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  • SouthernRegionSteam

    Coastguard Creek - 15 months of planning!

    By SouthernRegionSteam

    Hold on to your socks - this is going to be a lengthy one! (In fact it's so long, I've now split it into 2 separate posts - the next will be up soon...)   I think it's fair to say that you are all long overdue an update on Coastguard Creek. Due to other commitments, no real progress has been made since the last post way back in March 2021; almost 15 months ago! If anything, things went backwards for quite a while, as I kept finding more and more inspiring locations that I really wanted
    • 8 comments
    • 3,303 views
The GC and Met in OO

Success!

Yesterday I mentioned how I got started on my L1, and promptly got myself stuck.   Well, as it turns out sometimes it's good to just go away for a few hours... and then it all becomes crystal clear.   The main problems I had encountered yesterday were of the order of trying to shoe-horn a chassis under the L1 for which the kit hadn't been designed... well happily I can say I've succeeded.       These two images show how far I managed to get yesterday.... basically building up the e
James Harrison

James Harrison

2
A return to 4mm- having tried everything else!!

N - still tempted, Dapol class 27

Well I've flipped between OO/N - N/OO - even forays into other scales & gauges - but its getting harder.   I'm naturally biased to the BRCW type 2 (class 26 & 27) and Dapol has done great things with its rendition,   I've had the old skool offerings from minitrix & lima in the respective scales and the newer 4mm Heljan, but I reckon the Dapol offering is possibly the best we've ever had, particularly regards the 27 cab front, the Lima & Heljan 4mm offerings are much more the
Russ (mines a pint)

Russ (mines a pint)

7
halfwit's fantastic workbench!

A1 Models Freelance OO9 Diesel - part 6 a little more progress.

A quick update on this project.   This loco has been sitting forgotten whilst I've been working on the Rustons, but I dug it out yesterday to do a bit more work on it whilst one of the Rustons was being run in on the rolling road. All I did was to paint the exhaust, paint and fit the buffers and pick out the window frames in Tamiya flat aluminium;     The roof beacon isn't glued on yet, I haven't decided whether to fix it in place before or after weathering.   Paul.
halfwit

halfwit

3
Father Dougal's Blog

Scrap wagon SSA/ POA markings- Help please!

Hello, I have found some lovely kits for a SSA. I have looked at the excellent website of Paul Bartlett and this shows, http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/scrapwagonssa/h3918330b   Plenty of SSA's.   BUT- I can't figure out what markings are on the right hand side of the image. All images that show this end are covered in too much grime.   Can anyone help with this. Any link or images gratefully received. Dougal.
Father Dougal

Father Dougal

6
The GC and Met in OO

In which I get going... and get stuck...

There are two projects I've started pretty much simultaneously.... usually I only have one on the boil but I wanted to have a bit of a choice. The other explanation of course is that I got itchy fingers.   The first project is a conversion of an ex-Mainline LMS 57' brake third into something that resembles GCR matchboard rolling stock of the period 1911-20. I've described this sort of conversion before (there's a thread on it somewhere in the 'kitbuilding and scratchbuilding' forum), and I'm
James Harrison

James Harrison

0
Chas's Model Railway

The Hotel

I have several motives for writing blogs (I have another one on Google). First is to leave a record for my grandchildren - I would love at least one of them to be motivated to take up this absorbing hobby at a much earlier age than I. Second, I have discovered a whole community of fascinating and friendly bloggers. Third, because it's a very good way for me, a relative newcomer, to pick up lots of helpful tips directed specifically at what I am doing. For example, Scanman (Ian), took the tim
crayment

crayment

2
Ramblings from the Man Cave

Switch Surgery (Not for the Faint of Heart)

No update last week because after I had fitted the first of my revised TOU mechanisms and feeling good about it I moved on to the others only to discover that the rebates in the other board were not as deep by 0.8mm!   Oh-oh!   I had to make the rebate deeper somehow and really didn't want to be rebuilding the switches. Inspiration came to me quickly and I was able to achieve the unthinkable in a reasonably short space of time.   I used a 3mm graver for the one nearest the board edge wh
richbrummitt

richbrummitt

9
petertg's Blog

Frustration again

Just a short note to vent my new frustration. After an exchange of comments and receiving good advice from fellow members concerning DCC track wiring and a few trials, I came to the conclusion that my wiring, albeit not perfect, was not bad and that certain anomalies observed with certain vehicles were due to the vehicles and not to the track wiring. Then, when one problem seemed solved, a new one arose. My whole point activation system (analogue) went dead. In view of the way the system is wire
petertg

petertg

0
Chas's Model Railway

The Thatched Cottage

There was an excellent article in BRM a few months back on modelling a thatched roof. Dove Cottage, I think it was called. The technique involved glueing clumps of plumbers hemp with evostick onto the roof and trimming once dry. A very clever idea. I must try and dig out the article again.   This effort is pretty much a direct copy of the cottage featured in the article. Great fun but very messy. At least it was when I tried it.  
crayment

crayment

2
Redgate's Modelling

Staffing levels for the fleet

So, the Crosti 9F and O1 are finished. The finishing touches are the crew - bog standard Hornby items, painted and weathered with black oil pastel.   I had to cut the driver off his molded seat for the O1 as it comes with it's own very nice item as standard. The less said about the leg and foot surgery to fit them in the better   So here's a couple of pics - I will do a full photoshoot next week as Summat Colliery is being set up for someone special to take better snaps than I, more of that
RedgateModels

RedgateModels

3
Latest on the South Coast

A rebuilt West Country in the South East

This is a picture on my Hastings Harbour layout of a Southern Railway rebuilt West Country. It has been specially weathered by a friend of mine to make a clean but weathered appearance, just like back in the 1950's/1960's where this would happen before these Bulleids haulded trains such as the Bournemouth Belle or Golden Arrow. Its a special locomotive on my layout due to it being one side 34008 Padstow and the other 34101 Hartland.  
StuMN35005

StuMN35005

0
Logging - On30 style

Outhouses dont Costa lot.... pt1.

Well thanks to our favourite tax paying coffee (and Tea) outlet I managed to acquire enough wood, I mean coffee stirrers to create the local 'Reading room' for the guys down at Longs logging line and the sawmill. Watch out though, that catch on the inside isn't terribly reliable!   Suitable dimensions were discovered online, where there are strangely many photos of outhouses! The web is a wonderful place if a little strange at times.   Plenty of cutting and chopping has brought this little '
dave_long

dave_long

11
Chas's Model Railway

Ye Olde Shoppes

Next up was a parade of shops. I made a start on this whilst holidaying on the Isle of Barra, staying in the same house as the producers of the BBC's "An Island Parish". Very relaxing - cutting out styrene and looking out over the sound. The shop fronts are stock windows from Langley Models. I found it hard to print the shop signs - the detail isn't fine enough which I assume is down to the quality of my printer. Oh, and look to closely at the bakery and you see there's nothing in it! Bit of a
crayment

crayment

2
Logging - On30 style

Introduction - On30, narrow gauge & logging.

Hello and Welcome.   Introduction - What is On30?   Simply put its O scale narrow gauge that runs on ho/oo 16.5mm track. Not to be confused with British O, On30 is 1/4" or 1:48 and not 7mm.   Its long been known as a scratch builders gauge, however thanks to Bachmann its found an ever growing popularity! The relatively low prices for the rolling stock and engines in a large scale make it a great gauge to get that fun factor back in to my modelling.   New layout - Longs Logging Line   O
dave_long

dave_long

0
paddock wood bay (in a boxfile)

keeping the platform at bay...

Good Evening,   Last night I managed to complete the new platform which replaced the first one ripped out...not sure I will ever get to make a layout where something doesn't get ripped out   The previous one was in card and was probably going to fall my usual 2mm approach of card carcass followed by a sheet of fine wet and dry on top to represent the apshalt, however I was looking to try something as an alternative to that.   My first thoughts were to use Scalescenes sheets which would be
bcnPete

bcnPete

17
Tenterden & the Kent racetrack

Holy flying banana...

This side of things has remained a bit quiet of late but is in no way completely inactive. It is a long term project and I have concentrated on accumulating stock, track planning and other research.   As Graham Farish have been releasing new "Blue Riband" Mk. 1 stock that's been high on my list. On top of that I've been on the lookout for some typical freight stock, and heritage stock.   On the freight side, I now have a good rake of gravel hoppers, container flats and a pair of nuclear flas
AllScales

AllScales

0
Chas's Model Railway

The Estuary

While I'm in posting mode I thought this might be of interest to other new modellers like me.   I wondered for a long time how to make realistic looking water for the estuary. Then by chance I found a technique ascribed to Allan Downes and described on Chris Nevard's blog. It consists of PVA brushed generously over a suitable colour (in my case a silty, muddy brown) followed by a coat of gloss varnish. I am so pleased with the result. I was a little over enthusiastic with brushing the PVA so t
crayment

crayment

0
Chas's Model Railway

The Church

I looked around for a little church to model after the bridge and pub - something that wasn't too demanding - and came across this lovely church at Llanrhos in North Wales.       Made out of styrene, the model is a much simplified version. To make a true copy was simply beyond me. I couldn't find suitable off the peg windows so drew them out, had them etched and backed them with fine diamond shaped steel mesh. The Lych Gate is modelled on one in a village in Cheshire. The gra
crayment

crayment

0
Additive Maufacturing

What you require to venture into Additive Manufacturing

What is additive Manufacturing?   Traditional manufacturing is done by removing material, whereas additive manufacturing is done by adding material.   What equipment do I need to start?   Normally it is considered that you require a 3D printer, but that is not so. All I have is a collection of thin sheets of plasticard, a comtainer of plastic weld adhesive, a cutting board, a scapel, and a 12" steel rule.   Can I used subtractive processes?   Yes of course you can. Many commercial appl
Lisa

Lisa

2
Father Dougal's Blog

Dougal's experiments with tissue paper.

Just tinkering with a new technique (new to me) for the roofs of a few vans. These models are supposed to depict a few vans nearing the end of their working lives and about to be withdrawn. I'm not sure what the roofs were actually made of, but I guess it was a wood frame with felt or similar on top to make them waterproof. I expect that these would have become quite damaged by the elements during their service. To my unskilled eye they look ok, what do you think? Here's a little taster imag
Father Dougal

Father Dougal

2
The GC and Met in OO

Welcome!

Well, as I have a fair few projects on the go and at planning stage, I thought I'd start a blog to detail them rather than clog up the boards with thread after thread.   What can we expect from reading this? As the blog name suggests, my primary area of interest is the Great Central Mainline and the Metropolitan Line, with the eventual goal of building a model based upon the joint route (at the moment I'm toying with a model of Marylebone, albeit a 'might have been' variant with Metropolitan
James Harrison

James Harrison

2
Chas's Model Railway

Making a start

I've been meaning to get round to writing a blog for a while. I started building this model railway 12 months ago (or may be it's been longer than that). As far as possible I wanted to build all the scenery from scratch. The track is a very basic double oval with a branch line based on no particular region. To be honest the trains are just an excuse for modelling.   I started with building the bridge and pub. I still need to do the water.       The bridge wall is made of hardboard
crayment

crayment

5

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    • PaternosterRow
      Kyle - an update...and a visit at last...

      By PaternosterRow · Posted

      Hi Pete, excellent entry.  Can’t wait to see more updates.  Nice to hear from you again and note that you are enjoying getting out and about up in Scotland. It’s a beautiful part of the world up there - I spent a summer back in the 90’s walking and camping from Glasgow to John O Groats.  Never got to Kyle as I went up the straight chain of Lochs from Glencoe to Inverness and then North form there etc.  it’s surprising how similar to Scotland this part of world I am now in is - winter here with t
    • Neal Ball
      Autocoach upgrade

      By Neal Ball · Posted

      Maybe with the new bottle, I should have sent it back…
    • MikeOxon
      A Tender for Viper

      By MikeOxon · Posted

      Thank you Annie - I really enjoy re-creating these early engines.  It would have been impossible if the young Edward Lane had not taken a liking to them in the yard at Swindon.  By then, most of them had been superseded by later designs, such as Firefly, but he must have had a sense of 'history'.
    • The Fatadder
      Autocoach upgrade

      By The Fatadder · Posted

      If the IPA is not removing paint, a good trick is to warm it up which makes it more effective.   Though like you say after a number of uses it does loose its potency, I recently had to change mine after it got to the point where it was barely touching the paint 
    • MikeOxon
      A Tender for Viper

      By MikeOxon · Posted

      Thank you Chris - I think it's lovely too!  The Lane drawing was probably made in around 1848, ten years after this engine was delivered and after its time on the South Devon. As my final sentence suggested, I am now looking hard at 'Ajax' which had similar-looking solid wheels.

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