Focalplane

Western Thunderer
I have started to work with the printed papers from Kirtley Models. Starting with the rear parapet means that a few errors will be less noticeable and in fact the wall will be further dulled and weathered and have various low relief attachments to hide the most significant errors!

The recommended glue I first used is a gel glue but I was not happy with it so switched to a UHU glue stick and this seems to work better. The photo shows the first efforts with the part in front of the Jubilee being the glue stick variant:

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There is space between the parapet and the sky for various low relief roof tops to be placed, as seen in this photo:

Moor Street Station: Ex-GWR 4-6-0 No 7029 'Clun Castle' is seen working an enthusiasts special, 'The Zulu' on 4th March 1967

Yes, the train is running down the up line but that was to check clearances! The label A represents the down advanced warning signal before Snow Hill tunnel. The down line splits into three at Snow Hill (platform 1, platform 5 and the down through line) but I understand these were controlled by coloured lights in the tunnel during the 1950s.
 

simond

Western Thunderer
Hi Paul

I had something of this form (but rather smaller) in mind

images


this is off a full size car. The flange would fit to the deck, the rigid pin from the carriage would engage in the hole and the ball would rotate a tiny, but not trivial, amount to ensure no jamming.

There are millions of rod-end style balljoints on the www under "r/c car parts" , but I can't find a nice flange type. Maybe the r/c helicopter boys use them?

I think that a fixed vertical pillar, with a grommet on it, placed in a slot in a thick-ish bit of material (plywood?) glued under the deck will probably do nicely - the grommet can be soft rubber and will provide some flexibility and prevent rattles and looseness

something like this?

rubber-grommet-for-cable-tray.jpg


bonne chance!
Simon
 

Focalplane

Western Thunderer
Simon

I can try the pillar plus grommet approach first and see how it works. Not sure when I can get to buy the bits as we have family staying. But I learned that the England-France rugby match has been called off in Tokyo so that means more railway time!

Meantime I cut these out for holding the grommets under each table. The central hole is probably not large enough but I will wait until I find some grommets and then drill to fit. I will also machine a post on the end of the screw thread to make a snug fit with the grommet. The screw is going to be very much shorter in length.

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Focalplane

Western Thunderer
While I was making the "wheels" to hold the grommets (see photo above) I couldn't help but think that four more need to be made. Upstairs we have a 3 month old baby boy visiting with his mum and the idea dawned on me to make a simple wooden truck in time for him to be needing to have one! Is that what we call "lateral thinking"?
 

Focalplane

Western Thunderer
Saturday morning and all the DIYers were out and about, including me. I got everything I needed for the traversers except the grommets. Remembering that the last time I used grommets was in re-wiring a 1952 MG TD I tried several auto shops but no success. So I have ordered some from Amazon, due to arrive Tuesday.

So, with the sun shining I set up a work table outside the front door and started to work on assembling the two motor drives. Nothing electronic yet, just physical attachment to each of the traverser components. The well of one, Platform 3 and relief road, is fixed to the layout while the other has yet to be installed. I am leaving the latter off the layout as it is easier to line everything up.

So here are some photos, first of the fixed deck:

Looking down on the traverser well with the motor module below:

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The view from under the layout:

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And the hole in the well which will provide space for the connection from motor to deck:

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Next the other traverser (platforms 1 and 2). The half inch thick marine play base will need to be accurately positioned when installed.

From above:

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From below:

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And an oblique view:

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The top two nuts allow leveling of the system.
 
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Focalplane

Western Thunderer
I guess you wished you still had the TD!!

Best regards
Mark
Yes! But working around the world meant that I took it with me from Singapore to Houston in 1980 when all those VW fakes flooded the market. Then along came a hurricane and I gave up on restoring cars for simpler pursuits!

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Here is an earlier photo when under restoration in Singapore:

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For my sins I became Hon. Sec. of the Malaysian and Singapore Vintage Car Register for several years before passing on the baton when leaving East Asia. My farewell party was in the original Long Bar at Raffles Hotel - everyone showed up (and drove away in) their vintage/classic cars.

BTW, those radial tyres were put on by the Dutchman whom I bought it from - cross ply tyres were so much better when racing it in Kuala Lumpur in the rain!
 
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MarkR

Western Thunderer
It looks great, I always wanted a TC, when I passed my test, you could get one in "Motor Sport" for c. £200.00, now they are around £25,000 to £30,000!

Apologies for thread drift!

Best regards
Mark
 

Focalplane

Western Thunderer
Let’s stay off topic, it’s Saturday evening! I remember the London Motor Show MG TF being advertised in Motor Sport for a few hundred pounds and not many more miles on the odometer. I had nowhere to keep it and passed. Meantime a good friend, David Baylis, flew from Singapore to Paris to collect a sight unseen early Ferrari 166 Inter V12 with 30,000 kms and in immaculate condition. He drove it home (Hampshire) with no problems. He said that all the nuts and bolts were in original condition, not a damaged part anywhere even though it had been raced successfully in France for several years.

In Singapore we had an interesting collection of rare cars. Members owned such gems as an SS100, a Talbot, a prewar BMW and even a Rolls Royce. Many of these were raced around Malaysian rubber plantations on Sundays, followed by curry tiffin. Ah, those were the days!

My own collection included the MG, a 50% ownership of an XK14o FHC, a Lotus Super Seven and a 1935 Riley 9 saloon.

Tomorrow, on topic!
 
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simond

Western Thunderer
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Since it’s Saturday, here’s MrsD’s 911 (1986), my Moto Guzzi (first registered Dec 1977, currently waiting new rear oil seal so it doesn’t pi55 oil all over the rear tyre), a wonderful beast that has carried ‘er ladyship & I through France & Spain back in 1994, and my recently inherited BMW F650 (1997) which is currently having new tyres, chain, sprockets, pads & discs fitted, and which I will collect on Monday :).

There may be another BMW along soon...
 

Focalplane

Western Thunderer
OK, back on topic are we.

Today seems to have yielded few results but a lot of background work has been done. This evening I did add some scenic bits to Platforms 2 and 3, starting with hand made edge stones and then began to fill the area between with Slaters' paving slabs:

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I also ordered 13 sheets of the Slaters paving stones which I hope will cover all of the station area, including the concourse. They are the right size whereas the edging stones are larger so had to be hand scribed and cut, etc. The paving stones will be painted in 1950s dirty stone with a white stripe along the platform edge.

One of the ironies of modelling the late 1950s is that, unlike most model locations of that era, there were few weeds or indeed any greenery. Waste land would have summer weeds but British Railways seemed to have had a good policy of preventing vegetation from taking hold. So my stash of various scenic greens accumulated for Mid Wales will not come in very useful. But, although the photos don't show any, I think I should add a few weeds in discrete places.
 

Focalplane

Western Thunderer
I should add another reason for there being little vegetation - the entire station was built on the northwestern end of the Bordesley Viaduct. However, when neglected after closure, the platform area soon became overgrown, as shown in photos in the book celebrating the restoration.
 
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Focalplane

Western Thunderer
While waiting on supplies for various projects I went back to wiring point motors today and did one successfully but the second made me question the use of available points and crossings to build the off scene storage loops.

At the moment I have three loops, the third being between the UP and DOWN Mains. Access to the third loop is awkward due to using available points, so the logical thing to do is to relay the track to give four loops, two UP and two DOWN. The existing scissor crossing (also off scene) provides the necessary crossovers in both directions.

The track I will no longer use in the loops may be incorporated into the station, providing a useful storage siding that will benefit from having a station pilot (Thanks, Yorkshire Dave, for the idea).

This really isn't a set back but an improvement that I had already recognized might be necessary.

As a result I will now focus on wiring up the station throat. Then when the order arives, out with the track laying gang!

Other projects will continue as and when. . . . . . .
 

LarryG

Western Thunderer
Vegetation was kept under control in the 1950's, however, a foretaste of things to come came early to the towns and cities that had developed to serve the industrial revolution. By 1959-60 many once busy yards were empty and weed strewn. I can bring to mind most on the Oldham Loop.....Such depressing sights. By 1965, a rail journey from North Wales to Manchester was like travelling through a never-ending bomb-site/council tip!

Whose Mk.I coaches are behind your Jubilee Paul?
 

Yorkshire Dave

Western Thunderer
I would suspect the 1956 Clean Air Act also had an impact by reducing the amount of vegetation controlling grit, dust and other pollutants in the atmosphere.
 

Focalplane

Western Thunderer
Whose Mk.I coaches are behind your Jubilee Paul?

They are Asian built brass coaches, painted by person unknown. I bought the rake of 7 from Steamline. They run well. I have fitted magnetic couplers from Haywood to all but the end coach ends which still have the original couplings to attach to locos.
 

Focalplane

Western Thunderer
This evening I lifted all the track that will be necessary for the relay and cleaned off the Copydex from track base and cork track bed. I also ordered more Copydex, my last bottle having set up and turned brown!

Once the new track arrives it shouldn’t take long to lay and wire up. The additional station siding may not be done straight away.

It would seem logical to wire the pairs of storage loop points to a single lever. This would mean I don’t need to buy any more levers. Just as well because they are not always in stock.
 
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