Ivor The Engine - The Layout

[Bigmet]

Slow progress, but any progress is worth having.

Seems very appropriate to the subject matter, and this project conjures up a smile every time I dip into it.

[heda]

I'm liking this, look forward to seeing progress over the next two years (or longer !)
Dave

[Dad-1]

Thanks Bigmet & Dave,

Dave these things take as long as ..........
Did more ballasting today and had 3 x 0-4-0 locos running around,
including over the 2 still damp ballast areas !!

Geoff T.

[Dad-1]

A Monthly Report.

'D' for enthusiasm
'E' for progress

Must do better

https://youtu.be/uI-78Kl-vKs

The fire's gone out at the present time

Geoff T.

[Mountain]

Looks lovely. Any news on Ivor?

[Phred]

Quote from the video: 'It takes as long as it takes.'

That's the nature of railway modelling!

[Dad-1]

Thanks Mountain & Phred,

All I could get out of Rapido was it wouldn't be available before 2026.
When in 2026 ? I don't suppose that they know the answer to that.
The only bright side is that I have some unspecified time to create something
that resembles infrastructure from the story drawings.
In fact the easy bit will be the hills, because they can be much less specific.
That's where my next endeavours will go.

As the weather may 'break' I'll probably have to split the boards, it was always
part of the plan so I can take individual halves indoors to work on. I also have a lot
of styrene here so perhaps no shortage of materials, just my energy in short supply.

Geoff T.

[Dad-1]

As stated this will be slow going.
I have tested the application of grass onto kitchen towel glued over styrene, and in
some cases an occasional odd void between styrene blocks. It looks like it will be
strong enough.

I now find that I'm running out of Noch Summer grass and I've run out of Hornby spoked
replacement wagon wheels needed for a couple of wagon builds that I need for this layout.

The real reason for the current posting is to remind forum members that the NRM Shop
is sending to me at prices as good as anyone else on-line, plus experience is that they despatch
quickly. In general Simon does a super job and I feel that too many Forum members forget
the 'In House' connection.

Geoff T.

[Mountain]

Yes. I have used the shop before and was happy with the results.

[Dad-1]

Some electrical gremlins have crept in.
All needs sorting before I did any more scenery.
One half sorted tonight, so a running video on one half.

https://youtu.be/fW3UjJzUDiM?feature=shared

Geoff T.

[21C1]

Verry nice slow running there. The brake van is that a kit?

[Dad-1]

Hi 21C1,

Yes, it's the Slaters kit of the 10 Ton short Midland Railway type.
A nice little kit. I cut away the moulded grab rails and replaced
with wire. It uses a 'funny' size wheel so if you fancy getting one
be aware of that.

Geoff T.

[Phred]

I can believe your tracks overheated with the hot summers the UK is getting now. The BBC tells me they can grow rice over there now!

Link to BBC news article:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1wgeq702dyo

[Dad-1]

After a period of no Mojo I have re-started working on Ivor.
A thorough check of both boards has seen me adding jumpers to bridge track power over the rail joints.
The problem had me loose impetus, but now I'm back.

I had already been testing out the lightest scenic construction I could think of, styrene blocks, and layers
that are then covered in either a single, or double layer of PVA/water soaked decent quality kitchen towel.
Tests have been satisfactory and the test area can be seen in the following pictures.

Cutting is so messy I even had a 'Henry' type of vacuum cleaner out on the patio to remove flying fragments.
I've started the higher land where the hill will need to fit into a suitable hollow in the other side. It may not
look that much, but only so much can be added before it's left to allow the neat PVA to thoroughly dry.









The two Gaugemaster Frog Juicers will be permanently buried in the scenery. I've never had one fail in service
yet !! Although railway layouts have a limited life I have been keeping styrene away from the power feed wires,
recalling that styrene can react with wire insulation. It has, I believe caused trouble in some domestic situations.
I again can't remember if that was old rubber insulated, or more modern plastic coverings.

In addition it can be seen that I still have some ballasting to do along the shed line. Ahh and sorting out the point
changing system. Rod/Wire/Scenic item ?? As the points won't be used much I fancy moving being achieved by some
piece of scenery, Bush, Tree, Telegraph Pole ?????????

Geoff T.

[End2end]

Coming along a treat.
Thanks
End2end