Nothing to see here

Yes it has been very quite on South Coast Rail for a while with no new work to show off. That doesn't mean I haven't been in the shed of late.

After a dose of recent rain some which found its way onto the shed floor that had leaked through the lower wall. I have a pile of carpet tiles stacked waiting the time to put into place but I have to make sure that there is complete waterproofing before that happens. The floor has progressed from a plain concrete floor to a gloss grey painted finish. I think I will call in a plumber to get the outside sealed.

In another few days it will be June halfway through the year and still the bridge awaits. Its hard to drag yourself back to do more work on it especially when the next work to be done will be underneath and not normally visible. It seems easier to go into the room and pick a job that will give immediate visual results.

I have taken a few shots of the layout which have been posted on Facebook but repeated here.

 

That's my lot of photos for this posting but today was our groups day out for a layout visit, a chat, a drink and a barbie over at Phils. His layout would qualify for a finished layout and I believe it is in the queue for an AMRM article, lets hope soon.

A very photogenic layout and a fitting tribute to his lifetime in model railways. So here are some more photos for you to enjoy.

 

So hope you enjoy these few photos, that all for now.

Cornered

Okay, the bridge is still on the agenda, but when you go into the shed, the location of Pambula is visible. It is looking a lot better now there is a backscene in place. In the last post I started to fill in the gap between the backdrop and baseboard but hadn't reached the corner. So I spent a few hours and sorted the corner out. There is an awkward corner here that the backscene bends around so I was trying to disguise it with some scenery.

The corner at Pambula

As in the last blog I got some more yellow foam cut up and sceniced up to the corner. I cut up larger pieces so that they could be randomly glued together on the corner. This allows the backscene to go behind the rocks and the focus becomes towards the rocks at the front.

First section of foam is cut and glued into place

First lot of weathering

As usual when you find something that works, stick to it. I have been using a sample pot colour called 'Harold' and acrylic that can be watered down to suit. And with the base colour being yellow, you can vary the intensity of the top coat and it takes on a sandstone effect. Once this has dried then I dry brush on other light highlights and then some black oxide can be brushed on the give an aged look in certain spots.

The corner is vanishing

16A poses with the re Ford pickup. The backscene is blending in nicely

The greenery ties it all together

The big rocks appear

The corner scene went fairly quickly as it was only a small area. When you start off with the yellow foam you start wondering how it will come out, but after the colouring is done and you start adding the greenery it all starts looking good. As can be seen in the above photo, don't worry about trying the fit the foam together tightly to eliminate the cracks as these can be all filled with greenery. A variety of brands were used and the peel and stick grasses were placed in front of the cracks on the baseboard to hide them.

The big rocks are all "Haroled' up

More greenery arrives

And a few tall trees and bushes

Nearly done

There still needs a bit more done to this section, but I am pleased with how it has turned out so far, the corner almost disappears!

Grinding away

It seems like I am settling down to a blog each month or at least it shows 4 weeks since the last post. I don't suppose that's too bad a looking at some others bloggers. Many blogs start off well but the number of posts soon dry up and then no more. We all have our reasons for this and my layout workload certainly fluctuates over the year.

Truly understanding why people make micro layouts it gives them the satisfaction of saying that they may have built three layouts this year, meanwhile I am slogging away at my monster and wondering if I will ever finish it. But then layouts are never finished are they? Call me greedy or stupid I really love the size of my layout and all of those unfinished section have been stared at and I know how they will be finished off (one day).

Looking at some file photos of my Thomson River bridge , I find it hard to believe I have been at it for over two years now, so I am determined that after our running day this coming week it will become a priority.

Another priority that was completed was the liftout section was completed. Initially it was to be a lift out section, then I thought how easy it would be to just hinge it upwards out of the way. Many, many times I have mentioned on posts that I was not blessed with carpentry skills, so the chances of this working were very slim. Couple this with the great amount of rain that Sydney has been having lately (no bushfires thank goodness) and the thriving humidity I am hoping that it will all line up and no swelling. The HO layout had a swing in gate and after varying weather the tracks wouldn't line up perfectly. I painted the underneath of the swing section to minimise any swelling, so time will tell.

I had some hinges to try and after putting them directly on both sections i.e. the layout and liftup section, when I tried to lift it up it failed. I was later told the the hinges need to be slightly elevated on some three ply to allow the rails to clear each other. I tried this later today and it worked. So from now on there will be no need to limbo under the board. We are all getting to   old to do that anyway.

A while ago I ordered some of the excellent backdrops from Brunel Hobbies in Melbourne. Luckily my backdrop was around 22cm high which matched the height of the printed backdrops. These were installed at Pambula and as this station was on a corner the backdrop needed to curl around on one corner. The first two sheets went on with no hassles, the vinyl they are printed on is great to work with, just peel the backing off and stick. The third sheet had to be trimmed as the backscene tapers downwards around the corner.

Backscene in place at Pambula

 As can be seen in the above photo the backscene didn't completely meet the baseboard. I was able to fill in the gap with a section of the dense yellow foam (Knauf board) and with some hacking and a bit of paint it works out well as a good transition section between the vertical and horizontal. I will put a larger piece at the corner to take the eye away from the sharp angle ( for another day).

I was also in receipt this weekend of a batch of wagons That a good friend James Black had assembled for me. I don't have the skills to do this work so it was outsourced. The fleet has nearly doubled and finally the livestock will be able to have a ride somewhere in the NM's. When assembled into a long train in Eden yard the NQR's look impressive. He fitted three NQR's with impressive tarps for some variety. It is hoped in the future I will make some timber loads for them.

Two freights cross at Pambula

8A gets ready to depart Eden

Two dogs checking out the wagons

10 NQR's waiting for a loco, on their way to pick up a load of spuds

Arrival of an NM now means livestock can be transported

More next month

 

History or His story

 First, I hope 2021 has been good for you so far. I find it hard to believe that it is more than half way through January, time seems to be going faster.

So I have been slogging away at building South Coast Rail from December 2015 and in reality I think I have achieved quite a lot. From the dismantling of the old layout, planning and the building the new one. So far no regrets.

Yes history was made today when the 'missing link' across the doorway was finally completed, track laid and a trial run was made. Before this section was completed the layout was purely a point to point, the run being long enough so not to be boring. I am blessed with a large shed a hangover from the old HO days when a single car garage even didn't seem big enough. You often see US basement layouts and suddenly wish you had the same amount of room. There would be a lot of dirt to dig out from under the concrete slab to have the same result. An extension on the house for a family room back in 1999 led to extending the pipe delivering the concrete being taken way down to the back shed for an extra slab. I suppose I had the option of making a smaller layout but what would I do with the room left over?

Deadlines can often do wonders to getting a spurt on in construction. Approached by the Narrow Gauge Convention group to have the layout on display in Easter 2019 I set about having certain goals completed. It ended up sufficient to be displayed and there after I was able to slack off somewhat.

The diagram for the layout was published on a previous post so you can refer back to see the completed section across the doorway and joining Bega to Eden.

Printed circuit board join across the liftout section

South Coast Rail is certainly no flat pancake style of layout, it is either going uphill or downhill, the only flat bits being stations and across the Thomson River bridge and a few other spots. I didn't want to have to imagine in my mind grades that were non existent but actually build them into the layout. This also added to the interest in running and puts restrictions on train lengths through their actual weight and the actual steepness of the grade. This can then introduce other aspects such as assisting a train with a second loco to a location where the train engine can then take to train onwards without and further help.

I completed the baseboards between Bega and the doorway and then started on the liftout section. This was covered in the last post and before considering to lay any track I painted the baseboards mainly to prevent any swelling of the liftout section that may prevent that section from lining up. This happened on the old layout where the doorway would swing inwards and after a lot of rain it wouldn't line up.

With the lift out section lining up OK I then started to lay in some track using the last of the Peco narrow gauge track that is on all of the layout. I used a 24" radius template for a curve just out of Eden. Although I could have used a tighter radius I wanted the better look of a larger radius which should lead to smoother operation.

Junction outside Eden

I also needed to complete this section of track to enable the level crossing in the above photo to be completed. Also the fascia boards etc need to be completed. The track was laid across the printed circuit board and then soldered not forgetting to cut into the circuit board to prevent a short. After the track was soldered in place I used the dremel to cut the rails as this is part of the liftout section. After a few days both ends of the track were completed. During the week I had completed the continuous run also that runs across the lift out section. But when I laid in the junction track from Eden it was too close to the continuous run so it needs readjusting a bit.

This section forms a 'triangle' meaning a train can depart Eden go right around the layout and then return back into Eden. This needed a frog juicer to be wired under the baseboard for this section. I must say that for $60 it works well. Two leds are visible, one red and one green and they swap colours when the loco passes over the wrong polarity section all instantly.

So late this afternoon I thought I was all ready to do a trial as the track looked all ready, I rechecked the wiring, plugged it in expecting an all clear but ended up with a short. Bugger, so the first train was delayed. As it was fast approaching dinner time I went inside, had food, watched the usual covid update on the news and then returned to find where the short was coming from. I knew it was in the work I had just completed as I had a running day with Kevin 'Fox Valley' during the week

Visiting Fox Valley Locos

Fresh from a break I checked the first section that was where the track was soldered to some printed circuit board. I had cut between the rails but not the section the next set of track was soldered to. A lightbulb moment, so after the dremel had done its work, a quick replug in and all was clear Phew, (I hate looking for shorts)

So it looked like all was clear for the first train to circumnavigate the room and come back into the port of Eden. There was a train in the yard fresh from the running day consisting of NA6, NH, NQR, NU, NT, NQR, NQR, NC. This load recorded for posterity and the history book.

So tonight the train departed Eden yard at 7.23pm with a slow run up to the level crossing, a whistle then around the 180 degree corner and headed for Broadwater. The train was run at a speed of a setting of '10' on the NCE controller a slow chug along well suited to narrow gauge operation. A drift over the trestle outside Broadwater, another whistle for the crossing and straight through the station at 7.26pm. This was a non stop run, no passengers, no safeworking on this run. Around the corner from Broadwater and then across the temporary bridge beside the one day to happen Thomson River bridge. Once over the bride we go around the S bend up into Pambula. It is now 7.29pm, again no stopping and after a slight rise we finally hit the summit and head down the spiral. Introduced to lengthen the run and use up more baseboard the spiral is located on the old curved end section of the HO layout. Soon we pass Wolumla at 7.33pm, no stops and head around another 180 degree curve on a fairly steep descending grade, over a one day trestle and into a tunnel. The train completely disappears in there but you can still hear the train chugging away. Coming out of the tunnel we then head up hill around the corner past the gully and its waterfall. Although the track is completed here the scenery is all that remains of the HO layout. Remenicent of the Stringers gorge in Walhalla we head up into Bega. It is now 7.36pm actual time. Bega is the junction station for the Candelo branch and will one day have some loco facilities and a shed. It is also where the line divides at the other end of Bega, straight ahead leads back to Eden and through the turnout is good for another lap through Broadwater etc. We have just gone through Bega and the road is set for Eden. Around the liftout section and the frog juicer has done its job, no stopping.

 

6A and its train heading back into Eden

6A crosses the lift out section.

Finally back onto the section of track we left Eden on some 15" actual time ago. We slowed down coming into the yard and the road was set for the goods siding. So under normal circumstances the train would shunt, stop for passengers and safeworking and cross trains coming in the opposite direction. So on a bad day it might take 30" to do an out and back. Not bad for a narrow gauge railway.

I will get onto finishing the fascia and making sure all is right with the new section and then we will be able to have another running day next month.

See, I told you deadlines work!

Back home in Eden safely snuggled against the buffers

 

 

Around the bend

 Around the bend, that's where I am doing some work at the moment. I can't believe that the layout has been under construction for nearly five years, way back in December 2015 was when I was starting to rip the old HO layout apart. Dropping into this scale has meant a lot of work in regards to sourcing O scale everything. Luckily the locos have been available through Haskell who have done the NA's from the Victorian narrow gauge system and also Bachmann who have supplied the Shay, Climax and Heisler to add narrow gauge interest. Although Bachmann have done other narrow gauge steam locos such as the 4 - 6 - 0's and 2 - 8 - 0's etc I have resisted getting any as they would tower up against the NA's. I have four NA's all sound equipped and this should be sufficient for operation.

As has been mentioned before the departure of Ian Lindsay Models in supplying his great range of VR narrow gauge models has now made it very hard to new modellers to this scale. Although Ian has been producing these models for close on forty  years, I was lucky enough to obtain enough models just before he retired. Now the only source will be through the second hand market. One can only hope that in the future 3D resin printing will be advanced enough that these models will be available again. It is a very lonely modelling scale and prototype, the number of modellers I know of can be counted on one hand and still have the thumb spare. Just call us unique and that's what I like about it.

 I have added another Owen Thirty Neighbourhood as per the above. It was taken in an area yet to be fully sceniced, more of an experimental area.

Snug Cove station

 I have done some scenery work between the level crossing and the Snug Cove Mallee shed, at least the pathway is clear to follow for the passengers. The mockup paper shed will certainly be replaced one day with a proper one it is just there to provide some scale to the scene. The base was done with the universal local oval dirt and the pathway was formed by using sandpaper on the dirt to get it smoother and then some coloured chalk was rubbed over it to provide some variation. A few more larger bushes will go into this area later on.

Some benchwork has been undertaken to tie in the full circle of the layout. I decided not to go with the previous inward swinging gate on the HO layout as there was sometimes trouble in getting the tracks to line up when it was closed, that was a combination of my poor carpentry and the weather which when wet would swell the timbers and then the tracks wouldn't line up. I remember one operating day when no amount of hitting with the hammer would get the tracks to line up which resulted in a different operating scenario on the day. I am not sure if the next setup will be any better but I will give it a go. I guess I will find out when it all gets finished.

 I had constructed the lift out section initially with straight sides all round and only after doing this realised it would have been better to have cut one end at a 45 degree angle to assist the dropping in of the liftout section. As I don't possess the right tools to cut the angle correctly I spoke to a mate Mike who was able to assist me in utilising his equipment in his garage and we got the job done as can be seen in the above photo. All the above boards will be painted before track is laid to try and prevent moisture absorption and possible swelling of the timber. The shape of the board was due to the angle of the track coming out of Eden and the need to turn 90 degrees and head up to Bega.

 The boards will be edged similar to the rest of the layout and this will cover up all the crook carpentry etc. I was quite surprised with the weight of the liftout section but it needs to be a compromise between strength and weight. At the moment I am able to limbo under it and may leave it out in future and put into place only for operating days.

The missing link

The above photo shows the missing section between Bega (bottom painted section) and the rest of the present layout. There was always going to be an uphill grade between the sections and I was a bit hopeful that it wouldn't be too steep to limit train sizes so by laying out the track as above I was about to find out.

Load trial

I joined a few lengths of track together and commenced some load trials with an NA. I started of with a train of six mixed vehicles and it ran up the grade no trouble. I then extended the train to nine vehicles and again it handled it no trouble. I was happy with this size train and it may be able to handle more vehicles but at the time I couldn't fit any more track in. The track in the foreground will need a frog juicer wired in to reverse the current as the train heads from Bega to Eden and vice versa.

 The last shot above shows the extent of the current work. Snug Cove in the foreground, Eden to the right and the track to Bega in the distance and the bottom left the track to Broadwater. So with a little more work it is hoped that the first train to circumnavigate the shed will happen early in 2021.