Outwell Village (W&U Tramway)

As Rippers touched on above more stock is in the process of being built to run on Outwell. This being two more coaches seen on the tramway, a four wheel version and a bogie coach. Both come in the kit from D&S Models which sadly are no longer available, and are in brass and white metal.




This is one of the end sections, with the hand rails fitted ready to fit to the sides



Much further on and the body is assembled along with the steps, also with the detail on the sides complete vents windows etc. I do this before bringing it all together as I find it much easier on the flat.

How are you getting on with the kits? I built a couple in 4mm a while back and they were an absolute joy. I have a couple to build in 7mm and they are builds I'm really looking forward to.

Everyone I know who's built D & S kits speaks highly of them but I've rarely seen any thread on a build.

Brian

These are the second pair I will have built, the verander railings are the fiddley bits. Ihave also built two horse boxes and a passenger brake from the same manufacturer all have been a pleasure to build. They can be seen in the photo's of Outwell

SteveO said:

Another big fan of Drewrys I see! The W&U layout is lovely and atmospheric. I'm interested to read more about the one illustrated above – looks incredibly well detailed.

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That Drewry isnt a W&U one (it was a Sunderland loco much of its life) and was one of the first BR locos I built for operation on Walker Marine .

The model is a much improved Dapol kit body on Branchlines etched chassis (I even built much of the underframe detail not included in either kit using drawings and photos as a guide).

As with most models that you slave over for months as RTR example came out within a few months and it spent most of its working life on the layout being mistaken for a Bachmann one!

As a model it probably seems a bit dated now and has suffered 10 years of handling. However it still exists and is fully working (in fact it is glaring at me from the display cabinate as I type ). Perhaps I should dust it off and put it in front of the camera.

Wow! I have a half-started kit in the loft of one of those Dapols - you've done a cracking job on it!

Yes please, photos required. Show me yours and I'll show you mine!

As a layout Outwell is proving somewhat popular on the circuit since we re-launched with with reworked scenics and two completely different periods of stock. Invites once again stretch a few years into the future. Which is good as it gives up plenty of time to work on its follow up.

However one issue that we have encountered is with the running which we just could not get to be as reliavble and smooth as we wanted it to be for the viewing public. This is partly down to the fact that some of the track and in particular the turnouts are showing signs of wear after 15 years plus years in use. Plus that they were built with generous clearances suited to rtr wheels whereas a lot of the wheelsets we use now are a lot finer.

Thus after deciding that there is only so much we could do with minor tweaks to both stock and track we decided that as the layout has a few clear months before it is due out again it was time to be brave and to sort the issue once and for all !.............hence it is time to Unbuild the layout!


Hence it was out with the toys for a destructive evening 0f snipping wires and destroying the track work.



Initial thoughts were to really carefully remove and scape back to the cork base up to the edge of the ballast only.



Hence the concentrated use of chisel and vacuum clearer in unison....



However as we found the cork wasn't actually too well glued in place in some locations which is probably why the track work wasn't so level in places. Thus our minimalistic intentions regarding impact on the environment were given a rethink..........and an arsenal of more destructive tools employed.



Couple of evenings and we had just about ruined the layout good a proper!

Given the level of destruction we decided to do all we could to ensure level foundations.......





It has also given us the opportunity to attend to the baseboard joint on the scenic section which thanks to the wood work of Colin Stark in creating a tailor made infill attached to one of the boards the chasm in the scenery should hopefully disappear.

First task was the laying of fresh cork which made for a good test of the strength of the baseboards.


As you might imagine it was well glued after this little lot!



Now its just a matter of actually remembering where the tracks were and indeed are supposed to go back and then build it all!



Oh and as its due out at a show in February we best get our collective skates on...........



No pressure then!

Ah. I thought you were going to turn it into a cycle way or build an industrial park .

That's the Fens for you - no matter how much you sand the baseboard, you'll never get it as flat as the real thing!

Another evening and thanks to a supply of tea and mince pies, not to mention Mally having nothing better to do this afternoon than act as PW gang the layout is coming on a bit.


No hanging about when time is tight.



Even the lack of the layouts owner joining us this evening hasn't slowed progress.



The first section is now already in and drying ......... the rest of the track work will hang off this bit!.

Looking good chaps, see you Monday

Very brave indeed taking a superb looking layout back to baseboard level! I wish you all the very best of luck with the rebuild. I hope it brings you the superb running you seek to match the great looks.

Another evening, a copious amount of tea and biscuits and at least one Gingster's pasty later and the track work is progressing!..


The yard is now sprouting from the initial turnout installed during the previous evenings work session.



Note most of what is going in is being built in situ and using the longest lengths of rail we can so as to reduce the number of joints to a minimum.



The check rails are are in on the road crossing too so that we can make a start on the infill just as soon and the wiring and testing is done.



The upgrade isn't all track as a couple of scenic features have also been identified for changing such as the pill box which will be replaced with this model of the correct pattern (well once it itself has been modified to a brick construction one to match that which was on the real site).

The more observant amongst you will have noticed that the sleeper's top surface in the pointwork have not been cut before the second rail was added. That's the price (Sorry Alan) us electricians have to pay when a fitter has been let loose unsupervised.

Another evening of fun and games in the ERFG playroom and you can hopefully see some progress..........



What you see pays testament to a few burnt finger and swear words on Mallys part over the last couple of days.



All done with the longest lengths of rail we can so as to minimise the joints.



All this and the we are going to hide most of it in the weeds!




Oh and this tin was full at the start of the evening......... the stores cupboard is running down so time to restock with seasonal calories!



Still, it is now starting to look something like a layout!

Coming together nicely, I like all the antique weights etc

Phil

Rippers said:

…..Oh and this tin was full at the start of the evening......... the stores cupboard is running down so time to restock with seasonal calories!….

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Seasonal calories? How about a Regional tin - this Stewarts one is more suited to the fens than that great viaduct…..

Osgood said:

Seasonal calories? How about a Regional tin - this Stewarts one is more suited to the fens than that great viaduct…..

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Strange you choose that tin with that picture on it. That person driving the tractor could be Alan.

Phil.c said:

Coming together nicely, I like all the antique weights etc

Phil

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Yup, the weights are a somewhat eclectic selection of weights from old shop scales, some engineering test pieces, even a few wagon plates. But really handy for the job in hand.