Lets Build a Coach.

 I have been here before- another ex-GWR coach, this time a Toplight Brake- left or right hand doesn't matter.
First job is to separate the bits from the carrier. We see the 'nubs' which remain after removal. Easily removed with a couple of strokes from a good file- mine is a middle cut eight inch one which I have had for years.
Once the parts are cleaned up- time to solder it all together. It can be glued but I find it quicker to solder. Incidentally, Tony Seal has a booklet available through the 3MM Society that describes his methods- a good starting point.

I cut off about a millimetre of multicore solder- place adjacent to the droplight and apply heat- can't show picture as I don't have three hands. Looks messy but its soldered on and wont show once cleaned up and painted.
Some later pictures on Teignford today http://3mmscalestocklist.blogspot.com/

Worsley Works 6 Wheeler.

 This whitemetal kit has cleaned up rather well.
Once the small amount of flash has been removed it is time to assemble.
This will be Superglued together and is to be made during things like waiting for solder to cool down- in other words it is a 'fit-in'
We all need these- they are things that can easily be picked-up or put down whilst attending to other things.
It is also a kit for those few moments we have when there isn't enough time to fire up the soldering iron but want to do some modelling..

LSWR 700Class 0-6-0.

 Yes- it's Worsleys again!
I am, as has been said before, planning a Southern Region layout.
Already having an M7 and O2 under construction, this kit added another dimension to the planned loco stud.
Worsley Works kit's are, from my experience well thought out and cleanly etched.
The chassis for this is for 14.2 gauge but will be adapted for 12mm.
Etched in Nickle Silver, some of the castings have already been aquired from John Bateman- who also supplied the castings for both the M7 and O2's.

Rarity?

I regularly have a glance at the 3mm items up for grabs on e-bay (other auction sites are available).
What never ceases to fascinate me is the regular codecil that items offered are rare.
It takes only a few minutes to dispel this myth by seeing that two or three other lots are in fact the same type of offering. Recently, there was a 3mm scale Mechanical Horse offered- still packed in the original Keyser wrapper. Had anyone cared to search, they would see that this is a current offering from the 3mm Society Shop- I know as I have three of them and another to build.
If readers consider that the fee for a years membership costs £20 then the range offered and the difference in savings easily makes it an economic move.
That is before you take the Secondhand Sales into the equation- many of the posts deal with these and most of the previous offerings from the 3mm Society  come into stock over a period of time.
So look into it- just because the description says rare- is it really?

Replica Railways Rub Down Transfers.

 I have been a fan of rub down transfers for a fair few years.
Recently I had the chance to peruse the whole range whilst visiting the Wimborne Exhibition. I never seem to have the time when we are showing a layout so this was a good opportunity.
Godfrey is always helpful and keen to assist. Shown are a couple of sheets, one is carriage lining and the other Diesel Numbering.
Helpfully they come with full instructions and the best bit? All you need is a soft pencil !

S.R. 10 Ton GUV.

Another find through the 3mm Society end of range stock.
This etch, again by Stewart Hine is not to be repeated.
This sheet of brass should make up into a good likeness of the prototype.
This means trawling through my copy of 'Souther Vans' or something like that which should be on the bookshelf- again too lazy !
Cast springs have been sourced from the Shop and a long SR type roof also aquired- may need the body slimming down however for that to fit.
There are instructions on how to roll the roof if that fails so it has two chances!

Signal Box Etchings.

Who was the artist who said ' come up and see my etchings'?
Well I have enough to see me busy for some time.
Allen of Worsley Works has produced these, and the top ones are for a LSWR Signal Box.
The lower eleven doors are destined for the buildings to be made for 'East Boldre'.
The amount of work saved by using these is considerable and the price therefore is very modest.
It is surprising what is or can be produced-Allen does encourage everyone to ask him.
http://www.worsleyworks.co.uk

Bulleid Coaches.

On a coaching theme for the Southern layout, I already have a push pull set to make which are rebuilds of Maunsell stock in 1959.
In order to add a bit of variety, this pair of Bulleid brakes- I forget (in reality too lazy to visit the loft to find out) the type and diagram number.
However, they will form the basis of a rake- maybe they ran as a pair in reality in which case the rake is complete- now watch me get shot down in flames!
Bogies and frames have alredy been purchased and the lot stored in a 'to do' box.
In case anyone wonders, I do a batch of photographs whilst in the flat and then take pictures as I make the kit so this post could have been written some time ago- it's the only way to build and blog!

Branchlines Bikes!

This is a cruel enlargement of a useful lineside accessory. As can be seen I have six etched bicycles, four for gentlemen and a couple for ladies. The etch is delicate- look at the handlebars!
They will, however, look good propped up around the layout.
Do take the time to view Branchlines blog  and take the trouble to get their list of 3mm products- remember use it or loose it!

3MM Society GWR 20Ton Toad.

This is a kit that is an end of line opportunity from the Society Shop- I bid and won!
The single sheet etch is an old product produced by Stewart Hine.
No casting come with it, these will have to be sourced when I can.
If it makes up half as well as the Road Van from Finney and Smith I will be pleased.
I also have a spare set of etches from Brian Golding (Brynkits) for the handrails.

3MM society Mixed Traffic-July 2013.

The latest edition of the 3MM Society quarterly, Mixed Traffic, has arrived.
There is some excellent pictures this time including shots of John Whites hand built GWR coaches taken on Hennock at last Novembers West Byfleet meeting.
Following an editorial concerning the BBC TV programme 'The Joy of Sets',
article wise, Steve Moor describes building a BR Class 5 from various kit and hand made parts. Nigel Cullimore builds a Goods Shed for his layout St. Agnes and newcomer, Ian Fraser models a Chilean Narrow Gauge Railway-Maria Elena.
Ian Jewell contributes useful notes and pictures of the BR 1F Tender and more of Eric Bruton's classic photographs are included.
Whats New? considers Bullfrog Turnout Control and the AEC Matador kit from Zvezda. Add to the foregoing the usual Q&A, Bits & Pieces and the round up of Tail Lamp concludes another balanced, informative edition.

Worsley Works 6 Wheeler.

I must admit to me having spent a fair amount with Allen lately.
For the life of me I cannot remember the type of truck this represents.
However, when I have time I will do some research and let you know when I commence building this kit.
The castings are crisp but need a little cleaning up as the photo shows. Still all seems to be there and from initial investigation the parts seem to fit well-time will tell!

LSWR Platform Seats.

This small kit of etches is just what it says on the packet.
A pair of etches done for the 3mm Society by, I think, Springside- I am sure I will be corrected.
As some will know my next project will be a British Railway Southern Region layout named East Boldre.
This is a name I have previously used for a 4mm layout which I sold several years ago.
I have always had a soft spot for the Southern having grown up alongside the Bournemouth mainline and always been within a stones throw away.
This will explain the increasing Southern projects that will appear over time.

Worsley Works AEC Single Railcar.

 I have had this kit of parts for some time.
Two etched brass sheets are supplied with the tumblhomes already formed. This is most useful due to the fact that the body has to be folded up from one piece. Origami in brass springs to mind but , knowing Allen's etching, and that Bob Brown has already made one, I am confident that construction will be fairly straight forward.
This one will be powered by a Halling motorised bogie. I know that the wheels are small but am sure this can be disguised when fitting the bogie sides. These are from the 3mm Society Shop and are correct castings.

Just noticed that I have passed the 500 post mark- does anyone really want more?

Ex-LSWR 700.

Shown on John Batemans layout, Wadebridge was this excellent model of an ex-LSWR 700 class loco, 30697.
This is quite convenient because I aquired a kit of this type from Worsley Works.
Supplied as an etch, it is up to me to source the castings, motor, gearbox and wheels .
The wheels are those obtainable from Peter White, castings from John Bateman and the Society shop.
I struck lucky in buying a couple of Mashima 9/16 motors from Secondhand Sales and most of  the items needed to complete the model. No boiler is supplied with this 'Scratch Aid Kit' but brass tube is readily available.

Wessex 3MM Meeting 2013.

 Attending this year was John Bateman and his 14.2mm gauge layout Wadebridge.
This is really a labour of love . A scale model of the ex-LSWR station has been faithfully recreated with many fine examples of brass loco's.
Shown also is an example of Bulleid stock. This picture also shows the quality of track building evident on this large layout.
Whist still under construction, the buildings are reminiscent of the prototype.

3MM Society Wessex Meeting 2013.

The 3mm Society Wessex meet held near Salisbury had a good attendance in relation to other years.
Photos show members busy at the various stands. The Secondhand Sales had many new items, especially flat pack brass kits.
It really is like a meeting of friends, updating ideas and just catching up.
Some had travelled a considerable distance, maqny car sharing which has to be a good thing considering the increases in costs recently.
In the next few posts I will expand on those attending in more detail.

3SMR comprehensive stand.

Always a prototype.

 I make no excuse for showing these pictures again. Sometimes it helps to trawl one's way through pictures that are a distant memory, and this is one of those occasions.
I took the photo of the lamp hut, at Christow if I remember correctly, in 2009 whilst tr4avelling along the old Teign Valley line.
These huts were made in a variety of sizes but commonly all clad with corrugated iron.
There are variations, I suppose to suit the site and use for which they are intended.
So it is useful to re-visit old photos- it is so much quicker with electronic copies than the old photo albums.

Whitemetal Bogie Van.500th Post!

This van- an early3mm kit by possibly esanel was purchased, originally for the bogies, from the S/H Sales by Nigel.
However, after stripping off the years of paint and grime he felt that the vehicle could be resurected and is slowly getting it back to a useable condition.
The sides are remarkably detailed for it's age and will provide an unusual addition to Nigel's fleet.
Off to 3mm Wessex meeting tomorrow and taking Teignford along for an outing.

Just a nice picture.

Whilst working on the roof of the Post Office, this picture was taken-pleased with this.

Diversity!

 One of the great things about belonging to a group such as ours is the spread of interests and methods used.
Robert is progressing with his latest micro-layout-this one being large by his standards.
The bridge has been built from plastic embossed stone sheet and is in the process of having stones individually picked out.
Coach bogies can also be seen, usually worked on whilst waiting for paint to dry or soldered joints to cool.

GWR Pannelled Coaches.

Here's a blast from the past.
Nigel had aquired this etch fr4om Secondhand Sales a few years ago and has just ogtten round to building it.
Believed to be a John Fisher etch, the coach folds up from one piece. The brass is extremely thin and subsequently is very susceptible to kinking.
That aside, the panelling is extremely fine as the cruel enlargement shows.
As can be seen the makings of a fine model.
Sorry, I forgot which coach it represents although I am led to believe that there was three different etchings of this coach type.

Dorset Group Meeting-April 2013.

The day was kind as the sun radiated through the Purbeck Hills, making it seem a lot warmer than it actually was-anyway thats enough sentiment for this year!
Sadly, only three of us managed to attend so there was lots of room for each of us.
For the first time I was able to look at Teignford from afar and actually take a photo of the whole layout plus a view that I am unable to take in the railway room.
Things to do keep cropping up so I will reveal more of our meeting tomorrow.
I took the opportunity of visiting the Wimborne Model Railway Exhibition- a busy weekend. I must say how much the new building is compared with the old. The halls are light and airy, and warm. Well done Wimborne for a good exhibition experience.
Also, I was pleased to see Jeff Weston who has recovered from his recent accident-he's wheely well now!

Trees and The Workshop.

The latest view of board three shows the Jasmine Inn and the workshop bedded in.
The trees in front of the workshop are some I picked up from an exhibition secondhand stall. They are of etched brass construction with flock applied when the branches had been bent into position. Unfortunately I don't know who they are made by but they are a pretty good likeness.
The Morris Commercial, poking its nose out of the workshop loading bay is a Worsley Works casting and fits it's location perfectly.
Just the other side of the line to finish but I doubt if this will bedone before the Wessex Meeting.

Teignford Photos.

 Just a few photos today to show how far Teignford has come.The top view is one that will seldom be seen and was literally a shoot and hope picture as I couldn't see the image first. Think it captures the goods yard quite well.

 The crossroads doesn't show the signpost well- too much white and a sunny day .
The lower is an aerial picture showing the area that needs filling- have a few ideas but doubt if it will be done before Wessex meeting.

Signpost and a horse.

The signposts have been planted as have the road nameboards- one can just be seen along the fence.
The signpost had the top pair of signboards superglued to the lower section. The base was drilled to accept a brass pin, a hole drilled in the scene and the pin pushed through and glued in place.
The horse? I came across this casting during a routine clean up and put away session recently. Thought he looked just right looking over the fence under the tree so thats where he will stay!


Please be reminded of the Wessex Open Meeting for members:- Saturday 13th April 2013
 Glebe Hall, Winterbourne Earls,Salisbury,Wilts,SP4 6HA.
I am reliably informed that ex-GWR steam is running in the county during the day. The engine is being turned on the Laverstock Triangle at approx 13.10.

Evening Falls.

Something a little different today. Think this is an early evening picture which, because I used the flash for a change has resulted in this shot.
Yes I know the area around the bridge still needs some work- but -hey- a model railway layout is never finished, right?
Taking lots of photos does show up the areas needing more work- mostly when I think I have finished them. Ho Hum!

Which Way?

 The really time consuming part of building a layout is preparing all the bits and pieces that make a layout believeable.
These signposts and road name boards I picked up some time ago.
Made by Dart Castings, these are to 'N' Gauge. They do look about right for 3mm though.
Computer skills are not my forte however and the names for these took me some time.
For the technically minded the names are printed in Arial and printed at 4 point (think thats right anyway).
To give you some idea of size, the squares on my
 cutting mat are 10mm square.
Painted with Valejo Acrylic White paint and the names stuck on with canopy Glue, the printing probably took the longest to do.
So, it just needs a spot of superglue to complete the 4 poster and they are ready to be located.
The road names are from the same source and made in the same way.
So now we know at least where we are going.

At Last - Time for a Beer!

As we cross the bridge with the station to our left, just round the corner is the local pub.
What a welcome sight.Unfortunately the backscene gives it away that it is just a model but, could you imagine a pint at the Jasmine Arms? I could- especially a pint of Nurses-

Dorset Group meeting this Saturday 6th April 2013.

The Village comes together.

 The buildings are slowly being adhered to their final resting place.
Please excuse the posts about buildings- I will resume building other things shortly. I am trying to give a blow by blow account of how Teignford was built.
If the posts seem tedious, then try getting something different each day to say, hence this current theme.
The bushes are all Woodland Scenics but the tree's (yes Tree's soon to be planted) are some etched brass jobbies that I got from a stall at an exhibition- a fiver for half a dozen trees was a bargain too good to resist.

View as we approach Teignford.