Lyndhurstman
Western Thunderer
Lovely. Definitely looking the part. Kudos to your eyesight!
Cheers
Jan
Cheers
Jan
Matt.S.
Western Thunderer
Finally back to the CCTs, framing didn't prove too much of an issue.
Then onto the roof sections - these have a natty press jig, the utility of which is currently up for debate. Looks like a burnish followed by a skim of filler will help.
I will need to figure out how to clamp and solder these lips to get the roof sitting snug on the gutter piece.
Then onto the roof sections - these have a natty press jig, the utility of which is currently up for debate. Looks like a burnish followed by a skim of filler will help.
I will need to figure out how to clamp and solder these lips to get the roof sitting snug on the gutter piece.
Matt.S.
Western Thunderer
Well, it's been a while...
I cocked up the second CCT roof and put them to one side until I'd built something else, which turned out to be a shot down Dragon models Taff Vale brake van - which is mostly done once I've cobbled up brake linkages, picked axle boxes and bought more drill bits to start the handrails.
After receiving a package from CCT, I also decalled some things, but ran out of time to dullcote them before going away for five weeks to the UK. It turns out these things are not best saved up for later - especially the umpteen on each conflat.
I then packed a bag and headed back to the UK for the first time in 5 years! Larkrail was great and a good chance to catch up with friends and conspirators. I had a good rummage in my stash of 00 and P4 bits and found new homes for them all then found time to relax. First stop, the West Somerset after a day walking in the Quantocks with a surprise guest in steam.
Hannah and I also went to Modelu and got ourselves scanned - 2mm and 7mm Matt are both looking concerned at the state of my workshop.
After traipsing to the Lake District, the Cotswolds for a wedding and Sussex we finally had an actual holiday - three days in Radovlica, four in Ljubljana. I strategically missed the train between the two and made Hannah wait and watch a procession of freights hauled by vintage Alstom locos and modern Taurus (she particularly liked the OLE maintenance drasine). They adopted a 3kv system from the Italian neighbours which has left them mismatched with many neighbours. Luckily the OBB Taurus were happily flying through.
Ljublijana hosts the National Railway <Museum, which is little more than a passenger rolling stock workshop the National Railway company has finished with, crammed with steam locos and surrounding by rotting freight stock. The curator let slip that they don't expect to receive funding in the next budget and that often they have to figure out if the broken relic left in their yard was intended as an exhibit donation or just somewhere for SZ to store it.
A brief pause at the station for refreshment gave me pretty much one of everything on the network, from modern Stadler FLIRT/KISS units through Ansaldo electric locos to 80's DMUs and shunters. The favourite for me was the license built US style locos idling away, the driver was keen to show me how to loadbank the engines on the dynamic brake grids (a fairly common test, even in NZ with GM locos). I'm pretty sure I'd have been dragged over the coals for leaving a loco on notch 6 at Paddington when I was out on the network!
Returning back to Wellington post jetlag and tummy bug I started unpacking the modelling goodies that I had been collecting - enough 0.3mm wire to circle the world and more point motors and decoders than I need. During this process I realised that Bryn had kindly gifted me a 13t hopper kit that he wasn't going to get round to. An hour or so later, I was sitting staring at most of a wagon, strapping laminations and such to follow tomorrow hopefully.
I also treated myself to a weekend block of line in the Wellington weather supervising the track gangs fitting a level crossing in the rain - a rude wake up after 36 degrees by the Slovenian lakes!
I cocked up the second CCT roof and put them to one side until I'd built something else, which turned out to be a shot down Dragon models Taff Vale brake van - which is mostly done once I've cobbled up brake linkages, picked axle boxes and bought more drill bits to start the handrails.
After receiving a package from CCT, I also decalled some things, but ran out of time to dullcote them before going away for five weeks to the UK. It turns out these things are not best saved up for later - especially the umpteen on each conflat.
I then packed a bag and headed back to the UK for the first time in 5 years! Larkrail was great and a good chance to catch up with friends and conspirators. I had a good rummage in my stash of 00 and P4 bits and found new homes for them all then found time to relax. First stop, the West Somerset after a day walking in the Quantocks with a surprise guest in steam.
Hannah and I also went to Modelu and got ourselves scanned - 2mm and 7mm Matt are both looking concerned at the state of my workshop.
After traipsing to the Lake District, the Cotswolds for a wedding and Sussex we finally had an actual holiday - three days in Radovlica, four in Ljubljana. I strategically missed the train between the two and made Hannah wait and watch a procession of freights hauled by vintage Alstom locos and modern Taurus (she particularly liked the OLE maintenance drasine). They adopted a 3kv system from the Italian neighbours which has left them mismatched with many neighbours. Luckily the OBB Taurus were happily flying through.
Ljublijana hosts the National Railway <Museum, which is little more than a passenger rolling stock workshop the National Railway company has finished with, crammed with steam locos and surrounding by rotting freight stock. The curator let slip that they don't expect to receive funding in the next budget and that often they have to figure out if the broken relic left in their yard was intended as an exhibit donation or just somewhere for SZ to store it.
A brief pause at the station for refreshment gave me pretty much one of everything on the network, from modern Stadler FLIRT/KISS units through Ansaldo electric locos to 80's DMUs and shunters. The favourite for me was the license built US style locos idling away, the driver was keen to show me how to loadbank the engines on the dynamic brake grids (a fairly common test, even in NZ with GM locos). I'm pretty sure I'd have been dragged over the coals for leaving a loco on notch 6 at Paddington when I was out on the network!
Returning back to Wellington post jetlag and tummy bug I started unpacking the modelling goodies that I had been collecting - enough 0.3mm wire to circle the world and more point motors and decoders than I need. During this process I realised that Bryn had kindly gifted me a 13t hopper kit that he wasn't going to get round to. An hour or so later, I was sitting staring at most of a wagon, strapping laminations and such to follow tomorrow hopefully.
I also treated myself to a weekend block of line in the Wellington weather supervising the track gangs fitting a level crossing in the rain - a rude wake up after 36 degrees by the Slovenian lakes!
Matt.S.
Western Thunderer
In a bout of enthusiasm from this year's Railex vist, decals were dug out - I'd forgotten that the CCT decals require you to paint your own black patches so I've substituted Railtec decals supplied through the association for the unfitted wagons.
...apologies for the terrible photo!
...apologies for the terrible photo!
Last edited:
CCT
Matt.S.
Western Thunderer
Like many others here, motor has had a slump lately. The perpetual rounds of restructure and redundancy in the real railway haven't helped.
Chancing upon a cheap Dapol CCT on the lesser known auction site in NZ, I dug out a replacement chassis kit and set to. For anyone following in my footsteps - open out the clasp gear holes and score the lower footstep fold...
Before/after - this is why we persevere!
Goodness knows what Dapol were thinking with the lower door steps - shouldn't take too long.
Fingers crossed it'll leave the workshop in grotty carmine to join my ragtag parcels fleet.
Chancing upon a cheap Dapol CCT on the lesser known auction site in NZ, I dug out a replacement chassis kit and set to. For anyone following in my footsteps - open out the clasp gear holes and score the lower footstep fold...
Before/after - this is why we persevere!
Goodness knows what Dapol were thinking with the lower door steps - shouldn't take too long.
Fingers crossed it'll leave the workshop in grotty carmine to join my ragtag parcels fleet.
Lyndhurstman
Western Thunderer
Very nice. Railtec do black patches too. I’ve used them, and they’re fine. It makes the numbering longer in duration, but they save a lot of Faff.
Cheers
Jan
If painting black patches doesn't appeal, I offer Sheet BL7 - an A6 sheet of plain black decal, which can be cut to the required size.
One sheet will provide for many, many wagons.
John Isherwood,
Cambridge Custom Transfers.
Matt.S.
Western Thunderer
That's handy, thanks John - I'll add one to my next order!
Matt.S.
Western Thunderer
Once again full sized railways have rudely interrupted the world of model railways. Thankfully the Xmas commissioning went very smoothly - 7 turnouts, 18 signals, 40 new point motors, 1.2km of plain line and 3500 lunches later I got to have a wee test ride around the network, as far at least as the fringe of our replaced controls (Tawa, Petone, Wadestown) which included a novel chance to travel over the Tawa crossover, used in emergencies now and the site of the only remaining Westinghouse L type lever frame operational in the country. It seems like a shame to have played a part in switching out an 89 year old signal box for the last time, but that's the way of the world I suppose.
Fortunately a soggy first week turning out right for a warm second week.
Wellington station is built on the site of two historical reclamations, the origingal beach is just beyond the stabled Matangi units. Here we ended up digging overdepth to install filter cloth to control the high water table which is then covered with GAP60/ballast and compacted to provide a solid base for the track.
Triple plates are the order of the day since they don't form a bow wave unlike a roller.
Miraculously BOTH tampers and BOTH regulators came to site without a breakdown over new years
Leaving us with unprotypically clean, flat track!
By the 12th of Jan, all the wiring and proving had been completed, track b ack, OLE signed off and the temporary certificate permitting test train issued. Now the monotonous task of test trains begins - every asset tested every route with observers trackside to confirm train trips work and lights change in correct sequence. As lunch time rolled round on the Sunday we'd finished testing, signed the certificate to bring the new system into use and waited until Monday morning's peak had passed without a hitch before tacking a well earned beer!
Fortunately a soggy first week turning out right for a warm second week.
Wellington station is built on the site of two historical reclamations, the origingal beach is just beyond the stabled Matangi units. Here we ended up digging overdepth to install filter cloth to control the high water table which is then covered with GAP60/ballast and compacted to provide a solid base for the track.
Triple plates are the order of the day since they don't form a bow wave unlike a roller.
Miraculously BOTH tampers and BOTH regulators came to site without a breakdown over new years
Leaving us with unprotypically clean, flat track!
By the 12th of Jan, all the wiring and proving had been completed, track b ack, OLE signed off and the temporary certificate permitting test train issued. Now the monotonous task of test trains begins - every asset tested every route with observers trackside to confirm train trips work and lights change in correct sequence. As lunch time rolled round on the Sunday we'd finished testing, signed the certificate to bring the new system into use and waited until Monday morning's peak had passed without a hitch before tacking a well earned beer!
Matt.S.
Western Thunderer
Once this was sorted, I found myself with two weeks of leave to kill, I won't pretend that I've been particularly productive - the hammock and a well stocked fridge has derailed me as the summer heat has finally arrived.
1. I had a play at building some huts from Radstock - because who can have too many huts on a layout. These will drop onto a Rob G inspired S&D plank soon.
2. I had a play with a new piercing saw - I don't think Nick has much to worry about but I'm relatively content that these look like Cambrian tanks. I doubt this will lead to a loco but never say never.
3. found a less humid day to practice with my airbrush - this is a first for me, in the UK it was much easier to buy rattle cans in the right shades! Definitely more practice required, some of the siphons are quite badly crazed (Vallejo or AK interactive plastic primer).
4. I spent too much time looking at the wonderful absorbed wagons books and spotted an interesting looking GW shocvan (well two actually). The diag V28 vans used a 16' mink body on a 17'6 chassis. I have a couple of resin association bodies but I really wouldn't need many 16' vans for my late 60's hydraulic world.... a cunning plan was hatched!
First shaving off the older style doors and fabricating some new planked ones, sanding back the integral bufferbeams and chamfering the end angle irons.
Then knocking up two assoc BR Vac brake chassis to suit. The buffers are an odd affair - 1'8", including rubber mounting blocks. I made the blocks form spare buffer backing plates, laminated and dressed back. The first set have fettled cast buffers from a chivers kit, but I'm not convinced. I'll have to order some plain assoc turned ones and use the unimat to turn away the body to suit.
On a bit of a roll, I tried to make the hinges using a GW rivet press. The rivets came out lovely but I couldn't get a strip cut off the sheet without a huge burr or curling - maybe the piercing saw would have helped, however I dug out an etch of wagon strapping and found enough strapping with the right 1mm spacing which will have to do. I had a play with soldering up some locking bars and handles too.
If anyone has a better photo or sketch of the buffers I'd love to see it!
1. I had a play at building some huts from Radstock - because who can have too many huts on a layout. These will drop onto a Rob G inspired S&D plank soon.
2. I had a play with a new piercing saw - I don't think Nick has much to worry about but I'm relatively content that these look like Cambrian tanks. I doubt this will lead to a loco but never say never.
3. found a less humid day to practice with my airbrush - this is a first for me, in the UK it was much easier to buy rattle cans in the right shades! Definitely more practice required, some of the siphons are quite badly crazed (Vallejo or AK interactive plastic primer).
4. I spent too much time looking at the wonderful absorbed wagons books and spotted an interesting looking GW shocvan (well two actually). The diag V28 vans used a 16' mink body on a 17'6 chassis. I have a couple of resin association bodies but I really wouldn't need many 16' vans for my late 60's hydraulic world.... a cunning plan was hatched!
First shaving off the older style doors and fabricating some new planked ones, sanding back the integral bufferbeams and chamfering the end angle irons.
Then knocking up two assoc BR Vac brake chassis to suit. The buffers are an odd affair - 1'8", including rubber mounting blocks. I made the blocks form spare buffer backing plates, laminated and dressed back. The first set have fettled cast buffers from a chivers kit, but I'm not convinced. I'll have to order some plain assoc turned ones and use the unimat to turn away the body to suit.
On a bit of a roll, I tried to make the hinges using a GW rivet press. The rivets came out lovely but I couldn't get a strip cut off the sheet without a huge burr or curling - maybe the piercing saw would have helped, however I dug out an etch of wagon strapping and found enough strapping with the right 1mm spacing which will have to do. I had a play with soldering up some locking bars and handles too.
If anyone has a better photo or sketch of the buffers I'd love to see it!
Lyndhurstman
Western Thunderer
Hello Matt
Good to see your creative energies returning, and thanks for the interesting post about the evolutions occur in in and around Welly.
The airbrushing looks good to me, on my phone. It’s #yetanotherstormday here in Cornwall (this one’s angry because it didn’t warrant a Met Office name…)
Cheers
Jan
Good to see your creative energies returning, and thanks for the interesting post about the evolutions occur in in and around Welly.
The airbrushing looks good to me, on my phone. It’s #yetanotherstormday here in Cornwall (this one’s angry because it didn’t warrant a Met Office name…)
Cheers
Jan