Monday, June 4, 2012

Wrapping up a few things

OK, so as usual I have not posted for a while and the usual excuses......Been to busy, and being a one finger typer, just could not have been bothered. Thought it was about time my finger was given a workout on the keyboard and let you all know what I have been up to. Will try and wrap up a few of the projects I have been working on and fill you in on anything new.


The 57 is now finished. I had a few issues getting the chuff right and also getting a decent sound out of it. At first I used a standard Tsunami K class and a modified soundtraxx cam disk to give the six segments for the chuff. I soon found that the K class sound has a distinctive fourth beat to its chuff sound even when a six lobe cam disk is used. Gerry Hopkins filled me in on his secret for getting the chuff right. Below is a diagram of how a 16 lobe soundtraxx cam disk can be modified and coupled with a Logging Tsunami gets the chuff pretty close to the 3 beat 57. The logging decoder sound doesn't seem to have that prominent fourth beat. I am not all that fussed with the whistle but hey, Better than nothing. I managed to get a very 'short' video while at Brisbane of the 57 running, the camera battery went flat!. It doesn't pull much either witch is strange for such a big engine. I have added a large weight to the boiler witch helps but is still not great. My guess its the nickel plated drivging wheels are too slipery. I am really happy with the weathering as well and will be sorry to see it go to the customer.





Unfortunately I have not really touched the Mike McCormack LFX since the last posting. I have managed to finish off the assembly of the underframe witch prety much complets the assembly of No1. LFX. I have also started on the Bogie's of the second. I had planned on having these for Epping but as you read on you will see other things have taken over and the few issues with the 57 slowed it a little as well. Here is a current shot of the LFX. Pretty much ready for paint. Waiting on the screw couplings and buffer springing components and will need to fit window frames after painting.




As I have mentioned in the last posting, AndIan Models will be attending its first show as a trade stand at the upcoming Epping Model Railway Clubs Thornleigh Exhibition over the June long weekend. We are also helping Alan Tarrant with his exhibition layout. Our small stand will be next to the layout so we can help Alan run trains and man the trade stand as well.
 I have been working on completing one of the BLV's using the body and underframe from the test shot castings. I had this at the Brissy show to show off and was well received. The below shot shows the unpainted and painted sample. It was assembled with no decals and the roof brackets were made with flat brass bar rather than the brass etchings that will come with the kit. I have also left off the turnbuckles as I did not have these at this stage. We now have all the components for 50 wagons that will be available at the show. We have also started the second run as I am sure all 50 will sell at Epping so don't worry if you cant make it to the show. We will take orders after Epping. The price of the BLV's have been set @ $70 each. The brass bogies and wheels makes the kit more expensive than we had hoped but its a really nice model when complete.






I decided to make up a small diorama for the show as well. I made this upo for two reasons, one is so that I could display the AndIan models products, and to act as a nice scene for when I take photos, like the ones above. I made the diorama about 600mm x 400mm approx with a section of handlaid code 55 track down the middle and detailed with the AndIan Models two lever ground frame, roding chairs, compensator's, cranks etc. and one of Gwydir Valleys semaphore signals. All this set around some basic scenery using static grass, much like Bowen Creek. I also decided to try and make both the signal and lever frame work. I ended up getting a 'Bouncer' servo kit form the UK. This makes the signal pause part way through its movement and bounce when at the end of its movement. See video here, and pictures below.


We also received the sample of our water Gin Body that we had 3D printed and only today I got the trial etch for the ladder. I will have this at Epping also. For those of you on the mailing list, keep an eye out for the next bulletin. We are announcing two new projects that will soon be under development.






Lastly, I have now finished off all the small jobs with the house and after a little tidy up is ready for final council inspection, probably after Epping show. This will then mean I can start looking at filling in windows and planning to get started on some bench work. Along with this I am going to need to get back into finishing off getting my much loved Cooper S back on the road. A few months back I had finished rebuilding its Motor and with all that was going on never got around to fitting it back into the car. Looking forward to that.

Hoo roo and see you at Epping.


Ian

9 comments:

  1. G'day Ian
    I am looking forward to spending some money with you at the show. The 57 looks fantastic a really nice job pity you have to send it back.

    Cheers Jon

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  2. G'day Ian,

    Looking forward to the BLVs! They are looking great. See you at Epping for a Cooper S chat.

    Linton

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  3. Hi Ian,
    Save some BLV's for me!!! That servo and signal looks fantastic, superb modelling....see you at the show

    Cheers, Rob

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  4. Ian,
    Mate if that diorama was inspired by Bowen Creek, I am humbled because that is better then any module on BC. I am blown away by how good that is.
    Andrew

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  5. Guys, Thanks allways for the great replies. Be quick to get the BLV's, I recon they wont last long if you want them Now and can't wait.
    Andrew, I recon Bowen Creek was simply mind blowing and of cource very inpring. I had allways intended to use the static grass method from the Rodney James days of Wingham, but the addition of the grass tufts and bushes on BC makes all the difference. This was sort of a trial for the merriwa branch as well. Still learning form all you other masters out there. Thats why these Blogs are so good.
    Cheers
    Ian

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  6. Great work all round Ian, have a great weekend everyone, at the show. Sadly this Qlder won't make the show but I will take 2 blv's. I agree totally, the inspiration gained from the blogs is just incredible. Darren

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  7. Ian

    I have spoken to Gerry about the 57/58class & while each of you have done a pretty good job on the sounds, the big problem is that the big engines had quite a unique beat about them. All the old big engine drivers I worked with & during talks they all came up with the same thing & that is the beat was akin to someone saying Commin ta getcha, quickly.

    Some who worked at Valley Heights & if they had a freighter with a 3650gal or wampu tender the sound was almost as if they were going to climb over the tender & into the cab.

    The best sound of them at least to get an idea of the beat is found on the old Nightshift recording of 5711 climbing Galong bank, & that is quite hard to replicate & what the old drivers said is a true sound of them, at slow slog.

    The whistle of them is also a slight variation of the 38cl as it was also a 5 chime air operated type, & we have no recordings of them in any sound decoder.

    Col Hussey

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  8. Hi Ian
    Will you be selling the leftovers and/or the second run of BLV's via your Ebay site ? Do you have any idea when or will you let your previous customers know ?
    Thanks
    Gary

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  9. Ian,
    Can you please add me to your milling list for future projects as I have interest in the stuff you guys are doing.
    Can you contact me on my email: wangy4@hotmail.com
    As I am coming up to Coffs for a week and would like to catch up please.
    Cheers
    Chris Wangmann. Owner of Gulgong layout.

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