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Dad-1

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  1. 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
  2. Dad-1
    Because I grew up in the days of King Coal and was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne it's not surprising that
    I fancied a few of these new coal hoppers. They didn't last too long in the required sector, but were used
    for many other products, even sugar beet ?
    In my opinion a super little kit, very little to complain about and I'm currently running 2 without any decals.
    Must road test before finishing, partially while trying to decide what loads to add, be it sand, coal, iron ore,
    sugar beet. The load will help regarding the very light weight, with nowhere to add much invisible ballast.
    They weigh in at 11.06 grams, with a shred of lead in the voids behind the buffers I've reached 12.46 grams.
    Much to my surprise one in lightest form was able to pull 33 wagons around my garage layout that has some
    1st radius curves. A bonus from trying to run my stock in it's lightest reliable condition, having said that the
    Bachmann 3F Jinty couldn't pull the train, but a Hornby J94 could !!.
    Seen in a much shorter train :-
     

     
    Geoff T.
  3. Dad-1
    I have ceased wagon production at the moment due to the severe shortage of Bachmann short narrow tension-lock couplings.
    I have temporarily pinched from 4 wagons to complete builds in progress, but that is not sustainable.
     
    In the meantime a nice to look at, but deceptively inaccurate very old Ratio GWR Open 'C' is reaching the end, short of weathering.
    This was inherited from a friend who passed away.
    An incomplete Ratio Open 'C' in a plastic bag. The fact it was incomplete was not found until I opened the bag. No instructions,
    buffers missing, brake 'V' hangers missing. Not a brilliant start
    Perhaps some spacers were there to overcome the excessive width, but I didn't identify as such. I'm used to Ratio kits needing spacers
    between the axle boxes and current (more of less) standard axle lengths. I add plastic washers.
     

     

     
    Missing brake 'V' hangers were made up, relying on the lower strengthening being hidden behind the solebars.
     

     
    In my spares I had a set of yellow buffers from an old Airfix Presflo. I decided these looked rather like GWR self contained buffers.
    when painted they would pass O.K in a moving train !
     

     
    Rather over sized, but needed to add strength to my 'V' hangers some 1.0 mm rod was glued between them.
     

     
    I'd already decided that i was making a O19 version, because of the buffers. Now I looked at the brakes realising that they were
    wrong and had Morton type brake levers, regardless of the fact that the wagon body had DC III lever mountings !
    Again the spares box came up with the goods, a pair of DC III levers.
    The brake arrangement as supplied was cut up re-built to something near enough photographs I have. I then added my end
    DC III frame, shortened to accept my coupling arrangement.
     

     
    When looking at photographs the underneath looks quite empty, but a brake rod is visible, so I added a wire that only can be seen
    in low angel photographs. Note some fine wires in the photo are fence wires !!
    Then disaster struck. I'd never bothered to check the wheel base measurement. While adding decals the end sections seemed short
    against what I thought were reasonably accurate decals. The kit gives me a 13 ft 9 inch wheelbase, rather than the 15 feet it should be.
    Will I add the Tare weight ? If so it'll have to be on the corner ironwork.
     
    Regardless of all that, in a moving train it'll look rather like an Open 'C'
    Kit manufacturers, many of these wagons were produced in 5 different series, giving options of buffer and brakes. An ideal subject for
    a new accurate kit !!
     

     
    I did enjoy making it, rather a damper on finding it's so short, but then Bachmann have marketed a cattle wagon 4 mm too long.
    If ever there was a reason to loose the Ratio moulds, I think I've found it !!
     
    What with sitting too low
    Too short
    Inaccurate brake parts
    Wrong axle boxes
     
    Don't make the mistake of pointing out the end strapping - Some had straight as the kit and in the O19 version I've sort of made, others
    did have hockey stick strapping, just one of the variables.
     
    I quite enjoyed making it and will run with any pre 1939 freight i decide to run.
    O19 made between 1917 & 1927. Two number series 94747 - 94930, & 99825 - 100000
     
    Geoff T.
     
     
     
     
  4. Dad-1
    Well I suppose you can always add a little touch here and there, but as far as this one goes
    it's reached the end. Today I brought in from the shed to add reeds along the back of my pond.
    The PVA still wet, but by tomorrow morning it'll be back in the shed until later in December when
    it'll be entered into the clubs annual diorama competition.
     
    A bit Photo heavy. Out of interest this 'picture' has cost me just over £5 for the bridge, everything
    else was laying around from previous projects, or even club member 'give aways'
     


     

     

     

     

     
    Time to think about 2020
     
    Geoff T.
  5. Dad-1
    I'm running out of jobs to do on recent layouts, have virtually run out of space to anything new.
    Even difficult to find storage for my last little demonstration and test piece.
     

     
    Not quite desperation, but sitting in my garage after some 10 years is a small roundy-roundy that I call St Oval.
    The name is simply what the original plan was a Set-track Oval. This has been in constant use since I first had
    it fully live, simply because being a roundy-roundy I can run-in locomotives, for hours if necessary. It also is a
    good testing ground for kit-built wagons and harmonizing wagon couplings to allow reversing trains of around
    15 wagons length.
     
    Well work begins again !!
     
    Perhaps a very old picture first to show an essential for most of my layouts, the placing of the track-bed on risers.
    This allows scenery to go both above and below. In the case of St Oval into a space of just 6' x 3'. With such a compact
    foot-print it was essential to include some 1st radius set-track curves. My favourite locomotives tend to be small, but
    you'd be surprised what will go around without de-railing !!
     

     
    Holes in the chip board base are part of a weight reducing programme as once this was to be used at the occasional exhibition.
     
    A half decent bridge - I wanted a viaduct, but there are limits with 6'x3'. A passing loop behind the back scene to allow short trains to pass.
    A village to be behind the viewing line and falling from an over bridge at one side to a creek on the other.
     

     
    The village started taking shape, with half & half scratch built buildings and kits
     

     
    So as not to prolong your agony ...... Now a jump forward until being installed in the garage in Dorset after moving home in 2013
     

     
    Progressed so now some views that are in my own opinion quite good.
     

     
    A high level station
     

     
    Look even a C*** 0-6-0 locomotive can't spoil the view !!
     

     
    Well I MUST have something to work on, and my thinking is this offers me another few years !!! Started early 2010 to finish ........... ?????
     
    Dad-1.
  6. 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
  7. 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
  8. 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.
  9. 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
  10. 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
  11. Dad-1
    I was quite pleased with my wiring and as I'm finishing the last few paint touch-ups
    thought I'd have one last look before this is sealed in forever. The Lenz decoder
    tucked in it's wee void.
     

     
    I did a few internal fittings, although exactly what a C1930 -1940's petrol conversion
    would have is open to suggestions. At least there is something, but with a driver leaning
    out of one side visibility will be much restricted.
     

     
    I recently had the chance to run, but only had a few wagons available, the load of
    6 wagons was obviously very easy. Tomorrow is club night and I may take a box of
    30 wagons to find the absolute limit !!
     
    Geoff T.
  12. Dad-1
    It had to be done. Although the Lenz mini decoder is small there was too much wire to loose,
    even after removing fully those 3 feeds I didn't have a use for it was going to be tight.
    The Hornby decoder is quite small but in comparison it's huge !!
     

     
    I decided to cut down the 4 leads I wanted
     

     
    With a small piece of plasticard blanking off the void I managed to tuck the shortened leads
    and decoder out of sight. All that remains visible are the spud DCC conversion wires that
    will end up with a coat of black paint as will the cab floor.
     

     
    I need to re-address and check out running before I seal the decoder in forever by sticking
    the cab roof on and attaching the spud & body together.
    Still loads of painting to do before the exhaust pipe is re-attached.
     
    Now to the loft to test running.
     
    Dad-1
  13. Dad-1
    Following my last posting here is the other side of the main road bridge.
     

     
    Road painted, but awaiting white lining. Heavy traffic on a busy holiday wekend. I use several vehicles to judge if the road width gives me what I want. One day, after grassing all the embankments this side I'll be able to start on the river. I wonder how much resin water this will take !!??
     
    Dad-1
  14. Dad-1
    My little 18" x 10" diorama is getting close to being finished. Had I not left all my stiff glueing brushes at the caravan
    yesterday I would have grassed the embankment last evening.
    Took this and thought I'd share, a nice little Welsh valley rail bridge with mountain stream & pub. I'm still trying to get
    the right quality of Rhymney beers logo to attach to the pub. Also need to purchase Deluxe Products resin water for
    my stream.
     

     
    I love dioramas, they take no more than 8 weeks and then you can move on to other ideas. What was that ? The trains
    don't work ? True you don't have far to drive, but a sound steam loco simmering is very nice !!
     
    Dad-1
  15. 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.
  16. 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
  17. Dad-1

    Try to be Tidy !

    By Dad-1,

    Oh dear, I'm on here as I can't continue with my conversion build - modelling's better than computers !!
     
    The story is thus :- I bought a Killin Pug conversion kit from Dean Sidings, the build up went easy to start with, but if you've ever used a Hornby 0-4-0 then you'll understand their running tends to be doubtful ! So much time & effort went into sorting the chassis.
    Now I want to continue I can't find the cab floor and firebox ....... looked most places, even moved furniture 'just in case' ..... I can't have looked everywhere, or I should have found it ? It would have taken less time to have kept everything tidy rather than searching the house, garage, shed, car, wardrobe, aircraft model kit boxes ??????
     
    Looks like I'll have to come back later to fix the photo ?
     

     
    Geoff T.
  18. Dad-1
    I can make excuses, but a little sunshine gave me a chance to start the final base boards. I needed the space outdoors to arrange the swap around, stripping the two high end boards out and getting the two low end boards
    on legs in place.
    That started with a small garage clear up. Now I have to cut the track-bed board and risers of 140mm on which the track-bed will be fixed.
     

     
    This should enable me to get track wiring in which will not link between these two boards. It would seem that feeding the DCC bus from the other end, having it run roughly 22 feet each side of the feed will be fine, but to join up into a ring may cause signal errors. There are times (a few) when I heed advice !
     
    While it was raining last week I got my plasticard out and made a lane under bridge that will take a road from board edge under the tracks, down a hill to join the main road. So far so good .....
     

     
    I still have to make the main road under bridge and the railways river bridge, but these need to be built to fit the track-bed. Anyway my plasticard is getting low so tonight I re-ordered stock from Slaters.
     
    Geoff T.
  19. Dad-1
    I see I claim to have started on these at the end of May. Outdoor weather has been less summer like than ever, and these are 100% outdoor work. I'm still day dreaming with little ideas, but have started the raised track bed. Also have made rough road under bridge formers out of 3 mm MDF, these will be used as a base for embossed plastic sheeting.
    The supporting uprights will have 9 mm beading attached across the top each side as per the base, onto which the track bed will be screwed and glued.
     

     
    Once I thought the track so high against the river surface it would distort scaling of the bridge. However with the road being 25 mm or so above the river it looks about right to my eye.
     

     
    There are times when work is interupted by our little wild friend "Scruffy" who likes a digestive biscuit both morning and tea time !
     

     
    Dad-1
  20. Dad-1
    Although I want to work on my 'river' end I need to work on that outdoors and today the weather looked iffy.
    In addition I didn't feel too good as my back was playing me up. As a result I started plastering more of the cutting where the boards are up in the garage.
     

     
    Took this with one of my 3 x 14XX locos pulling a short freight. From track level that cutting looks quite deep. Still very wet and glistening .....
     
    Probably slow up now as next week I'm away for a few days, while the current weather forecast is not too good.
     
    Geoff T.
  21. Dad-1

    Something Achieved !

    By Dad-1,

    Posting twice in one week - something of a record .....
    As I can't find a way of extending a thread by additional postings we have a new one !!
     
    After a couple of days 'messing around' I've at last made all the track on station boards 1 - 3 go live !!
    Not a single wiring glitch although two crossovers are not yet attached to their decoders due to being
    on separated boards and I've not bought the connecting plugs & sockets.
     
    I so often hear of difficulties with double slips and being code 100 track my slips are the only insulated
    frog turnouts. So once this went live I had a little play testing by traversing the slip in all directions using a
    selection of locomotives. All went through even at slow speeds, a Dapol 14XX; Hornby Railroad 9F; Bachmann
    Robinson 04; Bachmann Midland 3F.
    To try and get a scale feel I had a 6 coach train of clerestory coaches along what will be platform 1 with a local
    'B' set being pulled by the 14XX at what will be platform 2.
     

     
    Slip testing time, part of the 14XX programme !!
     
    One more station throat to go !! by next weekend - no hope !!
     

     
     
     
    Dad-1
  22. Dad-1
    I have such long 'absent' spells that every time I come back it takes me ages to work out how to drive this darned computer !!
    Not posted anything new since January, ouch, time to show what has been going on.
    Firstly spending money, this layout has loads of points, each requiring motors, switches for frog polarity changing. Then as usual
    buying a few building kits and vehicles just to try and keep the enthusiasm going as well as working out what will go where ?
     
    Work has been done on the 'Station' side track, although not all laid yet. Now I don't know if it's me, but I can't start building the scenery
    until all track is down and working well.
     

     
    This shows the lines running throught the station. Main lines on the right serving platform 1, with the island platform having main line platform 2 with platform 3 and a goods line behind that.
     
    Almost out of sight is one of the station throats, but here is the board parked against my garage wall.
     

     
    All I'm itching to do is start scenery !! Before the fiddleyard/sidings were stripped down I indulged myself. Here seen from the operators side.
     

     
    But that rough 'planning' aside it's just boards & track ..........
     
    Dad-1
  23. Dad-1
    I have this thing about wagons, I don't think there's a locomotive here I wouldn't swap for a clutch of good wagons.
    But wagons have/had a tough old life and the 'as bought' condition tends to turn me off any layout, they just
    spoil the effect. I think it strange so many modellers spend a fortune on re-naming and re-numbering locomotives
    yet put up with basic factory finish stock. Not all thank heavens and we do see some superb weathering.
     
    My latest play is some Dapol 21 ton coal hoppers, I'm a little frustrated by certain inaccuracies within the models
    and regret that life is too short to modify beyond their as bought state, other than weathering and adding an improved
    load. At least this can be done indoors where I can work close to a radiator all warm and comfy.
     
    These were bought a two 5 wagon sets with different running numbers. I am worried about removing the riveted in
    weight for those that will remain empty, something not planned by Dapol. If they prove too light I'll add a little length
    of lead between the two hopper discharge chutes.
     

     
    Flash has also highlighted the plastic body locating clips that I'll have to paint either very dark grey, or black !!
     
    I'd like 15 empty & 15 loaded, but fear life is too short and perhaps pocket not quite deep enough !!
     
    Dad-1
  24. 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.
  25. Dad-1
    Winters more or less ended and I can at last spend a few hours in the garage without freezing !
    Mind you , can't show what I'm doing there because it's still too early in the building stages for
    these hallowed walls !!
     
    What I've enjoyed doing this winter is another diorama. What I like about these is the short span from
    start to finish. The ability to be creative with modelling ideas at minimal cost and little difficulty in finding
    somewhere to keep them.
    So here is an almost finished 'Carsons Quay' just 15" x 9.5" with the backboard about 14" high.
    Representing the end of a small harbour quay which was once used for fish docks, but now in the
    early 1960's finding other uses for workshops. Chose the name Clark in rememberance of the
    great Jim & Roger.
     

     
    The full 'on cost' of making this has been around £7 ....... good value for money !
     
    Geoff T.
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