Silver Sidelines

For years my wife has been pointing out that my layout lacks people. Enter my son-in-law Martin. He likes his technology and he has invested in a 3D printer. After making some War Game figures for his son he would turn his attention to some little figures for the railway. Not only did he print the figures but he also painted them – that is skilful. Some of Martin’s 3D Printed and Painted Figures  Problem is that printer files for suitable little people are in short supply, or are expensive. Given that finishing and painting the newly printed figures also takes a lot of time and patience I would instead explore the range of readily available finished little people. Suitable UK figures are available from Bachmann, Hornby and Modelu. Bachmann USA, Preiser and NOCH also market figures but these are generally to HO scale which at 3.5mm to the foot is rather small for OO gauge at 4mm to the foot. For layout use where the viewing distances are greater I chose some ready painted li...

From the Branch Terminus described in my last Post, the single line crosses a short viaduct to arrive at an ‘end on’ junction station where the BR(WR) branch makes a connection with another single track BR(LMR) line. The Branch Junction – a blend of Scaledale and Scenecraft This is one of my favourite track layouts and provides lots of play value with three loops for passing and storage, together with a small goods yard and locomotive facilities. There is also a long siding which doubles as both a ‘head shunt’ and storage for a whole train (in this case Airfix Esso tankers). The Branch Junction Track Layout The track layout is purely imaginary but provides for an island platform with a BR(WR) face and a BR(LMR) face, together with a goods loop. The minimum radius for the station platforms is around 5ft. BR(LMR) train terminating - just imagine the grass! First a view at the branchline end of the station with a BR(LMR) train terminating at the stat...

The starting point for this Blog entry is the Bachmann Coaling Stage: This was bought in full knowledge that the steps were in pieces and would need sticking back together.   I used ‘Super Glue’.   A couple of the joins are still visible but not in my opinion sufficiently obvious as to need immediate repainting. What was more obvious was the twisted and warped loading chute.   This had to be fixed! The chute is separated from the rest of the loading stage by pushing out the ‘hinge pin’.   At this point I am indebted to a contributor on RMweb for pointing out that Skaledale Resin walls can apparently be moulded to shape using hot water.   Perhaps I could use ‘hot water’ to remould the chute?    I put the chute into a small plastic bowl of very hot water.   After allowing it to soak up some heat it began to feel much like a lump of hard rubber, such as a pencil eraser.   At this point I was able to gently mould and s...

Ten days of continuous sunshine - must be a record for the west of Scotland.   However the rains have set in again so back to normal and time for another platform update. In my previous Blog entries I touched upon basic platform construction and gave some pointers as to the sizes of paving stones.   This entry contains some reminders on techniques for marking out the paving. Work commenced with a nice simple island platform with ‘parallel’ sides.   First I marked out two lines with a steel straight edge parallel with the platform edges to delineate the edge paving.   Then using a woodworkers set square pressed against the platform edge I marked out all the edge paving.   The edge stones were nominally 4ft by 3ft (16 x 12 mm) - obviously ‘flag stones’ from the north of England.   With the edges complete attention was then focused on the internal paving.   Again it was a straightforward exercise pressing the set square against the platfo...

As originally envisaged the top right corner was just an empty space: However whilst playing trains it soon became apparent that a passing loop would be useful for the branch line - and if this could be combined with some sort of 'halt' / station for the autotrain, then it would be doubly useful.   The wood work was changed and some track layed: However - why did I cut off the piece of board into the corner?   Maybe the corner of the room was not square? It certainly wouldn't be!   Now two years later the piece of board has been found, reattached and a goods siding laid.   At last I have space for Bachmann's Scenecraft Goods Shed.   As with so many of the resin models, I find them deceptively big. Now that the track has been modified 'let ballasting commence' and then perhaps a backscene.   In the longer term I will have to devise a cut and cover tunnel (removable) to hide some of the tracks for the reversing loops and hidden ...

Not a new embankment but the same paper and paste techniques used to replace the coving and cover the opening for the old Central Heating flue! The last fortnight has been dominated by swapping out the oil fired boiler for a heat pump, and making good the plaster and paintwork.   Crawling around in the eaves makes a change from ballasting.   Not sure which I most prefer! Since my last post, ballasting of the mid-level single track junction has been completed.   It is maybe reminiscent of central Wales with an ex LNWR connection to an essentially ex GWR line.   The LNWR had running rights to the junction   - but not the branch terminus.   The shed to the side of the junction is supposedly of GWR origin, the view below was obviously taken on a Sunday.

This week has been dominated by the removal of our oil fired central heating - so not much railway modelling. The single track junction is now ballasted: I think the track was laid before the rest of the layout was completed and access to the ends of the sidings now requires great physical stamina and not a little patience!   Hence the Blog title 'A stretch in time!.   As usual I have provided card bases for the Goods Shed and Engine Shed: A picture with work in progress and then another showing the buildings in position.   There is a coaling facility planned for the siding to the right of the engine shed but that will have to wait for another day (year) The junction is supposed to represent somewhere in mid Wales where a single track   ex GWR line meets up with another single track ex LNWR line.   This allows the use of a range of Bachmann / Mainline BR (WR and LMR) rolling stock: