River Dee Meats ... My first foray into O Gauge

Discussion in 'Planks, Switching and Shelf Layouts' started by Gary, Jun 19, 2018.

  1. jakesdad13

    jakesdad13 Staff Member Moderator

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    One way of saving a bit on the cost of O scale rolling stock is buying used wagons, in my experience it can save a lot on kits. I paid £25 for one wagon against £40 odd for the equivalent kit. I don't understand why it should be so but there you are.

    Pete.
     
  2. Gary

    Gary Wants more time for modelling.... Staff Member Administrator

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    I have picked up some good bargains recently. In one fell swoop, I picked up a Connoisseur Models o-4-o starter kit (with motor, gearbox, wheels etc) and four wagon kits, some complete, some not for a sum of $300.00 (£169.00) !

    Cheers, Gary.
     
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  3. SMR CHRIS

    SMR CHRIS Staff Member Moderator

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    Hi Gary
    I’m back from our trip bit earlier than intended.
    But I opened up my emails today and found one from ModelOKits saying they have more British O scale in stock and it’s going up on there website now may be worth a look.
    Also they are getting the Minerva range of locos and rolling stock
    From the email “ We are in the process of updating our online store and website in parts. You will already see part of our range already up, including Dapol, Heljan, Peco, Minerva, Evergreen, etc.“
     
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  4. Gary

    Gary Wants more time for modelling.... Staff Member Administrator

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    Thanks Chris. I was on ModelOKits site yesterday and nothing was up. Maybe they have worked on it overnight !

    Cheers, Gary.
     
  5. Gary

    Gary Wants more time for modelling.... Staff Member Administrator

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    Today I pulled out the old base boards that I had used for Kelly Bray and stripped them bare.

    They started off looking like this...


    The Toto Tool came in handy to remove the platform from one of the boards...


    ...which only left a little damage to the cork...


    A substantial amount of wiring and also a control box was removed from another baseboard...



    Then the old fiddle yard had to be stripped down...


    Again, all the wiring under these two boards was removed. I'll have to patch up any holes left over from where the point motors were located and the rotary switch. In the end, I ended up with a clean sheet to start from, again !


    This is the collection of left overs from stripping the boards...


    I pulled out the O gauge flex track and points and roughly positioned them on the boards to see what it may look like.


    One issue I have is that one board is 20mm shorter in width and approx 6mm lower than the other two boards that are corked. Hopefully this shouldn't be an issue, as I'll just extend the legs on the narrower board a tad and glue a sheet of MDF to the top to gain the extra width.

    I plan on making the boards with collapsible legs, or I should say fold up under and then have the baseboards stack on one another for transport. Before doing this, I need to work out the heights of any structures or bridges/scenic breaks first. But then again, these items can be removable.

    More to come later...

    Cheers, Gary.
     
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  6. jakesdad13

    jakesdad13 Staff Member Moderator

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    Proper upcycling Gary :thumbs:. Looking forward to seeing how you get on!

    Cheer's, Pete.
     
  7. Gary

    Gary Wants more time for modelling.... Staff Member Administrator

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    Well today I have completed two of the three baseboards and they are up and ready to go. All the points work will be on these two boards only, and not one of them sits across the join between the two baseboards. I used my usual method of 18 x 42mm pine and 3mm x 10mm aluminium braces. This is reasonable solid. The legs are 1000mm high, which for me is a good working height and also is for exhibiting. The centre legs slot into openings under the baseboard top whereas each pair of legs on the ends, are hinged so that they can fold up under the baseboard frame.

    The only place that allows me to set the whole layout up will be my bedroom, unfortunately ! At least this keeps it out of the rest of the house and contained !! :scratchchin:

    A few pics...

    The boards assembled...


    The centre legs showing how I have made slots for them under the baseboard...


    The hinged legs. I had to cut a quarter circle into the top of the legs which allow them to rotate 90*...


    Next job will be filling in the holes on the baseboard where the point motors (solenoids) were fitted on the former layout (Kelly Bray)...


    Then after that is complete, work out how I'll tackle the last board as I'm thinking that the baseboard could be 30mm lower than the other two. This is so I can glue a 30mm thick sheet of insulation foam to it, which will help widen it slightly as it is narrower than the other two above. It will also allow me to create some scenery depth below track height.

    That's all for now folks. ;)

    Cheers, Gary.
     
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  8. ianvolvo46

    ianvolvo46 Staff Member Moderator

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    I see great progress mate :thumbup::thumbup: 'Oh' scale though? :scratchchin:

    Ian vt
     
  9. Andy64

    Andy64 Full Member

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    Looking good Gary nice to start with a clean slate:thumbup:
    Andy
     
  10. Gary

    Gary Wants more time for modelling.... Staff Member Administrator

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    Got to keep Toto happy when he ventures 'down under' next year !! :avatar::avatar:

    Cheers, Gary.
     
  11. Gary

    Gary Wants more time for modelling.... Staff Member Administrator

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    Feels good to get something underway again. :D

    Cheers, Gary.
     
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  12. paul_l

    paul_l Staff Member Administrator

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    Wey hay his Mojo is making a comeback.

    For filling the holes, roughen the hole sides, then on the under side of the baseboard, cover the hole with Duct tape, then screw a piece of wood to give it strength.

    Then fill the hole with a mixture of PVA, sawdust and plaster. Once dry it will sand flat, and the wood support and duct tape can be removed.

    Paul
     
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  13. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

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    Great to see you back in action Gary mate :thumbs: O Gauge is the way to go.
     
  14. jimmy styles

    jimmy styles Full Member

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    I would love to build a O gauge one day
     
  15. Gary

    Gary Wants more time for modelling.... Staff Member Administrator

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    Thanks Paul, yes, the mojo is returning !

    The baseboards I have used are recycled wardrobe doors which happen to be laminated ply over formers. I'm thinking of removing a larger section of cork and gluing a new piece over the top of the baseboard. Since there shall be little weight over the holes, this should do the job. Fingers crossed !!


    Cheers, Gary.
     
  16. Gary

    Gary Wants more time for modelling.... Staff Member Administrator

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    Just made a purchase for six Parkside wagon kits from Peters Spares. Worked out cheaper than I thought as I had some $$ sitting in my Paypal account I had forgotten about ! :thumbs:

    1 x 12T GWR open wagon
    1 x LMS Meat van
    1 x SR Meat van
    1 x SR Cattle wagon
    1 x LNER Cattle wagon
    1 x LMS 20T Brake van
    These 6 x wagons plus finishing the baseboards and building a layout should keep me quiet for a while... :facepalm:

    Cheers, Gary.
     
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  17. jakesdad13

    jakesdad13 Staff Member Moderator

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    Nice buy Gary, I have a Parkside cattle wagon somewhere. They make up into a nice model.

    Cheer's, Pete.
     
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  18. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

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    Yes well purchased Gary, although I do suspect your van fleet will expand rapidly once these nice kits are built. :avatar::thumbs::scratchchin::tophat:
     
  19. steve

    steve Full Member

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    Hi Gary.

    Thanks for your feedback on your new O gauge exhibition layout. Very pleased to see you are back into it, and admire how you do it.

    I saw your excellent and switching layout at Rosehill recently and that you are now preparing for an O gauge layout (as above).

    I admire your drive with your hobby, work and bringing up your boys.

    You are a good man. Keep doing what you do., because you seem to do it well.

    Steve
     
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  20. Gary

    Gary Wants more time for modelling.... Staff Member Administrator

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    Thanks for the kind words Steve. :tophat:

    As you are probably aware, I went through a lull for a few weeks. I think I may have burnt myself out with the exhibitions. Luckily for me the exhibitions are over and I can just go along as a spectator. This I'll enjoy !

    This layout (no name yet) I'm starting to build, although planned for a while now will be for Rosehill next year and I'm certain that it will be complete by then ! It will certainly keep me busy for some time, but if I get board with this, I'll go have a play on my HO US layout. ;)

    Cheers, Gary.
     

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