Water, signal levers, wagon loads and a photo plank in the May issue of BRM magazine

 

When I'm exhibiting, the area that seems to interest most people is how I made the water on my micro layout. Well, wonder no more, there's a tutorial in the latest issue of BRM. 

I've painted and fitted out the Intentio Models signal box I started a couple of months ago. The brickwork is some of the best I've ever managed, I look at the model and can't quite believe I did it!

A simpler project is filling a wagon with coal, using a Peco kit. The sort of thing anyone could do, and an easy starter fro a newbie. 

Over on BRM TV, I build a 009 photo plank. This one was fun, as I planned it while hardly able to speak thanks to an ulcer on my tongue! By the time I filmed it, this had got better, but for the fun of it, I've still make the video without speaking. 

Update: I forgot, the camera has been out again to bring you some cracking layouts. 

In N gauge, Chieftain Place. 

And in S gauge, Trowland.

Warehouse Wednesday: York's mystery road tracks

I don't know. It's just that while strolling around York before breakfast, I noticed that there are stones laid along the roads. They are about four and a half feet apart, and presumably there to stop carts creating ruts in the roads. 

I know no more, and I can't even work out where to go looking, so I toss this out to you lot for ideas. 

Ivor's splashers part 1

 

"Hmmm. That's not right", I thought as I tacked the first one of Ivor's spalshers in place. The footplate, not a strong structure at this stage. After some head-scratching, I realised that I'd miss-read the instruction about a half-setch line at the back of the piece. I doesn't line up with the cab floor, but something else exciting, yet to come. 

A bit of desoldering, which is why I tack things together to check the fit, and all is now OK. I just need to fit the other side. 

Tipper repair

 

At least I managed to recover all the bits from the gravel. At one point, when back at the workbench, I wasn't quite sure that the jigsaw was complete, but after a bit of puzzling, it is. 

Assembly of this kits was with Revell Contacta, which sticks the ABS material, but weakly enough that the joints break cleanly. This makes reassembly a lot easier. The clean breaks extend to the paint, which won't need a touch up either.

Half an hours work, and everything is as good as new. I've used Contacta again, with the odd wash of ABS solvent to speed up the joint drying. 

The thing is, I really liked the look of the train behind Ragleth. Which is why there is a box with some more of these kits in the office now...

Steam on Saturday

Last Saturday, we were due to have a steam session at the club, but the morning dawned bright, but very, very windy. Most people cried off, but I took Ragleth down as he's a good solid loco that I thought ought to be OK if the breeze dropped a bit. 

Obviously no coaches, but some Binnie tippers have low down weight. And they look good. Up to the point a gust of wind deposited them on the ground! Some glue repair time is called for. 

We were joined by David Viweing, and some of his amazing G1 3D printed vintage stock, which managed a few circuits before the wind got back up and tipped the coaches on their side too.