1/32 Devoran Quay

Simon

Flying Squad
Thank you for the comments, hopefully I'll get out in the garden with it today.

The discs are momentarily removed as they are in the wrong position, currently fitted by means of wire soldered to their rear inserted into holes drilled into smokebox door.

It sounds ungrateful/sacrilegious but I am going to have to have a bit of a fiddle with the smokebox, it needs a numberplate adding and I'm going to give it "proper" lamp irons that discs can be put on to more conventially. And there are currently no rivets either, although it may very well stay that way....

I have found the sound chip I bought from Dave Nicholson which Chris (the builder) wants me to fit up at his place so he can show me how to get in to the inside. I won't mention speakers as he's not a fan of digital sound!

It was displayed in the shop yesterday to show various friends and really does look good, out on the line it will make for a welcome change from D6319, lovely as that is.

Simon
 

Dikitriki

Flying Squad
It's a lovely loco, and I'm pleased that you feel able to fiddle with it. While you are, can I very respectfully suggest that you improve the coupling rods. Maybe by adding a boss, but at least filing a better end radius? It's worthy of better.

Richard
 

Simon

Flying Squad
Richard

I agree, they are on my list of "must change" things.

I am just in for a lunch break from running after an earlier "oiling around". No. 30313 is a nicely geared smooth runner and pretty reliable although in the "down" direction the cant deficiency behind the shed referred to earlier in the thread derails the leading tender wheel every time.

This is in part due to the fact that the chassis is essentially rigid, but I think I might do a spot of track work this afternoon to correct the problem as it does affect other items of stock too.

Notwithstanding these odd issues it looks lovely and today is definitely a happy day of the realization of long held outdoor train set aspirations:)

Simon
 

Simon

Flying Squad
The wonder of blu tac and two Southern headcode discs made by Chris Tolhurst.

Ape1.jpg

They look a bit to big don't they - I expect they are the right size and that the smokebox is a bit small:confused:


I "dug out" the area with incorrect cant and extended the super elevation further into the straight section. All then re-ballasted and it works absolutely perfectly, no more cant deficiency behind the shed:thumbs: I then re-ballasted the several "wash outs" up and down the line, actually they are more likely to have been "peck outs" courtesy of the local bird population.

Ape3.jpg

I then ran a three coach train, continuously without mishap for over half an hour and more circuits than I could count while I carried out lineside clearance:)

Ape2.jpg

Flawed but nonetheless beautiful.

Simon
 

mickoo

Western Thunderer
Not my biscuit, but the engine is respectfully elegant on the eye :thumbs:

How far into the half hour run did you stop noticing the coupling rods and questionable smokebox size, I suspect it wasn't long ;)

Mick D
 

Neil

Western Thunderer
The wonder of blu tac and two Southern headcode discs made by Chris Tolhurst.

They look a bit to big don't they - I expect they are the right size and that the smokebox is a bit small:confused: .....

Will the solution will be smaller discs rather than a bigger smokebox? If it puts the relative proportions back in synch then I'd call it job done.

Also I notice that (upper photo in particular) the reflections on the tender side seem to indicate a slight wave rather than an absolutely flat and true plane. I like this, it's a million miles away from the lifeless, machine made perfect precision of rtr models. I'd far rather have something that shows the hand of man in its production than the imprint of scanner and computer driven machine tool.
 

Captain Kernow

Western Thunderer
Will the solution will be smaller discs rather than a bigger smokebox? If it puts the relative proportions back in synch then I'd call it job done
I agree with Neil, it was just what I was thinking when looking at the photos. I'd not have noticed the smokebox just from the photos you've put up, Simon. The whole effect is superb.
 

Simon

Flying Squad
Worry not, I will be travelling the bespoke discs route!

It got another run this morning before Landrover tinkering with friend Dave commenced, a very pleasing prelude to rust oil and hammering.

You are quite right about the tender sides Neil, it is one of the most pleasing aspects of the model and was, I think, deliberate on the part of the builder to suggest the look of the real thing. The light catching the loco across the garden and illuminating the beautiful livery on the sheet metalwork is just wonderful:)

Simon
 

Simon

Flying Squad
30313 was spotted hauling Nemesis along the line for gauging trials. This run highlighted another track defect which was corrected this evening, involving increasing super elevation on the curve behind the shed. This has also removed an intermittent derailment issue on one of the coaches.

Bolty2.jpg


With the track fettled the down "APE" was allowed through:p

Bolty4.jpg

Actually, this photo reveals another track defect in the form of a raised joint just in front of the locomotive. This doesn't cause any derailments but is definitely on Horace's hit list.

Simon
 

Simon

Flying Squad
Ah yes, then we could have a scratchbuilt barbeque:thumbs:

However I don't think the freezer's big enough and shooting cute animals wouldn't go down too well round here, unfortunately:eek:

Mind you, Harry and I have discussed the merits of pigeon pie on more than one occasion - we might just get away with that....
 

Simon

Flying Squad
Dave Easto came over on Monday, with another bogie bolster:thumbs:

Here we see a demonstration of the benefits of roller bearings, the Ruston was happily pulling this huge train.

bigtrain1.jpg

And here's a goods train with several "nearly there" vehicles in the consist.

bigtrain2.jpg

The PMV is now ready for spraying in topcoat and I have also feathered in the strip of Plastikard that I added to the fourth Mk 1 coach in order to lose the plinth, this is now ready for spraying in green too.

Hoping to try this the week after next with the help of Andrew Vines.

Simon
 

Simon

Flying Squad
Today I fired up the cement mixer for the last time before selling it on, its last job was to prepare the mix for concreting the yard. Here's some track laid out to determine the shape of the job and the likely track layout.

Yard1.jpg

The top stone scraped away ready for the mix, plants cut back and forms laid in either side of the pour.

Yard2.jpg

Mixer doing its thing for the second to last time (Two mixes were required)

Yard3.jpg

Concrete laid out, tamped and floated up, not perfect but everything is going in the right direction level-wise. The very ends of the sidings will project beyond the concrete and be over stone only.

Yard4.jpg

The whole job covered up against the promised rain and cat paw impressions (Dusty had a go before I'd done this but I got there first) The branch bridge abutment bases were put in too.

Yard5.jpg

I am looking forward to uncovering it all tomorrow evening:)

Simon
 
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