Continueing progress on the A10 Autotrailer

Seems it has been a lifetime working on this in some ways. It's not boredom, but rather what I feel should take an hour or so is taking me days.
Basically body is altogether.

I made the handrails from brass wire and the steps at the ends from some brass sheet. The safety alarm system at the baggage end was fabricated from wire and soldered together. I left excess at the ends to turn in so I could melt it into the body to locate it.
I found this method works well for holding brass wire to the body.....more secure than superglue or the likes EXCEPT when you melt it into the wrong end! mutter, mutter, mutter.

Those who know me know that my version of muttering was actually going off my tree :)

I have just primed and photographed the body so now to look for all the blemishes.

Converting an Airfix Autocoach to an A10 Autocoach...The Body..NO, Not Elle's!

I said in the last update that I was having a go at the A10 Auto trailer the David Jenkinson way.
Well the sides have all been cut out. But while I was working laboriously on those I was thinking there had to be an easier way, hence the following:

Ashburton had 2 x A10 trailers in the late 30's for use on the line. While one was the norm the second was stored in the train shed at Ashburton when not being used.
This is how I have attempted to build an A10 auto trailer from 2 commercially available A31's.
To start with you will need 2 auto trailers, due to the fact that there is an extra window in the A10.
You will need a copy of the book: Great Western Auto Trailers Part One:Pregrouping Vehicles ..John Lewis ISBN 0 906867 99 1

Available through Titfield Thunderbolt and other good book suppliers.
The plan in the book needs to be enlarged 100% so it is OO

1) Mark a line 25mm from the baggage end of the auto trailer. (this measurement is taken from the side end NOT the vehicle end)
Use a square and mark from top to bottom.

2) Cut through with a piercing saw/jewelers saw, from top to bottom of side and into the edge of the floor.
Once through the side, cut towards the back end of the coach following the side until just behind the end wall of the compartment.
Cut across to the other side of the coach, to meet the cut of the other side.

3)Cut through the front end of the coach where the front corner and the hand rails are between drivers door and front of coach.
This needs to be cut here as there is a section is needed here before the front door is located in place.
* Note: the original front door will NOT be used in this position, but rather in the coach section and vice versa.

4) Mark your toplight/window sections 1-9 starting from the drivers end.

5) Mark your plan window sections, from the same end again 1-10. NO this is not a mistake, as there are 10 windows on the side of an A10.

6) Using your plan as a guide you now cut up the window sections as follows. Remember you have to allow some sections of panel with your window to fill in the spaces between the windows.

Window 9 on the sides becomes window 10.
Window 8 + door be comes window 1 and drivers door plus the pillar.
Window 1 and drivers door becomes window 7 and passenger door.
Window 2 and 1/2 of filler panel becomes window 6 and spacer to passenger door.
Window 3 becomes window 8.
Window 4 becomes window 9.
Window 5 becomes window 3.
Window 6 becomes window 2.
This leaves window 7. What I did with this window is cut 6" out of the centre through the toplight divider and body. This will leave you with a 3' wide window. Join the 2 sections together again and make a new centre section for the toplight.
You will need to do the same with a twin window section off of the spare body. Again you will need to make a new centre section for the toplight and also for the main window.

These sections now all need to be joined together.
If you have opted to just cut out windows and add sections between you will need styrenne strip (slaters/evergreen/plastruct) for the infills.
In the way I did it, I had to sand up the edges and only needed styrenne in front of the drivers door.

I should have taken more pics showing all the pieces laid out, but alas I didn't so have only taken some of them joined and glued together. These are in the process of being sanded so as to give nice smooth sides and no joins should be showing.
Either way the first coat of paint (undercoat) will show any areas that need more cleaning up or filling.

One other thing, the dividers for the 3' windows will not get done until after all the sanding is finished , BUT before priming.

Modelling again.

Well, over the pneumonia and the other complications we get as we age. Short stint in hospital helped sort out other issues that showed up with the pneumonia. But it has been a slow haul to get moving again. A giant lack of motivation hasn't helped either. Studio is now painted and all, well most of my stuff is in there. Still a lot of timber for benchwork to be stored but it will have to wait. I have setup Ashburton and started to mark out the building fronts for the boiler house and other buildings, but, I just could NOT get enthused. I have taken a different tact and have started to make an A10 trailer. Looking at doing it Jenkinson's way of laminating and forming the sides with the glazing slipping inside. This is really an ideal job to do with a cutting machine, but I am past trying to learn new computer skills to draw it all up, so it is all by hand.

My first bungle is that although I was looking at the images in the two books on trailers....I still copied from the plan, which has left me doing a lot more work that I had anticipated with the strips along the lower sides of the coach. I will continue and you will only see it if it is of a reasonable quality and/or gets to a fairly finished position. So although I was looking at an early thirties image of No 130 just out of the paint shop, where most of the mouldings have been removed. I am modelling one with the mouldings there! For my needs, if a successful model, it can represent No 128 or No 130 both of which were used on the line. So hopefully now I am getting on the move again there should be more regular postings again.

Nearly there.

Nearly there. Been a very loooong slow haul trying to get the studio finished so I can get setup again. Currently having an argument with pneumonia, which is slowing me down somewhat. Not bothered taking any pics but plaster is all on, and insulation in. Have the priming/undercoat on. Was hoping to have been in a week and a half back, but. Two coats of paint and a piece of carpet or carpet tiles in the work area and it should be up and running. So for those who thought I had forgotten the blog, I haven't! BTW, for those who are bored and want some reading, have a look at this thread on RM Web: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/28293-manchester-central-clc-gn-warehouses-castlefield-viaducts/ Some absolutely stunning work here.

PROGRESS ....at long last!

Well, we have moved! Still doing maintenance to the house, as one does to personalise the house to suit ones own tastes and needs. As it turned out I wasn't able to fit the 20' x 40' mancave in, so have had to settle for 20' x 30'. The erectors can in this morning and have the frame up. Unfortunately the guys weren't prepared to try to put the sheeting on as it has been blowing quite hard so that is happening tomorrow all being well. Once that is done the sparky can block on all the wiring and then I have to get on with the plastering. Have not even been able to do any modelling in the house as we have stuff everywhere until the trainroom is finished. Below is a pic of framework erected.

Overdue Update

Hi Everyone, Nothing to report layout wise. We have sold, and move in 2 weeks and 6 days (NOT that I am counting) Been busy packing and dismantling the last of the old layout. Packing books, models, modelling tools. I just didn't realise I had so much stuff until it came time to pack and repack some of it. The new place we have bought, needs a studio/trainroom, so that will be the first priority once we are in. Hopefully I will be able to fit in another 20x40. Just need to double check space with the easements on the property.

Another small update

Well, I have glued all the sections of platform and roadway around the station area, and started to prep the edges of the road for quartz/stone edging.
(Note, I have actually taken pics while working)
It's all now about trying to get road and path levels right at the station end.
Given the time period I am trying to model is the 1938-41 period, I am reliant on pics for this. Although, I suppose that there are not that many modellers from that era nowadays who would be to concerned with how accurate it is, but nonetheless!

I have taken out a 2mm section of the mdf which will be filled with DAS clay then suitably scribed for the stones. 

This is the end where the loading bank is.

Roadway down to the station. Just shellaced to seal the mdf.

Lifting a section of the mdf for the stone work using a podiatrist blade in the knife holder.

Two steps forward, one step back, then forward again

Well as the title says....Have had a little hiccup, I stuffed up the Goods shed.
Easily solved, cut away the superglue joints and Bob's your uncle....WROOOONG!!
Basically I tried to allow for the station when looking at the plans of the Goods Shed. (One wall sits on the platform) I figured the plan was wrong ( which it is to a degree) What it doesn't show is where it is stepped for the station platform, so I did the obvious thing, allowed for it all around.
It just didn't look right. When the pennies dropped, I tried to separate the joints. Seems the Palight gave out first.
Not to worry, the other thing I had forgotten was the internal walls of the Goods shed, to mark and paint them. It is now done.

On the subject of internals of the Goods shed I am still trying to find some definitive answer to the construction and internal shape of the Goods shed platform.
One response on RM Web, the responder said that they removed the Stone Platform to allow them to work on the loco's inside the Goods shed. (I have seen pics of the DVR loco's there) The problem was, he then posted pics of the carriage shed. He hasn't responded since unfortunately so I cannot query him.

Readers may ask why be so pedantic about it, given I am modelling in OO and not P4.
It is just me. There is another major flaw with the layout but I am not pulling up track and altering the crossover now. The rails are about 1 1/2 ft to close together at the platform.
I am trying, and have tried to date to get this as right as I can with all things considered.

So, today I got the camera out and placed the buildings where they are going to be to see how it all looked.

 Where the posts of the carriage shed should line up with the edge of the Cattle dock it now won't due to the track being that bit to close together. Have bought the brass wire to finish off the internal framework for the carriage shed...just have to do it!

The new Goods shed. The roof angle of the old one was out a bit as well. You can see in the way the roof is just sitting there at the moment. The loading dock is getting there as well.

Another view showing the front of the Station with the verandah down on the roadway. The ramp of the loading dock is not secured here either.

Another view of the whole station precinct.
 

News to hand is that the Master Plan for Ashburton has been approved. At this stage it does not bode well for the Station Precinct.

Engine Shed

Working on the Engine shed currently.
Still a lot of painting to do, slates, brickwork and timberwork, as well as make the windows and doors.

Top section of roof has been made separately, but will be glued once the painting is done.

Top section of roof in place.

Chimney is made for the Crew room but won't be located until all is painted.
Probably not a lot to say really.

Picked up the brass wire to go on with the trussing of the carriage shed, so that will be on the go in the not to distant future.

A combination of posts...still learning this craft of blogging!!!!!!

Seems I still have a lot to learn about this blogging lark. Have been creating "PAGES" and NOT posts.
Hopefully I have worked it out, so now to the catchup.


Been working on the roadway to the station a bit more. It seems that 47mm does NOT equal 55mm. Absolutely no idea where I got 47mm for the platform width, given that I have it written down on the drawings that it is 55mm.
Ah well, a bit of cut and add....situation sorted.

I have just finished painting the Station building. No grouting colour has been added yet and I hope that when it is it will tone down the orange of the brickwork a bit more, otherwise I will have to repaint the brick quoins.
The colour of the stonework looks better than what I have done on the Goods shed, so the Goods shed will have to be darkened!
Just add it to the list of things to do.

I have missed putting in the pic so will show it later, of the station building painted.
Started the task of cutting individual slates, and have a nice collection, as can be seen below:

I started to put them on....what a pain/eyesore. Not sure how the pros do it but apart from driving me batty, it looked terrible. I can only think that I wasn't allowing enough gap between them. Some were OK but quite a few virtually  joined as one with the Limonene.

Start again.
Did it in strips and has worked very well. Unfortunately I haven't taken a pic as yet of the slates in place on that roof.

Above is the carriage roof upside down. I had marked and grooved the underside of the shed roof a while back. The underside of the roof boards were laid at an angle.

At the moment this is as far as it is going to get until I can resort the  steel, in this case the brass trusses that support the roof. I did use a jig to help locate them but with the movement of the styrenne, it hasn't been as good as it could have been so I have to realign a few of them, so that I can solder in the lengthwise ones and then the cross bearing ones.

Last but not least is a pic of the roof in place on the station building. Never mind the sanding block that is representing the platforn there.  :)

Well that is the combined update, and I shall keep at it.

A Little Update

This is just a basic update to let one and know I am still working on the layout.
At the moment there is more than one thing on the go.
Started to paint the platform faces, the goods siding one can be seen in one of the pics below. Assembled the Station building, so that I could complete some of the platform and road foundations, and have continued on with this foundation work. (Painting plaform faces is a loooong and tedious job)

In this overall shot you can see the station and Goods Shed in place.

Just behind the station is a sheet of card which is the base sheet for the roadway. further layers will help form the fall of the road to the gutter at the front of the station.

I'm using mdf for the main grid work to support the roads and paths. The card at different thicknesses with help form the contours as required.

In this image the painted section (not completed) of the back of the station platform can be seen as well as the formwork for the loading bank and roadway accessing Tuckers Maltsters.

All the formwork, for example the loading bank are seperate pieces at the moment, so that they are easy to handle to work on. The section of roadway with the card on it, is also seperate to the section around the station building which is seperate again to the platform.

Once I am at the final stages it can all be assembled together and glued.

Until the next update!

The Goods Shed

Started to paint the Goods Shed.
I started with the back wall, that hopefully won't be seen much, if at all.
Given I wasn't happy with the first results, and the fact I did NOT sand down the top surface which it needs for the paint to adhere, I thought I was in diabolicle trouble, to the point I was going to make a new wall.
Last resort, a small hand held wire brush.
WONDERFUL!
Not only did I get rid of the top surface for easier and better painting but the wire brushing was enough to to leave a paint residue, which doesn't look to bad for older cement. by the time it is weathered I believe it will come up reasonably well.

The back wall.
The orange of the bricks is still to bright to my eye.

This end wall has had a paint and wire brush. Blank space is for the timber office.

Oh well, back to painting!

Catchup Pics

A couple of pics of the layout to date.

Taken from the terminus end, the platform for the stock yard, and part of the station platform can be seen.

This shot is of the station and yard entrance.

Had to check the points and electricals were operating correctly.

Long story short.
Started to model Maiden Newton in OO (all 40'of it incl. curves at each end).
Have put the house on the market as we are finding it to hot here in the summers and wish to move south  (would rather move to the UK but alas, finances won't permit that) where it will at least we will get more cool changes in the summer than up here, where 40 plus degrees for days on end is not uncommon.

So, Maiden Newton was dismantled and packed up. I needed to model something that I could pack away quickly and easily in case the house should sell. Went through the four books of GWR trackplans and settled on Ashburton as being a small BLT. (about 12')

The layout consists of 2 boards with 3x2 pine framing and mdf on top. One is 8'long and the second is 4'long.
The track has already been laid using C&L flexible track.
Points are handmade on pcb sleepers.
Points operation is WIT (wire in tube).
Electrics are DC.
Controller is handbuilt from circuit published by Dukedog on RM Web....  here .

Buildings have been started using Palight plastic. My thanks to Geoff Forster for suggesting it as a possible option for making buildings from. His Blog is "http://radnorailways.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default" which should show up on the side (I hope)!

With luck I shall take photo's tomorrow of where I am up to and hopefully more as things progress.