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Dad-1

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  1. Dad-1
    I should have got so much more done, but when the layouts 165 miles away it's difficult. So the cars packed
    & I leave first thing tomorrow morning for MK.
    With compact layout storage so much has to be detachable, giving other storage problems. This is my pile of
    'stuff' for Saturdays exhibition.
     

     
    It's almost embarrasing that there is still so much to do scenically, at least it should run fine with a couple
    of sound locos this year (not mine) a 4F & Ivatt 2MT.
     
    May see someone there ?
     
    Dad-1.
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. Dad-1
    A Blog I was once told is a sort of diary, what you're doing and perhaps why.
    Well yesterday was a 'save some models' day. I have a large collection of aircraft models made
    over the last 30 years. Many have not seen light of day for several years and are destined for the
    bin, others I spent a great deal of time making and want to keep. These are too delicate to be trusted
    with a removal company and as our moving date gets near I wanted to get some safely down to the holiday
    caravan. This needed a 333 mile round trip from Northamptonshire to dorset & back, which I did yesterday.
    I know it's a railway website, but modelling is well, Errrr ..... modelling.
    Here are two of my H.P Victors taken while the B.1 version was being worked on, in the background stands
    the B.2 version. Both heavily modified from the basic Matchbox/Revell K.2 kit.
     
    For me not every day is a railway day !!
     

     
     
    Dad-1
  5. 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
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. Dad-1
    Having added my diorama in Dorset I checked back to see what was last posted about Castell Mawr.
    I've probably moved forward enough to post a couple of photographs. This layout offers a 45 foot twin track oval with a scenic substitute for a fiddle yard in the form of two sidings beside each line, these are long enough to hold 2 trains in each although not if running an 8 coach set.
     
    Here we go showing the two central siding boards :-
     

     

     
    Today I started adding some grass on the level crossing end edging and had a little 'play' by placing some stock on the track.
     

     

     
    At my current rate of progress I think there are two more years work on this layout. For those that wish for a big layout, beware of what you wish for. They need several years of work and my track, points, motors, frog switches, point decoders has cost around £1 K.
     
    Geoff T.
  9. Dad-1
    I'm struggling along, and at times feel rather defeated by the sheer amount of work still to be done on Castell Mawr.
    In fact there are frequent times when I regret starting something this large, offering a 45 foot main line run. Yet how
    else can you get the feel of even a local 3 or 5 coach train running 'somewhere', let alone a 30 wagon goods train ?
     
    To keep spirits up I'll occasionally just have a little play, get some people, a train, or two and set up some simple cameo
    scenes. At times the focus is slightly out, but I enjoy most of the results.
     
    Here is Grandfather with Grandson having a look inside the cab.
     

     
    Another from the same 'play time'
     

     
    I always have batteries recharged after these sessions and resolve to get on and progress further !!
     
    Geoff T
  10. Dad-1

    Back & Fighting Fit

    By Dad-1,

    Hi All,
     
    The back operation went very well and my legs are working without giving me pain equal to a broken limb. Although there were no promises regarding general back pain that I've had for 50+ years there has been a considerable improvement. Shame the NHS thought they could defer until I was unable to move, was it worth the eventual private cost of £6 K, yes worth every penny.
     
    However now she who must be obeyed has pushed me into buying a holiday caravan by the sea. As a result all builds will slow down (even more).
     
    I have started again as I can stoop without pain and have been cladding the wooden wall liner with embossed plasticard. Had to make up a scene as I played. Quite a busy road in the morning. All still a little raw, but you get the idea of the scenic fiddle yard/sidings. Why have loads of track doing nothing for you ??
     

     
    Off to the seaside tomorrow for just over a week ...... enjoy yourselves ..........
     
    Dad-1
  11. 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.
  12. Dad-1
    Not the best summer is it ?
    Firstly I have too much going on, or stored in my garage to do much work in there. Hence this summer being a wash out is severly delaying my layout progress.
    For all those who enjoy seeing someone elses mess here it is :-
     

     
    2012 weather is not the only bad news, as a member of the Milton Keynes Model Railway Society I have joined in the running of our railways as part of the Bletchley Park code breakers museum for the last 4 years. We have now been given notice to quit and last weekend was our last session open to the public. We now have until December to strip our rooms bare and remove all out accumulated possessions from the site. Even at this level politics and money rule the world !!
    17 years there with 233,000 recorded visitors to our club displays has now come to an end. I tried to get my wife to let me have a full size home signal and lever frame in the garden ..... but she put her foot down !!!!
     
    Dad-1
  13. Dad-1
    So far 'Castell Mawr' has proceeded at a steady crawl, but those gentle steps now give me 10 working layout boards with all 7 point decoders fully functional working my selection of points. The last posting shows the North end cutting taking on it's base plaster in preparation for adding grass and asorted other greenery.
    What I have done is to forget the Southern 180 degree section on two boards that sit just shy of 6 inches lower than the rest of the layout. On these I want a resin river, water meadow, main road running close to the river edge with the railway crossing the river and road twice.
    I began today ..... and the height at first looks almost frightening.
    Here we have my first 'artistic' planning ...... you know, put it down and see what it looks like !!
    My lorry is in a layby, the road outline is clearly seen. Where the joining beams are the road section will be cut down to around 1" high.
     

     
    Now here with a photo taken at river surface level you can see how high my tracks will be.
     

     
    It may look high, but I'm certain it should look right when all the surrounding landscape is added (I live in hope)
     
    Getting these boards right is something of a test, but I wanted a reasonable rise & fall of landscape over the 21 feet of layout. I've managed about 1 foot from the highest fields above the cutting to river surface ...... Oh and 4 bridges to dream up, this will take some time.
     
    Geoff T.
  14. 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.
  15. 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.
  16. Dad-1
    When I started this in October I don't think I realised just how much work was involved in making a large portable layout.
    I had worked out the track would probably be 1K when points, decoders and all was built in, but this has just seemed to
    go on forever. However today I pinned down the last points by completing the south station throat with it's 6 assorted
    turnouts that includes a double slip and a 3 way.
     

     
    From above it shows main lines to the right, with the left siding to serve the builders merchants & timber yard, with a spare
    siding between.
     

     
    This layout was/is planned to be as compact and portable as possible, while offering some 45 Feet + of main line running
    with some sidings and 'industry' to serve by freight movements. As such there will be almost no back scenes behind the inner
    buildings. This way it is hoped that perhaps 2 small family cars can transport, at the most 3 vehicles meaning no hired vans.
    Hiring vans becomes a problem insurance wise when you pass 70 ..... and for that I have just 7 weeks !!!
     
    Dad-1
  17. 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 ??
  18. 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.
  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
    Well although I've not been posting it dosen't mean I've not been working on anything.
     
    I started a small diorama in January that was finished by the Spring Equinox. The idea
    was similar to Andy Y's 2011 competition in as much it was in limited space. In the end
    I settled on 9.1/2 inches wide by 15 inches long and made to represent a corner of a
    small town quay.
    By trying to be non-specific it allowed me to 'set the stage' with anything I fancied. These
    small dioramas allow experimenting and if they work out O.K make ideal photo plinths.
    Thought I'd add a couple of pictures - One from early BR days when there was still some
    fishing going on. The second from the '70's when holiday makers were the main visitors.
     
    Perhaps be back before too long.
     
    Geoff T.


  21. Dad-1

    Just playing silly beggars

    By Dad-1,

    Having recently had a couple of holidays, bad back and general lack of energy I've not done any real work on St.Oval for several weeks. Tonight I went to the garage and just fancied running something ........ but what ? few laps with a Baccy 56XX, no didn't feel right, Vitrains 37's phew only just make the 1st radius curves. So I got out Marilyn my favourite loco ...... forget 9F's, Collett Goods, 37's, 47's, 33's, single wheelers, I'm in love with Marilyn !!
     

     
    Hope it didn't freeze while loading (I often have that problem) But you must admit she packs a punch, some may like it hot, but Marilyn can do it all !!
     
    Mad Modeller Geoff T.
  22. Dad-1
    The St.Oval fights back - or why didn't I think first !!
     
    St.Oval has 4 bridges, the tightly curved viadict ..... or is it a bridge with 3 spans, 2 over the stream, one for road the other the branch line, then a much higher road over bridge. These are never as easy as first thought.
    First the Viaduct has not been a problem yet although putting the 3 arch linings in on a curved structure will no doubt cause me some difficulties. skinning with plastic card will be easy enough when I find which one I want to use.
     
    The stream culvert would have been easy enough if I hadn't glued the MDF structure in place before adding the plastic skinning and in particular the key and arch stones. I found it impossible to work upside down on the inside arch, although the outer one was easy. In the end I stood the layout board on it's side, sitting on a bench, while I worked on my knees ..... went much easier than expected.
     

     
    The outer face and wing walls were easy, looking better for an initial rough coat of paint.
     

     
    After that I made certain the road bridge that'll sit alongside the railway was put together before being stuck in place.
     

     
    I can't even begin the final road over bridge until I've fixed the cutting sides and the road leading to the bridge - it's the only way I'll get things to line up. As it is the hill will be nigh on 1 : 4, although that's not uncommon in Cornwall.
     
    Still a long way to go, particularly when my back is giving so much trouble. I think doing the Edinburgh Tatoo by coach was the agravating factor for my back.
     
    Geoff T.
  23. 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.
  24. 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.
     
     
  25. 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.
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