Sunday 31 May 2015

May Update

I had aimed to do weekly updates as I thought I would get a lot more done this month. In the end the painting of the Loco Shed and the maintenance of the garden plus a few family events limited my progress.

The Loco Shed

The loco shed had, by the end of the month, received all its basic paint work. Next job is to weather it down ready for planting in the garden.

Only the roof remains to be painted

The paint going on.
After a coat of grey masonry paint in the interior the shed was tried in place. Looking good.
Time for some weathering. First the mortar was highlighted with a wash of white.

Looking ok.

Sleeper Built Buffer Stop

I purchased a kit at the 16mm AGM for a sleeper built buffer stop from Pendle Valley Models and, as it will be needed on the station area, decided to build it.
The parts all washed to remove any release agent and cleaned up ready for construction to begin.
The construction is simple with a box created from the sides
Once the box is created two offcuts of resin are glued at the correct height below the edge and the rubble infill molding is glued onto them.
All ready for some filler
The filler is in, just needs a clean up

Primer is then sprayed on

And the colour starts going on

All ready for the buffer board and the lamp to be added.
All done, now just needs some weathering.

Signal Box

The painting of the walls has been completed so next step was the roof.

Once fixed in place the ridge rod was put in place, a bit of filler and a coat of grey paint and its all ready for some weathering.

Mamod Brunel

Last month saw the first steaming of this new loco and it uncovered a problem with a badly machined wheel. Dream Steam quickly supplied a replacement set of wheels and they were fitted and tested. All nice and smooth now.


Station Platform

The station gained a platform surface using dry Postcrete that then went hard due to moisture (rain!) in the air. Wiring for the station buildings lights was also added.

The Postcrete is put inside the box created by gluing down slices of concrete block with slate slabs put on the top. Glue is waterproof sealant. The wiring was also added..

Once it was all nice and smooth water was carefully sprayed on the surface to begin the setting process

As rain was forecast the area was covered to stop it all being washed away.

The buildings were tried roughly in position. I am pleased with the look.

The Chief Engineer and Chief Mechanic inspect the work. They were pleased.
 Thats all for this month, the garden gained some extra plants that will hopefully make the garden much more colourful for next month. I aim to do another on-train video in June as well as getting the station area completed.

Saturday 2 May 2015

April 2015 update

I have made progress on several projects in April as well as adding a new locomotive to the roster, this time a live steam one.

16mm Association AGM & Show

Its that time of year again when the 16mm world descends upon Peterborough for the annual AGM and Garden Railway Show. Below are a few pictures of the event.
There were some really nice layouts with some neat modelling.
Winner of Model of the Year was this wonderful underslung monorail powered by steam.

My favorite was this whimsical Travelling Whisky Bar 

Another one sir?

Allan Black displayed one of his unfinished locos, a very neat job of work.

I like this little diesel locomotive, might have a go at making my own one.

A lovely little Cracker, I may try building one of these once I get some equipment in the workshop.

A twin cylinder Shay Cracker, I am jealous. 

Purchases at the show

A lovely Corris Wagon built by Allan Black in Plasticard. Needs its final paint finish.

A sleeper built buffer stop and signal box interior kit.

Couplings and axle boxes

Gas canister adapter to refill the Mamod gas tank

Wheels for some wagons plus a brake stand for the new Brake Coach

Star purchase was this Mamod Brunel :-)

Swift Sixteen Coaches

The pair of coaches are now virtually complete. Details in pictures below.

The main colour is now complete and the yellow detail on the window frames and guards duckets is going on

The yellow looks nice and makes the vehicles look different.
Complete except for glazing, coupling hooks and lettering.

Glazing going in

Handrails and handles installed.

A brake stand has been added to the brake van, just needs painting.

Remote Control for HGLW Steeple Cab

The Deltang transmitter kit

The layout plan was tapped to the front and all holes drilled

All switches and knobs in place

The completed box ready to test

The reciever is tiny. Just need to fit it to the Steeple Cab once the workbench is cleared of engine shed!

New Spray Cabinet

A visit to IKEA saw me come home with a white kitchen cabinet from their cripple corner. £20 for a high quality cabinet is not bad. Fans to extract fumes plus a light was added.

After a bit of shifting about I got the cabinet in place.

Old computer fans were added in the back, wired together and connected into the 12v battery supply.

Light fitted and turntable in place. All nice and ready for use.
Compressor ready for use

Mamod Brunel

The new loco was given a couple of test runs. It did have a problem with a badly machined wheel which caused it to rock but a new set from Dream Steam soon put that right.

First time on the railway. It looks good

It steamed well and ran smoothly

Steam to spare

You can see that the right hand wheel is slightly larger in diameter than the left causing the loco to rock.

It didnt stop me running it with a train behind.
A video of the first run

With a new set of wheels it was given a second test run
Too much lubrication caused a small fire on the track and a melted sleeper!
A video of the second run

The rest of the progress

Ffenor has got its number plates

The brake coach has a brake stand

Paint slowly going on the engine shed

The brake stand gets painted

Interior items for the signal box.
Thats it for April, I may well do updates every fortnight as work is progressing rapidly now the weather is improving.