4mm How to be a Good Son in Law - A 57xx for Christmas

James

Western Thunderer
See how my first thread goes...

My personal layout project is based in North Lincolnshire in the early 1990s, 1992 to be exact. It based on the North Lindsey Light Railway (a little known branch which ran north from Scunthorpe towards the River Humber) and I've amended history just a tad; this leads the way to have much more freight traffic surviving on the branch. Most of the workings will be trip workings to and from Scunthorpe. These workings will be the preserve of class 08s and class 20s.

The first of the class 08s is this -

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Based around one of the original releases of the Bachmann model. The model isn't perfect and lags behind the Hornby model but its running qualities are on a par with a decent kit built loco. For the later style of bonnet doors, the raised area is missing and once this has been added, the difference is huge. This idea was blatantly stolen from Gareth Bayer's article in RailExpress Modeller a few years back - very few of the techniques I use are new, most are copied from elsewhere! The wheels haven't got cranks at this stage as the project was set back somewhat after I dropped the box it was in outside a signal box one morning. Replacements have been sorted!

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Now with new springs and new steps; the steps are a mix of bits of Crownline from a teenage effort which was never very good but useful experience with brass strip and new handrails. All the handrails have been replaced which makes a great difference over the chunky moulded items. The springs are from Tim Horn and are laser cut card and give more depth to the underframe - for a couple of quid they represent great value too!

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Replacement and recovered cranks in place, 'loctited' and quarter. The balance weights are Brassmasters infilled with Milliput. These are from the etch for new rods too which the model will have to replace the chunky Bachmann items.

It's not just diesels of different sizes with cabs and long bonnets, the layout will also have a small number of mainline locos. This is one, a heavily detailed and rebuilt Lima loco -

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Diesel modelling is now made much easier thanks to Brian Hanson's efforts at Shawplan too!

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The fan grilles are superb but very, very delicate!

More updates very soon I hope!
 

AJC

Western Thunderer
Nice work James, especially on the 08 - my kind of loco -but where can you get those springs? I have an 08 in need of a repaint, eventually (Freightliner livery doesn't really fit with what I do...) and I might as well sort this out at the same time. Presumably there will be some form of industrial presence on this railway too? I have some sort of Humberside version of the workings at Margam in mind.

Adam
 

James

Western Thunderer
Thanks Adam :)

The springs can be obtained here -

http://www.timhorn.co.uk/bachmann-class-08-spring-overlay/

The layout will have both BR and BSC locos operation :D Though the on mine the BSC will be confined to their sidings, on the NLLR BSC locos worked between the steelworks and iron stone quarries over BR metals and had done for many years. Only the end of using locally mined ore saw the end of this in the 1980s.

I'll have to post details of it on here (it was mentioned on the 'other place' previously) but for now there's a bit more on my blog -

http://eastmoor.blogspot.co.uk/p/west-halton-sidings.html
 

AJC

Western Thunderer
Thanks James, I knew that I'd seen the layout plan somewhere. I shall have to get hold of some springs...

Adam
 

SteadyRed

Western Thunderer
With a bit of imagination & modellers licence that line would be very interesting. Maybe more rail traffic coming in / leaving from Flixborough Wharf. Maybe the railway ran down to Grove Wharf & Gunness for additional traffic?
 

James

Western Thunderer
Thanks for the comments :)

With a bit of imagination & modellers licence that line would be very interesting. Maybe more rail traffic coming in / leaving from Flixborough Wharf. Maybe the railway ran down to Grove Wharf & Gunness for additional traffic?


My basic premise is that there was a further steelworks, further up the River Trent at Alkborough. Not as far fetched as it sounds as there have been a whole selection of different steel works in the immediate area. By my 1992 I'm assuming, like places such as Skinningrove, that it no longer produces its own steel but instead receives it from the main Scunthorpe site. That way traffic in and out quite regularly :)

Doing this way, rather than a specific location, will allow me to combine various memories and experiences I've had from working in and around Scunthorpe :) And an amazing day out when I was about ten -

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This worked the private branch between Flixborough Wharf and Normanby Park Sidings; through work my Dad knew the Wharf's manager and he arranged a cab ride - perfect for the train mad ten year old! And I've liked class 20s ever since!
 

alcazar

Guest
There was another steelworks served by that line: John Lysaghts, which became BSC Normanby Park.

They had three blast-furnaces, the areas first BOS plant and a formed coke plant linked to the other works by what was then the longest conveyor in the world.
 

James

Western Thunderer
There was another steelworks served by that line: John Lysaghts, which became BSC Normanby Park.

They had three blast-furnaces, the areas first BOS plant and a formed coke plant linked to the other works by what was then the longest conveyor in the world.


And the works there made my additional works seem very logical! :D I've just added another further north. I've also assumed, like Skinningrove, it has survived as it is a little more specialised, hence worth retaining in some capacity. It's a very self indulgent project I admit, but hopefully it'll interest people :)
 

James

Western Thunderer
A little bit of progress!

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Cranks on with rods fitted and triangular fillets added to the steps which make a surprising big difference! The nearest handrail needs straightening though I think. The body is just about ready for painting - need to finish off the compressor cabinet first though. Once the wasp stripes are on, then I'll add the pipework, lights and conduits to the ends to simplify things a little.
 

alcazar

Guest
It takes an age........

Not posted for a month now, I was in France for a fortnight (the photos are here), and brought bronchitis back with me, so never have energy to do anything much....
 

mike knowles

Active Member
Hello James
A very timely thread. As mentioned in my "Hello" message in the new members area I'm building a layout based partly on Boston docks which will incorporate the 03 & 08 shunters as used there. I'll be placing an order for the spring overlays forthwith - so thanks for the heads up.
I'm exhibiting the layout as a work in progress at the Cleethorpes Show on 10th/11th May -hope you can get over so we can have a natter.
 

James

Western Thunderer
I'm lates next weekend but hopefully will be able to manage a trip out on the Sunday - the Cleethorpes show is always a lovely little show :)
 

James

Western Thunderer
It's a little over exposed but you get the idea! It's a present for my small person, Thomas. I rushed taking the photo so he didn't see it!

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It's a tatty Bachmann 08 which I picked up second hand combined with a face from a Tomy Devious Diesel. A simple respray and it's nearly done. Just the steps and couplings and we're done :)
 

James

Western Thunderer
It's a lot more accurate than the "official Thomas" Hornby version!! :)


Maybe I took things too far checking that it had the correct lighting arrangements compared with the pictures in the books!

Even if Small Person doesn't appreciate the finer details yet, I'm hoping he'll like it :)
 
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AJC

Western Thunderer
Maybe I took things too far checking that it had the correct lighting arrangements compared with the pictures in the books!

Even if Small Person doesn't appreciate the finer details yet, I'm hoping he'll like it :)


So, is it P4? ;)

Adam
 
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