RWLR - Robin Wood Light Railway

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Peter Butler
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Re: RWLR - Robin Wood Light Railway

Post by Peter Butler » Sat Aug 04, 2018 7:38 pm

Although the blue colour looks alarming it is perfectly normal and will disappear in time. It may not be an issue where you are located but it is important to keep rain off the SBR until it dries. It is also easier to remove SBR from the track when wet but isn't difficult when it dries as it peels off easily.
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Re: RWLR - Robin Wood Light Railway

Post by tom_tom_go » Sun Aug 05, 2018 9:30 am

Hi Peter,

I did read your advice before starting with SBR but as we are in high summer I did not bother covering it up.

This is what is looks like this morning:

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I am out today so I will see if it's hardened this evening, it will get cat tested as well by plonking one of them on it!

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Re: RWLR - Robin Wood Light Railway

Post by Peter Butler » Sun Aug 05, 2018 9:45 am

Looking good Tom, I hope your cats appreciate your efforts!
If they do leave a little pressie for you it will wash off without causing any problems.
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Re: RWLR - Robin Wood Light Railway

Post by tom_tom_go » Sun Aug 05, 2018 10:35 am

I hope it works out as I can continue to use real world materials but can set it all in place permantely like I use to do in OO gauge with PVA/washing up mix.

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Re: RWLR - Robin Wood Light Railway

Post by tom_tom_go » Sun Aug 05, 2018 5:55 pm

I had a good day running Russell, video to follow but a quick picture of her before the first run of the day:

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Things that need attention:
  • Gas adjustment is not very fine when turned down low, it's either on or off. I will check the jet and the gas valve, it was suggested to use Vaseline once taken apart
  • I think the regulator needs a service as even with it adjusted the loco wants to start off when put in forward/reverse even though the regulator is shut off

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Re: RWLR - Robin Wood Light Railway

Post by tom_tom_go » Sun Aug 05, 2018 9:06 pm

An enjoyable days running on the Ambercross Junction garden railway:


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Re: RWLR - Robin Wood Light Railway

Post by Andrew » Sun Aug 05, 2018 9:35 pm

Looks like fun Tom - nice to see Russell keeping such good company too!

A lovely line - I really like the Col Stephens style building...

Glad you're having fun with Russell, sorry she keeps throwing up extra problems! I wondered whether the regulator might be contributing to the RC problems - definitely beyond my abilities though...

Cheers,

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Re: RWLR - Robin Wood Light Railway

Post by IanC » Mon Aug 06, 2018 8:57 am

Lovely video. Is the Ambercross Junction Railway a forum member? It would be good to see more of this railway.

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Re: RWLR - Robin Wood Light Railway

Post by tom_tom_go » Mon Aug 06, 2018 2:22 pm

IanC wrote: Mon Aug 06, 2018 8:57 am Lovely video. Is the Ambercross Junction Railway a forum member? It would be good to see more of this railway.

Ian
I believe the owner has a Facebook page of the railway but I don't use FB so you would need to search for it.

Interestingly, he used Filcris for most of it and has had nothing but trouble particularly this year with the heat.

Depsite this it is a great line and the river with the pond make it very relaxing. My next garden must have some sort of water feature as I love the sound of trickeling water and hearing a loco working.

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Re: RWLR - Robin Wood Light Railway

Post by tom_tom_go » Mon Aug 06, 2018 2:26 pm

Andrew wrote: Sun Aug 05, 2018 9:35 pm Glad you're having fun with Russell, sorry she keeps throwing up extra problems! I wondered whether the regulator might be contributing to the RC problems - definitely beyond my abilities though...

Cheers,

Andrew.
It's all good experience Andrew.

I cleaned the jet, gas valve (Vaseline worked well for lubrication) and the regulator this morning and it's made the world of difference. She was running at a nice pace on 20 PSI with far greater control.

Now we wait for the Slomo to arrive :thumbup:

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Re: RWLR - Robin Wood Light Railway

Post by Andrew » Mon Aug 06, 2018 3:57 pm

Wonderful, well done Tom!

No word re the Slomo, but I think Terry may be away now. I'll keep you posted...

Cheers,

Andrew.

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Re: RWLR - Robin Wood Light Railway

Post by philipy » Mon Aug 06, 2018 3:59 pm

tom_tom_go wrote: Mon Aug 06, 2018 2:22 pm
My next garden must have some sort of water feature as I love the sound of trickeling water and hearing a loco working.
Tom,
There are loads of ready made garden water features available. My wife is a sucker for water and lights and we have them everywhere in the garden. Mostly, if they include buildings etc, they are smaller scale than really needed but if carefully placed and not right next to a proper scale station etc, the eye just accepts them. The three level cascade in the picture, next to the cottage, looks fine because rocks can be any scale and the water can be heard from about 4 or 5 metres away ( actually, even further than that its noticeably quiet when off ).
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Re: RWLR - Robin Wood Light Railway

Post by tom_tom_go » Mon Aug 06, 2018 4:22 pm

Thanks Phil, is that water feature self-contained or requires a water supply from the mains?

On the SBR front, I like it but the test patch I have done has dried very glossy which is fine for oily/coal areas but it will look crap with ballast sparkling away on the mainline.

Do I need to dilute it or add washing up liquid?

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Re: RWLR - Robin Wood Light Railway

Post by philipy » Mon Aug 06, 2018 5:16 pm

Tom, The water feature is self contained. I've sunk the reservoir in the ground by about 4inches in the photo. If you do a google for Kelkay, you'll get the manufacturers site ( and local stockists - we got the one in the picture from a local garden centre at an end of summer discount, a couple of years ago). The prices on Kelkay are a lot higher than you can get stuff for although they aren't cheap, to be honest. Also, some are solar powered and some are mains with a 12v transformer.

As for SBR, I use it neat, as does Peter I believe. Never had a particular problem with a glossy finish although I think there is a sort of eggshell effect to start with, but it soon goes with weathering. I just popped down and looked at the ballast around my signal, from a couple of weeks ago, and there is no sign of shiny.
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Re: RWLR - Robin Wood Light Railway

Post by Peter Butler » Mon Aug 06, 2018 5:41 pm

tom_tom_go wrote: Mon Aug 06, 2018 4:22 pm Thanks Phil, is that water feature self-contained or requires a water supply from the mains?

On the SBR front, I like it but the test patch I have done has dried very glossy which is fine for oily/coal areas but it will look crap with ballast sparkling away on the mainline.

Do I need to dilute it or add washing up liquid?
A direct feed from mains water supply would be an offence and taken very seriously by your Local Water Authority. Apart from that your water bills would be astronomical. A recirculating system with sump and pump (preferably with an in-line filter) is the way to go so requires a power supply.
No need to worry about the slight sheen on your SBR, it will soon wear away.
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Re: RWLR - Robin Wood Light Railway

Post by tom_tom_go » Tue Aug 07, 2018 3:58 pm

Peter Butler wrote: Mon Aug 06, 2018 5:41 pm
A direct feed from mains water supply would be an offence and taken very seriously by your Local Water Authority. Apart from that your water bills would be astronomical. A recirculating system with sump and pump (preferably with an in-line filter) is the way to go so requires a power supply.
Apologies, I did not explain myself. I meant as with most central heating systems you have a mains fed top up feed. However, now that I think about it an open outdoor water feature really doesn't need that as you could just fill it up with a watering can.

Another test patch with SBR and this time I used a pipet as my squirty bottle died after the first go (I did clean it but obviously not enough) and then it was soaked lightly with a spray mist from my hose pipe (Rik's suggestion as he doesn't have issues with a gloss finish for gravel):

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There is a shine to the gravel (you may need to view on a this a computer screen to notice but to the naked eye it's obvious) when you compare it to a patch that is untouched with SBR:

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Mr Bulter reckons this will wear in time but I am not sure, bit disappointed as I was hoping this was going to be the solution...

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Re: RWLR - Robin Wood Light Railway

Post by Peter Butler » Tue Aug 07, 2018 4:24 pm

Be patient Tom, it will settle down and take the shine off in time. As previously suggested, water doesn't help, particularly on coarse ballast, but you might be OK with your small stones and the fact it is drying quickly.
Edit.... just noticed you are using water washed stone which already has a smooth and shiny surface... real ballast is quarried stone and has sharp surfaces in order to bind together. You might not get the result you expect.
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Re: RWLR - Robin Wood Light Railway

Post by tom_tom_go » Tue Aug 07, 2018 5:27 pm

The stone size isn't a problem. After 24 hours it is all solid as a rock so pleased with that result.

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Re: RWLR - Robin Wood Light Railway

Post by philipy » Tue Aug 07, 2018 6:22 pm

Tom, Looking at your pictures on a desktop PC screen ( the only way I do it normally), they look fine to me and I really can't see any shine, other than what you'd expect on clean fine gravel.
If it helps any, the following 2 pics show (a) the granite ballast area around my signal base which was glued down a couple of weeks ago, and (b) the area near an adjacent point which was glued a year or so ago and shows both granite ballast and some chicken grit.

I think you just need to give it some time. Otherwise I'd suggest using different ballast but I know you particularly want to get a beach shingle type effect.
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Re: RWLR - Robin Wood Light Railway

Post by tom_tom_go » Tue Aug 07, 2018 9:15 pm

I showed the wife how effective the SBR treated ballast is at stopping the cats throwing it about and all she could say was 'it's too hard now for their paws'.

I shall ignore this comment and continue on as I am the one who ends up cleaning the patio :thumbup:

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