dibateg

Signal work has continued between Xmas revelings... The 5 arm is on it's way - my railway room is not big enough to incorporate all those routes, so we have to imagine they are off scene, but the signal has such character, I couldn't leave it out.. I'm working through the multitude of shunt signals.. is there a collective name? A Boltons bits etch forms the platform for this somewhat unprepossessing bracket that control exit from the platform bay. It replaced ( in the late 50's I think ) a GNR 3 arm bracket signal. It appears to be derived from an LMS design, so contrasts with it's rather more elegant GNR neighbours. So, just another wooden post and the three concrete signals to make... Then it's back to the electronics to control them - a production line of MERG servo boards on the workbench. Just a few years ago my electronics career started designing and making circuit boards... It's quite therapeutic making up these...

The thing I remember about Stoke was the 3 or 4 deep watching, it did generate a lot of interest, and opinion. Talking of signal gantries - I've pretty well finished this one for Basford North, the wonky signals won't stay put without the servos attached. A silhouette shot saves painting it! It's remarkable how bare a layout looks without signals, once added, they set the stage and location.... Regards Tony

How would you know how many rivets there are, unless you count them? After making so many GW signals in 4mm for Mr Taylor, I'm at last on some 7mm LNER ones of my own - a rather cruel enlargement of work in progress. Happy Xmas Everyone! Regards Tony

Signals 68, 72 & 75 take shape. This is perhaps the most complicated I've made so far... Seasons greetings and all the best for 2023!

Thanks to Tonys help I have now been able to establish that signals 48 & 90 are an LMS style shunt signal. I've now re-worked them with a nice little etch from Jon Fitness:- The shunt signals are an LMS design. The GC/GN changed over from ER to LM region in the late 50's, so there must have been some signalling updates at Basford North around 1959/60, where these and a new bracket signal were installed.. I wonder what the ex LNE S&T men made of these interlopers.. In the meantime I've been working on the 5 arm signal for the goods yard. Most of the signals are modified or scratched up, as there is no commercial product for the calling on arms.

Yes, thanks for the memories chaps, it is interesting to hear those. I did go and get some photos a few years back Meanwhile - Signals 48 & 90 take shape - now I can see there should be another angle support at the back. I'm trying to work out if there was a ladder. Notice the white painted balance weights - just to make sure you don't bump your bonce...

I did think of putting the Northern Baths in - but it is a very big building! Regards Tony

The weekly scenic session with Geoff progresses things and we've started ballasting. In the meantime I've been adding yet more fencing. The intention is to finish everything on this end and then progress through the station at the back of the layout. There are always endless bits of detail that can be added later. You can imagine heading up that path, wondering what locos you might cop today..

Thanks Tony - you - and Mo of course are most welcome any time to come over. Regards Tony

Work in progress with background clutter. Geoff Taylor has been giving me a hand with the scenic work and we've started with the most inaccessible spot. In the meantime I've prepared what seems like miles of fencing, starting with the up platform. The path up to the back of the station also needs to be fenced... It's dark in this corner, so more lighting is waiting to be collected from Screwfix. The master scenic craftsman at work - the greenery is spreading, as is the fencing... It is a bit green yet, I want to make it more faded late summer. We are trying to work from the back forwards and the main platform is re-enforce so I can actually stand on it if necessary...

You can see the lead lined roof in 61206... I was concerned about the nuclear threat! I stuffed lead in to the plastic body where ever I could to give it some extra weight. I'm looking forward to the video, a pity we can have it now, I am already sick and tired of Christmas adverts on the telly.. Congratulations on the 10 year thread Tony, every day it is worth a read! Regards Tony

I've been mulling over the unlined cylinders on the B1, in most black and white pictures, it's difficult to tell, especially with 61264 in the '60s as it was so dirty. So, a trawl through the colour books indicates that they were not always lined.. - 61036 ex works in 1958 in Huntress's book 'On Great Northern Lines. A book that is surely a must for every follower of Little Bytham! The joys of engine picking... The 4mm scale B1's, in my ignorance I assumed that the Comet valve gear etches were correct, after all they were an upgrade. Looking at them now I find the long radius rod sticks out like a sore thumb! That affects the geometry further back making the angle of the eccentic rod rather sharp. I'm much more suspicous of kits these days. Mr Stelfox of cylinder fame is still around - to be found in 0 gauge circles now. I remember writing off for them in the post, long before the days of the internet. Tony G mentioned a Gladiator J3.... Oh dear, I can feel my wallet squirming! And a 4mm blow up to 7mm is always an exciting challenge! Regards Tony

I thought Iain's LMS coaches look very neat, lovely work. The J3 and the J5 are attractive little engines, it is a pity there is nothing available in 7mm scale, but I guess they wouldn't be too difficult to scratch build. I'm just working on completing this 7mm scale DJH/Piercy B1, I know B1s on Little Bytham have come up before. Time for another review? ! I must deal with that visible yellow wire! Regards Tony

This is where I can hold up my hands in horror ( A bit like the Viz modern parents ) in that Tony doesn't possess digital calipers! Mine are always within reach on the workbench... Anyway - I might as well join in the theme of coach building - the latest on my workbench is a JLTRT Gresley full brake. Complete with 8 foot bogies.. Now, I'm pretty sure - and you can't see it in the picture, they are at the other end, but I don't think it should have the alarm gear fittings on the roof... People will know... Regards Tony

I seem to be doing a lot of painting, platforms, walls, anything that doesn't move... Geoff is cracking on with the soft furnishings.. at last it's starting to look the right sort of colours..

Thats probably TW junior pointing out that they've got something wrong on 61039! Regards Tony

Yes - WD Pete..... 7mm sclae Snow Hill Kit.. Regards

All my builds have an etched builders plate underneath - some of my clients liked to have provenance for their models. I'm also proud of what I have created and like to have my name on it. Who knows, they might even come up at an auction house some day.... Rare model locomotives sold for 'astonishing' £25,000 - BBC News:- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-62742919?at_campaign=KARANGA&at_medium=RSS All of my client builds would have to do 20 minutes running on a circuit in each direction ( whilst I and a mate supped coffee and biscuits and put the world to rights ) before they were allowed out of the door... Non runners should go straight back to the builder, but as Tony has found, some probably have never run since delivery... So what is it then? Tony

This is where I'm bogged down.. Due to the curve of the layout ( in reality, the line is straight here ) , the station approach is greatly compressed. So, I have had to make a few compromises to make it fit. The road to the yard now turns behind the curved wall, to then slope down next to Vernon Road to join it offscene. Otherwise, it would have been far too steep. In reality the footpath approach had a lot more width between the back of the platform and the buffer stops. At least the distictive stepped wall and triangular coping stones looks as per prototype, although there was only the adjoining pillar at the entrance. However, the topography is nearly there. I find loco building a whole lot easier!

A week or two back, the goods shed was collected from Peter Leyland - it is much reduced in size to fit in the space, but I hope captures the feel of the original. I also managed to obtain a copy of the working timetable, I've been looking for one of these for a few years:- Now the weather has started to close in, scenic work is progressing...

I built nearly everything compensated or sprung in my 4mm building days, but they were always out performed haulage wise on Stoke and Charwelton by the rigid chassis locomotives. I was following the trend at the time - compensation, Portescap motors. The only advantage was marginally improved pick up perhaps... but I always put as many pick ups on as I could. All my locos have/had tender pick ups.. As always - interesting discussions.. Regards Tony

Its alright for you! I have lost a complete O gauge J11 backhead, that seems to have disappeared in to outer space... I think it's going to be easier to give up looking and buy a new one.... Tony

Anyway - talking of J11s - Rob Kinseys' example a few posts back. I finally managed to get some paint and numbers on mine:- It's pretty well complete, with inside working motion. There is only one thing, I seem to have lost the completed backhead, so if anyone has seen it let me know.... Multiple searches in unlikely places have not turned it up... It will be weathered in due course, I don't recall seeing many pictures of clean ones... I remember my despised Little Engines J11s on Charwelton, they were compensated, and not the most reliable... Regards Tony

Thanks Clem! We are still concentrating on Vernon road, I've been putting in kerbs and the road and pavement surfaces. All those fiddly little gaps will need to be sorted out... Retaining walls are in and there is still a lot of Kingspan carving to do. Doesn't it make a lovely mess...

More scenic work, but topography and boundary work proceeds with walls sprouting up and road surface prepared. I've changed the orientation of the Saxondale Drive house on to Vernon Road. Everything is compromised as the formation through the station should be straight of course. Not prototypically correct, but it looks better and the house that is actually there wouldn't fit.. Space space space - there is never enough! This photo turned up on Facebook, it shows that 34091 Weymouth was not so far off when I tested it on the railway!