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Owen · Joined: 14 Apr 2007 Posts: 229 Location: Diss, Norfolk

Good news today! I have finally managed to cut what I hope will be the last bit of wood Exclamation

I haven't started building the last few modules yet, because I've been kayaking all day Embarassed

It's about time that I got my rear end in gear, because I can't b***** wait to get my Live Steam stuff going in a tailchaser. I'm aiming to get the full circuit done by Tuesday.

I've done a little bit of modelling this evening. I've tidied up the Branchline and 009 River Bridges. The 009 Bridge, closer to the camera was from the Knoghtwing N Gauge Plate Girder Bridge Kit which appears to be an ex-Heljian Kit. The original structure was around 20cm in length, but using my dremmel, I have modified it so that instead of having stone supports, it has retaining walls, is sorter and the detail bumps on the top are bevelled towards the trackbed as they looked a little odd. The 00 Branchline kit is a Wills one that has been in my toolbox for around 5 years, from an old 6'x4' Project that never materialised.

I have also been working on tunnel mouths over the last few days. I bought a Jarvis Single Track Tunnel Mouth from Auto-Loco in Sherringham whilst I was on the NNR a few days ago, thinking it was just the thing. Now back home, I'm pretty dissapointed with it. It is a Resin Structure that is thick. It is warped so it bends slightly on the horizontal. The stonework looks a little odd too and even after some chopping down of it, It still looks pants. If anyone wants it, they can just so long as you pay for postage. It has some unwarped retaining walls (Top Mouth in picture).

I have now scratchbuilt a new one for 00, which seems to be an improvement in my eyes. It is made from Plasticard and an old sheet of Metcalfe embosed stone. I have also modified one of the N Gauge/009 Single Mouths so when it attaches to it, it doesn't look odd. To my eyes, it looks OK (parts of it still need weathering etc), but does it look good to you?

For your enjoyment, I've also got three pictures of the newly cleaned up J94. You might be able to see a few bits of the old vile purple weathering powder in the photo's. The weathering isn't complete so I'll get these out before I call it finished.

Thanks for peeping!
Owen
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Owen · Joined: 14 Apr 2007 Posts: 229 Location: Diss, Norfolk

Due to a power cut that has been on since dawn this morning (typical for Bank Holidays eh!), I have now completely finished all major baseboards, and now have enough infrastructure in place to complete a loop. Trouble was, with a power cut I had no way of charging power packs for the drill, so I was lucky that they were charged last night! Very Happy

Last night I cracked on with the clearence holes, using a Pillar Drill to make sure they were square. This morning I assembled the last two modules, and these were bolted into position.

Here are a couple of shots showing progress evolve over the course of the day:

Off cuts of Sundeala and 2x1 supports were again used to meet the viaduct. I've put an order into Screwfix for a couple of cans of PU Expanding Foam, and have boarded off the descent to the branchline to control the foam when it expands. The branchline trackbed should descend at a reasonable rate. It'll probably go down at around 10cm per Metre which is similar to the rate of climb on the Hornby Track Supports.

I've also been testing the fit of the Tunnel Mouths for the two branchlines. This picture is reassuring for me as it shows I have got something right!

I shall now lay the last bit of track, before the inaugural first run round the layout. Dwight D Eisenhower will do the honours for Live Steam, and The Flying Scotsman, the Grandad of my collection will be first for DC. The loop would be in place sooner if it had been up to me, but with no power my Dremmel wouldn't work of course and my Razor Saw isn't very sharp and needs a new blade.

I've come a long way since this, back in April!

Owen
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Bramleyman · Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 481 Location: Norfolk

I have finally made a start on mine and must get some pictures as I go. So far, I got the baseboard 'framed' as such because it will be in 'N gauge' and based on a ficticious place in East Anglia around the 1960's if I can get the right loco's and rolling stock. I have to do 'N' as I only have a very small space to work in and thet is approximately 3'6" x 2'. Sorry, but I don't do metric and regardless of EU ruling.
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Please help us to 'Raise a Wagon Load of Cash' and so we can get the lease, then start running. See the main website www.bramleyline.org.uk for further details.

Owen · Joined: 14 Apr 2007 Posts: 229 Location: Diss, Norfolk

Imperial Measurments are much easier to work with in Model Railways - partly because of scale (4mm to the foot) and because 2' is a good baseboard width.

I have a couple of video's, uloaded onto Youtube. You can see them here. The third is of Broad Sidlinch, the layout at Holt.

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=OringusIV
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Owen · Joined: 14 Apr 2007 Posts: 229 Location: Diss, Norfolk

Time for an update on how things are going.

Lots of 'Hmm's and Ahhh's' are pretuding from my modelling room at the moment, regarding the positioning of the MPD/Yard. I've figured out that to have the entry road coming in from the curved point on the viaduct, the curve would have to be even tighter than a radius 1 setrack curve, and this would mean large loco's, which I ideally want to live in the MPD Engine shed would not be able to get in without derailment or damage. I've changed the entry position now, and this is how it loooks:

I also took apart an old Flying Scotsman model that I've had lying around for a while. This was one of those ones you could get for two quid, intended to entice you into buying a series of models at a higher price. The Loco body/boiler looks like it might have a use for a 009 locomotive perhaps, the wheels can be repainted and rusted up for yard fodder and the base has now become a nice base for my old Flying Scotsman that is about to die if I try and use it much more.

This is a picture of some of the Hardboard stuff I've done. There are now sides that extend all the way round the layout, ensuring no stock can fall off! The ones around the station area will also act as bases for walling to be afixed to. I have decided that I will try and incorporate a half-relief street scene along the top, although this may/may not work. I'll have to see how it goes.

Owen
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Bramleyman · Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 481 Location: Norfolk

Since my posting about starting my layout, I haven't touched it very much and that's because I tend to be busy doing other things too much including coming on my computer a lot of late. I must have a break and get something done now I have got the underlay and PVA to glue it down, then perhaps, my Partner can get on the comp a bit more? Laughing

Seriously, I MUST get on with the layout and come on here later at night.
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Please help us to 'Raise a Wagon Load of Cash' and so we can get the lease, then start running. See the main website www.bramleyline.org.uk for further details.

Owen · Joined: 14 Apr 2007 Posts: 229 Location: Diss, Norfolk

Please post some pictures of your layout/trackplan Brian, I'd be interested to see it. Are you building a space saving end to end or a lavish tail chaser?
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Bramleyman · Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 481 Location: Norfolk

Owen · Joined: 14 Apr 2007 Posts: 229 Location: Diss, Norfolk

I look forward to seeing it Very Happy

Here is my round robin update:

My Nice new 9F arrived safe and sound - lovely loco and it is a tender drive Shocked

But the detail is brilliant and runs like a dream Cool

Lots of major polyfilla work this evening too. I emptied out an open carton of Powder into an old large stork marge tub, which was about three quarters of the packet. I then added the left overs of some Dark Brown clothes dye that I had left over from when I made some lichen last year. Funny thing is, it turned out green Confused

It now meets up to the river bridge retaining walls well:

The slope for the 009 part has also been remodelled. I bought some more PU Expanding Foam through Screwfix and have used it here:

The slope looks pretty good now (well it would, I made it!)

The two tunnel mouths have also been glued into place. I was thinking of building a superstructure over the top of the tunnel, in a suitable shape from srips of card, then covering it in Plaster Bandage and then lifting it up, lining it with Brick Paper then gluing it in place. A shoddy description, but you'll see.

Owen
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Owen · Joined: 14 Apr 2007 Posts: 229 Location: Diss, Norfolk

It's been a while since my last update.

I haven't had much time for modelling lately, as I've been very busy. A combination of lots of school work, and taking my brother to Uni in Wales and my Birthday last weekend hasn't given me much time to do much on the layout.

One of the main reasons why progress has been slow is because of some dodgey Polyfilla plaster. I thought I'd be clever, and mix some brown clothes dye in with the plaster mix so the plaster would come ready coloured and wouldn't need painting.

To begin with things looked promising but when I sealed it in with PVA things went wrong. The PVA layer went almost black and then small mould like dots appeared on the surface. I found that the PVA had not applied properly and was only like a thin skin. However, underneath the plaster had started to crumble badly. Another coat of PVA was applied, but it didn't work the second time around so it was pulled up.

Plain white Polyfilla was then applied onto the remains of the old surface and so far things look good.

The approach to the incline on the branchline has also been started. The embankment was made using PU Expanding foam again, then cut to size and Polyfilla applied, learning from the previous cock-up!

This picture gives an approximate feel of where the incline goes:

Work on the Tunnel has also started. It is very rough at the moment and needs a lot of work doing inside. Trains run through nicely though, which is a promising start.

I've also been looking into layout lighting. I've got a very nice Levington Light to experiment with. I have to say, I am very impressed.

There are also two new additions to the fleet from today. Firstly is the new Hornby Princess "Queen Maud", which I was given for my Birthday. It is a very nice loco but still needs a bit of a running in.

The second is one I bought today, along with three Mk.I Blood and Custard Coaches at the Bressinham Steam Museum Model Railway Day. It's a Bachmann 5MT. It is a very nice model with plenty of scope to snap things off!

I intended to get my hands on a Bachmann 108 DMU and a V2 today, but no traders had them so I ended up giving up and went for the 5MT. My plan now is the save up for the two car 108 DMU.

Owen

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