Haywards Estate Railway

[Ken Ford]

Looking great, Gavin! If I can ask - what are the approximate dimensions of your baseboard, and what radius on your loop ends? I'm still trying to get a handle on sizes in Gn15... too much HO in my blood, I guess.

[Gavin Sowry]

Looking great, Gavin! If I can ask - what are the approximate dimensions of your baseboard, and what radius on your loop ends? I'm still trying to get a handle on sizes in Gn15... too much HO in my blood, I guess.

24"x43", 8" radius curves, and using PECO On30 track.
The 24" dimension was a given, the length was determined by the tracklayout, which was arranged to fit the buildings.

[Ken Ford]

Thanks, Gavin - it gives me a much better idea what will fit in a given space.

[Gavin Sowry]

Well, the layout has had its first public showing. The 'ride on' boys had an official opening of their new clubrooms today. Big event, lots of people, live band, food, trains...all the drama. Clubrooms were opened by Richard Taylor (5 time Oscar winner from Weta Workshop, Lord of the Rings, King Kong, and all that). I took along Haywards Estate, and set it up on one of the picnic tables in the park, and ran on battery for a few hours. Inspires one to 'carry on'.
In fact, at one stage, it brought the live steamers to a halt. One of our garden railway group was driving a train and curiousity got the better of him...he just stopped his train, full of passengers, and wandered over to have a look.

[DCRfan]

I didn't make it there until late in the day when everything was being packed up but there was one impressive 7.25 inch gauge loco still running around Now with a real cab it would make a nice Gn9 prototype

[Gavin Sowry]

Went back again today, this time I took the grandkids. Had a wonderfull time. That loco is a South African NGG 11 class I believe, one quarter full size. That's Lexi Browne driving, he finished building the loco which was started by a live steam enthusiast/builder in Stokes Valley.

[Gavin Sowry]

A monumental change in philosophy has come about on the Haywards Estate Railway. Due to the fact that a set of Bachmann V skips has arrived at the Estate, and from a purely practical operating point of view, I've gone the Kadee way. Not irrevocably by the way. I can convert the gas mechanical back at any time to link and pin, thanks of course to Steve's ingeneous kit. The front of the gasser has the Sidelines attachment retained. I did find that running in reverse, whilst possible, was frought with danger. OK, I may draw a few frowns from the purists, but the last thing I want is stuff ups when showing to the public. The main thing is, they work too well to be ignored, and I'm happy with them.

Wagon No.1 has been semi retired to detail the interior of the workshop, the the bloke that was riding it, is now doing chores there as well.

[Steve Bennett]

Go with what works for you Gavin, dont think anyone will blame you for that .

[Glen A]

I was very happy with my gas mechanical and V hoppers. They ran continuously for two days without any problems. In fact once I get my show payment, I am seriously considering getting some more.

Your layout is looking good.

Can you (or Paul) email me one decent size photo of each of your layouts as they appear at the show in November?
I might just do a Gn15 feature page in a forthcoming Garden Whistle....

[Gavin Sowry]

Honest, I just plonked my layout down on a picnic table..along comes Rob England with his camera, and this is what you get.



....and the train was moving all the time.

[DCRfan]

8)
....and the train was moving all the time.

Ah, if it was moving where's the driver Is that him at the long drop

[Gavin Sowry]

8)
....and the train was moving all the time.

Ah, if it was moving where's the driver

Ah, yes, been meaning to talk to you about finding a suitable bod to grace the cab. The 'mechanics' don't fit, can't get their knees in. I understand, though, that it is compulsory to have a 'Jon' driving if you are to be accepted by the Gn15 crowd. The photo is history now, that wagon is 'in the shed' and the fella that was on board, is now working in there too. The loco has since received some weathering.

[Gavin Sowry]

And, just to keep you interested, another view....more like a publicity shot for the Guv's new Morris truck.




Photo courtesy of Rob England

[DCRfan]

Ah, yes, been meaning to talk to you about finding a suitable bod to grace the cab. The 'mechanics' don't fit, can't get their knees in.

Saw, file and some filler will soon sort out knobbly knees We should get together over the long weekend.

[Steve Bennett]

Fabulous photo's Gavin, I had to look twice at the first one, first glance I thought you had found a prototype for the Bachmann loco .
The backdrop just fits perfectly, a happy accident maybe, but it works great.

[Rockley Bottom]

Hi Gavin

Great picture, I did a double take when I saw the tree in the background.

I used one of Steve Bennett's figures as a driver and put him under the knife for some heavy reshaping. The seat and the position of the driver were the first things I did to my Gas Mechanical. The bonnet etc used up what space was left. That is why I had to build my own hood.



Must try a full cab when I can find another chassis

Ralph

[andrew milner]

Nice photo's of a well modelled scene Is the Minor one of the 1:26th ones? It looks pretty close to scale without anything too close to give it away By the way (plug coming ) There are two versions of leg shape available on my figures via Steve and with the arms separate they are should fit most spaces (plug over)

[Glen A]

Nice photos Gavin (or should I say Rob).
Is the Morris a die cast or plastic?
Acorn models in Chch have got a couple of plastic 1:26 scale Morris convertibles cars for $13 each (a blue one and grey one). They are made by Scale Models, I think. I got a red one to put on module 3 (which is still in the planning stage in my head at the moment, and I need to finish modules 1 & 2 before I start it!).

[Gavin Sowry]

The Morrie is one of the 1:26 die casts. Price sounds about right. Bought the grandson one too....want doors that open car, grandad (please).

[Alan]

Useful tip about the "½" never heard of that one before, must try and remember of course, should you forget the second 1 you get this "◄" sure that must have it's uses

The ALT key combinations should all be four digits so I'm not sure why [ALT] + 171 produces ½. It does though! The official method is [ALT] + 0189. One less produces ¼ and one more produces ¾. All useful.

If you use Word for Windows, go to the "Insert Symbol" option in the menu, it will give you the "Alt Code" for any number of interesting symbols and things!

... or Click Start > Run and type "charmap" in the box before clicking on [OK]. SAves firing up Microsoft Office, especially if you chose not to afford it. Charmap is a component of Windows, not Office.

[Gavin Sowry]

Ah, yes, been meaning to talk to you about finding a suitable bod to grace the cab. The 'mechanics' don't fit, can't get their knees in.

Saw, file and some filler will soon sort out knobbly knees We should get together over the long weekend.

Haywards Estate Railway apologises for the temporary break in transmission....I've been sawing, filing, and bogging

The mechanic DOES fit (now). Undercoat is drying as we speak.

[Gavin Sowry]

Driver now in cab, and actually looking like he belongs there.

Yeah, yeah, I know, you want to see the photos...good things come to those that wait (someone once said).

[michael]

Fabulous Pics Gavin I too did a double take on the first shot.

[Gavin Sowry]

Loved that shot of Rob's so much, I commissioned a painting of it... yours to share and enjoy



The artist is Win Dows, you may know of him.

[Peter]

The artist is Win Dows, you may know of him.

Aye, I have a lot of respect for his early work, but his recent projects seem to stray from the theme abit. Not to mention his unstable relationship with the Ware brothers, Soft and Hard, and his anti-Penguin antics. Still his train pictures are very nice.

I like the effect Gavin