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Dad-1

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  1. 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
  2. Dad-1

    Pt.II Or West Bay Layout

    By Dad-1,

    You can see why I'm not very good at online postings, but into Pt.II on my old and clogged up system.
     
    West Bay hasn't changed that much and needs a lot of grass and gravel surfacing, hence being essential to move
    somewhere where it can be left undisturbed for days if necessary.
     
    The yard end where it joins Marsh Barn Lane, once a gated road.
     

     
    Station building and signal box made by another club member. The garden is still there today, but
    we need to get planting !
     

     
    I have this 'signature' fencing on most of my models. Drilled matchsticks threaded with invisible sewing thread.
     

     
    Don't take any notice of the 'test' traction, it just happened to be Kadee fitted and easily to hand.
     

     
    Every one of those cattle pen fence rails had to be sanded to an exact fit !
     

     
    We are now into the saga of trying to get reasonable results from the Kadees. Also found that none of the clubs old
    locomotives will run through the Marcway points. As a result new stock is being created and looking for a first class
    condition 57XX as it seems all 'new' stocks have been sold !!
     
    Dad-1
  3. Dad-1
    What happened to July, August and September ?
    Not a lot, yet I seem to have always been doing something, although often not a lot to look back on.
     
    First following my last posting our club exhibition was a great success, always a worry when you change
    venues. I ended up winning the Best in Show award, that has a dark side as I'm told it's my duty to be
    back with Castell Mawr next year to defend my top slot. I was looking forward to doing some demonstration
    modelling, no need for a hired van, no hours of set-up, but I fear I'm committed !!
     
    I was supposed to be making a 'N' gauge layout for the club, but life and the clubs '00' West Bay Layout
    got in the way. We started West Bay back around last september, a friend had made the baseboards, laid
    the cork and fixed all the Marcway points, SMP track, plus wiring.
    We did start ballasting at club, but you can't put baseboards upsidedown when they're running in PVA/water
    adhesive. After severa months of stalling I decided to bring home so I could finish laying the yard surface,
    adding greenery, plus making up the cattle pens. In 6 weeks there were considerable changes, which I suppose
    is where half of August and virtually all September went.
     
    I suppose some pictures are needed now ? Shortly after getting home :-
    Board 1
     

     
    Board 2

     
    The original scene C1920, we're ignoring the fact that all passenger trains ended in the early 1930's
    and will have a flexible approach to actual layout over the last 100+ years
     

     
    I'll have to add another posting due to photographs spread over 2 different computers.
     
    Dad-1
  4. Dad-1
    Apart from the weather acting as a disincentive to do much, I'm now looking ahead to
    my clubs Summer Exhibition, a new venue in the Bridport Colfox Academy, I still tend
    to call it a school - how old fashioned !!
     
    I'm taking my big layout Castell Mawr which in all honest will probably never be fully finished,
    although the casual onlooker probably won't notice. It's not been out for 8 Months and I've
    been cleaning all tracks, making certain all points work on the DCC addresses allocated, and
    then the problem area making sure that the polarity switches operate - several have played up
    and needed many vigorous back & forth movements to do what they should !
    Of all my quirky dodges the one thing I'd change if making now, would be to use frog juicers,
    but there's no way I'd go to that expense and trouble for one exhibition a year.
     
    12 boards now cleaned, in the sunshine, which tempted me to get the camera out, natural light
    works wonders.
     
    In this one you have to look for my test locomotive !
     

     
    Yes a cheap - I think £23 Hornby S&DJR Jinty, still available now at £38.
     

     
    In all it's glory ! Don't knock it, DCC'd and runs very well and slowly, still crashed it off the end once !!
     

     
    Loco hidden again ? Oh and apart from a slight mark on a cab corner it survived it's fall.
     

     
    In the station .......
     
    Still loads of preparation work, even sorting out what freight stock to take will take me ages. Currently standing at 177 wagons !!
     
    Anyway always nice to see photographs ?
     
    Dad-1
  5. Dad-1
    I always rush on with my ideas, then when it's 90% done I tend to leave
    and start something else - Just like a kid in a sweet shop !!
    This is the diorama from my posting of 23rd April, getting nearer, but also
    shows in the siding another reason for being so slow. Not only the birdcage
    brake van of recent postings, but also this Ratio 12 ton Southern van. It was
    another of my friend Derek's kits, but I have replenished some kit stocks so I
    shouldn't go 'stir crazy' if we have a few wet weeks this summer.
     

     
    No major work required, my stream hidden in this view, more garden shrubs &
    perhaps some bean sticks with small seedlings. The front fence & gates need
    sorting to keep the sheep out ...... and should I add a dotted white line in the
    road ?
     
    Oh and I really MUST weather that cottage.
     
    Dad-1
  6. Dad-1
    Well I've been away for 3 days, but the postman brought my HMRS decals on Saturday, there
    waiting on the floor when we got home this afternoon.
     
    Job done - I suppose not really finished as it needs a varnish seal on the decals and a light
    weathering.
     

     

     
    Modelu rear lamp on.
     
    Not an easy kit and as you can read decals have been a real problem, yet I've thoroughly enjoyed
    making this kit
     
    Even if you bang your head against a wall sometimes it still remains fun.
     
    The HMRS LNER Wagon sheet is as expected first class although it hasn't got some of the required
    decals for certain periods of this vans use.
     
    Dad-1
  7. Dad-1
    O.K not quite a finished NER Birdcage Brake Van.
    That's where the trip comes. The decal sheet was 'dead', a press-fix and for anyone who has used them
    there should be a protected surface film on the underside. When you cut out your required marking this
    adhesive is what you press onto your model to hold it in place, then when located correctly you add water
    to an over tissue. This water both releases the over tissue and activates the permanent adhesive which
    is included with the tacky film.
    Sorry about the teach-in, but it helps you understand my problem.
     
    So ? Well the Cooper Craft/Slaters decal sheet was 'dead', not only was the tacky film not active, but when
    water added the protective tissue lifted away, but the decal didn't adhere to my model, Huh - Dead !!
     
    I have been asking questions in the forum, but although this is a known problem with some press-fix decals
    nobody has a fool proof way of resurrecting them !!!!
     

     

     
    Note the rather prominent lamp brackets that have been added from fine micro strip, 3 to each end and one
    each side near the door. Hopefully this will be finished withing a few hours of a HMRS LNER press-fix decal
    sheet arriving. It has the essentials, but sadly not all the allocation names.
     
    Dad-1
  8. Dad-1
    I'm known for being almost a wagon addict, I've always got at least one on the go, but there comes a time when space
    is running low. In a casual conversation with my local buddy I said I only had 3 kits left in stock and might not buy any
    more with my 'yard' containing around 450.
    Next thing he offered me a Cooper Craft, Ex-Slaters NER Birdcage brake van, would I make it for him ? With it's 19
    pieces of brass wire not an easy build. Here it is as I'm beginning to paint.
     

     
    Still a ways to go, but looking the part ?
     
    Dad-1
  9. Dad-1
    My last missive was creating a suitable interior for my Wills greenhouse - nowhere to put it, just
    a bit of creative fun.
    Move on a few days and when in the garage I uncovered a scrap of ply, slightly mouldy and warped.
    It crossed my mind to make up another diorama using the greenhouse and a cottage I'd built out of
    plasticard for a club-night 'How I Do It'. A good rummage through other odds laying around and everything
    required was on the bench !! Spares boxes are SO very useful.
     

     
    Still some way to go with landscape and fencing, but to me a great use for some scrap ply just 7.3/8" wide.
     
    Dad-1.
  10. Dad-1
    As this is the premier modelling site I tend not to regularly post, just when I've done something
    a little above my normal modelling.
    I've had a Wills greenhouse and cold frames kit kicking around for years. Recently uncovered
    I decide to make up for no other reason that I wanted to do something different. Also with a
    requirement for another club diorama by the years end any scenic props might be useful.
     
    Again collected years ago it really was time to use some of my 'Stuff' that included flocking dust
    and FlowerSoft crafting granules. My wife has a much greater range of FlowerSoft that I could use.
     

     
    I know I could have tapered the plant pots, but when inside the subtle and extensive work wouldn't
    be seen
     

     
    No potting tray would be complete without a garden trowel
     

     
    The almost finished item. I think it needs guttering and a water butt
     

     
    Always New projects for the railway modeller, all I have to do now is find where, or how to use it !!
     
    Dad-1
  11. Dad-1
    I've always made models from as far back as I can remember, the actual subject not
    a real priority. Here we have my latest diorama without anything on it, just an East
    Anglian dyke with railway & road running alongside each other.
     
    I will be standing on a J50, sheeted wagon and a brake van, have a Spitfire Mk.1 behind
    the security fence and some sheep on the road. Those though are all just additions to
    a quiet country scene.
     

     
    Animal tracks in the grass, signal wire and supports so small you can't see them, 1/4 mile
    yellow trackside marker.
     
    I hope someone other than me likes 3D pictures like this ?
     
    Dad-1
  12. Dad-1

    I've bought one at last !

    By Dad-1,

    Back around 2010 I started a small roundy-roundy layout in the garage. It's rather neglected as far as working on it
    is concerned, but frequently used for running-in and although it uses some 1st radius curves my liking of small tank
    engines means it usually works O.K.
    Now my local buddy is a 'petrol head' and for the last 4 years has been pointing out my little garage needs a car ramp.
    At last I've bought one, Langley do the 4 pillar car ramp at just £5.80 unpainted. Just 10 pieces of white metal that will
    need a little gentle bending back to shape and here we have. Yes this was started just tonight, but I have to wait for paint
    to dry, an hour to build and 4 days to paint ?
     

     
    Always something to do and add !!
     
    Dad-1
  13. 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
  14. Dad-1
    I've been very busy, but not actually having anything much to show for it.
    I've added this, a follow on from that last posting in July.
    We added a glowing brazier between two sidings and just a little rubbish,
    not enough really as it's still too clean. This amused me - simple enough
    to make me smile .....
     

     
    a paraffin can, even a box of matches resting on the clay pipe !!
     
    Dad-1.
  15. Dad-1
    November, Oh my what have I been doing !!
    I have this thing, you could call it a problem, of trying to "sell" the hobby.
    Now you don't do that with loads of threatening "Do Not Touch" signs. I agree that
    when you're showing a multi thousand pound layout the last thing you want are
    people poking at things - like a lady who once knocked a signal box off my layout
    onto the floor. But when you do exhibitions it's a risk you take.
     
    About the time I last posted my buddy and I decided to make a shunting puzzle
    layout where members of the public are invited to drive. We have Kadee couplings,
    a spare Hornby Select DCC unit and work began on a test track that we called HS I.
    Difficulties, still not fully resolved, around the Kadee magnets were examined and
    we than built HS II. Quick decisions, rapid track laying, not like the Governments HS 2.
     
    For a public driving layout we may have gone over the top on scenic work and ideas.
    Still why not - we enjoy the building.
     
    Almost finished now so some photographs. First an overall look.
     

     
    Then with some wagons - Mostly Ex-Dapol unpainted kits
     

     
    Note the welding flash through a window - this was a lighting exercise job
     

     
    Looking up the head shunt that is the only line in, getting equal lighting
    was a problem involving several changes of resistor. Happy with this.
     

     
    That my friends amounts to more or less the last 6 months work. We have done several
    exhibitions with our other "Public can drive" layout of Thomas & Friends.
     
    Dad-1
  16. Dad-1

    Stuck in Slow Jobs.

    By Dad-1,

    Almost 3 months since my last posting, although I've not idle during the ensuing period.
    There are so many little slow jobs, the worst from that point of view has been making up
    Ratio signals, basic making no problem, but painting is so fiddly and 18 of them ...........
    that is without a currently unspecified amount of ground signals, 20 currently on my table.
     

     
    I've also added working platform lights, noting as I did so that I must add bodge tape over
    all my hanging wiring to secure thereby reducing the chance of wires being pulled off when
    handling - a penalty from not being as tidy as I should underneath boards !!
     

     
    Lighting can enhance even simple scenes
     

     
    Dad-1
  17. Dad-1
    I still have so much to do, but my tenure of this large garage is coming towards the end and I need
    to split for some work. I may not get a chance to do more videos, but with metal wheels now in all these old
    Hornby coaches the rake rattles along well at a scale 50 mph. Of the 5 videos I took on 4th September this
    one is my favourite, I almost feel the draught of this express passing.
     

     
    Dad-1
  18. Dad-1
    Having access to this garage has given me the chance to see it all together and catch up on so many part done jobs. Mind you still
    loads more to do and I only have until around the 26th September before I have to remove from here.
     
    Today's videos

     
    Shame the 14XX is so distant and in the darker reaches at platform 3.

     
    Back now for more play ..... Errr.... work.
     
    MKMRS Exhibition in February still seems VERY near. I have loads of signals to make. Those white paper squares you may notice
    are planned signal locations. Back to the railway grind stone ..... It's only taken 5 years to get this far.
     
    Dad-1
  19. Dad-1
    We're rushing towards the 5th birthday of my Castell Mawr layout. I'm in no real hurry to finish because what will I do then ?
    It is however booked into the Milton Keynes exhibition in February 2017, so I really do have to get a move on. There is a window
    of opportunity open at the moment as a large garage has become available for me so I can join all together to double check the
    extent of work needing to be done.
     
    Thought I'd include the odd picture since my last Blog posting back in June .......... Look almost the end of August now where has that
    time gone ?
     
    One of my favourite pictures, just a rural road scene with background tracks.
    This was taken outdoors in decent light
     

     
    While the basic layout is quite boring, just a big twin track oval I have tried not to cram, giving space for each element. I do find
    stations with just enough room for 4 coaches frustrating as they can't represent the space actually taken.
     

     
    One of my other problems is the space usually wasted with big non-scenic fiddleyards. I have made a scene out of the back straight
    rather than just bare boards. The sidings are crammed in rather than a 10 ft spacing, but why waste the opportunity ?
     
    Dinners ready - must go !!
     
    Dad-1
  20. 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
  21. Dad-1
    Sometimes although not everything is on top form a photograph
    shows exactly the ambience you're looking for in a layout scene.
     

     
    Self indulgent I know and the straggling fencing wire behind my
    coach detracts, but I really like this. No doubt when those raw
    fence posts are painted it'll look better but .......
     
    Dad-1
  22. Dad-1
    I've been plodding along for years with this Castell Mawr layout, originally started with a group of
    3 from Milton Keynes MRS. Various commitments including in one instance University meant that
    I was doing most myself. Then because we moved from South Northamptonshire to Dorset at the
    beginning of December 2013 I really was on my own.
     
    Reasonably early on a fault was noted where two corner boards joined, we had a twist that gave
    a 6 mm slump at the interface. Last summer I raised track beds and then put in the shed until the
    beginning of March this year when I just HAD to get moving.
     
    Here in the cut and raised condition.
     

     
    Then brought indoors early March I plastered in the embankment holes
     

     
    Exactly 1 month later it's beginning to look like a busy A road
     

     
    Surprising what one months work has done to the scene
    How many more years ?
     
    Dad-1
  23. Dad-1
    Again I ask myself was it really back in January when I last posted on here ?
    As all good modellers do I've been doing a little of this, and some more of that, yet had nothing much to show
    unless I did a brush stroke by brush stroke commentary.
     
    This is still very much a Work In Progress as I'm just getting into the Council Road Maintenance Yard segment.
    The finger post is sitting high without it's legend and mileages. Embankment needing grassing, gravel yard surface
    to be finalised, gates made to open & close, DERV tank and all the odds that one may expect to find to be added.
     
    I did think this picture of a busy time on the A4042 was worth sharing.
     

     
    One day all 12 boards of this layout will be finished ...... I'm worried about that, because what would I do then !!
     
    Dad-1
  24. Dad-1
    For years I've been looking for a better answer to uncoupling than I'd found to date.
     
    I decided that nearly all methods of automatic uncoupling are just too limiting being at fixed locations. Even the
    much vaunted Kaydees will only uncouple at the fixed magnet, although it is possible to release and continue
    to push without recouping it's simply not as flexible as I wanted.
    The Brian Kirby method was something I was going to add to my layout, being cheap & effective although single
    point limited. I then had a think that my Neo magnets could lift hooks if a magnetic strip was attached along the top
    of the standard Bachmann small NEM pocketed small tension lock hooks. I cut No.56 staples into 4 pieces, two legs
    and the bridge cut in two half's giving 4 small ferritic slivers, enough for 2 wagons ! At around £3 for 5000 staples
    that would convert 10,000 wagons it seemed cheap enough to try !!
     
    One needs to carefully bury the magnet and make certain it can't touch otherwise you'll lift wagons off the track.
    I have my 3 mm diameter, 3 mm deep magnets in a hole drilled in some dowel, then a small paper plug put in with
    superglue, that depth need to be about 3 mm.
     
    Here is the result.
     

     
    It's always worth remembering all wagons needed a shunter with pole to uncouple so this is no more the hand of god
    than were the standards used by British Railways.
     
    I Hope the long silent video didn't send you to sleep.
     
    Dad-1
  25. 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
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