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GraemeWatson

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Blog Entries posted by GraemeWatson

  1. GraemeWatson
    Having purchased a single China Clay hood several years ago, in a North East Model Shop, I knew naff all about China Clay workings never mind what it was.
    Having a penchant for Western Region diesels, I wanted to build a small playground end to end layout to accommodate them.
    An eleven foot potential space across IKEA billy bookcases was the starting point.
    Being a fan of scratchbuilding I wanted to tackle a Clay dry to allow the effective display and operation of WR stock. It also dawned on me that China Clay workings could easily be modelled from 1920s GWR to present day.
    The clay dry utilised the Kernow/Bachmann Scenecraft design, as well as photos found in railway books. The History of the Redlake Tramway was particularly useful.
    I made measurements to allow for one Bachmann five plank to be served by each awning.
    I also fancied that a group of four wagons fit the shunting parameters that the layout space gave me.
    The superstructure is constructed from ?6mm foam board, braced with further foam board held in place by multi purpose uhu glue.
    The stone work is DAS air dry clay, applied to a neat PVA coating on the foam board. The clay is kept malleable by dampening with water whilst being scored and scribed with a clay tool.
    The hardest part was coming up with the classic tapered chimney. I don't have access to a lathe to turn wood, but a trip to the local rag man yielded three small table legs that fit the bill perfectly for a Cornish chimney. Roofing is Wills asbestos.
    All in all, raw materials cost about £35 assuming a decent selection of modelling tools at your disposal. Construction time: ~forthnight of on and off work.
  2. GraemeWatson
    I'm going to start uploading photos and talk about my China Clay branchline to "Port Neen".
    The scenario: A Cornish China Clay dries is the centrepiece of industrial life.
    A short branch line leads to a Harbour town called "Port Neen". In style, it is similar to Charlestown Harbour, Cornwall.
    The layout is designed to accommodate Western Region stock, from Steam to Diesel, and can be altered to represent 1920s Clay Workings all the way up to 1980s/1990s with CDA wagons and Silver Bullets.
    The dries are stone built, and although not representative of modern workings with rotary dries, a modest train of CDAs can leave for the harbour. A functional preservationist China clay dries if you will!
    Rule one applies here, and there is still much to be done.
  3. GraemeWatson
    Living next to the East Coast Mainline, the Autumn RHTT is a welcome site, and often an excuse for the use of #ClassicTraction on the Great British Mainline.
    After encouragement from RMweb member, friend and fellow photographer, JaymzHatstand, I have decided to post progress on my "budget" RHTT made with Hornby Railroad items, some old spare bits, and scratchbuilding.
     
    He directed me to the RMweb article 00 RHTT KIT, which details construction of a more prototypical set of RHTT units, with a cost that may be off-putting to the modeller on a budget.
     
    Detail fiends beware!
    My budget attempt may not satisfy you, but it is an easy and cheap way to add a decent
    RHTT to your OO or HO programming. The model is based on re-painting "near enough"
    cheap models, to a similar "style" of the real thing.
    >Think of it as the "Blue Peter" Thunderbirds Tracey Island; ideal if you can't splash out on
    the resin kits, or have stuff lying around that can be utilised.
     
    Before you start
    Read through the whole method; adapt as required
    Work safely with sharp tools
    Time to complete
    A good 6-8 hours on the trot, or two nights.
    Rough Cost: £30-40 (or cheaper if you have old TTAs)
     
    Things you will need:
     
    Three "Hornby Railroad" TTA wagons: The "Fuel Pack" will suffice
    ~£10-12 from your local model shop
    Two "Hornby Railroad" container bogie wagons.
    ~£10 each
    Paint, and some brushes (Variable cost).
    I used "DecoArt" crafter's acrylic: £1.30 for a (59ml bottle)
    Colour: Coastal Blue. (This was left over from a non model rail project)
     
    Preparation of Two Hornby Railroad Container flats
    You need two container flats. Remove the IBC and UBC containers.
    The IBC/UBC containers are kept stable on the flats with rounded pegs;
    these stop the containers sliding off.
    I filed these off, to accomodate the TTAs later.
    I have added the now spare containers to my TMD-style layout as "furniture", and use them to
    keep "useful" bits in; after all they have secure doors!
     
     
    Preparation of TTA wagons:
    Remove the ladders from the ends of the TTA wagons. To my surprise, these were metal.
    Be careful when "levering" them off; you may crack the legs they attach to on the TTA wagon.
    (Use "superglue remover" if you have any, or just be careful)
    TOP TIP: These ladders can be re-bent, cut or straightened, to use the basis of ladders for a Class 08 shunter,
    or side ladders for a Class 20 diesel: Very useful!
    Remove the gantry work from the top of the wagon; this should just unclip out.
     
    Painting the TTAs
    I used "Crafters Acrylic" Coastal Blue, direct from the bottle, three coats, for the wagons.
    I used "Crafters Acrylic" Slate Grey, to paint the roof gantries; three coats.
     


     
    Making the generators, vents and personnel unit
    Using the space remaining on the container flat as a guide and photos of the prototype,
    I scratchbuilt the generators, ventilation units and personnel unit. This was done using
    cardboard, and conveniently some corrugated card from a box left over from Christmas.
    (Though I could indeed have used plasticard, I had none)
     
    See the pictures for a rough idea, but essentially it was simply made using rectangular shapes.
    I did not use "tabs" on the edge of each part of the construcion, but elected to glue it with some
    heavy duty multi-purpose Bostik glue in my hands, until it set.
    (Beware: Fingers may get sticky, so don't sue me! Use a better method if you want!)


     
    Making the railings
    The handrails were left over from the construction of a PECO diesel shed, and painted slate grey.
    Perfect.
     
    Assembling the unit
    I assembled my TTAs and other units on the two container flats, as shown, using double sided
    tape, on the bottom of the units (this is very secure, and allows me to return them
    to bulk container use if I wish)
    This was based somewhat on personal preference, and reference to photos of the prototype.
     
    Still to do:
    Apply Network Rail transfers (printing your own waterslide transfers is cheaper using graphics available online)
    Apply orange stripe around the TTAs.
    Apply weathering, as required.
     
    Potential problems
    The Hornby Railroad Container Flats have old-style couplings, that cannot be changed to the newer "slimline" NEM type.
    The standard compatibility issues with tight curves and mis-matched loco couplings applies.
     
    Progress so far:
     






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