ABB – Page 2 – Newport Model Railway Society

Getting ready for Crewe – or not

15 May 2025 / ABB, GWR GBV, Peco Rail200, Tŷ’n-y-Coedcae

Back to normal attendances this week and eyes are turning towards ABB’s visit to Scaleforum in Crewe with practice running sessions being run.

Mr Chairman fabricated a recycled sleeper fence to fill in the ugly gap between the garage and the chippie lean-to.

LBH has been messing around with laser-cutting again. First he purchased a Peco Rail 200 baseboard (despite him knowing perfectly well that this year we are celebrating the 218th anniversary of rail passenger transport). He also got three sets of stockbox inserts cut to his designs.

Then over a couple of days various circumstances changed the availability for the Crewe show. After a discussion on Friday we had to decide to withdraw ABB from the show – we just didn’t have enough bodies. It was not a decision taken lightly. At least we were able to give 3 weeks notice to the organisers.

Meanwhile over the last few weeks Wagonman has been getting on with this early GW brake van from a kit picked up at the Kettering show.

LBH is making progress with the cart for Tŷ’n-y-Coedcae. It seems a pity, although necessary, to cover up all the cart underframe detail.

Getting ready for Crewe – or not Read More »

Modelling at home

5 May 2025 / ABB, Zoom

Most of us will be modelling at home this week. With Monday being yet another Bank Holiday and with some of us busy at the Bristol Show over the weekend it was time to miss this session. And Tuesday will be an online meeting so we’ll be at home with a screen (and liquid refreshments).

On Zoom we asked Steve B to ‘Carry On’, so we were entertained by ‘Further Up the Cambrian’. This session included Manors, Dukedogs and concrete signal posts. We ended with an impromptu visit to a 3 ft 6 ins gauge heritage railway in Tasmania thanks to Paul W.

Friday and back at the club where improvements to ABB continue. We now have a track power indicator next to the signalman – green is good, nothing means a short circuit.

At the end of the terrace the 3D printed workshop or garage has arrived and tried in place. Work on a proper tree has started but with still some way to go as you can see. Ground work will be necessary and a fence along the back too. Perhaps crack open on of the doors?

Modelling at home Read More »

A lull between shows

1 May 2025 / ABB, Tŷ’n-y-Coedcae

We seem to be in a bit of a quiet patch between shows at the moment, but Monday we welcomed Rhobat back after several weeks away.

Tuesday was quiet too, but LBH did manage to assemble some barrels from the Miniart range, they are actually 1:48 but will look ok on Tŷ’n-y-coedcae’s 1:43.5.

On Friday we were better attended. ABB was erected using the modified toblerones with support over the top of them, to provide an improved bearing surface. This was better but it made access to the joining bolts and electrical connections more difficult.

The persistent problem of how to finish off the end of the terrace may be coming to an end. The garage/workshop mock-up is a better size than previous suggestions, having the doors nearer the terrace makes sense and positioning it away from the line of the terrace looks better. Obviously we need an improved tree.

A lull between shows Read More »

Post-Easter blues?

25 April 2025 / ABB, P4 Coal Tank, Tŷ’n-y-Coedcae

This week was a bit quiet; Monday we decided not to open up on the Bank Holiday – deciding in the way of politicians being hounded out of their jobs to ‘spend more time with our families’.

Tuesday someone else will have to talk about since I was otherwise engaged . . . . . So Tuesday was quiet with a select few getting on with stuff including the next turnout for Cwmcarno, – but no pics.

Friday saw Paul make substantial progress on the modifications to the ‘Toblerones’ to make them more stable prior to ABB’s visit to Crewe, while LBH amused himself building a kit for a flat bed cart destined for Tŷ’n-y-Coedcae.

Away from the clubrooms Mr. C was working on a Bachmann Coal Tank for ABB and CC (so two bodies). The bearings have been reamed out to 1/8th, set up in a chassis jig and the coupling rods checked. These had previously been bushed, so were carefully opened out to align with the chassis. Postings on forums had noted that there were variations in some models.

Post-Easter blues? Read More »

Week ending April 13

8 April 2025 / ABB, Crewe, Cwm Carno, Trackwork.

Next up on the exhibition timetable is ABB at the Scalefour Crewe show in June.

After the Ally Pally show some suggestions were made to improve the triangular supports, commonly known as Toblerones. So on Monday Paul 🏅🏅added a flap that hangs too the side of the toblerone but can be deployed across the top giving a wider flat surface. This will make it easier to add any packing necessary for uneven floors. Also the bottoms of them was trimmed to form feet rather than one flat edge.

Although ABB’s trip to Crewe remains on the horizon Cwmcarno has not been forgotten. Luke, under the watchful eye of Mr Chairman has completed his first turnout, and yes, it is in P4. Construction is nickel silver bullhead rail fixed to copperclad timbers with Masokits chairs.

So that is two of the five assembled.

With only three at the club in Friday it could be said this was the best turnout of the day. (Sorry)

Week ending April 13 Read More »

The Show – ABB at Ally Pally

15 March 2025 / ABB, Ally Pally

*All set up and ready to go on Friday afternoon. A moment for celebration.*

It proved popular with a some, which is always encouraging .

The low sun on Saturday afternoons, while it was a pain shining in the Signalman’s eyes, did provide an interesting effect.

The Show – ABB at Ally Pally Read More »

Preparation for the Show

11 March 2025 / ABB

With ABB featuring at Alexandra Palace over the coming weekend we are busy preparing.

A few of the locos on the layout are lacking a crew, which is most noticeable on the tender engines, but easy to fit as there is good access. However, for tank engines it is difficult to get small bodies inside without undoing lots of screws and then finding its still impossible. So why bother . . . . you can see where I did get someone inside 82030, can’t you? Other engines are more helpful, the space where the backhead should be proved useful on the 94xx.

By later Tuesday we had ABB packed and stacked ready for Friday’s trip up the M4.

After that was complete we had a chance to admire Luke’s Model T combination which has featured before. It just needs nameplates and crew, and maybe even passenger(s)?

Preparation for the Show Read More »

One pic Monday and many pics Tuesday

3 March 2025 / ABB, Zoom

Again very little to show Paul 🏅🏅finished the bracing on Cwm Carno’s trackbed, LBH tried and failed to get the BPRC for ADR No 14 working, Andrew J kept going on his signal box interior and here we see Mr Chairman fitting the gutters onto the terrace in ABB.

This Tuesday we meet on Zoom on the day that was the 58th anniversary of the last day of operation on the Cambrian Coast Express and Stephen B showed us a collection of images the day’s operation, Luke shared an idea for hand signals to assist in layout operation, Mr Chairman shared a collection of images with the emphasis on 9Fs (or should it Class 9s?) and LBH came to the end of his series of Welsh scenes.

One pic Monday and many pics Tuesday Read More »

No pic Friday

28 February 2025 / ABB, Cwm Carno

Enough going on at the club this evening but nothing to precipitate the action of a camera shutter. There was a run through of the ABB timetable with a different combination of operators, TAFKATYS wired the control panel while Paul 🏅🏅 assembled the frame for the pelmet, both for Cwm Carno, the Wizard identified castings and LBH assembled a loom for the battery-power radio-control of ADR No 14.

Well, actually we did get one pic of how things were on Friday. This shows the progress TAFKATYS made on the Cwm Carno panel.