Chris Chewter

Its here! A bit of light reading for the next few nights! A quick flick through provides missing drawings for the signal box which are not provided in Paul Karus book and some additional photographs showing a variety of different locos and rolling stock. Also some useful images of the Tetbury Toad! Interesting stuff!

I've been planning over the last few days and have hit a couple of headaches: 1/ I've scaled the 1920 plans to find its exact length. For some reason it comes out as 18ft in length. Thats 3 more than I have. Therefore it looks like if this project goes further, it appears that the goods yard shall have to be shortened and the curve possibly tightened. Probably not a big issue really if thats the only area of compression I need to make. 2/ The biggest issue is the level change between the railway and the stream known as "The Splash". Here the fun begins. Because its the lowest point, I would have to raise the level of the railway up. However this has a knock on effect of raising the fiddle yard up. That means some more significant disassembly to the existing baseboards and frames. Lets hope a copy of "The Tetbury Branch" by Stephen Randolph can overcome my laziness... if it ever arrives!

I like the idea of making it an exhibition layout, but I don't think my modelling skills are that good! However the current boards are split into three, more with the intention of house moves rather than exhibitions. I also like the idea of the lack of signals! That saves the cost of buying a load of Ratio kits! I'm quite happy with the one engine in steam principal. After walking the site, I thought the embankment would make a better backscene than trying to make a bespoke backscene of Tetbury. The problem is that in the room the model railway is planned to go requires it to be viewed as if your sat on top of the embankment. Modelling Tetbury as a backscene may be a bit of a faff, but I have very little choice on that one! My intention is to model Tetbury as closely as I can. My big problem is what to do with this... Looks like there will be some lifting of track and rewiring, and that's whats holding me back!

To Tetbury, or not to Tetbury! That is the question! Welcome to Tetbury station There is one thing that I've always fancied modelling, and that's a real location. However, try as I might, I have always been thwarted by a lack of space or the need to scratchbuild buildings. I got close with Princetown until I realised the line was run by 44xx and too much scratchbuilding was required. To make things worse, I found someone had built a model of Princetown in Australia! So I gave up and decided to model something fictitious. However whilst shopping for a goods shed, I came across Timbertacks kits of Tetbury and it set me thinking, which is always a dangerous thing! I had the Tetbury plans, photographs and drawings in Paul Karus book, so off the shelf it came and I started to plan. As a bonus, Tetbury is a 45min drive, plus the site is fairly undeveloped, with the goodshed and cattle dock still surviving! Sadly the station building is no more, and a circular monument marks the spot. A general view across the site as it is today Timbertracks provide nearly all the buildings required to make Tetbury! Station, good shed, engine shed. The only thing missing is the signal box. A little bit of research showed this to be a bit like the Wills ground level signal box. (In fact, with a bit of work and two kits, you could make something very close!) A visit showed that the cattle dock is remarkably similar to the Ratio kit. Therefore it would appear that its easily buildable. The distinctive Tetbury good shed. Thankfully Timbertracks provide this as a kit The cattle dock looking remarkably similar to the Ratio kit! Another view of the Cattle Dock. The ramp does appear to be splayed which the Ratio kit is not but I think that a minor issue. So, would it fit? With a bit of old-maps.co.uk plus a few hours of Anyrail and yes, it will fit into the space I've got. However after a visit to wet and windy Tetbury, the layout would work better if reversed. Thats not something I can do with the space I've got, so its got to be a backscene of Tetbury as viewed from the steep hill directly behind the station. How about what to run? 14xx, 45xx and railcars. Well, we all know that Hornby and soon DJModels do the 14xx. Bachmann does a very nice 45xx, and Heljan currently do the railcar required. The autocoach appears to be a Hawksworth design similar to Bachmanns latest release. So, I have the space, can get the buildings, and the stock required to run on it is readily available. Excellent, but here's the rub! I'm already half way through my current project. So its a case of rip up the work so far, or shelf the idea of Tetbury? Looks like I've got some thinking to do! Just one question. Whilst walking the site, I found this: Any ideas?

Looks like a sell out at Rails and Kernow too, although Howes still seem to show some in stock.

I wasn't going to get one until I saw them in the cabinet at Howes Models and thought it would look excellent next to my collection of LT panniers. As a result, I decided to splurge on a Sherlock Holmes. Mine also arrived from Hattons the other day. I've only just got around to running a camera over it today, and thought people might like to see the photos.

My Crosti arrived from Rails this morning. I was interested to sit it against one of my Bachmann 9f's to see how it compared. I thought I'd post the photographs for those who might be interested.

Hattons just emailed to say they are expecting their delivery on the 26th August. Not much longer to wait!

I'm not too sure what came first, looking at the actual Trojan locomotive or a suggestion that a Trojan RTR model would never exist as the key components are available to cut together, but its readily apparent that Didcots Avonside saddle tank does look like a Dapol Pug with a Hornby Smokey Joe body, spliced down in size. I thought I'd check to see whether it had been done before. A quick google search threw up some fuzzy build photographs of a past attempt, but nothing detailed or conclusive. So I decided to give it a try. After all, it would hopefully be a nice easy project to run on the side. Before I start, first off, a quick disclaimer. If you model beautiful scale representations of actual locos, I suggest you don't read any further! One thing came apparent is that I was not in a position to splice together a totally accurate model, and compromises would need to be made. It would be a scale representation of Trojan. If a scale model is what you're after, then I suggest the CSP kit is the way you should go. The ingredients! 1. A Hornby or Dapol Pug if you want it motorised, or a Dapol kit for a static model. 2. A Hornby "smokey joe" style LMS pug donor body with brass safety valves and whistle. 3. A 57xx pannier donor body with handrails. 4. Some buffers, as the Hornby pug has dumb buffers which need removal. 5. Name plates. These came from Narrow Planet, as they are not available off the shelf. http://narrowplanet.co.uk/ Reference sources: Apart from an obligatory visit to Didcot if you can, the following website provides some excellent line drawings, which if printed off, allows you to check whether everything is in proportion: http://www.irsociety.co.uk/Archives/48/Trojan.htm The Compromises: The build is not without compromises. I didn't model the front buffer beam to the correct shape and the ash slot at the front of the locomotive. Trojan has a riveted tank, where as Smokey Joes is a smooth moulding. The cab roof is too short, the rear sheet to the cab is wrong, and the reverser linkage moulded on the Pug chassis is on the wrong side. The motor is very visible from the back, and there are a lot of other additional boxes and lubricator pipes that could be added if I had the time or inclination. The valve gear on the Hornby Pug has a protector, that needs to be removed. I left mine on which is also unprototypical. I also lost the Smokey Joe whistle, so the incorrect 57xx whistles will have to do until I can find a replacement. Some of these things I could have corrected, but the model was in danger of becoming a shelf queen, so I had to finish it off. I wanted to model Trojan how she exists at Didcot currently. However it's not possible to affix a 4mm "Great Western" transfer to the tender tank, as its too long. I don't know whether this is because the saddle tank has been compromised in length by the motor, or if its just because Trojan needs smaller decals, but the 4mm Fox transfers I have simply do not fit! Was it worth it? I think so, but I would say that as i invested lots of time into the model. Anyway, I have a Trojan ready to shunt on my layout when the mood takes me It looks the part, and runs nicely. There is also space above the weight for a TCS M1 micro decoder, so its DCC fitted! Conclusion: Can Trojan be spliced? Yes but with compromises. But is the model for you? If you want rivets and a scale miniature, grab a CSP kit. But if you are happy with the compromises or don't want burnt fingers from a metal kit, a cut-n-splice project could be for you! The information provided is intended to be a legacy to allow fellow modellers to improve on the Trojan Cut-n-Shut.

I know what you mean about the regret. I cancelled my pre-order, only to see one and wish I hadn't. Its completely inappropriate for my layout, but it does look good! I ended up getting mine on eBay. The yellow ended version still seems to be in stock at Hattons for £290.00: http://www.ehattons.com/34059/Bachmann_Branchline_31_256DC_Class_251_Blue_Pullman_6_car_Midland_set_in_Nanking_blue_with_full_yellow_ends_D/StockDetail.aspx Some Railmatch paint, fox transfers, and if the word "midland" offends you, a bit of careful removal would work. MIB Models advertise the full blue version as in stock, but for £495.00, that might be a tad high, and only a fiver short of the Olivias trains price: MIB Models: http://www.mibmodels.co.uk/Bachmann_31-255DC_Midland_Pullman.htm Olivias trains: http://www.oliviastrains.com/trains/model-trains/Bachmann-diesel/Bachmann-midland-pullman/Bachmann-midland-pullman-6-car-set-in-nanking-blue-livery-31-255dc/ I hope that helps.

Hattons have put a video up on their facebook page of a pre-production running sample. Take a look here:

Another one for crimes against using the initials MIB http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bachmann-CLASS-45-XX-LOCOMOTIVE-RE-BADGED-MIB-OO-GAUGE-1-76-/191358226975?pt=UK_Trains_Railway_Models&hash=item2c8dd6d21f

I was going to furkle around my garage to try to find the instructions for my Heljan turntable, however I've found out I have the older style of turntable, so thats no use. I have found the manual for your turntable model which suggests that a factory reset is possible. Take a look and see if it helps: http://www.Heljan.dk/images/pdf/artikler/service-89121-dcc-turntable.pdf

Whilst reading up on abandoned London Underground stations, I came across this website about ghostly goings on connected with the tube: http://hauntedearthghostvideos.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/ghostly-stations-of-london-underground.html