The Brassgoggles Model Making Club (the second non-SP model making thread).

[The Bullet]

Another pocket-sized dragon is back to life:


Still some minor jobs to do but she´s running.

I have now finished another 3d printed 5" gauge wagon (a LOWFIT) for my TIGER loco.
Were tail lamps already in use in that era or was there another means of marking the last wagon?
As TIGER (sister loco of the famous LION) is a very early loco, what kind of brake van is suitable?
I have a TOAD, but it is far too big to suit.

[Madasasteamfish]

*sucks teeth* Well, early British railways are slightly complicated and thanks to the lassiez-faire attitude of the government safety very much took a back seat.

If you're wanting to truly represent the LMR practice then you probably want no tail lamp or anything to mark the last wagon (that became standard practice and law about 1870 something). As for brake vans, I don't believe they were used by the LMR (almost certainly not in the days of Lion and Tiger). However, there probably are copies lithographs somewhere online which illustrate LMR trains.

IIRC common practice on most early goods trains was to adopt the gravity train style of working (the guard would ride along the top of the wagons, jumping between them and adjusting brakes as and when necessary).

[James Harrison]

Ahh, early brake vans.  Or break vans, as some companies were a bit hazy on the spelling.  What fun. 

If you want something contemporary with Lion and Tiger, you're probably looking at something like the second example here:  http://lnwrhg.com/mod/vg_1/vX05ing.php 

Or this:  https://www.shapeways.com/product/U8YWYFWJL/00-scale-lnwr-brake-van-early-version

As to a marker on the rear vehicle to say the train is complete, well you have to ask who needs to know that? - the tail lamp isn't for the likes of you or I, it's a confirmation for the signalman.  So you'd be saying that as a concept it doesn't really predate the idea of signalling, which I suppose didn't really start until the late 1830s/ early 1840s?  So I'm not sure there actually was anything to be hung on the back of the last wagon in those days.   

[The Bullet]

I agree to signalling (proper) came later, so this issue should be done.

Remaining problem is a suitable driving truck (mine are far too big and don´t match the era).
So I would need a long four-wheeler.

I have found a picture on the web where a bogie frame was used carrying the bodies of a five-plank and a vocered wagon so from a distance this looks like two separate wagons.
This is the idea I am following now.

Similar to this:
https://www.stationroadsteam.com/3-12-inch-gauge-driving-trolley-with-dummy-wagons-stock-code-2203/

Here´s the train with the big driving truck removed:


Still need to take another pic with the LOWFIT wagon in it.

[SeVeNeVeS]

Sorting through my mums house I've a box of old 70s 80s OO gauge model railway stuff.

Haven't had a chance to look through yet. Anyone here interested? No money just an address to send to.

If any interest PM me and I can send some photos. All free including postage. Just cant be bothered with e-bay.

It will not be quick tho'.

[The Bullet]

Please show a few pictures before giving it away.

[James Harrison]

I've got a room full of bits at the moment (and projects waiting their turn through the works), so I couldn't take anything else on.  Thanks for the thought though. 

[Madasasteamfish]

I might be able to give some a home, but don't want to fully commit myself unseen.

It might be worth looking into local model rail groups/societies and offering it to them. I'm sure you'd be able to get a lot more interest (and probably move a lot more) taking it to a meeting and letting people pour over it.

[The Bullet]

Ran the LBSC Bat on the rolling road today.

Somehow the blower clogged up but it was enough for a short run.

She goes like greased lightning.

Now I will take a look at regulator and blower to find out what´s wrong.

Coal-firing in O-gauge.
LBSC was a genius.

[Madasasteamfish]

Well progress has happened towards another one of my 'to do' list for this year.



I've finally got around to laying some track on my OO9 micro. 2 and a bit years after I started it as a means of keeping myself occupied during the plague and stop myself obsessing on what became Dukeswood. I've also cut down a small section of the buildings (not really a necessity) but I decided to get rid of it for the sake of neatness.

[The Bullet]

Good start.
What is the intended track plan?

[Madasasteamfish]

Good start.
What is the intended track plan?

Well, I have a photograph of a mock up I've been using to get things right in my head, but this is a VERY rough version of my plan


I'll have to see about uploading my Mk. 2+ version (the mock up I'm actually using as a reference at some point) but I think this gives a decent impression of my ambitions (3 sidings at the front and a couple of headshunts for the goods shed/factory gates further back).

[The Bullet]

The point close to the shed entrance at the rear left could bring a few problems.
Putting a wagon into the rear right siding would require loco and wagon to enter the shed with their full length.
So the shed must be empty at these times.
Also H&S and operational issues arise due to restricted visiility when entering the shed.

Might be an idea to flip that part to have the shed on the right and the left side open.

[Madasasteamfish]

Interesting point. I've had a play around and can make that work without undoing any of my recent progress, and that would certainly make the whole layout work better from an aesthetic point of view (which is something of a moot point given I don't have any plans or intentions to exhibit it), but it brings the goods shed to the fore, which I'm not too pleased with, and is tempting me to revisit it.

I'm not sure if I'd look to try and improve the existing building, or just scrap it and start again. I'd also have to look into some more scenics (and I doubt my finances would appreciate a costly visit to a model shop).

[SeVeNeVeS]

I  am SO sorry gents. The box which has been in my mothers house the last 30 years has gone.

Im assuming she gave it away or it went to charity.

Please accept my appologies for the false alarm, if it should appear I will get back.

Embarassed to say the least..............

[The Bullet]

New addition to the fleet:

A green DOLL&Cie 4/501:


Unfortunately there was no tender with it.

I have the black version since more than 15 years and got a matching tender last year.
I hope getting one for the green sister will not take that long....

[The Bullet]

News on the twin driving truck:

I picked up the steel roof for the covered wagon:


Waiting for the wheelsets and buffers to arrive so I can build the bogies and frame.

[Madasasteamfish]

Well, based on The Bullet's comments I have revised my micro's trackplan and after a bit of playing I have this:


Which I think offers slightly more operational freedom and a more aesthetically pleasing result (should I ever look to exhibit it). The downside is I need another 'Y' turnout and some more scenics on the end (the gategouse covered enough to warrant leaving it sky coloured but now I'm not so sure if that's practical). I also want to revisit the gods shed since I'm fairly confident my skills have progressed to the point where I could do something better. So I'm going to have to visit a model shop before I can complete my track laying (which will have to wait until I've been paid again).

[The Bullet]

Spent some time in the workshop yesterday.

Three weeks after ordering (and being told last week that my stuff had been shipped) I got an email yesterday stating that the parts haven´t been shipped yet....and not even made yet.
GAH!
So no progress on the driving truck.

This was a good opportunity to get the class 216 back into the workshop and replace the axles.
One was wobbly enough to let the loco shake in the curves, abt 0.5 mm offset measured at the flange (I bought all four powered wheelsets second hand).
When checking the others I found that all axle stubs were not perfectly straight. So I ordered five new axles in case one gets damaged during installation.
Took a gear-puller and some force to get the ball bearings off the old axles.
Needed a BIG puller, even more force and in two cases also a blowlamp to get the wheels off the old axles.
Reassembly went without problems.
After making sure both bogies went in the same direction the loco is almost ready to leave the workshop.
Cab 2 has one defective headlight and the cab interior lights also do not work.
This will be dealt with today.

This is where the HO/OO folks have the big advantage of just putting the loco upside down and working on it with small tools....

[The Bullet]

216 is back to working order.
Lights were repaired quickly.
Only remaining problem was the sound module (hidden on the floor of cab #2 with lots of wiring on top of it).
The usual fault is the amplifier IC (TDA7052B) being damaged.
Managed to get it out of the socket using a long wire hook and a pair of tweezers.
To get the new one into the socket I used half a metre of 5mm round brass stock, stuck the new IC to it with a bit of putty and slowly lowered it into the cab.
It went into the socket without any problems.
(Murphy must have had his day off)

Ready for a test run.

[James Harrison]

What I'm up to with Red Lion Square....

... well, actually getting on and building it is far, far off at the moment.  What I am doing though is a lot of armchair modelling, drawing up trackplans and then coming back a few weeks later and asking 'am I sure that's what I want?' 

The latest iteration of this is asking, do I really want or even need double track?  Could it be two single track branches instead?  Whilst single track wasn't exactly common on the GC, it did exist and it typically could be found in the sort of semi-backwater corners like what I'm modelling (places like St Helens, the Wirral, North Wales, and one or two branches in Lincolnshire).  If you widen the criteria out and ask whether single track was typical for north Nottinghamshire, there are several examples from the likes of the Midland and the Great Northern Railways...



And from purely aesthetic and practical points of view, it seems to fit the available space better, has less of the quart in a pint pot look about it, and I'd probably stand a better chance of being able to run it single-handed.

[The Bullet]

Tested 216 today. Runs without any sideways movement now.
Much quieter.
Little daughter also had to have some test laps.

Her criteria were a bit different from mine:

Loco is big?  OK
Loco is red? OK
Loco makes noise? OK
PASSED.

One of the rare projects that can be labeled as DONE.

[James Harrison]

Excellent!  (When do we all get a ride?  )

[James Harrison]

And that sketch developed to this.  I'm still looking at whether I can get a nice curve to the top line. I feel that I'm pretty close to having a final track plan...

[The Bullet]

Successful test run fior the driving truck today.

Of course, Murphy paid a visit.
During the first test with just the frame and the bogies, everything went well.
Today, with the fake buffers between the two bodies the wagon would not go round the curves.
I fitted the fake buffers with hex head screws.
The screw heads got in the way of the bogie frames, preventing the bogies to swing any further.
Shortened the screw heads, now it works.
And the most important thing: it blends in with the train.
Still lots of detailing to do.





Could not resist and ordered another set of 3d printed parts for another Lowfit and Tanker....