Fitting a point lever

A big missing detail on the NG7 layout, at least in my eyes, was a way of operating the point in the scenic section. What I wanted, was a nice casting for a hand lever, but couldn't find anything suitable in this scale. 

Asking at Northumbrian Painting Services at the 7mm NG show a few weeks ago, they said they had a mould for something suitable, so I said if they cast it, I'd buy one the next time I saw them at a show. 

Well, a few weeks ago, a box arrived. It contained some TT:120 figure, a 7mm bench, and my point lever. Not just a casting, but a laser-cut base to go with it. Oh, and four Empire Bisuits!

Happy days. As I chomped on delicious baked goods, I gave the lever a quick coat of paint, on the Thursday eveningbefore the show no less, and popped it in the box with the rolling stock. 

On the Friday, while rocking the hi-viz look (a requirement for shows in exhibition centres during setup) I scraped away some of the car park, so the lever and base could be stuck down with PVA. I had to work neatly, as the materials to patch things up were a couple of hours away, back up the M1!

After all this, you'd expect a finished photo, but sadly, I forgot to take one. Trust me though, it looks great. And yes, I did finish the buscuits!

The fallacy of "Future Phil"

 

I'm terrible for thinking that some time in the future, I'll pull it all together, and become a powerhouse at getting things done. No more looking at projects, and deadlines, and seeing them rush towards me. No, I'll not only get ahead, there will be time to dig in to the pile of kits and ideas that seems to grow all the time. 

Truth is this "Future Phil" is going to be just as useless as current day Phil. I'll still aquire projects with the vain hope that I'll crack on with them quickly. And those dealines will still catch me out. Sadly, I don't have the unique talent of Douglas Adams, who could say, "I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by." Normal people can't get away with that...

Anyway, the "Future Phil" project that is in my head right now is building a 32mm gauge steam engine, for next weekend's NGRS. As in other years, I should be building a small garden railway with 32 and 45mm gauge tracks. Every year, I decide it would be nice to have a battery-powered steam engine intead of just the diesels in my fleet. 

And every year, for many years, I've failed to find the time to build one. So, we'll be using the diesels, including the mobile wardrobe I built during the year. A loco as far as you can get from pretty. 

However, I have found time to investigate the brake coach in my IP Enigineeering set. A few years ago, it ran perfectly. Then it took to leaping off every few circuits. I've added weight to it, checked the B2B's, but never taken a proper look. No time. 

But, this year, I've extracted the train from storage early, and had a look. Almost imediatly, I spotted that the axles weren't at right angles to the sides. Measuring, it's less than a couple of mm out, but I can't see any other problem. 

Weird this, as the axleboxes are integral to the solebars. Maybe the wagon isn't perfectly square. 

Removing an entire solebar wasn't easy, but a sharp knife and some waggling with pliers did it. I took a bit off one end, and fixed it back. The axleboxes are now square. The chassis sits flat, and I'll reset the B2B's. 

Fingers crossed I've found it, as this is an attractive train that runs for a long while on one set of batteries - making it very useful.

Saturday Film Club: QED - Testing Testing

I remember how much I enjoyed the BBC TV series QED from the early 1980s. Here's one that came to mind when having a discussion on social media a few weeks ago.

Taunton, for the pasties and cake

All being well, on Sunday, I will be in Taunton for the South West Area Group of RMweb's annual extravaganza. It's a fun little show, with some top quality modelling, and even better refreshments. 

Obviously we will be missing Andy York, but very quickly after the announcement of his passing, we agreed that he would be very upset if the event was cancelled. Andy loved the people and the models on show, and so it's very much in his memory the event continues. I'm sure he will be looking down on us approvingly. 

More details can be found on the RMweb thread.

Down the club

Regular readers will know I'm a big fan of model railway clubs. Yes, you have to work a bit to fit in, and there are some "characters" who might be a little offputting, but there are also many really good aspects. 

Here's a selection of things spotted at the Leamington & Warwick MRS last Thursday. 

A group were running a production line building Airfix cement wagons. They are being improved with brass bearings and metal wheels. The aim is an attractive train for the OO layout. 

A group were watching a figure painting demo using military modelling techniques, lead by one of our newer members. 

This is a Gauge 1 Drewery Shunter, 3D printed in one piece, and based on a file for a TT scale model. We think a fully running locomotive should cost around £150, including a chassis from Model Engineers Laser. 

In addition, several layouts were being worked on, and people were chatting over tea. 

Not a bad way to spend an evening. 

Warehouse Wednesday: Lisbon warehouses

 

Spotted near the Lisbon waterfront - don't these just look like something Faller would produce as plastic kits? 

Since we were hunting food at the time, I only had the chance for a single quick phone shot, but you can have a better look on Google Streetview.

Little Lisbon trams

Did I go all the way to Lisbon to see trams, and not bring back some souveniers? Don't be daft!

Ryanair luggauge limits, obviously reduce the amount of tat I can put in my suitcase. Useful, as there is a LOT of tat for sale in the city. 

However, I wasn't going to come away entirely empty-handed. So, in the middle, we have an Atlas originals tram bought before the holiday in an Oxford Diescast sale. I like the Atlas trams, it was cheap, and meant I didn't have to find space on the plane. Handy, as there wasn't one for sale in the city itself. Oh no. Nothing nearly as accurate...

At the front, a fridge magnet, to join my collection including the train from Switzerland. 

Behind that, a little model, complete with a bit of overhead, for my mate Tim. He's passed on a couple of little Australian trams from trips, so I return the favour. 

And at the back, a drawing (print) bought in the market, from the artist. I took a photo of him, and will stick it on the back. There's quite a bit of art featuring trams, and some of it is quite fun. I liked this as it's small (A5) and different from anything in the tat shops. 

I did manage to avoid the horrors such as models with bogies though! Maybe next time.