GWR Branchline in EM Gauge 4mm Scale

The stripper came, tasteful lime geen. When I told my wife I was going out on the balcony for half an hour with the stripper, her response was " put a coat on, it's cold outside".

On to the serious stuff. Disassembled body has been soaking overnight, time to have a look when I have finished the second cuppa.


Nigel

At least you'll know you'll be OK when you invite the real stripper Nigel - just make sure it's during the summer …………….

Is the stripper something like Nitromors in UK - a strong DCM/methanol based paint stripper - or is it specially designed for glues ?

Active ingredients are benzyl alcohol and formic acid in what looks like lime green custard. No DCM. It work a treat - completely stripped overnight. Paint, glues, adhesives, whatever. Difficult bit was finding the buffers in the custard, and not washing them down the S bend of the sink when rinsing (wire mesh basket for that)..I had a look at the plastic floor - says 57 ft roof base. Does that mean the base for the 57 foot roof. or the base for the 57 ft model? The interior had a curved roof, so it's the floor. No way is that going near the stripper.Some scribe lines for the luggage/guard  compartment doors will be required, as well as the driver compartment doors,

Now onto rebuilding as a diagram N sans moldings. (I'm not that clever and you can't tell from a distance). No instructions, so I shall make it up as I go along.

Nigel

Wow - that's cleaned up nicely Nigel.

Looks like a new one.

Better than I thought it would Peter. It's a pretty rudimentary design. no shelves for the sides on the base, looks like a butt join, just the ends, which are to be glued to the base plate. Might add a couple of nuts and bolts either end. No soldering, aluminum requires a devil's brew of flux and special solder that I will nt work with. I think the original builder got this one seriously wrong. With only 6 pieces how could it go wrong? (Quite easily apparently).

Panel beating next. That brings back memories of putting the front end of a Renault 4CV to rights after a small disagreement with a stone wall left a slight dent about 18" deep.

Nigel

[user=1632]BCDR[/user] wrote: 

after a small disagreement with a stone wall left a slight dent about 18" deep.

Nigel

Crikey! If that's a 'slight dent' I'd love to see a 'big' one…..

D

[user=312]Chubber[/user] wrote:

[user=1632]BCDR[/user] wrote: 

after a small disagreement with a stone wall left a slight dent about 18" deep.

Nigel

Crikey! If that's a 'slight dent' I'd love to see a 'big' one…..

D

 

Well let's face it Doug, it was a Renault ………..

Hi All,

Rain stopped play. There I was, spending an enjoyable afternoon on the balcony, fettling away at the GWR trailer, when the wind got up and down came the rain.

Scribing done, 2/3 of the windows done.

Should be fine tomorrow.

So in the meantime I had a look at a 3D print of a 6-wheel Siphon. This was the replacement of a replacement of a replacement. Looks OK with the correct wheels on, except of course it will not go around anything less than a 36" plus radius. I have a plan using an old Bachmann pony I found in the spares, a floating centre axle and the body shell from a Ratio GWR carriage left over from the brass Siphon build. Cut and shut to give a guards carriage…

Nigel

Without wishing to detract from the GWR Siphon (would I ever want to detract from anything GWR  :roll: :roll: :roll:), I'm slightly intrigued as to how, on an airfield, disused or otherwise and probably designed to land a Lancaster bomber,  you managed to drive a little Renault 4CV into what was probably the only stone wall in sight !!!

Had you been doing some research on the Hook Norton Brewery ?  Maybe trying to syphon some off ………………..

I'm just beginning to wish I hadn't set this hare running…..
 
 D


 

Don't worry you haven't. Irrelevant posts have gone.

Nigel

Hi All,

Track plan time. I consulted OS maps as well as those given in Karau, and decided that the track plan around 1900 would be an interesting challenge.

Here is Karaus diagram, originally published in Great Western Branch Line Termini, Paul Karau, Volume 1, OPC, 1977, shown here in the interests of teaching and research. The red rings are mine, and are there because of the 3 interesting points in the yard (pun intended).



Going from left to right, the first items of interest are the 2 wagon turntables. These are not shown on the 1920 OS map, so they would have been there sometime between the early 1890's-1919. Presumably the GWR did a bit of rationalization, as the line after the goods shed had little room to act as a head shunt. Makes sense I think, as goods out would be stored on the upper and lower yard branches. That also gives me an excuse for a MOW train loaded with sleepers, rail and ballast.

Next is item of interest is that extended 3-way throat into the yard. At first glance at the track plan just a couple of points, the following magnified image, which is a bit grainy from the sharpening, shows differently. Again, from the same source and in the interests of research and teaching:



So what we have here looks like an extended asymmetrical 3-way, with the addition of catch point work on all three tracks. There appears to be a ground throw lever on the far left track, but the others? That is going to be interesting to build. Note the slight change in levation going from the branchline to the yard lines.

The other point of interest is what looks like the extended double slip used to access the carriage shed and the engine shed. The points were interlocked so it did function as a double slip. Again, an interesting challenge. The carriage shed usually housed a small 4-wheel carriage during this period, so the track between the two lower points (highlighted) needs to be long enough for a 517 or Metro Class and the carriage.

Any comments or suggestions appreciated.

Nigel

Beware of the foreshortening effect of a telephoto lens Nigel, which can effect the view massively.

Given that it would be very strange for a track plan to substitute 3 points with a 3 way point, my guess is that the plan is near enough correct whilst the photo has been taken at low level with a long telephoto giving the impression that it's a stretched 3 way.

With regard to the double slip, other than space saving, there wouldn't seem to be any particular reason to use one instead of 2 points.  They are fairly complex beasts and in real life, I'd guess they'd be quite expensive.

It's an interesting track plan but to me, Watlington has always seemed a bit cramped operationally in that there isn't much "off street parking space" when shunting.

"Next is item of interest is that extended 3-way throat into the yard."…

That is what the exit from the Buckfastleigh yard to main line looks like from the Buck's box….When [if ever] we are allowed back, I'll take a picture.

D

[user=6]Petermac[/user] wrote:

Beware of the foreshortening effect of a telephoto lens Nigel, which can effect the view massively.

Given that it would be very strange for a track plan to substitute 3 points with a 3 way point, my guess is that the plan is near enough correct whilst the photo has been taken at low level with a long telephoto giving the impression that it's a stretched 3 way.

With regard to the double slip, other than space saving, there wouldn't seem to be any particular reason to use one instead of 2 points.  They are fairly complex beasts and in real life, I'd guess they'd be quite expensive.

It's an interesting track plan but to me, Watlington has always seemed a bit cramped operationally in that there isn't much "off street parking space" when shunting.

Hi Peter,

Even allowing for the shortening effect of a 1947 telephoto lens (more likely a Kodak Brownie or possibly a Leica) there are only some 20-25 sleepers between the first blade and the next V. Definitely an elongated asymmetrical. Which ever way you look at it it's a 3 way turnout. With 3 catch points. As you say, a tight terminus. Remember the original plan - short trains, both passenger and goods. 6-8 at a time for the wagons and vans. Probably never used to the full extent that the 2 wagon turntables allowed.

Probably never intended to be the terminus, the plan was to link up with the Wallingford Branch.

Nigel

[user=312]Chubber[/user] wrote:

"Next is item of interest is that extended 3-way throat into the yard."…

That is what the exit from the Buckfastleigh yard to main line looks like from the Buck's box….When [if ever] we are allowed back, I'll take a picture.

D

 

Hi Douglas,

Yes, very similar. There are some photos online. Paul Karau's plans are identical to the OS ones, of course the OS never got it wrong… .
Nigel

Hi All,

GWR autocoach/trailer today. I finished the holes in the now new driving end, and put the body together. This gives me a chance to have a look at it in toto. Some steps for the new drivers end, start measuring the various grab handle holes (I have a Bill Bedford jig for these somewhere), Interior partitions (which I will use as braces for the bottom and sides), the floor (which was longitudinal wood strips in the real thing), bolection representation, new steps for the entry door, some queen posts and rodding, gas tanks, roof modifications, passengers suitable for 1910, interior lighting, drop lights, quite a long list in fact. Still thinking about the panels on the exterior. Would my roof molding strip material be appropriate? Only one way to find out. Also, it needs some screw couplings.

Shipment from the UK is getting chancy, some suppliers have informed me no foreign shipments until the crisis is over.

Nigel,

In spite of it being GWR, I like that Nigel.  :thumbs

I really ought to dig out some of the stuff I have awaiting build/repair ………………I enjoy watching things come together.

Hi Peter,

Thanks. If it's any solace it will not be cream and chololate. Or apple green.

Having cleaned up the roof yesterday it doesn't fit. Everything else is square and where it should be. Either it never fitted properly, which goes towards explaining the copious amounts of mastic used, or it has shrunk over the years. Or both. Having found a bag of roof vents and the gas lamp covers the question is do I go ahead and fettle or form a new one from brass? Which will be interesting given the changes in radii and the length. Chunk of balsa?

Nigel

Hi Nigel,

Has it shrunk in both length and width? Depending on the severity of the problem, you could cut it in two along the centre line and fit a piece of plasticard and if necessary, another strip in an appropriate position across the width and then get out the filler and emery boards.

I'm sure you will overcome it.

BIll