David Holman Posted February 8 Posted February 8 Never trust your pride and joy to run well first time in public, especially on someone else's tracks. I should know, with a drawer full of t-shirts to my name... Sir Henry wasn't exactly happy that day either, though (fingers crossed), after tweaking the headshunt point and levelling the track across the baseboard joint, all should now be well for both locos. We can but see. Aldershot in October, or Chatham in July, maybe? Enniskillen certainly looks at home in its namesake setting, as does coach No9. Worth investing in a couple of shuttle units, a la Tullygrainy? Or a sound system - decent speakers under the baseboard should do it. We had a little RTR early diesel mechanical shunter on the club O gauge layout on Tuesday. The sound chip even features gear change noises. Ideal for the railbus... Always been good at spending other people's money! 2 4 Quote
Patrick Davey Posted February 8 Posted February 8 Now that is a treat to watch and the U back scene sets it off perfectly, stroke of genius there GM!! Lovely loco and carriage too! 1 Quote
Popular Post Galteemore Posted February 20 Author Popular Post Posted February 20 (edited) Track ‘ballasted’ (Sligo bay trackage was apparently encased in mud judging from photos)…….and the goods siding sleepers did look less ‘embedded’ than the main running line in real life. DAS clay, with various treatments such as emulsion paint and pepper. The bay was laid with FB rail up until about 56/57 when it was relaid with bullhead and reasonably ballasted. This, of course, represents the earlier era as shown in @Irishswissernie’s image at very top of the thread. Edited February 20 by Galteemore 16 7 Quote
Tullygrainey Posted February 20 Posted February 20 Wonderful! I love the B&W image. Full of atmosphere and detail but beautifully understated and the oul fella with his hands in his pockets just brings it to life. Less is definitely more here! 1 1 1 Quote
Galteemore Posted February 20 Author Posted February 20 10 minutes ago, Tullygrainey said: Wonderful! I love the B&W image. Full of atmosphere and detail but beautifully understated and the oul fella with his hands in his pockets just brings it to life. Less is definitely more here! Thanks Alan. For some reason I prefer the B and W images the iPhone puts out! The old geezer is actually a model of John Betjeman apparently….he would have loved the SLNCR given his penchant for railways and oddities…. 2 Quote
David Holman Posted February 20 Posted February 20 With only a few feet of track to do, ballasting must become (almost) enjoyable! Seriously worthwhile here as it really looks the business. 1 1 2 Quote
jhb171achill Posted February 20 Posted February 20 1 hour ago, Galteemore said: The bay was laid with FB rail up until about 56/57 when it was relaid with bullhead and reasonably ballasted. Probably Senior's last PW job IN the station; maybe he got tired of looking at the shabby old stuff right outside his office window.......! 3 Quote
derek Posted February 21 Posted February 21 21 hours ago, David Holman said: , ballasting must become (almost) enjoyable! NEVER! 1 Quote
StevieB Posted February 21 Posted February 21 An interesting photo looking out of the GNR(I) passenger station rather than into it, if that makes sense. Stephen 3 3 Quote
derek Posted February 23 Posted February 23 On 20/2/2024 at 8:45 PM, Galteemore said: Track ‘ballasted’ (Sligo bay trackage was apparently encased in mud judging from photos)…….and the goods siding sleepers did look less ‘embedded’ than the main running line in real life. DAS clay, with various treatments such as emulsion paint and pepper. The bay was laid with FB rail up until about 56/57 when it was relaid with bullhead and reasonably ballasted. This, of course, represents the earlier era as shown in @Irishswissernie’s image at very top of the thread. Someone knocked the bike over. Bloody typical 1 3 Quote
Popular Post Galteemore Posted February 29 Author Popular Post Posted February 29 (edited) One of the issues I had to address was how to ‘model’ the rest of the station. Enniskillen had a rather large station building which looms large in photos of the Sligo bay. It’s never going to be in focus on this layout but has to be at least suggested. I’m no artist but had a go, working very much off J H Ahern’s principles. A loading gauge and half-relief open wagon also help close off the scene a bit. I also sketched in a suggestion of canopies, pillars and shadows suggesting the main station platforms stretching beyond the Sligo canopy. Still a few tweaks but getting there. The layout is designed to be viewed side on rather than at this angle so a vague impression of depth is what we are after, really. Edited March 1 by Galteemore 17 4 Quote
David Holman Posted March 1 Posted March 1 Works well. Especially like the hazy view towards the station. 1 1 Quote
Patrick Davey Posted March 2 Posted March 2 Incredible to think how small this is!!! Looking super!! 3 1 Quote
Galteemore Posted May 13 Author Posted May 13 (edited) Yesterday afternoon, kit building slowed down dramatically after my soldering station expired. This forced me to focus some attention on getting the layout itself up and running. With handbuilt track and hand built locos there is significant potential for error, and much fettling is involved to get anything working well. And so it proved yesterday. Much cleaning of track and wheels - and getting out the 80w iron (no use for kits as it’s like a huge chisel) to tease a slightly out of gauge track section into line. And we ran some trains, which was fun. Also taking chance to test out a magnetic coupling system from Chris-draw.com, which unlike many systems can be tweaked to work with Irish long buffers. It’s not pretty but fairly unobtrusive and easy to fit. They will eventually be painted some unobtrusive dirt colour. And even @Gabhal Luimnigh ‘s shed gets a look in. New soldering station in place so kit building can resume again….. IMG_1312.mov Edited May 13 by Galteemore 10 5 Quote
David Holman Posted May 13 Posted May 13 Sometimes, it can be nice to take time out and indulge in your creations - especially when they are as fine as this. Love the subtle co!ours. 1 2 1 Quote
Patrick Davey Posted May 13 Posted May 13 Magnificent on every level!! Loved the concept of this layout from the beginning so it's great to see these superb views David! Hope the soldering station situation gets sorted too of course. You might need to send for some fitters from Manorhamilton. 1 Quote
David Holman Posted May 14 Posted May 14 How do the uncouplers work? Presume they are tiny rare earth magnets, but are they just manual, as per three links? Am guessing the video tells all, but the site says it can't be found. Quote
Patrick Davey Posted May 14 Posted May 14 (edited) The B&W view of 'Enniskillen' - just wow!!!! Edited May 14 by Patrick Davey 1 1 Quote
Galteemore Posted May 14 Author Posted May 14 1 hour ago, David Holman said: How do the uncouplers work? Presume they are tiny rare earth magnets, but are they just manual, as per three links? Am guessing the video tells all, but the site says it can't be found. Sorry everyone, will try and upload a YouTube version if I can. Yes, David, they are simple neodymium magnets which just hang off the coupling hook. A simple paddle uncouples them. As I am rather time-constrained, I just want something for now that allows simple shunting and easy fitting! Found these via Gauge O Guild. The maker is producing special ‘Irish’ ones for me which will fit some of my stock with long buffers. Early trials are encouraging and wagons have successfully transited from one siding to another! 5 1 Quote
Northroader Posted May 14 Posted May 14 “With hand built track and hand built locos there is significant potential for error”.. you ain’t kidding, I’m very much bogged down at present, and really admiring what you’ve pulled off. 1 Quote
David Holman Posted May 15 Posted May 15 (edited) 19 hours ago, Northroader said: “With hand built track and hand built locos there is significant potential for error”.. you ain’t kidding, I’m very much bogged down at present, and really admiring what you’ve pulled off. Hand built track shouldn't be a problem, but, from my experience it certainly can be. Experts can argue that using gauges properly minimises the variables - and I guess it should, but somehow there always seems to be a lot of fettling required. I put it down to the fact that I only build track every few years and it means I just lose the knack - that's my excuse, anyway! Stock building occurs more regularly, so less of a problem - though the saga of my Barclay 4-6-0T rumbles on. Basically, anything that moves (and include electrics in that), will try to bite you! Life is complicated, which is why it is fun. Most of the time, anyway. Edited May 15 by David Holman 6 Quote
Horsetan Posted May 15 Posted May 15 On 13/5/2024 at 9:11 PM, Galteemore said: ..... Also taking chance to test out a magnetic coupling system from Chris-draw.com, which unlike many systems can be tweaked to work with Irish long buffers. It’s not pretty....….. This is basically the same type of magnetic coupling system that Lego (and possibly also Playmobil) used back in the 1970s.... 1 1 Quote
Galteemore Posted May 15 Author Posted May 15 (edited) 30 minutes ago, Horsetan said: This is basically the same type of magnetic coupling system that Lego (and possibly also Playmobil) used back in the 1970s.... Suitable for my level of modelling then He’s a 3D print specialist who is making me a long version which overcomes the Alphagraphix long buffer issue…..they may not be sophisticated but they work and are dead easy to fit. Painted gunmetal and gunge I think they will be relatively inoffensive. Edited May 15 by Galteemore 3 Quote
Horsetan Posted May 15 Posted May 15 49 minutes ago, Galteemore said: Suitable for my level of modelling then He’s a 3D print specialist who is making me a long version which overcomes the Alphagraphix long buffer issue…..they may not be sophisticated but they work and are dead easy to fit. ... The only real difference between these and the Lego couplings is that the Lego mounting arms were rigid, with the magnet discs pivoted horizontally, so they didn't drop unlike the ChrisDraw ones. 1 Quote
Northroader Posted May 15 Posted May 15 7 hours ago, David Holman said: Life is complicated, which is why it is fun. Most of the time, anyway. Thanks, David, it is fun, definitely. When I posted that I was a bit down with problems getting sixcoupled locos through Peco setrak points and getting buffer locking as well, and of course I would, wouldn’t I? Quarts, pint pots, and so on. Today I’m rejigging and feeling far more positive. 3 1 Quote
Tullygrainey Posted May 15 Posted May 15 (edited) 20 minutes ago, Northroader said: Thanks, David, it is fun, definitely. When I posted that I was a bit down with problems getting sixcoupled locos through Peco setrak points and getting buffer locking as well, and of course I would, wouldn’t I? Quarts, pint pots, and so on. Today I’m rejigging and feeling far more positive. There are those times when macramé, or jigsaw puzzles seem like a better choice of hobby but when things go well, railway modelling is unbeatable! Edited May 15 by Tullygrainey 2 Quote
David Holman Posted May 15 Posted May 15 Indeed! Have even found putting the offending article on a shelf/back in its box for a while only to return to it a few days later to find all is not as bad as it seems. In the meantime, do something nicer, as per this morning when I visited a local wild flower meadow to be in awe of thousands of wild orchids. Rule Number 1 - always stop while you are winning Rule Number 2 - NEVER think you can just do one more thing - it will always bite you later 3 2 Quote
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