Time to build a railway...but where?

A place for the discussion of garden railways and any garden style/scale portable and/or indoor layouts
kandnwlr
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Post by kandnwlr » Wed Apr 30, 2014 9:24 pm

Can´t wait for someone to do the 1:1 maths.

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Peter Butler
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Post by Peter Butler » Wed Apr 30, 2014 9:39 pm

robc_wa:100154 wrote:
Peter Butler:100152 wrote:!
  Since taking these pictures I have sprayed them with plastic primer and an acrylic top coat in green..... pictures to follow.
Err.... I though Elephants were supposed to be grey?!!
Perhaps in Australia...... Remember these are Welsh Elephants!

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Lner fan Sam
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Post by Lner fan Sam » Thu May 01, 2014 7:09 pm

Is your line a complete circuit now peter?
my first live steam engine build thread:
http://gardenrails.myfreeforum.org/about6685.html

Sam Wake

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Peter Butler
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Post by Peter Butler » Thu May 01, 2014 11:16 pm

The line is a complete circuit with two termini... one outside and one in the shed.

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I can run trains in either direction on the circuit as well as changing direction before entering one of the stations and running round the train for a return journey.
I tend not to operate very much as my pleasure is in the making, however, since Billy came to the line I have spent more time with the railway.

kandnwlr
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Post by kandnwlr » Sat May 03, 2014 4:51 pm

Take us on a photographic trip round the line, please :shock:

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Peter Butler
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Post by Peter Butler » Sun May 18, 2014 9:59 pm

As promised, here are pictures of the viaduct sides which I installed only today following other preliminary work.
I am very pleased with the result but the track still needs ballast to complete the image.... some people are never satisfied!

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philipy
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Post by philipy » Mon May 19, 2014 6:34 am

That is looking good Peter. The "kit-bashed" lattice bridge looks particularly impressive. I'd never have guessed its origins if I hadn't seen the earlier posts.
Philip

DickH
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Post by DickH » Mon May 19, 2014 2:34 pm

Looking good Peter.
Retirement has its benefits if only I can afford the railway!

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Soar Valley Light
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Post by Soar Valley Light » Tue May 20, 2014 9:07 pm

Looking good indeed Peter. Nice as the girder span is I particularly like the plate girder spans, They look really 'vintage'. All in all lovely structure.
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"'cause I can't manage on three gaffer!"

Big Al
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Post by Big Al » Tue May 20, 2014 10:57 pm

That is really looking good Peter, I like the raised section a lot. The bridges look superb, I hope to start laying my ballast soon if the weather holds up been nice and sunny in Essex this weak.
Allen Hopper - early retirement can't beat it !

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Peter Butler
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Post by Peter Butler » Tue May 20, 2014 11:06 pm

Thanks to everyone for your comments.....
Big Al, are you going to stick your ballast down or leave it loose?
If you are sticking it, what with?

Big Al
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Post by Big Al » Tue May 20, 2014 11:29 pm

I am going to try different methods , 1st. 2&3 mm gravel and stones with some cement dust and small amount of peat and if I don't like that I will try laying the ballast and poring a damp brick work treatment I can't recall it's name at the moment but I did try a small sample and it seamed to hold the ballast OK . If all else fails then lay the ballast and spray with water proof PVA.
Allen Hopper - early retirement can't beat it !

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Peter Butler
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Post by Peter Butler » Tue May 20, 2014 11:41 pm

Thanks for the info Big Al... Perhps the stuff you mean is SBR which is a bonding agent for screeding. I have some and tried it on fine material which set solid in dry weather but became soggy and loose again during the winter...... not good!
I thought about waterproof PVA diluted with SBR to make it runny enough to work into the ballast.
At the moment I still have no ballast to stick down anyway.

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Peter Butler
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Post by Peter Butler » Wed May 21, 2014 10:34 pm

On Monday this week I bought a small (3") resin figure of Merlin, the Magician, at a local charity shop. Legend has it that Merlin was born here in Carmarthen and is still here, entombed in a cave, locked in chains by his lover (?) and waiting for release to help King Arthur, when he too is recalled to assist the country in time of crisis.
With a background such as this how can I not have a statue on my railway to honour the great man?

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I have decided to mount the figure on a natural rock and it will eventually be sited at the entrance to the station car park.

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I also bought a toy tractor close enough to 16mm scale to make a reasonable impression when a few changes have been made to its appearance.

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It was complete when I bought it for 50p. I have dismantled it to see whether it is possible to carry out improvements and will post further pictures to show progress.

kandnwlr
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Post by kandnwlr » Thu May 22, 2014 7:16 am

Like the Merlin statue. If, in your many travels, you come across a 16mm dragon, let me know. I have a cave waiting for it, and the appropriate sign in Welsh ("To the Dragon Cave", if case you´re wondering ....) :D

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Peter Butler
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Post by Peter Butler » Thu May 22, 2014 11:19 am

How big is a 16mm scale dragon?
I have made a Dragon Wagon using a cast resin dragon from a local Welsh Shop. It was very reasonably priced but whether they are still available I will have to check. I must say it needed some fettling to improve its looks and came in a horrible all-over red colour which just had to go!
Image

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Vallon
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Post by Vallon » Thu May 22, 2014 3:51 pm

Nice dragon wagon.
Another guy (MDLR) on this forum also made a dragon wagon:

http://www.mdlr.co.uk/dwag.html
See you soon !

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Peter Butler
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Post by Peter Butler » Fri May 23, 2014 11:00 pm

The tractor is done.... detailed additions include front weights..

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three-point linkage at the rear...
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windows, driver, exhaust, repaint and weathering...
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For a 50p toy I think it has been good value, especially as the body is die-cast metal so should be a sturdy addition to the ever growing fleet of scenic accessories.

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philipy
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Post by philipy » Sat May 24, 2014 7:30 am

Looks good Peter.
Like the weathering on the body, but you missed doing the tyres !! ;)
Philip

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Peter Butler
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Post by Peter Butler » Sat May 24, 2014 9:46 am

Getting 'picky' now are we???
You're right though.... I did the side walls and hubs but not the treads. I'll put that right for you straight away...... sorry!

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