Mogtrains2

Winkford

2012-01-28T12:02:00.004Z

So.. six months on.. what's new?

Dreary has been temporarily dismantled as part of a general 'tidy up'. I decided that what I was trying to portray in the space I was using wasn't working. I may come back to it, or start again, but for now it's all safely packed away.

I can't have nothing on the go can I? So.. welcome to 'Winkford'.. a OO9 layout.

So far boards built and track laid and wired up.

The railway will hopefully portray a fictitious light railway built 'locally' (Notts, Derbys, Lincs area) and set around the mid 1930s.

I've decided to stick to broadly Welshpool and Llanfair type stock for consistency. I already have a a couple of Hunslets and ordered some kits from Ninelines.
Hopefully the pictures give an idea of what is planned..(at the moment.. some things may move around a little.. I'm not sure of the placing of the station building yet)

First, the layout as it is today, on my bookshelf. It is 4ft x x1ft:

Next some visual notes which hopefully give an idea of what is planned:

This Wills kit will serve as the main station building when I've finished hacking at it:

A scratchbuilt ramp for loading sheep / cattle (along with Ninelines W&L sheep wagon):

A view of a train entering the station as it crosses Main Road. The yard office and coal siding in front:

A higher view of the train on the ungated crossing on Main Road. (Two Skaledale buildings here):

This Skaledale pub looks a lot like one or two I've known locally, including the 'Worlds End' in Lambley:

A view up Main Road as the train crosses - a photo temporarily in place of where a low relief building will be placed:

Weathering..

2011-07-24T19:39:00.004+01:00

A nice today so I sat in the garden with my airbrush and had a go at weathering some of the stock for the HO layout. (The name 'Dreary' is being re-considered!). Anyway.. I'm quite a novice with the airbrush and I have mixed feelings about the results.
I didn't copy any one picture too closely, but tried to learn something from looking at pictures of the prototype. I think I need to develop a lighter touch.. a little more subtlety.

A slice of Americana.. an 8 foot shelf

2011-07-12T17:54:00.004+01:00

Having deliberated good and proper.. I decided to make a start on that shelf layout (again)..

My inspiration is the real life Washington, Idaho and Montana.. bearing in mind I have been nowhere near this part of the world, I hope to capture something of the 'feel' of it.. my shortline is the Yellow Pine RR.

The layout is set in the fictional town of Dreary, Idaho, where the line now terminates.

It's the early 1980's and BN own much of the line. In Dreary the railroad services the local grain elevator

as well as a small lumber concern, collecting sawn and finished products for transit to the main BN interchange.

A lead track is also in use as a team track.

Typically traffic is light.. the 'local' Geep bringing in and collecting small 3 or 4 car trains, usually stake, bulkhead flats and full door cars for the lumber, and various covered hoppers for the elevator. An occasional box car arrives for the team track.

So far I've laid track and it's being 'tested' ;-) before moving on to scenics. the depot is an old wooden kit ('euromod'?), the elevator is scratchbuilt, as will be the lumber company buildings. Scenery will be sparse - Having used 'street view' around the area, I'm already thinking teddy bear fur! (Google image search 'Palouse' for some beautiful pictures).

Lots to do...

A little freebie

2011-04-11T19:59:00.004+01:00

I just came across this, a little experiment I made a few years ago. The plan was to try to fit a fold-up paper model of a loco on a business card.. It's a bit of fun, and if you don't like it, tough! It's free!

To remind myself if it works, I just spent five minutes putting one together..

N gauge UK.. bought it, built it, selling it..

2011-04-04T19:40:00.005+01:00

Well. A brief update is due. I'm still plodding along with my OO Brewery layout (must get some pictures up sometime soon). But recently I have been having a bit of a dabble in UK N gauge.. to get a feel for it. I got myself a lovely little Dapol terrier, a handful of wagnons, and built a small layout.
Despite many advantages of size etc, I've concluded that it's not for me. So, the layout is up for sale on ebay.. along with the loco and wagons. I've never sold a layout like this before, so I am intrigued as much as anything else to see how it goes.. a few pictures..

Fate of the 4x2 American N gauge layout..

2011-03-13T20:19:00.003Z

This layout has spent all it's time in the garage in 'storage'. It's quite pretty, but sadly, despite it's relatively small size, it's not 'working'..not really practical for a quick play.. I am considering this evening dismantling it.
(The track is all unitrack and the buildings and trees will lift off okay - so no huge loss)
Shame.. but maybe I need to stick to shelf layouts or go royal abundance and have a big roundy in the shed or garage. :)

(As it happens, I've been pootling away on a 4ft OO Brewery layout, and have been knocking up a little N gauge shelf to try out UK stuff too..more to follow)

Got talking to a nice chap at the Mansfield show recently about TT and 3mm, got me thinking about all of that again. Initial thoughts were to try 12mm gauge.. but I wonder whether I'd be as well to persist with 14.2mm, I'm thinking a Light Railway 'tramway', where skirted locos using motor bogies would mean no real urgency to build a working chassis just yet..

RIP Carl

2011-03-08T20:52:00.002Z

I learned some very sad news today.
Carl Arendt, of micro layout fame, has left us.
I came into this hobby via the interent, haven't joined a club yet, and I am still largely sustained by the internet.
Carl was hugely supportive of my early doings and kindly hosted a few of my ideas and layouts over the last few years.
A proper gent, an inspiration and the creator and maintainer of a unique source of inspiration and a real loss.

Progress..

2011-01-03T19:44:00.004Z

The eight foot shelf has finally had a decision made about it's fate - it's dismantled and gone! I'm going to focus on smaller projects for now until I'm really happy with an idea.
In the meantime, some progress made on the N scale 4x2 roundy..

still work to do yet - not least a decision on where it's going to live!

Re-hashing a good idea?

2010-12-26T11:46:00.004Z

Some time ago, I used a 'spare' bit of 4'x2' MDF baseboard to make a little 'roundy' in N scale (American) which lived under a sofa. It was a quick fix, using Kato unitrack and was fun to operate.
Now that we've moved, I decided to do version 2 - same plan, just a more robust board with a little more scope for scenics.
This is how far I've got so far..

I'm really pleased with the backscene, which I think looks quite effective despite being ridiculously easy to do! See here for a full explanation (I swapped skyscrapers for rolling hills).
Next up, I need to get the road surfaces down.. not decided on the best method yet, and then plant some more trees..

My stock is mostly ex Rutland Railway so I am trying to place the layout in New England. I've never been there, although it seemed daft not to try representing 'the Fall'

8 feet is so big!

2010-09-19T17:51:00.002+01:00

Moved house in june. I now have a 8ft x 1ft shelf up. I started to build an HO American DCC thing but it just wasn't doing it for me. So, I paused and had a good think.
Anyway, to cut long and confused meanderings short.. It occurred to me that I often read of the classic GWR branch terminus being a bit of a cliche. However..I got into this hobby in Gn15 and have via 3mm and OO9 I have realised that I have never had a go at that myself.
So - basically I'm going to build a OO cliche GWR branch station! Not worrying too much about fidelity and accuracy, but hopefully come up with a plan that will give some intersting operations as well as fun to build. I've drawn heavily on the Culm Valley for inspiration, but made some changes. Notably, I've decided to start off with a 57XX tank or similar, as the current 14xx model is a bit long in the tooth and I would like a nice running loco to get off the ground with.
Pictures to follow.. basic plan for now..

micro site update

2010-09-03T13:20:00.002+01:00

Still messing about with the shelf layout - I will post some progress pics soon..

In the meantime - Carl Arendt has added this months update to his site, and as ever, I've come away brimming over with inspiration and ideas..

'check it out' (as they say)..
http://carendt.com/scrapbook/page101/index.html

A unique dilemma

2010-06-20T10:43:00.002+01:00

In the scale of things, not a life-changer.. but in my modelling world, I have come to a point where I need to make a decision. We've moved into new house.. slowly unpacking. I now have a 'playroom'. I reckon I can comfortably get a shelf layout in.. 110" long with a about 60" on the right angle. (Then there is the cavernous shed and garage to consider in time...)

Great! The biggest layout I have ever planned!! but.. what to do?

I've been dabbling in various scales and gauges over the last few years with the excuse that I was trying them out. Maybe the time has come to assess and make a choice. Which also means getting rid of some stuff :-)

HO American.. with DCC and sound where possible.. switching various cars around. N scale American with the Kato unitrack I invested in.. more railway in the same space..3mm scale. All handbuilt stuff..stick to 14.2mm (I haven't managed to complete a working chassis yet), or try the easier 12mm gauge route? And then do I go for Light Railway..classic branch terminus.. industrial exchange. Or... take the far easier route of OO? Or try EM? (I've discounted N UK outline, having tried a little inglenook) OR.. OO9.. a quaint railway in the landscape.. or try out 7mm NG ? ..Easier to handle. Gn15 feels like it needs the micro layout treatment. On30? Like the bashability but yet to be inspired with a setting.
Some list-writing, box-checking and head-scratching to follow no doubt.

It's a nice dilemma to have though.

the shame of not updating

2010-04-26T08:37:00.005+01:00

If you're going to have a 'blog' you really ought to keep it up to date. Actually - have been doing a few bits here and there.. started on an American shortline HO layout and Ulthwaite has moved on to pastures new. But we are moving house soon - everything is packed away and modelling time is zero. Once we are in and I have unpacked, hopefully can get on with all the projects. And keep this up to date! In the meantime.. I came across May's Model Rail.. mentioned on Chris Nevard's site.. it features a host of micro layouts and a 3mm finescale! A bumper issue for me this month!

Elston Road coming along

2009-10-11T10:39:00.003+01:00

Slowly but surely adding bits here and there to Elston Road... mostly tidying up. I thought it was perhaps time for a quick update though - a couple of pictures of all three feet of the layout (one from each side) to show the overall effect, and one of the shed built by Marshalls Agricultural Supplies.

Running is much improved after a deal of fettling.. but still a bit fiddly.

Elston Road, 3mm Micro in the sun

2009-07-05T12:07:00.004+01:00

Grabbed a few minutes in the sun to take some pistures of progress on 'Elston Road', my 3 foot long, 3mm scale layout. (Should have built 'Trewyzes')
I am trying to capture a rather down and out 'end of the line' Light Railway halt. The passenger services ceased some time ago, only light goods and coal accompany regular vans to and from the private siding (shed under construction). the passenger halt is based on one at Ashover, the 'office' is based on a plan in the 3mm Society magazine - a building once at Lowdham. The shed is pure conjecture!
Despite many frustrations and doubts as to my wisdom in trying 3mm finescale over EM, overall I'm quite pleased so far. I've had to replace a couple of tie bars and this has caused some derailments.. much fettling to be done.
Finally, my first ever chassis under construction (3mm again). It will go under a whitemetal J72 one day. Thanks to Phil Parker for some top tips.

Overview of Elston Road, all three feet of it.

The Shed under construction

View of the 'yard' area.

The disused passenger halt.

The office, based on a building at Lowdham.

No signals or gates required on this quiet lane.

A view from the end of the layout.

The line used to continue beyond the camera until a few years ago.

Don't laugh! First attempt ever.

I have been doing things, honest!

2009-06-27T18:04:00.005+01:00

I finally thought I should get around to doing some updates and my camera battery died!
I hope to get some pictures of the 3mm layout up soon, and maybe some other bits I've been working on. Meanwhile, I got a few pics of Ulthwaite anyway.. some scenic work has been done.

This is an A1 brass body kit - my first soldered construction. Obviously a bit of work to do yet..

Some scenics at the Left hand side of the layout, entrance to fiddle

At the other end. I found this coal lorry amongst some stuff passed to me by 'Versif' some time ago. Already labelled up for 'Cumberland' - perfect!

An overall view back over the layout. looking a lot greener now.

Finally, the new coach, a recent ebay purchase.. again, a lot of work to do but it 'fits' well I think.

Next up, some 3mm stuff I reckon.

I really must learn how to post properly on here - not keen on this layout at all.

Pot Pourri..

2009-03-08T19:11:00.002Z

Didn't realise it had been such a long time since the last post. Just a few pictures this time.. Firstly, The latest 3mm 'project' (more on this next time!)

Next up, just a couple of views from Ulthwaite..

Some activity at Ulthwaite..

2008-12-21T15:31:00.003Z

On the Right hand side, Dawsons Coal & Coke Merchants - hut bashed from a Wills signal box I think.

Bob, the Newlands & Borrowdale Rwy diesel, has had a colour change..blue suits it much better.

Mr and Mrs Harrison just missed the morning train. They're not talking.

A new sheep wagon, bashed from an Egger or Liliput low open.

A Liliput bash created N&BRwy brake van no.1

The local farmer (gone missing for now) is collecting from the small loading dock on the Left hand side.

An overall shot.

Katie arrives with the old four wheel coach for the lunch time train.

Ulthwaite gets some attention

2008-11-23T10:07:00.004Z

I can't believe it's been so long since I last posted. lots of reasons.
Anyway.. despite a serious think about the future of Ulthwaite. The handlaid track just wasn't succesful enough and the original board could have been better. So, I built a new baseboard and laid the track using Peco 009. At this point I lost a bit of motivation.(should have wired up points etc).. however recently I decided to plough on.It's only small (total layout including 'fiddle' area is only 4 feet long).
Done the backdrop on my own printer - which means you can see the joins.. but I don't mind.

Ballasting and some basic scenic work done so far. It all looks a bit grey but maybe that's not a bad thing. I'm hoping to place a large tree over the exit and another smaller one near the water tank.
Lots more to do yet including small details like people and clutter.

Main thing is - I'm enjoying this layout again.

Backdrop picture

2008-07-03T18:04:00.002+01:00

Whilst on holiday in the Lakes last year, I took a series of photos of Coniston, hoping to be able to stitch them together into a panoramic thingy.
Recently I downloaded a bit of software called 'Hugin' which did a very nice easy job. A little bit of cropping and I hope I have a perfect backscene for my Ulthwaite layout! I know it's Coniston rather than Derwentwater.. but seeing as Ulthwaite is fictional...

Ulthwaite station building

2008-06-19T20:07:00.002+01:00

Whilst I'm still a little undecided whether or not to soldier on with 'Ulthwaite' as it is (or start again using peco track), I figured I might as well keep moving with some of the stock and buildings. I've made a start on altering and repainting a Roco steamer, plus Bob the diesel and a couple more wagon kits, but earlier I decided to take paintbrush to the proposed station building. The photo is cruel and shows me where I need to do a bit more, but I'm quite happy. (Must add a pot to that chimney). This is a pretty unmodified Auhagen kit - an HO scale little german halt. I liked the idea of a wooden building and felt that a paint job and a few details might help to locate it. Bearing in mind that there were a number of German miners around Keswick, I don't mind a slightly continental look to it..

Plankerton Wharf pictures

2008-06-11T14:04:00.003+01:00

I 'finished' Plankerton Wharf some time ago..just thought I ought to post some pictures. Overall I'm pleased with the grotty trackwork and ground cover.. a mixture of ash ballast and filler.. and a generous spray of red oxide, black and grey car primers.

Endal Street shoebox gets some attention

2008-06-11T13:21:00.003+01:00

As well as fiddling about with the tricky problems presented by the turntable and sector plate.. I took advantage of a new printer to make up some scenic 'flats' to set the scene in this little shoebox layout.

Much more serious work to do really first, like getting the trackwork right.. but I couldn't resist..it helps to give an impression of where I'm going with it.
I also chopped up a big cardboard box to make one for Endal Street.. it may not be an actual shoebox.. but the dimensions are similar.

Ulthwaite - more work

2008-05-11T15:53:00.003+01:00

The Lake District layout is now known as 'Ulthwaite'. (There may be a real Ulthwaite.. but it's not this one!) Been fettling the track and testing all my stock to make sure there aren't too many needless derailments. It's actually working a lot better than I thought. but I do keep wondering if I'd be better ripping it up and laying some 'proper' track. Started to mock up some buildings etc to get a feel for how things are going to look. I like the fiddle exit between two cottages , rather than under a bridge (which was my first thought). Also been thinking about operating sequences to plan any further purchases.

Lake District 009 project starts to take shape..

2008-05-08T08:57:00.004+01:00

For once, I've actually put a bit of planning into a layout. The setting is somewhere in the northern part of the English Lake District..Borrowdale perhaps. A fictitious narrow gauge light railway built to haul ore/slate from the hills to an interchange at Keswick also makes revenue through general traffic. This little village terminus sees coal, goods and sheep being transported, as well as a few passengers and some tourists/walkers. It also is a place for small engines pulling ore skips from up the valley to run around before continuing off down towards the interchange.. The board is recycled from a previous layout. I laid a layer of camping groundmat down, which proved to be a bit of a nuisance once I started to install the GEM wire-in-tube point control, and may well infuriate me further when scenic work starts. The track is a first for me - all hand-built copper clad soldered construction. I've just started testing and fettling to make sure everything is running properly before I start ballasting or painting (a process which will hide the rough appearance of the track at the moment). I kind of wish I had tried this track building lark out in a larger scale to start with.. but why not jump in at the deep end eh?

Something for the weekend?

2008-05-05T21:35:00.003+01:00

A diversion the other weekend.. thinking I'd like a quick project, I spotted a spare little pine shelf about 570mm long. A bit of foam core.. a chopped up cereal packet.. some quickly laid track, a scattering of a few scenic bits and within the next couple of days this little N scale 3-2-2 inglenook layout was born. Good fun!

Endal Street - a dual gauge shoebox layout

2008-03-07T13:50:00.004Z

One of my favourite designs on Carl's micro site is 'Endal Street'.. an ambitious shoebox plan from Jon Songoygard in Norway.
It features dual gauge track running through cobbled streets and overhead electrics. In a moment of madness I thought I'd give it a go! (Like I haven't got enough started)..
I figured it might be quite nice to try and build it using foamcore and card/paper. The turntable and sector plate might present some difficulties.. but I'll worry about that later.
So far, box built, track built (soldered construction). Next step.. worry about the turntable and sector plate!

I really don't know if I'll pull this off.. but it's worth a try.

Some 009 stock

2008-02-24T20:42:00.005Z

Been a while since last update (a Hard drive crash didn't help!).

One of the projects I've been planning is a 009 layout. At the moment a fictitious railway set in the Lake District is a likely candidate. I know I need some quality stock to get the best out of this scale so I bought a Dapol N gauge 45xx loco and A chivers WHR Russell kit and prayed they would fit!

As it happens, they do! I haven't extended the pony trucks, although I might.. but I don't mind that it's not a direct copy of Russell, just that it looks good and runs well. Seen here posing on 'Maunfoot' - a 009 micro layout.
New problem - the stock I had built so far all looks really tiddy next to this new loco (temporarily named Edith until I get some nameplates). I might end up anglicising the Liliput HOe stuff, or simply stick to a larger prototype. I quite like the Ashover anyway, so maybe that's the way to go..

A bit more 3mm

2008-01-01T15:16:00.000Z

The last couple of weeks have seen some progress on my 3mm 'project'. I've laid a length of test track on a spare pine shelf. It's just 585mmx140mm, but enough for an A4 point and a little bit of track either side. The idea was to have a go at 'properly' handlaying solder constructed track before starting on a layout.

The sleeper built buffers tops are scratchbuilt in plasticard. I figured it was easier than trying to make up rail built ones!

It's 14.2mm gauge (3mm finescale), the rails are 3mm society code 60 bullhead, a lot easier to work with than I thought it would be. The switch isn't elegant but it serves it's purpose. I plan to hide it anyway.

The Y6 tram has had a paint job and some extra roof detail. A little bit of detail paint work to tidy it up and that's done. I'm really pleased with it.

Some progress in 3mm scale

2007-12-15T12:45:00.000Z

Plankerton Wharf continues to be attended to ..been adding card 'concrete' surface. But last week I was off work with a chest infection which actually gave me a bit of modelling time.

As well as planning my 009 project (and doing some small work on Maunfoot - more of which later).. I decided to do something about some 3mm bits awaiting attention.

I had discovered an old RM article by the Rev Awdry online about his sctrachbuilt 'Toby' based on a Y6 tram loco and decided to give it a go...

I already had a 14.2mm gauge Halling motor bogie from 3SMR and designed a plastic card body 'kit' to fit around it. It's not deadly accurate but I feel gives a nice representation of a Y6. I like it anyway!

I figured I might try fitting Greenwich couplings to my 3mm stock (all of two wagons and this loco). At first I was a bit concerned that they might be too Narrow Gauge in style.. but I'm really pleased with the results. Must buy more!
For more information about 3mm scale modelling (the 'modellers' scale'), see the society website.. http://www.3mmsociety.org.uk/index.htm

Presenting...Plankerton Wharf

2007-11-25T15:43:00.000Z

A couple of days off work..a few spare bits of wood, foamcore and track..Actually, I had prepared this little shelf beforehand, with the intention of finding a substitute for Middle Street which used to sit on my computer shelf. After much umming and ahing, measuring and doodling, I settled on this plan.
Basically it's a little shunty plank for OO. There is no puzzle as such, movements are generated using a simple grid and a twenty sided dice. I use five wagons and four 'spots' to place them, rolling for each move generates enough interest for a little gentle shunting of an evening (as you do!)
The plan,as you can see, is definitely on the micro side of things..

The 'fiddle is a Peco loco lift which extends off the side (a handy steal for another few centimetres..)

Which can be hidden by this portable 'screen' but it interferes with things a little..

The headshunt is limited to a loco and two wagons..

More scenics to go..(mainly some kind of concrete), but no backscene is intended as this is supposed to be really easy to store!

Begin Again...

2007-11-24T11:48:00.000Z

Fed up with faffing with the orginal website, which is just about full and needs an overhaul anyway. It seems like a good idea to get with the kids and have a go at this blogging thing. I only intend to use it to post pics and updates on modelling projects. Be back soon with some stuff on this last week's project.. a little shunty shelf in OO.