It doesn't matter now

Well I guess no one was able to come up with any suggestions regarding my wheat sheds. It doesn't matter now, because I sent an email to my Sister-in-law's, Brother-in-law, in Boggabri, and he gladly replied with an answer. You see, "to quote", the wheat bags were placed on old sleepers and then timbers were placed across the bags when they got high enough, and another three (3) layers of wheat bags were placed on top of this again. Now there is no way a metal roof could be lifed up and tied to the timbers, so I'm guessing it would have been a tarp cover. But Bob didn't say !!

The wheat stacks I think, is being refered too

These appear to have a metal roof.

I have done two (2) metal roof sheds, and with the remaining platform space I may do a stack and put a tarp over it. "Food for thought". My sheds are nowhere near these sizes, as space is a problem, as we all know.
This week I was going to start the large water tank stand for Moree, but when I sized up the stand at double height that Peter Boorman suggests in his kit, it is very unstable, and I don't want it to collapse with the weight of the water in it. My decision is what I first thought some time ago, to do it in brass. Now I'm unable to find a hobby shop who has brass "I" beams.
Just can't help myself. I should be getting in and painting my buildings and getting them finished, but yesterday I started on a "A5" station building for the passing loop platform. Found the plans in an early edition of "Australian Model Railway Journal" magazine and thought, that's what would look good and different.
Well, maybe I will have some finished items which I can photograph and post on my next blog, see how I go !!
Cheers for now.

Brisbane Train Show

Well the weekend has been and gone, and I don't intend to rave on about it, as I'm sure Craig and Geoff will no doubt cover it in detail.
We enjoyed the show. My wife and I flew up to Brisbane on Friday, direct from Port Macquarie, and back home on Monday. We left Brisbane on time and arrived back at Port 15 minutes early. (The pilot was a lead foot, and it is also down hill). On both flights I was looking for Andrew (Bowen Creek), but no sightings. He must be scared of flying!! It was a pleasure meeting Ian (Muswellbrook and Merriwa Railway) and Darren (Nimmitabell Extension) at the show.
I didn't buy much, only a "Peter Boorman" water tank stand, Kadee's, some "Grandt Line" scenery fixtures, and "Simply Glues", good gear, and some lunch. Ian and Helen kindly dropped the "good gear" off at our home on their way through, as it wasn't allowed on the plane. Ian and I did some reminiscing over a cuppa and discussed different ways of doing things. Ian and I go back to the 1970's, and the ideas will be evident as I post future blogs.
Going back two (2) blogs ago when I said that it will take me about three (3) months to build the tank stand, well looking at the brass etching, it maybe longer (I'm hesitant to make a start).
I have been working on the wheat bags for the wheat platform, and they only need painting now, so now I can make the "lean to" roofing. The only other thing I don't know about is what the ground cover was on the platform. Was it earth, concrete or bitumen?? Any ideas, so that I can have someone to blame if it's wrong !! 
Till next time, Cheers for now.

Boggabri Freezer Works.

The freezer works is completed. The cooling tower is finished, now have to work out how to get the creates out of the freezer shed and into the "K" truck.
As I have pictures from two sources, I will acknowledge both, as I'm not sure who supplied what. I do know who gave me the pictures of the pumping station, but I don't know the Ladie's name. My apoligies go to her when she views this blog.
  

Picture courtesy of Boggabri Historical Society
or
Boggabri Local News Paper.

I was asked why the bucket is next to the drain and tap, it's in case of a fire!!
At our group meeting last Saturday, I was asked if I would lend a building for our end of May meeting and to leave it unpainted. This meeting is planned to be a demo meet. So this might be the demo.

Boggabri

Here are a few missing photo's that I posted some Blogs back, but I can't find them, so I'm posting them again. They are of the Station and Goods Shed and only require window glazing, detailing bits, and painting to finish them.

So you can see why I want to finish Boggabri first.

The water tower stand which I wanted to do in brass was unsuccesful. The brass wire (10 thou) was too fine to solder end on, and was breaking away from the brass tension rings. My alternative is to use strip styrene "I" beam and 30 thou rod and styrene rings. This is the way I've chosen to go. It shouldn't take long to make, I estimate about 3 months !!

Just two of the types of Buffer stops I have made. I like a bit of variation on my layouts.

While all this is going on, I have also cut out the walls for the Freezer Works, but that can keep for my next blog.

Cheers.

Looking Up

Over the last week or so I have been doing some scratch building as I explained in my previous blog. Although I have done a fair bit, I have the painting to do, to finish them off. I prefer to scratch build, than to plaster and grass. I have decided that seeing I have more done for Boggabri, than Moree, this is where I will consentrate on, and work my way around the layout. Maybe I am thinking this way because Moree Station is going to be more of a challenge for me. The other thing is, the Goods Shed at Moree, when was the green Colourbond one built ?? Is it supposed to be in my era. Thursday while I was in Port Macquarie I bought some brass rod 3/32" for the water pipe at the pumping station by the river. I have bent these to the shape of the river bank and soldered brass washers on them to represent the pipe flanges at each join. (Being soldered should prevent any water leaks). Also I have made up some buffer stops. Just got tired of my trains running off the end of the tracks. I have made 2 styles, one you see with the buffers and the other with a steel plate on the cross beams.

Pumping Station (No Piping as yet)

Pumping Station

What will be the water tower.
Note also the Buffer stop.

Wool Loading Bank

Wheat Loading Platform

Well thats about it for this week, cheers for now.

Back into it again.

Well April 1st has been and gone and I'm so glad I don't have to relay Kamilaroi. I just couldn't bring myself to feed that fine scale rail into code 75 sleepers. I actually did this exercise last year when I fed "N" scale track into code 75 sleepers and was amazed at the result. It will match to code 75 points and there is a difference in width of about .02mm, if that. You can barely feel it with your finger. Fine scale wheels would have no problems negotiating the join. I made mention of this to Bob (SCR) and we thought what an idea for April 1st. Bob puts over a brilliant story line.
Now to Kamilaroi. I have got back into doing a bit of kit bashing and scratch building. I sat out in the train room and thought to myself, I must get rid of these kits and building materials stored here, they're driving me crazy sitting in boxes.
I have built the two loading ramps, one for Moree and the other for Boggabri. Also a wheat platform for Boggabri. This platform had lean-to sheds on it to protect the bagged wheat (as it was in those days) from the harsh weather conditions. I have obtained many of Casula Hobbies wheat loads and these will have to be hacked around and glued to form the stacked wheat in the undercovers.

Wheat sheds

I also built the pump house for the river at Boggabri. It was used to pump water from the river to the water tower at the station, for locomotives if required. It no longer exists as it was washed away in a flood many moons ago, but a women from the Boggabri Historical Society was so overwhelmed when I asked her if I could have a copy of her photos she took while it existed just before the flood.

Pumping Station.

My other project is the two water towers. These are only half built so far. Building the towers of Brass "I" beams will be a challenge, especially when I try to solder the supporting braces with the adjusting rings into it. I will use two different types of solder, normal for the "I" beams and low melt for the braces. See how I go !!
Cheers for now.

Trainorama 42's

Hi,
Nothing has been happening on the hobby scene at all here. Old wounds are reoccuring on and off, so been taking things easy all the while. While lazing around I decided to buy a Trainorama 42, and under power it has a horrible "hum" in it. I rang Tom's Hobbies and was asked to return it and they would fit a new mech into it. This was last Monday week. Today I got a phone call from Tom's to say they could not hear the hum and that they were fitted with a less superior motor to the other Trainorama locos and the quality was not as good.
I then made a trip to a friend whom has a similar setup to me and listened to his loco and it was dead quiet compared to mine.
I then rang Tom's back and explained that I was testing running another 42 and how quiet it was. They said their technician would not be back until Saturday so I told them not to send it back.
Another thing they told me was that the business has completely changed staff and none of the previous staff are there anymore. This means my promise for a new mech is no more.
If you have a problem with your 42,   I would like to hear from you.
Cheers for now.