Shifting Sands - Colin Peake's O9 Railway Modelling http://shiftingsands.fotopic.net/ 20 rows en-gb 60 A Day Trip to Somerthorpe http://shiftingsands.fotopic.net/c1775566.html (or 'Notes from an enthusiast's diary'...) May 18th, 2008 'We decided to head to the coast today, as we went to Cleethorpes only a fortnight ago I suggested to my wife we ent to Somerthorpe instead. "Somerwhere?" she asked, "I bet there's a railway there isn't there?" Not replying we set off for the sea, and parked up at the south end of the town near the Thorpe Sands holiday park and Funland. A nearby blast of a whistle confirmed my wife's fears. There was a railway here!' Sunday 18 May 2008: (or 'Notes from an enthusiast's diary'...) May 18th, 2008 'We decided to head to the coast today, as we went to Cleethorpes only a fortnight ago I suggested to my wife we ent to Somerthorpe instead. "Somerwhere?" she asked, "I bet there's a railway there isn't there?" Not replying we set off for the sea, and parked up at the south end of the town near the Thorpe Sands holiday park and Funland. A nearby blast of a whistle confirmed my wife's fears. There was a railway here!'

The whistle had come from 'Pandora', the railway's 2-6-2 tank loco... 'Pandora' was ready to depart from Shifting Sands station... The diesel loco Intrepid seen from the dunes after a steady climb... Chatting to the chaps in the shed, they let me have a wander around, and I captured this shot just before Pandora set off... Thunderbolt is the line's oldest steam loco... The railway's Ravenglass built tram loco Cumbria... Towards the end of the day Thunderbolt and Pandora sit outside the shed... Don't tell anyone at the council this, but I stood on a litter bin to get this shot... Finally, Cumbria demonstrates some stock built in the workshop for another railway.

Published in Shifting Sands - Colin Peake's O9 Railway Modelling

]]> Sun May 18 2008 Coachbuilding III - Avalon Line Kits http://shiftingsands.fotopic.net/c1775524.html I decided to tackle something a little different for my next project, the Avalon Line (ex Owen Ryder) Ravenglass 16-seat open coach. It's brass and whitemeta, my soldering is not the greatest in the world, and the last time I stuck whitemetal together in any quantity was in my bus modelling days! To be honest, I struggled a little with the pre-bent floorpan as the ready folded part was a little distorted, those plank edges 2mm in from the fold causing the problems. I flattened it as best as I could and re-bent it using a steel rule clamped over it and to the desk, plus another to make the bends. Other than that, and a masking tape disaster the first time I tried to paint it (I learnt the hard way to *really* scrub up brass parts before painting), this was a pleasant project and a vast contrast from my usual plasticard bashing. Building this coach finally gave me the opportunity to paint some of the Prieser seated figures from their recent unpainted pack. These (mostly) offered new poses to add to those already on the layout. Avalon Line kits are available from: Howard Martin Wiston Mill Farm Crundale Haverfordwest Pembrokeshire SA62 4EH Illustrated catalogue 50p plus A5 SAE. Sunday 1 November 2009: I decided to tackle something a little different for my next project, the Avalon Line (ex Owen Ryder) Ravenglass 16-seat open coach. It's brass and whitemeta, my soldering is not the greatest in the world, and the last time I stuck whitemetal together in any quantity was in my bus modelling days! To be honest, I struggled a little with the pre-bent floorpan as the ready folded part was a little distorted, those plank edges 2mm in from the fold causing the problems. I flattened it as best as I could and re-bent it using a steel rule clamped over it and to the desk, plus another to make the bends. Other than that, and a masking tape disaster the first time I tried to paint it (I learnt the hard way to *really* scrub up brass parts before painting), this was a pleasant project and a vast contrast from my usual plasticard bashing. Building this coach finally gave me the opportunity to paint some of the Prieser seated figures from their recent unpainted pack. These (mostly) offered new poses to add to those already on the layout. Avalon Line kits are available from: Howard Martin Wiston Mill Farm Crundale Haverfordwest Pembrokeshire SA62 4EH Illustrated catalogue 50p plus A5 SAE.

Also available from Avalon Line are these 'Shifting Sands' inspired 12-seat enclosed coaches. An underside view showing how the tabs for the seats slot in, neat design... sorry for the sloppy soldering! With an afternoon to spare I got all the brasswork done. The floor pan is soldered in the corners inside and out, then smoothed on the outside. Underneath the coach I replaced the whitemetal bogie pivots with a brass strip drilled to take a 10BA bolt. Bogies are folded up and soldered together. Next job is to clean up the whitemetal parts, which will be held in place with Araldite: The bogies gained a 20 thou plasticard strengthener along the centre of the coupler support, running right back to the pivot hole. All of the whitemetal side and end panels were Araldited in place, followed by the seat dividers the following evening. Of course, there was the enevitable gap or two. ide-on view, the Shifting Sands civil engineers are looking on nervoulsly now as this is longer by a fraction than the 'home' stock. Milliput has been applied to the gaps and joins. I calculated that 60thou of packing was required for a MicroTrains coupler to sit at the correct height, so two more 20 thou strips were cemented in place. I filled a few mistakes with some 'correction fluid' (other more well known brands are avilable!), this is a remarkably good fine surface filler. Coupler screw holes drilled and MicroTrains couplers (ref 1023) attached to the bogies, no need to snip off the screws, as they are the perfect length. The coupler sits neatly through the opening in the headstock, with my mounting gubbins unobtrusive. I went a little further on the bogies and coated them in matt black after priming. After a good scrub up a trip to the paintshop saw the coach sprayed with primer. There are a few blemishes to deal with before final painting, more correction fluid should do the trick... The coach re-assembled and ready to show to the manufacturer at NG North (sadly Howard had to withdraw at the last minute). The green topcoat can from Halfords - Ford Meadow Green. The floor was painted with Humbrol 'Natural Wood' and the solebars in black. The completed, loaded coach ready to operate on Shifting Sands.

Published in Shifting Sands - Colin Peake's O9 Railway Modelling

]]> Sun Nov 1 2009 Temp http://shiftingsands.fotopic.net/c1692348.html Temp Saturday 1 January 2005: Temp

Andrew's still to be finished Pacific on Shifting Sands. A very R&ER-like 2-8-2 looks very much at home. Shades of the RH&DR in this Bo-Bo diesel. The Bo-Bo with with my own 'Pandora'.

Published in Shifting Sands - Colin Peake's O9 Railway Modelling

]]> Sat Jan 1 2005 Shifting Sands - Home and Away in 2009 http://shiftingsands.fotopic.net/c1640314.html Shifting Sands seen both out on the road, and at home in 2009. For several years the 7mm Narrow Gauge Association's Trent Valley group have held an event in the Community Centre at Mickleover, Derby, primarily to enable them to work on/play with the group layout 'Henmore Vale'. This year we took Shifting Sands for a new year outing, and everything managed to work, which is largely down to the extended running in session as quite unusually the layout has been up and operated since the Christmas break. It was good to catch up with Howard Martin, Association Chairman and the proprietor of The Avalon Line. Howard is re-releasing the former Owen Ryder kits of Heywood and R&ER prototypes and allowed a couple of items of stock to be borrowed for photography. I couldn't resit photographing the Ravenglass coach with my tram loco Cumbria, based on the R&ER's 'Flower of the Forest' - as a result I have a kit to build, which will make an unusual diversion into etched brass and whitemetal for this plasticard fan.... After Derby I decided that the bogie coach behind the caravan was too much, and eventually this was replaced by a new representation of the 4 wheeler, but in a much more run down state than before. At the same time I added some Knightwing palletts and oil drums around the shed area, and a fuel cube from Buzz models. The layout next appeared at Cleethorpes in early September, in 'Griffin Hall', the former Sutton Miniature Railway engine shed. Here the SMR's new pacific 'King George VI' debuted and got some admiring glances from the CCLR team (although try as I may I couldn't persuade them to build a real one!). Also on show was a prototype N-Drive 'Katie' kit, brought along by Paul Windle and Peter Leadley of the Hull club. This ran extremely smoothly and should be an interesting addition to the O9 items from the trade. Whilst at Cleethorpes Chris Shaw commented on the lack of loco coaling facilities, so soon afterwards a loco coal wagon emerged based on an Avalon Line/Owen Ryder bogie etch. This is purely a cosmetic addition to the layout and has no couplings. In readiness for the final show this year, Retford (21st/22nd November) I took several photographs of 'King George VI' around the layout, some of which I've added here. Retford will actually be the final show for the foreseeable future for 'Shifting Sands', the layout was not built to withstand carting about and was never really intended for exhibitions. Don't worry, it won't be vanishing from the internet! Sunday 1 November 2009: Shifting Sands seen both out on the road, and at home in 2009. For several years the 7mm Narrow Gauge Association's Trent Valley group have held an event in the Community Centre at Mickleover, Derby, primarily to enable them to work on/play with the group layout 'Henmore Vale'. This year we took Shifting Sands for a new year outing, and everything managed to work, which is largely down to the extended running in session as quite unusually the layout has been up and operated since the Christmas break. It was good to catch up with Howard Martin, Association Chairman and the proprietor of The Avalon Line. Howard is re-releasing the former Owen Ryder kits of Heywood and R&ER prototypes and allowed a couple of items of stock to be borrowed for photography. I couldn't resit photographing the Ravenglass coach with my tram loco Cumbria, based on the R&ER's 'Flower of the Forest' - as a result I have a kit to build, which will make an unusual diversion into etched brass and whitemetal for this plasticard fan.... After Derby I decided that the bogie coach behind the caravan was too much, and eventually this was replaced by a new representation of the 4 wheeler, but in a much more run down state than before. At the same time I added some Knightwing palletts and oil drums around the shed area, and a fuel cube from Buzz models. The layout next appeared at Cleethorpes in early September, in 'Griffin Hall', the former Sutton Miniature Railway engine shed. Here the SMR's new pacific 'King George VI' debuted and got some admiring glances from the CCLR team (although try as I may I couldn't persuade them to build a real one!). Also on show was a prototype N-Drive 'Katie' kit, brought along by Paul Windle and Peter Leadley of the Hull club. This ran extremely smoothly and should be an interesting addition to the O9 items from the trade. Whilst at Cleethorpes Chris Shaw commented on the lack of loco coaling facilities, so soon afterwards a loco coal wagon emerged based on an Avalon Line/Owen Ryder bogie etch. This is purely a cosmetic addition to the layout and has no couplings. In readiness for the final show this year, Retford (21st/22nd November) I took several photographs of 'King George VI' around the layout, some of which I've added here. Retford will actually be the final show for the foreseeable future for 'Shifting Sands', the layout was not built to withstand carting about and was never really intended for exhibitions. Don't worry, it won't be vanishing from the internet!

A busy scene with Pandora, Thunderbolt and Jay. Jay prepares to depart with a passenger train An overview of the layout from the left hand end. Pandora and Thunderbolt outside the shed. Thunderbolt on passenger duties. I don't often get to photograph the layout from this end - so made the most of the chance! Later in the afternoon Cumbria was out and about. Cumbria heads around the curve past the kiosk. To 4w coaches I had on display at the members day. Howard Martin loaned the Avalon Line 'Ratty' 16 seater for a picture... and I couldn't resist this pairing! The Avalon Line Heywood 4w wagon and coach. During July I reverted to a 4w coach behind the caravan, plus new 'junk'. Some new oil drums appeared in the shed yard. The layouts next outing was at Cleethorpes over the weekend of 6th/7th September. On display was this N-Drive 'Katie', courtesy of Paul Windle and Peter Leadley Cleethorpes saw the debut of 'King George VI', the SMR's new pacific. At Cleethorpes it was suggested that the SMR needed a loco coal wagon... This was quickly knocked up a week later from scraps of plasticard. Real coal completes the job along with a couple of Sidelines sacks. The wagon in place on the layout, with the pacific. The pacific rests outside the shed with Pandors tucked away inside. Another view outside the shed, looking slightly overcast!

Published in Shifting Sands - Colin Peake's O9 Railway Modelling

]]> Sun Nov 1 2009 Coachbuilding II - Opens for Everyone http://shiftingsands.fotopic.net/c1633311.html This has recently been keeping me entertained in-between other things. It isn't technically a Shifting Sands project but very nearly was. I'll explain, Some years ago I obtained an Avalon Line 0-6.5 coach body, which I lengthened and mounted on bogies with the intention of giving it a spray coat of the standard red shade and using as an extra on the layout. Trouble is, it looked a bit taller and a tad narrower than everything else (but I chose it over the O9 coach as that looks too wide!), so it eventually got brush painted and dumped in the yard near the caravan. During 2008 it was extracted and replaced by something else, and the paintwork smoothed down with a mind to repainting. It then sat in the drawer until I decided to tidy it up, so I brush primed it and then set about repainting with acrylics, again brush painted. These are Games Workshop 'Citadel' colours and went on very well, although 3/4 coats were required. On went a set of spare MicroTrains bogies and the result was rather smart. However one coach won't get you far... I wouldn't repeat the build itself as it was not ideal, however I felt it would be easy to scratchbuild some companions. So I went into the genetic engineering business and 'cloned' the 8-seater. I thought it would be useful to show how I did this as the techniques are transferable to other designs Materials Used: 20 thou plasticard 40 thou plasticard 60 thou plasticard Tools: Craft knife (and spare blades) Steel rule Set square Fine flat file Scriber Fine Wet & Dry paper Liquid polystyrene cement Construction Notes: A few basic dimensions, the 8 seat coach is 60mm x 21mm with a panel height of 18.5 mm. All parts were marked out on the plasticard using light scores with the craft knife. I always start out with a freshly cut, straight edge on the plasticard and mark a right angle using the set square to work from. All lines at right angles to the edge should be marked with the set square. Hopefully the photo sequence should be self explanatory. Moving on from the 8 seaters, which eventually became 4-wheelers using Peco chassis components, I started work on some 12 seat bogie versions, wider at 26mm and 88mm long. These are built on a batch basis and surplus vehicles are available to buy in grey primer. *Please contact me if you may be interested in purchasing examples of the 12 seat coaches.* More photos to follow soon! Monday 5 January 2009: This has recently been keeping me entertained in-between other things. It isn't technically a Shifting Sands project but very nearly was. I'll explain, Some years ago I obtained an Avalon Line 0-6.5 coach body, which I lengthened and mounted on bogies with the intention of giving it a spray coat of the standard red shade and using as an extra on the layout. Trouble is, it looked a bit taller and a tad narrower than everything else (but I chose it over the O9 coach as that looks too wide!), so it eventually got brush painted and dumped in the yard near the caravan. During 2008 it was extracted and replaced by something else, and the paintwork smoothed down with a mind to repainting. It then sat in the drawer until I decided to tidy it up, so I brush primed it and then set about repainting with acrylics, again brush painted. These are Games Workshop 'Citadel' colours and went on very well, although 3/4 coats were required. On went a set of spare MicroTrains bogies and the result was rather smart. However one coach won't get you far... I wouldn't repeat the build itself as it was not ideal, however I felt it would be easy to scratchbuild some companions. So I went into the genetic engineering business and 'cloned' the 8-seater. I thought it would be useful to show how I did this as the techniques are transferable to other designs Materials Used: 20 thou plasticard 40 thou plasticard 60 thou plasticard Tools: Craft knife (and spare blades) Steel rule Set square Fine flat file Scriber Fine Wet & Dry paper Liquid polystyrene cement Construction Notes: A few basic dimensions, the 8 seat coach is 60mm x 21mm with a panel height of 18.5 mm. All parts were marked out on the plasticard using light scores with the craft knife. I always start out with a freshly cut, straight edge on the plasticard and mark a right angle using the set square to work from. All lines at right angles to the edge should be marked with the set square. Hopefully the photo sequence should be self explanatory. Moving on from the 8 seaters, which eventually became 4-wheelers using Peco chassis components, I started work on some 12 seat bogie versions, wider at 26mm and 88mm long. These are built on a batch basis and surplus vehicles are available to buy in grey primer. *Please contact me if you may be interested in purchasing examples of the 12 seat coaches.* More photos to follow soon!

Never one of the running fleet, this is modified Avalon line product. This was treaed to a set of bogies and a fresh coat of paint. I then started thinking about another... Replication begins by marking out side and end panels, 4 off 18.5 x 8mm, 2 off 18.5 x 16mm, 3 off 18.5 x 19mm on 40 thou plasticard. Seperating the panels into pairs. Seperate the pairs into individual panels, and clean up the cut edges with a fine file, wet and dry or (carefully) the knife blade. Take a 45 degree nick off the corners where the passenger openings are. Round with the file. All the completed panels lined up. Mark out the floor on 60 thou plasticard, 58mm x 19mm. Mark on planking lines at 4mm intervals from either end (there will be an odd gap in the middle!). Use the scriber to deepen the plank lines. Clean up edges with a file, wet and dry or knife tip. Cement an end panel inside one of the 8mm panels, and cement to one end of the floor. At all stages, use the set square to ensure the assembly is square. Add the other 8mm panel and repeat at the other end of the coach. Remove 1.5mm from the base of the third 19mm panel, then centre this on the two 16mm side panels. Cement the middle seating assembly into place, carefully measuring to ensure it is central. Seat supports are next, from 20 thou plasticard, 8 off 8 x 5mm, 4 off 8 x 19mm. Clean up before moving on. Seat supports are cemented in place, 19mm pieces first, then 5mm bits. Seats marked out in 60 thou plastcard, 19mm x 7mm, with a plank line scribed in the middle. Seats in place but not glued until after painting. Underneath, two 58mm lengths of Plastruct 'U' section form the solebars. These 5 x 2.5mm pieces form what little there is of the headstocks. The completed coach body next to the converted Avalon Line item it is based on. Although planned to be another bogie vehicle this has become a 4 wheeler. The chassis is a much cut-up Peco example. The 12 seat bogie version is 26mm wide and 88mm long. 12 seat version compared to the 4 wheel, 8 seat coach. Loaded with happy Prieser passengers.

Published in Shifting Sands - Colin Peake's O9 Railway Modelling

]]> Mon Jan 5 2009 Knightwing Kitbashing in O9 http://shiftingsands.fotopic.net/c1632771.html The Shifting Sands loco fleet has had its first new acquisition in some time, a rebuild of the well known Knightwing 4mm scale industrial diesel kit, based on a Kato chassis. But first, some background. My attempt with this kit for use in O9 was back in 2005, inspired by an 009 version seen in the 'Railway Modeller'. At that time I couldn't see a way of using the brilliantly moulded chassis sides in O9 as the wheelbase was too far out and they were too high. So I scratchbuilt a chassis frame around a Kato 4w chassis. I then encountered a problem, the loco was too short to effectivelly operate with Microtrains uncopling magnets, the magnets were strong enough to stall the motor slung between the axles! A massive rethink saw a new chassis frame built, and a short bonnet added the other side of the cab to use up the length. Being honest, this new chassis was never my greatest work and this has been a somewhat unloved loco ever since... I moved on. The next loco off the workbench was the model of Kirklees' diesel 'Jay'. Building this, on the same chassis, resulted in some experimentation with the Knightwing chassis parts, which I cut-and-shut to fit the Kato wheelbase. This was achieved by cutting immediately in front of the cab steps and then in front of the rear axle spring hangers. Re-arranging the parts with some plasticard to replace the steps gave a 28mm wheelbase chassis, although at that stage a very long one. This was eventually used under the rebuild of the former 'Yellow Perril' as SMR no. 3. As an aside, illustrated are a novel use of Knightwing axlebox covers, cut out and shaped they feature on my 1/24th scale Lister RM3... This set we spare from a 4mm scale conversion made years ago. So on to 2008, the latest Knightwing conversion was an attempt to use as much of the kit as I could to make what is effictively an enlarged version of 'Jay'. Perhaps more suited to somewhere like Perrygrove or the Bure Valley than a seaside line, it has proved a very effective conversion. Hopefully the pictures will show the work involved without too much explanation. Monday 5 January 2009: The Shifting Sands loco fleet has had its first new acquisition in some time, a rebuild of the well known Knightwing 4mm scale industrial diesel kit, based on a Kato chassis. But first, some background. My attempt with this kit for use in O9 was back in 2005, inspired by an 009 version seen in the 'Railway Modeller'. At that time I couldn't see a way of using the brilliantly moulded chassis sides in O9 as the wheelbase was too far out and they were too high. So I scratchbuilt a chassis frame around a Kato 4w chassis. I then encountered a problem, the loco was too short to effectivelly operate with Microtrains uncopling magnets, the magnets were strong enough to stall the motor slung between the axles! A massive rethink saw a new chassis frame built, and a short bonnet added the other side of the cab to use up the length. Being honest, this new chassis was never my greatest work and this has been a somewhat unloved loco ever since... I moved on. The next loco off the workbench was the model of Kirklees' diesel 'Jay'. Building this, on the same chassis, resulted in some experimentation with the Knightwing chassis parts, which I cut-and-shut to fit the Kato wheelbase. This was achieved by cutting immediately in front of the cab steps and then in front of the rear axle spring hangers. Re-arranging the parts with some plasticard to replace the steps gave a 28mm wheelbase chassis, although at that stage a very long one. This was eventually used under the rebuild of the former 'Yellow Perril' as SMR no. 3. As an aside, illustrated are a novel use of Knightwing axlebox covers, cut out and shaped they feature on my 1/24th scale Lister RM3... This set we spare from a 4mm scale conversion made years ago. So on to 2008, the latest Knightwing conversion was an attempt to use as much of the kit as I could to make what is effictively an enlarged version of 'Jay'. Perhaps more suited to somewhere like Perrygrove or the Bure Valley than a seaside line, it has proved a very effective conversion. Hopefully the pictures will show the work involved without too much explanation.

Back to 2005, my first O9 Knightwing conversion underway. As completed the loco looked very different after a change of plan. The increased length was matched with a scratchbuilt 'short' bonnet. First experiment rebuilding Knightwing sideframes to fit the 28mm w/b Kato chassis. The same chassis as used under SMR no.3, albeit shortened a little. Adapted Knightwing axleboxes used on my 1/24th Lister project. July 2008 - The new Knightwing/Kato conversion underway, figure from Phoenix for comparison. Cab end view showing the dropped door bottom, awaiting a dropped footplate. A week or so later all sorts of little details are in place, air pipes are from Replica Railways... headlights are from the kit, whilst air horns are from A1 Models. The windscreen wipers and door handles are from brass wire shaped and blackened. Test running was keenly observed by Mr Sooty, chief loco-catcher... Before paiting the headlights were repositioned ahead of the bonnet rather than either side. The painted loco on Shifting Sands, side view. Colours are Humbrol Brunswick and Lime greens, the latter from a genuine 'old' Hull produced tin! Test running with passenger stock, Cumbria just sneaking into the frame. Headlights are created by painting the inside silver and using a blob of Araldite to form the 'lens'.

Published in Shifting Sands - Colin Peake's O9 Railway Modelling

]]> Mon Jan 5 2009 Coachbuilding I - Semi-enclosed Stock http://shiftingsands.fotopic.net/c1440725.html February 2007 has seen work start on a new 12 seat semi-enclosed coach, based loosely on one built by the Exmoor Steam Railway. This reverts to my tried and trusted method of coach building from the days I built stock with 'Routemaster' bus sides. Only now I am making up the side panels from scratch... I soon realised that this *actually* worked, so a second set of sides soon emerged from the works. Once the sides were complete ends were made from 40 thou plasticard and paired up with the sides. Seat bases, also 40 thou thick were added to square up and strengthen the ends, before the coach bodies were assembled, extra seat bases added and other interior parts added. The footwells were added next, complete with a cut-away to allow the overscale wheel flanges to swing around. The final items added were truss rods below the solebars. Apart from seats, added after painting, construction is now complete. Update: In January 2008 the SMR workshop turned out an 8 seat/guards semi-open coach (no 16) to match nos 14 and 15 delivered in 2007. This was built to the same pattern and incorporates a look-out each side of the guards van and also doors posed in an open position. As part of 'Project Backstory' some of my older coaching stock started to get a makeover. Two of the original coaches built from Routemaster bus kit parts have been stripped down for a rebuild, with altered door pillars and underframe. The revised underframe closely follows the ex- Sutton Miniature Railway stock now at Cleethorpes. One of these coaches is planned to be a 'heritage' restored version and the other has been plaed as a scenic feature, replacing the 8 seater coach previously used. Sunday 13 January 2008: February 2007 has seen work start on a new 12 seat semi-enclosed coach, based loosely on one built by the Exmoor Steam Railway. This reverts to my tried and trusted method of coach building from the days I built stock with 'Routemaster' bus sides. Only now I am making up the side panels from scratch... I soon realised that this *actually* worked, so a second set of sides soon emerged from the works. Once the sides were complete ends were made from 40 thou plasticard and paired up with the sides. Seat bases, also 40 thou thick were added to square up and strengthen the ends, before the coach bodies were assembled, extra seat bases added and other interior parts added. The footwells were added next, complete with a cut-away to allow the overscale wheel flanges to swing around. The final items added were truss rods below the solebars. Apart from seats, added after painting, construction is now complete. Update: In January 2008 the SMR workshop turned out an 8 seat/guards semi-open coach (no 16) to match nos 14 and 15 delivered in 2007. This was built to the same pattern and incorporates a look-out each side of the guards van and also doors posed in an open position. As part of 'Project Backstory' some of my older coaching stock started to get a makeover. Two of the original coaches built from Routemaster bus kit parts have been stripped down for a rebuild, with altered door pillars and underframe. The revised underframe closely follows the ex- Sutton Miniature Railway stock now at Cleethorpes. One of these coaches is planned to be a 'heritage' restored version and the other has been plaed as a scenic feature, replacing the 8 seater coach previously used.

This was the first pair of carraige sides and ends to be completed, all from plastic section and sheet. I then realised that the ends needed 'bufferbeam' extensions, so new ones were made. Roof panes made by strapping plastic sheet to an empty coke can and dunking in boiling water. Sides and ends were paired up, with a seat base at each end to add to the strength. Once the paired sides and ends were joined, extra seat bases were added for the middle seats. Seat backs and parcel shelves were then added to the interior. On the underside footwells were added. The gap is to allow experiments in bogie swing! The underside of the roof is a Hornby wagon roof, suitably cut around and re-enforced. The top side of the completed roof, the join will be filled at a later date. A close-up of the bogie cut-away and mount, a contained 10 BA nut. Complete! Just needs filling, smoothing, painting and passengers! Skipping several stages, the coaches are now complete. A view of the pair of coaches (from the top of the workshop!) A closer view of coach 15. Figures are mainly Preiser. A guards/saloon coach under way for Shifting Sands to match the coaches built earlier in 2007. Two of my original coaches stripped down to bare plastic. As rebuilt with strengthened door pillars, and revised underframe layout. The completed coach, guards doors are ajar on each side. One of the other original coaches has been weathered and placed at the back of the caravan on the layout.

Published in Shifting Sands - Colin Peake's O9 Railway Modelling

]]> Sun Jan 13 2008 A Tale of two Locos http://shiftingsands.fotopic.net/c1439708.html Regular readers of this site will be familiar with my first O-9 loco, a combination of Dapol railbus and Drewery shunter kit parts on a Bachmann US chassis. This was always a little on the small side compared to my later locos and had recently been sidelined as it needed a very different touch on the controller than the other power units. In the summer of 2007 I rebuilt the loco on an Atlas chassis and incorporated an underframe below the existing body, adding about 3.5mm to the height of the loco. I'm often asked how I built the model, and as I didn't take step by step photos at that time, I have taken the oportunity to do so whilst building a second loco to the same design, but incorporating the revised underframe style. This actually sits on the original Bachmann power unit! Rather than have a class of two, this second model is destined to become a version of the same loco in an earlier timeframe to the SMR example. This is part of a project through 2008 to add some 'history' to the Shifting Sands loco and rolling stock fleet, by creating past identities for stock and modelling some of them. I call it 'Project Backstory'.... The story behind what is now the SMR's 'Intrepid' is that it was built for the Crimdon Dene Miniature Railway in the North East, where it will feature in 1970s form on Andrew Blackwell's project. In the 1980s the loco moved to the Somerthorpe Miniature Railway as represented by Shifting Sands, and where it will be seen in 1990s form... Friday 11 January 2008: Regular readers of this site will be familiar with my first O-9 loco, a combination of Dapol railbus and Drewery shunter kit parts on a Bachmann US chassis. This was always a little on the small side compared to my later locos and had recently been sidelined as it needed a very different touch on the controller than the other power units. In the summer of 2007 I rebuilt the loco on an Atlas chassis and incorporated an underframe below the existing body, adding about 3.5mm to the height of the loco. I'm often asked how I built the model, and as I didn't take step by step photos at that time, I have taken the oportunity to do so whilst building a second loco to the same design, but incorporating the revised underframe style. This actually sits on the original Bachmann power unit! Rather than have a class of two, this second model is destined to become a version of the same loco in an earlier timeframe to the SMR example. This is part of a project through 2008 to add some 'history' to the Shifting Sands loco and rolling stock fleet, by creating past identities for stock and modelling some of them. I call it 'Project Backstory'.... The story behind what is now the SMR's 'Intrepid' is that it was built for the Crimdon Dene Miniature Railway in the North East, where it will feature in 1970s form on Andrew Blackwell's project. In the 1980s the loco moved to the Somerthorpe Miniature Railway as represented by Shifting Sands, and where it will be seen in 1990s form...

My original loco gains a new underframe, seen here at an early stage. A head on view, the new buffer beams are attached to the loco frame, rather than the bogies as before. A side on view of the rebuilt loco, which was actually further modified before painting. Sides, ends and roof reassembled from Dapol components with a little bit of scratchbuilding. With one end attached to each side, a dry run of assembly was made. The bodyshel assembled and filled. The next stage was to add the underframe shape and sort out chassis fixing. A quick comparison with the original to check all is well. Door, roof and front end detail is added. The bufferbeams have an overlay of 10 thou plasticard bent to shape. The other end of the loco. Roof detail is largely from the scrap box. The lights on the cab ends are Peco track pins and a turned 4mm scale wagon buffer head! The shell is seen in primer, at the gap finding and filling stage. Another view of the shell in primer. The underframe and roof were masked off and the dark green sprayed from an acrylic car aerosol. Buffer beams and roof were hand painted using enamel paints. 'Whisker' transfers are from the original kit, lettering from an old SMS sheet. Completed, varnished and glazed, with couplers and all details added. A comparison with the original at Shifting Sands shed. The various detail differences can be explained by the models being at least 20 years apart in their timeframes! An 'archive' view of the loco on arrival at Shifting Sands from the CDMR.

Published in Shifting Sands - Colin Peake's O9 Railway Modelling

]]> Fri Jan 11 2008 'Pandora' - 15" Narrow Gauge Outline Steam http://shiftingsands.fotopic.net/c1202205.html 'Pandora' is the latest steam locomotive in the Shifting Sands fleet. Based on a Bachmann US chassis the loco uses a boiler originally destined for another model, a Dapol 'pug' kit cab and some new side tanks. I had some reservations that the cab would work on a 7mm scale model, however feedback convinced me it could work in O9, so the cab profile was altered to give more headroom and the frames extended to make an 0-6-2T. Size wise it is on a par with 'Fox' at the KLR, although it has touches of 'Bonnie Dundee' in tank loco form and a hint of Exmoor in the design too. Also fresh from the workshop is the American outline 2-6-2, rebuilt with a new front end, improved steam pipes, a new bell (a HO diesel component!), and revised safety valves and whistle. There is finally a name for the loco - 'Thunderbolt'. I just need to create a story about rescuing her from the town museum! Outside the workshops is a restoration project in waiting for the SMR Heritage Group... Sunday 29 April 2007: 'Pandora' is the latest steam locomotive in the Shifting Sands fleet. Based on a Bachmann US chassis the loco uses a boiler originally destined for another model, a Dapol 'pug' kit cab and some new side tanks. I had some reservations that the cab would work on a 7mm scale model, however feedback convinced me it could work in O9, so the cab profile was altered to give more headroom and the frames extended to make an 0-6-2T. Size wise it is on a par with 'Fox' at the KLR, although it has touches of 'Bonnie Dundee' in tank loco form and a hint of Exmoor in the design too. Also fresh from the workshop is the American outline 2-6-2, rebuilt with a new front end, improved steam pipes, a new bell (a HO diesel component!), and revised safety valves and whistle. There is finally a name for the loco - 'Thunderbolt'. I just need to create a story about rescuing her from the town museum! Outside the workshops is a restoration project in waiting for the SMR Heritage Group...

With a little adjustment and a leading truck it becomes an O9 loco Getting into the swing of things now, a chimney, dome and smokebox door have been added. A side on view, hints of Exmoor and Kirklees design! A blitz on rivet details and boltheads, plus some injector pipes. The air pump is added plus some associated pipework. A close up of the air pump, a turned brass 4mm scale part. Pandora, complete and resplendant in Maroon. The 2-6-2 is newly named 'Thunderbolt'. A new belll has also been added. A size contrast with the American 2-6-2, recently reworked with changes to the front end.

Published in Shifting Sands - Colin Peake's O9 Railway Modelling

]]> Sun Apr 29 2007 Construction Scrapbook - Part 4 http://shiftingsands.fotopic.net/c1121355.html With the exhibition deadline lessthan a month away this is the state of play near the end of October. As these photograps show, the layout is now almost visually complete, with figures and accessories in place. I must take the opportunity of thanking my friend Chris Barker for the two scratchbuilt picnic benches and parasols that now sit outside the ice cream kiosk, they really do help set the scene! Also outside the kiosk are menu boards photographically reproduced from originals in Scarborough (just near the Peasholme station of the North Bay Railway) and Wall's ice cream advertising produced the same way. Two new additions to the layout are a weathered Vanguards Vauxhall Astra and a water tower modified from an HO scale resin kit by Unit Models of Keighley. This has had a new top added and the pipework beefed up for 7mm scale use. Just in case anyone is wondering, the layout only has a backscene along the back of the scenic area. The sky that can be seen at the sides and front of the board in some shots is a piece of timber painted to match that can be put in place for photography and held with two clamps. It serves to save you from the real world beyond the baseboard edges... Saturday 28 October 2006: With the exhibition deadline lessthan a month away this is the state of play near the end of October. As these photograps show, the layout is now almost visually complete, with figures and accessories in place. I must take the opportunity of thanking my friend Chris Barker for the two scratchbuilt picnic benches and parasols that now sit outside the ice cream kiosk, they really do help set the scene! Also outside the kiosk are menu boards photographically reproduced from originals in Scarborough (just near the Peasholme station of the North Bay Railway) and Wall's ice cream advertising produced the same way. Two new additions to the layout are a weathered Vanguards Vauxhall Astra and a water tower modified from an HO scale resin kit by Unit Models of Keighley. This has had a new top added and the pipework beefed up for 7mm scale use. Just in case anyone is wondering, the layout only has a backscene along the back of the scenic area. The sky that can be seen at the sides and front of the board in some shots is a piece of timber painted to match that can be put in place for photography and held with two clamps. It serves to save you from the real world beyond the baseboard edges...

A view of the Ice Cream Parlour, with benches and parasols in place. A closer view of the kiosk, menu boards are photographically produced. The proprietor of the kiosk is happy to watch the trains go by... Whilst a keen railway photographer lines up another shot. The american outline 2-6-2 waits for departure time. Cumbria outside the shed, water tower is a modified HO kit. Jay and Cumbria outside the shed with a lurking seagull. A freelance diesel in the headshunt. Works wagons in the siding near the pillbox. The pillbox itself, modelled in 2/3rds relief. Someone is hopeful of sun on the Lincolnshire coast! Two more enthusiasts discuss all things railway related.

Published in Shifting Sands - Colin Peake's O9 Railway Modelling

]]> Sat Oct 28 2006 Construction Scrapbook - Part 3 http://shiftingsands.fotopic.net/c1121340.html More progess photos of Shifting Sands on the road to completon. The boardwalk path across the sand dunes was weathered and then set into place, after which the dunes were given a dusting of MIG weathering powder - 'Beach Sand'. After this Silfor grass tufts were carefully placed onto the dunes, using photographs of real dunes to get realistic grouping and patterns. I used lighter coloured tufts towards the back to aid the illusion of depth. Once everything was firmly in place I lightly weathered the tufts to get rid of the slight sheen they have, and also to blend the colours with the other grasses on the layout. Both Silfor tufts and MIG powders are available from International Models. After the dunes were completed the backscene board could go into place. The sky colour is from a matchpot paint, whilst the sea itself is a manipulated digital photograph that I took at Cayton Bay (near Scarborough) this summer. The beach huts were taken from a greetings card/painting and have just the right colour tones and perspective. Alongside the fiddle yard entrance, the beginnings of the 'Funland' amusement park can be seen. A few trees have since been added to this area and the effect is to hide the hole in the sky reasonably well, although photographing it can be tricky! Around this time a lot of the buildings went into place and were bedded in to avoid a gap around the bases. The exception to that is the ice cream parlour, which is supposed to be sat on a concrete plinth. And finally..... with the exhibition appearance of Shifting Sands rapidly approaching I started to get gitters about the loco fleet, with four diesels, and the steam tram to use, I felt that the public might better relate to the layout if there was a steam loco of more conventional appearance. I had bought a Bachmann US 2-6-2 some time ago as a basis for a narrow gauge style loco, however time wasn't on my side so I opted for the quick 'temporary' job to satisfy the need for a conventional horizontal boilered steam loco in time for the exhibition, just something to re-enforce the fact that this is a 'miniature' railway.... Friday 27 October 2006: More progess photos of Shifting Sands on the road to completon. The boardwalk path across the sand dunes was weathered and then set into place, after which the dunes were given a dusting of MIG weathering powder - 'Beach Sand'. After this Silfor grass tufts were carefully placed onto the dunes, using photographs of real dunes to get realistic grouping and patterns. I used lighter coloured tufts towards the back to aid the illusion of depth. Once everything was firmly in place I lightly weathered the tufts to get rid of the slight sheen they have, and also to blend the colours with the other grasses on the layout. Both Silfor tufts and MIG powders are available from International Models. After the dunes were completed the backscene board could go into place. The sky colour is from a matchpot paint, whilst the sea itself is a manipulated digital photograph that I took at Cayton Bay (near Scarborough) this summer. The beach huts were taken from a greetings card/painting and have just the right colour tones and perspective. Alongside the fiddle yard entrance, the beginnings of the 'Funland' amusement park can be seen. A few trees have since been added to this area and the effect is to hide the hole in the sky reasonably well, although photographing it can be tricky! Around this time a lot of the buildings went into place and were bedded in to avoid a gap around the bases. The exception to that is the ice cream parlour, which is supposed to be sat on a concrete plinth. And finally..... with the exhibition appearance of Shifting Sands rapidly approaching I started to get gitters about the loco fleet, with four diesels, and the steam tram to use, I felt that the public might better relate to the layout if there was a steam loco of more conventional appearance. I had bought a Bachmann US 2-6-2 some time ago as a basis for a narrow gauge style loco, however time wasn't on my side so I opted for the quick 'temporary' job to satisfy the need for a conventional horizontal boilered steam loco in time for the exhibition, just something to re-enforce the fact that this is a 'miniature' railway....

The dunes before the grass was added, very fine sand was held in place with both PVA and Matt Medium. The left hand end of the dunes with grass in place. All the grass is dry brushed with lighter colours to tone it down. The path across the dunes, I weathered this using watercolour washes and some dry brushing of acrylics. The end of the line. I decided to have less growth in this area, as if it were a 'blow out' in the dunes. Distant beach huts on the backscene. They are copied from a greetings card, whilst the sea is from a manipulated digital photograph. A wooden building that hides the rods to change the points from the back of the board. This was a quick build using Basswood. A tricky corner of the layout to photograph. Behind the fence is the 'Funland' amusement park. Trees will hide the various sins in this area. The fence and sky both continue into the fiddle yard, helping disguise the hole in the sky. With the backscene and vegetation in place, the Ice Cream Parlor forecourt awaits benches. The station buildings, fencing and other details still to be added. Close-up of the ticket hut, complete with modified Preiser figure. The 'Somerthorpe Hilton' - the old caravan in place outside the workshop. A quick build steam locomotive, modified from a Bachmann USA model.

Published in Shifting Sands - Colin Peake's O9 Railway Modelling

]]> Fri Oct 27 2006 Construction Scrapbook - Part 2 http://shiftingsands.fotopic.net/c1063402.html Another colletion of random views on the way to layout completion! The layout is now starting to look like it is near completion, various little jobs have been completed which all make a difference in the end. Work on buildings for the layout is now almost complete, the workshop building having plenty of interior detail. Work on the grasswork is now complete and attention will soon be turning to the sand dunes. I was stuck for a while with the ground covering around the shed and workshop area. I had not ballasted the area as I had imagined it to be surfaced differently. In the end a mix of ballast over the sleepers, paving slabs and earth was used to give a realistic effect. Also in this update, the staff accomodation has had a makeover. Unfortunately it now looks like 40 year old caravan! Friday 25 August 2006: Another colletion of random views on the way to layout completion! The layout is now starting to look like it is near completion, various little jobs have been completed which all make a difference in the end. Work on buildings for the layout is now almost complete, the workshop building having plenty of interior detail. Work on the grasswork is now complete and attention will soon be turning to the sand dunes. I was stuck for a while with the ground covering around the shed and workshop area. I had not ballasted the area as I had imagined it to be surfaced differently. In the end a mix of ballast over the sleepers, paving slabs and earth was used to give a realistic effect. Also in this update, the staff accomodation has had a makeover. Unfortunately it now looks like 40 year old caravan!

The workshop building shows signs of rebuilding, inside there will be an abandoned second track. Through the door some of the interior detail itself can be seen, including the kitchen sink! I built up this workbench from a Black Dog kit with castings from S&D, Duncan Models and Details Associates. One of the 4w works wagons, carrying a generator set from Peter Clark models. Another wagon, this is a Black Dog kit with a few modifications. There is a long way to go before reaching the amount of clutter on the walls at Scarborough. I disguised the uncoupling magnets as a crossing, basswood strips provide the other timbers. I struggled to find the right surfacing for the yard area, in thend I ballasted up over the sleepers on the line into the workshop. In the area around the workshop I added paving slabs, cut from mounting card to a scale 3x2 feet. The paving slabs in place. They were treated with 'button polish' before laying. Another view of the slabs, showing the foundation trench and floor of the building. The completed area outside the workshop, with infils between the rails (more basswood). I have been adding sand blown from the dunes using a MIG weathering powder - 'beach sand'. A close up of the sand dust, brushed into place over the ground covering. The first building in place on the layout was the pill box, added at the ground covering stage. I decided to weather the roof to represent a caravan that has been around for over 40 years. Staff accomodation is this Polar Caravan, a weathered Cararama model. This will be the path over the dunes, this is more basswood, scribed to represent decking style planking.

Published in Shifting Sands - Colin Peake's O9 Railway Modelling

]]> Fri Aug 25 2006 Construction Scrapbook - Part 1 http://shiftingsands.fotopic.net/c1009982.html At long last the cork board is starting to look like a layout! June has seen a big push on the scenic side of the layout, with landscapes formed, roadways and hard standing created, and the first greenery taking root. With a small layout such as this it is easy to get a long way in just a couple of days. Taking advantage of a day of work and a full weekend day to spare, I managed to get all of the landscaping completed and also the hard surfacing of the road and concrete areas. I had spent a few nights previously building up the landscape formers from foam core and corrugated cardboard in order to spend a day happily playing with plater impregnated bandage, or 'mod-roc' as we modellers know it. The first greenery on the layout is some rather long grass around the ice cream patlour and platform areas. This is produced using a moss-effect hanging basket liner in a similar manner to the dyed lint once so popular for grass making. Once the intial layer of earthy ground cover is safely glued in place the area to be grassed is covered with a layer of PVA adhesive and the liner cut to shape and lightly stuck down. I tend to give the liner a brush over with a fairly stiff brush first in order to make the strands stand on end. After a couple of hours the liner can be carefully removed and you (should) have very long grass standing on end. It is then down to skill with scissors, an old razor (lawn mower!) and the stiff brush to get the grass looking it's best. The best thing about this method is that it is very cheap! More soon.... Sunday 2 July 2006: At long last the cork board is starting to look like a layout! June has seen a big push on the scenic side of the layout, with landscapes formed, roadways and hard standing created, and the first greenery taking root. With a small layout such as this it is easy to get a long way in just a couple of days. Taking advantage of a day of work and a full weekend day to spare, I managed to get all of the landscaping completed and also the hard surfacing of the road and concrete areas. I had spent a few nights previously building up the landscape formers from foam core and corrugated cardboard in order to spend a day happily playing with plater impregnated bandage, or 'mod-roc' as we modellers know it. The first greenery on the layout is some rather long grass around the ice cream patlour and platform areas. This is produced using a moss-effect hanging basket liner in a similar manner to the dyed lint once so popular for grass making. Once the intial layer of earthy ground cover is safely glued in place the area to be grassed is covered with a layer of PVA adhesive and the liner cut to shape and lightly stuck down. I tend to give the liner a brush over with a fairly stiff brush first in order to make the strands stand on end. After a couple of hours the liner can be carefully removed and you (should) have very long grass standing on end. It is then down to skill with scissors, an old razor (lawn mower!) and the stiff brush to get the grass looking it's best. The best thing about this method is that it is very cheap! More soon....

A view of the station and shed area, at this stage the sheds have yet to be painted, both are made from foamcore board with various cladding materials. The station office. I eventually decided that the brick base needed to be sunk in below platform level as it just looked odd from this angle! An overall view of how the layout looked at the beginning of June, with buildings in place to get an idea of how it looked. The level crossing was built up from strips of timber and glued in place before the road surface went down. The roadway was then treated with 'button pollish' to better withstand scenic treatments. The roadway is made from mounting card placed face down on the baseboard, with a thin strip under the middle to give prototypical camber. The real work begins! The shape of the sand dunes was built up with foamcore and corrugated cardboard, the 'ramp' will be a pathway eventually. I also built up the ground level below the ice cream parlour, it didn't look much at this stage but once scenically treated lookd at lot better. A constructive use for the local free paper.... I filled the gaps in the framing in order to give shape when the mod-roc is added. The completed dune area with other bits also visible, I found it easier to do the whole layout in one sitting. A cut-out in the landscape for the pill-box, which needs to be well bedded into the ground. The area around the turning point with mod-roc in place. The fence hides what is best described as 'a bodge'. Areas of the layout after completion of the 'hard' surfacing. Concrete areas were treated with Green Scene textured paints and sanded down to slightly smooth out the surface. This was then colour washed to get the shape about right. The tarmac areas were also treated with textured paint, but then had mix of paint and powdered filler added to smooth the surface out and get the right sort of colour. Tyre wear was added as weathering. The dunes - two layers of very fine sand went on here, held in place with both PVA glue and Matt Medium. The level crossing had this cross-hatching added by making stencils in Microsoft Excel and almost dry-brushing a yellow/cream paint mix through. After initial surface texturing of 'soft' areas with an earth mix, I used a hanging basket liner to produce the grassy areas, then cut the resultant growth with scissors and an old razor! The workshop/shed with painting well under way. The breeze block walling is scribed straight onto the foam core surface. A glimpse ahead, but one the hides a lot of work that still remains to be done!

Published in Shifting Sands - Colin Peake's O9 Railway Modelling

]]> Sun Jul 2 2006 Not the Novelty Rock Emporium... http://shiftingsands.fotopic.net/c874761.html ...and other recent projects. One of the key structures for 'Shifting Sands' will be a typical seaside rock/ice cream sales kiosk, as illustrated in a previous gallery. Not only will this be key to provinding part of the seaside atmosphere, but it will also be a key element in hiding trains entering and leaving the hidden sidings. I had planned for this to be a cafe rather than a kiosk, but I eventually hit upon the idea of using the roof from a Triang-Hornby 'modern' station building as a basis for the model. New walls were constructed from Foamcore with window openings as appropriate. Walls are clad with Evergreen strip styrene and Slater's embossed planking. The windows are modified from HO scale doors made by 'Smalltown USA'. These are similar to the windows I used on an office block on my 4mm scale layout 'Padgate Lane'. I modified these to set the opening paines further back, one window is modelled open and another closed. The open window will be the kiosk serving hatch, with perhaps a queue of hungry 7mm scale customers?! Updated 11/03/06: I have added varios pipework and roof detail to the building, using parts from my spares boxes and some imagination! I have also built a basic interior, which will not be too visible through the windows but at least it is there.... Updated 14/05/06: It's been finished over a month now but I've only recently found the time to upload some photos of the completed, painted and weathered building. Sunday 14 May 2006: ...and other recent projects. One of the key structures for 'Shifting Sands' will be a typical seaside rock/ice cream sales kiosk, as illustrated in a previous gallery. Not only will this be key to provinding part of the seaside atmosphere, but it will also be a key element in hiding trains entering and leaving the hidden sidings. I had planned for this to be a cafe rather than a kiosk, but I eventually hit upon the idea of using the roof from a Triang-Hornby 'modern' station building as a basis for the model. New walls were constructed from Foamcore with window openings as appropriate. Walls are clad with Evergreen strip styrene and Slater's embossed planking. The windows are modified from HO scale doors made by 'Smalltown USA'. These are similar to the windows I used on an office block on my 4mm scale layout 'Padgate Lane'. I modified these to set the opening paines further back, one window is modelled open and another closed. The open window will be the kiosk serving hatch, with perhaps a queue of hungry 7mm scale customers?! Updated 11/03/06: I have added varios pipework and roof detail to the building, using parts from my spares boxes and some imagination! I have also built a basic interior, which will not be too visible through the windows but at least it is there.... Updated 14/05/06: It's been finished over a month now but I've only recently found the time to upload some photos of the completed, painted and weathered building.

The basic structure of the new building is made from 3.5mm foamcore board, making a strong but lightweight structure. A view from the corner of the building. The exposed edge of the foamcore is covered with 'Scotch' tape before adding the cladding. The opening windows at the front of the structure are made from HO scale doors from the 'Smalltown USA' range, with suitable modifications. Unmodified example is at the top. The next stage of the project was to add vertical sections of 2.5 x 1 mm Evergreen styrene strip. These are attached with Solvent Free 'UHU' adhesive. A door frame has been added from 0.5 mm plasticard. The door will be represented by the surface of the foamcore board. Horizontal planking is Slaters embossed plasticard, carefully cut to fit between the uprights. This is held in place with double-sided adhesive tape. Perhaps not the obvious contender to make a 7mm scale building, this is the Triang-Hornby building that has donated it's roof to this project A strip of 2.5 x 0.5 mm plasticard is added around the base of the model to represent framework. Added 11/03/06 - The standard 3/4 view! The extractor on the roof is a Walthers HO scale product. Added 11/03/06 - More pipework, soil pipe by S&D, other pipes by Knightwing. The tank is built from Wills box section sheet. Added 11/03/06 - The 'basic' interior for the building awaits painting. This was scratchbuilt from plasticard. Added 11/03/06 - The now structurally complete building. Added 11/03/06 - Downpipe and door detail. Pipe brackets are by S&D Models. Added 14/05/06 - The completed building seen painted, detailed and weathered. Added - 14/05/06 - Added 14/05/06 - The other window, with a tempting selection of ice lollies on offer. Added 14/05/06 - The door end of the building, now ready to be placed on the layout.

Published in Shifting Sands - Colin Peake's O9 Railway Modelling

]]> Sun May 14 2006 'Jay' - the Kirklees Light Railway Diesel http://shiftingsands.fotopic.net/c835415.html My second attempt at modelling a prototype loco. This uses the same style of Kato chassis unit as 'Cumbria' and the Knightwing shunter conversion. More photos will be added in due course as work progresses and hopefully some photos of the real loco... when I can find them! Update 30/01/06: I have added the basic cab structure and a little box on one of the running plates. I have also had to make a few alterations to the bonnet front, adding a recess that holds the front headlight. I had missed this in photos downloaded from the internet. Update 14/05/06: At long last, the model has entered the paintshop and received a coat of primer. There are still some details to add after painting but otherwise the loco is structurally complete. Update 09/09/06: Attention has been focused on the layout of late, and despite being painted in basic colours back in May, the loco is only now complete, with warning stripe transfers from Fox transfers, all the little details added and some weathering to hilight the detail. The comleted loco has visiyed the real Kirklees Light Railway for a few photo ops! The availability of quality research material can make or break a project. I am therefore indebted to John Kennard, who through the Gnatterbox forum offered to pop over to Clayton West and photograph the loco for me. A few of his photos can be seen here and a link to the rest of his album can be found on the front page of this site. Saturday 9 September 2006: My second attempt at modelling a prototype loco. This uses the same style of Kato chassis unit as 'Cumbria' and the Knightwing shunter conversion. More photos will be added in due course as work progresses and hopefully some photos of the real loco... when I can find them! Update 30/01/06: I have added the basic cab structure and a little box on one of the running plates. I have also had to make a few alterations to the bonnet front, adding a recess that holds the front headlight. I had missed this in photos downloaded from the internet. Update 14/05/06: At long last, the model has entered the paintshop and received a coat of primer. There are still some details to add after painting but otherwise the loco is structurally complete. Update 09/09/06: Attention has been focused on the layout of late, and despite being painted in basic colours back in May, the loco is only now complete, with warning stripe transfers from Fox transfers, all the little details added and some weathering to hilight the detail. The comleted loco has visiyed the real Kirklees Light Railway for a few photo ops! The availability of quality research material can make or break a project. I am therefore indebted to John Kennard, who through the Gnatterbox forum offered to pop over to Clayton West and photograph the loco for me. A few of his photos can be seen here and a link to the rest of his album can be found on the front page of this site.

The bonnet and chassis frame assembilies from the front. The other side of the loco. Etched grilles are from the A1 Models range. From the cab end part of the chassis can just be glimpsed. The drop frame caused some head scratching! A view from the underside showing how the Kato chassis fits in place. A little more progress, I'm not sure of the function of the box alongside the bonnet. The cab is made from 20 thou plasticard, with a second layer below window level. Windows were carefully drilled, cut and filed to shape. At the front of the bonnet I added the recess in the top for a headlight. A front-on view of the loco, overall widt is approx 44 inches. A side-on view, at 12 feet long it is a long four-wheeler. The cab end, with headlight collection. A view from the cab end, note the unusual shape of the frames around the cab. A 3/4 view of the prototype at Clayton West. A view of the controls - basic but functional! Added 14/05/06 - From the cab end, all details such as handles and hinges have been scratchbuilt. Added 14/05/06 - A close-up of the cab front, featuring an electrical connection socket. Added 14/05/06 - A cruel close-up of an axlebox. I built 6 of these and chose the best 4! Added 14/05/06 - The bonnet end, the grille will be added after painting. Added 14/05/06 - Some details remain to be added after painting, such as headlights, horns, exhaust etc. Added 14/05/06 - The opposite side of the loco. Added 14/05/06 - The completed loco seen in primer. Added 09/09/06: The almost complete loco poses in the sand dunes at Shifting Sands. Added 09/09/06: The completed model, taken at the KLR's Shelley station, note the Emley Moor TV transmitter in the background! Added 09/09/06: The completed loco sat on the running plate of the real thing at Clayton West station, KLR (with thanks to John Kennard).

Published in Shifting Sands - Colin Peake's O9 Railway Modelling

]]> Sat Sep 9 2006 Baseboards and Track http://shiftingsands.fotopic.net/c727315.html This collection of pictures should grow over the coming weeks as the project takes shape. The trackplan for the 3 x 2ft layout is shown for reference, this is what the finished article should look (something) like.... The baseboard is something of an experiment. Following my use of a corkboard to carry my test track (see the Dioramas and Test Track collection) I decided to see how the idea could be developed to act as a base for a scenic layout. I have used 'L' section timber to strengthen the board as this will hold the board flatter than strip will allow. Some offcuts of quarter-round material plug the gaps and will allow chocolate block conectors to be screwed into place. Preperation for track laying has included the modification of points and pre-drilling pin holes to speed things up when work commences. The sleepers of the Peco 'crazy track' have had the ends cut straight to better resemble better cared-for permanent way. I have also pre-soldered DPST slide switches and fishplates to speed up tracklaying. As might have been predicted, a change in trackplan offered itself up during marking out of the baseboard. With a shuffle in the bottom right hand corner I will be able to incorporate a shed/workshop scene. I have a number of items of workshop 'junk' that will be of use for this so I'm pleased that I have been able to find somewhere for them on the layout. Update 18/10/05: All track is now laid and the next task will be to complete the wiring and test the electrics before test running can begin. Update 30/10/05: All wiring is now complete and test running has been successful. I have also installed six MicroTrains uncoupling magnets to the layout, which required careful pining down of the Peco 009 track as part of the inner rail fixings need to be removed when the sleepers are cut away to fit the magnet. Test running has used my original coaching stock built from Routemaser bus kits (!), as the new stock is not ready yet. This situation should be resolved in the next week or so when the new stock is complete. UPDATE 19/11/05: Once I was happy with the trackwork, the areas of the layout around the track were built up with scrap cardboard as a basis for scenery, and to give me an edge to work up to when ballasting. Track was spray painted with a Railmatch 'Frame Dirt' spray can, with points masked off and completed by hand. Ballasting is now underway and is a tedious task but has to be done! UPDATE 19/12/05: Ballasting is now completed and test running continues. Work is now turning to the station platform area, with the platform itself under way and station buildings under construction, which can be seen in the 'Structures and Vehicles' collection. Monday 19 December 2005: This collection of pictures should grow over the coming weeks as the project takes shape. The trackplan for the 3 x 2ft layout is shown for reference, this is what the finished article should look (something) like.... The baseboard is something of an experiment. Following my use of a corkboard to carry my test track (see the Dioramas and Test Track collection) I decided to see how the idea could be developed to act as a base for a scenic layout. I have used 'L' section timber to strengthen the board as this will hold the board flatter than strip will allow. Some offcuts of quarter-round material plug the gaps and will allow chocolate block conectors to be screwed into place. Preperation for track laying has included the modification of points and pre-drilling pin holes to speed things up when work commences. The sleepers of the Peco 'crazy track' have had the ends cut straight to better resemble better cared-for permanent way. I have also pre-soldered DPST slide switches and fishplates to speed up tracklaying. As might have been predicted, a change in trackplan offered itself up during marking out of the baseboard. With a shuffle in the bottom right hand corner I will be able to incorporate a shed/workshop scene. I have a number of items of workshop 'junk' that will be of use for this so I'm pleased that I have been able to find somewhere for them on the layout. Update 18/10/05: All track is now laid and the next task will be to complete the wiring and test the electrics before test running can begin. Update 30/10/05: All wiring is now complete and test running has been successful. I have also installed six MicroTrains uncoupling magnets to the layout, which required careful pining down of the Peco 009 track as part of the inner rail fixings need to be removed when the sleepers are cut away to fit the magnet. Test running has used my original coaching stock built from Routemaser bus kits (!), as the new stock is not ready yet. This situation should be resolved in the next week or so when the new stock is complete. UPDATE 19/11/05: Once I was happy with the trackwork, the areas of the layout around the track were built up with scrap cardboard as a basis for scenery, and to give me an edge to work up to when ballasting. Track was spray painted with a Railmatch 'Frame Dirt' spray can, with points masked off and completed by hand. Ballasting is now underway and is a tedious task but has to be done! UPDATE 19/12/05: Ballasting is now completed and test running continues. Work is now turning to the station platform area, with the platform itself under way and station buildings under construction, which can be seen in the 'Structures and Vehicles' collection.

A view of the corkboard-based baseboard with track laid on the board to check the trackplan will fit and to get an idea of how it will look. Trestles are from Netto! The underside of the board showing how the board is strengthened with 'L' section strip and some quarter round strip. The small pieces towards the corners hold the board on the trestles. A view of the join between 'L' section and outer frame. This is carefully cut to ensure the upright section of the 'L'meets the outer frame. Prior to laying the Peco 009 points are modified by removing the splayed sleeper on the diverging track, drilling pin holes and straightening sleeper ends. Similar treatment is carried out on the flex track, the length at the top is un-modified. To get an idea of how the track should look, this is the permanent way of the Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway. Well I said the plan might change... This is the new arrangement planned for the bottom corner, to incorporate a shed/workshop. Progress: Day 1. The hidden sidings, curve and station throat points are now in place. Track is laid on a balsa wood roadbed to allow the point operating rods to pass under the track, a typical installation is seen here. Progress: Day 2. All track is now laid and point control installed. The next job will be to connect the mass of wiring dangling below the baseboard! Wiring is now complete (you don't really want to see the underside of the board do you?), four section switches are housed in this little panel under the right hand end of the layout. After some successful test running, I moved on to locating the uncoupling magnets for the MicroTrains couplings. These two are at the headshunt end of the loop. Magnets were tested prior to final glueing in place, as seen here with 'Cumbria' and a Black Dog Mining wagon. Some test running has been carried out using my original blue diesel and bogie coaches, seen here rounding the curve into the station. A train ready to depart from the station behind the diesel. I may have to create a method of coupling the tiny MicroTrains couplers on this curve. 'Cumbria' is seen in the headshunt. I have placed a piece of foamcore board in the place of the backscene, screening the hidden sidings. One little job that I undertook was to 'pack' the switches with thin wood or card to stop them wobbling around quite so much! Switches in the scenic area of the layout have been enclosed in areas of wood an card, which will be bended into the scenery once things progress that far. Card areas have been built up around the track prior to ballasting and track painting, which used a Railmatch spray paint. Ballasting underway, I can see one or two spots on the rear line that require touching in to get the effect I'm after. A view of work in progress, a contrast to the tidiness of earlier photos! Ballasting completed! Any gaps will be subjected to other forms of ground cover. A test train headed by 'Cumbria' stands in the platform line. The headshunt is home to the Knightwing Shunter conversion, awaiting completion of paintwork. The station platform is made from 1mm ply wood, covered with card and then textured with Green Scenes Concrete texture paint. This section of the platform will be removable, complete with the station buildings. This is the trackplan of project 'Shifting Sands'. To get this far involved several changes and it could still change during construction...

Published in Shifting Sands - Colin Peake's O9 Railway Modelling

]]> Mon Dec 19 2005 Rolling Stock for Shifting Sands http://shiftingsands.fotopic.net/c727281.html My first O9 diesel was an experimental build using a Bachmann F9 chassis unit with a body kitbashed from Dapol Railbus and Drewery Shunter parts. This worked out very well and from the poistive feedback it received I understand several other versions are under construction around the world! Coaching stock for Shifting Sands will include three 12-seat open coaches, based on a design I first built a couple of years ago from Keil Kraft bus kit parts. The new versions are completely scratchbuilt with the exception of Micro Trains bogies and Ratio fencing used for seating. Although freelance these coaches are similar to those found on the Lakeside Miniature Railway in Southport and some features resemble Ravenglass and Eskdale stock. Enclosed stock will be based on some scratchbuilt models based on Romney Hythe & Dymchurch designs that have been passed on to me for completion. The first is a semi-open 12 seater and this has been followed by a 6 seat coach with guard's compartment and double doors for wheelchairs (and tip-up seats represented inside!). Despite a few almost completely scratchbuilt locos emerging from the works recently (including 'Cumbria', my R&ER style tram loco), my latest creation is modified from the Knightwing kit for an industrial shunter in 4mm scale. The cab just measures 28mm across - 4 scale feet in 7mm scale and the maximum safely possible in 15" gauge. This runs on a Kato 4w chassis and the total price of the kit and chassis comes in at just under 25 pounds. A drastic re-build has seen this extended in length due to the original model having problems over uncoupling magnets whilst uncoupling - the motor was being held on the magnet! In lengthened form the motor is clear of the magnet during uncoupling. Saturday 21 January 2006: My first O9 diesel was an experimental build using a Bachmann F9 chassis unit with a body kitbashed from Dapol Railbus and Drewery Shunter parts. This worked out very well and from the poistive feedback it received I understand several other versions are under construction around the world! Coaching stock for Shifting Sands will include three 12-seat open coaches, based on a design I first built a couple of years ago from Keil Kraft bus kit parts. The new versions are completely scratchbuilt with the exception of Micro Trains bogies and Ratio fencing used for seating. Although freelance these coaches are similar to those found on the Lakeside Miniature Railway in Southport and some features resemble Ravenglass and Eskdale stock. Enclosed stock will be based on some scratchbuilt models based on Romney Hythe & Dymchurch designs that have been passed on to me for completion. The first is a semi-open 12 seater and this has been followed by a 6 seat coach with guard's compartment and double doors for wheelchairs (and tip-up seats represented inside!). Despite a few almost completely scratchbuilt locos emerging from the works recently (including 'Cumbria', my R&ER style tram loco), my latest creation is modified from the Knightwing kit for an industrial shunter in 4mm scale. The cab just measures 28mm across - 4 scale feet in 7mm scale and the maximum safely possible in 15" gauge. This runs on a Kato 4w chassis and the total price of the kit and chassis comes in at just under 25 pounds. A drastic re-build has seen this extended in length due to the original model having problems over uncoupling magnets whilst uncoupling - the motor was being held on the magnet! In lengthened form the motor is clear of the magnet during uncoupling.

My earliest O9 loco is this diesel based on Dapol Railbus body parts and a Bachmann F9 chassis unit. A side view of the of the blue diesel. The louvres on the boddyside are from the Dapol Drewery Shunter kit. This open coach has been the basis of new stock for Shifting Sands, in the end though rebuild turned to new build.... The first of the new coaches seen in bare plastic. This version is higher and wider than the older coach. Seen here painted, unfortunately the camera hasn't picked up the truss rods under the solebar. One of the three open coaches is seen with the latest diesel from the production line. With paintwork completed and detail parts added the loco poses for the camera. Many of the added parts came from an earlier diesel that is now 'resting' in the workshop. Lining transfers are from a pack intended for 4mm scale Royal Mail rolling stock. The latest coach conversion, this is a guards/wheelchair vehicle to 'Romney' outline. My most recent creation. This is a kitbash from the Kinightwing industrial shunter kit on a Kato 4w chassis. The main modifications are a shortened bonnet and revised cab doors. The chassis frame is scratchbuilt. Big changes to the Knightwing conversion. A longer chassis frame and short bonnet at the cab end. These modifications are the result of problems discovered in test running over uncoupling magnets! A Romney-style semi-open coach, completed by myself from a scratchbuilt model. Added 11/03/06: A further 'Romney style' coach awaits painting. The seats are loose fitted and slipped before photography!

Published in Shifting Sands - Colin Peake's O9 Railway Modelling

]]> Sat Jan 21 2006 Diesel Workshop http://shiftingsands.fotopic.net/c725770.html I have always found diesels easier to scratchbuild than steam locomotives, let's face it, there are less 'fiddly bits'. Over my time working in O9 I have build/modified several diesel locomotives around ready-to-run N Gauge chassis. Not all of them are now in my possession as I have been persuaded to part with the odd one along the way. Here are three that have moved on to pastures new.... I learnt early on that when building diesels with bonnets (hoods to our American friends), that it was best to build the bonnet as a seperate unit to the cab, this makes both construction and painting a lot easier and allows the possibility of a new cab if ever required. A lot of my scratchbuilding incorporates parts from kits/other models, left over from previous conversions. For example, the bogie diesel seen on this page incorporates parts from a Bachmann F9 'B' unit, two bus kits, and several etched brass parts left over from my 4mm/ft modelling activities. The two smaller diesels illustrated here incorporate some parts from Dapol Drewery Shunter kits but are largely scratchbuilt around Roco and Graham Farrish chassis, with a distinct family resemblance between the designs. Friday 14 October 2005: I have always found diesels easier to scratchbuild than steam locomotives, let's face it, there are less 'fiddly bits'. Over my time working in O9 I have build/modified several diesel locomotives around ready-to-run N Gauge chassis. Not all of them are now in my possession as I have been persuaded to part with the odd one along the way. Here are three that have moved on to pastures new.... I learnt early on that when building diesels with bonnets (hoods to our American friends), that it was best to build the bonnet as a seperate unit to the cab, this makes both construction and painting a lot easier and allows the possibility of a new cab if ever required. A lot of my scratchbuilding incorporates parts from kits/other models, left over from previous conversions. For example, the bogie diesel seen on this page incorporates parts from a Bachmann F9 'B' unit, two bus kits, and several etched brass parts left over from my 4mm/ft modelling activities. The two smaller diesels illustrated here incorporate some parts from Dapol Drewery Shunter kits but are largely scratchbuilt around Roco and Graham Farrish chassis, with a distinct family resemblance between the designs.

A modified Bachmann N gauge diesel undergoing modifications to become an O9 locomotive. A twin-bonneted body constructed to fit around the Bachmann model. The bonnets come from another Bachmann model, the F9 'B' Unit. A view of the assembled model. The grilles closest to the cab are left-overs from a Knightwing shunter kit. The cab comprises of parts from Tower Models bus kits with scractchbuilt ends. Brass fittings are from the A1 models range. The completed and painted locomotive. Not the greatest photo but the only one I can find! A 6w diesel based on the Roco HOe diesel chassis. It is seen here with a 7mm scale figure (by Phoenix) for size comparison. The soon to be completed model showing the individual bonnet and cab units. The cab has a false floor over the motor. Completed and seen here in primer. The bonnet incorporates parts from the Dapol Drewery Shunter kit, whilst all other body parts are scratchbuilt. A view from the cab end of the model. Smaller parts such as the horn and headlights came from the spares box. A view of the cab door. Hinges and handles are scratchbuilt from strip and rod. A second diesel (or is it petrol?) loco under contruction, seen here prior to painting. I tried to recreate the feel of a 'home made' cab door made from timber with garden shed hinges! With this loco I aimed to create an 'earlier' version of the previous loco, but something recognisably from the same source, so it shares several features such as the fuel filler. The cab end. The cab has some Ruston overtones, one day I may decide to scratchbuilt a Ruston so this should give me some practice. The chassis under this model is from a Graham Farrish Class 08 shunter. This one of the better 'new generation' chassis from Farrish as it has better gearing than most.

Published in Shifting Sands - Colin Peake's O9 Railway Modelling

]]> Fri Oct 14 2005 Structures & Vehicles http://shiftingsands.fotopic.net/c725290.html The first item built for the planned layout is this ticket hut. This was given as a birthday present when I first started to work in On9, with the note attached "this might make a good place to sell the tickets". Thanks dad! I have recently purchased a kit from the Port Wynnstay range which is due to be painted to match the ticket hut and will go on the platform as an office. This will include interior details and I will also be changing the roof and a few other details for individuality. A WW2 Pill Box has been scratchbuilt in 2/3rs relief from Drawings published in 'British Railway Modelling' some time ago. This model was a simple exercise in foamcore construction, with a layer of 'concrete' added from a mix of decorating filler and PVA, sanded smooth once dry to represent worn, decaying concrete. On the borderline between structure and vehicle is the caravan from the Cararama range, due to act as static staff accomodation for my 1/43rd scale people. Also from the Cararama range is a Land Rover Discovery, a bargain picked up for a pound! More buildings and other structures will appear here in due course, both from kits and scratch built. Monday 19 December 2005: The first item built for the planned layout is this ticket hut. This was given as a birthday present when I first started to work in On9, with the note attached "this might make a good place to sell the tickets". Thanks dad! I have recently purchased a kit from the Port Wynnstay range which is due to be painted to match the ticket hut and will go on the platform as an office. This will include interior details and I will also be changing the roof and a few other details for individuality. A WW2 Pill Box has been scratchbuilt in 2/3rs relief from Drawings published in 'British Railway Modelling' some time ago. This model was a simple exercise in foamcore construction, with a layer of 'concrete' added from a mix of decorating filler and PVA, sanded smooth once dry to represent worn, decaying concrete. On the borderline between structure and vehicle is the caravan from the Cararama range, due to act as static staff accomodation for my 1/43rd scale people. Also from the Cararama range is a Land Rover Discovery, a bargain picked up for a pound! More buildings and other structures will appear here in due course, both from kits and scratch built.

The test assembled hut. Several detail changes will include a new roof. I went a little crazy and made some office furniture to furnish the hut. Seats are based around coach seating mouldings. This Cararama Caravan will be incorporated into the layout when built. It is a model of a 1964 Polar van. The ticket hut for the layout. This is a Highland Castings kit modified to include a sales counter, which will feature a window with semi-circular cut out. Interior detail of the kit. This is a seperate casting which will aid painting in due course. Added 28/12/04 - The painted ticket hut. Glazing has yet to be added, along with posters/signs etc. Added 28/12/04 - The interior of the ticket hut. I spent some time picking out the individual details with acrylic paints. The completed ticket hut. Lettering is by dry-print transfer and the cut out in the payment window was made using an office hole punch! A rear view of the hut. Windows have been flush glazed using 20thou clear plastic. Ready for the layout! The next building kit built for the layout will be this Port Wynnstay hut, due to go on the platform as a sales kiosk. Also from the the Cararama range is this Land Rover Discovery, which will find a place on the completed layout. Anongoing project has been modifying and painting figures, here are two modified Preiser figures. A WW2 'Pill Box' scratchbuilt using foamcore. This is a 2/3rd relief model that will fit into the corner of the layout. The Port Wynstay hut kit completed and painted. I have added a new roof, gutter and down pipe, as well as creating an open window. The interior details of the building painted and ready for installation.

Published in Shifting Sands - Colin Peake's O9 Railway Modelling

]]> Mon Dec 19 2005 Cumbria - 'Flower of the Forest' in 7mm Scale http://shiftingsands.fotopic.net/c440195.html Possibly the oddest locomotive to be built at the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway, this locomotive was completed in 1985 for the 70-yard long garden railway belonging to Ian Fraser of Arbroath. I have now completed a scratchbuilt 7mm scale, 9mm gauge model based around a Kato 4w chassis. These photos show my progress over the months with this model, which I have chosen to name 'Cumbria' as it is a much shorter name and seemed appropriate! I have also included some views of the real locomotive taken over the years at the Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway. Funnily enough I thought I had taken many more pictures of this charming loco, but apart from a few blurry shots I can only find the seven prototype pictures on this page! The real 'Flower of the Forest' is a 0-2-2VBT, with a secondhand boiler from a college in Barrow and Stephenson valve gear driving just one axle. Upon Mr Fraser's death the locomotive was donated to the R&ER, and made her first visit to Cleethorpes for the 'Little Unusual Steam Gala' in September 1994. Return visits followed, and eventually the stay became a semi-permanent holiday by the sea, until the recall to Ravenglass came in 2004. Wednesday 12 October 2005: Possibly the oddest locomotive to be built at the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway, this locomotive was completed in 1985 for the 70-yard long garden railway belonging to Ian Fraser of Arbroath. I have now completed a scratchbuilt 7mm scale, 9mm gauge model based around a Kato 4w chassis. These photos show my progress over the months with this model, which I have chosen to name 'Cumbria' as it is a much shorter name and seemed appropriate! I have also included some views of the real locomotive taken over the years at the Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway. Funnily enough I thought I had taken many more pictures of this charming loco, but apart from a few blurry shots I can only find the seven prototype pictures on this page! The real 'Flower of the Forest' is a 0-2-2VBT, with a secondhand boiler from a college in Barrow and Stephenson valve gear driving just one axle. Upon Mr Fraser's death the locomotive was donated to the R&ER, and made her first visit to Cleethorpes for the 'Little Unusual Steam Gala' in September 1994. Return visits followed, and eventually the stay became a semi-permanent holiday by the sea, until the recall to Ravenglass came in 2004.

07/02/05 - The basic structure of the body is complete, at this stage things were still experimental! 11/02/05 - The structures of the roof and vertical boiler are now complete. The boiler is an old fax roll tube. The Kato chassis used under my model. The motor housing sits under the boiler and the bits containing the gears will be hidden later on. 21/02/05 - A chimney has been added, 'borrowed' from a Dapol pug kit, but with suitable modifications. 21/02/05 - From this viewpoint some of the interior detail can be seen, mostly fashioned from brass rod, split pins and plastic tubing! 21/02/05 - With the roof off, a clearer view of the boiler details, including the regulator and rivet heads. 21/02/05 - The far end of the loco is the cyliner end. The single vertical cylinder is represented with a 4mm scale air pump, with added pipework. In service various details will hide the parts of the chassis you aren't supposed to see. Here the driver's feet, handbrake and a bag hide the chassis from view. 21/02/05 - On the other side of the loco an oil can, billy can and bucket (all by S&D Models) do the honours. 21/02/05 - The real locomotive has no driver's seat. In the past both a crate and stool have been used, this is my representation of the latter. Figure by Phoenix. 28/02/05 - All remaining details have now been added, the smokebox door incorporates 9 individual parts! 28/02/05 - The opposite end of the loco. The lamp brackets are fabricated from 10 x 40 thou plastic strip from the Evergreen range. 28/02/05 - The other side of the loco, The framework below footplate level is a slight compromise, but looks effective. 28/02/05 - The 'front' end again. The grey part of the smokebox door is a buffer head salvaged from the Dapol pug kit! 21/05/05 - Completed - at last! I have chosen to simplify the livery and name the loco 'Cumbria'. 21/05/05 - With all of the smaller details in place the Kato chassis becomes invisible. 21/05/05 - I need to source some etched spectacle plates to really complete the ends of the loco. My first view of Flower of the Forest, taken back in September 1994 shortly after the Cleethorpes line had been regauged to 15 Trusted with only light trains at first, here she rounds the floodbank corner with two ex-Longleat carraiges. A side-on shot taken at the 1995 gala. The right-hand end of the loco was (I believe) intended as a two seat passenger compartment. A 1999 view at Lakeside station. The train includes two carraiges of German origin which came from Bressingham and later moved to Windmill Farm. February 2004, leaking water at an alarming rate, Flower of the Forest awaits departure from Lakeside. The long winter shadows contrast nicely with the light on the paintwork. The smokebox door on the front of the loco is a fake, the loco has a vertical boiler! The last photo of 'Flower' I took before the return to Ravenglass, the loco behind is the CCLR's tram bodied Lister diesel.

Published in Shifting Sands - Colin Peake's O9 Railway Modelling

]]> Wed Oct 12 2005