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barrowroad

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  1. barrowroad
    Following the show last weekend at Cirencester I am looking after the Brinkley 60 foot turntable bridge and couldn't resist placing it in position inside the roundhouse. It looks rather good... maybe I should keep hold of it;)
     



     
    Meanwhile back to the ash disposal pits...........
  2. barrowroad
    Having made about half of the total requirement of inspection and preparation pits for the shed I decided to have a break and try something different - after all you can have too much of a good thing!
     
    I have managed to find the whereabouts of a drawing of the hydraulic wheel drop at Rose Grove Shed - I can recommend the National Archives website for those of you looking for original research material -
     
    http://www.nationala...ew.asp?ID=B6200
     
    as I found the set of drawings at Manchester Records Office. They provide a copying service for a price and are sending me a CD of the drawing.
     
    Enough of that and down to business. I have made good progress over the past two weeks on the rear elevation of the shed in preparation for the forthcoming first outing of the layout - this is at the S4 Society AGM in Bristol on saturday the 5th June - only 2 weeks away!!
     
    All the components have been glued and assembled and coloured as per my posts previous posts so here are some photos.
     







     
    The last photo includes the finished inside wall of this elevation and also the 'Rowmark' window sections all ready to be glued together over this weekend.
  3. barrowroad
    I have just about recovered from a very busy but enjoyable weekend demonstrating at Scaleforum with two of my friends from the Glevum Area Group, Morgan and Paul.
    I took two of the boards to the demo - limited space at this years show prevented me taking any more - these being the roundhouse/workshop board and the sidings board alongside the shed.
    A selection of locos and rolling stock was on view together with research material. Thanks go to Morgan for demonstrating his CAD drawings of the 60ft Cowans Sheldon Turntable and the trackwork for Barrow Road on Templot. Despite a very busy weekend he even managed to fit in time to start making some adjustments to reposition the single slip on the mainline - I have decided to add and additional board at the rear of the shed to include Day's Road bridge. [ for those who have seen MRJ200 this is the bridge shown in the article].
    Thanks go to Paul for for also demonstrating Craig's superb wagon chassis kit and to Craig himself for also holding the fort whilst the team took their meal breaks.
    Thanks to all those RMwebbers who introduced themselves and for all the kind and encouraging comments the team received at the weekend.
    An excellent weekend all round.
    Sorry I only managed these 2 photos before the show opened - we were too busy for the rest of the weekend to add any more. The demo team Morgan - left & Paul right and yours truly behind the camera:rolleyes:


  4. barrowroad
    For those of you who have seen the MRJ 200 thread you will see it contains an article about my layout. It was originally intended to include a second article on the laser cut/etched buildings but this has been held over to a forthcoming addition - hopefully MRJ 201. If this is the case it will fit in nicely with this years Scaleforum where I will be demonstrating part of the layout with other members of the Glevum Area group of the S4 Society.
     
    As promised here are some more photos of the shed and workshop with all the exterior and interior walls finished. I will add guttering and drainpipes in due course.
     
    The next major area of work on the shed will be the turntable, associated pit and the 24 turntable roads. The basis for the turntable bridge will be one of the new 4mm 60ft Cowans Sheldon kits from Metalsmiths Ltd although I am not keen on the paxolin used for the girders and other components. Etched replacements will be used.
     
    Operation of the turntable has posed a few questions. As the shed will have a roof aligning track using the 'mark 1 eyeball' is not an option. After much research I have decided to use a stepper motor system from New York Railway Supply. For those interested I recommend visiting www.nyrs.com







  5. barrowroad
    After the interlude with my diesel conversions I have returned to work on the baseboards to fabricate some more inspection pits.
    The first selected are the four inspection/preparation pits alongside the shed, one for each siding. Two of these pits were rebuilt in around 1956 [the two nearest the shed], while the other two were new. Unlike the pits inside the shed, photos show these pits were made using concrete not brick.
     

    This view was taken in Oct 1965 & shows locos over the two new built pits.
     

    Shows one pit in position.
     

    'Concrete apron' from 80thou plasticard. Main pit from 'reversed' laser cut base & sides as used inside the shed.
     
    I have also started the pit alongside the sand dryer although this still needs the top plasticard surface added to represent the concrete apron surrounding each pit.
     

     
    Here is a photo of this pit with 1420 on shed in Oct 1965 prior to travelling to Buckfastleigh.
     

     
    All these pits need the addition of concrete steps to complete the job.
    These will be fabricated form Evergreen strip which I will collect from the proprietor of Eileen's Emporium at the next Glevum group meeting.
  6. barrowroad
    I have recently switched my attention to constuction of the two ash disposal pits under and adjacent to the ash plant at Barrow Road and noticed the track is not supported on the usual timber baulks. Instead, to prevent hot ash from damaging or setting fire to the timber, the Midland used 5ft cast iron panels to support the track.
     



     
    Using the these photos I calculated the the dimensions of these cast iron panels and then set about finding a suitable way of making a model. My initial idea was to make them from plasticard but quickly decided this would not produce a structure with sufficient strength to support the trackwork.
    My eventual solution was to use K&S 1/4 x 1/8 section brass which I cut using a slitting disc. The webs are formed using 70 pieces of 16thou brass strip cut 2.5mm high these being soldered into the cut channel using a RSU. Here is this result.



    This section is 30cm long - I need 276cm for both pits.
     
    For those interested - posted elsewhere by the society press officer - I will be demonstrating Bristol Barrow Road at this years Scaleforum at Leatherhead. The two boards containing the Roundhouse & Workshop will be on show together with research material. Please come and have a chat.
  7. barrowroad
    Back front holiday and I find a set of Ultrascale wheels for my second Bachmann Peak has arrived. I had forgotten all about the order intended for my proposed conversion of split head code 'D95' to D13 with 'corridor connection doors.
     
    This conversion was inspired by a photo purchased from Rail Photoprints of D13 passing the side of the shed on 2B93 the 10.49am local infill turn from Bath Green Park to Temple Meads.
    http://www.railphoto...565-RP.jpg.html
     
    I decided to take a break from the shed and spent a few pleasant hours cutting out a suitable 'hole' at both ends of the body and fabricating a set corridor doors out of layers of 30thou plasticard. Adding the wheel conversion and a spot of weathering and I have my second Peak to add to D41.
     

     

     
    1N70 is the 10.40 Newcastle.
     

     
    I also have a Heljan class 14 awaiting conversion and thanks to the Captain { thanks Tim} I was prompted to place an order with Ultrascale late on wednesday [23.00 to be precise] and was most surprised to receive a package early this morning - now shall I...........
  8. barrowroad

    Heljan D9500

    By barrowroad,

    Having received a set of Ultrascale 18.83 wheels for this loco I decided to do the conversion. Thanks to all those on the Heljan thread who made the task a lot easier.
     
    I decided not to do a 'how too' photo session because this can be found on the other thread. Suffice it to say the Ultrascale conversion is easy to do provided you follow their instructions. Mine ran ok first time - highly reccomended and sorts out problems of erractic running experienced by others.
     
    I decided to fill in the hole in the buffer beam using rubbed down plasticard and then dry brushed weathered the whole loco.
     
    Here are a few photos
     




     
     
    For those of you who know about diesel lights can you advise whether both white lights should be 'on' going forward together with both red tail lights - only the right side is operating on mine at present?
  9. barrowroad
    The sidings wall of the workshop is the last piece of the workshop & roundhouse to be assembled and coloured so I thought I would show a series of photos to show the sequence I use for colouring. As mentioned in an earlier blog I use Faber Castell Polychromos crayons. The following sequence uses
    Pompian Red - 9201-191

    Terracotta - 9201 - 186

    Burnt Ochre - 9201 -187

    Raw Umber - 9201 - 180

    Brown Ochre - 9201 - 182

     
    The weathering is added using Schwarz Black - 9201 - 199

  10. barrowroad
    Having completed the front elevation I had a short break before starting the wall adjacent to the sidings by assembling the end wall. With only one window this proved to be an easy task until I realised I had forgotten to chamfer the upper layer of bricks. A few passes with a craft knife later and this is the result....

    followed by some paint....

     
    Moving on to the sidings wall here are some pics of the interior elevation with the second crane girder in position...

    and the exterior wall ready for a coat of primer...

    and finally a shot of both together...

     
    now back to the colouring.
  11. barrowroad
    The Scalefour Society AGM was held today in Bristol. Thanks to the Bristol Area Group for inviting the embryonic Barrow Road to it's first show. Assembly of the legs and boards were complete in a record 20mins - positioning the shed buildings, coaling tower and stock took a while longer, but I am very pleased with the ease of assembly.
     
    Thanks go to Chris and Morgan of the Glevum Group for assistance and to Morgan and Dave Holt for the lone of additional stock - photos of some of their locos will appear over the next few days. In the meantime here are a few photos taken during set up.
     






  12. barrowroad
    The front elevation is now complete, painted and features two sets of doors which can be opened.
    Bays 2 & 4 were the only ones used during the 1950/60s so I decided to carry out some modification to the Rowmark and glazing in order to make these two operational. You will see from the attached photos that I have achieved this by cutting the inner door rowmark to make it thinner down the hinge edge in order to fix a piece of square section tube. This tube extends to the top and bottom to form fixing points & the hinge is formed by inserting a length of brass tube inside the full length to enable the door to open. This has been repeated for each door. The brass tube is long enough to fit through the baseboard.
    It is my intention to make the doors operational sometime in the future.








  13. barrowroad
    I have spent some time researching the wording for STOP sign that is at the entrance to the roundhouse at Barrow Road.
     
    This appears to be a standard sign at most Midland Roundhouses but obtaining a clear photograph has proved a challenge. Last night I found a good colour photo of such a sign at the entrance to Toton Shed and have identified the following wording.
     
    MIDLAND RAILWAY
    NOTICE TO ALL (DRIVERS FIREMEN)
    AND ALL ???????????????????
    STOP.
    ALL ENGINES ?????????? TO
    ENTER THE SHED MUST BE
    BROUGHT TO A STAND AT
    THIS ?????
     
    ????? ??????????
     
    If any of you are up for a challenge can you fill in the missing words? To assist I believe the lower line is likely to be a date and the name of an officer of the Midland Railway. I pretty sure the Drivers Firemen [in my brackets] in the second line is correct as well but if you have any other suggest let me know.
     

  14. barrowroad
    The inside wall of the Workshop has an 'I' girder under the upper windows either side of the building to support the travelling 15 ton crane.
     
    After pondering how to represent the girder & their supports I opted to fabricate the girder supports from plasticard and used a plastruct 'I' girder fixing them to the inside wall using superglue gel - I am pleased with the result.
     
    I will give some consideration to modelling a representation of the crane in due course.
     



  15. barrowroad
    Following the Scalefour Society AGM I have had a short break from modelling - no I haven't been away, I've spent the past 4 days up and down a 6.7m tower scaffold painting the gable end wall of the house.
    Now that job is finished I have made a start on the shed workshop which is at the rear of the shed.
    The workshop is a feature of most Midland railway roundhouses and was used to repair the small Midland railway locos up until grouping and continued to do so through LMS days - although by then major jobs went to the works.
    During Midland days they were known as 'outstations' and carried out work similar to a main works - here is a photo of the 8 bay workshop at Grimesthorpe Sheffield to give you an idea of the interior.

    The workshop at Bristol was a 4 bay version - I have only found one photo taken inside showing a Sentinel - either 47190 or 47191 - these engines were used on the Avonside branch as were the L&Y Pugs.

     
    Here then is the latest work on the Workshop. You will note I have made two sets of doors open and intend to make them operational - these are on bays 2 & 4.
    [ These are temporarily fixed with masking tape in their closed position]
    During BR days bays 1 & 3 had their rail access removed - the 20ft loco turntables were removed - leaving rail access via bays 2 & 4. At least this means I only need to model 2 turntables!
     
    During the post war II period the Workshop carried out minor repair work but latterly had a wheel lathe so that wheels sets removed on the wheel drop could be rolled into the workshop for turning.




     
    I have added an internal wall to the building as I have since discovered there was a seperate smith's shop at the roundhouse end of the buidling.
     
    The colouring process is now under way - here are two photos showing the two 'opening doors' and the front wall part finished.


  17. barrowroad
    I have finished the rear elevation of the shed by adding a section to the wall to match with the end wall of the Workshop. This has been achieved by glueing a shaped piece of mdf to the top of the wall and overlaying a piece of Rowmark etched with 'english bond' brickwork. This is a modification to the kit as supplied. Also added for the first time is a shaped piece of clear 3mm thick acrylic fixed to the edge of the board to protect the sectioned wall of the Roundhouse.
     
    As the layout is due for its first outing - The Scalefour Society AGM - I decided to do a test assembly. The show is on saturday 5th June 2010 at St Martins Church Hall, St Martins Road, Knowle, Bristol BS4 2ND with the doors opening at 10.00 am and closing at 16.00.
     
    Here are a few photos taken today to show the latest developements.
     








  18. barrowroad
    The extension to road 14 includes the hydraulic wheel drop and I have just made a visit to the History Centre in Chippenham to obtain copies of drawings of the electrical operated one from Bricklayers Arms [ now on the Mid Hants I believe] and another generic LMS unit produced by Ransome & Rapier of Ipswich. I have yet to find one for a hydraulic version. As a result there is a space left - 11ft 6in - on this road while I await a response from Manchester Records Office who have some information on the hydraulic wheel drop at Rose Grove Shed. If anyone has any relevant information please let me know.
     
    In the meantime I have added extra ribs under the pits around the turntable in order to add strength this area. The photos show the three additional ribs clamped in position whilst the glue - titebond - sets.
     

     
    All the pits have been removed for this operation and are lined up in the background.
    The four slots for the workshop pits are also visible.
     

  19. barrowroad
    Work has progressed on the turntable pits and I now have 23 of the 24 pits fitted. Only road 14 remains to be made but this is causing a minor problem as it is the long road which contains the wheel drop.
     
    I know the shed had a hydraulic wheel drop which was situated on this road just outside the rear of the shed - it had a brick shelter with a corrugated roof - but I have been unable to find any information about it. If anyone can tell me which companies made hydraulic wheel drops or provide any other information it would be appeciated.
     
    Meanwhile here are some photos.
     
    The pits have been constructed from laser cut parts - 2mm sides and base of mdf - with 2 x 4mm plasticard strip 'baulks' on which the track will be laid. Each pits has a set of 4 steps at the turntable end which have been made from pieces of 0.125 x 0.375 plastic. All the sections of mdf have been pre coloured before assembly.
    Each pit floor has a drainage channel routed down one side. An etched drain cover will be added at a later stage. Pits 4 to 17 have the channel on the right and 5 to 18 to the left [viewed from the centre of the turntable].
     



     
    The side elevation of the shed is also complete - apart from the guttering ontop of the wall - and features an open window, number 7 from the front of the shed.


  20. barrowroad
    Having been effected by the Volcanic Ash Cloud - I should be in Canada - I now find I have time to start the inspection pits inside the roundhouse.
     
    The task has been made easier by a set of laser etched sides and bases from York Modelmaking such that the task is reduced to one of colouring and assembly. The pieces are sprayed with primer, coloured and assembled using a jig and clamps.
     
    Strips of 4 x 2mm plasticard were first added to the top of the side walls to form the timber baulks on which the chairs and rail will be fixed. The steps are then formed using a combination of 0.125in thick pieces of Evergreen plasticard to give sets of four 9in steps at the turntable end of each pit. A 2mm wide slot has been routed on one side of the pit floor to form the drainage channel. This channel is positioned to the left in half of the pits and to the right in the other.
     
    The pit units then fit inside the routed 21mm slots cut into the baseboard with the lip of the 'baulk' resting on the lower 2mm piece of mdf and between the upper 25mm piece.
     
    The semi circular cut outs with the twin holes are for the wiring - these will be covered by an etched floor to give the prototypical stonework of the roundhouse floor.
     




     
    You will note the two finished walls of the shed with the interior painted white to represent 'whitewash' with the bottom 4ft black to hide the dirt!
    An article on the shed and build of the front elevation of the roundhouse is due to appear in MRJ 200.
  21. barrowroad
    The new floor for the roundhouse has been used as a template to cut out the turntable pit and the inspection pits using a router. At the same time all the pits outside the shed have been cut as have the four inside the Workshop - a total of 38.
     
    I need to add a few more pieces of 6.5mm ply under the turntable to strengthen this area - in the meantime I must remember not to lean on this area of the board!
     
    Here are a couple of photos showing the result. The cut out for the shed pits remind me of the splashers of a Stirling Single!
     

     

  22. barrowroad
    I have spent some time assembling the front elevation of the shed but needed to wait to collect some amended parts - my fault - as I found a photograph showing an additional window by the office block. This window was only noticed when I enlarged a photograph of the shed interior - of course once observed it became very noticeable and I had to add it to the building.
     
    The exterior view of this window is obscured partly by the office building itself and partly by the porch entrance to one of it's doorways.
     

     
     
    York Modelmaking kindly provided some additional windows and mdf brick arches for the windows which I have fitted carefully. I took the opportunity to add an opening for the stores serving hatch and doorway to the front elevation.
     
    Of course problems arise in pairs and I also noticed - again in another very recent photograph - that the rear elevation has another window and a doorway. See the window and doorway to the left of the pannier tank in the next photo courtesy of Patrick. Again the photos taken from the outside do not show either feature as they are obscured by the toilet block immediately in front of the window.
     

     
    I am pleased with the results of my modifications and glad they appeared before I assembled the building. In modelling such photographs tend to appear afterwards.
     

     
    The modifications can be seen in the above photograph.
     
    As a taster here is part of the front with the brick overlays added.
     

  24. barrowroad
    Following a visit by friends in the Scalefour Glevum Group here are some photograhs taken with some extra stock including a fabulous rake of coaches.

     
    Johnson tank and Blood & Custard rake courtesy of Morgan
    Maroon rake courtesy of Paul




  25. barrowroad
    I have added the rest of the templot track plans and added a few locos for atmosphere - most of them are still in RTR state and will need chassis conversion to P4.
    The templot is in need of some tweaking as it was done with a 55ft turntable inside the roundhouse before I discovered that a 60ft Cowans Sheldon unit was installed in 1927.
     

     

     

     
    The Jinty on road 8 is a P4 converted Bachmann as is the WD on the exit road. All the rest will need converting.
     

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