Prime Time Viewing

As promised, I have actually primed my first batch of wagons. Here we have two Ratio iron minks, two Ratio open C tube wagons, two Cambrian Models Dia. N30 loco coal wagons, a Cooper Craft Dia. 04 open five plank wagon with sheet rail, another Cooper Craft open, this time a Dia. 05 open 4 plank wagon, a Cooper Craft Dia. V5 Mink Van, Also here is the Ian Kirk V7 Mink C van described in a previous post and the underframe of a Mainline Mogo van, on which I have replaced the original couplings with three links.

I used Halfords grey plastic primer from a can which went on nice and easily, the primer has really bought out a lot of the details, especially the rivet detail on the iron minks. The flat finish showing the relief of the mouldings much better than the satin finish of the plastic.

I have also sprayed the two Cambrian Models Dia. T13 Chaired Sleeper wagons, below is a sneak peek of the black finish and progress of applying the transfers.

Next post I hope to show the finished sleeper wagons...

Larkrail by Rail...

...and Bus

I took the train over to Bath today to visit Larkrail, this years guise of Camrail. Described as a small show by its organisers, it however, did not fail to impress with a good selection of smaller layouts on show, including Chris Nevard's Polbrook Gurney Colliery, several demonstration stands of work in progress and a couple of traders. I will be honest in saying that the main draw for me going to the show was Polbrook Gurney and was more than worth the wait to see it in the flesh. I won't be posting any pics here as they won't be anywhere near the quality found in the link, but it is well worth going to see if you have the chance. 

Overall it was a very high quality show for its size and I had a great day out!

Progress on the Cambrian Models GWR Chaired Sleeper Wagons

This is the first workbench update for ages, work has been super hectic and I have been finding it hard to get to do any modelling but I have made some headway with the pair of sleeper wagons.

Last night I fitted the couplings, vac pipes and stanchions to the remaining wagon.

All that remains before painting is the addition of the lead ballast. The floor of these well wagons runs close to the rail head but there is enough room to squeeze in a layer of lead ballast to enhance the running qualities of the wagons.

As can be seen from the pic below the clearance isn't huge but just enough.

This is what I'm currently using for ballast; a piece of battered lead from a gully on a roof that was being replaced, with this piece, I need to flatten it out with a lump hammer and when the time comes, cut into appropriate sized pieces with my tin snips. I normally attach it to the wagons with double sided foam tape, the type that is used to attach plastic trunking to walls. The layer of foam in between the layers of adhesive allow the adhesive to hold even with any unevenness in the lead, it is hard to get it dead flat and this is where the foam helps. On these wagons however, because of the lack of clearances between the floor of the wagon and rail head, I have just super glued the lead in place. If it ever works loose, I will try again with a glue which dries with a bit more flexibility. 

Laundry Detergent for Modellers...

Laundry Detergent for Modellers...

The Underlying Debate

This week I ordered a sheet of closed cell foam, a pot of Copydex and my first and hopefully last set of track gauges. Reading Mikkel's blog, and the debate over on RMweb, about the best materials and practices to achieve good sound deadening results from track underlay. It seems that approaches vary from using no underlay at all, to using cork stuck down with PVA, to the use of closed cell foam stuck down with Copydex. C&L Finescale sell a foam underlay as do Nairnshire Modelling Supplies, but I managed to get some on ebay which has the adhesive already applied, effectively coming as sticky backed plastic. It took less than 30 minutes to mark, cut and apply the underlay to the baseboards.

For track laying and ballasting I have opted to use Copydex. Comments in the RMweb conversation suggest that PVA soaks into the cork or foam and dries rock solid, negating any sound deadening properties of the material used. As Copydex is a latex based product there should be a little give when dry which should enhance the sound deadening qualities of the closed cell foam, which on ebay is even advertised as ideal for sound insulation. In due course I will do some tests and hopefully a video comparing the sound levels of track laid straight onto a board compared with track glued down to foam underlay using Copydex. The other advantage of using the sticky backed foam is that it is a doddle to cut and peal back, so placing the buildings and making sure there is no dreaded gap at the base should be easy!

Also in the pictures you will see the platform. This was started a couple of years ago when I was building a layout in the loft of our old house. It was, again, based on Abingdon Station but was not compromised in any way from then plan which can be found here I didn't get very far down the line before we decided to move house and because I had built the boards directly onto the rafters rather than as separate units, the platform and a couple of familiar Ratio and Wills kits are as much as I managed to keep from the project. I do however have an abundance of Peco streamline code 100 points and flexi track which will be utilised for a basic roundy roundy railway in the back garden for my Son (Dad too of course!!)