Herb Garden
Western Thunderer
Thanks! That's very kind of you to say so
The Chronicles of Canary Sidings - the Tale of an Untidy Workbench
- Thread starter Herb Garden
- Start date
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- 4mm scale em gauge ger pre-grouping
paulc
Western Thunderer
Not sure if you resolved this but you could use 5thou plasticard which i have used for the same purpose .
Herb Garden
Western Thunderer
Yes I did resolve that issue a while back. Good suggestion though
Herb Garden
Western Thunderer
So we have come to the end of winter and spring is very much here. Also we have come to the end of the winter project which was unplanned but now a now have a small fleet of finished locomotives.
Finally finished and weathered is #151
So the weathering and details follow the same as the previous locomotives. The headcode is the GERs single line code that was used on the Tolesbury, Thaxted, and Stoke Ferry lines. Which as there was no GER headcode for the MSLR as it was independent it seemed appropriate to have the red disk below the chimney.
Now @Liver & Fry requested a line up of the finished fleet.....
And now it's on with building a layout from these to run on....
Finally finished and weathered is #151
So the weathering and details follow the same as the previous locomotives. The headcode is the GERs single line code that was used on the Tolesbury, Thaxted, and Stoke Ferry lines. Which as there was no GER headcode for the MSLR as it was independent it seemed appropriate to have the red disk below the chimney.
Now @Liver & Fry requested a line up of the finished fleet.....
And now it's on with building a layout from these to run on....
2024.08 - Skeetsmere - tracklaying
Herb Garden
Western Thunderer
So the York show last weekend was fantastic. It was good to catch up with so many acquaintances.... And look at some fantastic layouts.
The highlight of the show for me was the chance to see Terice once more Iain Rice's masterpiece that has inspired me so much in my modeling.
Inspiration has encouraged me to get on with a very boring job on the layout this week
So yes it's a pile of track. I've spent the week checking, adjusting and fettling each turnout and adding the dropper wires. A thankless and boring task but we are finally ready to lay track
The highlight of the show for me was the chance to see Terice once more Iain Rice's masterpiece that has inspired me so much in my modeling.
Inspiration has encouraged me to get on with a very boring job on the layout this week
So yes it's a pile of track. I've spent the week checking, adjusting and fettling each turnout and adding the dropper wires. A thankless and boring task but we are finally ready to lay track
Herb Garden
Western Thunderer
Next step is the track bed and land form
I've printed a second copy of the tack plan and mounted this on lining paper to give the full formation not just the P&C work
The plan is to lay this on 5mm foam board to give a base and provide depth for wiring, point actuators and coupling magnets. I've now cut this out for one board
There will be some 25mm polystyrene between the foamboard and plywood eventually to give the landform. East Anglia may be flat but it ain't that flat
I've printed a second copy of the tack plan and mounted this on lining paper to give the full formation not just the P&C work
The plan is to lay this on 5mm foam board to give a base and provide depth for wiring, point actuators and coupling magnets. I've now cut this out for one board
There will be some 25mm polystyrene between the foamboard and plywood eventually to give the landform. East Anglia may be flat but it ain't that flat
Herb Garden
Western Thunderer
That's an interesting thought.... I certainly might consider that.... One interesting feature of the baseboards that you might just be able to see in the above photo is that they are not solid just nearly a skeleton which has pushed the design of wiring and point actuation in an interesting direction.... Watch this space
Herb Garden
Western Thunderer
So a bit more progress on the trackbed front
You can now start to see the make up of the land form. The material under the foam board is just cheap polystyrene from Wickes.... Yes I know theres potential for better materials out there but it works for me.
I'm now starting to plan the routes for the electrical and point control wiring back to the baseboard control box, seen here on top of the landform but will be mounted under the base board eventually
You can now start to see the make up of the land form. The material under the foam board is just cheap polystyrene from Wickes.... Yes I know theres potential for better materials out there but it works for me.
I'm now starting to plan the routes for the electrical and point control wiring back to the baseboard control box, seen here on top of the landform but will be mounted under the base board eventually
Herb Garden
Western Thunderer
So the first of the landforms has now been glued together and you can start to see the layout coming together
Not glued into the frame as yet but it fits well I think
Couldn't resist posing 151 and a couple of wagons just to get the scale of the thing
One thing that strikes me about models is that when out of context or looked down upon they can look very small but when framed and at eye level they start to look more the right size
And here we are looking from the end of the coal yard to where the loco shed will be with 151 in the platform
You might have to use your imagination for a bit...
Not glued into the frame as yet but it fits well I think
Couldn't resist posing 151 and a couple of wagons just to get the scale of the thing
One thing that strikes me about models is that when out of context or looked down upon they can look very small but when framed and at eye level they start to look more the right size
And here we are looking from the end of the coal yard to where the loco shed will be with 151 in the platform
You might have to use your imagination for a bit...
Herb Garden
Western Thunderer
So track laying has started in earnest.
Starting with the paintwork the turnouts are getting glued down and as I go I'm filling in the gaps.
To fill those gaps I using a real mix of track construction leftovers that I have. EMGS flexi track, ply sleepers and plastic chairs and bits of copper clad. Basically anything I have to hand. All of it will get buried under the ash ballast in any case.
The other thing to get buried is the point control wires which I'm laying in at this stage. All which lead back to....
A great hole under the platform where the actuators will be easily accessible for maintenance
Lot more to do down. The far end in that department.... In theory a level crossing and some cottages to fit in here but it's feeling a bit tight at this end... Might have to tweak the design a little in due course....
Starting with the paintwork the turnouts are getting glued down and as I go I'm filling in the gaps.
To fill those gaps I using a real mix of track construction leftovers that I have. EMGS flexi track, ply sleepers and plastic chairs and bits of copper clad. Basically anything I have to hand. All of it will get buried under the ash ballast in any case.
The other thing to get buried is the point control wires which I'm laying in at this stage. All which lead back to....
A great hole under the platform where the actuators will be easily accessible for maintenance
Lot more to do down. The far end in that department.... In theory a level crossing and some cottages to fit in here but it's feeling a bit tight at this end... Might have to tweak the design a little in due course....
2024.09 - GER B32 class #253
Herb Garden
Western Thunderer
Oh no not another buckjumper!
So this little project has been going on in the background since #151 was competed. With all the goings on on the layout the workbench wasn't being used to I took the opportunity to have a slow project going on in the background.
Back at Christmas I had assumed wrongly that I would be able to run the layout with one fitted and one unfitted tank loco but finalising the time table had meant that I've realised it is best run with two fitted locomotives. Unfortunately 407 doesn't fit that requirement. But I was always in the grand plan intended for that loco to work the goods station at Norwich Whitefriars when I get round to building that section of the system.
So we needed another fitted tank loco for October.... Alongside a working layout.... I could wait for the accurascale offering but given the delay to those it's a bit of a risk so I settled on building another buckjumper. Much to my delight!
The subject wasn't hard to decide upon. The GER B32 class were the second batch of small buckjumpers following a few years later after their earlier E22 siblings (#151 of earlier posts is of this early batch) although the LNER called them all J65 the B32s were heavier due to an increased water capacity 650gallons rather the the earlier 600. But interestingly this was done by lowering the tank height at the same time to give better visibility to the driver. And giving a visual difference between the two batches.
#253 was out shopped from Stratford in April 1893 and for most of her early life was based in and around Ipswich during that time she was placed on loan at least once to the Mid Suffolk Light Railway to cover in one of thier many motive power shortages. The photo shows her on the Eye branch. One of her other haunts. She ended her days at Yarmouth beach and was condemned in 1949 after over 30 years service. Also as you can see from the photo she has mamy unusual details. Tapered buffers, safety valves on the boiler barrel and the vent in the cab front. All things that will distinguish her from sister 151.
The kit is the same as used on 151. The old Riceworks etchings now supplied by London Road Models. Building a kit for the second time is like wandering down a familiar path. You know much better where all the lumps and bumps are and can plan accordingly.
However I'm not quite building 253 the same way. It's 3 years since I built 151 and I've moved on somewhat. Use of more refined techniques and the RSU is now playing a big part in construction, a tool I didn't have a few years ago.
The other key change is I've decided to experiment with a different form of flexichas compensation. 151, 407 & 510 all featured a fixed rear axel with a rocking beam supporting the front two. On the tender loco running was fine but on the tank locos the fixed rear axel seems to find every bump in the trackwork and with weight in the tanks both wobble a wee bit. So on 253 I'm trying using a pair of split beams to support the two rear axles and a single rocking front axle. Which means that we maintain 3 point suspension but have all axles moving. It might make no difference but it's worth a try
So that's progress to date. Back to track laying
So this little project has been going on in the background since #151 was competed. With all the goings on on the layout the workbench wasn't being used to I took the opportunity to have a slow project going on in the background.
Back at Christmas I had assumed wrongly that I would be able to run the layout with one fitted and one unfitted tank loco but finalising the time table had meant that I've realised it is best run with two fitted locomotives. Unfortunately 407 doesn't fit that requirement. But I was always in the grand plan intended for that loco to work the goods station at Norwich Whitefriars when I get round to building that section of the system.
So we needed another fitted tank loco for October.... Alongside a working layout.... I could wait for the accurascale offering but given the delay to those it's a bit of a risk so I settled on building another buckjumper. Much to my delight!
The subject wasn't hard to decide upon. The GER B32 class were the second batch of small buckjumpers following a few years later after their earlier E22 siblings (#151 of earlier posts is of this early batch) although the LNER called them all J65 the B32s were heavier due to an increased water capacity 650gallons rather the the earlier 600. But interestingly this was done by lowering the tank height at the same time to give better visibility to the driver. And giving a visual difference between the two batches.
#253 was out shopped from Stratford in April 1893 and for most of her early life was based in and around Ipswich during that time she was placed on loan at least once to the Mid Suffolk Light Railway to cover in one of thier many motive power shortages. The photo shows her on the Eye branch. One of her other haunts. She ended her days at Yarmouth beach and was condemned in 1949 after over 30 years service. Also as you can see from the photo she has mamy unusual details. Tapered buffers, safety valves on the boiler barrel and the vent in the cab front. All things that will distinguish her from sister 151.
The kit is the same as used on 151. The old Riceworks etchings now supplied by London Road Models. Building a kit for the second time is like wandering down a familiar path. You know much better where all the lumps and bumps are and can plan accordingly.
However I'm not quite building 253 the same way. It's 3 years since I built 151 and I've moved on somewhat. Use of more refined techniques and the RSU is now playing a big part in construction, a tool I didn't have a few years ago.
The other key change is I've decided to experiment with a different form of flexichas compensation. 151, 407 & 510 all featured a fixed rear axel with a rocking beam supporting the front two. On the tender loco running was fine but on the tank locos the fixed rear axel seems to find every bump in the trackwork and with weight in the tanks both wobble a wee bit. So on 253 I'm trying using a pair of split beams to support the two rear axles and a single rocking front axle. Which means that we maintain 3 point suspension but have all axles moving. It might make no difference but it's worth a try
So that's progress to date. Back to track laying
Suffolk Dave
Western Thunderer
I have a LRM (ex Rice Works) Buckjumper in my 'to do' pile so, I'll be watching your construction with particular interest.
Paul Tomlinson
Western Thunderer
There is a cracking Buckjumper build thread by Will Litchfield over on the Scalefour forum. Lots of useful info. and photos of completed models to enjoy.
Suffolk Dave
Western Thunderer
Thanks for the 'heads up' on that one, Paul.
Herb Garden
Western Thunderer
It's one of those kits I could just build over and over again.... It just falls together despite its age. (The design is a year older than me!).
However I do need to limit myself to two as there are other designs of GER 0-6-0Ts to consider....
Suffolk Dave
Western Thunderer
That is good to hear. My kit is getting close to the top of the 'to do list'
Herb Garden
Western Thunderer
How long is the 'to do' list? If it's anything like mine then a climb to the top is a considerable challenge
Suffolk Dave
Western Thunderer
Humongous!