Do you have any model railway projects on the go?

[Peter C]

It’s all trial and error really isn’t it. I’ve made some things I’m really pleased with and other things that I’d like to do again at some point.
I think that the more you do the better you get, but patience is something that I’ve learnt over the years - sometimes it’s worth leaving something for a bit rather than struggling as while you’re doing something else that’s a bit easier a workaround for the problem pops into your head...

I couldn't agree with that more - I've got a couple of bits of my layout where I'd like to go back and have another attempt but there are some bits where I'm very happy with what I've done. I'm currently trying to do as much detail as possible for the shop I'm currently working on as that will make it better in the long run - things such as blinds and curtains in windows (and properly set back from the glazing).

I seem to have random solutions for problems on the layout when I'm not thinking about it: I'll suddenly realise there's a bit of unused space I could fit something I really want to include in, etc. I've actually spent this morning fiddling with the NSE station on my layout, so it now includes two platforms rather than one and what will be a parcels/goods shed (BR Red Star kind of thing), based on an idea I had out of the blue last night!

-Peter

 

[DJ_K666]

That sounds interesting, small industrial layouts look like quite good fun and there are now plenty of suitable smaller loco's available for such layouts.


I would have thought the weather was always poor on Howling! The buildings are looking good, I've got one of the Hornby barrack room buildings, it's a very versatile range of buildings they have. Including your own home sounds a nice idea, good luck with that one

I'm also messing about learning Templot, as it's a perfect project for using hand built track. Masochist? Me? Possibly...

 

[reddragon]

I'm also messing about learning Templot, as it's a perfect project for using hand built track. Masochist? Me? Possibly...

As the EVIL bus driver, have you ever done a hand brake turn in a DD bus in service?

 

[DJ_K666]

As the EVIL bus driver, have you ever done a hand brake turn in a DD bus in service?

No but I have wheelspun and got one sideways and skidded about 15feet using the handbrake. All of which were hilarious fun. To do a handbrake turn you need an open space and lots of water, rather like the scene at Chiswick Depot with its skid pan in the first On The Buses movie

 

[reddragon]

No but I have wheelspun and got one sideways and skidded about 15feet using the handbrake. All of which were hilarious fun. To do a handbrake turn you need an open space and lots of water, rather like the scene at Chiswick Depot with its skid pan in the first On The Buses movie

A popular in service location was Fords Dagenham. The 174/175 services turned in an oily concrete area where this was possible (and done) by drivers. The Titans worked the best!

 

[DJ_K666]

Heh the Titans were beasts. We never had any in Brighton as we went straight from VRs to Scanias and Tridents but we did have good locations for skidding (and wrote off a few Alpha Romeos in the process). We had to be careful outside the garage though due to CCTV.

 

[32475]

Howling Viaduct update: at long long last my miniature permanent way gang has put down the first ballast, sleepers and rails. More than that they’ve gone to the trouble of painting rust on the rails and chairs and weathered the sleepers.
In the foreground is the former down line which has just been lifted as the line has been ‘singled’ a few years before Dr Beeching wields his axe.
The ballast looks far too pristine so weathering, weeds and some rosebay willow herb are still to be applied.
The E4 will eventually get a number change to 32475!

 

[Cowley]

Howling Viaduct update: at long long last my miniature permanent way gang has put down the first ballast, sleepers and rails. More than that they’ve gone to the trouble of painting rust on the rails and chairs and weathered the sleepers.
In the foreground is the former down line which has just been lifted as the line has been ‘singled’ a few years before Dr Beeching wields his axe.
The ballast looks far too pristine so weathering, weeds and some rosebay willow herb are still to be applied.
The E4 will eventually get a number change to 32475!

Looks really good. Thanks for posting the photos.

 

[Iskra]

Howling Viaduct update: at long long last my miniature permanent way gang has put down the first ballast, sleepers and rails. More than that they’ve gone to the trouble of painting rust on the rails and chairs and weathered the sleepers.
In the foreground is the former down line which has just been lifted as the line has been ‘singled’ a few years before Dr Beeching wields his axe.
The ballast looks far too pristine so weathering, weeds and some rosebay willow herb are still to be applied.
The E4 will eventually get a number change to 32475!

Very nice! The lifted line is looking particularly good

 

[hexagon789]

Howling Viaduct update: at long long last my miniature permanent way gang has put down the first ballast, sleepers and rails. More than that they’ve gone to the trouble of painting rust on the rails and chairs and weathered the sleepers.
In the foreground is the former down line which has just been lifted as the line has been ‘singled’ a few years before Dr Beeching wields his axe.
The ballast looks far too pristine so weathering, weeds and some rosebay willow herb are still to be applied.
The E4 will eventually get a number change to 32475!

Love the scenery

Looking good

 

[32475]

Thank you chums. I’m looking forward to section two of the layout which will feature the station, signal box, goods yard and a number of buildings. Hopefully I can start on this in February

 

[reddragon]

Howling Viaduct update: at long long last my miniature permanent way gang has put down the first ballast, sleepers and rails. More than that they’ve gone to the trouble of painting rust on the rails and chairs and weathered the sleepers.
In the foreground is the former down line which has just been lifted as the line has been ‘singled’ a few years before Dr Beeching wields his axe.
The ballast looks far too pristine so weathering, weeds and some rosebay willow herb are still to be applied.
The E4 will eventually get a number change to 32475!

Whilst my S&C viaduct is a good construction, I will not expect tp match your quality of finish! That's good.

 

[32475]

Whilst my S&C viaduct is a good construction, I will not expect tp match your quality of finish! That's good.

But your S&C viaduct is on a much grander scale so I've only got a fraction of the brickwork to do in comparison to your masonry!

 

[Iskra]

Track Weathering

This is probably a stupid question, but I've recently weathered a spare bit of track. I've added it to the end of one of my sidings and sent the Jinty in to test it. The engine stalls and doesn't pick up any power on this section of track.

Is this because:

1) I've overdone it with the weathering spray
2) You still need to clean the rails again after weathering to allow conductivity
3) You need to avoid spraying the fish plates
4) Any other reason?

 

[Peter C]

Track Weathering

This is probably a stupid question, but I've recently weathered a spare bit of track. I've added it to the end of one of my sidings and sent the Jinty in to test it. The engine stalls and doesn't pick up any power on this section of track.

Is this because:

1) I've overdone it with the weathering spray
2) You still need to clean the rails again after weathering to allow conductivity
3) You need to avoid spraying the fish plates
4) Any other reason?

Has the weathering been applied to the top of the rails? If so, I think you'd need to clean the tops of the rails after weathering to allow for electrical conductivity.

I've never weathered anything before though so I can't speak from experience!

-Peter

 

[Iskra]

That would explain it, looking at @32475 's example above, his rails are still clean on top so that's probably why

Has the weathering been applied to the top of the rails? If so, I think you'd need to clean the tops of the rails after weathering to allow for electrical conductivity.

I've never weathered anything before though so I can't speak from experience!

-Peter

You should give it a try, I'm doing well with rolling stock now. I've gone from never doing it, to testing it on an old brake van, to doing a few wagons and now I'm on my 4th coach! I find it really relaxing and it makes your stock look better too

 

[Cowley]

@Iskra - Yes give it a good rub along the top of the rails to get it properly shiny again and I’d even say go slightly over the edges on the inside of the rails (where the wheel flanges run) if it’s still stalling anywhere.
Be very careful if you’re weathering points that you don’t get paint in the contacts. I always mask those bits of the point off and paint them in with a brush afterwards.
Getting paint between the blades is a nightmare!

 

[Iskra]

@Iskra - Yes give it a good rub along the top of the rails to get it properly shiny again and I’d even say go slightly over the edges on the inside of the rails (where the wheel flanges run) if it’s still stalling anywhere.
Be very careful if you’re weathering points that you do get paint in the contacts. I always mask those bits of the point off and paint them in with a brush afterwards.

Thank you!

 

[Peter C]

That would explain it, looking at @32475 's example above, his rails are still clean on top so that's probably why

It's also more prototypical to have the tops of the rails being shiny, at least on regularly-used track, so it's a win-win!

You should give it a try, I'm doing well with rolling stock now. I've gone from never doing it, to testing it on an old brake van, to doing a few wagons and now I'm on my 4th coach! I find it really relaxing and it makes your stock look better too

I might think about weathering some of my stuff at some point but I quite like my engines being 'clean' - I think the colours look quite nice. Simple things for simple people

-Peter

 

[Iskra]

It's also more prototypical to have the tops of the rails being shiny, at least on regularly-used track, so it's a win-win!


I might think about weathering some of my stuff at some point but I quite like my engines being 'clean' - I think the colours look quite nice. Simple things for simple people

-Peter

Yes, that's very true/

I agree, sometimes loco's can be too nice to weather. There are definitely some I won't be touching

 

[hexagon789]

Yes, that's very true/

I agree, sometimes loco's can be too nice to weather. There are definitely some I won't be touching

I can relate to that, certainly I've no intention of weathering a few choice items, but that's not entirely unprototypical - you do get shiny as soon new pin trains sometimes!

 

[Peter C]

Howling Viaduct update: at long long last my miniature permanent way gang has put down the first ballast, sleepers and rails. More than that they’ve gone to the trouble of painting rust on the rails and chairs and weathered the sleepers.
In the foreground is the former down line which has just been lifted as the line has been ‘singled’ a few years before Dr Beeching wields his axe.
The ballast looks far too pristine so weathering, weeds and some rosebay willow herb are still to be applied.
The E4 will eventually get a number change to 32475!

I saw this a few days ago and completely forgot to post anything. I love the way you're modelling the line when it wasn't at it's best and was on the decline; something I've personally not seen that much. My layout is the opposite of that idea I think!

-Peter

 

[32475]

I saw this a few days ago and completely forgot to post anything. I love the way you're modelling the line when it wasn't at it's best and was on the decline; something I've personally not seen that much. My layout is the opposite of that idea I think!

-Peter

Thanks Peter
I’m working hard on the rust, neglect and decrepitude!!

 

[Peter C]

Thanks Peter
I’m working hard on the rust, neglect and decrepitude!!

You're very welcome
Your hard work shows - I love the atmosphere you've created.

-Peter

 

[BrettSy96]

Today I finally finished converting all of my multiple units to DCC. Only my Hornby class 110 survives from my old layout, the rest had to go.

What I have learnt is only buy DCC ready DMU/EMUs. The old Hornby / Bachmann ones has cost me dear to convert. The class 220 required 3 chips, rewiring and complex programming, cost me more than buying it grr. . . .



That's worth a line up photo!

Here’s three of my favourite in my collection!

 

[Iskra]

Here’s three of my favourite in my collection!

Nice! Are the pantographs stuck in the up position by any chance?

 

[BrettSy96]

Nice! Are the pantographs stuck in the up position by any chance?

I thought they looked better in the up position for the photo

 

[Cowley]

I thought they looked better in the up position for the photo

Damn right. Ready for action!

 

[BrettSy96]

Damn right. Ready for action!

Exactly!!

 

[Peter C]

Here’s three of my favourite in my collection!

They all look really nice - the 91s are some of my favourite engines. I don't know why!
Here's mine to add to the mix. The top of the pantograph (the fancy bit that connects with the wires) is a bit wonky but it's easily put back upright.


It's an old Hornby model and came with a DVT and 2 Mk4s in the same livery from eBay for around £60 total late last year. My only criticism of the model is that it doesn't have a coupling on the pointy end to allow for blunt-end running, but it's a fairly small issue and maybe something the new Hornby ones will correct?

-Peter