tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6659039553170073192024-03-13T21:24:54.843-07:00Modelling NSWR in the 1970sBenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17921057640304228166noreply@blogger.comBlogger104125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-665903955317007319.post-15199149272970872972023-04-19T05:49:00.003-07:002023-04-19T18:29:33.300-07:00Thinking out loud<p>Four months. I lasted four months before I started planning the next railway. </p><p>I know that when I get back to Australia we will likely have space for a model railway, but not necessarily the space for a model railway room, so I've been sketching ideas for a layout that can satisfy my desire to run trains and also be incorporated into a larger layout in future. </p><p>The lessons from previous layouts that I've incorporated into this design are:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>reliability of track is paramount for slow-speed running and enjoyment of shunting</li><li>no magnet uncouplers on curves</li><li>train consists can serve more than three industries</li><li>includes a run-around</li><li>limited passenger train operations</li><li>Sydney metropolitan theme</li><li>the layout needs to be able to be incorporated into a bigger layout in future</li></ul><p></p><p>Here then is the plan:<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvDg6fiEH7MlEMn4tiwSKCL_7TTc7eshDZSBMUVXy6CtNrT-OssoKoZKB5jZCB3zBZszPaF_KNcu5wte7XQwuZenxlrh5Gmhyr69Vy0djRu_0dTpfDDxR1Dl_veQlx5sl7hDFTzw3diYFlRcB80q-KJuI1ewTt2dxAiQw4XxEajI6ZZFCnXbcoqpy6Gw/s1672/230420%20-%20Shunting%20layout%20plan.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="1672" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvDg6fiEH7MlEMn4tiwSKCL_7TTc7eshDZSBMUVXy6CtNrT-OssoKoZKB5jZCB3zBZszPaF_KNcu5wte7XQwuZenxlrh5Gmhyr69Vy0djRu_0dTpfDDxR1Dl_veQlx5sl7hDFTzw3diYFlRcB80q-KJuI1ewTt2dxAiQw4XxEajI6ZZFCnXbcoqpy6Gw/w640-h194/230420%20-%20Shunting%20layout%20plan.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">The grey circles on the track plan are Rapido Railcrew Uncouplers. Top left industry is an abattoir with cattle wagons disappearing to the receiving yards out of sight behind some trees/shrubbery, and refrigerator wagons in front. On the top right is a feed mill which receives a few wheat wagons at a time. </span><span style="text-align: left;">On the lower right-hand side are a steel delivery shed and sidings, inspired by those at Leightonfield. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">The idea behind the double-slip in the middle is that empty refrigerated wagons would be deposited on the headshunt at the lower left-hand side of the plan (where the 48 is currently sitting) by one of the trip trains, with the wagons brought over to be loaded once a rake of cattle wagons has been delivered. I wanted some space between the two main industries at either end of the layout so that while you're focussing on shunting one side of the layout you forget the other side; the space between helps the layout 'breathe' and all of the action isn't crammed in on top of itself.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">The theme/influence for this layout is the area around the homebush saleyards in my chosen era - the very late 1970s. Although the abattoir, saleyards, and the feed mill were quite far apart according to the track diagram of the prototype, it's not unbelievable to have them all centrally located with the right amount of scenic spacing. <br /><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">I've chosen these industries to use the maximum variety of rollingstock I own - namely refrigerator vans and RACE containers, cattle wagons, wheat wagons, open wagons, louvre vans and some steel wagons I've developed an interest in. I would have liked to have incorporated cement somewhere in the layout but that will have to be on the next module. I do enjoy running rakes of coal trains and larger mixed consists (and the Indian Pacific and Southern Aurora) as well, but that will need also to be a future consideration.</span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">Long term, I want a shelf layout that goes around the walls of a modestly-sized spare room, with a peninsula terminus in the middle. This layout will serve as a terminus on a peninsula jutting into the centre of the room in future. To future-proof the design above I've reviewed the space I've had available for my layout in all of the houses we've lived in over the last ten years. The average spare room has consistently been around 3m x 3m, so this design will fit in the middle and still leave 50cm of aisle space (albeit with a narrow shelf where the future layout passes perpendicular to the end of this layout) and the ability to join the main line of the future layout with a minimum 24" radius curve. </p><p>Back to the plan itself, this part of Sydney was quite rural in character despite being fairly centrally located within the Sydney metropolitan area. Accordingly, the surrounding scenery is going to be grassy and thoroughly populated with weeds. That should help space things out a little too.</p><p>My trusty gang of fettlers are going to make an appearance on the bottom-left of the plan as well, necessitating fortnightly visits of the pay bus. There's also a small platform for worker's trains and enthusiast specials to visit. <br /><br />Anyway, that's my current thoughts. I won't be starting on this until next year most likely, but I wanted to get my thoughts onto the blog to think out loud and confirm for my own piece of mind the track plan, industries, and overall operating concept. I'm still going to tweak it between now and then, but I think it's 95% done.<br /><br />Hopefully this thought process is useful to someone out there too.<br /><br />Until next time!</p><p>Cheers,</p><p>Ben<br /><br /><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /><br /></p>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17921057640304228166noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-665903955317007319.post-18085747055292485252022-12-08T15:49:00.000-08:002022-12-08T15:49:09.304-08:00The final running session<p>With the decision to sell the layout I wanted to have a final running session. I had devised an operating schedule for the layout two years ago, but have only ever run that program from beginning to end a handful of times due to loco availability or time constraints.</p><p>My brother joined me for a final hurrah and we spent a good few hours running the timetable with all of the consists and sidings, with uncoupling clearance markers and siding limits as they had been designed for. It was a thoroughly enjoyable couple of hours, particularly because the layout is in the most detailed stage that it's ever going to be whilst in my ownership. I can emphasise enough how nice it was to run one's railway as it had been designed. </p><p>There's a lesson here for all who follow - it took me four years to get to this point. That's not four years before a train could run, we've been doing that for a while, but four years before it was complete to a level where you could say it was "finished" and could be fully operated. While there were a lot of interruptions in that time, the conclusion here is that what I had built is not compatible with a lifestyle of full-time employment and the demands of young children. But, I've learned from it and there are lessons I'll take away to the next layout that will hopefully make that build a bit quicker. A smaller layout is the first step, but more on that in due course.</p><p>Here was the program, which the photos follow chronologically.</p><p>1. Local goods arrives, shunts. Waits for local passenger.</p><p>2. U set arrives from Bell (local passenger). Departs.</p><p>3. Local goods follows U set back to Lithgow via Bell.</p><p>4. Mid-morning pass arrives (MUB set with electric loco)</p><p>5. Pay bus arrives from Mount Tomah mine to cross passenger. Pay bus departs for Bell.</p><p>6. Light electric loco arrives from Lithgow to collect coal wagons from Mount Wilson coal loader.</p><p>7. Empty coal wagons arrive for Mount Wilson coal loader.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ4RjHHEd8zr0N0h3-GkS6Na8rANZaWCTy5YqS3_RyW8uw9EqCXYWyL0eGqGDgzow-aUaVkE265EvwJj24NqbKOc3aHEZjYZ157S5J3-LzaABWMAvgVvkeH88flSgY9Da7BWr-5l97POBz_nlH_apJYcmKTzMhwNc806RT3UTIaTV4-qiLfjkk2gzRIA/s1927/221209%20-%2048163%20shunting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1445" data-original-width="1927" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ4RjHHEd8zr0N0h3-GkS6Na8rANZaWCTy5YqS3_RyW8uw9EqCXYWyL0eGqGDgzow-aUaVkE265EvwJj24NqbKOc3aHEZjYZ157S5J3-LzaABWMAvgVvkeH88flSgY9Da7BWr-5l97POBz_nlH_apJYcmKTzMhwNc806RT3UTIaTV4-qiLfjkk2gzRIA/s320/221209%20-%2048163%20shunting.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH2osje-BlBygBs6DHIL9oSaZMIIobzQVhI4p5ixBr-l3-wJDwN9Xq915RVntP0iRLEA5E0jFhbSmQATL5H1juFOXi5HkkXBXZW6RAr0cE2MeKapQm3KDTaMwt7AsP0YiJQEEpi1E6Et6M5wdhlMIu7eraSXzkOxge1HgpqbpARn7W78_T4qVdvYtcQQ/s1888/221209%20-%20U%20set%20arriving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1888" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH2osje-BlBygBs6DHIL9oSaZMIIobzQVhI4p5ixBr-l3-wJDwN9Xq915RVntP0iRLEA5E0jFhbSmQATL5H1juFOXi5HkkXBXZW6RAr0cE2MeKapQm3KDTaMwt7AsP0YiJQEEpi1E6Et6M5wdhlMIu7eraSXzkOxge1HgpqbpARn7W78_T4qVdvYtcQQ/s320/221209%20-%20U%20set%20arriving.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqVs9qd7dMH76MX5na6CoLLgOAfm8vxW9YbRqvvkVV3-x0Z0VXR_WPRBb3FZvDAt15zW-fO9KYwHRtUS7bXL8VKbYPhBJHkRe7UzHPyf8j0rW9uc_g2Fhx4kuuLBsUmveBuDCiTnYH2VCuMdPzOb20FCcdJHzJso5p_jwEQqWo_DCZNdyGZ2QF36FtOw/s2016/221209%20-%20U%20set%20departing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqVs9qd7dMH76MX5na6CoLLgOAfm8vxW9YbRqvvkVV3-x0Z0VXR_WPRBb3FZvDAt15zW-fO9KYwHRtUS7bXL8VKbYPhBJHkRe7UzHPyf8j0rW9uc_g2Fhx4kuuLBsUmveBuDCiTnYH2VCuMdPzOb20FCcdJHzJso5p_jwEQqWo_DCZNdyGZ2QF36FtOw/s320/221209%20-%20U%20set%20departing.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPuIzHFS7pYiCT58wZKPcDzG4cwMP8h69_C3DnuXS5Wc8F7oQfrq5ViJ3OLGYnmaQryKQpcO8wVIY92qjofVC8UbcMOwPPbYeUvivoZtgFQLxzLJvmb2eY7n7pIymujLX7o-CUgLULkqNXyVb4o1yTUkyChue6yTZAhRvh1Vp4PFzz9BwkPBu0wnP51g/s2016/221209%20-%20More%20shunting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPuIzHFS7pYiCT58wZKPcDzG4cwMP8h69_C3DnuXS5Wc8F7oQfrq5ViJ3OLGYnmaQryKQpcO8wVIY92qjofVC8UbcMOwPPbYeUvivoZtgFQLxzLJvmb2eY7n7pIymujLX7o-CUgLULkqNXyVb4o1yTUkyChue6yTZAhRvh1Vp4PFzz9BwkPBu0wnP51g/s320/221209%20-%20More%20shunting.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk4ZNTOtert7Y4dJXGYq2LqhgjYvk9hGfonof7N62lby3y8BqvqpdXxs2dtKrqnR4UQvukkT_vJBEHeLMk3nwDAq2YMm7fhbtaLZJYWVK1eDiUCP6C8XLX_NJTnsd39LBN7Sqk_Q8e6kQnlGbAVFk-qKuuFTcR5ySzmHvWUxKZ2LXKe4kajgYihVQfbQ/s2016/221209%20-%204631%20runs%20around.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk4ZNTOtert7Y4dJXGYq2LqhgjYvk9hGfonof7N62lby3y8BqvqpdXxs2dtKrqnR4UQvukkT_vJBEHeLMk3nwDAq2YMm7fhbtaLZJYWVK1eDiUCP6C8XLX_NJTnsd39LBN7Sqk_Q8e6kQnlGbAVFk-qKuuFTcR5ySzmHvWUxKZ2LXKe4kajgYihVQfbQ/s320/221209%20-%204631%20runs%20around.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-HFH4bGl9k4BrHh4kTHeaY6MaUAEu-Skn9Ng62AMlz6dX4wdBvb39q3dB4xqxb4wp1CM6tIfD2Z1PMdL_n3nRxm2QfzFeXOoTzHdwsMeRROa2BE-vf_qRkc_OHi2YJ49R2Oy5FHngj67yH4z7rfo3SZyYh7dP6KWzlS4PNq6723TU0FwdfwOmd0rHA/s2016/221209%20-%20coal%20train%20shunt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-HFH4bGl9k4BrHh4kTHeaY6MaUAEu-Skn9Ng62AMlz6dX4wdBvb39q3dB4xqxb4wp1CM6tIfD2Z1PMdL_n3nRxm2QfzFeXOoTzHdwsMeRROa2BE-vf_qRkc_OHi2YJ49R2Oy5FHngj67yH4z7rfo3SZyYh7dP6KWzlS4PNq6723TU0FwdfwOmd0rHA/s320/221209%20-%20coal%20train%20shunt.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq0yskjocCSU01caWY3cdHQMf_begfq5JyiJz3Za1bCWqHFw-X0m01gdAfU9MxMgCpuqX4ocSHmGl-_gv6o83kjt_FRb7ZlnzB6AiqtBciEh_vkR9LjcKKxiZglsRuTmggur4Mqz4az8z8tOSdLX4wMHRyIvf9nk8F4SXIGZ9pmjxwToxk29tyFV2nmQ/s2016/221209%20-%20coal%20train%20shunt%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq0yskjocCSU01caWY3cdHQMf_begfq5JyiJz3Za1bCWqHFw-X0m01gdAfU9MxMgCpuqX4ocSHmGl-_gv6o83kjt_FRb7ZlnzB6AiqtBciEh_vkR9LjcKKxiZglsRuTmggur4Mqz4az8z8tOSdLX4wMHRyIvf9nk8F4SXIGZ9pmjxwToxk29tyFV2nmQ/s320/221209%20-%20coal%20train%20shunt%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvRfcVEp1ZPD-zIA2VDbWeTC7sfl7eiQVNG7mG5p16P4qjJg_kiDMHrm7ieymJAUAHsKj3dCgfmdjhh5iPNjIU6rPZb61ctZi-bFEgWhQfegdBwhI6lZziorIeaiu9Eg8GVZigVDdKJnzCyMrarf8UdDWZDY4SEMWLaT-4pFXFv-bjabaJr3c3QEhmfQ/s2016/221209%20-%20coal%20hoppers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvRfcVEp1ZPD-zIA2VDbWeTC7sfl7eiQVNG7mG5p16P4qjJg_kiDMHrm7ieymJAUAHsKj3dCgfmdjhh5iPNjIU6rPZb61ctZi-bFEgWhQfegdBwhI6lZziorIeaiu9Eg8GVZigVDdKJnzCyMrarf8UdDWZDY4SEMWLaT-4pFXFv-bjabaJr3c3QEhmfQ/s320/221209%20-%20coal%20hoppers.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The last train to leave the layout was 4631, with a horn fanfare as it departed Mount Wilson.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A few days later my brother came over to help me move and set up the layout in it's new home with a new owner in Lithgow. Here's the layout and all of it's associated parts in our respective vehicles before starting the convoy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaLPQwJUqR6R_xHznuXfbES3uTUGfsTiIJgToCZyL5YcHNNqov7800VjXDYOtTWVDvhBLDekEMIblviLXLFPrWN5b3C07HSk8QaY798-ZYS0nrfEFxGL43kFvJCW82BuFokXGRG3F69QK3hBcJo-3P_uOXxxqTz6RmLp2ZhfIKLt6HFGCxTaDfgWrVfA/s2016/221209%20-%20End%20of%20an%20Era%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaLPQwJUqR6R_xHznuXfbES3uTUGfsTiIJgToCZyL5YcHNNqov7800VjXDYOtTWVDvhBLDekEMIblviLXLFPrWN5b3C07HSk8QaY798-ZYS0nrfEFxGL43kFvJCW82BuFokXGRG3F69QK3hBcJo-3P_uOXxxqTz6RmLp2ZhfIKLt6HFGCxTaDfgWrVfA/s320/221209%20-%20End%20of%20an%20Era%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgePFHHXhCVMRioABefdernzNRT7MSXcqDXwseyAeO418zuJmJ614_gEaqEqRnBc6XMvTBdLVyO5-ORfLF4TvP3u8WmLYGNqsBLaA95hP3bwi0PBKKSDwG7zCMmGILBkZXo-RlVWFqBGgU-H113SxRBp8OeQfz0eeT9X_ojZ76NNkRigeNmVIcRY0ZLuQ/s2016/221209%20-%20End%20of%20an%20Era%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgePFHHXhCVMRioABefdernzNRT7MSXcqDXwseyAeO418zuJmJ614_gEaqEqRnBc6XMvTBdLVyO5-ORfLF4TvP3u8WmLYGNqsBLaA95hP3bwi0PBKKSDwG7zCMmGILBkZXo-RlVWFqBGgU-H113SxRBp8OeQfz0eeT9X_ojZ76NNkRigeNmVIcRY0ZLuQ/s320/221209%20-%20End%20of%20an%20Era%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thus, the end of an era. I'm looking forward to planning the next one but obviously won't be able to start until we get back from overseas. Until then, expect blog posts here to be very seldom if at all for the next 12 months, but, I will be back, and with a swag of the trains being delivered in 2023.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Until then, thanks for stopping by, and Merry Christmas for 2022.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Cheers,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ben</div><br /><p></p>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17921057640304228166noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-665903955317007319.post-62903790739904959202022-10-13T23:07:00.002-07:002022-10-13T23:07:35.595-07:00Layout update<p>Long time between drinks again, but there's some actual progress to report on!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Overhead catenary!</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRO5Nx1jiOX5MhCKzSMb6FuC4XhzRtKPgB07qA4VN1tzu55L2FjpmEHIJwRQ5cOFJkyX6EjhPC8S1qiW_lCghbA_xPxc60jQrWyPzASuW5npGT1DfwcF8haWgM_FE001Lnl7BXVBlbGBiuGE9qxeJ8xK6YSseghT-7P23i3a3chXSOepTrjam8EeMyVA/s2015/221014%20-%20Overheads%20fuel%20siding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1112" data-original-width="2015" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRO5Nx1jiOX5MhCKzSMb6FuC4XhzRtKPgB07qA4VN1tzu55L2FjpmEHIJwRQ5cOFJkyX6EjhPC8S1qiW_lCghbA_xPxc60jQrWyPzASuW5npGT1DfwcF8haWgM_FE001Lnl7BXVBlbGBiuGE9qxeJ8xK6YSseghT-7P23i3a3chXSOepTrjam8EeMyVA/s320/221014%20-%20Overheads%20fuel%20siding.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Not long after the last blog I spent a few days installing the first sections of overhead catenary. The catenary itself is by Peco and I've painted it with Humbrol Matt 120 to give it a weathered copper colour.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've installed the overheads so that an Auscision 85 can run underneath with the pantographs within 5mm of the catenary wire but not actually touching. Although the catenary itself is sturdy, I have recurring nightmares of a wayward strand of wire ripping a pantograph off, or a derailment of an electric loco ripping the catenary down. I'll need to have a play around with the U set's pantograph springs before I'm comfortable running that underneath with pantographs fully raised.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwoafTjTRr9QZhDsqn50Pw4nRUywo_z0hizYTit0ovHH75UXbj56VAe2s2J5sj79jIzlPwzNM5ZS30ZDFgtUE96zCrNI8Q1n1q2c3IPjzKk6S6V119HmVKIbeXFl7SH8S7Y1tB0ZBQdUzdKQF-T8wi5c1bv4sLWQyaoMJn8hWcjZQGtV73t1dsRub_lg/s2016/221014%20-%20Overheads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwoafTjTRr9QZhDsqn50Pw4nRUywo_z0hizYTit0ovHH75UXbj56VAe2s2J5sj79jIzlPwzNM5ZS30ZDFgtUE96zCrNI8Q1n1q2c3IPjzKk6S6V119HmVKIbeXFl7SH8S7Y1tB0ZBQdUzdKQF-T8wi5c1bv4sLWQyaoMJn8hWcjZQGtV73t1dsRub_lg/s320/221014%20-%20Overheads.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'd always intended to have an overhead terminating structure as a scenic feature at the far enough of station, however I can't seem to find the right materials to build it out of. I started making a 3D-print mock up, but again ran out of time to work on it in between life and work and the endless rain on the east coast of Australia seemingly localised entirely in my driveway one Sunday morning. It flooded one side of the train room with 2cm of water but the layout itself was mercifully high and dry. That was two days of potential train running instead spent digging out stormwater drains and mopping up inside the house. I digress.</div><p>I tried to start off building the overhead structure with Evergreen styrene pieces but they are just too overscale for my liking and I think I need to come back to the 3D-printing option in future.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2u8GjxVUvNHCHMG_43AutOcK3-crvGeSSn4OtQSUYnbtNeO1otUx_Haetdgq68N1dk8G5SvDmc0LSXw7To1cGib0pD5PnwEWdaIVCIFGYPvCcFFDqAVLnq1Yc_fmMUYjKbL8JFbbItx8g5cg1rAO4niQnfVyIfAjdefbYM70h7oBVACQ6ELZwFaoGzA/s2016/221014%20-%20terminating%20structure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2u8GjxVUvNHCHMG_43AutOcK3-crvGeSSn4OtQSUYnbtNeO1otUx_Haetdgq68N1dk8G5SvDmc0LSXw7To1cGib0pD5PnwEWdaIVCIFGYPvCcFFDqAVLnq1Yc_fmMUYjKbL8JFbbItx8g5cg1rAO4niQnfVyIfAjdefbYM70h7oBVACQ6ELZwFaoGzA/s320/221014%20-%20terminating%20structure.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Layout details</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One detail item I've coveted for the layout for some time are the 'Electric Trains Stop' warning signs. I reached out to Meagan from The Train Girl with the official diagram for these signs, scale measurements for HO and some reference photos and within a day or two she had produced these:</div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8GkkP0kExd_5PoCQxt13iCkbITozZLYe31-cJzEwkH2Eo-Ccs_ASdnVGj4TgfKLRZw-PCRHFg-N6Po9pC9Peoa96pQ6n3Rd_L_oG9hlizW8y6xwBF_Hq78pcrsbIwKFXQdvaQJMDj1AYmpvdqW0pLUttljAbwPz9lIJG1sAyCwzwlT-wgFibsvywXsA/s1768/221014%20-%20warning%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1407" data-original-width="1768" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8GkkP0kExd_5PoCQxt13iCkbITozZLYe31-cJzEwkH2Eo-Ccs_ASdnVGj4TgfKLRZw-PCRHFg-N6Po9pC9Peoa96pQ6n3Rd_L_oG9hlizW8y6xwBF_Hq78pcrsbIwKFXQdvaQJMDj1AYmpvdqW0pLUttljAbwPz9lIJG1sAyCwzwlT-wgFibsvywXsA/s320/221014%20-%20warning%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p>There's two installed on the layout now: one on the platform road leading into the goods siding, and the other on the coal loader to prevent electric locos from passing under the loader (and thus justifying my complex shunting moves for coal trains).<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPNOKEHIMwvI5VYyDbM_8ty80gVCSg-144fO780tI9nG9jnfmqwya5H9LY8JksoDfD8cNoBtvbM1Cn3NWi09V9gA4eH8SoIAJAIf6LUqbbOWGm7kpY_xa7OfHSnFPCtIeaGmtCviSl7U2C3OZQkLyOQ6FvPKKu5_5dEWTIzUCVFhRpMeLq7ztG0DhBqA/s2016/221014%20-%20warning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPNOKEHIMwvI5VYyDbM_8ty80gVCSg-144fO780tI9nG9jnfmqwya5H9LY8JksoDfD8cNoBtvbM1Cn3NWi09V9gA4eH8SoIAJAIf6LUqbbOWGm7kpY_xa7OfHSnFPCtIeaGmtCviSl7U2C3OZQkLyOQ6FvPKKu5_5dEWTIzUCVFhRpMeLq7ztG0DhBqA/s320/221014%20-%20warning.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivSa5YBSolcTmnX1mKx8bqCJN9gOVzcak0MhT1pjkWN89cM4uT3uVMZjL0uuEgzAYG1Dj5WRiInaF1sm7WBslJ1pz0PVJOeq_0BYeIrhchfONqcgi3Wtg9CR2f9OdkKwYgewJJFgtINpkk7y1cDZVQjJcUJ1CXWgZA2OuoZ5_wnWT_GufbXPYUxVQqiQ/s2016/221014%20-%20Coal%20loader.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivSa5YBSolcTmnX1mKx8bqCJN9gOVzcak0MhT1pjkWN89cM4uT3uVMZjL0uuEgzAYG1Dj5WRiInaF1sm7WBslJ1pz0PVJOeq_0BYeIrhchfONqcgi3Wtg9CR2f9OdkKwYgewJJFgtINpkk7y1cDZVQjJcUJ1CXWgZA2OuoZ5_wnWT_GufbXPYUxVQqiQ/s320/221014%20-%20Coal%20loader.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am very happy with how they've come out. You can also see in the photo above that I've added white clearance markers all over the yard. I've fashioned these from scrap styrene to denote where the uncouplers are in the yard. It has certainly made life easier!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>New arrivals</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In acquisition news, aside from finding what feels like the last pack of Austrains MLEs on earth, the SDS models' 81 class finally arrived! Apart from the beautiful detail and livery, I've been enjoying running this loco around in a continuous loop with a rake of NHFF hoppers (that I may have been strategically holding onto for the odd foray into the early 1980s) and testing out the Drive Hold function. The sound of notching up and notching down without any discernable change to the train's speed really adds a lot of enjoyment to running trains. It would be a fun feature for layouts with a long run in particular.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVgFnbI4si03Dwif7Aqu_z6f76PphwP_8nO0nyn6z1DhmOglIHjK6bjVXAltBtG0q_o1wnyXLyvqc3kLwfn7T61V1vFc9jiKcW_aHsz7cwfOHKQ1JzsUI6RLhAbf_-lWNAnjQGl52hhUwYfk0HDLYsjv6TFFxWBu30xV98qM-t1nw8L05Dgwm6CLjyjQ/s2016/221014%20-%208104%20arrival.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVgFnbI4si03Dwif7Aqu_z6f76PphwP_8nO0nyn6z1DhmOglIHjK6bjVXAltBtG0q_o1wnyXLyvqc3kLwfn7T61V1vFc9jiKcW_aHsz7cwfOHKQ1JzsUI6RLhAbf_-lWNAnjQGl52hhUwYfk0HDLYsjv6TFFxWBu30xV98qM-t1nw8L05Dgwm6CLjyjQ/s320/221014%20-%208104%20arrival.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><b>Looking ahead</b></p><p>So we're nearing the end of the year now and I've landed a job overseas through work for 12 months. I'm really looking forward to it however, you guessed it, the trains can't come with us. This leaves me with a bit of a conundrum; we don't yet know where we're going to be when we come back to Australia, so what to do with the layout. The trains themselves will live with my brother (have I mentioned you're a top bloke by the way?) but I'd be understandably outstaying my welcome there if the layout moved in with them. </p><p>Again. </p><p>For the second time in as many years...<br /><br />The other options are a storage container, leaving it at another modeller's house set up and in running order, or selling it. I'm done with storage containers, and whilst I like the idea of the layout getting used by someone whom I respect and trust with it, I may not be coming back to Sydney when we return, hence I would need to arrange a few days to collect it, move it and set it up again. Not to mention potentially rebuilding it to fit a new space. The older my son gets, the more my spare time is consumed with family activities, and the more guilty I feel spending long periods of time in the train room. </p><p>Which leaves me with selling it.</p><p>I'm still undecided. </p><p>Am I overthinking this? Possibly. I've always seen moving house as an opportunity to build a new layout, and that may be what happens, but the prospect of moving or potentially selling it means that I've stopped any further detailing work or expansion of the overhead catenary, and am just enjoying running a train in a continuous loop every now and then. </p><p>So that's been a lot more wordy than normal, but it provides a fairly detailed summary of what's happening on the layout and where we're headed. I'll post a 'last hurrah' of train running before we pack up and go, but for now I think I've taken Mount Wilson as far as it can go in it's current form. It's a bit sad, but layouts don't last forever. There's an opportunity in there whichever choice I settle on.<br /><br />Anyway, happy modelling!<br /><br />Ben</p>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17921057640304228166noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-665903955317007319.post-123628147159195692022-05-31T21:44:00.001-07:002022-05-31T21:44:35.305-07:00Rozelle Street finds a new home, and a layout update<p>I am currently sitting at home with the flu. </p><p>The actual flu. </p><p>It's truly horrible, but it does give me time to update the blog for the first time in a while.</p><p>Some big news in March was that I sold Rozelle Street. It's since been collected by it's new owner and now lives in southern NSW. I believe he's going to extend it a little and add some more details, but it's nice to see it go to a good home. My wife was telling me that I'll regret selling it but to be honest, I hadn't been running it at all since Mount Wilson has been up and running, and I'd rather the layout went to a new home while everything is in good working order and the quality of the scenery is still contemporary. No regrets so far!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU2ncKcIBNX78pmqqO02bYaQ5H3aryX31KWl-UVmskT4Olbszw2YjnDTLwCSvblIowIjovWAhsKAr0Mj4bKkVPtq77azeyqbL9lunSYLloTrx1kJHRxpVp69HioWV6M7fZ0fRuXvcf-xWmvuCjUJi1WywG9U5m_YJmn5jMPvCb9unpmMRWUJ4FDWpArw/s2016/220601%20-%20Rozelle%20Street%20sold.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU2ncKcIBNX78pmqqO02bYaQ5H3aryX31KWl-UVmskT4Olbszw2YjnDTLwCSvblIowIjovWAhsKAr0Mj4bKkVPtq77azeyqbL9lunSYLloTrx1kJHRxpVp69HioWV6M7fZ0fRuXvcf-xWmvuCjUJi1WywG9U5m_YJmn5jMPvCb9unpmMRWUJ4FDWpArw/s320/220601%20-%20Rozelle%20Street%20sold.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The CH hoppers I'd sent off to Rob Arsenault in Canada to weather also returned in March. This is a weathering job I wasn't going to get to myself anytime soon and I wanted to enjoy using these hoppers on the layout this year before we have to pack up the house again for the next move. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I had originally sent the 8 hoppers to an Australian modeller who weathers mainly modern era stuff, and while he produces great effects on modern Hunter coalfields gear and locos, I just wasn't happy with the overall result. No real fault of his, and I probably could have been a lot more specific too. Lesson learned. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So I sold all 8 of the hoppers, bought 8 more to replace them and got in touch with Rob, whose work I've been following ever since he weathered some NSW stuff for another modeller. If you haven't seen his <a href="https://weathermytrains.com/international-gallery" target="_blank">website</a> it's worth checking out. The service was some of the best I've experienced in 20+ years in the hobby and while the postage cost from here to Canada is eye-watering, the end result was worth it. </div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh29-ByfOJAhGTqac5MiqReUlQ_QrJHCSfHxhjOYE_70ie_LEuE3qUN03R2hKdXhRGpEL8hBX0tWkrg0V3yQA_VsmLN1wZidWnYAZ7fBsyiQpktQkej_7mXthC6Ga-lQf15Y72Mu9w4Be4fW4JKZZN12i_9wIdJXZ3rK-QAbFc06A4ovCyPP1UJKZqbQg/s2016/220601%20-%20CH%20hoppers%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh29-ByfOJAhGTqac5MiqReUlQ_QrJHCSfHxhjOYE_70ie_LEuE3qUN03R2hKdXhRGpEL8hBX0tWkrg0V3yQA_VsmLN1wZidWnYAZ7fBsyiQpktQkej_7mXthC6Ga-lQf15Y72Mu9w4Be4fW4JKZZN12i_9wIdJXZ3rK-QAbFc06A4ovCyPP1UJKZqbQg/s320/220601%20-%20CH%20hoppers%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwgW2tnd8PQlBDtzyz7qN7_46n9WkJb1ohpv_b5pkSXnrpURHAexAViXz_LyRFLznSmx3fmfPaLNYaxuzjLGjZ7PtyVk5qF_yeQTXRJ_iBfw_xx4-taveBw6trgkRGtqdAicgWsPVBDarTKKo5zFx8nOOJc-RGkxNh3EUnj8NwLWbby29loN5X-zMaKA/s2016/220601%20-%20CH%20hoppers%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwgW2tnd8PQlBDtzyz7qN7_46n9WkJb1ohpv_b5pkSXnrpURHAexAViXz_LyRFLznSmx3fmfPaLNYaxuzjLGjZ7PtyVk5qF_yeQTXRJ_iBfw_xx4-taveBw6trgkRGtqdAicgWsPVBDarTKKo5zFx8nOOJc-RGkxNh3EUnj8NwLWbby29loN5X-zMaKA/s320/220601%20-%20CH%20hoppers%202.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj60JZLR0jC7BpQ9OswPaVLILnxOLvfft1Uc-Ko1KQ9v_TDxMeaxe2MiSp_QXThHnO8Vp0JfZ6SZw9xL23gRFuqgQ03tsMsnqFUECq5XIxQBxmNzJqIRp06iTG-n4maEckijGRo3G9_Fk48KVEI5ls4w30dUMXKFWKL7nUqp4k6qopfjR_sToHWK-Jxxw/s2016/220601%20-%20CH%20hoppers%203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj60JZLR0jC7BpQ9OswPaVLILnxOLvfft1Uc-Ko1KQ9v_TDxMeaxe2MiSp_QXThHnO8Vp0JfZ6SZw9xL23gRFuqgQ03tsMsnqFUECq5XIxQBxmNzJqIRp06iTG-n4maEckijGRo3G9_Fk48KVEI5ls4w30dUMXKFWKL7nUqp4k6qopfjR_sToHWK-Jxxw/s320/220601%20-%20CH%20hoppers%203.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I also took the opportunity to get out the 73 after a long hiatus and do some trip train running from the new mine off stage to the right-hand side to the 'old loader' at Mount Wilson.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPN_A0Wq3zV9mW9YXgn_z5xflHZe11vbdqqLxgU6B1-zjVu33EppoQIHRYf05DXoVwFyEFfaJKcVSJb4PGMLIx7LlGMkF9f4C_5zqwfnJm52_NixCGrI0SE8UFiPdZB78OBM6hMSRsdZDSrlqFy5jQetxB-KEhEDYVTKsWy9Wqz-hEUTtxDsILE8DlwQ/s2016/220601%20-%20CH%20hoppers%204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPN_A0Wq3zV9mW9YXgn_z5xflHZe11vbdqqLxgU6B1-zjVu33EppoQIHRYf05DXoVwFyEFfaJKcVSJb4PGMLIx7LlGMkF9f4C_5zqwfnJm52_NixCGrI0SE8UFiPdZB78OBM6hMSRsdZDSrlqFy5jQetxB-KEhEDYVTKsWy9Wqz-hEUTtxDsILE8DlwQ/s320/220601%20-%20CH%20hoppers%204.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>At the Rosehill exhibition I picked up a VW T2 Kombi van that I've been looking for for a while to act as the fettler's van. I've seen photos of a VW T2 Kombi in PTC service at Dubbo in my era, which was all of the justification I needed. The fettlers are AndIan models figures, painted by Jurgen Engels. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7phZ-sHlPWeaZAYHEYUSeBllwVX4Q-x8crKTvxkVBy2zH9MWAfi_w-PD1L96B1-_UJpZUizHG5gD81wybfswvx6pfLvrhGqg-V3hdmUXsPVE1UyHGCVTapJqBe8X2J708NkNbIH713JC9ZAnA_EHM4npWV30UVNVOcSDfpinZjq7QkAd7i7dL1SIydg/s2015/220601%20-%20Fettlers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1106" data-original-width="2015" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7phZ-sHlPWeaZAYHEYUSeBllwVX4Q-x8crKTvxkVBy2zH9MWAfi_w-PD1L96B1-_UJpZUizHG5gD81wybfswvx6pfLvrhGqg-V3hdmUXsPVE1UyHGCVTapJqBe8X2J708NkNbIH713JC9ZAnA_EHM4npWV30UVNVOcSDfpinZjq7QkAd7i7dL1SIydg/s320/220601%20-%20Fettlers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Anyway, aside from that, I've just been enjoying running trains of late.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIulCum2kap8DN-PxRSb7PEjeQ2Xit3WQxFvLHB_naliKVgsP9aP9ev7BHWx_e-nVcVy_3yr23VuhxzktiJa8ILZ9vO28Curj21tLnQaJLPuWKQBYE2-4MpCypfFr9dZQWleVo5N1IJjsMoS463dKu9Kbj2AXTh8KxeIfdGPLhZjq6xFiznQk7nNQOIA/s1280/220601%20-%20MFAs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="847" data-original-width="1280" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIulCum2kap8DN-PxRSb7PEjeQ2Xit3WQxFvLHB_naliKVgsP9aP9ev7BHWx_e-nVcVy_3yr23VuhxzktiJa8ILZ9vO28Curj21tLnQaJLPuWKQBYE2-4MpCypfFr9dZQWleVo5N1IJjsMoS463dKu9Kbj2AXTh8KxeIfdGPLhZjq6xFiznQk7nNQOIA/s320/220601%20-%20MFAs.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm taking some leave soon to finally finish installing the overhead wiring. Along with the fuel depot and some more detail in the co-op siding, I think that'll be in on Mount Wilson for a while. Who knows, when it comes to move again, I may up selling it too. More to ponder on that one.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Cheers,<br />Ben</div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17921057640304228166noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-665903955317007319.post-15246400572362138222022-03-02T18:55:00.006-08:002022-03-03T20:15:22.353-08:00Where does the time go?<p>So this year has taken off like a rocket. I haven't had any time to do modelling beyond removing new stuff from it's packaging - like a pack of NCX and BDX wagons for a potential future project, and some WTY's from Auscision's latest run - and running trains. I made some reliability improvements to two turnouts that were giving me grief at low speed, but otherwise it's been mostly plonking and running trains while I work up the courage and time to properly install my overhead catenary and build the terminating structure that will go at the far end of the platform. It's nice to just properly relax by watching a train run around.</p><p>In the meantime, here's some general shots of running over the last few months:</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgBZ-9CTpyW59NOpr2-rBWEHwQbm0bZnMfMQGGkNdAruqstxyOySYXVy7DOa6cSK12fjCX_HPG7Md_6C51EsQHnnTj-LFAsolNF1t9g167rshp51eW4ZpT3VBBrZluYVhZjAG4dxPdCYCqHR9C8fjFdIqI8O0CrnbbHt6NffmefNbBlWptMjOEAfd1VKA=s1711" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1412" data-original-width="1711" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgBZ-9CTpyW59NOpr2-rBWEHwQbm0bZnMfMQGGkNdAruqstxyOySYXVy7DOa6cSK12fjCX_HPG7Md_6C51EsQHnnTj-LFAsolNF1t9g167rshp51eW4ZpT3VBBrZluYVhZjAG4dxPdCYCqHR9C8fjFdIqI8O0CrnbbHt6NffmefNbBlWptMjOEAfd1VKA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEia8OYI7qHZ6smGpiLno0doQZ-6fDXnT8OwMyQ0LArc8lkEwGoXpi-mLqxdMU6vawlO_j3XbGPCI8YUWMZ7C5kyI4Z8-2f8Us4ZoqSNNbi8aO5QLR30X2J7LkI4YjpzvL5WQjnc5hld_F4QJrX2_BgJwNeMFaNZKEfTmfN-cg8Y5U5Xv8-aeF_RyghZOQ=s1280" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="591" data-original-width="1280" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEia8OYI7qHZ6smGpiLno0doQZ-6fDXnT8OwMyQ0LArc8lkEwGoXpi-mLqxdMU6vawlO_j3XbGPCI8YUWMZ7C5kyI4Z8-2f8Us4ZoqSNNbi8aO5QLR30X2J7LkI4YjpzvL5WQjnc5hld_F4QJrX2_BgJwNeMFaNZKEfTmfN-cg8Y5U5Xv8-aeF_RyghZOQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg05KAfrO8zLZvoTPPYWdsoUlutKWYhwowKY0q0nVxYucADpXg3mA1sGRStg5ffA2LAQbxyhcbzLynMRZYBKrqU9WL-Ysz7WDnd1i59MzvC3zuGGE6B0mBabciZ4FvZMcCX1XNQWuR-GydM_QJZhsAgFaxuYGYINUVd5siVsze2lwwrmoJGUBBEBz7T4A=s2016" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg05KAfrO8zLZvoTPPYWdsoUlutKWYhwowKY0q0nVxYucADpXg3mA1sGRStg5ffA2LAQbxyhcbzLynMRZYBKrqU9WL-Ysz7WDnd1i59MzvC3zuGGE6B0mBabciZ4FvZMcCX1XNQWuR-GydM_QJZhsAgFaxuYGYINUVd5siVsze2lwwrmoJGUBBEBz7T4A=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm heading to the Forestville exhibition this weekend, which I'm really looking forward to. According to my calendar the last exhibition I saw was Homebush in October 2019!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you're on the east coast, stay safe and out of the floods!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />Cheers,<br />Ben</div><br /><p></p>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17921057640304228166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-665903955317007319.post-71157280573356156592021-12-24T03:06:00.002-08:002021-12-24T03:06:48.344-08:00End of year wrap-up<p>What. A. Year. </p><p>I don't know about you dear reader, but I'm thoroughly tired. Unprecedented times aside, it's normal to get to this time of the year and reflect on what we've achieved in our hobby. Particularly when we're building a layout. </p><p>So I thought it would be interesting to try and compile a slide show of photos taken from the same angle to highlight how far I've come from December 2020 to now. Unfortunately, I've only taken photos until late September, but this will set things up well for some progress photos in January after a couple of days I'm looking forward to spending in the train room.</p><p>December 2020:</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZwKTf67AI_2IkYmGMLAeyYphh75sgZsHRBWkyshHZHxsQ-BSg5yfZpw0rP45IQRJOyoE-bs0Xm3Q1YO7b687PEd8_Ti1qHSv4-kO_6PLt6rE8Xyf7yls5wefjc-9D3FPoUBL4vE5YW4SYzSIaVFgNvI7kudhKSuYSa0hwOQE4AqzDT1q2VyW8x74mDQ=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2283" data-original-width="4032" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZwKTf67AI_2IkYmGMLAeyYphh75sgZsHRBWkyshHZHxsQ-BSg5yfZpw0rP45IQRJOyoE-bs0Xm3Q1YO7b687PEd8_Ti1qHSv4-kO_6PLt6rE8Xyf7yls5wefjc-9D3FPoUBL4vE5YW4SYzSIaVFgNvI7kudhKSuYSa0hwOQE4AqzDT1q2VyW8x74mDQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Late January 2021:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi-vkNfk2G1cRu43dJDndKT73bV-wYy2_-HLv2UPuo_z4mqf8sG2elou63ID-ZorfqL-J9-xGXzRRyy_O3mDDaW53i14aZCLGecRjJSwDlCPT-8HC4VKcfGBfiCWqVJYnAu5M9L4W0HzDmB6rnfYdRnh0QkJFFeodxIGn2fkpJOl3GaS0xRanqg875tmg=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi-vkNfk2G1cRu43dJDndKT73bV-wYy2_-HLv2UPuo_z4mqf8sG2elou63ID-ZorfqL-J9-xGXzRRyy_O3mDDaW53i14aZCLGecRjJSwDlCPT-8HC4VKcfGBfiCWqVJYnAu5M9L4W0HzDmB6rnfYdRnh0QkJFFeodxIGn2fkpJOl3GaS0xRanqg875tmg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">April 2021:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEimSH27AWHcetDOPXuabBdHptHhllEAKeV725WaC_3P5ko0VrUDSQVBA0wgcUbDuxCZgB2uBJ8pXsp21P0X4yOPTmNjvqWtgYvmY1VZbmD_VNvV8X_5WathFtHigbWBAdWOLw7UvY-6iSBPDuit34NMNi9YcrdqcZFJ6Cejmny1XjdlJmlFgXEdC9TOQw=s3957" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="3957" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEimSH27AWHcetDOPXuabBdHptHhllEAKeV725WaC_3P5ko0VrUDSQVBA0wgcUbDuxCZgB2uBJ8pXsp21P0X4yOPTmNjvqWtgYvmY1VZbmD_VNvV8X_5WathFtHigbWBAdWOLw7UvY-6iSBPDuit34NMNi9YcrdqcZFJ6Cejmny1XjdlJmlFgXEdC9TOQw=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Late September, 2021:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJJ8xMQzXlNKbWoTd3SeSaFuRAlJqXz5I6pPbBK9CFLYDQivCxLlFL6tcE3RPasQM4a6B7ioDvczcCl0SLxwgv9AxZtBpLvLc-HzaQu5YUH0Rq7T00NPekwi2yt8LtpIU3ySkXKyQNPQySxoxuEf0uSjwiuamz-LlceLXad-FFQYYhwnpuS06fzbMSPQ=s4030" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2318" data-original-width="4030" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJJ8xMQzXlNKbWoTd3SeSaFuRAlJqXz5I6pPbBK9CFLYDQivCxLlFL6tcE3RPasQM4a6B7ioDvczcCl0SLxwgv9AxZtBpLvLc-HzaQu5YUH0Rq7T00NPekwi2yt8LtpIU3ySkXKyQNPQySxoxuEf0uSjwiuamz-LlceLXad-FFQYYhwnpuS06fzbMSPQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>To go from bare boards to almost completing the scenery in around 10 months, with a full-time job and minimal spare time is pretty good I reckon.</p><p>Apart from layout building, this year I achieved a life goal of getting a layout published in the AMRM, didn't get Covid, and received a bunch of new trains, mostly from Auscision. It hasn't all been slow! </p><p>From some last-minute announcements from the major manufacturers this month, next year is shaping up to be a good one in terms of rollingstock and loco deliveries as well. I've said it before, but that SDS models 81 class will have landing lights and a marshaller greeting the postie as he glides down the driveway with it when it arrives. I've also bit the bullet and sent my 46's off to get DCC sound installed, which, although expensive, is going to very nicely complete my loco roster for Mount Wilson. </p><p>Wherever you're reading this from, I hope you have a Merry Christmas and a much better 2022. Thanks for the comments and suggestions here throughout the year, it's always nice to hear from other modellers out there. Here's hoping we all actually get to a model railway exhibition next year!<br /><br />Cheers,<br />Ben</p>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17921057640304228166noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-665903955317007319.post-55620198635843678302021-11-14T15:42:00.001-08:002021-11-14T15:42:13.292-08:00Layout update and the arrival of overhead catenary<p>A few things have arrived since the last update, namely the Aucision CDY wagons and the CTS coal hoppers, as well as a Casula Hobbies ABV, and CW (there were still some on the books in 1979!) and a BCH to throw into the CH rake to mix things up. <br /><br />I'm not going to do an update on every wagon as it arrives, but the CTS coal hoppers were one of the key factors in designing the Mount Wilson layout. The length of the coal loader siding for example was determined by whether I could fit four CTS hoppers and a guards' van without fouling the main. Happily, the calculations have worked!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Cmd1vu6ItUJN_FQL1hfGuSzOdp1Ap1ybQ3epLFMIR4f2F1TaU2L59PDO7z1Mtpg_190bSCZcgh3_aqNUSgm1dDL7rP7u-dOp4DnhzGH6zbe4lMbIzD2rjrDw-1NtDq4itnP-GTDhzQru/s2048/211113+-+CTS+hoppers+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Cmd1vu6ItUJN_FQL1hfGuSzOdp1Ap1ybQ3epLFMIR4f2F1TaU2L59PDO7z1Mtpg_190bSCZcgh3_aqNUSgm1dDL7rP7u-dOp4DnhzGH6zbe4lMbIzD2rjrDw-1NtDq4itnP-GTDhzQru/s320/211113+-+CTS+hoppers+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXz7ZHV_cQDOfRdRB5RIYD-RIFANdYx5emIt2Izo2MKV9OZTJ6eue4RJ4mYRTJ8PIhd-WHPYyeaQs8KkHxn1MZQnbm-Ymp4JwdrAfTt70ezxdZqazTWzVynjHBsM896yGhC9HNwIJAubk/s2048/211113+-+CTS+hoppers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXz7ZHV_cQDOfRdRB5RIYD-RIFANdYx5emIt2Izo2MKV9OZTJ6eue4RJ4mYRTJ8PIhd-WHPYyeaQs8KkHxn1MZQnbm-Ymp4JwdrAfTt70ezxdZqazTWzVynjHBsM896yGhC9HNwIJAubk/s320/211113+-+CTS+hoppers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The the detail on the hoppers is quite impressive and they have run well so far. I'm looking forward to running a longer operations session with these later in the year prior to Christmas. They will weather up nicely with some panel liner and a couple of coats of black pastels to get a more prototypical look.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio4SwY7dvEvTOGAKwuZC-C4aEFHRsgzbEoHnnXwkxs777zjqhgsd71-MFLSHVuIKfYD0hj9SYUkq1jPYPsj6RU8v5M6uPVUMelICdRakmlbO9vIul0ZxJrxdMySd09aHT_vBnSKOKJA4uu/s2048/211113+-+CTS+hoppers+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio4SwY7dvEvTOGAKwuZC-C4aEFHRsgzbEoHnnXwkxs777zjqhgsd71-MFLSHVuIKfYD0hj9SYUkq1jPYPsj6RU8v5M6uPVUMelICdRakmlbO9vIul0ZxJrxdMySd09aHT_vBnSKOKJA4uu/s320/211113+-+CTS+hoppers+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>They also fit on the traverser with the guards' van, however not with a loco. Each road on the traverser is 1 metre long. I should really get around to laying some loco tracks on the traverser wings as I intended to about 6 years ago...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0R57LFd2LPyzzxfbLQ_SaC4l5e_WZo_mpZsdJvBDr-xEmAeZNcqdLEK3sJ-M2OPMKCfauv2gWpvGpmdihb4NtAwVw3u7GwaprH9bSJrurC1VRkYWwyHQt2rCnfEm_pR0IRlvKTKr_p1-0/s2622/211113+-+CTS+hoppers+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1199" data-original-width="2622" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0R57LFd2LPyzzxfbLQ_SaC4l5e_WZo_mpZsdJvBDr-xEmAeZNcqdLEK3sJ-M2OPMKCfauv2gWpvGpmdihb4NtAwVw3u7GwaprH9bSJrurC1VRkYWwyHQt2rCnfEm_pR0IRlvKTKr_p1-0/s320/211113+-+CTS+hoppers+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The big news is that my Peco catenary has finally arrived from Hattons in the UK and I've almost finished building the overhead stanchions required for the layout. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdo6FygDAbmjh8R0lrO2jyni4NrE3ML7wjgpfzz5IDSFFOYZgtrFog4RHCSCs2NZBtfDQJlBxCwMaZomLKRgkZ2eOgDTT8w7fDCLZpP1LJEFd7gN9DDFB7mn_ldmsXigSAu0sjEjBf_7x2/s2048/211113+-+catenary+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdo6FygDAbmjh8R0lrO2jyni4NrE3ML7wjgpfzz5IDSFFOYZgtrFog4RHCSCs2NZBtfDQJlBxCwMaZomLKRgkZ2eOgDTT8w7fDCLZpP1LJEFd7gN9DDFB7mn_ldmsXigSAu0sjEjBf_7x2/s320/211113+-+catenary+1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">They still need painting, but they're coming along nicely.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmsujib04gn4yvo-DdMu6pCep26YWJ2V9s3hMIaKyYbrd6zEP3aiAos5j88tHmCQMSlTOoCRL50_-wbpHYR6XqWFDHDAMKaDRS8Uh224pBBeASR91o2eh1EpYlUdipBDqREjrc_eOWRgv1/s2048/211113+-+catenary+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmsujib04gn4yvo-DdMu6pCep26YWJ2V9s3hMIaKyYbrd6zEP3aiAos5j88tHmCQMSlTOoCRL50_-wbpHYR6XqWFDHDAMKaDRS8Uh224pBBeASR91o2eh1EpYlUdipBDqREjrc_eOWRgv1/s320/211113+-+catenary+2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p>The top bar of the stanchions currently sit 95mm off the head of the rails. I'm going to lower that another 5mm, but I don't plan on the pantographs touching the wire, just to limit the damage it might do if snagged. The Peco catenary is the thinnest I've been able to find and to my eyes does a much better job of representing catenary wire than some of the other stuff available, especially for the 95% of time where no trains are running beneath it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM1OHuyoz0PN0XpcCjgaWOctcOoaN03lrzbkL2B596xR3cxbz1tjKL_WTH89VSVOe_a2C2m0zYdttBWv2PTXwRqzXxnxgmvh4_ARLsXiBKWC62CBGGuaJe8dnRP-wd0ke-9guBMF2le2vB/s2606/211113+-+catenary+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1207" data-original-width="2606" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM1OHuyoz0PN0XpcCjgaWOctcOoaN03lrzbkL2B596xR3cxbz1tjKL_WTH89VSVOe_a2C2m0zYdttBWv2PTXwRqzXxnxgmvh4_ARLsXiBKWC62CBGGuaJe8dnRP-wd0ke-9guBMF2le2vB/s320/211113+-+catenary+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've had some interest in how to make the stanchions, and I've been significantly helped in building them by Matt Joiner, who has provided me with measurements and working out the best materials to use. As it's quite popular, we're putting together an article for the AMRM to thoroughly detail how to build these. It will likely come out in one of the editions next year, so keep an eye out!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lastly, I've been slowly working on some wagons loads. Below is a BDY with some telephone poles for delivery to the local council via the co-op siding. I really want to have a day of building and painting some tarps for the other BDY and one of the CDYs before the end of the year, but as always, time is a precious commodity at the moment.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiziJOO-V9AuiYP8zNYp-C5xtgTu0-Db4DXs9suzUFq28W-VleyxOX52W7Gwhjs9iBt3aQK7TjOj31N45CfomT0K4YAlmaDaqKPJ2zOmk0RihCylWorZb0e1azaXuuNt8mxfbtBKe7RuKXC/s2048/211113+-+BDY+load.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiziJOO-V9AuiYP8zNYp-C5xtgTu0-Db4DXs9suzUFq28W-VleyxOX52W7Gwhjs9iBt3aQK7TjOj31N45CfomT0K4YAlmaDaqKPJ2zOmk0RihCylWorZb0e1azaXuuNt8mxfbtBKe7RuKXC/s320/211113+-+BDY+load.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>That's all for now - cheers!<br /><br />Ben</p>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17921057640304228166noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-665903955317007319.post-78798933558116179232021-09-24T18:38:00.002-07:002021-09-24T18:38:20.174-07:00Layout update<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Finally - some actual modelling. But first, some more plonking.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Like most modellers, I was really impressed with the new IDR models BBWs. Ian has done a fantastic job bringing them together and they'll look great with a new SJM BBP when I can get my hands on one - they sold out within an hour of being listed on the website! Thankfully I'm on a waiting list with SJM for one, so I'm looking forward to being able to add a ballast train to operations every so often.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2pHRHRW5golRt7gKonTKbu3W_00Tu_sgF-kW5wLbbRlmufP5Ef22M0_L2DjVbJllO1tRQ7X4Q-toJUbcyi7Xi_-K0c2HuodL1szOBm7vllAzGRuMLK3iH6sPMpMB_eOATot_begGeNltk/s2016/210925+-+BBWs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2pHRHRW5golRt7gKonTKbu3W_00Tu_sgF-kW5wLbbRlmufP5Ef22M0_L2DjVbJllO1tRQ7X4Q-toJUbcyi7Xi_-K0c2HuodL1szOBm7vllAzGRuMLK3iH6sPMpMB_eOATot_begGeNltk/s320/210925+-+BBWs.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>As I've been alluding to for about a year or so, I don't get much time to build kits or do decalling or any other jobs where you just need to be able to sit at the workbench until it's done at the moment. So to get some of those models that I really want to see running but which are stuck in the kit box completed, I've commissioned some other modellers. Josh Beveridge has built and painted these two InFront Models ICXs for me, which I've topped with some models I've actually built and weathered! Josh has done a fantastic job on both. He also assembled and painted an OSF for me which is running around with a refridgerated RACE container as well.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr5iOlwCuMGQ2ilTorYaXqVEVHu5ogU1vzwY4F99dks73Mh0sc9MWkz5N967nhSIZZ6IxDuLIUgc8iXwYVQsnMNm2eEVEg6GZsgZ6etgY_OJl4zTcMSjXFMxKN3pN-FZuxSu6FnUwXxc-Y/s2015/210925+-+ICX+RACE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1238" data-original-width="2015" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr5iOlwCuMGQ2ilTorYaXqVEVHu5ogU1vzwY4F99dks73Mh0sc9MWkz5N967nhSIZZ6IxDuLIUgc8iXwYVQsnMNm2eEVEg6GZsgZ6etgY_OJl4zTcMSjXFMxKN3pN-FZuxSu6FnUwXxc-Y/s320/210925+-+ICX+RACE.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmf22ON_OP3VOQr2iV9LDwoR_nFzNxSG2c_kpi_KVRnDrXfRwp9iUxDI1RIMMVkn5JBX17jcnLZMJkS1dsiZAuTle8i_YF3ltdFRVfSx1Q_OkFqEWtKXoQZnbBi16EYxhtatLBhbhe3jtp/s2016/210925+-+ICX.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmf22ON_OP3VOQr2iV9LDwoR_nFzNxSG2c_kpi_KVRnDrXfRwp9iUxDI1RIMMVkn5JBX17jcnLZMJkS1dsiZAuTle8i_YF3ltdFRVfSx1Q_OkFqEWtKXoQZnbBi16EYxhtatLBhbhe3jtp/s320/210925+-+ICX.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">A good 15-minute project I learned from Aaron Denning a few years ago is to paint the bogies of SDS models' BP hoppers with Tamiya TS-43 Racing Green. It's a great, quick job now that the weather is warming up and looks a lot more realistic than the fluro-green on the as-new models. </div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">My grandfather, who got me into trains as a toddler, was a fitter for BP for most of his working life and finished up working on their rail tank wagons (among other things) at the former Auburn depot, so these wagons hold a special place for me. It's nice to make them that little bit more accurate.</div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiONLbZl89ydJzYkjjF8-rVNbP3kU3wXWcoO4p6ZT6_JJZOJsoL_g8CgG58sxxo-g1jm_4zVp_9CYTMxoEVax5E27BOoj85R-EA8-ESw3x8aLDOcQJ0jC0aG9ayOyVMMd2ecVsfgZ6Ynsbz/s2016/210925+-+BP+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiONLbZl89ydJzYkjjF8-rVNbP3kU3wXWcoO4p6ZT6_JJZOJsoL_g8CgG58sxxo-g1jm_4zVp_9CYTMxoEVax5E27BOoj85R-EA8-ESw3x8aLDOcQJ0jC0aG9ayOyVMMd2ecVsfgZ6Ynsbz/s320/210925+-+BP+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_D12lP3TY8KNbCh_ssNN4vGAZm7zHHIZAipTafXiyoyq1m4UofgOosGs1qC7NgvKLt2Nq5vGSxMAk150ajRkJaQ6OKpwM8imUs2KiJsTrBF84v8bWGn8nvXzxFViwDNnabKQtQIb5ZiB/s2016/210925+-+BP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_D12lP3TY8KNbCh_ssNN4vGAZm7zHHIZAipTafXiyoyq1m4UofgOosGs1qC7NgvKLt2Nq5vGSxMAk150ajRkJaQ6OKpwM8imUs2KiJsTrBF84v8bWGn8nvXzxFViwDNnabKQtQIb5ZiB/s320/210925+-+BP.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I've also tackled the conveyor belt to finish off the coal loading tower. It's kitbashed from a Walthers conveyor belt kit and goes together very easily, as with all of the cornerstone stuff. This was one of those jobs that I needed a good few hours to just do until finished.</p><p>The conveyor belt is attached on legs which I've sunk into the plaster/foam rock to help integrate it into the scenery. It comes apart from the coal loader easily for when we inevitably move in a few years.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV4DkYRipgj6PW3wxmbmTjmF4HEtLgUNS3WpKYMxQ7nHLt7G5GDxyvBokKJZokwxgRJdBjZjujAnH93x2hyphenhyphenwTBSDjbArIehptzVXGrpUMO9i5LsOjomG9XlKYAak0xKQdgEItnyx2JJgs4/s2016/210925+-+coal+mine+conveyor+belt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV4DkYRipgj6PW3wxmbmTjmF4HEtLgUNS3WpKYMxQ7nHLt7G5GDxyvBokKJZokwxgRJdBjZjujAnH93x2hyphenhyphenwTBSDjbArIehptzVXGrpUMO9i5LsOjomG9XlKYAak0xKQdgEItnyx2JJgs4/s320/210925+-+coal+mine+conveyor+belt.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Earlier this year I was looking at the signals Ray Pilgrim has been producing through his SignalsBranch page and decided I needed one after seeing the linear micro servos he's incorporated into them. Many months later the completed signal with servos has arrived and will shortly be fixed to the layout and wired up. The arms are at odd angle because I'm waiting on the servo control buttons and motherboard to arrive from the US. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRtDb_OekbAcLBaPux5y9mfw3uvYDkG4RkoBLH3Lj58fAGrq1xcg1L6imjvgSKRdk_s-fv2UshFqIcAh_c83JP0Mo8IKewcRf9CHgRv6295NPVaFodnxrhFFKKkr3v4Qg-sSeLFmd95_mk/s1280/210925+-+overall+scene.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="893" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRtDb_OekbAcLBaPux5y9mfw3uvYDkG4RkoBLH3Lj58fAGrq1xcg1L6imjvgSKRdk_s-fv2UshFqIcAh_c83JP0Mo8IKewcRf9CHgRv6295NPVaFodnxrhFFKKkr3v4Qg-sSeLFmd95_mk/s320/210925+-+overall+scene.jpg" width="223" /></a></div><p></p>As an aside, Tam Valley Depot, whose products I've been using to get reliable DCC operation through the frogs and operate the turnouts, are significantly downsizing and only producing frog juicers and dcc boosters from now on apparently. This is due to the main proprietor having an incurable disease and retiring to build his layout before the inevitable. Can't say I blame him either. I was lucky to be able to get the last few bits I need to install and operate the signal from Streamlined Backshop in the US before it sells out globally. Damned if I know what I'm going to do for turnout control on future layouts, but I'm sure there will be some new innovation or another manufacturer will step into the void. <br /><br />I've also weathered the coal loader. The little details are all coming together to make a really enjoyable scene to operate through.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHTfksxP2kBl6VpZ9jfPBYHdHl-3vuap2baTPHllfD2DActuTJuk7Rd2eEyDbpeeYAPi0dP4e8tb5TJonaijGKEO-2A47GzuHelujpWi_3AOmJH339dJPpoV7n7CNbBMquBNjZXzijDgVh/s1973/210925+-+completed+coal+mine+conveyor+belt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="1973" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHTfksxP2kBl6VpZ9jfPBYHdHl-3vuap2baTPHllfD2DActuTJuk7Rd2eEyDbpeeYAPi0dP4e8tb5TJonaijGKEO-2A47GzuHelujpWi_3AOmJH339dJPpoV7n7CNbBMquBNjZXzijDgVh/s320/210925+-+completed+coal+mine+conveyor+belt.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The next priority is finishing off the point rodding and any other small jobs that will be "under the wires" before I can install the catenary.</p><p></p><p>Cheerio for now,</p><p>Ben</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17921057640304228166noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-665903955317007319.post-20232740309486154652021-09-18T17:40:00.003-07:002021-09-19T16:51:32.781-07:00Rozelle Street is famous!<p>Just a short post today - in case you missed it, Rozelle Street is the featured layout in the October 2021 issue of the AMRM!<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe7fLWmbh0QSkCH7EHeK-WD8FrhvIJdgw_y6rVPb5acnIK8Yk-BB4n_B2Iz72risK8Ov0-GbEJ3-4W4Vg3CQLvouKrn8h5KgiGyUf5lNZSpWhxN7F82qkwtOPkDmCIEfdnmshvN14FPzSo/s1024/211001+-+AMRM+-+Oct+21+-+Rozelle+Street+cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="724" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe7fLWmbh0QSkCH7EHeK-WD8FrhvIJdgw_y6rVPb5acnIK8Yk-BB4n_B2Iz72risK8Ov0-GbEJ3-4W4Vg3CQLvouKrn8h5KgiGyUf5lNZSpWhxN7F82qkwtOPkDmCIEfdnmshvN14FPzSo/s320/211001+-+AMRM+-+Oct+21+-+Rozelle+Street+cover.jpg" width="226" /></a></div><p></p><p>It's one thing to have one's articles published in print, but another thing entirely to get your layout published in what has been an institution of Australian railway modelling for more than 50 years. I hear a lot of people deride magazines and even lament that the AMRM has lost it's lustre, and I don't agree with those views. Despite the adoption of more 'instant' media in the hobby such as social media, YouTube channels and podcasts, I feel like magazines like AMRM still have a place in teaching us new things either through dedicated 'how to' articles or through appreciating other people's work. For me, a magazine's strength is in areas where a modeller can pause and observe. The detail that modellers put into the layouts featured in the mag, or in the featured models displayed in the 'Gallery' pages, are truly worth taking the time to look over several times to fully appreciate. </p><p>I don't envy the task that Scott and the team have in balancing the interests of the state and private systems, era's, and scales that comprise the modelling community in Australia. I think some of the magazine's detractors forget that at times. Overall, I think the AMRM do quite a good job in balancing interesting content with each system, era, or scale. To my eyes the quality of the publication has noticeably improved in the last year or so, especially in achieving a balance between articles about the prototype, to weathering, or scenery, or electronics. [Full disclosure - I've been humbled to have a bunch of stuff published in the last 12 months, but I'm not referring to that here.] </p><p>Anyway, that's my thoughts. Now to get that copy of the front cover framed and into the pool room. </p><p>I have made a fair bit of progress on the layout since the last post and I'll aim to get that up in the next few weeks.</p><p>Cheers,<br />Ben</p><p> <br /><br /><br /></p>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17921057640304228166noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-665903955317007319.post-29956527740974107812021-07-16T21:36:00.002-07:002021-07-16T21:36:07.688-07:00Improving peco turnouts for DCC operation<p>To run through the main line on my layout a train will cross 5 of the 6 turnouts on the layout. Recently, the shorter locos (48 and 49) had been stalling on two of the turnouts and when they started stalling on a third it was time to do something about it.</p><p>If you follow many railway modelling blogs or vlogs you'll often see modellers who run DCC systems will post or comment about improving turnouts for DCC operation. With the exception of fitting a Hex frog juicer to every frog, I had only really applied the many methods I had read and seen to fix problems I'd found as I went, rather than to establish very reliable operations from the outset.</p><p>No longer. </p><p>From today, every turnout I buy is getting the below treatment before installation. There's no value in reinventing the wheel, so watch Dave from Dean Park Railway explain how to improve peco turnouts for DCC. My focus was the advice at 3'39"</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/I3wIiCKVKqo" width="320" youtube-src-id="I3wIiCKVKqo"></iframe></div><p>On the below turnout I found I had installed one of these jumpers on one of the turnouts prior to installation on the layout, which would have been the smart thing to do for both. After identifying where the plastic sleeper gaps were, I scraped the sand and grout away from underneath. I cut a piece of the additional wire leading off the frog from some brand new Peco turnouts I have sitting on the shelf waiting for future use. These joining pieces were then soldered in place, taking care not to damage the scenery around the turnout.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqJXkqHXoDThQS8X9vlJiik3vacbKRXTz1Ji_cnhTnOwR6ll-BZ_VqPbXrv2Yz8bUfREHWCAzExaDOlU4g7wCPbRNOL4an3TfJ6cVFUWWHFIf1ijF9cZQLQeufwUF9Cjtpe60s0VmwvYRa/s4032/170721+-+turnout.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqJXkqHXoDThQS8X9vlJiik3vacbKRXTz1Ji_cnhTnOwR6ll-BZ_VqPbXrv2Yz8bUfREHWCAzExaDOlU4g7wCPbRNOL4an3TfJ6cVFUWWHFIf1ijF9cZQLQeufwUF9Cjtpe60s0VmwvYRa/s320/170721+-+turnout.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Both turnouts' performance instantly improved as the stock rails are now powering the switching blades (probably should ask that railway track senior engineer brother of mine what it's actually called...) at all times. Once covered in with sand and grout again it's going to blend in nicely.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzHeGITNrB5j6EM9vToBwFbDBsKtIR0e1-TFVI6_b6SHq3eJIJMPCWkXtVkUd_R9MouXjqf7F5xMjqDsm9iR4kOt8aJxOAGQFi8cj0EU_pcL3fKh9Hs-DwLF1JNmlyvFqoJgmcZDduCzK1/s4032/210717+-+Turnout+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzHeGITNrB5j6EM9vToBwFbDBsKtIR0e1-TFVI6_b6SHq3eJIJMPCWkXtVkUd_R9MouXjqf7F5xMjqDsm9iR4kOt8aJxOAGQFi8cj0EU_pcL3fKh9Hs-DwLF1JNmlyvFqoJgmcZDduCzK1/s320/210717+-+Turnout+2.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Once I'd finished that I gave the 85 a run with the supplementary interurban set. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQVyC_iq3nP5xGIsch1a-lPpECWgA9b4nSzYQdmNZHLfZbmrZ3bDTMUuppKxv8H9tC_C0sxdk7x7E0TK2OHjgF82afHSJfcapwm9zYi-Xavnw0iJPc_NQ9KWlFJTSLn5-v9sPx_QFWV95l/s4032/210717+-+Marking+time.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQVyC_iq3nP5xGIsch1a-lPpECWgA9b4nSzYQdmNZHLfZbmrZ3bDTMUuppKxv8H9tC_C0sxdk7x7E0TK2OHjgF82afHSJfcapwm9zYi-Xavnw0iJPc_NQ9KWlFJTSLn5-v9sPx_QFWV95l/s320/210717+-+Marking+time.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The 85 is fairly long and is quite forgiving due to all wheels picking up current, so I'll need to try my shorter loco's to ensure that the turnout fixes have worked.</p><p>Looking ahead, the overhead wiring is going to be quite sensitive once installed so I'm going to leave that until after I've finished a number of items in and around the scenery, namely the coal loader and adding some further details around the track.</p><p>That's all for now! If you're reading this from Sydney and Melbourne, stay safe out there during lockdown. I hope you get some time at your respective modelling desks.<br /><br />Cheers,</p><p>Ben</p><p><br /></p>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17921057640304228166noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-665903955317007319.post-6407195751000760672021-06-29T18:19:00.001-07:002021-06-29T18:19:25.554-07:00Station complete<p>With some unexpected time off last week due to a particularly strong bout of daycare rabies I managed to fix the station awning and finish painting it. I've now installed it on the platform and added drainpipes, the concrete drain, water tank tap, and the PTC Station Master, resplendent in his era-appropriate knee-high socks. This is an Andian Models figure, painted by Jurgen Engels. I notice that Jurgen isn't painting 1:87 figures anymore and having seen the detail on mine I can complete understand this move!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ-XeKhMjthA8UnrrNweDUCEHaIfh_mSy3-1mWWa1wBJaoTec4yJGEYk_vJeT7aiYIpoADNBe5MeNrS9wOcSscWGRNIxn2mRWlBv5y_nbxbvOZIXOGGhSTZDkej3zJqjQd2TAe0RXupIgy/s3347/210630+-+Arriving+at+Mt+Wilson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2503" data-original-width="3347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ-XeKhMjthA8UnrrNweDUCEHaIfh_mSy3-1mWWa1wBJaoTec4yJGEYk_vJeT7aiYIpoADNBe5MeNrS9wOcSscWGRNIxn2mRWlBv5y_nbxbvOZIXOGGhSTZDkej3zJqjQd2TAe0RXupIgy/s320/210630+-+Arriving+at+Mt+Wilson.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"></p>Some will see it as pedantry, but the adjusted awning (top) looks much better than how it was (bottom).<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJU1a7_lMgC4udVV5rp82ds65a-CjwurRTcVZN7rIKkzzSC-UD_mshoJW6fbbLZqHKi8S7Kroz4j_hMW0T3oA6lT2jZzUyxbhU8-HpBZoPvmxpal_bqqmOdoLp7Yp8oluSygrV_lE-KLe/s2048/210630+-+Station+comparison.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJU1a7_lMgC4udVV5rp82ds65a-CjwurRTcVZN7rIKkzzSC-UD_mshoJW6fbbLZqHKi8S7Kroz4j_hMW0T3oA6lT2jZzUyxbhU8-HpBZoPvmxpal_bqqmOdoLp7Yp8oluSygrV_lE-KLe/s320/210630+-+Station+comparison.JPG" /></a></div><p>The final photo shows how the whole scene is coming together and provides an introduction to the current problem; overheads. Good progress on that front but a little more to do before I can post some photos of that.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXaHdh34gRn6Tg9p-E9-WvFeGyDM5MfgLvMFzttwZ56_EzYeRFE1hSgvTcrmHXe42BwRYy8tIlbv6T6Vf3wCXjSF1cCl8zM9hNrwrSKmeAIBgcNDAJ1VaEaVd-gXGN0WDwcWTpx0Qw7J_s/s4032/210630+-+V+set+arriving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXaHdh34gRn6Tg9p-E9-WvFeGyDM5MfgLvMFzttwZ56_EzYeRFE1hSgvTcrmHXe42BwRYy8tIlbv6T6Vf3wCXjSF1cCl8zM9hNrwrSKmeAIBgcNDAJ1VaEaVd-gXGN0WDwcWTpx0Qw7J_s/s320/210630+-+V+set+arriving.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Overall, I'm pretty happy with the couple of afternoons I spent in the train room last week. Apart from nausea and my voice sounding like Barry White, sick leave isn't all so bad!<br /><br />Cheers,<br />Ben</p>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17921057640304228166noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-665903955317007319.post-58978721805503956872021-06-20T03:40:00.001-07:002021-06-20T03:40:09.558-07:00Mid-year update<p>I realised the other day that I haven't had an update in a few months, so the blog is due for some fresh content. The blog has always been mainly a record for me to jot down how I did things, so that when I try to replicate them in future I can follow what past me did. That's the plan at least. In that regard, expect that updates here are going to be fewer and less often, and the bulk of my involvement in model railways will be in the physical world, or through Facebook.</p><p>Whilst this isn't the most current picture of Mount Wilson, here's where scenery got up to by about mid-May. Everywhere to the left of the station and coal loader has received the initial cover of dirt, grass, trees and weeds. I need to go back over the rear sections to build up the underbrush of the bushland.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyt2E7NyE3kcLVaKSrnrZtGBz1fJIm2QT6SffLRqSsRMrVgMxeq-0N6gpa6lwatLzRqS1xzHt2pSqOFHeSkKuk7W_ffbTkgov3ectZp2IbD527zo6KKxgV9k3M5Fldu5zWDwVbvTHMMM4I/s2048/210620+-+Mount+Wilson+station_LI+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1287" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyt2E7NyE3kcLVaKSrnrZtGBz1fJIm2QT6SffLRqSsRMrVgMxeq-0N6gpa6lwatLzRqS1xzHt2pSqOFHeSkKuk7W_ffbTkgov3ectZp2IbD527zo6KKxgV9k3M5Fldu5zWDwVbvTHMMM4I/s320/210620+-+Mount+Wilson+station_LI+%25283%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I managed to get the station up to a level to get the roof on, but have inadvertently set the pitch of the awning too low. I haven't puttied the joins or finished painting the barge boards, but you get the idea of what this will look like once complete from this image. Drainpipes to come too.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnYYI0qHFJG64F3ZWgUyQSm3Vg4XpYOujPiqvRbMdWkWFK9vNfz71pD2DAaLMZyo_y1o8Oy2TLZuSUhYwswlB-OgEYcyRRxfvljsOEwJ-yzeyUPNx5vOEceFTUjTjoaUJ9dsMaz1CcSF4Q/s2959/210620+-+Mount+Wilson+station+building.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2518" data-original-width="2959" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnYYI0qHFJG64F3ZWgUyQSm3Vg4XpYOujPiqvRbMdWkWFK9vNfz71pD2DAaLMZyo_y1o8Oy2TLZuSUhYwswlB-OgEYcyRRxfvljsOEwJ-yzeyUPNx5vOEceFTUjTjoaUJ9dsMaz1CcSF4Q/s320/210620+-+Mount+Wilson+station+building.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I also had a few spare hours to have a go at some additional rollingstock weathering, basically following James McInerney's article about quick weathering of wheels and bogies from the February AMRM. First up was an On Track Models LLV, which took the Bragdon's powders and isopropyl alcohol that I used to seal it (as per the article) quite well.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGyY5yi034mhohckF7pIMFK97eFTDKE4iFJRU0noorvhAcOTv0DECrOuOhpys6uqNxH0lUlmQ3dpmNLN_x-dPWY6mgOGl6zY399Thbao_tlamkdXQ26itj83xy-OFYVT6yjC9LV0Es6tTy/s4032/210620+-+LLV+weathering.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGyY5yi034mhohckF7pIMFK97eFTDKE4iFJRU0noorvhAcOTv0DECrOuOhpys6uqNxH0lUlmQ3dpmNLN_x-dPWY6mgOGl6zY399Thbao_tlamkdXQ26itj83xy-OFYVT6yjC9LV0Es6tTy/s320/210620+-+LLV+weathering.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The Auscision JLXs I tried it with however were a different story. Here's three in various stages of weathering. From left to right, no weathering, bogies only, and the last one has had bogies and the body done.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgevbRThK8hkcszTc0Z2sBebGLAm0xu4TmkhzSLna08yLzmxUosy2cTbgpxZS21pPXLH9DgRnYmFVWJyxAcPifNbAEEZjt_H0ZZwjW_N2XWs-KQC6AHGwwHibKh_ZCvtLw6rmLZFTf0adH3/s4030/210620+-+JLX+weathering+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1033" data-original-width="4030" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgevbRThK8hkcszTc0Z2sBebGLAm0xu4TmkhzSLna08yLzmxUosy2cTbgpxZS21pPXLH9DgRnYmFVWJyxAcPifNbAEEZjt_H0ZZwjW_N2XWs-KQC6AHGwwHibKh_ZCvtLw6rmLZFTf0adH3/s320/210620+-+JLX+weathering+5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>It looks passable, but when I focussed a little closer on the first JLX that I completed, there seems to be something going on with the Iso that I'm adding at the end. I'm getting this white residue colour, as per a previous blog post I made about weathering some of the RACE containers.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYzlH3EIWckNBOKDkFvuyURbIsF7nGYpEqnqiGM_mhRKhfLM4ymOCwiYZa236B9nvtrglcTREN2ijJem5PL98U_kc9zxm45bmi6ZZCOxjzM56SSNfMCINtPc-4nZ5qQgHRpyoZl8DVwA83/s3980/210620+-+JLX+weathering+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1461" data-original-width="3980" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYzlH3EIWckNBOKDkFvuyURbIsF7nGYpEqnqiGM_mhRKhfLM4ymOCwiYZa236B9nvtrglcTREN2ijJem5PL98U_kc9zxm45bmi6ZZCOxjzM56SSNfMCINtPc-4nZ5qQgHRpyoZl8DVwA83/s320/210620+-+JLX+weathering+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVdZYj-frBI_I87PvTwBewkwrLgPdMxFl9FUvOQIBDYrvnsf8t98zqV-5a98umdm0KeFD-SU_rFSp-9sYJON3b1HQ_Zeo2RgWFjBkiYj5kQR2njvX2ZoGAWiqZuDg8NsD9KL3j0XdQDztZ/s4032/210620+-+JLX+weathering+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVdZYj-frBI_I87PvTwBewkwrLgPdMxFl9FUvOQIBDYrvnsf8t98zqV-5a98umdm0KeFD-SU_rFSp-9sYJON3b1HQ_Zeo2RgWFjBkiYj5kQR2njvX2ZoGAWiqZuDg8NsD9KL3j0XdQDztZ/s320/210620+-+JLX+weathering+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>You can start to see the white colour coming up in the image I've taken of the LLV and JLX drying. Both received the exact same quick spray of iso straight from the bottle, yet the LLV isn't showing this pattern for whatever reason.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGWLEhKQAbWOOoFLDrl0AFgk66zFdg3fzpnp8YPPbFIyN7uNswexPakHRjPZ6IAYXDaZP0PMcIOjeoZRGWvU4tUOToEojScF-qSNMfKLb03v8msKOBFXUSZ5XhVJ5cwCdQWMXmnkyhctRV/s4032/210620+-+JLX+weathering+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGWLEhKQAbWOOoFLDrl0AFgk66zFdg3fzpnp8YPPbFIyN7uNswexPakHRjPZ6IAYXDaZP0PMcIOjeoZRGWvU4tUOToEojScF-qSNMfKLb03v8msKOBFXUSZ5XhVJ5cwCdQWMXmnkyhctRV/s320/210620+-+JLX+weathering+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Going back even further in the process, the right-hand side of the JLX has received the weathered brown Bragdon's powder, and the left is as-yet untouched. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBcgFpsQLxRPdRFW7y8cazcU_s40jeJRjyGxt1cAgkrwYqZB5hPrKSo83zyWtA4HC1mAOj4PSHw2itS_ZYutm_vdMu0X8yf99UerKSuyBglxBV03HCiM2O0Naq9V5dfz9BpkWUHaCRx28n/s2048/210620+-+JLX+weathering+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1127" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBcgFpsQLxRPdRFW7y8cazcU_s40jeJRjyGxt1cAgkrwYqZB5hPrKSo83zyWtA4HC1mAOj4PSHw2itS_ZYutm_vdMu0X8yf99UerKSuyBglxBV03HCiM2O0Naq9V5dfz9BpkWUHaCRx28n/s320/210620+-+JLX+weathering+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Weird. I might try spraying it from the airbrush at a very low pressure to see if that produces a finer mist. Currently, I've just gone over the roof with a light application of the black to try to tie it in a little more. It looks ok, but to my eyes it still looks like a patch job. Perhaps that's effective weathering itself!</p>I also recently had the opportunity to run a train on Bethungra. Thanks go both to Steven Pracy who organised for the NSW Diesel Era Modellers to run their trains on the EMRC's layout, and to my wife for watching the boy for us for an afternoon on her day off.<br /><br />It was nice to give 42106 a run on Bethungra. Here it is at the southern end of Bethungra spiral with an interstate train that I've been building up to run on a future Blue Mountains layout. One day.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUHBA886LS7J_vyR0dyH_aPOS5bErKK9kEJle8KM6hNDbGgTMPU8_DjARDbqeIBY_lPH0u7GCqnyjV85oRGn8imBdN3w6-m8BYoyLf26ryVbCe5mqXrKJupjHURwMT8w_9Hm4rJo8PYUR-/s2704/210620+-+Bethungra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1163" data-original-width="2704" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUHBA886LS7J_vyR0dyH_aPOS5bErKK9kEJle8KM6hNDbGgTMPU8_DjARDbqeIBY_lPH0u7GCqnyjV85oRGn8imBdN3w6-m8BYoyLf26ryVbCe5mqXrKJupjHURwMT8w_9Hm4rJo8PYUR-/s320/210620+-+Bethungra.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>SDS models' upcoming 81 with DCC sound was also being put through it's paces on the day. The sound file sounds amazing and to say I followed it around the layout a handful of times would be an understatement. If you were hesitating buying one I would get an order in right now - you will regret missing out.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_zWKS9lYEskrxUEnGRU0uYEnCqhbkorV4sKY7YsoSnsvn_h6L1omliRi7d_v0Oik8MPrcWjnPzt9QTWcDBti4YwQT43a1ogCnPGguwyQGKSl9VKSMd_Ley6g0NmqHg-ONsTwU_ACsjZEw/s4032/210620+-+8104+Bethungra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_zWKS9lYEskrxUEnGRU0uYEnCqhbkorV4sKY7YsoSnsvn_h6L1omliRi7d_v0Oik8MPrcWjnPzt9QTWcDBti4YwQT43a1ogCnPGguwyQGKSl9VKSMd_Ley6g0NmqHg-ONsTwU_ACsjZEw/s320/210620+-+8104+Bethungra.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>A short update but plenty more to follow in the next few months.<br /><br />If you read this and find any of it useful, please feel free to leave a comment. The blog format doesn't lend itself to engagement as much as other social media platforms, but it's nice to see who's getting value out of my ramblings to the wind sometimes.<br /><br />Cheers,<br />Ben</p><p></p><p><br /></p>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17921057640304228166noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-665903955317007319.post-45956842092963605972021-04-10T17:20:00.002-07:002021-04-10T17:20:35.509-07:00Progress on ground cover<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The older you get, the more life keeps intervening in your valuable train time, yet I managed to get a solid day to work on the scenery over the Easter long weekend. Here's a sample of how it's looking now:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_b5itfIbzKN0rn3_Mg9oCqEXz-FGgNNtL-Fqlj-tROAtdlVjA300YZWsNTwNnsTfXlbCjafMO_skfSU6DdcJOhxNGxbqvyEZQ378YK9Kf3fSS2ficHv4HsvaOME0i00Cv4RZLTA1MADSC/s3295/IMG_5031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3295" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_b5itfIbzKN0rn3_Mg9oCqEXz-FGgNNtL-Fqlj-tROAtdlVjA300YZWsNTwNnsTfXlbCjafMO_skfSU6DdcJOhxNGxbqvyEZQ378YK9Kf3fSS2ficHv4HsvaOME0i00Cv4RZLTA1MADSC/s320/IMG_5031.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Since the last update I had finished toning down the rock colours to a darker shade, and am happy with where it is now. Onto more scenery!<br /><br />The method I outlined in the last blog for track ballasting is the one I've adopted going forward; dried and sifted washed Sydney sand applied dry onto the track and shaped with a foam brush, then secured with iso followed by Luke Towan's scenic glue mix. After the below photo I reserved the eye-dropper for applying glue and just added the iso directly from the spray attachment on the bottle.</div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ElGrSmKsdxbsM3QTajqT7CyGDNcM0PTJ9_nxflJv_336UtYRziyjHDXn0swQIeymHlxZDETPWegGWDN6oxbUNN3fLb6am-YndN3iRIoaCcFtVPgXq2G23IROV_Xhwm1FVIjN4zuWOEFt/s4032/IMG_5006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ElGrSmKsdxbsM3QTajqT7CyGDNcM0PTJ9_nxflJv_336UtYRziyjHDXn0swQIeymHlxZDETPWegGWDN6oxbUNN3fLb6am-YndN3iRIoaCcFtVPgXq2G23IROV_Xhwm1FVIjN4zuWOEFt/s320/IMG_5006.jpg" /></a></div><br />Below, the fuel siding with sand applied, ready for iso and glue. The flag is to mark where trees are going.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJF1QoxeHwLWziJgFp_OjOhGDbabBBgrpkQcJhUWwEwrS741pB5O78wUs-8TjAVpQG4rq0U5jBTdaxV5gKl9ivwToVHiZxlzdQeecTxurJVr35fjo_rYOEpytc37mi1YprtRIWEKaEDFTr/s4032/IMG_5009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJF1QoxeHwLWziJgFp_OjOhGDbabBBgrpkQcJhUWwEwrS741pB5O78wUs-8TjAVpQG4rq0U5jBTdaxV5gKl9ivwToVHiZxlzdQeecTxurJVr35fjo_rYOEpytc37mi1YprtRIWEKaEDFTr/s320/IMG_5009.jpg" /></a></div><br />The current scenery layer was masked with the Sunday paper before spraying iso. Once that dried, I applied a blend of Davco grout colours to suit a dry, greyish ash ballast look, and then sprayed iso again followed by glue<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIi3T3NBcQHmm9tN_En2q9fQ9lkApYPX6WH7wC7smeI6YeeBkCPKZqfqHAwd8CwaCwSk6YDucqwaYtZAwr3lPWCt9EaVRvE72JYnT4ruIiHnrmjYNyM18lYreeo6KgYRTY-Khc6nnhmsMH/s4032/IMG_5016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIi3T3NBcQHmm9tN_En2q9fQ9lkApYPX6WH7wC7smeI6YeeBkCPKZqfqHAwd8CwaCwSk6YDucqwaYtZAwr3lPWCt9EaVRvE72JYnT4ruIiHnrmjYNyM18lYreeo6KgYRTY-Khc6nnhmsMH/s320/IMG_5016.jpg" /></a></div><br />I also applied the same method for the coal siding. For the regular scenery (i.e. away from the track) I've used Luke Towan's dirt method; 1 part sifted and dried backyard dirt mixed with 1 part of lighter brown grout, applied through an old stocking. For the coal siding I've amended the mix to 1 part black grout and 1 part dirt. Here it is when wet:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSKh9lCmpE0PGMFwgJRIk9EtIavWWiFdpdV_N2VBDAnz6amExjHnWZGggVR1SNY7pg59aqwk4cYc_o2GeIehbUkvRnD6ntirZIFGutrLIeC4K4ruFvnxICDi4nVq-1GZTUyUkwCR2s6QRQ/s4032/IMG_5017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSKh9lCmpE0PGMFwgJRIk9EtIavWWiFdpdV_N2VBDAnz6amExjHnWZGggVR1SNY7pg59aqwk4cYc_o2GeIehbUkvRnD6ntirZIFGutrLIeC4K4ruFvnxICDi4nVq-1GZTUyUkwCR2s6QRQ/s320/IMG_5017.jpg" /></a></div><div><br />And here it is after drying. It does look a little darker in person, but I'm pretty happy with it. The colour will be more noticeable once I've finished the ground cover on the adjacent tracks.<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqKoKq5SDqdczdNo4kxINauM6wmWmO0SOxXRtzGBpptK2Rjd0E70Qe7_-GA8yHfxp0Q3IDCxtQ-Kt__Vm-iWYqCN9Mac5DIXQEujQqLXdX4G2AXAdS-9S9hBWaWCKFssmECT9DuKdLomx1/s4032/IMG_5054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqKoKq5SDqdczdNo4kxINauM6wmWmO0SOxXRtzGBpptK2Rjd0E70Qe7_-GA8yHfxp0Q3IDCxtQ-Kt__Vm-iWYqCN9Mac5DIXQEujQqLXdX4G2AXAdS-9S9hBWaWCKFssmECT9DuKdLomx1/s320/IMG_5054.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Another shot of the fuel siding once dry:</div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrJm3rp_65fCZLnyQDsy5rDvfD8UwQbSPX296jcHHugsIrE43tlzV3x6_Og4N4ziSYbhGCnEetr84f2RkwVysAzPvvpDxVBFvdiLk6oZtKwgxBwSiD9sd7xL9It1ug2gjaiEPjaCIcIYg7/s4032/IMG_5020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrJm3rp_65fCZLnyQDsy5rDvfD8UwQbSPX296jcHHugsIrE43tlzV3x6_Og4N4ziSYbhGCnEetr84f2RkwVysAzPvvpDxVBFvdiLk6oZtKwgxBwSiD9sd7xL9It1ug2gjaiEPjaCIcIYg7/s320/IMG_5020.jpg" /></a></div><br />An overall shot of the entry and fuel siding. The more scenery I get down on to the layout the more I feel like I'm closer to getting the layout to the idea of how it would shape up when first designing it. It's a good feeling!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhStbaoF_AYaQb3psA7_9Y6ad3sS5BHvpyu_sjUM67zRIjKKuURUGO2VyEIViafC1UIqCbvaVXOaU46Av7DnM6hoDV9P5PJhC1uu7BQ08LjUvrLy1_KqDa6n7BFHThsIiqxPmidrc6mP_ph/s4032/IMG_5035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhStbaoF_AYaQb3psA7_9Y6ad3sS5BHvpyu_sjUM67zRIjKKuURUGO2VyEIViafC1UIqCbvaVXOaU46Av7DnM6hoDV9P5PJhC1uu7BQ08LjUvrLy1_KqDa6n7BFHThsIiqxPmidrc6mP_ph/s320/IMG_5035.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Pretty happy with how the fruit siding is coming along too:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPOL_l8nWpKAqnjbGOfJbO7v1gqr-MmgF5maG-_2zWyj00up_Hi5uqxvzX_MRhJn5uegGCRSv0dmpNc304MZGpXULTVIeSOq-3vE-JUgGDca4J9KCHDmNxug0bx0uuFF2Ksfs6rUok-mHr/s3072/IMG_5037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2124" data-original-width="3072" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPOL_l8nWpKAqnjbGOfJbO7v1gqr-MmgF5maG-_2zWyj00up_Hi5uqxvzX_MRhJn5uegGCRSv0dmpNc304MZGpXULTVIeSOq-3vE-JUgGDca4J9KCHDmNxug0bx0uuFF2Ksfs6rUok-mHr/s320/IMG_5037.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>And as usual, the overall progress as of now.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXY91Ri8ZHf3IHZ1iZh0qBK3dE88fnmV11kaTyFDRjHgjd9GCby_aGnCMnzYRogFQ59KvtIoe-BZahp2m4t8RqdxQz3-6Da9s8wE3hBFivHyH0HtqZ9-UGQvtOzDEQp2T66lpce8bfz9qc/s3957/IMG_5040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="3957" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXY91Ri8ZHf3IHZ1iZh0qBK3dE88fnmV11kaTyFDRjHgjd9GCby_aGnCMnzYRogFQ59KvtIoe-BZahp2m4t8RqdxQz3-6Da9s8wE3hBFivHyH0HtqZ9-UGQvtOzDEQp2T66lpce8bfz9qc/s320/IMG_5040.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Probably due to schedule another operations session soon, but I'm keen to race ahead with a little more scenery while I've got the time. I have a large amount of leave coming up mid-year, so I'm hoping to use it to finish all of the buildings, and build the overheads.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Until next time, cheers!<br />Ben</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17921057640304228166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-665903955317007319.post-68951887715074952952021-02-07T01:22:00.005-08:002021-02-07T01:22:37.467-08:00Scenery progressHaving started back at work this year I'm finding modelling time is a little tight at the moment. Before I potentially ruin 2-years worth of seemingly-perpetual wiring and baseboard construction, I thought I'd try some techniques on a spare plank of wood with offcuts of track. Below is the final method I'm happy with. <div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJiUQaTUl00py7rCD2MPTsOmAW3uAGNdywFlyRu0Ef-NlNyveuY3tEk8vOvXEE3DLlEY8yperjs8kuNWHN3Fs3XD3hkXxs5kwgFvtyov8s-ZzbuqamrCtUwTK5YsBROUNI8eGg5z6XJTzp/s2048/210206+-+CKF+scenery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1260" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJiUQaTUl00py7rCD2MPTsOmAW3uAGNdywFlyRu0Ef-NlNyveuY3tEk8vOvXEE3DLlEY8yperjs8kuNWHN3Fs3XD3hkXxs5kwgFvtyov8s-ZzbuqamrCtUwTK5YsBROUNI8eGg5z6XJTzp/s320/210206+-+CKF+scenery.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />I've used Washed Sydney Sand from Bunnings, dried out in the oven, and laid to bring the ground height up to the top of the sleepers, moving it around with a foam brush to get it level, and using another soft-bristle flat brush to get the sand off the sides of the rails and tops of the sleepers. I then wet it with isopropyl alcohol followed by Luke Towan's scenic mixture of mod podge, water and a dash of dishwashing detergent. After it dried I've dusted my ground cover colour of mixed tile grout colours from an old tea strainer, and seal it with iso and the scenic glue again. I'm quite happy with this result.<br /><br />Just need to dig out some dirt from the backyard to get the base ground scenery layer, and the real scenic fun begins.<br /><br />I've also started planning the construction of the stanchions for the overhead wiring and catenary. Provided I can get some K&S brass bits it looks fairly straight forward to construct, but more on that in future posts once I've achieved it.<br /><br />That's all for now!<br /><br />Cheers,<br />Ben<br /><br /><br /></div></div>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17921057640304228166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-665903955317007319.post-11004767180750627472021-01-23T03:11:00.000-08:002021-01-23T03:11:05.562-08:00Scenery update<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Just a quick update on how the scenery is progressing. After the spakfilla had all dried, I added strata lines and carved other erosion lines into it with a circular file. I also took sandpaper to it to prevent that smooth look.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The first coat of yellow has been far too yellow. In my haste to see nature bursting off the modules I've mixed up a darker batch of the yellow wash than I had used on Rozelle Street. This has caused me some problems which I've spent the last two weeks trying to work around.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The first golden layer:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIELR9LZUC92FTRB0IXpDLQmslwoEgk7_B7qa16RDeaZIP66WJjBvkzkC96NovNKrZ0IQW6yq4bwuNJc1vSSA6h__DiwwIrPiWw82r029EKqEpyWyKp7M2GRZfIQ7hmkgtHcu8mj9c0N_r/s2048/210123++-+scenery+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIELR9LZUC92FTRB0IXpDLQmslwoEgk7_B7qa16RDeaZIP66WJjBvkzkC96NovNKrZ0IQW6yq4bwuNJc1vSSA6h__DiwwIrPiWw82r029EKqEpyWyKp7M2GRZfIQ7hmkgtHcu8mj9c0N_r/s320/210123++-+scenery+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>I then applied some more orange/light brown highlights to give variation:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSR0CnVv_0R-MUotsKUxXxp73idsPyxjyGFohlzgdaHYQRzZJz6tar_rQ8CchOJfq1TW6odjxtdkyhullfzlHt3EjQYNQKJz6-c2i66jUSu7ALluZloAT3aRVkhTotCD9-XUx8vcv8i6B-/s2048/210123+-+scenery+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSR0CnVv_0R-MUotsKUxXxp73idsPyxjyGFohlzgdaHYQRzZJz6tar_rQ8CchOJfq1TW6odjxtdkyhullfzlHt3EjQYNQKJz6-c2i66jUSu7ALluZloAT3aRVkhTotCD9-XUx8vcv8i6B-/s320/210123+-+scenery+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />I then applied the grey/brown wash over the lot to get to where I should be:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrS-SEJ8vL1YYeV4aqxc0P_pOiM8fCRpAcVs4KzBnw_vh7aDgMC5I7LHagkbv8QUCNLX_9hZH1hojx8SiSjTB8kIwFOc2Okf2rP3HbW3Ulqi93KLEL_rMxm1RmIvLmRkMzS7exMtD2336l/s2048/210123+-+scenery+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrS-SEJ8vL1YYeV4aqxc0P_pOiM8fCRpAcVs4KzBnw_vh7aDgMC5I7LHagkbv8QUCNLX_9hZH1hojx8SiSjTB8kIwFOc2Okf2rP3HbW3Ulqi93KLEL_rMxm1RmIvLmRkMzS7exMtD2336l/s320/210123+-+scenery+3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />After this step, the darker yellow really threw me. To my eyes, it stick out too much and isn't the subtle, muted colour I was after.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXu_oFTUGIHmKYgRjZFQQ3HASr-U9Ej6zJJfAh93nu1gcdEQ7XYU6FXX-9hsLLNkqfyW779lpwUdMQhX1Pj6m4eHnJK271IRgAchFFSXcOXNChzHAkdTtEUNBV2I2LNhN4Av86YrzsvEbq/s2048/210123+-+scenery+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXu_oFTUGIHmKYgRjZFQQ3HASr-U9Ej6zJJfAh93nu1gcdEQ7XYU6FXX-9hsLLNkqfyW779lpwUdMQhX1Pj6m4eHnJK271IRgAchFFSXcOXNChzHAkdTtEUNBV2I2LNhN4Av86YrzsvEbq/s320/210123+-+scenery+4.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />So I tried making it a little darker with a very dark grey/brown wash, which to my eyes looks good as weathered, exposed rock, but the sheltered cracks and crevices were still too yellow. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_d0FliwSUABvGYvxAavITPE-faxOu2C8d0i3B3OYK7F5xU3HBjv6_d0VeX_xvXtTHc8kATEtEwJNm3FInuzu8phwAijvBBhEQE9NAAFZtE6LYVj2qOy14JEyeZrhP8DHhzoYG6FZ31u9H/s2048/210123+-+scenery+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_d0FliwSUABvGYvxAavITPE-faxOu2C8d0i3B3OYK7F5xU3HBjv6_d0VeX_xvXtTHc8kATEtEwJNm3FInuzu8phwAijvBBhEQE9NAAFZtE6LYVj2qOy14JEyeZrhP8DHhzoYG6FZ31u9H/s320/210123+-+scenery+5.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Disgruntled, and contemplating how best to tear the entire landform off and bin it, I was complaining to my wife one night when she suggested that a terracotta/pinkish-orangish wash might save it. <p></p><p>Bingo!</p><p>I mixed some up (pictured in the plastic container below) and swept it across the rock with a 2-inch foam brush. Instantly better.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVlf5Gq0duO1Gp2EFCDnQJPjmSRmuMB1hppI4nouxMNxtbXe65spVMsu8HFJow07p_60L9AwGYEMEQEAdA49asoh8dDRutqzw52q0LChWYSx-gqyKB9LX3uu8EPNIOrqaUeSu6iYpHhsD/s2048/210123+-+scenery+6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVlf5Gq0duO1Gp2EFCDnQJPjmSRmuMB1hppI4nouxMNxtbXe65spVMsu8HFJow07p_60L9AwGYEMEQEAdA49asoh8dDRutqzw52q0LChWYSx-gqyKB9LX3uu8EPNIOrqaUeSu6iYpHhsD/s320/210123+-+scenery+6.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />I still need to finish adding some darker layers and the terracotta 'repair' wash, but it's getting there. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCUIFtU8LkTSvSmu0GxpA8ErRIzA_OhNNRUMJLAifLenFml-4poXuHlT06N43vvprUiElqOvbuMi7EqdzM-7YPcyPvtWdqWBpsH43AzdQfA17V-k-nvVdr2R8Q07LcUXW82i6y0PbAqLOK/s2048/210123+-+scenery+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1113" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCUIFtU8LkTSvSmu0GxpA8ErRIzA_OhNNRUMJLAifLenFml-4poXuHlT06N43vvprUiElqOvbuMi7EqdzM-7YPcyPvtWdqWBpsH43AzdQfA17V-k-nvVdr2R8Q07LcUXW82i6y0PbAqLOK/s320/210123+-+scenery+7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />I've also started chopping up some Lars Op't Hof scenic mats and placing them around the layout to see what grabs me. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqUOHwH0O5t5wYMJMhwmIFJf0HWPPlZlafhOiGsgsp6GHXdtrzriJtsJfFQlVwpyX1dts4i9Pg_0p2b77J0HA7tUeWD1FrpMm0Cp3zCDcr3cQd3ZcVoArTch3_wvnlzBmbCWhsVw4DCEK-/s2048/210123+-+scenery+8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqUOHwH0O5t5wYMJMhwmIFJf0HWPPlZlafhOiGsgsp6GHXdtrzriJtsJfFQlVwpyX1dts4i9Pg_0p2b77J0HA7tUeWD1FrpMm0Cp3zCDcr3cQd3ZcVoArTch3_wvnlzBmbCWhsVw4DCEK-/s320/210123+-+scenery+8.JPG" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I'm aiming to get the station buildings finished on Monday and hopefully get an initial layer of dirt and ballast down as well. That should bring me to a point where I can some basic grass and foliage, and start running trains.<br /><br />I've got a deadline to get the buildings and a basic level of scenery done by the end of February for the layout's first operating session. I'm aiming to have overhead and some initial signals installed by March. <br /><br />Will see how we go in February.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Cheers,</div><div style="text-align: left;">Ben<br /><br /><br /></div></div><br /> <p></p>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17921057640304228166noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-665903955317007319.post-69825353527799263852021-01-10T02:35:00.000-08:002021-01-10T02:35:07.579-08:00Scenic progress<p>With the last few days of annual leave coinciding with my son starting at daycare, the perfect opportunity arose to embed myself in the train room for a few days. While I haven't had Rozelle Street levels of progress, the layout has made a big leap forward.</p><p>With the alignment and location of uncouplers finalised through the operations session, I sealed around the Rapido uncouplers with some coloured caulk to make them less conspicuous after scenery is applied.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqDUT9fAVxgpp3hfhceWuvj7Ko4FigQ5Cul0tUWX738iyuLaTqEZHI_VGCBhznCme_A2DirHgwmCMh3Se90XUud6x4alQfwZ8an7TWkft8hXQVJdzodOb_f-HlyZ0yX0CMafZJ6cAy18uC/s2048/210110+-+1.+filling+in+the+uncouplers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqDUT9fAVxgpp3hfhceWuvj7Ko4FigQ5Cul0tUWX738iyuLaTqEZHI_VGCBhznCme_A2DirHgwmCMh3Se90XUud6x4alQfwZ8an7TWkft8hXQVJdzodOb_f-HlyZ0yX0CMafZJ6cAy18uC/s320/210110+-+1.+filling+in+the+uncouplers.JPG" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I then shaped the final styrofoam landform and fixed it to the layout with liquid nails.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNg_i5lAwOupcRfLf3Y1ISUTH68fMPyhgEzaU65mUxCndB6o2fBYwHW_Ar0o5xb7qw-g-Kxofx-jQzzG9lq88IBfEvNYigI8b7-XqUoZOlkAFM7cWmOqFSkotT6ZZFqLLPwylc_DIL4u0M/s2048/210110+-+2.+Foam+complete.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNg_i5lAwOupcRfLf3Y1ISUTH68fMPyhgEzaU65mUxCndB6o2fBYwHW_Ar0o5xb7qw-g-Kxofx-jQzzG9lq88IBfEvNYigI8b7-XqUoZOlkAFM7cWmOqFSkotT6ZZFqLLPwylc_DIL4u0M/s320/210110+-+2.+Foam+complete.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The layout was now ready for painting. I've had some issues with the past with different types of spray paints 'eating' some styrofoam, so I masked the foam before spraying the sleepers and rails. The sleepers were sprayed with Fiddly Bits Grey Primer. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7yzFzvs9Zr9IC-qUL6yGo4CRnxJSANQVbpf87gYMPv_gfwJyhOJu2DdJzCbTcuTT_6oeiVDJSMbWrSZChY5KO_pIRIuHRn_a3L6ANupCUgypw0uibEf4gHpkrW3cFi0HtdEr4ztw7CFcf/s2048/210110+-+3.+ready+for+spraying.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7yzFzvs9Zr9IC-qUL6yGo4CRnxJSANQVbpf87gYMPv_gfwJyhOJu2DdJzCbTcuTT_6oeiVDJSMbWrSZChY5KO_pIRIuHRn_a3L6ANupCUgypw0uibEf4gHpkrW3cFi0HtdEr4ztw7CFcf/s320/210110+-+3.+ready+for+spraying.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Before I masked and sprayed the rails I tested the desired colour on the siding that is most going to be covered in filth and render whatever I spray unrecognisable - the coal siding.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirITQ1OaUj6JJQUp4Gb4IzFaoH-M9l5oQrQgyugcAhFkK8sQQc1M12YV3MNZjmyQBsWSQOjq7K-gBYH-6Z_sMwv4uJ1SNKqoFMh6up7bQdukjTEpzlbzOfAPOhAzMjb6J75KoH6wLu2i_B/s2048/210110+-+4.+test+spray.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirITQ1OaUj6JJQUp4Gb4IzFaoH-M9l5oQrQgyugcAhFkK8sQQc1M12YV3MNZjmyQBsWSQOjq7K-gBYH-6Z_sMwv4uJ1SNKqoFMh6up7bQdukjTEpzlbzOfAPOhAzMjb6J75KoH6wLu2i_B/s320/210110+-+4.+test+spray.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>For the rails I use Krylon brown. The ultra-flat application of this paint doesn't overpower the code 70 rail. Happy with the above result, I set about masking the rails with painters tape, which took around 2.5 hours.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioIv-yWrnABVxsUJRZXGS4DZ_mq2RMLZ0Xgo6IL0_9UKk5gzoPpoqP-xqoLSWTHA-s6MAmW6WU0kiVv2vPxZQvavHU_01eLWZFGoRMlbB4QxpDL-ZL1z_JA7UVeJKyWpzCtGyjo5KHezBw/s2048/210110+-+5.+rails+masked.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioIv-yWrnABVxsUJRZXGS4DZ_mq2RMLZ0Xgo6IL0_9UKk5gzoPpoqP-xqoLSWTHA-s6MAmW6WU0kiVv2vPxZQvavHU_01eLWZFGoRMlbB4QxpDL-ZL1z_JA7UVeJKyWpzCtGyjo5KHezBw/s320/210110+-+5.+rails+masked.JPG" /></a></div><br />The result is worth it I think. I intend to paint a number of the sleepers with varying colours to break of the uniformity of the light grey.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl3Ea7VtkfBUHB9odPHwaDZcDic_7J7QFhvh2xRShMzSSKz0qHLTFG1gY2InWBDbuhdXGLf8ghJuJ4egTnNL6dtP_eMY7xm0EEpNzbGjwVK_zwBXjE4gfaGhbZtFOnGH8CYmlZXHCAR2dt/s2048/210110+-+6.+rails+complete.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl3Ea7VtkfBUHB9odPHwaDZcDic_7J7QFhvh2xRShMzSSKz0qHLTFG1gY2InWBDbuhdXGLf8ghJuJ4egTnNL6dtP_eMY7xm0EEpNzbGjwVK_zwBXjE4gfaGhbZtFOnGH8CYmlZXHCAR2dt/s320/210110+-+6.+rails+complete.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I then applied Spakfilla Rapid to the foam to start to get the landform, exactly as described in my previous posts about scenery on Rozelle Street. I used about 1.5 of the larger tubs for this one - significantly more than on RS!</div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgInEiIxQ8UefYuVilMkimR2_K_dqPp7lyoeub7i0Wyj6Th64ZURIbeR8BhLvjs7HRrZ1o2VfCBLVhxqZIkBjgCwmAElAhfrkP2VGa2FbbTmCIyU5aoSPCLmfv-BpZjLS9_0Pm6JatngCu1/s2048/210110+-+9.+more+work+to+do.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgInEiIxQ8UefYuVilMkimR2_K_dqPp7lyoeub7i0Wyj6Th64ZURIbeR8BhLvjs7HRrZ1o2VfCBLVhxqZIkBjgCwmAElAhfrkP2VGa2FbbTmCIyU5aoSPCLmfv-BpZjLS9_0Pm6JatngCu1/s320/210110+-+9.+more+work+to+do.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>In the coming days I need to start sanding the dried spakfilla and drawing in the strata shapes of the rockform. I plan on painting and weathering the rock exactly as on RS, however with some colour variations more typical of the Blue Mountains. I've found on recent trips to photograph the rock colours that underneath the layer of aged black there's a lot more orange woven through the sandstone yellow. I'm really looking forward to having a go of replicating it.<div><br /></div><div>While I've been working on the layout this week, I've also laid a half-metre section of code 70 track on a board and treated it to the same sleeper and rail painting before trying each of those steps on the layout. Here's a preview of where I'm heading with the yard dirt:<br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5WQNywpDKC0r-aGyN7WkTH7YeTQ-Yu66nYZ_p2qAsTP8xqjq3Ob69KHI5wAnIKIHvbf71gPPBhZngDt5O5nl2iEFw_5LhJFG-4maw07zLxv4wQGDzC0MvGZA2F_PNXB0F-7b4rmJGCXn_/s1882/210110+-+8.+tile+grout+trial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1174" data-original-width="1882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5WQNywpDKC0r-aGyN7WkTH7YeTQ-Yu66nYZ_p2qAsTP8xqjq3Ob69KHI5wAnIKIHvbf71gPPBhZngDt5O5nl2iEFw_5LhJFG-4maw07zLxv4wQGDzC0MvGZA2F_PNXB0F-7b4rmJGCXn_/s320/210110+-+8.+tile+grout+trial.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>I've been following a Victorian-themed layout on one of the Facebook groups recently where the owner has used coloured tile grout as the ground cover, with outstanding results. In the Jan 2021 issue of Model Railroader, there's also an article about using this material as ground cover. The above picture is the result of 1 part black, 2.5 parts light grey and 2 parts 'truffle' (an earthy brown colour). I'm using the Davco brand from Bunnings. I'm fairly happy with it so far but I'm going to keep playing around with colour variation. Hopefully the next installment on this blog will have a lot more progress in that direction.</p><p>Finally, if you're an AMRM reader you'll notice a familiar wagon and layout in one of the smaller articles in the February issue ;) It was nice to be asked if I could put something together, and it motivated me to finish weathering the bogies and wheels for the photo of the completed model. With limited time, sometimes it can be all too easy to punt the weathering of bogies off into the future, but they do form a crucial part of the overall weathering on our wagons and rollingstock and influence how you view the finished product.<br /><br />Until next time, happy modelling!<br /><br />Cheers,<br />Ben</p><p><br /></p></div>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17921057640304228166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-665903955317007319.post-55205974963239387092021-01-02T04:20:00.003-08:002021-01-02T04:23:18.486-08:00Layout operations shakedown session<div class="separator" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On the last day of 2020 my brother came over and helped me run an operations session on Mount Wilson to both test out whether after nearly 2 years of construction it still holds my interest from the original concept, and to ensure that all of the switches, servos, uncouplers and trackwork is up to scratch.<br /><br />Buildings were placed on the layout to highlight drop off points, identify sidings, and get a feel for what it's all going to look like after a few more hours' work.<br /><br />Mount Wilson. Sometime in 1979...<br /><br />We started the theoretical roster in the early hours of the morning (ignore the midday lighting) with a local goods from Bell brought in by 4887 to swap the fuel tanker over and the fruit co-op siding. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW556CNoCvLrcvgHEEYO99YK3Y4Com0B3ZgHd36G_j5RsnCmEChenxb5ElLoFK7FbkLJ0hyphenhypheneMgsKvB6bSchKG65mf4kqU6O62W8LAi4JDecXBRmcv4-BzGPv38QcrVRHdhAOt2NYf2IsWj/s2048/20201231_113621.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW556CNoCvLrcvgHEEYO99YK3Y4Com0B3ZgHd36G_j5RsnCmEChenxb5ElLoFK7FbkLJ0hyphenhypheneMgsKvB6bSchKG65mf4kqU6O62W8LAi4JDecXBRmcv4-BzGPv38QcrVRHdhAOt2NYf2IsWj/s320/20201231_113621.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Being the first train this highlighted some very dirty track. My normal track cleaning routine is to go over the entire layout with a Peco track rubber and give it a good clean. I'd heard that isopropyl alcohol on some paper towel would provide a better clean, particularly for DCC, but remained unconvinced until our ops session. Below is the grot the first go with the isopropyl brought off, despite me cleaning the layout that morning. Call me Caesar and take me to the Iso temple - I'm converted.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZUW8VFKjzatltaB4_lxd_JJW2Q0R71YjostCP0yt6CQm1u2x3w9d-yN4q7wBa5ztSjXOfi6u3nmxygvP8KSLrmP6fWuqGHSRQTLh7Gm-uc6GDTjP7AwqhVtL5i9zR_NxObmPc_-YIDwgX/s2048/20201231_114528.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZUW8VFKjzatltaB4_lxd_JJW2Q0R71YjostCP0yt6CQm1u2x3w9d-yN4q7wBa5ztSjXOfi6u3nmxygvP8KSLrmP6fWuqGHSRQTLh7Gm-uc6GDTjP7AwqhVtL5i9zR_NxObmPc_-YIDwgX/s320/20201231_114528.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>After the quick clean, trains resumed. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizy0Xlmd1FJQuYHKCnXwb_DkbInmnWOo0JXW_6mBhvGgjMtAlOB6FZsXVE_re45MhsmRn-9gT2kFrEQ3LGDzyyNrljIYg8kQ4JZAGZANlhB_3u-hM_Un38YJKyA00Gy8GOxxin43dLIL6D/s1667/20201231_120509+%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1667" data-original-width="1444" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizy0Xlmd1FJQuYHKCnXwb_DkbInmnWOo0JXW_6mBhvGgjMtAlOB6FZsXVE_re45MhsmRn-9gT2kFrEQ3LGDzyyNrljIYg8kQ4JZAGZANlhB_3u-hM_Un38YJKyA00Gy8GOxxin43dLIL6D/s320/20201231_120509+%25282%2529.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"></div>The 48 continued shunting and waited on the main for the morning commuter service (a partial MUB set) to arrive.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTZZ4wIYzdfzzav5Um0wyIWMtmoeHnD8BGfPKhr4r1nzbWLk_U5jxFtRy5q50Xkq3fUUQfIMXGUWGdRq6Umod3y6B0UapgOUMnmp74Pw33uR8NV__mS2T8uu0rse7AxFqEvbAjwb5QLtJK/s2048/20201231_140651.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTZZ4wIYzdfzzav5Um0wyIWMtmoeHnD8BGfPKhr4r1nzbWLk_U5jxFtRy5q50Xkq3fUUQfIMXGUWGdRq6Umod3y6B0UapgOUMnmp74Pw33uR8NV__mS2T8uu0rse7AxFqEvbAjwb5QLtJK/s320/20201231_140651.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><br />Normally this would be a 46 class, but I'm still waiting to get that converted to DCC. The local goods departed and the 85 changed ends to head back to Bell to connect with a service to the big smoke.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcnSdmXyW235cOWWbtwe98-nQVyJwep160dOgZpA4QZDNnJ3NpVgIIHq6J6wu5T1xNkAbKXODUFff-oAaq_DtPob50LMTlbLcUaeKqPmVT8asZQtjqDJujL5ZIq_rh7t9tC3JZ7MBKUVmS/s2048/20201231_141602.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcnSdmXyW235cOWWbtwe98-nQVyJwep160dOgZpA4QZDNnJ3NpVgIIHq6J6wu5T1xNkAbKXODUFff-oAaq_DtPob50LMTlbLcUaeKqPmVT8asZQtjqDJujL5ZIq_rh7t9tC3JZ7MBKUVmS/s320/20201231_141602.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br />Next <span style="background-color: white; font-family: times;">a local coal arrives.<span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> In my layout scenario, the mine has opened a larger loader a little further on down the branch beyond this terminus. Smaller trains still call here at Mt Wilson yard to use the old loader while operations settle. I have an operating rule on this siding that the mine company won't allow electrics under the loader. The 85 rearranges the van and proceeds to shunt wagons through the loader</span></span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvOhcrqlVoqGOGGh1ca1nJhod4MVKG0eZ6V3uZhLTZnOdpCXGm1crjd1DXZMw_N2qlW_7hSXkSD1FTWXA6JNqBunaJWZ3sv3t-6q28lOTLKoLPna9stk1hw5LPMSbPQGyDxXOXni57j2LW/s2048/20201231_142333.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvOhcrqlVoqGOGGh1ca1nJhod4MVKG0eZ6V3uZhLTZnOdpCXGm1crjd1DXZMw_N2qlW_7hSXkSD1FTWXA6JNqBunaJWZ3sv3t-6q28lOTLKoLPna9stk1hw5LPMSbPQGyDxXOXni57j2LW/s320/20201231_142333.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLppJQoD5I-lO16sZeu3iu0oxt_NZf4BsluI3bBjnePOJdA4XoddT0T691x2oDkNJkOP1z0MAhflZZFxspNOsewsmQWMFq8aJKaTskT-X9dWNP-H3WPyFX5_sf33_cPSQa2ni31HaG09p2/s2048/20201231_144218.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLppJQoD5I-lO16sZeu3iu0oxt_NZf4BsluI3bBjnePOJdA4XoddT0T691x2oDkNJkOP1z0MAhflZZFxspNOsewsmQWMFq8aJKaTskT-X9dWNP-H3WPyFX5_sf33_cPSQa2ni31HaG09p2/s320/20201231_144218.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />A U set arrives with a mid-morning commuter service to the city. The 85 will follow it out, back to Bell.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKzhACJk1DjF2cBgoSX6SnF6HnuY5g90ZcZo6hXvkRx2E92Nm99WjXdU63og-L1rq59zppJZuGpFuNnjZitSE-dcrTBFpHhAXrZSsjeOGjZ74crFyqmQKY6Q4U6Nfn8AeHxeNsB7kWkyIT/s2048/20201231_145216+%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1876" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKzhACJk1DjF2cBgoSX6SnF6HnuY5g90ZcZo6hXvkRx2E92Nm99WjXdU63og-L1rq59zppJZuGpFuNnjZitSE-dcrTBFpHhAXrZSsjeOGjZ74crFyqmQKY6Q4U6Nfn8AeHxeNsB7kWkyIT/s320/20201231_145216+%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br />All trains back in the fiddle yard after about 2.5 hours' operating time.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlGJ16UTJYjgj5xBZii4m-Cf7nT4dqSW5DAurdBswyh26RK5Ptu61cLUfvemf1-JPOBQ4b7LO54WHdeRbgTRiqIz5gfNYhZd2yG8osBnN8OHd543_P5Qp_6onYRE4HozI4-zlBGxyKZwa3/s2048/20201231_150052.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlGJ16UTJYjgj5xBZii4m-Cf7nT4dqSW5DAurdBswyh26RK5Ptu61cLUfvemf1-JPOBQ4b7LO54WHdeRbgTRiqIz5gfNYhZd2yG8osBnN8OHd543_P5Qp_6onYRE4HozI4-zlBGxyKZwa3/s320/20201231_150052.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br />Overall, I'm quite impressed with how it all went. To be honest, the constant backwards steps and slow progress had me considering tearing the lot down and starting again, but I was really glad after we ran it all through. The spark from the original concept was still there and provided both a variety of trains and achievable operations.<br /><br />Some lessons were identified:<br /><br />-the local goods needs to use the coal siding to run around due to a lack of uncouplers. I'm ok with this for now.<br />-the imposition of 'mine company rules' for the siding (speed limit, ban on use of electric locos under the loader) add operational interest, so I'll retain these.<br />-despite making the coal siding now a through road, the 2-wagon-at-a-time shunting sequence works as planned and adds operational interest. The railways would avoid this as much as possible through things like trip trains or in the case of coal operations, adding another guards van to remove time-consuming shunting to the other end. I'll need to invent a reason for the 2-wagons practice.<div>-all wagons fit the station road</div><div>-we identified an option for larger coal trains to run through Mt Wilson to the new loader further down the line, to run around (or appear to have gone around a balloon loop) to allow both longer trains and further operational interest</div><div>-my brother suggested considering getting some R cars for a school train. R cars were used in the mountains on a school train until 1983, so a version of this would both fit in my era, and the station platform!<br /><br />After the session, we tested out some ideas; which of the Lars Op't Hof scenery mats to put where, and confirming clearances of the longest wagons through the station platform. All looking good so far!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaIuHFNI7RI_S70jTqg9uJE7aBbJq1aUMdL-q-SaVrUuT1IMBRsSw5MVpLasgoT0grQMpLwowikS1BolbO_yQlhKbVwAJVH4Ot_qIQ3yBrtzIYlsPeOiaywKleQ2Bvepr2S_EqfTQx6BeB/s2048/20201231_154733.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaIuHFNI7RI_S70jTqg9uJE7aBbJq1aUMdL-q-SaVrUuT1IMBRsSw5MVpLasgoT0grQMpLwowikS1BolbO_yQlhKbVwAJVH4Ot_qIQ3yBrtzIYlsPeOiaywKleQ2Bvepr2S_EqfTQx6BeB/s320/20201231_154733.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRTQRWim7z_Tp-kk4RG2i_vRiBD0hO2DpCR_duXaFa4Dz6ZeKSlh8MZZGoeyBgrB-EFwYQyr3RLdlNTTG8XufnYujheUpdM19fgF6gIZtbi9dcBrkGeVRXUH2_Q2ICb6eelKDkqnMnt-a-/s2048/20201231_153337.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRTQRWim7z_Tp-kk4RG2i_vRiBD0hO2DpCR_duXaFa4Dz6ZeKSlh8MZZGoeyBgrB-EFwYQyr3RLdlNTTG8XufnYujheUpdM19fgF6gIZtbi9dcBrkGeVRXUH2_Q2ICb6eelKDkqnMnt-a-/s320/20201231_153337.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYZxny70iA8IBtoH7Q7S8X-UQU59lZQrXWMiRECHi5yZ-lnxl9F5WtjoXqHMUNWcbCkLdeN1LBjxT2PEWUBmtR3ETXFJEDMxiPbA8s97yNO11l3hTlYkfqsmA6xpRBagwCu3UP87xT7roO/s2048/20201231_153325.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYZxny70iA8IBtoH7Q7S8X-UQU59lZQrXWMiRECHi5yZ-lnxl9F5WtjoXqHMUNWcbCkLdeN1LBjxT2PEWUBmtR3ETXFJEDMxiPbA8s97yNO11l3hTlYkfqsmA6xpRBagwCu3UP87xT7roO/s320/20201231_153325.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXvBlpQKBfzA5YlRYM4aHPVOQGm9hkImf_2ABuGgljMuA2lJLkXU-ioO7j5pnCeIyTLAQpGfEci_TB9jKchxe7e8Y-CUqRjtxygcggDakbcumn686rLvvHj1vZgjqRmMLHPbMS_Cgs9EA/s2048/20201231_152839.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXvBlpQKBfzA5YlRYM4aHPVOQGm9hkImf_2ABuGgljMuA2lJLkXU-ioO7j5pnCeIyTLAQpGfEci_TB9jKchxe7e8Y-CUqRjtxygcggDakbcumn686rLvvHj1vZgjqRmMLHPbMS_Cgs9EA/s320/20201231_152839.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Before work goes back later this month I plan on making a start on scenery, and I've started mocking up what this will look like. The scene will be completely transformed again with trees, dirt, ballast and a backscene.</div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifa-2Lkqhck7THFGv9FSDaGXYSM5v1WyjnXWObknGQbqITC2AGQZ9WMXIMjiU7-g41l0kyFgKh-xlLHXb6uOwB_7fx7cbB0hljDnFMri4mlhgkUumr3aDrnU6wJ_4xblOnQhCBj5Vj_d7j/s2048/210101+-+overall.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifa-2Lkqhck7THFGv9FSDaGXYSM5v1WyjnXWObknGQbqITC2AGQZ9WMXIMjiU7-g41l0kyFgKh-xlLHXb6uOwB_7fx7cbB0hljDnFMri4mlhgkUumr3aDrnU6wJ_4xblOnQhCBj5Vj_d7j/s320/210101+-+overall.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The station is still under construction, but this scene is shaping up nicely.</div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi966Sp4caz70RdhwP0npew3WOzfBiKdoX9CqFBKVJWU6MEcsr5h0XpVNA8TKqtArxjM7cEWxC7Ie-EevaayxuKsrLGZfzprlGkXiteyNl3fBHOSu1ba_cZllSkqgi7Q-KvUny_Rf9uYR7/s2048/210101+-+Station+progress.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi966Sp4caz70RdhwP0npew3WOzfBiKdoX9CqFBKVJWU6MEcsr5h0XpVNA8TKqtArxjM7cEWxC7Ie-EevaayxuKsrLGZfzprlGkXiteyNl3fBHOSu1ba_cZllSkqgi7Q-KvUny_Rf9uYR7/s320/210101+-+Station+progress.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Here's to 2021 being a good year for modelling at least. Happy New Year to the regular readers of this blog and everyone else who stumbles across it.<br /><br />Cheers,<br />Ben<p></p></div>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17921057640304228166noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-665903955317007319.post-24307300427641229032020-10-24T00:46:00.005-07:002020-11-14T19:07:07.555-08:00October Update<b>New additions</b><div><br /></div><div>I failed to mention during the previous post that my wife and I welcomed our son into the world in late June. You'd think that this would take up more of my time than it has, but instead, having every waking second dominated by a person who is completely dependent on you for survival forces you to be efficient with the 'spare' time you have. As a result, I'm a little more motivated to spend the time I would otherwise spend scrolling through the internet to get down to the layout room and make some progress.</div><div><br /></div><div>Before we get to the layout update, some other additions...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhet0vxsaoTQutcKsXohssjp6-zq7ewQroC0bMIYRG5dIoXsA3neoUoglQmkENHRLXolUHvV5qibdC5_ofhuH4bPKAvxSbfCtzQ0tliHtuCRxXFadI9xWqDcz4HJrgxDyN8chVPqxkKjKm8/s2048/201025+-+1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhet0vxsaoTQutcKsXohssjp6-zq7ewQroC0bMIYRG5dIoXsA3neoUoglQmkENHRLXolUHvV5qibdC5_ofhuH4bPKAvxSbfCtzQ0tliHtuCRxXFadI9xWqDcz4HJrgxDyN8chVPqxkKjKm8/s320/201025+-+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The Auscision Indian Pacific sets arrived recently. The detail in these cars is beautiful, and for something that has been likely thrown, dropped and rolled on it's way from China to me, only two brake cylinders had dislodged from a bogie when I took it out. They were easily re-added with a drop of glue. <div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwrLW2zu8QQG30q8nmr4KAO4IfhaLt9pncRXO1IzRIQfCpuhXeUiW_yqTaoakWDbS-tCEOpqabbQFgG2TTE4DzbvxgErqKVov3nPTm6EKxtBDu8dg-83x41QLF4CoFPw7jxP4Ad74db8Uw/s2048/201025+-+2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwrLW2zu8QQG30q8nmr4KAO4IfhaLt9pncRXO1IzRIQfCpuhXeUiW_yqTaoakWDbS-tCEOpqabbQFgG2TTE4DzbvxgErqKVov3nPTm6EKxtBDu8dg-83x41QLF4CoFPw7jxP4Ad74db8Uw/s320/201025+-+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />My two 85's have substituted for two 46's to give the IP it's inaugral run around the layout. </div><div><br /></div><div>A friend of mine gave me some great advice when it comes to running your trains with a newborn: keep your most reliable locos and rollingstock on the layout, so that when you get ten minutes to run trains you're not wasting it trying to fault-find something. Great advice. The 85's fill this role for me at the moment and are hauling just about everything. My U-boat arrived back from it's sound and lighting upgrade a few months ago as well, and while it runs fairly well and sounds great, it's less forgiving than 12-wheel pick up of the 85's.</div><div><br /></div><div>The only downside with running the IP is that I've found my passenger stock seems to have a lot less tolerance for sub-optimal trackwork than my freight rollingstock. It's useful in that I can see what needs to be improved, but a few of the IP cars' walkway diaphragms and buffing plates seem to lock with each other if there was a vertical difference in height which pushed one carriage above the other by the height of a coupler width or so. (You can exhale that breath, not all of the track is <i>that</i> bad). This only happens in one spot coming off the traverser and onto the loop, but still, it's an annoying niggle to correct.</div><div><br /></div><div>Otherwise, it's an outstanding set to watch going around.<br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKxKmLMi3niYhUax4LZ0qUBV1EnARfEO71kegNEI6tdEBYTzSdoCL51ehOwRGwEt2v1FBFE_2JYGXcjQAwfd0-PGl_uPZgJM4_68Z5Wi2oPwSE_j_86BEqi5kpjn8M5JrfY6xCREXkyixf/s2048/201025+-+3.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKxKmLMi3niYhUax4LZ0qUBV1EnARfEO71kegNEI6tdEBYTzSdoCL51ehOwRGwEt2v1FBFE_2JYGXcjQAwfd0-PGl_uPZgJM4_68Z5Wi2oPwSE_j_86BEqi5kpjn8M5JrfY6xCREXkyixf/s320/201025+-+3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />My only gripe is that the cars don't come with a marshalling order included in or on the box. In case you're also trying to work out the marshalling order for a set running in NSW, this is the common marshalling I use. From the Sydney end:</div><div><br /></div><div>HM</div><div>ARL</div><div>ARJ</div><div>ARL</div><div>ARJ</div><div>ARM</div><div>AFC</div><div>DF</div><div>CDF</div><div>BRJ</div><div>BRJ</div><div>ER</div><div>HGM</div><div>KLY</div><div>(Loco's)</div><div><br /></div><div>This is based on <a href="http://locofonic.alphalink.com.au/nswgr_marshalling.htm?fbclid=IwAR0fs89eroKxj2TCAfGe2cUqjuoS_tr5ikXO68IVnIKiPoX5T_6CjADXZIo">NSWGR Country train marshalling</a> recorded in 1978. The NSWR sitting cars were normally added between the BRJ and ER, and sometimes between the HGM and locos. If you're looking at photos and trying to work out if you're looking at an up or down IP in NSW, the HGM was always behind the locos in the westbound direction leaving Sydney.</div><div><br />Auscision also released a limited amount of FAMs in a four-pack, which I grabbed as well. Just can't keep away from blue L7's...</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuIlPkQeCc940Wao1WIs2jjDd5IAW-XRispFNuNLDVdQnAwmWKx9LOx9ZGPAbqpPzmw3wqN8XJkEsgNk06zosQhWYRamQ-x-xq9EuvG0H6m19ypqmQ9n8EtaiPrGsP9Eyh8nNqOCZ2IOu7/s2048/201025+-+4.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuIlPkQeCc940Wao1WIs2jjDd5IAW-XRispFNuNLDVdQnAwmWKx9LOx9ZGPAbqpPzmw3wqN8XJkEsgNk06zosQhWYRamQ-x-xq9EuvG0H6m19ypqmQ9n8EtaiPrGsP9Eyh8nNqOCZ2IOu7/s320/201025+-+4.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>And yes, this has started an inevitable need to collect an Auscision RUB set now so that I can run the Gold Coast Motorail. Somewhere. Eventually... Luckily a re-run of the RUB's is a number of years away!</div><div><br /></div><div>Rarely, there was an FAM on the Southern Aurora, but this is didn't happen that often in my era. </div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>Layout progress, and regression...</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Since July, I found that two of my turnout servos had failed and need to be replaced. They were non-responsive and the fascia controller was super-hot to touch. Something bad happening there, so we'll start with the servo's themselves and see what happens.</div><div><br /></div><div>I managed to get the accessory bus working again though, and I'm happy to report that all of the Rapido uncouplers are working perfectly. </div><div><br /></div><div>I added the last remaining connection to the fiddle yard and laid track on it. I had to dog-leg a little to get it in, but so far none of the rollingstock has an issue with it. </div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK4VZnWumLokMLXiidXestvbLVuV2QlkgbWuuTKIh4jnE0jWmy3Azf7OX1lVvD0PpWfbZATn-9WiL5FT14vR0LxschypBmAy5ABUgaByKndOvZG1glyUlLrfWeIPfZ1rjZdYhcmK9jisly/s2048/201025+-+5.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK4VZnWumLokMLXiidXestvbLVuV2QlkgbWuuTKIh4jnE0jWmy3Azf7OX1lVvD0PpWfbZATn-9WiL5FT14vR0LxschypBmAy5ABUgaByKndOvZG1glyUlLrfWeIPfZ1rjZdYhcmK9jisly/s320/201025+-+5.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've then been adding sanity boards/guard rails to all of the non-scenicked modules on the loop. Some old Triang bridge sides have come in handy and break up the monotony of the timber. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguemfcSUz7lT0JoizA_TmRLFu-Ja9FwrgFQ626HLWRXBQ62jTF00q8u9KGAwRtvsF0iIUOs3mWtMdWgjpcpE98leNMH8xKUYi5sdt5ZuN7dnlXMOByPsiSotO0kZDW256t6iqEcWRpIQsn/s2048/201025+-+6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1204" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguemfcSUz7lT0JoizA_TmRLFu-Ja9FwrgFQ626HLWRXBQ62jTF00q8u9KGAwRtvsF0iIUOs3mWtMdWgjpcpE98leNMH8xKUYi5sdt5ZuN7dnlXMOByPsiSotO0kZDW256t6iqEcWRpIQsn/s320/201025+-+6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHNBsj7JXNhEQZOIoIS24eZP7IotXdGGlGTr5jgCWa3Nr1E4gHh-uEt9rDN4PBP10wF8VBIdekfk731RBF34YO6A4ehP1Ay259_R_zxaap0az8AqXhpIyuFxGsnITENqukQutR20FZe-q2/s2048/201025+-+8.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHNBsj7JXNhEQZOIoIS24eZP7IotXdGGlGTr5jgCWa3Nr1E4gHh-uEt9rDN4PBP10wF8VBIdekfk731RBF34YO6A4ehP1Ay259_R_zxaap0az8AqXhpIyuFxGsnITENqukQutR20FZe-q2/s320/201025+-+8.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The inner guard rail is set lower so that I can still see the trains and helps with re-railing if need be.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEios_lHuKOYN5vQnxzl0mv_pqSjDZ6o-0CIJQxMaXzX_J91yTnKAOcRw-kHG_lvaSsM_pV2gpBGRVGthm-uanNYIFMhfI9WWt23588sRW6hj6lcFNe4Q07RWr04a7oEBLUNwUCsw92_DMm1/s2048/201025+-+7.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEios_lHuKOYN5vQnxzl0mv_pqSjDZ6o-0CIJQxMaXzX_J91yTnKAOcRw-kHG_lvaSsM_pV2gpBGRVGthm-uanNYIFMhfI9WWt23588sRW6hj6lcFNe4Q07RWr04a7oEBLUNwUCsw92_DMm1/s320/201025+-+7.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQJgB-PYKWsJi3ZzM8K2qUDKunGGw2RFAMzm3sjmycEEG9BQD7PdnbLIWTCEMU8LQK1RMGrkfLOZ4-hx3Oaou0NrhcOK2_xhNF0Fi7oAGyQhF1j4wc3Sd0ORSlXValMeNK1E5_ueDZTVzG/s2048/201025+-+9.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQJgB-PYKWsJi3ZzM8K2qUDKunGGw2RFAMzm3sjmycEEG9BQD7PdnbLIWTCEMU8LQK1RMGrkfLOZ4-hx3Oaou0NrhcOK2_xhNF0Fi7oAGyQhF1j4wc3Sd0ORSlXValMeNK1E5_ueDZTVzG/s320/201025+-+9.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I've also glued the scenery foam in place ready for covering with spakfilla/plaster.</div><div><br /></div>The next steps are to replace the turnout servos and then have an operating session to give the whole thing a bit of a shakedown before I go spending money and precious time on the scenery side of things.<br /><div><br /></div><div>Hopefully another update before December. Until then, happy modelling!</div><div><br /></div><div>Cheers,</div><div>Ben</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div></div><br />Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17921057640304228166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-665903955317007319.post-57370477564191374462020-07-25T00:25:00.002-07:002020-07-25T00:25:35.834-07:00Mid-year update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It's been a while between posts, but I'm glad to say the reno's are done, the train room is now waterproofed and looks less like it's been banished to the basement.</div>
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To recap from the previous post, here it is before:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXCDkv0wICeVioMYqO2O-ui_CZeyZpmJ-aL9SjFGTu2v71UIYaYZXJTaQesojWY9T-2WoEOApZ-hremwf6eFvkX_D5BbizkU1-KzHEqL_x9wTDcZuJjiv7DmbyAqCA_zJVImcIOJBTl30/s1600/200725+-+old+layout+room.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXCDkv0wICeVioMYqO2O-ui_CZeyZpmJ-aL9SjFGTu2v71UIYaYZXJTaQesojWY9T-2WoEOApZ-hremwf6eFvkX_D5BbizkU1-KzHEqL_x9wTDcZuJjiv7DmbyAqCA_zJVImcIOJBTl30/s320/200725+-+old+layout+room.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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And after:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhel8X0KMPB5urthxKQwY0U70iz-rrmM3OjVFEbfSSPstmYLNiJdBZeVDgJ5T38xmKn4TQmfNw06q9neHGH6JnJxeiYbnohm8CvBpQLx7TqlgWCU_OBHEKd-9wnooq5GanQz2C75PlbCR4Y/s1600/200725+-+new+layout+room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhel8X0KMPB5urthxKQwY0U70iz-rrmM3OjVFEbfSSPstmYLNiJdBZeVDgJ5T38xmKn4TQmfNw06q9neHGH6JnJxeiYbnohm8CvBpQLx7TqlgWCU_OBHEKd-9wnooq5GanQz2C75PlbCR4Y/s320/200725+-+new+layout+room.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The builder altered the pipework from a bathroom above the layout room during the reno's (the box on the top-right of the above photo), which has necessitated alteration of the final arrangement of the layout in this space. In the new configuration, I've swapped the Mt Wilson and fiddle modules, removed the creek module, and a future scenic module for now. This has also shortened the overall loop by about 2m, but it makes a more achievable railway in the medium term. That's the plan anyway.<br /><br />I took advantage of one of the many recent sales at Australian Modeller over the last few months to purchase some SDS models' JCW 80-foot container wagons. As you know, I mainly model the main west in the late 1970s, and until recently I hadn't found any photographic evidence of these wagons venturing anywhere but the main south during that era. A fellow South Australian modeller put me onto a history of the TNT-Alltrans Adelaide-Sydney services produced for a Modelling the Railways of South Australia convention a few years ago. This, and seeing a few other photos of these wagons in the consists of some general freight trains on the main west in one of the pictorial groups I follow on Facebook provided all of the convincing I needed to add these wagons to my roster. I probably won't run them on Mt Wilson all that often, but they could make a guest appearance on Rozelle Street, and if I take a main west consist to run at a club or exhibition layout in future. One of those "I like them, I'll make that work" purchases. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD7NrYXeQStnQA50rmE5OTE9B329tbBQz7r2HKgmgNdbBYX9JqOscPtlXNAruKufFOkkWzBKBWPKGxXXv82xS3VUSjT5zlljIg2IdmFk4tPEHwAdebbYZIvN2gc9bPyO7GZ4AGR31wMq7h/s1600/200725+-+fiddle+yard.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD7NrYXeQStnQA50rmE5OTE9B329tbBQz7r2HKgmgNdbBYX9JqOscPtlXNAruKufFOkkWzBKBWPKGxXXv82xS3VUSjT5zlljIg2IdmFk4tPEHwAdebbYZIvN2gc9bPyO7GZ4AGR31wMq7h/s320/200725+-+fiddle+yard.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Also - I've finally completed wiring the fiddle yard for DCC. It's been a long time coming, but this just leaves the much simpler task of wiring up the remaining loop modules.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy4qbCWrLCSAkqUtICY3odnN44R1uU5jONdc_G8Mx8BJNXQxyA8CtxUkKkhWofBp_nk961UcEanPykTw5HhjOSBVzPt16VcLlfZ_3b19RMjBWbDJ0Sx7GPFw6_M7mKUQ7ogFbluI1Xgy5T/s1600/200725+-+Fiddle+yard+wiring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy4qbCWrLCSAkqUtICY3odnN44R1uU5jONdc_G8Mx8BJNXQxyA8CtxUkKkhWofBp_nk961UcEanPykTw5HhjOSBVzPt16VcLlfZ_3b19RMjBWbDJ0Sx7GPFw6_M7mKUQ7ogFbluI1Xgy5T/s320/200725+-+Fiddle+yard+wiring.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I also tested out the JCWs on my loops into the fiddle yard. The Indian Pacific cars are due to arrive from Auscision in the next few months and are around the same length, so this is a good indication that they'll go around my layout for the odd occasion when I want to give that consist a run - completely out of context for the branch line scenario!</div>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaPEo6DkOJlh4MHfAVBy-E_aEGb4rsGnxUn8ihJYAZqUlhOugZ-F3sQTVXM-3cRDuhAF8mpvSTUHu2fnxpWnUxaBoB9YJ1jW4bskC5ekPURRs6NogPXVmTJqcKIcqvxX7Te-Bu88B7DQcH/s1600/200725+-+80+footers+on+curve.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaPEo6DkOJlh4MHfAVBy-E_aEGb4rsGnxUn8ihJYAZqUlhOugZ-F3sQTVXM-3cRDuhAF8mpvSTUHu2fnxpWnUxaBoB9YJ1jW4bskC5ekPURRs6NogPXVmTJqcKIcqvxX7Te-Bu88B7DQcH/s320/200725+-+80+footers+on+curve.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />A few more weeks and I'll have a train running in a loop. Still planning to complete the basic scenery by Christmas.<br /><br />Cheerio for now,<br /><br />BenBenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17921057640304228166noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-665903955317007319.post-63184276033852223792020-04-24T16:46:00.001-07:002020-04-24T16:46:21.513-07:00Tracklaying complete<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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While my time off wasn't as productive as I'd hoped, I did manage to achieve the tracklaying milestone.</div>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF7K1JnhMK6EhEKyHwz9sYK9erBu-7K64HkXIF0diQ8T7AxmXwl4fGGK9q5hRcFsqz-wuJi6wE6vf5Z_KRlj8WmvAICTSNc2HuIZYSoMvk4PL7CRdUofDZbz8EwFvCNh1VCNaRjOQIt9M-/s1600/200425+-+01..JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF7K1JnhMK6EhEKyHwz9sYK9erBu-7K64HkXIF0diQ8T7AxmXwl4fGGK9q5hRcFsqz-wuJi6wE6vf5Z_KRlj8WmvAICTSNc2HuIZYSoMvk4PL7CRdUofDZbz8EwFvCNh1VCNaRjOQIt9M-/s320/200425+-+01..JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />Mainly so that I can remember how I did this in future, I'll briefly outline how the entryway bridge was constructed. I've used 19mm x 89mm pine, which rests on a horizontal 19 x 42mm pine support on either end of the curved modules that it joins.<br /><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL1Zq6nJv-FKs_mohUldNiqVjYsuAhVTSpiXIKxarr0f9eMdtBjbrcPO3KfI0UQ-_l74X6LSNgWuVV6AzQpHohqf4cwRtbCyNfGcG328AAGRQhiyK_FZpu5-9F4tIt62fpOeK9Dtsb5xfW/s1600/200425+-+02.+bridge.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL1Zq6nJv-FKs_mohUldNiqVjYsuAhVTSpiXIKxarr0f9eMdtBjbrcPO3KfI0UQ-_l74X6LSNgWuVV6AzQpHohqf4cwRtbCyNfGcG328AAGRQhiyK_FZpu5-9F4tIt62fpOeK9Dtsb5xfW/s320/200425+-+02.+bridge.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />To keep the bridge piece from moving I've used off cuts of pine and aluminium angle and fixed these to the right-hand curved module, and the other end of the bridge so that the bridge can only be put in place in one direction. While this controls for and reduces any lateral and vertical movement, I now need to come up with a way of preventing the bridge from sliding out if the curved modules get knocked at all. I think I'll use dowel, but again, this is reliant on either outside being legal again or waiting on a Bunnings delivery.<br /><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2rOLApaN-Sdq1TDEzRDeRQq27T0mP-kXtoe-SOrqDIFBUcBonA0ALsTLCMYikfx7StUnkHSCLX8BmxMDXmjNBi8XT2sDwLWtpt_NpeLnVOBKAqAs5fe7T-iCrGE2pJcZ4X8H9_sI6hNcm/s1600/200425+-+03.+bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1174" data-original-width="699" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2rOLApaN-Sdq1TDEzRDeRQq27T0mP-kXtoe-SOrqDIFBUcBonA0ALsTLCMYikfx7StUnkHSCLX8BmxMDXmjNBi8XT2sDwLWtpt_NpeLnVOBKAqAs5fe7T-iCrGE2pJcZ4X8H9_sI6hNcm/s320/200425+-+03.+bridge.jpg" width="190" /></a></div>
<br />To lay the track I've used Trackrite foam to reduce some of the noise of running directly on plywood with no insulation underneath. Most of this was laid on a curve, so I cut the trackrite in half to make it easier to lay around the curve without lifting or warping. Once cut, I placed it aside and applied Selley's caulk in a coffee colour (it's better than white if used in scenic areas), which is smoothed out to a light spread with an off cut of pine. The Trackrite is then laid on top, another layer of caulk is applied and smoothed, and then the track is laid with the aid of Tracksetta gauges to ensure the 30" minimum radius is maintained throughout. Weights are then applied on top and left for at least 4 hours but preferably overnight.<br /><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBkKW4woZTaYfclqYk1SqJIzN8jwd7XZB1Fsu38W1ESLSZK0061sPkMjS9JtJLE2SVg1hXShpvjZDxNpiI8PELuX6QxD7LgZ6A6q2rsyIMu2ai18uhF42GmG7Q7a7Lgz3m72X56UOckd5N/s1600/200425+-+04.+tracklaying.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBkKW4woZTaYfclqYk1SqJIzN8jwd7XZB1Fsu38W1ESLSZK0061sPkMjS9JtJLE2SVg1hXShpvjZDxNpiI8PELuX6QxD7LgZ6A6q2rsyIMu2ai18uhF42GmG7Q7a7Lgz3m72X56UOckd5N/s320/200425+-+04.+tracklaying.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSYQTN0sxyBScLVpAEy1CvRRXXcKYFGTMQED9owmKVHwd9poJRqd-OnRaqmFg5NBd-m11jBPQ9oOxBXCA1XQesaUxMuAaX7BdwlW2RtwLVdKVirzl4a9Pz01Dp8_LUTbO1Yxa7539IWTqQ/s1600/200425+-+06..JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSYQTN0sxyBScLVpAEy1CvRRXXcKYFGTMQED9owmKVHwd9poJRqd-OnRaqmFg5NBd-m11jBPQ9oOxBXCA1XQesaUxMuAaX7BdwlW2RtwLVdKVirzl4a9Pz01Dp8_LUTbO1Yxa7539IWTqQ/s320/200425+-+06..JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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When joining the track on the curve I've offset the rail joiners to prevent the 'kink' you sometimes see when the track is joined flush on a curve (see below). I've used code 100 in all of the non-scenicked areas for ease of use and because it's quite durable and forgiving.<br /><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHpXvb_LgbKaHrRB-A201b3pL1Qh0HA424fDdP4jLFR-ka25VrX17eNVlq2CklB-Bq2s_VGzpoPWafrhdwFfRoPorDx7DSAYzPEDlG1UczIJzD3buQaf7oW6CsdzLLOPsbGclA5GwRQUQ6/s1600/200425+-+05.+offset+joiners+on+curve.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHpXvb_LgbKaHrRB-A201b3pL1Qh0HA424fDdP4jLFR-ka25VrX17eNVlq2CklB-Bq2s_VGzpoPWafrhdwFfRoPorDx7DSAYzPEDlG1UczIJzD3buQaf7oW6CsdzLLOPsbGclA5GwRQUQ6/s320/200425+-+05.+offset+joiners+on+curve.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />While that was drying and setting, I received one of the Auscision stimulus packages I bought to keep the hobby (read: Australian Modeller) alive during the Covid-19 lockdown. These VR FQX flat/container wagons mainly ran in NSW on the main south, but I've seen at least one on the north coast, and it's reasonable to assume they ventured on the main west over the Blue Mountains at some stage. I'll do a little more work on making appropriate tie-downs for the caravans, but these add some variety to train loads.<br /><br />
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<br />In an effort to complete wiring I started on the fiddle yard.<br /><br />
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And have added the bus wire to the first of the curved modules...<br />
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<br />Only to discover that these terminal strip connectors aren't as a great as I thought they would be for connecting the bus wire between the modules. I've bought some RCA connectors instead and am now waiting for them to arrive from Jaycar.<br /><br />
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<br />Unfortunately that's it for Mt Wilson for a while. We've just moved out while a number of renovations to the inside of our house happen, including waterproofing the railway room.<br /><br />
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<br />When we come back the room will have gyprocked walls, a new ceiling and some downlights. Should make it a much more comfortable place to be. In the meantime, the railway has visited my brother's house for a while. Again. <br /><br />Man that guy is a patient saint.<br /><br />
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<br />While I'm temporarily banned from the worksite that has become our house, I've brought the coal loading bin, the station and signal box and some modelling tools to finish them off. Should be able to plonk them straight in by the time we get back inside.<br /><br />Until then, happy modelling!<br /><br />Cheers,<br />BenBenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17921057640304228166noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-665903955317007319.post-12031167412473659322020-03-31T23:03:00.001-07:002020-03-31T23:03:11.557-07:00Layout progress in the time of Coronavirus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I'm sure there are many people at home all over the world at the moment with extra modelling time on their hands thanks to the efforts to contain the spread of Coronavirus. I was supposed to be leaving Sydney on the Indian Pacific today, however with the SA and WA borders closed the IP, the Ghan and the Overland have all been cancelled until 31 May. I'm a tad disappointed, but it's for the best. Plus, I've received either a credit or refund for all aspects of the holiday so I'll still be able to go at some point in future.<br /><br />So what to do with two weeks of holidays...</div>
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Firstly I jumped online and ordered all of the supplies I need for a marathon layout session from hobby shops, Jaycar and Bunnings. While I wait for all of that to arrive I've been doing as much as I can in the train room to get some little jobs out of the way and make the modelling time I have as efficient as possible.</div>
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I've managed to finish installing all of the lighting on the scenic modules now. Mt Wilson in particular looks like a much larger space with the extension now fitting in. I'm looking forward to shunting here.</div>
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I'll get around to making this a bit neater in between other jobs:</div>
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I've also had a huge hand from my brother, meaning that we've been able to connect all of the curved modules, scenic modules and fiddle yard together.</div>
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Now I just need to build the bridge piece over the entryway when the loot from Bunnings arrives and then I can start laying the remaining track.</div>
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I've cut all of the guard rails for the curved modules from 3mm ply -- 50mm wide for the inside and 80mm wide for the outside as demonstrated below with this KLV. I tried using 80mm for both sides and found that it hid the trains too much. If there was ever a derailment I'd want to be able to see where it was happening pretty quickly, hence the lower inside wall. That, and it's just nice to see a train going around.</div>
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I've also started cutting the remaining track for the extension module to the yard. I'll have to take up and re-align some of the existing track, but that should be a fairly quick job.</div>
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I'm back at work after Easter, and with the chance of being dragged to a social event being pretty low I'm hoping to make fair progress. The aim of the next few weeks is to have a train running around the loop by the time I go back to work. Hopefully that should increase the motivation thereafter to get scenery onto the Mt Wilson module at least. Will see how it goes.<br /><br />Til next time!</div>
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<br />Cheers,</div>
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Ben</div>
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<br />Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17921057640304228166noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-665903955317007319.post-57849924703689868922020-02-15T22:34:00.000-08:002020-02-15T22:34:18.759-08:00Diversions...Last weekend saw 3 months' worth of rain fall across the east coast in the space of just over 3 days. I thought our house was doing ok until my Sunday afternoon modelling time came around and I walked into the train room...<br />
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Perhaps it's psychological conditioning from the last place we lived in, which leaked at the slightest hint of rain, or perhaps it's time to stop watching Das Boot, but seeing the train room flooded induced neck-chilling fear.<br />
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After some investigation I found the gouged channel in the concrete at the corner of the room had been doing it's job collecting seepage through the walls from the earth on the other side, however the pipe leading outside to the garden was blocked. I managed to unblock it with all manner of fancy tools and the water drained away fairly quickly after that.<br />
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All-in-all I was lucky that I found it when I had - I'd left the floor covered in newspaper from when I was painting, and there had been a light layer of sawdust on top of that. Combined, they had soaked or slowed the progression of the water into the house.<br />
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When I walked into the room the water was on it's way to my Auscision rollingstock storage boxes, so thankfully they and their contents were spared. Hearing everyone else's experiences on Monday at work made me feel better that it wasn't just solely raining in my basement, but I did spend the rest of the week cleaning up the mess and moving the modules, wagons and locos back into place.<br />
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It's been a bit of a setback, and the damp weather has meant that I can't yet finish painting the pelmets and fascias and I had hoped to. Ah well, a minor diversion, but planning continues.<br />
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Still on track to have all of the modules joined up by the end of the month, and should have track down everywhere in time for picking up another servo motor and bracket at the Forestville exhibition in March. </div>
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Cheers,</div>
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Ben</div>
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Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17921057640304228166noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-665903955317007319.post-11488962139409964272020-01-28T03:40:00.000-08:002020-01-28T03:40:03.031-08:00January ProgressBetween getting called into work over the holidays and being conscripted for minor renovations in parts of the house unrelated to the model railway, I'm not quite at a stage where I can run trains yet, but damn we're close!<div>
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Here's a quick run-through of where things are up to. I've laid the track in the fiddle yard and have started to store a few of the test trains there. The U Set fits on the traverser table with about 1.5cm at either end, which is pretty good considering I first built the traverser about five years ago, well before any thought of running interurbans occurred! The U set itself is away being converted to DCC sound, but should be back by late March or so.</div>
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With the help of my brother over the long weekend, some significant progress was made on construction. I've now added the backboard for the as-yet unnamed halt immediately after the fiddle yard. I'm going to lay the track here and leave scenery until after the Mt Wilson yard scenery is completed. Only the roof and ends to go before I can install the lighting and finish painting on this module.</div>
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I had to build this module offset from Mount Wilson due to a large pipe protruding from the ceiling above, immediately between this one and the Mount Wilson module. Construction-wise it's complete, I'm glad to say. I've left the left-hand side open for now to allow for another scenic module to join it in future.<br />
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The expanded Mount Wilson yard is also nearly complete. This gives me another 600mm of yard space, which allows for arriving coal trains to run straight under the loading bin, and for the loco to run-around. I will be able to re-locate one of the Rapido uncouplers as a result of this expanded design.<br />
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I did make a minor error cutting the mouse-hole though. While not ideal, enlargening the size of the hole will be an easy fix.<br />
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<br />And here's the overall progress shot. I've also built most of the two return loops at either end in the last month. The big jobs coming up will be connecting it all up and getting all of the legs level. Still, I'm confident of being able to have the major construction complete and all track laid by the end of February.<br /><br />
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I'm keenly aware of the paralysis-by-analysis trap I fell into with the layout that kicked this blog off, and that is giving me a bit of a kick to keep pushing on. </div>
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<br />I look forward to posting the next update towards the end of next month. I'll try to get some scale modelling into those updates too - I'm looking forward to the end of the construction phase as much as you are I'm sure.<br /></div>
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Cheerio for now,</div>
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Ben</div>
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Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17921057640304228166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-665903955317007319.post-28266574477005706402019-12-23T17:16:00.000-08:002019-12-23T17:16:41.585-08:00The end of 2019 and the start of a continuous runAfter moving into our new place, painting, cleaning, and several trips to the tip and Vinnies, I have finally managed to get the most important part of the move complete: relocating the trains to their new home.<br />
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The extra space under the house has allowed me to extend Mt Wilson yard on the right-hand side for the enlarged fruit siding I mentioned in the previous post, as well as turning the coal road into a through-siding. Not sure if this means that I'll remove one of the uncouplers on the Mt Wilson yard yet. Will see how I go.<br />
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I've also built another mini-scene that I wanted with a bridge and an apple orchard to give the impression of distance between Mt Wilson and Bell.<br />
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Opposite Mt Wilson I've built a new module which will eventually be another small station (see first photo). This leads into the fiddle yard traverser. I'm planning on leaving that one as bare timber with just a straight track over it for the time being so that I can play around with the track plan between now and whenever it gets built. Overall this new arrangement gives me a longer run, and a continuous run for the days when I just want to watch a train run through the scenery. </div>
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After the silly season I'm planning on building the two half-loop modules built so that I can have a continuous run. The goal is to have a train running in a loop before I go back to work in mid-January. There will be much heraldry and fanfare here if that does happen. Plus, the long-awaited SDS 81 class is due in the first quarter of next year and I'm keen to get that out and stretching it's legs.<br />
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Until next time, Merry Christmas! Thanks for following along this year, and I look forward to seeing you in 2020, As always, hopefully with more modelling.<br />
<br />Cheers,<br />
BenBenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17921057640304228166noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-665903955317007319.post-57434875594308508382019-10-06T21:05:00.000-07:002019-10-06T21:05:11.327-07:00Homebush Exhibition, and a very big milestone<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Before we get to the Sydney Model Railway Exhibition at Homebush, I finally finished installing all of the uncouplers. All are wired and work fine, though I was having some trouble getting the LED fascia indicator to switch off on the final uncoupler pictured in the foreground. In the end I've decided to leave an LED indicator off that siding, as when I'm shunting in there I'm not going to be using multiple uncouplers like when I'm running around a train or shunting the coal siding. </div>
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Just need to finish the control panel now and then it's on to scenery!<br /><br /><b>The 2019 Sydney Model Railway Exhibition - Homebush</b><br /><br />Overall, the Homebush site was a big step up from the Whitlam Leisure Centre. I queued with the pre-paid wave on Saturday morning and although it was raining we were permitted to line up undercover (not possible at Liverpool), and even watch The Overland warming up on Murray River Bridge (hi Scott!) through the glass of the building.<br />
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Although the interior lighting was a tad dark in places, most layouts had their own lights, and the aisles were generously spaced. I didn't feel crammed in at any point, even in the side-rooms, which is another improvement over Liverpool. There weren't any substantial food outlets inside the building, but there was a coffee cart and plenty of chairs and tables offering somewhere to sit down. With an older crowd coming to the show, the seating is probably one of the biggest improvements in my view.<br /><br />I'd been hoping for a big commercial announcement or release at this exhibition from SDS or On Track Models, but I get the impression that both have a number of projects on the go already, both announced and unannounced, and are keeping their cards close to their chests.<br /><br />As for the layouts, it was great to see Murray River Bridge after the pub and roadway had been added to it. And it's just nice to see a layout that doesn't focus on a station, as much as I like station scenes. In terms of NSW HO scale layouts, Goulburn, East Mateland, Blue Mountains, Binalong, Bullenbung Creek and Electric Car Sheds made an appearance and took most of my focus. I think most were at Rosehill, but it was good to see so many at what is advertised as quite a large show.<br /><br />I really enjoy seeing the Blue Mountains layout every time it makes an outing, but 'Passing Time' caught my eye as a relatively small layout, displaying Australian scenery in an achievable format. Naturally, the smaller layouts appeal to me given my own space constraints thus far, but I feel like this is one of the few examples at the exhibition that shows the average punter an achievable example to inspire building something achievable in their own space at home.<br /><br />
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<br />I'll be interested to see if it drew the crowds as much as Liverpool, but for my money's worth I was impressed with the new location.<br /><br />Of course, no exhibition would be complete without the obligatory loot photo. I really only wanted the Comeng Vol 4 book for the history of the design of the 85 class and the XPT, but Auscision's exhibition sale on DCC-sound equipped locos was too good to pass up, and so 48163 in Indian Red made it's way home in the loot bag. Similarly, the 10 Australian gum trees from Trackside Trees worked out to about $8 each. I find trees disappear into the background in a heartbeat, and despite having 4 other gum trees already I'm sure the same will happen on Mt Wilson. Will have to pack additional funds next time. Rounding out the list is a book of track plans by the German-language MIBA magazine. I always buy a MIBA magazine from Orient Express when they come over to the Sydney exhibition to keep my language skill going - it's so much easier to motivate yourself for revision when you're reading about something you're genuinely interested in.<br /><br />
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<b>And now for the big milestone...</b><br /><br />We bought a house! <br /><br />More importantly, the house has a 12m x 3m room underneath, of which I've been able to claim just under half for a train room. We should be in and running trains before Christmas.<br /><br />Among the minutiae that comes with moving, I've managed to draw up a plan that will expand Mt Wilson to add more of a proper branch line between the terminus and the fiddle yard with another coal mine to justify the use of main line electrics, as well as expanding the fruit co-op industry at Mt Wilson by swapping it and the fuel siding over. More on that in a future post sometime.<br /><br />I've had to pack all of the trains and tools away for the move so it's going to be a bit quiet on here for the next few months, but I'll endeavour to update the blog again before the end of the year once the trains are up and running again.</div>
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<br />Until next time!<br />
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Cheers,<br />
Ben<br /><br />
<br />Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17921057640304228166noreply@blogger.com2