4mm Morfa - The race is run.
- Thread starter Neil
- Start date
MartinWales
Western Thunderer
Thanks for the Flickr link Neil! Some belters there!
Neil
Western Thunderer
Last night a bunch of mates (and their wives) from the Corris turned up to play trains. After drinking and dining on the terrace we headed upstairs to the railway room. Normally playtime is just buggering about running whatever takes our fancy, but for last night I thought I'd put a bit of effort in beforehand. First step was a better tidy up than usual (not set the bar too high then) followed by a quick look at 2D53, in particular the timetable section, Cambrian Coast, winter 75/76. It gave me a framework to hang on fictional trains that I wanted to blend into the real services of the time. As well as putting together a believable timetable, I added signs to give a sense of location and made sure that coupling hooks, bright led torches and reading glasses were deployed at strategic locations.
Now ordinarily I struggle with the notion of being organised, I like creative chaos and don't fit well with structure, but the session went quite well once we got into it. I really needed an extra DMU but the pattern of service of trains in alternate directions during the working day meant that we could get by with one unit shuttling back and forth, at least until it failed. It gave an excuse for further running of a loco and two Mk1s to fill the gaps. Extra trains up the branch and engineers working gave opportunities to get tied up in knots and a spirited debate about the rights and wrongs of leaving the brake van on the main while shunting.
Was it a success? Today I've made a start on snagging, to sort out why stuff derailed where it did. I'm only part way through the list but have already sorted three track defects that looked to be sporadic one offs until regular running highlighted repeat problems. But even allowing for these problems the railway has run better than usual as I spent quite some time just doing the basics like thoroughly cleaning the track. I'm not sure that I'd want to do timetables that often, without scenery the unadulterated passage of DMUs back and forth, which happens for quite a bit of the day, can lack interest after a while.
Now ordinarily I struggle with the notion of being organised, I like creative chaos and don't fit well with structure, but the session went quite well once we got into it. I really needed an extra DMU but the pattern of service of trains in alternate directions during the working day meant that we could get by with one unit shuttling back and forth, at least until it failed. It gave an excuse for further running of a loco and two Mk1s to fill the gaps. Extra trains up the branch and engineers working gave opportunities to get tied up in knots and a spirited debate about the rights and wrongs of leaving the brake van on the main while shunting.
Was it a success? Today I've made a start on snagging, to sort out why stuff derailed where it did. I'm only part way through the list but have already sorted three track defects that looked to be sporadic one offs until regular running highlighted repeat problems. But even allowing for these problems the railway has run better than usual as I spent quite some time just doing the basics like thoroughly cleaning the track. I'm not sure that I'd want to do timetables that often, without scenery the unadulterated passage of DMUs back and forth, which happens for quite a bit of the day, can lack interest after a while.
Neil
Western Thunderer
Today I put my toys away. Having spent a lot of time dusting and cleaning stock left out on Morfa I've got everything back in boxes. I've made a list of things to repair and faults whilst all was still fresh in my memory, but I don't want to repeat the mistake of leaving everything out to gather dust while I wait for time and motivation to get on with jobs. Meanwhile here are a pair of photos of the DMU on its way from storage sidings to a place where I could make an easy transfer from layout to stock box.
Neil
Western Thunderer
Out from the toy box yesterday afternoon were a pair of shoc opens. Built years ago as 00 models the conversion to EM hadn't worked as well as I had hoped. Neither wagon rolled easily, a vigorous push would send them all of two inches along the track. I diagnosed catching brake shoes.
With the wheels out I could see that the brake shoe mouldings weren't well set up and a bearing had gone missing. The brake shoes and their linking moulding were pulled away from the floor and solebars. Those bits that refused to budge being ground away with a diamond coated burr.
With the missing bearing reinstated the wagons were wheeled up and what a change, both can be scooted great distances round my train set with a modest shove. My next task will be to trawl through my vast collection of underframe sprues to find replacement brake shoes.
With the wheels out I could see that the brake shoe mouldings weren't well set up and a bearing had gone missing. The brake shoes and their linking moulding were pulled away from the floor and solebars. Those bits that refused to budge being ground away with a diamond coated burr.
With the missing bearing reinstated the wagons were wheeled up and what a change, both can be scooted great distances round my train set with a modest shove. My next task will be to trawl through my vast collection of underframe sprues to find replacement brake shoes.
Neil
Western Thunderer
A spot of investigation, measuring and thinking has thrown light on why the brakes were binding. I have an idea that I may have changed the brake gear over from four or two shoe gear to clasp brakes, but because of the depth of the sub floor, the bit that gives the impression of open under frame, the brake shoes and their support were riding 2mm too low. I've found some spare mouldings which I'll modify by cutting down by 2mm. Pictures will follow once done.
Neil
Western Thunderer
Here's how I tackled the job.
Imm square strip stuck to the rear of the moulding level with the top of the carrier.
Once set the shoes separated and the middle section discarded.
The lower section under the 1mm strip cut away and thrown away.
The individual brake shoes stuck either side of the wheelset and tweaked so that the wheels would rotate freely.
Finished wagon on the left, still to do on the right. Once both have their bake shoes fitted I'll get out the paints to blend new parts with old, I'll also slosh some paint over the wheels as they're rather new and shiny.
Imm square strip stuck to the rear of the moulding level with the top of the carrier.
Once set the shoes separated and the middle section discarded.
The lower section under the 1mm strip cut away and thrown away.
The individual brake shoes stuck either side of the wheelset and tweaked so that the wheels would rotate freely.
Finished wagon on the left, still to do on the right. Once both have their bake shoes fitted I'll get out the paints to blend new parts with old, I'll also slosh some paint over the wheels as they're rather new and shiny.
Steph Dale
Western Thunderer
Eugh - that DMU's got a face like a slapped ar**. But I find I like its character and think it's a cracking model; now then, I wonder who makes one in 7mm...
To be honest your photo in post #717 also gives a lovely feel for what's to come. Despite the visible timber I still think it's cracking view that for a split second had me wondering if it was real and imagining the slamming doors, increase in engine note and little squeal as she powers away on the curve.
Great stuff!
Steph
To be honest your photo in post #717 also gives a lovely feel for what's to come. Despite the visible timber I still think it's cracking view that for a split second had me wondering if it was real and imagining the slamming doors, increase in engine note and little squeal as she powers away on the curve.
Great stuff!
Steph
Waveydavey
Member
How did you build the steel shock wagon? Is it a chop job on a Parkside kit?
Cheers
David
Cheers
David
Neil
Western Thunderer
Worryingly I'm not sure. I think it uses some Parkside chassis bits, but I may have cut the chassis centre myself as it looks a little wonky in places. The body may also come from a kit; I seem to have some memory of applying the body side dimples from punchings of thin plasticard. It was built a long time ago.
Neil
Western Thunderer
This week I 'av mostly been rebuilding a bathroom.
While paint was drying I managed to finish off the shock opens. I'm quite pleased that I got a reasonable colour match for the wheels and new brake shoes to the original underframe gunge.
A start has been made on the foundations for the occupation crossing which marks where Morfa morphs into Abertafol.
I have also fashioned a toga in a rather fetching shade of mottled green.
While paint was drying I managed to finish off the shock opens. I'm quite pleased that I got a reasonable colour match for the wheels and new brake shoes to the original underframe gunge.
A start has been made on the foundations for the occupation crossing which marks where Morfa morphs into Abertafol.
I have also fashioned a toga in a rather fetching shade of mottled green.
Muddysblues
Western Thunderer
Hi Neil, Craig here from Pwllheli, I keep meaning to come & meet you along with Martin "Wales" Jones, where do you reside in this fair Principality ?
Best regards
Craig,
Best regards
Craig,
Muddysblues
Western Thunderer
That Park Royal unit is a cracking model
Neil
Western Thunderer
I've been steadily whittling down the list of things to do, finishing off the card base for the occupation crossing and getting the platform ready to stick down. Though it's satisfying there didn't appear to be much change to the layout; this all changed after tea. An hour applying the poly bead and glue mix and the landforms are in from Abertafol to the estuary side of Morfa.
I mentioned that I have been working on the platforms, it's been applying the home printed stone and brick papers to the edges.
They're from the huge range of textures available as a free download from CG Textures. There's a huge range and I've only scratched the surface, but I think it's potentially a goldmine.
I mentioned that I have been working on the platforms, it's been applying the home printed stone and brick papers to the edges.
They're from the huge range of textures available as a free download from CG Textures. There's a huge range and I've only scratched the surface, but I think it's potentially a goldmine.
adrian
Flying Squad
Thanks for that - I think! My printer is going to take a hammering. The range is incredible, although there are some nice overcast autumnal skies to add to my dilemma of photo vs painted back scene!
Neil
Western Thunderer
Today's latest news from scenery in a hurry productions .....
...... toga deployment. After a bit of a blind alley polyfiller-ing over the sticky balls as an intermediate stage I decided to try the dyed flannelette sheet straight on top of the poly beads. Result!
A further blind alley was encountered in the use of scissors to trim off the surplus sheet, swapping to a fresh blade in the craft knife a few inches in gives a far cleaner result.
I have to confess that I've used a similar technique years ago, then managed to forget all about it until the last couple of weeks. Though I've only done a small strip at the front I do like how it makes Morfa look a little more finished.
...... toga deployment. After a bit of a blind alley polyfiller-ing over the sticky balls as an intermediate stage I decided to try the dyed flannelette sheet straight on top of the poly beads. Result!
A further blind alley was encountered in the use of scissors to trim off the surplus sheet, swapping to a fresh blade in the craft knife a few inches in gives a far cleaner result.
I have to confess that I've used a similar technique years ago, then managed to forget all about it until the last couple of weeks. Though I've only done a small strip at the front I do like how it makes Morfa look a little more finished.
Rippers
Western Thunderer
Broad Sword
Western Thunderer
Well done Neil. Looks like you will pulling out all the "stops" to reach completion.
