87023Velocity

Hi David, Looking forward to seeing this progress! I visited Knottigley a couple of times but that was when it was full of 56's and 08's. Those last pictures above from Jonny777 were probably around the time I visited, I was 13 at the time and now 38! Cheers Simon

Hi, In between wiring the baseboards I have made a start on the control panel as this will be required soon for testing.Its been made from 6mm MDF with softwood bracing. Hopefully pick some piano hinge up tomorrow for the lid. Once woodwork is complete, it will be finished in gloss white. Cheers Simon

Hi Alex, Wheel lathe looking good. Yes 31's do look good in Redstripe, remember seeing 31's in that livery all those years ago at Springs Branch, along will blue and the older Railfreight grey. Cheers Simon

Hi Paul, Yes now kicking myself that I did not pick more up, will try and call in tomorrow after work. Following a few trials, I think its possible to store 22 Farish HAA coal hoppers in one case. If I modelled a rake at say 36 hoppers, I could store the complete train in 2 of those cases including the loco, thats the theory anyhow! Cheers Simon

Thanks Christian. Its been good to start work again on Dallam. Whilst in Quality Save aka Home and Bargain, I found some plastic storage boxes which looked like potential stock box material. I bought one for trial purposes but think I will be picking a few more up. They cost £2.49 and have removal dividers which allow the storage compartments to be expanded. Below shows the basic idea I have. I will be fitting some protective material into the compartments to keep the stock in position and secure. Cheers Simon

Evening all, Well after approximately 3 months with no progress, I have finally managed to resume working on Dallam. So far managed to complete the wiring on board 4, so 1-4 now complete and started on board 5 tonight see below. Think I need to start making a control panel soon so it can all be tested properly. Cheers Simon

Hi Pete, There was a railtour down there in Sept 91, it stopped the traffic on the road and there was a large crowd watching. I got there quite early on my trusty Raleigh mountain bike (I was 14 at the time so showing my age). By the time the railtour appeared the crowd had increased and passing car drivers asking what was happening. 37706 and I think 47479 where the locos top and tailed with Intercity liveried Mk1's. There was some footage on Youtube of the railtour at this location but I cannot find it now. This railtour with 37706 visited quite alot of freight branches aswell,think after Haydock it headed over to the Bickershaw branch which is now long closed -lifted? Cheers Simon

Just found this on Flickr... https://www.flickr.com/photos/64131793@N06/16691868632/in/photolist-rr1c1u-dNLNDM-dNSco1-qtLHbi-dNSnMC-r8Tg6s-dCZwb9-qtw1E6-rogpQu-oDRAXb-o7nzCC-ro95Ps-obaCCt-r8J6ih-r8RGDo-oFDcJR-r7cweX-rqkSzh-r8Nvhx-o7m3RL-rqixt8-r8SB4z-rr62WF-huMhek-huKYSw-dCKcqy-dCDMmP-dCDM3e-dCDMh6-dCKcnb-dDvYDB-pVoLKk-dNS36L-dNLDVZ-dDwacr-hcoFcd-cMtNiW-8fXw6E-cMtLUs-r8XpPm-o9oxKk-o1gbFB-nYkTeA-dNSjdY-o1g95z-oFLpo8-qf2uwx-dNSkTS-eiYjef-r8Cpoj-egbCom Will this livery be appearing on the 390's given they have not had a re-livery/ re-brand since built? Cheers Simon

Hi, Lucchini UK currently manufacture and overhaul wheelsets at Trafford Park for alot of the main TOC's, class 390, class 185, 350, 444, 450 to name a few. Cheers Simon

Hi Jeremy, After quite a busy run up to Christmas and suddenly deciding to decorate the kitchen (taking longer than expected, kids work etc) at the start of January. Managed to put board 4 on its side this morning to progress the wiring when time permits during the weekend! Cheers Simon

Hi Alex, Yes there is some quality stuff there. I remember seeing 45104 around this time in one of the bay platforms at Man Vic. No more work on Dallam till the new year now. Did manage some modelling last night though. My wife asked if I could make a snowman for the Xmas cake. Here is the finished result. Merry Christmas to everyone. Cheers Simon

Hi, Bit of trial and error tonight. The backscene at the Folly Lane bridge end has been at the back of my mind with how it should be fitted. Rather than have the backscene at 90° to the baseboard edge like at the other, I have decided to probably fit it at the same angle as the bridge. The hardboard in the picture is an offcut to try the idea. Hopefully pick some more hardboard up tomorrow and get the last backscene completed. Cheers Simon

Hi, Thanks for the suggestions for using EZ line. I am going to look at the OHLE again over the next few weeks. I have managed however over the weekend to make the backscenes for boards 1&2. The backscene for board 1 has been curved for the corner. The hardboard was scribed on the rear to allow the bending of the hardboard. Cheers Simon

Hi Jeremy, Thanks, Initially there will be the 2 87's and a class 90, not sure of number for the 90 yet. I am tempted to have a dummy class 87 to have dead behind a loco as it was quite common during this period, either due to failures or balancing moves from one depot to another. No date on this picture in this link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/55894856@N07/6832225031/in/photolist-bpJWti-9DiqkT-brS7ta-dT8i1o-bkrvhN-aUXaF2 Also a dummy 87 would allow a rake to be hauled by a thunderbird loco, currently thinking along the lines of a Fragonset 47/7 which were quite common on these duties too. Cheers Simon

Hi, Decided to review progress on the stock which I currently have. Here is the second 87 part way through detailing and finishing. This one will be 87027 Wolf of Badenoch. Still to do is pick out all detail, apply new numbers, nameplates, pantograph. The cab fronts have been air brushed warning panel yellow following the removal and adding detail. Also I have an EWS class 66, 66135. This is going to be detailed at one end and weathered. It also requires 2split gears replacing, doh! Regards split gears, think I better make sure I have spare gears if the layout goes out to any shows. Cheers Simon

Hi Alex, Here is some classic footage from Springs Branch around 1987/88. Includes a class 45 on shed which I don't think at the time were very common at Wigan but I could be wrong! http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Sek8Tf-KeZA Those clips are great. Regards the 75 ton crane, I will need to make a smaller version for Dallam but that is way down on the list. Cheers Simon

Evening all, Whilst waiting for our tea tonight in the local chippy, I noticed they had some rather handy led strips around the counter as xmas decorations. I then realised that I had seen a similar product used on the 7mm layout Aberbeeg which seemed to give a good light coverage. I understand from a post on here that they have used LED strips from here http://www.ledhut.co.uk/led-strip-lights.html Think this is something I may look into for Dallam as I would like the lighting gantrys, pardon the pun, light as possible. Also it would be handy to have these done sooner rather than later so they can be used to provide additional lighting over the baseboards whilst doing the scenery. Cheers Simon PS the food from the chippy was quite nice btw.

Hi Christian, Thanks for kind comments. Yes could not resist having a go at the OHLE. Things have progressed well so far but think it may slow slightly over the next few weeks though as family life gets alot busier over the Christmas period. Winwick junction sounds cool, regards joining it up, I have already had thoughts of an extension to the north with the Royal Mail terminal (or head south towards Bank Quay)but think I should at least finish this first! I've also got an idea for a 4mm layout, I need to finish my 4mm crane, the class 56 needs finishing, need more days and hours in the week! Cheers Simon

Hi Andy, You have some superb stock coming along. The car flats look really nice. I tried using primer in the kitchen once, did not go down too well! My excuse for needing correct temperature etc fell on deaf ears. Your reservations office should look nice when finished, I have used the Scalescenes paper on my bridges for Dallam and its excellent but did not use labels which think I will do next time. Cheers Simon

Hi Damian, Cracking layout, hopefully get to see it in the flesh at DEMU or Wigan next year. Cheers Simon

Hi Dave, Superb! The ohle is excellent and so is the attention to detail on the whole layout. Like the class 319 as I have not personally seen many modelled, the livery looks great. Cheers Simon

Hi Neal, Fantastic layout. Like the presentation of the layout and it certainly has plenty of atmosphere and detail. Like the cement terminal and station. Stock looks nice too. Cheers Simon

Hi Cav, To be honest I completely forgot about using guitar string, doh! Hmm, you have got me thinking now - long term mind you! Cheers Simon

Hi Cav, I have used 0.31mm brass wire, which distorts quite easily with soldering iron which I was finding last night, the arms are 0.45mm. The other consideration I have is that I would like my kids who are 8 at the moment to be involved aswell with operating in the future (thats if they are interested as they are twin girls!)and I would not want them to be really worried about going too near the layout incase the overhead gets badly damaged. Yes I agree about the atmosphere and if I do change my mind, as you say I would want pantographs in contact with the wire, which would probably require scratchbuilding replacement pantographs. I need to stop looking at Flickr 20030 & 20064 in 1990 https://www.flickr.com/photos/84777395@N08/10399905706/in/photolist-gR1eD5-jGWgFy-aaxpPr-e5fSdW-dte6kb-oQGuvY-pU9L3n-pvQ6kq-pMRafd-dz8GKz-ea17Bh-dMJcbZ-pwtJMU-pz9Uz1-puruEa-dsHwKU-pwH4o6-k6GfA4-dyTBgU-dxXS3H-pSkjdJ-pRq2aG-ptZZeg-pQ6BVv-ahP6K3-9LUxeD-dy4kFs-dxXSgB-dxXS9H-dxXSd2-dy4m5w-8QaWro-pxmFmL-dxGmcb-fiR5Vn-oVgtAR-8Q7QDx-fj3zZ9-fiNrpc-pxGvNh-pSRXJf-oNBBWv-pMCjNY-cPsJXW-fiWuY8-oS58qG-pwtJg3-pNXYrZ-daLzy8-8Gpjcs-8QaWE9 This is the other side of Folly Lane bridge at Dallam effectively 'off scene' on the layout. Cheers Simon

Hi guys, Thanks guys for the comments regards the OHLE. Cav, I am going to look at soldering brass bolts to the base of the masts which will also have the concrete foundation glued to it. These will then be dropped into a brass mounting plate with a brass tube through the baseboard which will have a degree of adjustment before final fixing. This is the plan in my head at the minute if that makes sense! Also they will be removable to account for any damage which may will happen. I am planning on making a number of spare headspans to cover for this 4-5 maybe. To answer your questions about wires, sorry no wires will be going up just yet...... I have not written the idea off completely but at the present minute it is not going to be fitted. If I was building OHLE in 4mm, the wires would certainly be there as I believe I could make it robust enough. I have serious doubts at the moment that I could make a reliable robust full overhead installation and which looks to scale. Buffers broken, pantographs damaged, snapped couplings are all easily replaceable and relatively quickly at a show, 2-3ft of damaged overhead in n gauge would take a while to repair and put right, I want to make the headspans realitively simple to replace if required. That headspan in the picture is very fragile, It would not take much to kink the wire or break one of the soldered joints on that one structure alone. We had a 5ft uv tube drop out from its lighting rig on our 4mm layout Strathmuir at the Doncaster show over 10 years ago, it landed on one of the signals on the mainline and badly damaged it - no time to repair it(fortunately the tube did not break!) we had the signal disconnected and removed within 10mins, the hairspray and scatter was out and issue sorted till we got back after the weekend. Cheers Simon