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Dad-1

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  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. 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.
     
     
  5. Dad-1
    Rather than getting on with long term layouts I've allowed myself to be distracted again.
    Is it a case of a change is as good as a rest ?
     
    Anyway I ended up with a requirement for a pub to fill an awkward corner. The whole thing, a corner filler needing to be an odd shape
    meant bespoke window frames made from microstrip & scrap plastic. As yet not fitted due to my satin black is being slow to dry, but here is the
    current state of play.
     

     
    I've come to the conclusion I love diorama scenes. No electrics needed, no turnouts, in fact little if any stock. Just hours of fun, cutting,
    scraping, glueing, painting to make that 3D picture floating in your minds eye !
     
    Need to get the railway set up as my 3 year old grandson will be here soon.
     
    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
    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
  8. 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.
  9. 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
  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
    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
    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
  13. Dad-1
    Never a dull moment ..... apart from looking out of the window.
    This Saturday I'm running the Silverfox DCC Clubs "Thomas at Silverfox Island" About a half & half job as I built
    it and bought about half the components that made it as well as supplying the two Select DCC units used by the
    children who drive on it.
     
    Sunday it's a trip to the Ecclesbourne railway with the Milton Keynes MRC. We donated our working signal to
    them when we were pushed out of Bletchley Park at the end of last year. It'll be good to see the old friend !!
     
    Monday back to Dorset and "Shillingstones Lane", I want to build additional exchangeable sections to change
    the whole atmosphere ...... I even thought about covering the track and turning into a small industrial
    estate, the sort of diorama showing what became of most small branch line infrastructures since the 1960's.
     

     
    The first changes will be going back to before the current farm cottage was built and to do this as quickly as
    possible I intend using the Dapol thatched cottage ..... at under £4.50 it's a snip. So perhaps when I next
    get on line I'll be able to show two different dioramas on the same shallow cutting base section. Still loads
    of painting needed on that thatched cottage ..... just the thing for wet days in Dorset, a sort of insurance
    on the weather, if I have indoors work it'll be fine & sunny !!!!
     
    To see the diorama look at "Shocking Neglect" posting.
    Geoff T.
  14. Dad-1
    Never enough time, never enough space ............
    Since moving in December I've not done much on the planned big layout Castell Mawr.
    It's too big to work on more than one board at a time, frequently needing 2 or 3 joined
    together to visualise what I want ..... and work out how to do it !!
    The recent few rain free days have had me getting some work done, before we're away
    to the holiday caravan by the coast.
     
    Firstly 3 boards were put together, interesting that the bungalow is on a steep slope &
    allows high 'helicopter' views.
     

     
    Then as can be seen my cutting is fully grassed by the operating desk.
     

     
    Limited progress, but at least it is progress ....... at this rate it'll take 2 more years ?
    Note the small wild animal paths up the cutting sides, these are all over the countryside
    if you look.
     
    Dad-1
  15. Dad-1
    Having lost the caravan to family for the whole month of August & now having tidied it up I
    may get some time for me.
    What I did was this small diorama when exiled & although still not finished it's well on the way.
    First we have a lighting test, two grain of wheat bulbs connected in series under the bridge so they
    stay well below maximum output & a 100R resistor in the pub lamps wiring.
     

     
    First grass laid today, but it became quite warm, drying out the pva mix more quickly than I wanted.
    Perhaps some more tonight after this ?
     

     
    I now urgently need to replace the pub sign with the my new one, make up two spotlights (non working)
    replacing my first oversize attempt. I'm quite pleased with results so far for just 1 months work.
     
    Dad-1
  16. Dad-1
    That must be an old fashioned saying, but you get the idea. You buy something, but before you start you're distracted by some other project and layers of dust settle. Never quite forgotten and to be done at some time !
    Two postings ago in my blog there are some pictures of a pure shunting layout I've been making for the club. To help complete a nearly believable scene the platforms need some sort of traffic, just as I did with my mate Derek when we made our previous shunting layout. He made some "4GROUND" packing cases which I thought were very good, a purchase was made and since 2016 2 packets have been in the loft, now made up for the new layout.
    Sorry about the cat, I didn't want to spend a tenner, or more for a cat to go on the clubs layout. I can be tight spending club money and a set of 8 to 10 cats and dogs wasn't justified.
    Our dear little moggie given by a club member is to say the least indistinct, but I suppose it doesn't take much imagination to recognise it as a cat.
     

     
    The edge of a 20p piece gives an idea of the scale.
     

     
    I now have 24 packing cases !! I can give the club a few to sit on our platform.
     
    Geoff T.
  17. 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
  18. Dad-1
    August ....... last time I posted was AUGUST ?
    Yes I suppose it was.
    I'm still fighting my 'big' layout, but did some more ballasting tonight, stuck a loco
    and station building on.
     

     
    Digi cameras pick out all the small detail that's not quite right !! My friend who was
    persuaded to paint the rails missed in a few places
    You can just see the odd figure inside the station, perhaps I should have found
    a few figures for the platform, but they're all outside in the garage.
     
    Geoff T.
  19. Dad-1
    Well again months roll by and I've not done too much.
    Just a little weathering to 4 Ore Hoppers, trying to decide which was best, Dapol, or Bachmann.
     

     
    From my own point of view I find the Dapol version better because there are less plastic moulding marks. Having said that Dapol have an incorrect wagon number and although 22 or 24 ton they marked theirs 12 ton !! Once weathered a swipe of rusty paint over part of the number and weight hides the mistake. With the Bachmann even a splash of paint won't cover the plastic weld marks.
     
    Just starting another layout with some friends, so I may get into posting again before 2012 begins !!!
     
    Dad-1
  20. Dad-1
    After I'd completed my diorama Carsons Quay I thought I'd get back to my small roundy-roundy layout, but stupidly I said I'd build a suitable Thomas layout by the Silverfox DCC clubs exhibition tomorrow.
    We wanted something cheap, simple, easy to transport, you know all the impossible combinations !!
    I insisted that it had to be fully scenic, with little direct 'Thomas' influence so it could look good with anything running on it.
    The design was for a fully folding double oval with small operating desks at each front corner allowing children to be allowed to drive. My first innovation was for all power links between the two sides to be carried through the 4 hinges that held the two parts together. Track to be in a slight well to prevent any train from crashing to the floor regardless of too fast a running (remember children driving) or being knocked.
    A lake on one side to allow a hill on the opposite half to mesh together when closed up.
    It seems to have worked quite well and by using a removable two part road the joining hinges and central woodwork is hidden.
    First a picture of it in the folded away state with road bridge resting on top and hill beside. This is compact enough to carry inside the rear foot well and back seat of a Daewoo Matiz !!
     

     
    Here is an overall view from the hill side.
     

     
    From first buying the wood to those final pictures was 3 Months, during which I also had a holiday in the Netherlands as well as a couple visits to two of my sons.
    I notice those last photos were taken just before the road bridge had railings and a little grass edging added.
     
    NOW perhaps I'll get back to my layout ...........
     
    Geoff T.
  21. Dad-1
    Not only did I enjoy making up the Roxey 'Howard' industrial yard loco, but it performs very well.
    I have this plan for a yard alongside Westbay Wagon Works and one internal combustion shunter
    is probably all that's needed, but for the sheer hell of it I thought I'd make the miniture 0-4-0 tram
    type loco. I never wanted overhead lines so mine will have to deviate from the prototypical version
    by having a smallish petrol engine. Not exactly unheard of as such Simplex traction was used to
    supply the trenches in WWI.
    This will represent the old yard loco that remains to provide support should the other fail, but kept
    in good running condition with perhaps a view to preservation.
    My crazy mind has decided it's fitted with a 6 cylinder 2358 cc side valve petrol engine with two gears
    providing a maximum speed of 10 mph. A transfer box with a single lever control with forward, neutral,
    reverse and chain drive to both axles. It should happily push, or pull one wagon, no doubt the actual
    model will do more than that.
    So here are the parts :-
     

     
    It will need a few extra holes drilling as I run DCC and I'm going to use another Lenz Silver Mini. The
    Tenshodo spud fits into a recess in the footplate, here one extra hole drilled to take a track feed into
    the cab where the decoder will find a home.
     

     
    Still not certain if I'll solder, or glue, My Howard glued together so well & easily I may try that first.
     
    Dad-1.
  22. Dad-1

    I Needed A Rest.

    By Dad-1,

    Our Youngest Son is moving into a New house this weekend ...... Strange I shall be very busy ?
    To clear decks I moved a few 'almost' finished wagons to the loft layout for safe temp[orary
    storage. The two sidings have 22 wagons that I've made up since June or July. A surprising
    number are from original Airfix kits, a few from the Dapol versions, something like 13 of them.
    The Engineers train from Cambrian kits, as is the Borail, but that was made up a few years ago.
    With just a couple of Parkside, I've made many Parkside over previous years.
     

     

     
    All sitting on my "Two Short Planks" made 2008, a mere 12" wide long plank that in places has 6 lines, I was told it couldn't be done,
    but it did a few exhibitions around Milton Keynes area starting at the Train Collectors Club exhibition in 2009. Now retired to my loft !!
     
    Geoff T.
  23. Dad-1
    That last posting at the end of August saw me starting a few wagons. Since then I've made 4 Dapol 16 Ton minerals, 7 Dapol 'Esso'
    35 Ton GLW tanks, 2 Cambrian 'Catfish' Hoppers, 3 Cambrian 'Mermaids' and tidied-up a few others. I just never got around to posting.
     
    Currently I'm having a rest from Wagons !! and working on my 2019 diorama scene. The initial inspiration came from my love of rural
    scenery and the Ratio occupational bridge ......
    Placing bits out to try and visualize a complete picture on the scrap warped piece of ply.
     

     
    I had in mind one of those dirt roads that only get used by farmers, and dug out this old Hornby building.
     

     
    Because I try to make a 'new' diorama each year they have to be quick, with mostly stuff laying around with the resulting negligible cost.
     

     
    Foolishly I thought it needed water somewhere so at the last moment a pond was excavated !
     

     
    Under the date stamp you'll see the VERY old trick of using coconut matting as growing corn. Youngsters will be surprised at how tall corn
    used to stand, the new short development something from the last 50 years !
     

     
    Still a few jobs to do, but well on the way, my next postings should show it finished.
    This will be on show at the Bridport Clubs January Exhibition with any other entries into our 2019 diorama challenge.
     
    Dad-1
  24. 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
  25. Dad-1
    I've been on a marathon wagon building spree, oh as well as doing the clubs exhibition 'Thomas' layout.
    Wagon kits of all makes, Ratio, Parkside Dundas, Cambrian, Dapol. I can't back-track on all and for
    photography few have been fully finished by weathering.
    Just a taster of photos :-
    3 x Dapol Prestwins

    Dapol Presflo

    Parkside Dundas Plate & LMS CCT

    Thomas Layout


     
    I suppose I should get on here more often !!
     
    Dad-1
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