devondynosoar118

No pictures today, sorry! Just a quick question really. I want to model 2 wartime "specials", one will be a passenger train,the other will be a tank transport train- What well wagons were used for this traffic and does anyone do them in N? They don't have to be from one company and I will need about 8-10. Christ knows how I'm going to shunt them, but finding the right stock is my main problem! I am going to make a quick photo plank this week and will put up a few shots of the latest rolling stock shortly. Another thing I was wondering is how to find out weather locos carried a specific livery. I am about to sort out my other prairie, I wanted to do 5525 but there are no plates for it so it will have to be 5526 which I am sure wasn't really a local engine. I would like to illustrate austerity unlined black with the sans serif GWR on the tender sides. However as this engine in a later 30's build I suspect that in 43/44 it was probably just very dirty "shirt button."

Mega clean! Sheds seem to attract stuff that you thought you'd thrown out. I would need an artic for the rubbish in mine!

On the servo subject I read on someone else's blog about trouble with the MERG servo board- he said there was a fault on a batch of them, he got a solution off the MERG forum. I believe he returned his and they replaced them FOC as it was a production fault. Chassis is another min work of art.

On a money saving note- If you are building baseboards much of what you need can be got from skips- Remwber to always ask the owner of the skip before taking anything. Only take from the top layers and NEVER get inside. Safety warning over, I found all the plywood and 2 by 1 I needed for two 3 ft 6inch by 2 ft baseboards this way. Your local re-cycling centre can also be very useful. Old tables often have subframes and legs which can be used for baseboards. When you come to do scenery Celotex, insulation foam used in building, small bits of which often go in skips, makes a great base for landscaping. Keep on saving! You could also look out for ads in your local free ads paper with railway stuff for sale and play the " young person starting out" card, often people will do you a deal out of nostalgia! Good luck- post some plans, people on here are really good at getting the most from limited space/budget.

Great idea. No bloody rivet counter can tell you you're not true to prototype!

Very nice. I have been following Barrow Rd too. Had a good look at it at Taunton and it's just as incredible up close.

Will look up that book in the library, thanks. There are lots of pictures on my blog which is here- http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php/blog/574-kingsbridge-branch-n/ I was doing more on the yard tonight, with a view to completing the scenery next week. Then it's making the station building, which will need the services of an etcher for the doors and windows and a laser cutter for the speed of carcass making. Any suggestions?

Just another quick shot of the yard track work, now its mostly in place. Outline of platform also done!

No, got to get K'bridge done for June! You could try your local plumbing supplies store for the MEK- They must have plastic drainpipes in europe surely?

Don't say that too loudly or the steam mafia will put a headcode box in your bed...

Very informative as usual Mikkel. I have been considering a mini OO layout using C&L track. Love the look of the wooden sleepers.

Very much enjoyed seeing it in the flesh. Fantastic work.

Yes, lets hope they get it right.

For all the latest SDR news and superb pictures-Please click Here!I finally managed to get a few hours at Staverton today, hoping to see the Dukedog in action before this weekends Cambrian gala. It was almost a shame to work as the sun shone down but I got out the paintbrush again to finish the shed door. I didn't bother to photograph that as there were historic works afoot. For the first time in at least 40 years the crossing gates at Staverton are being replaced. The new ones were made last year and very carefully painted over the winter ready to hang. The first new gate, lifted out of the second goods shed by hand. As you can see it takes two workers to each spectator... The road railer is deployed to lift the very heavy oak gates into position. The PW dept taking great care with the lift. Lifting onto the hinges Now back to the weathering of the title. stock movements gave a good opportunity to collect a few pics of the late plywood vent van, in BR bauxite, many of which lasted well into TOPS. Note the great display of peeling paint. LMS liveried plank wagon- again in a very "model" state for well used stock. As the gate is off, we are using flag men today, which gave me a chance to capture Collet goods 3205 at the head of the dining car set being given the right away, which then gave me a puff of steam at the right moment! A great quick visit, the only downer being the absence of the Dukedog, which was scheduled to pull the dining car set.

]Went to the RM meet at Taunton today, a big thank you to the SWAG crew for organising it so well and to all the exhibitors for providing such high quality layouts. Thanks to all friendly RM web'ers for saying hi. What follows is only a few pictures, I am sure other more talented snappers will post a more complete set of pics. I did take shots of almost everything but not all were that good (my camera work, not the layouts!) so if I have not shown your work it is my lack of ability, not the astonishing quality of your exhibits that is at fault. Highbury Colliery- simply stunning 2mmfs Kris's Avonwick Catcott Burtle More on my stumbling efforts some time this week. Thanks again

Nice rust and clouds! Wish I could paint back scenes but I am simply not artistic enough!

Those lists seem to grow at an alarming rate!

Looking great. Don't forget the point rodding from the signal box when you do it. Those inherited bits and stuff that's personal is what model making is all about. Far better than just throwing money at it.

Looks very nice- captures the feel of the prototype well so far. I would ditch foam board as a structural material. I have used it for buildings in war gaming for nearly 20 years but wouldn't use it for a layout. Good quality birch faced (not from B&Q!) ply is much stronger and at 6mm or less not very heavy, if you are a lightweight fanatic you can even cut out most of the cross braces in an open frame construction. I really hope that the base boards don't become an issue with the care that has gone into design and stock.

Andy your eyesight is clearly better than mine! PM me your address for the station plans, they are only on paper as the cad files are unreadable by machines without the cad software.

Thanks. I figured that would be the most photographed angle, still have to do the soot but am about to start the other side of the roof. Did you resolve your inset track issues?

Looking really good, I think the abandoned signal box cameo and the area around the fuel tanks are particularly effective. For the static grass I would make an electric tea strainer job. I put a picture of the one I made on my blog, and many others have had good results with them.

Another bit of progress on the shed. Got one roof pitch done yesterday. I have to confess to chickening out modelling the wire supports for the chimney caps- Couldn't get them to work and they are human hair thin at this scale anyway.

If they are in the tap room already it must be a well managed brewery!