birdseyecircus

I have been cracking on with the 02 during the last couple of days. I fitted all the handrails including the end verandas. I managed to come through the buffer beam tops on both occasions whilst fitting the uprights so will have to tidy that up later! Next all the remaing white metal parts were fitted apart from brakes to the chassis and the wipers. After some adjustments to the pickups it ran well if a little noisy. Rather pleased with myself. Another loco to add to the stable. Just needs a wash in soapy water and painting! Paul

Indeed. I have bought two O gauge Dapol 08 shunters for £169 each. Paul

Lots of number crunching there Andy. Things to bear in mind when I progress from my Far Yard micro. I take it if you aquire a longer loco a wagon will have to be removed from the train to make it fit. Paul

Nice picture Brian. If you are impatient there is this 02 thread which is part of the RM web challenge http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/99123-rm-webbrm-challenge-kitbuild-0-gauge-class-02-diesel/ It details things a little better than I have. I was still having issues with tidying up the castings and the small needle files clogging up. So I went to Wilkinsons and bought a large file and small wire brushes. This has done the trick and the body and cab now sit on the chassis better than they did. Although I am only part way through the build this has already given me confidence to maybe tackle a brass wagon kit - if only to save time on just filling castings to tidy them up! In other news my green Dapol 08 with stripes has been fitted with a Zimo active drive sound file. Paul

Hello folks. I hope you were all good for Santa! I have fitted the motor and wired it up and it runs great just a little noise from the gears in one direction. I have had it raised up and attached power with crocodile clips to the feeds. I left it running for 15 mins in each direction. I did have a disaster in that I lost one of the tiny nuts which go on the coupling rods. Despite my best efforts in sweeping the carpet with a magnet I failed to locate it and all rescue efforts have been abandoned! The crazy part is i know he can see me and is screaming at me to pick him up!! Another issue is that we have a converted loft which is cold at this time of year. I noticed today that after having the slaters wheels out of the packet for 3 days now they are gaining spots of rust on the rims here and there. Is this normal for these types of wheels? Paul

My pleasure Rod. I still need to attach the coupling rod ends to the main rod, but everything runs freely and iam quite pleased with it so far. Paul

I got bored of filing! So had a go at the chassis on the 02. I now have a free wheeling chassis which I have sprayed black. Motor to fix next - maybe tomorrow. Another new arrival today was a green 08! I have got the missus to wrap it up so as not tempted whilst I crack on with the 02. Paul

Enjoy yourself. Iamhttp://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/116792-far-yard-a-micro-first-attempt-in-o-gauge/ Paul

Hi Marc. Thanks for the comments. I have seen many of your micros - all good stuff. Yes the current peco points are huge for micro layouts so it will be interesting to see the new set track points. Iam not sure what Far Yard will end up like. I will add some low relief buildings at some point - maybe at the expense of the provender store. An extension is on my mind for later as I would like to run a mainline loco. ( I have a Heljan class 26 sat in its box) I am just making things up as I go along with no firm plan! ( and having a great time in O gauge) Paul

The Dapol 08 runs great using my NCE powercab. But it wont power the Heljan 26. Paul

Looking good Andy. I too have a Heljan 26 but it is a little large for my Far Yard micro! I have yet to run it as I will need a DCC booster. Is that Bachmann controller in your picture providing power? Paul

Thanks Martyn. I did end up cutting them off with side cutters in the end. You can see in the picture those casting pips are on an edge which overhangs by a smidge. On the other side that ledge is very slightly more pronounced. Once snipped off and filed down, the ledge loses some of its depth so I will have to rub down the area just underneath it to make it stand out more. Hopefully I can resume later tomorrow after Christmas errands etc. I just found this thread for my 02 kit as well so that will help. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/99123-rm-webbrm-challenge-kitbuild-0-gauge-class-02-diesel/ Paul Paul

Hi David. Thanks for your comments. I have been looking in at Scotland street. Its coming along great. I have been filing on and off during the day. The main body is done. However the frame is taking some doing. Not helped by huge pips remaining from the casting process. Paul

Right lets see how far i get with this over the holidays! Bought 10 months ago i finally plucked up the courage to start my first ever loco kit. Lots of bits. Plenty of tidying up to do as well. Paul

Thanks for that. After consigning my 73's to the back of the cupboard for 10 months I got one out yesterday. It still ran like a bag of spanners. After re- attaching bits that had fallen off for the third time - or is it the fourth? I cant remember, I left it until reading your post. By turning the bogie as far as it will go you can gently lever off the bogie frame with a screw driver from above. Next ease open the clips between the wheels and the bogie will come off. Wipe off as stated not forgetting the inside of the bogie frame. Then reassemble. Due to the nature of the loco be prepared to have some bits detach themselves. I had a brake shoe and piston from one bogie come off. The other went ok. What a result! 10 laps + with out so much as a hiccup! Paul

D1015 at Beverley working the return Yuletide East Yorkshireman on 17 Dec 2016 Paul

Sound decoder now fitted. She's alive! It sounds superb and really brings a very small layout like this to life. Paul

Apart from some running i have not done anymore, but a nice little packet turned up today from Digitrains. I hope to install it within the next day or two. I have been selling a few things off to fund some more 7mm purchases including a booster for my NCE powercab. Then maybe a little extension to Far Yard so i can run a mainline diesel. Paul

This was when imported coal started coming in via Hull docks. I think there was a shortage of siding space. I have a similar shot and can recall on the day with coal trains everywere! Paul

I have managed a liitle more today. The 2 road vehicles were given a spray of matt varnish. I used Humbrol Maskol for the first time to mask the windows. I found it better to apply thickly to the windows using an old brush. The liquid starts setting almost straight away before losing it's colour Anyhow I left it an hour before spraying Humbrol matt varnish out of a can onto the BR van. After it had dried off the maskol was peeled off the windows using a wooden BBQ squewer. The Leyand flatbed had it's lettering wiped off using acetone then treated the same as the Van. I also dusted the flat bed with black weathering powder. A small section of static grass was applied with a Noch puffer, but the only strands i have are short so will have to aquire some longer lengths. Inbetween all this I was doing a bit of shunting. I still seem to be having problems coupling up using a length of bent welding rod. The 3 links on the 08 and the Heljan tank seem a little on the stiff side. uncoupling is a doddle! Paul

Looking good Lee. Will you keep the turntable out line as if the area has been redeveloped? The incline would look nice with the depot crane on it too. Paul

Due to chores and the mood factor i have not done a great deal. But lots going on in my head! Just a wash over of the ground cover to darken the colours a little. I have been selling some stuff on ebay to generate funds. Hence my purchase of two more Heljan tanks for another project later! Paul

Have I read it right that on 'The Engine Shed' blog it says that models announced today (including the 87) will be available Jan - March 2017 ? Paul

​​I am in the same situation Paul. I have a best part of 100 4mm locos spread over a number of periods, Hence why I started to build this small first attempt I don't think I will get rid of all my 00 gauge just slim it down a bit, but at the back of my mind at today's prices once its gone its gone. Paul

Well, work carries on with my first O gauge micro shunting plank. Ballasting has been completed, 20 minutes here, half our there! it just needs tidying up on the edges before work begins on the surrounding ground cover. Looking at the picture left to right, we see the point which was ballasted with WS medium grey. I will give this a wash to tone it down so it blends in better. Next is 1/43 Oxford diecast Vauxhall Hal In BR Yellow. The provender store is a Bachmann Scalescene release. Coal Staithes are from Skytex this has been partially painted. A corgi Leyland in 1/50th scale was bought yesterday from a toy fair, It does look a little on the small side but there is very little suitable in 1/43. What swung it was the cable drums on the back which I can use in the yard whilst the Leyland will be for the coal merchant. I did see a number of battered 1/43 dinky HGV's but they required new glazing, headlights etc. I may get one at a later date as another project. The buffer stops were installed and painted just need to add the actual buffer cross piece which I will paint white. I reconnected the power and ran the 08 about to see if there were any issues. Paul