Andrew Young Posted July 21, 2016 Author Share Posted July 21, 2016 Nice photos Andy! Also stick me down for a lot of Baxter, or William Findley/Townend Hook (I have a soft spot for products of messers Fletcher Jennings...!). I think that David Andrews/Gladiator used to produce kits of the FJ locos used on the Severn & Wye Railway many years ago - I wonder if any of the castings from them could be used (assuming that the parts are still available of course). Me too! Have yet to see one of those Severn & Wye FJ kits for sale, though if I did, suspect I would feel obliged to buy and build it. As for narrow gauge FJ locos, I have one or two cunning plans as Baldrick would say, which I shall divulge when they are suitably advanced. Cheers, Andrew 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Donw Posted July 21, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 21, 2016 I think the FJ locos by David Andrews were a long time ago. He was probably trading as Gladiator then. I am sure Ian Pope had some on his layouts. I remember operating it at Lydney circa 1996, I think Peter Smith of Kirtley models may have had one or two for an S&W layout. So I suspect Kits might be hard to find. Don Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold NeilHB Posted July 22, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 22, 2016 Me too! Have yet to see one of those Severn & Wye FJ kits for sale, though if I did, suspect I would feel obliged to buy and build it. As for narrow gauge FJ locos, I have one or two cunning plans as Baldrick would say, which I shall divulge when they are suitably advanced. Cheers, Andrew Yes they are rather nice - I missed out on one of the later Vulcan built locos (very similar in looks to a MR 3F tank) on eBay earlier this year - only ever seen two come up for sale and they are also rare as hens teeth/rocking horse droppings - never seen one of the FJ kits for sale, but that's not for a lack of trying! Ooh excellent, I shall await your cunning plan with interest 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Young Posted July 22, 2016 Author Share Posted July 22, 2016 Back to the modelling bench after a bit of a break, would've been longer today whilst listening to TMS, but the new issue of the NG&I Review arrived this morning to distract me. With attic insulation and lining on hold until the autumn, layout building is on hold til after then. So it's rolling stock building. Alongside the three carriages, I've also started a 4w luggage van to run alongside them. My intention being to paint and finish them all off together, hence starting a fourth piece of stock before finishing the others. Inspired by the SE&C 6w birdcage van from the Derwent Valley, I'm building an SER kits 4w birdcage van. The body is a lamination of styrene, some cut out yourself from printed sheet provided, laminated to plain sheet and laser cut panelling placed on top. I had a few issues with warping and strength of body initially. However bulking up with additional bracing and use of some thicker styrene (in tri-laminations where possible) has stabilised the body, made it a lot stronger and got it to a stage I'm happy with. Following a period where the body has been left to check that all was well, it's on with the duckets and the chassis. Cheers, Andrew 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Young Posted July 22, 2016 Author Share Posted July 22, 2016 Also on the work bench is a narrow gauge diversion.... With the extra space available in the attic of the new house, the layout will be expanded when built. Originally designed as a compact terminous layout, there will be space for a fiddle yard to passenger terminous plus mineral extension 'U' shaped layout round three walls. The mineral extension will be fed by a narrow gauge mineral tramway, also I'm a 'U' shape sharing one wall with the standard gauge and the other two sides being in the middle of the room. The main reason for this is that I want the granite traffic to be made of 'live loads', with narrow gauge emptying into the standard gauge. For this, I intend using some wagons which I took an immediate liking to when they were releases, the Bachmann 0N30 Side Dump Cars. This is driven by the fa that Gloucester C&W built some standard gauge ones for the Ironstone Industry in 1925. Plus, there's a photo of some in Mountsorrel gypsum quarries. Like the Ratty, the quarries in the Melyn Valley received investment in the 1929s, unlike the Ratty, I don't intend having mixed gauge track... This issue of couplings has been one that has taken some thinking. Whilst I know some who use kadees very successfully, I didn't want to use them. The Hook & Bar couplings I've used before wouldn't suit nor would posh choppers. Something akin to the link and pin coupling is what's needed. A few weeks back on the NGRM online forum, news arrived that a 7mm scale version of the Greenwich coupler was in development and would anyone like to be guinea pigs? Having out my hand up, it looks like they're just the job. I've seen the 4mm scale ones used successfully on Rugga skips and TR slate wagons, but as you can see, these ones are appreciably bigger and stronger. I fitted a few wagons, some Chivers flats, a TR slate wagon and a side dump car. Think if I were modelling the smaller wagons, I'd stick with the 4mm scale ones, but these new ones are ideal for the side dump cars. Easily fitted by the screws which secure the body to the chassis, with a small fillet of the plastic chassis cut away to suit, they also have the benefit of bringing the wagons closer together. Just got to wait for them to go on general sale! I have enough to fit a rake of wagons, plus a loco, however, I ought to leave those alone until the carriages are through the paintshop.... Cheers, Andrew 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hartleymartin Posted July 22, 2016 Share Posted July 22, 2016 With those dump cards, I often wondered why they were fitted with knuckle couplers on both ends. These things basically ran in fixed rakes for the most part and it would make sense just to have simple bar couplings to close-couple them as a rake and knuckles or other couplers on each end. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Donw Posted July 22, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 22, 2016 They look very similar to DGs and B&Bs don't appear to have the delay latch though. Don Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Young Posted July 23, 2016 Author Share Posted July 23, 2016 They look very similar to DGs and B&Bs don't appear to have the delay latch though. Don Correct Don, no delay latch. Think they're designed to be similar to the old Bemo couplings. The one deficiency of these is the lack of a delayed uncoupling function, though that doesn't worry me as didn't have it with the old hook & bar ones. Cheers, Andrew Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Young Posted July 23, 2016 Author Share Posted July 23, 2016 With those dump cards, I often wondered why they were fitted with knuckle couplers on both ends. These things basically ran in fixed rakes for the most part and it would make sense just to have simple bar couplings to close-couple them as a rake and knuckles or other couplers on each end. Prototypically, it's far easier production wise and cheaper to build one type of coupling and fit that to all wagons rather than design, build and for two types. Operationally, if your end wagon with Buck eyes on it fails or requires repairs, your operation stops whilst it gets repaired and that costs more than having a fully interchangeable fleet of wagons. Cheers, Andrew Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Young Posted August 3, 2016 Author Share Posted August 3, 2016 My modelling mojo is slowly returning, helped by making progress with the van. Think having stalled with the van wasn't helping. Whilst the van isn't as straight and square as I'd like, though the camera makes the van look worse than it is, I'm reasonably happy with it. Particularly as by the time this van made it to the MVR, it would've definitely been rather long in the tooth... Plus, the compensation fitted in the kit helps hide this. I'm also reassured when looking at photos of the Ashbury bogie carriages of the Ffestiniog which had a pronounced sag to them! Recent progress has seen the chassis members made and fitted, the duckets fabricated, fitted and the door joins all scribed. Next step will be a start on the running gear followed by the detailing parts before a coat of primer. Have decided that the roof and birdcage will be permanently fitted and will go on after painting and glazing. Cheers, Andrew 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold NeilHB Posted August 3, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 3, 2016 Good to see the modelling mojo has returned Andy - mine has been on and off lately too, but I've found that helping Tim out with Henmore has helped to get mine going again. The birdcage brake looks rather nice, and I think it's going to look rather good with the other coaches! Will admit I've been eyeing up the SER kits range for a while - there are some nice models there... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Young Posted August 4, 2016 Author Share Posted August 4, 2016 Good to see the modelling mojo has returned Andy - mine has been on and off lately too, but I've found that helping Tim out with Henmore has helped to get mine going again. The birdcage brake looks rather nice, and I think it's going to look rather good with the other coaches! Will admit I've been eyeing up the SER kits range for a while - there are some nice models there... Agreed, they're nice and unusual prototypes which is what attracted me to them. The saloon is a nice kit, with some very sharp resin mouldings, the van on the other hand is more akin to scratch-aiding rather than a kit and has been quite a challenge for me and certainly not for the faint hearted. There have been a few occasions where I've wished I'd instead been building a Slaters ubiquitous MR or GW luggage van, but then it wouldn't be as unusual as this one. Whilst it might look nice with the carriages, I rather intend being able to run the intended layout in two periods, one with mixed passenger and freight c1930 and the other later when just a goods only line. The van is intended for the latter, fairly weather beaten with a couple of milk tankers or a coal wagon and a van of fertiliser for the valley's farmers so will be receiving a well weathered finish. The rest can wait until the winter to be formulated. Cheers, Andrew Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold NeilHB Posted August 4, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 4, 2016 (edited) Yes I was going to say the van looks like more of a scratchbuilders aid than a kit - at least the panelling comes pre-cut though - I always find that's the fiddliest part of scratchbuilding coaches. True, one of the Slaters kits would have been easier, but how long have they been around, and how many layouts do you see them on. I had forgotten you were intending to run two different periods - using that as the brake sounds much more interesting that a bog-standard brake van. Edited August 4, 2016 by NeilHB 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Young Posted August 4, 2016 Author Share Posted August 4, 2016 Yes I was going to say the van looks like more of a scratchbuilders aid than a kit - at least the panelling comes pre-cut though - I always find that's the fiddliest part of scratchbuilding coaches. True, one of the Slaters kits would have been easier, but how long have they been around, and how many layouts do you see them on. I had forgotten you were intending to run two different periods - using that as the brake sounds much more interesting that a bog-standard brake van. Agree about the vans! I firmly blame the book on the Derwent Valley Light Railway for opening my eyes to extending the scope of operation for the layout, aided by some of the rtr offerings that are around. Cheers, Andrew Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold NeilHB Posted August 4, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 4, 2016 Agree about the vans! I firmly blame the book on the Derwent Valley Light Railway for opening my eyes to extending the scope of operation for the layout, aided by some of the rtr offerings that are around. Cheers, Andrew I still need to buy that book - was it the one by Holne Publishing? Been distracted by IoW railways at the moment, so should probably wait before I buy another book to distract me...! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Young Posted August 4, 2016 Author Share Posted August 4, 2016 I still need to buy that book - was it the one by Holne Publishing? Been distracted by IoW railways at the moment, so should probably wait before I buy another book to distract me...! That's the one, I know Ian Drummond, aka Mr Holne Publishing well through the Talyllyn. Have his DVLR book and the two on the IOW which are both good for distractions! Cheers, Andrew Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold NeilHB Posted August 5, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 5, 2016 Ta very much - I will add them to my list for purchasing! Are there any useful drawings of pre-1923 stock in the Isle of Wight railway books? Still trying to find decent drawings of the Oldbury stock used! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Young Posted August 5, 2016 Author Share Posted August 5, 2016 Ta very much - I will add them to my list for purchasing! Are there any useful drawings of pre-1923 stock in the Isle of Wight railway books? Still trying to find decent drawings of the Oldbury stock used! No drawings sadly, just lots of cracking photos and some nice reading! Cheers, Andrew Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold NeilHB Posted August 5, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 5, 2016 No drawings sadly, just lots of cracking photos and some nice reading! Cheers, Andrew Alas that's a shame - but cracking photos and good reading will make up for it I'm sure! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Young Posted September 29, 2016 Author Share Posted September 29, 2016 After another lengthy interlude, my modelling mojo has returned. The lack of mojo being caused partly by there being lots of fun things to do during the summer months (more on that later) and this time by the trials and tribulations of building the Luggage Van kit. I appear to have won the battle of making it straight and square-ish, this was followed by realising that I'd made a right balls up of the body assembly, which thankfully no one has spotted yet, so there's either no SER experts reading this, or anyone with eagle eyes resulting in the kit languishing on my desk with no great desire to sit down and finish it off. Thankfully, came back from a third week driver antique kettles in Wales with a determination to finish the van and crack on with it. My OCD belong a believer in lists, I wrote a list of the jobs needed doing on the van and I've steadily crossed off them all. Adding detail to the van as I felt fit. The result is a van that now is ready for cleaning down and priming along with the other two carriages I built earlier in the year. Then my carriage fleet can be detailed and finished off as the painting progresses. So here is my very badly modelled SER luggage van, which by chance, according to available sources, is an extremely accurate and highly detailed model of Melyn Valley Railway's van 7. The trials and tribulations have been worth it, as there's definitely a sense of achievement to have got this far rather than having given up. Cheers, Andrew 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Young Posted September 29, 2016 Author Share Posted September 29, 2016 So, the distractions... In August, the kids are on holiday, so some time was spent scaring the children. Then we scared the sheep, Smokebox Slow Roast Lamb with Manifold Leeks. Plus it was cricket season, T20 finals day at Edgbaston. Then one of my friends turned 30 and insisted we join him for some culture at Stratford. The journey wasn't bad mind. Couldn't resist a bout of playing away from home with an attractive red head Jennie Wren. Meanwhile, back home, we had some inquisitive neighbours for the summer to make friends with. And of course, we had to do our bit for the local economy, especially the Micropub. And that was just August! Cheers, Andrew 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Young Posted September 29, 2016 Author Share Posted September 29, 2016 September started with a Road Trip.... Through glorious Wharfedale. Work has also intervened somewhat (sadly, mine was the one on the right). The lure of Cadair Country was strong, Liz and I headed over for a week where the weather warm and sunny for the most of the week. Dysynni Valley with Birds' Rock and Cadair Idris in the background early in the morning. There was once again the temptation to play away, Yeo with the Mawddach and Cadair Idris behind. But then it was back to the usual toys, with the same boring scenery... Local photographer Darren Turner, ended up getting his camera out for the only grey day of our week, capturing this fine shot of me on No 7 crossing Dolgoch viaduct. Finally, it's back home for a bit, concentrating on the finer things in life, such as Modelmaking and Bakeoff! Back to the modelling bench now!! Cheers, Andrew 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Donw Posted September 29, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 29, 2016 Quite a good summer then. We do like the Dysynni valley lovely walk. Don Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Young Posted September 29, 2016 Author Share Posted September 29, 2016 Quite a good summer then. We do like the Dysynni valley lovely walk. Don Thanks Don. Yes, it's been rather fun! Agree about the Dysynni Valley, very peaceful. Would make a good subject for a narrow gauge railway layout... Cheers, Andrew Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold NeilHB Posted September 29, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 29, 2016 That van looks the bees knees Mr Young - very very nice. Nice photos too - the lamb looks rather tasty! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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