Dad-1

Thanks for the comment Chris. One of the other difficult areas were the rain strips. How do you make 4 exact shape eye brows ? I pondered a while and ended up making a jig and apart from one where some liquid poly got under the plastic jig and was fixing that as well it has worked out fine ! My next, but not starting for a few weeks is the Parkside LNER 12 ton Fruit Van. As the whole exercise is to encourage more club members to have 7 mm rather than rush whole hearted into it myself I will probably stop at 3 wagons. No.3 will probably be a 16 ton steel mineral as they got everywhere, but then so did RCH 7 plank wagons ? NO, No, I must stop at 3 !! Geoff T.

All those wire grab rails needing bending to within 1/4 of a mm to fit well. Only had trouble with 1 where I used the recommended length, it was a fraction short. I added half a mm after that and had perfect fits. Painting them was FUN !! I'm still uncertain if I'll manage to weather and NOT jam up the sliding axle boxes, designed to allow some un-sprung compensation. Looking forward to my Modelu guard figure coming. Then I can finish completely, currently awaiting the foot boards being fixed, which needs to be done after weathering the chassis. Geoff T..

Creating a club shunting plank for a gauge you don't engage with is not practical. How do you know if it's working well ? Obviously I needed a bottom end loco that the Dapol Sentinel represents to proof test. As someone who has done shunting puzzle layouts & likes freight there was no way I could progress without a wagon, or so. NO slippery slope, but at least something to appreciate all that 7 mm can offer. My plan that I intend to stick to, is to have a brake van, a basic 12 ton covered wagon, and one, or perhaps 2 open wagons. I have the first two with progress on the Brake, a Parkside BR Ex-LNER Toad 'E'. Here were the parts :- Initially the instructions seemed fine, but there are a few glitches. Certainly a very different level of complexity in comparison to the 100 plus 4 mm wagon kits I've built. More and longer 3rd hands needed !! At the time I was just finishing a 4 mm Cambrian kits Loriot in BR engineers black. Geoff T.

On a wet evening Paul it raised a smile - About the best I could offer. To put Simons mind at rest here is the normal 'free length' between each board. The cable well anchored in a loop, with the individual polarities split onto a couple of copper-clad tags each side onto which all track droppers are attached. My first '0' loco had an uncertain beginning. It arrived with one guard iron snapped off, the other side cracked and ready to fall off. The shut-down didn't help, but all credit to Rails who arranged for replacement parts to come which I had volunteered to fit myself. The packaging was too tight, since re-sculptured by me and although well supported it's easier to get in and out. This being my first & perhaps only loco, but wagons ? well you need a few don't you. Geoff T.

Hi Simond, I tend towards the Dawinian theory - If you are THAT stupid ........... I actually don't see any conflict because the feed into the bus is via a DC socket mounted through the base boards. The inter-board connectors would need to be used as the feed if anyone was stupid enough to try putting 240V through it. These are tethered with no more than 100 mm free cable at each board join. Add to that that I don't have any similar connectors in the house, or at our club rooms it is almost impossible for such a mistake to be made. Certainly safer that having to ever cross the road again. Geoff T.

Not a chance Kubes. With over 500 '00' wagons and still around 20 unmade kits in stock that will remain my primary scale. What I have managed today is to wire in the main power bus and plugs to connect up the 4 key boards. Two boards have all the track wired in and I hope to have all live by mid week. Then I have to add in fencing which will be made with 65 mm nails with the heads cut off and wired with fine jewellery crafters materials. Always interesting to try a different scale. Geoff T.

Right then Steve, Perhaps this will bring you back to the club rooms WHEN they re-open. By disposing of some old stuff there will be room in the cellar for it, making regular weekly running sessions available. Currently yacht varnish going on the other end boards, back into the garden to strip down more of the redundant mower lead. Geoff T.

I won't be an avid '0' gauger, several logical reasons. I'm too far down the road with '00', too old, and don't have the room. However I am the Bridport & District Club chairman, so expected to lead and I insist on personal involvement. I want the club to offer something to any potential members who do work in 7 mm scale. I'm in the process of making a simple loop to be stored at the club rooms when we re-open. The idea is a 16 foot long loop, with an optional 4 foot extension in the centre, giving a potential 20 foot run. Power input via a DC plug and socket where we can plug in either Analogue, or DCC power supplies. I'm intending that we can support on trestles made for a clubs '00' layout. As there has been no access to the club rooms since mid April I'm unable to work out quite how. Here at home I use my own low-level trestles where progress is being made and the first two boards giving 8 feet tested. Power from a bus using a damaged lawn mower lead with heavy duty power lead connections. Every individual piece of track will be fed via droppers soldered to rail base made up from stripped out wires from the same lead. What else can you do with a long length of twin wire flex ? Without an earth you can't make acceptable PAT certified extension leads !! I have bought a Dapol Sentinel, which I will be adding a decoder too. In fact perhaps this would be a place to ask about suitable decoders - Can I get away with a '00' decoder ? I would have thought any with up to a 1 amp continuous rating will be adequate. I'll stop at this juncture, but my recent work includes a Parkside BR (Ex-LNER) brake van. More therefore to follow over the coming weeks. Dad-1 (Geoff T)

An increasing problem for Hornby 9F Railroad Loco Drive models. The motor clamps are now decaying. I have R2880 Loco 92221 where the mounting around the flywheel jammed movement thro expansion. Then R2785 Evening Star 92220 where the motor mountings have warped enough to separate the motor from the drive. …… It freewheels quite well. On both the main footplate looks O.K at the moment I still have to check the tender from Evening Star, but as already listed the tender chassis for 92221 has locked one axle thro decay expansion. Geoff T

Wish I lived closer (Sometimes) then I could get there. Geoff T.

Thomas & Friends Visit Bride Bay ...... All loaded in the car ready for the off This one made for children to drive. Get a pint up for me in the Public Bar, they know me well !! I'll be across as soon as the freight's gone through. Dad-1

Thanks Captain Kernow, we will have fun ! Dad-1

Heard of K & M Trees ? Yes they were part of the Peco empire, but now an independent trader. They will be at Beaminster, A brave move to take on and develop further. We will welcome and give all the support we can. Geoff T.

No other comments yet? One thing I forgot to mention is that following our clubs annual diorama competition to be held this coming Tuesday all the entries will be on display at Beaminster. I usually find myself in second place, and here is my 2019 offering. To keep rules simple we just insist on some railwayana content and within a maximum of 24 inches wide and 24 inches long. Any scale, or gauge accepted. This one being in 4 mm '00' and I can't even remember the exact size, around 12 inches by 16 inches ..... I think. Dad-1

Oh well better put the other layouts on now :- Dorbury North - 'N' Bearston - 'N' Blunden - 'N' Sherwin's Yard - '0' Limington End - '00' Dysearth - '00' I did say 10+ and that's 11. In addition A Royal Train display, my plastic wagon kit building demo where I intend to let anyone who has never handled them before put down some HMRS pressfix decals. I have old spares here !! Which kit is this ? Is it the only source for a FM container ? Trade :- Rod Saunders John Quinlan Oh and I intend to get 3 Kg of local butcher Rawles bacon for bacon butties - All has to be eaten !! If I could attach the scent of bacon being cooked I would !! Dad-1

I've always found that the help and support between model makers top most things in this soured modern world. I had a surprise package arrive at the start of the last week of November. A cyber friend that I've communicated with since 2008 sent me a kit from his collection as a present citing years of help and encouragement. Not only that, but he's North East and mostly Blue Diesels ..... shock even post privatization, sometimes !! Being GWR this would never fit his modelling eras. GWR, great that's my hunting ground. The kit was the Ratio ex Taff Vale Railway bogie bolster, kit No.562. This was an old kit, including Plastic Wheel Sets. Now if you've not made an old Ratio Kit there is a glitch, the kit was made for the longer than standard axles supplied. Yes, you can and should fit brass bearings, but even that leaves Very loose wheels, unless ...... Note how short the front Hornby set is The moulded holes were loose for Top-hat bearings so no need to drill out. To space out bearings it would be best to fit fine 2.0 mm washers under the ridge, but I didn't have any so used superglue on a pin head to help stick the bearings slightly out of their seating. Just make certain none gets on the axles !! The other wrinkle was the fitting of couplings. I didn't even try the enclosed parts wanting to use Peco PA34 mounting blocks with NEM pockets and Bachmann couplings. They can't be fitted without surgery much earlier in the build, but the simple wire loop works fine when used with wagons that have hooked couplings. Test running was fine and no problems, although one will have to take care on the alignment of couplings when reversing. Decalled and weathered it looks fine, runs well - Thanks Dave, a real gentleman Now I'm trying to find if any of these Taff Vale wagons lasted into early BR times ? Why, simply because I'd like to know !! It's my railway and I'll run what suits me. Dad-1

Live somewhere near Dorset ? The ideal after Christmas day out, come to Beaminster on Saturday 11th January for our regular 'New Year' starter exhibition held at :- Beaminster Town Hall 8 Fleet Street Beaminster Dorset DT8 3EF Adults, £3; Children, over 5 £1, Babes free. Try to beat our youngest 'Thomas' driver of 1 year 10 months !! 10 + Layouts, Wagon Kit Building Demonstration, good refreshments, (Pay) Parking behind the venue, all that's needed for an enjoyable day. Wagon kit building demo by myself - some of my work can be seen in the RMW Blogs section Layouts :- Shillingsford - '00' sound West Bay - '00' Thomas & Friends Visit Bride Bay - '00' One for children to drive. Lambeth Walk - 'TT' Wykechester - '00' More to be listed later - Her who must be obeyed calls right NOW !! 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.

Hi Westernviscount, The last part first as it's the easiest. Yes that is a Dapol BR Brake Van kit that is now fitted with a TrainTech movement activated tail lamp as well as all the grab rails removed and replaced with 0.5 mm brass wires. The roof vents were removed and replaced with white metal ones in the right place and cabin windows glazed. They can be bought so cheaply and while needing work to bring to modern standards I thoroughly enjoy the process !! Cambrian kits ...... Difficult as they are not for the novice, yet make up eventually into nice models. One of my first Mods is to cut off the brake hanging spigots, these are set for EM/P4 wheel spacing and will leave you with brakes dangling in the air miles from a wheel !! My fix is to find some plastic rod that just about fits a brakes moulded in hole, glue in with about a couple of mm sticking out. I then countersink into the solebar at the spigot location small holes (DON'T DRILL RIGHT THROUGH) that allow the rod extensions to locate into. Take great care when trying to put the headstocks, solebars and frame infill together, this can be a nightmare. I also found it best to stick one tip-rail fitting onto the body (The one with the small rollers you have to glue in). The second tip-rail I attach to the chassis. Ahh I remember now that I trimmed off some bolt heads where the tip-rails sit on the chassis - I got a better fit that way. These are certainly not a first kit job !!! Geoff T.

Our Youngest Son is moving into a New house this weekend ...... Strange I shall be very busy ? To clear decks I moved a few 'almost' finished wagons to the loft layout for safe temp[orary storage. The two sidings have 22 wagons that I've made up since June or July. A surprising number are from original Airfix kits, a few from the Dapol versions, something like 13 of them. The Engineers train from Cambrian kits, as is the Borail, but that was made up a few years ago. With just a couple of Parkside, I've made many Parkside over previous years. All sitting on my "Two Short Planks" made 2008, a mere 12" wide long plank that in places has 6 lines, I was told it couldn't be done, but it did a few exhibitions around Milton Keynes area starting at the Train Collectors Club exhibition in 2009. Now retired to my loft !! Geoff T.

Probably the last posting in this short Farmhouse diorama thread. Pond filled, a shepherd with a small flock of sheep and that old horse and cart coming up the track. There are still a few small jobs to do - reeds at the pond margin, and perhaps an odd bush. Taking photos with very small digi cameras in poor light, expect rubbish results. However I do like this one, notice the stroppy sheep looking the sheepdog in the eye !! Back to wagons now ? Dad-1

Another couple of photos from last evening when I'd weathered the bridge. Almost finished now. Now to find a horse and cart, somewhere in the loft. Dad-1

That last posting at the end of August saw me starting a few wagons. Since then I've made 4 Dapol 16 Ton minerals, 7 Dapol 'Esso' 35 Ton GLW tanks, 2 Cambrian 'Catfish' Hoppers, 3 Cambrian 'Mermaids' and tidied-up a few others. I just never got around to posting. Currently I'm having a rest from Wagons !! and working on my 2019 diorama scene. The initial inspiration came from my love of rural scenery and the Ratio occupational bridge ...... Placing bits out to try and visualize a complete picture on the scrap warped piece of ply. I had in mind one of those dirt roads that only get used by farmers, and dug out this old Hornby building. Because I try to make a 'new' diorama each year they have to be quick, with mostly stuff laying around with the resulting negligible cost. Foolishly I thought it needed water somewhere so at the last moment a pond was excavated ! Under the date stamp you'll see the VERY old trick of using coconut matting as growing corn. Youngsters will be surprised at how tall corn used to stand, the new short development something from the last 50 years ! Still a few jobs to do, but well on the way, my next postings should show it finished. This will be on show at the Bridport Clubs January Exhibition with any other entries into our 2019 diorama challenge. Dad-1

My last posting, after our exhibition was stating I'd be back to wagon building. While I build too many I do so often move on before weathering and gather a backlog of almost there projects. After getting some secondhand kits I decided to make up the Airfix Presflo. I already had one made in 2015 still unfinished, well at least without weathering and these did get very dirty with white cement dust. At last not only the new build, but my old one made to look like a working wagon. Seen here alongside Bachmann models in the two later colourings used by Blue Circle. One thing I didn't do was add the wire grab-rails at the ladder tops. I decided they looked O.K without What next ? Perhaps a couple of very old Cambrian kits, so old they include plastic two part wheel sets that I will NOT be using. Dad-1

Mike, I'm rather shocked. The trouble is that moving away at the end of 2013 I gradually lost contact with MKMRS. You try to keep in touch for a couple of years, but all too easily you get involved with your local areas activities. Geoff T.