Dad-1

Lane End a compact 009 layout is enough to tempt others to make up an interesting scenic layout in a small space. All being well there should be 4 x 009 layouts to see. Dad-1

Mmmm - Where do YOU work on your layout ? with a 12 board layout it's done in small segments in the Kitchen !! All of it'll be at this exhibition ....... 2 at a time ? Castell Mawr in the raw. Dad-1

You will also have the opportunity to shunt on my HS2. A well executed simple 2 point DCC & Kadee shunting puzzle. One end where some rubbish is being burnt, we hope no sparks get into the gunpowder van before the end of July !! Why HS2 ? - HS1 turned out to suit left-handed drivers and I'm right-handed 'nuff said ! 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

Undoubtedly both !! Oh and be prepared to eat Donuts ...... 'Doh !!' I've ordered 50 instead of the 40 originally planned. Dad-1

One last curtain-Call for our Open Day Ron said he'd bump it up, but has the excuse of a broken computer. Still so long as his all sound Shillingford layout is there I shan't complain. Being less formal than an exhibition it hopefully gives more chance for us to chat over a cup of tea. Dad-1 is the chairman so come look me out. Dad-1

Thanks Mikkel, Ha, Ha, Yes my little demonstration piece. I used several different sizes and colours of ballast to show how they look in-situ. For fencing the invisible sewing nylon thread was run through drilled standard matchsticks and then looped around some 2.0 mm jagged plasterboard nails, with heads suitably cut off after insertion. I used to take this to exhibitions where I did demonstrations to show cheap and easily available fencing IF you're prepared to do the work. Now I use it to line up couplings on wagon kits I make where I want the buffing bar of a coupling to match exactly to my other stock.

Well I've been away for 3 days, but the postman brought my HMRS decals on Saturday, there waiting on the floor when we got home this afternoon. Job done - I suppose not really finished as it needs a varnish seal on the decals and a light weathering. Modelu rear lamp on. Not an easy kit and as you can read decals have been a real problem, yet I've thoroughly enjoyed making this kit Even if you bang your head against a wall sometimes it still remains fun. The HMRS LNER Wagon sheet is as expected first class although it hasn't got some of the required decals for certain periods of this vans use. Dad-1

Thanks for the input Mikkel, Never yet had problems with HMRS decals, some of which must be at least 7 years old. I had wondered about a thin varnish, or my first experiment will be with Johnsons Kleer acrylic floor polish. It's like water and used to seal decals on and float larger decals about by many aircraft modellers. The possible down side is that the allocation locations are made up from 1.0 mm individual letters, you can't hold a complete word with scalpel points unless you have around 8 hands ! The question will sliding off the top tissue disturb any letters ? Only one way experiment. My LNER HMRS sheet has arrived so all basic decals will come from that. It also includes the allocation 'Gateshead' and with this model being for a friend we have flexibility !! Next posting will show how I've got on !! Fingers crossed .......................... Dad-1

O.K not quite a finished NER Birdcage Brake Van. That's where the trip comes. The decal sheet was 'dead', a press-fix and for anyone who has used them there should be a protected surface film on the underside. When you cut out your required marking this adhesive is what you press onto your model to hold it in place, then when located correctly you add water to an over tissue. This water both releases the over tissue and activates the permanent adhesive which is included with the tacky film. Sorry about the teach-in, but it helps you understand my problem. So ? Well the Cooper Craft/Slaters decal sheet was 'dead', not only was the tacky film not active, but when water added the protective tissue lifted away, but the decal didn't adhere to my model, Huh - Dead !! I have been asking questions in the forum, but although this is a known problem with some press-fix decals nobody has a fool proof way of resurrecting them !!!! Note the rather prominent lamp brackets that have been added from fine micro strip, 3 to each end and one each side near the door. Hopefully this will be finished withing a few hours of a HMRS LNER press-fix decal sheet arriving. It has the essentials, but sadly not all the allocation names. Dad-1

Thanks Ian, No I don't have any shellac, meths is no problem so long as is doesn't loose any light distillates during it's 40 + years in my bottle !! I was wondering if Gum Arabic could be applied is exactly the way you suggest, which should turn them into water slide decals ? However as Steamport Southport suggested I have already got the HMRS LNER wagon sheet ordered. It think it offers all I need l except the allocation names and I had wanted to mark up as 'Thirsk' - the valuable part of that original sheet is in those allocations of York; Malton; Leeds; Goole; Hull; Newcastle; My late father was from Thirsk and I was born in Newcastle. The HMRS sheet has a 'Gateshead', that if the correct size I can use !! Dad-1

Rather than mess about anymore I've ordered the HMRS press-fix sheet. My friend for whom I'm making the brake van has another 'on the way' therefore good quality decals are paramount.

Hi John, Thanks for the suggestion, but no luck. I may have tried a rather a strong 50/50 meths/water mix, but as everything was still on the table nothing to loose. I've also tried Microsol without it making any difference. I note HMRS do an LNER sheet where I can get suitable numbers, and N , E, although I don't know the comparative size to the original decal sheet. I'm going to try floating individual letters on a film of Johnsons 'Clear', but that approach wouldn't work with an allocation name as on this Cooper Craft sheet each letter in a name is an individual and separate letter. Dad-1

I'm just finishing off a Cooper Craft NER birdcage brake van. The decal sheet is allegedly press-fix, not a problem as I've used loads of HMRS press-fix ....... Only !! The decals have dried out to the degree where the tacky attachment layer has completely dried up and the decals won't adhere to any surface and feel completely dry. In fact the adhesive protective tissue was loose without any indication of having been on the sheet. I cut out a couple of letters and carefully laid on a test surface, added a touch of water, the tissue coverings lifted away, but the letters (tested twice) wouldn't stick to the test piece. Dead glue !! Must check what decals are included on other HMRS sheets that I don't have. Normally I'm a GWR modeller. 'Thirsk' in 1.0 mm white letters would be nice !! Dad-1

Thanks Southernboy, Derek has another on the way and I expect to be asked to make it. Although not an easy kit it certainly is an interesting subject. Having had it's second Bauxite painting (still damp here) it's looking quite nice. Next the foot boards need painting up fully, the tall stove pipe chimney adding, several lamp brackets, roof painting then decalling. I expect this will hang around for another week at least. MMMM don't know how to add a picture in 'Replies' Dad-1

O.K so it's clean .......early days I suppose Every piece of coal came off the bottom line !! Dad-1

We're having a club open day on Sunday 27th May from 11.00 - 15.00 Hrs at Askerswell Village Hall (Our normal club meeting venue). This is just north of the A35 Dorchester to Bridport road. Entry is free for anyone within striking distance to come & meet us. Light refreshments available, biscuits/cake and drink at minimal cost. We will have the clubs test tracks 'N'; '00' analogue; and '00' DCC up and running as well as 5 members layouts covering 009; '00' sound'; '00' shunting that you can try your hand at, and more This is not an Exhibition, but a day to meet and enjoy our hospitality. For anyone that can't read maps find us at DT2 9EW. Dad-1

I'm known for being almost a wagon addict, I've always got at least one on the go, but there comes a time when space is running low. In a casual conversation with my local buddy I said I only had 3 kits left in stock and might not buy any more with my 'yard' containing around 450. Next thing he offered me a Cooper Craft, Ex-Slaters NER Birdcage brake van, would I make it for him ? With it's 19 pieces of brass wire not an easy build. Here it is as I'm beginning to paint. Still a ways to go, but looking the part ? 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.

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

I was aware of the secondhand BL1 versions for sale at TMC & Hatton's, but although I'd found reference to AMR in a 2010 RMWeb postings I'd not found that other which has given details which tell of the two adjustment parameters. That will probably give me all I need to know now. That may still not be enough to fix the overall problems of two linked BL3 units, fired up from press to start control. Although the one unit I have stripped out and brought home can be made to work as intended. I think the problems may have been brought on by the the current team not being aware of the essential requirement that polarity input from the speed controller is the correct way around. This has been found by experimenting. Normally controller polarity is swapped as one moves from forward to reverse, however this is built into the BL3 unit. As a result one MUST have a constant & correct polarity feed. I would still like to find a set of original instruction. 2010 phone numbers no longer current. Dad-1

Thanks for the input Brian D. The aim currently is to use what we have and for fully understanding that we need some original instructions. Dad-1

Since posting this morning I've been experimenting ...... for hours. I now have the first of two BL3 units working as I think is needed, but I'm still playing with the slowing and delay controls. I still desperately need a set of instructions. I do hope someone can help. I would also be interested to know if these were a U.K produced product, or perhaps imported ? Anyone know ? Dad-1

I was asked IF I could help .......... However this is way beyond my knowledge and understanding CAN YOU HELP ME WITH I need instructions & installation details for the AMR BL3 Branch Line Shuttle Units. My understanding is they ceased trading quite a few years back, perhaps 10 years ? I do not even know what functions the two rotary controls on the upper case control !! This is all being done on the proverbial shoe-string by volunteers with virtually no railway modelling experience, hence their coming to our exhibition to ask if we could help. The system has two of these AMR controllers, one working an upper track, one the lower and operate to run a pair of sequence linked out and back trains. Without having some detail of these units I don't see how we can check to see if the failure of the display is from faults within the controllers, reed switches, or other. The Display was created somewhere around 1992 a date on the single trigger circuit switch details. Dad-1

Bob WILL be keeping me informed of layouts coming in future !! But while photos are being added, here is HS-II You can shunt this puzzle, 5 wagons in random card draw to be placed in the correct order by the goods platform. Not an offer you get every day. Dad-1