Update on Royal Oak Colliery

Well given the not very nice weather, it was a good time to venture into my 'Man Cave'.
     Some time back Phil.c gave me a idea to put a lean to on the side of my screens. So here it is, There is more work to do but it does give the idea.

 

The next thing that I realized was.....No access to the screens. So after cutting a door hole and some hours later access...And the main building is still removable...

Well that's it fo today and we will see what tomorrow brings...

Meanwhile elswhere on the other part of the layout the Gypsys are still nearby

And in the builders yard there is a compressor and a cement mixer been added..

Well that is all for now...

The Pit with No Name...Update (by request)

Well I have started on the Head gear after studying the A4 pages of instructions , And it aint for the faint hearted...So off I go.

I started with the wheels.

 The next step for me is the legs. As I do not have a folding machine but do have about 7 x steel rulers and a vice I managed

 After a few days parts start to come together.....But not exactly "Just Like That"

Another view just to see how it looks on the layout.....

 Another view...

 Now it's all made I gave it a good wire brushing then a soak in Caustic Soda overnight. Then when it was dry I gave it a coat of Red oxide primer...

I decided on Royal Blue as the colour for the Headgear , and I must say I think it looks quite striking (no pun intended)

 Now I decided it's time to make the supporting builings...

 These are only positoned for taking photo's

 Over the Festive season I managed to get a couple of hours here and there to escape to my 'Man Cave'

I got four of these coal tubs from Gaugemaster, They are HO...I think they look the bussiness?

 I opted not to buy narrow gauge track to cover it up, so I went for plastic sheet scored...

Then using a very old engineers dividers I scored out tracks to give the illusion of points...


Now is the time to fit the wheels and I decided to make them Red after seeing a couple of Pits with Red wheels on line. Red, White and Blue...

I really wanted flood lights on the top of the headgear. And after pondering I came up with a idea.
 The main structures have to be removable and made to locate in the same place everytime. Lights must be able to be plugged in for easy removal and connecting structures must wherever connect together ie: the conveyor to the screens.

and the result...

 Oh yes I did say "The Pit has a name...What do you think?

Now it's time for the Pit Head Baths
Scratch built after looking at various pictures and I came up with my own idea...Using the windows and doors I had in my boxes..

 I like to think it capures the look.

 The white stuff in the windows is 'Glue and Glase' I find it brilliant, as specially when you want some missing panes of glass..

A little touching up to be done,  But I am quite pleased so far.. Learning all the time....

Work in progress, A long way to go...

A view of my 'Man Cave' and work in progress...

Model Railways are alway's Work in Progress as they are never finished.............

The Pit with No Name...

Well after  what seems like forever I have finaly started on the Pit/Colliery and as the title say's it has no name(yet)
       After working out a small track plan and built the points using SMP rails and copper clad sleepers along with SMP flexi track it seems to work ok after a day tweaking, mainly the knuckles at the Vee sets...but seems to be sorted?

This is where I did my tweaking session (when the wife was out for the day)

Now to today and I have the base of the screens in place and setting in pva glue and coal dust, Yes real coal dust...Gathered from Royston Coke Works. after the red hot coke goes under the drenching tower the steam that rises takes up particles of coke, The wind carries it and falls the other side of the road and settles up agains the kerb....I got myself quite a bit and put it through a tea strainer and hey presto miniture coal.....

As you can see I have taken a step back to the Mercontrol as it is better for the hand made points, and a lot cheaper. The heavy weights are to hold it down until it sets. The lights are mainly for me to see under the screens and can be dimmed really  low when running the layout..
     The screens building is removable and so is the roof.

I just thought I would try a night shot in the dark

Well so far, so good as we say up here in Yorkshire...

Catch up Time

Well as I have been busy doing things other than modelling I think it about Time for a catch up.
    At the last Doncaster toy and train fair I picked up a white metal model that had been built using areldite and it looked hideous, you could not make out any detail at all. After a night soaking in caustic soda I carefully took it apart and saw that the parts had not been dressed. After a few days I got it something like. I had to fashion a hook from lead flashing and after paying £5 for a model that would cost £38 from Langley Models I thought it was a result. One thing I will say is the model is challenging..

Ransoms Rapier 6ton Mobile Crane

About 2 weeks I decided to buy a loco I had been thinking about for some time, and I am glad I did as it is a Ivatt Class 4 MT Bachmann Collectors Edition, one of only 1000.

 C   Next came a few days building points with a view to another project coming to mind which Cwill become clear in the future .

 And on Wednesday I decided I wanted to build another 3 Way Point

Now we come to the Present. Today I got a K3 pre owned but excellent condition, I have chipped it and removed the LNER decals in preparation to make it early crest...

The other item I purchased today was this little bus as my father, was a conductor for the West Riding when I was a child

Well that's all for now....

Pithead Screens

Well here we are after about a weeks work.

 And below is the result of a few days into week 2. And the roof section is removable.

Below is a better view of the roof windows...

 

 Now after a couple more days we have it up on legs.

Now it is time to give the legs a undercoat and see what's next...


REgards...Alan 

NER 20 Ton Hopper Wagon

Well I always wanted at least a couple of NER 20 Ton Hopper Wagon's. And now I managed to get my grubby little hands on Ten. Well whenever the opportunity came up I would squirrel myself away into 'The Den' or The Man Cave as she calls it.
         After many hours of modelling and making 100 grab rails and cursing as I got to grip with Methfix Transfers my results I submit for your viewing.
         The Spratt and Winkle  couplings were a doddle to fit during construction.

 They all have a different Number

 

 Now starts the weathering process

This view shows the grab rails on the ends.

Now, To me that looks far better than a couple.

 

I Hope you Like?