devondynosoar118

"Only fools rush in" to this kind of work, but we "can't help falling in love" with the wierd looks of this railmotor. Can't wait for it to "run on" the "green green grass of home" at Highclere...

Certainly " Got my mojo workin"

Thanks- I have been collecting offcuts from skips! I have used it as the base for all the hills and embankments on kbridge and its easy to carve plus you can sand it for that Devon "rolling hills" look. You can also laminate it horizontally or vertically using T-stakes (scenic pins) to hold in place, or cocktail sticks to re-enforce joins. I can lean on my scenic section after plastering and there's no give despite all the insulation board only being loosely fitted and stuck.

Sorley tunnel access can be arranged through the Combe Fishery for the KB end and by asking at Sorley farmhouse. Williams has pictures of both ends in his book.

I am going to dig thru the computerized archive at the Cookworthy museum this month- its free to view all images but £9 for a print.

Nice boards- Will buy your leftover celotex boards- The way to stick it to the framing is to peel off the foil and use "no more nails" stuff. Burfords in K-Town do "Hard as Nails" ripoff for £1.40 a tube which did a 3'6"X 2'6" baseboard.

The length of run is going to be really nice. Did you sort out your ZTC issues?

Hmm- Tender locos not common on the branch! Great models though. I would suggest that you have already decided that the 1st fiddleyard is going to be the best for what you want, thereby making it the best design by default! Have you fixed the locations you are addding in the scenic boards yet?

I am dreading testing my layout! Bloody soldering and wire...

One thing I have learnt is that if you are quick you can apply more solder to an area without it effecting the other areas if you take the soldering iron away as soon as the solder flows onto the metal, this way you can slowly build up an area with solder (basically use it like a filler).

This is essentially how all motor vehicle bodies were repaired and filled before the advent of polyester fillers. The alternative for those of us more cackhanded with the soldering iron is to use a low voltage iron and low temperature solder for filler work.

Exceptional bit of building- I would struggle with that as a plastic kit, never mind one completely made from flat brass sheets! The cabs look like a total bstard to do and that roof sounds complicated...

You don't need specialist paints for weathering! A good range of earthy coloured acrylics, some black, chesnut and bown inks plus some cheap brushes will do the job! If you want powders I remember seeing a suggestion that powder cosmetics were cheap and usefull. Good to see quick progress! I too don't like getting bogged down in track detail for weeks.

I have tried a number of finishes on celotex. Bandage followed by a coat of casting plaster has worked ok. Have also used bonding plaster (available from builders merchant) applied direct. That works too, but doesn't bridge gaps as well as the bandage. Cheap tho, and when wet floated very easy to smooth. Probably good for roads or runways as well.

I will take that advice- I have been looking carefully at both your layouts as they are the kind of standard I am aiming for. The original line snakes and flows through the landscape and this was the single most important aspect of the look for me, so I'm glad that its looking "right" to others! The only stuff thats going on it is what was there originally, field boundaries are coming off the pre-war OS map and station is strictly to prototype. My brother is hopefully doing the carcasses for the buildings on CAD (haven't told him yet!) which will help.

I'm just pleased that people whose skills are proven as yours are approve! Just need about another £200 to drive it forward. Sadly I'm not getting any more done for the next 5 days as I have to work, but will post as soon as I can.

Just got a Lenz compact to run the layout with. I know it only has 2 digit addressing but with a maximum of 2 locos running at once I can live with that. At least it can read and write CV's which other options in this price bracket can't. NCE powercab was my numer 1 choice but can't get one for sensible money. The Lenz system is also very expandable. Now I just have to chip my 1st loco and I can run some tests.

Admittedly I didn't have to build all my track like you finescale nutters! That and trying to fit 2 full days a week in the workshop has certainly helped progress. Just hope it looks half as good as some of the 2mmFS layouts on here. Looking forward to the next installment of Avonwick. Have started paper planning of next few boards and am thinking about Brent- has anyone done it?

Looks very nice set up! If you want a cheap, powerful lighting solution, I would consider T5 flurocent tubes, they are thin, high output daylight bulbs. Small fittings are available for aquariums, check out Endsleigh's fish section, get the model and makers names and buy online. I have two T5 tubes on my big fishtank and they provide really good quality light without massive heat or energy use. Alternatively a good electrical factors will have convetional T5 fittings in standard 2 or 4ft lengths which would work too. Reflectors are a must for tubes.

I like that bridge too- There were also some more spectacular iron bridges between Gara and Avonwick that would be worth considering. At least KB is a single line branch, which greatly improves space saving, even on a round. Funnily enough I was looking at this same issue myself. I would love to have a contnuous run but there's no way I can do it now and stay close ish to prototype.

I really want to do some more scenic sections, into the Avon valley and Gara Bridge station, but these will have to wait until the current sections are done. The steep gorge section between Gara and Avonwick would be amazing to model, really dramatic. Looking forward to seeing pics from expo and how the above sketches pan out.

You could use a simple chocolate block, thats what I'm using at present. or these

My link

with

My link

Interesting idea! Love the seaplane hanger. The limited space afforded by the real location is actually an advantage in this instance. Don't forget to add Lawrence on his motorbike.

I am doing the same job! Am bored of it already. Trains running soon then?

Sorry to hear it misbehaved. Did you get your stock finished in time? Monster box was used for the elephants on the circus train to Kingbridge, both pre-war and into the early 50,s. This would be a fun use for it!

Thanks- ordered already! How was the show?

I think I have now cracked this particular chesnut thru the DCC forum but the only conversion diagrams with pictures were all for 00 so I was going to post a load of pictures as I go. I wish the'd just sort them from the factory.

Why not switch to acrylics? All waterbased and if you use a big brush or compressor, no solvents! I spent 12months with sinusitis and that was no fun at all in a spray mask.

Best place to get the DG couplings? How compatable are they with the farish/Dapol chassis, especially locos?

I would recommend DG couplings for 2mm. They have been proved over time. One of the 2mfs blogs did a feature on them. I know Missy has used them on Highclere. You should look at her blog if you are into small scale models.

Donw

Had a look at it yesterday- Superb!

I would also appreciate any advice on couplings for this lot. I will be using electromagnets or permanent magnets with DCC control of locos and maybe the uncouplers, probably NCE powercab.

Is the "Giant" for the Kingsbridge-Birmingham rabbit van? I am struggling to identify what the prototype was made out of and its a signature piece of rolling stock. I loved your Gloucester DMU. Where did it come from? I look at 15000 whenever I'm at Buckfast. DVR also have a Collet 0-6-0t finished now which is beautiful.

The bridge is hidden in Lime Grove, behind Morrisons! I worked next door to the goods shed for a while so got to sneak onto some sections that are harder to see. Also have a brick from the signal box!There are a number of hidden bridges still left as well as some good sections of ballasted embankments in the town. Will be doing some Avon Valley sections eventually as it is stunning. According to the Ken Williams/Dermot Reynolds book, a preservation society was formed, had most of the money but the scrap contract was signed before they had completed negotions and the ministry wouldn't bactrack on the deal. You could have bought the whole line for £24,000 including buildings in 1963! It would have been a masssively popular preserved run due to its scenic beauty. I am setting in autumn for variety of foliage colours and just to be different.