tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14615627164597601542024-02-08T04:20:56.251+10:00Silkwood DepotCurator49http://www.blogger.com/profile/00211301413681246937noreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1461562716459760154.post-38772264397396153522015-02-22T15:37:00.001+10:002015-02-22T15:37:24.019+10:00Its A Long Time Between Drinks.....Well, again it has been quite some time since I posted anything on my Blog. Due to constant nagging to Raymond by "he who shall remain nameless" (Craig - you know who you are) we invited the Tuesday Nighters over last Tuesday night. I was somewhat (read - "very") reluctant to have the guys over as we had not really advanced with the layout and I thought I would cop a lot of flak.<br />
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However again, as usual, I was wrong. We had a good roll-up and everyone was very supportive. They understood the hiatus I was going through, the second thoughts, the concerns, do we need to rip this up, relay that and so on.<br />
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Darren and Geoff, in particular listened to my problems and self-doubts, and again (as in the past) they came up with some very positive suggestions.<br />
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The layout had started to grow like topsy with, initially, no serious track planning - at least for the first station. Much to Raymond's chagrin, many of the point motors ended up being located over the top of the timber framing making them exceedingly (frustratingly so) difficult to install let alone wire up whereas with a bit of planning and forethought I could have positioned them better. The track plan for this first station was built as serendipity - no planning it just kind of happened. As it turned out we had to relay a curve several times and respace the passing loops as the window shades on the big K-36 and K-37 locos fouled. We have ended up with a yard that was unnecessarily full of passing loops and lots of trackwork and points. <br />
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By the time we got to our second station the sidings were better planned and so Raymond could better access the pointwork to install the motors and do the wiring. (I must say his wiring on this section was much tidier than his attempt at the first station. (He doesn't think his old man is capable of doing wiring and won't believe me I was doing it before he was a gleam in my eye). We have reached our third station but trackwork has not progressed far yet. <br />
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One of my big gripes is that Raymond is a Limited Edition Star Wars Lego builder and sections of the layout baseboard framework are taken up with a huge Death Star, a large X-Wing, a big Millennium Falcon, R2-D2 and other bits and pieces. He has already filled up a spare (?) bedroom upstairs with Lego models and quite a bit of Garden Railway locomotives and rolling stock.<br />
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Another of my nagging doubts has been that we have a narrow gauge free-lance Colorado style narrow gauge layout that starts nowhere and ends nowhere, totally isolated from the outside world. I am a big fan of train operations, shunting, making up trains to send somewhere (for a reason) to detach loaded wagons or pick up empties along the way and so on. I needed an interchange of some sort perhaps a standard gauge siding transfer point at one of the stations? However, this is O Scale and while 0n30 takes up a lot of space 0 Scale Standard Gauge takes up a lot more.<br />
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I have been reading in <em>Model Railroader</em> and other model railroading magazines about "Staging Sidings" and wondered if that might be a solution to my interchange problem having an imaginary interchange off layout and hidden?<br />
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Anyway, back to the story. Darren & Geoff listened and inspected. I really appreciated how they could listen to my grumblings and self-doubt and then discuss (Note -Discuss) with me possible solutions.<br />
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1. They agreed that the first station needed simplification and made a number of suggestions especially in relation to fitting in buildings and some dead-end sidings while removing superfluous passing loops and location of industry sidings.<br />
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2. They felt that the second station was fine in that it was a junction for a mining branch and that as well as a couple of necessary passing loops, it also had some dead-end sidings serving a mining supply company, and an ore crusher (logical for a mining branch).<br />
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3. Darren and Geoff also made some suggestions for buildings around this second station area.<br />
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3. They indicated that until we managed to sort out the Lego problem there was no reason why the mining branch could not be built. It could then be operated independently as a small branch line.<br />
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4. Darren and Geoff also felt that a hidden staging siding would be the best opportunity for a hidden interchange and indicate a possible location.<br />
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Last year I was occupied for much of the year in co-authoring a book about Hudswell Clarke locomotives in the sugar industry in Fiji and Queensland. This year much of my spare time is taken up with a World War 1 Exhibition Gallery for the Museum. However, Raymond and I spent about an hour on Saturday having a brief discussion about our options following on from the advice that the guys have given us.<br />
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We generally agreed on a thinning out and slight redesign of the first station yard. This should not be too painful and will result in a much better layout.<br />
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Raymond came out of left field with an idea for two different sets of staging tracks. One of these would be a continuation of the branch line trackage around the back of the proposed timber milling scene and then curving into a space behind the shelving towards the work benches - out of the way and utilising a wasted space - probably two sidings.<br />
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The second set would be off the main line as it climbs up towards the helix. We were intending to have a passing loop and dead-end siding about half-way up. Instead we will move it back a bit and make it into a simple junction station with the same passing loop and dead-end siding but with the addition of a set of points heading straight ahead through the backscene above the branch line staging sidings into the same wasted space. Possibly four dead-ends? Anyway it sounds feasible just needs some "proper" track planning and further discussion.<br />
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I need to get back to my World War 1 Museum Project now<br />
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Curator49http://www.blogger.com/profile/00211301413681246937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1461562716459760154.post-61052649900070007652014-08-30T15:32:00.004+10:002014-08-31T07:33:18.116+10:00No Progress - YET.....<br />
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Since my last post way back on 2 February this year there
has been little to no progress on the model railway in The Shed. During the
past months I have been harassed by Scooter and others to do an update for my
Blog. I even have a friend in Houston, Texas looking forward to my next post.<br />
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<br />
<br />
My time has been taken up with work, an operation where I
had to have 3 weeks sick leave and not allowed to do anything strenuous for 10
weeks. During the past 8 months I have been working on a book with three good
friends and today I think there is light at the end of the tunnel. I have
finished selecting all the images and writing the captions (I hope) and the
book layout is currently being done. <br />
<br />
<br />
We are carefully reviewing each few pages
of the manuscript as the layout is completed making any final adjustments before
it is sent off to the printer. The book is the story of the Hudswell Clarke
steam locomotives purchased by the Colonial Sugar Refining Company for use in
Fiji and Queensland. It follows on from a book we wrote back in 1982 about the
last ten years of Hudswell Clarkes on the Herbert River near Ingham and because
this year is the 100<sup>th</sup> birthday of the HOMEBUSH preserved in working
order at the Victoria Mill in Ingham by Wilmar Sugar, the Singapore owners of
the CSR Company.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIRQ203FMKuFKWdG_PvThyphenhyphencJEO64XngGRx5meHyuOCZKoKFcoq8Agd91YjyeqW-vlEMAdBBjUdkafR23AizY1yp3jOZ3CDkSYLW6tHe-ac5PW-4fSjFDvpGuXZPmN7IOsRhp7lwGFZwhlA/s1600/VRA022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIRQ203FMKuFKWdG_PvThyphenhyphencJEO64XngGRx5meHyuOCZKoKFcoq8Agd91YjyeqW-vlEMAdBBjUdkafR23AizY1yp3jOZ3CDkSYLW6tHe-ac5PW-4fSjFDvpGuXZPmN7IOsRhp7lwGFZwhlA/s1600/VRA022.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<em><span style="color: red;">HOMEBUSH is 100 years old this year.</span></em></div>
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The book is due to be launched in Ingham on Saturday 11
October, an event which I will be attending.<br />
<br />
With the book now almost out of the way it is time for
Raymond and I to turn our attention back to our On30 layout in The Shed.<br />
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We have been wanting to make a start on some scenery for
quiet some time now but needed some MDF to make the backscenes. Accordingly
this week an orde3r was placed with Mr Ply & Wood at Underwood for 21
lengths of 3 mm MDF 2400 mm X 400 mm. I also ordered what I hope will be the
last delivery of plywood we will need – 4 sheets of 12 mm 2400 X 1200 mm. <br />
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The ply is required to cut out the track baseboard for the
helix that will enable us to get from the top level to the lower level. The
delivery is quick and painless. MDF costs only $10 per 2400 X 1200 sheet and
the ply $30 plus $30 delivery. The delivery charge is certainly a lot different
to that charged by that bulky DIY warehouse which is around $110/delivery. I
had ordered 8 sheets of 2400 X 1200 MDF with 7 sheets to be cut to the 2400 X
400 size. Again, unlike that other place, there was no charge for cutting to
size.<br />
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Hopefully, in the next couple of weeks, Raymond and I will start fitting
the MDF as there will be a little bit of notching to be done to accommodate the
framework. Once we work that out we will have to paint each a sky blue colour
and start mapping in clouds, mountains etc before affixing the sheets to the
layout framework.<br />
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<br />Curator49http://www.blogger.com/profile/00211301413681246937noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1461562716459760154.post-16363863111830974332014-02-02T13:53:00.001+10:002014-02-02T13:53:32.734+10:00Stiil Making Progress.....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXmniRYvra7gWgSN8yLsZim27WBhKQ0rQo6zjquH20ocbzu8ZUfXa315H4wUXATM6ihWgDho7tzX7dwpK5tN7fC8Z-0uNm6ITDJiw7lcDBB0QEECtk_6RnBxHOHGovhR8wmfci1xMcbrtZ/s1600/02+Turnout+on+peninsula+P+Setting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
Work has continued on the layout these past few weeks since I last posted on this blog. We did have one major hiccup which caused us some anguish until Saturday afternoon (yesterday). <br />
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Raymond had started laying the track and pointwork around past the Durango Station as seen in my last post but when the track passed across the join in the plywood to the section that heads directly towards the back of The Shed there was a rather significant peak in the track. This was obvious of course as the two sections of plywood were not smooth across the join with one section significantly higher than the other. We tried shimming up the plywood that was lower but that did not work. I had recently purchased a new 600 mm long spirit level to assist in lining up the track on the newly installed turntable and to augment our 900 mm long spirit level which was just too long for some tasks.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfWPaUffH75qmjgRQ_vr_w3ulm7D1HqfPsPlceOqQ-XyUJiwSLuZAMZPNoQa1K0gblz-WZdNAZC-fQYgB-cCZvKeNJ4L5d-ZZk9Z_jNIVQT60-DfEExBjvPnqPS7plUvGXNU0ElvaHkIdr/s1600/01+Looking+towards+RH+Wall+P+Setting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfWPaUffH75qmjgRQ_vr_w3ulm7D1HqfPsPlceOqQ-XyUJiwSLuZAMZPNoQa1K0gblz-WZdNAZC-fQYgB-cCZvKeNJ4L5d-ZZk9Z_jNIVQT60-DfEExBjvPnqPS7plUvGXNU0ElvaHkIdr/s400/01+Looking+towards+RH+Wall+P+Setting.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">Looking towards the right-hand wall of The Shed</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj76KB7G7V1jE-pvqDAqHw_VMKvgFmMRc98xu9N-gsktz-2sPeDxKTUkpw6SAku1KmzzKpyohzmQpeCK7C2peBlpUmJpJx8QrkDWhLgIA3avzP4VzKm9zqiNxXHMXnP-HPYggtR6HCtpq58/s1600/03+Angle+fill+in+P+Setting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj76KB7G7V1jE-pvqDAqHw_VMKvgFmMRc98xu9N-gsktz-2sPeDxKTUkpw6SAku1KmzzKpyohzmQpeCK7C2peBlpUmJpJx8QrkDWhLgIA3avzP4VzKm9zqiNxXHMXnP-HPYggtR6HCtpq58/s400/03+Angle+fill+in+P+Setting.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">The main line and passing loop passing the Durango Station site. The building will be situated on the left of the left-hand track</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjowv0SOvf6xAdhQxesb0B-HRM95wpioteE5C1bYO4FaLhyphenhyphen3vJtUDNVHNgIiIEL5KQV08kYWIhN90g3LRrrO4ijQW1a2-TgXBbsn6WMEOi_YevVPZEomNm_w_vhPR7f2u_4t5XZz2pQ_23Z/s1600/04+Centre+island+P+Setting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjowv0SOvf6xAdhQxesb0B-HRM95wpioteE5C1bYO4FaLhyphenhyphen3vJtUDNVHNgIiIEL5KQV08kYWIhN90g3LRrrO4ijQW1a2-TgXBbsn6WMEOi_YevVPZEomNm_w_vhPR7f2u_4t5XZz2pQ_23Z/s400/04+Centre+island+P+Setting.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">The track now heads down towards the back of The Shed and the future helix. The join in the plywood which caused us so much heartache can be seen across the centre of this image</span></td></tr>
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Placing this 600 mm long level along one sheet of plywood, even though we had reasonably aligned the two plywood panels it was like a ski-jump. The plywood on the second sheet just seemed to drop away. I recommended rebuilding the two sections of plywood and the baseboard framing to ensure the plywood sheets were in proper alignment.<br />
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This would mean lifting the track which Raymond had laid, something he was loathe to do. "We always seem to be redoing track" he says. He perservered last weekend trying to level and properly align the two plywood sections to no avail.<br />
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Raymond had been quite ill during the week and came home early on Wednesday. One of Raymond's very talented skills is his ability to think about a problem and come up with a viable solution without having to try it out beforehand. He has displayed this ability many times over the years and impressed staff at the former Railway Historical Centre (RHC), where he worked as a volunteer, when he worked out how to overcome a serious problem with a commercial archival database we were using. He went home with me one evening after work and appeared despondent but next morning he was keen to get to the RHC and test out a solution he had come up with during the night and it worked. This time despite the discomfort he was feeling with his illness he came up with a solution which he put to me yesterday afternoon.<br />
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I had gone to see my elderley father by myself on Saturday as Raymond was still not 100% and on the way home I called into Austral Modelcraft to purchase another twelve sets of points and packs of fishplates. When I got home at lunch time he put to me that we needed to lift two sections of track across the plywood join and then sand off the peak where the two boards met. He even directed exactly where we needed to smooth out the hump which was difficult to see. Numerous judicious sanding strokes were needed with a lot of level checks in between. I even broke three sanding belts in the process and had to take a quick trip to Bunnings mid-Saturday afternoon to buy several packs of sanding belts of different grit sizes.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXAqfgD3byOtO0nVNaL_uv55XUM4J2lTGx0rIJQSwFUb67RgYHliPE1numkUlG9WXBEcOP7-LtN6KZttcCS3yKYwZTPBa0A0q2mM3Oyl4Y1b2i3ZChrQ-PO8orH2kAKD2WujDfLrtra3xd/s1600/06+Centre+island++A+Dep+Setting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXAqfgD3byOtO0nVNaL_uv55XUM4J2lTGx0rIJQSwFUb67RgYHliPE1numkUlG9WXBEcOP7-LtN6KZttcCS3yKYwZTPBa0A0q2mM3Oyl4Y1b2i3ZChrQ-PO8orH2kAKD2WujDfLrtra3xd/s400/06+Centre+island++A+Dep+Setting.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">The main line is in the foreground as it heads towards the planned helix. A row of buildings with a road in front will provide a street scene across from the third track which will be behind the flatcar.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA2iniB_f78Gr2ZIOKdTu0-A7D_m3l18dFnD8b4DjuUd-U70wFWqY9g1RX459tQbq8tjq01s0yKzDYoLiSBO4udkyYFJqPcICyEY7D2dAYk4brfTmuy6vVZIlvMHJzJ8Zfc49QVlfLjnnJ/s1600/07+Angle+fill+A+Dep+setting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA2iniB_f78Gr2ZIOKdTu0-A7D_m3l18dFnD8b4DjuUd-U70wFWqY9g1RX459tQbq8tjq01s0yKzDYoLiSBO4udkyYFJqPcICyEY7D2dAYk4brfTmuy6vVZIlvMHJzJ8Zfc49QVlfLjnnJ/s400/07+Angle+fill+A+Dep+setting.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">Again we can see the plywood join which caused us so many problems as we look towards the section that will contain the Durango Station</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSsRUgameTU-Ng6AwuUZDAhsX2PlZSjIK7aeTU7-gqKT770yu9byhHJDP5SduPlNN3rcrXaeU2m07t7iOUwclalfrGQBSiGMjE21jw2wJ9oCeX_8qxx8a_lAX_RBP8JCMqYeFMsUjTA5Mi/s1600/08+Towards+RH+wall+A+Dep+setting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSsRUgameTU-Ng6AwuUZDAhsX2PlZSjIK7aeTU7-gqKT770yu9byhHJDP5SduPlNN3rcrXaeU2m07t7iOUwclalfrGQBSiGMjE21jw2wJ9oCeX_8qxx8a_lAX_RBP8JCMqYeFMsUjTA5Mi/s400/08+Towards+RH+wall+A+Dep+setting.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">Looking towards the right-hand wall. A Raggs to Riches Conoco Oil Depot served by a fishtail siding is planned for the left-hand side of this section and the piece of homasote nearest the camera is a Stoney Creek Designs Scrap Yard kit also to be served by a dead-end siding.</span></td></tr>
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Finally we were satisfied and today Raymond relaid the track. Testing it for level and the runnability of rolling stock it appears perfect. Raymond has since spent the day installing Cobalt point motors and doing the wiring. He had run the Bus Wire yesterday afternoon and now, using suitcase connectors he has wired up the running track and point motors. <br />
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This feverish activity is to be ready for the Tuesday Nighters who are coming over this Tuesday night. We think everyone (except Scooter) will be pleased with our progress.Curator49http://www.blogger.com/profile/00211301413681246937noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1461562716459760154.post-75882476013576105582014-01-13T18:26:00.001+10:002014-01-13T18:26:36.348+10:00Trackwork Progress.....Progress is continuing although we have a number of issues to sort out.<br />
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We have laid the plywood track base from the right hand wall around to and including the Durango Depot area. It took a considerable effort for us to make sure the curves were true and the plywood was level.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht-UcBLVl4dEf9fZeAjWRJNr-Xhzj_HYOJIkFPtjrDSGpbCZEEbRtxty_1ao-UfwItzEiRQc1yh9GQUX4w_kKKPu20evUP2aQIdO790ACRi3OdC26vtYyNrZtDgUoJjLYLaDokffVkgEAt/s1600/001+Plywood+trackbed+for+main+line.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht-UcBLVl4dEf9fZeAjWRJNr-Xhzj_HYOJIkFPtjrDSGpbCZEEbRtxty_1ao-UfwItzEiRQc1yh9GQUX4w_kKKPu20evUP2aQIdO790ACRi3OdC26vtYyNrZtDgUoJjLYLaDokffVkgEAt/s400/001+Plywood+trackbed+for+main+line.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">The plywood track base is being added to the baseboard framework. Here we are looking from the location of the Durango Depot towards the right hand wall.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxy6G0ts1Knp29ADBMW-R6Y96PPOaAf1TaszdzofPzMv6EM-MQAfHmk7MansJwB1eYktNTdwJS_XarDJUJgzfb8_zt9VWVrM0Z0x01YG14PM35FYJRZiN00qDn7wG3-mFt-4CRC4TBlaEe/s1600/002+Curve+around+to+the+right+hand+wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxy6G0ts1Knp29ADBMW-R6Y96PPOaAf1TaszdzofPzMv6EM-MQAfHmk7MansJwB1eYktNTdwJS_XarDJUJgzfb8_zt9VWVrM0Z0x01YG14PM35FYJRZiN00qDn7wG3-mFt-4CRC4TBlaEe/s400/002+Curve+around+to+the+right+hand+wall.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">The main line curves around at the right hand wall heading towards the back of The Shed.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-YZmkUPnDKMqJ_PUJV8Ej9mbi0C9imyTW19kBsBSkdAzMGQsOarldlbOEE-1oCUv22LYDHadv-nXIn_c2Ke-quIU_9X0CxPl0uA3bRJW4LdgaUJNHZ-V-3xXXEOCD5Md7jkOW-qMIJ6A3/s1600/005+Durango+station+depot+area.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-YZmkUPnDKMqJ_PUJV8Ej9mbi0C9imyTW19kBsBSkdAzMGQsOarldlbOEE-1oCUv22LYDHadv-nXIn_c2Ke-quIU_9X0CxPl0uA3bRJW4LdgaUJNHZ-V-3xXXEOCD5Md7jkOW-qMIJ6A3/s400/005+Durango+station+depot+area.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">The Durango Depot area where the main line curves back down the centre of The Shed on the peninsula. The footprint for the Durano Station building is the piece of 3 mm MDF on the left. It is huge! 46" X 11"</span></td></tr>
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We again have gone through the hiatus of track standards. I printed out another S-7 Standard from the NMRA and some measurements seem to differ to what we had previously. Our concern included the fact that the main line track would be entering the Durango Depot platform on a curve. How much clearance to the platform should we provide? We opted to remeasure one of our K-37 locos to ascertain the widest point using Vernier calipers. This happens to be the window shades over the cab windows which comes out at 68 mm (say 70 mm). So, as we have done previously we have settled on 3 1/2 inches between track centres which should give us a 1/2 inch gap between the cab shades on two K-37 locos passing each other.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOPxpjnyt5XiqyJJQK-yUqKVnPSwsAC9WgFHyGoB4k0vOJxHZt3InycPqh82OtoPXiBj481GZvQpgv4JYR8junQSy-H6oFAsOEubnVT-WCKMdoibJGVtgR-EAUpPrgqcaLy6CFuWfTwEkd/s1600/012+Main+line+track+being+laid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOPxpjnyt5XiqyJJQK-yUqKVnPSwsAC9WgFHyGoB4k0vOJxHZt3InycPqh82OtoPXiBj481GZvQpgv4JYR8junQSy-H6oFAsOEubnVT-WCKMdoibJGVtgR-EAUpPrgqcaLy6CFuWfTwEkd/s400/012+Main+line+track+being+laid.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">Track laying the main line using Brunel Hobbies and Tracksetts templates.</span></td></tr>
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We have settled on this clearance yet again. The minimum curve on our main line is 36 inches so as the main line will be the outer loop into Duirango Depot that curve is a shade over 39 inches and we have made the inner (passing loop) 36 inches. Today we marked out the track centres from the right hand wall through to half way along the Durango Depot. We have now laid the track from the right hand wall as far as the turnout for the main line/passin g loop into Durango Depot.<br />
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Raymond has tested this track with a K-36 and everything runs smoothly.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK1KcqAV5p0CjyhyphenhyphenougB3QazPYOKgaD8KZdUn4dmNX11aWeOCWqqh1ES3HYB6odIdfCeeUtKyWCI5qx3s0AR13SahAq694MwzgH8l8d0eVieSARTDB9v2cMPyKPPjK557deKXaxn37oe2p/s1600/015+K36+481+at+end+of+track+during+track+testing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK1KcqAV5p0CjyhyphenhyphenougB3QazPYOKgaD8KZdUn4dmNX11aWeOCWqqh1ES3HYB6odIdfCeeUtKyWCI5qx3s0AR13SahAq694MwzgH8l8d0eVieSARTDB9v2cMPyKPPjK557deKXaxn37oe2p/s400/015+K36+481+at+end+of+track+during+track+testing.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">K-36 No 481 stands at the end of track that has just been laid.</span></td></tr>
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Over the past couple of weekends we have also been working on the locomotive depot for the upper terminus along the left-hand wall. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_t9Uqzh_CvJrgb_RlcgS6qQXoSXXFjT6N0ce5cT38k4Inm3dzcEEFofXDL8FcHxIJxDOWSdgLvd3SA06Y5KPySz3FMR3jhl9ThHJL0zvFcKN_ZNYiG3qimTHbP88BqnQ-QLGENrogsS5M/s1600/007+Start+of+loco+depot+at+top+deck+terminus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_t9Uqzh_CvJrgb_RlcgS6qQXoSXXFjT6N0ce5cT38k4Inm3dzcEEFofXDL8FcHxIJxDOWSdgLvd3SA06Y5KPySz3FMR3jhl9ThHJL0zvFcKN_ZNYiG3qimTHbP88BqnQ-QLGENrogsS5M/s400/007+Start+of+loco+depot+at+top+deck+terminus.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">Start of the locomotive depot being built at the end of track on the top level on the left hand wall. The turntable facility is needed to turn the tender engines for their return back around the layout as well as providing some accommodation for our many locos.</span></td></tr>
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The DC Walthers HO Scale130 ft turntable pit has been installed and we have started working out the track requirements.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlZMrH0Axjn_GdIUeIoSLO1bwicL3dDDDkxvHhg111jLEl9PHiJ6_aJ2UijMBHGOEfqhnAX5CCVRJzi0OVm7tGWJkyZo4kS72Bd6nPejFtMGiWw-ZS8YS4oNAie3aahznkmVKFYn_VqyYZ/s1600/009+Turntable+in+situ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlZMrH0Axjn_GdIUeIoSLO1bwicL3dDDDkxvHhg111jLEl9PHiJ6_aJ2UijMBHGOEfqhnAX5CCVRJzi0OVm7tGWJkyZo4kS72Bd6nPejFtMGiWw-ZS8YS4oNAie3aahznkmVKFYn_VqyYZ/s400/009+Turntable+in+situ.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">The turntable required is 65 feet long to allow for the K-36 and K-37 Class 2-8-2 locomotives. It is actually a Walthers HO Scale 130 ft turntable (65 ft in O Scale)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2APmmjtmJYjNAxsyyctGbJ-pVFzKOK7GsxO59821yXAEiL4L8rBvhebRVZ0meMqaDTE7qBPeGqnDZbck2NdD-156cVW7lS3bdRBiNNVn2kSKQQmYZZ1rsDPKZXFT3NYenFVN-bM4akkFP/s1600/008+Turntable+bridge+after+handrails+and+cabin+removed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2APmmjtmJYjNAxsyyctGbJ-pVFzKOK7GsxO59821yXAEiL4L8rBvhebRVZ0meMqaDTE7qBPeGqnDZbck2NdD-156cVW7lS3bdRBiNNVn2kSKQQmYZZ1rsDPKZXFT3NYenFVN-bM4akkFP/s400/008+Turntable+bridge+after+handrails+and+cabin+removed.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">Being a HO Scale turntable our big engines would plough out the handrails and turntable cabin so here is the turntable bridge following the removal of the hanrails and cabin. We will be adding new wider decking as befits the requirements of our locomotives.</span></td></tr>
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The turntable bridge uses Code 83 rail so we visited Austral Modelcraft last week and purchased a box of Peco Code 83 Flex track together with four lengths of adapter track Code 100 to Code 83. We also had a long discussion with Ray and a fellow modeller, Arthur, who both have had experience with the Walthers turntable. From the advice they gave us it appears that the older DC turntable will fit in very well and we need not have worried about any issues with DCC. The newer DCC turntable however, is another matter. It apparently is very susceptible to losing its memory regarding track settings when selecting on of the roads off the turntable. Each road has to be programmed twice (once for each end of the bridge). If there is a power interuption for example when a short circuit occurs or when you turn off the main power to the layout at the end of an operating session you have to reprogram every track again. We have not progressed the track layout on this section while we try to work out how we can overcome this issue with the DCC turntable. Ray/Arthur suggested having a separate DCC power supply just for the turntable - which we will do. There are several separate power circuits in The Shed for the layout and other uses. Near the DCC turntable there are four power points on a separate circuit to everything else. I am thinking we will leave those four power points on all the time even when we shut down power to the layout. We can then plug the DCC power supply into one of these power points and the power will be on all the time. Thunderstorms will be a problem though and will probably fry the DCC chips. We are still considering our options.<br />
<br />Curator49http://www.blogger.com/profile/00211301413681246937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1461562716459760154.post-31924136648149001922014-01-01T08:37:00.001+10:002014-01-01T08:37:47.171+10:00But Wait Ther's More.....Both Raymond and I had discussed what our objectives were for the Christmas Break. We had decided that we needed to start work on the locomotive depot planned for the upper terminus before we continued with the plywood base and track laying on the top deck of the centre modules. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFrK9EukNS6BvjJjbUMLqdzeZY36oiny9roqAi67U802a4QpSHdWDm_FoVfwX39Nl13LU19n66uTVSxUWk2BWdaatJSD0eU0sgTYh7j5G2A-REpfESPVJ3evPdZaKUsE7YWIaUJoZTgLJZ/s1600/001+Upper+and+lower+deck+right+angles+to+wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFrK9EukNS6BvjJjbUMLqdzeZY36oiny9roqAi67U802a4QpSHdWDm_FoVfwX39Nl13LU19n66uTVSxUWk2BWdaatJSD0eU0sgTYh7j5G2A-REpfESPVJ3evPdZaKUsE7YWIaUJoZTgLJZ/s400/001+Upper+and+lower+deck+right+angles+to+wall.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">The upper and lower decks at right angles to the right hand walls ready for the plywood track supports and track laying to commence</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfdo2Gt2jc_NvGVl8yKUylaQRyHGyIW9zdQRUIFuav-kxuA9amPUB0xN9VvSYKgRa4eV44L6fpz6FfQEzr1QSutVkh-GEhVQC4FnPGfwydcnq-y4S8HMrG48E8xavoNT_H6GKykj0xiKTu/s1600/002+Upper+and+lower+deck+centre+peninsula.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfdo2Gt2jc_NvGVl8yKUylaQRyHGyIW9zdQRUIFuav-kxuA9amPUB0xN9VvSYKgRa4eV44L6fpz6FfQEzr1QSutVkh-GEhVQC4FnPGfwydcnq-y4S8HMrG48E8xavoNT_H6GKykj0xiKTu/s400/002+Upper+and+lower+deck+centre+peninsula.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">The centre peninsula also clearly showing the overhang extension of the framing outside the footprint of the standard layout space.</span></td></tr>
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Following instructions suggested by Darren we had made the 4 X 1 supports extend beyond the footprint of the rest of the modules as it was on this front corner we were planning to install the Raggs to Riches Durango Depot kit as a feature that could be easily seen when firt entering The Shed. The Durango Depot is some 48 inches long and 11 inches wide. I also wanted to have an extra space in front of the depot for scenery. With this extension of width for the baseboard framing we needed to know that the walkway between this corner and the two proposed (upper and lower) locomotive depots on the left hand wall would be sufficient. I am hoping for preferably 3 feet.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLFjRg2DZI4-7drliG7uw6uPVDkZy-old4IWCj107X1b6rtsHeh75BtTUsfbGESfvDkmbl7jNeta6hDQCSCird5CnVoXmtXJWmpCO0moLIV-vxathVbKDay3IKWKKRQwY5w58xx_AulE0_/s1600/007+Upper+and+lower+corner+modules.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLFjRg2DZI4-7drliG7uw6uPVDkZy-old4IWCj107X1b6rtsHeh75BtTUsfbGESfvDkmbl7jNeta6hDQCSCird5CnVoXmtXJWmpCO0moLIV-vxathVbKDay3IKWKKRQwY5w58xx_AulE0_/s400/007+Upper+and+lower+corner+modules.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">The corner modules again showing the overhang outside the layout footprint. These extensions will be shortened to suit the requirements for the Durango Depot on the upper level and also keeping in mind the need to maintain sufficient accessway between this module and the lower level locomotive depot on the left hand wall</span></td></tr>
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Now we knew that the upper level locomotive depot along the left hand wall would not be a problem as it would be no wider than 2 ft 6 ins and narrowing down to only about 6 inches wide towards the entry door to The Shed. The lower level could be a potential problem, however. I planned to have an 18 inch wide accessway between the left hand wall and the lower locomotive depot (under the upper level loco depot). The lower level loco depot like that on the upper level would incorporate a Walthers HO Scale 130 ft turntable which equates to a 65 ft turntable in O Scale and therefore big enough to accomodate those large Colorado narrow gauge engines of the K-36 and K-37 Class. Obviously the bridges on these turntables would have to be modified to accomodate the widths of these locomotives. The turntable and locomotive depot on the bottom level is also intended to be a layout feature on entry into The Shed as it will be outside the footprint of the upper level locomotive depot..<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPECM_lR3OcY0F1FAxheKMVUAQVNA3Hgq_iyUFvmIVM5-nOZHuhKWLKebrP_t86UsDGLki-zVtuE56w_xTRCCjDAdQv8YSHp3xcURabAxCNOqyxJZIOqfFlSCfyIxhrXWIv3SM8h7eLKIx/s1600/010+Upper+lever+terminus+loco+depot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPECM_lR3OcY0F1FAxheKMVUAQVNA3Hgq_iyUFvmIVM5-nOZHuhKWLKebrP_t86UsDGLki-zVtuE56w_xTRCCjDAdQv8YSHp3xcURabAxCNOqyxJZIOqfFlSCfyIxhrXWIv3SM8h7eLKIx/s400/010+Upper+lever+terminus+loco+depot.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">The upper level locomotive depot baseboard under construction.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdpG2_ajWJdZnK3h708U-ycfL4I4mgaF6x8v9FbZEWdxN-humE5-hwCkm94bL6XneMFO8O5vdrq0vRX6djMTrMYpIwyMCbqX5Kd0NOzE7tUq2os9CCGNeqmIa_OXAiy1zSW8zFIQQshg93/s1600/008+Upper+Level+terminus+loco+depot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdpG2_ajWJdZnK3h708U-ycfL4I4mgaF6x8v9FbZEWdxN-humE5-hwCkm94bL6XneMFO8O5vdrq0vRX6djMTrMYpIwyMCbqX5Kd0NOzE7tUq2os9CCGNeqmIa_OXAiy1zSW8zFIQQshg93/s400/008+Upper+Level+terminus+loco+depot.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">The upper level locomotive depot baseboard under construction. The open space underneath will be occupied by the lower locomotive depot extending on from the baseboard framing that can be seen on the lower right.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_jNf2CQ7hJ7wHTvWuVXYbyQhBh3fVXhUX7fTHwZlGHGed6ED_IT5vNL8abHY8HaSP8RCKCDEGRIQAlaixCnxfnp3uHqyIQ3YQvWfJec-RjU0iCHwAa3MVND5lcPpCcd0LKnceD0OZDxX/s1600/013+Walthers+130+ft+HO+turntable.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_jNf2CQ7hJ7wHTvWuVXYbyQhBh3fVXhUX7fTHwZlGHGed6ED_IT5vNL8abHY8HaSP8RCKCDEGRIQAlaixCnxfnp3uHqyIQ3YQvWfJec-RjU0iCHwAa3MVND5lcPpCcd0LKnceD0OZDxX/s400/013+Walthers+130+ft+HO+turntable.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">The Walthers HO Scale 130 ft turntable in position for the upper locomotive depot. The turntable bridge has handrails and a cabin for HO Scale locomotives. These will have to be removed for the O Scale locomotives and new basswood decking, cabin and handrails fitted to suit the "big" engines.</span></td></tr>
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I had purchased this Walthers turntable some years ago as I had always planned to have a locomotive depot and turntable capable of handling the K-36 and K-37 Class locomotives. Now we would need two of these turntables as another would be required for the lower deck. Raymond gave me the second 130 ft turntable for Christmas with this one in a blue box and clearly labelled as being fitted with DCC as distinct from my original which came in a red box and was DC only but was supposedly "DCC convertible". <br />
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We have since investigated the DCC Conversion Kit and found their RRP is almost $200 and that they are very difficult to install. We have decided that in the long run it will be best that we purchase yet another DCC turntable (in the blue box) at about $450 and since the original has not been used we will try to sell it "as new". We obviously will not get back our original outlay.<br />
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The turntable bridge is fitted with Code 83 Rail so this again is a problem and we have decided not to lay any track on the new loco depot module until we purchase a box of Code 83 Peco FlexTrack and a number of Code100/Code83 Adapter pieces. We will us the adapter pieces for the two tracks leading omto and off the turntable connecting to the main track and all dead-end tracks off the turntable will be laid in Code 83. Austral Modelcraft is open again this weekend after Ray and Aileen have had their Christmas break so we will, hopefully, be able to purchase our Code 83 requirements and also our third (!!!!!) 130 ft turntable. If we can purchase our Code 83 requirements we should be able to lay the track in the loco depot area before the end of the weekend.Curator49http://www.blogger.com/profile/00211301413681246937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1461562716459760154.post-60758425862847518692013-12-31T09:08:00.000+10:002013-12-31T09:08:00.476+10:00Progress During October.....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Following my return from the US at the end of September, Raymond and I were ready to tackle some more work on the framing for the baseboard.<br />
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I mentioned previously that we had been in a quandry as to how to support the upper deck on the two peninsula modules. The Tuesday Nighters had a meeting at our house after we had finished the two lower deck peninsula modules. We discussed this with the guys and as usual, Darren, practical man that he is, told us exactly how to do it.<br />
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Raymond and I followed Darren's recommendations and we soon had the two upper deck modules which we had made previously mounted above the lower deck.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmGBxB0_KzmLWThJ_tzOZzBk-Eleu-ibDVsvmEKpMQT46g7eB5O5kTtKaLEwQLG9rKZxsRA72emNlUUG0j5vDFclA59N82LFfRTFsdpqcH8ll6xyShOjjKvFyeJ54OhcxeUUXe3WduXrXe/s1600/DPP_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmGBxB0_KzmLWThJ_tzOZzBk-Eleu-ibDVsvmEKpMQT46g7eB5O5kTtKaLEwQLG9rKZxsRA72emNlUUG0j5vDFclA59N82LFfRTFsdpqcH8ll6xyShOjjKvFyeJ54OhcxeUUXe3WduXrXe/s400/DPP_0001.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">The two upper level baseboard modules have been mounted securely in position. We still had to work out how to build the triangular fill-in on ther corners of the upper and lower levels.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6lquKXh0I41CGrr4VCV7sX83XBlEKq_A7ABsDJcTY_6lw04rD6Ma2m-zVD7WR8LH_AlOdfPsjzqYCMKEUmMhnGBzGW8_b5eaIpr3HyQgKSU4pdhByvO1t5EyaR2o4x2fcnVSjnBX0kvAe/s1600/DPP_0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6lquKXh0I41CGrr4VCV7sX83XBlEKq_A7ABsDJcTY_6lw04rD6Ma2m-zVD7WR8LH_AlOdfPsjzqYCMKEUmMhnGBzGW8_b5eaIpr3HyQgKSU4pdhByvO1t5EyaR2o4x2fcnVSjnBX0kvAe/s400/DPP_0002.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">The upper and lower deck extending at right angles from the right-hand wall of The Shed</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_0c-VMCPDpJUmimshwnPzUSfrSHbb6WS2b_gpE4fYa1FcPw9ct8cDeUgQID5rOAWHR9wGkOuJOC6zb-lU13x-MaAazoq8-p7HqK189BHcAwQSX5WzZ4iL0PzxBPe_xS58xZ2rRvrAKde/s1600/DPP_0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_0c-VMCPDpJUmimshwnPzUSfrSHbb6WS2b_gpE4fYa1FcPw9ct8cDeUgQID5rOAWHR9wGkOuJOC6zb-lU13x-MaAazoq8-p7HqK189BHcAwQSX5WzZ4iL0PzxBPe_xS58xZ2rRvrAKde/s400/DPP_0003.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">The two baseboard modules extending down the centre of The Shed towards the future helix.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQxXMD7n1KysP41WFFw0nT7kIeG13cAxMvlfbmIjS7xamZ-nenwAjajwQ8z3po2QBzEEBAD8ulHCZjUoC0tGc5YEa-cJe8FBpcD6dJCNjoWYQLLhPe-hjl53Pdn8jLOF0QQShqrVK8MgQI/s1600/DPP_0005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQxXMD7n1KysP41WFFw0nT7kIeG13cAxMvlfbmIjS7xamZ-nenwAjajwQ8z3po2QBzEEBAD8ulHCZjUoC0tGc5YEa-cJe8FBpcD6dJCNjoWYQLLhPe-hjl53Pdn8jLOF0QQShqrVK8MgQI/s400/DPP_0005.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">Looking towards the front of The Shed along the dead-end operating aisle.</span></td></tr>
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Now we had to construct the framing for the triangular in-fill joining the two island modules.<br />
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Again, a meeting of the Tuesday Nighters at our home came to our rescue and again, Darren, bless him, gave us detailed instructions on how to do it. The task was easy and worked well.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_D-nKxY_5rL3H82Qtr2u2ogDPHZOcaERM3ADJCtdVitMN-6bjG-60arH3t3YsgRn8iTFJCPr5RPv49biObByt8PpS75uecLm2cuAr_T7rXoOsgEey9jboLrWKy6D6J_jcjO51plOBXLRz/s1600/DPP_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_D-nKxY_5rL3H82Qtr2u2ogDPHZOcaERM3ADJCtdVitMN-6bjG-60arH3t3YsgRn8iTFJCPr5RPv49biObByt8PpS75uecLm2cuAr_T7rXoOsgEey9jboLrWKy6D6J_jcjO51plOBXLRz/s400/DPP_0001.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">A good view showing the triangular in-fill on the lower deck</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiwASbV_p8NDqk24Q-hIoPnK7hGVtb1GPS6BxYhPA2qeml-aC3EAi3-sv3B3TGm-HMpKxwBOlnHHSDPH2fBV8n3yQZ0Y91LBe1YvZOqaM9imietsjTU1-_J2HFrdZAQC7fz_OOKLmli8Rj/s1600/DPP_0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiwASbV_p8NDqk24Q-hIoPnK7hGVtb1GPS6BxYhPA2qeml-aC3EAi3-sv3B3TGm-HMpKxwBOlnHHSDPH2fBV8n3yQZ0Y91LBe1YvZOqaM9imietsjTU1-_J2HFrdZAQC7fz_OOKLmli8Rj/s400/DPP_0002.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">Another view of the triangular infill on the lower deck</span></td></tr>
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Despite all our care in getting our levels and heights right we ended up with an issue where there was a mismatch where the framework along the right-hand wall met up with the peninsula heading away from the wall at right-angles. I tried several different approaches but none suited me. In frustration I phoned our New South Wales friend from nearby Parkinson. Craig (Cassino) was soon over inspewcting the problem and soon came up with a solution that had been staring me in the face all the time through the use of a right angle metal plate. Fixed!<br />
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But wait there's more. Tomorrow I will fill you in on what we have achieved during these past few days between celebrating Christmas and working through some more layout issues.<br />
Curator49http://www.blogger.com/profile/00211301413681246937noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1461562716459760154.post-28911601579913591452013-12-30T06:59:00.002+10:002014-01-04T16:51:41.404+10:00Visit to the United States.....When I posted this originally the images were too large so hopefully, I have now fixed this.<br />
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During August and September 2013, I visited the United States for the first time. Altogether I spent 5 weeks there but only visited two States - California and Colorado with a short visit to northern New Mexico.<br />
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The initial incentive for my visit was to attend the 33rd National Narrow Gauge Convention being held in Pasadena on the eastern outskirts of Los Angeles. Since I was travelling to the States I absolutely had to organise visits (and train rides) on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge RR and also the Cumbres & Toltec RR. Being a museum professional, I also had to visit the Colorado Railroad Museum (Denver), the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento and Steamtown 1897 in Jamestown.<br />
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The Narrow Gauge Convention was outstanding. I have attended a few conventions here in Australia but the size of the Narrow Gauge Convention and the 1700 delegates, exhibitors and trade stand attendees was amazing. I met a few Aussie friends over there and met a few new people including Lee Riley from Bachmann and Chris Lane, Editor of the On30 Annual.<br />
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The following is a gallery of a few of the many images I took during my visit.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQrZ_EDtAVkNPYEUitNEjTU3FnfmUdBkmeopSNlSOOHyofdAx0FYV8oL49fK5blqlexCi8vet9OEekqLMDBnG7Es5nfa8bpg6JTBIVZh1wgNLhXnb3mEXk0pl9h1qmHpI68Raa6nQdVcZu/s1600/04+Hilton+Hotel+Los+Robles+Ave+Pasadena.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQrZ_EDtAVkNPYEUitNEjTU3FnfmUdBkmeopSNlSOOHyofdAx0FYV8oL49fK5blqlexCi8vet9OEekqLMDBnG7Es5nfa8bpg6JTBIVZh1wgNLhXnb3mEXk0pl9h1qmHpI68Raa6nQdVcZu/s400/04+Hilton+Hotel+Los+Robles+Ave+Pasadena.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">The Hilton Pasadena Hotel was the Convention Hotel for the 33rd National Narrow Gauge Convention and also where I stayed</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7soCK0v8h5OeDxXZ-nhRUCNpAlmVuZ28sh3uLMjHCCkvQDAEQRmMfIeuiGxeVZZ_-qT8CcuKo22e9eN_hpguaNv45CI7hAXkhu1AoRytyryRpWWhWNSkqPRvfOVKP7Mwg3j_As2dhAPJj/s1600/63+Knotts+C19+No.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7soCK0v8h5OeDxXZ-nhRUCNpAlmVuZ28sh3uLMjHCCkvQDAEQRmMfIeuiGxeVZZ_-qT8CcuKo22e9eN_hpguaNv45CI7hAXkhu1AoRytyryRpWWhWNSkqPRvfOVKP7Mwg3j_As2dhAPJj/s400/63+Knotts+C19+No.41.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">Rio Grande Southern C-19 No.41 at Knott's Berry Farm</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZPubHS8QUKi-HWBAEh6kxwIbFYUb7oNL9bw1jaAPb8R_HYVULJ9YVz93qVNKyzrOix3X4_9Va5nqDRb8M2YZTHVDd1IIlukOzHGYud1Dv-BIkwfpKn2hR7nKr9knpe1VuMuZAa8y0Bly/s1600/39+Combined+On30+Modular+Layouts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZPubHS8QUKi-HWBAEh6kxwIbFYUb7oNL9bw1jaAPb8R_HYVULJ9YVz93qVNKyzrOix3X4_9Va5nqDRb8M2YZTHVDd1IIlukOzHGYud1Dv-BIkwfpKn2hR7nKr9knpe1VuMuZAa8y0Bly/s400/39+Combined+On30+Modular+Layouts.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">A small scene on a combined On30 Modular layout with modules from all over the United States</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil4jG8LS8-JmFxbNIzSCRheTgg23ibB3bhUfysRGSt1b8mFBwrALuHwqn8PWgiGdaZT5-X0yaO143JRkzJPl7YM53Vqf-_C1UWzSNQhY2bhv29EIF63o_Ia0zkrCBmlXC5vB0-ubwaDWTr/s1600/76+DSNG+K36+No+486+along+Narrow+Gauge+Avenue+Durango.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil4jG8LS8-JmFxbNIzSCRheTgg23ibB3bhUfysRGSt1b8mFBwrALuHwqn8PWgiGdaZT5-X0yaO143JRkzJPl7YM53Vqf-_C1UWzSNQhY2bhv29EIF63o_Ia0zkrCBmlXC5vB0-ubwaDWTr/s400/76+DSNG+K36+No+486+along+Narrow+Gauge+Avenue+Durango.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">Durango and Silverton Railroad K-36 No.486 brings its train along Narrow Gauge Street as it approaches Durango Station</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNLo88gxMThufbL1R4gUYb78RDM7wrrB4uzynOmRKwJ8MjoeBroK_kKuL6v4LlSMsLt5k6lJ8mhgX4ThEnqYYBfje015zbO9RAA7c612Pi_iIvwbPyedlBxjoBSCUh8Zd6DRsmVOGC_5gf/s1600/72+DSNG+K36+482+and+train+in+Silverton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNLo88gxMThufbL1R4gUYb78RDM7wrrB4uzynOmRKwJ8MjoeBroK_kKuL6v4LlSMsLt5k6lJ8mhgX4ThEnqYYBfje015zbO9RAA7c612Pi_iIvwbPyedlBxjoBSCUh8Zd6DRsmVOGC_5gf/s400/72+DSNG+K36+482+and+train+in+Silverton.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">Durango and Silverton RR K-36 No.482 in Silverton</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM8CpnUYobaLdvjqyyy3dsreSLwZA1BOg9HysU4U1iViWTPhO6_y2uRqWl9Ff4KVuOKPOZv7lFNBv-rZaczkv4X_6LNM-iiqOn4rUnEfkE1_bdy-vxomipGRjRbke-0XQfaqjSb422vRCf/s1600/19+CT+K36+488+departing+Chama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM8CpnUYobaLdvjqyyy3dsreSLwZA1BOg9HysU4U1iViWTPhO6_y2uRqWl9Ff4KVuOKPOZv7lFNBv-rZaczkv4X_6LNM-iiqOn4rUnEfkE1_bdy-vxomipGRjRbke-0XQfaqjSb422vRCf/s400/19+CT+K36+488+departing+Chama.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">Cumbres and Toltec RR K-36 No.488 departs Chama for Antonito</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAe4h_lGjsjWTsIABO1-AVNZP4-IInK68V6dFJX6Wzh3YpTt1kYkx1_CFruaU-3H9PzJC-7Rv1bFbJ5YWNi2kKWAAJ8acsRAnfxdEzELxAI0y89Zf2E7wHP-6qliLXJJh6s-TqW18Rv8yv/s1600/10+CT+K36+489+Chama+yard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAe4h_lGjsjWTsIABO1-AVNZP4-IInK68V6dFJX6Wzh3YpTt1kYkx1_CFruaU-3H9PzJC-7Rv1bFbJ5YWNi2kKWAAJ8acsRAnfxdEzELxAI0y89Zf2E7wHP-6qliLXJJh6s-TqW18Rv8yv/s400/10+CT+K36+489+Chama+yard.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">The Engineer (Driver) of K-36 No.489 oils his engine in Chama yard</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicZKyHzmEVfL_6fJyzHfCeoiwVoWDPXaQVs5YzcX1PNCGBFlRarmeWSViJ3Vtdjqq1CiOqITwfA2biysjIxhVHw6UPxeiICWP3JWWsx5CV2ROptHhd8D8VS8aJyrh1I2X6epLvi93Cg-3R/s1600/05+CT+K36+487+Chama+yard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicZKyHzmEVfL_6fJyzHfCeoiwVoWDPXaQVs5YzcX1PNCGBFlRarmeWSViJ3Vtdjqq1CiOqITwfA2biysjIxhVHw6UPxeiICWP3JWWsx5CV2ROptHhd8D8VS8aJyrh1I2X6epLvi93Cg-3R/s400/05+CT+K36+487+Chama+yard.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">Cumbres and Toltec RR K-36 No.487 fitted with a wedge snow-plough stands in Chama yard</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFo7wY2AqxF0yY-ig7ZjCzvIE-u56k3XUIk8voJ9-q8B-AAw1e02_RyY8smqKxKmNMpJYNoj2JTooIpJI3PXwObtmlpCL79bloN-actGQmggsJoiqmHMPJWdFh2xIM7iajgNfW0XbL_ols/s1600/DPP_0067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFo7wY2AqxF0yY-ig7ZjCzvIE-u56k3XUIk8voJ9-q8B-AAw1e02_RyY8smqKxKmNMpJYNoj2JTooIpJI3PXwObtmlpCL79bloN-actGQmggsJoiqmHMPJWdFh2xIM7iajgNfW0XbL_ols/s400/DPP_0067.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">The only remaining cab forward Southern Pacific AC-12 No.4294 is preserved in the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEine-X1hRRPsxebFIDqgrZ19jg1B42NcmHmZKOnmGLkPaxbDX8AuUIQd_TMh4JW5Wx_1mM_5gXXAKC8Mp4GqMmp-OMzXreFVX0poT063oG1btcQ4QKoRZLdd1JtRJr7VBXkyngpKkbKfzoR/s1600/DPP_0069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEine-X1hRRPsxebFIDqgrZ19jg1B42NcmHmZKOnmGLkPaxbDX8AuUIQd_TMh4JW5Wx_1mM_5gXXAKC8Mp4GqMmp-OMzXreFVX0poT063oG1btcQ4QKoRZLdd1JtRJr7VBXkyngpKkbKfzoR/s400/DPP_0069.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">Virginia and Truckee RR 2-6-0 preserved in the California State Railroad Museum</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGMd1EmZyhlEtIVRsMXUfxflpsN86mfrlkMB88BdUiVK7xHxTRmMUME2WfcR6Puy-SUbi_zoFYYIDGy9I0RSxIZeZO5_6XuAfl6Qf4PSEgFVjFJ8MXq90ZyfBzU0iAguleNg7qMQn-cCv8/s1600/002+Cable+Car+No54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGMd1EmZyhlEtIVRsMXUfxflpsN86mfrlkMB88BdUiVK7xHxTRmMUME2WfcR6Puy-SUbi_zoFYYIDGy9I0RSxIZeZO5_6XuAfl6Qf4PSEgFVjFJ8MXq90ZyfBzU0iAguleNg7qMQn-cCv8/s400/002+Cable+Car+No54.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">San Francisco Cable Car No.54 descends Hyde Street and is about to turn into California Street</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrJDTN2KSKfFbc68cxJgzKGIR0b9LuyTB-2zxOzz0n9IVulM-aBjmV8cJEBrtDL2JJVQCT5QVtYIRZ70Qmi-uveg8SxmzHaq9teZ2K3Zi6fOB1NMXljhTRj0_AtNOU0uOz0st2UHnZevUD/s1600/018+PCC+Car+No1061+Fishermnans+Wharf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrJDTN2KSKfFbc68cxJgzKGIR0b9LuyTB-2zxOzz0n9IVulM-aBjmV8cJEBrtDL2JJVQCT5QVtYIRZ70Qmi-uveg8SxmzHaq9teZ2K3Zi6fOB1NMXljhTRj0_AtNOU0uOz0st2UHnZevUD/s400/018+PCC+Car+No1061+Fishermnans+Wharf.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">San Francisco is not only famous for its cable cars but also its historic trams. The F Line uses these PCC cars that were used all over the US, Canada and Mexico. This one is painted in the famous Pacific Electric livery.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My next post will show some significant progress on our On30 layout.Curator49http://www.blogger.com/profile/00211301413681246937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1461562716459760154.post-11366043847417809112013-12-29T20:03:00.000+10:002014-08-31T07:33:44.154+10:00This Post has been a Long Time Coming.....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6IDqsaK8TLVkCUieOXJFInE1Dn3Ri6jHP3dhLHM_VV4YH1nQT9Ic_58Nnv9k33xNeWZn3Lx5-NyJIfQnleEO4FVe92UjddttYX3r-Oyo3bQBYWZt7Sq6St7MqlTk5xtixcazNrkNZZ92m/s1600/002+Lower+deck+peninsula.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
It is almost twelve months since I last posted a record of
our progress on this Blog and for that I apologise. Craig (Cassino) has been
“on my case” almost every week as have a number of others including Graham, a
co-worker with Raymond.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
I feel I need to fill in some of our construction efforts
from the first half of the year before catching up with our efforts these past
few days. </div>
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I bought a new desktop PC in January because my old one was
dying and becoming unresponsive. This was another reason why I had not updated this Blog as my computer was sooooo slow. However, it was not until mid-year that I
managed to install it. I also spent a considerable amount of time planning a
trip to the United States.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
I decided to purchase a new laptop PC as well which was to
be smaller and lighter than my previous laptop. I intend using this laptop for
work as well as travel while my old laptop now lives in The Shed though its
WiFi internet connection is somewhat problematic. I intend using it for model
railroad duties. If I could improve the internet connection I would like to use
it for JIMRI as well as maintaining an asset database of our model railroad
equipment. </div>
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During June, Raymond and I assembled the first two sections
of the lower deck level of baseboard framing for the island peninsula of our
layout. The first panel is located at right angles to the right-hand wall of
the shed. The second is attached at right angles to this and runs towards the
back of The Shed.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBa9t-qi32GfdrR9-XtjyKl4uunyyEY1l0YkFHrQ2AZZXwS4NSeTq-WmJUamXsEzEV5vqK0emSnKQ9KKmK6B32LN_kZsL6MSd3_aaN09lisv4EFIc_YtFFtKDSrJ1XdFhgy50gBWN6R6s0/s1600/001+Start+lower+deck+peninsula.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBa9t-qi32GfdrR9-XtjyKl4uunyyEY1l0YkFHrQ2AZZXwS4NSeTq-WmJUamXsEzEV5vqK0emSnKQ9KKmK6B32LN_kZsL6MSd3_aaN09lisv4EFIc_YtFFtKDSrJ1XdFhgy50gBWN6R6s0/s400/001+Start+lower+deck+peninsula.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">The first two rectangular sections of the island peninsula baseboard are completed and installed</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
While we found it easy to build two plain rectangualr baseboard panels we were uncertain how we would build the triangular infill sections which would be required on both the bottom and top levels.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe_DBpffNGzRH_hyphenhyphen6YCFUptXcudL46Sc-MJPs9mZwSkn4yCMt1gPWl5gr-LEqkKBmMTaHzO4v1a5G8L1lepmkkT3_NOFgaVIT7SztVKDL4se4AmaFVSb6XGVCjViQkBhJEHJQyacbCvHg4/s1600/003+Lower+deck+peninsula.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe_DBpffNGzRH_hyphenhyphen6YCFUptXcudL46Sc-MJPs9mZwSkn4yCMt1gPWl5gr-LEqkKBmMTaHzO4v1a5G8L1lepmkkT3_NOFgaVIT7SztVKDL4se4AmaFVSb6XGVCjViQkBhJEHJQyacbCvHg4/s320/003+Lower+deck+peninsula.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">The triangular area we would need to fill in to properly join both the rectangular panels</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"></span><br />
<div align="left">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIR6cdfDQbB_dzexNIk8uUL0heAfe3mpQLGXzKAeU1mffHSlaE09xEeivfY9yveT8UXKCXzwi8nvQ8ivurMhnq8CgETRmFGlx059KFV1UaqjfiP80LNe1YDLOFM5M9cS23_G4-tv7T2Sbf/s1600/005+Space+for+upper+and+lower+loco+depots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIR6cdfDQbB_dzexNIk8uUL0heAfe3mpQLGXzKAeU1mffHSlaE09xEeivfY9yveT8UXKCXzwi8nvQ8ivurMhnq8CgETRmFGlx059KFV1UaqjfiP80LNe1YDLOFM5M9cS23_G4-tv7T2Sbf/s320/005+Space+for+upper+and+lower+loco+depots.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">The space we have allocated for the terminal locomotive depots on the upper and lower levels</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNEh9ChRNoidAmRn4OjE8d4_2VXBy6qtiiJiQk7fOQRTaA9fCpxKg8LkBD0gRmDomfhV6radJknyvFdHf3tsLRg7VYtz_J1TyDxRfcQGvuVjOMVsdhD2R2ms7kq5hbnUxLHUjrX0ueTCHh/s1600/006+Future+site+of+helix+to+connect+upper+and+lower+decks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNEh9ChRNoidAmRn4OjE8d4_2VXBy6qtiiJiQk7fOQRTaA9fCpxKg8LkBD0gRmDomfhV6radJknyvFdHf3tsLRg7VYtz_J1TyDxRfcQGvuVjOMVsdhD2R2ms7kq5hbnUxLHUjrX0ueTCHh/s320/006+Future+site+of+helix+to+connect+upper+and+lower+decks.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">These two tables are occupying the space of the future helix near the back of The Shed.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We then also made two identical panels for the top deck but
we were at somewhat of a loss as to how best to fit these in position and support then with a minimum of posts.<br />
<o:p> </o:p><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkw5dvWxhA5-T6AlP2yTrlcdFJdaxuHgsfZl3GWVhAw1PNOahSXJmyDSEXJUNfTmak7mM3aItlLrI_ENBc9iY8XAYZs4pBWY1f8AEF3tZjqGyEA-eL5P1VZM9w0bpWDGcascVgiwe7Gcdi/s1600/002+Lower+deck+peninsula.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkw5dvWxhA5-T6AlP2yTrlcdFJdaxuHgsfZl3GWVhAw1PNOahSXJmyDSEXJUNfTmak7mM3aItlLrI_ENBc9iY8XAYZs4pBWY1f8AEF3tZjqGyEA-eL5P1VZM9w0bpWDGcascVgiwe7Gcdi/s400/002+Lower+deck+peninsula.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">The two baseboard sections for the upper level can be seen leaning against the layout on the left-hand side</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Little now happened on the layout for a couple of months as I went on my trip to the United States to attend the 33rd Bational Narrow Gauge Convention which was held in Pasadena (Los Angeles). My next post will give an overview of that trip.</div>
Curator49http://www.blogger.com/profile/00211301413681246937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1461562716459760154.post-59027622531860498912013-02-24T16:06:00.002+10:002013-02-24T16:06:57.135+10:00Stage One of the Lower Deck Complete.....<br />
As indicated last week we finished the lower deck under the existing layout this weekend.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-9iTgI9_rX3acgmAvjBhN-FvFa7CsiTUa5amfvaJUajgWgzUvkI5lTDh7eS5SU2CPzOHuZyuj7TpYggNsROD-T58UUOVfLXj27deLxEaw8RENftUX4Yxz82aj6nLsQQrjJ6dWbJHZyRNw/s1600/Left-hand+side_01_240213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-9iTgI9_rX3acgmAvjBhN-FvFa7CsiTUa5amfvaJUajgWgzUvkI5lTDh7eS5SU2CPzOHuZyuj7TpYggNsROD-T58UUOVfLXj27deLxEaw8RENftUX4Yxz82aj6nLsQQrjJ6dWbJHZyRNw/s320/Left-hand+side_01_240213.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHVZmZJQLWp6I3As2-ohqTOvLaXTtK9-hznayO1QaPRvvGKq2U_v9ITU9-XukAR05yBDrZVkRFaGt0qlpoFQ5ZyTT2ehzIuU6qm7tv0hGUT1JILoCicu9onkPPVwVPMcCeirTh69njHyWX/s1600/Left-hand+side_02_240213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHVZmZJQLWp6I3As2-ohqTOvLaXTtK9-hznayO1QaPRvvGKq2U_v9ITU9-XukAR05yBDrZVkRFaGt0qlpoFQ5ZyTT2ehzIuU6qm7tv0hGUT1JILoCicu9onkPPVwVPMcCeirTh69njHyWX/s320/Left-hand+side_02_240213.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJQxgfmnvISOvO041WCddIiwg8s5qMctEho2dAv-EK2_3IBNCc5_q485mpQQ-P6aUYyM-tmTK6qiMH4W_1qsSQURxqTvVqBzRkWxlhN7-eST61SWnioNRgyPhdiLPV_EIx2FGh6HviAR1h/s1600/Left-hand+side_03_240213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJQxgfmnvISOvO041WCddIiwg8s5qMctEho2dAv-EK2_3IBNCc5_q485mpQQ-P6aUYyM-tmTK6qiMH4W_1qsSQURxqTvVqBzRkWxlhN7-eST61SWnioNRgyPhdiLPV_EIx2FGh6HviAR1h/s320/Left-hand+side_03_240213.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;">Three views of the right-hand wall</span></div>
We finished assembling the final baseboard section for the left hand wall including the 2” X 1” strengthening on Saturday. Raymond had spent Saturday morning cleaning up the left hand wall where this section was to go, so once assembly was completed we put it in place.<br />
<br />
We then cut the timber required to fill the gap where the high bridge is to go.<br />
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Sunday morning was spent in assembling this section.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFafJpkkDUlSRnGsn6BJDc86RqsGObT2qFYW75RWHEiIokTq8Ok81RS25pBx426qSCpb_gtoj1LNnUaG0qcXrCW3L7WfCEKE2cMBkKu0YZQJOCkMq5WJL0HJ_2T4gnqazEV3-ro-ZG6Kf5/s1600/Back+wall_01_240213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFafJpkkDUlSRnGsn6BJDc86RqsGObT2qFYW75RWHEiIokTq8Ok81RS25pBx426qSCpb_gtoj1LNnUaG0qcXrCW3L7WfCEKE2cMBkKu0YZQJOCkMq5WJL0HJ_2T4gnqazEV3-ro-ZG6Kf5/s320/Back+wall_01_240213.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;">The back wall</span></div>
We then bolted together all the separate baseboard sections except the one along the right hand side as the timber is now stored on top of this section and the plywood and MDF is stacked against it. We have already shifted the 5.4 metre lengths of 4” X 1” four times so we are going to work around the section on the right hand wall for the time being.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-D2GF3EmzgN0d3gb0In26V7rgqZLEdsBhuGGnlR4wGADC9uJvbK3p9R7v2rahHlyBlmAtY_3uX7kbuJzlm9Jrbt8Hq5ibDQyKdwX9McjHtl1jlZtcD-aSFXHNbBJuiYT7NIHDxNeGuYtF/s1600/Right-hand+side_01_240213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-D2GF3EmzgN0d3gb0In26V7rgqZLEdsBhuGGnlR4wGADC9uJvbK3p9R7v2rahHlyBlmAtY_3uX7kbuJzlm9Jrbt8Hq5ibDQyKdwX9McjHtl1jlZtcD-aSFXHNbBJuiYT7NIHDxNeGuYtF/s320/Right-hand+side_01_240213.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;">Two views of the right hand wall. The timber stacked on the lower deck</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;">with the MDF and ply leaning against the deck.</span></div>
Sunday afternoon the 24 February, Raymond and I had a brainstorming session to see where we should go next. We came up with some radical changes to our track plan and how we should go about things. This has led to some heavy discussion and laid open lots of problems with a few possible solutions.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;">Raymond in deep thought considering our options</span></div>
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We originally had intended to have a point-to-point layout with the option of a continuous run through including a helix near the door to The Shed. It has always been our intention to operate the layout as a point-to-point with the two terminal stations one above the other along the left hand wall. We are now considering deleting this helix altogether and finishing each terminal station with a locomotive depot including a turntable. Our MMI Rio Grande K Class locomotives are not fitted up for proper tender first running having only a dummy knuckle coupler on the front and besides they would not look right running right around the whole layout with a train tender first. The upper terminus was to have had a reversing loop above the helix and the lower terminus a turntable in the back left hand corner of The Shed. We now have ideas to put in a turntable on the top deck with a rectangular running shed for locomotives as the deck for this upper level will need to be 2 ft 6 ins wide at most as it is cantilevered from the wall. The lower deck will also have a turntable but this deck can be say five feet wide at this point so the locomotive accommodation will be a roundhouse on this level.<br />
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The two levels of the layout were to be linked by a helix at the end of the peninsula down the centre of the room. We are having a major branch line on the bottom deck and had originally planned to have a junction station along the lower deck on the right hand side of The Shed. We discussed what this would be like with an operator for this junction station, an operator for the mining branch junction which already exists on the upper deck and the mining branch itself all in the same area. We also considered that so far we have not had any “wide open” spaces around the layout with a long run between the stations. <br />
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We now thought we could make the junction station at the terminal station on the lower deck on the left hand side of The Shed. This would give us a long run on the branch line starting on the left hand side along the back wall, down the right hand side of The Shed out from the wall on the peninsula and back down the right hand side of the peninsula around the outside circumference of the helix and into the branch line terminus on the left hand side of the peninsula. This would be a distance of approximately 80 feet.<br />
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We then started considering the possibilities of eliminating the helix for the main line. What if we could have a continuous rise from the terminal on the left hand side of The Shed until we achieve the height of the upper deck on the left hand side of the peninsula down the centre of the room? We are trying to achieve a maximum gradient of 1 in 50 but we have to gain a height of 24½ inches. <br />
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It appears that the distance we think we have available will only give us a rise of 18 inches leaving us about 6 inches to go. This may require us to have a short helix of only one or two turns rather than the six or so if we built a full helix. There are a few other issues which we are pondering.<br />
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The length of the run will possibly require a passing loop say ten feet long which will have to be level. That will knock out a significant distance in our climb.<br />
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We could build the terminal station on the lower deck about two to three inches higher using risers. That would reduce the height we have to climb down to 21½ inches. <br />
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Another option might be to have a steeper gradient – say 1 in 40. Since the climb would be basically straight track with sweeping curves the frictional pull shouldn’t be as bad as a 1 in 50 grade on a continuous spiral of about 40 to 44 inch radius curves. We don’t know what the capabilities of any of our locomotive fleet are. It would be a disaster if our main line locomotives could only pull two or three passenger or freight cars just because we had too steep a gradient.<br />
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There is a lot of room for further thought and planning.<br />
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Curator49http://www.blogger.com/profile/00211301413681246937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1461562716459760154.post-91489607469053026212013-02-17T19:35:00.000+10:002013-02-17T19:35:30.556+10:00Progress Continues to be Made.....Darren brought along to the Tuesday Nighters on Tuesday 5 February another 28 legs for our layout. This was exceptionally kind of him as he only received the order from us on Tuesday afternoon. I did not expect him to have all the legs he brought along in such a short time. Thank you Darren.<br />
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On Saturday 9 February we fitted up the legs to the second module for the right-hand side of The Shed and cut and fitted the 2 X 1 around the bottom of the legs. <br />
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We then cut the timber ready for the first module on the left-hand side of the shed and we also cut the timber for two short baseboard sections along the back wall. <br />
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We assembled the third module on Sunday 10 February after we had finished installing the two baseboard sections on the right. We fitted four of the legs but had to wait to install the final pair until after we had cleared out the section of shed wall where this module was to go.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0a1XWNA3t-5xMWWouDsSdlNs-9-bATRbcFPDuU8UHglI98kwE2Aa_zabBIzR5juDVaSHnEecRXrkiRlSp25-CNJkFf6ebmXMqXAzAJ7EiydvPTXbDPiq55zTN7AgMOLt0frh3Vju7tUna/s1600/RHS_Lower+Deck_01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0a1XWNA3t-5xMWWouDsSdlNs-9-bATRbcFPDuU8UHglI98kwE2Aa_zabBIzR5juDVaSHnEecRXrkiRlSp25-CNJkFf6ebmXMqXAzAJ7EiydvPTXbDPiq55zTN7AgMOLt0frh3Vju7tUna/s320/RHS_Lower+Deck_01.JPG" uea="true" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: red;">The two baseboard sections on the right-hand side of The Shed.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">The baseboard sections on the left-hand side are similar.</span></div>
On Saturday, 16 February it was necessary for us to move our stock of 4 X 1 yet again, along with sundry lengths of 2 X 1. We stacked all of this on top of the two completed baseboard sections on the right-hand side of The Shed. We then moved all the plywood leaning against the left-hand wall over to leans against the baseboard sections on the right-hand side. It’s like playing chess.<br />
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We could now test fit the first module on the left-hand side and determine the location of the middle pair of legs. We had had to wait until the wall was clear so that we could ensure the centre legs did not block a power point on the wall. This sorted, we fitted the two extra legs and then installed the 2 X 1 around the bottom of the legs.<br />
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Sunday 17 February saw us assemble the two short sections along the back wall as well as fitting the legs to these and the 2 X 1 bracing around the bottoms of the legs.<br />
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<span style="color: red;">An overall view showing both sides of The Shed with the first</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">baseboard section installed on the left. The two short sections </span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">are along the back wall. The centre section will be suspended</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"> between these two three inches lower to allow for a deep river bed.</span></div>
WE next cut out the 4 X 1 timber for the final baseboard section on the left-hand side. This section was assembled in the afternoon. The legs are yet to be fitted.<br />
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Before this section is installed in place we have a stack of carry boxes and other storage boxes for MMI locomotives to be moved. We intend to store all this under the baseboard sections on the right-hand side as a temporary measure. They will have to be moved again when it comes time for us to lay track and wire up that side of the layout. I think we will plan, lay and wire the track along the left-hand wall first. We can then build the intended shelf under the lower deck on that side and move and store all these boxes properly.<br />
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We received another two On30 locomotives during the past week. They are both 2-4-4-2 tender locomotives. One has a steel cab (Raymond’s) and mine has a wood cab. They were already DCC chipped but we had to plug in a Tsunami sound module ourselves. These modules are sold separately. The two locomotives working in consist sound superb. The double exhaust on each goes into and out of beat as they travel around the layout. Raymond also bought two 18 ft box cars and two 18 ft flat cars. There were actual prototypes of these vehicles but they look quite dinky when placed next to a standard 3 ft gauge box car. They don’t look out of place behind the dinky mallet however.<br />
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<span style="color: red;">Raymond's steel cab 2-4-4-2</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">My wooden cab 2-4-4-2</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">The 18 ft rolling stock. Two box cars and two flat cars.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">A standard narrow gauge Rio Grande box car</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">compared to the 18 ft box cars.</span> </div>
We have plans to finish the lower deck next weekend and then look forward to starting to build the peninsula out from the right-hand wall and down the centre of the room. The upper and lower decks will be built simultaneously for this. <br />
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I am not looking forward to building the two helixes however. I can these as being a big headache. We will be seeing Darren at the next Tuesday Nighters this coming Tuesday night to see if we can order some 1.7 metre legs as well as some more 750 mm legs. The 1.7 metre legs are needed to support the upper deck (and lower deck) along with a back scene divider on the upper deck.<br />
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Curator49http://www.blogger.com/profile/00211301413681246937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1461562716459760154.post-22813170399521994632013-02-03T15:57:00.001+10:002013-02-03T15:57:44.839+10:00The Following Weekend.....The weekend of 12 – 13 January did not see much progress as SWMBO had decreed we had to clean up before a proposed family BBQ on Sunday 20 January.<br />
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My youngest daughter and son-in-law along with our two little grandsons came over and helped us fill an industrial skip bin. It is amazing what one collects.<br />
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Saturday, 19 January, Raymond and I spent cleaning up The Shed as this was where Pauline wanted our guests to eat their BBQ lunch as it was air-conditioned. We vacuumed the carpets and shifted all the timber Darren had delivered in late December off to one side of the room.<br />
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<span style="color: red;">This is the timber that Darren delivered at the end of December.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">We have shifted and restacked it three times so far.</span></div>
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The BBQ went off well on the 20 January. So now family matters had been attended to we thought we would be back into layout work the following weekend which was to be the Australia Day long weekend. Unfortunately, things did not pan out that way. Ex-Tropical Cyclone Oswald came down the coast of Queensland with severe flooding and cyclonic winds all along the coast. Because of the strong winds blowing heavy rain into the pergola area we could not do any work on the layout. The new Drop-Saw (Son of Beast) was covered with a weatherproof protector but the wet conditions prevented us from using it. We did shift our supply of timber (yet again) to give access to the right-hand side of The Shed and managed to cut some 2” X 1” to act as spacers around the bottoms of the legs. We then installed the six legs that had been supplied by Darren and also fitted the 2” X 1”.<br />
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Saturday, 2 February dawned sunny and clear (after a ferocious overnight storm – so I am told). Raymond and I visited my father then went to Austral Modelcraft for some magazines and sundry bits and pieces. Scooter even showed up!<br />
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Saturday afternoon, Raymond measured the remaining original stock of 4” X 1” and using the Son of Beast and cut up sufficient material to make the second section of baseboard framework for the right-hand side of The Shed and the first baseboard section for the lower deck on the left-hand side. Son of Beast certainly makes short work of the sawing required and it makes such a smooth cut.<br />
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Sunday 3 February we assembled the second section of baseboard framework for the right-hand side and set it on the four remaining legs supplied by Darren. We need another two legs and some 2” X 1” around the base to maintain the legs in position.<br />
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<span style="color: red;">The two sections of baseboard framework for the lower deck</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">installed along the right-hand side of The Shed</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfXjL1K9TLUAMXQ9Ft2o-elTtGW6g86-pyqpvLdBfW4Y8FgEPyb7Gn6P16GwL9VBdxblf5xogJoxe-DOuaEurej5PAAvqgf0Pk7g_BvuK7muk7GfMe-uPop2baJrhvDyQ4xeCi69BPeN_x/s1600/DPP_0064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfXjL1K9TLUAMXQ9Ft2o-elTtGW6g86-pyqpvLdBfW4Y8FgEPyb7Gn6P16GwL9VBdxblf5xogJoxe-DOuaEurej5PAAvqgf0Pk7g_BvuK7muk7GfMe-uPop2baJrhvDyQ4xeCi69BPeN_x/s320/DPP_0064.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Another view. Two centre legs and the 2 X 1 spacers </span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">are yet to be fitted.</span></div>
We have not yet assembled the first section of framework for the left-hand side as we need to clean-up under the upper deck along that side. We intend placing this under the new baseboard framework on the right-hand side.<br />
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I feel things are starting to move along quite well but then I always think that.<br />
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It is Tuesday Nighters this Tuesday night and this week it will be at Scooters which is just up the road from us.<br />
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<span style="color: red;">A Sparmax air compressor for air-brushing which I gave</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Raymond for Christmas to try to encourage him to "Have a Go"</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">The Badger Air-Brush set that Raymond bought quite some time ago </span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">but has never used. It contains three air-brushes - a side-feed,</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">top feed and bottom feed.</span></div>
Curator49http://www.blogger.com/profile/00211301413681246937noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1461562716459760154.post-38274441813427084612013-01-06T19:43:00.002+10:002013-01-06T19:43:20.137+10:00A Lack of Progress.....Time really flies and I know that we have been totally slack as there has been no progress on the layout construction and little progress in other areas other than Raymond’s purchase of more rolling stock mainly for the non-existent Garden Railway.<br />
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My last post was on the 29 April – was it really that long ago? <br />
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The AMRA Brisbane Miniature Train Show was held over the Labour Day Weekend in May. I volunteered to do security duties and spent the Friday keeping an eye on things during the set-up and then I spent each of the three days the show was opened watching over the displays and helping wherever necessary. This was the last show held at the RNA Showgrounds with a pavilion at the Doomben Racecourse selected as the venue for 2013. The change of State Government has meant the transfer of the three day-Labour Day Weekend from May to a date later in the year to better spread out public holidays in Queensland. The 2013 AMRA Show will take place over two days instead of three.<br />
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The Tuesday Nighters came over to The Shed on the 1 May and again on the 29 May and finally for 2012 on the 11 December. The AMRA NG SIG Group visited The Shed on 17 July and again on 18 December. Unfortunately little had changed on our layout between those visits but everyone still had a great time with lots of talking and many suggestions as to how we could get going again on layout construction.<br />
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Craig (Cassino) phoned me early on the 3 June and invited me to pay a visit to Toowoomba with him to see the DDMRC train show. Geoff was going to be there with his Splitters Swamp Creek Layout. It was a good trip and like Craig, I had not been to the Toowoomba Show for quite some years. It was good catching up to have a yarn with many people I knew. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVe92acgqhGajPpa3YpOdbO_d5YN46CRDcoa8hfSW0RPdxEfZJYA5OcZWM3xCKQMI61sEZYMPY1hJmzOqU2YsT_Wpov_TypYk9uocHYKZpb6qv2rzUUYMJBH5hCKEISWFXFtxyGWfGH01g/s1600/Splitters+Swamp+Creek_01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVe92acgqhGajPpa3YpOdbO_d5YN46CRDcoa8hfSW0RPdxEfZJYA5OcZWM3xCKQMI61sEZYMPY1hJmzOqU2YsT_Wpov_TypYk9uocHYKZpb6qv2rzUUYMJBH5hCKEISWFXFtxyGWfGH01g/s320/Splitters+Swamp+Creek_01.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
A scene on Geoff's Splitters Swamp Creek layout at the Toowoomba Show.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3z6cEJejdXdPKzgPmmuKePHIKUj8Dg8Ke7FMVR1OZK_CEDrMzMby48kpEKO9YxHOYltKwbMrkcETZ456sl5T3YWZfGuawhqHRQ3Pcb9v8gXe50oX0vMcbCGmveV05_t2t42_zC0q8SDFO/s1600/Trophy_Toowoomba_01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3z6cEJejdXdPKzgPmmuKePHIKUj8Dg8Ke7FMVR1OZK_CEDrMzMby48kpEKO9YxHOYltKwbMrkcETZ456sl5T3YWZfGuawhqHRQ3Pcb9v8gXe50oX0vMcbCGmveV05_t2t42_zC0q8SDFO/s320/Trophy_Toowoomba_01.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
The trophy awarded to Splitters Swamp Creek layout at the Toowoomba Show. <br />
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Work issues took up a good deal of my spare time in the second half of 2012. I was sent to Mackay for a week to undertake significance assessments of the Mackay Heritage Railway during July. I also managed to get a few photographs around the local cane railway networks. It had only just stopped raining just before my arrival in Mackay and the mills did not start crushing again until several days after my arrival so I managed to get much of my Museum work done in the first few days. The resultant Museum report took a lot of time to prepare mainly taking up another weekend. <br />
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Museums & Gallery Services Queensland invited me to become an assessor on their National Museums Standards Program. This involved several visits to Bundaberg as I was asked to undertake the assessment of the Australian Sugar Cane Railway. My first trip involved a return journey on the Bundaberg Tilt Train departing on Friday and returning on the Monday. The second trip was by plane on a Saturday returning by car on the Sunday night. The final trip was for a week which again involved a return trip on the Bundaberg Tilt Train during the last week in November. This was more of a short holiday so I paid for the journey although there was some Museum work involved. During this last trip I undertook some oral history work with sugar industry staff for the Museum and I also had time to take some photographs of the cane railway systems around Bundaberg.<br />
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I had been purchasing timber for the construction of the layout baseboard a section at a time but delivery charges would add another $100 or so to the cost so I determined that it would be better if I worked out my timber requirements for the remainder of the layout and have it delivered in one go probably saving a couple of hundred dollars. I spent some of my spare time during the last half of the year drawing and redrawing the layout and working out the baseboard boundaries. I then started trying to estimate the timber requirements but could not make up my mind. We had visited Darren (Tuesday Nighters) and seen his Nimmitabel Extension layout back in May and I was impressed with his methods of baseboard construction. I had used a variation of L-Girder construction for the top deck of the layout on three sides of the room but felt that this would be unsuitable for the lower deck due to the significant depth of the supporting framework. The upper deck could only be supported from the walls of the room and obviously could not have any supports along the front edge whilst the lower deck could be supported by legs in direct contact with the floor at both the rear of the layout and also along the front edge. <br />
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Darren has been one of the Tuesday Nighters offering constructive, and more importantly, practical suggestions for our layout to progress. He may be a New South Wales modeller (we forgive him for that) but he is a keen model railroader and a good friend. I discussed with him many times his construction techniques which I know some of the other guys use as well.<br />
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I had set down some goals that I thought we might be able to achieve over the Christmas break and discussed these with the Tuesday Nighters when they visited on the 11 December. I said that I wanted to buy a drop saw which seemed to me to be an essential piece of equipment for the construction of the remainder of our layout. I also indicated I hoped to buy all the timber needed but I still hadn’t worked out what was required. I did know that I would not need any more of the 45 X 19 mm (2” X 1”) as I already had a number of lengths if I found a requirement for some. My main purchase would be 90 X 19 mm (4” X 1”). I had set myself a target of building the lower deck on the right-hand side of The Shed before starting the new baseboard extensions. <br />
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I sent an e-mail to the Tuesday Nighters on the 22 December outlining my thoughts and inviting comment on these. The guys responded positively so I started looking at drop saws and looking more seriously at our timber requirements.<br />
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On Thursday 27 December I lashed out and purchased a Bosch Mitre Saw (drop saw) and a finer blade (more teeth to give a finer cut than the standard blade that comes with the saw). Later that day, Darren phoned and asked if I had worked out my timber requirements yet? I hadn’t! He indicated he could deliver the timber the next day at the right price so I set to and worked out what I thought I needed. After a couple of false starts and a few more phone calls to Darren I had settled on an order with him – 40 lengths at 5.4 metres each of 90 X 19 mm. <br />
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First thing Friday 28 December I went down to Bunnings and purchased the Bosch Mitre Saw Work Bench that suited my Mitre Saw purchase. Later in the morning Darren turned up with eight 5.4 metre long bundles of 90 X 19 mm dressed pine which we unloaded into the shed. Darren spent some time with Raymond and I explaining how we should go about setting out the timber, undertaking the necessary measurements, cutting the timber then drilling, countersinking and assembling the baseboard framework. He was adamant that we should do this work on the garage floor as there was a large flat area. Darren pointed out there were two advantages over using the floor in The Shed. Firstly, we would minimise wood shavings from drilling and screwing and above all the surface would give us a firm surface making it easier to get everything square unlike the carpet in The Shed which would “give” making getting a square structure almost impossible. Raymond and I decided that we could use my wife’s side of the garage as this meant it was directly in line with the laundry door through the pergola and straight in through the door to The Shed. This was a brilliant idea on our part, except SWMBO did not go out often when we were home but did go to church for a couple of hours every Sunday morning. We reckoned that we could measure and cut the timber framing for each section of the baseboard framework Saturday afternoon then assemble it Sunday morning and have it into The Shed before she came home.<br />
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We could, of course move her car outside the garage when we wanted to do this work but it is a relatively new car and the fuel injection system requires the engine to be run for quite some time before it is turned off again otherwise it will “flood” and the car is almost impossible to start again. We have had the RACQ out twice to start it after these events.<br />
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Over the weekend of the 29 – 30 December, Raymond and I assembled the Bosch Mitre Saw which I have christened Son of Beast. It is not as frightening as The Beast (a Ryobi Bench Saw) which some of you may remember I purchased during the period when we were insulating and lining the shed with plasterboard. The Beast was really needed only for one short job on this project and I subsequently sold it for less that half price as I did not see any further need for it. The need for a drop saw was now, however, very much greater. It would be ideal for cutting the 90 x 19 mm and 45 X 19 mm timber to the required length and would also give us the flexibility to cut angles where required.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_i4vPzSyk6ypUaellCUa2xZiX7Hyjo-eUPOPvuB2SgyY4iJxAiJoybAo-HZwbYeeqg5ziasONQTHG1Dn_xIhxcyVbsMoFSVhIB4XovjQlzK7tZEzWI44huSuhC7SInuvr4D_4EZ7Lbfx/s1600/The+Beast_01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_i4vPzSyk6ypUaellCUa2xZiX7Hyjo-eUPOPvuB2SgyY4iJxAiJoybAo-HZwbYeeqg5ziasONQTHG1Dn_xIhxcyVbsMoFSVhIB4XovjQlzK7tZEzWI44huSuhC7SInuvr4D_4EZ7Lbfx/s320/The+Beast_01.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
The Beast when it was being used during the finishing stages of The Shed. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimxScq5LY_Tc0DXYapLLWtC6lwgxS3kbpN_oeO1MXAsc3OlSjL4WJSYlL8ZUxF2pJWtsNvYQfToFUajxqZm7mXDqksRpVOmnzo5PMKucVCiUVlrZAdA5As00uMTqKjaHK-LvQkWJLVRWG6/s1600/Son+of+Beast_01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimxScq5LY_Tc0DXYapLLWtC6lwgxS3kbpN_oeO1MXAsc3OlSjL4WJSYlL8ZUxF2pJWtsNvYQfToFUajxqZm7mXDqksRpVOmnzo5PMKucVCiUVlrZAdA5As00uMTqKjaHK-LvQkWJLVRWG6/s320/Son+of+Beast_01.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Son of Beast - the Bosch Drop Saw I purchased from Bunnings. (Photograph – Son of Beast)<br />
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We have set Son of Beast under the pergola just outside the shed. On New Year’s Day, the first day of 2013 we christened Son of Beast and, other than a couple of mistakes with two lengths of timber shorter than intended it worked brilliantly. We ended up with two 3600 mm long pieces and seven cross pieces. The two long pieces were cut exactly to length and the final seven cross pieces were all exactly the same length and everything was cut square. If I had done this with my hand-held power saw I would have cut the timber to all different lengths and some would have curved ends instead of being square. Fantastic!!<br />
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I have yet to acquire the 70 X 35 mm timber for the legs of the bottom deck but Darren has offered to help there too. Thanks Darren. <br />
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We had planned to assemble the first baseboard framework this weekend when Pauline went to church. However, Raymond and I have been told we have a special family barbecues coming up in a couple of weeks so we have had to spend the time mowing the grass, making a trip to the dump and getting ready for a rubbish skip next weekend whence we are disposing of a lot of old furniture, mattresses and sundry junk. Sunday afternoon, we decided to move my car out of the garage and build the baseboard frame there. This was not quite as accessible but within half an hour we had this first panel built and we have the photo to prove it.<br />
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The first baseboard framework panel. <br />
I hope to be able to give more details on what has happened in the latter half of this past year and also more especially list some more progress on the layout next week.<br />
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<br />Curator49http://www.blogger.com/profile/00211301413681246937noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1461562716459760154.post-12306899474054112912012-04-29T19:21:00.001+10:002012-04-29T19:24:03.123+10:00Some Wiring and Still More Progress.....<br />
We spent a fairly quiet Anzac Day holiday. In the afternoon, I drilled the holes through the joists on the new section for the Main Bus wires. I also cut up some 3 mm MDF board as templates for the footprints of a number of the laser-cut craftsman wood kits that we have. <br />
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Raymond had the next two days off, although he was still “on call” for work. He spent his spare time installing the Bus wires and also several more Cobalt motors on the turnouts.<br />
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He then connected the track power supply wires to the Bus wires and started wiring the Cobalt motors. These require an NCE “Switch-It” decoder but we had bought all the ones that Ray had at Austral Modelcraft. He has ordered some more in but that will take a few weeks. I am hoping we might be able to get some at the model railway show over Labour Day Weekend.<br />
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On Saturday Raymond connected the Bus wires on the new layout section with the original layout section. He made a temporary Bus wire connection across the future high bridge using some nylon electrical connector pieces either side of the gap. Unfortunately, we did not have any screws of the right gauge or length to secure these connector pieces to the baseboard framework. We needed 4 Gauge screws and the only ones we had were 12 mm long – not long enough. I went down to Bunnings at Browns Plains and bought a pack of 4 Gauge screws that were 16 mm long which we thought would be long enough but, just in case I also bought a pack that was 20 mm long as well. It was just as well as it turned out as the 16 mm screws were still not quite long enough to properly secure the electrical connector to the timber framework of the baseboard whereas the 20 mm long screws proved ideal (and we had thought they would be too long).<br />
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We now had power to the new section of the layout but not all the Cobalt turnout motors had been wired as Raymond had run out of decoders. This meant that the mining branch loop and loco shed loop for the mining branch could not yet be used as there were still five turnouts to be wired in. <br />
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<span style="color: red; font-size: x-small;">K-37 No.499 meets a Porter with two Pulpwood Wagons in the new yard. Two of the MDF building "footprints" can be seen leaning against the wall. The one on the right is Aladdin's General Store from Raggs to Riches. It gives some idea of the size of the buildings in O Scale.</span></div>
WE test ran a couple of trains over the wired track and tested the turnouts that had been wired up. Everything seems to be okay so far.<br />
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That was all we managed to do as I had to mow the back yard including the area between our back fence and the Uniform Gauge Railway then after lunch I had to peel vegetables and cook some roast pork for dinner as She Who Must be Obeyed was going out in the afternoon. Raymond is getting his Garden Railway live steam locos ready for the model railway show next weekend.<br />
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I was looking out the sliding glass door in front of my computer in my study and started thinking. Hard to believe I know. <br />
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I thought what if we had another Titan Shed built on the left-hand side of the yard to allow a future Garden Railway track to enter for storage sidings. What if? It doesn’t need to be as big as our current Titan Shed but say about the size of a single car garage. I will have to think on that one further.<br />
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Curator49http://www.blogger.com/profile/00211301413681246937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1461562716459760154.post-47719762775711861802012-04-22T15:45:00.014+10:002012-04-22T16:16:28.561+10:00Tuesday Nighters and More Progress.....Tuesday evening 17th April the Tuesday Nighters had their get together at our house. We almost had a full house with eleven of the guys coming along to see if we had made any progress. There was the usual banter from the guys but overall they expressed approval at how much we had done. Even that “dyed in the wool” New South Wales modeller, Craig (Cassino) said some kind things. <br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLIvCl3LgrcwQHEyk_L0Z7C5O25pXXKMp2DzxQWKCbnTQ7WUCxVV9QoziZZxnOa_00EAYMK8c1Ys3wDKvv_NJPpQi_HaFuOeUhHFPceWVSZO8KDCesOjF2srL4wEyCfar_AhzJBJ9lUCoe/s1600/Meeting_001.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5734097881917946434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLIvCl3LgrcwQHEyk_L0Z7C5O25pXXKMp2DzxQWKCbnTQ7WUCxVV9QoziZZxnOa_00EAYMK8c1Ys3wDKvv_NJPpQi_HaFuOeUhHFPceWVSZO8KDCesOjF2srL4wEyCfar_AhzJBJ9lUCoe/s320/Meeting_001.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">The Tuesday Nighters settled in for an evening of discussion, fun and eating. 17/04/2012</span><br /></span>Each of the guys settled down to discuss their latest modelling achievements/problems, read the magazines we had put out, while eating the pikelets (with jam and cream); buttered cinnamon bun, cracker biscuits with onion/bacon dip as well as some corn chips while having a cup of tea or coffee. </p><br /><p>SHELTON's GALLERY - Shelton, one of the Tuesday Nighters took some great images which he has allowed me to share with you.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQzIhyphenhyphen1hL8omw1szGsfRUCyR7ySIfG_UEHgNObWGL8G2rWjggO3_C6eV7kP96f-xMjpawkrnocAhdVoAAq-RvuFKCUc5-1u-dLNT4VqxIYDjSVqcAZ4NBrsO2ay7c9IUrSM1Q26OtqH3L/s1600/Meeting_001.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5734098627302051922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQzIhyphenhyphen1hL8omw1szGsfRUCyR7ySIfG_UEHgNObWGL8G2rWjggO3_C6eV7kP96f-xMjpawkrnocAhdVoAAq-RvuFKCUc5-1u-dLNT4VqxIYDjSVqcAZ4NBrsO2ay7c9IUrSM1Q26OtqH3L/s320/Meeting_001.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">PK with a cup of coffee, Mike reading a magazine with Raymond and Brendan also seated at the table while others gather round the urn while they get a cup of tea/coffee. <em>Image: Shelton 17/04/2012</em></span><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDRJcBoJRV_FhU5Rdu8IWl0dSUbyOIxYEQhtIQG1tn11fDUi1OJrRYbu2jYHBcP_xM2Af3EaM_c1rWWIxnlMeQ1SlkML0ddxWY3x-pzq2EOYxNNQKqWQ-rc8EKNdg3e1JxzBjG4vkEE2zK/s1600/Meeting_002.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5734098814215490418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDRJcBoJRV_FhU5Rdu8IWl0dSUbyOIxYEQhtIQG1tn11fDUi1OJrRYbu2jYHBcP_xM2Af3EaM_c1rWWIxnlMeQ1SlkML0ddxWY3x-pzq2EOYxNNQKqWQ-rc8EKNdg3e1JxzBjG4vkEE2zK/s320/Meeting_002.JPG" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> <span style="color:#ff0000;">Yours truly, Mr Grumpy - well I am not really grumpy. Staff at the Museum tell me I have an "upside down smile". Ha! Ha! <em>Image: Shelton 17/04/2012</em></span><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqrd8j_GZiqz2AV_PLuI246mhKAS7Qg581fook0C-SCopD4lAy_-HPQNFxo1yIARAHc8ZKrOLOnhzuehc0ChmaxUAtl5gIbs-Gw0eAnpomBWChkx9y5ZU-k7CydKIwmTuKtMYiyQfobUdh/s1600/Layout_003.JPG"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5734098999648490450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqrd8j_GZiqz2AV_PLuI246mhKAS7Qg581fook0C-SCopD4lAy_-HPQNFxo1yIARAHc8ZKrOLOnhzuehc0ChmaxUAtl5gIbs-Gw0eAnpomBWChkx9y5ZU-k7CydKIwmTuKtMYiyQfobUdh/s320/Layout_003.JPG" /></span></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Raymond's 0-4-2T Porter a Bachmann loco customised by a fellow in Canada from whom Raymond had purchased it on E-Bay. <em>Image: Shelton 17/04/2012</em></span><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ZHt7miCETt-_EcXpwjCMogiEFTowfNwYPYpHzqWOgntmWQ8_XMLsOxW7JhSLXb6xJkxkeY2JF-CLXryzu-GV5jrPIPddEOXi6AOiHfqcZ_BMgBYbMIvDECNHFvu007XmV5mN-iMlhC3j/s1600/K-36+No.481_001.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5734099202521843058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ZHt7miCETt-_EcXpwjCMogiEFTowfNwYPYpHzqWOgntmWQ8_XMLsOxW7JhSLXb6xJkxkeY2JF-CLXryzu-GV5jrPIPddEOXi6AOiHfqcZ_BMgBYbMIvDECNHFvu007XmV5mN-iMlhC3j/s320/K-36+No.481_001.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">My K-36 No.491 stands in the original yard we had built a long time ago. <em>Image: Shelton 17/04/2012</em></span><br /><br /></span>Darren and Craig helped me with setting out an alternative track arrangement at the eastern end of the new yard. I had planned for a through road through the mining branch engine shed and a stub siding but over the previous weekend, Raymond and I had come to the conclusion we would not be able to get it to fit. Darren and Craig proved us wrong by inserting turnouts in alternative locations. We left this trackwork in the locations temporarily so I could use it as a template over the coming weekend.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcTdQY2Cb4y2afOvNh09CydyREyo-J3cbAUESCqKYlrvGyuLHBh7oDQ0SsHkadlWIwQlctSuIsCM8su8No-vSN3AXrF2hEz3DqPSNldQ_-kgGFXyBgV3rAmbSBWCgYTpRjoLJ2UC-NhDIo/s1600/Rejigging+the+track_001.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5734099438074063554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcTdQY2Cb4y2afOvNh09CydyREyo-J3cbAUESCqKYlrvGyuLHBh7oDQ0SsHkadlWIwQlctSuIsCM8su8No-vSN3AXrF2hEz3DqPSNldQ_-kgGFXyBgV3rAmbSBWCgYTpRjoLJ2UC-NhDIo/s320/Rejigging+the+track_001.JPG" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> <span style="color:#ff0000;">The trackwork that Dareen and Craig laid out on Tuesday night. Thanks guys this was a great help to how this end of the yard turned out.</span><br /><br /></span>On Saturday, 21st April after Raymond and I had visited dad we went to Austral Modelcraft where I purchased a further four turnouts for the new yard. We then went to Jaycar at Kuraby where I purchased a Duratech digital soldering station ($179) and a magnifier/light laboratory desk lamp ($119). I had been thinking of getting one of these lamps for some time so, I finally decided to “lash out” and buy one. I had been evaluating soldering stations for a few weeks so that was another major purchase. Raymond has said he will continue to use his old Dick Smith unit for soldering electrical wires to the track while the new iron will be used for wiring locomotives etc.<br /><br />We spent Saturday afternoon further evaluating the track layout that Darren and Craig had put together on the previous Tuesday night. I still had a few issues with it so kept playing around with laying out the different turnouts and track sections.<br /><br />Sunday morning early, before Raymond was up and about, I drew out in pencil on the plywood baseboard several different track alignments. I had set a number criteria that I was aiming for – track centres to be no less that 3¾ inches; the track should not get too close to the edge of the baseboard (preferably 2½ inches minimum) By setting the track out at the absolute minimum and then the absolute maximum I found that one of the criteria I had set myself for the track could not be met. But, by selecting the mid-point of these two extremes I met what I wanted. I redrew the track out on the plywood and rubbed/sanded out the earlier track drawings. I had to alter one of the extra plywood supports where two plywood sections came together but this was not a serious problem. Instead of having one long joining strip to strengthen the join in the baseboard I had to make two shorter pieces so as to allow the Cobalt motor and turnout wiring to be fitted where the joining piece had been.<br /><br />When Raymond surfaced we discussed the layout and agreed it would work so he set about installing the track and turnouts after wiring each turnout and each section of flex-track.<br /><br />We finished installing the final three turnouts and track except the two sidings into the ore processing facility. I want to think about how we should set this out first, whether one track goes into a building or one goes up onto a low trestle for unloading. At this stage the buildings may need to be scratch-built / freelanced. It remains to be seen.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEwxfo87LA_z8alQ4h3KOAZ72za8pab270M5zdUNTfXYQjY6p6dX41TFoXw18JKntYaFAGIUffpMVyDp9caBb9NSj-gfjRIrM5RvmU4Xz4DB6BOOICdM94CPiSqLfUxlS8HDLWUN12SDlD/s1600/New+Yard_001.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5734099739474903794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEwxfo87LA_z8alQ4h3KOAZ72za8pab270M5zdUNTfXYQjY6p6dX41TFoXw18JKntYaFAGIUffpMVyDp9caBb9NSj-gfjRIrM5RvmU4Xz4DB6BOOICdM94CPiSqLfUxlS8HDLWUN12SDlD/s320/New+Yard_001.JPG" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">The eastern end of the new yard virtually complete.</span><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3VqTzCAsVGWFrIsD2uya7wMHYhRqKra4zvS1bNeC3zN0GTMczDz4bBiGnJsw7paTBXAa2ZRVi6Mklv7keaDccDRlr2CBo0UQYPMkDtn28ExAUJB6rl7CbKg54p7beTQTmY4i6JmXM9vYg/s1600/New+Yard_002.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5734099948108647682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3VqTzCAsVGWFrIsD2uya7wMHYhRqKra4zvS1bNeC3zN0GTMczDz4bBiGnJsw7paTBXAa2ZRVi6Mklv7keaDccDRlr2CBo0UQYPMkDtn28ExAUJB6rl7CbKg54p7beTQTmY4i6JmXM9vYg/s320/New+Yard_002.JPG" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> <span style="color:#ff0000;">The eastern end of the yard complete except for the two industrial sidings into the mineral ore processing plant. The turnout leading to these future sidings can be seen.</span><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNpJXwMYVlVDOSvELHNgKnq6tdmeQOGKsk0KxVoCd4hyphenhyphen6CTsPen11i3ZVWeHZ0_fHKvP7nEdHnQZvHF6oFfwcH_fA0sAJ92nEs_NTjzLXuLyoYOJra-967v7FRNBC7jRG51ASK-nWHy1UG/s1600/New+Yard_003.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5734100109983385474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNpJXwMYVlVDOSvELHNgKnq6tdmeQOGKsk0KxVoCd4hyphenhyphen6CTsPen11i3ZVWeHZ0_fHKvP7nEdHnQZvHF6oFfwcH_fA0sAJ92nEs_NTjzLXuLyoYOJra-967v7FRNBC7jRG51ASK-nWHy1UG/s320/New+Yard_003.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">The western end of the new yard. I think it looks quite impressive. Can't wait to start doing the scenery.</span><br /><br /></span>Raymond intends to start doing the wiring next weekend.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEispougRWQEeVJuSv0u0NGMvUO8-Ttdu9bxzDNb0cEr43Q79-0BQevKTbYrOlqSrN_yuFrlRU-vjsBWfyJu7EeVQyWGZKisb2GXhk0RYUOWAvo2hjBJnqOSM4-wBmuz4EAQcrxzTfSmivu3/s1600/Wiring+Nightmare_001.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5734100613827561874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEispougRWQEeVJuSv0u0NGMvUO8-Ttdu9bxzDNb0cEr43Q79-0BQevKTbYrOlqSrN_yuFrlRU-vjsBWfyJu7EeVQyWGZKisb2GXhk0RYUOWAvo2hjBJnqOSM4-wBmuz4EAQcrxzTfSmivu3/s320/Wiring+Nightmare_001.JPG" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> <span style="color:#ff0000;">The wiring awaits Raymond's skills. </span><br /><br /></span>We feel we have achieved a good deal over the past few weeks and to finish off this weekend we have just spent a pleasant half hour running a K-37 2-8-2 backwards and forwards over the start of the new section.<br /></p><strong></strong>Curator49http://www.blogger.com/profile/00211301413681246937noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1461562716459760154.post-46511271799624927182012-04-15T18:48:00.011+10:002012-04-15T19:17:25.797+10:00'Tis the Weekend after Easter.....Work has continued on the 14th and 15th April. Raymond and I further discussed the possible relocation of the other turnout to the loco shed road for the Mining Branch. I put forward several alternative proposals but finally we have decided to scrap making the loco shed road a through track and, instead, it will be a dead-end.<br /><br />We also discussed the industrial sidings at the eastern end of the yard. Originally, we had thought that two sidings serving some sort of mineral processing plant would be suitable but then I had the idea of using part of the area for an oil depot using the Raggs to Riches Dolores Conoco Oil Depot served by a single siding with still two sidings into the mineral processing plant. Smelters and such like are usually very large complexes with big buildings and we don’t have a great deal of room. The area available is about 36 inches by 12 inches. Now as mentioned in a previous post the Conoco Oil Depot is 27 inches by 11 inches. Obviously it is not going to fit in the area available and we do not have enough space to model a complete stamp mill or smelter. Since this area is at the front of the layout we could model a few buildings of a mineral processing complex with the idea that the others are “off-scene” (off the front edge of the baseboard). So, we have decided we will stick with the mineral processing plant serviced by two sidings concept.<br /><br />Saturday morning, Raymond was “on call” for work so he had to stay home while I went and did my usual Saturday morning tasks, visiting my father and then Ray Nunn at Austral Modelcraft. This time, I spent some money at Austral. We needed at least six NCE Switch-It units but could only get three. Ray would order more for us. Each Switch-It can control two Cobalt turnout motors. I then went to Jaycar at Kuraby to look at soldering stations. The digital soldering station we have was supplied by Dick Smith (Model 137). Dick Smith retailers had advised us that they no longer supplied parts and hadn’t sold soldering stations for about 8 months or so. We had been trying various electronics dealers on line including one suggested to me located in Perth to source new soldering tips for our soldering station to no avail. Raymond did find a dealer in the UK who apparently has suitable tips but they will not send any products to Australia. I found a Goot (Japanese made) soldering station at Jaycar but at $299 I decided to do a bit more “window shopping” on line before I committed that much money. I then went to Bunnings and bought a new model Bosch battery drill. We already had a Bosch 18-volt battery drill purchased some five or six years ago. Like the new one it had come with two batteries so you could charge one battery while still being able to use the drill using the other. However, the early model drill had old style batteries which if you charge them incorrectly the battery will fail and we had already ruined one battery as it would not now accept a re-charge. The new drill uses Lithium-Ion batteries which are much more efficient and forgiving. It is smaller and lighter, and has a much greater torque than the original drill and even has a very strong LED light which shines onto the area you are drilling/screwing – very useful when you are working under the layout.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEs_FYtM6KhRI6R7UUHSGRPe1hHhXuD_pTqHLOigInnYCEryil4y3-64eCvkiLKDN3xqxqlWZpWD456UrPz8C8f9f3VFxprpt5BhLIeN3Gom4C3HfPp8WVa_o8zKydmu2J1_HIwlvRi9qo/s1600/New+%2526+Old+Drills_01.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731547351839476370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEs_FYtM6KhRI6R7UUHSGRPe1hHhXuD_pTqHLOigInnYCEryil4y3-64eCvkiLKDN3xqxqlWZpWD456UrPz8C8f9f3VFxprpt5BhLIeN3Gom4C3HfPp8WVa_o8zKydmu2J1_HIwlvRi9qo/s320/New+%2526+Old+Drills_01.JPG" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">The new drill on the left is smaller and much lighter yet it is more powerful</span> </span><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;">than the older drill on the right.<br /><br /></span>When I arrived back home, I found Raymond had installed some more of the Cobalt turnout motors and had finished installing the one over the L-Girder which had caused him so much frustration over the previous weekend.<br /><br />During Saturday afternoon, Raymond had a few issues he had to sort out for his work while I did some work in The Shed on the layout.<br /><br />You will have seen photographs in earlier posts of the large gap along the rear (western) wall of the shed where I intend to build a “high” trestle which will meld into the scene on the lower deck where it is intended to have the lower track crossing a river on a small trestle in a canyon like scene. It will be some time before we can get back to building the lower deck and are consequently able to build the “high” trestle for the upper track. We also need to be mindful that the air-conditioning unit is to be installed almost directly above this space and we need to allow access for the installer. However, even considering these constraints, we did not want to prevent the operation of trains around the upper level of the layout waiting for the lower level to be built.<br />With this in mind I built a single section of L-Girder which would bridge the 5 ft gap in this section. The L-Girder is strong enough not to need any supports other than at either end and would even carry the weight of a 5 kg MMI die-cast locomotive. This section was installed during the afternoon and everything is now ready to lay track around the back end of the shed to join up the station yards on the left-hand (Southern) and right-hand (Northern) sides of The Shed.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXRDSBDM3DvWwzqNT1m19_zePvlZeUTs_Ttj0BdH4JQbjNYikvinBT9wEgfWYiwfdgW8ozEtI97O3TDJRhl4DKzfSu421VQX-uvn7sQqkVYm61x1_PXvlo8aqJlOjiEOqTG81SlD6SJd1u/s1600/High+Bridge_01.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731549050415082450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXRDSBDM3DvWwzqNT1m19_zePvlZeUTs_Ttj0BdH4JQbjNYikvinBT9wEgfWYiwfdgW8ozEtI97O3TDJRhl4DKzfSu421VQX-uvn7sQqkVYm61x1_PXvlo8aqJlOjiEOqTG81SlD6SJd1u/s320/High+Bridge_01.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">The 5 ft, wide gap joining the original yard along the left-hand wall with the new yard on the right-hand wall has been temporarily bridged by this L-Girder section.</span><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwD6qAZErCYdPO2NdWYg86gDbtj1gw5wH9iem5Z8J-GWODX6OUQE8dEJpFCwTmES2ZQMcQTGPmkT1ZNq1rmLxHM4sSt46NiAw_lhdxFaszgaTofnREZtngQb-06dj5deKG_CT0S1_jTQ4d/s1600/High+Bridge_02.JPG"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731549335611133682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwD6qAZErCYdPO2NdWYg86gDbtj1gw5wH9iem5Z8J-GWODX6OUQE8dEJpFCwTmES2ZQMcQTGPmkT1ZNq1rmLxHM4sSt46NiAw_lhdxFaszgaTofnREZtngQb-06dj5deKG_CT0S1_jTQ4d/s320/High+Bridge_02.JPG" /></span></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">The 5 ft gap where a future "high" trestle bridge will be built.</span><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtUtP7vCpWgrdq2i8Tdn5NPRO0VqB8pjwgk8VLrjTQZXAdNwd2xVSXBAt68Vf3qdqtHK1WRjRCqmZab6XiWbHjvTfHOaBTpzSgRH6jKNJAar0RBHAcBUUjGgQn59mQpk1g3Acyp9ZhKCc-/s1600/High+Bridge_03.JPG"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731549566317161890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtUtP7vCpWgrdq2i8Tdn5NPRO0VqB8pjwgk8VLrjTQZXAdNwd2xVSXBAt68Vf3qdqtHK1WRjRCqmZab6XiWbHjvTfHOaBTpzSgRH6jKNJAar0RBHAcBUUjGgQn59mQpk1g3Acyp9ZhKCc-/s320/High+Bridge_03.JPG" /></span></a> <span style="color:#ff0000;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Looking along the track-bed towards the original yard on the southern</span> side of the shed.</span><br /><br />In between his duties for his work, Raymond installed a few more of the Cobalt turnout motors.<br /><br />So far Sunday has not started well. Raymond had a sleepless night as he has been suffering for quite some time from very severe headaches caused by a nerve near his left ear. He has some special pain killers to take but they usually take a while to have any effect and in the meantime he needs to rest.<br /><br />I set to and laid the track starting from the western end of the new station yard on the right-hand side (Northern) side of The Shed and had it all laid except for a short piece to connect to the original station yard on the southern side of The Shed. Raymond came in and tells me he wants to solder power supply wires to connect to the Main Bus to the track on the right-hand side of the “High” Bridge. Oh well! I said that we should have lunch and pull up the track to install the wires and relay it after lunch.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGrfSo94-BW136qzxldXLCs2mUMlS_Nvk8v8rOf3uBiSvKqL0L98vCujdI7tyqJA8v1Bik6jeh_CCOqxh7GbEYhy0s_JAVnVLD3i6o7fvIULuuCJIGlX9KX0ad1JCB8Q6R9__PnFBRqeS2/s1600/The+Track+is+Laid_01.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731548686504488386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGrfSo94-BW136qzxldXLCs2mUMlS_Nvk8v8rOf3uBiSvKqL0L98vCujdI7tyqJA8v1Bik6jeh_CCOqxh7GbEYhy0s_JAVnVLD3i6o7fvIULuuCJIGlX9KX0ad1JCB8Q6R9__PnFBRqeS2/s320/The+Track+is+Laid_01.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">The track is now laid. Looking along the newly laid track towards the northern side of the shed.</span><br /><br /></span>As soon as I had had lunch and a hot cup of coffee to settle my nerves, I pulled up the track that needed power supply wiring. Raymond soldered the required wires when he came back into The Shed and I then relaid all the track again. Now to test it.<br /><br />The honour of being the first locomotive to operate over the new track as far as the first turnout on the northern side of The Shed fell to D&RGW K-28 Class No.470. It ran perfectly. Raymond ran it backwards and forwards a couple of times while I took some photographs.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiczxviFBydN9dhiMV7qUQbhP2XJe7YHzNZkCVVYkg8IDwLa-DTdJ49WgPnTnRWdfhLToLrYvifSSM5KDdh0rF0K-BJ0x2veGnmGxOPeiUrWHlp9y_tpexH_uwzFH7XnNm6lRwEN1mZMUAb/s1600/K-28+No.470+crosses_01.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731547745363196978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiczxviFBydN9dhiMV7qUQbhP2XJe7YHzNZkCVVYkg8IDwLa-DTdJ49WgPnTnRWdfhLToLrYvifSSM5KDdh0rF0K-BJ0x2veGnmGxOPeiUrWHlp9y_tpexH_uwzFH7XnNm6lRwEN1mZMUAb/s320/K-28+No.470+crosses_01.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">D&RGW K-28 No.470 is the first loco to pass over the new track.</span><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcltPNmy66S17AroJYbaej51DAQ2i2TCJZ5Lyw0QRgOwtnurpJMYOvRc2O189TM3256vVAGpRaCg0ULsLSRmLjuIkFRUMkiGeltaFViwsPENyBxldDQslqI7QuzlCsd3znbHLzPNkJo32l/s1600/No.470+at+new+yard_01.JPG"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731548027233041650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcltPNmy66S17AroJYbaej51DAQ2i2TCJZ5Lyw0QRgOwtnurpJMYOvRc2O189TM3256vVAGpRaCg0ULsLSRmLjuIkFRUMkiGeltaFViwsPENyBxldDQslqI7QuzlCsd3znbHLzPNkJo32l/s320/No.470+at+new+yard_01.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> <span style="color:#ff0000;">No.470 at the current limit of track power just before entering the new yard layout.</span><br /><br /></span>Next, Raymond tested a Porter 0-4-2ST with some four-wheel work wagons behind. Again more photos. Raymond’s face had a broad grin – he was pleased and I was pleased too.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf7LBzT6lLxPlWWxTZsOWLnlYAjJU_ld_YtCJfoq-kB_Y1bY7sSmtliIG0WY3h4nPBU9_brppt2i215wplRr_5DQnlExsV3uOVldI6z8BMZ78A6d9-6xoQulLjNy2n6dRbGpNklDNm4dql/s1600/Porter+and+Work+Train_01.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731548224372960770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf7LBzT6lLxPlWWxTZsOWLnlYAjJU_ld_YtCJfoq-kB_Y1bY7sSmtliIG0WY3h4nPBU9_brppt2i215wplRr_5DQnlExsV3uOVldI6z8BMZ78A6d9-6xoQulLjNy2n6dRbGpNklDNm4dql/s320/Porter+and+Work+Train_01.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">A Porter 0-4-2T with a string of 4-wheel work wagons tests out the new track,</span><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmHhbVGVz2dycv9bzxV91teMJSEwtUkQ-3IhmblMmlTLNZ5wY1z7_40SZUQBN6xODWSFCH2QbPBRXf_aICaFN3q7IuWo-z3_-snt3JrwOv7syZCyy5iK4tFU_L0IZn3vTbT8_ZTe4cMm6F/s1600/Porter+and+Work+Train_02.JPG"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731548467576179714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmHhbVGVz2dycv9bzxV91teMJSEwtUkQ-3IhmblMmlTLNZ5wY1z7_40SZUQBN6xODWSFCH2QbPBRXf_aICaFN3q7IuWo-z3_-snt3JrwOv7syZCyy5iK4tFU_L0IZn3vTbT8_ZTe4cMm6F/s320/Porter+and+Work+Train_02.JPG" /></span></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">The Porter 0-4-2T stands at the end of the powered track. We have yet to run the Bus wires to continue the power further.</span><br /><br /></span>In between all of this over the past two days we have been putting out rubbish for the City Council’s Kerbside Clean-up which is due to be collected this week. The Pergola area is starting to look less cluttered.Curator49http://www.blogger.com/profile/00211301413681246937noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1461562716459760154.post-12468841468370903632012-04-10T19:49:00.005+10:002012-04-10T20:09:42.927+10:00Easter comes to an end.....This will be a fairly short post as we really only got about a half day of work completed.<br /><br />Most of the morning was wasted on a shopping trip. I was waiting at Bunnings at 9:00 am Monday morning as soon as they opened – me and about 100 other people. It took me until about 11:30 am to finish getting what I needed and get back home. Meanwhile, Raymond was beavering away laying the mining branch loop and a siding for a proposed loco shed for locos servicing this branch. These locos would not be the big K Class locos but smaller 2-8-0 and<br />2-6-0 locos.<br /><br />Raymond got most of the loop laid by the time I arrived home. I started installing the plywood so we could further extend the eastern end of the yard we were working on.<br /><br />We now started to come across a few technical issues. I had designed the track so a turnout coming off the main line passing loop at the eastern end would not be fouled by the L-girder below. However, when we moved this track that extra 3/4 inch it placed that turnout squarely above the L-girder. This causes Raymond all sorts of issues in trying to install the Cobalt motor. There was to be a second turnout to join up with the mining branch further eastwards of the first turnout. We just managed to have this second turnout clear of the L-Girder that was causing us some grief. But, I had another turnout to be installed on the mining branch to lead into the proposed loco depot. It turned out that this turnout would be over the L-girder. Raymond was adamant that this track arrangement should be scrapped. So, temporarily at least, we are looking at the loco shed becoming a dead-end accessed off the western end of the mining branch loop rather than as a passing loop as I had envisaged.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLDfwlYGo1kjDZ3UKtgKmHlokxDqF2uT1iFz-JkZh8B1ISM1Mae2j_1Y8bPGUNcSHvG_InWGmzkeu8Rbcr8YcjW0_zY78INmdHRyvayM86bAHoDFsW-emYtXu4TB1ZT9lG_96OKZfLZK5S/s1600/Yard_02.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729710180872730578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLDfwlYGo1kjDZ3UKtgKmHlokxDqF2uT1iFz-JkZh8B1ISM1Mae2j_1Y8bPGUNcSHvG_InWGmzkeu8Rbcr8YcjW0_zY78INmdHRyvayM86bAHoDFsW-emYtXu4TB1ZT9lG_96OKZfLZK5S/s320/Yard_02.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">The new yard from the eastern end. The mining branch loop is the track on the left, then the engine shed track (the crossover linking to this can be seen in the background). The turnout situated above the L-girder can be seen on this end of the main line loop and the main line is the right hand track.</span><br /><br /></span>We also had a very long discussion about some industrial sidings I had proposed at the eastern end of the yard. Originally I had thought we could have two dead-end sidings serving a smelter works (related to the mining branch). I now got an idea that we might also be able to include a siding to service the Dolores Conoco Oil Depot a laser-cut kit from Raggs to Riches that Raymond had bought some time ago. Again we found that O Scale ain’t small. This kit measurs 11 inches by 27 inches and much discussion was had about how we could locate it.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI1eZvk1V-cFLgUlRlI-sg02o4hATbsrwEmt-bYI_07eQEAGu2hVDiYrZmEVKky-LYuipOjmQ30Vn_pdBQzqIAVBEYW7TacGtBmG-hzZc1jGTZkjxzmpdIOnBoEm1n02XZUDTjpUdGV4ks/s1600/Yard_03.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729710380801190962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI1eZvk1V-cFLgUlRlI-sg02o4hATbsrwEmt-bYI_07eQEAGu2hVDiYrZmEVKky-LYuipOjmQ30Vn_pdBQzqIAVBEYW7TacGtBmG-hzZc1jGTZkjxzmpdIOnBoEm1n02XZUDTjpUdGV4ks/s320/Yard_03.JPG" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> <span style="color:#ff0000;">The new yard from the western end. The track in the foreground is a dead end siding that will service a warehouse building. There is a 20 mm gap between the two baseboards which will become a cess when the scenery is installed. The two tracks in the foreground will cross it on a timber culvert.</span><br /><br /></span>So we tossed around a lot of ideas and finally decided we needed to consider the situation more carefully during the coming week.<br /><br />Overall we made some good progress on the layout over Easter. It was not as much as we had hoped but still a few large steps in the right direction. The Tuesday Nighters will be meeting at our house next week so we will have something positive to show them.Curator49http://www.blogger.com/profile/00211301413681246937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1461562716459760154.post-50899194710601287002012-04-08T18:46:00.013+10:002012-04-08T19:15:18.550+10:00Positive Moves over Easter.....After last weekends’ disappointments we are starting to make some positive progress over this Easter Weekend and there is still one day to go.<br /><br />I bought a rather expensive ($19.95) tip for the soldering iron from Jaycar during the week. It is the right diameter and has a hollow centre but it is too long and the nut holding it into the soldering iron can’t reach the screw thread to lock it in place. Waste of money. Raymond managed to clean the old tip and re-tin it and it now works but it is still not perfect. He found a source for the tips in the UK but they will not post to Australia. We have friends living in the UK so could send some money over to them to buy the soldering tips for us and post them out. Easy!<br /><br />Friday morning we started laying some track. We started with the first turnout into the yard from the back end of the shed (western end of the shed). Raymond then laid the first section of flex-track and the second turnout. He then laid the flex-track for the main line and passing loop about half way along the yard towards the end of the first sheet of plywood we had laid. Raymond had spent some time in laying a nice, easy “S” curve into the main line station track.<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkoJ_jBVdSIKneuCM4lwNn7zcck9sCQIhJNphVb7MFpllamGqtEF2u2bKEkQx_vF2tPiZ-AEV2FxbS8yEnsvd34LooWtFrsWPelmdPtRdWZFxrvYMisBPSm0AAzR4-SzcfNdFpt5XJUz4D/s1600/Raymond+laying+track_01.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5728949561207739858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkoJ_jBVdSIKneuCM4lwNn7zcck9sCQIhJNphVb7MFpllamGqtEF2u2bKEkQx_vF2tPiZ-AEV2FxbS8yEnsvd34LooWtFrsWPelmdPtRdWZFxrvYMisBPSm0AAzR4-SzcfNdFpt5XJUz4D/s320/Raymond+laying+track_01.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Raymond laying the main line loop past the proposed station area. The turnout leading to the passing loop can be seen on the left. This is the turnout at the western end.</span><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHxy6dIcjf9adE3sKr23io0m2nOrMYNbzRmYrsF7ufDdruOLQY-IuqGr8VUCY2JyWw6wY8gNY-qixckrr6K1fY_lbUo8B8GC927qLQJN3NtvFkaziV4TSWGCLbtw_9HXO2V9FZkzvRZ_7Y/s1600/Raymond+laying+track_02.JPG"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5728949752701157010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHxy6dIcjf9adE3sKr23io0m2nOrMYNbzRmYrsF7ufDdruOLQY-IuqGr8VUCY2JyWw6wY8gNY-qixckrr6K1fY_lbUo8B8GC927qLQJN3NtvFkaziV4TSWGCLbtw_9HXO2V9FZkzvRZ_7Y/s320/Raymond+laying+track_02.JPG" /></span></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Raymond tapping in another track pin as he lays the main line loop.</span><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1nRqq4egJQCM-5ISEtrB-EjAeW9XxveddCY3vhr9PE3SgS_7qwMtZVO8sIjdJzTy3rAjpIrA80Vjq3XAwEzZxG-RDf2dfM9fnBJzDXAwT2yBmikJL958Kp_d1UQHtZ_P2cs6Ssp_8xJv/s1600/Main+Line+and+Loop_01.JPG"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5728950188086189474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1nRqq4egJQCM-5ISEtrB-EjAeW9XxveddCY3vhr9PE3SgS_7qwMtZVO8sIjdJzTy3rAjpIrA80Vjq3XAwEzZxG-RDf2dfM9fnBJzDXAwT2yBmikJL958Kp_d1UQHtZ_P2cs6Ssp_8xJv/s320/Main+Line+and+Loop_01.JPG" /></span></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">By late Friday afternoon Raymond had completed the first half of the main line and passing siding loops. He then placed his two D&RGW 0-4-0DM locos on the track.</span><br /><br /></span>Friday afternoon we spent in cutting to length some more 4” X 1” joists and installing them to support the second half of the station yard. We then selected the next piece of plywood and secured that in place. I then drew the track centre lines continuing the main line and passing loop to the turnouts at the eastern end of the yard. Raymond also “played around” placing his two AMS brass models of the D&RGW 0-4-0DM No.50 side by side on the main line and passing loop. Looking at these, my mind started to get a little “niggly”. There was something wrong.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbzpWSY9daJdrcnNHnqpY0NYQGHKHR1W9GCd7w-Rzblz1cJJ9r3GYdtlz4l6QZBeQrT688CKoiZqFmDDkDjJ1uDC-Dd1j3vfvG2uxz7zw7qI6lhNoAWb27d5YXOCdVV39jJmsZaxmdz5oU/s1600/Joists+installed+for+next+half_01.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5728950003002980738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbzpWSY9daJdrcnNHnqpY0NYQGHKHR1W9GCd7w-Rzblz1cJJ9r3GYdtlz4l6QZBeQrT688CKoiZqFmDDkDjJ1uDC-Dd1j3vfvG2uxz7zw7qI6lhNoAWb27d5YXOCdVV39jJmsZaxmdz5oU/s320/Joists+installed+for+next+half_01.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Joists installed ready for the plywood to be placed and track laying on the second half of the track extension.</span><br /><br /></span>Saturday morning we paid our usual visit to see my father and then over to Austral Modelcraft where I bought another three turnouts and Raymond bought a couple more Chooch loads for wagons to add to those he already has. After lunch Saturday, we started work again. Raymond finished the loop and had laid the first turnout at the eastern end of the yard. It was all coming together very well and we were following the plan. It was perfect. Too perfect!<br /><br />Raymond had left the two 0-4-0DM locos on the track and I looked at them again. I had “stewed” about this overnight and it was still worrying me – there was something that didn’t look right. I went back to the NMRA Standards sheet S-8 and yes it said for On3 and On30 track centres on straight track were 3 inches and that is what I had planned for and that it is what we had. I used the NMRA On30 Standards Gauge to check and yes we had the same for both tracks the gauge would meet exactly in the middle between the two tracks. That still doesn’t sound right. Raymond removed his two diesels and we placed a K-36 and K-37 2-8-2 side by side. They were close – Very close. In fact with one loco slightly lower in over all height the window shades over the cab windows were one above the other – THEY OVERLAPPED!! If you allowed for the inevitable side to side twisting motion of a long loco they would come into contact even more. Disaster – but I had designed and we had laid the track to the NMRA Standards – or had I?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4QGd83biRH7BJp10jRr4Vb4KM8ch_nuQkZ5ip-D6SdFe-dLICHPbgMnB_n4ZuAzVMN_xyCwvuS3iHcBhd8WWMnbf8XunztwE-iAVMqOLSZJtXBI-IDay22BqAQAzgC32EfN3CpNi5Mj7M/s1600/Too+close+for+comfort_01.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5728950592044711026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4QGd83biRH7BJp10jRr4Vb4KM8ch_nuQkZ5ip-D6SdFe-dLICHPbgMnB_n4ZuAzVMN_xyCwvuS3iHcBhd8WWMnbf8XunztwE-iAVMqOLSZJtXBI-IDay22BqAQAzgC32EfN3CpNi5Mj7M/s320/Too+close+for+comfort_01.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">This is what it looked like when the track centres were at 3 inches with a K-36 and a K-37 side by side.</span><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUr5dGtBUhmzgbjmsrmsrOf75u7vOF7Oz5gcUVi357Nu52sNAX9ADlNm3e3pkJuDswWFnJswMnPRvFLMn7CbIx16X-vliFyo52IvqPd-4VgPwdWG0l9HGNdq5E87H7eVn9G_mgJAu84P10/s1600/Too+close+for+comfort_02.JPG"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5728950803536245538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUr5dGtBUhmzgbjmsrmsrOf75u7vOF7Oz5gcUVi357Nu52sNAX9ADlNm3e3pkJuDswWFnJswMnPRvFLMn7CbIx16X-vliFyo52IvqPd-4VgPwdWG0l9HGNdq5E87H7eVn9G_mgJAu84P10/s320/Too+close+for+comfort_02.JPG" /></span></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Too close for comfort. </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span>Raymond sat down with me to have look over the NMRA Standards again. “What’s this little asterix here mean?” – says Raymond. There it was in the On3/On30 Column for straight track clearances – M*.<br /><br />I had looked up M* which said that M = 2 X A with the A coming from the NMRA Track Gauge. A = 1 ½ inches therefore 2 X A = 3 inches. So I was right with 3 inch track centres. Hang On!! There was some additional fine print at the end of the S-8 Standard that said if you are using K Class locomotives you need to use the appropriate Standard Gauge clearances column as they were such big locomotives. Now THAT column says the clearance should be 3 ¾ inches. It pays to read the fine print.<br /><br />Raymond was not too happy with me – I can tell you. Feeling somewhat chastened I timidly suggested he take up the turnout at the eastern end and the passing loop back to the curve into the loop at the western end and we relay the track at an extra ¾ inch width to make it 3 ¾ inches track centres. While he did this, I had to cut another 2 inch wide strip of plywood as the new location would have placed the track half off the edge of the current plywood board.<br /><br />Well, suffice to say by the end of Saturday afternoon we had secured the additional 2 inch wide strip of 12 mm plywood and relaid the track along the loop siding up to the first turnout at the eastern end of the yard. We will lay that turnout and the rest of the turnouts on Sunday.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgYm6lCRcPwzN3MvCjLYaIuLoM7gn-vi91A7TbXxah42TOAA8HFOsDonzuP7KbySogcwdeOE2d73WWKLkzjjGIIH_gyiX0q8TYcjZbhilOrVGkCBR8TAOoOhL-dB58t_G8i6WOTJ2PMIQg/s1600/Thats+better_01.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 265px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5728951098225774594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgYm6lCRcPwzN3MvCjLYaIuLoM7gn-vi91A7TbXxah42TOAA8HFOsDonzuP7KbySogcwdeOE2d73WWKLkzjjGIIH_gyiX0q8TYcjZbhilOrVGkCBR8TAOoOhL-dB58t_G8i6WOTJ2PMIQg/s320/Thats+better_01.JPG" /></a> <span style="color:#ff0000;">Its amazing what an extra 3/4 inch will do. The K-36 and K-37 on the section of track with the loop relaid to 3 3/4 inch track centres</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihSxa-4In6E8RshlSljZ03xc7KQJ0lxNqX4YxhM0lZg2gIf45qMHfE7gWOMGQc2Rpnk3LYHsqzZ4hHM6K4AcrDrl4kWJzsMGtNU4pCKq_MRpAqoYIophl2icskS5CdWn8tFvp1542_FP3E/s1600/Thats+better_02.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 194px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5728951316756383458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihSxa-4In6E8RshlSljZ03xc7KQJ0lxNqX4YxhM0lZg2gIf45qMHfE7gWOMGQc2Rpnk3LYHsqzZ4hHM6K4AcrDrl4kWJzsMGtNU4pCKq_MRpAqoYIophl2icskS5CdWn8tFvp1542_FP3E/s320/Thats+better_02.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;">I wish I had an extra 3/4 inch.<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikKnOBJS3DWpLd6zudeGGol_U3qhxlq-TKbZY82RDvM6FcfO2EujDJsXTouvEoHH_lRXZ7aiWwX8Prl4O2W59XCEWZeUL1g-0hjJ11oW6_1KEvk2zH79O_ci47XBpt5cHsEkuEKe7J3gO5/s1600/Station+loops+complete_01.JPG"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5728951571083464978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikKnOBJS3DWpLd6zudeGGol_U3qhxlq-TKbZY82RDvM6FcfO2EujDJsXTouvEoHH_lRXZ7aiWwX8Prl4O2W59XCEWZeUL1g-0hjJ11oW6_1KEvk2zH79O_ci47XBpt5cHsEkuEKe7J3gO5/s320/Station+loops+complete_01.JPG" /></span></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">The relaid passing loops have been completed and the pointwork for the eastern end of the yard is progressing.</span><br /><br /></span>Sunday started out fine. We finished laying the four turnouts for the main line and main line loop. I cut some more 12 mm thick ply 200 mm wide (by 2400 mm long) and installed it along the front edge of the baseboard framework. This will accommodate the mining branch loop.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU62gMLkcR939rCVUqRGTX_PUOkpoHa9Gqk6eOR2egm4n9NYLvo7vkWvDwbG2m-uGWj7Ng_QNRpjVWAnDR5XYqTtzosxuyi3BThLhJVWSTI0PxcxOauD5MbA28zZoOhL0DwnqX19tcArIc/s1600/Plywood+added+for+mineral+loop_01.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5728951818144713314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU62gMLkcR939rCVUqRGTX_PUOkpoHa9Gqk6eOR2egm4n9NYLvo7vkWvDwbG2m-uGWj7Ng_QNRpjVWAnDR5XYqTtzosxuyi3BThLhJVWSTI0PxcxOauD5MbA28zZoOhL0DwnqX19tcArIc/s320/Plywood+added+for+mineral+loop_01.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">The ply has been laid along the front of the baseboard framework has been secured and track centre lines marked out ready for Monday.</span></span><br />We had visitors for a few hours in the middle of the day so didn’t get a lot more done. Later in the afternoon, Raymond started installing the Cobalt DCC motors for the turnouts. He got two done fairly easily but the third started to cause him problems. Screw heads these days and screw driver tips are made of softer alloys than years gone by so they burr over easily. The motor we were trying to install lies directly over an L-Girder, I had designed the track layout so as to avoid these L-Girders, the joists and metal wall brackets. This turnout was on the track that we had moved out by ¾ inch and thus created the problem<br /><br />I will be going to Bunnings first up tomorrow to purchase more screws to mount the Cobalt motors (hopefully better quality than those supplied with the motors – Yeahhh right!!). I will also be purchasing a couple of smaller sheets of plywood (1200 X 600), a couple more Stanley long shank Phillips Head Screwdrivers (like the old song goes – the old grey mare she ain’t what she used to be – the old Stanley screw drivers they ain’t what they used to be) and will see what soldering tips they might have. Finally, I might have a look at an electric screw driver.<br /><br />Raymond was getting a bit frustrated (he talks to himself a lot when he is like that) so we called it a day. More tomorrow.<br /><br /></p>Curator49http://www.blogger.com/profile/00211301413681246937noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1461562716459760154.post-3822089310592798612012-04-01T18:30:00.012+10:002012-04-01T19:08:10.006+10:00Slowly - Very slowlyWell, after making some reasonable progress for a while things slowed down almost to a standstill again. We have made some progress (if you can call it that) over the past few weeks.<br /><br />This work has mainly concentrated on planning and replanning the trackwork for the second station. This is the junction for a desert valley mining branch.<br /><br />We have also drawn up the location of baseboards over the rest of the layout to evaluate how much baseboard space we have for track and how much aisle space. This has been redrawn numerous times and each time it is slightly different. Aisle space is very important to us for the operators, viewing areas for visitors and general accessibility. I am still coming to terms with the sheer size of O Scale clearances and the footprint of buildings. I always had a tendency in HO Scale to try to fit in as much track as possible but now I have to drastically reduce the number of sidings and crossing loops. I am finding I have to allow the room to separate the track centres to enable wide locomotives, such as the K-37 and K-36 2-8-2s to pass each other without touching cylinder blocks or the corners of cab roofs – especially on curves. Siding length is also critical with the K Class locos measuring 400 mm in length then you have to fit in the freight wagons or passenger vehicles PLUS the clearance required where the track rejoins other trackwork at turnouts so that the rolling stock does not foul the adjacent track. A K-36 or K-37 Class loco with ten Bachmann freight cars, and a caboose occupies a track space of 2880 mm. The Bachmann freight cars are not to proper scale and are reduced in size. Ten freight cars supplied by San Juan Car Company or AMS are closer to scale and will occupy (with a K-36/K-37) and caboose about 3380 mm, so you can see they take up lots of track space.<br /><br />Raymond has received some more overseas purchases. He received two more Mountain Model Import (MMI) diecast limited production locos on the 7 March. One was his second K-28 this time in D&RGW “Bumble Bee” colours No. 473 and the other his second K-27 that worked on the Rio Grande Southern Railroad No. 461. These came from EDM Models in the UK. I have an MMI K-27 coming from a second-hand E-Bay purchase that Raymond successfully bid for back in January when he missed out on a couple of others which were way overpriced. My K-27 is coming sea mail and the post office advises it will probably take about three months to get here. Other purchases that Raymond made from the same seller arrived within a few weeks but they were sent air freight as these parcels were much lighter than the 4 kg plus packaging for the<br />K-27.<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtc3AK782LjEq4Lj0yGLXlUYc2uZeyhyphenhyphen8BliTFI5SeqDftW8vOZ3aXSEQ0hwZOwlAw7uuRrojfN002hvp1cboWp1Xb1XPuOh5NJuBJV32Xe_g8r_-eeuTrs3JdOaLAQ3YcWemHlhXtHrq0/s1600/473_01.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 144px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726347834727393138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtc3AK782LjEq4Lj0yGLXlUYc2uZeyhyphenhyphen8BliTFI5SeqDftW8vOZ3aXSEQ0hwZOwlAw7uuRrojfN002hvp1cboWp1Xb1XPuOh5NJuBJV32Xe_g8r_-eeuTrs3JdOaLAQ3YcWemHlhXtHrq0/s320/473_01.JPG" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><span style="color:#ff0000;"><span style="font-size:85%;">D&RGW K-28 in "Bumblebee" livery a Limited Production model made by MMI.<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjZBF-fUJZ4udYbJT9SOcO4Xej_2wsufdjy7hGFjjw6wZFoUGRH5xiybQobMThe8I6QSi7s2ntFadWVI7tSv-weSFJW-bU6EEswr-PYaqrl5UypY3FMeXTP1obHXmPmMTgoQExW6yEn602/s1600/RGS+461_01.JPG"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 197px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726348747899174578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjZBF-fUJZ4udYbJT9SOcO4Xej_2wsufdjy7hGFjjw6wZFoUGRH5xiybQobMThe8I6QSi7s2ntFadWVI7tSv-weSFJW-bU6EEswr-PYaqrl5UypY3FMeXTP1obHXmPmMTgoQExW6yEn602/s320/RGS+461_01.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> Rio Grande Southern K-27 No.461 another MMI Limited Producttion model that Raymond bought through EDM Models.<br /><br /></span></span>Further purchases included an LGB 0-4-0 Steam Tram locomotive that Raymond bought from Austral Modelcraft for his (future) Garden Railway.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgo7v0cYEQLocolOfgV6KKq6SKFVhXaxbmuuFJZhrTu-sqVwbrXEmgMlvQXd-thsT5Df0g6BE_-ynlGLH3ahfNAWObkuzqX6MSgBArsjNUmPJ-RdzYmLK4ICLIQDMBBpkIcXFuToONrY5L/s1600/LGB+Steam+Tram_01.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726349456637399538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgo7v0cYEQLocolOfgV6KKq6SKFVhXaxbmuuFJZhrTu-sqVwbrXEmgMlvQXd-thsT5Df0g6BE_-ynlGLH3ahfNAWObkuzqX6MSgBArsjNUmPJ-RdzYmLK4ICLIQDMBBpkIcXFuToONrY5L/s320/LGB+Steam+Tram_01.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;">The LGB Steam Tram Motor that Raymond bought from Austral Modelcraft for his (future) Garden Railway.<br /><br /></span>The manufacturer of laser cut wood kits for O Scale – Raggs to Riches – is closing down his business. Raymond has previously purchased many of his railroad structures which are based on buildings seen on the Colorado narrow gauge. Raggs has quite a number of other buildings from towns along the Colorado narrow gauge that I like very much so I have started to purchase these with the aim of getting one a month. My first purchase was called the F D Work building which was a machinery and mining store located in Telluride on the Rio Grande Southern Railroad. It was one of the few buildings to have its own siding off the RGS other than into mines and smelters. This kit arrived on the 23 March.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivEr5Gq23UkhcZG7tPl0LpUBkgOudk1AwKsq16Z-4OPvGCTI3W1hBe3h2vUbLUzvsiLv7dcDfYMG4NOef52jECsjaBd-WhTQQ0wjjj75ciceU0Djw1ltXOvr-X97ggHgAOxxjJRsMLEdEr/s1600/F+D+Works_01.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726349101280645490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivEr5Gq23UkhcZG7tPl0LpUBkgOudk1AwKsq16Z-4OPvGCTI3W1hBe3h2vUbLUzvsiLv7dcDfYMG4NOef52jECsjaBd-WhTQQ0wjjj75ciceU0Djw1ltXOvr-X97ggHgAOxxjJRsMLEdEr/s320/F+D+Works_01.JPG" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;"> The F D Work Building, a Raggs to Riches kit.<br /><br /></span>Raymond received another parcel this past week on the 26 March. Some months ago he had placed an order with Ixion Models for their newest model a Manning Wardle 0-4-0ST in O Scale (standard gauge). It is a brass loco painted in unlined black and looks very nice. Several of these worked in New South Wales as contractors’ locos used during construction of the New South Wales Railways. One became No.1021 of the NSWGR and was named “Cardiff.”<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOX71mEtByexN5Hzi7QJVD7_chAmiWpqKQHsrQn0LSupuSmH1oKBh7w4AOLWAVliQ-50Ll-EarnJ4Owt96JkbYTH8LJRrNbRCLDbgfIYGrIzoW76cqeVKGc7P9-kUmQdAmsuImtscjgu6P/s1600/Manning+Wardle_02.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726349817506759954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOX71mEtByexN5Hzi7QJVD7_chAmiWpqKQHsrQn0LSupuSmH1oKBh7w4AOLWAVliQ-50Ll-EarnJ4Owt96JkbYTH8LJRrNbRCLDbgfIYGrIzoW76cqeVKGc7P9-kUmQdAmsuImtscjgu6P/s320/Manning+Wardle_02.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Raymond's O Scale (7 mm to the foot) Standard Gauge Manning Wardle 0-4-0ST by Ixion Models.</span><br /></span>On Saturday, 31 March I bought 11 Peco Electrofrog turnouts for the track extension. Yes – things are finally moving forward again on the Silkwood Depot layout. On Saturday afternoon we installed a number of joists following the plan I had drawn out full size on the paper that Darren had supplied. Darren’s idea has proved to be a fantastic help as I was able to locate where the joists should go so as to not interfere with the installation of the Cobalt point motors, a problem we had with the first station yard we had built. The planning also allowed me to ensure no pointwork (and therefore point motors) were located directly over the L-Girders, another problem we had during the first stage.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8AJ8a7_Fhuf6b5lbw7veWqNofgjg1xAhbMpTeVY3bpObnRnvxlagMbAGa3qZ4DBZ2yXPY2ekm7bVJo52dzAEJEi4KWoHifBwUDcOghrDUPYjwPDcsx_YN1BgWO1pD7WH8g_OJoQFUcFQp/s1600/Planning_01.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726350183449769362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8AJ8a7_Fhuf6b5lbw7veWqNofgjg1xAhbMpTeVY3bpObnRnvxlagMbAGa3qZ4DBZ2yXPY2ekm7bVJo52dzAEJEi4KWoHifBwUDcOghrDUPYjwPDcsx_YN1BgWO1pD7WH8g_OJoQFUcFQp/s320/Planning_01.JPG" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;"> Planning the first half of the next section of the layout which will be along the wall on the right.<br /><br /></span>Sunday, April Fools Day, we measured and cut out the first piece of 12 mm plywood for the yard on the track extension. We were then able to use the full-size paper plan to transpose the track plan onto the plywood. Easy. We finessed the location of one of the track centres to give us an extra 12 mm from the backdrop and located the first two turnouts as well as the first half of the main line and parallel passing loop through the station.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwkQGKxyuuEXjD6q9thCrVlXaPojetD3CcW69RXzpTypfNJ4cs4sLRM-tnnH7ioj3TSp4oLlnaXqXqb-zEl9K2ci7_zZOvEGIvyIe1yT7Pj-DYd5clQKUTC3RTwITTyEcjpnfyrFGdtlTJ/s1600/Layout_02.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726351159481789730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwkQGKxyuuEXjD6q9thCrVlXaPojetD3CcW69RXzpTypfNJ4cs4sLRM-tnnH7ioj3TSp4oLlnaXqXqb-zEl9K2ci7_zZOvEGIvyIe1yT7Pj-DYd5clQKUTC3RTwITTyEcjpnfyrFGdtlTJ/s320/Layout_02.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;">The first half of the next layout section under construction on Sunday 1st April. Just so you know it is not an April Fools' Day joke. Hey Craig.<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh50HVRXPzJxtAHWZarXe8MOlKM98SP4JmO4lryHF1RENRncFDUkSaLNbkuPRC3BBc6D7ox2bsMjfE2gJUT3eQ9lbT0kqLu38mP7fDAl-S72c6LqxM06FeIVDb9Sgu7MVPGCstiQTb83Zkp/s1600/Layout_03.JPG"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726351402801621298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh50HVRXPzJxtAHWZarXe8MOlKM98SP4JmO4lryHF1RENRncFDUkSaLNbkuPRC3BBc6D7ox2bsMjfE2gJUT3eQ9lbT0kqLu38mP7fDAl-S72c6LqxM06FeIVDb9Sgu7MVPGCstiQTb83Zkp/s320/Layout_03.JPG" /></span></a> <span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;">The planning of the second half of the next stage is completed ready for installation of the joists and plywood.<br /></span>Raymond prepared to solder the wires to the first Peco turnout he had modified and struck a serious problem. The soldering tip was “stuffed” and just would not melt the solder at the tip although it would melt a little further away from the tip.<br /><br />So, we have come to a halt again but we have big plans to complete this yard next weekend, the four day Easter break. I will visit Jaycar during the week to see if I can pick up some tips to fit Raymond’s Dick Smith soldering iron. It was disappointing to finish the weekend this way when it looked like we would be able to start laying sometrack, but “them’s the breaks”.<br /><br />I was talking to Craig on the phone this afternoon and he must have stood there like a “stunned mullet” when I told him we were laying track as the phone went silent for a minute or so. It was a major shock to his system.<br /><br />Recently in this blog, I posted some images of items Raymond had purchased from Canada through E-Bay. One of these was a Climax in many pieces following problems in packing and delivery. Raymond has managed to successfully repair this loco in the past month.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWt2c9infw2MPRfQu3Vm93USC2wtCYF00BpHk8sUOrmT7OmTQNXrlGxWpK_4JO8MnFWnhFhFwYFIGQo_gk1fASMUk2kGY58WqMiSNTtktWWPvZJcl63BCerhdHceJChUCFvVNT2lwVBuPr/s1600/Climax_01.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 229px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726351782658443586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWt2c9infw2MPRfQu3Vm93USC2wtCYF00BpHk8sUOrmT7OmTQNXrlGxWpK_4JO8MnFWnhFhFwYFIGQo_gk1fASMUk2kGY58WqMiSNTtktWWPvZJcl63BCerhdHceJChUCFvVNT2lwVBuPr/s320/Climax_01.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">The Climax following repairs carried out by Raymond. There was a photos of this loco in pieces in an earlier post on this blog after problems in the post.</span><br /><br /></span>It is Tuesday Nighters this Tuesday, this time at Barry’s house just a short distance from our own home, so we are ready for some friendly ribbing from the guys.<br /></p>Curator49http://www.blogger.com/profile/00211301413681246937noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1461562716459760154.post-16532639454010984662012-02-19T16:15:00.010+10:002012-02-19T16:39:41.562+10:00A Small Amount of Progress - And Still More Stuff.....Raymond received a home delivery early in the week commencing the 13 February. This took the form of several large cartons from Gauge One Gallery in Sydney. One carton contained a Bachmann Large Scale (read – Garden Railway) model of “James the Red Engine” of Thomas the Tank Engine fame. There were also three 6-wheel coaches for “Emily” a Stirling Single loco introduced a few years ago as a new character in the Thomas stories. It is unlikely however, that Bachmann will produce a model of “Emily”. Raymond already has two other Bachmann Large Scale models of Thomas with Annie and Clarabelle as well as Percy and two of the Troublesome Trucks.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-febUv4ZEqdsEhC9FEqgkvTADoMgn4b6L-qHuV4_z7dFH7zMAqsOPwO1Nw_uXSrYZiDkWLUYARJ1F1aae0BW-2jRs_fQ6Bmf2gBsJTjItnfqT7lGYkkITrO6DZZ1u5U2CJcMHWWMh-D7q/s1600/James_01.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 216px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710727461553268514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-febUv4ZEqdsEhC9FEqgkvTADoMgn4b6L-qHuV4_z7dFH7zMAqsOPwO1Nw_uXSrYZiDkWLUYARJ1F1aae0BW-2jRs_fQ6Bmf2gBsJTjItnfqT7lGYkkITrO6DZZ1u5U2CJcMHWWMh-D7q/s320/James_01.JPG" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> <span style="color:#ff0000;">James the Red Engine. Raymond has started collecting Bachmann's Large Scale Thomas Series because of his nephew Troy who will soon be two. Raymond and I are trying to bring Troy up in the correct way. There is the Right Way, the Wrong Way and the <strong>Rail Way</strong> - much to Troy's fathers disgust.</span><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIT4VTZW5YL54kg0Nhs2bR2F818WMBzws2HHjbkM1uJcDDkRAcTF_A3odmMu4VuMGP7gi9u03o_VIyoezmWFGXBFTQckrwaW6gEJ4elWL3XQUuzPnyMoV_mCogWi-Ux26QitzXQU_KnXxH/s1600/Emily+Van_01.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710727637070259954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIT4VTZW5YL54kg0Nhs2bR2F818WMBzws2HHjbkM1uJcDDkRAcTF_A3odmMu4VuMGP7gi9u03o_VIyoezmWFGXBFTQckrwaW6gEJ4elWL3XQUuzPnyMoV_mCogWi-Ux26QitzXQU_KnXxH/s320/Emily+Van_01.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">This is the 6-wheel Van for "Emily". The only difference from this vehicle and the two coaches is that the van has the white windows at one end. Raymond has one van and two coaches.</span><br /><br /></span>The other carton contained a Bachmann Garden Railway model of “Lyn” a Southern (British) Railway narrow gauge 2-4-2T from the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ZQR2epcIiB89gl43Qebz5km4rSbMeOWGV1F0VyimQxLSgqy3FbBS7syu3RVHnWJiaP5zjaSXuMYSUCGBJCk7OL5gS-B2BzRSTRHJNfv903zHBMPameaRqKEsG_Vzxrfll4q_5-fvWbRZ/s1600/Lyn_01.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710727798706701554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ZQR2epcIiB89gl43Qebz5km4rSbMeOWGV1F0VyimQxLSgqy3FbBS7syu3RVHnWJiaP5zjaSXuMYSUCGBJCk7OL5gS-B2BzRSTRHJNfv903zHBMPameaRqKEsG_Vzxrfll4q_5-fvWbRZ/s320/Lyn_01.JPG" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> <span style="color:#ff0000;">"Lyn" is a 2-4-2T that worked on Southern Railway's narrow gauge Lynton & Barnstaple Railway.</span><br /><br /></span>Both Raymond and I came down with some kind of virus during the week so there was no work done on the layout.<br /><br />Saturday, 18 February we went to Zillmere to the AMRA Garden Railway Group. Raymond had two Garden Railway steam locos that needed certification on the boilers. The first was Raymond’s Michigan-California Lumber Company’s 2-cylinder Shay No.2 from Accucraft in 1:20.3 Scale. The second was the Accucraft Baldwin<br />WD 4-6-0T built for the British Army in 16 mm Scale (running on 32 mm gauge track).<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCaCAuqpu0LeIYXSNZ2HTZmCpbYOsPT8AwMhAQF2xuw66wfVRI12_coCMwnY_ildrWB4rUw8ip5te2cNZlE3c5ymkdnkOa937ozBKajZfyRemmiPQ5s05MnkxdBsCZsqTKzBPJzr5GqL_3/s1600/Raymond+with+his+WD+Baldwin.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710728169450463922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCaCAuqpu0LeIYXSNZ2HTZmCpbYOsPT8AwMhAQF2xuw66wfVRI12_coCMwnY_ildrWB4rUw8ip5te2cNZlE3c5ymkdnkOa937ozBKajZfyRemmiPQ5s05MnkxdBsCZsqTKzBPJzr5GqL_3/s320/Raymond+with+his+WD+Baldwin.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Having passed its boiler pressure test, Raymond prepares his WD Baldwin 4-6-0T for its steam test.</span><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu9CQjrKWwrdZIHtq2jRV0MA9TIEoQs-XnD3XCj8cbY0ZSR5lM9ihc0dpPN3XBQb7bZ03eK6nywOEhQlPdSR-EH1XoOa8lgzrLoBXzEYwPvTxggksIPA1htPgGszG9xAp5wi5fZwzguH7s/s1600/WD+Baldwin_01.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 218px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710728352815208210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu9CQjrKWwrdZIHtq2jRV0MA9TIEoQs-XnD3XCj8cbY0ZSR5lM9ihc0dpPN3XBQb7bZ03eK6nywOEhQlPdSR-EH1XoOa8lgzrLoBXzEYwPvTxggksIPA1htPgGszG9xAp5wi5fZwzguH7s/s320/WD+Baldwin_01.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">The Baldwin British WD 4-6-0T stands on the 32 mm gauge track ready for its first test run.</span><br /><br /></span>Both passed their tests okay. Raymond had some fun testing his locos while I just watched the trains.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAlVp1Hom6z2POo1ib_srhhWtTn9qEy0Vfne0iCtRYmGMTOGYsARkxSZHdjYoy7ESoTucgsmTaRSRdhwy4CxklFjKbnsuTfPwmGc9dpQ9A7Pa7qXkycQ4cgFAeS26Zh-li3p2iOMQSzITL/s1600/C19+No340_01.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710728713127110866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAlVp1Hom6z2POo1ib_srhhWtTn9qEy0Vfne0iCtRYmGMTOGYsARkxSZHdjYoy7ESoTucgsmTaRSRdhwy4CxklFjKbnsuTfPwmGc9dpQ9A7Pa7qXkycQ4cgFAeS26Zh-li3p2iOMQSzITL/s320/C19+No340_01.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Our friend Jason, owns this beautiful Rio Grande C-19 2-8-0 made by Accucraft. It is radio-controlled.</span><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXG9O13OUvl_aIMKl6kMnbN1tQI_G_V_WluwDnMYOCJbGYUen3EVgXuRbJ6-dYjtDJxSYLTsyplQ81QqwRogNUoYX-WEzAN2p_bmz_O8uL2i1UbCwqfSX4nNmt_9CsPXLnhfu0FYvZTT_4/s1600/No10+Innisfail+Tramway_01.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710728918274137810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXG9O13OUvl_aIMKl6kMnbN1tQI_G_V_WluwDnMYOCJbGYUen3EVgXuRbJ6-dYjtDJxSYLTsyplQ81QqwRogNUoYX-WEzAN2p_bmz_O8uL2i1UbCwqfSX4nNmt_9CsPXLnhfu0FYvZTT_4/s320/No10+Innisfail+Tramway_01.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Raymond purchased a Roundhouse live steam John Fowler 0-6-2 ex Innisfail Tramway B9 1/2 Class from Paul Blake some time ago. Now Paul has made another one for himself this time from scratch. The Queensland Government Railways owned three of these 2 ft gauge tender locomotives. Both Raymond's and Paul's locos are radio controlled.</span><br /><br /></span>Sunday, 19th I went to Bunnings and bought a couple of 900 X1200 mm MDF sheets 3 mm thick. I wanted these to start mapping out the trackwork on the new section of the layout using pencil, paper and the Peco pointwork photocopies as per Darren’s instructions. This is starting to work well but silly me, I only bought two sheets of MDF when I should have purchased four. At present, I can only do the left hand end of the yard. I am on leave for the rest of this week as the builder is starting work on the bathroom rebuild so I will go back to Bunnings on Monday and pick up a couple more sheets.<br /><br />It is Tuesday nighters this week, so I need to be able to say “We have made some progress”.Curator49http://www.blogger.com/profile/00211301413681246937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1461562716459760154.post-91426670666170719872012-02-12T15:30:00.014+10:002012-02-12T15:57:25.171+10:00Still More Stuff - And Some ProgressI think Raymond must have been bitten by some kind of bug. I wonder if there is a cure?<br /><br />Today, Monday, I picked up two big cartons from the Post Office. The postal clerk just grinned at me as he handed them over. He handed over the first then said “Hang on, I have another”. I had to make too trips. These were more purchases by Raymond one from a manufacturer and the other an E-Bay purchase.<br /><br />The first was from Accucraft in the UK. It is a 16 mm Scale live steam War Department Baldwin 4-6-0T. This is a 2ft gauge model, of one of 495 built by Baldwin in the United States for use by the British Army in France during World War 1. It is an absolutely beautiful model running on 32 mm Gauge (O Gauge) track. The locomotive is gas-fired. It would be fantastic if Accucraft produced a WD Hunslet<br />4-6-0T. Raymond already has several Slaters WD D Class bogie wagon kits in 16 mm Scale to run with this loco. He will absolutely have to get stuck in building his Garden Railway.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRo2Wukz-Gw6cW3ZQ6uopJkv2aIPC-WN9qGIJaJ4BIanjUa01mOJMtxeLppNkSvqtRKvAV-qs3M4zmA2NhVVYgk5kKgf-h2Y0h9XNmPqKZxjBu0LYWF5RFswiHq0hKuz7rffCuyb-nHf6E/s1600/DPP_0063.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708117755044204610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRo2Wukz-Gw6cW3ZQ6uopJkv2aIPC-WN9qGIJaJ4BIanjUa01mOJMtxeLppNkSvqtRKvAV-qs3M4zmA2NhVVYgk5kKgf-h2Y0h9XNmPqKZxjBu0LYWF5RFswiHq0hKuz7rffCuyb-nHf6E/s320/DPP_0063.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Accucraft Baldwin WD 4-6-0T. This is a butane gas fired live steam built to 16 mm Scale and runs on 32 mm gauge track.</span><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9SUke0-io92vL4oJ6rhulzOYM52lt2D8b170Fm67Jola_RrTLdq3MbbAga1CmIqM1YILTXR3140WvGD4kJ7jDQoGQUxBSHqncNXRMfDrjD1cL811L1c_6eAcIYzdT0YVcwZTBQmCmYwV_/s1600/DPP_0064.JPG"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708117908116069234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9SUke0-io92vL4oJ6rhulzOYM52lt2D8b170Fm67Jola_RrTLdq3MbbAga1CmIqM1YILTXR3140WvGD4kJ7jDQoGQUxBSHqncNXRMfDrjD1cL811L1c_6eAcIYzdT0YVcwZTBQmCmYwV_/s320/DPP_0064.JPG" /></span></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Another view of Raymond's latest Garden Railway acquisition. The British War Dept. 4-6-0T built by Baldwin in the United States.</span><br /><br /></span>The other carton contained several custom built/rebuilt locomotives. One is a Bachmann Porter 0-4-2T so heavily rebuilt and weathered you would not recognise it. It is fitted with a DCC sound chip. The second locomotive is a Backwoods Miniatures Davenport diesel. Again it has a DCC chip and is heavily weathered. It did not travel well as the exhaust pipe had broken off but is repairable.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh8IXVo3Pa91EBMXm3bFp0FLBl-OGiED29By3HTP_2bmafK8KiozIqvg9XUUODzViHMzZ_PCCkzYK1DGNKk2XyGKYJ-8JpDjBzww69hi61XKHcdwP2HTn12RmqxmwA0lNqLjJatzjudoe2/s1600/Porter+0-4-2T.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708118176410503554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh8IXVo3Pa91EBMXm3bFp0FLBl-OGiED29By3HTP_2bmafK8KiozIqvg9XUUODzViHMzZ_PCCkzYK1DGNKk2XyGKYJ-8JpDjBzww69hi61XKHcdwP2HTn12RmqxmwA0lNqLjJatzjudoe2/s320/Porter+0-4-2T.JPG" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> <span style="color:#ff0000;">The rebuilt Bachmann Porter 0-4-2T Raymond bought on E-Bay.</span><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpIgbymYzsNaCKcDjKyDKmYfK5mCA2X2dj34wJa-ZzHS8UWhc-O9EGmKaGvuI3V0jW_a0lryWYLLLukswePu6Z0lOgrVlORDlaaQ8GM_hzDB-unbiVbKf59QymE7GLxws4BTI5MqU1EqK-/s1600/Davenport_01.JPG"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 238px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708118356040042338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpIgbymYzsNaCKcDjKyDKmYfK5mCA2X2dj34wJa-ZzHS8UWhc-O9EGmKaGvuI3V0jW_a0lryWYLLLukswePu6Z0lOgrVlORDlaaQ8GM_hzDB-unbiVbKf59QymE7GLxws4BTI5MqU1EqK-/s320/Davenport_01.JPG" /></span></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">A Bachmann Davenport 0-4-0DM with a Backwoods Miniatures body. The weathering and additional details are superb.</span><br /><br /></span>The final loco is a custom rebuilt and weathered Bachmann Climax. Unfortunately, when it was packed there was major damage done to the locomotive. The worst being one of the bogies was ripped out of its mounting bolster. Raymond has yet to assess whether it is repairable. The owner/seller should not have tried to fit (sorry “force”) it into the pre-formed Bachmann plastic box. Rather, he should have gingerly wrapped it in bubble wrap and then used Styrofoam “peanuts” (actually they are a real curse to dispose of) to fill up the Bachmann cardboard carton.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA5tiCr8bwDAoiN3LbadnyCTvrjdC90foVjYygcwQuA5qY8poEdtg40Jz9XK24xtyb5LuDKAJVIP27f9fHtWJ51uP6QFlZITpLAMGEIKLzopfLiuvaI2fM_X-tdxLsbAwWlacuB_YuH_Ks/s1600/Damaged+Climax_01.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 156px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708118548938484722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA5tiCr8bwDAoiN3LbadnyCTvrjdC90foVjYygcwQuA5qY8poEdtg40Jz9XK24xtyb5LuDKAJVIP27f9fHtWJ51uP6QFlZITpLAMGEIKLzopfLiuvaI2fM_X-tdxLsbAwWlacuB_YuH_Ks/s320/Damaged+Climax_01.JPG" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> <span style="color:#ff0000;">The customised Bachmann Climax as it appeared when received. Raymond has started repairing this and it now runs very well. It is another E-Bay purchase.</span><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv237XLxAufvldFDpZ_nhJ8iH19NbjSfYpT6K3K2UFA8vOLTFceJAkwswzEbsx8XJmgcroUb75W8g-BBXcgBL4RsdngYw9unMmSlnl0_GqevCMZuRPJLmLPG-Mr2Ca65xS2JQNX_Slatll/s1600/Coil+of+Rope+Wagon.JPG"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 237px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708118854752523922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv237XLxAufvldFDpZ_nhJ8iH19NbjSfYpT6K3K2UFA8vOLTFceJAkwswzEbsx8XJmgcroUb75W8g-BBXcgBL4RsdngYw9unMmSlnl0_GqevCMZuRPJLmLPG-Mr2Ca65xS2JQNX_Slatll/s320/Coil+of+Rope+Wagon.JPG" /></span></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">One of six MoW wooden 4-wheel work wagons bought on E-Bay.</span><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Itsit77D5ZsHd2daCLmFtkqHuo6WY6reIHmM8EiAqYcLe3PFIm39fgHKM_z9_AjQctPLMLMz-NdlLdGtWvGrgYDDcedvEflzoKEr_24Yx6hcK0uZWHaSfB0cSB6FWt8BHrEJ8_hmZFFE/s1600/Silver+Canister+Wagon.JPG"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 203px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708119070437153762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Itsit77D5ZsHd2daCLmFtkqHuo6WY6reIHmM8EiAqYcLe3PFIm39fgHKM_z9_AjQctPLMLMz-NdlLdGtWvGrgYDDcedvEflzoKEr_24Yx6hcK0uZWHaSfB0cSB6FWt8BHrEJ8_hmZFFE/s320/Silver+Canister+Wagon.JPG" /></span></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Another MoW flat car</span><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbhxKHUxc1xXj_xuGtadhshasKEHJc9IaUSfV-t9prHl3sYaf8cWOY7oIG1aMH6K0VuTD1yCHgRlHiQO1_16VRQIrEvpfh4qz9TLL0AerlFLCdH-dJw-x2-zk-ESvuyqSMs301TrMRp7NW/s1600/Water+Cask+Wagon_02.JPG"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 221px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708119298768416770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbhxKHUxc1xXj_xuGtadhshasKEHJc9IaUSfV-t9prHl3sYaf8cWOY7oIG1aMH6K0VuTD1yCHgRlHiQO1_16VRQIrEvpfh4qz9TLL0AerlFLCdH-dJw-x2-zk-ESvuyqSMs301TrMRp7NW/s320/Water+Cask+Wagon_02.JPG" /></span></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">And a third. Notice the vice on the front corner. One of the many fine details on these customised models.</span><br /><br /></span>Raymond missed out on an E-bay auction again. This time it was an MMI K-28. He put in a maximum bid of $600 which I would have considered very fair for a second-hand loco considering there seems to be a few up for sale around E-bay and other dealers. But no, just before the auction closed his bid was gazumped by a ridiculous margin. I am convinced that some people have no idea on the true value of an item or think they are going to command a higher price if they want to resell it.<br /><br />It was Tuesday Nighters week this week. Craig came around to pick me up as Raymond was working and couldn’t go. PK and Barry were also in the car. We had a great evening down at Bob’s place as we haven’t been there for quiet a while. He had made some additions to his layout since our last visit.<br /><br />I spent a couple of evenings during the week making a scale drawing of the new station and yard along the right hand wall. I want to get this right so when I install the joists I don’t locate them where a Cobalt point motor will need to be positioned. We had enough problems with this on the left hand side of the shed.<br />Saturday morning, Raymond inspected the custom Climax he had received earlier in the week to see if it could be fixed. He partly disassembled it and managed to re-fit the bogie. Reassembled, it ran pretty well. There are still a number of detail items to be refitted, but overall he is happy with this E-Bay purchase.<br /><br />I spent the morning shopping for bathroom fittings with SWMBO. An expensive morning!<br /><br />Raymond test ran his Backwoods Miniatures Bachmann “dress-up” Davenport which ran well. Next he tried the Bachmann 0-4-2T that had been heavily modified. It too ran well. He tested it with a train using the six MoW 4-wheel wagons he had received. They looked good together.<br /><br />I spent Saturday afternoon redrawing the yard on the right hand side and discussing with Raymond what our outcomes should be.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZsX4x-Dn2d3lrNmyjIBIxCftW5hYs8_7dadjM6uKB-3tHpGl-muLqP8seClu5EC8xm5ET5HJ0ULIQ4bRlQyYImMYLUiwoWdhGePCj2RoP9zsqERy7Nh1PTip9SeaqSDrGbe3e6GtNxhj/s1600/Plan_RH+Wall.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 143px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708119661606476146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZsX4x-Dn2d3lrNmyjIBIxCftW5hYs8_7dadjM6uKB-3tHpGl-muLqP8seClu5EC8xm5ET5HJ0ULIQ4bRlQyYImMYLUiwoWdhGePCj2RoP9zsqERy7Nh1PTip9SeaqSDrGbe3e6GtNxhj/s320/Plan_RH+Wall.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">The track plan as modified, thanks to Craig. The right hand end has not yet been finalised.</span><br /><br /></span><br />Sunday afternoon, I installed another joist along the back wall and the plywood for the track. The first section was the short piece still required to bring the track up to the start of the 5 foot long bridge. Then I installed the plywood base for the track along the back wall on the right hand side and the curve around to the right hand wall.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5OA2yxMU6JGXTNqdMoO9Gww6rRdQuYlTi5ua0zVYmISvc2x9ZsjhmYRlLNn7sxgWSiUJrq2Lr26f_L0wVtusIAqb-Dx7p0yriDAxjwW7kEonrMDVuKoI13tDSIJhBZG5VaWDwUG99DVO4/s1600/End+of+Track_LH+Side.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708120085309350562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5OA2yxMU6JGXTNqdMoO9Gww6rRdQuYlTi5ua0zVYmISvc2x9ZsjhmYRlLNn7sxgWSiUJrq2Lr26f_L0wVtusIAqb-Dx7p0yriDAxjwW7kEonrMDVuKoI13tDSIJhBZG5VaWDwUG99DVO4/s320/End+of+Track_LH+Side.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">The main line on the left hand side of the rear wall can now be brought up to the proposed big bridge.</span><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSpfhDqRXjeNu0teZLtrZn0vwlXXRM8jhwfBgHoJuz7q7jUiO-ghZOlRFHEHO9gR4VXt2_rhVfdL9dqhaQg3VLOPTFSKTqtJhJYtJ452ZD5VkUi0GAVb4uHmq7IkZzmOHNyudv_U_Q26i3/s1600/Back+Wall_RH+Side.JPG"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708120305334888066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSpfhDqRXjeNu0teZLtrZn0vwlXXRM8jhwfBgHoJuz7q7jUiO-ghZOlRFHEHO9gR4VXt2_rhVfdL9dqhaQg3VLOPTFSKTqtJhJYtJ452ZD5VkUi0GAVb4uHmq7IkZzmOHNyudv_U_Q26i3/s320/Back+Wall_RH+Side.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> <span style="color:#ff0000;">Ready for track laying on the right hand side of the rear wall starting from the end of the big bridge.</span><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggTofSv-KjWQQ3HuSxR-undY-Wtofh-iv9DopljsdXX4c4-nXb93tmiYeT_7d9LJvDv4lk5Sw3a-TDHCjikn0WHkiS36soxmBLZV06riaCk9xpu5RR_8bNnL68ueFzLJPurSx8c6tVoBIi/s1600/Curve+to+RH+Wall.JPG"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708120478062640674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggTofSv-KjWQQ3HuSxR-undY-Wtofh-iv9DopljsdXX4c4-nXb93tmiYeT_7d9LJvDv4lk5Sw3a-TDHCjikn0WHkiS36soxmBLZV06riaCk9xpu5RR_8bNnL68ueFzLJPurSx8c6tVoBIi/s320/Curve+to+RH+Wall.JPG" /></span></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">The curve around from the rear wall to the station along the right hand wall is now ready for some track laying.</span><br /><br /></span>I will now look at using the large sheets of paper and the Peco pointwork photocopies that Darren had given us, to lay out the trackwork full size according to the “scale” plan I have drawn. This should allow us to locate the joists we need to install so as not to interfere with any point motors. It will also allow us to work out where we need to install the plywood.<br /><br />Looking forward to more progress next week.Curator49http://www.blogger.com/profile/00211301413681246937noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1461562716459760154.post-32173313800793737322012-02-05T16:51:00.006+10:002012-02-05T17:06:05.081+10:00We're on a Roll - A Little More Progress.....We must be on a roll because things are still moving in a forward direction.<br /><br />Monday 30 January saw Raymond receive a parcel from Canada with more of his E-Bay purchases. This time he got an AMS Denver & Rio Grande 0-4-0DM No.50. Raymond already has one of these but he was stymied when trying to fit a DCC sound chip and speaker. This one is fitted with a DCC chip and works well on the layout when he test ran it, EXCEPT, the gearbox hangs low and hits the track nails AND the rail through the points. Some work required there. He also got, in the same auction a Grandt Line Gramps frameless tank car and a brass Denver & Rio Grande long caboose by Pacific Fast Mail.<br /><br />Tuesday, 31 January, yet another parcel arrives from Canada. Another E-Bay purchase, this time there are three San Juan Car Co D&RGW High-Sided Gondolas and two San Juan Car Co D&RGW box cars. I also got my January/February issue of the Narrow Gauge & Shortline Gazette.<br /><br />The Weird Geezer (Craig) rang to ask if I had ordered the plywood yet and if not could I order a sheet for him too? So, Tuesday afternoon, I ordered four sheets (one for Mr Weird Geezer) 2400 X 1200 X 12 mm ply CD Grade from Mr Ply at Underwood. The cost was $34 per sheet plus $25 delivery – a bargain. I told the rep want I wanted it for so he gave me a “good deal”. That major hardwarehouse mob charges something like $85 for delivery alone.<br /><br />Wednesday, no more parcels for Raymond but I got my copy of Narrow Gauge & Industrial Railway Modelling Review from the UK. This is the English equivalent of the Narrow Gauge & Shortline Gazette (USA) and Narrow Gauge Downunder (Australia). These are all fantastic magazines and thoroughly recommended. They have some great modelling tips even if you are not a narrow gauge modeller. The plywood was delivered mid-afternoon Wednesday.<br /><br />I had the day off Thursday as the concreting contractor who had quoted on job for me last Friday arrived to dig the area out and box it up. The concrete will be poured Friday. This concrete work is to provide a two foot wide walkway around three sides of the shed. I thought I would help and pulled a few small clumps of grass from along the back of the shed. The contractor came along shortly after to discover a Brown snake rearing up at them. How I didn’t see it and how it didn’t get me is a small miracle. They are very aggressive and very venomous.<br /><br />Because of all the recent rain the contractor could not get any concrete delivered until 7:30 am Saturday morning. The concrete pumper truck arrived at 7:00 and the concrete pour was finished by about 8:30 am.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwnUcKOCzSUKZMxEYOlOmhCn3ShHluIfOP2UlL8T2C0xKO3zhFymqNzkLFwsXQlNZmLuGdafCHicJ3_ruVMhbsceIMsa50q_LJ3ZSwOcZBtoy3PDEq17yHt4r2G2KxQLV-PcwDfIf6stXC/s1600/Left+Hand+Side_01.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705541738870474226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwnUcKOCzSUKZMxEYOlOmhCn3ShHluIfOP2UlL8T2C0xKO3zhFymqNzkLFwsXQlNZmLuGdafCHicJ3_ruVMhbsceIMsa50q_LJ3ZSwOcZBtoy3PDEq17yHt4r2G2KxQLV-PcwDfIf6stXC/s320/Left+Hand+Side_01.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">The new concrete path along the left-hand side of The Shed. Raymond's future Garden Railway will take up the grasses area (and save me some mowing) </span><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQiv7JEU5GsSW_Fk7KM79cwqiYa8fm9-mb6BzL2FgNRjILcRg3NZxqnPFoTZQH5I9N2j6IwqamvDrj7kINWv245pKuT7cEr_Zxra5b1XmxSmYSq3djJbJjbSodySQwyB7l636ndbrqKx21/s1600/Rear_01.JPG"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705541959121531186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQiv7JEU5GsSW_Fk7KM79cwqiYa8fm9-mb6BzL2FgNRjILcRg3NZxqnPFoTZQH5I9N2j6IwqamvDrj7kINWv245pKuT7cEr_Zxra5b1XmxSmYSq3djJbJjbSodySQwyB7l636ndbrqKx21/s320/Rear_01.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> <span style="color:#ff0000;">The concrete path across the bag of The Shed. The air-con unit will sit on the concrete near the power point half way along.</span><br /><br /></span>Craig came over Saturday afternoon with his jig-saw and cut up his 2400 X 1200 mm sheet of ply and then started cutting out some 90 degree curves for me. We went into The Shed and Craig gave us a few pointers telling use where we were going wrong..<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitXQT7MaS5j5p127ldVIaYXuoybyHFbUpf9Srfr5BQxMPnRgW2ATaZ-8rF5kTQOqxaHRpP7HSvWhH61WIXn6oEbcH_4mtwYARKaAwos4frUO1xd-Vp8vY_HRXlSH1TdzxXZE-ulIj8XmG5/s1600/Craig+and+his+Jigsaw.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705542243151319906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitXQT7MaS5j5p127ldVIaYXuoybyHFbUpf9Srfr5BQxMPnRgW2ATaZ-8rF5kTQOqxaHRpP7HSvWhH61WIXn6oEbcH_4mtwYARKaAwos4frUO1xd-Vp8vY_HRXlSH1TdzxXZE-ulIj8XmG5/s320/Craig+and+his+Jigsaw.JPG" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> <span style="color:#ff0000;">Craig (The Weird Geezer) weaves his magic with his jig-saw as he cuts up his sheet of ply.</span><br /><br /></span>We discussed a number of other issues and he was most helpful.<br /><br />Following some divine guidance from Craig I spent Saturday evening totally redesigning where the track would go along the right-hand wall and relocating the curve around from the back wall. I drew this up to scale and it seemed to offer some better possibilities both as a “fit to space” and operationally.<br /><br />When Raymond finally “surfaced” Sunday morning we had a discussion around this new concept plan. We both agreed it would suit our purpose and seemed better than the original concept.<br /><br />Sunday afternoon was spent with SWMBO going to Bunnings to look at bathroom furniture and fittings for the rebuild of the upstairs bathroom. We didn't really find anything but I bought some strong herbicide to kill lantana growing into our property from the railway land along our back fence instead. This lack of progress then also necessitated a visit to Ikea as SWMBO wanted to go there too. While SWMBO didn’t see anything she wanted I bought a cork board to help in making some of my laser kits. So, all in all, a reasonably successful afternoon.<br /><br />I will spend some time in the evenings this coming week finessing the track plan along the right-hand wall. Oh! And it is Tueday Nighters this week. We are going to Bob's place. I haven't been there for a while so I hope my GPS Unit (Raymond) can give me the directions I will need.Curator49http://www.blogger.com/profile/00211301413681246937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1461562716459760154.post-59743398878171589982012-01-30T18:05:00.014+10:002012-01-30T18:39:27.744+10:00Finally - Some Positive New Year Activity.....Australia Day 26 January was the first day in 2012 where we began to make some significant progress on the layout. We made some short L-Girder sections to extend the upper deck on the left hand side of The Shed by about 400 mm. We had decided to do this so as to better enable the main line to curve around to start the journey across the back of the shed. The main line curve as currently constructed seemed to be too close to the shed wall.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitFR4cRzY0nY4RT9MseZYJWAlvXoVDXoeEXCM5TxqT2USxsn3j4JL0FHhJp76OEGjzUlYzVNLhnRW5KUr0aHJv3Qf4q7-9AIOI5EFsUSwMYd77tfIcG_XaFdFhJVEiLMFmTxfeI5sEIvwQ/s1600/Back+Wall_LH+Side+Before_01.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703335164125006498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitFR4cRzY0nY4RT9MseZYJWAlvXoVDXoeEXCM5TxqT2USxsn3j4JL0FHhJp76OEGjzUlYzVNLhnRW5KUr0aHJv3Qf4q7-9AIOI5EFsUSwMYd77tfIcG_XaFdFhJVEiLMFmTxfeI5sEIvwQ/s320/Back+Wall_LH+Side+Before_01.JPG" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> <span style="color:#ff0000;">The end of track on the baseboard on the left-hand side of the back wall. 26/01/2012</span><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7b_IOco-PXQsLnCp52Sm0l8DdhwDPL43xWvLO94ffDRwowurEr6YNXwmSL7Uwe279vHi6VsSaOJCKO4k2Wamgr21cPjDs1grNgBZUSO8v049ftyncxCvFR6P4oLeSd7vyNAFNGViojNvh/s1600/Back+Wall_LH+Side+Before_03.JPG"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703335355179670194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7b_IOco-PXQsLnCp52Sm0l8DdhwDPL43xWvLO94ffDRwowurEr6YNXwmSL7Uwe279vHi6VsSaOJCKO4k2Wamgr21cPjDs1grNgBZUSO8v049ftyncxCvFR6P4oLeSd7vyNAFNGViojNvh/s320/Back+Wall_LH+Side+Before_03.JPG" /></span></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">The end of track on the left-hand side of the back wall. You can see how close it is to the black metal bracket but there is still ample clearance, however, we want to get the track furter away from the wall. 26/01/2012</span><br /><br /></span>We cut the one joist required for this section and after installing the two L-Girders we screwed this joist in place. We used metal plates to join these new L-Girders with those originally installed.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMh_4dY0aqWtZl1K5zBEw73kTJPpen-4xK3S3rb21XtSuW_gtsRvc-JCKA0WSSWOaNelRj7RXQzEzOhCFsMYS914a1JihzvVvRtwKaEXIzK7g0rmG3ZDmJwOjXrcsqs8NakAxnWHpV9qS7/s1600/Back+Wall_LH+Side+After_01.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703335963063428466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMh_4dY0aqWtZl1K5zBEw73kTJPpen-4xK3S3rb21XtSuW_gtsRvc-JCKA0WSSWOaNelRj7RXQzEzOhCFsMYS914a1JihzvVvRtwKaEXIzK7g0rmG3ZDmJwOjXrcsqs8NakAxnWHpV9qS7/s320/Back+Wall_LH+Side+After_01.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">The short L-Girder extensions have been fitted and the sole joist needed has also been fixed in place. You can see one of the metal joining plates on the L-Girder nearest the camera. 26/01/2012</span><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFLWJntyhuv3r7yhxjDATlnvz7RQp7QYaEszZ9sP_xfbyLkt717ECfRHpsXyDzPfzkbrX3ymEwrujUaGyUOXPPMZ8vRVc1r6hUPErpDKt6Xgy5r1kEDvPxb4Kq8203hgYCSBIRXUIFHIpy/s1600/Back+Wall_LH+Side+After_02.JPG"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703338027708530482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFLWJntyhuv3r7yhxjDATlnvz7RQp7QYaEszZ9sP_xfbyLkt717ECfRHpsXyDzPfzkbrX3ymEwrujUaGyUOXPPMZ8vRVc1r6hUPErpDKt6Xgy5r1kEDvPxb4Kq8203hgYCSBIRXUIFHIpy/s320/Back+Wall_LH+Side+After_02.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> <span style="color:#ff0000;">Looking towards the current end of track. A high timber trestle bridge will link this section to the baseboard on the right-hand side. 26/01/2012</span><br /><br /></span>We have learnt from a couple of previous bad experiences to firstly drill pilot holes and then, from more bad experiences, decided to drill out to countersink the screw head. I need to see if I can buy some cup head style short screws when we are fitting the metal joining plates as the countersunk style screws will obviously not screw in flush to the metal plate.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ad6os68FvI4hJMPzNKRSyw05Gmo-0Or6QQEpAdT8UvLaBLMoWQjKKu2RFGr2BU4JU638-dVE4teDJj02EJuuXNf4Wu-uDB6e9Q9wVkDrUzFkvCZLN7L19WIM6YMEqBYbbAoykdEvl4DU/s1600/Back+Wall_RH+Side+Before_01.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703336176282094514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ad6os68FvI4hJMPzNKRSyw05Gmo-0Or6QQEpAdT8UvLaBLMoWQjKKu2RFGr2BU4JU638-dVE4teDJj02EJuuXNf4Wu-uDB6e9Q9wVkDrUzFkvCZLN7L19WIM6YMEqBYbbAoykdEvl4DU/s320/Back+Wall_RH+Side+Before_01.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">The L-Girders along the back wall on the right-hand side before installation of the joists. 26/01/2012</span><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLuoRf9sL2UkEMkt1QIUskxmJJE2dqJ1fG9KgSlQMLsy9nNsMFwIZX20c8-Atm4nIu0YZMdv14wgRXpIb4YJoBx7ZZhZTMIqLocZNSPfZFr58ojDLprXsDva7VxvywK06_vHHIWrSIbzOf/s1600/Back+Wall_RH+Side+Before_02.JPG"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703336433322236882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLuoRf9sL2UkEMkt1QIUskxmJJE2dqJ1fG9KgSlQMLsy9nNsMFwIZX20c8-Atm4nIu0YZMdv14wgRXpIb4YJoBx7ZZhZTMIqLocZNSPfZFr58ojDLprXsDva7VxvywK06_vHHIWrSIbzOf/s320/Back+Wall_RH+Side+Before_02.JPG" /></span></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">The baseboard framework on the right-hand side of the back wall. We wanted to keep the basebaord about 300 mm wide at the left-hand end to allow access to the future air-conditioner unit which will be mounted high on the wall above this section. 26/01/2012</span><br /><br /></span>For the back wall on the left-hand side we cut one of each 350 mm; 400 mm; 450 mm and the last 500 mm long so we had a gradually widening baseboard width. We wanted to keep the baseboard at the centre of the shed just over 300 mm wide to allow access to the future air conditioner.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuxYpGzec-4PaLT-dOxRw57y13mnNgotC6-o5kCtv8kKxexDiQKrXh2eeJBskQ43mRaKrARSaiQNTY9cxgE3R5Swz7NjZ1DWjhZmYsLYV9q5OZyjfavxqXisd7WDxX1PWwfgybZeFnGOXa/s1600/Back+Wall_RH+Side+After_01.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703336895228275394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuxYpGzec-4PaLT-dOxRw57y13mnNgotC6-o5kCtv8kKxexDiQKrXh2eeJBskQ43mRaKrARSaiQNTY9cxgE3R5Swz7NjZ1DWjhZmYsLYV9q5OZyjfavxqXisd7WDxX1PWwfgybZeFnGOXa/s320/Back+Wall_RH+Side+After_01.JPG" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> <span style="color:#ff0000;">Joists fitted along the back wall on the right-hand side. 27/01/2012</span><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmx7RCBQ6tq0QP3g7NpZjq-xfMBXoAzPbk80lGowVdZ07Chg93Kbrx4wPHDPZSMODsPn9lhsxp_tNvq0Ge55YKK8QKmfXZ8618bPHXV_XbxI6FRbELPr3Kqk5uTgd8bo782ZXvPYAzp9sq/s1600/Back+Wall_RH+Side+After_02.JPG"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703337073651386866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmx7RCBQ6tq0QP3g7NpZjq-xfMBXoAzPbk80lGowVdZ07Chg93Kbrx4wPHDPZSMODsPn9lhsxp_tNvq0Ge55YKK8QKmfXZ8618bPHXV_XbxI6FRbELPr3Kqk5uTgd8bo782ZXvPYAzp9sq/s320/Back+Wall_RH+Side+After_02.JPG" /></span></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Back wall on the right-hand side with the joists fitted. 27/01/2012</span><br /><br /></span>We now cut four joists 760 mm long and a further two 700 mm long from our supply of 90 X 20 mm pine, as a starter for the joists along the right-hand wall.<br /><br />On Friday I went down at Bunnings, Browns Plains at 6.30 am when they open for the tradies. I needed to purchase some drill bits and a few other odds and ends. We didn’t get much done in the morning as I had to go out again to do some other shopping and a concrete tradesman came to look at giving me a price to lay a concrete footpath around the shed.<br /><br />Friday afternoon, Raymond and I started installing the joists along the back wall. We fitted all but the one nearest the centre of the shed on the right-hand rear wall of the shed. We left the 300 mm one off pending the installation of the air-conditioner.<br /><br />We then installed the joists in the back right-hand corner of the shed and the first couple moving up along the right-hand wall. At this stage we decided not to go any further pending determining the location of the points and therefore the point motors at the next station. This will be a junction station with a branch leading to a mining district.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg53L2xC5Gq88wlDKE03qQtNGzwhGruwXRRkoEnrBul7rqsHjajOcFDTUwxhCagrMV2WKoCUT-ElWLm6dvf6IMd1uyh5mtmymkir7KGdl1RwfQQuzsWPK9Cq2dzZ6kv7nKcCKSe0GE-7Vs/s1600/RH+Side+After_01.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703337283569727682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg53L2xC5Gq88wlDKE03qQtNGzwhGruwXRRkoEnrBul7rqsHjajOcFDTUwxhCagrMV2WKoCUT-ElWLm6dvf6IMd1uyh5mtmymkir7KGdl1RwfQQuzsWPK9Cq2dzZ6kv7nKcCKSe0GE-7Vs/s320/RH+Side+After_01.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">The first few joists mounted on the baseboard framework along the right-hand wall. This section is 22 feet long before coming to a baseboard (not yet built) at right angles to the wall. 27/01/2012</span><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn0GFfzdtaOPrsaHVw82rtteH8pdPPzrYzcMgfq91CiVN6Od0hfbR3GEbGBCNmEs43MekCK4QKOZxfCIUSx5znk6VsIOl1umrLjn1OXj912i7fsE-fifwtA5ogSBCx-iHAt4fZqfeCoEKr/s1600/RH+Side+After_02.JPG"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703337602098391634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn0GFfzdtaOPrsaHVw82rtteH8pdPPzrYzcMgfq91CiVN6Od0hfbR3GEbGBCNmEs43MekCK4QKOZxfCIUSx5znk6VsIOl1umrLjn1OXj912i7fsE-fifwtA5ogSBCx-iHAt4fZqfeCoEKr/s320/RH+Side+After_02.JPG" /></span></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Joists in the corner of the right-hand wall. 27/01/2012</span><br /><br /></span>Saturday morning we were off to see my father at Greenslopes and then a visit to Austral Modelcraft. I window shopped as usual while Raymond bought a couple of items. We had to hurry home as I had a builder coming later in the morning to give a quote on the upstairs bathroom. We needed to get this stalled project moving again as SWMBO was getting toey about the time it was taking. Six months so far with tradesmen letting us down by not turning up.<br /><br />On Saturday afternoon we gate-crashed an operating session at Cassino. Craig had plenty of operators who were trying hard following a prototypical operating session. It looked like lots of fun. We took over one of Raymond’s NCE radio controllers to use. Raymond tested it before we left home as it had not been working properly. He opened the battery compartment to find that the batteries were leaking. This was a potential disaster for a sensitive piece of electronic gear. The batteries were expensive Duracell with a Use By of March 2017 – they should have been fine. So it goes to show you need to be careful, very careful. Fortunately Raymond was able to clean up the battery liquid which seemed to be confined to the battery compartment. I will be putting in a complaint to Duracell. Darren suggested he removed batteries from all his equipment if it is not going to be used for a while. Sounds like very sound advice. Raymond and I enjoyed a beer while listening to the conversations of the train controller (Craig) as he tried to keep all his operating staff under control.<br /><br />Darren had brought along some large sheets of paper for us to use when laying out the track and baseboard on our layout.<br /><br />Sunday has come and gone. I went to Bunnings to get a length of timber moulding to make a new trammel to lay out curves on the plywood we are using for a baseboard. When we came to try laying out some 36 inch radius curves we found we did not have any ply that would be useful for making such a curve as it was all too narrow. We decided that I should order some new ply from Mr Ply during this coming week.<br /><br />I then spent the rest of the day doing a bit of work on the Penydarren kit.<br /><br />This long week-end started out with a lot of progress but fizzled out by Saturday. However, I am certain we have regained our momentum to do some meaningful work on the layout. I should be able to order three sheets of 12 mm ply and have it delivered this week.<br /><br />Now to have two blog posts in the space of a couple of days is something amazing in itself.Curator49http://www.blogger.com/profile/00211301413681246937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1461562716459760154.post-51287943653893812372012-01-27T04:20:00.015+10:002012-01-27T04:51:12.715+10:00A Slow Start to the New Year.....I purchased another laser cut kit late in 2011 from Banta Modelworks. This is a model of Oilton Saloon which existed in Ophir a town on the Colorado narrow gauge. You can see it's footprint, as with all O Scale structures is impressive.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiijk1yzh8NpmkDPllgaGc6Wukn7x3YGOGitP_4i8YXH4mNkyeuxad1daZb5z-Yah9_KoHqocp4vgtQOuXZEWPDEVcug-53N5XyEYHEGDa7iL3Xa4vsA23qVrV3bwTwYjPSaSKSxzOhFqSG/s1600/Oilton+Club+Saloon_01.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 265px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702009378499256578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiijk1yzh8NpmkDPllgaGc6Wukn7x3YGOGitP_4i8YXH4mNkyeuxad1daZb5z-Yah9_KoHqocp4vgtQOuXZEWPDEVcug-53N5XyEYHEGDa7iL3Xa4vsA23qVrV3bwTwYjPSaSKSxzOhFqSG/s320/Oilton+Club+Saloon_01.JPG" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> <span style="color:#ff0000;">Banta Modelworks Oilton Saloon.</span><br /><br /></span>Monday, 2 January, Craig invited Raymond and myself to go to Hobby One with him. It is not often we get such an invitation from the “Weird Geezer” so we quickly accepted. Craig was after styrene and other bits and pieces, Raymond bought a few items while I bought a simple “educational” locomotive kit of the Penydarren, the first high-pressure steam locomotive ever built. The locomotive was designed and built by Richard Trevithick in 1804. Trevithick is perhaps the most overlooked early railway pioneer. He was a prolific inventor. The kit is pre-coloured and meant to go together as is but I will paint it first and try to make it a more suitable display model.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS38H4vyjgaOMG-UdBOZwm0pgD8nJM-BygBbdrqO4MTh6NGnJxn7NlDDBvutO9Qh3Fpgfc25CSAsDQrHtI9juDsg6wxqEPXdESITf6gdNmw53knAedT9DmnT3-jw_k6EP5xWFEJyL9EktV/s1600/Penydarren_01.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 215px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702009059306813138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS38H4vyjgaOMG-UdBOZwm0pgD8nJM-BygBbdrqO4MTh6NGnJxn7NlDDBvutO9Qh3Fpgfc25CSAsDQrHtI9juDsg6wxqEPXdESITf6gdNmw53knAedT9DmnT3-jw_k6EP5xWFEJyL9EktV/s320/Penydarren_01.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">The <em>Penydarren </em>locomotive kit is simple but still an interesting locomotive.</span><br /><br /></span>Our electrician came over on Saturday morning 7 January to prepare a quote on installing a higher capacity power supply cable from the street power box to our house. He took some photos and measurements and I discussed with him a number of other jobs around the house. I sent him an e-mail the following Tuesday listing the tasks we had discussed. He will then e-mail me a quote for the work involved.<br /><br />It has been a quiet weekend as far as work inside the shed goes. I did some hand brush painting of the tender of the Penydarren kit but it really needs to be spray painted so I will have to visit Hobby One again to get some Tamiya black spray paint.<br /><br />I had to mow the yard and trim around the shed, particularly around the back. Boy, the grass grows quickly at this time of year. I can see the tall grass causing some serious problems with the outdoor compressor unit for the air-conditioner. To over come this, I have decided to have a 2 ft wide concrete path put down along the left-hand side of the shed and across the back before we have the air-conditioner installed.<br /><br />I spent Sunday afternoon cleaning up the barbecue area just outside the shed. It had become quite messy with a small desk from my study, The Beast (the bench saw we bought specially to cut some timber for the shed, and, at this stage, unlikely to be used again), an outdoor table and bench seat, two sawhorses and an old wooden tool cabinet as well as some twenty or so cartons of bathroom tiles for a refurbishment of our upstairs bathroom all taking up space. It is now cleaner and has opened up the space giving us some room to move when we have to saw any timber for the layout.<br /><br />After placing an order with Sierra West in the United States way back early in November my two kits arrived on Monday 9 January. They are quite substantial craftsman kits and will be a challenge to build. Raymond just laughed when he looked at the kits and then looked at me shaking his head. He couldn’t help himself. I don’t think that he has any faith in me to build them. One is a Logging & Tractor Repair Shed and the other a Mill Engine & Boilerhouse.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdH6AYCHqJ7wvi3nH0fUH7k0bs04groBaoYnziahGa3yUDRhmNWMt0qN_k7xrByDqJfKfGiwEHLqC2NqwKFXeOQaa1QuYqzUyyDCZTF9OMslCaQ-w00BvfjSADcojODdAaZT0xD_YeANJJ/s1600/Mill+Engine+%2526+Boiler+House_01.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 218px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702009739020858226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdH6AYCHqJ7wvi3nH0fUH7k0bs04groBaoYnziahGa3yUDRhmNWMt0qN_k7xrByDqJfKfGiwEHLqC2NqwKFXeOQaa1QuYqzUyyDCZTF9OMslCaQ-w00BvfjSADcojODdAaZT0xD_YeANJJ/s320/Mill+Engine+%2526+Boiler+House_01.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPrUB1PiBo_yafCl1_WEQnC9ygqaGFV1SKEq-vUmSBPTPWW5KVX7D_IvqMjtRNBdGRAz4bILqI4aPXAUM0YAt5u2yqui7qQJqb6a_naoiS3WTq4DTDfvSd8EtE6HGSxMdYYHNNoZvHBtpx/s1600/Logging+%2526+Tractor+Repair+Shed_01.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 206px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702010135188487730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPrUB1PiBo_yafCl1_WEQnC9ygqaGFV1SKEq-vUmSBPTPWW5KVX7D_IvqMjtRNBdGRAz4bILqI4aPXAUM0YAt5u2yqui7qQJqb6a_naoiS3WTq4DTDfvSd8EtE6HGSxMdYYHNNoZvHBtpx/s320/Logging+%2526+Tractor+Repair+Shed_01.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Sierra West Scale Models Mill Engine & Boilerhouse and the Logging & Tractor Repair Shed craftsman kits</span><br /><br /></span>Raymond got another kit from Backwoods Miniatures (through their E-Bay Store) on the same day. This was a Log Loader mounted on rails on a flatcar. He also got another five flatcars with rails.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8Z9gmF0JZBbDcPzjMws1iw_cZ1xU_umCf7zB_XfJBRpOomK1ercUbtMtLwJ6EFoN52YHnpcambmvJKOZh1nn2ks045MgL_e2Z4PLqu8SVCredoQ37KpAxJYGfHmrEjr_l3aizHnpkWn7/s1600/Log+Loader_01.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 230px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702010427395089682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8Z9gmF0JZBbDcPzjMws1iw_cZ1xU_umCf7zB_XfJBRpOomK1ercUbtMtLwJ6EFoN52YHnpcambmvJKOZh1nn2ks045MgL_e2Z4PLqu8SVCredoQ37KpAxJYGfHmrEjr_l3aizHnpkWn7/s320/Log+Loader_01.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Backwoods Miniatures Log Loader</span><br /><br /></span>More items arrived from overseas on Friday 13 January. Raymond had purchased some more items from Backwoods Miniatures on their E-Bay sale site. The two items were a Snowplough and an 0-4-0VBT locomotive. This latter model looks very interesting.<br />The bench saw which I had bought during the construction of The Shed and only used once had become a liability. Raymond and I discussed whether we really needed it or would use it again. We decided to dispose of it and so it was sold to one of Raymond’s co-workers at CITEC. The new owner collected it promptly so we have ended up with a bit more working space in the pergola area.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCBewkD6Pv0e9HvXiM_UsZpiAHQBXI87eBlymmgjxEihoaWncHtNEUHSPzBaoVaB_MzEuP-f0YPSgML9pG1wBkgs7D587XMsKM_A2LKQAk2s9HAUHAFDnEgrlfWJcuRPEmVmVF0T0-qnSm/s1600/0-4-0VBT_01.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 250px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702010987716834290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCBewkD6Pv0e9HvXiM_UsZpiAHQBXI87eBlymmgjxEihoaWncHtNEUHSPzBaoVaB_MzEuP-f0YPSgML9pG1wBkgs7D587XMsKM_A2LKQAk2s9HAUHAFDnEgrlfWJcuRPEmVmVF0T0-qnSm/s320/0-4-0VBT_01.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb4KlfmK6CivDSNpA8UumxAZtWggSkPG1tcxigj4tNctpm3a9FR3s6MEwGHqlwwxIfQQYypnnGMtu3g4PsvKQHCFd6J9gXcV0uwa2Z8YQtxUcY9dkrw-nbXYWzPkqzGACIL1B8PCskI3tG/s1600/Snow+Plough_01.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 173px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702011314103100706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb4KlfmK6CivDSNpA8UumxAZtWggSkPG1tcxigj4tNctpm3a9FR3s6MEwGHqlwwxIfQQYypnnGMtu3g4PsvKQHCFd6J9gXcV0uwa2Z8YQtxUcY9dkrw-nbXYWzPkqzGACIL1B8PCskI3tG/s320/Snow+Plough_01.JPG" /></a> <span style="color:#ff0000;">Backwoods Miniatures 0-4-0VBT and Snow Plow kits</span><br /><br />We celebrated my birthday on Sunday 15 January (a couple of days early) with lunch at the Alexandra Hills Hotel with family members. Raymond was kind again. This time he gave me a Bachmann Porter 0-4-0ST with DCC and sound. That makes a total of 13 Porters, seven of which are mine. Currently only four are fitted with DCC chips and sound. I am thinking of having a bash at a non-DCC Porter to alter its looks and at the same time to fit a DCC Decoder. This will not be easy as each batch of Porters that Bachmann produced had different wiring as well as there being differences in how they were put together. RailRoad Line Forum, an on-line fraternity of modellers from around the world but mainly based in the US, does have some tutorials on this.<br /><br />On Wednesday 18 January Raymond got yet another parcel from overseas, this time from EDM Models, York in the UK. Raymond has bought stuff from them before. This time there were five San Juan Car Co. tank cars together with a Bachmann log skidder.<br /><br />Raymond has been taking an interest in E-Bay of late and has bid on a number of items. He missed out on two MMI diecast locos – a K-27 and a K-36 – when his computer lost contact with the internet just before the auction closed. He also tried for an MMI C-19. Raymond was the top bidder for some days but just 10 seconds before the auction closed someone bid $1000 more than double the original purchase value. Even the seller was surprised at that one. Raymond had got to know the seller as he was the one selling the K-27 and K-36 while Raymond has successfully bid on other items he is selling.<br /><br />The electrician’s quote arrived Tuesday night 24 January. I was most pleased and sent him an e-mail in return accepting not only his quote for the upgrade to the house power but also the additional electrical work around the house including additional power points in a number of places and the relocation of others.<br /><br />The first E-Bay item that Raymond was successful in buying arrived Wednesday 25 January from Canada. It is a Wrightlines whitemetal kit for a Bagnall 0-4-0ST complete with an electric motor and gearbox.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9DiGFlI3raPXp6492TIuQWj5GCAmP2o5f0N5hE7J1vm0yH3Hn1hCW7LKdsb7GU6zmNbqxhmZf3KdizJkJri88dN4CKmuh061aUtiIBCT1eE4_QZAFzKRFvTySp_yHrJzVscDo1687k1c1/s1600/Bagnall+0-4-0ST.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 272px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702011941695505282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9DiGFlI3raPXp6492TIuQWj5GCAmP2o5f0N5hE7J1vm0yH3Hn1hCW7LKdsb7GU6zmNbqxhmZf3KdizJkJri88dN4CKmuh061aUtiIBCT1eE4_QZAFzKRFvTySp_yHrJzVscDo1687k1c1/s320/Bagnall+0-4-0ST.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Raymond's first succesful purchase on an E-Bay auction a Wrightlines Bagnall 0-4-0ST</span><br /></span>Thursday 26 January is Australia Day and therefore a Public Holiday. Raymond and I have both taken the Friday off as part of leave owing so we have a four day weekend. We have made plans to progress the layout construction during this time. We shall see.Curator49http://www.blogger.com/profile/00211301413681246937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1461562716459760154.post-33968762763822665212012-01-04T16:24:00.010+10:002012-01-04T18:50:17.752+10:00Some Work Over Christmas/New YearThe Tuesday Nighters came over on Tuesday 13 December for our usual convivial get-together. It was with some trepidation that I welcomed them to The Shed and I was right there were a few barbs about the progress (or at least the lack thereof) on the layout.<br /><br />After some discussion as to where Raymond and I were going next with the layout, the Supreme Leader of the Tuesday Nighters (alias Craig) assisted by Darren and I think, Geoff (I was a bit bedazzled at the time) decided to help the slow progress along by doing a bit themselves. I had pointed out a corner section of the first station yard saying I was going to fill in a triangular section at the end of a couple of carriage sidings and extend one of the sidings so we could fit more cars on the siding. Next thing I know the trio had measured the timber requirements, sawn off a piece of ply to the required dimensions, fixed it in place and laid a short piece of track to the desired length. All this was completed before I could say “When will we do it?”<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnyNLXcF64f_vauUnGbU-15Wb6NUEcxVbaelZyXKHqoNKazyVDQ7agZt_KmUSVXjuJgirFkmLoFHnWfj_6m5F-Y9SMGi3kgaAiFcSrHcsa8AY8_HLn3_R78eCnHoW3XLrF1K62u94QY2hm/s1600/DPP_0067.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 206px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693694754484661314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnyNLXcF64f_vauUnGbU-15Wb6NUEcxVbaelZyXKHqoNKazyVDQ7agZt_KmUSVXjuJgirFkmLoFHnWfj_6m5F-Y9SMGi3kgaAiFcSrHcsa8AY8_HLn3_R78eCnHoW3XLrF1K62u94QY2hm/s320/DPP_0067.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">The small triangular baseboard section and siding extension can be seen under the yellow car and adjacent green car, built by Craig, Darren & Staff during a meeting of the Tuesday Nighters on the 13 December. Thanks Guys. You can also see some trim along the front edge of the baseboard which I installed later.</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><br />We have still not had the air-conditioner installed as there is some other work that I think should be done first. Early in December, I started making enquiries about getting a 2 ft wide concrete path down the outside of the left-hand side of the shed and across the back of the shed. The section across the back of the shed, in particular will be essential before the outside inverter is installed for the air-conditioner. The grass grows as a thick jungle behind the shed quite quickly and would soon suffocate the inverter unit so a concreted area will be important. Since it was getting close to Christmas I did not have any luck finding a contractor but will try again early in the New Year.<br /><br />Early in December, I asked my electrician to give me a price to lay heavy duty cable from our street power box to the power board on the house. Again, coming up to Christmas, he has been very busy, but I hope he will come to have a serious look at the task in the next few weeks. When this and the concreting are done we will purchase the air-conditioner and have it installed.<br /><br />I have painted the small HO Scale storage shed from NorthEastern Scale Models with a flat grey Floquil paint to seal it and have assembled this kit. I have a fair bit of work still to do on this kit so will see how it turns out.<br /><br />Santa Claus (Raymond) was kind to me when he gave me one of the new DCC chipped and sound equipped Bachmann Porter 0-4-2Ts. I love the maroon colour scheme with the gold lining – even on the wheels. I played Santa Claus for Raymond when I gave him a 1:20.3 (Garden Railway) Bachmann flat car with a log skidder load.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKWc-eskM9YfawfeYeCMM33kG2zaNk5T54gkIHmCLdfURoOhqok9eq0k7eU_zytemuCZANCZw_mV7U4OKqwwU9yrilGQfL3-ekjY7FpZTRQjZZyfv-rxJtNS1nz6978Y7IxfQGQvi_HWAr/s1600/0-4-2T_Porter_001_301211.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 198px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693689822267286722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKWc-eskM9YfawfeYeCMM33kG2zaNk5T54gkIHmCLdfURoOhqok9eq0k7eU_zytemuCZANCZw_mV7U4OKqwwU9yrilGQfL3-ekjY7FpZTRQjZZyfv-rxJtNS1nz6978Y7IxfQGQvi_HWAr/s320/0-4-2T_Porter_001_301211.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;">My beautiful Bachmann 0-4-2T from Santa Claus<br /></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVBv5_HriWhad84vlkx7neAH-Fi6MLbVqGAvwDhZrjMw9MQH2X9GxA9ooQjjG6oYI0w9xce8rMsiPRGrsDVfg3z9hj6oS6tDOYS4Dk4ofb7_XjMi2yQ1344hp1q726R-WZWpdl2StabJ0S/s1600/Flat+Car_Log+Skidder_301211.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 223px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693690294902657970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVBv5_HriWhad84vlkx7neAH-Fi6MLbVqGAvwDhZrjMw9MQH2X9GxA9ooQjjG6oYI0w9xce8rMsiPRGrsDVfg3z9hj6oS6tDOYS4Dk4ofb7_XjMi2yQ1344hp1q726R-WZWpdl2StabJ0S/s320/Flat+Car_Log+Skidder_301211.JPG" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> <span style="color:#ff0000;">Santa brought Raymond this 1:20.3 Bachmann flat car complete with a log skidder load</span></span></p><br /><p>Ever since we installed our two work benches in the shed in November 2010, Raymond and I have been discussing building some shelving along the wall. While we haven’t really advanced the layout construction we have now pretty much finished our two work benches.<br />On Monday 26 and Tuesday 27 December, I visited several Bunnings stores at Kuraby, Kingston and Browns Plains to purchase the timber requirements to make the shelving.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4FxT2E3Ilye2tZ-rl6lxVdXvfRcpjlPIV6x2-B8xy0IoOfrsUNhK2RQFaw5WxXl71fe3H86DlgQBMs7wqux1ARHmy8FcXOqEoQq8xuk2eKfTzpKMw6Nw-D8ngT3rTVIOep7Fbl-nRamyh/s1600/Work+Benches_006_071110.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693691040344341954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4FxT2E3Ilye2tZ-rl6lxVdXvfRcpjlPIV6x2-B8xy0IoOfrsUNhK2RQFaw5WxXl71fe3H86DlgQBMs7wqux1ARHmy8FcXOqEoQq8xuk2eKfTzpKMw6Nw-D8ngT3rTVIOep7Fbl-nRamyh/s320/Work+Benches_006_071110.JPG" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;">We installed our two work benches way back in November 2010. Since the we have been saying we need some shelving - 7/11/2010<br /><br /></span>Ever since we installed the work benches, I have been “stewing” over an area at the left-hand end of Raymond’s bench which was just a wasted “black hole”. I convinced Raymond we needed to build something for that space. Wednesday, 28 December we built a corner shelf unit specifically to go in that void and fitted it in place. We then moved both work benches about 80 mm to the left to fill the gap.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieM9jPJuuNWa3SRcHQF-tlQUJs9XbnYQHVpvI4EPpsAaHwWgZsNgP9lphUj4z1GTf_7TKxIqf0LYFlkEbzJI3PH9dQbupYBM27p-0f2lRiStfR4aFFiVbqDbrD1yDYoJNO-16ulPDFxmLP/s1600/Corner+Unit_291211.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693690728387936226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieM9jPJuuNWa3SRcHQF-tlQUJs9XbnYQHVpvI4EPpsAaHwWgZsNgP9lphUj4z1GTf_7TKxIqf0LYFlkEbzJI3PH9dQbupYBM27p-0f2lRiStfR4aFFiVbqDbrD1yDYoJNO-16ulPDFxmLP/s320/Corner+Unit_291211.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;">The corner unit we installed on Wednesday 29 December 2011<br /></span><br />I had to go to work on Thursday as a researcher had contacted the Museum wanting to look at Railway Annual Reports and Working Timetables. We only have a total of three Museum staff to supervise and assist researchers and with one away in the US on his honeymoon and the Senior Curator away on her holidays, I volunteered to go in. I got back home mid-afternoon on Thursday and Raymond and I measured up the timber to make two shelf units. We fabricated both these on Friday 30 December and installed them both by about lunch time.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7fyLYktuFbBDQPiCCDsnrwNyfnEeR9X0BWkRL2Jzg1baGjnMST2DnzR5ucVK0VHhMHAf8L0vkrZDyuqfWfM4STQDZFWlp_7qsafREgi1LSQ8vlNBi6S-lUxgB1TAUAo0h9NPOk02XxMsf/s1600/Two+Shelf+Units_301211.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693692091478621730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7fyLYktuFbBDQPiCCDsnrwNyfnEeR9X0BWkRL2Jzg1baGjnMST2DnzR5ucVK0VHhMHAf8L0vkrZDyuqfWfM4STQDZFWlp_7qsafREgi1LSQ8vlNBi6S-lUxgB1TAUAo0h9NPOk02XxMsf/s320/Two+Shelf+Units_301211.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;">The two shelf units we fabricated and installed on Friday 30 December<br /><br /></span>We now discovered we had a problem as there was a 10 mm difference between the top and bottom of the two shelf units. We decided that we would need to make the middle set of shelfs specifically to fit snugly into the location available. We also discussed at great length how we could make the styrene/wood strip storage units more readily accessible. These were currently located on the very top shelf of one of the metal shelf units we had built some time ago. Finally, we also wanted to incorporate shelf units for our supply of paint spray cans and bottles and tinlets of Floquil and Humbrol paints. We finally came up with a solution where we would divide the centre unit into two halves. The desk-top alcove on the left-hand side would house the styrene/stripwood storage units while the desk-top alcove on the right would house a shelf unit for cans of Tamiya spray paint and a shelf immediately above would house the small bottle and tinlets of paint. Both these would incorporate a stepped shelving arrangement to enable clear selection of the paint colour required. The spray can storage should be able to hold 45 to 50 cans.<br /><br />This took a lot of discussion, measuring and remeasuring as well as much doodling on paper but we finally came up with what we thought was a workable solution.<br /><br />This final shelf unit was built and installed on Sunday 1 January 2012. The styrene/stripwood storage units fitted in snugly. Now we will have to make the paint storage units. I am quite pleased with our accomplishments over just a few days. Now we need to start building some of the many kits we have on hand and also get back to some meaningful work on the model railway.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjN3anF-QeHbStve3-84a2oaliKn9qrLVTuF616QMkQOhEcQvAUyi2rZJ4KYsRk4uMoGIYtz_sRQe-YEg2Vrx6sLR41bE9hVNMtK3grctCBL4bETGk4CH42_iUVKxgMgtkg7VwvQ4MkFHQ/s1600/Middle+Unit_010112.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693692570002003298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjN3anF-QeHbStve3-84a2oaliKn9qrLVTuF616QMkQOhEcQvAUyi2rZJ4KYsRk4uMoGIYtz_sRQe-YEg2Vrx6sLR41bE9hVNMtK3grctCBL4bETGk4CH42_iUVKxgMgtkg7VwvQ4MkFHQ/s320/Middle+Unit_010112.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;">The final shelf unit which caused us some anguish over a couple of days was made and installed on New Year's Day.<br /><br /></span>I just had a telephone call this afternoon from our friendly electrician. He is going to come and inspect the work needed for the heavy duty power cable to the house and give us a quote. Hopefully, if I don’t faint from the shock I will be able to give him the go ahead to “get it done”.<br /><br /></p>Curator49http://www.blogger.com/profile/00211301413681246937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1461562716459760154.post-68807393861727514432011-10-16T13:21:00.019+10:002011-10-16T13:54:39.558+10:00Its Just Not Happening - YetWell, we haven’t progressed any further – as yet. Raymond went back to work at the end of his August holidays and that was that. I have spent some time in The Shed just thinking about how we should move forward but that doesn’t get us anywhere. I have decided to narrow at least part, of the shelf along the back wall to 300 mm instead of the initially proposed 610 mm to allow easier access to the future air-conditioning unit. Raymond and I have also agreed to have the air-con unit installed before we progress the baseboard construction in this section – hopefully before the end of November.<br /><br />We went over to Austral Modelcraft on Saturday 10 September where Raymond bought one of the newly released Bachmann 0-4-2T Porters. Unlike the DC only original 0-4-0T and 0-4-2T porters, these are fitted with DCC and Tsunami sound. He tested it when we got home and it has some issues. It tends to stall on the pointwork which seems to be a common problem judging by the discussions appearing on the Railroad Line Forum web newsgroup.<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglBLEKKf4YJeLyLQc03pP34gDOJhJAZ4ZB3ULG5_OxA8P12bWz0d16D2TLd0kMzcY9x6psy18QufkS6ZzQh936ycOmIilsJT4PZobBTKXvqTGXC3NlWUk7t_DR3Rd9zGtwEBJfjus4NfxO/s1600/DCC+0-4-2T+Porter.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663926067707969682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglBLEKKf4YJeLyLQc03pP34gDOJhJAZ4ZB3ULG5_OxA8P12bWz0d16D2TLd0kMzcY9x6psy18QufkS6ZzQh936ycOmIilsJT4PZobBTKXvqTGXC3NlWUk7t_DR3Rd9zGtwEBJfjus4NfxO/s320/DCC+0-4-2T+Porter.JPG" /></a> Raymond is still adding to his Garden Railway collection even though he has not got any closer to starting an outdoor layout. He recently purchased an Accucraft Michigan-California Lumber Co. No.2 2-cylinder Shay-geared loco in live steam. This came from Caboose Hobbies in the United States. It was a limited production model and they were sold out very quickly.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFbJia4VSLxbJ7SGqec5nWBfjoqzFFz8CNUp6H_ApXdJql_AbZjw8YFyhR3Bn4vqiY0rFGTu4iDiFsgtYWCGh2dhfNgpqZXxXbB5iEjVeO7gkGyl4-2rHRZp7uS5K0J8Cy85UsbDl21kbC/s1600/Shay_002.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663926321707180994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFbJia4VSLxbJ7SGqec5nWBfjoqzFFz8CNUp6H_ApXdJql_AbZjw8YFyhR3Bn4vqiY0rFGTu4iDiFsgtYWCGh2dhfNgpqZXxXbB5iEjVeO7gkGyl4-2rHRZp7uS5K0J8Cy85UsbDl21kbC/s320/Shay_002.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwouUEKY4RRZSZUPQFvJjE5Addpi3aI_Ust8UpY8t7oYm8-pY4knRTczZ_sqoSkmOweOiAx2ANwtCCH9ZDtT-hTlsSs2TXM-cRo2Trg5fkXnL6ZQT_ohnep87-ypSVKVk7MFEiZuqpH8kH/s1600/Shay_003.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663926495691067970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwouUEKY4RRZSZUPQFvJjE5Addpi3aI_Ust8UpY8t7oYm8-pY4knRTczZ_sqoSkmOweOiAx2ANwtCCH9ZDtT-hTlsSs2TXM-cRo2Trg5fkXnL6ZQT_ohnep87-ypSVKVk7MFEiZuqpH8kH/s320/Shay_003.JPG" /></a> Another purchase Raymond made from Caboose Hobbies was three packs of four flat cars in On30. These are made by AMS and each have a different running number. Four of the cars are lettered for the Denver & Rio Grande Western, another four are lettered Colorado & Southern and the remaining four are Rio Grande Southern.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh41IkKh2SEoV7rvnRIEPqt_o4GB13P8o8xOW7esAJUr9x2tWH58j7BGcJaVsWgxGd3DYzpt2ChB30yeQs-RiaFo4X9J750QZop5-UYZQJYimOdJ33Md4GZSuK1oI1dLwY8uaS8Mt0KUZ4B/s1600/AMS+Flat+Cars.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663926699717596466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh41IkKh2SEoV7rvnRIEPqt_o4GB13P8o8xOW7esAJUr9x2tWH58j7BGcJaVsWgxGd3DYzpt2ChB30yeQs-RiaFo4X9J750QZop5-UYZQJYimOdJ33Md4GZSuK1oI1dLwY8uaS8Mt0KUZ4B/s320/AMS+Flat+Cars.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">These AMS wagons certainly have a lot of detail. They cost a bit more but the detail and being to scale length they are worth it.</span><br /></span>Raymond has also purchased some On30 model kits, this time from the UK. These came from Backwoods Miniatures through their E-Bay shop. He purchased the following –<br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;">• Bachmann Shay dress-up kit<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiibYwU7YT3zMSYkcQItlln1_dKo6xKSRDYGo9CzHkMCT8S8zkXpwa-UOnrPZ6d4joWDmrUnkQjRKnERq7VWZUi1eo4xRthDRMj3j9LRUuH8JqgvEfmJfIBOHBzuKPc2RM6RATMuixmvHRi/s1600/Shay+Dress+Up.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663926979399570402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiibYwU7YT3zMSYkcQItlln1_dKo6xKSRDYGo9CzHkMCT8S8zkXpwa-UOnrPZ6d4joWDmrUnkQjRKnERq7VWZUi1eo4xRthDRMj3j9LRUuH8JqgvEfmJfIBOHBzuKPc2RM6RATMuixmvHRi/s320/Shay+Dress+Up.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;">• Bachmann Climax dress-up kit<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin22DRZXsa6muRHIOOWYb_s-mVHqlXNTOPA0sVhVWAdD6c4Lu_Av4xQ2kI5VbvE8lN7od5qfxQgByDP5jt0PNCWsOZSbXL-rknKcnFYvk7FCGQJMSKt5VdSaeKLS25tQw58K9SAFO5CYLe/s1600/Climax+Dress+Up.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663927278240677570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin22DRZXsa6muRHIOOWYb_s-mVHqlXNTOPA0sVhVWAdD6c4Lu_Av4xQ2kI5VbvE8lN7od5qfxQgByDP5jt0PNCWsOZSbXL-rknKcnFYvk7FCGQJMSKt5VdSaeKLS25tQw58K9SAFO5CYLe/s320/Climax+Dress+Up.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;">• Vertical boiler steam loco GNAT to fit a Bachmann Davenport 0-4-0 gas mechanical<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRUHa4kvluxiWOjPq9fGut9YsyUG6kiSZoyrUmoFgA18TfiFm0QDCNWDHSkvMxUXslelyyLrgviwKgk87PR29W-WkeBpXldjRNm1cI4LgvjLijQXE-0LKZXSpw4F7Myo7fMZrmCze6MaWQ/s1600/Verical+Boiler+0-4-0.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663927605936781202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRUHa4kvluxiWOjPq9fGut9YsyUG6kiSZoyrUmoFgA18TfiFm0QDCNWDHSkvMxUXslelyyLrgviwKgk87PR29W-WkeBpXldjRNm1cI4LgvjLijQXE-0LKZXSpw4F7Myo7fMZrmCze6MaWQ/s320/Verical+Boiler+0-4-0.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;">• Steam crane/loader to fit a Bachmann Davenport 0-4-0 gas mechanical<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDIkbpdIJ5iKIHQJmD9S7q7CotgJpngOj8ZifMgY5BUF1LcGMgAPeywaUGd9UzE6B-5C96ICPk5yjinmxCsaKJrlyTjKxscjYdArKAzXgF223w1iRzNylInmGmozPg43pfRxx_CuDU1IYv/s1600/Steam+Crane.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663927877871147010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDIkbpdIJ5iKIHQJmD9S7q7CotgJpngOj8ZifMgY5BUF1LcGMgAPeywaUGd9UzE6B-5C96ICPk5yjinmxCsaKJrlyTjKxscjYdArKAzXgF223w1iRzNylInmGmozPg43pfRxx_CuDU1IYv/s320/Steam+Crane.JPG" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;">• Conversion kit to convert a Bachmann 2-8-0 into a 2-8-2ST<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4oAm_dkaFY0veCQBRpqMaKan6YHRBZD5FFZEwPwsYTweKSLITFNlvpidb58670gYrqksLdtKoFh9wmTv6W9_2m2cgzVh8_OAHcMKc1ITG5vDn7BRQcTAWk10SPnYCWmgwMacHWsYYMP9V/s1600/2-8-2ST.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663928117060206354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4oAm_dkaFY0veCQBRpqMaKan6YHRBZD5FFZEwPwsYTweKSLITFNlvpidb58670gYrqksLdtKoFh9wmTv6W9_2m2cgzVh8_OAHcMKc1ITG5vDn7BRQcTAWk10SPnYCWmgwMacHWsYYMP9V/s320/2-8-2ST.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;">• Conversion kit to convert a Bachmann 2-6-0 into a 2-6-2T<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9dVQ0QmN3xdVJLsOTaW77BFP-tA6texHFlVVxPiZP1ppilpockR_GPZaIEtKFOSIHejPsKZqqbl2yv2qVMoUST25q24DOA-WD34WzF1yZXTsfvvVv2xM8AZGxAWzW1RbAEFDVwbb3Xe3k/s1600/2-6-2T.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663928456272330946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9dVQ0QmN3xdVJLsOTaW77BFP-tA6texHFlVVxPiZP1ppilpockR_GPZaIEtKFOSIHejPsKZqqbl2yv2qVMoUST25q24DOA-WD34WzF1yZXTsfvvVv2xM8AZGxAWzW1RbAEFDVwbb3Xe3k/s320/2-6-2T.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;">• And just for some whimsy an Aero Car<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqKxjyd41e1jUqlKNGgHCFHCcQF6ONQqRLLUjaEuu6Tk9-r2cjGwEzmk4ixvkSsrMpxRM31KBlqVuhIo1CZkozKk25wBKTbuV2h3aovDJQDTDlq0sji4BlScVm3GPn6EGkb95hDRx68wOl/s1600/Aerocar.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663928701887625426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqKxjyd41e1jUqlKNGgHCFHCcQF6ONQqRLLUjaEuu6Tk9-r2cjGwEzmk4ixvkSsrMpxRM31KBlqVuhIo1CZkozKk25wBKTbuV2h3aovDJQDTDlq0sji4BlScVm3GPn6EGkb95hDRx68wOl/s320/Aerocar.JPG" /></a> Continuing his recent purchases Raymond has bought six large radius points for his Garden Railway from Austral Modelcraft and some special curves and short straights from Gauge 1 Gallery. The impetus for this being that we have decided to exhibit a Garden Railway layout at the Queensland Model Railway Exhibition to be held at The Workshops Rail Museum over the weekend of the 29-30 October. We will be doing this in conjunction with some of our fellow Garden Railway enthusiasts from AMRA. Raymond will be running live-steam as well as electric locos. The layout will be a simple oval with two passing loops (one at the front and one at the back) which will be built on the day on trestle tables provided by the Museum.<br /><br />My present for Raymond’s birthday way back on the 24 September finally arrived last week. It is an O-Scale laser-cut wood kit of Ophir Depot on the Rio Grande Southern from Banta Modelworks.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-x1_Nae4lXuGZwyEYeru7RWd8P4blBMQ1reyKlOWafjN3cgc-hPQGmRq68E1me-Ddnkicbg72FTzaKi2fTLk3t9zChPeB6GgI2HL8KyWu3fQG7qe1rHwQx3PsXGpKIDGOPCpENiVPnLH/s1600/Ophir+Depot.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663929019487947058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-x1_Nae4lXuGZwyEYeru7RWd8P4blBMQ1reyKlOWafjN3cgc-hPQGmRq68E1me-Ddnkicbg72FTzaKi2fTLk3t9zChPeB6GgI2HL8KyWu3fQG7qe1rHwQx3PsXGpKIDGOPCpENiVPnLH/s320/Ophir+Depot.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Ophir Depot laser-cut kit by Banta Modelworks</span><br /><br /></span>We have quite a number of laser-cut wood kits to build so I have been looking for a suitable grey primer that is solvent based rather than acrylic (water based). The water will make the wood warp so it is a no-no. Once the wood is properly sealed then acrylic paints can be used.<br /><br />Bill Banta from Banta Modelworks, has given me a few helpful hints following an enquiry I made to him. The guys on On30 Conspiracy also came forward with a lot more suggestions.<br /><br />I bought a spray can of grey primer from the new Masters store at Springfield last week and a bottle of Floquil matt grey paint from Austral Modelcraft to try out. As a test bed I bought two HO Scale laser-cut kits produced by Northeastern Scale Models from Austral to use as an experiment. One is a small storage shed and the other a box and crate factory.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsXV5-DP8ke482vJxBJRs4_SbUGaSP-8EJRcK_AlFjScmvvQWGL2SFDomMLqu38pXrE3H5BOf7YkA3KkOID_OA2OVFMx9Y-1cb_MQ2e7wrq4-RoOhFZYRWpNigKErFrSqlgWUWImHtnFDc/s1600/Storage+Shed.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663929318096270610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsXV5-DP8ke482vJxBJRs4_SbUGaSP-8EJRcK_AlFjScmvvQWGL2SFDomMLqu38pXrE3H5BOf7YkA3KkOID_OA2OVFMx9Y-1cb_MQ2e7wrq4-RoOhFZYRWpNigKErFrSqlgWUWImHtnFDc/s320/Storage+Shed.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Northeastern Storage Shed laser cut kit in HO Scale.</span><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjvp0fiU0T7xF12WNROPrBcmdCQnGbVMRgr3dlx1VANc1jYRu3E19aaVuF9ZsT-VdSzKIyy72c4lUZQR67yU-yFylaW90G26iiO7kMUA-qbLtbQtozJnJKEzWSsnbILMHAwNpbh4Fr4kKm/s1600/Box+%2526+Crate+Factory.JPG"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663929527998239010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjvp0fiU0T7xF12WNROPrBcmdCQnGbVMRgr3dlx1VANc1jYRu3E19aaVuF9ZsT-VdSzKIyy72c4lUZQR67yU-yFylaW90G26iiO7kMUA-qbLtbQtozJnJKEzWSsnbILMHAwNpbh4Fr4kKm/s320/Box+%2526+Crate+Factory.JPG" /></span></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Box & Crate Factory by Northeastern</span><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Raymond has recently completed one of his four slate wagon kits by Slaters in the UK. </span></p><br /><p><span style="font-size:100%;">This is 16 mm Scale and runs on 32 mm gauge track. He has done an excellent job but I think it needs weathering.</span></p><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibdUfu_m1wC3PfdpCY945TTHu-YcDRVzkIBBeT8wIGWagC-Cj6D1a289RgMtRIthdhV43z0hjPXB2PJTGZijzm8n1exDLvOuobCIHphhDbQwdP6ye_IEP05sbXjQrPHeOuzxWf6RmJr2-l/s1600/Slate+Wagon.JPG"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663929713090601154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibdUfu_m1wC3PfdpCY945TTHu-YcDRVzkIBBeT8wIGWagC-Cj6D1a289RgMtRIthdhV43z0hjPXB2PJTGZijzm8n1exDLvOuobCIHphhDbQwdP6ye_IEP05sbXjQrPHeOuzxWf6RmJr2-l/s320/Slate+Wagon.JPG" /></span></a><br /><br /></p>Curator49http://www.blogger.com/profile/00211301413681246937noreply@blogger.com2