7mm The Beeching & Axe Moor Branch Line.

Prairie Tank

Prairie Tank

Western Thunderer
Having now sold my oo lay out to create the space required I am about to start building a new lay out, this time is Scale 7.

It is going to be based on a fictitious branch line 'some where' in the Western Region of BR.

The plan is to use it just to give my Scale 7 loco's some thing to run on, my main operating lay out will still be Shelby Wood Sidings which will gradually be extended.

Below is the track plan for The Beeching & Axe Moor Branch Line, I have ordered the base boards from Grainge & Hodder but because I required special sizes they are still a few weeks away.
I have already been asked by fellow Scale 7 modelers if they could have 'running rights' on the line which of course they can, so I need to get a crack on!

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John :)
 
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V

victorianman

Western Thunderer
Hello,John.
Good to see a new S7 layout on the way.
I hope you don't mind this comment, but the crossover puzzles me, as it is facing and seems to leave little room for a loco to escape its train and run round. Have you based it/simplified it from a particular prototype, and is there sufficient length for what I've mentioned to not really be a problem?
Best Wishes.
 
Prairie Tank

Prairie Tank

Western Thunderer
victorianman said:
Hello,John.
Good to see a new S7 layout on the way.
I hope you don't mind this comment, but the crossover puzzles me, as it is facing and seems to leave little room for a loco to escape its train and run round. Have you based it/simplified it from a particular prototype, and is there sufficient length for what I've mentioned to not really be a problem?
Best Wishes.
Click to expand...

Thank you, I have had it changed and have now changed the photo to show the new plan.

John :)
 
Prairie Tank

Prairie Tank

Western Thunderer
Track work is well ahead of schedule and is due to arrive next week, hopefully the base boards will get here before then :rolleyes: they are due for despatch this Friday or next Monday.

John :)
 
V

victorianman

Western Thunderer
Hello, John. Thank you, that looks much more prototypical.
Before you start on the point-work, can I mention that the tip of crossing vees should be supported on a sleeper, and not overhang as seen on many O gauge and some S7 layouts. S7 does give one the chance to make very pleasing and authentic turnouts, but this is a common howler!
 
3 LINK

3 LINK

Western Thunderer
Morning John,

As you are a Western region chap like myself, I was wondering if you are aware that you can get a " slab and bracket " chair from Shapeways. These chairs are the correct chairs to support the crossing vee. PS.... this turnout is narrow gauge at O-MF, but the chairs do surprisingly fit S7 as well :thumbs:.

IMG_0309.JPG

Regards,

Martyn.
 
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Prairie Tank

Prairie Tank

Western Thunderer
3 LINK said:
Morning John,

As you are a Western region chap like myself, I was wondering if you are aware that you can get a " slab and bracket " chair from Shapeways. These chairs are the correct chairs to support the crossing vee. PS.... this turnout is narrow gauge at O-MF, but the chairs do surprisingly fit S7 as well :thumbs:.

View attachment 107812

Regards,

Martyn.
Click to expand...

Thank you for that Martyn, I did not know.

John :)
 
Prairie Tank

Prairie Tank

Western Thunderer
The first two loco's have been converted to Scale 7, my friend Sean took me to collect them from Finningham, I can not drive long distances and this journey was a very long distance one, but well worth it.
John Borkowski changed the chassis on 4566 and 9711, I was keen to get them back because my scale 7 track work is due to arrive next week and I wanted to have some thing to test it with.

Top photo shows a Dapol O fine Scale and the Masterpiece Scale 7 Panniers.

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John :)
 

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Prairie Tank

Prairie Tank

Western Thunderer
Today I will be joined by two of my bestest friends, Richard and Tim for a day of board building, figure painting, loco viewing, food consumption and banter. Allen has kindly offered the use of his garage should we need extra space.


I made the fatal mistake of letting my son 'borrow' my tools, unfortunately the meaning of borrow in off spring language is not the same as it is for you or I and now my ownership of tools is just a distant memory. Luckily for me Richard is bring half of his work shop with him, well at least a work bench and some wood workie type tools.

Mrs PT is ready in the kitchen with kettle, frying pan and a large wooden spoon (that is to hit me with every time I get paint on the kitchen tops), so in all it should be a very enjoyable day.

At the very least, Richard and Tim will prevent me from gluing the boards to the train room carpet...…


John :)
 
Ian@StEnochs

Ian@StEnochs

Western Thunderer
Prairie Tank said:
Mrs PT is ready in the kitchen with kettle, frying pan and a large wooden spoon (that is to hit me with every time I get paint on the kitchen tops), so in all it should be a very enjoyable day.

At the very least, Richard and Tim will prevent me from gluing the boards to the train room carpet...…


John :)
Click to expand...


Been there too!
Not long after I got married I used the kitchen to try out my airbrush, a Christmas gift from my wife. Worktops were covered in newspapers and spraying done with the aid of the spare tyre from the car and a foot pump. A successful painting session resulting in rake of nice red coaches all under shoe boxes to dry. However when the news paper was gathered up every surface in the kitchen had a red cast!
Still got the coaches and the same wife though!
Ian.
 
Prairie Tank

Prairie Tank

Western Thunderer
We have completed the base boards despite the fact that I had not noticed that we needed a few bolts (a quick dash to a local D.I.Y. store sorted that one) they are now in place with out an inch to spare.

A huge thank you to Richard and Tim who both did sterling work, while I mostly got in the way...……………………

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John :)
 
Yorkshire Dave

Yorkshire Dave

Western Thunderer
Prairie Tank said:
We have completed the base boards despite the fact that I had not noticed that we needed a few bolts (a quick dash to a local D.I.Y. store sorted that one) they are now in place with out an inch to spare.
Click to expand...

And of course everything else you now require is in the cupboard and drawers behind the baseboards....:confused: :rolleyes:
 
Prairie Tank

Prairie Tank

Western Thunderer
The track work for my lay out arrived a couple of weeks ago unfortunately it was not how I had hoped it would be with regards to running and electrics, however, I am very lucky to have some wonderful friends who just happen to be expert railway modelers and they have all rallied around to help me. My friend from work also made a set of gauges for me that conform to the guide lines from the Gauge O Guild.

Scale 7 track leaves very little room for error.


There is still a long way to go but the track is getting much better and the part that Richard has done with help (hinderance) from me is truly amazing!

I am also going to build a couple of 10'5" lengths of straight track myself.


Below are a before and after photo and also a couple of general views.

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John :)
 
Prairie Tank

Prairie Tank

Western Thunderer
While Richard is working through the track problems as and when he can, I am working on the bits I can do.

First off was reducing the gaps in the rail joints most of which were close to a real size of 9 inches.

I will also be able to build the two long straights, the back and side scenic boards and add all of the retaining walls that are being built by a very skilled building modeler.

The lay out will be going to shows so I want it to work 100% perfectly all of the time.

The following are a before and after photo of the rail joint gaps.

20190809_065237-1.jpg 20190809_143742.jpg

John :)
 
Prairie Tank

Prairie Tank

Western Thunderer
I have been asked by several people who the builder was and what is wrong with the track.

I am not prepared to name the builder so please do not ask however some of the problems are as follows....

There is an awful lot wrong with it I am afraid, the huge gaps in the rails being a very small problem.

To name a few...........V and check rails are tight to gauge and in some cases lose to gauge. It even arrived with a check rail not in place and some wiring missing (to be fair the builder did travel to my home to rectify those problems).
Wagons and locos derail over turn outs and the slide rails did not support the turn out rails, these are being removed and replaced with ones fit for purpose.

Wiring us not good either with shorts and joints coming unsoldered.

Boards badly warped.

Lots to do but it is going to be worth it because the one section we have put right runs perfectly now.

John :)
 
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