GWR/LMS OO Gauge DCC RR&Co

:thumbs

Liked the long cattle train John, so much better than the odd cattle wagon that i put on .   Nice piccys to thanks. :thumbs

Hi John
If this model is really 1/76th scale then it would be possible to build up numbers of Comet tanks by buying the Matchbox kit, now owned by Revell. This kit comes with markings and should be easily available on sites like eBay, like this one:

Matchbox Pk-72 1/76 A-34 Mk-i Comet British Tank Ww2 Model Kit Armor 1973 for sale online | eBay

Regards

Bob

[user=31]sparky[/user] wrote:

Liked the long cattle train John, so much better than the odd cattle wagon that i put on .   Nice piccys to thanks. :thumbs

Thanks Sparky…….its something I have always wanted to run…..just taken me 15 years to get round to it! :roll:

Cheers

[user=11]Bob K[/user] wrote:

Hi John
If this model is really 1/76th scale then it would be possible to build up numbers of Comet tanks by buying the Matchbox kit, now owned by Revell. This kit comes with markings and should be easily available on sites like eBay, like this one:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MATCHBOX-PK72-1-76-72-WWII-BRITISH-A-34-MKI-COMET-TANK-COLLECTORS-KIT-MIB-/391902190213?epid=1201572444&hash=item5b3f30da85:g:-AoAAOSwEuhZ1RAZ

Regards

Bob

Thanks Bob

Not sure if I am going to create a full rake although I am tempted to add a few more. I am not at all familiar with Matchbox but the photos of the item only show 1/76 so it may be worth a try.

Best wishes

John

I see that since I last posted Granby has passed the 150,000 hit mark…….admittedly over almost 10 years but still a definite milestone…….thank you all for your support :cheers



I am afraid that yet again I have missed my self imposed target of a weekly update. This weeks excuse?…….Granby is operated by RR&Co computor control……Version 9, a mega update was recently released. To take advantage of significant improvements in speed control and stopping accuracy locos need to be re-profiled. Profiling each loco takes 45+ minutes. Watching a loco run back and forth on the profiling track is hardly photogenic……..watching paint dry is probably more interesting.



With all the new branch goods trains set up and weathered it was time to put the street scene cover back in place.




And reunite poor Edith Jones with her washing (see post August 15th!)







The original plan was to swiftly repair the Halt and press on with the new Brewery. Unfortunately, and very unusually a parcel containing the last essential turnout and a Dapol footbridge kit left the UK on Sept 5 and arrived here yesterday. :sad:


So sadly the Halt remains in pieces although at least the walls are back in place.








I have been contemplating buying one of Hornby's big tanks for a while…….finally took the plunge….and guess what the Lenz decoder was also in the delayed package.

So at long last with the decoder fitted, tried and tested here is my new 72xx 2-8-2 Tank




Never sure when writing posts like this how to frame the content. I know there are regulars, on whom I rely, who are absolute experts……there are others who either dont know what a pannier is ….or perhaps worse know but dont like them!

So for the latter groups ….here is a potted history of the GWR Big tanks.

They were originally designed as 2-8-0s (42xx) hauling heavy coal trains on short trips from the South Wales pits down to the coastal ports. They proved so successful that additional locos were ordered and produced with the same 2-8-0 wheel configuration but larger bunkers (52xx). As is the way of the world their introduction coincided with a down turn in demand for SW Coal. A number were put into store. Others had their bunkers extended even more (necessitating the addition of rear pony wheels) so that they could be used for more regular freight duties……hence the 2-8-2 T 72xx 





I am no expert, and have never seen one in real life, but to my mind Hornby have captured the look and feel of a very powerful locomotive….8F in BR/LMS terms. Brute strength springs to mind.

The original release was part of the "Design Clever" series with a number of design defects …moulded smoke box darts and hand rails, no brass bearings etc……..most of these defects were corrected with later releases like this model………note to Ebay bargain hunters….check the Hornby model# before bidding.

One un-corrected defect was the cab back wall treatment. The window grilles look rather clumsy and the bunker door has gone AWOL 





I do think the missing door is rather unfortunate and detracts from the model even applying the 3' rule.

It would be great if other 72xx owners could tell me how they have addressed the problem? I know Brassmasters provide a detailing kit (with door)…..is it worth it?

I am fairly pragmatic about detail ( I continue to eagerly await the Dean Goods with all its alleged faults)………………… on Granby performance is the acid test.




Initially it was disappointing. A crosshead slide bracket slipped from its mounting resulting in the crosshead coming out…..nasty clicking sound….but it was on the far side and I am deaf so it took a while for me to detect…..ie loco stopped……………..hopefully thats all sorted now.

I was surprised how much I had to adjust my default CV settings for a Lenz Standard.

 Above 10mph the loco is silky smooth….the motion is a joy to watch. Below 10 mph it was very erratic with frequent stops. I thought I had cleaned the wheels but when I re checked there were still traces of paint and grease…..performance improved but it was still unsatisfactory crawling (stumbling rather). The test track was the often photographed main line….clean, level and much used. I finally noticed it was stalling on track joins which I guess means a barely perceptible variation in level………so I eased the keeper plate retaining screws and now she strolls along at notch 2 (say 2mph) and I have reduced CV2 to 5

So whats the score………the only design defect for me is the bunker door……from a performance aspect its not unusual to have to tinker with pick ups etc,this was a bit more than normal, but it now looks promising……..like Len used to in Strictly…….I would give it a…….SEVEN    (no dance off though)

Next post….Weathering and how big a load can she haul?

Regards from Vancouver



  

Hello John,
Lovely updates again. Keep up the good work.

On cattle trains it is likely that a branch line would support one or two cattle markets a week, on the Newcastle Emlyn branch its one, but it's a biggie with up to two fully loaded cattle trains behind a pannier or Collett goods departing on Saturday afternoon for the period I model.

Livestock were also a time critical load that required swift transport to its destination and husbanding along the way if the journey was over some distance. It was common for cattle wagons to be attached to the branch passenger train to speed up their delivery. 

A stopping goods, especially one picking up and dropping of at multiple stations along the line is a less likely conveyance.

Hope that helps. I can re-read Bob Essery's book on goods handling if you need more.

Cheers
Marty

Great piece of history John  :thumbs  and how can anybody (whatever you model) not like a GWR Pannier Tank  :shock:


Ed

Hi John,

Great to see the really big GW tank about to make a debut on Granby and I've made note of your comments on slow running. Might it be possible to place some carefully crafted plasticard to replicate the bunker doors, possibly in an open position for an even better view of the cab interior? Good luck there, I know you'll make it look great from much less than three feet!

I'm sure with your normal detailling and weathering, it will look even more purposeful and help bring even more realalism to Granby.

I'm currently stuck in a delightful town in northern France until Monday, with much to see and plenty of good restaurants, while waiting for a garage to replace a broken fan belt on an old car. It's also sunny and the hotel has good internet.

All the best and have a good weekend,

Bill

[user=19]Marty[/user] wrote:

Hello John,
Lovely updates again. Keep up the good work.

On cattle trains it is likely that a branch line would support one or two cattle markets a week, on the Newcastle Emlyn branch its one, but it's a biggie with up to two fully loaded cattle trains behind a pannier or Collett goods departing on Saturday afternoon for the period I model.

Livestock were also a time critical load that required swift transport to its destination and husbanding along the way if the journey was over some distance. It was common for cattle wagons to be attached to the branch passenger train to speed up their delivery. 

A stopping goods, especially one picking up and dropping of at multiple stations along the line is a less likely conveyance.

Hope that helps. I can re-read Bob Essery's book on goods handling if you need more.

Cheers
Marty

Hi Marty

Thanks for those comments…….they are very helpful and got me thinking.

 Operating a three train through storage yard on a roundy roundy layout can present some credibility issues.

There are two hidden storage tracks on the branch……One siding is fine there is a Pick up Goods, a Short Coal train and a second pick up goods …no problems here…. these three trains can shuffle round in a timed sequence once, or maybe even twice a day and look quite realistic for a sleepy branch  

The second track holds a Diesel Railcar, the Cattle train and the essential Autotrain.

The "Flying Banana" goes out to Granby on the upper level and back again ….not always stopping at the Branch

The Autotrain goes back and forth between storage and a Halt at the far end of the layout………however two or three times a day I like the Autotrain to have some tail traffic…..a siphon for the dairy or a horsebox….this involves doing a a lower level circuit through the storage track………so the cattle train has to run round 2 or 3 times a day which is hardly likely.

I had forgotten about the possibility of Cattle Wagons as passenger tail traffic………I already have a sequence where the branch train takes Milk Wagons up to the main line to be attached to the Birkenhead Milk train…..I can use the same sequence for a couple of Cattle Wagons…..lots of Cattle traffic to and from Birkenhead…….so I think the Cattle Train will be promoted to the upper level freight circuit!  It place in the lower level circuit can be taken by either a mineral empties or a chemical or oil trip train…….2-3 circuits per day of such trains will be much more credible

Problem solved!   Thank you!

Sorry guys about this long amazingly boring post…..sometimes I find it helps me to resolve issues by writing about them.

Cheers

John

ps I have the Essery book…..I will dig it out…..thanks for that reminder as well.
 




 The cattle train occupies the centre slot…..LH is a "flying banana"

[user=1338]Ed[/user] wrote:

Great piece of history John  :thumbs  and how can anybody (whatever you model) not like a GWR Pannier Tank  :shock:

Ed

Thanks Ed…..glad you liked it. The pannier comment was bit tongue in cheek….I have a long standing wrangle with a guy on another forum who, for some reason, prefers his locomotives to be Apple Green :lol:

Cheers

[user=1814]Longchap[/user] wrote:

Hi John,

Great to see the really big GW tank about to make a debut on Granby and I've made note of your comments on slow running. Might it be possible to place some carefully crafted plasticard to replicate the bunker doors, possibly in an open position for an even better view of the cab interior? Good luck there, I know you'll make it look great from much less than three feet!

I'm sure with your normal detailling and weathering, it will look even more purposeful and help bring even more realalism to Granby.

I'm currently stuck in a delightful town in northern France until Monday, with much to see and plenty of good restaurants, while waiting for a garage to replace a broken fan belt on an old car. It's also sunny and the hotel has good internet.

All the best and have a good weekend,

Bill

Hi Bill

Good to hear from you. Not sure what to do about the doors…….the Brassmasters etched kit is rather good and at 10 GBP is not too expensive……although I guess the postal cost to Canada will be at least that.

I am looking forward to weathering it and adding coal…..it looks kind of out of place right now…far too pristine!

I guess , like me, you are looking forward to the Oxford Dean Goods?  After all the froth and detail crticism it is beginning to look like a very attractive model

I envy your weather. Vancouver really doesnt have an Autumn …..one day its late summer ….blue skies 22o ……the next the temperature has dropped 10o and its pouring with rain……its winter…..and very wet……even our dogs wont venture out without their rain coats on! Lots of time for the railway though.

Cheers

John

 

[user=34]Ken[/user] wrote:

Very interesting John - as is Marty's contribution too - so I just learnt a lot from this.   Needless to say your layout looks wonderful as always.

Ken.

Hi Ken

Glad you liked the post……as I said one never knows the best way to write about the background of a new loco. You will have seen my reply to Marty…..his post really got me thinking

Cheers

John

Hi John,

Just got back from a sublime meal and am in a happy mood. I'm looking forward to the winter, which means lots more time for modelling and I've already moved the plank into winter quarters and have my first etched brass wagon kit to finish, together with a pile of others to contemplate.

Your mention of the diesel railcar just got me thinking about service arrangements, so I must do some research, as I've never really considered their fueling and servicing requirements before (I feel a tanker and storage facility comming on). Besides the Hornby passenger DCC ready unit, I've also a Dapol early streamliner on pre-order. However, since I've room for maintenance facilities, I must learn how the Great Western handled all this. What fun!

Oh and yes, having today read the latest review on the BR black version of the Dean Goods on RMWeb (yes, you really need a wartime black one) and seen the latest photographs of Oxford's changes, I'm looking forward muchly to the unlined green pre-Noel arrival.

I've just noticed your cattle train and what fun! Well done even finding those old Coopercraft kits from decades ago. They look the bee's knees, a fine piece of work John and yep, I even noticed the ROD taking over from the big Praire (Airfix?).

As for the Brassmaster's detail kit for the 72xx, just go for it, as it makes good sense and you'll enjoy the loco all the more for it.

A pleasure as always,

Bill

Just had a catch-up after a few weeks away. This is looking great. I still love the street scene.

Thanks Mike………here is another street scene :lol:


Headline from the Granby Courier  March 1948:


"ARMY OFFICER CAUSES CHAOS IN STATION ROAD"








Apparently Lieutenant Ffanshawe-Smythe wanted to use his mobile:




By way of explanation here is a quote from a reply to my tank post on another forum:

"IIRC  the Comet was the first MBT to have the dreaded ITT  "Infantry Tank  Telephone" - a handset in a box at the rear of the tank.  When the  donkey wallop-ers, and the PBI were working in unison, and Lt  Ffanshawe  Smythe needed to direct a bit of firepower, he could stand behind the  mobile pill box and talk to the crew and direct shots.

Not  too well thought out because Lt Ffanshawe-Smythe was stood right by the  exhausts and the engine and had to put up with that racket whilst  trying to hear what the crew reply was…….."


  I assume the ITT box of the three boxes under the exhaust cowlings……..lots of nice detail like that on the kit


Having been extricated from Station Rd here is the Comet in a more conventional mode.




Not a great shot but hopefully you can see the weathering I have applied to the deck of the Warwell





Next job is to secure the tank to the Warwell with chains. I have been debating what decals to add. If the tank was ex works then just a number would suffice. In fairness, with the new paint job, it does rather look ex-works so I may have to attempt some subtle weathering if I add more signs.



Oxford do a great job adding Formation, Arm of Service and Bridge discs. However each of my 5 models is signed for a different unit from different parts of the country.Two are from different Scottish Divisions, Two from Northumberland and one from 1 Corps. Infantry, Gunners and Sappers. In itself its not a big deal…..they are very small…….but I know its not right! :twisted:





Doesnt show the signs but does show the camouflage……I am not at all certain that Army vehicles based in the UK were in fact camouflaged in 1948……..I could live with assorted units and a consistent camouflage. But the camouflage varies with each model… I am guessing…..Italy…..D Day and NW Europe…….not sure but they are different ……and it is quite obvious.

So while I had the Olive drab paint out:








Doesnt bear really close examination but applying the 3' rule this definitely reflects what I remember throughout the fifties.

Once I started I couldnt stop





The three on the right are my other Oxfords, a 20 year old badly made Coopercraft model hides at the back. I have no idea of the provenance of the two on the left. One of my grand daughters bought them specially for me, much scratched and battered, at a church bazaar. So now, many years later, they can appear on the layout.

I am a great believer in including markers on a layout that make it obvious the period it is supposed to represent. I fret about having appropriate locos in correct liveries, the balance of open wagons to vans, signage on shop fronts etc. A model of 1948 has to include a lot of military markers

 It is too easy to forget that between 1948 and 1960  every able bodied male between the age of 18 and 25 had to serve in the armed forces for two years ( it was 18 months initially). The Regular Army alone was over 500,000 strong…..I guess its a tenth of that today. All these men were constantly moving around the country….on leave,posting,courses…..and almost always by rail……not forgetting every summer the series of special trains taking TA units and School Cadet Corps to and from their fortnights camp
 
I think I have convinced myself to fork out for a sheet of Formation Sign decals……43rd Welsh Infantry Div T.A. would make a nice (if slightly later) marker. Perhaps I can squeeze a TA Drill Hall in the space behind the Engine  Sheds…..the new Scalescene Castle/Folly would make a nice backdrop!

But not this year…….the Brewery beckons

Best wishes from a sunny Vancouver.


. 
 

Thanks, John.  A fun post.   :cool:

Do you drink at the Brewery now?   :lol:

I bet he drinks anywhere Max.  :lol:

 
 :cheers