wagonbasher

Tackeroo is counting down to the weekend. Tackeroo is not some Antipodean bush railway as the name might suggest but a representation of a WW1 training camp, just one of many that sprang up like daffodils in 1914/5. This one was Brocton, Stafford and is modelled in 1916 as the ROD took control of rail operations and the camp became the headquarters of the New Zealand rifle brigade. A home to up to 20,000 troops. preparing and resting for and from the trenches. Im in with the demonstrators. I believe. Do come and chat, it’s more of a talkie layout than a full blown all railway action fest. I am happy to talk about the traning camps, Brocton (Cannock Chase)camp, prototype modelling and research that Mr (Andy) York and myself conducted. Why Tackeroo? Come and ask this weekend Andy

ive had to have a look as i cant remember. I have cut the side frames which I think fold down, off the piece that holds the frames at the right width and has the pivot hole in the middle. Looks like I chucked that bit away (lets call it the pivot plate) and replaced with plasticard. there is a little 1mm x 1mm fillet of square evergreen strip tucked in between the 'pivot plate and the bogie sides (just out of sight) for strength and to keep it square. Then there is a reliable but not pretty 4BA bolt which i will have araldited to the underside of the wagon floor, slotted head to the wagon floor. obviously i will have hacked off whatever mounting was there. I drilled a hole in the pivot plate (i will have done that before I attached to the frames. Then a 4BA bolt and a blob of araldite to stop it coming undone. hope that helps? Andy

Apologies if the following post make this clear as to where it is but I can’t see it. Where is this amazing location? Andy

My first thoughthis were compartment stock. So, just as you see in many churches, particularly the reformed church varieties is panelled booths for the more wealthy families to sit in rather than shuffle up with the unwashed on the pews. So maybe you booked your compartment to guarantee space and your travelling companions. Then I thought but why the gap? On the leading wagons you can possibly see doors. No such doors on the potential compartment stock. Maybe access was gained from the gap with a central doors or openings leading from the gap (corridor) to the two compartments? I know it’s only a drawing and not a photo but, there are top hats on display in both types of wagon, rather than bowlers or flat caps? Andy

in front of… Andy

The close up is cruel. I think all of the light coloured specs are from the carved out HD polystyrene foam I made into a little protective case. The Modelu Andy York 3D printed model has a sort of sloppy hoody so I had to carve off great chunks and extend the coat with Aluminium tape. In its khaki extended form it does have a look of ‘Arkwright’ open all hours look of it. The site of Andy with hair is unsettling and the black bowler, white shirt and narrow Black tie does draw unintentional but inevitable similarities with Olly Hardy. Despite this, Andy seamed pleased. Andy

I returned to my house this evening which involves passing the church. Can the Stafford Railway Circle have put up more directional signs, there are little train cut outs directing everyone to the church car park. If you get lost tomorrow you need to have a word with yourself. If you are travelling by car it is just 2 miles from junction 13. maybe buy some sweeties for the drive home? Andy

Lemon sherbets are there in the jar poised like a preying mantis. Andy

I work for Tarmac / Blue Circle, I’ve been to our cement works across the country, you will need some big trestles. Andy

Not just cakes. Local business, pop up, mobile sweetie shop will be on site. The big pink gazebo will provide classic traditional confectionery, those jelly and fizzy pick n mix along with a variety of sweet treats. Little indulgence will be there with their mobile sweet shop, whether your taste is classic liquorice, toffees, boiled sweets or those pick n mix jellies the shop has it all. Who needs layouts when you can mix with your likeminded mates with burgers, cakes and sweets. Its my daughters business and she’s not available this weekend so Mr and Mrs Waggonbasher have been trusted with ye olde scales. Andy

Is your layout there Tel, I see Nick’s is. Andy

I will have to walk about 300 yards to attend this event. This is the second year that Stafford Railway Circle are hosting this spring expo ahead of the usual Uber exhibition at the counties exhibition grounds. I couldn’t make it last year count me in for a the event and a burger. Andy

To be honest from the Rail of Sheffield advert you linked to, the customers should not be surprised, the promo shots on the ad show exactly what you are going to get, pink wheels and everything. Andy

That’s a bold claim, is it cake induced. Andy

I really like that. personally I would fully embrace the idea of weathering that wagon down. But, I realise that people have paid good money and shouldn’t have to invest time and resources to make your purchase acceptable. Andy

Martin Welch’s Wild Swan book is called the art of weathering. Looking at the Paul Bartlett photograph that Andy linked to we can see the exact vehicle that was being represented (maybe not the pink wheels). You can’t weather by numbers. It is an art. The prototype has naturally evolved with shades of rust, with faded colours from different periods and dozens of winters and summers you can’t just put some generic colours on an otherwise mint vehicle and expect it to make sense. Andy

Is that a BAA on its own in the middle of that rake? sorry for continuing the wagon invasion of Jim’s thread. Andy

I see spams has dressed down for the occasion. Always try to blend into the crowd. Andy

I remember the Stafford Railway Circle being offered a layout for parts. The owner was moving the next morning and if we didn’t want it, the owner was taking it to the tip first thing the next morning. Without notice there was only one way available to the club of moving the layout and tha was a members cattle truck. That evening I went to the farm to find our club member emptying water out of the light fittings on the trailer. I’m not sure they work, we don’t use it at night. Then he lay a tarpaulin over 18 inches depth of cow manure and straw! I don’t even think much was recoverable from the layout. Some one once asked him what the difference is between a horse trailer and a cattle trailer, he said, about 2 or 3 feet. Andy

Mark did say he had a few bits to put in the van, suspect Fiddle yard is one of those things, once he’s finished it’s legs? Or wiring up? Maybe a lick of paint? Mind you, mess around with details like that, what’s he going to do when he gets there? Well other than eat chips. Andy

I like it, A fascinating incite into North Yorkshire pastimes. Andy

Just clicked like then retracted it. looking at the work you have put in to get the stone work around the windows and the doors (corbels, is that the right word), gets you a ‘saw and screwdriver’ that is meant to represent craftsmanship. Andy

They used to warm the camera up with, Magnesium, Potassium Chloride and Antomony Sulphate! If you have any? Andy

Why. I know it was a commando training camp and you had to have business with the camp. Did you have to use grappling hooks with ropes and scale an 80 foot cliff with a hunting knife in your teeth? Andy

Cleanliness is not to godliness. Andy