Garden Railway Forum

You can't beat real coal in a bunker Peter...


I think Rik would do a really professional job with his videoing skills, would love to see it on my big screen...

FWLR wrote: ↑Sat Dec 23, 2023 8:47 am You can't beat real coal in a bunker Peter...

I always use real coal but we no longer have multi-fuel fires at home so have to 'borrow' a lump from my son, who buys it for his workshop. I was astonished at the price he had to pay for a bag recently, having been away from the market for a while.

Yes it is Peter, I usually ask our little local heritage railway who are brilliant by the way, if I can have lump sometimes. Last time I did a got 3 biggish lumps and I still have loads of it left. Best bit for me though was smashing it down to bits,
Great fun

Rod's got a good point there Peter. I'm sure you could scrounge a piece from your friends at the Gwili?

In the US if you need coal, just walk down the railroad tracks and you might find a big hunk that fell off a coal hopper. I mean I guess you're not supposed to do that but whatever.

Around this time of year you can occasionally find a few lumps sold as novelty gifts. Careful going that route though, sometimes they're chocolate!

As part of my railway collection I have a real coal model of Stephenson's Rocket. I'm confident it would burn but cost more than a whole bag of the raw material.

Peter Butler wrote: ↑Sat Dec 23, 2023 7:21 pm As part of my railway collection I have a real coal model of Stephenson's Rocket. I'm confident it would burn but cost more than a whole bag of the raw material.

IMG_8332.JPG

I bet it would NOT burn!

I have a bag of coal that I kept for too long - and it wouldn't burn - not even in a red hot fire. Leave coal out in the atmosphere for a few years and it no longer burns.

Trevor

Ironic that following a tragic fire the real coal model could be the only survivor!

Final details to complete the Garratt have now been attached. Not important but most satisfying.
Firstly, the lamps, front and rear. These comprise a solid aluminium reflector turned by Keith (again) with Plastikard outer casing which I made to suit each end...
Last of all, the Welsh Dragon 'trademark' cut from self adhesive vinyl, added to the cab sides...
Meanwhile, the Boot Lane Works, 3D printed loco, is progressing nicely. More on that to follow shortly.

Superb as always Peter. Love the weathering.

Absolutely brilliant!!!!
I wish I had 1/4 of your scratchbuilding capabilities.

Rik

Many thanks Philip and Rik, your comments are much appreciated, but I must remind you that I am totally incapable of doing many of the modelling tasks which you are both so competent at. It is our differences which make others take notice and become inspired by. There would be no fun, or challenge, if we were all the same!

You're so right they're Peter.

Peter Butler wrote: ↑Thu Jan 04, 2024 6:58 pm Many thanks Philip and Rik, your comments are much appreciated, but I must remind you that I am totally incapable of doing many of the modelling tasks which you are both so competent at. It is our differences which make others take notice and become inspired by. There would be no fun, or challenge, if we were all the same!

Absolutely right Peter, but as I have said before more than once, I still wish I had your eye for colour and associated matters. For the last day or so I've been sitting looking at my water tower, I know it is far too pristine and all needs weathering. I know how I want it to look but I really don't know how to achieve it. I understand the theory but the practice always beats me. I know, "practice makes perfect" but after 70 odd years I'm running out of time to practice!

I think we all are Philip...

I had a few pages to catch up on here - what a fantastic beast that is! Congratulations Peter!

Looking forward to photos/video of it at the head of a long train come the spring...

As previously mentioned some time ago, and a few pages back, my current model is the Boot Lane Works 'St. Crispin' 3D printed kit. Purchased at last year's Welshpool and Llanfair 16mm scale exhibition, it has taken me some time to get started. This model can be built as either Corris Railway No. 4 or Talyllyn Railway Edward Thomas, and I chose the latter.
The first thing I noticed was the material used in the print process, which has very fine striations (good point!) but is a hard surface which is extremely difficult to make smooth, (not a good point). I tried with wet and dry, filing, filling paste and filler primer to get the tanks prepared for paint and still failed to achieve a satisfactory surface. All was not lost though as I decided to cover the tank sides with Plastikard.... result! The footplate is clear acrylic, which I lightly sanded for paint, and also attached some tread-plate to in the cab area. It has lowered steps at the rear as the cab roof is quite low for a driver figure...

The chassis is also clear acrylic so was prepared as above. It all screws together and forms a solid framework to build on. Drive wheels are from Binnie Engineering and are fitted with press-fit inserts as counterweights and to support the pins for cranks. They are identical to those used on my Pechot Bourdon (also from Boot Lane) and work perfectly well. The additional trailing wheels are printed and too lightweight to work satisfactorily, so are now replaced with solid steel ones of the same diameter using the original bracket...

Brilliant idea that Peter, saves a lot of stress trying to get those print lines removed. I have tried with a PDF models and it's a blooming nightmare to do.

Slow progress with the Edward Thomas build, I have discovered a national shortage of AAA battery packs! My usual supplier, 'Component Shop', is showing many battery packs and even singles of AAA rechargeables as 'out of stock'. It appears to be caused by long delivery times by shipping in the Red Sea area. A longer route is now taken causing time delays, but eventually my ship will come in!
However, I have managed to get a suitable driver figure from David Clavey. This is a standing driver with one foot raised higher than the other, perfect for my split-level cab floor....
Meanwhile I have been viewing Greg's multiple Garratt videos with envy and wondering whether I can justify a second Garratt on my line?