GWR/LMS OO Gauge DCC RR&Co

[user=2172]Claus Ellef[/user] wrote:

Hi John,

Once again you have given us some fantastic examples of modelling and photos. I am amazed but also wondering, if I should give up modelling because I am not at the same level as you!

Don't worry - I will take up the challenge  :thumbs

Thank you so much Claus. I am glad you like the photos.

I realise you are joking about giving up modelling but you are far too modest. The buildings and detail you have created on Wombat Creek are brilliant.

Best wishes

[user=434]John Dew[/user] wrote:

[user=2172]Claus Ellef[/user] wrote:

Hi John,

Once again you have given us some fantastic examples of modelling and photos. I am amazed but also wondering, if I should give up modelling because I am not at the same level as you!

Don't worry - I will take up the challenge  :thumbs

Thank you so much Claus. I am glad you like the photos.

I realise you are joking about giving up modelling but you are far too modest. The buildings and detail you have created on Wombat Creek are brilliant.

Best wishes

You are right. I am not giving up!

I had thought of doing the Scalescenes hotel, but I have decided Wombat Creek already has enough accommodation and pubs. Instead 'Myer' will get some competition from Scalescenes' department store.

For the time being my focus will be on Queen Victoria Market, which has been under construction for a long time.

[user=434]John Dew[/user] wrote:

[user=1120]peterm[/user] wrote:

Absolutely marvellous scenes John. Amazing!

Thanks Peter …..you are always very kind

I think you are right, the plural of forum is fora.

Best wishes

  John 
   O level Latin 1953 (failed) :)

I failed at most things. Most of the school I went to had a lot of trouble with English let alone Latin ;-).

[user=434]John Dew[/user] wrote:

I spent most of last week painting the turntable storage sidings. I broke the monotony by painting some Modelu figures:


 

Regards from Vancouver where we are enjoying some much needed rain.

The master is back, well played that man!

Best,

Bill

PS of course fora is the plural form of this, our meeting place and I didn't sit for Latin in 1953 as I wasn't quite born. Pity I also never sat French either!

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

The master is back, well played that man!

Best,

Bill

PS of course fora is the plural form of this, our meeting place and I didn't sit for Latin in 1953 as I wasn't quite born. Pity I also never sat French either!

We would never have guessed:lol:

It's just about time for the fanfare for Granby's half a million views.  Thank you John for all the fun, entertainment, knowledge, sharing of views and for your support and friendship.

Very best,

Bill

499 909 and counting . . .

Yes that's some tally. A well earned goodonya John.

Congratulations John.  A layout that deserves the exposure it has had.  A lead for us all to follow.

Barry

Thanks guys…….that kind of took me by surprise…..I knew it was getting close but not that close.

I guess half a million hits is something to celebrate :thumbs although I do sometimes wonder where they all come from  :???:

Nevertheless a big thank you to all the YMR members who have followed Granby over the years :cheers

Half a million - and still counting  :cheers

Thanks Claus. I am astonished how many people outside the forum open the thread…..I do wonder where they all come from :lol:

Best wishes

Ballasting and weathering the storage turntable continues. Meantime here are some shots of Granby's latest loco

Bachmann's 0-6-0 Pannier Tank………here it is straight out of the box:



This news is not exactly hot off the press. The model was finally released in January, after an interminable wait. It took me a further 3 months to convince myself it was ok for Granby. Then summer etc intervened before I was able to start weathering and detailing. It was only last week that she was finally ready for service!

The 94xx class was designed as a replacement for the long serving 57xx pannier tanks. The design criteria included increased power along with a more "modern" appearance. Allegedly the GWR Chairman told Collet, the CME, to get rid of the "old fashioned" dome. 

Here is a comparison:



Although over 200 locos were produced only 10 were made before nationalistion. Of these, only 9408 ventured north of Watford…… to Oxley (Wolverhampton). There is no evidence it ever got to Chester or Wrexham, hence my hesitation about it being ok for Granby. The model received very favourable reviews so I decided it may have spent a week or so at Granby as the station pilot.

I then promptly ordered the wrong etched plates 9407…….so thats top of the to do list.

I have tried to make the weathering reflect less than a year in service



Light dusting of mud/rust below the running plates on brake pads etc.

Roof and running plates painted with matt black and light dusting of soot



Modelu Headlamps and crew added. It is great being able to slip the lamps directly on to their irons.







Inside of bunker rusted. Fire Irons and real coal added.

Touch of silver on some steps where paint has been pretend chipped off by Modelu boots.

DCC requires a Next 18 chip. Accessing the PCB involves removing the body which is very easy. I learned from the Youchoos install guide (a really useful resource) that there are easily accessible solder points on the PCB for a Stay Alive which was a big plus because you cant directly attach Stay Alive to the economy Zimo Next 18

Performance without Stay Alive was not great but once I squeezed a couple of Tantulums in and set CV 56 to 22 (its a coreless motor) it was stunning……very happy camper.

 Its a gorgeous model. The detail is superb. Like the prototype its very heavy and handles long heavy trains with ease.

Regards from Vancouver

Nice John.

My first N gauge loco in the late '70s was a Farish 94xx.  It was an ideal N gauge option given the room available for the motor.  I always thought they were a bit "boxy" and prefer the 57xx given a choice.  I must say that the current 4mm offering is a more attractive machine than the old N gauge model I remember!!

Barry

[user=2006]Barry Miltenburg[/user] wrote:

Nice John.

My first N gauge loco in the late '70s was a Farish 94xx.  It was an ideal N gauge option given the room available for the motor.  I always thought they were a bit "boxy" and prefer the 57xx given a choice.  I must say that the current 4mm offering is a more attractive machine than the old N gauge model I remember!!

Barry

Thanks Barry…..I am afraid the photos were a bit darker than I intended.

I do agree with you about them looking “boxy” …….elegant is not an adjective that springs. I get the impression from those familiar with the prototype that this model, unlike the 00 Lima version, is a pretty accurate representation.

Best wishes

Its a fine looking addition to Granby's Loco Shed.
Not paying too much attention to things model railways for some time I will need to brush on decoders - I assume a next 18 chip has 18 pins?

[user=540]gdaysydney[/user] wrote:

Its a fine looking addition to Granby's Loco Shed.

 Not paying too much attention to things model railways for some time I will need to brush on decoders - I assume a next 18 chip has 18 pins?

   
Thanks Dave…….yes its 18 pin

When you come to look at Decoders have a look at Zimo. I have switched over from Lenz. The economy version costs 20 GBP and is brilliant….. (I buy mine from Youchoos usual disclaimer)

Cheers

Back to the Storage yard turntable.

As a reminder, here it is just after installation



And close of play last night……….. I just need to build an extension to the Scalescene retaining wall at the right and its all done:



I realise it doesnt resemble a GWR table….or, I imagine, even an LMS one! I had thought, for a nano second, of cutting off the side platforms and replacing the side fencing with girders. After all the trauma with this table that would have been a bridge too far.

This incidentally is how the bridge looked straight out of the box:,



What a difference some black paint and weathering can make



  For me the Fleischmann's big advantage is ultra reliable indexing and a solid interface with RR&Co. I am prepared to accept its  un-prototypical appearance and rather noisy movement in return for efficient automated performance. Eventually I will get round to making a video


Back to the scenery ….the coal stage and water crane from the previous set up have been re-installed



Both are venerable Mikes models……..The coaling crane must be 20 years old, it was a feature of Granby I

The mess hut first appeared a decade ago. It was built to hide one of the point motors that switched the original TT



Now somewhat modified it conceals a rats nest of wiring …..hence the platform



New stop blocks in all the storage roads and a load of detail added to the mess hut



These guys are from the new Modelu Shed Pack



To finish this is how the scene might have looked in 1948




Regards from Vancouver

What a lovely scene you've depicted there John. There's just something atmospheric about them. And those Modelu figures are the dogs wotsits.

As you say John, what a difference a bit of dirt makes !!

I love your little cameos and there are so many of them on Granby.  The Modelu figures really are very good and you select their poses perfectly.  The scenes around the water crane and mess hut are wonderful and the final shot, taken in 1948, shows just how brilliantly you've recreated that era today.

You certainly set a very high bar …………… :pathead

Thanks Peterm and Peter.

I am glad you both like both the weathering and the cameos.

Now I just have to build my two tone retaining wall extension (new brick paper print run! )