New G3 Modeller- Introducing Myself.

Hello everybody, I've very recently been accepted as a member of this forum and I thought it would be good manners to introduce myself. I know there is a dedicated place for introductions, but thought that, as I only model in G3 now, it would be more appropriate to introduce myself here.

I have been model making since I was a child (50-plus years, then!) and most recently modelled in SM32 narrow gauge. I began model engineering about ten years ago. I found myself increasingly drawn towards prototype C19th railways, particularly tramways like the Wantage, the Brill and the Wisbech and Upwell. When I first saw G3 and realised that there was a strong leaning towards older railways, I was very interested. After joining the G3 Association and a wallet-lightening trip to the AGM this year, I was hooked!

I have now a line-up of lovely wagon kits in various states of completion, the plan is to structurally finish them then paint them all together. After this, I intend to start scratchbuilding wagons using Mike Williams' components. Also, I've assembled most of what I need to build a live steam LBSC 1695 0-6-0 saddle tank engine, which seems to be the most likely choice for a small(ish) engine for the type of branch line I'm planning to build.

I have enough room in my garden for about 120' of end-to-end railway, the plan being to have the main terminus in a (yet-to-be-built) shed, and the other end in the boscage behind my house. I'm not really interested in continuous running but rather like the idea of strolling alongside my loco, keeping an eye on it and enjoying the unhurried pace of a branch line.

The first photo is what I have been doing this morning: I recently ordered some components off Mike, one of them being his weighted point lever kit. This is cast in nickel-silver and, with a bit of fettling, has made up into a lovely working model. I deviated from the instructions by using copper wire to rivet the pivot points, instead of using the provided brass screws. I imagine the hole in the counterweight is just a casting blemish, I will fill it before I paint it.


17.07.2021 4.jpg


The second photo is a milepost, made from brass rail with Slater's lettering on it. This was inspired by an actual milepost in the museum at the SVR's Kidderminster station, where the flat portion had obviously been forged on the end of the rail, and the numbers attached later. I'm very interested in small details like this: it's gratifying to see that, on this forum, I'm not alone in this!

Milepost.jpg

Thanks for reading! It's back in the workshop for me, now!

Best wishes,

John.
 

Mike W

Western Thunderer
Hi John. Welcome to WT. We are a friendly lot here and e lie to see pictures, so you are off to a great start. Even for Gauge 3 that's a cruel enlargement of a point lever!

Mike
 

Mike W

Western Thunderer
Just in case anyone missed the self effacing comment there, MidnightMiller made the pattern for that point lever, and what a great job he made of it too! Everyone believes that Gauge 3 is a minority interest of course, so you wouldn't expect sales to be very good would you? Its approaching 200 units. Not quite so minority as it used to be!

Mike
 
Thanks MM, that is a good idea! Mike, it is indeed a great piece of work: I am very taken with it and will buy some more, as I have decided to standardise on it for my (putative) light railway terminus.

Another exciting possibility I noticed is that, if you push the bell crank over by hand, the weighted lever rises and falls. This could provide a very realistic 'bounce' to the lever, should you lightly spring-load the points they work and then 'trail through' them.

I've had a similar idea for a 'bouncing' brake lever on your wagons, Mike. This was quite common back in the days of short wheelbase four wheeled wagons, a rough shunt could cause the lever to jump out of it's socket and 'bounce' on the operating cam, making a hideous noise. Very prototypical!

I am very excited about the possibilities of working in G3!

John.
 

Mike W

Western Thunderer
Just re-reading your post about bounce John. Signal arms bounce and brake levers can if left hanging, but did throw over point levers bounce? Its a big and very heavy lump of cast iron and although I've never personally used one, thought it might just go "thud"?

Mike
 
Haha! Indeed Mike, you are right! 'Thud' is a much better description of what happens! Trailing through points with weighted levers was frowned upon, back in the day! It wasn't unknown for the tiebar to give up the ghost and buckle, setting a trap for the next person who tries to go through the points in a facing direction! I could tell you some tales..! :rolleyes:

John.
 
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