Garden Railway Forum

I too will be watching these PDF Models builds with interest. Currently waiting for an invoice for one of their 50hp Baldwin kits.. As for current work, far too many projects currently in progress here to list, let alone those waiting in the wings(shelves, that is), or those still in planning.. Rik,...

23/09/15 Another running day, and Anzac Creek's station building is done. Still needs benches, people and maybe a nameboard. A couple of baby ferns were planted behind the platform for "prettyfication". They cost all of $2.70ea from Bunnings. https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G5n26UR9q_o/WsPbCZCr...

Aye, t'was indeed my article in AME. I'd always intended to write a follow-up, but for the most part it would've just said "Don't do it the way I did!" :lol: I'm no longer involved with the ride-on side of things, and what with AME no longer being sold in newsagents, I haven't read it sinc...

Many years ago, I was a member of a 5" & 7¼" club here in Queensland. At the 2012 club Xmas party, I met a fellow named Anthony whom had recently joined, and had brought with him, a kit-built Accucraft Ruby. I recognised that loco sitting on the table, from Peter Jones' book, and start...

Great to hear from you again. Quite enjoyed seeing your old line over my years as a lurker here. Having had my start in steam on the 7¼" years ago, It's nice to see it here on the forum. The term "garden railway" seemingly covers all gauges, after all.

Well thanks, Andrew. If you or anyone else has any notes or criticisms of the blog, I'd certainly be interested in hearing them. I know my writing and photography tends to drag on at times, it's something I'm working on improving. Anyways, the iron powder arrived today. On the left is the old powder...

Re-animating this thread a bit. Loving the ideas so far. Here's a couple I've used to good effect. Spherical-headed sewing pins make decent doorknobs. IMG_5748.JPG Bar stools can be made from googly-eyes for the cushions, with matchstick legs. The beer tap (manifold?) was made by making a 90 degree ...

No worries, Grant. I got mine from EvilBay, though a chemical supplier. That 100g packet was a few years back, and goes a very long way. But I'm running low and couldn't find that supplier again. Just bought some the other day, though I only bought another 100g as I don't know how fine this particul...

An intriguing use of scrap. Looking forward to see what comes of it..

Cheers, gents. That iron powder is magic stuff. I'm continually amazed at it's ability to save me from my own lack of weathering experience. :roll: Part of the reason for building this, was to supplement my other two open wagons in building the next tramway.. Couple more months, and I can get starte...

Your issue sounds similar to the issue I had with my Fowler kit. It's possible that your return cranks aren't clamping down onto the crankpins properly. Tightening my pinch bolts, the cranks seemed solid, but after a few revolutions on air, with the motion lubricated, they were already moving out of...

Damn fine those, as is the rest of your work, I must say. Wish I'd have thought to roughen up the frame ends on mine, bit late now. Might have to steal that wheel grime idea for my own bolsters..

The latest wagon to emerge from the works, a Port Douglas Tramway open wagon. The prototype was built to carry 4T of bagged raw sugar from mill to port. One is now preserved at ANGRMS. We use it as a ballast wagon, though it's not ideal for the job, as it's all to easy to overload. We've had to repl...

08/08/19 The wheels need holes drilling in them. I'd forgotten to measure those of the prototype, so this was just based on photos. Here, I'm scribing out center-lines for drilling, having used permanent marker as marking blue. IMG_5940.JPG IMG_5941.JPG Marking the cross-lines was more difficult. Me...

Back in 2015, I started volunteering at ANGRMS , a heritage railway/museum in Woodford, Queensland. Part of the collection is this Hudson Hunslet. As it's missing most of it's engine, we used it as a brake van on the passenger train, until it's wheel profiles became too worn. The loco's now on displ...

Cheers! High praise from you all. I've long enjoyed (and stolen plenty of ideas from) your work.
And aye, the chain is just painted with the same Tamiya stuff as the other metalwork. I've plenty more past work to share in time.

Hi-De-Ho! Very long time lurker, yada yada yada. Figured I ought to properly get involved in this forum that I've found so helpful and interesting over the years. Most of this posting was copied over from my blog. I started these freelance timber bolsters sometime in 2017, and work continued sporadi...

Quite like these Baldwin locos. Certainly wouldn't look out of place on a sugarcane line, depicted either during steam days hauling cane, or after dieselisation, relegated to navvy work. The more I think about it, the more I want one too!

Looking forward to seeing your build progress, Mitch.

Cheers, Tom. Been lurking here for too many years - time to get involved in this great forum.

Aye, me too.