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Dad-1

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  1. Dad-1
    I'm a fidget, I can't sit watching TV for long without wanting to do something with my hands.
     
    Had over 35 years of scale aircraft modelling, but needed a change a couple of years ago. As with many I'd always dreamed of having a model railway, but never had the space, time, or finance. With retirement and the children all having flown the nest that just left finance, with interest rates at such low levels I thought I'd spend some money before it became worthless.
     
    This means my knowledge of prototype is more or less nil, I just do my own thing, right or wrong. My current project with a planned scheduled 1 month time scale is simply a DCC programming track, but more than just a programming track ........... Is it a diorama, or is it a micro ?? Just a 1 yard length of Hornby 100 track, on a 1 metre board. The 'plan' was simply an embankment with a culvert where a siding had been left, but the branch line that used to run alongside has been lifted some time ago. This was going to act as a photo plinth as well as programming DCC decoders as they are added to my growing fleet.
     

     
    Railings over the culvert were made from soldering 2 cut up paperclips for each side.
     
    Geoff T.
     
     
  2. Dad-1
    My Blog tends to chart my workbench activity. With more than a few wagon builds as I needlessly add
    even more to the overall collection.
    I've decided to try and clear some inherited kits which while very good at their time of issue are now
    beginning to fall short of later models. However first I thought I'd add a picture of the Cambrian Dogfish
    in it's current decaled but not weathered state.
     

     
    Right, next I started was a very old Ratio kit, one of a few that have disappeared from the Ratio range.
    The Ratio GWR Open 'C', LWB timber/pipe wagon - kit number I don't know, not bothered to search for that !
    The kit has the modern Ratio problem of 'W' irons being rather too far apart for modern wheel sets. You need
    to add plasticard, or any other material spacers between the ledge of Top Hat bearings and the axle hole. Here
    you see before & after.
     

     

     
    Having got this far I realised I had much missing, the 'V' hangers in particular, although mouldings were there for DC III brakes
    there were no levers. Add to having no instruction I asked and will be getting instructions in the near future to back into a box !
     
    O.K Ratio kit number 1501 from the 'New' 1500 series. My packet had the original wrapping from Ratio at Chorleywood on it
    there was a pre-decimal postage stamp. As Decimal currency was introduced in 1971 this kit must be OVER 50 years old !!
    I started without any searching and when built I thought I'd look to see if there was any information On-Line for a 5 plank
    Coke Wagon ? Nothing !! As coke was light the problem was volume not weight so all the information I could fine referred to
    7 & 8 plank wagons - Why would you uses only a 5 planker ?
    Markings will have to be fictitious, my thoughts are of a small towns gas works P.O. wagon.
    Any suggestions on this would be welcomed - but not scrap it !!
     

     

     

     

     
    My problem now is getting Bachmann narrow couplings, where I need the NEM pockets for my Peco PA34 mountings. I have good
    rolling chassis, but to test will need to rob couplings from existing stock.
     
    Geoff T.
  3. Dad-1
    At times I feel they are not fit for purpose when it comes to British Outline wagons.
    The wagons are too easily drawn along out of an uncoupling position by 'magnetic creep'
    Many of us have spent ages getting our stock to run VERY freely with thoughts of long goods
    trains. This is the path to absolute failure, mass has little influence, the pressure needed to open
    the knuckles is not reached before your wagon rolls along !!
     
    Well the only answer to my mind is adding brakes to one axle on every wagon intended to be run
    on a layout that relies on Kadees for a slick hands free session. Yes, I've now developed two sets
    of wagons that are dedicated to particular layouts. They can interchange as this video shows.
     

     
    You will need to do a Kadee shuffle quite often as when a wagon has disengaged it will be sitting
    over the magnet which will pull the knuckles into a 'free shunting' mode where they will not re-couple.
    To re-connect it's necessary to push the wagon off the magnetic zone, draw away to allow the knuckle
    to return to the normal position for coupling.
     
    I 'aint no expert and believe me the language has been ripe at times, but this video shows what can be
    achieved with wagons. Note NO comments about coaches as these do not usually suffer magnet creep.
    Also a train of just two coaches creates enough resistance to couple up as wanted. ..... Usually !!
     
    Dad-1
  4. Dad-1

    End of the line

    By Dad-1,

    Well almost the end of the line ........ The day my MDF was cut was 13th July, here we are 13th August and apart from some very minor 'touch-up's' the scenic programming track is done.
    This week the weather has been a little damp, that combined with being out nearly every evening caused some delay. As an example my Fresian cows are now brown although still need some detail painting. The tractor has not been 'worked over' with mud and grime hence all these small side elements not yet added to the photos.
    But here we are 3 weeks work ..... no, no, not that 4 letter word retired people flinch at, 3 weeks fun, broken by a weeks holiday in Dorset the programming track - Not just any programming track, but a M & S programming track (please don't sue !) but Mine & Scenic.
    Probably add a few outdoor shots with the much improved lighting when the cows ard tractor are finished.
     
    I hope you enjoy and not found my Month's build boring !
     

     

     
    Geoff T.
  5. Dad-1
    When I see some of the so called Art I become more and more convinced that railway modelling is very much an art form, yet
    one that we don't explore as much as we should. Good clear photographs are great to see in detail what is being presented,
    but are not exploring the envelope of art presentation. In short we could all do better for artistic pictures.
     
    Today I was taking what was intended to be one of those good clear photographs to show my newly made GWR speed restriction
    sign. The camera though differently, the open garage door had so much light that it burnt the outside into a white blur as well as
    upsetting the automatic exposure and focus. The impressionist effect obtained, to me anyway, makes a superb picture. Yes this
    IS ART.
     

     
    Dad-1
  6. Dad-1

    Back to wagons again

    By Dad-1,

    For the last few months I've been busy on layouts. Both for the club and while intending to get some club
    input the Corona Virus shut down has left the option of do nothing until the club rooms open again, or do
    it myself. All interesting and keeping me busy, but apart from the '0' brake van I've not touched a wagon.
    Couldn't go much further without making something with wheels !!
     
    What's in stock - too many, but the Cambrian GWR/BR 18 Ton Sleeper Wagon caught my eye. Through Autumn
    I'd been making engineers stock and this was intended as part of the set.
     
    Cambrian kits can be brutes to make and I would usually advise against any beginner trying one. This one
    has been so easy it's fallen together in a few days. Almost no wrinkles of confusing instructions with parts
    that once cleaned up fit well.
     

     
    As with all Cambrian kits they come without wheel sets, bearings, hooks, or decals. All these things cost
    money, but the kit was cheap enough at £7.20
    I tend not to use the recommended Gibson wheels often using Hornby sets in my wagon builds as their flanges
    are somewhat deeper giving running security should you end up with a less than perfectly flat chassis. There is a
    danger as some Cambrian kits have so little clearance and these would foul however no problems with this build
    as A). I had no spoked Hornby wheel sets. B). My only spare spoked wheel set was Dapol, and these do have smaller
    flanges.
     

     
    Very simple and fell together in a few hours.
    White Metal hooks from the 'spares' box, I nip off half the fixing stub, otherwise it could foul my method of
    fixing couplings.
     

     
    This was on the edge for fixing couplings due to a tie bar between the solebars. Already well glued in before I thought
    about couplings. A moment of panic as I couldn't find any Bachmann short narrow tension-lock couplings. These have
    been in short supply since last Autumn and this build has taken my last 2 !!
     

     
    With my small platform stuck in it was almost impossible to get a NEM pocket in between it and the tie bar.
    I trimmed about 0.5 mm off the tie bar and used a file to create a small groove in the NEM pocket. Even then 
    I couldn't pull the coupling down the last fraction of a mm to get 100% matching height to my standard of basic
    Bachmann RTR height.
     

     

     

     
    Once in there is no way you can change either the wheel sets, or remove the NEM pockets. If you want obviously
    you could snap in Kadees, but this is not destined for a Kadee layout.
     
    The made up model less stanchions weighed in at 8.6 grams, VERY light, but was run in a train with 11 wagons behind
    it over 3 set track points and some 1st radius curves showing no signs of distress or de-railing. The kit has no brake
    hangars meaning the wheel voids are quite empty. I used this space to add some lead sheet, salvaged from Jordan F1
    wheel balance weights, this brought it up to nigh on 24 grams and I'm certain give additional running security.
     

     
    Now painted black for early BR it'll have to await some decals and weathering before any more photographs.
    Conclusion an easy model to make of an unusual wagon. Can sit with my Mermaids, Catfish, Dogfish and Shark !!
     
    Dad-1
  7. Dad-1
    Well Tuesday evening was a sad one ...... were it not for the warmth of MKMRS members.
    We had a special evening as one Andy York was coming to our club, some future article ?
     
    During all of this it was announced that it would be my last visit as moving home is almost
    upon us and I expect to be transferring a couple of layouts to Dorset next Tuesday. I was
    almost embarrased by the number of members who said they'd miss me.
    What can I say ..... This club has been welcoming and I've enjoyed some 5 years plus as a
    member. I wanted to be low profile after too many years at the sharp end of aviation scale
    modelling and though I could be lost in the crowd !!
     
    Probably the best thing I did when beginning railway modelling was to join a good club. I had
    been used to exhibiting aircraft models here in the U.K as well as trips to Berlin, Brussels, and
    France. It didn't take long for an invitation to run my intended home layout at the Train Collectors
    exhibition in 2009 .............. the first of several outings.
     
    I shall now be signing off for several weeks while we get moved and Sky connected up. Still the bad
    penny will always be around. I thank all who have viewed my postings, with double points to those
    that kindly gave a 'like' comment !!
     
    So be in touch later when all done & dusted !!
    Also my thanks to Andy & the team.
     
    Dad-1
  8. Dad-1
    I've just spent 10 minutes trying to find my Blog, there used to be a link found by ones name icon, but I can't find it now. Perhaps they're old hat and destined to vanish ?
    Thought I'd add what I've been doing since lock-down, O.K it started before that.
    With my mate Derek we made an inglenook shunting puzzle layout, always popular with club members and went out a few times without myself, or Derek present. It was
    damaged and I then put my foot down at the end of last year saying it would never go out again without me being there.
    There was then pressure for us to make a specific Club layout. It fell to me as the requirements are very exacting and it was supposed to be a club project. Just before lock-down I was presented with the 48" x 16" layout board.
    I laid the track, tested, and sorted out the problem resulting from using Frog Juicers. In the very limited track the frog juicers were creating spikes that disturbed the locomotive decoders. I had to make up a small circuit to dampen out the spikes. Wasn't expecting that little problem !!
     
    After 5 months it's almost finished, scenics as well, just tidying up now, although the list of minor jobs is longer than I'd expected before I began putting it on paper !!
    Here we have a few pictures :-
     
    The Headshunt end.
     

     
    The crossing
     

     
    The sorting end
     

     
    A rescued building from a 'late' club member, salvaged from a dismantled layout.
     

     
    I wish I could do better signs, but 4 point type face is my printers limit and I can't do white on a black background that's readable.
    Just before 12.00, waiting for the gates.
     

     
    It's the driving that counts !!
     
    Geoff T.
  9. Dad-1
    I do dislike waiting for paint to dry, but it's a basic essential.
     
    As of this morning I have 4 wagons, all with some paint too damp and sticky to handle.
    At least I've made the decision on what the final V16 livery will be. No not BR unfitted
    grey, but GWR grey.
    The clubs, and my V12 as well as the GWR V14 will all be liveried as 10 Ton. The BR bauxite V14 and that indecision V16
    will be 12 Ton liveries, a result of up-rating.
     

     
    It's at this point where a production line build starts to make sense. Initially all the same strikes as being over the top, but once
    painted with subtly different shades and later with different livery decals it'll all be fine !
     
    Dad-1
  10. Dad-1
    I ask that as an exhibitor. Running ones railway at an exhibition can be quite hard work. Certainly
    any layout consisting of several base boards need thorough checking for any damage that needs
    repair from a previous outing. All electrical circuits need checking, track cleaning, then the quandary
    of what rolling stock to take, sorting and packing and in my case the hiring of a van to get it there
    and back safely.
     
    No wonder that more & more exhibitions consist of smaller layouts, and that's the way I'm going. Making
    something that can go in the average car and not filling the front seat for that much required helper.
     
    Having a two day exhibition in the form of the Weymouth Model Railway Association coming over the
    28th & 29th October I'll be in a more relaxed mood afterwards to decide ........
     
    Track cleaning in progress, 10 boards done, 2 to start :-
     

     
    Dad-1
  11. Dad-1

    Something Missing ?

    By Dad-1,

    I opened my last 2 Parkside PC84 GWR Mink 'A' kits without paying too much attention.
    Today while getting on with them I couldn't find the small black sprues on which the laminated
    buffer heads are located, wagon hooks and a couple of drop door stops (Multi Purpose sprue).
    These two 'new' kits also had the small ModelMaster decal sheet included, on reading I note
    that all the markings are for BR period wagons and the sheet is clearly marked "Ex GWR 10T
    Mink, Mink 'A', V12,V14,V16" Does this mean that they will cease to include the louvre vent ends?
     
    I can imagine most sales are for GWR modellers and not BR periods. I could of course be wrong,
    but think a letter to Peco to find out is called for.
     
    It's such a small sprue and the lack of GWR period decals is not difficult, let's face it they never had
    decals included before, I hope they will keep including the early buffer heads, probably not a deal breaker,
    but retrograde ?
     

     
    The two on the right fitted with couplings, test run and fine, still working on the other two.  My 5th was for the club and not here at present.
     
    Dad-1
  12. Dad-1
    I suppose the 'hacking' problems with the associated down time made me leave on-line things well alone.
    Meanwhile progress has been the usual snails pace. No apologies as this is a hobby to be enjoyed at whatever
    pace the poster wants. We do so often let ourselves be pressured into actions we may not want. I suppose we
    oldies become rebels as there's nobody who can dictate to us (except the dear wife that is !!)
     
    Castell Mawr rather than becoming a joint GWR/LMS route is becoming more or less GWR. I find I have no
    LMS locomotives or carriages, but bought a job lot from a club member that included 6 sets of GWR traction
    and 7 coaches - the bargain price was such it would have been rude to refuse !!
     

     
    Styrene formers going in to develop the cutting around this end of the layout.
     

     
    There is a nice operating desk space with twin sockets mounted in the back wall. This has now been painted black.
    Currently only 1 socket is live and initially all DCC point and track will be powered though it. The second socket is
    for a future mod of putting all the points onto an independant bus. Our operating systems will be either NCE, Dynamis,
    or Select depending on how we feel.
     

     
    As the desk area was cleared for painting all the usual rubbish was pushed further along the nearest boards. Never
    enough space, unless your name is Pete Waterman, but then perhaps he also would like more space ?
     
    Geoff T.
  13. Dad-1
    It was a once a year outing, Castell Mawr back in the shed again.
    While it does everything I wanted at the time, it has become something of a white elephant. Too big to have up and running
    at home. I can just assemble on our patio which is high and catches wind, easily enough to take stock off !!
    I really don't know what to do with it ? Jamie one of the original group of 4 builders/planners came down to Dorset from Cambridge
    just to run it for a day, he had a great day and so did I.
    Seriously though what do I do ?? I'm too old to hire just a van, so I need to have a van and driver to take it anywhere and with just
    me and one helper it takes over 4 hours to set up. No it's not that complex, but to keep storage requirements under controlthe boards
    are all packed tightly into pods. This prevents any but the smallest buildings being attached. Every vehicle, person, building, signal
    has to be attached after initially getting all on it's legs and checking all electrics are working
    Last year it was voted best in our show and this year missed out by just 3 votes, so people DO like it, but practicallities of something
    this size when you're 77 say it's cloe to the end.
     
    My Fiddle Yard is scenic exchange sidings
     

     
    A busy builders materials yard
     

     
    An overall view taken during set-up and testing.
     

     
    Could you break this up ??
     
    Dad-1
    .
  14. Dad-1
    Well, with the programming track "End of the line" finished I'm back working on my simple oval. Everyone should have a roundy, roundy, or how do you run a new locomotive in ???
    It was started early this year, but having nowhere large enough to work on under cover it was dependant on good weather. Then a halt while my old garage was demolished and the new one put up as well as playing around with what I'll now refer to as "End of the line".
    Now up in the garage and live, seemingly not having suffered in my sons shed under a couple of bicycles. My new work being the bridge masonary, while doing that I had Marilyn the blue 06 pulling a few wagons around at under a scale 2 mph - across 3 insulfrog points without stalling.
    Rather than try a layout thread I thought from time to time I'd show in this 'blog' bit what I've been doing.
     

     
    Geoff T.
  15. Dad-1
    Although it's only 39" (1 metre) long and just one piece of track I want to develop an authentic feel - but all artistic (I hope) from my imagination.
    I've added vegetation to both sides of the stream, I'm still not happy with the reeds and will have to add more when all this is securely set.
    From the scenic side - well there is another 1.5" at the embankment base - the cow needs to become brown, the tractor getting dirty, and those reeds, need a bit more. I've already touched up the paint on the figures.
     
     
     
    I wanted to take a couple shots from the other side with just the sky and tree tops, but was unable to find a location in the garden where I could do this. My trees are getting too tall !! Apart from additional reeds this side is now finished
     

     

     
    A thoroughly enjoyable project ........ and it should be finished in the 1 month, from which I was away for one week.
     
    Geoff T.
  16. Dad-1

    Never Enough Time +1 Day

    By Dad-1,

    I took a few snaps last evening, showing the few odd jobs that I've been doing.
    We all like photographs so here are a couple more.
     

     

     
    just 6 foot 8 inches of it !! The station platforms measure 6 foot 1 inch straight, a little more because of the curve.
     
    Dad-1
  17. Dad-1

    Photos that go wrong !

    By Dad-1,

    We all like a funny photo .....
    Tonight I was laying some grass on embankment sides and decided as I was finishing
    to take a few photos.
    This one kind of caught me out !! Have you ever seen such pretty smoke coming from a chimney ?
     

     
    Brought a smile to my face.
     
    Dad-1
  18. Dad-1
    I do most of my modelling outdoors - any mess is easily swept away
    However it was raining when I got up this morning. I decided to look at my 'New' Metclafe
    GWR signal box.
    Now there is a growing group of railway modellers who look down their noses at Metcalfe card
    buildings. Yes over used and the answer is that they are affordable,reasonably easy to make
    with first class instructions and most retailers stock them ....... just proves they must be
    doing something right.
     
    The new box is easy enough, but the laser cut stairway, timber framing certainly need care. The
    result is I believe one of their best kits. I've not finished as I think it deserves an interior.
    While I await an interior the roof remains loose.
    But here it is so far
     

     

     
    I need 2 or 3 signal boxes for my C M layout and will probably go with these until I either have
    time to make something myself, or find a cost effective alternative.
     
    Geoff T.
  19. Dad-1
    I'm not a frequend poster on here.
    I prefer to be working on something rather than be on-line. Trouble is I've just painted the loft
    hatch and can't get in there today.
     
    Still, it's like this ...... At Warley I saw a Parkside Dundas wagon kit, one promised by Bachmann
    many moons ago, the 22 ton tube wagon. Having spent what seems like a lifetime making scale aircraft
    kits I thought why not .... it's only £9 & could be fun.
     
    It was fun & I kind of caught the bug, purchased 4 more steel industry wagons & since 22nd November
    have made up all 5. I was, & to some degree still am concerned of the running qualities, both pulled
    & pushed, as well as how robust they will be in regular use. I've been adding weight and trying to
    match coupling heights & still have some way to go before I'll be satisfied, suffering some over-ride
    when pushing 10+ wagon trains.
     
    Here we have the set
     

     
    I still need to source transfers & finish painting, but good running was THE important aspect.
    Since that Have bought 3 GWR Ratio 4 wheel coaches.
    What I should be doing is finishing some of the many pending jobs .....
     
    Dad-1
  20. Dad-1
    Laying in my shed looked at frequently, but worked on occasionally my 'Big' layout Castell Mawr
    has progressed slightly. One thing so few layouts have is a raised embankment section of any
    length where you can look up, or the camera can, to passing rail traffic.
    Today I finished grassing one part of embankment that is now completed from main road under
    bridge to this boards edge.
     

     
    I am having to look for suitable old brick colour paint, some testing was done with Humbrol 70, but
    I'm not at all happy with it. Looking through the Humbrol range I can see nothing to suit my eye.
    Although expensive in comparison I think I may have to look at War Gaming acrylics unless anyone
    here has a suitable suggestion.
     
    Dad-1
  21. Dad-1

    Time For New Skills

    By Dad-1,

    My butterfly personality means I like to switch from subject to subject, at times without always fully finishing a previous project.
    For that reason I have a siding full of wagons awaiting weathering, but heck I've done that and got the 'T' shirt.
    My two little Roxey yard locos are done .... to a level where they work fine doing what I want, weathering ? that can wait.
     
    I've plans for a local yard layout, this will need tight dock & factory yard turnouts. They must however be live-frog and I'm finding
    even short streamline longer than I want and I want irregular turnout angles. That leaves one answer, make my own. Ahhh not for
    the faint hearted. So with a minimum of tools, some old re-claimed track from which I could strip rails, and a mixture of 3 & 4 mm
    copperclad PCB why not just try.
     
    No Templot, No template even, just an opposite side Peco curved set-track point and a minimum of tools. Oh and a piece of cardboard
    where I did have a rough plan I'd drawn. This was the tools and my working desk !!
     

     
    Here is the part finished point. It still needs a tie bar and my hinged attachments for the switch rails.
     

     
    It works as can be seen at
     

     
    Now I have to try again to do it better !!
     
    Dad-1
  22. Dad-1
    I like making up scenes, but first there's all the boards & trackwork, which at times seems to go on forever.
    My coal siding board, which is also the north station throat has at last seen some greenery.
     

     
    I get so pleased at reaching this stage that my camera comes out while things are still wet with glue
    Sorry !!
     

     
    Ahh well, only 11 more boards to work through - Even this needs the cattle dock making and buildings
    finished, but at last it starts looking like a railway & not a pile of junk at a demolition yard.
     
    Dad-1.
  23. Dad-1
    I've never been the most prolific poster on here so I doubt I'll be missed for a week or two. The layout will shortly be on unspecified 'hold' as next week I go in for a spinal operation. NHS didn't want to bother because I was still fit & flexible, but they have no idea of the pain I have. So after a private consultation and parting with around £7K it will be done at a BMI hospital.
     
    So just as I reach the point of working my river end boards I'll have a break.
    Here styrene risers show the line of my planned main road & lane junction
     

     
    Here is the under construction main road under bridge which is close to the river.
     

     
    Geoff T.
  24. Dad-1
    Bliss , or is it ? Working in the garden today laying a plaster/sawdust skin over styrene.
    Now summat went a little wrong as todays effort has developed cracks, yet that I did a
    few days back before the weather changed is fine. I presume that either the mix was
    too dry, or too wet, perhaps it dried too quickly out in the sun. Still no problem as the
    surface will be painted (and worked into any cracks) and then soaked in watered down
    PVA to attach all the greenery.
     
    Just for play time I put my Arriva Wales 150 on the track ....... you know just to dream of
    when it's a working layout.
     

     
    A second view from the fence (that will be there) at the cutting top, can't see the sheep
    either. The far side is now fully built up and may get plastered tomorrow.
     

     
    Geoff T.
  25. Dad-1
    I'm never quite certain what to do with a Blog ? What exactly is it ?
     
    Well I use this as a sort of diary of things done and to be done. I have always tended to look forward, but explaining rough ideas for the future would be a waste of time. As a result all I can do is show a few things that have been completed enough to have something to look at.
     
    Back in October a few of us (4) decided to make a lightweight layout where we could have longish trains thundering around. This with a view to taking to the odd exhibition, so probably the primary design feature had to be small and light enough modules to carry in 2, or at the most 3 cars.
    Longish is amounting to 21 feet long, and even with a board width of just 20" the overall will be over 7 feet wide but having a decent sized central operating well.
     
    It's taken until this last week to have the fiddle yard/exchange sidings section up and running. Just track, points, & point decoders, although the picture shows some scenic bits they are just parked on this temporarily. Currently brush painting track ....... and this has a lot of track !!
     

     

     

     
    This amounts to about 1/4 of the boards - MMmm have I bitten off too much ??
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