Cassette shelf set-up test
Review stock for exhibition
Review backscene and lighting options for exhibition
Geoff had been busy during the week and applied a coat of dark grey undercoat to all visible parts of the baseboards. Another coat will be applied in due course.
In the first full test, the trestles were set up, shelf arms extended, boards fitted and the cassette shelf dropped into place, and it all worked perfectly.
Realistic wagon loads rather than those with no obvious purpose in the station would be preferred. It was agreed that the layout represented a time when quarry traffic was still abundant, but Worton Court traffic was in decline. A preservation group were in the process of establishing themselves, maintaining basic traffic, but using a wider mixture of stock and exhibits such as the gasifier and generator equipment.
Typical train movements identified were:
Full and empty quarry wagons (loco's TBA) to and from the quarry.
Equipment, supplies and materials to and from the quarry - timber, steels, fuel oil, tar etc.
Passenger trains: loco + two bogies coaches + brakevan and loco + three coaches (maximum for current cassettes).
There is no 'industry' at Worton Court so simple deliveries (originally to the estate) would make the bulk of the trains. Goods in vans, bogie wagons, 4 wheel wagons, coal, coke - simple, but basic movements.
Typical of the discussion:- John's Vale of Rheidol brakevan, although to scale, was considered too large for the line. Peco vans and brakevans were ok. John's Festiniog brakevans would be considered, once the excessive weather was remedied. Coaches derived from Californian tramcar kits were again, too large and over weathered. All of the available bogie coaches were ok and more were available. John's Snailbeach hoppers were passed on the basis that they were nicely modelled and could easily have been used at such a quarry. Class 'D' bogie wagons of different sources were included for use as general carriers, although some work to reduce the amount of pale weathering was required. The bogie coal wagon reminded us that the area between the headshunt and the main siding was to be developed into a coal yard for local residents, which needed to be developed. Coke for the gasifier would be delivered by 4 wheel wagons and Peco wagons would be used, once overhauled. Several wagons were rejected on the basis of their condition, requiring far too much time to repair. John's Peco Hunslet was perfect for passenger use. All other loco's were tested - Laurences 0n30 diesel worked really well, but his LAT was found to be damaged. Geoff's Cambletown Atlantic was too big. Stephens Fleischman 0-4-0 freelance loco needed its flanges filed down. Small diesels and battery loco's would be considered when available. Additional stock from all three of us will be reviewed in due course.
It was noted that a fair bit of stock would not make it onto the layout, but it would still be nice to display some of those items. To this end, a stepped display unit could be formed over the front of the fiddleyard, for the purpose and to hide the yard itself.
The next item for discussion was the backscene. Stephen had been to the Swing show at Littlehampton and had circulated some photos including a very basic continuous backscene with very lightly described clouds, which he thought could be replicated 'in-house'.
Geoff had brought the Gaugemaster cloud backscene discussed the previous week. Simply clamped in place, it was effective in the upper areas, but not at ground level. However, the addition of hedges, trees, fences etc, possibly even on an additional 'bolt-on' frame might pull it together. It certainly changed the appearance of the layout.
Ideally, the backscene should be in one piece as noted at recent shows, which would also require a support system, but this could all be difficult to achieve and costly. We knew that thin, flexible plastic with a scene printed on it was now used, but it might not be possible for us. Geoff suggested some stiffened roller blind material might be suitable as a base for printed sheets to be applied, but how long would it last? Investigation obviously required.
Stephen suggested that whilst the backdrop was possibly something that could be left off if it became unattainable and/or expensive (for just the one show), lighting in what we all remembered was quite a dark hall, could be essential, but only if an inexpensive solution was available. To this end, a friend of Stephen's had 'donated three lengths of redundant LED strip lighting. Some was left-over from a failed experiment and some was just left-over. Stephen will investigate what still worked, power supplies and LED colours, at home. The strips could be mounted in painted rainwater guttering clipped into brackets, fixed to thin metal straps bolted onto the back. This might solve the backdrop support as well.
Geoff's ticket office caravan is making slow progress, but it progress.
