Arthur

Thanks Chris They do indeed, fitting pick ups is definitely my least favourite kit building task.

Lovely looking kit and build. The plunger style pick ups look interesting, who supplied them?

Thanks for the kind comments, they're much appreciated. So, Part 3, The Last. The final detail was the chain link fencing from Ratio, it had to go in last as it gets in the way of other work. I replaced the thread supplied for use as the barbed and straining wires with fuse wire. It's soldered to brass pins fixed into the end boards so that I could put a bit of tension across it to keep it taut. These wires, six of them, were fitted first to get a straight and level run. Holes were then drilled for the ratio posts which were then glued in ensuring that they were level. I spent a few months putting the real stuff up many years ago so there was a bit of professional pride..... An LMS tubular steel signal was made up from a Ratio kit, it’s mounted on a brass spike and can be removed or repositioned readily by just pushing it through the foamboard base which is why sometimes it's here, sometimes it's there, and sometimes it's nowhere.... Whilst making up the module I did some finishing off to the outside. Some of it probably a bit over the top but it gives a neat, finished look. I painted the exterior with a suitably industrial mid grey, I bought some flight case handles to fit either end which involved routing out depressions for them to sit in. Simple covers, held by home made spring clips protect the track ends and I made plywood cover, held by bolts screwed into threaded inserts, to protect the contents. Four screw feet allow for levelling and height adjustment. Finally, the signage. I made up the artwork and John Peck of Precision Transfers printed them off. Why Staplegrove Works? Well, as many will know, the Taunton meeting is held at Staplegrove in Taunton, it seemed right. This image shows the complete module at Taunton last year. Although the module will be unchanged for this year, I'll bring along a variety of steelworks locos, stock and road vehicles to populate it with and will ring some changes as the day progresses. Amongst others, there'll be a new rail and a new road vehicle, one large and one very large..... As has been said elsewhere, you'll not find a friendlier and more relaxed show, please come and say hello.

Part 2. The smaller, silver, pipe, running along the building at the back is 15mm plastic plumbing tube, scribed to represent joints and sprayed silver. Not the easiest stuff to work with, it's difficult to get completely straight and doesn't glue so well but I had some lying around and it's cheaper than styrene sections. A motorised gate valve was knocked together from plasticard bits and fitted on the pipe and an inspection platform was built around it. A couple of Bachmann trackside workers were modified to fill the role of fitters doing some adjustments to it. The large rusty ductwork, representing fume control equipment over the arc furnace, was made from 40 mm diameter plumbing pipe. The fish mouth joint between the two pieces was cut and finished by sanding the mouth around a piece of the tube. The gusseted bends were cut in a mitre block and superglued together. Again, not the easiest pipe to join, plumbing solvents won't touch it, so once fixed, I strengthened it by filling it with expanding builders foam from an aerosol. The rusty effect starts with a spray of textured paint followed with weathering powders. Bachmann Scenecraft supplied two buildings. Firstly the Portacabin, I cut off the entrance steps and rebuilt them, with a new door at the opposite end. A bit of painting, a notice board and lettering and that was it. The other building is the boiler house. I cut off the raised roof section, fitted a flat plasticard roof and clad that in 240 grit emery paper, painted as concrete. The nicely etched window frames were removed and resprayed and a notice board added. At one end some pipes and valves, Knightwing, and a low wall were added. All the brickwork is Scalescenes downloads. The roadway is from card, curved to give a gentle camber, covered in 240 grit emery paper painted with Tamiya Buff acrylic. The kerbstones are are from plastic section. Other details added were from the RT Models range, ingot moulds, stacked ingots and a rolling mill roll sitting on a rack made from Plastruct. The buildings were painted with Montana Gold acrylic sprays, much loved by graffiti artists. I found a blue which looked good for a slightly washed out BSC blue and Linden Green was used for some contrast on the left hand building. Ground cover is various flocks and grits held down with PVA and the small mounds and embankment were built up from PVA soaked kitchen towel. I bought an FMR static grass applicator and did some first experiments with it. I was pleasantly surprised with how well and easy it was to use. The greens are probably a bit bright, I'll gone them down next time. The conclusion, tomorrow, will cover the final details and how I finished the module 'box' for transport.

Thanks Michael, I prefer the 'squat' look of the Dorman Long version myself.

As the RMWeb day in Taunton is just a few days away I thought I'd post up some notes on the building of a module. The module was built for last years Members Day and will making a reappearance this year. Twelve months ago I was busy finishing it off and didn't have the time to document it's build, and I guess that current module builders are in the same situation. I'll break the description into three posts, with parts 2 and 3 on Wednesday and Thursday. Staplegrove Works was constructed during March and April 2013. Following my builds for the BCB project I had built a couple of British Steel Corporation lorries for myself and was toying with the idea of building a photo backdrop for them, and for some other steelworks stock. At the time Stu (Stubby 47) was looking for volunteers to build modules for the RMWeb members day in Taunton. I thought that I could kill two birds here, so a pm to Stu and the module was promised for the Taunton meeting. There's nothing like a deadline to hurry progress on. The first port of call was to the module standards page; http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?app=core&module=attach&section=attach&attach_id=94842 Basically I was to build a module 3' x 2', the front 6" or so would be taken up with the modules through lines, leaving me about 3' x 18" free to work with. The module concept lends itself well to the steelworks scene of large buildings hemming things in. It was never the intention to wire it up as a working model (through lines excepted) there's only 4" between modules so no space for fiddle yards and I wasn't intending to operate it at home. I already had the timber, a mix of contiboard and plywood for the frame and ends, lying around, along with some large sheets of foamboard to make the base. I'd previously done some trials making large steelworks buildings using Wills sheets but they're not the easiest to work with and to join together. For the buildings here I intended to build foamboard shells again but clad them with corrugated plasticard. Three buildings were 'imagineered' just to surround the space, I had a vague idea of an Electric Arc Furnace shop along the back, a rolling mill building to the right and a soaking pits to the left. I wanted to include a roadway so that some lorry models could be posed along with some track work on which to pose rolling stock. Some photographs follow showings progress with some of the buildings, initially part finished and loosely placed. The foamboard shells are covered with horizontal strips of overlapped 'corrugated iron' plasticard which has been scribed vertically to represent individual panels. A bit of cutting and fitting is required at corners but it's a pretty quick method of construction. The pipe racks are made up from Plastruct sections, stairways, ladders and cages from Plastruct with walkways and handrails made up from plastic sheet and microstrip, and wall lamps from Grandt Line. To be continued:

Would that be the East Moors/Dorman Long type, like this one Michael? If so, there'll be a couple winging there way here when available!

I believe that you are correct there Paul, they were the 26t variety with roller bearings and were they vac. fitted too? Photographs of them seem quite rare. Here's one; https://www.flickr.com/photos/johnneave/3962190245/

They carried, obviously, ingot moulds for use in the steel industry. They would have been used between the iron foundries which made them and the steelworks which used them. Examples of the former were Landore and Ifor works, both in South Wales and Distington in Cumbria. The steelworks, well there were plenty, South Wales, Teesside, Scunthorpe, Glasgow/Motherwell all had several works, the Black Country, Shotton, Corby, Irlam, Stoke etc. Stewarts & Lloyds had several works, Corby, Bilston and a couple in Scotland. All used ingot moulds, not sure which of these works these wagons served. RT Models make resin ingot moulds, there's more info in this thread where I describe finishing some for the BCB project. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/57246-black-country-blues-rolling-stock-workbench/?p=1164245

A couple from a circus go to an adoption agency, but social workers are doubtful about their accommodation. So they produce photos of their 15 metre long caravan, the back half of which is a beautifully equipped nursery. The social workers then are doubtful about the education that would be provided. "There's a clown at the circus who used to be an Oxford don, he's agreed to teach the child all the subjects along with Mandarin and IT skills". There are then doubts expressed about the child's healthy upbringing. "The bearded lady is a trained nanny and is a former diversity co-ordinator, she's very keen on a balanced upbringing and has agreed to help" So the social workers are finally satisfied, and ask what age of child they were looking for... "It doesn't really matter" they say "so long as he fits in the cannon"

Fascinating photos, especially the one looking across the gap. Somehow I don't that you'd be allowed out on such a structure today.....

I've never owned or used a TCU, and agree Kenton, that they are not essential for whitemetal, nor any kit building work. There may be some theoretical 'problems' but the experiences I've shared, chasing balls of solder' for example, are all empirical, they work, I've never had any problems in thirty odd years of kit building. Clean the work, right flux, right solder and an iron man enough for the job, that's about it. As Richard says, find a way that suits and use it.

Works for me, and others. My main reason for using it is that, as anybody who solders knows, five hands would sometimes not be enough. I find it much quicker to assemble the parts, hold them with several contorted fingers on one hand, quick wipe of flux and in with the iron, picking up solder on the way, and right into the joint. There's no extra step of placing cold solder there, and hoping it stays put whilst you bring the iron in. Same for brass and whitemetal. Not 'right' but it works. As for solder somehow denaturing on the iron. Well, I've knocked excess blobs off the iron tip, which freeze into a little ball. I've subsequently picked up that ball on the iron and re-used it. It's exactly the same as the original solder in behaviour, low melt included. In terms of soldering whitemetal, I could argue that carrying in solder on the tip has the benefit of improving heat transfer to the whitemetal (through the better surface area contact of the molten blob) and the extra heat energy in the blob itself, both contributing to getting heat in quickly, and the iron out faster. However, I'm not here to convert anybody, just to provide balance for the newcomer.

I have ridden these many leagues for there is work for me here, Devilry and False Witness I say. Give them up, give them up and save your mortal souls. Who here has spoken of 'NEVER carrying solder on the tip.......' Ah, Kenton! I'd agree with pretty much everything else you say Kenton but we've had this discussion on carrying solder before. I virtually ALWAYS carry solder on the tip, and have never had a problem. Both methods work, I find my way quicker but would never gainsay the other. As for the solder freezing when hitting the brass, potentially, but I never see it. And one argument for carrying the solder, molten on the tip, is that as the solder is already hot, you are carrying more heat into the joint. Both ways work, it's a matter of personal choice. Anyway, can't hang about, more devilry to root out.

I like that Adam, well worth the effort you've put in. A pattern to follow methinks.

Alex, I suspect that it is a signal gantry. It doesn't appear to be a self supporting pipe bridge, there are no pipes approaching it at ground level, but there are ground brackets supporting it. Dorman Long did use colour light signalling at various points at their sprawling, and railway intensive, Teesside works. That video was taken at the, then new, Lackenby steel plant and they may have used tube for their posts and gantries. To the right another post appears which again seems to have a signal head on it. I'll see if I can find any other photos that might help. Edit; see the tenth photo down I this posting; http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/28937-steel-making-on-teeside/?p=385328 It shows similar signal heads at Dorman Longs Clay Lane blast furnaces albeit, mounted on lattice gantries

Thanks for that Adam, nothing against the Electrotren chassis other than the wheels seem to have quite deep flanges. I'll see if can find a drawing. What diameter are the wheels? That will be a start.

Could be Wayne, it is a noisy operation, a kind of resounding 'thunk' which does travel. It could just be modern practice to gas cut, seems a bit wasteful on fuel, but maybe that's what they do. Yes, you'll be surprised how much Evergreen section a 'block' of billets will use up if you make it entirely from continuous strips. If you make up several that can quickly use up a few packs and the cost mounts. The other advantage of making them hollow is that you can glue in a metal weight if you want.

Interesting choice Adam, I would certainly be interested in one of those. I guess that you have suitable drawings, would you be able to make copies of them available to purchasers of the kit? I ask because I would be looking to scratch build a chassis to fit under the resin body.

Wayne, here are some billets which I made, for the BCB project, from Evergreen square section. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/57246-black-country-blues-rolling-stock-workbench/?p=934136 Billet ends are not flame cut, they are cropped off by a flying shear. A device which grips the billet as it comes out if the rolling mill, moves with it for a few feet, whilst two vertically moving blades shear it into two. It then flys back to it's original position, grips the billet, and crops off the next length. Steel soft enough to roll is readily cut this way. Billets are semi finished products, they do not need a high quality finish as they require further work before they become a usable end product. The ends on my billets came out remarkably well just by chopping them off with a heavy blade, just good luck really. Flame cutting, slow and requiring fuel, would be reserved for cutting cold steel sections.

Yeah, those ads illustrate some of the kinds of sections Trafalgar Works would produce. The combined Wolverhampton and Birchley Rolling Mills (1956) rolled 100,000 tons a year. Even a small integrated (that is, iron & steel making and rolling) works like Trafalgar would have rolled at least 350,000 tons a year at that time. So the product range would have been wider, larger size ranges too, but those ads would fit the bill.

Ref the billets Mark; Size first, any length you want really, no standards. They're rolled very long and sheared off, as they come out if the mill, to whatever the works or customer specifies. Anything between 25' and 40' are typical and there's enough steel in such a length to satisfy most needs. Short lengths require extra handling, longer increases the difficulty in both handling and transport so, certainly done, but only if an absolute requirement. Billets incoming to Trafalgar works in 1976 would be cropped to suit the reheating furnaces, up to 40' would be fine. Yes, steam era things change. The works is then making steel and would ship out anything from full ingots, blooms, billets and whatever sections you fancy. Not even the biggest works made everything and Trafalgars most likely existence would have been as a producer of narrow flats and light to medium sections. Wide and heavy plate and hot rolled coil were not typical Black Country products. Tube was but, if associated with it, Trafalgar would probably roll 'skelp', flat narrow strip with tapered edges supplied to the tube rollers, where it is rolled up and welded longitudinally. At the end of the day, it's a model, and I can write up a plausible scenario to suit any load type you fancy, the main prototype limitation is that no works made everything. Hope that helps.

I do like those single bolsters Mark, I'll be copying the method one day. Do you need any more loads making up?

Not quite Rob, they had roughly the same power as two 4Fs but only 6 braked axles (ignoring the pony trucks) compared to 12 on a pair of 4Fs (including tenders). They were briefly trialled on heavy iron ore trains, over the Peak District, to Lancashire Steels Irlam works, west of Manchester. Though they coped well with the climb up, they struggled to hold the load on the way down and haulage returned to pairs of 4Fs

I'm back By chance, I'm just finishing off a number of locomotives for my own steelworks fleet, first to completion, two green diesels for a steelworks in 1960. I've some more rapidly approaching completion and, rather than hijack this thread, I'll post a link here to my own thread when they're done.