Bill

The move to O gauge has caused me to come to the conclusion that I needed to wind down the old OO gauge layout. So a couple of weeks ago the task of packing up all the models, creating an inventory and disassembling the layout commenced. Clearing all the stock off the layout had a purgative effect and allowed the entry of fresh thoughts... Thoughts - like the need to never again leave the models on the layout but to place them there fresh every time the layout was operational. The clutter was preventing me for enjoying it and seeing all the many the possibilities... This clean sheet triggered a thought - "Why not build a ramp so that he outer circle could directly access the inner circle?" I had always wanted to do this but there was no space - well now there was. So some practical research was undertaken to do with height, slope and width and the radius of any curves. After messing around with some blocks and making a few small adjustments to the existing layout - plus consulting various forums on RMweb - and after going against all the sage advice that was gathered, decided on the following... It had to rise to a height of 3" above the track and because of limited space it had to do this in 6 feet which gave a slope of 1 in 24 - the recommendation that came with dire warnings was to never, ever go steeper than 1 in 30 and that 1 in 50 would be far wiser - this would have necessitated a 12 foot plus ramp, and there simply is not the space... Next the whole thing was mocked up using bits of wood etc., and it was discovered that it needed to be 3" wide to accommodate the 22" curves and be able to handle coaches and any other long wagons with bogies etc.. The next big question was how to build it and with what? The answer was to use art board - its about 1/16th of an inch thick and much easier to handle and cut than wood. It bends much more easily around curves and can be glued together using cell technology into something that is pretty sturdy. It can be safely spray painted and It also accepts glue in a way that allows it to be covered using brick papers in a way that leaves them reasonably flat. I was going to use wood to fabricate the parapets, but in the end this board was used throughout in the construction. Tests also showed that a Bachmann or Heljan diesel could pull any amount of coaches up a 1 in 24 incline and that a Hornby Schools or Castle could tug 5 coaches - which was more than adequate for my needs. (Even an M7 could manage three...) So construction commenced and I soon became very glad that this up and over and down again ramp was only 1 in 24 as it was apparent that the longer it was the more work would be needed to finish it -as it is it took two weeks of concentrated effort to pull it off. Here is an image in bare unfinished art-board.... That was the quick part... It was built in short sections - the straights were mostly 24 inch modules (except where they are not) - the 2 curves were built 1/8 circumference sections (19" long approx. on the outer and 16 " approx. on the inner and the two bridge portions were joined together to make one whole 1/4 circumference. (If anyone should need the exact dimensions I would be happy to do a plan and pass it on. It was all designed in my head as it progressed so at the moment no plan exists...) Mock pillars cover the joins.. The whole construction once built was covered with yellow London brick paper that was printed out using Photoshop - (The original was a single sheet of brick paper that was bought on eBay and scanned into the computer many moons ago and has been over years the scaled up or had it colours changed etc..) Here is an image of the finished for now ramp - the vertical smoothing curves still have to be designed and built.. and another view... Should anyone be mad enough to want build one like this do feel free to ask about any other details concerning the construction. It was a fairly straight forward build designing as I went - but they did train me to be a Civil Engineer in my distant youth and what might be totally obvious to my mind might not be so to another's. The geometry of the curved sections might be more difficult to grasp for some rather than others.. . The ramp as is has been tested using a class 37 pulling MK1 coaches and a castle pulling a rake of 5 Hawksworth coaches and both have successfully negotiated a closed loop 'round and up and over and down and round and round and up...' through some tortuous points etc.. over track that has yet to be fixed down without coming to any grief.. (Mind you - It takes a bit careful driving...)

of many colours

travelling to Transylvania...

in the deatails...

need new anoraks

to female priests

behind from sitting...

jousting with mimes

signalman pulling levers...

LOL, YGW, SW?

engineer Ismbard Kingdom...

Caledonian Gravy Train...

for sea areas...

Thanks Heather, (there does not yet seem to be a way to rate replies to blog entries...) The Wiki entry makes for some fascinating reading... Losing track of what trains are running on a particular line is not something one likes to contemplate, especially when travelling by train - Bill

brandishing medieval pitchforks...

Heather - Many thanks for the info - that helps in developing more understanding of the way all things railways actually work(ed)...

arrested by policemen...

It's been a while and a little more progress has been made... The layout has gotten a name - 'Barcoombe' I don't know why it sort of came to me and has been pleasantly irritating me ever since. The missing stove for the Springside signal-box detailing kit arrived and now the signalman can keep warm, dry and have a cup of tea... Springside were very good about the missing part - even though I bought he kit over a year ago - and sent it over for free. I managed to acquire some Skytrex items before they declared bankruptcy - they announced that there would soon be a sale of all their stock. I am not sure if this represents a final liquidation or not. This picture shows their GWR lamp hut. It comprises of five resin parts which, after some cleaning, easily come together. I managed to get the roof on back to front, which is typical. It comes without instructions of any kind but there should be more overhang on the end with the door, and less over the window end. The GWR station platform lamps are made by Duncan Models - although I got these from Scalelink. They come together quite easily, provided a lot of care is taken to think it through before starting, "What can possible go wrong?". The grain of wheat bulb was quite a surprise, I did not expect them to be able to light up. The kit has five parts - the top 'roof', cast from white metal, has to be drilled to accept a finial, similarly made from white metal. The 'glass' is made from a piece of moulded plastic. The column is white metal with the bulb already inserted with about 14" of wire extending. A lot of care is needed in the assembly to check that all is in line and stays that way whilst the glue sets. The station sign came from a double kit made by Skytrex . It is made from white metal, and comes in three parts - the board and two pillars. It was just crying out to be soldered, so I had a go - never before having attempted to solder a white metal kit. So summoning all my courage and experience soldering copper pipe, did the deed without melting too much of the kit in the process. The station name was designed and printed using Photoshop. (who knows if it is in anyway close to being prototypical...) The station bench was made from a white metal kit by Skytrex - the back rests were made from thin pieces of styrene. The kits were glued together using mixture of super glue and epoxy resin - the superglue was used to hold the parts in place whilst the epoxy set. The platform has now got a red-brick face and a white edge. To make it look a wee bit more than just an artists impression of a platform. I am experimenting with ways to grunge up the bricks. The experiments so far have been restricted to smudging damp charcoal from an artists stick over the pristine bricks and mortar. But I am not yet satisfied with the results.. Any ideas welcome... Lastly... This signal came ready made (at a price) from Wizard Models. Its an MSE kit assembled and painted by hand. . Its not perfect but acceptable. The build is great but its possible to improve a bit on the paint finish. On the subject of signals... Does anyone know the purpose or meaning of the white diamond shape half way up the signal pillar? That's it for now... Upcoming are some signal kits, including ground signals needing to be built... (And that should provide a real challenge - as well as a lot of fun!) A Parkside-Dundas GWR style Toad Guards van - Into the unknown with all seriousness. Just how difficult can it be? The decals had me worried me when I first inspected the kit. I just could not figure out how they worked never having seen anything like them before.. It took a while before the penny dropped and I realised they were definitely not of the waterslide variety.... And a white metal kit of a totters cart from Duncan Models for Henry the Shunting Horse to tug around... Which will probably be tackled next Onwards with enjoyment Bill

Hiding the telly...

couplings, making impossible

short cut to

private parts and