David Holman

My sort of layout, but too big for 7mm. Shame! Am plotting diorama type layouts as new projects post Arigna. Something Clogher Valley like perhaps...

Less than 3 weeks to the Show now & have turned the layout round so am operating from the back, as per at a show.

As mentioned elsewhere, Fermanagh has had a new gearbox fitted to cure erratic running. Tried everything else & thankfully all now seems well. Running further improved by purchase of a new Gaugemaster hand held controller - this time with feedback to aid slow running. There is a marked difference to the W unit I'd been using, so the latter will be kept as a spare. Also have my now ancient H&M Clipper, which still finds use powering the wheel cleaner.

Getting the track and wheels clean [and keeping them that way], has been a bit of a pain. A combination of paint, glue and grease means wheel and track cleaning has been far too frequent at first, but again now starting to improve.

Another small issue was the height of one rail on the loco turntable, which somehow had risen a millimetre or so - enough to make exiting the table a bit of a lottery. Traced the problem to a weakened glue joint, so again all well again.

Have also been making laminated instructions for any guest operators. In my experience, some are better than others, so I use a set of simple rules to try and keep them on the straight and narrow. Key points include:

- using a very simple sequence

- keeping shunting very basic, such as each train shunts just one siding

- a big reminder to only crank the turntable handle clockwise [or it will ruin the pickups]

- another to emphasise 'set points, then signals & only then drive the train'

May do another about running at prototype speeds too...

Me, a control freak? Well, nobody gets to be a headteacher without having at least a small one lurking somewhere!

Before any show, I like to 'rehearse' the sequence I plan to use. Indeed, in the early stages, the sequence changes quite a lot, as I find out what is workable, or not.

Recently, have discovered that Arigna Town's trackplan has a couple of entertaining [?] challenges inadvertently built in. These centre around the fact that the headshunt/engine release section by the buffers is a bit on the short side. It will hold a loco, the bogie coach, railbus or two wagons, but ideally it would have been better if three wagons long instead. This makes shunting the mixed train more difficult than I would like, especially in terms of getting the coach next to the locomotive.

Originally, I'd decided the mixed would be an exchange of cattle vans, but the shunt is too protracted for an exhibition, when you need to keep things simple and moving. However, there are ways around it & the sequence has been altered to suit.

Test running has shown that stock still needs fettling - mainly adjustment of coupling hooks/chains, but also some work on locos. For example, the J26 had been running ell, but them became erratic. suspected dirt, then pickups, but still no better. reamed out the couple roads, but again no good. Another look at the wheels revealed black marks on one of them. Answer, a short, where a pickup was touching bare metal on the body. No wonder the motor was also a bit warm! A bit of insulating tape and it is back running well again.

Other minor issues include back to backs on some wheels, but [fingers crossed] the only derailments should be operator error & not the track.

Looking again, the ferns and conifer needles are a bit of a give away. Very atmospheric picture though.

Nice one, Mayner.

The Convention idea has much to commend it and is starting to occur in Britain, particularly among American enthusiasts. Fellow club member, Andrew Browne [you may have come across his Fulton Terminal layout] has held a couple and 20+ folk have attended each one. The layout is worth checking for his model ships. A bit of a craftmans to say the least, his latest model is an HO Liberty Ship. Entire layouts have been built is less space and the rigging etc is superb.

The idea of modellers visiting the layout, rather than the other way round certainly avoids a shed load of problems, though UK models do tend to be smaller, which makes life easier. However, if I'm right in assuming that second photo is actually a model and not the real thing, then it a stunning example of what can be done outdoors.

Fear not sir - the amount of stuff both decreases and increases with the size of the layout. So a four foot self jobbie will go in the boot of the car with one or two lights and box of bits no problem. Something like Gresley Beat requires two seven ton trucks, which just doesn't bear thinking about, but the team obviously enjoy it.

Once had a 7mm ng layout on three 90cm x 45cm boards, which included folding legs. While set up time was an hour, by slowly packing away stock at the end of a show, it was in the car in 15 - 20 mins. As for curtains, one of the best ideas I've seen was on a Hornby tinplate layout.nthey used tea towels which had clearly been gathered from preserved railways. Looked really good and a nice change from plain black.

Interesting - was at Chatham Dockyard's transport festival today and took a couple of pictures of their steam cranes, one with its bodywork removed to show the innards. Haven't mastered posting pics here yet, so you can find it on my next blog. Sorry about that.

The whole Fenit track plan would make a very good basis as an exhibtion layout. Am surprised Iain Rice hasn't drawn something as looks right up his street. The pier and causeway are just as interesting Chatham dockyard has several mobile cranes and former member Ted McIlroy (sadly killed in a road accident last year) built 7mm scale models of two of them. He used RG4 motors to enable full operation - they could move along the track, while the jibs could lift and slew, plus the cables wind up and down. Contro was via additional pick ups on parallel rails, as this was per DCC. Utterly exquisite, they worked beautifully and would have looked fabulous on something like Fenit pier.

Well worth it, Warbonnet. As you say, a grand venue and a really eclectic mix of models. Always something for everyone. Best of all, lots of space, both for big layouts and to help avoid the rucksack luggers. A good day out.

It is a tangled web we weave John! Gauge 1 seems just as varied as G - almost as mad as OO/HO and Trix Twin, which I think was 3.8mm/ft...

A case of if it works, don't fix it, I guess.

Me too!

Fascinating stuff, John. Looks like it will not make my wish list either, as appears to need at least 4' of depth in 7mm scale.

As for Castlerackrent, that is probably what first got me interested in the Irish scene. That article in Model Railways was inspirational, not least in showing what could be achieved in a small space.

Love the concept of the basement empire too. The idea of driving a train along a whole line is very appealing and those guys seem to create these layouts in a very short space of time too.when I win the lottery, that will be high on my list. Unlikely though, as I never buy a ticket...

Really interesting - presumably the new North Kerry book will help. Must get myself a copy!

Newcastle West has always fascinated me. Always liked the idea of a 'terminus junction' because it expands operating potential. How easy is it to get hold of station track plans? Bet there are many tempting possibilities.

Think 21 mm gauge would be wonderful, or 10.5 for that matter. Will look forward to hearing how things develop

I have put an extra siding on my Dromahair station to accommodate the eagerly awaited arigna branch!

Am guessing one siding will be plenty! As for the power station, 7mm scale buildings tend to expand beyond available space, though have thought about it. A siding/mineral line going off scene is one way to deal with the issue without building extra baseboards - as per my line to the Arigna mines. Certainly a good excuse to build some more wagons.

I am a great fan of model railways having a 'history'' date=' thereby setting the scene for what is modelled. It must come form reading so many articles by Iain Rice. Your revised history is very convincing - a post 1957 scenario would be most interesting.

Stephen[/quote']

 

Likewise a fan of the Chagford fireman. He must have had more ideas than the rest of us put together. Don't think it is stretching things too far to assume the Argina branch could have lasted beyond '57, but a nice excuse to do some more modelling. A C or a G might fit quite well.

Great to know there is another version of this lovely railway. Will very much look forward to seeing pictures. Happy to share info, drawings etc too.

The resin [a 50-50 mix] sets more slowly than your stuff. Instructions suggest an hour, but it is removable within 30 minutes, when it is still flexible - which may or may not be helpful!

Have not had any problems with bubbles in the casting process, though I've so far only done wagon an van sides, hence thin & open at the top. The detail the resin picks up is very good indeed. Scrubbed the master with a glass fibre pencil to impart a bit of wood grain and it is all there, along with finger prints etc if you are not careful!

Got mine from Easy Composites as a casting kit. The resin lasts well but the silicon mould stuff definitely has a shelf life. The vans mould had bubbles that needed trimming. Will get new moulding stuff before I have another go!

Will look forward to seeing what you are making

David' date='

 

I will have to leave a longer reply soon but I am getting my layout, KIlbrandon Junction, GSWR in S Scale, ready for the Manchester show this weekend. But just to say that we had a holiday in Sligo a few years ago and I explored much of the SLNCR; it is a beautiful area and you have made a very fine model!

 

Kind regards,

 

Paul[/quote']

 

 

Saw the article in BRM [i think] recently & it Kilbrandon looks wonderful. Have often been tempted by the thought of S, especially as counted your much missed chairman, Robin Fielding, as a good friend. If you haven't read Barry Norman's obituary in MRJ, it is worth getting a copy. Barry sums him up perfectly.

Anyway, will look forward to hearing more of your thoughts eventually. Though all part of the fun, the lack of more readily available prototype info [of they type we simply accept for English railways] means all sources are gold dust as far as I am concerned!

hopefully, Arigna Town will be ready for the Chatham Shown next June. Gordon Gravett's [another good friend] new book on grasses etc will hopefully play a major part in the scenic.

Me again.

Looks like the system only posted half my ramblings, missing out a tour of the SLNCR route around Manorhamilton and the Arigna area. Gave me lots of ideas for my might have been branch down to the latter and have a small piece of Arigna coal which may well go in my next loco's bunker! More of this later, but for those of you who haven't visited the west of Ireland, it is well worth the effort. Beautiful scenery, great food and hospitality, plus lovely people and extra-ordinary history. add in the railways and you have a great holiday.

That's a lovely little loco David' date=' nice work. How long did these tank engines last in service?[/quote']

 

The picture in the SLNCR album of 558 at Sligo is dated 1955, but there are plenty of other later photos. Eg on the Fenit branch in 1961, the Courtmacsherry tramway in the late 50s and the Waterford & Tramore likewise. The Tyrconnel range makes a model based on any of these lines very tempting, as it also includes the lovely 2-6-0T 'Argadeen', the 0-4-2T 'St Molagans', plus the Bandon tanks and a range of 6 wheel coaches. Shame there is not much in the way of 7mm scale wagons at the moment...

And why not indeed, sir! From what I can see of your 'avatar', there looks to be a slice of the C&L. With the Iron Mountains as well as the coal seams, one wonders whether a Sheffield, Consett or Corby might have blighted the hills, had the resources been a bit richer. I will admit to a certain amount of guilt in projecting a branch of the SLNCR down to Arigna, as it would not have bode well for the C&L. That said a possible long term project for me would be a broad and narrow gauge interchange of some sort. Love the idea of the trans-Ireland 3' gauge line, which would have put the C&L in the centre of the through route. Feel sure it would have needed something like the Swilly 4-8-0s or 4-8-4Ts for such journeys, which would make a challenging model making project to say the least.

Then again, I have also pondered the idea of doing 3' NG in Gauge 1, using 0 gauge track. Did several drawings of Clogher Valley locos/railcar/tractor & am very tempted, but not for a couple of years at least.

Lovely to see someone else interested in the Sligo Leitrim. I am in the process of constructing a oo gauge model of the SLNCR based around two stations' date=' Manorhamilton and Dromahair. have included wiers bridge outside enniskillen. Still in the early stages but will show some snaps later. I grew up in Dromahair and knew many of the people who lived and worked on the line. Your models look so accurate compared to mine, very jeolous but love to see such good work. Gary[/quote']

 

Hello Gary - glad to hear that someone else is modelling the SLCR. Am thinking it may be even more of a challenge in 00 than 7mm scale, as I at least have the advantage of the Alphagraphix card kits for quite a lot of the rolling stock and several buildings, plus the wonderful Northstar kits of the Small Tanks.

I've nearly finished the station building for my project, basing it on the Florencecourt card kit. However, it is 100% scratchbuilt as, will all the Alphagraphix kits, I use them as a drawing/plan. A cut down version of Glenfarne goods shed is also under way. Similarly, have built a fair few wagons, but am a bit concerned that the SLNCR vans that Alphagraphix do are bit on the low side. The similar outline GNRI vans are certainly taller as have managed to get hold of a few drawings which prove this.

Having previously modelled BR Eastern Region [1950s], have already realised just how much material was available & how little modellers of the Irish scene have. Eg endless books on wagons & carriage stock for almost every grouping & pre-grouping company, but find myself scouring photos of Irish railways just to find out details of buffers, brake gear etc. Equally, am re-assurred by pics of wagons and vans with diferent buffers/wheels at each end, so tend to worry less now...

Anyway, if there are any drawings you are interested in, let me know, though most are now on the website. Not sure if Railcar B is there though, so can email that if you like.

Good luck with your project & will be very interested to see how it develops.

 

David

Hi David' date='is it your intention to take the finished layout on the exhibition circuit? I ask "cos the base board looks like modular construction. Keep up the good work.[/quote']

 

Hello Mike - yes, it is very much being built as an exhibition layout. About the only time my models get 'played with' to tell the truth, I'm more of a builder really. though do like exhibiting.

Current layout is a BR 1950s East Anglian essay called 'Eatonswell' & will be at the Orpington show in January & at Basildon in July.

Haven't got a name for the Sligo project yet, but am anticipating it won't be ready to debut until 2014 - probably at the Chatham Show [June], as this is my home club. There are various other pictures on the 'Irish' site & I try to add new ones as I get things finished. Almost completed a station building, based on Florencecourt on the SLNCR, then next project is hopefully to build a railbus. Alphagraphix do a card kit & will be using this as a plan to build a working model from metal & plastic.

 

David

Also, forgot to say that 36.75mm axles are readily available from Slaters [check their website], while the Alphagraphix catalogue includes a wide range of other Irish models in 7mm scale. Most are cardboard kits - buildings, coaches and wagons. The rolling stock is backed up with a limited range of chassis components & includes 3' narrow gauge too. Well worth a look, especially as many of the card kits are just £3-£4. Real bargains as they are in effect colour plans too, if you want to make a model out of something more substantial.