Spike's folding table - Catching a Toad

A diversion to the Colliery - Sentinel 0-4-0
  • Spike

    Western Thunderer
    A week off work and not feeling the 4MT lead to the starting of a birthday present - A Judith Edge Sentinel 0-4-0 Chain Drive. As said previously I am building a colliery extension to my Forest of Dean Layout.

    7mm - Scruft's Junction:- a goods shed from foamboard, depron and corrugated card

    Whilst the layout will predominantly by run by steam I have a liking for Diesels mainly class 37's, therefore a suitable colliery loco was required and I felt this suited the job perfectly.

    First up is the outside frames and footplate, I have left the ends off at the moment, I am trying to work out a method working lights for the loco. The kit comes with etched lights built into the buffer beam, my plan is for 3D printed light units and then cut off the etched version. At that point I can then attach the ends.
    IMG_2963.JPG

    One part I was looking forward to building was the engine casing, I just like the look of the front of the loco with the grills.
    The grill is made up of three layers. I have drilled two holes in the headlights, to add working lights further along in the build.
    IMG_2966.JPG

    IMG_2967.JPG

    I was thinking about how the model would be painted especially the engine casing once the sides were attached. The kit makes provision for this with both the engine casing and rear fuel tank removable, the kit provides bolts for the engine casing but suggests soldering the fuel tank to the footplate. I have decided to make both of them removable.

    IMG_2968.JPG

    I have attached both sides, cab rear and made up the fuel tank which is not screwed down in the below photo.
    IMG_2970.JPG

    Next up will be the motor and DDC gear. I want to get this worked out before progressing, the need to run lighting wires to the front and back as well as fit in a keep alive and speaker might case some headaches.

    Peter
     
    Last edited:
    Oil Tanks for Fort William
  • Spike

    Western Thunderer
    My interest in the West Highland line and Oil tanks lead to the idea of creating a 7mm model of the oil terminal at Mallaig Junction. For that I would need a number of oil tanks, I originally had 3 wagons and bought a further 5 from Just Like the Real Thing now MM1 Models. My dad has posted pictures of the first one on his tread a number of years ago and two others are nearly finished. This winter I decided it was time to build the remaining 5 wagons.

    As my dad did with the first wagon the tank is to be made removable to aid with painting. This results in needing to move fixings which are in the bottom of the tank onto the underframe. The picture below shows plasticard included to anchor the brake shaft.
    IMG_3084.JPGIMG_3085.JPG

    The second image shows the view from the top showing the plasticard glued in and the key for the glue.
    IMG_3090.JPG

    Started to add the brake fittings, the castings come with whitemetal pipework. I have replaced all of the pipework with brass wire for additional strength visible in a further image. The long brake shaft is not glued in, it is present to hold the whitemetal parts in the right place whilst the glue drys.
    IMG_E3113.JPG
    Above you can see the replacement wire, fitting these castings is not the easiest. In the instructions suggest a different order but having followed that during building the earlier wagons found it then difficult to fit the pipework. The first of the W irons have also been fitted. I modified them be drilling two holes to act as keys for the glue but also cut a section out as when detailing the solebars there is a casting that has spigots that go through the solebar and hit the W iron, therefore the need for the cutout.

    This is how far I have got so far, and has been repeated across all 5 of the wagons. Next up is the cleaning up the axleboxes and brakeshoes.

    Regards
    Peter
     
    Last edited:
    Return of the Sentinel
  • Spike

    Western Thunderer
    Nearly a year and a half has passed since the Sentinel featured on the folding table. In the background I have been working away on the loco. The problem area for me was working out what to do with the electrics to keep all the wiring hidden. I finally have settled on how to control all the lights which results in a lot of cables running down the inside of the chassis.

    There are two micro bore tubes soldered to the chassis and about 5 wires run down each tube. There is not alot of room within the bonnet once the decoder and motor are installed. As such the keep alive will be inside the cab along with the connections for all the lighting. I have designed cab fittings to concel the items.

    There are still 4 sets of LED's to be installed which will not happen till the loco has been painted.

    IMG_3620.JPEG

    The buffer beams were attached about a year ago but never got round to posting about the progress. Better late then never.
    Whilst not visible in the below picture I have used MOK self contained buffers, otherwise convential buffers would have resulted in the spring being visible around the steps.

    IMG_3120.jpeg

    One part of the kit that I wanted to upgrade was the sandboxes. The kit calls for the plate with the two holes to be pushed back at an angle with wire forming a handle. Research showed something different, and a bit of time with CAD later and four new sandboxes with lids were produced to go behind the hole in the side once that plate had been removed.

    IMG_3616.JPEG

    Below is the 3D prints, the one on the left has had the wire installed to form the handle.
    IMG_3618.JPEG

    Final photo shows the sandbox placed behind the hole in the side, much better! Just the checker plate to be added in the half etch.

    IMG_3619.JPEG

    Next up is sorting the side lights and finishing the wiring.

    Regards
    Peter
     
    A Club O Gauge Layout
  • Spike

    Western Thunderer
    My local railway club has restarted the O guage layout about 10 years after I had built three of the seven baseboards. They have been in storage and are in really good condition. Over the past two months myself and my dad have been progressing the fourth board. Some of the parts were cut around 10 years ago and have been living in the garage waiting for their use.

    The plan for the layout was to have a split level design with the top level running along arches with a goods yard at the front. Some of the parts are
    shown below, it is a giant jigsaw puzzle.

    012.JPG



    016.JPG
    The piece above is the goods yard top and then a road tunnel that goes under the arches.

    IMG_6204.JPG
    IMG_6206.JPG

    At this point the internal structure is glued in and front panel has been added. The sides are to be added next.

    IMG_6208.JPG

    Went a bit over the top with clamps. Once the glue is dry the parts are pinned together.

    The Basingstoke Club who are building the O gauge layout are having an open day on the 3rd September where the plans for the O gauge layout will be on show and the boards built to date will be on display. We are hoping to get the other boards built by the end of October so trackwork can commence.

    Regards
    Peter
     
    GWR AA19 Toad
  • Spike

    Western Thunderer
    Over the past year I have been working away at a Parkside kit of a GWR AA19 Brake Van.

    I decided to build it pretty much as per the kit but with a couple of upgrades:
    1. Replacing the plastic handbrake column and handle with a cast brass version.
    2. Suspension units from Exactoscale.

    You can see the Exactoscle units below, I had to reduce the height on the internal chassis beams to accomodate the units. I have also got rid of the Parkside breakshoes and hangers and used Slaters instead. I managed to break one of the parkside yokes hence the single brass version.
    IMG_6573.JPG

    The next change I made was to the Handbrake column. I think I used a CPL version instead on which you can see the teeth and latch. Overall a much better representation.
    IMG_6574.JPG

    I had trouble with the handrail brackets provided in the kit. I ended up ditching them and my Dad mentioned there was an article in MRJ about the brackets being made out of metal. Quick trip up to the library and volume in hand back to the shed to start creating the brackets. It took me a day to file and drill the holes in all of them, a couple of cut fingers but worth the effort as once attached to the model it really improved the appearance.
    IMG_6572.JPG

    First set of brackets and handrails fitted. I have corrected the wonky bit on the left hand side.


    IMG_6570.JPG

    Today I have been adding the footboards, the top step has been filled down in the middle to represent the guard climbing in and out of the van and wearing away the timber. I have only placed the roof on at the moment - glazing still to be added. I am leaving the extra support on the veranda end till the end.

    IMG_6607.JPG

    Overall I am pleased with the Brake Van, I have a soft spot for Brake Vans and whilst this was not exactly the right period for me I enjoyed building it and will still find a home on the layout.

    Peter
     
    Last edited:
    Top