Two Short Planks

[Bufferstop]

Do I spot the signs of natural weathering Geoff? Otherwise known as dust, even Marylin looks a little work worn. My genuine Airfix half dismantled Drewry shunter has probably got the best part of 50yrs of domestic dust on the footplate and in various corners. Doesn't need weathering, any how I'd have to clean all that dust off first.

[TimberSurf]

Cor blimey Dad-1, I didn't even know this thread existed! Well worth posting just to bring to attention to Forum newbies like me!
Now I have bookmarked, I will have to go back to the beginning and read it properly.
The wagons are excellent, well worth showing off and the the picture quality/lighting is great too!

[Dad-1]

Hi Bufferstop,

Marilyn has a little dust, but as she still gets some shunting almost every week,
it's just natural patination, or more accurately just handling muck !!

TimberSurf,

I have now tried to replace photographs, certainly back to page 14 with just a few
exceptions and fear the exceptions have been deleted from my system, which when
one thinks I'm trying to find images from 2009 is not that surprising.
This layout still gets used weekly, if not daily, although no new work being carried
out hence it having had no new postings for 3 years.

Geoff T.

[Dad-1]

Too many changes of mind Dave ......
Was running this for an hour or two with a buddy from club on Thursday.
Even shunted those 5 x 16 ton minerals around today, almost always with
Marilyn working the yard. There is little logic in the attachment I have to
that little 06, It's more use to me than my 25 , or 37 sound locos !!

I'm having real trouble finding photos now as I took at high resolution and
reduced in size before putting on PB, giving names rather than keeping any
original 'frame' numbers and the old computer died many years ago !!

Page 12 has 13 photographs and I've only found 10 .... so far.

Geoff T.

[Dad-1]

Time for bed ..... and after a trying time where the connection kept failing
I think I've managed to replace all bar a few photographs and about 3 videos.
I know where the videos are so could re-post via youtube.

I think the missing photographs are gone for good, the first two from Summer
2008 so I suppose I could be forgiven for loosing them. Not only am I on the 3rd
camera since then, but probably the 4th computer !!

Brought back memories and a few experiments !!

Geoff T.

[Dad-1]

What to do with a shunting 'Test' of a new wagon, build details in the workbench thread West Bay Wagon Works.
Well it's being tested on Two Short Planks, so I thought I'd show how a well made layout can last for a VERY long time.
Once almost everyone on NRM knew of 'Marilyn' my Hornby 06 diesel loco back in the day.
She is still working and will no doubt outlast the real thing in BR service !!

https://youtu.be/MJ1L5LfFFic

Out of over 80 locos she's probably still my favourite loco - She just took some taming !!

Geoff T.

[Dad-1]

A new member on NRM has been going on about HOW EXPENSIVE railway modelling is.
Yes it can be, but it doesn't have to be.
What bought can also last many years, as has Two Short Planks.

https://youtu.be/DfBs123DGuw

Cut the last bit off as I didn't close the camera down !! See I'm too old !!

Geoff T.

[Bufferstop]

I hadn't seen 2SP from that angle before, definitely worth watching..

[Stainsacre]

So there I was idly watching YouTube and it recommended to me that I watch Marilyn, so I did. A little research led me to this thread hiding down on page 3.

Having read right through and watched the videos I thought it was deserving a spot on the front page for a while.

[Dad-1]

Thanks Stainsacre for reviving TSP,

Dare I say for remembering as much as anything.
Both my Old layouts, St Oval and TSP do get quite frequent use because they're always sitting ready for use.
All I have to do is switch on the power and go. As an almost addicted wagon builder I need to have places to
thoroughly test the running quality of builds. It's no good making pretty wagons, they MUST perform, so with
no real layout building going on there is always the temptation to do another video on those two layouts.

Now as Marilyn sits on track all the time, in fact I don't think she's been off track for over 6 years she's always
going the one to test out wagons, particularly reversing, coupling and un-coupling. Hence the occasional
shunting video.

Out of boring interest TSP is an ideal place for checking out unusual short circuits. This taught me that Lima
stock with their wide flat tyres will work reliably pulled over insulated frog turnouts, but create a sort circuit
when reversed. As my limited Lima stock is not used much I cured that 'problem' by painting all the tyres with
enamel paint, that way the painted outer edge becomes insulated and eradicates the problem.

Who knows there could be another video before Christmas.

Geoff T.

[Stainsacre]

Who knows there could be another video before Christmas.

I would look forward to that

[Daniel]

Those films are great Geoff.

The loco is doing beautiful work and I be swimming in this thread in the morning to see more.

Daniel

[Dad-1]

Back in October on my St Oval thread both Stainsacre & Bufferstop asked after Marilyn.
For anyone who has not been on New Railway Modellers for 5 years plus the name will
mean nothing. Marilyn is my Hornby Railroad 06 class diesel shunter. These early Hornby
chassis have a terrible reputation for unreliable slow speed running, but happy at a scale
200 MPH. I spent ages fettling into reasonable performance although at the slow chosen
speed on these two videos there were a couple of stalls. I couldn't be asked to do a second
take.
Here we have "Christmas @ Two Short Planks" Growing-Up, forget it, just have fun !!

Pt.1
https://youtu.be/55gY3w4UTr0

Pt.2 Tidy up time - Marilyn the local toughie !!
https://youtu.be/mIGOOUor9y0

Geoff T.

[Stainsacre]

Great Geoff, good to see you up in the loft again.

[Dad-1]

Hi Dave,

I must admit I've not been up there much this year.
The tracks looked clean, but were covered in a fine sticky dust deposit. None of the small
locomotives were happy, but Marilyn managed until I ran a little too slowly. More polishing
to do over the next few days.

Geoff T.