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Dad-1

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  1. Dad-1
    Today I went to open up the caravan for the 2014 season. The site is closed from the end of October until 16th March. Tucked under the double bed is my Shillingstones Lane diorama that I'm looking forward to working on again as I extend to double the original length.
    Here is the first half, photographed back in June last year. Loads of green fields with bronze age barrow & other
    hidden shapes in a field.
    I have contemplated adding a simple roundy extension behind a high green hill to allow a continious tail chaser, but also the scope to change stock & loco ?
     

     
    The caravan needs some attention, but at least it survived the storms of spring 2014,
     
    Dad-1
  2. Dad-1
    Dug out the Bachmann 3 car 108 DMU, it runs so smoothly I did a nice gentle pull
    out from North Quay terminus, platform 2.
    I have a key-fob video camera, but not enough light in the loft to get acceptable
    videos of cab rides into the tunnel. The result is more simple videos from the small
    digi camera.
     

     
    I don't know if I ever told the story behind the layout being Two Short Planks. I started
    when I knew nothing and in model railway terms was as thick as two short planks. It was also
    going to be somewhat shorter and built on 2 melamine covered shelving 'planks', however when
    I went into that well know DIY place they only had very short ones or 6 foot lengths, so I got
    2 x 6 footers. Never thought I'd one day use it at a few exhibitions where the lengths are
    not easy to carry.
    Still, built 2008-9, my first ever layout with a track plan from my head I enjoy running on it
    and even now within the available space I don't think I could improve on the track plan.
     
    Dad-1
  3. Dad-1
    Why Not indeed !!
    I've been trying over several evenings to produce a video showing some shunting. Although the camera can be stuck on a tripod it involves many changes of points and some carefull use of controllers, particularly when trying to run a DMU into & out of the station at the same time.
    Thanks to small digital camers one can try & try again, interesting hearing the expletives on play back of failed
    'takes'.
     

     
    Dad-1
  4. Dad-1

    A Shed at Last !

    By Dad-1,

    Well the MKMRS show went O.K, although the Dynamis system failed. Just got it back from Bachmann at a
    cost of £100 !!!
    Anyway back to more interesting things. I returned home with my CM layout after the exhibition and had
    to store in the garage pending arrival of my new shed.
     

     
    My shed arrived on the 20th of last Month as I went down with a rotten cold. This was the largest I could
    get in the available space, just 12ft x 7ft.
     

     
    I have moved one end board into the shed and done a little work on it. Some fencing made up although not
    fixed until all the fields are grassed. Been using various cows while 'playing' - Highland, Fresians, Jersey,
    Dexters, Devon Reds, but they need a re-paint not ginger enough !!!
     

     
    It's good being able to re-start work on CM ..... but I do miss my 20 x 10 garage !!
     
    Dad-1
  5. 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.
  6. Dad-1
    Nothing posted since the first week of January.
    In truth not a great deal of railway modelling done since then.
    Getting settled into a new home after some 35 years in the old one takes longer than expected,
    in fact still a long way to go. My new garden shed arrives later this month and I've been struggling
    to demolish the old leaking rotten one that came with the bungalow. Nothing to do with the shed,
    but more the weather, we live just 1 mile from the sea at West Bay & driving rain and severe gale
    force winds are not what you want. I even tried to use the weather by loosening roofing felt in the
    hope that wind would finish ripping it off for me - no such luck !!
     
    The only half decent picture is showing the Railway Modeller February issue free shed with it's
    initial paint work sitting on the end of Two Short Planks my only working track at present.
     

     
    Although this will probably be permanently in the loft it's still portable & could be taken out to a show.
    I am adding some boarding behind to give some depth as well as being a storage space for many of
    my 'spare' buildings.
     
    Now rushing around to find all I need to take to MKMRS Exhibition next Saturday.
     
    Dad-1
  7. Dad-1
    My move to a new home has had it's problems. The broken down removal lorry that split my delivery in two, part 1 arriving next day as
    expected on the 3rd, part 2 coming 2 days later.
    Then when the man came to fit a water meter it indicated a leak. The water company dug a couple of holes and then decided it was
    leaking under the bungalow. We have cut off the old supply pipe & laid in a shorter more direct one and have stopped the water loss.
     
    At the same time I was trying to board out the loft and place supports between trusses to have a layout on one side and extra storage
    on the other. I also had to wait for my Son to come & help lift two 6 foot long boards through the loft hatch. Managed to get it working
    as the old year slipped away.
     

     
    Designed for blue diesels this layout used insulated frog points & a couple of slips. Now trying to run steam locos at slow speeds I
    having regular stalling over frogs. This Bachmann Collett goods is probably the best, I would like virtuall stall speeds to be possible,
    but fear I can't get that. Strange that the 0-6-0 Collett goods are fine, yet a Jubilee 4-6-0 can't get anywhere near as slow before
    it stalls, yet the basic chassis pickup is through the 6 coupled driving wheels .... the same as the Colletts ? Wheels cleaned, track
    deep cleaned, pickup wipers cleaned and contact pressure increased, checked that at maximum deflection all wipers have good
    contact and wheel backs cleaned ????? Is it a weight balance difference ?? Oh & I don't bother with B2B settings as wheel thicknesses
    can vary, I adjusted so the tyre to flange measurement is 16.40 mm (as the Collett goods).
     
    Apart from re-building with live frog points anyone any further ideas ????
     
    Geoff T.
  9. 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
  10. Dad-1
    As this is booked into the MKMRS Exhibition in February & I have no safe way of getting it from Northamptonshire to Dorset it's being left in the care of a friend. Today he came and picked up 2 corner boards and the sidings 'pod'
    now 10 miles from home !!
     
    Decided to make up the other half of the station entrance this afternoon & evening. The ramp is on one board, with the steps on another, I seem to have got acceptable joints.
     
    Put some figures out to see how it looks ....
     

     
    Due to moving I couldn't go the The Telford International Centre for the IPMS(UK) International Exhibition. Had a phone call though one of my aircraft had won bronze in a special Canadian subject competition presented by a large group that had come over from Canada for the show. Also the Special Interest Group I started in 1993 wond a best in show Gold award ..... Oh how I wish I'd been there as planned, before moving was even thought about !!!!
     
    Dad-1
  11. 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
  12. 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
  13. 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
  14. Dad-1

    Never Enough Time .......

    By Dad-1,

    The latest information is that we should be moving around the last week of November. So much to do & so little time, as a result I've started simplifying some areas.
    I've now grassed the small bank behind the goods line and to try & keep the enthusiasm up photographed while still wet with adhesive !
     

     
    I had a small accident back in February when one station board toppled onto it's scenic side destroying the ratio fencing stuck all along the rear platform retaining wall. Now all replaced and always stored in it's 'pod' and away from any similar accidents.
     

     
    Time is running out and all locomotives with the exception of a Lima small prairie in GWR and a Collett Goods in early BR safely packed away into boxes, a sobering thought that the three loco boxes each has a content approaching £1000 in original cost !! I suppose I have 4 boxed Hornby sets still laying around, but Caledonian 123, GWR Royal Soverign, 101 DMU are not quite right although the 14XX with 2 autocoaches could appear on film soon !!
     
    Dad-1
  15. Dad-1
    Although we're still waiting for more details on the planned house move
    I need to press on. Having done as much as I want on the top siding board
    I've now put these away in their storage pod and brought in a station side
    board.
    The station side is viewed from the signal box side and this is the condition it has
    been left in since February this year. I now need to fill in with something !! Currently
    my idea is to fix the Dapol de-mounted fruit 'D' box backing onto the tracks with a gravel
    roadway running down to the signal box. A low grassy bank between the signal box & shed to
    separate vehicle movements from the main line. Then just a few piles of ... junk laying
    along the gravel roadway ......... Anybody any comments ??
     
    My platforms begin about 75 mm south of this board. I don't intend cluttering I want a
    rather open feel where there is enough room for vehicles to turn & move safely. The coal
    yard side only needs a small de-mounted box fixing and some fencing. Other than that the
    far side is O.K by me, although 3 to 4 lorries a few cars and figures bring it to life.
     
    Cuckoo Lane crossing - now in it's box !!

     
    Station side - coal yard board ..... with work to do !!

     
    Dad-1
  16. Dad-1
    As mentioned in my last posting we've sold our house subject to contract and have a 'chain'
    formed up so it looks like we could move well before Christmas !!
    It's also time to shut the holiday caravan down for winter, due to local authority regulations
    the site is closed from the end of October until mid March.
    On our last visit I took some of my Shillingstones Lane diorama back, I'd brought home to try
    and do some work, but didn't get much done. When there I lined all 6 small sections together
    to see what it may look like ....... Well blow me down, the wife liked it and suggested that I build
    another track base that I can link it all together !!
     
    So during next year my thatched cottage piece will be finished & a new base made.
    Meanwhile I still have too much to do on Castell Mawr.
     

     

     
    Sometimes I wonder why I have so many locos, coaches & wagons as I enjoy making up scenes
    more than running trains !!
     
    Dad-1
  17. Dad-1
    Since April we have spent more time at our caravan in Dorset than at home. My wife has decided that she wants to move there
    to be nearer to one of our sons & grandchildren. In principal I quite like the idea and suggested that within a couple of years we
    should do that.
    However things have rolled along so fast I'm now a worried man. Within two days we have sold our house subject to contract. Fine
    only I'm working on Castell Mawr a collaborative layout with me doing nearly all the work & spending most of the money - I like that
    as I'm in complete control. The problem is this layout's booked into our Milton Keynes clubs 2014 show in February, I have trouble
    moving such a big layout the 7 miles to that ..... so what happens to it ?? If I leave here it won't get finished & may get damaged, If
    I take it, I can't get it back, and even that is supposing our new as yet not found home has room for it !!
     
    I have done a little work recently and am currently waiting for more Knightwing spear security fencing. Here is half the sidings that
    I set a stage on this week. Some quality fiddle-yard !!
     

     
    Dad-1
  18. 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.
  19. 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.
  20. 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.
  21. Dad-1
    In truth I'd forgotten what user name I'd used and had so many failed attempts I though I'd never get back in again. Then one moments inspiration - that's a fib, got in at the 4th attempt !!
    Now having a holiday caravan in Dorset we spend half our time away from home. Not good for the big layout, but gave a chance to play with a diorama based on Dorset landscape.
    So Shillingstones Lane came about, started in May I think, where three scenic sections just sit on a framework that has a short length of railway running in a shallow cutting. The three sections has now expanded to 4 with 100% interchangeability to move from an Iron or bronze age Barrow to pre-historic standing stones.
    The truth is I prefer the scene modelling to just having a railway - what do you think ?
     

     

     
    Hell I may even show some changes on Castell Mawr ...... Been on the go since October 2011 and still miles to go !!!
     
    Geoff T.
  22. 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.
  23. 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
  24. 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.
  25. 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
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