About Me

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When i left school back then i was lucky enough to enroll on an engineering apprenticeship. I think this lead me in good stead. I was always one of those children that pulled things apart but actually put them back together again. My first engine given to me at the age of Seven, a Triang Princess Elizabeth. The rest as they say is History. Later in life i got back in to Model Railways and started building Pine Road. This could lead anywhere so i hope you enjoy my Blog.

Tuesday 28 June 2016

4TC set

Well, when i saw this, well i mean, i'm sorry but it just had to be. I just had to get one. I have the 33/1 and what with building Parkstone, one day the mainline. i think will have to be built as well.
How many time's in those days did i ride behind one of these.

http://www.kernowmodelrailcentre.com/p/54987/32-641Z-Bachmann-Class-491-4-TC-Unit-number-404-BR-Blue-and-Grey  

Monday 27 June 2016

Pine Road. Some more photographs

Some more overall shots of the Layout, starting from the station around to the Fiddle yard. Incase anyone is interested the Layout is 9' x 8'2"   







Sunday 26 June 2016

Pine Road

I thought it was time that i posted up some Photographs of "Pine Road", Some of you may not know it. It has been to a couple of Exhibitions and was featured in Railway Modeller back in April 2016.

The pride of the line Adams Radial No 3520 awaiting it's next turn of duty. Sitting quietly in the sunshine outside Lyme Regis engine shed



A view looking towards the Station

The Bridge Inn
                                                     John busy in the garden                                         
A couple of Black and white shots


 Lyme Regis Goods shed

Taken from Moreton signal box near Wareham

And the Blacksmiths Thatch cottage
 Will post up some more soon. Some thing have changed slightly so really need to get the camera out and take some new shots.

I will do another post soon some of the stock used on the line. a lot of it is kit built by my own fair hands.

Friday 24 June 2016

Adams 02 ooops

Ok so, who noticed that i hadn't put the Clack valves on. It suddenly occurred to me last night that there are 2 holes in the side of the boiler. mmm some thing missing.


Curtesy of Mr Romford they are fitted. Happy Days!

Thursday 23 June 2016

Adams 02 finished

An update on the South Eastern Finecast's Adams 02. Yes, she's done. I'm over the moon with this, it has turned out really well and she runs like a dream. A coat of satin varnish, a driver crew and some real coal in the bunker really sets her off. No 199 was one of the 1891 batch numbered 196-210. No199 was withdrawn in December 1962 .she was an Exmouth shedded engine.
   It's a minefield, i thought the Adams Radial's were of the Heinz 57 variety but the 02's seem to be just as bad. I have just read with horror that No 199 may have been fitted with "motor train equipment" at one time but was removed some time after 1903. Phew panic over.
   I do feel for the RTR manufactures and what they have to put up with. The public complaining about the price, detail differences, paint colours and dimensions. It's not until you have a go at a kit that you realise what goes in to building and putting together one of these things, Hats off to them    

 Driver wondering when he is going to start work.
A front end view. I chose No199 as i read some where that she quite often stood in for the Adams Radial on the Lyme Regis branch if the two Adams were out of use.
 Ready for work on "Pine Road"
Just couplings to put on and debating weather to fit the glass windows, "mmm" i should i think.
 
Choo Choo! Bells in the signal box ringing, whistle blows and off she goes on her maiden journey.
Just how it should be

Sunday 19 June 2016

Asking to be modelled

I have this tendency to take picture's of all sorts of wierd and wonderfull oddments especially these days when you have a camera in your pocket virtually all the time.

So here is a small selection of those oddments that are just asking to be modelled at some time.

If anyone care's to have a go at any of these email me the picture's and i will post them up.












Lining the 02

I won't acknowledge to be the best at this, i suppose it's practice, practice, practice. Lining out the 02 was a job i was not looking forward to but you don't learn unless you have a go. So without further a do, here she is

The camera is a horrible thing it shows up lots of things that as we all know are not really their


At a normal viewing distance it doesn't look to bad. i'm rather pleased with the result. Transfers tomorrow, handrails and a coat of varnish and she's done ready for action on Pine Road.   




Friday 17 June 2016

The ubiquitous Transit Van

Got the shooter's Harry. Bought one of Oxford Diecast Transit vans, Well you just can't have a late seventy's layout without one. It just wouldn't be cricket now would it. But of course as with all Oxford's vehicle's it was very shiny out of the box. So, after a bit of weathering, flattening down, todays "Sun" thrown on the dashboard and applied rust spots this is the result. Your number one "get away vehicle". I wouldn't think a Capri and Sweeney tod are to far away, so come on Dave, Pedal to the metal.    




Thursday 16 June 2016

Trees for Parkstone

Made up these. One big old oak tree
 And a silver birch

Only about another 10 or 12 to go. Happy Days

Monday 13 June 2016

shedding affairs

This was today's project, a shed, funnily enough it's grey as well but only needed the one not fifty.
   In a photo i found of Parkstone there was this in the background. I think it may be slightly higher than it should be but on the whole it's come out well. Not bad for a few hours work.

  Trying to decipher what it was built from, defiantly no corrugated sheeting i think it was probably zinc sheeting the same as the awning roof. As for colours, a pure guess as it was a Black and White photo. It looked very dark, Darker than i have done but Black...Really! The sides are painted with Humbrol Met No 11 which goes on very well and really looks like a metal/aluminium finish.

   Made from Plastikard sheet and strip and some "wet n dry" for the roofing felt. Weathered down with some Humbrol weathering powders. Note to one's self... use different mat/cutting board for these powders as this stuff coats everything and will not come off. I think they should be renamed weathering stains.

Probably a piece of useless information for you but the door knob is from some brass pins that a guy sells on that eBay thingy site on tinternet. He sells all different sizes length's and diameters. I have also found them very useful for valve gear, eek      


Sunday 12 June 2016

Named

Auntie queeny was a bit busy today for the naming ceremony of Parkstone so i had to cut the ribbon myself.



Fun with Foam

I have never used this stuff before but bought a can and thought i would have a go. Take one can of expanding Foam. Be aware very aware, you can see the fumes coming off this stuff as you spray AND it will at the very least triple in size.
 I forgot to take a photo of this stuff after it had expanded ("DoH"). After borrowing the Girlfriends very special bread knife this is the result. Actually quite handy stuff, beats having Polystyrene balls all over the place.
 Mix up some "Gloop" OK so it's Polyfilla and Paint with a bit of PVA added for extra flavour, Bake in the oven at 180° for Two hours basting regulaly, OOOps, sorry, wrong book. Has anyone noticed that spellchecker doesn't know how to spell "flavour".
 Add greenery to taste. Not finished yet but this is a view down the branch towards the pottery.
 I have also added some signs to the Waiting room and weathered it down a bit.

Wednesday 8 June 2016

Trackside Signs

I like these people. I have just ordered the signs for "Parkstone"
I have used them before for Pine Road and they came out very well.
They as a self adhesive label perhaps a bit on the glossy side but nothing that a layer of matt varnish won't solve and it will seal them for prosperity.

Have a look here 

Sunday 5 June 2016

More on Parkstone's roof

Haven't quite decided yet whether this is completely insane, dedication or just plain stupid but, get yourself a sheet of 20thou Plastikard, drill 119, yes i said 119 holes. Then get your craft knife and make 119, yes again 119 45° (Hay, Look at that, just worked out how to do a "degree" symbol) cut. Do another 119 cuts on the other 45° angle and this is what you get.........

 A strip 285mm long
Now to paint then cut it out and stick it on. "HAPPY DAYS".

Off out with Casey now, 
     

Saturday 4 June 2016

Another Parkstone update

I am pleased with how this is coming together, as British rail use to say "we are getting there"
Always very hard to see roofs, i mean, who the hell goes around taking photo's of roofs. According to the drawing it says "roof of 14 gauge zinc sheeting, no mention of any corrugated sheeting.  
The two ends and roof done just the front and back valance to complete. Thankfully there are no "dragons teeth on the back, still a lot of holes though.
The front platform edge where the main down line should be. one day it might get added on but for the time being this is your lot.
Blow me some one took a photo of the roof

The roof originally extended out to the left and the foot bridge was covered as well so you could walk from one side to the other completely in the dry

"That;s all folks" well for now anyway