Tales from The Room of Doom. Dipping a toe in various bucolic backwaters.

[oldravendale]

So sorry to hear about Mick Bonwick. A very understated and helpful chap.

Brian

 

[simond]

I think you meant frictional. It certainly gave much grief.

well, no, I’ll stand by fractional, the kit was half-assed…

 

[Phil O]

Only just caught up with your latest exploits, oh Ovine one and I like the fact that the ends curve away from each other, rather than in your first photo the rear line appeared to be straight or very nearly so. Gentle curves seem to make less a little more. I hope that it progresses to your satisfaction and the locos perform to perfection.

Is the Mike Bonwick the weathering guru for Pendon and Missenden? If it is what a shame that the hobby has lost such talent.

 

[Pencarrow]

Is the Mike Bonwick the weathering guru for Pendon and Missenden? If it is what a shame that the hobby has lost such talent.

Unfortunately the very same.

 

[Phil O]

Thanks Chris.

 

[NHY 581]

Morning all.

Progress is being made with Project X.

A piece of 9mm MDF has been glued and screwed to the top face of the LACK table top. This now gives a track level some 9mm above water level. DAS will form the ground cover as per Bleat Wharf and Sheep Dip. This will be level with the top of the sleepers so anothe 2/3mm on top again.



Some the buildings will also be raised up slightly to provide a bit of additional interest.

Another building will be added to the mix though its position is yet to be finalised. This is a Bachmann grotty hut from their Pendon range. Obviously there will be further distressing inflicted upon it.






Next stage is track laying and wiring.




Rob.

 

[Yorkshire Dave]

Being set in East Anglia at least you don't have to build up the scenery very high .

I envisage something like this from the Mid Suffolk Light Railway.

 

[NHY 581]

By way of a short update, a loco has turned a wheel around Project X.

All areas accessible.

Rob.

 

[Pencarrow]

Not so sure about it being Project X. Looks more like Project N to me:



Or perhaps Project Z:?



Are you in actual fact Zorro?

 

[NHY 581]

Not so sure about it being Project X. Looks more like Project N to me:

View attachment 147406

Or perhaps Project Z:?

View attachment 147407

Are you in actual fact Zorro?

View attachment 147408

Brilliant !

 

[NHY 581]

Morning all.

Progress is being maintained.

Although the photos won't look that diffierent, the track is now down and temporary wiring was attached and tested. All is good and a couple of little challenges await when operating.



Next up will be installing proper wiring and then adding the actual ground cover using a layer of DAS to bring it up to the level of the tops of the sleeper. At the same time, I will imprint the buildings in their final positions . Doing this whilst the DAS is wet will eliminate the dreaded gap at the base of the buildings.





Then........In order ( ish )

Confirm positions of doors/ drains/downpipes for scribing of any flag stones/drains/manholes etc.



Paint track/ground/self/ George. Clean/test/play.



Weather track and varnish.



Cean/test/play.



Ballast.



Clean/test/play.



Ground surface. Various.



Clean/test/play.



Water .

Static grass first fix.



Clean/test/play



Static grass 2nd fix.



Clean/test play



Other scenery, flowers, shrubs, weedy track, palm trees etc.



Clean/test/play.



Add buildings.



Test/play.



Backscene/lights



Test/play.



In between the above detail and weather some locos and stock whilst testing and playing.







Exhibit, hand over controls to CK and go for cup of tea.



Simples.





Rob.

 

[Pencarrow]

Great plan Sheepy.

Now then. I know that the MK1 digital format is preferred for operating turnouts but...

... I notice that the turnout at the right rear is behind buildings and is likely to be the most awkward to locate digitally. Have you considered wire in tube just for this one?

 

[NHY 581]

Great plan Sheepy.

Now then. I know that the MK1 digital format is preferred for operating turnouts but...

... I notice that the turnout at the right rear is behind buildings and is likely to be the most awkward to locate digitally. Have you considered wire in tube just for this one?

Morning Pencarrot.

I did consider something along those lines but access can be gained by poking one's digit through the 'hole to everywhere else' via the fiddly yard.

If..........if I can recall where the rest of my caboose industries ground throws are hiding, I will try them. But it's not looking good and the only place one can source them from is the good old U.S of A. I've looked.

For the sake of the three levers I need, it's a bit of a luxury item.

SB

 

[NHY 581]

A few more posed images.....

 

[simond]

Gem used to do a neat little cast whitemetal lever frame with stamped brass levers, ideal for W-I-T point operation, they were modular, you could simply join more on the end. There are a couple on eBay at the moment, but silly money.

I’m surprised they’re not still available from some enterprising trader. I guess they’d be easy enough to 3D print.

 

[Pencarrow]

Gem used to do a neat little cast whitemetal lever frame with stamped brass levers, ideal for W-I-T point operation, they were modular, you could simply join more on the end. There are a couple on eBay at the moment, but silly money.

I’m surprised they’re not still available from some enterprising trader. I guess they’d be easy enough to 3D print.

I think for Zorro Sheep's keep it simple principles, that he wouldn't actually need a lever - just a vertical bend in the end of the wire. Keeping the Peco springing means you wouldn't need the positive latching from a lever. On the same KISS principles, I was only suggesting WiT for the one turnout.

 

[simond]

The downside of the “bent end on the wire” approach is that it never “sits” nicely, and if you don’t double it over, it presents a spike on which to stab yourself. I had a pal who used bicycle spokes as push/pull rods, and I recall an article (RM, 1953 or thereabouts) where a chap had made turned knobs like organstops for the same purpose.
All very simple, pushmepullyou affairs.
The old GEM lever frames were quite ideal, IMO.
I see Mercontrol do a similar (but not “stackable”) lever MerControl

Edit

just went mooching, they are still available, if not cheap…

1008: 4-way Lever Frame - Wizard Models Limited

 

[Pencarrow]

The downside of the “bent end on the wire” approach is that it never “sits” nicely, and if you don’t double it over, it presents a spike on which to stab yourself. I had a pal who used bicycle spokes as push/pull rods, and I recall an article (RM, 1953 or thereabouts) where a chap had made turned knobs like organstops for the same purpose.
All very simple, pushmepullyou affairs.
The old GEM lever frames were quite ideal, IMO.
I see Mercontrol do a similar (but not “stackable”) lever MerControl

Edit

just went mooching, they are still available, if not cheap…

1008: 4-way Lever Frame - Wizard Models Limited

£25!

 

[NHY 581]

Gem used to do a neat little cast whitemetal lever frame with stamped brass levers, ideal for W-I-T point operation, they were modular, you could simply join more on the end. There are a couple on eBay at the moment, but silly money.

I’m surprised they’re not still available from some enterprising trader. I guess they’d be easy enough to 3D print.

£25!

Morning Simon,

I looked at the GEM point levers. They're too big which is a pity as I know of a source local to me for £5.95 each. I only need four so it is cost efffective.

I need something which is small enough to sit alongside each point, hence the ground throws.

I mocked up some wire in tube jobs early doors on this project but decided against it due to the expanse of water at the front of the layout. Its not practical to put them into the main body of the baseboard due to it's construction.


Rob

 

[NHY 581]

Well, I found three of the four point levers that I thought I had..........

And I have tried some tree stuff...