Tro Ffridd

This is a clever image of Tro Ffridd. No it's not a model! The original shot was taken by my friend Roger Dimmick and was altered by a guy called Adam on the WHR forum. I hope neither of them minds me repeating the image here. The effect is created by the breeze-block wall added behind, a blur around the train and some slight alterations to the curves in photoshop.

This technique is indeed very clever and more examples of this idea can be seen here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/automatt/3250878869/in/set-72057594078648378/

or

http://www.flickr.com/photos/automatt/110230819/in/set-72057594078648378/

you can also use so-called tilt-shift lenses to create this effect.

Anyway, I thought it was about time that I showed you all what Tro Ffridd looks like now. The problem is that under the 100W bulb in the garage I get two effects - far too yellow with no flash despite alterations in photoshop, and with flash the ballast and rocks look far too white and over-exposed. So, I've created a slideshow of images taken with and without flash. The real colour is somewhere between the two extremes. enjoy.

Or click here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGzzxyKZp1s

Colin

Bron Hebog

From Holiday - May 09

[more images are available via the link to my holiday May 09 album in picasa web albums]

BRON HEBOG

My recent holiday to Wales was great fun for many reasons:

• My first chance to ride on a scheduled passenger train from Rhyd Ddu to Beddgelert and vice versa
• A chance to see around Boston Lodge (always fun), see special AGM trains and the boat in action on the FR
• A chance to see the Baldwin and Buffet car, plus the new museum at the WHHR
• and...a chance to see the initial part of Bron Hebog at the Port model show.

and I was not disappointed on any of these fronts (apart from missing the gravity train due to very wet weather and it running 30mins late).

Bron Hebog is the successor to Dduallt, itself a seriously good 009 model. Like Rhyd Ddu, it portrays the WHR in its modern form.

The part on show was basically of Beddgelert Station, but the whole layout is named 'Bron Hebog' to highlight the fact that the station area is just one part of a much larger model of the station, the Cwm Cloch reverse curves and Goat tunnel too.

It is of course not exactly fair to pass judgement on a half completed layout, but the parts on show were of a superb standard. Many photos were taken (a kind of industrial espionage?) which will help me immensely given the similarities of our projects.

Highlights for me were the correct scaling of the PBSSR bridge at the north end and the Goat cutting at the south end (compare that with the 7mm model of Beddgelert seen at Warley recently); the gently undulating and believable fields behind the station; the water tower and station shelters and of course, the stock.

...and it is stock where this project is much further on than I am, helped in part because some of it has run on Dduallt in the past (Russell, Upnor, Conwy etc) but almost all of the carriages have been scratchbuilt in plastic (I think the Romanian carr is a worsley brass kit) which is an amazing achievement given I know how long it takes to create one in plastic, let alone 20 or so! The detailing is also fabulous, with internals given the same qulaity treatment as externals.

There is clearly a long way to go, but this is looking like another iconic layout.

It is understood that it will be seen again at Warley in November alongside the FR and WHR stand. Can't wait.

Colin

from the workbench

The brass angle finally arrived so the other B wagons could be finished. Two will be bike wagons and here is one with its external door fitted, lots more detail to come, including black pictograms of bikes/luggage which I have put together on the PC.

FR obs saloons 100 and 102 are progressing with the chassis done and the sides ready for final assembly. You will remember that I scratchbuilt a 100 earlier in the year and it will be interesting to compare the brass and plastic versions.

A slight bit of layout owners' licence - I bought a Chris Veitch sentry passenger van when at the FR on hols. I already had the peco wagon chassis in stock and so last night I soldered the basic kit together. Detailing and roof to come.

Carr 124 cauised some angst as one side didn't have the rebate necessary to join the two halves of the sides. However it is now ready for a roof.

Colin

progress

Some scenic progress ...the ballast deliveries at Rhyd Ddu tend to pile up behind the water tower, so 'new' ballast has been added there in a pile.


two flower beds have been built from plasticard and populated with rocks and grasses.

this shot shows the two beds.

On the carriage front, fresh off the bench are...the mess car 1000. This is built from an improved worsley kit. The first one (an inferior kit anyway) was recently scrapped by myself as it was the first kit I ever soldered together and it showed!

The two WHR saloons which retain the old style beading are 2042 and 2090, plastic strip was cut and glued on to represent the vents, which are not etched or provided for in the kit.

118 was finished, seats installed and now also has the roof soldered on and domed ends formed with filler.

26 was completed and 22's ride height altered to make sure they look right next to each other.

and, from a new worsley kit, here is 101, the FR obs used (along with 113) on the WHR for the last few years and which has been extensively used with two semi-opens on the crew training runs this year.

Colin

Holiday May 09

Back from holidays: reports soon, but images here for a start

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/colin.lea/HolidayMay09?feat=directlink

Colin

Update on all fronts

Vale of Ffestiniog - the ‘fake’ bogie sides have now been added to one side of the engine and one of the upper parts has been test fitted to check dimensions. It looks good I think. Please note this idea of using a split bogie side arrangement is not mine but is near enough a direct copy of that produced by the Wallers for Dduallt, and as featured in the model railway press. Thanks, once again, are due to them. I didn’t make my own springs though, instead using springs included in the parkside FR bogie kits, which are pretty similar and were spare it the ‘bits box’!

I have also soldered the roof in place, not without trouble I must say as the tolerances are very small indeed (as well as it being far too long!) and much filing and messing about was necessary. In all that, tacking on and off and on and off again, I managed to solder it on with the roof vents facing the wrong end. D’oh! However, I have decided not to bother messing about taking it all off again, so I may either fill the holes and make new ones (square!), or not worry as only the rivet counters would notice! The most relevant hole is that for the exhaust, so I might just create one new hole for that and be done with it.

The ground frame is in place as a former really, the sides of will be faced with stone and the area around it and its top face filled with ballast (as per the real thing). There is also a small handrail to go on.

Talking of handrails, here are the two for the Tro Ffridd sheep creep. I couldn’t make them stand up for a photo, so the flying bench is doing its best.


3 ton slate wagons – 5 of these are now complete, 2 are braked. For slate waggon spotters 3 are of the BL variety and 2 of the BM2 stable.


The weather has been better of late and so the spray painting season has started. Before I start on the monster process of painting carriages, I did some practice on fencing and slate loads. Here are a load of loads(!) – both the 2 and 3 ton varieties of resin pieces marketed by Chris Veitch, they were sprayed in primer and one in the image has had a different shade of grey dry brushed on top. They have now all had this treatment and a third shade of grey will be added soon to add realism.

The plasticard path from the steps/ramp up to the platform area has been painted and fencing is ready to be added asap.

Here is a shot of the previously mentioned level crossing, the gates are just leaning but the rest is stuck in place. I have also started looking at the boards to sit in the 2 foot and also the anti-pedestrian 'sawtooth' bits.

Two new trees (smaller pines from the hornby skale scenics range) have been added, can you spot one of them in the image below?


In the Cheltenham workshop, the FR gunpowder van (Long variety) has been completed by Dad. His theory that the reason these kits are so fiddly is because they have been ‘shot down’ from 7mm makes sense indeed, why didn’t I realise that before? I wonder if the England kit suffers from the same problem? I understand it contains a drivetrain of 10 gear wheels! A reason indeed to wait for the impending release of a version with a RTR chassis! Below is an image of the van alongside Merddin and behind are the two 16mm waggons I mentioned previously.~


Finally, another oddity. I have had a hornby portaloo that came in a set for a while. At the weekend I got another from the Bachmann range, thinking they would be similar – look at the size difference!

Colin

Update on various matters

Locomotives:

The fake bogie sides for the two funkeys have had bearings added to represent the axleboxes and a bank of three springs in the centre of each side.

Blanche has been successfully converted to DCC, the chip just fitting into the boiler.

Rolling stock:

Carriages 119 and 120 have had their resin roofs added, with a small amount of filling necessary in a couple of corners. These were specially produced by a 009 supplier, who may yet produce a kit of 119/120.

The FR hearse waggon (from a GEM kit - white metal sides and coffin(!), etched brass chassis and roof) was put together. The kit features a bizarre arrangement for the wheels, where you have to solder wire across the bottoms of the axleboxes to keep the wheels in - we are talking very small pieces of wire!

I have deferred the construction of the long wheelbase gunpowder waggon to Dad on the basis that I have developed an intense dislike for Mercian models waggon kits which are just too fiddly for words.

In a break from 009, I put together a 16mm (garden scale!) Croesor/FR iron waggon as a present for Dad. Plans are afoot for a garden railway, but this will not, readers will be pleased to note, deflect attention from Rhyd Ddu. Although it will be rather nice!

The FR Quarryman brake vehicle with a single balcony (Van 6) has had a chassis added, but I couldn't find an exact fitto add to the worsley etched body so side extensions to a closely matching chassis and new ends were created from plastic strip.

Layout

A 40 thou plasticard piece was cut out and glued in to represent the final tarmac strip between the steps and the entrance to the platform.

A butchered Hornby ground frame has been installed as the yard ground frame. This needs more detailing yet and the replacement of ballast around it where it was scraped away to provide a flat base for the frame to be installed.

Peco flexible fencing has been sprayed with primer and then a muddy yellow colour to create the level crossing fencing. The same colour was used for 7 packs of Slaters fence posts and the gate for the edge of the coach pulling in area. Unfortunately the kind of plastic involved appears to not take paint wonderfully well and a few small areas have flaked off, these will be hidden by weathering (dry brushing to come) and some strategically placed grass tufts.

The level crossing's etched gates were also sprayed grey, as were the handrails for the Tro Ffridd sheep creep. These may yet turn silver, as apposed to primer grey...I'll decide when the silver spray (on order) arrives.

Planning

Ideas for the other side of the layout continue to develop, with the latest plan being a simple scenic section with just a single track and no points (echos of the 7mm layout 'Holiday Haunts'??). The scenes would be: Plas Halt incorporating Tyler's curve, Garnedd Tunnel and Dduallt tank curve/Campbell's Platform.

As all these locations are relatively hidden and difficult to access (Plas Halt is up a steep and long climb from Plas Tan y Bwlch, and Campbell's Platform is a private halt for Plas Dduallt), I have been playing with names like 'Hidden Ffestiniog'...and on that theme the current favourite is 'Here be dragons', with a movable red dragon to feature on the layout for added fun.

Colin

Triple hundred

The 300th post!

Here's Vale of Ffestiniog. She is sitting on a farish N gauge chassis from the new warship. This is DCC ready via a 6 pin plug and I've added a TCS decoder and tested her already. Today I fettled the body so that the chassis fitted nicely and I have started work on replacement bogie sides, made from plasticard (as per David and Rob Waller's article in Narrow Gauge and Industrial Railway Modelling Review) with detailing.

The two funkeys (I'm making up the bogie overlays for the WHR funkey at the same time) will be key locos for Rhyd Ddu, as they run beautifully are already DCC fitted and both are likely to see extensive use on the WHR in 2009/2010. They are therefore a key priority for finishing.

The roof is just laid on top for now, although it doesn't foul the chassis at all, so I'll solder it on asap.

Colin

wheely good

Here is a big packet of 3mm scale wheels. Why should I want these???

The reason is, that once the metal axle is removed, the two wheels make perfect mountings for bogies. The hole left is almost exactly correct for 10BA, so a screw can be inserted through it and can find a captive nut soldered to the carriage floor above it. The plastic false axle is also fluted, allowing a bogie with a hole in the middle to be friction fitted to it. This allows for easy changing of bogies should there be a problem too.

The only issue was getting hold of enough of these rare and unwanted (who wants plastic wheels these days) items. It just so happens that Dad is a member of the 3mm society, so on a trip out to Salisbury the other week he was able to source a load of them, in addition to a few he had lying unloved in a box. Thanks also to Terry of TT3 supplies, who sent on a load FOC apart from postage. Top man.

Colin

oh, what's occuring?

some testing...just to check carriage lengths etc for train formations. The carrs were just laid on top of the rails (most have no bogies attached as they are being prepped for painting). The loop will fit 7 FR carriages easily...

the yard headshunt is a decent length, at least 3 B wagons.

just 2 in the short siding though.

and plenty of room in the long siding.

but the main event was the loop... 6 WHR saloons, or 5 and a B wagon no problem. If you look carefully in the below shot you will also notice that I've added the short ramp section at the end of the platform too and ballasted around it.

Beddgelert

Beddgelert got a roof and the cylinder covers added...

tidy.

Colin

2 B (or not 2 B)

1 more B wagon done, photographed next to its sister - I ran out of brass angle to complete the other two.

Colin

B patient!

3 sides of the 6 necessary to make 3 more B wagons have now had their vertical angles added, a fiddly job!

The 6 sides and 6 ends have also been folded and soldered at the back as a rebate to take their floors. SAR pattern bogies are complete already.

B cool!

I had a go at the brass angle on one side of the next B wagon to go through the assembly line myself this time (Dad did the last lot) and surprised myself with a decent enough job I think.

Colin

Leighton Buzzard

Took a trip to Leighton Buzzard on Sunday...

Caught the 12.20, diesel hauled service to Stonehenge works and back. This is an unusual railway, mostly used by locals it seemed, and one which is hemmed in by houses for much of its route (even more to follow should housing plans come to fruition). The fields second is pleasant but not fantastic. The highlight has to be the numerous road crossings, controlled by two blokes with red flags, who jump off the train prior to the crossing and then get back on afterwards. This makes the journey somewhat stop-start.

Our journey was behind the big blue (ex Channel Tunnel?) diesel below.

At the Leighton Buzzard (Page's Park) end, there is a large engine shed (with a public walkway around the back for viewing purposes), a decent shop and a cafe. Parking is plentiful and free.



at the other end is the works, with much going on and a few displays to look at plus a small crafts and drinks shop.


Thomas and I went looking for other locos and found this little lot...


Including this beauty! 590 anyone?

So, on our scale it scored 42%, the same as the Corris. 17th out of 23. Worth a look, certainly.

Colin

Really quick update

- Resin roofs for 119 and 120 have arrived and are being affixed.
- Seats for the longer bowsiders 19 and 20 were completed and glued in.
- 6 carrs have been found to need attention to their ride height and these are being attended too.
- Diamond mesh has arrived from scale link for the mesh on two bug boxes (zoo car and the forthcoming porthole bug)
- The mounting method for bogies has been settled (more on this in a future post), but requires the acquisition of over 60 3mm scale wheels. Dad is at a 3mm exhibition to source these.
- The WHR funkey has had air horns added and a hole drilled in its top light for the exhaust.

FR/WHR 2009 carriage formations have been announced (may change) as:

A: 100/124/122/116/106/113/118
B: 111/105/14/107/120/104/Van 5
C: 102/119/117/114/112/110
E: 2100/2010/2044/2041/2042/2045/2020/24 + B cycle wagon
F: 2115/2090/2043/2040/2060/2021/2022/23 + B cycle wagon

The devil's in the detail

Some details completed today: firstly railings for the Tro Ffridd bridge.

and Rhyd Ddu nameboards.

I also installed interiors for Vans 4 and 5 plus Ashbury corridor No. 25.

Finally, last night I compiled a list of special details necessary e.g. lamp tops, extra steps etc.

Colin

A lunch brake!

Firstly, here is 2090 the WHR brake saloon, which now includes a loo and a service area, having finally appeared from Boston Lodge yesterday, and (hurrah) the works have not altered the beading. All that was necessary was to blank out a few panels on one side only and add two new window bars, one at the end of the blanked out piece (easy) and another splitting a wide window into 2, where the toilet has been fitted, A piece of 30 thou plastic strip was glued across the back and then another was added on top inside the window, giving it extra strength and making it easier to fit. All done, so the roof was soldered on during lucnh today...hence the title 'lunch brake'! Next the paint...

Yesterday, Dad and I unexpectedly had the chance to get on with K1 when the kids had a long sleep. In addition to the parts already done by myself, Dad added the wheels and 20T gears to the axles, popped them into the frames and added the buffer beams including overlays. Then the flycranks were sawn (with a piercing saw) out of their fret (lost wax brass), broached and crankpins added after they were tapped 14BA. These are stored ready. I added the dome to the boiler and the headlights/filler tops to the tanks after drilling the correct size holes. The gearboxes have also been folded ready. So the loco looks like this now:

Colin

Take your seats...

Three carriages with the new interiors added, these have been built up on plasticard floating floors using parkside NG coach seats. I think it works well.

Colin

Progress

The first etched brass kit I ever built was FR observation carriage No. 100 (now mess car 1000 on the WHR). Frankly it showed and in attempting to add a roof yesterday it became obvious that the whole thing was a mess. So, it has been scrapped. Whilst remaining very aware of my deficiencies, it is fair to say that I've come a long way since then!

So, moving on...more 10 BA nuts arrived and nearly every carriage now has them added to the floor above the bogie pivot holes, now that this is my favoured approach for bogie attachment.

Also 4 FR barns No.s 104-107 have all had roofs added and in the case of 2 which don't come with interiors (the worsley ones) these have been added, although they are just hacked down standard liliput interiors, and so sport a central gangway, not the 2+1 arrangement that is really correct. will anyone notice?

Much research has been done into NWNGR and heritage WHR train formations to ensure that I've got the right carriages to run behind Moel Tryfan and Beddgelert. A post about this will follow.

A small amount of scenic work has also been done on the layout, particularly in testing different forms of fencing.

I have a bit of a quandary over the bugs...I have attached the roofs prior to painting, which sounds obvious, but with a fixed floor, we have a glazing issue - I would obviously add this after painting, but wouldn't be able to.....ummmm..... what to do???

oh and a surprise email last week meant that I now have a decent (excellent actually) drawing of FR 1st obs 102. Happy days.

Colin