Update time!

Time for a update I think,

In the time since the last update, further items of rolling stock and motive power have arrived on the 009 layout.

I'll start with the latest motive power.

Although not strictly new, the two NG15s have received updates and new identities to take advantage of the newer V3 CAD files for the engines compared to the V1 prints. The new pair will be numbered NG121 and NG146. Both have already made a good impression running on the 009 test track with NG121 making a appearance at a recent exhibition where it had a run in with a tunnel mouth!

A new steam shunter has arrived in the form of a Cape Government Railways C type NG20 'Midget'. Running on a Minitrains F&C Chassis, its a smooth performer even if it does wheelie if too put power is put to the track. Hopefully, a reprint should fit that with more space for additional weight.

The final new arrival is a new Minitrains Feldbahn 0-8-0T engine. Brought ready to run from the 009 Society, its a very smooth and powerful little engine for its size. Its a very controllable little engine which helps on such a short layout as Blaencwm.

Moving onto rolling stock, an addition 5 RNAD wagons have been brought and built bringing the total upto 6 Box vans and 3 flat wagons. Also an additional 3 NG-B Wagons and 2 NG-Y Ballast hoppers have arrived from Boston Largs Works along with a NG-V16 brake van (the first example of the kit to be sold infact!).

On a passenger coach front, 4 SAR Passenger Coaches have all arrived to my own design and I'm very happy with all 4 of them. They go very nicely with the NG15s and look better in a longer rake. I've also received 3 FR Superbarns from Boston Largs Works which are like normal, fantastic.

Cheers,

Jon

50 shades of RNAD Grey

After some more work tonight, along with some mix and matching of a correct shade, the 3 RNAD box vans have all been painted into RNAD grey with black metal work (well, started on the metal work).

Cheers,

Jon

Blaencwm gains a Panel/RNAD time!

After a lot of hard work and alot of bad language, Blaencwm finally has a panel! Although it only controls 6 isolating sections, I'm happy with it. Additional room has been left to the left of it for installation of a to be specially made controller to run trains with.

The panel in position

 

The trackplan upclose

 

In hindsight, it might have been better to have added a extra switches to control the main section of line from the fiddle yard and the carriage sidings but I can always take the panel off and add them in if required.

Also today, I've built up and painted 4 of the new 009 society RNAD wagon kits (3 vans and a flat wagon). The main purpose of these is that they'll replace the peco L&B wagons when running at shows in frieght trains. After building these 4, I've just placed a order for a few more to populate the sidings a bit more plus give me some more options when it comes to chosing wagons to run in the set. The problem I now have is I suspect I've painted the vans the wrong colour as all the pictures I've found of them in use show them in grey! Looks like a repaint might be needed at somepoint after all.

All 4 as built

After painting with the Chris ward RNAD diesel and the Narrow Planet RNAD brake van

Same as the previous shot only with the Narrow Planet Bagulay at the front

Cheers,

Jon

Latest work

After some work over the last few nights, I've managed to build two of the kits that I brought at Narrow Gauge South last Saturday.

The engine is a Chris Ward 3D printed Hunslet based on the prototype engines that used to be operated by the RNAD around the country. The brake van is the newly released Narrow Planet RNAD Brake van kit. Seeing as every kit I build that is of etched construction goes badly, this kit was a pleasent surprise in that it literally fell together over the course of a couple of hours. It truely is a kit that could be considered perfect for begineers (aka idiot proof) as it can either be soldered, or like I did, glued together. The completion of the RNAD Hunslet does mean I now have 4 engines all powered by Kato 11-104 chassis from different manufacturs. A Chivers Finelines Conway Castle, A Underground Models Upnor Castle, A Narrow Planet RNAD Bagulay and now the RNAD Hunslet by Chris Ward. Its safe to say they're a very effective chassis and very versitile.

Left to right:- Chris Ward RNAD Hunslet, Underground Models Upnor Castle, Narrow Planet Bagulay and Chivers Finelines Conway Castle

Also, today I finally got round to painting up the two sheds on Blaencwm. Its a job that's been on my mind for a while now and finally to see them painted is a huge difference to the layout.

It does however leave the todo list as a signal box, the tank on the water tower, people, isolating sections, control panel (should really have done the last two before I glued the sheds down by oh well!), rebuilt coal pile and additional detailing around the engine sheds.

Cheers,

Jon

Layouts Layouts everywhere!

The joys of having many different layouts means that having them all on display in my room at home can be inspirational at times. Although admitically, this is the first time I've had stock on all 5 of them at the same time. Not shown in the accompanying pictures is the O gauge layout which although it has stock on it, it's slightly buried under loads of stock boxes!

On Top - Blaencwm

On Bottom - Harrow Road

On Harrow Road - Pannier L94 shunts a wagon next to the Ballast pile

On Harrow Road - Pannier L97 passes the shed with a short train of wagons

Blaencwm - Shown after the latest round of scenery work including the addition of 2 colour light signals, newly ballasted Coach sidings and roofs on the two sheds

Blaencwm - Shown after the latest round of scenery work including the addition of 2 colour light signals, newly ballasted Coach sidings and roofs on the two sheds

On Billington Road - The C class sits in Platform 2 waiting to depart with the 1950s set while the NG railway stock sits awaiting recovery to the main depot after recent track relaying. Also shown is the new backscene installed around the edge of the layout along with fencing to separate the NG from the Standard Gauge.

On Billington Road - A lone NG4 sits on shed missing coupling rods and cylinders pioir to being towed away for scrap.

Got to admit it is nice having such a variety of layouts to showcase a wide range of interests.

Cheers,

Jon

Painting Locos

After some work this evening, I've managed to paint/repaint 3 locos. 2 009 and 1 OO.

Cheers,

Jon

3D printed projects!

After more and more work involving 3D printing, I'm in a position to reveal a number of them from a complete 3D printed train of FR stock to some of the newer European/South African stock.

Plus its also nice to see the complete output from the last few months using 3D printing. And yes, most rows are double stacked.

Cheers,

Jon

3 becomes 2

After a long hard think, and deciding if 3 were really needed, I've disposed of one of the 3 NG15s. Namely NG 134. The main reasons behind getting rid of it are the fact that the Chassis is going to cost a good £100 that could be spent on other things and the print ended up with so many flaws that it isn't worth using/keeping. This just leaves No.124 and 17 (both now equipped with DCC chips) as the running pair which is something I can live with. Appropiate Nameplates/builders plates are on order via Narrow Planet along with 2 sets of Cab window frames and side grills.

On the upside, both the survivors are working perfectly at pretty much any speed which is unheard of compared to most of the engines I've built.....

Cheers,

Jon

Chipping and Kaliharis

On the workbench at the moment are the two operational 009 NG15s. No.17 has had a new DCC chip fitted in time for running on Isle Ornsay at Sparshot and No.124 has been in for painting into the base colours of a new SR style olive green scheme. Quite how I'm going to line it out I have no idea but I suspect I'll be sending it off for a professional to do.

Also being worked on were the 2 Zillertalbahn engines both receiving DCC chips which both work fantastically. Hopefully DCC'ing 009 should actually work this time.....

Got to admit I didn't think the glue spill from 17's tender was THAT bad so it looks like a repaint is now in order for that engine as well!

Cheers,

Jon

009 Society Play day

After a long gap, a few pictures from the last 009 Society play day on our test track. Featuring predominately a pair of NG15s and loads of coaches....

NGG11 news

After carrying out some more detailing work on NG55, its rapidly approaching the point where all that I'll be waiting for is the Chassis to arrive before I can order the body. Hopefully it won't be a long wait for the chassis but I have no idea about the waiting time.

Not a bad looking engine for a Garratt. Definately better looking than a NGG16 even though you'll never see a NGG11 pulling the same loads as a NGG16.

Cheers,

Jon

Assegaaibos Road sees a solid base

After raiding my MDF stash, I've fitted Assegaaibos Road with a more solid base and attached the track to it accordingly. Fortunately, this is a relatively quick project so requires a layer of ballast to cover the MDF followed by appropiate ash deposits, coal and oil deposits along with other specifics based on the real MPD at Assegaaibos.

Shown as it is at the moment with NG17 and NG124 both on shed

 

Hopefully this little project will be completed before the potenial delivery of the NGG11.

 

Cheers,

 

Jon