87023Velocity

Hi, Bit more progress tonight, managed to make a start on the hardstanding. This has been done using 1mm thick card glued to the baseboard followed by an approx 1mm skim of filler which will need rubbing down. Also using scrap card to show roughly where Dallam Lane runs, some of this may be blended into the backscene. The track rubber is were the old CLC bridge pier is and which is still there. Cheers Simon

Cheers for comments and likes everyone. Christian, I have used Chinchilla dust for the ballast. I think it costs about £4 for a 3kg bag. Thanks Simon

Hi, Managed to get a bit more done over the weekend. Laid and aligned the bi directional line it just needs droppers and ballasting. The line leading to the warehouse has partly been started. The hardstanding for the sidings has also been started. Plastic strip has been used to form the edge, the rest will be built up with card and filler. Need to start thinking about OHLE structures soon I think. Cheers Simon

Hi, class 325 just put to one side for moment whilst all the track laying is taking place then hopefully continue once the track has all been tested. Cheers Simon

Hi Paul, there could well be the odd steam special running. Also part of the old Dallam steam shed which is now used as a business unit will be included just to the left of the DVT. I am tempted to model some Springs Branch class 20's for MGR workings just for occasional use of course! Cheers Simon

Hi, After quite a busy summer, work on Dallam has picked up. It had been planned to model between the two road bridges Folly Lane and Bewsey Road, however due to a very good suggestion, it is now going to be extended between Bewsey Road and the railway over bridge for the Warrington Central line. All new boards have been built, the layout in its extended form will fit in the garage when set up diagonally. Below are a couple of pictures showing the progress so far. The track laying on the main line is being done in stages, for example, the down slow was aligned, rails painted, ballasted and allowed to dry. Then the down fast was laid in the same fashion, and the up fast will be done the same. The concrete trunking was formed using Evergreen plastic section, scribed to represent the lids, this was glued down then ballasted upto. Cheers Simon

Hi, Almost certain it was 1987 90001 was delivered, I remember it being on the cover of Rail Magazine hauling a rake of flats on test with an RTC Mk3 test car between the loco and stock. I think I will be having a couple, always liked the 90's. Now, class 90, class 85 modelled as 85018 as it ended its days, Bachmann 08721 and Corgi Coles crane in maroon, and maybe a few class 303/304's hmmm could model a nice small electric depot........ Cheers Simon

Hi Marcus, Not sure if this image is useful as it states 1960's but shows the yard area. https://www.flickr.com/photos/65443187@N04/8027162305/in/photolist-dekiG6-dekiao-dekj3b-dekiSw-jHztQZ-a4NqAV-dYLMho-biuvHv-edRd79-hGxvUy-gjfcFJ-gn1Vo1-kLh2SU-gjr9Xf-jZ4BZr-gjhXi8-mZpKKk-hGpSe9-dDa1S5-js638a-hGptbe-gUg4jY-nKNevH-mZxAK1-nFXXhY-gUgeva-gUg6nN-jZ5rFF-gjbndQ-jZ3QeD-kLc2hB-kLfJVR-gjfv2r-jYYzZr-jZ2ay5-jYZg1R-kLbhbe-mZvYyf-gjbfNW-gjaHnC-gjaLYL-gjbJM8-oa79FX-nS1yFz-hGvqtZ-goDwFC-bnBHXi-hGwxmc-hGvUqk-hgdHDc-hoY7wj Cheers Simon

Hi Paul, Its my 7mm class 56 Modern Motive Power kit which one day may be finished! Cheers Simon

Hi, Thanks for the comments and advice. Regards the Shapeways 325, that will probably be the fall back if this idea with the mk3's does not work. I did think about mk2's but decided to use mk3's due to the roof design. Ben, thanks for the e-mail for TPM. Last night got a bit more done, fitted the roller doors into place and gave the body a quick blast of Halfords grey primer to highlight any issues, which there are a few! I think the conversion will work ok, I have a few ideas how to do things differently now. Cheers Simon

Hi, Whilst researching train formations using photographs which Dave kindly posted here http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/77973-2001-a-space-odyssey-or-warrington-area-trains/ I decided to look into how represent the class 325's which visit the nearby Warrington Royal Mail terminal. As these run in 8-12 car formations, I am going to need a few sets. So I decided to see if it is possible to cut and shut a Farish Mk3 for the basic bodyshell. Below is the progress so far, body has been reduced in length by approx 20mm, the roller doors need adding, the top part of the roller door frame needs correcting as it should be curved in each corner. Alot still to do, the driving trailers with their cabs will be challenging though I think some 3d printed versions are available. Looking into bogies, the bogie pivot points have been moved outwards, not sure where to source the power and trailer bogies as the TPM versions appear to be no longer available. With regards 8-12 car formations, I am currently thinking of having a couple of dummy sets as they will be running in fixed formation and not split in normal layout operation. Cheers Simon

Thanks Tom, Got the second 87 on the workbench now, this one is going to be 87027 Wolf of Badenoch. The West Coast VT fleet for Dallam will consist of 2x 87's and 1 x 90 for the 2 Mk3 push pull rakes so there will be a maintenance spare for wheel cleaning etc. In the future once the Farish Mk2f's are release an Oxley Mk2 Push pull set may be introduced with a class 86/2. Cheers Simon

Hi, When I modified the class 87 bogie positions, the plastic carden shafts where spliced using plastic tube which I was not fully happy with. I have therefore made replacements using 1.2mm brass tube and 0.9mm brass wire. Below shows the original, modified shortened version followed by the brass one. Managed to pick up a Dapol Virgin DVT at Wigan. Here it is being hauled by 87019. Cheers Simon

Hi Gary, Nice work on the crane. The optical car is coming along nicely too. Those 15 ton crane kits look good, may need to invest in one. Cheers Simon

Hi, After a few weeks of no activity on the n gauge front, I have managed to carry out some more work on Folly Lane bridge. Some of the stone work has been painted and also the plate girder sections. Still quite a bit to do, there should be some trunking running along the bridge wall, the road deck needs adding and also the whole thing will need weathering. Current progress of bridge 60078 heads south on 6E82, 12:42 Gladstone Steel Terminal - Arpley - Lackenby (Thanks for picture Dave), 86425 waits to head into the Mail depot. 86605&628 head north L.E, 86425 still waiting to head back into the Mail depot. Cheers Simon

Hi Alex, Your right about the Thornaby 37's, I have the RE pair sat in the loft, have not even run them yet! That photo looks spot on with the 58's hiding in the background. Do you have a number planned for the Peak? Cheers Simon

Hi Alex, The work you are putting into this is superb, looking forward to when its finished. Cheers Simon

Hi, Picked up a second Virgin 87 and below is the comparison of the bogie alignment and also a front end view. I have put some red lines on as a guide. The modified 87 is the bottom one. The 87 on the left still needs its tdm jumpers and warning flashes. Not decided on a running number for the second 87 but will probably go for one which still had its original name. Cheers Simon

Hi Phil, I got the foam board from a local art shop in Northwich, however it can be obtained from Hobbycraft http://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/hobbycraft-a1-white-foamboard/539724-1000 and also art and stationary shops sell it. The dimensions for the bridges were estimated by using images from Google Earth, Google Streetview and also Bing Maps Birdseye views. The height of the bridge from the rail head was checked using a Dapol 86 with its pantograph raised as a guide. Cheers Simon

Hi, Latest addition to the Dallam fleet. Picked up a second hand Mainline blue Class 60 and a Steel wagon. I am very impressed with the level of detail on both items. The 60 will probably be a weathering job and maybe a renumber. The BRA steel wagon will be part of a train which is shown in Beasts thread here behind 56067: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/77973-2001-a-space-odyssey-or-warrington-area-trains/ Post #1 56067 on the Up Goods Loop on 6E82, 12:42 Gladstone Steel Terminal - Arpley - Lackenby Cheers Simon

Hi Alex, Yes it has had a few near misses due to its size moving it from the garage into the house. Think I am going to do a little bit more on the warehouse then resume with the 75 ton crane and get my 4mm breakdown train completed. I still need to finish 60010, 37714, the 7mm grid.... Too many projects..... Cheers Simon

Evening, Glad you like the tablecloth. It was bought with our young kids in mind but its also very handy for me. I have had a little experiment with the skylights. I have painted them onto the roof but was not quite sure about the finish. Anyhow, I had an idea about laying plain DIY type masking tape over the top of the painted strip to hopefully provide an opaque type effect, see pics below. The masking tape has been cut into 6mm strips then applied to the roof. With this method I am wondering if I should try and paint/highlight the supporting framework which may be visible before fitting the masking tape (if that makes sense!). Cheers Simon

Hi, Managed to get a bit more done on the warehouse tonight. I have added the skylights (I am assuming thats what they are using google earth) which have basically been painted onto the structure. Its took about 2 hours to do so far tonight with all the masking. Still plenty to do with doors, drain pipes, security lights etc to add. Also the whole structure will need toning down/light weathering. Cheers Simon