Darwinian

Simple questions, not so easy answer I suspect.

I'm thinking of modelling one of the non-swindonised ROD locos bought by the GWR in 1925 but not given the full Swindon treatment and run until clapped out (1929-31?)

So what colour would these locos have been (still black?)?

What insignia (if any) would the tenders have carried?

There is a very tempting photo of 3085 in GWRJ 90 P107 of 3085 in the sort of condition I have in mind. There appears to be a block of paint blanking out an older insignia on the tender but no "Great Western" Anyone know if this might have been fairly common on this batch?

The ex Taff Vale A class Chimney would be a problem unless someone can suggest something similar.

Markits do the smokebox door wheel (Unless I can get an early LNER one)

Straps on the smokebox where the Westinghouse pump used to be would be easy.

Is anything else different to the Bachmann BR(E) version? No topfeed on these GWR ones.

Adrian.

Thanks Castle, I didn't mean to imply that the  restoration was faulty, I can imagine how difficult it can be to research all of these details. If anyone can get it right the Diodcot folks will. .

I should have had a picture of the interior of that saloon too but my camera batteries chose when I was sitting in there to die enough for the flash gun to not work. It was too dark to get a meaningful photo handheld. . Maybe next time.

Adrian

Assuming the guys (and girls) at Didcot got it right this is what the inside of a third class compartment looks like. Carriage 1941 C10 All third. Livery is the preWW1 chocolate and cream (I think) with monograms and numbers in eaves panels.

No doubt Castle will be along shortly to verify.

Adrian

Well this is a fascinating thread, especially as I am finally approaching the point of doing some grass areas on my own layout. I don't have any kit to do it with yet but I'll keep following this with interest.

As a scientist (actually a biologist rather than a chemist or physicist so I may not quite have the whole picture) I might make the following observations.

Scenic glues like PVA are (as I understand it) basically water based so any ionic compounds (such as salt) added to the water will improve electrical conductivity (assuming the other ingredients cannot form ions or are too large to move freely in the solution). The more viscous (sticky) the solution is the more the movement of larger ions is likely to be hindered. So simple watering down may be sufficient to improve the conductivity of the glue alone. Only a small amount of salt will contribute significantly to the conductivity of the water (you cannot pass a current through absolutely pure water but even tap water has enough ions in to pass a current. Maybe here the ionic status of your local water supply might even have an effect). 

I assume  the puffer bottles are supposed to work on the same principal as the baloon clearly does. Shake the bottle of fibres vigorously and you can generate a static charge (just like rubbing the ballon) by knocking electrons off one of the two materials and onto the other. This may be enough to cause some alignment of the fibres as they will reply one another. The seive encourages them to start out in line and the charge helps to keep them there. However as commented above, moisture in the air will dissipate the charge so try on a nice cold, clear day. Cold air holds less moisture. Static applicators presumably just increase the charge applied to the fibres making them less susceptible to the effects of moisture in the air.

Bring on the physicists to shoot me down in flames   .

Oh and something I've not noticed modelled yet. If you have livestock in a field surrounded by a wire / rail fence notice that the grass will be cropped short on the outside of the fence as far as the animals can stretch their heads through .  No long grass along the bottom of the fence on the inside.

Adrian

Jaz, that is some amazing modelling you've done/ are doing with those dogs.

When I were a lad I was in to Dungeons and Dragons and used the same technique but with Fimo clay as the modelling material to sculpt Hobbits and the like. It really isn't as easy as you make it look and these are so small too.

Brilliant stuff.

Nice to see some canine appreciation from other mebers too. Mine's a Springer, (well someone had to).

Adrian

I have just printed off my first Scalescenes kit and have found that printing on inexpensive Matt photo paper (Tesco) using my printer's default settings for this type of paper and the second best quality (I've got an HP Photosmart that cost about £80 IIRC) the results look very convincing and are completely Matt.

I guess a coat of artists matt varnish will seal the surface and give a bit more UV protection but i'm probably not going to bother and see how this lasts.

Adrian

I have only just come across this thread again. I am seriously impressed, having studied Botany and having a particular liking for microbes and unusual life forms the modelling you are achieving is truly superb.

When I saw that red Daz I thought perhaps you were making a model of this fungus.

I cannot remember what tree species this was on ( I really should keep records not so easy with a dog and two children dragging you along).

Keep up the good work.

Adrian

Edited for typos.

........ I tried various ways of doing the curtains to no avail - how do other people do them if at all? I have a good mind to leave them off...

 

 

Not sure if you've seen it Castle but in his latest instalment on styrene sheet coach building in MRJ 228 Geoff Kent describes making curtains by simply scribing styrene sheet, his are complete with representations of the tie backs!

Adrian

Wow! How did I miss this topic until now. Brilliant, evocative modelling of the Welsh valleys. I'm looking forward to seeing some of those "unusual" locos.

I think I've missed Cwmafon on the exhibition circuit so I'm really enjoying this. Gives me more inspiration for my early 30s layout although mine's on a much smaller scale than this. 

I should perhaps add that my only connection with Wales was going to Uni there and visiting friends homes in the valleys left a lasting impression.

Adrian

That's looking really impressive mozzer  . I have built an M&L version (later Gibson) but I imagine the dean Sidings one is a lot quicker to build. I do like the rangey look of the County tank, emphasised by those long shallow side tanks. They seem to stride along when in motion

Adrian

http://www.ehattons.com/51392/Hornby_R3125X_Class_5205_steam_locomotive_2_8_0T_in_GWR_livery_DCC_fitted/StockDetail.aspx

 

Pictures of the 5205 DCC fitted version on Hattons now.

Ah now I feel a lot happier. Number on the wrong side of the rear buffer beam, handrails on the over-boiler strap, thumping great gouge out of the bunker back, cab shutters, by the time I've sorted those out I'd have to do a repaint anyway so my BR black version will do me fine. Hopefuly getting the smokebox numberplate off  with the moulded dart will be fairly painless anyway. Pre 1928 Green looks like a good call too.

Adrian

Just another observation. From the close up it looks like the near side rails may dip down fractionally towards the join. That could cause the near side of the wagons to tip slghltly into the dip, the movement looks more of a dip than a bump. You would not feel any misalignment at the railhead because they are aligned. A steel rule placed across the join should show if there is a slight slope around the joint.

Fantasitic layout none the less. I always enjoy reading about developments just wish I had the time, space and skill to attempt something similar.

Adrian

While you are still researching train movements etc. you might like to read "Firing Days", "Footplate Days" and "Nostalgic days" by Harrold Gasson (OPC publishers). He was a fireman at Didcot and has quite a few stories of firing over the DNS as it was one of his favourite lines.

They were published back in the late 70s to early 80s.

I've just been re-reading them. Always make me smile  . Especially the story about getting the guard and porter out of the van with the Billy goat in . 

A simple solution to remove the shutters is saw the roof off. simples   

Wow, it never occured to me that they were built with open cabs

Just had e-mail from a certain shop in Sheffield - R3126 52XX 5243 BR Black now reduced to £87:50.

Doh, that was bound to happen just after I took delivery of mine  , although not form the same establishment I might add.

Happy with the running but the flanges clattered badly across my handbuilt, C&L pointwork  . A quick check with a vernier calliper showed that the back to back measurement was typically 14.4mm  (might vary on others). It was quite easy to take off the keeper plate from the bottom of the chassis. I then took out the wheelseets and carefully put each set into my small vice jaws with the back of the treads resting on the jaws. A a few gentle taps with a centre punch on the axle end, both ends, soon had the back to back eased out to 14.8mm. Now she runs through nice and smooth  . 

I also changed the pony wheels for Gibson's but they won't hold the track very well. I suspect a spring arrangement as I did for my 28xx will solve that problem.

Then all I've got to do is back date the body to 1930 condition. That will have to wait for other projects to be completed.

I've been contemplating these models closely today, comparing the photos of the model with photos of the real things. The pony truck wheels are the only area of the model that I don't particularly like, and I wonder whether anyone knows where replacements could be sourced from? 

To give you some idea what the change to Gibson pony truck wheels does here is a picture of my 28xx which has been so fitted.

If the colour looks a bit odd that is because I repainted it in pre 1928 green. The fallen out crosshead was due to not putting it back together carefully enough after repainting and is not a manufacturing problem.

However beware the pony truck mount as it moves back and forth quite a lot so if you fill in the cutouts in the cylinders then the wheels hit the cylinder fronts when the loco is going forwards.  This can cause derailment on points as the pony truck won't turn and the flanges are not enough to force the wheels into the correct alignment. If the cut-outs are left then I doubt there would be any problem. I'm waiting for my 5205 to arrive to find out.

Adrian

I only ever built two Ks locomotives, both origninally when I was a teenager in the mid 70s. The GWR 1361 sadle tank is featured on Castle's Little Didcot thread so I won't post it again here. The 4574 ran for several years and eventually got rebuilt with a compensated, scratchbuilt chassis which never got finished. The battered body is lying around in a box somewhere amongst my railway bits.

I am fairly sure however that this passenger brake van was also a Ks kit. It was the first railway vehicle that actually ran (as opposed to the old Airfix, now Dapol, loco kits) that I ever built and started me off on the model railway bug.

It was rebuilt either in the late 70s or mid 80s with Mallard Models American bogies (for which I found a photograph of one so fitted) in place of the cast ones that had no bearings and had become very sloppy. At the same time the original peco type couplings were changed to Jacksons screw type.

It became a guinea pig for my experiments with Dingham couplers in the last few years and is still in use.

Adrian

DEVELOPMENT OF THE CONWY BACK SCENE AND THE HORIZONTAL SURFACES AND SEA WALLS FOR THE LLANDUDNO GOODS AREA

 

I have included a few photos of the reworked rainbow over the far bank of the river Conwy and the Llandudno goods storage area which has been clad with horizontal surfaces and ply forming the base for the sea walls.

 

I am interested in comments as to whether the attached rainbow or the one above looks more effective.

 

IMG_4858V2.jpg

 

IMG_4857V2.jpg

 

IMG_4859V2.jpg

I think this rainbow looks more effective. One thing that might help and isn't always appreciated is that the sky within the arc of the rainbow usually appears somewhat brighter than that outside. I also think the clouds should become a more continuous layer as they recede into the distance (Unless they have just passed overhed of course). You are looking at them more side-on then rather than up from below when they are closer to overhead.  One thing I do see a lot of here in Norfolk, England, is Sky!  The back scene really does look superb, I wish I could paint like that, but you did ask for comments.

Adrian

It's late and I'm getting confused.

 

From my understanding Bachmann announced the 64xx with two bunker variations. This would allow both the 64 and 74 xx classes to be modelled in their entirety.

 

Mike, The Stationmaster, has spoken to Bachmann, and it would appear that it will only be the earlier curved cab backed version that will be produced, which will discount the 74 xx class.

 

Dave (BCP)has also spoken, and has it confirmed that Bachmann will also be doing the 54xx variant. this will need a different chassis because of the bigger wheels.....plus differing buffer planks as the buffers on the 64/74xx and the 54xx were at differing heights (64/74 top of plank, 54 centred).

 

As for doing the one version to avoid it looking like a 8750, well that is laughable...................To all those of a non Western allegiance, all panniers look the same. It is only the copper cap polishers who would notice the sublime difference between each and every pannier.

 

Following Bachmann's logic through to it's natural conclusion would mean they wouldn't manufacture a 15xx because it looks the same as another late version taper boilered pannnier which class escapes me for the moment.

 

However, I am confident that after the Ally Pally show, they will have received such an ear bashing over their myopia, that they will immediately make amends by announcing a double framedBird class by way of a penance.

 

I shall now retire to my bed and sleep confident in the fact that Bachmann will take the honourable course of action.

 

Regards

 

Richard

If the footplate is a casting with the buffer beams integral to it then that will sort out splashers and buffer heights for a 54xx in one hit. The only significant difference in the chassis will be the mountings for brake gear. As far as I can see the rest is the same as the 64s and of course 54s have the curved cab-bunker join. Maybe the different bunker backs comment was about the presence of coal fenders or if the rear bufferbeam is part of the bunker moulding.

Just a thought.

Adrian

5411, new from Swindon to Southall, then after a short time, transferred to Cardiff for trials in the valleys. Remained at Cardiff Cathays until replaced by 6411 when completed in Nov 1934.5411 then moved on to Westbury

 

Mike Wiltshire

Thanks Mike, guess in my parallel universe I'll have to claim the management sent two  .

I'm fairly certain that I read somewhere (Holcroft?) that when first buiit a 54xx was tried in the welsh valleys, that's my excuse for having 5414. However they never really took off in the hilly country and the 64xx proved much more suitable. 

What odds Bachmann go for the easiest option and produce the slightly earlier 54xx? Same body but 5'02 wheels, the same (haven't checked crank position or spoke number) as the Collet goods.

Maybe too small a difference to be worthwhile  .

49801 is great. In response to Castle, here's some more models of locos that never were:

http://www.gwr.org.uk/galmeadows1.html (scroll down for a GWR Pacific on this link)

http://www.gwr.org.uk/galfox1.html

http://www.gwr.org.uk/galfox2.html

http://www.gwr.org.uk/galparsons1.html

I do like some of these neverwozzers. Superb modelling by all concerned  , that Harwich mallet is a wonderfully eccentric beast. Can't help wondering if even Hornby could get the GWR 2-10-2T around radius 2 curves  . 

Well done on completeing her Castle. She looks a little gem . Funny how those gremlins defy investigation. I spent an hour last night trying to figure out why my scratchbuilt Rhymney/GWR P1 was the only loco I have that derails almost every time on one particular turnout on my layout. Still none the wiser . Hope that one just goes away too. I'm sure it used to be fine!

I look forward to following your progress in re-creating more of Didcot's collection.

Adrian

Castle I'll be watching this one with interest too. My first kit built loco was a K's 1361 back in my teenage years, so I have a soft spot for them. Mine is still around, at some point she gained a replacement scratchbuilt plasticard saddle tank (cannot remember why i thought that was a good idea) and has a scratchbuilt compensated chassis running on romford wheels. Remarkably she still runs (although not especially smoothly) and is my daughter's favourite of my locos. Not quite as refined as I might aim for these days.

Adrian