One-touch coupler

The intention is, as far as possible, to avoid handling stock on Kyle of Sutherland’s run-around-cum-fiddle yard, so I added these “easy-couplers” to the fiddle yard shunter. Press down gently on either side of the handlebars and the loop is raised just enough to pass over a coupling hook. Release and we are ready to go.

Incidentally, the bike was a write-off. And all this happened right next to the former Highland Railway main line. I should have taken the train.

      Timber station buildings and a snow plough

Only nine and a half months to Scaleforum. See “Gallery” for steam through Culrain.

The run-around is now complete and wired (well, almost). The Up Main Line only needs its curved track, which is 75% of it, though I do have the half-track “skeletons” ready. And the basic traverser needs a slight twist (how did that happen?) sorting out before track is added.

The plan being followed with the electrics is to wire properly with individual wires for all Sections, Switched Common Crossings and Isolating Sections up to the first terminal block, and then provide temporary links to simplify the wiring to the single controller. The model equivalent of One Engine In Steam.

       The first lengths of track

The run-around track is fully riveted at 17 ply sleepers per half metre panel and does not have chairs. That is apart from the C&L plastic B6 crossover. I still haven’t been able to check out the servo operation of the B6 crossover on the LTB.

The scenic track will have 3 riveted sleepers per 60’ scale length, and functional whitemetal chairs glued to the other 21 ply sleepers. For convenience, I plan to make up track in 120’ scale lengths with one rail only before gluing down onto the cork bases. That’s the theory.

       Up Starter on the Test Rig

I now have a servo-signal test rig that can slot into the Layout Test Bed to operate other signals and points. Getting the servos to work is another story as the servo PCB is currently with the writer of the servo setting software. I painted Culrain’s Up Starter before reading Peter Squibb’s excellent book on model semaphore signals and then realised I had missed out the (arm) limiting rod, operating lever and guide bracket from this LMS signal. The question is, do I retro fit this tricky bit of modelling now or do I wait and include it on the replacement bracket signal? And the same applies to the Down Home.

Wednesday is “Trial Layout Assembly” day, and then I really must lay some track. Kyle of Sutherland is also booked for our Finescale Group’s annual event in January 2012. So that means stock will be needed as well as track. So much to do, so little time.

       Martin Lloyd LMS bracket signal (David Brandreth)

Using parts sourced from Wizard Models and MERG (Model Electronic Railway Group) I made up a signal mounting plate with fold-up bracket for the servo, an embryo ex-LMS tubular post signal, confirmed a suitable configuration for operating the signal, then (a first for me) made up and tested a PCB with chip to drive 4 servos (“Servo4”).

Martin had also brought along a crossover operated by servos, and assuming the servos will drive my Maplin microswitches to change the polarity of the common crossings, I bought another Servo4 kit. The programming of the individual servos is by a Servo Setting Box of Tricks, loaned by Martin on the day. So that’s another electronics project coming up soon.

And then to round off the weekend it was off to Pendon to gawp at their GWR signals.

And, yes, I will soon be joining that fine bunch of wiz kids, aka MERG.

       One month’s work for a mortal?

Here are some ideas.

Get it right first time. Only make kits that go together perfectly. If it’s not in the kit, don’t model it. And if you make a trivial mistake, ignore it and move on. Oh! yes, and work non-stop for hours and hours and hours with only Bach for company. And don’t get stuck and don’t daydream.

Maybe that’s why I could never be a professional model builder. I need breaks at least every half hour and I much prefer Abba. So let’s compare my progress with the ideal.

As I often note in progress reports, it’s easy to lose concentration and not get it right first time. As with the tender inside frames (it was six days before I re-soldered them to the footplate) and when soldering the brake shaft support brackets in 0.8mm nickel to the frames. I tend to tack solder in roughly the right position and then re-flux and re-solder to move to the final position. This process sometimes gets out of hand, especially with thicker parts, and each time I add more solder with the re-fluxing until my 25 watt Antex is unable to melt all the solder. Even the big Weller might struggle, and then there’s the danger of loosening other components. That’s what happened with the support brackets. And the support brackets were replacements for the 10 thou brass parts in the kit. More time lost. Similarly when fixing one of the buffer barrels, the inner bush popped out while I was concentrating on the barrel itself. Even more time lost. I did, however, force myself to ignore the ever so slightly skew buffer barrel on one side. Full marks.

Clearly my progress is not steady or even continuous, and that’s without taking account of my putting-the-world-to-rights visits to my cafe of choice for an hour or so. And here’s a confession. There are still over 30 individual parts to add (see under tender in photo), including many not in the kit. And several repairs I’ve been putting off because I might get stuck.

Come on, you professionals, don’t you ever get stuck?

       54458 chassis in progress

As usual, not all progress has been forwards, particularly with the tender. This is my fifth tender and a close relative of 57587’s scratch ex-CR tender from 2002. I thought this kit was going to be a doddle, given my familiarity with the prototype, but I forgot to check that the width between the frames would accommodate the P4 wheel-sets with side play. The bosses on the outside of the Sharman wheels take the axle lengths to 22.9mm. Not so good with 23.0mm between the frames and at least 0.5mm of side play needed on the middle axle.

The big Weller quickly separated the frames from the footplate and all I had to do was straighten them out and clean up the solder before having another go. This time I made a pair of jig T-spacers to help things along.

       54458 tender frames re-assembly

Finally, I added spring bolts to secure the folded-up legs of the outer baseboards. With a little help, the four baseboards were then packed up to make two boxes for transport. I promised to organise a trial layout assembly soon.

And next Friday it’s off to Missenden to make a servo-operated signal, but I’m sure I’ll be laying track on my return.

In the past 10 years I have made 0-6-0 tender, 4-6-0 tender and 0-4-4 tank locos, but this is my first scratch built 4-4-0 tender engine and it came with its own set of design challenges. The large driving wheels push well into the cab and need a deep frame to accommodate the horn blocks. The gearbox on the rear axle clashes with the backhead. I would like the bogie to take a substantial weight and properly guide the loco into curves. And the prototype coupling rods are fluted.

I’ve got to grips with some of the design problems, and this is where I am now.

       54458 chassis in progress

After a bit of re-design here and there, the frames do the trick. Good service from Chris Gibbon is providing a more suitable gearbox (I didn’t make up the one I initially bought). The intrusion in the cab will be hidden by the wheel arch boxes and cab floor. I plan to copy the cab floor/wheel arch fold-up designed by Jim Smellie of Caley Coaches for his Dunalastair III (Jim kindly includes his illustrated instructions as a free download – thanks, Jim, I will shortly be ordering more castings). The embryo bogie has sprung hornblocks and side control springs. And the coupling rods are fluted.

However, as I keep getting reminded, it’s about time I laid some track.