Jon Gwinnett

Bravo sir!

It’s alive! by Jon Gwinnett, on Flickr Not the most exciting photo, but a significant moment, as we have power and the little 363 has traversed the entire module successfully.

One or two lines need their ends trimmed to length ( they were left deliberately over length to avoid any gaps when finally laid) and the I need to think about wiring the feeds to the bus wires. Each piece of track has at least one feed directly connected to it, using the pre wired rail joiners, which while less effective than directly soldered feeds, are much easier to do!

Since those photos were taken I’ve put down the trackbed (Diall 2.2mm extruded polystyrene underlay) with its handy 1cm square printed grid and pinned down the track: Track laying begins by Jon Gwinnett, on Flickr And the final result by Jon Gwinnett, on Flickr

The timber (9mm birch ply) for the baseboards arrived from woodshopdirect (no connection other than a satisfied customer), very neatly packaged and accurately cut to size, so that even with my limited woodworking skills a neat box frame was soon assembled: New baseboard by Jon Gwinnett, on Flickr Unfortunately it didn't stay that tidy for long... Or is it just an expensive shelf by Jon Gwinnett, on Flickr Last night I laid the first track, on the short run-round extension piece: First track down on the run-round extension by Jon Gwinnett, on Flickr

Hi Neil, Yes, a "bakkie" is pretty much essential, although when I first started thinking of the layout they had disappeared from the Amsterdam scene. However, in the intervening period at least two have appeared - I’m not clear if they were covering for periods when the 363s were unavailable or simply different contracts, anyway, although I don’t have a photo of it in Amsterdam, a model of this handsome beast has found its way into my collection - unfortunately not yet sound or dcc fitted and I need to figure out how I will squeeze sound into the tiny cab, which is pretty much the only available location Dieselloc Railpro 601 rangerend te Stapelplaats Crailoo nabij Hilversum. by Dicky.1952, on Flickr

Although the concrete track arrived, sadly the timber for the board did not, delayed in transit according to TNT. So apart from adding the last pieces of track to the temporary board, all I achieved today was cutting the under track pieces for the level crossing.

The Good: A two steps forward, one back, day yesterday. The good - most of the track I needed turned up, and I got the base for the warehouse made (out of a piece of 3.6mm ply and a sheet of 20 thou black plastikard, joined using Pritt Power Glue): Crossings by Jon Gwinnett, on Flickr However, that was as far as the good things went. The Bad: Not all the track arrived, and I am still waiting for two lengths of concrete sleeper flexi to finish off roughing out the track. I was determined to avoid the impression of sleepered track through the level crossing – and had a plan to use 2mm MDF in place of the sleeper base – the code 100 track is more than strong enough to retain its gauge over that short distance, but what I hadn’t counted on/had forgotten to take into account, was that the sleeper base on the code 100 track is very slightly less deep than on code 75, so whereas a piece of 2mm MDF was a neat fit under code 75, when glued to the code 100 it raised the track slightly at the crossing, causing a small but noticeable hump. The Ugly: Being code 100, it was fortunately strong enough for me to rip off the mdf, and then spend 2 hours chiselling out the mix of superglue and hardener that had filleted the joins. If we weren’t still in lockdown in Scotland would I have bothered? Probably not, I’d have probably cursed my stupidity and gone and bought a couple of lengths of replacement track today, but we are in lockdown, so I persevered. I will redo the crossings using 60 thou plastikard and less aggressive glue, before adding the Wills Modern cosmetic parts. The Future’s Looking Bright: The timber for the real baseboard is due to arrive today, as well as the two lengths of track. This will enable the temporary shelf to be replaced, and I can then hopefully make progress. The eagle eyed will be wondering why I have switched from Code 75 to Code 100 – my ham-fisted efforts with the level crossing probably emphasise my lack of finesse, and the attraction of the insulfrog simple wiring appeals, so I’m giving the Code 100 a try and will see if I can disguise, or at least minimise, its visual impact, as shown well in this post by @Neils WRX :

Made a bit of progress on the warehouse today: Modified Wills Modern building. Walls increased in height by 1 panel and the beginning of interior framing, partly because the interior will be visible and partly because it adds strength and rigidity to the otherwise fairly floppy walls! #1/87 #HOGauge by Jon Gwinnett, on Flickr Modified Wills Modern building. Walls increased in height by 1 panel and the beginning of interior framing, partly because the interior will be visible and partly because it adds strength and rigidity to the otherwise fairly floppy walls! #1/87 #HOGauge by Jon Gwinnett, on Flickr

Holy thread resurrection Batman! Six years have passed in the blink of an eye, and very poignant to see the last post from dear Jack, sadly missed as he is. In that time, I have dabbled in three different gauges, four scales, and achieved, mostly, naff all. All the Dutch/Continental stock was disposed of, but I never quite lost the urge. Then last summer we went to Amsterdam for a city break, my first time in the county since childhood, and that reignited a spark. Still nothing much happened until we went into lockdown. Like many others, I used lockdown as an excuse to being a new project, Natland Wharf: Untitled by Jon Gwinnett, on Flickr Untitled by Jon Gwinnett, on Flickr Untitled by Jon Gwinnett, on Flickr Untitled by Jon Gwinnett, on Flickr This was thrown together from redundant track and odds and ends from the loft. I was surprisingly pleased with it and it made me think, again, about what I might fit in my available space, which has coalesced into a space 1.5m long and approximately 300mm wide Although I don’t have any more leisure time in lockdown (indeed, am working as hard if not harder than before) I do have the money I’m saving by not commuting, so I decide to treat myself to some stock, spurred by the discovery of the Piko sound fitted 363, various examples of which have lurked around Amsterdam Westhaven yard for years. Another key inspiration was the discovery of the “Minimax” module format. Put the two together and this is the result: Untitled by Jon Gwinnett, on Flickr Untitled by Jon Gwinnett, on Flickr Its early days yet, and I have some pre-cut timber on order to make this first board up. There will be a small extension on the right-hand end to complete the run round loop and act as a mini “off-stage” area.

Thanks Rob, I have no doubts that code 75 can look good, especially in a European setting, but I find it’s fragile, and requires more wiring than a luddite like me is comfortable with (Neil uses live frogs so for him it’s the same.) The bi-bloc track is particularly floppy and easily damaged. That said, I have enough code 75 to do my current plans in that, so will probably see how I feel once I’ve lived with the code 100 for a bit. Apologies Neil for hijacking the thread.

Thanks Neil, that sounds much the same as I tried to do on my little Natland plank, with, I hope, reasonable success: Untitled by Jon Gwinnett, on Flickr

Hi Neil, I know the majority of the track here is embedded, but are you doing anything particular on this or the other layout to minimise the visual impact of the over height track? Very tempted now to use Code 100 on my Dutch idea, for robustness and simplicity, just havering slightly as the underscale Code 75 does perhaps look finer.

No apology needed, and thank you.

Neil, if you don’t mind my asking, what are the overall dimensions of the layout? I’ve reread the thread, which was a pleasure, in case I missed it first time round, but I don’t think the size is given anywhere?

Just oozes character. Lovely.

Seeing the whole layout like that just shows what a triumph this is. It is the very antithesis of glamour, and all the more brilliantly observed because of it. Bravo!

Splendid to see this layout deservedly get its own thread. Cracking work.

Seconded!

What a carry on... Nice to see Bridport in its own thread, looking forward to seeing what comes next!

Unfortunately photos have disappeared into the ether, but when my dad scratched a crane for Chagford, I think he used scrap clock gears (not sure where he got them from, sorry) and fretted out the centres. They might have been meccano but I don't think so.

I think those interior lights will work very well to permit the details to be viewed under "daylight" conditions - very nicely done.

The bridge is really starting to look good.

Have you tried using a soft cloth to rub paint/pigment on? A sort of dry rub rather than brush. I think the buildings on Bacup were done that way, and they looked pretty convincing to me.

A gate at the wall end of the railings, with access through the back door of the lean to?