Giga post

Hi,

Lots of things have been happening, so here's a mega update. Firstly a good friend of my Dad allowed us to borrow his rolling bars and today we set about rolling the roofs of every carriage, planned carriage and loco roof I could find. I counted them later - 59 separate bits of brass! This is a massive step forward and, with the pre-cut strips from metalsmith too I have saved loads of time here.


As I alluded to in the last post, I am starting out on a project (with guidance from Rob Waller) to scratchbuild some Ffestiniog carriages from plasticard evergreen strip. Today at the Leamington model show I picked up some strips of the necessary sizes. I also found myself a compass cutter and some plastic weld (which could well be better than the mek pak I have used up to now). Game on.

So, the Leamington show then. I picked up a flyer a while ago from a local model railway shop. It had a map on the back of it, but frankly it was useless other than to tell you the approximate location - it didn't even tell you which junction on the A46 you needed (there are multiple junctions for Kenilworth/Lemaington! Looking at a road map, we headed for the National Agricultural centre (which had decent signage to it). Once in the site there was a bit of signage showing you where to park within the huge site, but we then struggled to find the entrance to the hall. A bit more thought would help here for those who are not used to the local area.

The entry price was a bit steep I thought (£5) and the secondhand stall was really disappointing - secondhand prices at close to the normal price of a kit new! Why risk second hand? Maybe that's ebay's fault - pushing up secondhand values?

On the narrow gauge front, the wonderful Fallgate was there (images below). This was its last show at the hands of its creator and it will be for sale in the next 009 news. A price of about £1,100 (stock is included and valaued at £700 which won't be separated from the layout) was noted. A super little layout if you can afford that kind of wonga in these 'crunched' times.

Trade support was good - squires, modelex, green scene, rural railways, castle trains, classic train and motor bus, C+L finescale, books, DVDs etc etc Other layouts were generally good, Hungerford stood out.

Back at home, the wendy house has had its sills added and has been put together into a basic 'box'. This gave me the opportunity to take some shots of the layout fully erected (even including the triangular piece) and with some new features added. I have also completed the ramp at the far end of the platform and painted it.

I also trial fitted the Beddgelert end tank. The bases didn't look right and now, having looked at photos of the real thing, I find that the bases are much slimmer than they are shown to be on the CAD drawings. So, the actual as-built on the ground is very different to the plans I have - oh well. I'll have to take a saw to them (ensuring that the legs of the water ower are central on the bases and then reballast around them.

Colin

Further progress

The wendy house is fast coming together.  All sides have now been laminated (30 thou backing on 40 thou board/batten and they are now ready to be butt joined together.  

The ends have been cut out to fit around the door / window and the roofline has been cut ready. Sills need completing and the internal partition cut out before it can be all put together.

Below is the progress last night, the sides just propped up against each other.

Colin

More on the wendy house

Hi,

All the sides of the wendy house station shelter have now been cut out of board/batten and the two front pieces have had their windows added.  I've also started to add the small windows sills too.  The brass door (glued to the plasticard using the wonderful G-S hypo cement) has had a frame added in plasticard strip and the two shelter ends have also been cut out ready - they need shaping to go around the door and end window yet.  

I also made 5 more FR 2 ton slate waggons tonight.

On the cutting mat is some of the brass as delivered from metalsmith this morning - 5m in total of strips 28, 27, 26 or 25mm wide.  Now all I need to do is cut each to the correct length and run them through some rolling bars (I have a plan for this) before they can be soldered on.  Game on!

I also have a plan for modelling the elusive FR brake observation saloons - more on this soon - I am indebted to Rob Waller (of 'Dduallt' and soon 'Bron Hebog' fame) for his time in giving me some fantastic advice (a masterclass) in the construction of carriages from plasticard.  It is fair to say that he has (through some considerable practice given the number of carriagess he has modelled) mastered this technique and I hope to borrow some of this best practice to have a go myself.  Watch this space. 

Colin

Wendy House and Merddin update

Hi,

Firstly, I have been doing more work on the 'wendy house' station shelter for Rhyd Ddu.  The sides will be laminated from 30 thou plasticard and evergreen board / batten.  This is the setup used by Geoff Taylor, so I thought it sounded sensible.  

However the windows need to be flush with the outer surface, so they are a friction fit against the board/batten sheet with the 30 thou sheet just acting as a stiffener.  Basically the board/batten window aperture is cut smaller and then filed to ensure a snug fit.  

The apertures for the windows in the 30 thou sheet need not be so accurate however and indeed need to be slightly larger than the window itself to avoid showing through. 

The back has been completed in board/batten as a trial and the 30 thou plasticard bases for the other sides have also been cut out (tonight).  The door has been glued to the 30 thou base layer and will have a frame added around asap (thin evergreen strip).  The next job is to complete the board and batten for the sides and ends and then think about the roof - I will be using wills slate sheet for that plus ridge tiles.

Meanwhile at the Gloucestershire works, Dad has completed a necessary alteration to Merddin.  

To enable extra space for the motion, the cylinders have been packed out from the frames. Backwoods do encourage this and apparently this issue was tackled on Taliesin by including this packing within the kit (although it does mean that the kit is not quite to scale).  I would always prefer a slightly out of scale engine though if it means it runs better!  

Images below, the white packing will of course be painted black.  The engine is in the early stages of painting.

Colin

250 not out

Hi,

This is my 250th post on this blog (wow!). However recent progress has been hampered by very cold weather, christmas and colds etc.

However, 4 more trees have been planted on the layout and whilst on horticultural issues, I have been playing with some lovely busch plastic flowers which will adorn the flower beds on the station platform and around the steps from the car park. Below is a shot of the constituent parts of the busch kit:

I have also some good news on the carriage roof front. Metalsmith Ltd http://www.metalsmith.co.uk/ have quoted me for pre-cut long strips of brass. A survey of the carriages found that only 4 widths are required ranging from 25 to 28mm. The brass will be provided at the correct width, just requiring me to cut (with tin snips) to create the right length on a carriage by carriage basis. I need over 5m of brass though! This will save a massive amount of cutting, which without a guillotine would have been a 'score to cut' method (which is very easy to mess up if the steel rule slips even just a little and takes ages too). Happy days.

The latest edition of Model Rail features a good article (although please note that the back to back measurement for 009 should be 7.3mm not 9mm) from Darren Sherwood-Jones on the construction of his Backwoods NGG16 Beyer-Garratt. I have been in contact with him and he is planning a WHR layout too. Maybe he'll start a blog? If you're a member of the rmweb forum (simple registration if not) then some more details are here http://www.rmweb.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=22209&p=342021&hilit=whr+ngg16#p342021

Certain carriages remain a problem, particularly FR 100/102/124 and WHR 2010/2100. Potentially 2090 could come out of the works (where it is at the mo) looking different, but luckily I spotted this issue and haven't done much on the current kit anyway. I am preparing to draw my own drawings of these as various FR sources have shown that no official final 'as built' drawings exist.

Anyway, Happy New Year (quite an eventful year I suspect what with the opening of the WHR to Beddgelert at Easter and then Porthmadog in July, plus I expect to become a father once again in March!).

Colin

tower of strength?

Tonight I have test assembled the more difficult (Beddgelert end) water tower. This has been modelled directly from the WHRCL plans and so is to scale. It consists of a girder section framework to hold the tanks and 4 circular hollow section pillars (well I have actually lined them with strong wire to add strength). This structure is more concerning as the Waunfawr end version has 6 pillars (why you ask - well trains run underneath this one!).

Below is a photo - I'm pleased to say that even in this state (base not affixed to the ground, no extra strapping for the sides etc) it holds the weight of the brass tank. However it is flimsy enough to concern and I may now swap this tank to the Waunfawr end tower and build the second tank with a plasticard top to reduce the weight a bit.

Colin

The roofing challenge

Here is one big roofing challenge... This is a selection (!!!) of the carriages that now need roofs.

Now this is going to take a while, scoring and cutting out 10 thou brass sheet, then bending it, soldering them on...

So, I'm starting to think about how I can fast forward this process? Bending bars and guillotines seem way too expensive though (at least £100 each!). Anyone got any ideas?

Colin

Meanwhile, on t'other layout

As you can see, some gentle progress on 'Nant Gwernol' (I need a new name really!)... Some trees (woodland scenics) have been added, the rockface background base has been added (plaster rocks next), the area around the chapel has been surfaced and the hut has been added, plus general scenics too. It's amazing what 10 mins here and there can do for a small layout!

Colin

Tree-mendous!

Hi,

Recent work (despite the garage getting pretty cold!) has focused on arboriculture...

Whilst my men (bachmann PW workers) are surveying the track, a copse of pines has been placed in the far corner. This is really there in reality and also forms a nice scenic break for viewing the layout.

Note: my camera flash makes some of these trees look a funny colour - don't worry they aren't that garish really!


At the far end two trees have been added (again they really do exist in reality) to 'hide' the exit to the hidden sidings.

In the station area two copses of larch/spruce have been added, more low level detail is to come too (including clearing up the wood shavings from drilling the holes for the trees to be planted in).

Further away from the station, is a mixed copse of trees and conifers.

an end to end overview.

The trees are a mixture of Faller HO (thinned down considerably with cutters), anita decor handmade, woodland scenics premium and bachmann scenescapes.

Colin

Bull Ant

Hi,

I've been worrying for a while about the performance of ibertren chassis on Rhyd Ddu. I just don't think they're up to the job - huge flanges (that can be turned down in a lathe - but I don't have one!) and hard (but not impossible) to convert to DCC.  The only locos in the stud that use this chassis style are: Blanche (already built and painted and I'm loathed to fiddle!) and Conway Castle.  

That's why it's going to be time to replace the ibertren put aside for Conway with this baby.  http://motorbogies.com/index.php?main_page=popup_image&pID=84

Or for more details: http://motorbogies.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_13_7&products_id=84

It comes with a 31:1 reduction gearbox and nice little mashima can and a flywheel - it's all good.  The wheelbase is perfect (well 0.5mm too long!) and the wheels are much larger than the ibertren, making it more like the real thing too.

Dad has one of these for his 3mm DMU and it performs mega, so bring it on!

Colin

Warley images

Click here for images from Warley - there are too many to upload to this blogger site 5 at a time

Colin

Birthday modelling bash

Note: Warley review coming soon...

But before that, I took a day off work today with the express intention of doing a load of modelling.  I invited Dad up to help and we spent a very enjoyable day at the soldering iron. Progress included:

The completion of one of the two Braithwaite tanks - these are Alan Gibson etches, but require very fiddle T and L shaped brass strip to be soldered in between each panel.  I did the top and bottom, Dad did the fiddly sides.  All it needs now is the structure below (bits are in stock) and some detailing on top/the addition of the water pipe.

I have nearly completed the main bodywork of the FR funkey 'Vale of Ffestiniog'.  The roof is not fixed yet and details like horns, wipers, lamps, handrails etc are required, but the basic body is now together.
I have completed the necessary extra strips to sort the side of the doors out on 2043 and 2044 (2045 was done previously).  This was to cover up gaps in the folds which were designed in as part of the original etches.

We also:

- Discussed the addition of a flywheel to Taliesin (I have chosen the smaller 5mm wheel)

- Trialled a 5 thou brass carriage roof, only to favour the 10 thou variety.

- Painted textured paint onto the other layout's higher level to help the ballast areas stick to the MDF base (NOTE never use MDF for baseboards - it's too hard, too shiny and plywood (9mm?) is much better.

Good times.

Colin

'O' gosh!

Apologies for the delay in posting - busy times!  First up today is an image of the forgotten loco - Moel Tryfan.  The loco needs some tlc to sort out intermittent shorting problems on the chassis and also requires slidebars (I have them) and connecting rods (I don't have them), other than that, it's complete and looking good. I have the nameplates ready.

But the real subject of this post is............bogies and O rings!  Below are some nine lines bogies (from Lynton and Barnstaple prototypes).  These are terrible and avoid them at all costs.  The sides spring apart way too easily and wheelsets drop out.  I am phasing these out completely.

Alternatives?  Worsley works makes bogies in brass - here are some FR style bogies - just add bearings.  However, apart from the fact you have to paint them (!), the mounting of couplings to them is difficult.  Also included in this bag are some 'artistry in brass' (I think this is Parkside Dundas now) NWNGR bogies with white metal axleboxes - these suffer from the same issue.

Here are the worsley works bogies for the WHR saloons, very nice etchings, but again how do I add my couplings?
Here are the Parkside Dundas bogies for FR stock (that really means carrs 15 to 20 plus 23 and Vans 1/2), but I will use them for a few other similar vehicles too.  Much better for BEMO couplings and easy to put together.

Also from Parkside come these more modern style bogies.  Easy to add BEMOs and pretty close to prototypical too.

A manufacturer I have recently come across is greenmax, their N gauge bogies come in two wheelbases 13 and 16mm and run beautifully.  These are the excellent 13mm ones, if you can make do with the incorrect scale on the side detailing (oh come on who's going to see it!).

and these are the 16mm ones underneath FR buffet carriage 114.  The significance of this is related to the title of this post - 'O'.  

For lo, I have discovered what I think is an excellent way of mounting these bogies onto the etched brass floor of the worsley carriage.  The answer was a purchase from Porthmadog market a few months ago - O rings - the type used for plumbing.  You can get ones that are 2mm thick and about 5-7mm diameter.  Any of these fit perfectly around a 10BA bolt and sit between the bogie and the floor.  The benefit over a bit of plasticard or some other method? - they're springy! So you get a kind of suspension effect too - cool eh??

 

In other news...

• Construction started on my Baldwin (590), but has stalled due to a requirement for replacement crankpins from GEM.  The farish chassis doesn't have room for the connecting rod behind the coupling rod, so you have to send off to GEM for new crankpins.
• The footplate of Vale of Ffestiniog has been constructed and parts for the body prepared.  Nameplates have been sourced.  Chassis choice remains up in the air.
• An FR coal waggon was completed in white metal, with an etched chassis.
• On the other layout, the area at the back of the top level has been formed using my preferred method of newspaper balls, masking tape and plaster bandage.  Also the levers for the points have been sourced - this layout will have an AC supply for peco point motors separate to the DCC system, unlike Rhyd Ddu.
• and finally, digg the digger??? [the joints in the jib actually work, so you can position it as you like]
  
  

all jolly good fun!

Colin

four four one five

4415, the Kerr Stuart diesel trialled on the WHR/FR, shipped abroad, rescued and to be restored soon...  Tonight I've completed the basic bodywork, with detailing to come and DCC conversion of the chassis half completed - note the white insulating tape.  and yes, I have now bought some black tape!

Other recent progress has included FR modern carriages 112 and 114.

a line up of the last week's work - 112, 114, 119, 16 and two Ashbury Summer cars (11 and 14) for heritage purposes.

A DCC ibertren chassis is in the foreground.

On the layout, I've re-ballasted the edge of the platform, repainted the sleeper grime on the test section and added further scenics such as coarse turf, I'm also planning where trees will be sited.  

On the hidden sidings, I have aligned all the tracks on the traversers properly (which required re-laying two of the sidings) and have planned the wiring - easy in DCC!

Colin

Masterplan

[click to enlarge]

Hi all,

In May on hols I got thinking about the other side of the layout...the Ffestiniog side.  Finally I've had time to draw it up into a kind of long-term Masterplan.  Of course the short term plan is to 'finish' Rhyd Ddu, but you will have noticed me building much FR stock too.  This is with one eye on the future of my train set (cos that's what it is really!).  

The idea is to feature something different.  I remain to be convinced that 009 shunting layouts really work (maybe County Gate could prove me wrong, I don't know), but I have plenty of evidence that through running layouts can work well (e.g. Dduallt etc) and the extra benefit of 009 is that the scenics can be extensive within a manageable space.

So, I thought of putting together 3 boards of scenic Ffestiniog vistas and if possible, a passing loop in the middle to add operational interest.  The three I have chosen are:

- Tylers Curve and Plas Halt (a beautiful peaceful halt in woodland next to the tightest curve on the railway, which itself resides in a rock cutting.

- Rhiw Goch loop and signal box for the passing loop, encouraged by a recent article in Narrow Gauge and Industrial Railway Modelling Review explaining how to model the fabulous new box there.

- Dduallt tank curve leading to Campbell's Platform - a gorgeous swinging curve.

The only issue I have yet to find with this is that the scenes are in the wrong order.  Rhiw Goch is just after Penrhyn, whilst Plas Halt is just before Tan-y-Bwlch, so really those two should be the other way around.  However Tyler's curve, as you can see, really fits with the necessary sharp bend out of HS1.  Also having Rhiw Goch in the middle helps operation.  Because of this I might add plywood backscenes between the three boards to separate them into discrete scenes...?

For those struggling to remember what these scenes look like, here's Rhiw Goch box:

Plas Halt and Tyler's curve:

and Dduallt Tank curve leading to the small halt of Campbell's Platform:

I would genuinely be interested in your comments on this plan, and by the way it is the layout with no name at the moment: perhaps Plas Rhiw Tank?

Colin

A Graham Farish chassis conversion to DCC experiment

An N guage chassis can be a right bother to convert to digital.  Certainly my 91 and 08 chassis are both troublesome.  This is beacuse the body is live and linked permanently to the motor. Looking at my 91 last night (to become the other funkey), I took it apart to see how I could convert it.  the bogies pick up and feed a brass strip underneath the motor and directly to the chassis block.  Both brushes of the motor directly touch either the strip or the block via a brass 'hat' which has a spring inside (to spring the brush up to the motor) and is kept in place by a keeper plate, itself rivetted to either the block or that brass strip.  

So, in order to convert it to digital I need to break the link between the pickups and the brushes...easier said than done when they are integral.

This is where the 'digi hat' comes in.  First you insolate the hat by replacing it with a plastic (not brass) one.  Then you place heat shrink around the keeper to isolate that from the spring. Finally, you solder directly to the spring, which sits inside the hat.  Confused?  see below...  Here are the hats, brass on left and new insulated one on right.

That fits into the heavy chassis block like so...

and the spring that sits inside the hat and has a wire soldered to it - that wire then goes to the decoder.  The isolated keeper device is then placed back over the spring to keep it in position.

On some models it is possible to do away with the soldering to the spring and the keeper plate thingy and use an insulated clip which sits on top of the hat to keep the spring tight against the brush.  This will be fine for my 08s but not for the 91 as the clip doesn't fit (chassis block much wider)!

Then you can solder the wires from the clip/spring to the decoder and the red/black wires to the pickups and it's converted.  

we'll see how it works in a few weeks after I've picked up some of these from Warley.

Colin