#modelrailway — Public Fediverse posts

He has arrived!

Perfect timing. Thanks to photogra-fix.com for a super job.

#binface #ModelRailway #gartenbahn

He has arrived!

Perfect timing. Thanks to photogra-fix.com for a super job.

#binface #ModelRailway #gartenbahn

Spent ages making a jig to glue the base and ends to the sides and now I don't think I need it.

I've returned to the sides - where they are glued together leaves a glue mark and there should be a piece of plastic to cover that. What I'm learning is that the kit doesn't contain all the parts so you have to improvise.

Here's 5 lengths of 0.8mmx1mm printed on the printer ready to cut and glue.

Next is probably the hardest bit for me - painting it teak

#IanKirk #modelrailway #7MM #ogauge #LNER

Spent ages making a jig to glue the base and ends to the sides and now I don't think I need it.

I've returned to the sides - where they are glued together leaves a glue mark and there should be a piece of plastic to cover that. What I'm learning is that the kit doesn't contain all the parts so you have to improvise.

Here's 5 lengths of 0.8mmx1mm printed on the printer ready to cut and glue.

Next is probably the hardest bit for me - painting it teak

#IanKirk #modelrailway #7MM #ogauge #LNER

Bärstadts bekanntester Bewohner mit seinem blauen Bauwagen auf der Anlage der Modelleisenbahnfreunde Odenwaldkreis. (06/12/2025)

#modellbahnfreunde_odenwald #bärstadt #michelstadt #odenwald #löwenzahn #modelbuilding #peterlustig #bauwagen #ZDF #kindheit #modellbahn #modellbahnh0 #modelleisenbahn #landscapemodel #modelrail #modellbahnanlage #modelrailway #modelrailroad #hOscale #kinderprogramm #h0scale #1zu87 #187scale #h0 #modeltrainlayout #modeltrains #hO #kleingarten #tvsendung #üwagen

Damn. Was doing some testing of the railway - clearing out the storage sidings to do some work on them - and found I forgot to cut away a piece of plywood from one of the recently fitted upper baseboards. It blocks the outer track on the helix! I can see the marks I made for the cuts. But, um, forgot. And clearly I hadn’t run trains with the boards installed. Or if I had, only with rolling stock that just happened to squeeze past.

Can I remove enough without removing the board? Probably not. Best, I think, to accept now that the board is coming out again. Albeit briefly. What a pain. Also I’d just populated it with rolling stock from the storage sidings. So I need to move all them again too.

I might just have a quick go to see how accessible that spot is, anyway. Just in case.

#ModelRailway #snafu

Damn. Was doing some testing of the railway - clearing out the storage sidings to do some work on them - and found I forgot to cut away a piece of plywood from one of the recently fitted upper baseboards. It blocks the outer track on the helix! I can see the marks I made for the cuts. But, um, forgot. And clearly I hadn’t run trains with the boards installed. Or if I had, only with rolling stock that just happened to squeeze past.

Can I remove enough without removing the board? Probably not. Best, I think, to accept now that the board is coming out again. Albeit briefly. What a pain. Also I’d just populated it with rolling stock from the storage sidings. So I need to move all them again too.

I might just have a quick go to see how accessible that spot is, anyway. Just in case.

#ModelRailway #snafu

I tested whether the Kirk kit would stick to the jig accidentally by using an off-cut sprue and it didn't so that's good.

Both sides carefully sanded with wet and dry and glued with Slaters MEK-PAK now - next is to cut the plasticard to length and glue it to the back when the glue has set to give it some rigidity.

Then I guess I need to paint it teak. That'll be a challenge for me....

#IanKirk #7MM #LNER #modelrailway #ogauge

I tested whether the Kirk kit would stick to the jig accidentally by using an off-cut sprue and it didn't so that's good.

Both sides carefully sanded with wet and dry and glued with Slaters MEK-PAK now - next is to cut the plasticard to length and glue it to the back when the glue has set to give it some rigidity.

Then I guess I need to paint it teak. That'll be a challenge for me....

#IanKirk #7MM #LNER #modelrailway #ogauge

Recreating real life! #ModelRailway

Recreating real life! #ModelRailway

I caved and got my ugly American thing. In the end, I felt continuing my series of models of locos I’ve worked on was worth doing. #ModelRailway

I caved and got my ugly American thing. In the end, I felt continuing my series of models of locos I’ve worked on was worth doing. #ModelRailway

This evening I installed the second baseboard across the end of the existing layout. But before I could do that I had some final helix work to do.

First off, the last bit needed ballasting, and then where the ballast stops I painted the track bed black.

The helix emerges from a tunnel mouth into the station. I wanted to install a section of tunnel wall over the top of the last 120° of the top of the helix so that the train really does emerge from proper darkness. There are a lot of LEDs under the boards, some flash, some are just bright. I don’t want any light leakage.

So I 3D printed some formers that clip onto the helix, then cut sections of shaper sheet to fit over the top, the insides painted black. It’s not super neat, but it works…

#ModelRailway #BranchLine #Helix #Progress

This evening I installed the second baseboard across the end of the existing layout. But before I could do that I had some final helix work to do.

First off, the last bit needed ballasting, and then where the ballast stops I painted the track bed black.

The helix emerges from a tunnel mouth into the station. I wanted to install a section of tunnel wall over the top of the last 120° of the top of the helix so that the train really does emerge from proper darkness. There are a lot of LEDs under the boards, some flash, some are just bright. I don’t want any light leakage.

So I 3D printed some formers that clip onto the helix, then cut sections of shaper sheet to fit over the top, the insides painted black. It’s not super neat, but it works…

#ModelRailway #BranchLine #Helix #Progress

OK - been through my Dad's kits and I have the following Ian Kirk 7mm Kits:

7206B LNER 61'6" Buffet Car
3 x 7208 LNER 61'6" Gresley Open Third
7206 LNER 61'6" Buffet Car
LNER Quint Art set which I believe to be complete
Sparmac 61'6" Full Brake

I guess as there's 3 of the Open Thirds, I'll start with them.

I know I need to make a jig to make sure everything's level - off to do some more research.

#modelrailway #IanKirk #7mm #OGauge

OK - been through my Dad's kits and I have the following Ian Kirk 7mm Kits:

7206B LNER 61'6" Buffet Car
3 x 7208 LNER 61'6" Gresley Open Third
7206 LNER 61'6" Buffet Car
LNER Quint Art set which I believe to be complete
Sparmac 61'6" Full Brake

I guess as there's 3 of the Open Thirds, I'll start with them.

I know I need to make a jig to make sure everything's level - off to do some more research.

#modelrailway #IanKirk #7mm #OGauge

The corner board is just about ready now for static grass. Fences fixed in place, trees balanced (for now), some other scenery decisions made and orders placed.

#ModelRailway

The corner board is just about ready now for static grass. Fences fixed in place, trees balanced (for now), some other scenery decisions made and orders placed.

#ModelRailway

Also been working on a better N-Possible coupler conversion for the Kato NW2 using a SBX model coupler. It requires a bit more cutting and shutting than the drop-in URS replacements, but will look a lot better in the end, will fill the giant hole left by the stock coupler removal, and should actually end up with the knuckle at the correct height above the rail head.

#NScale #ModelRailroad #ModelRailway

Also been working on a better N-Possible coupler conversion for the Kato NW2 using a SBX model coupler. It requires a bit more cutting and shutting than the drop-in URS replacements, but will look a lot better in the end, will fill the giant hole left by the stock coupler removal, and should actually end up with the knuckle at the correct height above the rail head.

#NScale #ModelRailroad #ModelRailway

More fine N-scale goodness: Bluford hopper, N-Possible couplers, Intermountain wheel sets, and MicroEngineering code 40 rail (code 55 behind that).

#NScale #ModelRailroad #ModelRailway

More fine N-scale goodness: Bluford hopper, N-Possible couplers, Intermountain wheel sets, and MicroEngineering code 40 rail (code 55 behind that).

#NScale #ModelRailroad #ModelRailway

We’re inching closer to these two baseboards getting permanently installed in the next few days. Exciting times.

Put the last two backscenes on the wall, they’re not perfect but the dodgy parts won’t be visible.

#ModelRailway

We’re inching closer to these two baseboards getting permanently installed in the next few days. Exciting times.

Put the last two backscenes on the wall, they’re not perfect but the dodgy parts won’t be visible.

#ModelRailway

Yesterday, inspired by the scratch building I’ve seen on YouTube, and Wallsrail in particular, I put this together. It’s the brick wall that will sit behind the small signal box on the branch line. Tonight the paints are out, let’s see if I can make it a bit more engineering brick colour and add some weathering… 😱

#ModelRailway #progress

Yesterday, inspired by the scratch building I’ve seen on YouTube, and Wallsrail in particular, I put this together. It’s the brick wall that will sit behind the small signal box on the branch line. Tonight the paints are out, let’s see if I can make it a bit more engineering brick colour and add some weathering… 😱

#ModelRailway #progress

Picked up a Bachmann Old Timer combine to see if I could steal its trucks for the CB&Q waycar. Have some mechanicals to sort out with it still but looks a lot better than the stock Bettendorf freight trucks already.

#CBQ #ModelRailroad #ModelRailway

Picked up a Bachmann Old Timer combine to see if I could steal its trucks for the CB&Q waycar. Have some mechanicals to sort out with it still but looks a lot better than the stock Bettendorf freight trucks already.

#CBQ #ModelRailroad #ModelRailway

Visiting Miniatur-Wunderland

#miniaturwunderland #miwula #modelrailway #Hamburg

Visiting Miniatur-Wunderland

#miniaturwunderland #miwula #modelrailway #Hamburg

Started on the ballasting today. I’m using a fine ballast blend from Model Scenics, laid down mainly by hand with a teaspoon, then fixed with a 50/50 PVA and water mix with some washing up liquid in it. In this heat, this lot should be dry enough for me to turn the board round and do the track on the far side tomorrow evening.

Station platform is protected by two layers of Clingfilm so that I can get the ballast right up against it without glueing it in place 🤞

#ModelRailway

Started on the ballasting today. I’m using a fine ballast blend from Model Scenics, laid down mainly by hand with a teaspoon, then fixed with a 50/50 PVA and water mix with some washing up liquid in it. In this heat, this lot should be dry enough for me to turn the board round and do the track on the far side tomorrow evening.

Station platform is protected by two layers of Clingfilm so that I can get the ballast right up against it without glueing it in place 🤞

#ModelRailway

It's pretty wild how much of a difference the N-Possible couplers make.

This was a low-lift conversion using N-Possible URS in a MT box (a 2004, perhaps?) since Kato's OG coupler is massive and a SBX I put in there just twisted around with all that space.

Still need to do something about the length of the shank somehow - probably by doing it properly and drilling a new hole to mount a SBX.

#NScale #NPossible #ModelRailroad #ModelRailway

It's pretty wild how much of a difference the N-Possible couplers make.

This was a low-lift conversion using N-Possible URS in a MT box (a 2004, perhaps?) since Kato's OG coupler is massive and a SBX I put in there just twisted around with all that space.

Still need to do something about the length of the shank somehow - probably by doing it properly and drilling a new hole to mount a SBX.

#NScale #NPossible #ModelRailroad #ModelRailway

I blogged about another one of my #modeltrains - a German express train with a steam locomotive.

https://makingtracks.ah-web.org/train-portraits-express-train-with-steam/

#modelrailway

I blogged about another one of my #modeltrains - a German express train with a steam locomotive.

https://makingtracks.ah-web.org/train-portraits-express-train-with-steam/

#modelrailway

This nifty open source hardware device is a small DCC command station which also is capable of updating firmware and sound projects on Zimo decoders.

This weekend I finally put it into the 3D printed case I've had for a while but needed to modify a bit. The LED states are surfaced to the outside of the case via 2mm acrylic rods acting as light conductors.

Details about the device and case can be found at https://openremise.at

#modelrailway #3dprinting

This nifty open source hardware device is a small DCC command station which also is capable of updating firmware and sound projects on Zimo decoders.

This weekend I finally put it into the 3D printed case I've had for a while but needed to modify a bit. The LED states are surfaced to the outside of the case via 2mm acrylic rods acting as light conductors.

Details about the device and case can be found at https://openremise.at

#modelrailway #3dprinting

#Today #3Things

1. Did a very fiddly and intricate #NGauge #ModelRailway task that I don't have the energy to describe properly but rest assured I'm satisfied and happy that one of my coaches is now running and coupling properly.

2. Our guys work fast and we now have 4 #solar streetlights at intervals along our driveway, each on a home made 4.5m pole.

3. Wife is seeing her brother in Davao this weekend, so until Monday afternoon it's just me and the #dogs. And the goats. And the chickens. And one of our workers. And his duck. Quack. Went to mow a meadow...

@pelicangut How big are they? Would one of them fit in my backyard? I want one - looks like it would make for a nice #modelrailway installation...

#Tech post! #Today I finally found time to remove #Fedora from my #Linux laptop. I had intended to replace it with #MXLinux - in fact for a couple of hours I did - but in the end I had so many problems customising #KDE #Plasma that I actually stopped and had a rethink.

I had always liked Plasma for its customisability, but wrestling with panel configuration seems to be getting harder - or I'm getting older - and I just couldn't get the desktop how I wanted it. After 2 hours I realised life was too short for such nonsense.

I needed a polished distro with fractional scaling on #HiDPI displays, and after some research to get me up to date, I plumped for #Pop_OS with its #COSMIC desktop.

Pop_OS is great - it has a solid #Ubuntu base and the UI feels far more consistent and robust than either KDE or #Gnome - but my essential #Java app, the #JMRI #ModelRailway control software, looked awful at any scale. Jagged fonts, boxes overflowing, etc.

After a lot of searching I found a shell command to force font anti-aliasing for old Java apps (comment if you need a link to the Gist), and with a few more tweaks finally all was well.

Pop_OS, like MX Linux, seems to be AI-neutral rather than overtly AI-positive like Fedora, so I've achieved my original goal, even if it took me in an unexpected direction.

Model railway update! The two corner boards are progressing nicely. I’ve used some thick acrylic tarmac paint to paint in the road, and finished the brown undercoat everywhere else, on both boards.

I’ve been working on the point rodding and that is now about two thirds done. After that it’s ballasting and then base scatters for the grass areas.

The loose short piece of track in the first photo is to be fitted shortly to allow the point rodding to be completed on the curved point. If you study really closely, the rodding is probably not quite right but that won’t be noticeable once the boards are installed.

#ModelRailway #Progress #OOGauge

New narrow gauge loco! #ModelRailway

Obviously I'm getting one. #ModelRailway #CountBinface

Ok, brilliant. Someone I know has started selling model railway scale models of Count Binface #ModelRailway #CountBinface

https://www.photogra-fix.com/product-page/countbinface

#ModelRailway #NGauge

My birthday present to myself arrived #today from the UK. A second hand Arlberg Express set of 1990s-era Swiss SBB CFF FFS coaches by #Kato, with interior lighting, absolute mint condition in original boxes, quite hard to find. Clark Railworks for the win, again.