Just in Case

Yet another transmogrification and the one I've settled upon. The curves are tight (bearing in mind the layout is 50cm x 35cm) but the small Kato steeple cab (I'll call it a battery loco in my case as there'll be no catenary) has no problem at all ... sooo ... onward and ... ? ... onward ... ps the goats are on their way

 

baseboard ready for track ... ish
View attachment 43334

 

Er ... ? ... plan H ... ? ... anyway almost ready for track so I'd better toss a coin .. or meeny miney ... or ...

 

I received my Kato controller today along with 3 point switches so I gave them a go and wow! ... I was using the Kato steeple cab and the precision was far better than I ever expected! The crawl was amazing so I'm very satisfied ... just got to build the layout now ... one point to note; the cost of the controller from Plaza Japan was €26 compared to €64 on amazon Spain, plus the postage from Amazon was €12 more expensive. The point switches were €3.50 each from Japan and €9 from Amazon, plus separate postage (even though I have prime) Over all, even with tax, I saved around €50 ...

 

An enjoyable afternoon doing ... ? ... creating ... ? ... sticking ... ? ... thingying decoupage ... eh voila the new backscene for my 'Just in Case' shunting layout ...

 

in situ

 

Another couple of mini projects today ... first off 1 of 4 Peco manual uncouplers ... the issue I had was that the track is pre-mounted on the plastic ballast so I had to use my multi-tool to make room for the device between the sleepers ... I'm happy with the result and when painted will be hardly noticeable (I do already have magnetic uncouplers but most of my rolling stock don't have NEM pockets and at the moment I can't be bothered with adapting (or buying) them. The second project is a fuel storage depot so ... 2 x deodorant caps a plastic wine cork (no I didn't buy the tinto it was a well intentioned gift) and some plastic spru ... when painted it'll look decent (6ft rule applies) having fun in the sun ...

 

more work done ... track screwed down (so I can lift individual sections should the need occur) and basic ground cover glued (combination of Metcalfe and Scalescenes cobbles) lots of testing done ... ordered an n scale shunter from Kato's 'very easy' brass kits (no soldering just bending) they are waiting for the motors to arrive ... so everything is on track so to speak (the last image is to show the motorized chassis, steeple cab not included) €47 plus postage for everything ... ideal for my little layout.




)

 

Step-Daughter visiting so girls off for shopping and tapas leaving me to quietly build my maintenance shed (Metcalfe goods shed) Bit more work left on it (office steps, roof etc) but its out for dinner and tinto later.

 

Maintenance shed relocated to the short siding at the top of layout ... I can keep a second engine in there and use it to push loads into what will be a heavy goods yard (with cranes) at bottom siding, effectively a run-around feature ... ish

 

Irish visitors here so Guinness and vino tinto (in no particular order) on the horizon ... so... decided to have a little modelling time while my hands are steady ... ish. Anyway I bought a packet of brass rivets (100 of each size) from that useful jungle site €3 incl free delivery. Sooo I've built these none working yard lamps although they could easily be fitted with LEDs ... cocktail sticks, paper clips and super glue ... not to scale but once painted I reckon they'll do me

 

Sufficient yard lamps completed ready for painting ... next project fuel depot thingy

 

Painted.. dark green for shade and post, clear nail varnish for glass 3 foot rule applies

 

in daylight 3' rule 2nd coat to paint on later

 

View attachment 44040 Fuel depot almost there ... i realized that I had a rake (don't always have to call a spade a spade) of 3 tankers so used 2 to build my fuel depot for the shunting layout ... finishing touches to do 3' rule again

View attachment 44039

 

Coal office weighbridge built more to do coal etc then cattle dock mk 11