Changes....

Welcome to 2018.

Wow. There have been a few changes since my last post.

We've moved!

As tenants we are always subject to the vagaries of ownership and in our case the property we were renting was sold. Very short notice meant that moving my layouts and other modelling bits and pieces was a bit rushed.

Thankfully my NSW layout "Barra Town" is now back up, with some repairs still needed, while my Vietnamese layout "Ga Hong Ha" is still in pieces with an uncertain future. I  think that because of the hassles in moving it compared to Barra Town, it may re-emerge at some point in a different form, easier to carry and transport. After all we may have to move again one day (hopefully not for a long time).

What lessons have I learned from all this?

1. If you build a multi piece layout, make sure the individual units can be easily carried through doorways and up and down stairs.

2. If the multiple pieces are joined by bolts make sure the bolts can be removed!

3. If track crosses two boards make sure there are no points on the join! Trying to remove the points plays havoc with the surrounding track.

4. Don't leave moving the layouts to the last. Give yourself plenty of time.

5. If she who must be obeyed asks for half the garage make sure it really is half. And check that there is a power point and lighting in your section.

6. If you store your models in drawers, make sure the drawers are secured. I had one drawer fall out from a height. I still have to check the damage and affect repairs if possible.


Micro layouts are looking increasingly attractive after going through the above experience. And I only moved from one suburb to the next!

At the moment I need to restore my Barra Town layout and the damaged rolling stock after the 'accident'.

I'm also trying to sort out magazines and books. Books I keep. I have some that have not been available for a very long time. To be honest I didn't realise I had so many magazines. I think I'm going to have to get rid of a lot of them. Maybe give them away to a club if they have somewhere to store them? Not for a while though. Other priorities at the moment.

I had thought of going through them and scanning useful articles but it seems a major task.

Some magazines are now available as digital downloads so maybe I will investigate that as well. Anything to reduce the physical size and weight. Magazines are very heavy.

 Your photos this time are the result of a trip I took in 2017 to Bomaderry/Nowra.

That's your lot for this time. Hopefully I'll be able to get back into modelling soon and will report in the next post.

It's a long way to the top....

Been a while since the last post. Sorry!

Since that post I've become more active with the NSW N Scale Group. Attended some meetings and helped out (ran trains) on the Group layout "Cockle Creek " at the Liverpool  Exhibition over the long weekend. You might have seen the layout featured in a recent issue of AMRM.

It was fun to meet old friends and make new ones.

I also purchased an MHG guards van in black from Frate-N and a water tank and yard crane from Peter Boorman.

I'm way behind with layout and kit construction. I still have three building kits from the Epping Exhibition early in the year to complete!

It seems that my 'era' for modelling is getting earlier. At least for my NSW modelling anyway. I seem to be settling on the 60's and 70's which seems to fit in with other members of the N Scale Group. I'll probably get rid of my 'modern' rolling stock at some point in the future.

My big problem at the moment is that we may have to move house in the next few months. Not looking forward to moving my two layouts as well as all the other stuff I have accumulated over the years. The move is not certain but I need to be prepared.

Recently I took a day trip to Bomaderry (Nowra) on my $2.50 ticket. The photos are from that trip. I think this would make a very interesting terminal station and yard on a layout.

For the exhibition I put together a set of five WHX wheat hoppers including making my own decals. The kits were some old "Fettlers Hut" ones I have had stored away for a number of years.

That's it for this time.

See you soon and enjoy your modelling.

NBN and other things..

I survived the changeover from ADSL to NBN, so now this blogg is coming to you courtesy of the much maligned National Broadband Network. The changeover was surprisingly smooth despite a false start because the technician claimed he couldn't access the 'box' because of surrounding shrubbery. However I really haven't noticed that much of a difference in speed which is surprising. I understand there have been many complaints about this.

I've been working on "the other side" of my Barra Town layout which is now known as "Barra West".

Construction of the S008 silo is underway but like all these projects is going slowly.

As you can see in the photo I've also added a back scene using a 'panorama' type photo from the interweb. Generally the scenery on this side will be much "yellower" (is there such a word?) than the town side, to highlight the fact that this is wheat growing country.  I've cheated a little by printing the panorama twice, the second printing in reverse. Double the length! I first tried this on my Ga Hong Ha layout with great success. A few trees up against the scene and you won't be able to tell. Honest!

While I'm using the AMRM articles to build the silo as reported in the last blog, it is significantly 'simplified' due to being in N Scale rather than the article's HO. I don't think this will be that much of a problem.

I've also been fiddling around with the Barra Town Station. I've added very fine sandpaper to the platform surface to represent sand and a fence along the back of the platform plus Kerroby flourescent lights (non-working). I still have to detail the station building and fit more permanently. I've added a couple of people on the platform with more to follow as well. The seats still have to be glued to the platform. Will they be blue or green? Haven't decided yet, probably blue. There's a dreaded yellow line to go on the platform as well so please keep behind it won't you?

I've also started scratchbuilding a GHG guards van as I'm very short of guard's vans. I only have one, a KHG. I know models are available from several sources but I quite like scratchbuilding even if they take more time.

As I write this the latest (July) issue of N Scale Modeller (NSM 30) has been released. If you're not into modular layouts there's not a lot to view apart from some reviews. It also directs modellers to a paint equivelant tool, though when I had a look it seemed little more than an advertisement for Railey Paints. Not that I've got anything gets this particular brand, but some alternatives using more easily available paints might be useful.

Here's a bit of the 'prototype' which might be of interest. When I was at the tram museum they had this PMG telephone box.

 I'm sure it would make an interesting project. Brought back many memories from the 50's and 60's when not so many people had private telephones. Can't provide dimensions but I'm sure rough dimensions can be worked out.

That's it for this time. You'd be surprised just how busy life can be even when you've retired.

Until next time, happy modelling.

Mid winter and boy is it cold....

It's getting very cold isn't it. Where I am is averaging 3-5 degrees in the early mornings. Nippy!

I have joined the NSW N Scale Group and attended my first gathering last Sunday. The original location for the meeting fell through so we visited the Tram Museum at Loftus. If you're into NSW N Scale this is the group to join. There is also a Facebook Page called "NSW N Scale" which includes group members and others.

Wow! What a collection. The members of the museum should be very proud of what they have achieved. The fully restored trams (and there are quite a few of them) looked fantastic.

We were especially lucky as we were able to have a look at the "backroom" operations as well.

We  went for rides on a Sydney tram and a Brisbane tram. The Brisbane tram took us as far as the old National Park platform including crossing the highway. Great to see all those cars brought to a halt while we trundled across the road!

I had a problem with my Gopher 44 class and must commend Phil Badger for his interest. It included visiting my house to do a swap. How's that for service? The problem was a faulty front light, but when Phil tested it we discovered it was overheating as well. Apparently at least one other has had the same problem. Also I understand the seperately supplied front buffer plate is incorrect. This is being rectified. As I haven't got to applying the detail parts and the decals yet I hadn't noticed. I've been too busy running my 4 car set of FO coaches around the layout with the 44 at the 'point' as our Nth American friends would say.

I'm happy that the 44 is already fitted with Micro-Train couplers, as I recently had the task of converting one of my 48 class. While it appears a simple task, I had great difficulty in finding a screwdriver to fit the tiny screws that attach the couplers. I have a wide collection of  'tiny' screw drivers but none of them fitted the screw exactly. It would have been useful to state what size screwdriver was required in the instructions I think.


Previously I mentioned the "other" side of my Barra Town layout being a coal mine. This has now changed. The Walther's mine building has been removed and I am currently constructing an S008 grain silo from articles in the Australian Model Railway Magazine (December 1990 and into 1991). The plan is to also build one of those newer square grain storage buildings. So it shows you. It is worthwhile to keep all those magazines. You never know when you might need them.

And now a few more photos from the Epping Show.

Tomorrow I'm converting from ADSL to NBN. Hopefully everything will go according to plan, but if it doesn't there may be a  period when I don't have home internet access so fingers crossed. Once it's up and running we'll find out just how much faster it is than the current ADSL.

That's all for this time. I'll talk to you again in July.

Cheers.

Out and About...

Welcome back. It's getting cold isn't it.

I visited the Epping Model Railway Club exhibition on the weekend and got my Gopher (Badger Bits) 44 class. I chose the original Mk1 in original colour scheme as my first. In the future I'll be buying several more but I had a budget so wanted to share my largess around rather than give it all to one business!

Apart from the locomotive I bought three building kits from Model Train Buildings, a church, a corner store and a station master's house. I also bought a brick veneer 3D printed house from Meerkat and a couple of packets of fluoro lights to be added to the Barra Town station from Kerroby Models. Enough work to keep me going until the Castle Hill Exhibition at the end of July and then the Liverpool Exhibition in October I imagine. As I've stated before, I'm not exactly the fastest modeller.

I was discussing speed of modelling with someone at the exhibition and we decided that you are much slower when you retire, not because you're older, but because you seem to have unlimited time, so do all sorts of other things like drink coffee, watch TV, read magazines, work in the garden  etc. whereas when you're working you understand that your modelling time is limited and so do a lot more! As a founding member of Procrastinators International this appeals to me.

The exhibition itself was not too bad, but I did notice several exhibitors listed in the guide not actually present and attendance on the Monday seemed to be quite sparse. One of the exhibitors was complaining about being bored. I have to say my favourite N Scale layout was "The Beach" with the scenery being very nicely done, especially the actual beach scene and the jetty. The English N Scale layout "Sandford" was also nicely done.

Scenery wise the HO scale "Southern Highlands" was very nice but trains seemed to be few and far between (like the real thing?). It was good to see "Tarana" and "Dunblurtin" again with the later having a new owner.

There were several Micro-layouts on display. I quite like the concept so enjoyed seeing them.

The usual suspects were in attendance as far as commercial stands were concerned but I would have liked to have seen Frate-N and/or Peter Boorman and of course we never see Aust-N-Rail. Unfortunately none of the other commercial stands had any of these products either. I'll just have to wait till October. I'm just wondering whether manufacturers/distributors who know they are not attending a particular exhibition could appoint another N Scale exhibitor as an agent. A sort of N Scale manufacturers/distributors co-op. I understand that people can't be everywhere, but some sort of loose arrangement would see more N scale products in front of more punters and that can't be bad.

The best part of the week was that I actually ran a train all the way around the main line of Barra Town. I still have the sidings to wire up both in Barra Town yard and at the coal mine but for me this is quite an achievement. I'm not known for my electrical prowess. I'll have to design and build a control panel as well. Ah, no rest for the wicked!

Also during the week I sold some of my HO Australian locomotives, the money going towards more N scale. I decided that at my age it's  about time I standardised on one scale or I'll never get anything finished. In the process I scored some NSW 4 wheelers and some European end platform coaches which I'll probably convert to early French built Vietnamese coaches or one of the ways and works vehicles that some have been conerted to.

All in all quite a productive week in my continuing adventure.

Until next time...

Travelling........

Welcome to winter....

I've been away for a couple of weeks. My wife's father passed away at the ripe old age of 97 so we had a hurried trip to Vietnam for his funeral. The first 4 days or so were taken up with funeral and family matters so we only had a few days to relax and a couple of days in Saigon before we returned to Australia.

Even though we were only there for two weeks we got to to travel on several trains and of course I took lots of photos as I always do.

Of course the trip seriously curtailed my modelling plans for May, including a couple of more posts on this blogg, so apologies to you, my dear reader, for only one post in May. Hopefully I can get back to more frequent posts.

 

 

Above: First photo shows D13E 705 ready to depart platform 3 at Saigon Station at about 10.30 at night. The second photo shows the same train arriving at our destination, "Thap Cham" some seven and a half  hours later.

This is the train engine for our passenger train taking us north from Saigon to Thap Cham. It's a D13E class, an Indian built ALCO. About half way between a 48 class and a 45 class and metre gauge. Known as YDM4 in India. Because we were in a hurry we went straight from Saigon Airport to Saigon Station and basically took whatever train we could get. It meant an overnight journey sitting up as there were no sleepers available, arriving at our destination at about 5.30 in the morning.

Above: The train that took us back to Saigon hauled by modern Vietnam built D19E class # 956

I have been doing a little bit of work since I've been back.

First I finally got the logos onto my pretend NSW passenger train the "Western Explorer". (see below). Currently the train has 4 coaches and a baggage van but I might add one or two more coaches. They're actually US coaches but they do look a little bit like "Indian Pacific" or Ghan type coaches. I also have a Peter Boorman Southern Aurora kit to put together so maybe that will be added to the set at some stage.

 

Also to be added to the train is a scratchbuilt "BKF" car carrier. I've started the model but it's slow work as the original vehicle is quite complex so I have to think of ways to make the model as I go along. My original plan was just to repaint a Kato Japanese car carrier but you just can't get them any more, so I bit the bullet and decided to build my own using an old US 50 foot boxcar chassis. I know that these particular vehicles were not used as MotoRail carriers but it's the right length and maybe one was used once. There's always an exception to the rule!

I've also (at last) started the wiring on the Barra Town layout. Very slow because it's so cold in the garage these days!

I bought some more Noch grapevines and they are to be added to my farm on my Ga Hong Ha Vietnam layout. I also have in my head a plan to build a small extension to the layout so that I can add a full Buddhist Pagoda. I have the 5 steps building but I need a couple more. While I was in Vietnam I bought several brass Buddhist figures that can be used outside the pagoda as well. They need to be painted white in the Vietnamese style.

Well, as Peter Cundell used to say, that's your lot for this week, so until next time, enjoy your modelling.

The Merry Month of May.........

Welcome to 'the Merry Month of May'.

Modelling Report:

Progress is slow and steady on my Barra Town layout.

A major project is under way consisting of ballasting and weathering the track. I have used Peco code 80 track both setrack and streamline and it's amazing how much better it looks after ballasting. I'm painting the sleepers grey and will 'dirty up' the track after the ballast glue dries. There is one pre-used point which I think I'm going to have to replace. It's the one taking trains into the back platform. Ballasting is a slow process even for a small layout like this so while I'm doing this I'm also fiddling with rolling stock and scenery/buildings.

Buildings and scenery are the two areas of model railways I like the most with electricals being my least favourite, so not a lot of trains have actually run under electricity on the layout yet. Actually none have, so that's an area I need to do something about!

I often get sidetracked, so I found some telegraph poles in a box and have been fitting those as well.

Also because the river end of the layout is easier to access more work has been done at that end than the road overbridge end but I will have to bite the bullet one day I suppose! By the way it's not really a river. It supposed to be a part of a larger river/lake and you just happen to see a small part of it. Sort of like the little bodies of water which abound along the Hawkesbury, so there is no visible source for the water. I'm in the process of 're-watering' the river with satin estapol to fix the problem outlined in the last post. Sometimes the traditional way is still the best. I also found a snazzy little fishing made by Noch so that will be fitted when the water dries (see below).

The other thing I discovered recently were more grape vines for my Ga Hong Ha layout, again by Nokia. Yes I know it sounds strange but quite a few grapes are grown in the area where Ga Hong Ha is supposed to be situated in Vietnam, mainly in the cooler hills. The buildings are from a company in the UK and still need to be painted.

Heritage Photos:

From top to bottom:  Brand new L275 outside Clyde Engineering works at Clyde/Granville, freshly painted 3616 (with the Giesl Oblong Injector), "American" end platform suburban coach in the Clyde Yard, P Class 3255 on a tour train (set 108), and 3526 on a tour train at Picton (note white lining - a mistake made on the loco's initial restoration- the lining is now gold.

Vietnam Photos: A couple of Vietnam photos just to add variety. The first one shows a D12-E class D12E-637 doing a bit of shunting in the pouring rain and the second shows US built boxcar still in use more than 50 years after delivery.

 
There'll be more in a week or so so stay tuned. Don't touch that dial!

See you then.