All best wishes for a Happy New Year- lets hope things ease and non-believers see sense. I understand that Australia are considering charging all non vaccinated if they need hospital treatment- you can always trust our Colonial cousins to say it as it is- and that is a damn good idea. Sorry the politically correct mob here are too frightened to adopt a perfectly reasonable policy.
Occasional mutterings about model railways, 3mm,4mm,7mm and 009 Narrow Gauge.
Friday 31 December 2021
Happy New Year!
Thursday 30 December 2021
Buffer stops for Watershoot Bay.
This is a much more detailed product but not as robust as their Streamline code 100 version.
However, it does glue together - I used MEK. It does fit code 75 track but fitting has to be taken with care. That said, once fitted it is a fine model and a couple will grace Watershoot Bay.
Wednesday 29 December 2021
New Isle of Wight layout has new boards and- A Name!
After the Crimbo festivities the postperson bought a bumper delivery of ill gotten gains.
Firstly the name for the layout can be revealed-Watershoot Bay. Sankey Scenics have created the signs and I am extremely pleased except I ordered the wrong name-doh! However, I have now ordered the correct sign.
https://www.sankeyscenics.co.uk/
It is envisaged that a branch from the lina adjacent to Whitwell ran through Niton to the newly formed tourist area.
The boards, 2x 3ft6inches and a 2ft 6inch fiddle yard have been sourced and the track has been transferred. The point motors and wiring still to do but it is starting to look like a model railway- and it has it's first booking-Thanks Dave!
Sunday 26 December 2021
I was dreaming of a Wight Christmas!
If you have been paying attention, you will have noticed my intention to build an Isle of Wight themed 00 gauge layout.
A couple of books plus a map or two have been used as research. From the Ordnance Survey map 180 of 1945 a location has been chosen, but more of that anon!
I was very fortunate that Secret Santa (with a few nudges) delivered a fascinating book and the Hornby Isle of Wight loco Number 14-Bembridge.
This has moved the project forward by some measure and, as a result, nameboards have been ordered from Sankey Scenics and, once received, all will be revealed.
So, the wider baseboards will be retrieved from storage and the track swapped over.
Friday 24 December 2021
Thursday 23 December 2021
Friday 17 December 2021
Shanklin and Chale Railway
Thursday 16 December 2021
Buildings for 00 gauge Isle of Wight layout.
There doesn't appear to be a main theme of IOW railway buildings. Most seem to be overly grand affairs which caused the demise of several companies and an investment which couldn't be recouped.
So- first up is a LCut medium signal box which, for the time being, has been primed in white which will make painting the windows easier.
The PECO wooden station building will be the station facilities, although there may be a cast iron Gents if I can find a prototype.
Purely a Wills Goods Shed which may or may not be added as there seems to be a pourocity of goods Sheds on the Island- we shall see!
Also from the Wills stable is the water tower which has been mounted on a brick base.
Lastly- for today -is a Skytrex Southern Railway water crane. I actually like the simplicity of this design and, yes, there was a few on the island- sounding a bit like Alcatraz now!
Wednesday 15 December 2021
00 Gauge vans for Isle of Wight layout.
The first couple of ex-Hull and Barnsley vans have been delivered.
Eventually there will be three- 9ft chassis have been ordered from Dapol which coincidentally fits these vans exactly. Bit expensive but saves a lot of modification.
Outside framing has been created by adding microstrip. Looks acceptable to me!
Next some transfers from Modelmaster and Old Time Workshop.
Just need the Loads and Tares added , then a waft of matt varnish to seal it all and hopefully cover a few blemishes.
Tuesday 14 December 2021
Isle of Wight Southern Terrier.
The Isle of Wight project has aquired it's second loco- Number 10 Cowes.
This is the third loco for use on the layout which is, as yet, unnamed.
The plates have been supplied by Narrow Planet together with Fishbourne which will be the next conversion.
The track has been laid but I feel that it is too cramped so will be transferred to a pair of boards giving a 7ft scenic section together with a 2ft 6inch sector plate fiddle yard.
I have also found a couple of inexpensive Tri-ang Hornby ex Hull and Barnsley vans- the two of three- which have had outside framing added and painted Southern Railway freight stock brown. Transfers have been sourced from Modelmaster and Old Time Workshop.
Both are excellent but I wish OTW would print on a darker background as it is extremely difficult to identify individual items.