Too long

Dont go away. Im still here just been rather busy. A full update musing on the sailient parts of 2011 will be posted tomorrow.

Its Electrifying

Well i turned the layout round to get better access. Ive got all my 3rd rail kit out(peco chairs and Z gauge rail) so i can make a start tomorrow. While im doing this the fascia will get a complete rub down and repaint. I also need to adjust the height of one as its higher than its neighbours. Ive also got the scenic break to do as its currently a little bit poor in a few areas.

But enough for this post. Its late so time to leave it till tomorrow. Depending on the progress i might get some photos done too!

Going for the 3rd time

Well the last few days ive been very busy. Ive finish my lighting kit and am now just waiting till i install it in a loco.

The biggest thing is the instalation of 3rd rail so i can run both sr emus and a 508 or a GMPTE class 504 unit depending on where its set. Its all using peco parts which are getting alot easier to come by. im only adding it to the platform, cleaning siding and loop line. The rest of it will be off limits to DC units. Im aso going to whether the track soon too. But i dont really now how so im looking for tips on how to do it.

Anyway enough for now.

Its all rosier down south....

Its something i have been wondering for a while, modelling to the southern region. I already have a few dckits kits of epbs, mlvs, demus etc and i was brought up on the 50s and 33s out of Salisbury. Ok and lots of 47/8s at bath road too, but sometimes the whistle of those big EEs gets very tempting. The hornby model is not bad if you replace the horrid working side lourves with fixed ones. I know people say the windscreen is wrong but dont see it myself. Perhaps i need to fit a 3rd rail (i already have the chairs and the rail). I could always say it was a merseyrail extention if i wanted to move it back north.

Maybe something to seriously consider. I already have about half the stock so perhaps its a worthwhile way to go. Only time will tell......

The show must go on

Well theres another expo invite in the can. I suppose this means i need to actually crack on and do the fiddle yards and extention board. Oh and the rm article. Oh and all the rolling stock jobs. The list gets ever and ever longer. One day there will be nothing on there. I suspect however it will be when the layout is finally retired
Anyway enough yaking, get cracking!

Health and safety 4mm scale.

The last few days ive been busy doing so of the backlog of jobs that needed doing. The first was to install an orange flashing light to the digger at the front of th layout. This is powered by two batteries and can be switched on from the panel.

The other things that have been done are the the board for the dynamis reciever to sit on. Its high enough that it can be seen from most locations.

Ive also been adding scenic details such as ventilators and suchlike which are mainly from the excellent unit models range.

I've also added two of the oxford bedford TK crew lorry and mobile workshop. The workshop however has been repainted in to post 81 yellow to match the crew bus which is a later/darker shade of yellow.

Ive still got all the bigger jobs to do such as the fiddle yards and to tidy up the front fascia as one bit is slightly too high and looks awful.
Still more work to do!

The new modelling season begins.

Its been a while but i carried out the first work on the layout today for a while. The dynamis unit IMHO is so much better to use than the powercab i dont know why i didnt use one first.

Anyway i've begun the extention board today so i can run trains through and increase the flexibility. I'm also doing both the fiddle yards while i do this. It can still be operated as a fiddle yard to station but the extra yard i hope should reduce the boredom. Once there is something tangible to show then i will post some piccies. Apart from that its been mainly adding details which i've been meaning to add.

Also while its down to do the fiddle yards i must start the track weathering. Before i do this though i'm taken a sheet of wood laid some old steel sectional track and ballasted it. I will use this to try out various weathering techniques before i start on the layout.

I've also got the uprights for the lighting rig out to see if i can do a front board for the layout. From this i also hope to add the lights which are simple directional lamps from ikea (£3 each when i last got some). These will be wired into one circuit (and checked by a sparky before i plug them in) with a switch mounted on one of the uprights.

All of this work i plan to take the next few months taking me over in to next season and hopefully some show bookings but its still looking very very spartan.

Sounds interesting

Well it had to happen. Two sound chipped locos have arrived. One class 37 and one class 20 both from the bachmann stable. However these both have howes decoders fitted. They sound good and once ive worked out how to turn it down i think will be even better. The 37 was D6707 in green but its now becoming 37116 in LLB. Perfect for my period.

Theres lots more to report but it can wait till monday as its another 180 mile round trip tomorrow so for now i will say ta ta.

Back in blighty.

Sorry for the lack of updates. Ive been in the canaries so havent really had the chance to do modelling. But im all ready now to start the modelling season. A full update will be posted in a few days with my plans.

A lack of cab power...

Well ive decided to get rid of the power cab. It was just too limited. Its being replaced with the dynamis which is another unit i have lots of expierience of. Its a well thought out unit its only main achiles heal being its wireless connection or lack of it at times.
i hope to change them at the nec so it will be a seamless change over.

Dynamic Dynamis

Im wondering whether the dynamis is going to be better for me. Why? Well it seems my power cab is limited in being unable to use two locos at once and things being automatically reset. Now given i know the dynamis does everything i want i wonder if now is the time to change. Dump the powercab on ebay and use those funds to get a dynamis. Its so so tempting. It all hinges on what one of the dcc gurus say.

And now for something completely different, ive begun writing and article for the railway modeller on westleigh. Im looking at the moment for it to be printed in around 18 months time so no rush then accept there is as there is around a 12 to 14 month lead time. Better get writing!!

Making a bigger empire

I spent some of today planning the new fiddle yards. One to replace the current yard. The other to extend it at shows to a through run. I will also have to put in a filler board so the scenery doesnt just end. An over bridge would probably be best. I intend to make the fiddle yards with route setting so i can build this into the panel rather than have seperate panels for each yard and also because i have space in the panel to put this in. Quite how im going to do that electronically i dont know yet but thats half the fun.

I also installed a wiring harness into my lima 156. Thankfully there is enough room in the roof space to hide all this. The 156 will also get lights eventually along with an underframe conversion with the seperate detail. Just need to get round to doing it!

Illuminating times.

Bit of a while since an update. Ive spent the last few days sorting out the lights on 31132. I've also drawn up a replacement diagram for me to use as a diy set up. This i will dually fit to 37003 and 37707. More on this as it develops.

Apart from that work has been quiet. Ive put together a plan to operate the layout in 1998 which to me is one of the few other other interesting eras there were. In 98 the 31s, 37s and the immingham 47s were just about still around. But the new liveries and locos of privitisation were just arriving. A quite colourful period you might say. Certainly alot more interesting than dull rail blue and todays railway scene.

Anyway more to come tomorrow when i can write up my master plan slightly more in depth. Then i hope it might make some sense....

Black kettle.....

also a dirty black kettle....

Who'd have thought it.

Just spotted this beauty in temple meads. Long time since ive heard that ee whistle.

Constructive day

A really constructive day today in more ways than one. I've had to replace the lighting transformer as it had failed. It was simply an old lima train set controllr hard wired in and switched on. Thankfully i had a spare so i used that and they now work. Hopefully the yard lights and bufferstop lights will arrive soon so i can get on with that.

Secondly today i fitted some 8 pin wiring harnssess to my lima locos so all i need to do is simply plug the chip in. Simples really.

And lastly today i made up a holder for the control unit out of some 1mm thick plasticard. This will give me somewhere to put the handset when not in use.

Thats more or less it for the time being. I've still got the tipper lorry to do so i may do that tomorrow along with adding a few more small details. Im also still looking at the best way to chip a pacer unit.... I could be here a while!

Testing new technology

This is simply no more than a test to see if this new fangled email system works. Well we find out because if this appears it obviously does.... And if it doesnt you wont see this at all!

DCC new age!

Westleigh has finally joined the new age and is now DCC. Its also still DC too. How come?

Well the layout was originally wired for DC cab control using centre off switches. All i have done is convert one of the cabs to a DCC control. By changing a plug i can operate DCC or DC quite safely (though not both together). The NCE powercab i am currently using is very good although i'm having a few problems but these are mainly due to lack of knowledge on my part. I'm using bachmann 36-553 chips for their cheapness and ease to get. For my lima models i'm using a NEW652 wiring harness (8pin socket to you and me) so i dont have to chop the plug off so chips can be swapped around.

Apart from that very little has occured since the show. I've decided to add a fiddle yard at the other end so i can run through trains. This along with the replacement for the others will be 5 roads in a ladder style. It can run however in the exsisting set up for home or even show use.

A new stop at Cotswold Road

This is all about my DCC test bed Its planned to be on two 6ft by 18inch boards which pair together for transport. There is also a small fy extension plan for home use so it can be operated from the front.

As i said above i hope to make this a dcc test bed layout which includes adding a points decoder. I'm also tempted to control the signals by dcc to but I'm not sure if this is possible, or if its possible to control other LED lights on dcc. I've still got alot to learn.

The track plan shows a small SP with a passenger line at the back. The scenic break is a road going across the layout. A small shed is also planned for just in front of the fiddle yard. I also plan to add OHLE to this one using the dapol overheads.

Well that's it for now as i need to get on and build the boards and also save up a little to get the track in a few weeks or so. Then its if you'll pardon the pun, full steam ahead!

Cotswold Road has begun

Richard

The aftershow

Well no updates for a week as i was busy getting the layout ready. Its now returned and i'm pleased to report the layout worked fine. The only problems were mainly with the couplings and weight of the rolling stock. This can be fine tuned over the comming weeks and months.

The one area i will be working on is the fiddle yard as the cassette design did not work. Therefore i'm going to make a new ladder style fiddle yard but retaining the old one for home use only. The new one will be longer so it can take trains without too much shunting around.

I'm also contemplating my dcc test bed. The track plans have been drawn up and the wood is also here allowing the boards to be built. Theres just a few fine details to clear up before that.

Anyway thats it for now as its been a long weekend. Photos should be uploaded tomorrow.

Cleaning up

I spent most of today cleaning the wheels and doing some general maintenece on my rolling stock. Its now all working well so hopefully i should have a stress free weekend next week. I've also gone back to the tension lock couplings. So far i only have three which still have the wire bars fitted and amazingly the locos with tension locks seem much better again.

I'm going to change the track on the cassettes for code 75 flexi as it just works better. The joint has quite a step so going for the same code should solve that problem. It was causing a few wagons to derail too.

Anyway time for some rest as theres only so much one can do in a day....

The timewarp

Well first news of some new arrivals. Firstly a Bachmann 37239 in 2tg coal sector colours. Should come in useful and the second is 26037 in r/f l/l from heljan. The reason behind this one? Well it was cheap. Around £27 cheap!

Although 26s werent very common in the north west every wednesday one arrived on the 3P15 vans from Polmadie to Preston. What it worked back on no one knows. If anyone can id be interested. However i'm using it on the basis they were desperate for locos so borrowed it for one diagram.

In terms of the layout the scenic break is nearly complete. Just waiting for the glue to dry then some minor flocking and some foliaging. I have 7 days left of which two are out for family things. Another is spent leafleting leaving 4 days left. I dont want to do to much on the friday before the show leaving just 3 days to get it all ready. I do like a challenge.

Anyway please come and see it at the Chippenham Model Railway Show 2011 at the Sheldon School sports hall 24th of September 2011 10.30 till 5.

Turn of Time

Havent updated this in a few days as i have been busy modifying one of the boards. The only problem with this layout was the curve from the scenic section round to the fiddle yard. This was far to tight and giving problems. Therefore something had to be done.

My initial thought was to make it straight but then i wouldnt be able to operate it at home so i then though why not have it both ways buy using a curved point but again still to tight.

Then i decided to add two pieces of 2x1 strip to the end of the layout (its now two inches longer) and then moving the track out using a template. Bobs your uncle it worked fine. The rest of the time has been spent adding bits of wood to the board so it fills the gaps where the extention has made it longer.

I've also tidied up the scenic break as it was all over the place. The last job is to extend the top of the scenic break. This is proving a little more problematical than first though but now the break has been straightened it should prove easier. Thats the theory anyway.

Trouble is i only have 9 days to go.....


Anyway enough for today.

The new Future....

I have rejoined the Digital age today with the purchase of a NCE power cab unit. I found a nice S/h unit at the n gauge show for £74.95. It seems to work ok although i havent been able to fully test it as the two supposedly DCC fitted models i have dont have chips. They've obviously been removed and a blanking plate fitted. Anyway i hope this unit stands me in good stead. I have plans in place to build a dcc test bench so i can test it all out and explore what i need to do to get it work. This will be complete with dcc point decoders and possible even layout lighting and signals via the decoders. But i may have an N gauge layout to build first.

Hopefully then i might convert Westleigh to a DCC layout.

Anyway now time for a rest.

David Bayley is back at work.

Had a day off today from the layout so i set it back up so i could run some trains on it. Also i took the promised photos which have been added on my flickr page which can be found here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fatherjacksphotos/sets/72157627454727866/

I also spent some time today painting up the rail chairs and rail for the 3rd rail addition. This should hopefully be fitted after its first show.

End is in Sight

Today i finished the last major jobs that need to be completed on Westleigh. I have now fitted the end plates and the cover for the single board that is left. The layout is now more or less complete. My next and final job will be to attach the scenic break top. Once this is done then its only really final detailing to complete such as buffer stop lights, lighting towers, that sort of thing really.

I'm also already working on my next layout. This is much small so it can go in the back of a small car and doesnt take too much space when set up. It will probably be no more than 6ft x1.5ft and basically will be a single platform with a few sidings. It will be more of a testbed, diaroma and layout built into one.

Anyway a night off i think tonight as ive been very busy with it all the last few weeks.

I shall upload some photos to my flickr account tomorrow to show the works.

Smoothing it out....

I spent today trying to get some my mechs to run smoother. I have a vi trains 37 that will just not play ball. It seems to stutter somewhat. I've checked the mech and cleaned every pick up in site but not luck. Short of getting a new motor i dont know what to do.

In terms of the other mechs they run well enough but thats it. The only 100% reliable mechs seem to be the two shunters which potter about fine. I suppose i just need to spend some time actually looking at them and giving them a little more attention. if only i had a roundy-roundy layout.

Some duff modelling.

Spent this morning trying to re assemble a vi trains 47 that had been resprayed. It seems what you buy is a body and a chassis and a bag of bits some of which are so small even my eyesight cant cope. Saying that i've come across some kits that dont have this level of detail.

I've also spent this morning doing some work on my 142 pacer unit. One motor doesnt run too badly however i think to use both would simply cause fighting between the two motors. Therefore i picked up some mini connectors for use with RC modelling and plan to use those to increase the pick ups which feed each motor. If that doesnt work i shall remove the poorer motor as one motor can just about move the two cars. Either that or its investing in a branchlines remotoring kit.

My 155 also now has a detailed interior so you cant see through where you should have been able to. A few people to be added then this unit is ready for service.

All of the rolling stock i plan to use for the show is now finished but i still have some work to do on the locos and units, mainly trying to ensure they work well enough to show.

Anyway time to get back to the grind.

The new Breed! (WL)

Well i havent updated this blog in such a long time that i thought id better make better use of it.

Anyway since the last post i've built a new layout. This one is called simply Westleigh. Its an expanded concept of an earlier layout i built. This is in an L shape in a fiddle yard to station design. It fits quite snugly in my spare room but it is still small enough to be easily transportable to shows, the first one will be comming up on the 24th of September in Chippenham at the Sheldon School Sports Hall. See WWW.BMRG.ORG.UK.

I started said layout in the middle of April. In the time being i've more or less completed it to the extent its showable at a exhibitions. Its powered through the good old fashioned DC way using gaugemaster controllers and transformers.

The fiddle yard is a cassette design however i'm wondering if this works and whether it would be better to simply start again and do a conventional ladder fiddle yard. The jury is out until the first show is under the belt.

The era of the layout is set firmly in the North West in the period 1993. I go a year or two each side to give some variety. This allows me to run quite a variety of stock which i am slowly building up at this present time.

I've taken some photos and uploaded them to my flickr account which can be found here - http://www.flickr.com/photos/fatherjacksphotos/sets/72157627454727866/

I will be doing some further updates on here to explain the layout further but thats for a different time. Probably tomorrow.

Somewhere back in time....

Been too long again between updates so apologies if you still read this. Westlea Road is no more. It was dismantled and the boards are as bare as they were when they were built. But the new project is about to begin. I scrapped the Easterton idea but the new one will emerage next week. Just got one last thing to finalise first......

Ticket to Ride (WR)

Well the platform has been fitted and topped. There are 1217 individual metcalfe self adhesive on the platform. Next job is to fit the fence which is ratios 437 which is just about the same height as a 4mm scale figure. I didnt like the chainlink fence ratio do as it looks too much like what it is which is a shame as the uprights and details are very good.

The signals are both in and wired, the shed now has inspection pit lights and a small scafold style fence is going in by the station headshunt to protect the infrastructure yard. I have nearly gone through three 60g tubes of UHU glue though to do all of the above. Anyway back to the modelling.