Garden Railway Forum

philipy wrote: ↑Sun Mar 22, 2020 12:59 pm I've had a project on the boil since last September, which I'm hoping to get finished in the next few weeks.
It is partly railway related and partly garden related. I have previously mentioned the financially strapped Lord Elderbury and here he is standing at the front door of his stateley pile, but 'nuff said for now!

Nice doorway, looking forward to seeing the pile!

Lonsdaler wrote: ↑Mon Mar 23, 2020 4:58 pm
Nice doorway, looking forward to seeing the pile!

I thought you were talking about Aaron's caravan for a minute there! Re the caravan, am I reading it right that it's to function as a workshop when it's not being used as a second, portable home, or is it both at once all the time?! I hope it's the former - I spent my teenage years living in my workshop and I'm sure it didn't do me much good. Now my workshop's the kitchen, and that doesn't do anyone any good, which is clearly much fairer.

Working from home started this afternoon, and I immediately ran into a problem - I can't find the big can of Plasticote primer I thought I had and planned to use on the signal box! I think Wilco's is still open, so I'm hoping we run out of something essential that can only be purchased there rather than the massive Asda or Lidl where we'll normally shop, and therefore legitimately pick up a can of primer while I'm at it!

Cheers all,

Andrew

Oh aye, the caravan is the latter. But it's the "clean" workshop, which entails anything that isn't in the "dirty" workshop, that is currently the garage. (That is to say, the lathe, drill press, power tools and soldering hearth are in the garage). I must also confess to using the term "workshop" loosely, as it's really just a desk and table where most of the action happens.

A workshop in the kitchen sounds erm, interesting. I don't want to de-rail (so to speak) this thread, but I'd love to see that. Perhaps we could start a "show your workshop" thread. Seems to be the odd workshop photo around the forum, but no dedicated thread that I can find.
I'll be stocking up on anything I can think of needing for the next few months, in a couple of days - in case we end up with our own lock-down. It's just a shame there's always necessities one forgets, or just comes up unexpectedly when it's too late - that's why I've always loads of projects to stay busy..

Seems we're on the verge of a lockdown here in Western Canada too. I've ordered an IP Engineering Glaslyn kit as well as a brake van...

In between working from home I've been spraying more slate waggons, as well as making a real start on the Swift Sixteen WD D wagon (nice). Braked waggon. The "brakes" are simple wire, with the mounting bracket being made from the kits original axle boxes. This one has a thinner frame compared to the rest. Dandy waggon, made from a Timpton kit with extra plastic corner strapping. WD D wagon. Instead of the common grey, this one is based on Bachmann's 009 WHR wagon.

They look good!

Rik

That first photo presents a lovely scene.
Grant.

I like to have more than one project on the go at a time - so I can turn to something else when I'm waiting for glue or paint to dry or when awaiting a delivery or stuff I hadn't planned for. So, in addition to the railcar (awaiting delivery of various temperature low melt solders), I am continuing to revamp Bulkeley Station. Presently working on extending the platform (using a plasticine mould for concrete) .... . .
...... and rebuilding a Schleich horse drawn wagon to make it look more in keeping with the 1930s . .
I'll keep you posted on these developments as and when.

Rik

Finished off the platform extension for Bulkeley today... .
Blogged wot I dun 'ere - https://riksrailway.blogspot.com/2020/0 ... keley.html

Rik

Hi all.
Ffestiniog gunpowder van using Nigel Town's plans from the 16mm Ass'n website. Stuck the first part of the plan onto 5mm plasticard though I have cut the plan up to make it in a slightly different way. The plan suggests making the base and sides in one piece, whereas I am doing the top and sides as one piece with another overlay on the top to look as per original. David

Spent my Peterborough show money on a rivet press from Midland Railway Centre. Fantastic piece of kit. It produces excellent rivet detail and all equal size. There is a depth stop and an edge gauge (to get them all the same distance from the edge). All I have to do is get them all equidistant apart. I seem to be able, when I get a rhythm going, to punch about 1 rivet each second. David
P.S. I have no connection to MRC, just a very satisfied customer.

River Lin wrote: ↑Sun Mar 29, 2020 12:40 pm Hi all.
Ffestiniog gunpowder van using Nigel Town's plans from the 16mm Ass'n website.
David

I to got excited by Nigel’s plans, expanded them to 7/8ths.
Lesson learned, shouldn’t have bent the tabs up, and shouldn’t have bent it out of one piece, that method of construction doesn’t translate well to metal construction.
The upside is the freehand rivets pressed with a drill press are reasonably believable.
Result: awaiting further thoughts.
Tim

OOOH!! a metal one, how are you going to fix sides to ends etc.?

11thHour wrote: ↑Mon Mar 30, 2020 1:54 am that method of construction doesn’t translate well to metal construction.

Bends are an acquired taste, one piece can work but you must be able to control exactly where each bend starts and finishes, and of course one bend is easy, then you've got to work with the bent bit getting in the way.
Grant.

LNR wrote: ↑Mon Mar 30, 2020 3:00 am OOOH!! a metal one, how are you going to fix sides to ends etc.?

11thHour wrote: ↑Mon Mar 30, 2020 1:54 am that method of construction doesn’t translate well to metal construction.

Bends are an acquired taste, one piece can work but you must be able to control exactly where each bend starts and finishes, and of course one bend is easy, then you've got to work with the bent bit getting in the way.
Grant.

The other problem with bending is that the rivets are already pressed in when flat, most of them are close to bends and tend to disappear if you force on the bend line.
The proper solution is to bin the part and start again with the gained wisdom. The ends and floor should be separate, I am uncertain, but given the odd formation of the roof, perhaps forming both sides and the roof in one piece is appropriate? The corners can then be formed up with angle set on the inside.

Speaking of roofs of explosive wagons, Australian built wagons usually have wooden roofs so any explosions are directed straight up. Perhaps there are no accidents in Wales?

Tim

11thHour wrote: ↑Mon Mar 30, 2020 5:34 am Perhaps there are no accidents in Wales?

Yeah! Imagine all those rivets flying everywhere, maybe the theory was "build em heavy and they'll just bulge" LoL
Grant.

Tim,
Just an idea, tapping down the bend with a piece of timber (not metal) to get it nice and sharp, while still in the vice (assuming you're not using a folder)and I don't know how your actually doing the rivets but is it possible to grind a flat side on your rivet mandrel to enable you get close in the corner to do the rivets after the bends. Aluminium in my experience is the worst to sort of drag a rivet around a corner.
Grant.

I recently bought a secondhand model of a 1920's Leyland railcar from Ssouth Africa and although its a very nice model its quite old and delicate. I still wanted a model of a railcar for more daily duties so i spent the last 2 days drawing this up and this morning I got the first pieces off the printer. Its a model of the Victorian Railways 102/153hp Walker railmotor with the larger baggage compartment and single headlight. The prototype was broad gauge but the same power bogie was used under 3' 6" railcars in other states and so rule 8 applies... (model is 1:24 scale)
should keep me busy for a bit

Wow!!
Grant.

LNR wrote: ↑Mon Mar 30, 2020 8:47 am Aluminium in my experience is the worst to sort of drag a rivet around a corner.
Grant.

Thanks for your advice, truly appreciated but I just know I won’t be happy with this effort. It’s not that I am a perfectionist, it’s only I know it could have been better if I had used a better technique. Tim

LNR wrote: ↑Tue Mar 31, 2020 3:31 am Wow!!
Grant.

I agree with Grant!!