Sorry Peter, looks like I missed your reply - managed to miss the last reply on my Fowler rebuild thread, too.Peter Butler wrote: ↑Fri Oct 16, 2020 10:48 am I sympathise with you about loco failure, especially after such a history of improvements etc. I am not an engineer though and have no interest in constant maintenance when my battery electrics are always ready to go at a moments notice. Good luck with the sale, times might be getting harder for such things?
The Baldwin didn't sell at the open day, but it went fairly quickly once posted in the "Garden Railway Trading Group" on Farcebook. Quite sure that once sorted, it'll make a good loco for it's new owner, but I'm glad to be rid of it nonetheless..
10/12/20
Been too hot for running, but I've kept busy as always. With the change in seasons, the sun now beats down at the rear of the van, starting to kill the ferns and MYOB..
..Forcing the reluctant acquisition of an umbrella. It's been good to have, though; and assuming it lasts, (was $150AUD from Bunnings so I'm not counting on that) it'll be a good thing to have over the steaming sidings on the next tramway, when we buy a place. At the time of writing, thanks to the umbrella, the hot humid air and a daily soaking of tankwater, the plants are springing back very well.
22/12/20
Finally got round to "planting" that lump of tree root, that came in the load of dirt used to level the yard. Also refreshed the mulch, which was a bit thin in places, and planted some more weedy shrub things that I propagate in BBQ trays.
We've had some heavy bouts of rain, which has all but removed the oxide washes used to cover the whitened outdoor PVA in the ballast. I'm waiting out the hot, rainy months, and will re-apply the oxide washes when the weather settles a bit.
The line (center of image) leading to "Stage Two" has been laid, relatively lightly as access to check levels etc. was difficult. The Stainz and track sweeper run across it without issue, though.
The MYOB, whilst spreading nicely, wasn't actually penetrating the ballast here, but creeping across it. In order for the track sweeper to not simply tear it all up as it passes, I need the MYOB to take root between the sleepers. So the ballast was torn up again, this time replaced with just potting mix, and watered in.
Is this about right, for how you Brits get that beautiful MYOB track? We'll see how it goes..
So far, my quick and (filthy) dirty solution for routing the air conditioner's extension lead, seems to work.
The other side of the van looks much better, now that I've planted most of my shrubby weedy things from the BBQ trays, then moved said trays to behind the van, and propagated more MYOB in them for future use.
The MYOB has been here for two weeks now, and seems content with the limited direct sun it gets in the morning - long as I keep them moist.
I still need to properly route that drain hose from my sink, so trains can pass under it..
Unsurprisingly, there's still supply issues with getting Peco points. And an accelerated change in circumstances, means we'll likely be buying a house in only 12-18 months from now. So I don't think I'll bother with the full plan of "Stage Two", with the earlier-mentioned sugar mill and yard on the elevated section.
I'll just make do with the spare points on hand, and lay a few sidings for any visitors' stock. Being so hot though, progress on this front will be sporadic.
In the meantime, progress is being made on structures. All of foamboard and styrene, with aluminium roof flashing ran through a homemade corrugator.
This general store is based on an unusual prototype that once stood not far from here, in Mapleton, QLD; It had it's own siding served by the Mapleton Tramway. It was unique, to my knowledge, in that the veranda of the store served as a platform, allowing goods to be unloaded from vans and wagons of the daily trams, directly into the store. Kegs of beer and other supplies for the Ocean View Hotel, still standing just over the road, were also unloaded there.
The name is a reference to the game "The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim". Apologies for this poor quality photo, I'll get a better one soon.
This bank is based on one that stood in Nambour, QLD from 1904-24, when it was demolished in a panicked attempt to create a firebreak, during a blaze that destroyed half the street.
The pub, which eventually will have the name "Imperial Hotel" emblazoned across it's fascia, was again, based on a prototype from Nambour. It's build has taken almost two years on-and-off so far, and really deserves it's own thread, if anyone's interested. Again, apologies for the quality of the image, it required some amateur photoshoppery to look right-ish, as all the bright white makes photography very difficult. Regards,
Aaron