LOTS HAPPENING

Well, dear followers. A lot has happened over the last few months.
At the moment I will not say what, but Steam will rule my layout ! I have formed a partnership with a well known modeller and another not so well known modeller. We have started negotiations with a Chinese manufacturer and , Hopefully, our first product will be here before the next Liverpool exhibition. 

I will not say more but there will be 2 Loco classes from 2 states coming in at first.  Wagons, Carriages and Brake Vans are planned to follow.
Other manufacturers and importers have been spoken with so I and my "TEAM" do not encroach on them.

LIVERPOOL 
as usual it was HUGE and so much of my $$$$ went. 
Apart from discussions with so many old mates, manufacturers etc etc I had a few minutes to look at a few layouts in detail. a Wonderful upgrade on Wyee, as well as Binalong . I also found the TANODEN Japanese layout very interesting and spoke at length with the operators.

Layout Progress:
Nothing is happening at the moment as I have a room full of boxes etc where the layout should be. 

Well all that is it for the moment, God Bless you, More soon
Hopey

Kamilaroi Model Railway: Track Laying

Kamilaroi Model Railway: Track Laying

PLANNING makes for perfect

Random thoughts turn to a Plan well executed.

I have put the thinking cap and my 3rd planit CAD program to good use lately. The first part is the fiddle yard, on a base 750 mm wide I can fit 4 tracks in either direction (let's call them up and down) plus the 2 through roads. I am using for the spacing between the through roads, the distance of 2 medium points, placed end to end of the turnout or 51mm. for each Fiddle track I am using 65 mm between them. this gives my fingers a bit of lee way to pick up etc rolling stock. on the outer edge I am allowing 70 mm- close to 3 inches and 3 mm MDF on the edge 10 mm above track height to stop those horrible messes when a valuable or otherwise item hits the deck!

The simple arithmetic for this is:

( Measurements are for TRACK CENTERS )  

OPTION 1 :Edge 0 mm' track 4 "UP' :70 mm, track 3 Up :135 mm, track 2 up :200 mm,track 1 Up: 265 mm and the Up through road: 330 mm . Then just the Peco 51 mm for the Down Through road giving us 381 mm. Track 1 Down: 446 mm, Track 2 Down: 511 mm, track 3 Down: 576 mm and track 4 Down: 641 mm. As you can see there is enough room for an extra track but I wont use it. the track edge of track 4 Down is 653 mm. this leaves me a bit of room for point runs etc. 

If I go Option 2 the maths will change to add an extra track on each level.

GIVENS AND DRUTHERS, 

as certain US modellers use:

• I am assuming that I have about 3.5 by 8 meters to play with and my track plans are done for this area. I may have to change it when I actually move, (Hopefully soon) to the new Hope home !
• I am using code 100 track for the fiddle yard and hidden track , code 75 Peco for the track seen by the "punter" and may do a couple of hand laid points as time goes by.
• I have 2 options on my planned layout. Option 1: is a simple Rectagon using mainly 750 mm wide sections. it only allows m 1 station on the branch. Option 2 is for hidden Turn backs  which would allow me, on the Main 2 stations and on the branch 3 stations , 2 small ones say 1600 mm or so long and one terminus somewhat longer.
•  I prefer this one as I can put an extra staging track in with 90 mm height difference on the up and down tracks. 
• I also have plans for scratchbuilding a SAR turntable for "GILLS" my main station. I'd like a 5 road roundhouse with 3 extra tracks and a longer Loco lead or leads but reality has set in.
• I have not as yet finalised option 2, but will show you my ideas next blog. When I turn the CAD drawings (DXF) to Bitmaps ( BMP) so I can load it for all to read .

Well that is it for now, Happy modelling and Blogging and may GOD bless you .

Hopey

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