Kirley

I enjoy your innovative approach to modelling, keep posting please.

Excellent layout.

Newly built BCDR Brake Van at work on Kirley Junction. It's certainly different to Brake Vans run by GNR, NCC and CIE.

Look like MIR model kits.

I did get in touch with Michael and he was extremely helpful in providing parts of the Kit plus a RTR 21'chassis. The body length of the BCDR Brake Van is 20' 6" so the chassis had to be shortened and the body lengthened. Then add some brass W Irons and running boards. First coat of primer and ready to fix the roof. This is what it should look like. Thanks Leslie for the tip.

Further testing the U Class locomotive on the many inclines of the Kirley Junction layout. I fixed 4g of lead behind the backplate and 12g underneath the driving wheels. As you can see in the video below the Loco can manage 5 possibily 6 coaches at the most on these inclines.

The same as before on other Railcars I've built using a widened Comet aluminium roof and Isopon. There are some pictures of UTA Railcar 6 & 7 showing the method. If there is an easier way please let me know.

Black Beetle bogies, as for livery that is a hard one, so many options to chose from.

I intend using Black Beetle bogies, 10' wheelbase and 12 mm wheels.

The BUT 700 Series and 900 Series Railcars, introduced by the GNR(I) but later passed to the CIE/UTA and NIR. Allen Doherty from Worsley Works had promised me he would do brass etches for them and as good as his word they arrived today. As you can see they are not a full kit but an aide to building one. I hope to get started later in the Autumn or sooner if I can get a move on with my current projects. It will not be a straightforward build but it is one I can't wait to get started on.

Dave, does the range include any mini decoders for use in Steam Locos where spaced is always limited?

Excellent work.

Wired the Model for DCC but have to wait on a decoder. I decided to test run it on my old layout which is DC. The track is poorly laid out and has not been cleaned for a few years. A short video of it running firstly without addition weight then with some added. The Loco prefers to run backwards and there is an appearance of the 'Hand of God'.

Thanks David, that is very informative, I have the Loco body sitting in front of me and it is extremely 'nose heavy'. To quote 'Ian Rice', "what counts is sufficient weight is acting in the right places.....as long as the weight is effectively borne by the driven axles, it doesn't necessarily have to be located above them." In a 4-4-0, as Mayner suggests, the trick is to balance the front by a weight in the Tender. In this model the Tender does not have additional weight and all the wheels are fixed. I'm about to wire the Loco with a 8 pin socket but will have to wait until a decoder arrives(hopefully) early in the week. I will report back on my findings.

My Locomotive arrived today. I opened it up to see about the size of decoder I would need and had a look about wiring it up. It's apparently done in 'American Wiring', the Tender picking up the Negative and the Loco body the Positive. This is the way I intend to tackle it, and if you see difficulties please let me know.

Anyone fitted a decoder to the U Class, if so which one did you use and are you pleased with the performance?

BCDR Class 1 loco working on Kirley Junction.

Thank John for the pointer to Downpatrick, an excuse for another trip. I really miss the Enthusiastic Section on their old Web Site where they had pictures of all their stock.

Someone sent me a picture of a BCDR Brake Van this evening, it is like nothing like the GNR or NCC ones. I'll email you tomorrow re the LSWR one.

Richard, I picked up a Oxford one at the right price but they have a dicast chassis in case you were wanting to shorten the body. BYW did you get my email I sent last month re your JT Loco?

Allen Doherty describes his products as, "we specialise in producing the etched parts of model railway kits. We use the term 'Scratch Aid' to help denote that they are not complete kits as we do not include any castings, wire, glazing etc. and no instructions are provided. I have built quite a few of his 'incomplete kits' and he has manufactured etchings to my request (UTA Railcar 6 & 7). In fact today he has confirmed he has completed my latest request and will release the BUT 700 & 900 Series before the end of the month.

Great to see one closeup, thanks for posting.

From this to this Should have some of Leslie's BCDR Wagon somewhere. Will post pictures on my layout page later when the decoder arrives.

The results of a lot of hard work in the research and development of this model is now producing fruit. The exacting detail showing on this pre-production sample is a credit to all involved and I am looking forward to seeing the finished product.

Your layout is coming on well, I enjoyed some nice touches on your video