Normal Service Will Be Resumed.

As some of you may know, I have over the last few months been Jobsearching.
  As a result, I have had more time and also used the blog as an escape from the mundane daily grind of trawling through numerous jobsearch sites.
As a result I have recently started a new career but the downside is that my modelling and Blog time has been severely reduced. This will hopefully find an even keel in the not too distant future, but ,bearing in mind that Teignford has an exhibition booking next year, building the new layout will have to take preferance.
Please keep visiting, I will endeavour to post at least weekly and it may be that the layout progress will feature more on my other site. Please click the link on the left to Teignford.

Tools of the Trade.

One of the most useful tools in the armory is this.
A Razor Saw and Mitre Block.
The saw can be fitted with a number of different saw blades, differing numbers of teeth per inch and slightly thicker blades do different jobs.
I use a coarser blade to cut Nickel Silver rail section than say plastic components. Available from most tool stands at Exhibitions, this tool gives ,at least, a clean square cut.
This is helped by its close friend-The Mitre Block. With pre cut slots, usually at 45 and 90 degrees, the blade of the saw is guided to produce a accurate cut every time. To aid this i usually clamp the workpiece in place before letting loose with the saw.

Adding weight.

The running of 'Hennock' is always a priority. The locos have to be weighted to aid running and this equally applies to the rolling stock.
To try and equalise this I try and get wagons to weigh roughly the same.
To this end, one birthday I asked for a set of scales. These, by Salter, are fairly sensitive and are ideal for the job in hand.. Usually I place the finished wagon on the weighing pad and add lead to get the weight to about 18 grammes.
Some wagons need a lot, Brass kits especially. But loaded they may only need a little.
I find that similarly weighted wagons run better especially when shunting.

Corridor Connections

The rake of Colllett coaches I made recently lacked these.
At Westfest I got a new supply so the coaches can now be finished with these and handrails.
They are cast in two pieces and require cleaning up and squareing off. Then the two halves are superglued together and again cleaned up to give a decent join .
Then the coach ends will be abraded slightly and the completed connectors glued in place.

Cambrian Models Dogfish Ballast Hopper

 Looking to add to the engineers' train, the next victim is the Ballast Hopper. Made by Cambrian Models, as it says in the picture, it needs 9mm wheels, micro rod or wire, paint, transfers and couplings to complete. Having all these in stock, it is a matter of getting started. Also helpful is the era and areas of use also provided.
As can be seen from the lower picture, the kit comes as a moulded hopper and two sprues of detailing parts for chassis and main body.
Cleanly moulded, it is a matter of identifying the parts, removing from the sprue, cleaning up and applying adhesive-MEK in this case.
As usual, Paul Furner has supplied an excellent set of instructions and exploded, numbered, views of the components. Several suggestions are made , such as which point to paint the hopper assembly, all helpful if a pigs ear is to be avoided.
I managed to pick up another sheet of original Woodhead Transfer at Westfest, so I should have plenty of options where numbering is concerned.
With various references to articles and books holding information on this piece of rolling stock- it should be easy to find a relative photo.

Westfest 2011-Epilogue.

Westfest 2011 has been a success. We set out to achieve a number of things.
Enrol a new member to the Society-We did.
Show a public Exhibition could work with Society Stands kept separate-We did.
Make a profit-We did (albeit modest).
Get the whole thing set up and open for 10.30-We did.
Enjoy the day-We certainly did.
By the mails I have had it seems that our visitors also enjoyed the show, one criticism that I fully appreciate- nothing for the juniors.
This was an oversight by us and should we do it again would certainly be a serious consideration.
Maybe we coud have some Tri-ang TT on a small board as a drive your own stand? Something to think about maybe.

Westfest 2011 Part Deux.

 Following on from the last post- here we see the exhibitors that provided an opportunity to see how various modelling processes are carried out.
This see's Peter White, our Wheelwright, showing some of the excellent locos he has built and the way that the wheels and valve gear are fitted.

 Dereck Bartlett adding some finishing touches to another of his 3mm Buses. In shot are some of the many kits made by him. Many examples have been found by Dereck, not necessarily meant for our scale.

 Our Honary guest Tom Rayner-The Weatherman.
Tom kindly agreed to weather some of the members wagoms to show that his methods are suitable for all scales.
Tom so enjoyed himself that he is to attend a future Dorset Group meeting to enable us to follow his methods and weather our own rolling stock.

 Bob Brown is shown concentrating on construction of a building for his next layout- sorry Bob- can't remember the name!
He also had examples of loco's and rolling stock built by him and the methods he uses.

Finally today, Trevor Cooke is building a replica of Bodmin (GWR) in 3mm scale.
Here we see the shell of the model station building and the roof with chimneys added.
The plans he is working from are shown on the left of the picture.
Trevor has built up a wealth of information to enable him to make a near exact replica of the station and its environs.

Westfest 2011

 A selection of photos from this years Westfes.
Some excellent layouts were present, comments were that the mix was just about right.
This is a shot of Brian Goldings tram layout Lambeth Walk.
The layout is under construction and demonstrated the methods that Brian uses.

 Nigel Cullimores St Levan, a delightful example of a far west could have been. The layout is about 5ft in length and has the fiddleyard integral with the single piece layout.

 Nick Salzmans Yeoton Wharf is an unusual layout in that it has mixed gauge trackwork. Also a fascinating feature is the wagon on the turntabe automatically being drawn into the warehous. Cheating somewhat, and looking under the baseboard , the mechanism consists of meccano frame and gears.

 Hugh Martins Steelworks. This large layout can be part of the Solent Groups modular system.
Shown on its own it captures perfectly the atmosphere of a northern steelworks complex with private sidings as well as British Railways line.

This non railway view is of John Thomas's 'Hollow Fosse'. Cotswolds based, John has recently upgraded the layout. It captures perfectly the area modelled and the buildings, including one being built and surrounded by scaffolding, very well.

Next will see the demonstration stands.

Mugs!

The only rule the group has is that you should Bring a Mug.
These vary from plain to treasured examples with a favourite loco or Railway Company Crest.
These are mine. They were made a good while ago by Valerie Lloyd, sadly no longer with us. At a time when my youngest, Pamela, still had the Tri-ang TT layout which was regularly exhibited- it was obvious whose they were and are a longlasting reminder of the talented lady who made them.
Nostalgia is a great thing, we cannot move on without appreciating that which went before.

Bedford 'S' Type.

 Westfest Today!


The Bedford 'S' Type, the first of the marques Big Trucks was introduced in 1953. A radical design change from those produced previously by Bedford Trucks.
The Matchbox model, Number 40 in its range scales out just under size. The victim seen here has been repainted and the tipper body set in the up position. The original axles were removed and substituted with brass tube. The tube enabled a snug fit of the wheels which were retained by a track pin which was found to be a slide fit inside the tube. This enables the wheels to rotate.
Painted with acrylics, another vehicle is ready to take it's place on the layout.

Westfest

Much too busy today for posting as tomorrow is our big day-Westfest 2011. Please see previous posts about venue, times and admission prices. A warm welcome awaits you all and I hope will be of interest and education to some.
If you come and enjoy-we have succeeded.We will succeed!
Normal posting back very soon.

The Dorset Group

 As Westfest is upon us it seems right to give some details about our small group of 3mm modellers. The shot shows some of our hardy bunch at work- note the mugs.
There is a wide spectrum of interests, not all confined to 3mm.
Projects range from 12mm gauge through to 14.2mm with original Tri-ang represented as well. Micro layouts, including one in a shoe box, is one members passion whilst another models in Irish narrow gauge, in 3mm Scale on 9mm track. Because of this we have our own dual gauge test track of soldered point and 3mm Society track bases construction.This was assembled at a couple of our meetings.
Several layouts are available for exhibition for which help is needed and is always forthcoming, understanding wives are also helpful! We have several Exhibitions booked which are updated on the blog.
The formal part of the group broadly follows the rules laid out by the 3mm Society and at AGM's our voices are usually heard. We are bound by the restrictions placed on all members and by recent discussions feel it is not in members best interests to allow non-members access to Society shops to benefit from the imput of those whose subscriptions have enabled a wide range of items to be available. This I feel is not unreasonable bearing in mind that a years subscription is less than 4 gallons of petrol or a short evening at the pub.
So- is our group tied up with rules etc.? We have an Organiser (Me, who tries to arrange monthly meetings and visits), a Secretary (He's the one who can write) and a Treasurer (He's the one who works in a bank). We have no further rules or small print to restrict proceedings, just to enjoy a few hours a month in each others company and maybe a pint afterwards. Did I say no rules? Just one-
Bring a mug!

Display Cabinet

 Westfest in 3 Days!

Getting ready for Westfest we needed a central point to show what our group does. For some time I have had this display cabinet and now seems the time to put it to some proper use.
I picked it up from a car boot sale some time ago but had to have a replacement 'Glass' made- this cost more than the cabinet.
Needing it to stay upright meant that some sort of stabiliser was needed- the ones from my bike didn't fit! A couple of pieces of 2x1 timber were affixed which makes it stand upright. These were stained and the whole thing now stands to attention.
Just need something to go in it- will try and show where we have arrived with a couple of pieces of Tri-ang TT to show how it all started.

Milk Tanks

 Westfest in 4 days!

Starting this kit, because it is a whitemetal casting means a different approach to the plastic offerings. This particular example was purchased from the Secondhand Sales table. For a start there is much more cleaning up before assembly can commence. The basic components are originally from an aged mould-since updated I believe- and need a fair bit of flash removed and some parts straightened.
However, if the two I have previously made are anything to go on, it will produce a decent model.
Seen here are the main components. The tank bed needs the most work, mostly cleaning up and making sure the ends are square.
The side frames are not straight so a little judicial
straightning will be needed. There is also the issue that one side of the frame is mis-cast. This will probably need building up with some low melt solder. The supporting ends for the tanks will need a little work, mainly shaping the tank supports and making sure the buffer beams are suitable for superglueing to the sideframes so squareness and  a clean surface are vital.
When all is done then assembly can commence.

Kitmaster Coaches

Westfest in 5 days!

Produced over Forty years ago, the Kitmaster rangeof British Railways Mark 1 coaches was a boon for the then fledgling TT scale. Sixteen different coaches could be made, four each of Eastern,Western,London Midland and Southern Regions of British Railways.

In addition a 3mm kit of the Rebuilt 'Royal Scot' loco was also offered.
The kit is really very good and quite accurate, the only thing I dislike is the fact that the V hangers and Battery Boxes are moulded as part of the Sole Bar and the guides for lining are raised above and below the windows.The windows are a separate moulding in clear plastic.
However, the raised lining can be removed with a
sharp edge of a scalpel blade, the V hanger and Battery boxes removed so a good representation of a Mark 1 coach can be achieved.
The set I have will run on etched bogies with the Kitmaster sideframes attached-when I can get a few more sets.
So work will commence on the construction of four of these coaches, they will all be in Western Region Choclate and Cream.
This thread will continue on The Teignford Blog-see link.

Milk Tanks

 A kit that has been around for quite a while is the GWR 6 wheel milk tank. This kit has had two variations to my knowledge as two different diameter tanks have been supplied. The bed of the kit has been cast with the different diameter supports for each size tank.
What you see in the top pic is what you get in the kit,although I am unsure wether the wheels are included in the present 3SMR offering.
The assembly can be done with either low melt solder or Superglue- Araldite may be a possibility but may be a little awkward to hold whilst it goes off.
I will assemble the kit taking photos as I go and will include a blow by blow account of the build.
The lower shot shows the two tanks already made. This shows the difference in diameter of the two-I would be interested if anyone can shed some light on why there was different castings made.



Westfest 17th September-Don't Forget! 6 days to go.

Another Video

This short clip show a 57XX pannier arriving at Hennock with a two coach train.
The two coaches are the Colletts previously seen in the series about their construction.
I didn't realise that I could record sound at the time both clips were taken but now I do then I will try and make them longer with some commentry.
I found out that Hennock is appearing in the latest Model Rail. I hope to have more details soon.

Westfest in 7 days.

Hennock in Model Rail!

It must be all modellers ambition to have their creation published. Chris Nevard spent an educational time photographing Hennock some time ago. The latest issue of 'Model Rail' includes several pictures and an article on how and why Hennock came into being. The photos are superb-thank you Chris.
Also a mention on MRE Mag the online model railway magazine.

Westfest in 8 days.

As a result the group have suggested that the layout should be at Westfest on the 17th September-I am happy to oblige so another layout in the line up.

Engineers Permanent Way Train

94XX brings Engineer Train to a halt at Hennock.

Engineers Brake at Hennock.

A new experience!

Something new which I haven't tried before is to video 'Hennock'. The short clip shows a short Branch Goods depart from Hennock. The wagons include the 3mm Society Mica, Easter Region Van, Western Van and BR Brake van all pulled by a 8750 Pannier Tank.
I would be keen to hear wether this type of post is of interest as I have another which I will post shortly.

Visitors to Hennock.

 During the Andover Show a couple of visitors graced Hennock.
Bruce Smetham kindly allowed us to play with a couple of his locos. These  are a BRCW Type 3 Bo Bo, built from one of his Resin mouldings and mounted on a slightly extended Berliner Bahnen chassis. Finished in BR green and with a set of nameplates dedicated to the late Geoff Gamble whose book business Bruce now operates.




Secondly a 'Bubblecar' unit finished in two tone Blue/ grey, a type used on the Western Region of British railways. This unit consists of cut and shut parts from the Tri-ang DMU with cast ends. This has a motor bogie which I am unsure of the origin but appears to be of Japanese manufacture and maybe an adapted 2mm product.
Both ran well, although the Bubblecar is slightly out of period- we just explained that they were both on Route Training runs!
I think that both capture the character of the prototypes and I am tempted to add a Type 3 to the loco roster- after finishing the Hymek!

Hornby Scaledale Street Lamps

Every so often I come across a proprietry product which suits 3mm scale just right.
Such a case in point is the Hornby R8673 Scaledale Street Lamps. When comparing them with the lamps supplied in whitemetal by 3SMR they are exactly the same height and width.
Even better was the price- Hornby retails at £6+ for four, I paid £1.50 for eight of them.
So it's worth while hunting through those bargain boxes, you never know what you may find!
Unfortunately the link for the new blog, Teignford, was incorrect so it has now been corrected. See Teignford,a 3mm Scale Model Railway

Don't forget Westfest on the 17th September.

Pagoda Hut

This view is one that cannot be seen from the front of the layout.
This Pagoda Hut started life as a 4mm scale model. I am not sure of it's origin as I think the Ratio version has windows fitted-any suggestions welcome.
The sides, front and back were cutdown to a scale 3mm size. The roof, which is a one piece moulding was sliced to size with a razor saw, a piece of black plasticard attached to it's base. the walls were painted GWR light stone ,the doors dark stone and the roof matt black.
Sunk into the rise in landscape, I think it captures the look of the prototype and with George waiting outside a bit of life is introduced.

Don't forget to see 'Hennock' at Andover this weekend 3/4 September.

Updates to Hennock

 Two weeks till Westfest 2011.

Whilst preparing 'Hennock' for Andover Exhibition I took the opportunity to updat e couple of things.
The Haematite works has had a collection of weeds planted along the front of the building, there is also some around the trees to the left. I will see what the reaction is to this and then perhaps let the weeds encroach a little more.
The meadow in front of the farmhouse has always been devoid of any use, so a flock of sheep have been introduced to add a bit of interest.
These are whitemetal castings from the 3mm Society and have been painted with Acrylic paint. Some have black faces but there my knowledge of all things sheep ends!
The base covering was scraped back to allow the
bases to be firmly attached with PVA. The flock seem happy in their new home-must have become very tedious languishing in the sectioned box labelled-Animals.
 Andover Exhibition Today.

New Blog

For some time I have been preparing to start a new layout. Some of you may have seen a few posts about this and to set the two apart I have decided to start a new blog detailing the progress and construction techniques.
Please bear with me as this site will not be as regular as Dorset 3mm Scale Model Railway-see http://3mmscalestocklist.blogspot.com/
I hope to give a blow by blow account of how  the layout is built, buildings and scenery added and preparing for exhibiting.
Please let me know if you have a better way of doing things any feedback will be appreciated.

Station Building

 Finally getting the hang of the Olympus has enabled me to post a picture that previously I have been unable to take.
This shows Mum,Dad and little Jasmine waiting for the next train. The Running In Board is at last portrayed in a picture.
The main building is the large pic today and I hope doesn't loose something in the enlargement.