Time to build a railway...but where?

[BertieB]

The cranes (and that new wagon) all look astonishingly good, as we would expect. Terrific!

[Peter Butler]

Cheers Bertie. The crane loco is the first 16mm scale model I made about 40+ years ago, it is scratch-built from Plastikard, my material of choice ever since!
A little more recently, (just days ago), I finished another laser cut, MDF kit of a War Dept. 'P' Class Wagon. This is from Invicta Model Works, the same supplier as my Dandy Wagon. I notice Rob has now become a member of the Forum and can be contacted by PM or email at...invictamodelworks@outlook.com
I have no connection with this company other than being a satisfied customer.
The kits are basic and offer opportunity to add detail as required, I have added metal wheels to replace the Binnie ones supplied, hook couplings from Jerry Irwin, and rivet heads to represent coach bolts....

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The kit could be built as supplied and make a very nice wagon for the bargain price of £12.25 (plus post).

[FWLR]

Nice that Peter.

[Lonsdaler]

My word, you have been busy (as usual) whilst I've been away. It makes my offer of finding examples of cab interiors somewhat redundant for you, but I will add a couple of pictures to the 'full size examples' post for the benefit of others - it would probably be worth adding a link to that video to the same thread, Peter.
Superb modelling as always. Well done.

Edited to remove tautology!

[Peter Butler]

It is time to end the running season for B.U.R.P.S. for another year and so the structures are now undergoing their annual inspection, wash and brush-up, ready for 2024. Most have survived the persistent rain and occasional storms remarkably well here in West Wales. The more seriously affected ones are, again, the resin and concrete items, where the acrylic paint has peeled or faded.
Last year I started a programme of replacing clear styrene window material with acrylic, smoke-grey mirror sheet, which looks so much better. The styrene had yellowed so much as to obscure shop window displays, so rather than re-fit interior details I went for the mirror sheet instead. A friend introduced me to the idea and it is far superior in appearance and longevity. This year I intend to complete the remaining buildings to match.
This is an example of the general condition....

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It shows the interior of my Chapel, which has been outside for about 5 years. This is the same structure which has peeling paint on the external walls, so following an appeal for financial support from the village residents, sufficient funds are now available to carry out refurbishment. Replacement glazing material has been ordered and higher quality paint is now being selected.
To assist with the scheme, Lord Butler (not known for his charitable work) has authorised the use of railway staff during the closed season to carry out the general maintenance jobs, such as painting etc.... Glazing should be left to specialists.

[philipy]

Seven ( ) years ago I built a signal box, using HIPS, for Bench Junction and it has been outside in all weathers ever since. Over the last few months I've been redeveloping that end of my line and have just got around to looking at the signal box. I knew that the paint had faded /washed off the brickwork at the front but when I moved it I found that although the basic structure is fine, some of the details, like gutters, chimney, etc, simply dropped off and/or crumbled as soon as it moved. However the 'plastic' windows are still perfectly clear and transparent... I just wish I could remember what I used for them! ( I think it might have been "Lexan" but not sure).

[Peter Butler]

Philip, my HIP structures, including attachments such as gutters, downpipes etc, have all weathered the storms extremely well, some of them dating back to 2015. I do put them indoors during winter months however.
The window glazing is another matter though. The example pictured above dates from 2017 and despite the peeling paint ( I used emulsion as an experiment) the only problem is the deterioration of the window material. I presume this is styrene, but can't be sure.
Another structure (petrol station/repair shop) from 2016, shows no discolouration of the glazing whatsoever, so I believe is a different, but unknown material...

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I'm taking this opportunity to replace as many window glazing sheets I can access with acrylic mirror. In reality, unless a building is internally lit, the only thing visible from outside is the viewers reflection.

[FWLR]

They have lasted a long time though Peter, most I have seen seem to be damaged in some way.

Don't you think garages and other buildings that have some sort of exhaust smoke from petrol and diesel vehicles and smoke from steam engines, dirty up glass in the real world.
When I worked at the exhaust factory on the CNC machines, the windows in the roof were dirty all the time through the welders smoke from the stuff they are using, by now though I think they would have extractors on the bays they are in. Because they were too high to get up to them to clean and a lot were over the machines and men working underneath. So cleaning was out mostly.

[Peter Butler]

Don't you think garages and other buildings that have some sort of exhaust smoke from petrol and diesel vehicles and smoke from steam engines, dirty up glass in the real world.

I'm sure you're right Rod, my garage team seem to be a clean workforce and tidy up after use.

[FWLR]

Not like most of us then....

[Peter Butler]

As mentioned earlier, the renovation work has now been carried out on the Chapel. Sufficient funds were raised by the residents of the village (me), cleaning work carried out and painting of the wall surfaces completed by the seconded railway staff (me) and replacement window glazing with smoke grey acrylic mirror sheet installed by specialist contractor (me)!...

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As you can tell, the village community (all of me!) have been kept busy on this project and the structure looks ready for the forthcoming years of railway service.
I have to admit I liked the peeling paint effect initially, but it was becoming clear there would be no paint left before another season was out, so something had to be done

[Old Man Aaron]

Looks good!

[ge_rik]

I have to admit I liked the peeling paint effect initially, but it was becoming clear there would be no paint left before another season was out, so something had to be done

I liked it too. Difficult to replicate but also difficult to control..

Rik

[Peter Butler]

Having recently seen the new offerings from Porterhouse Models I was immediately drawn to the FR Coal Wagon with end doors, a most impressive and detailed model. I decided to get back to scratch building as I have neglected that for too long. A quick Google search turned up another FR wagon which I am unfamiliar with, a side tipping wagon.....

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I can't find any dimensions or other views so I have just guessed everything from this image....

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Painting tomorrow.

[philipy]

Peter, looking up to your usual standard so far.

If you look at :
https://gardenrails.org/forum/viewtopic ... &start=150
and
https://gardenrails.org/forum/viewtopic ... er#p163992

you'll see the 3d printed kits that I did of these wagons for Andrew and how he beautifully finished them off. There are several prototype pictues in the threads as well, which might help you.

[Porterhousemodels]

Looks good Peter. They are a fantastic wagon and joth of the Ffestiniogs are different.
Yours looks like it's based on 846 because of the curved pivot support.
We are biased in liking these as we have done one of these as well

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https://www.porterhousemodels.co.uk/sto ... ady-to-run
Trying to talk the boss into doing the other one.!

Glad our iron wagon has inspired you!

Best wishes
Porterhouse Models

[Peter Butler]

Thank you both for your kind comments, I was certainly inspired by the Porterhouse model and heard the call to scratch-build something similar. I must have seen the thread which Philip attached but had completely forgotten, however, I can see where I need to make slight modification to my model as I had no views of the other side. Not a problem fortunately. It is simply to add the two flat support girders to the underside of the floor to prevent two-way tipping... not visible on the original image.
Without dimensions of the original I have built mine as follows... length. 7ft. width. 3ft. 9in. height. 4ft 10in. Am I anywhere near?

[philipy]

When I drew up this wagon for Andrew, he gave me the chassis dims, which from memory he measured from another wagon, so are probably not accurate for this particular vehicle.
However the footprint of my wagon is 118 x 64mm ie 7ft4 1/2" x 4ft 0"
My body measures at 32.55mm but I don't have a figure for the O/A height I'm afraid.

[Porterhousemodels]

Thank you both for your kind comments, I was certainly inspired by the Porterhouse model and heard the call to scratch-build something similar. I must have seen the thread which Philip attached but had completely forgotten, however, I can see where I need to make slight modification to my model as I had no views of the other side. Not a problem fortunately. It is simply to add the two flat support girders to the underside of the floor to prevent two-way tipping... not visible on the original image.
Without dimensions of the original I have built mine as follows... length. 7ft. width. 3ft. 9in. height. 4ft 10in. Am I anywhere near?

These any help Peter?

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Cheers
Porterhouse Models

[Peter Butler]

Very helpful, thank you. I see the wagon is braked too, something not visible on the original picture. That means another addition to the chassis. Another fine mess I've got myself into !