Garden Railway Forum

Alan, your momentum van works brilliantly, I must get on with mine now. Even more impressive is the lovely line you have created. Nice buildings and scenic effects. Do you leave them outside or place them each time you run?

Bitumen is both gloopy and black but can be brushed on quite easily. I bought a 2.5ltr can from our local Charlies store but other hardware or DIY stores should stock it. Not an expensive item again but seems to work well.

Rik, I have just re-read your last message and apologise for my rather hurried response which did not answer your question. The reply should have been.... the material between the ballasted tracks is made from chicken grit (which I think is actually crushed shell). I paint the baseboard with bitumen...

Hi Rik, thanks for the kind words, much appreciated!
For ballast I use horticultural grit from our local garden centre. Much of it is over scale so I use a sieve to sort out the smaller bits. It comes in large bags but is cheap enough, the rest is used in the garden anyway.

Wales.... the home of uneconomic coal and slate production! Even living here I couldn't afford to put Welsh coal on a domestic fire. My railway will have to be satisfied with Chinese coal and hope the (gas fired) loco will be happy with it! As an aside.... the new Tea Room at the top of Snowdon had ...

Thank you Chris, for the planks I first use a razor saw which I push along in the grain direction a few times followed by a Stanley knife blade point to deepen some of the scores. Afterwards a rough sandpaper to remove the flakes and bits of loose plastic. When this is painted the grooves tend to ho...

I don't dislike the sound of bells..... but I wouldn't want to live near them!
When living in the midlands, the church we were married in, and subsequently lived close to, had recorded and amplified bells which were annoying in the extreme.

Why do I feel even more confused than before?????

Thanks Philip, paint and grot has now been applied..... dark brown and black acrylic. Also, I have made a start on the coal heaps. ./myff/1880141/IMG_2822.JPG ./myff/1880142/IMG_2823.JPG I know they look more like icebergs at the moment but all will revealed. ./myff/1880143/IMG_2824.JPG Each unit is...

Well done Jim, congratulations!
You might need to explain to us exactly what 'rope sight' is.

Lots of other work at home and our annual Club exhibition now behind us, time to concentrate on railway improvements! One thing I have been meaning to make for quite a while is a coaling stage. Not much use having a steam loco without a food source. I sat down yesterday and cut out the parts from Pl...

Can anyone please tell me where I might get frame spacers for my Double Fairlie power bogies?
Also where I might find brass flat section of the correct size?
I have tried various sites but can't decide on the best size for the job.

My double Fairlie is still in its box although I have sourced the wheels, motors and gearboxes etc.... I have been busy with other projects recently but hope to make a start soon!
It would be wonderful to se the two locomotives together.

I used the link you supplied on the first page of this thread!
Perhaps I was just lucky as there seem to be alternative designs out there!

A very welcome visitor to the B.U.R.P.S. today was a newly built Slater's 'Prince'. This little locomotive is quite a substantial piece of engineering. The bodywork is not at all flimsy although detailed parts in the cab are! The running was extremely smooth with RC and the pulling power quite impre...

Having followed this thread from the beginning I just couldn't resist the challenge! My Zecar arrived in the post this morning and I am very impressed with its construction, especially for the price. ./myff/1877642/IMG_2779.JPG Mine has extended axles which will protrude well past the wheel gauge an...

Beautiful scenic line! All the planting looks well mature and completely natural.
Nice stock too!

Nice scenes Jim, busy and purposeful!
I can see now that you have had a plan in mind when building your houses etc. They all make up into a credible street scene, not just a random selection of structures.

Another outstanding example of your skill using Plasticard. What a stunning little creation and superb addition to any railway stock list.
Just wonderful!

'Bonkers' but expertly done.....