Great Chesterford Junction Part Two

Thanks Toto and G`day Folks,

A little update on GCJ. Things have slowed down a bit over the last few days. Other things to do and family matters to attend to..........however.??

You may remember that I had stuck the sand paper to the tops of the platforms.



Well all of that has been trimmed and of course the wobbly lines in the platform edges have been corrected and we are in a go situation to carry on with paving the tops.
This a close up of the surface prior to treatment with pastel. You may be able to see that I have scored a line running parallel with the platform edge. This is my guide line for masking the top prior to working on the edges. I use electrical tape to mask, as it doesn`t stick very well and therefore doesn`t remove much of the surface when you peel it off.



One slight problem I had when I attempted to score the edge closest to the wall / back scene, was that the arm that I`d made for my scribe was too long. So I`ve had to make a second shorter version to do the job.



Once that was sorted, I actually got down to putting some pastel on the surface.



A view from the other end



And a close up



So progress is being made at a pedestrian rate, however the results are now predictable for me and the process is fairly easy, although it can be rather mind numbing at times.
I am still developing a plan of attack regarding my station building and it`s looking more and more like it`s going to be a kit bash. I acquired a second hand unused Superquick station building today for $5 which was a bargain. I am looking at integrating the Superquick with the Metcalfe and creating something a little different.......I hope?????

For a detailed study into the processes I use to create the paved effect on my platforms, check out Gormo`s Shed Episode 6, Pastels and Platform Tops, due for release on the forum on Friday 12/02/16.



More as it happens.
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Oh Dear!!!!,

Would you look at that......11th Feb was the last post on here and nothing has been done to GCJ since then.

I must admit I ran some trains the other day and that was surprising. I guesstimated that it would have been about three weeks in between running sessions and I anticipated that the track would need a clean. To my surprise everything just ran straight off........weird????......because when I looked at the track prior to running trains, it had that slightly brownish, tarnished look about it and I just assumed the trains would hesitate when trying to make their way over it.

Even the route out through the sheds to Bamford gave no trouble and the back shed must be full of spiders and crap by now.......oh well.....not to worry.

The fact that trains ran over the track is a cleaning session in itself. Neville Martin.....a train buff and owner of a large garage layout and a true gentleman, that I knew years ago.....used to say that you don`t need to clean your track very often if you run your trains regularly. I think there is something to that in that the metal wheels especially, must have some cleaning effect on the track.???

Anyway folks......it`s a good excuse to run your trains.....cleaning and maintenance runs......that`s what we can tell SWMBO.......purely maintenance!!!!......has to be done I`m afraid......can`t invest in this hobby and neglect it......sorry dear (lie!!)....have to go into the shed for a few hours.....it`s a big job but it`s essential ( lie!!)......no it`s not fun ( lie!!!)....it`s a boring, tedious job (lie!!) that must be done......sorry( lie!!).

Note to self.......must re-start building my railway...... maybe after I run some more trains??????

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Yes Sir Mr. Toto Sir!!!!



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Well Toto,

I don`t know about 500 scale miles per loco but I ran some trains tonight after we watched Doc Martin.

I fitted a second phone into the shed this arvo.......I bought it cheap on one of our trips up the coast some months back. I finished off the wiring tonight and then ran some trains for a while.

I have a phone in the workshop, but if it rings I`ve got to dive under the drop down bridge to get there in time..........not any more!!!!!......the train room has it`s own phone now. I`m not really a mobile user. I have one but it`s rarely turned on. Only use it when I need it.

The phone was just one of those little projects to ease me into doing stuff out there in the train room once again and afterwards watching my trains going around starts to stir the interest once more.

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G`day Ed

I have been using it but only occassionally and it would have been a few weeks prior to the 3week break when it was last used.

I`ve nearly worn out the hardboard skid.......needs a new one cut.

What I have found is that you can do a couple of laps with the cleaning wagon ......remove it ....check the pad and it has two black marks from what it`s picked up off the rail. I`ve never had it do a circuit where it comes back clean........so it definitely works because the trains run better once it has been around.

On balance I would say it makes it easier if you want to do regular cleans.....maybe once a week.???

If the track has been untouched for a long period I think you need to do a manual clean and once you`ve done that you can use the wagon cleaner on a regular basis to keep it up to scratch.

You also need a loco with a good amount of weight to clean dirty track with the wagon. I usually set it up to push the wagon around the track. The theory being the wagon cleans the track ahead of the loco and therefore the loco won`t stall as easily if it`s really dirty track.

The main thing with the wagon is that it makes regular cleaning really easy. You can sit back and watch it work.



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G`day Ed,
Yes mate.......give it a run and give it a clean.
I`ve been cleaning it by sanding it, that`s why it`s wearing away. No big deal to cut another pad though.
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Well .??????....why not!!!

Done deal Paul.

Goodnight all

Gormo

 

Yes requests now Toto,

Within reason of course.......

I am just changing the subject here for a moment.........I have a nuisance call on the phone......a scam......they are calling from the computer dept.......Wow????? that`s gotta be the real deal ????......telling me my computer is infected...Hah!!!!!......that must be about the 30th attempt over about 3 years now. I`m not as silly as I look.......well????.....anyway I`ve just put the receiver on the desk after telling them " OK....I`ll get set up"......while I am typing this I can here a little voice with a Filipino accent saying " Brian.....Mr.Brian.....are you there.....Mr. Brian????"

Maybe 30 seconds have passed.??

It`s gone silent now......I guess they went away????...hang up the phone and back to trains.

That does feel better though.......Gormo`s Revenge!!!!.......Eeeeh Haaah!!!!

I used to run these sods ragged with false information......`bout time I started doing that again.!!!!

Anyway back to my friends......the good and decent folks who model railways.

Yes Toto.......requests are fine and if I can comply I will do my best.

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Good One Chris

Give it to `em mate!!!!.....

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