Author name: David Hagger

Open Day coming up

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With the Open Day coming up next Sunday we continue with preparations. The exchange sidings sector plate has had a sealing coat of varnish and emery paper and graphite used to get a smooth movement through its arc. The track is stuck to the plate and the diverging sidings have their sleepers interlaced.

And on Friday Mr C continued the good work, laying the sector plate track work, so hopefully we’ll see some movement here at the Open Day

Preparations for the Open Day continue.

Open Day coming up Read More »

Week ending 09 Nov

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This Monday preparation started for the platform on Cwm Carno. The support blocks for the platform face have been stuck in place carefully positioned using the modified track gauge. (Its been readjusted after use) The platform facing itself is ready along with the station building off-scene, and a test coach is waiting.

Tuesday evening was a zoom session. We had a little more on the Clee Hill, even more on the Cambrian from Steve B, 4-4-0s and 0-4-4s from Mr. C, and varied scenes from LBH including Lydney Harbour, some Col Stephens and lesser-known country lines.

On Friday someone sensible decided to check the platform clearances for an outside cylinder loco. The clearance is 1mm, which could be close. We don’t intend to run a 28xx normally but its a good test engine. Also the workman’s train was posed in the station to check its appearance.

At the Missenden Modellers’ weekend Mr C tackled the chassis for his S7 Taff Vale V class. Progress was made though crank pins didn’t get fitted to test the coupling rods.

Week ending 09 Nov Read More »

September / October

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The week started with tidying up after the return from Stafford, storing Frecclesham and moving on to more work on Cwm Carno and Ty’n y Coedcae. Also Luke brought down Queen’s Wharf in its completed form as submitted to the PECO Rail200 Competition.

The components for the Cwm Carno exchange sidings sector plate turned up and a quick pre-assembly revealed that while a couple will need to be remade the overall structure is satisfactory.

September / October Read More »

Frecclesham at the Stafford Show

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We chose to drive up through the scenic Marches, stopping at Craven Arms for lunch, then cutting across to Stafford.

As expected the layout worked well with no major issues and members of the crew were able to entertain themselves, or even totally relax, between operating sessions.

The building is a little basic – no carpeted floors – but we were given plenty of space behind the layout. The clear shadows you can see gave us a problem with lighting the layout. In the two pics you can see the dark shadow cast towards the front. We may need to consider a filter material above.

Mr Chairman reached the ripe old age of 75 on the Sunday and was presented with a card, had Happy Birthday and Penblwydd Hapus sung, and then we all celebrated in the usual manner. N.B. the bottle was full at the start of the show.

Frecclesham at the Stafford Show Read More »

Just Monday and Tuesday

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We will be at the club just at the start of this week as we are away later on.

On Monday Andrew N brought along the station building for Cwm Carno, following on from the platform facing that arrived last week. This is based on a Brecon and Merthyr pattern of building. Also on Monday we tested the fascias and backscene for Frecclesham and messed up installing the backscene supports. So the uprights have now been labelled for their outer face and orientation.

Tuesday was packing up Frecclesham so the workroom and layout room were covered in boxes.

Just Monday and Tuesday Read More »

Week Ending 21 September

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You can’t have too many cranes! Well, perhaps you can have a layout too small for cranes. TAFKATYS has been exercising his two SR breakdown cranes and now has a feasible train with the addition of the Birdcage Brake 3rd from Wagonman’s collection, as seen leaving the main platform. The second crane in the foreground has some damage and does not run so well so is a static exhibit for now. Both cranes were scratchbuilt by our late member Steffan Lewis. (Apologies for the rubbish background)

This week our time at the club was largely spent preparing for Frecclesham at Stafford with little new to show. I can report the Crane Train made an appearance in the most recent timetable session.

Week Ending 21 September Read More »

September already

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On Monday the attendance was good with preparations on Frecclesham ahead of Stafford proceeding, more wiggly tin tomfoolery, this time in 7mm/ft, a wagon turntable for Queen’s Wharf and a few bits and pieces on Cwmcarno.

Tuesday evening was a Zoom session and we covered a range of topics. Initial discussion was about corrugated iron in 7mm scale following on from the previously seen form tool. (see previous post) Paul W talked us through his recent work on his 78xxx chassis with modifications to cylinders, crossheads and hornblocks, with provision of extra support for details. A ‘working’ Wakefield lubricator was discussed. Steve B’s Cambrian theme for this session featured interlopers – DMUs, Hymeks and EE type 3s, Southern 4-4-0s on Tal-y-llyn Railway specials, Royal trains, Radio Cruise and ex-LNER locos. Finally LBH had some photos and maps of the Clee Hill mineral railway and its rope-worked inclines.

Friday only two of us made it to the club with Luke working on the wagon turntables on Queen’s Wharf, and trialing various ballasting techniques.

September already Read More »

Week Ending 31 August

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Monday and stock is starting to appear on Frecclesham ready for the Stafford Show. Testing was successful with only the usual problems of auto-couplings going out of adjustment.

The long dry spell has affected the trees outside with many now shedding leaves. The same has happened on Frecclesham but this is due to the age of the layout. However, Tuesday’s job was to tidy them up and renew growth, as can be seen in the later photos. (other hair products are available)

LBH has a new toy – a form tool to produce model corrugated iron.

The form tool, designed for 4mm/ft and 3d-printed, to provide a scale 3″ pitch in that scale.
Paper 0.22 thick.
Aluminium foil, removed from a takeaway container, material 0.04 mm thick.
Aluminium foil, removed from a buffet platter, material 0.08 mm thick.

In LBH’s opinion the 0.04 mm produces the most convincing results, with a visible but subtle overlap. I wonder if we can find applications for it on ABB and Cwncarno.

Week Ending 31 August Read More »

Week Ending 24 August

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Paul🏅🏅continued his work on the halo attaching extra wooden blocks to provide support and a gluing surface for the facing material. Mr C worked on the final pair of turnouts fixing the stretcher bars in place.

Tuesday saw Mr Chairman continue with trackwork for Cwmcarno and Paul🏅🏅make more progress for on its halo.

Luke is building a Dick Kerr & Co petrol electric 40 hp tractor to 0n16.5, which will be finished in North Wales Narrow Gauge Railways (a forerunner of the Welsh Highland Railway) guise. As with many white metal kits it will need some fettling before the body sits level on the chassis.

And LBH completed the conversion of a B&MR all-third to ScaleSeven by the simple application of Connoisseur Models’ Sprung Suspension Units.

It is seen here perilously balanced on Frecclesham’s 0 gauge track, Tŷ’n-y-Coedcae being in temporary storage.

The end of August was the milestone for submitting photos of layouts for the Scalefour Jubilee Challenge, so we moved the layout into the main hall for a little photoshoot.

And while we were at it I couldn’t resist a look through one of the chapel windows.

Our resident Wizard continues to make progress with the B&MR Usk, and tonight she had a trial fit of the safety valve cover, prior to it being cast in brass.

And LBH was so dis-satisfied with his ballasting on the CoT turnout he decided to remove it.

Week Ending 24 August Read More »

Week ending 17 August

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Monday and just a handful of us were present. Paul🏅🏅made the ‘halo’ for Cwm Carno (see Tuesday) Tuesday saw some significant Cwm Carno progress. TAFKATYS arrived with some supports for Cwm Carno. The legs were recycled from end protectors of LMJ baseboards – it was good quality plywood. New beams connect the legs and are very sturdy. The layout was tried in place easily and the upper section (halo) which will have a fascia and LED lights temporarily held up in place. Once the fascia is attached the halo will be far more rigid.

With Cwm Carno on the move we decided to check it will fit into the transport – no, they were not lining it up to throw it into the Range Rover. Moving around inside is possible as long as you rotate the board.

Some more track was laid on Cwm Carno on Friday. There is now a connection from the main line into the exchange sidings.

Elsewhere Luke tested a 3D printed chassis for an early mechanical shunter and consulted on the turntables for Queen’s Wharf. The Wizard continued with Usk having moved on to the boiler and some revision of the design of Cwm Carno’s terraces took place.

Week ending 17 August Read More »

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