Track laying gang make an appearance

Well I have just done my first ever hand spiking some track.
Those with a keen eye will notice that the sleepers are a little far apart for HO. That's due to the track being on my module for the Perth 2012 show. The group next year have decided to go left field and do some modelling in On30.

A couple of photo's of my first attempt. The track is code 75 for those that want to know. Yes I know there's a sleeper that's
Not straight. Well its a bush railway

Till next time,
Alco

The third dimension

Well it has been a while, but there has been some progress, but not in a way that everyone would think.

Now the previous post advised that a direction change was on the cards to VR broad gauge and in P87, from the tried and true NSWGR.
But now that the major VR influence (JW) has departed for way north (not quite Alaska), the other major distraction has started off.
All the group members are doing a module each for a On30 layout for the Perth show in June 2012. All the base boards were prefabbed by PH so that they would all be the same. Everyone was left free to plan what they were wanting to do. The only stipulations were, hand layed track (including points) code 75, timber sleepers and a bush theme.

Well I decided to buy a couple of Steam in the Bush kits for my Shay and Porter. The shay has come along quite well today (nothing better than modelling on fathers day) well it is fathers day.

Until the next update.

Cheers
Alco

Joining the ranks of the insane (P87 and 18.37mm)

They say if you hang around someone long enough, then their traits and bad habits will pass across to you.
Hanging around with Jules W has caused two more of us in the group to join the ranks of the insane. Yep we are also going to start modelling VR to both P87 and 18.37mm.

The condition has already started to appear with both Peter H and myself purchasing a couple of T classes and some rolling stock kits at the Perth show held on the weekend, from the Trainworld guys, what a great bunch of guys they are, hope to see them again next year (already started saving).

There has already been a interloper at Eugrowa, which was managed to be photographed.

The plan is to develop the still born branch of Trunkey Creek into a border town with a transshipment yard, so both VR and NSWGR can co-exist together.

No I haven't totally flipped out by moving away from NSWGR, just a better why to improve my skills more. (also gives the excuse to by more trains).

Cheers Alco

The Hawkesbury River bridge at the Perth Show

Well after some hard work by the group, we managed to have a reasonable show in Perth this year. Set up went well with no major issues. After some heart ache late on Friday night with AMRA having a care factor of zero towards the exhibitors, Peter and Luke managed to sort out the barricading arrangements so that the Cockburn club could exhibit. This was something that AMRA should have gotten right. Apart from the usual bias in the judging towards member layouts, we did manage to come second in the "Jack Standbridge" trophy (as judged by fellow modellers). This was a great achievement for Rodney as this was his first layout he had built himself. Below are some photos. I will post up some vids on my YouTube page.

Setup friday

Until next time
Alco

Eugowra branch line today

4827 on the Eugowra Turntable

Just a few photos from todays running session on the Eugowra branch line

Enjoying a cuppa at smoko in the Fettlers shed

Cleaning up the derailment

4827 shunting the silo whislt 4707 on ballast in yard





Final fit out of the Hawkesbury River Bridges

Had a get together with the guys this afternoon to finish off the layout and to test every one's rolling stock.

After a few bugs were ironed out we managed to get some consistent running done. Whilst most of us were running, two of the guys were playing Vincent Vangough with a piece of cloth that was 12 meters long. They made an appearance after a couple of hours with the finished article, the back scene.

We temporarily held it up in place, and its definitely looks great. A big well done to Peter.

It should look even better at the show with the water in place.

Also managed to shoot a couple of video's as well that I will post on YouTube.

Until the next update.

Cheers
Alco

How to get 150 pieces to a railway exhibiition safely? Well 144 actually!

After spending a week cleaning all my rolling stock and loco's for the upcoming Perth show, I was faced with the delima of transporting them safely to the show.
 Not wanting to take a fleet of cases and having to wrap each piece in bubble wrap or keep in their own packaging, a better way needed to be found.
I came across a A3 size draw unit at Ikea for $220.00 that suited the brief, with the added bonus of being the exact height to fit under the lower level of the layout. The draws do not come out of all once assembled, which is great for us that are heavy handed or clumsy, no draws hitting the deck when pulled out to far.
To add dividers into each draw, I cut some strips of MDF and glued them into place. Once the dividers were set I then glued some foam trackbed (DCC Concepts) to both the sides and the floor. This provides the safe cushioning for the rolling stock.

The bottom two draws I choose not to do as these were at this stage for two Auscision Yellow boxes for the bulk of my locos.  They easily fit in and with the space around the box I have used this for stowing some tools (saves another box).

"The block of flats (124 x rolling stock and 20 loco's)

All up the project has cost $360.00, but I feel that this will be money well spent. I have decided to call the unit " a Block of Flats"

Today we are off the do a total assembly of the "Hawkesbury" and test run every one's rolling stock. Hope to show some pic's of it, so those that won't see it in Perth can have a look.

Until next time, regards
Alco

Modelling imitating life

One of our crew (Peter) has been installing a camera in his CPH, so we could enjoy a cab ride over the Hawkesbury at the Perth show.
Will have to try replicating this, just a video we came across on Youtube.

Bridge photo for comparison

We plan to have a setup and run day on the Hawkesbury this coming Saturday, so maybe we will get some video at that time. It will be the first time all the components of the layout will be together, A good test before the show the following week.

I had better get back to fixing some rolling stock, cleaning and checking coupling heights.
Cheers
Paul (Alco)

Reuniting the missing ends

Well after some 2 months, the end modules were trucked back to be reunited with the rest of the Hawkesbury River Bridges.
Well I can tell you what a great site it was, within ten minutes of taking them off the truck, the rest of the layout was assembled together. This was the first time all pieces had been in the one place. They not only went together with ease, we also managed to even run a couple of trains accross, including a 35 class hauling a rake of end platform cars,( I think the driver forgot to turn at Fassifern).

Assembled ready

I did manage to snap a couple of photo's, but trying to fit in 9 meters of bridges, I found trouble trying to get enough room. Should look great with  the back scence in place and the water under the bridges. Only 3 weeks to go to the Perth show, so there is still a bit to do.

Add caption

Train driver veiw

Sydney end

Newcastle end

Another one ready for revenue service, 600/700 Railcar set

Well I had recently purchased a Bergs Brass 600/700 class railcar set from Ebay.
After two weeks in the workshops, they were finally transfered to the western divison. The following photo and video is of its trial run at Wimbeldon. Sorry about the sound quality as the camera is a little old.
The correct sound files have be uploaded into the loksound yet as the sound are the 244 alco (I like the rattling donk).

All it needs then is some weathering, and she will be looking good running across the 'Hawkesbury" here in Perth at the annual show on the long weekend in 4 weeks time.

Regards
Alco

Eugowra and Geoges plains photos

45 class shunting the track cleaning wagon along the turntable road at Eugowra. The track is code 55 with Hand laid points by a group member. The rest of the branch line trackwork is code 75. The mainline is currnetly code 100, as was laid a few years ago, before the availability of code 75. It may get relayed in time.

 

Some photos of Eugowra with Georges Plains on the upper level.

Perth show fast approaching

With the Perth show only 4 weeks away, it's time to start cleaning locos and rolling stock. With in excess of 150 peices to do, I will have to make sure that I start this soon.
Around 100 peices will be needed for the show, as with the "Hawesbury" being 12 meters long it will have a lot of spaces to be filled. Some of the other members of the MOAP are also busy dong there locos and rolling as well.

As for the "Hawkesbury" the ends are coming along quite well and Rodney has assured that the track laying is al most complete. For those that aren't in the know, the layout is a HO scale representation of the Hawkesbury River Bridges from tunnel to tunnel.
Photo of the Tree's waiting to be installed.

Time for some modelling to be done

Well with the operation on my knee today, and getting two weeks off I guess I will have some time to do some modelling.
Plan at this stage to do some weathering, kitbashing some rolling stock and do some show prep on the rollingstock with coupler heights etc.

The first post

Well I decided it was about time I started my own blog.
I have a home layout that is 90% complete, called the Didubringabeerbak Railway. It is based on the Prototype locations of Georges Plains, Tumulla Bank and Wimbeldon for the main line, with a branch line of of two levels / stations, Trunkey Creek and Eugowra.

A quick tour around the layout

The shed (layout room)

Georges Plains

Tumulla Bank and Dropdown to branches

Wimbeldon and Trunkey Creek(underconstruction)