Garden Railway Forum

Agreed Peter, I have little knowledge about 'real' railways so my ambition is to create an overall impression of what I think it should represent. With all the infrastructure surrounding my line it is difficult to concentrate on any one item allowing me to be more flexible with detailing. Also, the vast majority of garden railways are not based specifically on any particular prototype, so we have greater freedom to be creative.

Peter Butler wrote: ↑Fri Feb 01, 2019 8:53 am Agreed Peter, I have little knowledge about 'real' railways so my ambition is to create an overall impression of what I think it should represent. With all the infrastructure surrounding my line it is difficult to concentrate on any one item allowing me to be more flexible with detailing. Also, the vast majority of garden railways are not based specifically on any particular prototype, so we have greater freedom to be creative.

Amen Peter, you have for me, some of the most creative skills on the forum, along with other members. I get annoyed when, (but not enough to get the old heart pumping fast) people say "Thats not how it should be" "It should be like this". Who cares, so long has we enjoy our lines on how we see them...

Love your finished boxes by the way Peter...

Boxes are great Peter

Peter Butler wrote: ↑Sun Jan 27, 2019 10:56 pm If there is a danger of them rattling around I use foam sheet and, so far, haven't experienced any problems with it bonding to bodywork, which has raised comment elsewhere. It might be down to the use of acrylic paint, not oil based?

Just noticed this. The foam breaks down of it's own accord if not formulated properly and it reacts with paint after it breaks down, not before. It can take years though and I recently noticed some 15 yr old unused foam stored in a plastic bag in the workshop is showing the first signs of breaking down.

The first thing you'll see if the foam is dodgy is that it stops being resilient. When pressed it collapses and doesn't spring back, a bit like the foam blocks that florists use for flower arrangements. Then after a while it starts to crumble and turn sticky. This is when it can react with paints and also some plastics, especially polystyrene.

I store my rolling stock in wooden trays with the compartments lined with felt, similar to your boxes. To stop things rattling around when being transported in the car, I make spacers out of wood or ply and pad them with felt.

Graeme

GTB wrote: ↑Tue Feb 05, 2019 8:23 am
I store my rolling stock in wooden trays with the compartments lined with felt, similar to your boxes. To stop things rattling around when being transported in the car, I make spacers out of wood or ply and pad them with felt.

Graeme

I have used this method for over 30 years for my OO stock without any ill effects to the paintwork or models.

Thanks for the warning Graeme, I will certainly keep an eye on the condition of my foam padding, although if it lasts more than 15 years that will take it way beyond my touring years, I will be nudging 90 (perhaps?) and will remove the hazard if I can still stagger to my shed!.......

Peter Butler wrote: ↑Tue Feb 05, 2019 10:26 am Thanks for the warning Graeme, I will certainly keep an eye on the condition of my foam padding, although if it lasts more than 15 years that will take it way beyond my touring years, I will be nudging 90 (perhaps?) and will remove the hazard if I can still stagger to my shed!.......

And me mate... Well more like 80+ for me....

FWLR wrote: ↑Fri Feb 01, 2019 9:21 am Who cares, so long has we enjoy our lines on how we see them...

Hear hear to that!!

Rik

I have been searching the internet (youtube videos of model railways) for inspiration for my next build and have found this.....
www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4tpOPYqK2A
I believe this is 7mm NG and is a wonderful model on a magnificent layout.

Smoke generator, must resist

Good luck with the build Peter, I am sure you will have it done in an afternoon!

That is a beautiful loco. Gonna watch this one with interest!

Peter Butler wrote: ↑Wed Feb 13, 2019 11:57 pm I have been searching the internet (youtube videos of model railways) for inspiration for my next build and have found this.....
www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4tpOPYqK2A
I believe this is 7mm NG and is a wonderful model on a magnificent layout.

That is a very nice loco and a great looking layout....

Seuthe 6v smoke generator I believe.....

Thanks for your get well messages Peter....No you don't have that affect on me mate..

tom_tom_go wrote: ↑Thu Feb 14, 2019 7:53 am I am sure you will have it done in an afternoon!

I can't imagine why you think that Tom?......
.
.

Meanwhile, the next day.....
. . .
I have to admit it took a little longer and there are some pictures of the loco under construction....
. .

The pistons are attached to the crank-shaft, made from brass rod etc, and driven by a tiny motor with reduction gearbox.....
. .
This will be powered, along with the chassis motor, through a Rx65C receiver giving proportional rotational speed with movement of the loco.
To add interest I have made twisted roof supports from square section brass bar, similar to that used on Showmans engines.....
. .
I have no idea who Ted Polet is but have him to thank for inspiring me to build this loco.

I'm speechless!

Nothing more to say about it Peter.....Just absolutely flipping BRILLIANT......

Blimey! I blinked and in that time another masterpiece appeared.

Great looking interpretation of a fascinating prototype, Peter. I was wondering how you might animate the motion, and then I scrolled down further.

Rik

PS Was the curlycane effect achieved with a vice and a pair of mole grips or something more sophisticated?

Hi Rik,

The easiest way to turn brass bar like Peter has done is.

Place one end of the bar in a vice, the other in a drill, (most drills now have a slow start) then start very slowly and keep it steady. It's surprising how easy it is....

Rik and Rod...... the brass was turned as you both describe by securing one end in a vice and turning the other, however, I did each short section individually so used mole grips. I imagine longer lengths would be easier using a slow speed drill.

Peter Butler wrote: ↑Thu Feb 14, 2019 5:04 pm I can't imagine why you think that Tom?......
.
.

Meanwhile, the next day.....

What a wonderful loco! Absolutely superb.