bushes. I'm not sure about this. I'm reluctant to use another building as I want to keep the numbers of buildings down in order to maintain an open effect, so I'm looking for a suitable scenic feature.
     
    At this stage I was going to post a trackplan Unfortunately, computer problems at this end mean I can't get the plan in a suitable form for posting, so please bear with me while I sort this out - hopefully only a few days.
  8. wiggoforgold

    More pictures

    By wiggoforgold,

    Here are some more pictures of Buckden Station in 1978
    First, a view of the Signal Box, looking towards Huntingdon from the station building. The gentleman in the picture was, I think, the last station master/signalman, and lived in the old station building:

    The signal box was platform mounted, so the locking room was set in the platform. The door was accessed down a flight of steps at the Huntingdon end


     
    More to follow
  9. wiggoforgold
    Heres a few more pictures of Buckden Station in 1978-
    First a detail shot of the weighbridge office

    This old sack trolley was on the platform

    A view through the signal box window, looking at the shelf for the block instruments

  10. wiggoforgold
    I’ve been checking over Diddington’s wagon fleet, which has led me to consider the wagon loads. There’s been quite a lot published about wagon loads, and I have got a lot of inspiration from Iain Rice’s wagon books, and the series of articles on weathered wagons by Martyn Welch in MRJ a few years ago. Later in this blog I’ll give some examples of loaded wagons, some of which are copies of Martyn Welch’s ideas, the difference being that his were in 7mm scale, and mine are for 4mm scale.
    Mineral wagon loads
    These are the typical wagon loads. They can be coal or another mineral, or for those of us modelling the East Anglian scene, sugar beet, loaded into mineral wagons. Either the latter day 16t steel kind, or the earlier RCH wooden types. I make mineral loads on a plastic base, cut to fit inside the wagon. A couple of longitudinal supports are fitted underneath, with the ends cut at an angle. which allows the load to be tipped up and removed like this:

    The shape of the load is built up with a plaster mix, and when dry this is painted the base colour of the load. This is then painted with pva, and the chosen load sprinkled over and allowed to dry. The completed load looks like this:

    Here are a couple of loaded mineral wagons. The one on the left is loaded with loose coal in the manner described above. The wagon on the right has a load of bagged coal, made from Ratio coal sacks, cut in half and glued on a plastic base.

  11. wiggoforgold

    D2201 Refurbished

    By wiggoforgold,

    My model of Drewry 04 Tram D2201 was originally built back in 1996. It’s given sterling service on several layouts over the years but I noticed when I photographed it some time ago that the cab wasn’t properly seated, and once I’d noticed it, the eye kept getting drawn to it.
    It was originally built using an Impetus conversion kit for the Dapol kit, running on a Bachmann 03 chassis. Although the incorrect wheels were hidden by the skirts, it somehow never sat right. Eventually the mechanism became erratic, and I decided to replace it. I though about building a chassis, but eventually decided on a Bachmann 04 mechanism. This has the correct size wheels. It still has a split chassis, but the running is greatly improved.
    I removed the cab, checked all was square, cleaned up the footplate area where it had been removed from, and reassembled it with Zap a Gap superglue. A small gap between the cab front and the left hand bonnet side was filled with Milliput, applied from inside the body. More serious was a gap along the bottom edge of the cab rear. After investigation, I decided the gap was down to the fact that I had assembled the rear buffer beam slightly out of square. The remedy was to carefully fill the gap with Zap a Gap, after which it was painted yellow, and the ends of the wasp stripes painted with Tamiya Nato black.
     

     
    The weathering was then reworked. The model was weathered when it was built using Humbrol Acrylics, first as washes, and finished by dry brushing, but methods have developed since then! The existing weathering was partially removed with T cut, and reapplied using powders. I first applied a couple of washes using powders mixed with water and some Humbrol Decal Fix. I made a grey wash for the bonnet sides, which I ran into the panel lines and bonnet louvres, using mainly some, with a bit of black and dark earth added. I then applied a black/brown wash to the foot plate, using a mixture of black, dark earth, and red oxide powders. Once dry, the upper part of the model was treated with smoke weathering powder, with dark earth applied to the bottom edges of the skirts and cowcatchers. The whole application was then sealed with a light misting of Humbrol Acrylic matt spray varnish.
    Some small rust patches were added to the bottom of the body and cab sides, using a mix of Red oxide powder, and diluted Humbrol mattcote. Finally some streaks representing spilt fuel were applied to the point were the bonnet sides meet the cab front, using AK Interactive “engine oil”

     
    Alex
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