john dew

In the last post I mentioned the three point motors I had installed on the brewery. Being a retro fit they had to be surface mounted. The first was a Peco Side Mount with which most will be familiar Rather large footprint but easy to install. I hook them up to a DCC Concepts Solenoid Decoder, to switch the polarity of electrofrog points and integrate with my RR&Co system. They are not very powerful and can have difficulty overcoming the resistance of a Peco point spring. Remove the spring and you can run the risk of the blade moving because it is not held in place by the throw arm. Having said that I have number of them dotted around Granby that operate satisfactorily For the two remaining points I decided to try a pair of the recently introduced SS Cobalt Motors The motor connections are "plug and play" hence the oversize hole for the wiring Quick 15 sec video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Az9sdIVPNVU The Peco spring is removed and the stepped motor holds the blade in place despite the apparent flimsiness of the link arm. You can adjust the length and velocity of the throw on the decoder but its still a bit tricky to find the sweet spot to optimise the throw hence all the abandoned screw holes The decoder will be hidden by the brewery building. Bottom right you can see the plug in connection for the point motor. Power is supplied by the DCC bus which can be daisy chained to the individual point connections. The only wire that needs to come directly from the point is the frog connection....yellow wire bottom centre. There are connections for a push button switch, an LED and a spare SPDT switch.........redundant for me because I use the RR&Co switchboard on the computor or Ipad. I like the small footprint, easy connection and so far have been impressed with the mechanical operation. Unfortunately there is a software issue. After a period of inactivity (as little as 30 minutes) the unit loses memory and "forgets" its last position. If the blade was left at position [+] and you want to move the blade to position [-] pressing/entering [-] has no effect......you have to press [+] before pressing [-]............not good! I wasted a ton of time trying to resolve this before emailing them DCC Concepts. I got this reply by return: "We have recently found that there is an issue after powering down if they are set to CCW. The problem has been resolved in software and the current units cannot easily be reprogrammed. The next production batch will have the amended software. The immediate fix is to run with the switch set to CW and use the reverse extension as supplied with the motors and control board. If you do not have enough reverse connectors, we will send one out to you". The fix works on one motor and they are sending me a reverse extension for the other. . DCC Concepts provide some very innovative products which I will continue to buy but I do wish they would carry out more exhaustive pre-launch testing. Apologies for the techy post.....next post back to the brewery and at least one Pannier. Regards from Vancouver

Glad you liked the video despite its quality. I took it with the iPhone and when I played it back it was crystal clear but when converted to YouTube it became very fuzzy.......I guess I need to do some digging to check if there are some settings I can change. Glad I am not alone with the 72xx Best wishes John

Hi Paul I got this reply from DCC Concepts We have recently found that there is an issue after powering down if they are set to CCW. The problem has been resolved in software and the current units cannot easily be reprogrammed. The next production batch will have the amended software. The immediate fix is to run with the switch set to CW and use the reverse extension as supplied with the motors and control board. If you do not have enough reverse connectors, we will send one out to you. The fix worked .....there is now no memory loss on one of the motors.Hopefully another reverse extension is on its way to Canada! Kind Regards John

Thanks for the good wishes Bob. I uttered a few choice words when I read about the numbers on the buffer beam.....I vaguely remember thinking when I changed the last two digits that this isn't the side I normally do! Grrr......oh well one more thing to add to the 2018 list Kind regards John

Thank you all for your good wishes......I hope everybody following this thread had a great Christmas and New Year http://yourmodelrailway.net/images/emoticons/cheers2.gif This is a very brief post to start the year. Progress on the brewery......my attempt to construct something vaguely resembling Hook Norton..... has been slow but steady. The basic structure of the Brew tower is complete. The water tank is almost ready to go on top of the tower. Two big jobs still to be done...the sack hoist and the vented hip roof The Copperhouse, on the left, needs vents on top of the roof and gable windows. Hopefully I can get this done and post some construction shots next week The three brewery point motors were finished..a Peco surface mount and a pair of the new Cobalt SS motors The Cobalt SS Motors merit a post of there own......great idea but my initial experience has revealed a disturbing flaw. After a period of inactivity they "forget" their position and require a double command to initiate......I am writing to DCC Concepts to report this......when I hear back I will write a separate post. Finally to wrap up my Dean Goods post ......here is a rather fuzzy video showing just how slowly the Oxford Dean Goods can crawl at speed step one......its a bit like watching paint dry but if you want to waste 65 seconds of your life ......play it and see what I mean: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqsEnUx8BUE Regards from Vancouver

Have you maximised the length and power of throw? I found that locating the sweet spot in for positioning the motor in order to throw the blade was quite fiddely .....I had to make numerous attempts with one of my pair. I have also experienced the tendency for the unit to go to sleep that Paul mentioned. It isnt a problem right now if it is just confined to start up but I have yet to determine how long the period of inactivity is before a double command is required. I am going to email DCC Concepts about it. Regards John

As always a bit late.....well eight hours.......Happy New Year Mr Duck and to all your followers who provide me with so much enjoyment! Off to the park to give the dogs their morning walk and recover from last nights festivities.....Roast Duck....... I am afraid it was rather good and the non screw cap Claret equally splendid Cheers John

Hi Rob Hope you recover from the flu.....no fun at all Happy New Year to you and your many followers. Many thanks for providing so much quiet enjoyment throughout the year. My day isnt complete without a dose of ANTB with my morning coffee. Mind you, I rather wish you hadnt mentioned the Bill Bedford thread.....quiet enjoyment....not!. Best Wishes John

Happy New Year Richard! Thoroughly enjoyed the videos of Buckingham West particularly the last operating session. I know from my own attempts that running and filming multiple routines singlehanded is quite the undertaking......and I have a computor to help! I was very envious of your signal operation......many years ago I opted that mine would be cosmetic.....a decision I regret every time I see a video like yours. Is your timetable adapted from an actual one or did you create it to suit your stock and layout? Regardless its very impressive and set up one of my resolutions for 2018. Best wishes John

To finish the year here are a few shots of the weathered Dean Goods with not a Pannier in sight. Crossing the Shropshire Union Canal at Richard's Wharf. After some experimenting I found that a drop of Brake fluid left on for about an hour was the most effective way of removing the BR decals. It still left a slight impression but after even moderate weathering its no longer noticeable. I fear the GWR lettering may be the wrong shade for War time Black but Fox Transfers no longer sell the version I used previously.but again the weathering helps blend it in. In addition to the normal weathering I applied multiple washes to the rather garish silver trim and cab interior.....particulary the brake handle. Lamps,Coal and Fire Irons (well one.....I ran out) were added I mentioned the Dean was passing Richard's Wharf.........it was so named recognise all the help that Richard (Wheeltapper), late of this parish, gave me when I was building the canal scene. Somehow, at this time of the year, it seemed appropriate to take the photographs at the canal and remember an old internet friend. The bricks,, laid to provide footholds when opening the Lock gates, were one of his many suggestions As always the eagle eye of the camera reveals yet another drunken fence. It is indeed a driverless train........not only did I run out of fire irons I also ran out of drivers! The fireman is one of the splendid Modelu products and I felt the driver had to come from the same stable otherwise the contrast would be too great .......a new supply is winging its way accross the Atlantic I usually end my posts with greetings from Vancouver and a brief comment about the weather These were taken yesterday morning.... Probably not a white Christmas but certainly a slushy one To all who have visited and followed my ramblings during 2017, and particularly those who have commented , my best wishes for a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR

Hi Tony Not sure how I managed to do that.......I think some were cropped out......rest assured I will try to not let it happen again! Cheers John ps So glad you liked the Black and White shot

Thanks again for the likes etc guys.......very re-assuring......kit building of any sort is not my forte and I am very much a tyro at weathering. It was particularly gratifying to get such nice compliments from three of the guys whose work I so admire.......thanks again chaps!l What great news from Dapol.....a new Mogul and Large Prairie.....I imagine either (or both) Bachmann and Hornby will be scratching their heads this morning........pre-emptive definitely springs to mind. Here are the additional shots of the 72xx with 46.10 Up freight Its one of my long established schedules, previously hauled by the 28xx, that completes a slow, stately circumnavigation of the layout. These shots follow the train round as it emerges from the storage yard Trundles past the Goods Warehouse The empty Warwell doesnt mean my little tank is still disrupting traffic in Station Road.......the decals have finally arrived and once I have decided what legend I can use for a single tank from a disbanded Armoured Division travelling in North Wales http://yourmodelrailway.net/images/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif it will get dollied up and crossed chain restrainers fitted Its not really a long freight by prototypical standards....a little over 5 feet in total......but hopefully these shots convey an impression of something rather longer. Here is a Black and White that ,I think, best conveys the spirit of Granby. In other news the Dean Goods is now chipped (after much fuss) and weathered. As I write this it has been slowly crawling back and forth on my profiling track.........it took over an hour to make two passes at a scale 2mph. My Vallejo paint dries faster....however it is an amazingly smooth runner.........more on this next week

Thanks for all the likes guys....much appreciated. Taken a break from the brewery this week, apart from all the cutting....... Mrs D wanted her kitchen back. So I finally got round to finishing the 72xx You may recall that my only disappointment with the loco was the missing bunker door and rather poor widow grilles. I decided to buy the Brassmasters detailing etch The etch includes a number of improvements to the under frame. I just focussed on the cab back wall and bunker. You can see it in the etch......bottom right corner and virtually ready to plonk......although I did have to punch out some rivets. Brassmasters helpfully include some test rivets to practice with in the etch border. You can see my attempts at the top. The cab roof was moderately easy to remove....it was just held in place with a couple of dabs of glue Removal of the roof made it easy to pop out the glazing and grilles. The window openings had to be opened up a bit with a file to match the larger (correct) openings in the etch wall Sorry about the yucky green....photoshop went mad http://yourmodelrailway.net/images/emoticons/icon_redface.gif The wall in place with grilles superglued. Having created the 72xx by welding on a bunker extension, the GWR subsequently added a fender guard to further increase the coal capacity and also protect the top lamp bracket! Creating the curves in the brass etch stretched my technical ability somewhat but I am reasonably happy with the result Crew inserted, roof glued back on and the wall and fender painted. The join between wall and roof is a little obvious and I should really have been more careful with my test fitting. The observant will note the loco has also lost its engraved number plate. When it came off I put in a "safe" place on top of the roof where I wouldnt miss it.........which I promptly did the following morning when I picked the loco up http://yourmodelrailway.net/images/emoticons/icon_eek.gifhttp://yourmodelrailway.net/images/emoticons/icon_twisted.gifhttp://yourmodelrailway.net/images/emoticons/icon_eek.gif Not a happy day...........fortunately I found it a few days later amongst the deritrus that accumulates under my work bench.......I also found one of the front steps that had gone AWOL. I rushed out to buy a lottery ticket but sadly I had used all my luck that day.....not complaining mind. Next step was the addition of real coal, class D Head Lamp codes and some pretty heavy weathering to reflect the grime accumulated during the war years........ Job done....... I spent a happy afternoon testing 7226 as she hauled 46.10 Up mixed freight from Birkenhead Docks . Here she is passing Granby sheds and heading over the viaduct I took a load more photos of the "testing" . Will post some more when edited.. On balance I think the ten quid spent on the Brassmasters etch was money well spent. http://yourmodelrailway.net/images/emoticons/small.gif Best wishes from Vancouver where, unlike the UK, it remains cold but sunny......longest dry period since the summer! John

The actual room is 24x10. The layout itself occupies 18x10 an outside door prevented me using the entire room.....although I keep looking! Regards John

The absence of an update does not necessarily indicate lack of activity on Granby. In fact, in this case, quite the reverse. The recent RR&Co upgrade has a number of great features...... more accurate braking and stopping plus a new feature where a loco can be instructed to move back or forward a specified distance (1/2 inch) at crawl speed........it makes coupling and uncoupling with a Kadee shuffle so smooth its almost imperceptible......but it does take a while to set up . In addition to all this "testing" I have been working on the the new Dean Goods and almost completed installing the Brassmasters cab back in the 72xx.........neither without incidents of course......I think its best that I recount them in separate posts. So here is a brief brewery update. My thanks to everyone who proffered advice or gave me some very useful links to breweries. Hopefully my model will be finished well before 2019 when we will be visiting the UK. Nevertheless I have already started negotiating with Mrs D about some essential visits .......why would one visit Stratford on Avon, for instance, without first going here? Hook Norton Brewery Brilliant site with a really useful schematic of the brewery process. https://www.hooky.co.uk/our-beers/brewing-process.ashx Certainly made me rethink some of my ideas. I think I can build something that might bear some resemblance to Hook Norton. I will use the Scalescene Warehouse kit for the brick built lower levels.......the roof elements with all those gable windows and ventilation units will be more of a challenge! I dont propose running a stage by stage account of the first part of the build.........just check back about 15 pages and you will find an account of one of the warehouses I have built from this kit. Hopefully it is sufficient to remind you of the basic Scalescene technique of assembling multi layer laminated walls. Here are the three elements that will make up the 3mm thick front wall of the centre section. Even with the window blanks still lots of cutting! Front and side roughly in position Some will immediately recognise the striking resemblance to Hook Norton Others may require a little assistance! The grist mill tower on the right will be topped by a Dapol Water Tank (Cold Liquor storage!). The sack hoist will be inserted in the un-windowed section. Its all brick papered because I am not sure how wide it will be. Similarly the left hand side only has windows at the top because a two bay unit will be added. This will house the "coppers" where hops are added to the mash and boiled. I am torn between putting the roof and vents on to this centre unit before constructing the buildings on either side. Although it will be more tedious, I suspect the common sense approach will be to continue cutting out windows! Regardless of this vital decision the next post will be about my HUGE tank .....the 72xx Regards from Vancouver where the incessant rain has stopped and its cold, crisp and sunny

Don't envy you......have you thought about surface mounting either a Peco or DCC Concepts motor......if you switch frog polarity the other gizmo will add to the cost but save the back ache. Super job with the farm house and yard......the Will's setts look great

Oh dear and there was me thinking I had got ahead of Mike for once! Given a choice of where to put the single red lights I took the easy option and put them centre of the buffer beam front and back.........out with the tweezers and black touch up paint and tomorrow up they go on the ( much more vulnerable) top lamp bracke At least the lamp is in the right position on the shunters truck. Regards from a very wet Vancouver John

So was I .....until the subject came up on ANTB when discussing lights on shunters trucks and I checked my rule book.......1933 but reprinted in 1945. I am assuming the red and white lights rule was imposed post nationalisation. PS My rule book has the same catch all "or any other lights that may be prescribed" as the 1905 edition

If employed exclusively on shunting duties one red light to be carried front and rear. GWR 1933 Rule book #123 HTH JOHN

You don't mess about do you.....so much for " buy a couple of chips" Looking forward to progress reports John

Thanks Rich......its a brilliant site....packed with useful information and some great photos The challenge is to somehow replicate the key features using the Scalescene Warehouse kit as a base Cheers John

Thanks again guys for all the information......much appreciated. I am getting a much clearer idea of what goes where......and a load of places I would like to visit......always provided I can convince Mrs D Best Wishes John

That's a very fair summary of the game. I guess there are usually a few controversial calls in a close game.......it's rare that all fall in favour of one team. In this game Australia were perhaps unfortunate to be on the wrong side of virtually every call.......albeit the calls were in fact correct. Not too impressed with the reaction of both Hooper and Beale to their Yellow cards. A much better game from England despite the weather........apologies for veering slightly off topic. Best wishes John

Somebody else pointed me towards Hook Norton. Their web site is full of really useful information which hopefully I can transpose into model form. The whole place looks so atttractive its on the bucket list for when we visit the UK in 2019.......so we will be making the long trip after all! Cheers

Hi Doug I imagine that in 1947 most of the output of a small/medium sized brewery would be in barrels. I think Bottled beer was primarily for national brands....I do recall as a small boy playing with empty bottles of Bass (Red Triangle?) and Ind Coope Double Diamond. There may be room for a small bottling plant I am very tempted to have some drays in the yard. Horse drawn transport was still very prevalent just after the war. Our milk was delivered from the churn by pony and trap (and we didnt live in the country) and the weekly dust bin cart was hauled by a couple of horses. Stabling is an issue.....it may have to be off scene.......the project is designed to serve as a shunting puzzle so the rail sidings dominate the foreground and road access is a bit limited! Best wishes John