Ruffnut's Projects.

113275 Views 279 Replies 44 Participants Last post by Ruffnut Thorston, May 11, 2019

Ruffnut Thorston

Discussion Starter · Oct 27, 2012

Hi all, and welcome to my "Projects" place.

Here I will be putting some things for Ffrwd Locks, our "scale" model railway, also some other things that are in progress on the model railway front.

Photos will follow.....

Ffrwd Locks

I am at present re-modelling the main goods siding at Ffrwd.

I had become aware of a serious limitation of having the Cattle Dock at the end of the siding with the Coal Merchant's facilities between the dock and the "main line".

The end of the siding would be out of use if there was a wagon being unloaded at the Coal Merchants.

The original idea of installing a new point on the loop to serve a slewed connection to the Cattle Dock seemed a good idea, and I did cut the siding and loop tracks to install the point.

In the end it became only too clear that this wouldn't work.

I did install a PECO trap point at the Wrexham end of the loop though. The rest of the loop track was re-laid using some left over track and some pre-wired fishplates to provide some extra feeds.

The siding has been re-arranged to have the Coal Merchant at the far end of the siding, and a small Cattle Dock where the Coal Merchant was.

This has involved the demolition of the End Loading and Cattle Dock, and the Coal Merchants coal bins and office.

The siding has been legthened slightly with the removal of the End Loading Ramp, using some more left over track and some pre-wired fishplates to reinstate the feed.

A new Coal Order Office has been made from an old Airfix Coal Office. This has new windows, door, roof, and chimney. Mainly spare parts from the Wills Goods Yard Store Kit, with Wills Slate sheet for the roof. Signs have been made on the computer.

The Coal Bins have been re-built from the original parts. A new "bagging platform" has been constructed from the staging from the Wills Goods Yard Store Kit, with Wills Planking sheet from the Level Crossing kit for the platform, Evergreen Styrene strips for the roof supports and other planking walls, and Wills corrugated sheeting sheet for the roof. Bagged Coal is Merit/ PECO Modelscene Coal Bags. Spilled coal is shot blasting compound. Scales are scatch built, and various figures are in use (Langley and Merit/ PECO Modelscene /Slater's.)

Other Projects..

I have an older Hornby Railways R.410 Turntable. I have managed to source all the missing parts to make it work, and plan to make it a bit more workman like.

I have a Dapol (Ex Airfix) Turntable kit, which I plan to use.

The Dapol Turntable sides are too long as they are, and will need modifying to fit.

I have also got some PECO Plate Girder Bridge Sides, and will look at how these could be used.

All the parts are together, work will commence at some later time.

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Ruffnut Thorston

Discussion Starter · #5 · Oct 28, 2012 (Edited by Moderator)

QUOTE (10001 @ 27 Oct 2012, 21:47) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Hi Sarah , that is a bold step you have taken !! I have got a similar situation where an unloading coal wagon will block all movements to the goods shed and cattle dock. Something I should fix but because of the work involved I am reluctant to.
I am looking forward to seeing some pictures of your modifications for some inspiration.
Regards

Hi Tony.

I did indeed "boldly go"! It was a big moment when I got the rail cutting shears out and chopped the siding rails!

After that, there was no going back.

I should have planned a bit more before chopping though, as the first cut turned out not to have been neccessary once I had worked out that the extra point would leave two short sidings, with little use. The GWR wouldn't have spent out on the pointwork I believe! (I still have some points, etc. in stock, so I did not have to buy any new bits.)

Putting the trap point in gave some reason to my chopping the loop rails, and the extra feeds should help, once I have wired them up.

I am having to re-do some of the ballast, and paint some of th etrack again, but it does look a bit better now.

The only thing is, where do I put the End Loading Ramp now?

The only possible place is on the PW depts "siding" on the trap spur of the siding where it joins the main line, under the Aqueduct.

Acces for vehicles seems to be problematic, but I think I may find a way!

The Ffrwd Plan before the re-modelling...

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Ruffnut Thorston

Discussion Starter · #7 · Oct 29, 2012 (Edited by Moderator)

Photos!

The Coal Order Office.

This is a made up second hand old Airfix Coal Order Office kit (The original roof has the "Scroll Logo" mouded into it.).

I have replaced the roof with Wills Slate Sheet, and the windows are from the Wills Goods Yard Store kit. (There are a lot of Spare Parts that seem to belong to the Wills Signal Box Kit!)

Under construction...

The chimney came from the Wills Goods Yard Store kit. (Spare Parts.) (Also visible are the Scales I made from plastic strip and sheet.

Mk 1 Sign. Rub Down Lettering on a Cooper Craft Station Name Board.

The interior is stuck to the baseboard, and the building slots over it. The stove is from th eWills Signal Box interior kit (White Metal). A lot of the fittings, such as the telephone, are bits of scrap plastic, and a Heljan/Knightwing "Loads" Kit.

Mk 2 Sign. Printed on computer, stuck to the Mk1 Sign. It is double sided.

The PO Wagon is out of period. It is a non runner, an old Lima wagon, named after a dog I knew.

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Ruffnut Thorston

Discussion Starter · #10 · Oct 29, 2012

Hi Norm...

The Coal Merchant's Bagging Platform...

Thanks for the positive comments.

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Ruffnut Thorston

Discussion Starter · #15 · Oct 31, 2012 (Edited by Moderator)

QUOTE (Norman Byrne @ 30 Oct 2012, 11:56) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Hi again Sarah,

Again a really nice model / addition to your layout there. That area has got a really good atmosphere to it - great stuff well done.

You mentioned that you did the signs (MK 2) for the coal merchants on the computer, what did you use out of interest, they look really good. Bet you wish you went for a shorter name though LOL !

Also I like the effect you have got on the corrugated roof, I have been trying to paint a carriage shed roof (Ratio model not scratch built I am afraid); but cant seem to get an effect anywhere as good as yours - any tips much appreciated.

Cheers,

Norm

Hi Norm.

The Signs.

These are made in "Photoshop", but a similar effect should be possible using "Paint" or any other Image Editing Software. Signs can also be made using "Word" or other word processing Software.

To get the size, I scanned the name board into Photoshop. I then cropped to the edge of the board, and used the "Eraser" tool set to black to make the sign all the same colour.

The lettering was added using various sizes of "Ariel" and the "Text" tool.

The sign was printed on "Photo" paper.

It was cut out and stuck to the board using double sided tape, the edges blacked with a marker pen, and coated with a Matt Varnish.

The Corrugated Roof.

This is made from a second-hand Wills Sheet that was already painted "Rust" colour.
I have roughly painted in layers "Polished Steel" (intact Galvanisation. Any light grey would do.), "Weathered Black" (Dirt and Grime) and "Sleeper Grime" (Old Rust and Grime) "downwards" in line with the corrugations. Sort of almost dry brushing.

I am glad you like the effect.

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Ruffnut Thorston

Discussion Starter · #17 · Nov 1, 2012

Hi Norm.

Yes, the smaller "Coal Order Office" signs were done the same way.

I got the wording for quite a few signs from photos in books....

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Ruffnut Thorston

Discussion Starter · #19 · Nov 2, 2012 (Edited by Moderator)

Hi All.

Here are the images of a few signs I made up at the same time as the ones on Ffrwd Locks. Feel free to use these if required.

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Ruffnut Thorston

Discussion Starter · #21 · Nov 3, 2012

Hi Norm.

The roof is OK, it looks a bit "newer" and better maintained than Mr. Sylvester's Bagging Platform Roof.

I have been working on the Turntable, more later.....

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Ruffnut Thorston

Discussion Starter · #22 · Nov 4, 2012

Hornby Railways R.410 Turntable with the Motorising Kit.

The turntable as Hornby Intended. When I aquired it it was rusty, and with all the gearing missing.

I managed to obtain all the gearing and a motor from Ebay. They came in three parts.

1. The big "Geneva Gear", a smaller "Penny" Gear, and a pinion on an axle that fitted the "Penny" Gear.

2. The silver "Motor Gear and Pinion". (From the Motorisation Kit.)

3. The X.04 Motor with a special "Turntable" worm. (From the Motorisation Kit.)

I don't have the original pinion gear with the square socket for the Water Crane, but don;t really need that!

Here is an idea for a quick and simple way to make the Turntable look better, well I think better!

PECO Girder Bridge Sides, fitted with a Blue Tack type stuff for demonstration. No other mods.

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Ruffnut Thorston

Discussion Starter · #23 · Nov 4, 2012

The Airfix (Now Dapol) Plastic Turntable Kit.

This is a kit to make a very Great Western Railway Style Turntable. These Turntables are th e"Over Girder" Type, and require a much shallower "Well" than the "Under Girder" type, such as the PECO Kit.

First made by Airfix, the tooling is now with Dapol, and the kit is readily available.

This is an old Airfix example, fitted with contempoprary Tri-ang Railways Series 3 Track.

The underside of the base with the Airfix "Scroll" Logo.

The assembly upside down...

Top views..

This example has a corner chopped off the gear platform. The Vacuum Pipe and one winding handle have been broken.

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Ruffnut Thorston

Discussion Starter · #24 · Nov 4, 2012

The Airfix Turntable and the Hornby Turntable together...

The Airfix Turntable is longer in the deck than the Hornby Turntable, so the parts cannot be used as supplied...

Airfix deck on top of Hornby Deck...

Airfix base rails on top of Hornby Turntable. This shows that the Rails are not able to fit in the Hornby Well.

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Ruffnut Thorston

Discussion Starter · #26 · Nov 5, 2012 (Edited by Moderator)

Modifying The Hornby Turntable, Part 1.

The base with the Turntable removed. The copper tracks connect the Table Rails to the Inlet Rails via two wipers under the deck.

I decided to try using the Dapol Kit parts as much as possible.

The wheel girders would fit if I cut sections out of the sides of the "Under Girder" section.

I then decided to remove all of the "Under Girder" section.

One of The Dapol Wheel Girders in place.

The Dapol Side Girders are too long as supplied. The exact length to fit the Hornby Deck would involve cutting one of the panels roughly in half, and this would look wrong.

A compromise is to cut the Side Girders on a Join. This maintains the correct look of the Girders.

One set of Side Girders shewing the cut out parts.

One cut set of Side Girders put together. There is a "ledge" on the outside bottom of the Girders that locates in the Dapol Base. This is filled using Evergreen Styrene Strips.

Both sets of Wheel Girders in place. The underside girders (as moulded into the Dapol Turntable Parts) are represented by more Evergreen Styrene Strips.

A Shortened Side Girder in place.

And the other side...

The deck on the base.

The walkway (As on the Dapol Mouldings) made from Wills Planking Sheet (Ex Level Crossing Kit.). The operating platform has been moved inboard of the wheel girder. A better place! (It would be in the way otherwise.)

More supporting Girders (Evergreen Strips...).

The Handrail, operating gear and Vacuum Pipe trial fitted. The Handrail is a bent to fit Hornby original.

More later..

The Turntable will not be on Ffrwd Locks. It is a stand alone project at the moment. (Possible mini MPD scene?)

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Ruffnut Thorston

Discussion Starter · #27 · Nov 7, 2012 (Edited by Moderator)

Modifying The Hornby Turntable, Part 2.

The base. More Evergreen Strip has been used on edge to represent the Turntable Bearing Rail.

The "Well" has been painted with Rail Match Concrete paint. The Rail in Sleeper Grime (rusty) (Most of my enamel paints are from a batch of Rail Match Pots I bought some time ago now!)

Following the "Great Western Way" book, the Girders are painted in GWR Dark Stone (The Framing, and everything else.) and GWR Light Stone (The Panels.).

The deck has been painted Sleeper Grime.

The handrail and operating gear trial fitted again.

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Ruffnut Thorston

Discussion Starter · #30 · Nov 8, 2012 (Edited by Moderator)

Modifying The Hornby Turntable, Part 3.

The method for rotating the Turntable uses a "Geneva" Gear. In practice this has a "lump" on it which drags the table around 1 section. There is then a pause while the gear rotates until the lump engages again and move the 'Table on. The pauses give you a chance to stop the motor, and solves the alignment problem.

A downside of this is that the 'Table moves a section at a time, and cannot turn without stopping at every outlet, and on the R.410, which has fewer outlets, it stops in between them as well.

Another downside is that there is a large "ring" around the Turntable. Hornby make this look like Chequer Plate. (I have painted mine "Concrete" after sanding the moulding down a bit. It isn't perfect, but it does work...)

Hornby has modelled an "Under Girder" design. A pity they didn't copy Hornby Dublo, whose 3-Rail Manual Turntable was an Over Girder Type.

The other "problem" is the raised area with the "office" on it. This is necessary to accomodate the gearing and motor. (I intend to cover most of the raised area with a brick built Water Tower. Possibly using the Airfix/Dapol Tank.)

I am currently thinking of the Ranlaugh (?spelling!

) Bridge Yard outside Paddington Station as a basis for using the Turntable, as in Model Rail Magazine in 2011.)

More Photos.

More painting and trial fitting...

I have made a "Concrete" Buffer Stop for the exit position in line with the Raised Area to protect the Water Tower (Not yet built!).

More Concete Painting..

Testing...

Painting the track bases, etc. in Sleeper Grime.

The "Finished" Job. (Water Tower still to be built, but that is another story!

)

Weathering is by a mix of Black, Brown, White and Green Acrylic water colours from a local Art Shop.

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Ruffnut Thorston

Discussion Starter · #31 · Nov 9, 2012

QUOTE I am currently thinking of the Ranlaugh (?spelling!

) Bridge Yard outside Paddington Station as a basis for using the Turntable, as in Model Rail Magazine in 2011.)

That's Ranelagh Bridge Yard. Model Rail No.158. July 2011, pages 58-62. ("Masterplan" Series.)

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Ruffnut Thorston

Discussion Starter · #33 · Nov 10, 2012

Thanks, I am rather pleased with the end result.

I was inspired by another example in a copy of Model Rail....

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Ruffnut Thorston

Discussion Starter · #35 · Nov 17, 2012

Hi Ian,

Thanks.

For plastic to plastic joints I used Humbrol Liquid Poly. Plastic Solvent in a jar, with a brush.

To attach the metal handrail I used a bit of UHU Glue, and holes drilled in the walkway, brushed over with the Liquid Poly from underneath.

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Ruffnut Thorston

Discussion Starter · #40 · Nov 19, 2012

Thanks for all the nice comments, yes it does work, though is noisy at full power. I need to try it on a controller...

Following an idea from Norman, today I have been investigating the Tri-ang / Hornby Railways 3 arch Viaduct, to see if it could be used as the basis for a narrow canal aqueduct.

Would you believe that the recess in the "floor" to take the track (Originally that would be Super 4 Track.) is exactly the right size to take a scale 8 Foot Wide Cornflake Packet Card Trough?

The Trough in the centre leaves a suitable "Towpath" width on either side, though only one side will be used as such, with railings, the other side being paved, and with no railing, as at Chirk Aqueduct.

The short section I made inspired be to go for a full length "conversion".

Pics are still in the camera at the moment.

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Ruffnut Thorston

Discussion Starter · #45 · Nov 20, 2012

Hi all.

Some quick pics, short on time now...

Tri-ang Hornby Viaduct...

More another time....

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Ruffnut Thorston

Discussion Starter · #47 · Nov 21, 2012

QUOTE (Long funnel & tiresome @ 20 Nov 2012, 12:41) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I love looking at your posts - the weathered waggons et al.

Beware of that Norm - he lures everyone into recycling cardboard. I can now keep the top of my thumb in a matcbox as a result...

(though I exaggerate a tad)

I love that Chirk pair Have you seen this dramatic Google maps satellite view?:

mebbe you can go on and model the Glyn Valley tramway news item here that passes underneath.

The really scary handrail just oneside is across the Pont Cysllte as shown above. I think that cross section is fascinating because it allows the displaced water to recirculate betow the towpath.
When I crossed both aqueducts on a horseboat the horse had no probs with Chirk but balked at Pont C saying it had no head for heights. While the owner had walk it down and across the packhorse bridge, we had to pull the boat across ourselves, taking turns to rest on the other side, swinging our legs out in space and looking right down onto the top of a cricket match way below.

LF&T

Nice pics. Was that horse boat the "Pamela" by any chance?

The Aqueduct at Ffrwd (The model one!) is basically one span of the Pontcysllte Aqueduct (45 Feet Span) with a shorter span over the road.

All this talk of Aqueducts has inspired me to at long last put the rest of the girderwork in place on the Ffrwd Aqueduct.

The Trough is 11Feet wide, with the Towpath built on top of a "girder" structure. The result is that the flow of water tends to pull the boat towards the towpath.

There are holes in the top flange of the "outside". These were for the "missing" hand-rail, which was not fitted to save some money it seems.

Chirk was originally just an Iron Base Plate, but at some point Iron Sides were added to make a trough. There isn't as much space for the water flow, and boats are slower going up towards the tunnel and Trefor.

QUOTE (Campaman @ 20 Nov 2012, 12:49) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Having read this thread and seen your tunrtable, it made me immediately think of this:

http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2799624

Yes, the Minehead Turntable. It has the "curved" Girders, as did the Table at Paddington. I don't know which Turntable Airfix based the kit on. Does anybody know?

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