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Dad-1

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  1. Dad-1

    Progress & Planning Pt.II

    By Dad-1,

    I've gone as far as I can before delivery of the required decoder, here is the current state of production.
     
    Being built as an internal combustion engined loco it needs a radiator. I finally decided that would be placed
    alongside the supplied white metal exhaust system on what can be thought of as the rear. To start I've added
    a beading from fine microstrip, I can see from the photo a little corner blending is still needed. Into this space
    I intend fixing a piece of net curtain to represent the protective grille. centrally along the top I need to add a
    radiator filler cap.
     

     
    DCC conversion of a Tenshodo spud is easy enough, but I don't think I would want to try without a mini drill fitted
    with a slitting disc. First is cutting & removing the lower part of the motor feed contacts from the spud sides. To achieve
    this without risk of damaging wheels I opened by releasing the single securing screw and unclipping. There was no
    factory lubrication so a miniscule spot of silicone grease was added to each gear set before reassembly. Here the
    removed sections can be seen above the screw.
     

     
    Short leads are soldered to the ground off track feeds and the top motor feed tags, then fed through the openings
    drilled & filed into the footplate.
     

     
    Finally an old but working decoder is soldered in to test that all is working as it should. To start with I had no response on
    default address 3, then I remembered last used this had address 1 ......... and that worked fine !!
     

     
    When my mini decoder comes this will be built into the model, no future access without pulling apart. It just has to be right
    first time.
     
    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
    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.
  6. 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
  7. 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
  8. 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
  9. 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
  10. 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
  11. 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
  12. Dad-1
    I have this 'Thing' about loose unused wires on decoders. In short I can't stand
    having extra wires that I'm not going to use getting in the way and if not covered
    suitably with masking tape offering a potential short and with it decoder death !!
     
    In no way is this a criticism of decoder manufacturers as they need to offer a large
    range of user options. The Lenz silver mini decoder that I have to put in my Roxey
    'Minnie' needs to be as compact as possible so I decided to use my small soldering
    iron to remove the blue/white/yellow leads. With a tip smaller than a pin head and
    allowed to fully heat up it's just a momentary touch to remove those leads unwanted
    by me.
     

     
    I'm quite pleased with my radiator conversion, note the chrome dress making pin head
    filler cap .... it'll dull down when weathered.
    I don't undercoat, but many white metal castings seem to absorb paint, as you see under
    the exhaust pipe. I'll have to treat this as a primer, do another as the undercoat, with
    one final pass for my finishing coat. Why did I pick green ? as happened so often in real
    life it's because I have it, 3 tins of Humbrol emerald green to use up sometime !!
     

     
    After a study of the four parts that make up the cab I need to make a jig to hold in place
    for glueing. Oh also need an instrument panel with a few control levers and see if I have
    a suitable figure to add as driver.
     
    Having great fun !!
     
    Dad-1
  13. Dad-1
    My decoder arrived today with quite a few points, but I shall be lucky to get soldered in this
    weekend.
    My radiator has it's grille, but somehow the top edge is not fitting neatly into the beading.
    I'll probably have to attack with a new scalpel blade, but seeing anything this small is a strain.
    The camera shows every little error, if only my eyes were that good.
     

     
    The 3/4 windows are in, but I wouldn't be surprised to dislodge as I build together. Because
    internal access will be almost impossible I've also painted the interior sections cream. Obviously
    the internal corners will need painting after assembly, but I think I'll get away with that.
     
    Dad-1
  14. Dad-1

    Plodding Along

    By Dad-1,

    Ahh we do like to have a little moan ....... Too wet, Too cold, Too hot ........
    I can hardly believe that it's taken over 2 years to get from this :-
     

     
    To This :-
     

     
    At this rate, when finished, I'll be too old to to get it from the garage & assemble !!
     
    They say the journey is more important than the destination - perhaps that was said
    by a railway modeller ?
     
    Dad-1
  15. Dad-1

    Progress & planning

    By Dad-1,

    We all know it should be planning and then progress, but I'm one who only reads the instructions when all else fails.
    Perhaps not quite that bad ?
     
    By joining the sides to a footplate beam I worked out I could hold together with a couple of elastic bands. It gives me an
    overall view from which to make my changes.
     

     
    Those handrail mountings all but block off the entrance, they have to go and handrails will run down the outside. I've also
    decided that the cab windows will be fixed 3/4 glazed. To have safe movement you need to see, but this simple machine
    has no window wipers, de-icing, or de-misting equipment. That open upper 1/4 provides that, you don't even need to clean
    the windows !!
    A decoder test, if a Hornby one will fit the Lenz mini should have oceans of space. Now to open out all the required wire routes.
     

     
    I tried drilling for my brass handrails, but unable to get a vertical angle the lower hole to the left is way out. I'll have to de-bond
    the two parts to get access, re-drill as needed. Even the exhaust system is now plugged on, my radiator will be represented
    by a square of beading with a mesh insert on the other rearward half alongside that exhaust.
     

     
    So far so good.
     
    Dad-1
  16. 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.
  17. Dad-1

    Acceptable slow running

    By Dad-1,

    My little Roxey shunter was working O.K, but showed considerable differences in running ability depending on direction of movement.
    Even stalls on clean straight level track when running at slow speeds I want, let alone stalling on insulated frog points.
    Everything was clean and adjusted correctly, the only obvious discrepancy was the weight balance, being much heavier at the cab end.
    Failure was in my opinion a failure to pick up current from the track, be it wheel to track, or wheel to motor contact wipers. I decided to try
    rubbing the wheel rear faces with a pencil, rubbing the wheel treads with particular care to the flanges as the B2B was slightly wide, and
    finishing off rubbing the track head in the locations of stalls.
     
    I could never have imagined the improvement this gave. I have quite equal running qualities in either direction and although these Tenshodo
    SPUDS have no reduction gearing I am getting slow running to an acceptable & useable level. There is some aparent jerkyness, although
    some of that is the small wheels crossing turnout frogs. The wagon is from a Parkside Dundas 10 ton insulated van kit.
     

     
    A warning - remove track current, I burnt my finger when I accidently shorted the graphite pencil across an insulated frog, Boy did it spark !!
     
    Dad-1
  18. Dad-1

    Still much to do

    By Dad-1,

    'Fifi' the 0-4-0 yard loco together and passed a running test. It is strange though how it runs much better in reverse
    than forward. How can that be ? a 24.5 mm wheelbase had me expecting stalls on insulated frog points, however it
    crosses fine at a very low speed in reverse, but needs quite a bit more 'welly' when going forward. A lengthy train,
    way beyond anything this would be expected to pull, or push makes no difference. It'll work with 10 wagons no problem.
     
    Here it is alongside my 06, the comparison shows just how small it is. Being white metal it is rather heavy, yet I'll still add
    some ballast under the front because the weight sits heavily to the cab end. I have tried some white lining using an old
    reclaimed bow-pen, it's rubbish, but I have to learn on something !! I can always re-paint the whole thing !!
     

     
    Dad-1
  19. Dad-1

    Running In

    By Dad-1,

    Last posting introduced the Roxey Mouldings 'Howard' 0-4-0 shunting/yard loco.
    The Tenshodo SPUD had to be DCC converted, very easy with a slitting disc, a problem without !!
     
    I needed to thoroughly test & run-in using my only spare decoder a Hornby R8249 that had been taken out
    of something else, exactly why I can't recall. Here it is a speed faster than the original could go, but ideal for
    my purpose. It will go down to a very slow speed and will probably be better for adjusting back EMF settings
    on the Lenz sliver mini decoder on order for this job.
     
    Video available here :-
     
    Now I know how well it works it's time to take the decoder out again to start painting. Then while that drys I can
    build up the cab where I've already painted the interiors prior to assembly.
     
    So far I really like it, easy to make, runs well, and just what I wanted !!
     
    Geoff T.
  20. Dad-1
    Most of the traction I want, or need is available from major manufacturers, but for once I need something different. I'm planning
    a non- railway company yard with a wagon works. To move wagons for repair I wanted a small shunting locomotive, in such an
    environment it had to be something not used by operating companies. After looking around I came across the 'Howard' 0-4-0
    by Roxey Mouldings, a small diesel loco in white metal.
    I've not worked with white metal other than figures & although I once bought low melt solder & Carr's red flux I can't find the stuff !!
    I decided to go the superglue way using Loctite which is of a reasonable quality, not like the cheap market stall stuff. It'll also be DCC
    so one first check was to see where the decoder could go.
     

     
    Now the footplate, frames & headstocks attached. My current job is cutting & adding glazing to cab windows before I can join that.
    I have run it back & forth on DC just to make certain what's been done is O.K.
     

     
    Dad-1
  21. Dad-1
    I think it's neat anyway and it's my railway !!
    With that rocketing cost of rollingstock I'm quite pleased I started kit building. The current Bachmann BR std brake vans
    are coming out at close on £21. No denying the quality, but when the same Liverpool shed has the Dapol (ex-Airfix) brake van
    going for just £4.39 it's worth trying. I feel I'm an experienced plastic model maker so decided I could afford to invest in a
    Train-Tech module at £15. I bought the flicker module AL2, O.K I got 2, but only one used at present in the Dapol van.
     
    Here it is with the LED glowing on the lowpower output. Easy enough to cut off pins & solder onto dolls house twin flex.
    There is a second output that has a yellow LED which I used to light up the van interior. Still have to fix the side step boards
    and find a suitable way of having a secure, but removeable roof to replace the battery if/when it needs changing. They do
    have a movement detector and switch off when no movement, either stored, or left in a siding for a while.
     

     
    Oh, behind that is a Cambrian Kits Southern Borail wagon with some 60 ft lengths of new rails ...... Wagon building won't save
    you much money, but it'll add interest to you stock !!
     
    Dad-1
  23. 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
  24. 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
  25. Dad-1
    My current excuse for being so slow with that main layout is that I get easily diverted on to other jobs.
    This makes 2 posting in one week .................
     
    Bridport & Dist MRC had it's main exhibition on Saturday, I had a call on Tuesday to see if I could bring a layout to
    replace a cancellation. Later I found out that there was a 12 foot space which was no good as my layouts are both
    somewhat longer than that. I suggested that I could do some demonstration work, with a couple of dioramas on display
    alongside me, Thursday I had confirmation ....... I looked around for a small piece of waste ply & decided on a small
    rural/farm scene and roughly stitch drilled a hole for a small pond. I made a small piece of rising ground from packing
    sponge foam and sealed down using strips of kitchen towel soaked in PVA, from neat to ballast strength. I even used
    one small piece of uncovered foam and laid grass over it ........ Wait for Saturday to check results, it worked out fine !!
     
    Here is the article made up during the exhibition !! Not perfect, but with ballasting a track sample & making a plastic
    6 x 8 garden shed not a bad days work !!
     

     
    Still have a croaky voice from talking too much ........
     
    Dad-1
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