4mm An EM Workbench: Mini-Signwriting (rough)

[AJC]

Before the Bank Holiday weekend claims me in earnest (conference paper calls...), here are a couple of updates from the paintbox. First, the Bedford QL which, having sprouted a trafficator and sundry minor details - fewer than I might usually bother with, but who can tell? - and a coat of paint, slapped on over white primer.





The 'Mickey Mouse ears' of camouflage were fun to do but could, I suppose, be neater and more precise. After a decade or so in the elements I reckon that the black, sprayed over khaki/green would have worn largely away so I'm relatively unconcerned. Despite this I shall use some of the kit's transfers for unit markings and so on; as modellers living in a world full of text and labels I sometimes wonder why we are so sparing with them, enamel adverts apart, in miniature form. One of the smaller jobs remaining for South Junction is to create and add more signage away from the railway.

The other side of the fence needs its materiel too and here, happily, is Canal Junction cabin, finished with a dose of weathering. I'll be back in Somerset mid-September to install it (and the Bedford).



Adam

 

[AJC]

The Bedford can now also considered to be ticked off the list.



A somewhat cruel enlargement -and yes, I do realise precisely how unlikely it is that the QL would have survived in wartime garb - down to unit labels - in a vehicle breakers but let's assume it has and is sat there merging with the undergrowth. If you recall the mock-up showing roughly how it will appear on the layout?



You can compare it to the completed vehicle:



Job done. Now, what's next?

Adam

 

[AJC]

A full range of bank holiday weekend activities. First, varnishing:


Coat two of three (or possibly 4?). I also took myself off to Bodiam and the Kent and East Sussex. More varnish, a Terrier and, owing to the failure of the roster steam loco, a class 14:



And a little modelling: an LMS phone box, communication with signalmen for the use of. The box is obviously plastic sheet, the pole a cocktail stick. I'm certain South Junction requires one for the goods loop but I'm not certain where it'll go precisely.



Most other railways seem to have used simple cupboard doors, the LMS? A sash arrangement! Fun to do, dimensions guestimated and no, it doesn't work...

Adam

 

[AJC]

Another small structure for South Junction, this time a petrol store for a lineside sawmill. This function is currently performed by a grounded van body (Ratio SR uneven plank van). As with most such 'modelerisms' this is fine in theory but unlikely in practice - a van new in the '40s shouldn't be decrepit on the lineside a decade later. On the lineside, perhaps, just, but not decrepit. Yes, there was a BR meat van, too at one point (but that's been replaced by an early GW van - this wants a new roof...).



This modest breezeblock building is based on a similar structure at Yandles sawmill in Martock, Somerset. I've hand-scribed the blocks (yes, really - it's a tiny building) onto 1.5mm plastic sheet. The roof will be corrugated sheet and perhaps I should add the vent bricks seen on the real thing:





Very nearly there...

Adam

 

[AJC]

And now with roof - AMBIS corrugated copper - added and two holes cut to represent the vent bricks. Yes, that's only on one (the viewing) side! A couple of pieces of 40 thou' will represent the bricks themselves and then it will be ready for paint.





Precious little ado about not an awful lot.

Adam

 

[john lewsey]

Some fabulous modeling Adam

 

[AJC]

Some fabulous modeling Adam

Thank you John, that's very kind.

Adam

 

[AJC]

I was in two minds about whether to leave the petrol store as the only new structure, but looking through my pictures of Yandle's of Martock, I came upon some of another essential component of any small industrial complex, the works toilet. Yandle's have several round their large Martock site which are now available to the public as the nature of the business has changed over the years. It's especially appropriate to use these as prototypes since the derrick crane at the centre of the model scene was inspired by the (much larger) version in Yandle's yard and South Junction lives in a shed in Martock parish. Besides, it's raining and I wanted something to do. Here's the real thing:



The fascia boards have seen better days and that won't be represented (neither will the somewhat ramshackle and recent modesty panels. As can be seen, this one is built into a wall and we need a free-standing version. Happily, I had the presence of mind to snap one of these, too.



This also shows the roofing material, an ugly squared off panel of pressed steel sheet. Originally, I reckon the covering would have been proper corrugated iron so that's what I'll be using. Before committing to plastic - because naturally I failed to take any dimensions - some extremely rough sketches were drawn to record my exercises in counting bricks.



The sketchiest of sketches these may be, but they record the essentials, including the brick bond. Note that the two real toilets are different. The one at the top is English bond, the lower, at least at the back, is stretcher bond. The only plastic sheet I have, of course, is Flemish bond, but never mind!

It does complicate the transference of measurements, slightly but the first stage, transferring the brick counts to brick sheet was fairly painless.



These were welded firmly to the structural walls of 60 thou' - I'll saw the apertures out in a day or two once it's set and then assembly, probably around a false roof/floor.



Finally, here's the scene at present (the Coopercraft 'AEC-ish' will have to go/be overgrown at some point, too; the base model looks like nothing on earth; ironic, considering that the Airfix AEC Matador has been available for a couple of decades more and is fundamentally accurate). The offending van body is just out of shot, illustrating the other problem; it's in the wrong place!



That'll do for the minute,

Adam

 

[AJC]

And assembled (ok, the sub roof is loose); it's a very simple building after all. The only relief is the cills to the windows and the door frame - the cosmetic door will be added later. One other thing I've done is to flatten the bricks back a little using a large file; the rounded nature of the vac' formed sheet is a function of the manufacturing process, I assume and eliminating it is important. Real bricks are generally flat!



Adam

 

[matto21]

I'm loving the petrol store - great structure modelling!

 

[AJC]

I'm loving the petrol store - great structure modelling!

Thanks Matt. Here's the near complete toilet.



The windows will be added after I've painted the brickwork and digested the latest MRJ. The door is separate since it will be painted green and the door frame cream - I'm not especially sure about the flush panelled door but such luxuries were occasionally perpetuated in the most unlikely situations. Like the petrol store, this has also had a tin roof added. All happily straightforward.

Adam

 

[Peter Insole]

Those are delightful buildings Adam!

I've been enjoying your blockwork and wriggly tin!

Don't worry about the door; it could well have been a second hand one, explaining the nice flush panels.

I hope you don't mind me asking this question though; but would an industrial building with such humble purpose be embellished with the luxury of two tone paintwork rather than a good old slap of "factory" green all over everything...?!

Pete.

 

[AJC]

Those are delightful buildings Adam!

I've been enjoying your blockwork and wriggly tin!

Don't worry about the door; it could well have been a second hand one, explaining the nice flush panels.

I hope you don't mind me asking this question though; but would an industrial building with such humble purpose be embellished with the luxury of two tone paintwork rather than a good old slap of "factory" green all over everything...?!

Pete.

Thanks Pete, the painting stage is the bit I'm really looking forward to, especially having seen your wee hut. The reason for the cream is that every other industrial building on the layout has exactly that 'allover green' treatment. A little contrast is no bad thing I think.

Adam

 

[AJC]

Here's where we've got to, with both sheds painted, but neither entirely complete. The toilet is obviously missing its windows so the roof is positioned only for show.



The petrol store is nearer completion since all it wants is a wash of thin paint and a touch of weathering, and a spot of rust here and there.



Finally, we have one of three relay cabinets, essential accompaniments to the now complete signal box. I'm quite pleased with the concrete legs, which are made from tow layers of 20 thou', one cut and shaped before being solvent-welded to another sheet and trimmed out when set. Much, much easier than fretting them out from 40 thou'!



Adam

 

[AJC]

The civil engineers are working for S&T and are making one heck of a mess. Before they arrived, all was quiet, even though a train seems to be due.



Such appearances may be misleading since not five minutes later:



A little later still, a chunk of plywood, some bits of mounting board to the good, some improvement may be discerned.





Holes and gaps filled with DAS which turns out to be somewhat premature; another couple of layers of board will be necessary. At close of play, however, some sense of the eventual scene is visible.



Still, a reasonable start.

Adam

 

[AJC]

Here we are on day two. S&T have declared themselves satisfied, the coal bunker has been located, and all are waiting on the civil's team to sort out the landscaping. There is a need for a bit more walling (and a path/some access steps down the bank) but that's down to dad...



Adam

 

[Lyndhurstman]

Smashing, Adam.

Who's in charge of the standard issue bobby's cat?

Cheers

Jan

 

[AJC]

Smashing, Adam.

Who's in charge of the standard issue bobby's cat?

Cheers

Jan

Ah, yes. Perhaps a note to the effect that he's 'Gone Mousing' would do for the minute?

Adam

 

[AJC]

Having played around with things that are meant to stand still. by way of a change I've made a start (oh dear, another one) on something new, and complicated, on wheels. Complicated for several reasons: it's got six wheels, I'm using bits that were never intended to go together and it replicates a notoriously varied and complex class of vehicles.

The subject? A GW dia. O56 milk tank, this one in fact, roller bearings and all: Britain's railway wagons | W3076

The ingredients?

• A LIMA milk tank which, to be fair to LIMA has several good things going for it, notably the size and details of the tank and some nice springs with a reasonable attempt at the brake gear, considering what was typical at the time. Despite this, I'm just going to use the tank, fittings (perhaps the springs) and perhaps supports. It was also very cheap.
• A Rumney Models chassis and detailing etch. This was intended to supplement the kit from David Geen so doesn't include a few of the bits David had done but which @jjnewitt would usually add - solebars, for example, though the signs are that if Justin gets around to releasing the SR milk tank shown here these bits will - but also some of the brake arms. These were less cheap(!) but very good.

I think I've broken the back of the major alterations required to the chassis etch and the current state of play can be seen below.



The basic chassis folds up very easily in the manner of all Justin's bits and I didn't deviate from the instructions here barring adding a few bits of brass angle to retain the springs; this works better for me since I can't abide maintaining things once I've built them... The backing plates for the axleboxes are a separate etch, also available from Justin, while the solebars and headstocks (David Geen provides these in whitemetal so they're not included here) are made from a combination of 3mm x 1.5mm angle and some scrap etch soldered under the half-etched platework. I did it this way because the real thing has 10" solebars - the scrap etch makes up the top flange on the solebars and the bottom flange on the headstocks.



This angle shows a bit more of the detail - and reminds you all that I haven't a hope in Hades of joining the invisible solder gang any time soon - and yet more should be visible from underneath:



For reference, I have since snipped the centre section of the brake linkage away. This is all but invisible and when in place, prevents the installation of wheels! While some of the cranks for the linkages and brake levers are included, most of this detail is what David Geen will sell you. Happily, Justin's instructions have drawings which, while intended to show what goes where, also allow scaling of the bits that are missing: swing links outside the axles, where the linkages go, that sort of thing. This ensured that I could manufacture the remaining bits and raid a Masokits coach brake detailing etch for the rest.

Having built quite a few of Justin's chassis now, I have a pretty good idea of how he uses key bits of the brake assemblies to hang the tricky bits off and while the first set of swing links was a pain, the second were basically constructed using the linkages as a scaffold and the whole thing, while extremely fiddly is also quite robust. That said, I'll still be relieved when I've got the brake levers on and can concentrate on the tank restraining strap fittings. I've also thought about getting the thing round corners, but more of that anon.

Adam

 

[AJC]

The worst (I hope - safety loops still to add) of the brake gear is now done on the milk tank. This close-up exposes the excessive amount of solder employed but it's done now...



Compare this to the LIMA offering:



Hmm. Underneath, matters aren't that much better, but as an impression, for its day, it's not as bad as you might expect.



As with all models of 6-wheeled vehicles, there is the sordid matter of making the beasts run round corners (rather than curves) to consider. I've opted for a sliding centre axle in this instance.



The one shown is actually intended for an LMS 'Stove R', but the principle is the same: I've used 2mm (nominal - actual 1.96mm) OD, 1mm bore, brass tube to replace the supplied pinpoint axle. This will slide on a 1mm diameter pinpoint axle from Exactoscale. Because the OD of the tube is slightly less than that of the original axle, and thus the bore of the wheel, I soldered a pair of 1/8" to 2mm top hat bushes on this tube to set the back to back (this is EM, so that's 16.5mm). The wheels were then epoxied in place, an advantage of using the bushes is a significant increase in the surface area for the adhesive to hold. Note that I have cut the tube slightly over length to avoid the face of the wheel rubbing on the back of the W iron and also remembered to drill a hole in the tube to admit lubrication if necessary. Here's hoping it works!

Adam