Northroader

Over on RMweb they’ve been going on about the IKEA “Mosslanda” display shelf as suitable for a short narrow run which should fit this purpose.

Highly unusual composition, and works very well. The low relief coach sides are a different way of doing things, certainly.

Having it all formed up into a train, that’s a lovely piece of modelling.

Really involved constructional work, I’d be scared how sturdy it would prove to be if I was doing it, but going through your materials it sounds strong enough. I found there’s a great temptation picking up those canopies for your fingers to curl over the edges, where the daggerboards are, so don't be like Bob. The appearance of the end result will set off the cameo very well.

Ye’ve left no stone unturned with your modelling there.

Marvellous piece of modelling.

You’re right, it’s all the curves in the bodywork. Buried in all the boxes somewhere there’s a few pieces for the NCC one. Will I ever do it? will I ever find it? Yours is an inspirational job.

Don’t forget this one is fairly close to you. https://swindon-cricklade-railway.org

If you’re after the West Clare, or most of the other Irish narrow gauge lines, there’s a retired English priest called Roger Farnworth who has done a thoroughgoing research on the line. I marvel at his output and quality of what he does. Just to get you started: https://rogerfarnworth.com/2019/04/08/the-west-clare-railway-part-1-ennis-to-corofin/

That’s real talent, putting together an etch for a job like that. Hopefully, it’s a real sweet runner, certainly I’ve found doing compensation on the drivers for this size of loco is a waste of time if it’s built true to start with. I’m guessing you’re allowing the lead axle some “float”, the etch shows a hole rather than a slot, and you’ll need some deflection or the lead axle will rob the drivers of adhesive weight. your comments on the size of 7mm are interesting, I’m sure once you’ve picked up the finished loco and felt the bulk of it in your hand a few times, you’ll be very disappointed with the 4mm jobs you have for the “feel” they give. Another one joins the club!

I see it as pretty basic narrow gauge, sort of Bord na Mona without the peat wagons, just a wagonmaster diesel and a converted caravan on overgrown sectional track.

That’s the feller who went on to be a bishop, wasn’t it?

That’s a crafty move jointing the side rods, it will help no end with giving the back wheels some side play, as the front pair can’t go anywhere with the clearances they've got.

Really good bit of craftsmanship there, they’re enough of a fiddle with the smallness of the parts without the need to get smooth movement on them as well.

The cranks are set at 90 degrees so that as the side rods on the one side are at front or back dead centre, t’other side is exerting the full torque to turn the wheels, but I fancy you know this already. If the angle is less than 90 degrees, the effort will be diminished as the wheels rotate, but you should still be getting some torque all the time. If the angle gets too low, the rods will bind up. So, I would think try fitting the motor and see what happens. You might get a little hitch on each revolution rather than a smooth turning which will become annoying and you’ll want to rework the job, maybe they will turn well enough to leave it. Good luck with it. In the past using slaters axles I’ve put the largest diameter drivers I’ve got on the axle and scribed a mark on the tip of the tyre in line with the crank pin, then lined up by eye looking across the wheels, but I’m not sure if this would work how you’re doing it.

I hope you’ll keep the small tower (belfry?) on the side. The mock-up loses a lot without it.

I expect Mr. Woodman was thinking “Nihil illegit carborundum”.

It’s slowly coming together, but for now I’m still paying expenses on two houses, so outgoings on modelling are very limited. The boards are using two A1 sheets of 10mm foamboard, which determines a length for each at 33”, with a backscene support of 5mm foamboard. The track is nearly ready to lay, and you’ll be glad to hear it’s set at 37mm. or thereabouts. Good to hear you fancy mixing goods and passenger. Don’t worry about the station building that’s roughed out, that’s for a Portuguese fancy, I’m swotting up on JB’ s useful thread on GNRI buildings.

Off to a flying start, looks very promising.

Looking back on “New Irish Lines” archive tonight, I see Mr. Alan Gee did a series of articles on modelling the LLSR about ten years ago, including outside frames, but to a 4mm scale.

What I’m looking at is “Lyddlow Goods”, described in this “Despatch”. Very simple, but Jordan can spend a pleasant half hour shuffling a few wagons. https://micromodelrailwaydispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Issue204_finished-compressed.pdf I see you used to go to exhibitions with a version of “Halstead” (that’s what I take it to be?) much the same but with a kickback siding added. https://www.westernthunder.co.uk/threads/halstead.12154/

I fancy the rails will be a bit too wide for the wheels on that one.