A short Update

Happenings:

Well dear readers, followers and fans- a few dramas have delayed proceedings even more. I have had a few health issues and my lovely Fiance Janette has had a few as well. 

Then last Sunday at 0207 Hours, we get a phone call saying Janette's youngest son Kyle is at Blacktown hospital with a spinal injury. 

 He had actually broken his neck ! !!  For those of you who know such things: a fracture of T 2 (Thoracics 2nd bone) right where the neck and back join. This week has been one from Hell, with him transferred to Westmead Hospital, and getting a Neck brace to wear all the time, as well as a back brace to wear whilst sitting up, walking etc.

He came home on Thursday night and like all 17 year olds, knows better than the Doctors etc. He went out with a couple of mates on Friday night but actually came home before 5 AM :)

I as Vice President of H.M.R.S.,  had been on duty Friday and Saturday at the Holroyd City Festival Model rail exhibition at Merrylands Bowling Club. I was supposed to be back at 2 PM on Sunday for finish, pack up etc. with Kyle and his mate Dave helping us- great having 17 YO s to help carry stuff. That did not happen, instead a bedside vigil once he had a bed at Westmead.

 PPPPP

PERFECT PLANNING PROVENTS PISS POOR PERFORMANCE

The Holroyd Exhibition was a joke, very very few members of the general public attended. This was no fault of HMRS but the local council people who did not advertise it, nor did the club , in it's magazine. I think total numbers Saturday was about 50. Still  we got paid for attendance- poorly may I add.

Other wise I have not done much at all. Sold a bit of excess Locos and rolling stock on Evil Bay, and have mucked around with layout plans for the 6x3 meter one and the dream 7.5 x 22 Meter one I'd love :)

Well People that is it for the time being.

Happy modelling and GOD BLESS YOU

Hopey

A Step Sideways

Oh dear, we have a problem or 37 !

For the next few months I am going to have to store most of my gear and bunk in at a smaller place with my Fiance, Janette,  her kids and my son. No Garage nor "Modelling room" is available. 

So  no layout building will be possible .

I have decided that rather than just let things stagnate, I shall  not let time be wasted but, build some of my over 200 unbuilt kits, do some basic point work on 12 mm Plyboard and do the electrics etc for them. I also intend building a few structures such as Station buildings and some small Diorama type buildings .

 

I have wanted to do a standard SA Housing Trust "fibro" or 2, same as Housing Commission types in Victoria and NSW. I have taken a few photos, while in S.A. and will use them as guides.  I will do each house as it stands on a Lot- but a fair bit scaled down, with Garages/car ports/ out buildings etc as well as some lawn, bushes, etc etc.

 I may also do a few trees, using the wire armature and Goo method, especially a few Gum trees of various types as found in South Australia. These types are mainly - to my old eyes - Scribbly bark and Box Gum. Red gums do not seem to be  at all common in S.A. . Scribbly bark gum is a light grey main colour, with a mid brown as the "scribble". Other trees that I may attempt are the occasional Elm types and I may experiment on some Oaks as well.

Kits I intend to build will be photographed and shown here in later posts. They include some more M vans, ALX both VR and SAR types ( BGB) a few Y trucks and a few VR 4 wheel and bogie type . I also have 4 unbuilt OCY conflat kits, that I will build up as SAR FQX with minor modifications. I have a fair few carriage kits to do also, so that should keep my tiny mind occupied as well as keep me from mischeif.

To Other things:

Last weekend I had the honour of hosting the 2nd ALBURY- WODONGA Rail Staff REUNION. It went well with a few surprises as well as a few non starters. I have had a bit of feedback and next year's one may be just after Easter- early days yet.

Just a few of the people who attended last Weekend, with my Lovely Janette in the far lower right. A couple of the older blokes, I had not seen in nearly 30 years, It was great to catch up and share yarns and a few ales.

That is it for now, Catch up just after Easter, May God bless you all. Hopey

Another week, not much happening.

In my last Blog, I mentioned that I was using Capral aluminium as framing. I received a message about the cost of Capral. Well Gary L. For some stupid reason I cannot reply to Messages, so I am doing it here. 

 I bought the Capral Qubelock and corner/connector pieces directly from them some 3 years ago and have not needed any more since then. It came in 2.4 meter sections and if my memory serves me correctly it was (as I said 3 years ago) $18.00 per section. Bunnings have pretty much the same stuff but it is slightly more expensive. Caprals web site is : http://www.capral.com.au/Qubelok-Extrusion

The stuff I use is 807853 E22120 25 3 RAD 6.5 100 100 Mill Finish 6060 T5 4.491 from the catalogue you can download. 

A very small amount of work in converting a USRA Light Pacific into a SAR 600 Class steamer happened this week- I moved the bell from above the headlight to the standard SAR place, behind the buffer beam. I also very carefully removed the Mid framing from the crew windows. I will post the photos as soon as I move and find my camera. 

On other things, we caught up with some other members of AREDORRA a facebook group for railway people, mainly drivers etc but other rail people are welcome.  I am BBIC ( Boss Bastard In Charge ) and founded the group some 20 months ago. https://www.facebook.com/groups/AREDORRA/     

We met up  for a social afternoon on Saturday, whilst there were not as many as expected, turn up, the people who did had a great time.  The next social event is the Albury Wodonga Rail reunion on March 16/17.  link :https://www.facebook.com/events/251258344975144/

Gee I put some miles in just for the heck of it.

Still no move as yet but I have faith that a new Home , with shed will eventuate soon ! Oh by the way the 25x 16 is a pipe dream, I will be happy with around 15 x 7 meters !

More soon dear readers, Happy Modelling and God Bless, Hopey

4th Blog of this mad persons mind.

Well dear reader , we come to week 3 of still no new home, another lovely injection in my right eye- more Avastin and some good improvement on my broken Cornea.
 I can now see a lot better out of it and I am PRAYING Hard for a total healing.

Now back to the layout and trains.

Not much to report this last 7 days, I attended an NMRA meeting at John Montgomery's place last Saturday, bloody hot in his unlined shed, but the food, clinics and fellowship were good. I also made some good contacts with other Bloggers- Rowan Magnion , being one. http://mainsouthlinelayout.blogspot.com.au/ as well as someone who I think will help me and I him in Decal design; but more of that later.

I have purchased some USRA Light Mikados, for conversion into S A R 710 class locos, an easy conversion, using my 2 foot - looks great rule.  I also recently recieved  5 USRA Light Pacifics, 3 more than I need so on E Bay they will go quite soon. Unless someone here wants them- mates rates are  $275 plus postage, brand new in boxes with all documentation, Broadway Limited Paragon @ and listed at $299 US- so a bargain you will get. 2 are Undecorated and 1 is decalled by them for Boston and Maine.  

 If interested email me at: hopey152@gmail.com  for details by Midnight on  Tuesday the 19th of Febuary 2013. If not sold by then they go on EBAY next day at a higher starting price !

I have started assembling the basic framework, using Capril aluminium and dimensions overall are 775MM x 1550 MM x 100 MM with the upper area being braced at the half way mark ( well close) . it is quite sturdy and I have walked on it (95 KG) with no dramas. I have made some simple Trestles out of good old 2 x 1 ( 56mm x 22mm) . they will do for the time being, though I have thoughts of Capril hold in type legs attached via good quality  Hinges, attached to the lower part of the frames. 

As to electrical connections, between Modules, I am using some special plugs I got from Jaycar, 10 connections per and rated for 40 Amps.  I will post photos as soon as I can find my camera, after we finally move.

That is it for the time being. Happy modelling and God Bless you . Bye for now.

More somewhat illogical thoughts from this old ratbag!

A week has passed and still have not moved, saw 2 more places today, neither have the dream shed. I may have to build it myself- preferred dimensions 25 x 16 meters.

 (yes I know, dream on).  I may have to settle for a 5.5 x 6 , at least for the time being!

I have decided that after careful consideration as well as playing around in 3rd planit, my preferred CAD, the  modules will be .75 x 1.5 meters each.  This way I may be able to get away with 4 modules across the back if I can squeeze it in :)

More ideas coming to mind after careful using CAD:

1. Each point, as the layout is DCC, is to be either servo or Blue Cobalt controlled. ( I have both and love them).
2. The Turntable will be a standard SAR 64 foot or if I can play with the Peco 9 incher- 63 foot ( Don't ask that in meters).
3. I can fit in 2 loops in each direction in the fiddle yard, as well as carefully placed dead ends.
4. the main station (Gills) to have the yard in the front of the modules and Loco off the inner side, this allows for a longer main loop as well as stub end sidings.
5. A station with "up"."down" and "back" platforms, with a short dead end for stabling Carriages or railcars ( RED HENS etc.) behind the main goods loop. The goods loop to have at least one loop off it as well as access from the Back Platform.

I attach this diagram of Aldgate in SAR days, imagine if you will, it being double line and a small branch off the "Down" end 

 Converted JPG from with thanks 

http://signaldiagramsandphotos.com. a great source for SAR, VR, NSWGR etc signal and track diagrams .

That is all, till next time ; dear readers, followers etc etc.  Happy modelling!