More On30 Work

After a period of nothing happening, work has slowly restarted on the On30. 3 new locos have been ordered as well as a couple of flat cars. I'm happy with the purchases especially at the prices I paid. I've also started the first stage of a series of projects I really want to do!

Firstly, the new motive power. 2 Modern 4-4-0s have been ordered (1's already here) and another inside Framed Forney. That takes the Forney total to 6 with plans for another 2. The new arrival will take the identity of Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Number 8. However, this leaves an issue. I already have a Number 8. Not anymore I don't! With a quick headlight change as well as reattaching the steam generator, it's become Bridgton and Saco River Number 6! Why swap them over? Simple. The new engine has Air tanks. The current loco doesn't. A simple headlight and bunker swap will see a modern Sandy River Number 8 compared to the previous early version.

The entire existing Motive Power Fleet with the new 4-4-0.

However, the 4-4-0 won't be staying like it is for long. On Facebook, there is an amazing conversion for the Modern 4-4-0 to give it a Maine Two Foot Outline by cutting down the tender and changing the cab. With a suitable cab on the way (hopefully), I've started work on my own version! Doesn't look like much at the moment but it's a start. Not bad for someone who rarely chops up ready to run!

The overall Loco

The Cutdown Tender. Needs a new rear section on the coal bunker plus tidying up/painting but it's getting there! Maybe needs a tool box as well but I'll have to check the prototypes for that.

Rolling Stock wise, I've had two new flat cars, as well as 4 18ft Cars, arrive which now completes my rolling stock collection. I only ever wanted a small fleet of stock (If I try to have one of everything, it's going to get expensive and I just can't afford it!). In time, maybe I'll get some other items but there are only three items on the list that really appeal. A Bachmann Excursion Car, another Bachmann Pulpwood Wagon and a Mount Blue Models Excursion car.

The layout showing the entire rolling stock fleet.

The 3 Pulpwood/Flat Cars. In time, I want another pulpwood car but it's finding one at the right price!

The 6 18ft Cars. 3 Gondolas, 2 Box Cars and 1 Tank Car.

During a nice long Saturday not having to worry about work, I've also started getting bits for the next big project. Something you don't see very often in On30 is the bigger Sandy River 2-6-2+T tender engines they had. To my knowledge, there's only been one kit (a very good one at that), I think a couple of RTR and that's it. So I'm making my own! I will at this point point out, it's not my original idea. It's an idea myself and Max Brayne have been bouncing between the pair of us and I'm making happen! Using 3D printing as well as a range of other bits I'm planning to make 3 (if the budget allows), Sandy River Numbers 16, 18 and 23. I would do Sandy River Number 24 but that's the obvious choice!

For those who don't know what they look like, here are database entries of all 3 from the internet. Found through google and not my data!:-  

• SR&RL No.16:- http://www.narrowgauge.iform.com.au/srrl-16.html
• SR&RL No.18:- http://www.narrowgauge.iform.com.au/srrl-18.html
• SR&RL No.23:- http://www.narrowgauge.iform.com.au/srrl-23.html

As long as they look fairly close, I'll be just fine with that. I've got 3 chassis on order for them based around the Hornby International HL2104 outside framed Diesel chassis (Thanks again to Max for pointing them out!) as well as 6 Forney Pony Trucks to help guide them around the corners. Tenders are undecided, I was going to use Bachmann RTR cut down appropriately but the cost rules that out! If I end up making my own, I'll need to get some suitable bogies although Number 23 already has some ex-coach bogies waiting for it!

Not a bad update really, just need to sort out the new locos when they arrive, paint as required as well as finish work on the first 4-4-0! Plenty to do. Then there's a second 4-4-0 to modify as well......

Cheers,

Jon

Restoring a Layout

After sitting on the windowsill for nearly 2 years without any use/work, I finally decided to get the OO/009 layout running again. It, fortunately, didn't need much work for the OO. Only needed track cleaning, dust removing and cobwebs removing then it started to work again!

The 009, however, was another matter. Back in the day, I had a fleet of 009 engines that all ran on DCC. Now, most of the fleet have been sold one. Hence as well as the other work, it needed converting from DCC to DC. An easy task you'd think. Nope. The way the layout sits on the windowsill, getting underneath it to remove something from the main wiring is a nightmare. Fortunately, two little tugs pulled the track feeds off the main DCC power bus with ease. One quick rewire later, now the 009 runs on DC. Seeing as it's the only 009 section of track I now have, running it on DC is probably for the best/involves the least risk.

The overall layout

The newly DCed 009 section. Now working better than it did on DCC!

The Main Station area. Not bad for effectively a glorified inglenook with coaches!

The 4 stars of the current Passenger Fleet. Bachmann 4575, Bachmann E4 and Oxford Rail Adams Radial. Other locos do see use from time to time.

The two current 009 stars. A pair of until now unrun. Now running nicely.

When you need bigger engines, these 2 and the C class tend to get used. The fact they're both sound fitted has nothing to do with it. Honest!

What needs doing, the back of the layout needs tidying up as well as sorting out an engine shed for the 009. Then its Backscenes, detailing and sorting out the fencing as well.

It's getting there is the phrase I'd use. Now, onto the next one (the N gauge test track/009 running in area). Then I should have 3 working indoor layouts (On30, OO/009 and N) plus the 'outdoor'. Outdoor in inverted commas because it needs some serious work to sort out track issues.

Hopefully, there won't be too long a gap until the next post!

Its been a while!

So this is out of date just a little bit.........

A lot has happened over the last 16 months. Layouts have gone, Layouts have been started. I'll sum up the major changes below:-

Gone:-

• Majority of the 009 Collection has been sold off
• Blaencwm has been scrapped after electrics have been recovered
• Micro Maine V1 has been Scrapped
• O gauge Layout  has been Scrapped
• LT Underground Layout has been scrapped
• On30 Fleet has been focused on one particular location. Bigger Tender Engines have been sold.
• Larger items of O gauge stock has been sold off.

Arrivals:-

• Micro Maine V2 has been started
• Trio of On30 Forneys have appeared with others to follow.
• New 6ft by 2ft N gauge layout for just running trains
• Lots of 16mm

There's been some rationalization because even I've realized I can only support multiple gauges for so long before something has to give. With a new job and at times a unpredictable income, the mass collection has been thinned down with priority placed on the projects that bring me genuine enjoyment. Long gone are the days of modelling massive 009 Trains behind massive engines, now taking its place are Medium sized Tank engines with 4-5 vehicle trains. Admittedly, its a larger scale so the lengths are staying the same but its more manageable size and price wise.

The current list of projects is now one of four:-

• Micro Maine Version 2 - On30 - 8ft by 9 inches. DCC using a fleet of On30 0-4-4RT and 2-4-4T Forneys mainly based on Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Railroad Prototypes.
• BR Mainline - N Gauge - 6ft by 2ft. DC controlled using a fleet of Dapol and Farish Ready to Run stock based on British Railways Southern and Western Region prototypes 
• Billington Road - OO9/OO - 5ft something by 2ft. DCC for OO and DC for 009. Modern Day preservation in the South of England using a fleet of Hornby, Bachmann and Heljan Ready to Run stock.
• Bowaters - SM32/16mm - Unknown by 6 inches. Live Steam in the garden using a fleet of Bowaters Steam Engines all built by Accucraft with rolling stock designed and produced by myself.

Its easier to maintain 4 Layouts rather than the 7+ I was before. Before people start to wonder, I'm keeping the rest of my 009 and O gauge fleets. The items I'm keeping I either like or have personal reasons for keeping. Plus you never know if in the future you'll have the room for lots of layouts!

To end the post, I'll finish off with some pictures of Micro Maine V2. Its progressing nicely and who knows what will happen next with it........

Until next time......

Micro Maine sees the track plan is complete

With Christmas day bringing the remaining track needed for Micro Maine to see its track plan completed, I've been able to complete the Loco Depot track. Due to a minor muck up, I've got extra money to play with so I might be adding a extra siding to the Goods yard which may be converted into a small Carriage shed if I go ahead with the extra siding.

The proposed track plan showing the extra siding

The whole trackplan at the moment

The Engine Depot with both the tender engines on shed

The Station area showing the new shed spur

The two tender engines up close

With the Forney due early next week, that should bring the roster up to 3 engines. I'm not sure what the next engine will be as it depends on funds although hopefully a second Forney (this time outside framed) may follow in a month or two.

Cheers,

Jon

Going up a scale - A exercise in On30

After a long time contemplating and a chance purchase of 2 engines and 3 coaches, I've started a small project in On30. As I'm quite interested in the rolling stock and practices of the Maine Two footers in the USA, that's what I'm basing my layout around although some other stock will run mainly because I like it. Its designed to have plenty of shunting room with track power being provided by DCC. All rolling stock will be using knuckle couplings with Magnetic uncoupling.

Stock is mainly Bachmann Spectrum although there will be a small number of Mount Blue Model Company coaches. So far, the stock consists of:-

Motive Power

A Bachmann inside framed Forney (On its way from the USA)
A Bachmann 2-8-0 Tender Engine
A Bachmann 4-6-0 Tender Engine
A 3D printed Monson No.3 Forney type (Being designed for 3D printing)

Planned additions to the Motive Power lineup

A Bachmann Outside Framed Forney
A 2nd Bachmann Inside Framed Forney (for conversion into WF&FR No.9)

Rolling Stock

5 Bachmann Passenger Coaches (3 in Grey and 2 for conversion into Excursion stock using Mount Blue Model Company Kits)
1 Bachmann Sandy River and Rangley Lakes Caboose (On its way from the USA)
1 Mount Blue Model Company Sandy River and Rangley Lakes Caboose
2 Bachmann 18ft Freight Cars  (On their way from the USA)

Planned additions to the Rolling Stock lineup

2-4 Bachmann 18ft Freight Cars (either Box vans, Gondolas or flat cars)
1-2 Bachmann SR&RL Flat/Pulpwood Cars

The layout could be described as a enlarged Inglehook layout with extra sidings added for a small motive power depot which should have room for the 2 large tender engines or 3 smaller Forney type engines.

Track Plan with planned scenic layout

Layout so far (I ran out of track to continue with the track plan annoyingly)

Fan of sidings - Engine Headshunt on the far left, Good siding, Platforms 1 and 2 of the station on the right

Current motive Power - The 2-8-0 on the left and the 4-6-0 on the right (Forney's still mid atlantic at this point in time)

It should be a good little project in all. Just need to get hold of some other bits and pieces (the rest of the track being the key bit at the moment) before I can look into any form of scenery.

Cheers,

Jon