Category Archives: Rollingstock
More coal wagons delivered
Today I received my order of the IDR Models CHS coal hopper.
These will form my two 21 wagon loaded coal trains.
Another superb model from the IDR team.
Well, I’m still here..!
Hi all,
Apologies for the lack of posts since April 2022. Here’s a brief catch up.
Bogie Ballast Plough
I completed the assembly and detailing of the Stephen Johnson Models bogie ballast plough kit.
I got it to the point where it received a primer undercoat, but that got stripped off again as I wasn’t happy with the finish. It’s currently still sitting on the workbench.
UP Staging Yard extension – Part 3
Work commenced on removing the existing turnouts at the other end of the Up staging yard to accommodate some new 3-way turnouts to complete the lengthening of these yards.
All the turnouts were removed and the PCB sleepers and rail salvaged. Two new 3-way turnouts were built.
New source of XPS foam for scenery
Ever since Bunnings ceased stocking the Knauf XPS foam sheets, I had spent time trying to source a replacement. I contacted a few suppliers but most wanted exorbitant shipping costs to Port Macquarie. I eventually found a building supply company near Canberra that could ship unlimited sheets to me for only $85. So an order of 25 sheets (2400 x 600 x 30mm) was placed just prior to Christmas. The cost per sheet came to $28, and as these were double the size of the old Knauf ones, they ended up being about $4 more expensive. I can live with that. Having replenished my stock of foam, I can now resume scenery work between Doughboy Hollow and Ardglen.
Spline prep at Ardglen for future turnout controls
One of my goals for this year is to continue tracklaying through Ardglen and onto Pangela. For this to proceed, some cutting of the spline at the turnout locations was necessary.
The locations in the main area of Ardglen were quite straightforward. This involved removing a section of spline with a router down to a depth of approximately 6mm to accommodate a piece of ply. Once this was glued in position, the remaining spline underneath the ply was cut away. Extra supports either side of the cut-out are also installed where required.
However, the turnout leading from the loop extension into the ballast sidings required a bit more thinking of how to get the router in there, considering I had already laid track on the mainline.
So a plan was devised to support the router over the mainline track using some old melamine shelving that I had. This did the job well.
New motive power arrives
In the last week, Auscision Models delivered their ALCo 44 class locomotives. I had pre-ordered four of these Mark I type. Another superb model. Looking forward to weathering these beasts.
As I mentioned above, I hope to complete a lot of work on the layout this year. One of the first jobs is to complete the ceiling panel and backscene prep over Ardglen for the sky blue paint. Then I want to get back into some scenery foam installation around Ardglen and where the tunnel will start. Once a few of the turnouts for Ardglen are complete, I can also commence tracklaying through Ardglen, through the future tunnel and onto Pangela.
That’s it for this update.
Cheers.
Coal hoppers arrive
Yesterday I received my order of CTS coal hoppers from Auscision Models.
These will form my empty 24 wagon coal train hauled by two 45 class locomotives.
I set the train up on the layout to get an idea of its length.
Once again, a very nice model from Auscision.
Click on the images for larger versions.
Recent arrivals
Some new models have recently been acquired.
The rivetted bogie ballast hopper (BBW) from IDR Models and bogie ballast plough van (BBP) from Stephen Johnson Models.
The BBW is a ready-to-run model available in 3-car packs. It is very nicely done, having some very fine detail.
The BBP is a composite kit comprising polyurethane castings, nickel silver and brass etchings and lost was brass castings. I believe all of the patterns for this kit were 3D printed then cast in polyurethane and brass. The detail in the kit is superb, right down to the rivets on the sides and hinges and padlock on the gas cylinder compartment doors.
SDS Models BCW, first look …
Hi all,
Yesterday I received my order of BCW cattle wagons from SDS Models.
WOW!! Another superb RTR model. They should weather up nicely.
Click on the pics for a larger version.
Enjoy!
SDS Models OCY, first look …
Hi all,
Today I received my order of OCY container wagons from SDS Models. Once again, this manufacturer has produced a fine model.
The detail is superb and decaling is crisp.
Enjoy!
Eureka Models BSV & BCW, first look …
Hi all,
Over the weekend I picked up my Eureka BSV order, so I thought I’d just post some quick pictures. I have had the BCW’s since June.
I am pretty impressed with both models, their level of detail is quite superb. The only negative thing I can say about them is the raised timber grain on the ends and the sides is a tad coarse, but possibly will disappear with some weathering.
Again, about the only things I will need to do to these models is change the wheels and couplers and of course weather them appropriately.
The PTC Blue colour on the BCW is slightly exaggerated in these shots. It is actually quite darker.
Cheers for now.
SDS Models BP Rail Tank Car …
Hi all,
Things are still progressing well on the tracklaying in the Down storage yard, with about 50% now complete. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed the tracklaying and turnout building when I was doing the Up yard.
Today, my SDS Models BP rail tank car arrived. This model had been reduced in price by SDS to just $44, owing to some less than perfect assembly issues at the factory. Read all about it here. I still have an order in for another six wagons, but by the sounds of it, these will be delayed a bit more.
Upon examination, all I can find wrong with it is the walkways are not straight and some of the shunters’ grab handles were slightly bent. Nothing too dramatic as far as I’m concerned and easily fixed.
Anyway, the detail on the model is absolutely superb. The lettering and painting is crisp. The dome detail is also very nice. See for yourself. It should weather up nicely. Click on the pics for a larger version.
Cheers for now.
Auscision WTY’s, first look …
Hi all,
Things have slowed on the layout lately since the completion of the helix. I have been looking around at options for turnout control and train detection for the storage yards. I have also been starting on the installation of point blades and point motors. More on this soon.
Today, my order of Auscision’s new WTY wheat hoppers arrived. What a superb model! (well, apart from the ‘orrible wheels and couplers 
). I can’t wait to put the P87 wheels in and the Sergent couplers.
These little beauties will weather up nicely! Click on the pics for a larger version.
Enjoy!
Off to the Epping show …
Hi all,
Well, Bowen Creek is all packed away again in the trailer ready for the trip south to Sydney for the Epping (Thornleigh) exhibition this weekend.
Over the last week or so, Andrew and I have been busy weathering some of our rollingstock. I have done some Austrains’ WHX’s, Trainorama’s BWH’s and OnTrack Models’ louvre vans. I won’t go into much detail on how the weathering was done in this post, but will leave that to a later time.
Here are some pics of a few of the wagons. Use your browser’s BACK button to come back to this page.
Any fellow bloggers who are attending the show, make sure you come up and introduce yourselves to Andrew and I.
Cheers for now.
Liverpool Range 