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PaternosterRow

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  1. PaternosterRow

    UP THE JUNCTION

    By PaternosterRow,

    It's an age since I posted anything, but that don't mean that I haven't done anything. So here goes with the latest model. It's a four by three foot micro that has been connected up to three continuous loops so that I ran run trains to my heart's content - a real train set at long last. There's also a small shunting yard at the front for various departmental wagons and freight - depending what mood I'm in. The shunting yard is all operated by Spratt & Winkle - I just use a hand held magnet under the board to avoid the old 'hands in the sky' method. Whilst it is a Southern type scheme I can run any train depending on what I fancy - I've added some third rails (lengths of code 75 glued down beside the running rail) but you can't see these from the yard level etc.
     
    I wanted to create real depth to the cameo hence the yard, the double viaduct behind and single viaduct to the very rear. The viaducts are glued together Scalescenes Bridge kits.
     

    A Lima HST going over the front viaduct - a test shot and demonstrating that I can use just about any train from the corporate era.
     

    Setting up the scheme and playing about with positions of the viaducts.
     

    A test shot to ensure the holes in the backscene can't easily be seen from the front. Scenic breaks are the bug bear of all micro layouts.
     

    I took this picture of Bordesley Viaduct way back in 1995 from the third floor of a warehouse in Digbeth (long expose using 35mm film - the bad old days of photography - modern cameras are brilliant aren't they?) and wanted to emulate a part of this sodium lit night scene.
     

    My take with a block of flats (the right hand side scenic break) lit with a single light bulb inside.
     

    The flats are a super detailed Kingsway model seen here in the set up picture.
     

    Preparing the flats - each have windows with Scalescene's curtain textures etc.
     

    The front of one of the sections - I used sand that was glued to the front with a watery mix of PVA.
     

    The flats in daylight - Hornby 2 HAL with a Bachmann Class 416 on the front viaduct. Note the detailed Lima Class 73 on the rear viaduct travelling from behind the flats.
     

    You can get a feel for the depth of the cameo in this shot.
     
    I'm finishing off the departmental wagons, cranes etc for the yard at the moment and will post update pics at a later date.
  2. PaternosterRow
    In response to fellow RMweb members who were interested in how I made the overall wire roof the following is an article that was scheduled to appear in a future edition of FRMR. The baseboard for the model had been completed by the end of December and the roof structure by the end of January. It was around this time I emailed some pictures to the late Bob Barlow, who in response asked me to write a short article about its construction. By the time this was sent the poor man was probably starting to become very ill. It would be in bad taste, as much as a lack of respect, to send it on to another magazine but it’d also be a great shame to just bin it. So here it is. I’m sure Bob would have put his experienced editorial eye over it before it made it to print so this is it how it was submitted without any adjustments.
     
     
    An Overall Station Roof from Galvanised Wire
     
    By Mike Lynch
     

     
     
     
    After the success of my ‘House of Shadows’ layout I decided to push the concept further and use the same internal lighting technique for a small station scene. The general idea was to construct an overall arched roof on a 6 foot long curved layout and enclose it in a custom made lighting box. Most of my previous roofed dioramas have been made from 1mm diameter galvanised wire and I could see no reason why this roof couldn’t be made the same way. Being from the ‘make do and mend’ generation, I’m always looking out for ways to model on the cheap. This can be an expensive hobby and the amount of brass material required would cost way too much for what will only really be a photographic display. Bundles of galvanised wire were found at a tip some years ago so all my roof schemes have only ever cost the price of the solder and flux! Many modellers would recoil at the thought of using material like this because it is not an accurate representation of that used on the prototype. But I’m more of a ‘fine art’ rather than ‘fine scale’ modeller (if there can be any such thing) so it’s only the overall impression I’m interested in. To me, the background is incidental to the stock so as long as it looks fairly realistic that does for me.
     
    The first thing to do before undertaking any such scheme was to trawl my collection of prototype books for pictures of Victorian Overall roofs. The thing I noticed most was how the curving steel stanchions seem to disappear into the sides of the support walls instead of sitting squarely on top of their masonry columns. This means that the feet of these half circle stanchions rest much further down toward platform level. In order to create the same effect small curving flutes were made from cardboard, painted and then mounted onto the wall. This arrangement dictated the circumference of the wire arches; they would now need to be about a third of a circle in diameter instead of a half. The photorealistic wall texture, Carlisle Station Wall, is from the Smart Models range and very much lends an authentic look; the three arch bays also neatly predetermined the stanchion spacing.
     
    Station roofs, like all roofs, are made from a collection of standardised components that have been pre-made in a factory, delivered to site and erected. The same process needed to be mimicked in model form. Therefore, each of the arches had to be made exactly the same in order to achieve the duplication found in roof structures of this type. The layout needed 13 spans; 11 of these were going to be double sided with two single arch spans at the entrance and at the rear. The entrance span was going to be glass fronted so it required window bars to match the acetate texture that was going to be used. A mirror was going to be employed to double the length of the scene at the rear of the layout so the other span would need to be single in order to create the correct reflection and neatly reinforce the illusion. In total then, I’d need to make 24 single sided arches in some sort of a jig.
     
    A side elevation plan of the layout was drawn up for reference beforehand and then transferred to an old off cut of plasterboard which would be used as the master jig. The wires would need to be held in place by small grooves during soldering so these were simply scored out with the tip of a small screwdriver once the paper covering had been cut away to reveal the Gypsum underneath. Plaster board is excellent for this type of work as it’s easy to score out (try scoring curved lines in wood!), it also doesn’t absorb much heat from the soldering iron and subject metal.
     
    Once satisfied that all the measurements and lines were correct the wire was prepared. This had to be stretched by use of a vice and pair of pliers in order to straighten it out; the wire is quite soft so this also introduces a little tension and ensures that it doesn’t bend as easily when working with. It was then cleaned with some Emery paper and cut into the predetermined lengths required.
     
    During the making up process I found it best to quickly drop a little blob of solder on each of the joints first, let it cool and then go back and work it around properly. I also like to be liberal with the flux; it’s messy but it makes for a solid joint and there’s also nothing quite so satisfying than watching solder flow easily over metal. In the first test arch only the uprights between the outer and inner curving wires were soldered. This was then taken up and offered to the master plan for checking. However, the outer wires started to bend up out of shape after a few minutes and I thought that at this point the scheme would come to nothing. Going back to the prototype pictures I soon began to realise why the engineers had introduced angled locking bars between their uprights. These were introduced into the master jig and another arch was quickly soldered up; it worked and provided a powerful insight into the design of these types of structures. In fact, just to ensure against any further springing a longitudinal locking bar between the arch feet was also incorporated; these can be found in a lot of roof structures and are commonly referred to as Collars.
     
    Once these arches were complete 22 were joined together at 10mm apart with temporary wire spacers to make the 11 double arch spans required. These wires would be removed later when the spans were finally linked up with each other. The entrance and mirror arches were modified accordingly. Once washed down the spans were transferred to a master plan that had been carefully drawn out on a separate board. This plan mimicked the curving wall and its column locations exactly. At this stage another template was scored out on the plasterboard in order to make the triangular glazing sections that sit atop the arches. These were relatively quick to run off and were soldered on in situ without too much fuss.
     
    Joining all of the spans to form a cohesive whole was very straightforward. Using cardboard spacers as guides, simple lengths of wire were soldered along the outside length of the span run. It was crucial to ensure these joiners were spaced correctly in order to accommodate the acetate glazing panels that were going to be used. Where these joining bars needed to be thicker, individual lengths of wire were soldered together before being fitted. In order to ensure the curve remained true, so that the structure exactly fitted the sweep of the wall, 5mm square metal bars were soldered on the feet bottoms at both sides. These were picked up quite cheaply from a local DIY store and were easily bent to shape. Once the structure was complete it was thoroughly washed down with hot water and detergent. I did this in the bath and won’t be doing anything like that again simply for the sake of domestic harmony!
     
    On a final note, this has been a very cheap project to date; even the baseboard came off a disused hoarding found at the road side. The roof took about 30 hours to complete and, as described, was very simply and quickly put together. Researching the prototype was also very enjoyable and gave plenty of insight into the design and assembly of this type of roof construction. Some of these Victorian super structures are now over 150 years old and despite the weather, Hitler’s bombs in some cases and the appalling lack of maintenance during the BR era they remain solid and true. They are testament to the abilities of the original designers, engineers and erectors. This has made me wonder just how long my simple model will last; that’s in scale years of course!
     
     

    The Master Jig - an old off cut of plasterboard.
     

    The jig took a bit of a bashing but is still servicable should an extension be made at a later date.
     

    Once joined together the arch spans were transferred to an accurate plan of the layout drawn out on a 'making up' board.
     

    There was a fair bit of fiddling about during the making up process and the entire structure was regularly test fitted against the layout.
     

    Once the structure was complete it was offered up to the mirror. The purpose of the single arch span at the rear of the layout is now obvious. Its reflection reinforces the illusion of an unbroken series of double arch spans.
     

    An initial test shot during the covering stage and before the Light Box section was made.
     

    A shot of the completed structure under natural lighting conditions.
  3. PaternosterRow
    Ever since completing my GWR branch terminus layout (Cheslyn) it has languished under dust sheets in the loft. My trouble is that I'm a bit of serial layout builder and get quickly bored once a project has been finished. Space is also at a premium and Cheslyn was taking it up so I therefore approached the Lartigue Museum in Listowel, Co Kerry and asked if they'd like to have it for display. They were delighted and mounted the layout on the wall in the old engine shed shortly after it was delivered to site. In addition to the layout I've also donated some stock.
     

     

    Cheslyn sits atop a scratchbuilt model of the Lartigue - this was made by a retired driver many years ago and it's a fantastic model that can be pushed along the small section of track made for it.
     
    I was delighted to have been made a lifetime member as a reward and can go visit for free whenever the fancy takes me. I live about 35 miles away (which is only a minor distance here in Ireland) and intend to visit often.
     
    Take a look at their website for some original photographs of the Listowel to Ballybunion railway in its heyday. This unique elevated steam train system ran for 36 years from 1888 to 1924 and the descendants of the British drivers sent over to operate the train still live in Listowel to this day. It seems to be an overlooked chapter in the history of steam traction and any enthusiast going on holiday to this part of the world ought to put it on the 'to visit' list.
     
    The lastest boon for the museum was to find an old Pathe newsreel from the early twenties - it's the only known film to ever have been taken of the Lartigue system. The short film also provides a fascinating glimpse of life in Ireland at that time.
     
    http://www.lartiguemonorail.com
     

     

     
    There were two driver/stokers on the footplate to balance out this weird contraption - the above is the modern diesel version that pulls a couple of carriages down a short length of restored track.
     
    Whilst on a visit about a month ago I met Graham Morfoot of http://www.grahamsrailways.com/ We had a great chat about our love for the hobby - it's a small world sometimes!
  4. PaternosterRow
    A little project to celebrate the 50th Anniversary. I always loved the red flash double arrow logo and wish BR had adopted it for the whole of the corporate era.
     

     
    There's certainly a lot of life left in these old Lima models. I spent a lot of time trying to match the colour BR had first used - turquoise blue - and eventually found this colour. It's not a perfect match and seeing how I'm limited to using spray cans (I haven't yet plucked up the courage to go buy an air brush) it was the closest I could find. The transfers are from Railtec and are brilliant, but fell apart when I used my particular brand of matt varnish - good job I bought two sets!
     

     

     
    I wished I'd had sprayed the yellow panel - it was hand painted with Humbrol Insignia Yellow and turned out a bit lumpy. I should have removed the square headlamp and also wished I'd have gone for flush glazing. However, for only my second loco bash I'm pleased with the result.
     
    Happy Birthday XP 64.
  5. PaternosterRow
    Gosh, it’s been well over a year since my last post. But it has been a crappy time and life has thrown my wife and I some right old spanners to contend with.
     
    The worst of it was when my dear old Mom passed away in mid November after an 18 month long battle with Bladder Cancer. Thankfully she was in a care home for the last 6 months so she was extremely well looked after and had little pain to put up with in the end. Marvellous places.
     
    Whilst all this went on modelling took a back seat, understandably, but I did manage to get a few hours in here and there. I’m thankful for the distraction it gave – immersing yourself in the unimportant is a great stress reliever. I really feel for those who have to juggle work and life with the needs of a very sick parent – it’s quite a strain. Watching her suffer from this dreadful disease was unbearable at times.
     
    It was around early June last year that the late Bob Barlow, another victim of this savage illness, contacted me about doing an article on my Shadow Box Roundhouse for his new magazine – Finescale Railway Modelling Review. It was just the right sort of ‘pick me up’ I needed at the time. In fact, Mom was so delighted that she insisted on showing her copy to all of the other residents when it arrived. She rallied just a little and it provided her a much welcome, although all too brief, distraction - for this alone I shall be ever grateful to Bob and the Greystar team.
     
    After her passing I threw myself back into modelling which helped enormously in the aftermath. So I thought I’d push the Shadow Box concept further and have a go at modest station scene. Here are the results.
     

     
    Waterloo Sunset. XP64 with its new livery pulls in to the station. The station scene rough covers the BR period and therefore reflects the dilapidation of these Victorian super structures at that time.
     

     

     
    The following shots are taken under the Shadow Box lighting rig. This has been simply placed over the top of the roof and uses 12 v Halogens as the light source. I wanted to create a Cathedral like atmosphere with shafts of sunlight beaming down through broken skylights.
     

     

     
    The following are shots of the construction methods used.
     

     
    The simple baseboard set up.
     

     
    The plasterboard jig for the arches.
     

     
    Once complete the arches were transfered to a board with a detailed plan of the wall and curve of the baseboard.
     

     
    Completed wire roof structure before the covering went on.
     

     
    The Mirror trick. This doubles the length of the scene - it was crucial to get this exactly square on the end of the model in order for it to work.
     

     
    Last train at Platform 5 - the magnificent Bachmann Peak. The Mirror really comes in to its own here and perfectly reflects the curving sweep of the layout. There really are only 3 coaches in this scene.
  6. PaternosterRow
    These models are more than a bit naff, but for the price they are great for static displays. I had to strip down the Mallard one and reglue the wheels straight and rejoin the wobbly bottom half of the tender. I also did a little bit of weathering on the Mallard. You know I often wonder why Airfix/Dapol never made these part of their plastic kit range.
     

     

     

     

     
    I've only bought the Flying Scotsman and Mallard issues and now wish I'd have purchased at least six of the Mallard ones - repainted them appropriately and had a bash at recreating a cheap version of the Great Gathering. Wonder if the mag will be reissued?
  7. PaternosterRow
    I happened to mention to SWMBO that I might build a Tinsley Micro plank so that I could take pics of my Lima shunter to Class 13 conversion in an appropriate setting. This sparked off the inevitable debate about the amount of time I spend modelling. However, seeing how SWMBO spends her time in the evenings watching all of the soaps (television I point blank refuse to watch) I countered that the micro could be done in an equivalent amount of time over a week or so. We finally agreed a ten hour time limit - from first cut of wood for the board to the first photograph. The prize - some goodies if I won! The following is the result. Unfortunately, in my haste, I did not document the build but have included a small demo of the method I use to build up the scenery.
     

     

     
    The Lima conversion looks quite passable in these shots. The first shot was the first one taken on the new micro - the embankments and track ballast was still sopping wet, but I proved my point to SWMBO!
     

     
    'Google Earth' view.
     

     
    I painted this backscene for photographs some time ago now. I've never been able to repeat the realistic method for cloudy skies though.
     

     

     

     

     
    The upper track is supported by a strip of 6mm ply on 75mm tall wooden supports - these supports are spaced every 2 inches. I then use cardboard to build up the profile of the embankments - the glue gun is brilliant for this as it gives instant results. Once the profiles are complete, I cover them in flower basket liner and then apply the static grass whilst the liner is still sopping wet. I prefer this method to ripping the liner off once the glue dries because the finished effect looks just like the dead clumps of grass underneath fresh growth as seen on embankments etc. Despite it looking all a bit flimsy, once the glue has dried the whole structure becomes stiff and is quite robust.
     
    The prototypical concrete box tunnels are just knocked up from pieces of 6mm ply. Again, the glue gun is used to give instant results. The sides were scored with a screwdriver to give the layer effect - they were then given a coat of watery glue before being covered in a fine sand and fire ash mixture. Once dry they were given a black wash. The ash comes direct from my living room fire and the sand from Castlegregory beach in Dingle. The railings have been 'borrowed' from the turntable on my Barrow Hill layout.
     

     
    A nice shot of my Hornby Grid.
     

     
    The whole layout - exactly 3ft long.
     

     
    My superb Bachmann Class 08 pulling a crane.
     
    The whole thing took just under 10 hours to do and cost about £25! All of the wood was taken out of the scrap pile we use for burning. SWMBO argued at first that it couldn't be classed as complete until everything had dried out. However, I thought this very churlish seeing how I had done everything according to terms of the agreement - she finally backed down. I'm now very much enjoying tormenting her as to the value of the goodies I'm going to order!
  8. PaternosterRow

    Lima - Go Hump

    By PaternosterRow,

    The second Lima arrived on Monday morning along with the Fox Transfers - I only ordered both of these on the 31st Jan!!! Great service. I also ordered a Hornby shunter detailing kit and some Flush glazing from another supplier - still no news!! It seems that not all suppliers have an enlightened attitude toward customer service. I'm not inclined to name names because I don't know how this would go down. However, as it turned out, they did me a favor.
     

     
    Right out of the box from ebay - exactly as advertised and cost £32 + p&p. I ordered this from Greg Diffen and I'd just like to say thank you for the very prompt service.
     

     

     
    I couldn't wait for the flush glazing so thought why not have a go myself. I found an interest site on the web about using soft plastic for making your own windows. My wife is an ardent recycler so I raided her boxes and found a suitable piece of plastic. This was simply held up inside the openings, scribed and then cut out with scissors. I used a little sharpening block (those that come in the cheap blade sets) and sanded down to the scribed lines. Turned out quite good and I'm pleased with the overall effect.
     

     
    Small slithers of masking tape was used to paint on the return wasp stripes. Any paint creep was dealt with the end of a sharp scalpel blade. I've tried to be a lot more neater with the drill holes for the handles on the Master Unit this time.
     

     
    The Fox transfers - which are quite frankly brilliant - were applied with a very steady hand and a lot of patience. I use cocktail sticks to position and ear buds to help mop up the water once they are in the correct place. The transfers really bring the model to life.
     

     

     
    A comparison shot with my superb Bachmann Class 08.
     

     

     
    On the basis that you can't make a Silk Purse out of a Pig's Ear the effort hasn't turned out too bad. The Master runs well on the test track although it does sound a bit like a Coffee Grinder and lacks the nice slow running capacity of Modern models. However, given that this is my first conversion of anything and that it all came in for a little under £50 I've got a nice little unusual shunter - even though it does look out of place on my Cheslyn layout.
  9. PaternosterRow
    Over the last few nights I've been knocking up the following Class 13 Slave unit out of an old Lima Class 09 shunter. Bought a copy of a special edition of Modelling British Railways about all the TOPS Diesels - really brilliant and haven't been able to put it down. When I saw the section about making a Class 13 out of a couple of Hornby Class 08s I started watering at the mouth! 'I have to have one, I have to have one' became my mantra around the house for a few days. Always on a budget, I can't afford to hack about with a pair of new locos worth £75 each so I had a go at an old Lima instead.
     
    The result - I've put my Bachmann Class 08 with it for a few piccies. There is no way I'm going to start hacking away at my Bachmann though to complete the unit. The pics are just for example. I like the black and white ones personally.
     

     

     

     

     

     
    The backing plate is cardboard and so is the cover box. I used the original back to the cab for the cab surround but had to make up the height with a piece of 3mm card - just carried the original wasp stripes up to the lip. I've used a cut down wooden coffee stirrer for the brake rods - crude, I know, but I figured that it was better to have something rather than nothing. To hide the clunky rods I've blackened them with metal black then painted 2/3's so it looks in proportion.
     
    The lengthened buffers are just pieces of plastic cut from a Cracker Box and then painted yellow. Pipes and knuckles are from the spares box.
     
    Cut off the molded hand rails and replaced them with wire - these look okay but could be better. The steps have been made from pieces off an old brass fret and the cab ones are off an old Airfix/Dapol Battle of Britain tender.
     
    First time I've converted anything so pleased with result so far. Got to give it a bit more of a rub down with the glass fibre brush and also coat of matt varnish after the Overhead and Double arrow transfers go on. Ordering these from Fox transfers.
     
    Now it's down to the Master - however, I need another Lima. If anyone has an old unloved one for sale please let me know. I had to remove the motor from the slave so have one spare. Just need it to be Blue and have original wasp stripes. Also need the rods.
  10. PaternosterRow
    The 3mm leds arrived today from Express Models. Really are superb quality lights - relatively cheap and very easy to use. Their service really is an express one and these have again, like all my other orders, arrived very timely indeed. I've stuck a couple in the ends of short pieces of plastic straw and used them as directional lighting (tiny spots) to highlight the front of the 9F. A couple have also been stuck down a couple of the smoke hoods to simulate the sunlight coming down them as it would on the prototype. I've had to be careful not to use too many lights at the front because they would simply drown out the lighting effect at the rear of the model. It's been quite a balancing act but I think it's just about right now.
     

     

     
    David Shepherd's superb painting and my take on it.
     
     

     

     

     
    I quite like the black and white versions.
     
    The Bachmann model is unbelievably detailed and it has been beautifully weathered. British RTR is really cheap when you compare it with the European stuff - we really are lucky and seem to be able to have twice as much for the same price! Note the plastic Dapol model in the road next to it - this has turned out quite good for a layout filler.
     
    I don't think I can go any further with the project now except to take a few more pics of my diesels etc. You could literally spend hours and hours adjusting the lights, taping over the holes in the roof and making new ones, but I think the effects would be more or less the same. It's been an interesting exercise and has provided plenty of food for though with regards layout lighting for the future.
  11. PaternosterRow
    In the lead up to Christmas I wanted a break from the next phase of making the control panel for my Barrow Hill Yard layout - wiring just ain't fun enough! So, whilst perusing the internet during this let up period I came across David Shepherd's magnificent painting called 'On Shed' - this features a dirty 9F awaiting its next duty. This really got the juices flowing so I put together a quickie layout for a Shadow Box scheme (I've had a Bachmann 9F for Christmas which I'm eagerly waiting for the postie to deliver right now). The idea was to try and simulate David's painting by having streams of sunlight coming through imaginary skylights etc. This, I thought, could only be done by constructing a Shadow Box. Anyone familiar with military modeling will have probably heard of Shep Paine who honed this way of making dioramas way back in the 1980's. For anyone not in the know, a Shadow Box is basically a model within a sealed box with its own hidden light source that can be used to simulate sunlight through a window etc etc.
     

     
    David Shepherd's magnificent and very dramatic painting.
     

     

     

     
    My efforts so far. I'm still playing around with positioning the light bulbs and led spotlights. The beams have been generated by cutting tiny slits and holes in the roof of the layout - the roof has a sealed box glued on top which contains the lights. The bright light is generated by three 55 watt car headlight bulbs and is the closet to sunlight as you can get without burning the house down! Getting the lights to work was the most frustrating part of the project. However, I spent a couple of enjoyable hours with my local mechanic (Mike Dillane) in his workshop with card board boxes and different car lights. His son happily obliged us by blowing smoke into the boxes to try and create the beaming effect. Mike suggested using a car battery and battery charger, but I didn't fancy lugging this stuff around. In the end, I used simple AC 12v 60 amp transformers used for Kitchen downlights - these quite happily run 12v DC car bulbs and they were only a fiver each! I started off by running an extension cord from the battery of my car to run the bulbs, however, SWMBO put a stop to this in case I did damage! Then I tried an old drill battery charger but this was only putting out 2 amps and not the 15 amps I required - it lasted all of 15 minutes! It's all part of the learning curve I suppose, but to me, this is were the fun is.
     

     

     
    The layout is quite simple and is basically a quarter of a roundhouse which has a mirror placed along one side. I initially considered taking a saw to my Barrow Hill Roundhouse model but reason prevailed. The layout took about 10 hours to build from bits of scrap I had lying around etc - the lights have taken about 6 hours so far. I used the same method of roof and smoke construction - this time without the skylights as the light can only be let in very slightly so you get the streaming effect without washing it out. Photographs have been taken at night with room lights off for maximum effect.
     
    HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL RMweb members.
  12. PaternosterRow
    Just a quick update on progress so far.
     
    The track is down and wiring nearing completion. There's been a lot happening here of late with family matters of one thing and another so modeling time has been severely compromised.
     

     
    My wiring method ain't neat, but it works! All points are motored and the frogs wired to Peco switches - a lot of work but worth the effort for a yard type layout. So hopefully loco stutter will be non existent and slow running should be superb when all things have been tested. I like to attach the motor directly to point then cut out a hole in the board to take it - note the piece of mounting card between point a motor that fills the gap in the hole. This is going to save a load of work patching up the holes at a later stage when it comes to ballasting.
     
    When wiring, I tend to draw a crude track plan on the side of the layout support boards then put a load of screws in that represent the point switches and isolated sections etc - these have the appropriate wires under the board soldered to them. I then use stud probes to test the under board wiring by placing them on the screw heads. Later on these screw heads will have wires soldered to them that, in turn, will connect to surface switches on a control panel. It seems a good way of testing first and also limiting the amount of wires under the board itself. I've already identified a point that was giving a short - forgot to remove the tiny wires under the electrofrog that connect the blades and frog! If you look carefully at the picture you'll see these screws.
     

     
    This is a pic of the layout on its side on my workbench. I've tried to nail that fan shape that's typical of Barrow Hill. Hope I've succeeded - only time will tell!
     

     
    Another pic of the track plan.
     
    That's all for now - testing during the week!!
  13. PaternosterRow

    The Works

    By PaternosterRow,

    Anyone familiar with my models will know I’m a bit of a ‘Shed’ nut and this is another one. In response to an article in Railway News last summer I’d set my heart on a depiction of a locomotive works once my Barrow Hill layout was finished. The fact that I also grew up in Birmingham has something to do with a fascination for factories. It seems the industrial areas of my home town have left an indelible mark that just can’t be ignored even though I now live in rural Ireland.
     
     

    Horwich Works – an Ivatt Mogul being brought out of the erecting shop via the traverser. This is basically what I want to emulate. The photo is from the October 2012 issue of British Railways Illustrated.
     
     
     

    Stage 1 – the traverser and interior area. The traverser is a simple piece of 3mm Perspex with a piece of Code 100 glued on top. The wheels are upside down bogies from a couple of Lima Mark 1 carriages.
     
     
     

    Heljan Class 33 atop the traverser unit. Two pieces of electrical wire hang down from the underside and connect the traverser track with the middle running tracks below – this allows the trains to run by their own power along the traverser deck and on to the internal shed roads.
     
     

    The first wall section and the internal over head crane support beams in place. The windows are Brassmasters – these have been doubled up with a piece of plastic between so they can be viewed from inside and out. All the brickwork are good old Scalescene's textures - Painted and Aged Brick.
     
     
     

    Couldn’t resist including this exterior effects shot. It’s the good old Dapol plastic kit of a 9F. I drilled a hole in the underside of the boiler and pushed a straw into it – the straw extends down under the baseboard so smoke could be blown up into the boiler and out of the double chimney. The top of a Superquick Coaling tower cab be seen above and beyond the external wall.
  14. PaternosterRow
    I've finally buckled down and decided to build a layout based on Barrow Hill's Service Yard. At first I'd made great plans to somehow incorporate this with my layout of the Roundhouse, but reason has prevailed and I've decided to just model the yard which will butt up against a low relief version of the Roundhouse.
     

     
    The coaling stage and ash plant, heavily modified versions of the Super Quick models, are just for scale. I made these at the same time as my 'D' Shop model during the brief interludes whilst glue was drying etc.
     

     
    I've used the brilliant Peco track templates to help get that fan shape that's typical of the point layout at Barrow Hill. I've also used a Google Earth Print out of the prototype to help get the planning right - you can see this and a photo of the site pasted down on the layout boards. Also learnt that a bargain isn't always a bargain as I bought the plywood in a sale at a local DIY store only to find that it started to slightly de-laminate once I started pasting down the paper templates. So I've resorted to tacking down certain areas with panel pins where it has lifted. As my dear old Dad used to say - "there's no such thing as owt for nowt."
     

     

     

     
    The above demonstrates how I constructed the coaling stage ramp. I've gone for Scalescene's brilliant coaling stage kit which has been slightly modified. Although there is no stage at Barrow Hill at the moment there are plans afoot to restore the original. However, this was more like the Metcalfe version, but I just thought the Scalescenes Didcot type was better looking.
     

     

     

     
    I'm just waiting for track, points, motors and some other bits and pieces to arrive now.
     
    I don't use DCC, too expensive, so I've come up with a cunning plan for a lot of isolating sections. This will involve screw heads, lots of wire and some stud probes - more later as the layout develops.
  15. PaternosterRow
    The goodies arrived from Hattons yesterday. I've taken advantage of their bargain section and got these two smashing beauties for only a little over £110!
    These are my birthday present and were therefore a legal purchase for a change!!!
     
    The first pic of an Ivatt Class 4 Mogul and was the prototype for the BR Standard 4MT. Note the double chimney - this was reduced to a single when it was found that they could double the boiler pressure with the new arrangement. This pic (June 1949) was taken at the Horwich works and is from a smashing article about the 'Ugly Ducklings' in the British Railways Illustrated mag of October 2012. It was this picture that really kick started the project.
     

     
    and my take in 'D' Shop
     

     
    I couldn't resist this pic of D186, my other purchase, as it really is a magnificent machine.
     

  16. PaternosterRow
    Had some fun with another Dapol 9F kit. I've tried to emulate the scene below from British Railways Illustrated (August edition). The prototype photo shows a 9F being fitted with a Crostis Boiler in March 1955 at Crewe. My take, however, has to make do with a standard boiler.
     

     

     
    This is a shot from the other side.
     

     
    A final pic of the welder at work on a stripped down 4MT
     

  17. PaternosterRow
    The Express Models welding unit has finally gone in and, apart from eagerly awaiting some goodies from Ehattons, the layout is more or less complete.
     

     

     

     

     

     

     
    The building could be slotted into a larger layout if need be but that's for another time. At the moment I'm having a bit of fun modifying a SuperQuick Ash Plant for a small shed scene.
  18. PaternosterRow
    The Roof is more or less complete and so is the front. Here are a couple of shots of the layout.
     

     

     
    The shot above shows how the roof detaches and how the end gable wall slots out. In retrospect I wish I had made the back wall detachable, but it does have viewing arches so a camera lens can be pushed through.
     

     

     

     

     
    It would be pretty rare to have diesels in the same shop as steam locos, but it did happen. Anyway I couldn't resist uploading this picture as it shows off the roof details nicely.
     
    I'm using Dapol plastic kits for the steam locos in for repairs. These are great and are easy to cut up and glue together to show the various stages of how a loco was overhauled.
     
    There's still a few to build and a lot more workshop type stuff to go in yet.
     
    I've not had much time to model as the weather here is superb at the moment. We've had a week of 31 degree days so there's no excuse not to work on the garden!
  19. PaternosterRow
    The roof covering is complete. Just waiting for some lights to arrive in the post now. There's still a load to do - the gable roof caps and the top capping over the ridge spines (which are channels for the wires for the lights etc). Then it's on to the interior overhead cranes and elevated offices along the back gable end wall. After that it's the locos and all the rest of the stuff needed to complete a realistic works setting.
     

     

     

     

     
    This is the effect I'm after - a shot of Horwich Works in 1949 with a brand new Ivatt Class 4 Mogul coming out of the erecting shop on the traverser (the picture is from the October 2012 issue of British Railways Illustrated). My model traverser is much bigger in order to take a diesel or a steam engine with tender.
     

     
    The outer roof covering is just masking tape that has been painted black and matt varnished - this gives the impression of an asphalt covering. In this last pic you can see the ridge spine channels that'll take the electric wires for the interior lights. I've ordered some pendant lights from Express models who have also made up a bespoke dimmer switch that will allow me to play about with the light levels for photographic purposes.
  20. PaternosterRow
    The much awaited package from Express Models arrived on Friday so I got beavering away on Saturday evening and have just finished. I used their pendant lights on my Barrow Hill model so was familiar with the electronics involved. This time, however, they made up a bespoke dimmer switch so I can play around with the light levels. A few pics so far.
     

     

     

     

     

     

     
    This last shot is a close up of the elevated works office at the rear. The steps are from Scalelink and were easily folded using steel rulers and a pair of small pliers. The pendant lights are brilliant and although the lot cost me £45 along with the associated power supply and dimmer switch they are great value for money. Anything else would just compromise the overall effect.
     
    Now it's on to another half office on the other side, the overhead cranes and other works associated bits and pieces before more locos. Got to be careful though as I've been warned to stop bending the credit card for a while!
  21. PaternosterRow
    Some pics of the roof covering going on. Mounting card pasted with the Scalescenes Aged Clapboard render has been used as an outer cover leaving the window openings clear. The outside of the card will be covered with simple strips of masking tape which will then be painted in black acrylic - this will nicely simulate an asphalt covering (this worked well on my model of a track side store on my Cheslyn layout).
     

     
    What's great about taking photos during a build is that it shows up details that need adjusting - note the two support columns that are slightly (but annoyingly) out of plumb.
     

     

     
    Progress has been slow I'm afraid after having spent 3 days in hospital with Kidney stones. Excruciatingly painful business that has left me weak as a kitten for a while. I'm just thankful that it has been nothing more serious! It's great just to be back at home tackling the model again.
     
    Eagerly awaiting the arrival of some pendant lights from Express Models - that should help balance out the light levels and make things a little brighter inside. I'm toying with the idea of using the Scalescenes Aged Corrugated render on transparencies for the windows or simply using clear plastic. This Corrugated finish worked well for my Barrow Hill window lights, but I'm wondering if it'll only make the interior darker. Comments welcome.
  22. PaternosterRow
    Spent a great day out yesterday at the Chester MRC's event in Blennerville, County Kerry. The group have generously donated their model of the Tralee and Dingle Light Railway to the centre. This will hopefully provide a great boost to the fledgling Irish Railway Society that have recently started up.
    Some pictures of what is an already well known and highly crafted layout.
     

     

     
    John Campbell and Neil Ramsay were also in attendance with their fabulous collections of 16mm live steam and rail car locomotives. All hand built to extremely high standards, the locos on show were a real treat to look at.
     

     
    A video of John running one of his superb engines. John is from Cradley Heath and we spent a lot of time talking about Birmingham and the Black Country (I hail from Perry Barr, Birmingham originally). Julie, my wife, was quite captivated by live steam and I was nearly on the point of convincing her what a good investment a garden railway would be. That was until John mentioned costs and her jaw dropped to the floor! Looks like I'll just have to stick with 4mm for a while yet. I think you'll all agree that John's work speaks for itself - they are finely crafted locos of high quality and it was a real privilege to see one of them running.
     
    The next few pics are of Neil Ramsay's brilliantly hand crafted 16mm narrow and broad gauge models. Neil must be the only man in the world who runs them on a accurately scaled version of Irish Broad Gauge track in his garden. The railcars have been built from 3mm ply - unbelievable how he has managed to get ply to look like metal! Really skillful workmanship. The Class C Metrovick has directional lights, real smoke exhaust and a working extraction fan - it is battery operated and is correctly gauged to 79mm (5ft 3inch).
     

     

     
    This last shot is of the Blennerville windmill just outside Tralee. It is a working mill and actually does grind corn for some local bakeries.
     

     
    All in all it was a great day out as I don't get to meet many fellow railway modelers here in Ireland. I'm still working on Julie about the many advantages of live steam - wish me luck!
  23. PaternosterRow
    State of play thus far with 'The Works' - new wire roof fitted before covering. The roof is designed so that it can be removed for track cleaning and loco placing. I've tried hard with this one to get everything straight and square.
     

     
    I'm trying to achieve something like the roof at Loughborough Works. This photo is from The Railway Magazine (Nov 2012 souvenir issue) - it show the works in the late 80's building the Class 60. It's a former wagon works, but loco erecting shops and wagon works shared similar architecture. The overhead cranes, however, were much bigger in erecting shops due to the higher loads. Therefore, the running beams were much deeper and chunkier.
     

     

     

     
    For the illusion to work it's absolutely essential to get everything in line to form the perfect repetition you get with real factory roof structures. Everything is made from 1mm fencing wire which has been soldered up in jigs.
     

     
    I will be adding two cranes per run (the two would often be used in tandem to lift heavy loads) and all the other stuff you'd associate with works once the roof is covered.
  24. PaternosterRow
    The walls have gone up and after a lot of MacGyvering everything has come square - phew!
     

     

     

     

     
    The above shots are through a couple of the openings in the opposite wall - these will have either removable mirrors or wall blanks for internal viewing.
     

     
    This shot is through the left hand door opening on the left hand gable wall. This end has been designed so that the entire wall can be lifted out to provide an unhindered view into the interior even when the roof is on.
     
    There's a few details to completed yet at this stage and then it's on to the roof structure. It'll be another wire effort similar to the one I made for my Barrow Hill layout.
     
    I was down at Mark's Model shop in Cork today and had a chat with fellow RMwebber 'Georgeconna'. His weathering techniques are the best I've ever seen - really spot on observation - anyone interested ought to look him up. We hotly debated Hornby's decision to increase their Rail Road range of steam locos. He had several out of the cupboards to show me the difference in detail. Before today I thought access to cheaper locos was the way to go for all of us, but after having seen things close up I'm not so sure now. I'm going to have to populate my works with a lot of locos, but now I'm faced with a real dilemma - price over quantity. It's never easy this hobby is it?
  25. PaternosterRow
    Some Edwardian style postcards. These have been made using a free program on the internet called Be Funky. The new store shed is made from coffee stirrers and matchsticks - I used the Scalescenes free upload of the same shed as a template to stick the cut wood on. Can't say enough about the versatility of Scalescenes products - brilliant little kits to make.
     

     

     

     

     

     

     
    This is an ordinary shot of the new store shed. It took about 4 hrs to make start to finish. The nail effect was achieved by digging the end of a scalpel into the wood and giving it a half turn. Black pastel was applied over the wood then scrapped away with a glass fiber pen. I've only recently discovered the glass fiber pen which is a really handy weathering tool and has now become an indispensable item in my tool kit (thanks goes to Horsetan who uses it in his weathering technique). The roof was made by using strips of masking tape then painted in black acrylic.
     
    Note the blocking placed in the bogie of the Dean Single. It's only a piece of plastic that has been cut to size and glued into place then painted black - not exactly graceful modeling but it does take the daft look off the gaping space between bogie and frame on the Hornby model.
     

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