Apologies

To anyone who reads my blog, apologies for my absence.

I'm afraid real life is very much in the way of virtual hobbies these past few weeks, so I have been unable to add to my body of work since my return from the USA. Hopefully the next couple of weeks will see things back on an even keel and I can return to my modelling. So, to quote Arnie "I'll be back", in the meantime thanks for your patience.

Holiday

I'm off to the USA for a couple of weeks (ash clouds this end and tornados that end, permitting), but before I go a picture of one of the bogie open goods wagons I managed to complete in time.

56041

The combination Guards/Goods van was obviously very successful, because the L&B later built their own version of the concept at Pilton Yard, #23, later#56041. Based on the same pattern, it had the addition of side duckets to improve the guards visibiltiy.

Brake Van

The next piece of rolling stock is one of the early brake vans. Originally open ended they had been glazed in by the 1930's, the period in which we are constructing the route.

Here's the van awaiting duty in Pilton Yard.

As the couplings on the L&B were asymmetrical, with the "chopper" at the "Down" end of the vehicle, it's necessary to ensure the wagons face the right way. I had some doubt as to which direction the brake vans were oriented but this photo from Yeoman's book shows the van with the glazing at the "down" end and the guard standing on the step.

So, I fitted the van out the same way.

A couple more bogie wagons to do then on with the passenger stock.

More Goods Vehicles

Continuing the build of bogie goods vehicles, I have now completed the 8 ton Bogie Goods Van.

Thought I'd celebrate with a little run over the Chelfham Viaduct.

Bogie Wagon

I completed my first wagon with the new freight bogies some hours ago, but I have only just got it into the game.

Tried and tried to load it into the game but no success. Changed all sorts of things but no joy, then eventually realised I had made the ultimate newbie mistake.....I'd missed a "-" sign off one of the bogie axle values. Doh!

Anyway here's the new platform wagon for the L&B.

The photo below was sent to me, not to show the crash, but to illustrate the presence of coal rails on the 4 ton open wagons.

Consequently, I have amended my model accordingly.

Bogie Woes

Moving on to the bogie goods vehicles, I found Chris had made a really nice freight bogie, which I thought need a couple of small additions to complete it. Don't know what went wrong but when I rendered the finished item the normals were a total mess and I decided it was easier to start afresh than try to fix the model.

Consequently, I began modelling a new bogie using the same blueprints that Chris had used, but struggled to get the model to look right.

It took me best part of a day before I realised that both endviews were upside down! Hardly surprising I couldn't make sense of it all. So, as a result of my own foul up, my re-build meant I actually ended up with a more accurate model.

Here's the completed bogie ready for me to start on the bodywork.