[Greyvoices]

Your GW turntable bridge looks great Norm.

Best regards ....................... Greyvoices (alias John)

 

[Norman Byrne]

Your GW turntable bridge looks great Norm.

Best regards ....................... Greyvoices (alias John)

Hi again John,
They are lovely models, if a little on the costly side, but always think a TT on a layout is always a centre of attention, so perhaps worth it, well that's the story here at least
Did at one stage also look at adding various different control set ups, for automatic alignment & track selections, off the top of my head cannot remember the company that talked too at the time, something like ADT or similar springs to mind, but it all seemed more than possible, also remember there were some videos around on such set ups; again will have a look in the files on the TT in the Loft.
Cheers again for now & Happy Modelling, Norm

 

[Greyvoices]

Did at one stage also look at adding various different control set ups, for automatic alignment & track selections

I invested in just such a system for my german TT but off the top of my head I just cannot think of the name.

For a simple turntable operation where you just want to turn the loco, so, one way in and one way out you could fit physical stops and if you are clever enough equip those hard stops with an electical cutoff switch. I remember a wagon turntable that me and my chums (partners in crime) used to interfere with at a rail served maltings in Bury St Edmunds. This had a hinged metal locking bar, a bit like this:

Though the turntable at the maltings was used to turn the wagons 90 degrees so that they could enter the building.

A model locomotive TT could utilise a hidden bar under the bridge that butted up to a stop block affixed to the wall of the well or similar for the surface GWR type of TT. The alternative is to become very adroit with the control knob.

Best regards ................ Greyvoices (alias John)

 

[Norman Byrne]

Hi again John,
ADM Turntables was the control system people spoke to in the past about being able to provide something to work with the MealSmiths TT's; didn't follow it up at the time, but was certainly all very positive back then - wonder if that's the same system you have on your German layout TT ?
Have seen it in operation on a few Exhibition Layouts over the years, always very impressive & very nice slow / smooth action too.
Cheers again for now, Norm

 

[Norman Byrne]

Hi again John,
So given your OP on the Impulse Purchase thread - will you be adopting Rule 1 or even stretching an East Coast back story / what if sufficiently to allow your J70 to perhaps make an odd guest appearance on the new layout idc ?
They certainly are unusual little locos, with some strange appeal all of there own - cow catchers or not
Cheers as always, Norm

 

[Greyvoices]

Rule 1.

As I said earlier I want to retain the most significant elements of Wells and running a prototypical service with correct locomotives and stock is high up on the priority list ................. but .................. I can deviate at times.

I will have to compromise on the track layout by shedding the harbour branchlet and dispensing with the sidings to the East of the locoshed. I of course have no room for the Heacham branch but I do plan a twist to this build which will be "L" shaped. I aim to build a motive power depot at a 90% angle to the station; transition from steam to diesel. It's separate from Wells station but linked by one track. In this way I can have a rotational fleet on the MPD which can comprise locos that would never be seen at Wells. So, sort of two stubby layouts joined at the hip.


There is always the possibility of building extra sections in the future to marry up with the two constituents of the "L" shape. The original plan of the West Norfolk Railway was to build a Wells avoiding line just south of the station to provide direct access to Fakenham and Dereham. The track bed was formed but no track was ever laid. Trains from Fakenham had to reverse in Wells station. This sort of history makes Wells-next-the-Sea such an interesting location. Who knows, one day I might just lay that avoiding line in 4mm though I will need to negotiate a tad more space with SWMBO. My study, which is actually the fourth bedroom, only takes up a third of the room whilst a TV and sofa take up the rest of the space. The fact that I already take up so much of the converted garage downstairs with the H0 layout does not provide me with a solid negotiating stance. Why do two elderly people need so many rooms?

Best regards .................... Greyvoices (alias John)

 

[phill]

can never have enough room ,and the more rooms a place has , the more space to hide the odd track away

 

[Julian2011]

can never have enough room ,and the more rooms a place has , the more space to hide the odd track away

Or maybe, the more space to plonk old stuff, which will never - EVER - be used again; instead of disposing in one of the acceptable rubbish / re-cycling locations, readily available in this country...

How would I possibly come to that conclusion?????

J

 

[Greyvoices]

Julian,
You have reminded me that I still have the sandwich baseboard that was used for the grandchildren's layout a dozen or so years ago. It's in the shed, stripped of track and cut into two longitudinally. I could use those if the dimensions are adequate. I have my dounbts about the Ikea storage thingy ....................... point motor and underbaseboard wiring might be tricky.

Best regards ..................... Greyvoices (alias John)

 

[Shedman]

You store stuff for 20 yrs and never touched. Guess what's needed the day after it's been dumped😡

 

[Norman Byrne]

Julian,
You have reminded me that I still have the sandwich baseboard that was used for the grandchildren's layout a dozen or so years ago. It's in the shed, stripped of track and cut into two longitudinally. I could use those if the dimensions are adequate. I have my dounbts about the Ikea storage thingy ....................... point motor and underbaseboard wiring might be tricky.

View attachment 39672

Best regards ..................... Greyvoices (alias John)

Will be light & strong as well John, plus brownie points for upcycling / clearing a space too perhaps Win - Win eh !

 

[Greyvoices]

Us males are notorious for our inability to multi-task but this trait gets worse as we age. I wanted to make a start on this project but my civic duties were weighing heavy on my mind. Returning home last night from chairing a meeting I realised that my diary was free for a couple of weeks (SWMBO permitting) so my thoughts turned to modelling. So this morning, following a good sleep I sat at my desk and contemplated my first steps. What about that turntable; untouched since I bought it over 10 years ago? I made a start on the bridge.

Before

After the first coat on one side

Not a paint brush or airbrush in sight. I decided to try out my recent aquisition of a set of AK Real Colors Markers (look I know it should be Colours but ............... ).

34 acrylic paint markers

I toyed with the idea of buying individual markers but in the end plumped for the full set. Ordered from Jadlam as they have freepost.

I used 5 of the markers on this first trial painting. I thought about first spraying with Halfords undercoat grey but decided instead to give the markers a real test .............. straight onto the metal and wood just as it came. No degreaser or preparatory solvent; just a blow from my lips to get rid of any lingering dust. That's a harsh test for any paint. I think a second coat is called for but I am impressed with this first paint. I have yet to pick out the Cowan Sheldon nameplate which was such a feature of these turntables but I'll first prime myself with a dose of alcohol before I attempt that (steadies my hand). Obviously once fully painted I will have to apply weathering but that can wait for the well to be painted and detailed ............ weather as a complete unit.

An extra bonus is no odour and no adverse effects to your lungs so I can sit at my desk with no mask and an unopened window (it is a cool morning). A backdrop to all this is cricket on youTube, Middlesex v Derbyshire in the county championship at Lords and Middlesex seem to have their tails up.

Happy days though I hope that Derbyshire holds out.

Best regards ............................. Greyvoices (alias John)

 

[Alan@Formill Valley]

Hi John,
that's a good start and looking at that first paint they appear to cover well. I've been thinking of buying some of these.
Enjoy the cricket, look forward to seeing more progress.

 

[Norman Byrne]

Hi John,
That looks like a very nice start indeed - sure after the suitable essential refreshment progress will be even more impressive.
Must say do like the look of those acrylic pens too - might have a little google too
Anyway, you have now officially made a start, which as you know very well is always the most challenging part after all eh
Will look forward to following further progress to of course.
Cheers for now & Happy Modelling / Cricket listening too, Norm

 

[Shedman]

Thanks for for being the guineapig on these! Very interested to see how it all goes

 

[Greyvoices]

It was in the last place I looked.

Yes, a minor triumph this morning as it only took me 10 minutes to find the Halfords grey primer in the railway room below (converted garage). I cannot remember the last time I used it but to even remember that it existed is a feat in itself. A 300ml spray can with, perhaps 100ml left inside. It took awhile to get the internal ball to rattle but after a deal of shaking grey paint was atomised into the air ........... outside air I hasten to add. A quick dash upstairs to grab the turntable well (as if any delay might cause the spraycan to seize up); a thorough dusting with kitchen paper towel and then outside to spray. The result:

It's back upstairs now being left to thoroughly dry. Of course I missed a bit but that is artfully concealed in this photo and it is of no concern as that patch will be covered with brick paper.

Meanwhile it's back to the bridge.

Best regards ....................... Greyvoices (alias John)

 

[Greyvoices]

No cricket to distract me today so I made some progress. I resumed work on the bridge whilst the prime coat was thoroughly drying on the well.

The bridge has been painted solely with the Real Color Markers and now awaits weathering and sealing. With hindsight I think that a prime coat would have been preferable and if the no-primer approach proves troublesome then I can always redo it.

Just had to try it out with a loco ............ in this instance a metal kit that I bought ready built some years ago. The bogie wheels need to be re-gauged and the loco and tender coupling needs attention; not to mention that alpine fall plate. Covered in dust as its been sitting on a shelf for years. The D16/3 became the loco of choice for the Wells-next-the-Sea <> Norwich services and it was for this class that the Wells turntable was increased in length from 42' to 45' by the LNER. Even at 45' that must have been a tight sqeeze for the D16.

I am quite pleased with it though there are a few spots that need a touch up. Close up photos are so unforgiving.

Best regards ....................... Greyvoices (alias John)

 

[Norman Byrne]

Hi John,
Think that's looking really good - those pens seem to be doing a great job; take it they are nice to work with too & also all looking very neat & tidy.
The earlier post of the primed base / well also looked very good.
Its really nice to see the TT starting to come to life.
The short histories of how the station there developed including the change of TT also makes interesting reading for sure.
Must say definitely think will take your lead on getting a set of those pens, having now seen your excellent working results; interesting what you say on the primer use / non use too - especially given the MetalSmiths bridges metal base & all its metal details too.
Anyway keep up the great work & the progress posts to of course.
Cheers again for now, Norm

 

[Norman Byrne]

Hi again John,
Just one of those after the event random thoughts after looking at the primed TT well base photo.
Cannot remember if the perimeter circular track rail in the base of the well that the bridge wheels run on carries any power / electrical supply for the TT, have a feeling not & its just a physical guide; could look at the TT instruction leaflet here but its in the Loft; but just thought worth a quick mention in case the top rail surface needs to be paint free ?
Cheers as always, Norm

 

[Greyvoices]

Hi Norm,

The circular rail in the well I believe to be part of the electrical circuit so I of course have to clean off the paint as well as rustifying the rest of the rail. In the 1:1 world the rail head would have been polished. I anticipate a little problem in that my turntable has been stood so long balanced on the bottom length of MDF, with the motor hanging in space, resulting in the bridge sitting slightly proud with the wheels hovering but not touching the circular rail. I have to tease the bridge into resting onto the wheels in contact with the rail. This to me is how the turntable design could be improved with the motor housed inside the framework so that as it waited all those years for instalation it could have rested four-square on the base.

Today I have the challenge of brickwork sides and a white line around the circumference of the hole. I need a printer on best behaviour and then a steady hand.

Best regards ..................... Greyvoices (alias John)