The CVLR gets it's new home (WIP railway & stock)

[SLRmidge]

Great little vids. I like the camera view looking back from a train in front. Your Carrie was having to work hard in the final one!

[laalratty]

Great progress Shane, getting a fair bit of a run now

[90733]

Nice videos

[Dr. Bond of the DVLR]

Coor! How much more will there be?

[Pendo Pilot]

Thanks for the feedback, had a lot of fun yesterday running with my new mileage. Wish I had more time to get that all landscaped in though. Happy with how it's turning out though.

Coor! How much more will there be?

Tell me about it... Loads to go yet. Originally I was going to the shed where the line ends in the video & then put a return loop there. But now I'm using gradients instead of flat it's opened up some new choices. I chose a "U" shape with run round loops at each end of the "U" as if building it level it would of been 3 to 4 feet high by the time I reached the patio just before the house. Now my wife is good but I think she would be a bit miffed if I blocked off the view of the garden with a wall with a railway on top of it. However with the success of the trials with the gradients it's all changed. I am now doing a complete circuit of the lawn & will be running down both sides of the garden & across the bottom by the house.. Almost there on one side anyway. Plan is to build the trackbed with blocks & then landscape it as & when. Track will be laid as I can afford to buy it, firstly just plain rail then points for loops etc as money allows. Already been getting through a box of 12 Peco SM32 lengths each month for the last 3 months plus the box I started with!!  :roll:

Anyway another 9ft of permenant trackbed went in this afternoon, track to be laid tomorrow hopefully before a late shift. Out of track then until next payday in 2 weeks...  :shock:  :| I try to limit my monthly budget on rail stuff.



The end of the line until today in the foreground (even though there was 2 lengths of temp track laid here yesterday).


The lift out bridge (wood) will be replaced in time with a proper structure.


Should look quite nice as it runs under these bushes (whatever they are, I'm no gardener thats for sure. I do have a eucalyptus tree in there though...Well I would have wouldnt I..)

[Narrow Minded]

When I saw the "blank canvas" photo's, I knew that you were going to end up with a pretty impressive new line - the results so far are astounding!
Fantastic progress!

I do have a eucalyptus tree in there though...Well I would have wouldnt I..

I bet that you don't attract any Koala's in there though
But then again.........................................

Codnor Halt - a "Koala Brothers Homestead" conversion!

[90733]

Looking good , will defo be an impressive railway

[Pendo Pilot]

Sad news, but the management have decided.

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[90733]

shame, least it's been preserved good vid

[Narrow Minded]

Sad news (But if you're looking for a good home for a gas burner set up...................................................)

[Pendo Pilot]

I did mean to add that the loco was running on one standard cylinder & one upgraded one the other side due to an upgraded cylinder falling apart. This really seemed to upset the loco & it refused to run slowly at all. Hence the EPS type speeds achevied.

Normally the loco can be set to run at a semi realistic speed with the upgraded regulator. At least it actually ran, normally when I point a camera at it something falls off.

Oh & Greg, what would you want a gas burner for... I thought you were all meths on this kind of thing...

[Narrow Minded]

Oh & Greg, what would you want a gas burner for... I thought you were all meths on this kind of thing...

Someone wiser than I once said "The only constant is change"

Since the Lady Anne ("Lady of Sherwood") is meths fired, I quite like the idea of trying a gas burner on my mamod.
(Maybe not a brilliant idea, coz that would need a boiler upgrade too wouldn't it )

Anyhow, I predict that Phoenix will arise at some point in the future, just like her legendary namesake, and a great cheering will be heard throughout the Forum from fellow Mamodologists!

[Pendo Pilot]

(Maybe not a brilliant idea, coz that would need a boiler upgrade too wouldn't it )

I thought that, but the fella at forrest classics told me I didn't. No 5 runs a bix gas burner (filled with butane only rather than the butane/propane mix No 1 sometimes runs on). 5 has a standard boiler, actually it has the original 21 yr old boiler from No 1 on it. I've never had a problem with it to be fair. I bought a mamod with a Kenlowe gas burner on secondhand, that also ran a standard boiler.

Phoenix will of course get some runs in from time to time but it's days as a workhorse are pretty well over. May give it a tart up now.

[Narrow Minded]

Thanks for the info - that's good to know! My main reason for trying gas would just be to extend the run without refilling. The meths tank on the Dream Steam burner is very small and with the three wicks on the go, I'm refilling that more often than the boiler!

I did think that as long as the gas was turned down it would be OK.

You can always do as I have with "Jane". She's classed as the lines Heritage Loco and as such runs 'specials' with a rake of appropriate stock (two IP Lollypop Farm open siders and a modified Ezee coach - all currently in works as we type for repainting in the new company colour scheme )

[DLRdan]

You won't catch me retiring either of my mamods any time soon

[Pendo Pilot]

Whilst down my local building supply place buying yet more trackbed blocks I found a load of cracked thermalite blocks which I had for free, not that they cost much anyway. I had seen articles about building buildings/houses in 16mm out of them but never tried as they only sell them in lots of 30 at my place (Thats only £9.99 though). Anyway had 5 minutes spare at the start of the week so gave it a go with one of the cracked blocks. Easy as anything to gouge windows & brick/stone detail into them.

I started with a simple lean to. Just need to tidy up the window apertures & then build window frames (VT coffee stirrers again I'm guessing) & sort a roof out & then I'm happy with that after a lick of paint. I know it's nothing new to use these blocks but I was well impressed with how easy it was.

My first effort after a few minutes work, there was a pattern in the block (wavy lines) but not to bad now the stone is carved I think..



These will do for all the low relief houses at the back of Chyknell station anyhow.

[90733]

Cool, works well

[Narrow Minded]

Well that works! Looks good to me

Sorry I overlooked your question about Thermalite blocks in your PM Shane, (I was too busy thinking about t'other topic! ) but no, I haven't used 'em but you've given me an idea that I'd like to try

I've heard that they cut and scribe easily - what have you used? I especially like how you've managed to recess the windows.
I reckon you're right about the wavy lines, but I wonder if there's a way of getting rid of them? Saw off a thin slice before scribing maybe?

I've recently read of another way of using the blocks, saw them into smaller "building blocks" ala Jigstones and use them as the basis for construction.

[Pendo Pilot]

I just used a flat bladed screwdriver to gouge out the blocks Greg. Being careful not to chip big sections out as they are of course rather brittle. You may be right regarding the wavy lines, I sawed the roof section no worries with a wood saw so maybe can do the same on the building front.

[Pendo Pilot]

My name is...+.....B9 1/2


All will be clear soon.



Exciting times for the line indeed..