“BALLYCOMBE”

[Northroader]

I’m not a fan of beam compensation, as being very fiddly. I picked up a loco on eBay recently and found the whole lot jammed up with paint anyway, and a very poor runner in consequence.  I think if you compensate just the carrying wheels, you’d introduce a hard spot somewhere which would compete with the drivers for adhesive weight. Having one set floating, and bringing the c.o.g. close to the drivers does work well.

[Northroader]

Mark, perhaps I should add to my remarks on compensation, thinking it over. If you’re modelling in P4 or S7, it’s really compulsory to use compensation. This is because the wheel flange depth is minimal, and you must ensure the wheels are fully in contact with the rail, all the time. With the usual modelling standards most folks use, you have deeper wheel flanges which do give more latitude for any errors, particularly with track-laying. The Leinster and CCW kits I started with showed me that accurately drilled frames, with the “finescale” wheel flanges, could run over carefully laid track without springing or compensation, and this simplifies building a loco no end. You can still aspire to using the finer standards and methods, but it is more demanding for your craftsmanship and skills, and I’d advise a “knife and fork” approach to start with, giving  a approach which realistically caters for the conditions you’re going to encounter. It’s one step up from a “tinplate” approach, with four coupled locos and very deep flanges are placed on sections of track clipped together in a tight curve and laid on the carpet.

The one layout which did impress me at a show was the Merseyside MRC “Adavoyle”, Irish gauge to P4 standards, which performed flawlessly in running and performance, but done painstakingly by skilled craftsmen. 

[2996 Victor]

Many thanks - that's great advice.

I'm modelling to EM standards so not quite as fine as they could be, but still needing care! I think I can get away without suspension with careful track laying on rolling stock: items built so far seem to bear this out. But I would be happier if my locos have all the help possible in keeping their feet firmly planted!

All the best,

Mark

[David Holman]

Stock should not be a problem with EM standards, but always worth ensuring wheels are all in contact with the track on locos, especially small ones where good luck up is vital.

[Mike 84C]

Excellent models you are really going at some pace! I think the backscene ties it all together beautifully.

[Northroader]

Very kind of you to say so, sir. Actually, I’m slowing down appreciably, and I’ve reached an age where I’m having to think of the future, how am I going to downsize? I should try to progress jobs, finish stuff off, then another bright (?) idea hits me.

Edited September 2, 2022 by Northroader

[2996 Victor]

3 hours ago, Northroader said:

I should try to progress jobs, finish stuff off, then another bright (?) idea hits me.

This is my story, too! I've six or seven aeroplane kits in various stages of being built, the 009 layout in the British section on here, and two EM Gauge micro layouts on the go as well. Then I've been bitten by inclined planes and the London underground railways at the turn of the 19th/20th centuries.

Nurse! My medication, please.....

Cheers,

Mark 

[Mayner]

On 18/8/2022 at 5:29 AM, David Holman said:

Stock should not be a problem with EM standards, but always worth ensuring wheels are all in contact with the track on locos, especially small ones where good luck up is vital.

The majority of my 21mm gauge steam (EM profile wheels and running clearances) outline locos (mainly 0-6-0 and 4-4-0) incorporate some form of compensation or springing and some (3-4) have operated successfully in exhibition conditions, the main advantage is improved pick up by keeping all wheels in contact with the rail head.

The SSM MGWR E Class chassis incorporates beam suspension so there is no need to fit separate hornblocks or to use a hornblock alignment jig.

I currently use High Level Hornblocks as they are easier to assemble and fit than other manufacturers hornblocks and a set of Markits alignment jigs

[Northroader]

I’m afraid I haven’t done a post for a while, and what I was thinking about a couple of posts ago has moved forward. In March I had an Aortic aneurism, which has slowed me down some more. (Myself and my my daughter think that the surgeon leading the team that saved me, Mr. Wilson, had an Ulster accent, by the by) Anyhow, my wife and myself are downsizing to a small bungalow near my daughters in Cheltenham, and my modelling attempts sprawling in the loft are having to be drastically slimmed, as well as my book collection, which is my main job at present. 

[Galteemore]

So sorry to hear that Bob. Every blessing as you recover.

[Flying Snail]

I hope you are on the mend, and back sharing updates on your models in the not too distant future. 

[LARNE CABIN]

All best wishes, Bob. Health comes first, but hopefully you'll improve and be able to enjoy some modelling, if even on a small scale.

[Gabhal Luimnigh]

Take care lad 

[DJ Dangerous]

Take care, and best of luck with the move.

[John-r]

Take care, and please recover soon, best wishes on your move.

[Northroader]

Thanks to everyone for the kind messages, it makes me realise what a great set of human beings are populating this web. For now we’re busy trying to get the clutter of a three bedroomed house downsized ready to go into a small bungalow. In connection with this if anyone is living near Wiltshire and fancies some none too good 7mm Irish models and some Irish railway books, all free to collect, they’re very welcome to call. Thanks again, Bob.

[Georgeconna]

Just Reading this , My father has the same thing so now what you went through. your on the road to recovery which is the main thing.

[LARNE CABIN]

Keep the Irish Railway books, Bob. They're a great source for relaxation for me, and every time I scan through a particular book I see something new! If you can find a little space, keep them.

[KMCE]

Bob, as a fellow modeller "under the weather", I can say the modelling, in practice or in book format is something that helps keep me both sane and occupied.

I do hope your road to recovery is lined with the same level of care, attention, and good wishes I am receiving.  As others have said, your health is everything, so take your time a allow yourself to recover.

Best of luck.

Ken

[Mike 84C]

Bob,  KMCE has put it so well, so dont dump the books!  Your problem runs in my family so I count my blessings that at 76 I only have the diabetic rubbish!.  

  You are  moving to a lovely area  with preserved railways close by so when health permits I'm sure you will get out and enjoy all the Cotswolds have to offer.

   I do look forward to seeing more posts from you, 7mm good in the garden?  maybe a man shed? And best of luck with the move.

    Kindest regards.

      Mick

[Broithe]

13 minutes ago, Mike 84C said:

I'm sure you will get out and enjoy all the Cotswolds have to offer.

 

Indeed, if you intend to visit Bourton on the Water, then you can have your dinner in what was my bedroom.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.8847524,-1.7583218,3a,41.3y,311.5h,88.19t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sQBOUaDnmaTFlaVLJp6sjnQ!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DQBOUaDnmaTFlaVLJp6sjnQ%26cb_client%3Dsearch.revgeo_and_fetch.gps%26w%3D96%26h%3D64%26yaw%3D0.08197921%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

I wonder if they have put the plaque up yet?

[Northroader]

It’s a tea room, though! Alright, then, pack a few of me books, no modelling now until I get there, though, as it’s all packed away. Keep on IRM and enjoy the craic, though. Thanks, guys.  Bob.

[NorthWallDocker]

Bob, your Midland Great Western Railway locomotives and GS&WR van -- beautiful models.  I've been learning much and taking great inspiration from your posts about Ballycombe.  We need to see more.  Please keep on.  Best wishes from Chicago.  -- Martin Tuohy

[Northroader]

In between the family taking down furniture and me throwing things in the bin, I can’t help but have my mind turning forwards to what sort of a model layout could I do at the new place? It would be small, very small, it would be 7mm scale, because that’s what I like working in. It would be a micro layout, sort of a couple of lines fed from a fiddle stick. Pretty well all the micro layouts are wagon shunts, goods yard/ industrial sidings, but I do like to see a passenger operation as well, so a platform with some small station building in the mix. A running line and a siding to park a wagon would be alright.

where and when and what? keep on pondering…..

I think I’ve got the back scene sorted, though. (Lifted from an artwork and flipped, apologies to Dennis Orme Shaw, the artist, my intention is to use this as a basis to copy for my own paint job)

 

Edited June 8, 2023 by Northroader

[Broithe]

A cat flap to a loop in the outside world, for good days?

[Mayner]

1 hour ago, Broithe said:

A cat flap to a loop in the outside world, for good days?

Love the backscene.

I basically have a cat flap (side hung) arrangement to link the G gauge storage tracks in the garage to a large oval around the garden, has given me somewhere to run trains for the past 15 years

The garden railway fraternity tend to operate year round regardless of location or climate with a large following in the UK.

Garden Railway Specialist, Princes Risborough is well worth checking out and highly addictive https://www.grsuk.com/

[Broithe]

42 minutes ago, Mayner said:

Love the backscene.

I basically have a cat flap (side hung) arrangement to link the G gauge storage tracks in the garage to a large oval around the garden, has given me somewhere to run trains for the past 15 years

The garden railway fraternity tend to operate year round regardless of location or climate with a large following in the UK.

Garden Railway Specialist, Princes Risborough is well worth checking out and highly addictive https://www.grsuk.com/

I used to do a bit of work for an old boy who was 96 by that time. He had a garden railway (on posts, because he struggled to get back up off the floor by that point), with self built live-steamers running on it. The terminus and sheds were in his 'dining room' and access to the main line was via a removable bridge that was dropped in place when the patio doors were open.

He also made his own mobility scooter, before the electric ones became widely available - this was done by removing the cutters from a ride-on mower and using it to nip up and down to the shops. This was right next to a police training centre and he got a lot of "looks" from them, but nobody wanted to be the one that booked him.

[jhb171achill]

Only seeing this now; hope you recover well and soon, Northroader.

[David Holman]

Northport Quay is just 7'6, while if you were to decide on narrow gauge, Fintonagh is just 6'6. Short trains, but perfectly operable and both show what can be done in limited space.

 Try and get hold of Iain Rice's book on Cameo Layouts, where there is a wealth of ideas, including 7mm scale.

[DJ Dangerous]

12 hours ago, Northroader said:

In between the family taking down furniture and me throwing things in the bin, I can’t help but have my mind turning forwards to what sort of a model layout could I do at the new place? It would be small, very small, it would be 7mm scale, because that’s what I like working in. It would be a micro layout, sort of a couple of lines fed from a fiddle stick. Pretty well all the micro layouts are wagon shunts, goods yard/ industrial sidings, but I do like to see a passenger operation as well, so a platform with some small station building in the mix. A running line and a siding to park a wagon would be alright.

where and when and what? keep on pondering…..

I think I’ve got the back scene sorted, though. (Lifted from an artwork and flipped, apologies to Dennis Orme Shaw, the artist, my intention is to use this as a basis to copy for my own paint job)

 

 

@Sean recently shared a link with me, and I'd be much obliged if he could share it again here. Mainly on shelf layouts but further down the article was a section on what I plan doing, and may be an idea for you - building the shelf layout into some cabinets, so it's really not taking up any more space than one shelf of your cabinets.

[Sean]

https://www.trains.com/mrr/how-to/model-train-layouts/model-train-decor-using-shelf-layouts/

[Northroader]

You never think of Americans doing shelf layouts, do you? It’s all damned great cavernous basements and tracks off everywhere, with a dozen guys to work it. Tell the truth and shame the devil, my copy of “Cameo Layouts” was last seen being packed in a cardboard box and going into a dealers van. (Mark Godding of Devizes, an online dealer, I’d best give him a plug, as he give me a fair price, I thought, and folks like Rail-Books didn’t want to know. https://www.mgoddingltd.co.uk)

Theres a useful source of ideas for small lines here:

https://micromodelrailwaydispatch.com

some are a bit too much of a good thing, but I am drawing ways and means from there.

 

Edited June 9, 2023 by Northroader

[leslie10646]

On 24/5/2023 at 11:07 AM, Northroader said:

Thanks to everyone for the kind messages, it makes me realise what a great set of human beings are populating this web. For now we’re busy trying to get the clutter of a three bedroomed house downsized ready to go into a small bungalow. In connection with this if anyone is living near Wiltshire and fancies some none too good 7mm Irish models and some Irish railway books, all free to collect, they’re very welcome to call. Thanks again, Bob.Well,

Well, folks, I took Bob at his word and after a discussion with my CME, Sir David Galteemore, I made contact. That was followed by a visit to Bob and Kathleen in ROYAL Wootton Bassett with the result which you can see in front of them.

And so to the temporary home for Bob's Bequest::

In case you are wondering what the boxes of slides are - they're SOME of the 600 such boxes taken by the late David Soggee which my IRRS team is scanning and cataloguing - we'll need to live to be centanarians! Back to Bob's Bequest - absolute treasures:

If that wasn't enough, the other three trains:

I couldn't resist getting the Midland L Class out and squeeze it between my (extra) broad gauge track.

The next job is to clear a table long enough to take a yard of Peco 32mm track so that I could gently remove the trains, one by one, from Bob's cleverly designed boxes - he's a master in every way.

Enjoy! And Bob, on behalf of the Irish 7mm community, thanks for a priceless bequest.

Leslie

Edited June 16, 2023 by leslie10646

[Northroader]

OK, mate, enjoyed having you and Linda. I’m interested to see how this will shape.

[leslie10646]

Visit to Kernow in Guildford who produced some 32mm track for me. So, I opened another box:

This is Sylph from the Express set.

Beautiful as her name?

Cab detail - shows off Bob's attention to detail.

Enjoy! More another day!