tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-281531392024-03-13T00:59:49.594+00:00Rhyd DduA 009 narrow gauge model railway of Rhyd Ddu. The project was born in late 2005. This blog describes the planning, woodwork, track laying, wiring, DCC, scenery, locomotive and rolling stock. The layout is an impression of the Welsh Highland Railway (WHR) Rhyd Ddu station and Tro Ffridd reverse curves. 009 is 4mm scale (OO) narrow gauge using N gauge track.Colin Leahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02695170702855432269noreply@blogger.comBlogger634125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28153139.post-68828214666978430222021-09-29T20:33:00.004+01:002021-09-29T20:33:52.585+01:00This blog has moved...Please visit www.narrowgaugemodels.wordpress.com
See you there!Colin Leahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02695170702855432269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28153139.post-34720124592350013702011-10-24T16:22:00.001+01:002011-10-24T16:22:41.902+01:00More carriages! And more go into the line for finishing...Here 24 in primer plus 2043/100/102 in ivory after priming. There's also two O14 diesels being painted green and blue. Colin Leahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02695170702855432269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28153139.post-6977906082906073152011-10-22T23:12:00.001+01:002011-10-22T23:12:18.758+01:00Degrease lightning Tonight the bodies of 100 and 102 (the chassis await the interiors being built) plus the full body/chassis combo of 24 and 2043 were cleaned and degreased ready for primer. Alongside them I'm painting two O14 kb scale diesels for my other layout. Colin Leahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02695170702855432269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28153139.post-55424514875771923962011-10-14T15:38:00.000+01:002011-10-14T15:38:56.636+01:00You spin me right roundI've always said that it is important that the layout should be used at home, rather than just sit waiting for the next exhibition. Thus, upon moving it to the loft (and all that entails in terms of rafter insulation etc), I have two new problems:
1) the so-called 'question mark' board is a very tight fit through the new loft hatch, requiring the removal of the hatch hinges and retaining Colin Leahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02695170702855432269noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28153139.post-14464879666028036422011-10-13T18:27:00.001+01:002011-10-13T18:27:08.067+01:00Model rail surprise Today I picked up model rail magazine (nov issue) as for once it had some narrow gauge content. In fact I haven't bought a modelling mag for a while now. Well there's quite a few innovations that have appeared. Highlights are:- The new noch laser cut plant range which looks great- The hex frog juicer is gonna save loads of wiring! For DCC layouts it automatically switches the frog polarities Colin Leahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02695170702855432269noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28153139.post-18630845801406234382011-10-06T23:27:00.001+01:002011-10-06T23:27:07.313+01:00Upstairs downstairs I have now successfully moved downstairs and here is a shot of my new modelling bureau in action. The WHHR's Bro Madog Eisteddfod coach has been put together tonight. Colin Leahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02695170702855432269noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28153139.post-12564192242619908322011-09-29T15:08:00.001+01:002011-09-29T15:08:17.102+01:00Bearing up Latest progress on the mystery loco. Half moon shapes removed to assist pony truck swivel and holes for bearings reamed out ready to take the bearings. Colin Leahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02695170702855432269noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28153139.post-21843028204322912782011-09-28T22:31:00.001+01:002011-09-28T22:31:42.546+01:00Paternity leave modelling Baby and mum asleep so modelling can be done. Firstly I installed the new section on the question mark board to mirror the extra foot added to the station approach. I have decided to make this hinged so that access to the layout can be attempted by thin people without requiring a duck under (with the inevitable bang of heads!). A simple mating piece was screwed onto the next board to meet this Colin Leahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02695170702855432269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28153139.post-20848408704134282442011-09-26T17:28:00.001+01:002011-09-26T17:29:49.036+01:00Riveting Have spent quite a while studying the backwoods B class instructions. A few observations:- the method of attaching cranks to the axles is far superior - the plastic friction fit pieces will avoid the wheel centre melting problem!- in fact the wheels come (along with a gear wheel) installed on their axles- the kit uses a live body arrangement with insulated wheels one side. This will require someColin Leahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02695170702855432269noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28153139.post-74238862706412479082011-09-20T11:55:00.001+01:002011-09-20T11:55:05.403+01:00Look what the postman broughtColin Leahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02695170702855432269noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28153139.post-9051077345272698482011-09-20T11:52:00.001+01:002011-09-20T11:53:24.909+01:00SparshoffIt is with regret that I announce that Rhyd Ddu will now not be able to attend the Sparsholt exhibition in April 2012.
I’m part of a bid team for a st***ard gauge rail franchise which will be finalised in April 2012, and it is therefore it is going to be too difficult to exhibit Rhyd Ddu at the same time.
This is a real shame as I had been really looking forward to the event but Colin Leahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02695170702855432269noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28153139.post-38039665316861786772011-09-19T22:53:00.001+01:002011-09-19T22:53:43.049+01:00Gee whizz, Gee Dee Today I visited Gee Dee models as I was in Nottingham for business. It's been a while since I've been in but it remains an excellent shop. I made the following purchases:- a new mek pak bottle. - 4 buffer stops to finish off the hidden sidings board- and this can of paint. Now why would I need that?Colin Leahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02695170702855432269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28153139.post-89650120377027882152011-09-11T23:24:00.001+01:002011-09-11T23:24:51.210+01:00Joining up Tonight all the hidden sidings feeds were attached to the DCC bus bars and then the continuity tested with the help of a DC controller and a zillertalbahn diesel (chosen as my DC test loco). All worked well. I also cut a block of acrylic sheet to become the base of the improved water tower Colin Leahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02695170702855432269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28153139.post-20559050473627601132011-09-05T18:25:00.001+01:002011-09-05T18:25:22.734+01:00Nice pair! Here are the hudsons with footboards and seats fitted. The roofs are not yet fixed to aid painting/the addition of people. Now these will sit on the 'nearly' pile waiting for the etched mini doors promised to me by narrow planet. Colin Leahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02695170702855432269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28153139.post-76718791948154370562011-09-02T12:34:00.001+01:002011-09-02T12:34:32.750+01:00Nailed All the hidden sidings track is now nailed down and wire has been poked through ready for feeds to be soldered on this weekend. Colin Leahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02695170702855432269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28153139.post-30627025914935836152011-08-28T08:15:00.001+01:002011-08-28T08:15:38.051+01:00Hidden away The track for the hidden sidings has been laid out, cut and joined. Track pins need to be added yet (it was too late to start hammering last night!). In other news the baby stuff from the loft has been brought down giving me a full loft to be able to measure ready for erecting Rhyd ddu up there. Colin Leahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02695170702855432269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28153139.post-27860716937738595072011-08-15T23:22:00.001+01:002011-08-15T23:22:43.625+01:00Toast is served And here are the two bodies made up - guard rails on, sides and floor fixed to ends. Next it's seating...Colin Leahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02695170702855432269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28153139.post-51666531212068303962011-08-12T22:46:00.001+01:002011-08-12T22:46:25.735+01:00Racking them up Today the first ever 009 society kit was delivered to my door. In fact two were. The kit is for the Hudson toast rack carriages (rainmakers). One of these runs in the WHHR heritage train in maroon and another alongside two more modern versions on the FR in dark green. Tonight I made a good start on these. All the plastic parts were cut out and cleaned up (it's a new kit so the castings were Colin Leahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02695170702855432269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28153139.post-44442947537100200742011-08-11T16:01:00.001+01:002011-08-11T16:01:50.679+01:00Hatched! and there it is complete and ready for a coat or two of paint.  Colin Leahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02695170702855432269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28153139.post-76441099358900263232011-08-06T23:13:00.001+01:002011-08-06T23:13:19.739+01:00Hatching a plan The loft hatch project moved forward today. The previous hatch was removed, the ceiling plasterboard cut out with a jigsaw and a support (not a joist!) removed. One board has now made it into the loft proving the new hole is big enough. Tomorrow I will replace the trim and construct a new hatch door. Colin Leahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02695170702855432269noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28153139.post-23176025879891912222011-08-04T19:53:00.001+01:002011-08-04T19:53:53.573+01:00Titbits I have invested in a new soldering station.  My antex was increasingly showing it’s age and will now be retired for purely electrical soldering and my cheap variable temp iron was just that, cheap and nasty so this will be filed under B for bin.  The new one is provides a temp controlled iron with digital readout from 150 deg (for low melt solder) to 400 (for some serious, some might Colin Leahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02695170702855432269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28153139.post-45616335141523815382011-07-29T15:44:00.001+01:002011-07-29T15:52:47.442+01:0024–the latest box Carriage 24 is now a box with a floor, and seats installed. This is how I add flux and keep it square when soldering – I also sometimes use a square, but this trusty block has built all my carriages. 87 continues a pace too and nears the finish line.  K1 will be attended to next, with better matched motors hopefully meaning it can move to the ‘ready for service’ section soonColin Leahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02695170702855432269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28153139.post-88566629492700542822011-07-26T23:01:00.001+01:002011-07-26T23:01:50.528+01:00Twitter Should have said long ago that Rhyd Ddu is on twitter : @rhydddu and also Facebook. Colin Leahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02695170702855432269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28153139.post-72442991202931214072011-07-24T20:08:00.001+01:002011-07-24T20:08:46.120+01:00Twenty four seven Work has been completely crazy recently, with very little time available for modelling, but I have found a little time to start on carriage 24.  This is the replica full height summer carriage (i.e. NWNGR).  It runs as a ‘lock up’ carr at the end of most WHR rakes and so is a vital model.  I had a kitbash version – a plastic Parkside Dundas Vale of Rheidol carriage – but it just Colin Leahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02695170702855432269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28153139.post-3140224187464078902011-07-17T23:23:00.001+01:002011-07-17T23:23:49.410+01:0087 update The power bogies for 87 have taken a leap forward at the Cheltenham works. One bogie is complete and works well, it just needs painting. The other has been stripped back, problems solved and now just needs the valve gear reattaching. Best to paint it too though prior to reassembly, so that is the next job. The tanks and body are already 95% complete and painted with just minor details and the Colin Leahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02695170702855432269noreply@blogger.com0