Time to build a railway...but where?

[Preseli Chris]

Well my second guess is a stage with Shakin Stevens performing Green Door.
I'll get my coat.

[Peter Butler]

Hmmm... some interesting responses there, but only one on the right track.. boom-boom!... is Preseli Chris with a musical connection. I give Shakin Stevens the benefit of the doubt.

This idea is something I have been thinking about for a while but had problems sourcing particular components, particularly figures and decorative items.
I have visited so many vintage fairs over the years and always been impressed with such items on display and the way they have been adapted to road transportation, so why not rail?

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More details on construction to follow... should you be interested.

[Preseli Chris]

Excellent Peter.
I was going to say it could have been a showmans pipe organ ,but the green paint job threw me off . Lovely detail ,quirky as ever.
Chris

[Phil.P]

Shakin' Stevens?

Must be something to do with the green door?

Phil.P

[Preseli Chris]

More details on construction to follow... should you be interested.
[/quote]

Please do. Are the cab stanchions drill bits and the columns pen bodies? They look familiar.

[ge_rik]

Another amazing construction, Peter. You must have spent ages sourcing all the ornamental bits and pieces.

Rik

[Peter Butler]

It has been a most interesting project as most of the components are not garden railway related, neither do they conform to scale.
Before I could start I needed to find suitable figures, e.g. Conductor and Caryatids. No 3D prints available, no fantasy figures suitable for conversion, but I managed to find Doug at... https://www.fairgroundmodels.co.uk. He supplies model fairground rides etc. in various scales so I managed to buy whitemetal figures from him. They are perfect in scale and detail and look superb after a little special finishing...

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Next was to search through Google images of fairground organs to form a general idea of what to make and how to fit everything together. Organ pipes are a must so I raided my selection of square plastic pipes and built up racks of various lengths and sizes to give the impression of different notes and pitch. (No... they don't work!). One image of an organ front was downloaded and printed to give the background ornamental painted panels, which I cut and arranged in suitable locations with the original 3D work painted out....

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The scrolls were another problem to overcome... I'm pretty handy with a scalpel, but Grinling Gibbons I aint! Another search through good old eBay showed up an amazing selection of the perfect solution, and not what I would ever have thought about....

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These are silicone, flexible sugarcraft moulds for cake decoration. There are dozens of patterns available and can be used to cast wonderfully delicate shapes with crisp detail using Miliput. They set overnight and, following a base coat of red primer, have also been gilded with genuine gold leaf (from my picture framing days).

Chris asked about the stanchions .... 2mm square brass rod carefully twisted with a vice and grips. Columns... wooden dowel with a printed marble effect paper wrapper.

When I could tidy my workbench on completion of the cosmetic side of construction I counted the number of paint colours used on the model. If the spray colours are included (grey, red and black) they total 22 colours.

[Preseli Chris]

Access is made by unscrewing the base-plate, which has no wheels attached, then after removal of all the radio gear, the pop-up section can be slid out, showing the damaged spring and clip mechanism. Some surgery is necessary to make room for the motor and gearbox under the bonnet, also for battery space behind the seat. I have managed to fit a 6v motor with PDF 3D printed gearbox driving steel wheels and 5AA batteries with RC trains Rx behind the rear wheels. A switch and recharge point are also fitted.

Driver figure is another from David Clavey...


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Hi Peter.
Re your build using the pdf gearbox for your builds . Whose steel wheels do you use that fit the pdf axle ? I am trying to source the parts that I need for my next to do project.

Chris

[Preseli Chris]

Peter I will start a thread on my PMR thread on the forum so as not to muddle up yours.
Chris

[Peter Butler]

Hi Peter.
Re your build using the pdf gearbox for your builds . Whose steel wheels do you use that fit the pdf axle ? I am trying to source the parts that I need for my next to do project.

Chris

Chris, I've seen your latest project on your post and will watch with interest. However, as you you have asked the question here, I will answer here...
The PDF axles are slightly smaller than most wheel sets so I have replaced them with 1/8th rod and fitted steel wheels from I P Engineering. The difference is slight but the PDF plastic gears will take the axle, so too will the brass bearings.

[Preseli Chris]

Thanks Peter for the intel . I was going to look at Peter Binnie axles and wheels but not sure if they would match up with the pdf setup.

[Lonsdaler]

Your Galloping Gooseorgan is a work of art Peter! Does the gold leaf need to be stuck on? I have seen where it is sort of stippled into place, but does it cling without adhesive, or is the dark red primer a secret ingredient?
I hope your loading gauge is adequate for that load too

[Peter Butler]

Thanks for your comment Phil, I'm pleased you approve.

The gold leaf has no self adhesive properties other than static, which can be a real nightmare! Traditionally it was applied to a surface prepared with Gold Size, although what it consisted of I have no idea. When searching for it on-line I eventually discovered the modern equivalent, which is 'Metal Leaf Size'. Looking like the colour and consistency of milk it is described as 'Acrylic Adhesive'.

It is sparingly applied and allowed to become clear with low tack. It then has a working window of up to 48 hours. The leaf is so fine it will adhere to anything! The trick is to draw the leaf slowly and carefully with a small plastic rectangle (provided) towards the workpiece and the static will pull the leaf in place. A soft brush can be used to ensure the recesses are covered too. Once the piece has fully set it can be burnished.

From the beginning I decided there would be no overhead restrictions on my line. Loading gauge is therefore not a problem at home but may be elsewhere? The organ possibly looks tall because it has a low base. In fact it is only 15mm taller than my Garratt and probably equal to my double deck tram?

Phil P is kindly supplying a suitable, pre-wired, Rx and full sound system for me to install and I hope to have it finished to take to Llanfair where I might be able to run it on one of the layouts there?.... That is sure to annoy someone!

[tommygander1941]

If you're a member of the 16mm Association, then I'm sure we wouldn't mind you running on the modular layout with your creation! Just speak to whoever is in charge there, or find me and I can ask for you

[Peter Butler]

Thanks Tommy, I am a 16mm Association member and look forward to meeting you there.

[Phil.P]

Phil P is kindly supplying a suitable, pre-wired, Rx and full sound system for me to install and I hope to have it finished to take to Llanfair where I might be able to run it on one of the layouts there?.... That is sure to annoy someone!

It won't be anything like as annoying as that 'Flash Gordon' police vehicle thing that kept being run last year!

I am looking at a 5W class D amplifier...

Phil.P

[GTB]

Traditionally it was applied to a surface prepared with Gold Size, although what it consisted of I have no idea.

Got a vague memory that gold size for gilding was based on rabbit skin glue. The modern replacement is some sort of PVA formulated to stay tacky.

Surprise, surprise, there's a Wikipedia page on the subject of gilding and there were numerous ways used over the years to glue gold onto cheaper base materials. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilding

I was wondering if you were planning on fitting a noise maker........ Exhibition attendees will love it, but by the end of the show the nearby exhibitors will be taking up a collection to hire a hitman.

Digital sound is semi protypical for a street organ. Many years ago I had a good look at a traditional Dutch street organ and it was under the control of a Jacquard machine with severa stacks of cards available to change the tune being played. I gather the small ones used pinned cylinders similar to a music box, so only played one tune.

Regards,
Graeme

[philipy]

I am looking at a 5W class D amplifier...

I used a 'df player' module to add sound to my Thornas build, as detailed in the thread
viewtopic.php?t=14508&hilit=thornas&start=60

It can play multiple tracks so would avoid much of the repetition that annoys everyone.

Quite a while ago I used a similar idea to play 'honky tonk piano' music in a lineside hotel/pub, so combining the two ideas and digging out some fairground organ music from the 'net' should do the trick?

[FWLR]

Phil P is kindly supplying a suitable, pre-wired, Rx and full sound system for me to install and I hope to have it finished to take to Llanfair where I might be able to run it on one of the layouts there?.... That is sure to annoy someone!

I am sure whatever Phil does for you Peter it will be brilliant.

Depending on how things go with me these next few months will determine whether we go to Llanfair. It would be brilliant to hear it in a live performance. I don’t think you get the same sound quality from most devices that we have, although we have had to get a new to because our other tv just packed in. The new tv has Dolby sound and all the trickery that involves, so I can put it on that and if we can’t get to Llanfair, it will be almost but not quite as good as being there.

After this build and with your new sound setup you will be doing more incredible things with your imagination that is unique to you Peter.

[tommygander1941]

Thanks Tommy, I am a 16mm Association member and look forward to meeting you there.

Hi Peter,

I should be wearing a 16mm Association dark blue hoodie with the name Ben McGuinness on it. Zach has met me at the NGRS so he should be able to tell you what I look like! I hope to meet Rik as well soon, as I have an open invitation to his railway, depending on when we're both available.