Progress has been slow for obvious reasons, but I have been able to get a bit done when both children were asleep.

First the bad news.

In attempting to solder on the tricky Pullman 2115 roof, I unfortunately mangled one of the windows and broke the cant rail above it. This took a good 30 mins to 'correct' and it's not perfect yet, although I think it passable. Claire thinks I'm being pedantic! It's the far window in the image below...

oh dear, anyway...

There will eventually be 4 seating styles in my stock. My guiding principle is that I want a base on which seated passengers look right, but that is quick and easy to install - I've too much to do to waste time building correct interiors at the moment (I may return later though). Firstly there is longitudinal seating of the parkside pattern - example below. This will be used in most heritage and NWNGR stock where its appropriate.

Secondly, the modern stock has been installed with resin castings (made for me specially by Port Wynnstay) of 1+2 seating. The pattern was basically a bashed Liliput interior raised on a plinth and designed to tessellate. Below is an example in FR car 119. The pieces at the ends have had rebates drilled so that a captive nut for the bogie pivots fits underneath.

For carriages 15/16 southern pride models standard gauge bench seats have been cut down and glued back to back to emulate the high backed compartments in these carrs. Bowsiders 19/20 will be similarly treated. The shorter bowsiders 17/18 come with langley interiors already.

Not shown are the L+B bench style seats also made by langley. These will be used in the WHR semi-opens 2020 and 2021 (and 2022 if I ever make a model of that too).

In other news, the Pickering brake has received an underframe courtesy of some S shaped styrene forming the footboards. [The 'kit' comes just as a body!].

and Thomas helped me add the first layer of slate dust and small chippings to the 'tip' at the back of the other layout (which still hasn't got a name, so remains 'Nant Gwernol' for now).

I'm also making the platform signs for Rhyd Ddu at the moment, using slaters' plastic letters.

Colin

A gorgeous baby girl

Olivia was born on 10th March at 0325 (no sleep for us then!) weighing 8lbs 8oz. Mum nd baby doing well. Dad tired but elated.

On the level

Firstly some non-carriage news - the level crossing has been test installed - gates not hung yet as they need to be painted.

a load of carriages have had interior seating added:

NWNGR Brake No.1 was completed with roof.

and carr 113 was completed up to bogies and couplings level as a test.

Colin

After much messing about....

...the nightmare carriage now has a roof! This required taking off the painted ends, stripping them, reattaching them to the sides at the new height, moving the captive nut assembly lower, altering the chassis, removing and reattaching the buffer beams and finally adding the roof. phew! Thank goodness that's over.

Pictured next to the considerably easier carriage that wasn't painted before I needed to fiddle with it.

and then I finished two more carrs - FR 113 (which has run on the WHR for a few seasons, so is relevant) and 114 which is a pure FR carriage.

Colin

A right kerfuffle

Well, after much messing about, including pretty much a complete dismantle and rebuild the two new WHR saloons 2043 and 2044 now have roofs that fit.  Yippee.  The concern is that the other one (2045) is the carriage that we test painted last summer.  Taking that apart is not really a palatible option, so I'm going to have a think about it!

Also roofed today are FR No. 26, which has previously been used on the WHR and two original NWNG Summer cars, I will probably make one of each version - one with glazed windows and one just with window bars.

So, to catch up, I now have 31 carriages with roofs.  cool.  That means I can nearly make up 10 trains.  Needed now for the grand 11 train plan are:

• 2090 (wait to see how it comes out of Boston Lodge)
  
• 2010/2100 (kits required - worsley works are working on these using photographs [2010 is actually very similar to 2043 etc] and a photograph of a drawing for 2100 is freely available on the WHR project site - official drawings are hard to come by for commercial kit purposes)
  
• 2045 mentioned above needs thought to avoid undoing the paintwork done already.
  
• 2115 domed roof needs thought, but my test on car 110 has worked fine
  
• 1000 - another domed roof
  
• The Pickering brake needs an underframe, although it has a roof now
  
• NWNGR brake No.1 (underframe complete, needs body constructing/roof).
  
• Quarryman brake (needs an underframe and a roof)
  
• Representative FR set: need 100 and 124 (scratch building underway), 114 and 112 (roofs needed, these are next on the workbench).
  

Colin

Carriage bonanza

Loads to report - a real carriage roofing bonanza tonight! Here's Ashbury corridor No. 25 (full height as per the original and the replica being built by the WHHR). Etched brass bogies were completed for this, including brass pinpoint bearings.


Here's the buffet car done too. Bogies were also assembled for this.

FR Long bowsider No. 20 for my Colonel Stephens' era train. This also had bogie mounting stretchers added with captive nuts.

I did the Zoo car (Bug semi-open No. 1) and found it pretty easy, so I did all five bugs:

The pickering brake was harder - the duckets stood up too much, so the roof had to come off, and after some judicious filing, it now looks fine.

The Gladstone car has a roof, captive nuts inside above the bogie holes, new bogies with white metal axleboxes and (the ridiculously brittle) steps added.

Earlier in the day I had started one of the three new WHR saloons (2043-5). I tacked the ends on and found a problem - quite a gap above the top of the panelling. This remains an issue and will be considered tomorrow. I might have to file the ends down a little and resolder the sides on slightly higher. Basically its annoying as the sides can't drop any lower really due to the way the chassis works. ummmmm.

But I did manage to complete roofs for the 2 semi-opens 2020 and 2021.

2041:

and the unusual 2042, with its beading between the windows and original style panels above the windows.

and least I forget, I also finished the roofs on Vans 4 and 5 (ex carrs 11 and 12), two useful brake vehicles for heritage trains. Sat next to the WHR saloons, the loading gauge differences between FR and WHR are apparent!

Phew!

Colin

We're all domed!

There are quite a few carriages on both the FR and WHR with domed ends - most of the tin cars, the obesrvation ends and the Pullman 2115.  I appear to have sorted a method for adding roofs to carriages with normal shapes, but what about these domes.

Well after much thought about resin castings, wooden roofs filed down etc I decided to give a new method a go on my least favourite carriage (in case it didn't work).  In case you're wondering this is FR 110.  

The idea is to add the central section in brass as if I were doing a normal carriage.  Then at the ends where the doors are, I cut a piece of brass to fit just inside the top and soldered it in place. This left a 'false floor' just at the ends, where I was able to add filler on top and mould it to fit the brass roof already soldered on.

The above image shows the second layer of filler on.  Once dry in the morning, I'll sand it all down.  It might need small amounts added to finish it, (the left hand side perhaps) but generally I feel this has worked and gives the right effect.  

Colin

A picture's worth 1001 words

15 mins spare - combination car 1001 has a roof.

A man with a van and a plan

This is the ex SAR brake van and the first of my creations to feature a removable roof. This is because it has a fixed floor and to ensure that the bogie bolts can still be accessed if maintenance is required, I have decided to have a removable roof. So, the roof has two spare bits of brass soldered onto the underside of the roof at each end. These drop down and are angled so that they friction fit against the internal sides of the van. It seems to work fine. Lead weight was also added and the bogies had two O rings added and work fine. Time to spray it - after cleaning - in red oxide primer.

Colin

two oh four oh

The latest roof is 2040 seen below, it was a bi of a fiddle (hence the oh in the title) but has come out ok in the end.

I have also finished the underframe of NWMGRs No.1 bogie brake and... on the layout a wall was added on the Tro Fridd curve and duly partially covered in burnt grass to blend it in to the scenery.



Colin

ultra-sound as a pound

This my friends is a technology I knew nothing about until yesterday - this is an ultrasonic cleaner.

Wikipedia says... "An ultrasonic cleaner, often colloquially referred to as a sonicator, is a cleaning device that uses ultrasound (usually from 15–400 kHz) and an appropriate cleaning solution to clean delicate items."

Indeed, and what's really cool about this?

You can use it to easily and quickly (3 mins) clean off flux and grease depositis off etched kits. Millions of tiny bubbles are created when ultrasonic sound is passed through liquid. It is these tiny bubbles combined with a huge pressure that create superb cleaning results. You onyl need to add warm tap water for general cleaning or tot of special natural 'Sea Clean' (made from seaweed) solution for enhanced/extensive cleaning.

and what does this space-age technology cost? £30 from ebay.

Needless to say I am hopeful that this (as well as cleaning jewellery, CDs/DVDs, cutlery, nibs etc) will save a lot of time prior to priming my models.

Colin

One one six

Here is the latest carriage to come out of the soldering works...FR 116.  A roof was cut out too and bent using the traditional method (no rolling bars available for this one).  I like these kits as the underframe detail is good - steps, riveted frames and even the bracing.  Bogies are in stock (Parkside Vale of Rheidol's).  

Colin

Trees a crowd

Hi,

Last night further tree planting (prototypical) occurred around Tro Ffridd and this practically completes the trees for Rhyd Ddu. Further bushes will be added around some of them and along the stream.

Once again the camera flash affects the colours here... However, I know have a D-SLR (and tripod) so I'll be taking some better images soon.

Colin

roco-motion

I have it on very good authority that the planned RTR Ffestiniog fairlie in 009 by roco see here:

http://www.roco.cc/index.php?id=136&Anfangsposition=9&artikelnummer=33280

may also be followed vintage RTR stock such as the FR bowsider, curly roofed van and slate waggons...

watch this space!

[I do hope that the roco loco is 1) DCC 2) quality and 3) a model of David Lloyd George and not Merddin, as Dad has made such a great job of my backwoods kit that I wouldn't swap that!]

Colin

sixteen

Following on from a successful roofing of WHR summer car No. 23 by Dad (a kind of 'shows you how' session), I had a go at FR car no. 16 and I'm pretty happy with how its turned out.  I also added and drilled out bolsters for the bogies too.

On the layout, the first pass of sleeper grime has been completed on all track, with just a few areas that need patching.  I am now starting to consider the walling for Tro Fridd, fencing around the station level crossing and the final placement of trees.

Colin

where in the world?

I didn't expect to find this today - right next to the National Space Centre in Leicester is the Abbey pumping station, which has a small 2ft gauge railway (not operating today - boo hiss).  A piece of Wales (well FR 2 ton slate waggon) in our backyard!

Anyway, Shepton Mallet was good fun as ever.  The exhibition had a number of excellent layouts which kept me amused.  My favourite was a toss up between Borth y gest and Tan y Bwlch, with the former just nudging it based on the smoke effects and scenics, but it was close.  See the link in yesterday's post for images.  I really fancy a gravity slate train - an arnold kof chassis in the 4th waggon (a larger 3t variety) is the trick apparently - but how to make it DCC?  It might have to have the decoder in the 5th waggon!

The 009 sales stand was good and I picked some up good bargains in the way of waggons, books (Boyd's* NG railways in Mid Wales for £10!), bogies, plastic kits and oddments.  Almost all of these have been up to standard once I got them home for a proper look, but three carriages have made their way back to ebay, as they are not up to the standards I require.  

Before the event I had made a survey of all carriages and the bogies I had in stock.  I found I was short of FR short pattern bogies by about 6 pairs.  At the 009 sales stand there were a number of unopened FR parkside bogies at a good price - I counted them up and there were, you guessed it, 6!

At the worsley stand there was more good news - the 2008 changes to FR 116 meant a new kit and I now have a one-off kit that Allen did for me - plus I picked up some Mark 2 quarryman's carriages and a NWNGR brake comp no.1.  116 has already had its pieces cut out ready for soldering to begin.

Afterwards I made my usual pilgrimage (this year only with my brother as the rest of the family were unable to make it this year) to Cheddar for mini golf, cheese, onion marmalade, firebox ale and chocolate trout (don't ask) followed by a trip to Thatcher's cider farm for a 5 litres of real cider straight from the barrel - and only £6!  Afterwards we checked out the fire ravaged pier at Weston before hitting the M5 north again.

Colin

* It was also noted today that the genius Mr Boyd had passed away.  RIP sir.

I made it...

To Shepton. Better report tomorrow, for now...check these out:

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/colin.lea/SheptonMallet2009#

Colin

carriage progress

I mentioned a project to create a 39 or 42 Hudson toastrack from a parkside kitbash. This is how far I've got - the old side is visible cut out and the startings of the new side (utilising the old underframe and cant rail (not attached yet) is below it. The ends have had the detail filed off.

If you don't know what carriage I'm on about check this out: http://www.frheritage.org.uk/wiki/Carriage_39

and, following a delay in getting 188 strip from modelex, I have started work on FR service car 124, which always runs with 100.

Colin

Quick update

Some quick titbits:

- Bogies for the 3 other B wagons have been completed - SAR pattern from worsley works with brass bearings.

- A project to try and kit bash a parkside kit for 37/38 to resemble a Hudson toastrack (39 or 42) has been commenced - the kit gives me the chassis, underframe, roof and ends (although the ends need false planking adding), the sides will be scratchbuilt using the method I've used for 100 (aka the Rob Waller method).

- I've run out of sleeper grime now (more on the way, don't fear) - but one loop road has been finished.

- The trees installed with brown trunks have had grey dry brushed on to tone down the brown (tree trunks ain't brown!).

- I've also tidied up a load of bits to ensure I can get to important details like vac pipes, couplings etc without having to wade through piles of other stuff first.

- The last few details necessary to complete on the WHR funkey, mainly footsteps have been folded up reday for a final assault on this model asap.

- The new WHR 2009 timetable sees just about every move possible at Rhyd Ddu during 2009 - short trains terminating there early in the year, trains passing, single trains running through without passing etc and with a mix of steam and diesel too. Great!

Colin

What it's cracked up to 'B'

Some progress to report.  Firstly, as you can see above the first B wagon has been completed to the level where it can be painted.  Dad had completed the fiddly angles on the sides a while ago and I've added the details, strapping etc.  It even has lead weight added already!  I have another 3 in stock, I'm just trying to summon up the courage to have a go at that angle myself (without Dad's resistance soldering kit!).

I've also put together 2090 the WHR brake saloon (despite the risk that it may change as it's in the works at the mo), ordered some extra plastic strip I'll need to build FR No. 124 and also completed the new No. 12 (Van 5) seen in bits in a previous post.  The old one (window spacing was wrong) sold on ebay a few days ago.

On scenics, the Ffridd Isaf board has had its track treated with the sleeper grime to match the adjacent board and the underbridge has had another coat of 'concrete'.  However the smell of the railmatch paint seems to be lingering and getting into the house, so I have to be careful here.

The platform lamp columns have been tested with DC and AC to see which is best - controlled DC certainly gives a better light and allows dimming, so a cheap hornby controller will be used for this and also to supply the 15v AC out required by the points decoder (the famous 99p off ebay H+M has been relegated due to concerns about its electrical safety).  The bits are in stock to complete all the wiring (an evening frankly), but I'll wait until the weather improves!

A load more Lilliput bogies were purchased from my supplier (I only know of one place you can get them and he only has stocks every now and again).  Parkside (romford) 8mm diameter wheels have been added to them and they run superbly.  This means that all the new WHR carriages will run on these bogies.  

Scale link benches have arrived and 2 of these are being fabricated, whilst a plan of the platform area has also been drawn up.  As my platform cannot be scale length, I have to decide which features to include and which not to, whilst maintaining the correct look and feel.

I have bought a few test pots of hornby acrylic paint (also in photo above).  Once a brass vehicle is primed, obviously you could use acrylic or enamel paints and acrylic is somewhat more palatable for use indoors (although it definitely needs a coat of lacquer/varnish afterwards to avoid chipping) and I plan to use more of the acrylics.  I also like the way that errors can be corrected immediately and easily with just water.  I understand humbrol are phasing out enamels altogether anyway.  

I'm sure Dad is most amazed by this as, being an artist of some renown, he can mix any colour from just a few base colours, but I haven't got that knack and would also be concerned about keeping a consistent colour when a lot of paint is needed, so a pot of a certain colour is preferable (they're pretty cheap anyway).    

Shepton Mallet is just a week away and there is as yet no sign of the imminent arrival of the baby, so fingers crossed, I may yet make it.  

Colin