2015_07_26 Wind Wind and more Cold!

2015_07_26

Track Planning ?   Well it was too cold to paint and no other work was seemingly possible today so I opened up my latest purchase and checked it out ;)   Aldi at $99. Why were these things as cheap as this 30 years ago. I remember a Badger portable compressor selling for $600 and you had to find a water trap, hoses and spray gun on top :(
This one came like this ;)

  Edit:  Could not see google video so uploaded it to YouTube, might take a few minutes 7.21pm

Track Planning?  Well before I can build any bench work, I need to know how the levels work out. The track on top (window height) will represent a BG track and will be totally isolated from the track below which will represent my NSW part of the layout. The top area will also have a 1.5% descending, SG  track with a passing loop,  that enters the RH Helix at the second top level and runs three times around before exiting into South Grafton. On the way down at the second level

(click on it to make it larger)
So now that I know my levels I can avoid all the troubles that Al helped me overcome last year on the back half of the layout. (typo BG level is 1400)
First thing to do is insulate the West wall, using the green foam board. Then cover it all with board to act as a back board for back scenes.

This is lowest level coming out of Coal siding and representing the move into NSW territory.
(I just had a thought :(  I have very little NSW rolling stock )

The BG track pokes out unsupported,yet.  This is the highest level at 140cm.

Starting to clear an area away to work in. Hoping that this can store underneath when the bench work and track are in place.

This shows the gap where the SG and BG tracks will enter from the older section of the layout. I think I can make this work by dividing the back scenes into two parts.
A smaller backboard will curve around covering the tunnel on the right at a 4 foot radius. I will cut this into the plaster and swing it around till it meets the sceniced area left of picture It can be 6 inches high and a 15 inch backdrop where the ply is against the window. The top half of the scenery attached to the top of that board, whilst the bottom bit goes on the short front section. it will not be perfect, and blue sky can do a lot to hide it too. This gives me access to the hidden tracks which let the spot light remain firmly on the branch line which is heading for a terminal station on the first third of the front wall.
The hidden track behind the terminal station, will be able to be accessed from overhead exactly the same as described in the paragraph above.

2015_07_21

2015_07_21  Cloudy ,not so cold? Am I obsessed with temperature these days?

Ok just fooling around and thinking about what I need to do with these projects. Of course I will concentrate on back drops, but I also need to work on the Depot module, at some time, particularly as most of the materials are coming together.

Backdrops?  Got a part order of 4 drops. I set one up to get an idea how it might look. Pretty pleased actually :)

Pretty happy with that.

Then I started playing around with the round house. Fits well enough. Its an "off the shelf" model after all :)

Although the five roads in the shed line up if I move the shed out this far, it creates problems with where the old shed was set up. Particularly the road this side of the closest wall. Moving the shed in closer is not an option, so looks as if in fact I might have to remove all the shed roads and start again.
Its not easy reusing existing bits in your model empire. Its closely aligned with DCC uses only two wires. You expect using something like this will save you time, but not so. I  now think it is always easier to start over fresh. 

2015_07_20

2015_07_20  Brrrrr!!  starry skies new moon, bright planets hanging below. Was -2.5 C and frosty this morning. Going to be coler tonight I suspect Brrrrr!!

Just went to the shed to take a few pictures. Its 4C outside and 3C in the shed!

Here's a picture story!
Got sound into my first P Class and went to test it, but as luck will have it I got a lemon. Very unusual, now after fitting sound I got to hope Auscision will give me a new bogie to save all that work :)  I am sure they will.

Speaker in place sealed with KrystalKleer and then boxed in with thin (1.5mm thick) styrene also fixed with KK to side of housing. The styrene actually sits flush with the side of the loco which fits to the chassis as easily as it did before the baffle was fitted. Still a gap at top where wiring went in, and a bit of blutac filled that in nicely

Unfortunately the bogie shown here has a lifted wheel (closest) and it does not want to sit down. Will ask if I can pull it apart or if I can have a spare bogie, can't return it after all my work fitting sound, can I? :)

I also dragged South Grafton out of storage and started to sort out where the shed and coaling stage will sit. Need to make a few adjustments to fit both the Coal Stage and the new Engine Shed. Think I better weather it as an old shed. Definitely too bright and shiny for a 70's working shed.

Sitting where it is, I have five roads pretty much in the right place The sixth road furthest from camera is ok for clearance, but the road and pit closest to camera outside shed, will have to be removed 

Bit of fill around the back of shed and Bob's your Uncle!

 Now the Victorian shed that I am going to install in my version of Wodonga is just about perfect :) What do you all think?  I think Stuart deserves a 10, and your business as well ;)

Stuart you are a wizard and I am so thankful that I found you and that I have this stuff. Without you I would be just too far, from finishing this and getting some fun out of it, before my time is up. At least now I have a chance.

Thinking this way, and carrying the theme a little bit further?    I got to thank Auscision, Austrains, Trainorama, SEM, AR, Graeme Hawken, Steve Munro, Roger Lloyd, Brian Chester Johnny Humphreys, John Gilbert, Paul Hawdon,Tony K, and all the people at Hobsons Bay who helped me get so much fun out of this hobby. Thank You All of you especially the ones I missed!
Cheers
Rod Young

Model Train Buildings

2015_07_11

2015_07_11 Stawell

Had a very pleasant drive with Tony from Bendigo to Stawell. Navman took us the shortest route and we traveled on mainly good rural roads and saw perhaps 5 other cars the whole way once we left Bendigo.  Came home the quickest route via main roads and again time was about the same, roads good and traffic minimal. Finished up headed home after a short stay in Bendigo, as Tony was thinking about traveling down to Diamond Valley early for Sunday.

Asks my good friend Brian Chester to help my other good friend Graeme out as we had a Trainbuilder problem. Although Bruce could have sent the model back to China, we decided on a quick fix there and now, which Brian was more than happy to do for us.
Rather than supaglue it, Brian spent an hour and a half scraping all the super glue off so he could low melt solder it back together. I am talking about the Derm bogies that simply fell apart whilst we all tried to fix up a wiring problem.  Thankyou Brian.
And Graeme, Brian is telling you here "You owe me big Time Mister!"

 The shirt says it all :D
Cheers
Rod

2015_07_10 At Bendigo

2015_07_10   Resting on way to Stawell Exhibition

Already blown the Bank at PCB Hobbies Bendigo Thank you Geoffrey :)
Found a few kits to help build the Shell Agents off Osbourne Street
Got another 3 SDS Centurion tanks on flats to complete my military train.

And bit the bullet and ordered a set of 15" high Back scenes from ID

ID-Backscenes

click on

Bought 7 sheets That's 70 feet for !25 pounds air freight paid.  Hope they look as good as pictured ;)

Contents: Length 10 feet in 2 sections x 15 inches high - making one continuous backscene
All 4 packs of series 207 can be used in order to make a continuous 40 feet long backscene (Packs A-B-C-D)
Shot by a professional photographer and printed to a high standard on 160 gsm heavyweight paper, these backscenes add depth and detail to any layout.

Cheers Rod

2015_07_07

2015_07_07  addendum Waiting for my P Class's  :(

Last weekend Graeme came back for more punishment, so we sanded and put a top coat over the cornice plaster joins (which were still slightly damp too.

Now we will leave it for a fortnight so I can attend the Model Railway Show at Stawell

Somebody asked what filler we used that was fast drying?? It was this one :D

Got a text message to tell me a parcel had arrived. Was only waiting for two, and as one was the video cameras from China, and they were post free which usually translates into 4 weeks , I thought the P classes had arrived.. YEIIIII!!

However on arrival at the PO, I found a typical Chinese wrapping and found myself in possession of a pack of surveillance cameras and a DVD recorder. I'm happy but really disappointed that the P's are still not here  :(

Oh well it will give me something to take my mind off the post for a day or two ;)

oops the zoom-able 340 rotation one is coming in a separate parcel it would seem
Cheers
Rod

Addendum  :D (near forgot)  CHILTERN shed arrived (well not really)
We elected to take delivery of it on the Thursday before Caulfield Exhibition when Matt will drive past on the way to the Exhibition, and hand it over / over a cup of coffee at Chiltern Bakery.

This shed will live at Wangenella ;) 
Might get a picture of the two sheds together and post it if we have time. So instead I have 3 pictures to keep me company till then