Hill incline

 Construction of the hilly incline has begun. Roughly, it is just under 3%. The track is laid on 12mm ply and 5mm cork road bed. As in steam age, the incline is curved. The track is a mix of ROCO and PECO code 83. ROCO provided the main curves, as it is set track and maintains radius.

The hilly area was estimated with some plywood forms.

Insulation foam was then cut to size to make the hill contours. The foam is available from hardware stores. (Bunnings, in 30 and 50mm thickness).

When the foam was carved to shape, it was then covered in plaster bandage.

Two types of plaster bandage I used. The Mod-Wrap is from Office Works. It is a thinner cloth than the Mont Marte, and has more plaster. Both are cheaper than Woodland Scenic, even if the rolls are narrower.

Layout River scene

 The only segment of the old layout saved, was the river scene. It was extracted in one piece, and after having a short spell on the verandah, was positioned into the new railway room.

Since the above photo was taken, the scene has moved up or down a few times, deciding on its final positioning.

Once its position was determined, a connection was made to the station yard area. The green and blue foam is to tie in the terrain to the new boards. 

The Station yard area is prototypical inspired by St Arnaud on the Mildura line. The Y switch was incorporated to save space, though on St Arnaud yard plan, the Y is at the other end.

Adelaide show 2024

 Yes, that's right. Two years. Not that nothing has happened, just life, and much planning and learning new Technetics in modelling.

Firstly, SDS models and Junction models, had an extensive trader stall, which caused a few feathers to be ruffled. On display was their 700 class SAR coach, in green and cream. Now, going forward, the two other samples have disappeared. Lent out, they have now gone missing. With any luck, these will be available later in the year. Everything is ready to go, just the factory seems to be dragging their heals. Is it not funny, how the same factory managed to do a run of containers, quick smart, for another manufacturer. If nothing happens, SDS will move all the tooling to their main factory.

Unfortunately, the delays with the 700 class coaches, have delayed the production of the 500, 600 class carriages, the Long Ton, and the luggage van, all as illustrated on their future products brochure.

Also coming, after the Victoria T class and the DL, is the Victorian X class, ex Austrains, with enhanced new tooling. In this mix, SAR AD, BD, CD passenger were under consideration, but now on hold, as another manufacturer, (who are nearly ready to release the Overland Cars) are in the process of initial studies to produce these models.

Adelaide show 2022

 Three days helping Bob Stevens with Kings Park, making those gauge 1 locos shunt back and forth. Had a good time, except for the ass hole person that attended with covid, passed it on,and made us sick.

 

 

Moving on. Right next door was the SDS models stand, with samples of their up coming SAR, VR, QR and TGR models.

The 900 class locomotives maybe here by the end of the year. The 700 class passenger cars, not until next year (delayed). Also in with their order forms was a sheet of proposed SAR models. So not to have have modellers shock, the 500 and 600 class passenger cars, maybe 2023/24. The long Tom brake car, 2024 and the DWP vans 2025. Also included on the probable list, is a LX/ALGX van.

 

School bus on Don's Alamosa and Western railway.

Tarlee station and sidings. The for wheel sheep van was available to purchase. (3D printed)

Light River bridge on Peterborough.

Maree, Commonwealth Railways, from the Whyalla group.

Layout update.

 In a previous post I mentioned how it was gone before been finished. Well, now I has gone. Just one small section remains in place. The last frame work one which the station boards sat, was removed over the weekend, the timber to be recycled into the new layout. I have quite a bit of timber, just as well, as the price to start new is not nice!

What a mess, trying to save as much track as possible, and storing all sort of items, to be gone through and relocated.

All is going into a new shed, built next to the garage, just a bit smaller, but plans are in progress. 

 

 

 

Also, I have changed my baseboard construction method, using open frame. The old layout was L girder, which required a lot of timber. The open frame allows for the ability to have changing track bed heights.

More to come.

Adelaide 2021

 No exhibition last year and only a small on in 2021. Give credit to the organizers, that they managed to piece together and event made up of South Australia layouts and retailers (almost). Sneaked in from NSW was a representative from SDS models, sharing a position with Elite Model services, who, themselves had some nice 3D printed 8000class SAR break vans, of the early versions to the old Lima model that we are use to.

SDS had on display there up and coming 900 class English Electric diesel, along with charts showing colour variations that will be available.

Next to Elite was a new layout, Tarlee. A mid north grain silo and brick station, common for the area, with about five towns having stations built to the same design. Especially of interest, was the use of more scale height trees!

Nearby was Bob Stevens Saint Bernard sur Mer, having had some vegetation growth with new trees and bushes.

Other great layouts included, Don Moyses Crystal Brook. SARMA's Strathburn, Adelaide Modellers Group Terowie North (in full). Planes of Fame, Harry Potter made an appearance, the old model collectors were out, with their fine collections, and a couple lego layouts, one not to out done by SDS.

SDS 900 class

Sometime ago, I think I mentioned that SDS models were progressing on a programme of models for the South Australian modeller, using old Austrains moulds and new. I had heard a while ago that a 900 class English Electric diesel was, as you would say, on the go, and now engineering samples have arrived. A picture was 'posted' in the Australian Model Railway Magazine, and the following photo was added to the SDS facebook page recently. (Lets ignore the one in the middle).