1/32 Gauge 1. Hollywater line.

[Spitfire2865]

Hi Trevor
Do you mean a circular saw like the Proxxon KS230. I have one of these and it’s invaluable for making wooden kits.
Dave

Exactly. Or something similar at least. If you know my modelling, would you be surprised all the wood was cut with a razor saw and mitre box?

How thin is the blade on the Proxxon? If they had blades in the range of <.5mm, thatd be quite appealing to me.

 

[Dave Bowden]

Exactly. Or something similar at least. If you know my modelling, would you be surprised all the wood was cut with a razor saw and mitre box?

How thin is the blade on the Proxxon? If they had blades in the range of <.5mm, thatd be quite appealing to me.

I’ll let you know on Monday when we get home as we are in Perth WA until tomorrow then onto Singapore and Heathrow on Sunday.

Dave

 

[Dave Bowden]

Hi Trevor

I’ve just checked on Chronos Ltd website and they state that all the blades for the KS230 are 1.1 in thickness.

Dave

 

[daifly]

Most, not all. The 28014 Super-Cut blade is listed elsewhere as 0.4mm thick. The Diamond blade (for ceramics etc.) is 0.5mm thick.
"Crosscut Blade Super-Cut 2 9/32 in. x 1/64 in. x 13/32 in. (58 mm x 0.4 mm x 15 mm), 80 teeth. Ideal for use on hard and soft wood, as well as plastic. For fast, clean cuts. The 80 teeth are alternately set and sharpened. For superior cutting power."

 

[Keith Phillips]

Took the stock to Buckfastleigh on Saturday. Lovely day in the sun and got me motivated to get on with the project again. So today I tweaked a bit of track I put down last year that didn't look quite right. All sorted now and looking forward to getting some time outside in March to start laying the 'Down' line.



Looks much bigger close up

 

[Simon]

That is one very good looking train!

I don't know why, but your photographs are the first that I have seen (of the [Tower?] 14XX model) that really convince me.

It will be great when you can enjoy seeing it and its coach going around your own garden....

Simon

 

[Keith Phillips]

Thank you Simon, that's very kind of you to say so. The 14xx is from Finescale Brass but I do not know if Tower share suppliers.

I cannot wait for it to be doing circuits of the garden either. Fingers crossed for a Summer opening.

 

[Keith Phillips]

Fine weather has given me a chance to venture out into the garden and start moving a few things around. The line, as laid out cut through a couple of flower beds and also a couple of grass pathways. This was not going to remain a very satisfactory state of affairs with the Treasury Dept., so I grabbed a shovel and got to work.



The path got lifted and moved sideways so as to follow the line of the railway and the tall plants in earlier pictures were rehomed elsewhere in the garden. I don't think the buddleia has survived the move but I have another that has self seeded up near the 'Winter Palace'. I have gone for Yew as the hedging material beneath the line at the lift out section to provide a dense block of foliage in a few years time. This then gives way to Lonicera which will be a bit softer as the line swings back towards the sidings and station.



In other news I have decided on a station building to grace the Hollywater line which has connections with the area where I grew up and should look good as long as my painting skills can do it justice. More to come on that another time.

Got to go and swat up for an exam on Hitachi 800 trains tomorrow now

Cheers,

Keith

 

[Keith Phillips]

The (un)civil engineer has been out and about on the Hollywater Line and made a bit of progress laying the Down line through the site of the station. Things went pretty well and as a bonus the baseboards look to be holding up very well after their first winter. The opportunity was taken to lay the points to the goods yard as well as surveying the position of a Goods Shed or loading dock. It looks as though one can be squeezed in but I may have to come up with a fairly basic design.

The Chief Engineer inspected the work and it was all signed off in exchange for a couple of chewy treats.



I managed to pass my Hitachi 800 exams too. I'm now getting my handling hours in and experiencing the future of train driving. The jury is still out on if I like them or not.

All the best

Keith

 

[Keith Phillips]

Happy Easter everyone.

I prefer 1:1 scale chocolate

 

[Keith Phillips]

Uncivil engineering department have been out on the Hollywater line again. Down main line finished as far as 'the gap'. Good news on the bridge from MVL , construction is about to commence. Perfect timing.

It is quite something to see the line taking shape along with the rest of the garden close to the house. A bit of sunshine helps too.








The distance from running rail to running rail between the up and down lines is 80mm. This is just slightly over the G1mra minimum of 115mm on the straights and 120mm on the corners centre to centre.

Cheers

Keith

 

[adrian]

It is quite something to see the line taking shape along with the rest of the garden close to the house. A bit of sunshine helps too

Thanks for posting - that's coming along nicely - here's hoping for a good summer so you can sit back an enjoy running some trains.

 

[Keith Phillips]

Progress has been good on the track laying on the Hollywater Line. The (un)Civil Engineers have been out under the supervision of the Chief Engineer and things have come along very nicely.



The Up and Down Main are left of shot. These will soon be a continuous loop of 120ft. Next are the head shunts for the bay/ goods area. These are both 4 yards long.



The station area. Left to right are the Up bay, long enough for a couple of coaches and an engine. The Up and Down Main lines, the Down Bay and run round and then the Goods road occupied by the (un) civil engineers train.



Finally there is the long Down Bay head shunt which is 6 yards long. This may or may not have an engine preparation area added. It depends how the line develops over the years.

So I should have two running lines for continuous running and a shunting area where trains can be formed and reformed until a slot becomes available on the main lines. Enough to keep me happy for a while .

The bridge for 'The Gap' is at the powder coaters and could be with me by next weekend. So maybe the official opening is just around the corner?

Cheers,

Keith

 

[Brian McKenzie]

Keith, might it not be too late to take advantage of the space you have, to ease this curve with a gradual transition off the straight - to avoid a loco flicking noticeably sideways on entry?

 

[Keith Phillips]

Thanks Brian. I have had a great deal of trouble with that curve for some reason. All the others have gone well with transition curves incorperated. This picture shows the deficiency in my track laying and I thank you for pointing it out. I was wondering what to do today ..

 

[Keith Phillips]

A couple more firsts today. The Hollywater Line had its first guest engines visiting . My chum Mark came over and brought his scratch built 2P and scratch built Hymek. Ran a couple of coaches behind them and no problems. Shame the bridge hasn't arrived and worse still I forgot to photograph the event . We had a nice time trundling back and forth to 'the gap' though.

Second event was the numbering up of my 14xx. It now has an identity and I am pleased with how it now looks. 1440 was chosen because it was based at Exeter St. Davids where I work now and also at Banbury which was on my old route when I was at Aylesbury. Interestingly ( or not) 1440 remained in BR unlined black with early crest throughout its BR life.



Plates are by Guilplates which I'm very pleased with. Did have to file and cut a certain amount off of the top and bottom of the smokebox door plate and painting the numbers up sent my eyes a bit screwy. I used Vallejo Ivory 70.918 over a Black Surface Primer 74.602, also Vallejo. I then added a weathering of Citadel/ Games Workshop 'Nuln Oil' which helped define the numerals especially on the shed plate. The smokebox number plate was then mounted on some plasticard spacers to replicate the positioning of the plate on western engines.

Cheers,

Keith

 

[Keith Phillips]

Going through the books today for the costs and materials for the construction of the Hollywater Line. Quite a lot has gone into it all.

Basic Construction.

35 Hardibacker Cement Boards
70 Scaffold Poles
70 Scaffold Jacks
360ft 4"x 2" Treated timber
500 Woodscrews
200 Aquaboard Screws
2 Titanium Tipped Jigsaw Blades
Quite a few expletives
Several gallons of tea
1 Cream Tea.

Track Laying.

260 yards of rail.
4,680 Sleepers, 2,160 Gauge Widened and 2,520 Standard.
11 Points.
1,000 Track Pins.
5 Hacksaw Blades.
400 Super elevation wedges
5 Buffer stops
2 Track Curves
1 Straight Track ruler
1 Track Gauge
1 Track Distance/Spacing Tool.
360 Fishplates
Lots more tea.

There is also a magnificent bridge yet to arrive which is 1250mm long.

I can remember every one of those 4,680 sleepers having to be slid onto the rails that they are supporting. It also feels like I bent 500 of the 1000 track pins trying to get them into the boards. I can look forward to adding approximately 50kg of ballast to the line in the near future too.

It has been great fun really and I have taught myself a few new skills along the way. Still working on learning patience though .

Cheers,

Keith

 

[Keith Phillips]

THE BRIDGE HAS ARRIVED!!! WOOO-HOOOO!

Even better, it fits in the gap I left

 

[jonte]

Congratulations, Keith, on what appears to be the final piece in the jigsaw. The bridge looks magnificent.

Btw, I like your weathered arbour and distressed whitewashed wall. Most Mediterranean indeed

Jonte

 

[Dikitriki]

Hi Keith,

That's looking lovely, both layout and environment.

I bet you use over 100 kg ballast. I reckon we've used about 90 kg already, with about 1/3 left to do.

Richard