4mm Llanfair

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LarryG

LarryG

Western Thunderer
In the mid 1950's, Llanfair's local bus company was running this pre-war Leyland TS8 bought second-hand from a Lancashire operator. I seem to recall the EFE model started out as a post-war Leyland PS1. I reshaped the front wings to pre-war styling and fitted one of my own whitemetal radiator castings...



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LarryG

LarryG

Western Thunderer
The fiddle yard has been nailed down although reduced from 7 to 6 sidings to keep stock away from the baseboard edge. This baseboard has been a useful storage shelf for so long that I was reluctant to loose it! Anyway, a work space has been found near the doorway...

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The points have been connected to square section brass rod so they can be manually activated from the baseboard edge...
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I had to go through countless railway photos looking for point-rodding. It's virtually invisible! I'm going to repaint mine rail rust...
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LarryG

LarryG

Western Thunderer
While grubbing around in the 'plastics' box for fencing, I came across a plastic kit for point-rodding, which I quickly discovered was from the golden age of kits designed by people who never built them! Stub-joining 1mm square rodding and adding minute angle brackets easily put me off, and so assembling a length sufficient to reach from the signal box to the nearest turnout was quite an achievement. That used up more than half kit already.

The kit cost £11.15 when I bought it, then I checked todays price and it is currently £22.00....! Noooo way..!

Fortunately, it never reached the shed. The Flymo will pick it up in a few days time. :rolleyes:
 
LarryG

LarryG

Western Thunderer
The Wills kit did one positive thing, it got me thinking about how I would create the illusion of point rodding using metal parts. More 1mm square brass rod has been sent for while other bits will be fabricated from metal so I can solder ~ always my fav method.

The whole rodding assembly needs to be tough with being so close to the track and constant activities of a track rubber. My points are already activated by 1mm square brass rod. Crude but affective.
 
PeterM

PeterM

Active Member
The plastic type of rodding is probably best for the runs under track to avoid shorts. Otherwise I have some nickel silver from Wizard which I’ll use elsewhere when I get round-to/it
 
LarryG

LarryG

Western Thunderer
I had ordered the 1mm square brass before putting my head in gear. Someone said the GWR used round bar for point rodding. Any information on this would be appreciated. :thumbs:
 
PhilH

PhilH

Western Thunderer
LarryG said:
I had ordered the 1mm square brass before putting my head in gear. Someone said the GWR used round bar for point rodding. Any information on this would be appreciated. :thumbs:
Click to expand...

729AB © PGH.jpg

Trawsfynydd - 1¼" dia. round bar
​
Some 60+ years ago I must have had some vague idea of modelling a GWR branch line based on the Bala to Blaenau Ffestiniog Line, and I measured various things on the line (then closed), including point rodding. Fortunately that period was short lived and I had a change of direction, finding far more interesting railway subjects to pursue and model. :)
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LarryG

LarryG

Western Thunderer
Llanfair was still carrying lots of sheep in 1955 and so the sheep & cattle pens have been doubled in length. Once again, a standard Wills kit was built to suit my needs.

Vinyl grass sheet has been laid to hide a multitude of sins, but it will be hand painted to show wheel track and mud etc. later on. The pens themselves are freshly sprayed and need weathering...
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