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Dad-1

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  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. 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.
  5. 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
  6. 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
  8. 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
  9. 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
  10. 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
  11. 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
  12. Dad-1
    Never enough time, never enough space ............
    Since moving in December I've not done much on the planned big layout Castell Mawr.
    It's too big to work on more than one board at a time, frequently needing 2 or 3 joined
    together to visualise what I want ..... and work out how to do it !!
    The recent few rain free days have had me getting some work done, before we're away
    to the holiday caravan by the coast.
     
    Firstly 3 boards were put together, interesting that the bungalow is on a steep slope &
    allows high 'helicopter' views.
     

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

     
    Limited progress, but at least it is progress ....... at this rate it'll take 2 more years ?
    Note the small wild animal paths up the cutting sides, these are all over the countryside
    if you look.
     
    Dad-1
  13. 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
  14. 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.
  15. 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
  16. 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
  17. 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.
  19. 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
  20. 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
  21. 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
  22. 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
  23. 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
  24. 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.
  25. 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.
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