Pauls Card Challenge Layout

[michael]

Wow!! A kickback on that thing would be lethal. I think I would want a solid table. Looks like it worked well enough though.

[DCRfan]

Don't worry the whare is down a very rough 4x4 track so the OSH inspectors don't visit so he may just get away with it.

On the other hand, perhaps it will be constructed, found to be unsafe and left under the trees to rust and rot away

[DCRfan]

Dear journal, it's certainly been one of those days you will never forget. We all got to the old whare just before seven this rather misty morning and got the fire going to have a brew. We were swapping stories about our great shots at last nights pub pool and darts competition while the boss is still prattling on about that darned neat little bench saw.

Anyway about seven thirty the boss fired up the jigger and we all clambered on board with Hone sitting behind on bolster of the trolley. It was a bit eerie puttering through the mist but when we got to the lagoon things got real interesting.

We were near the middle of the trestle when Hone yelled out to stop as he pointed to something in the water. There was a series of what looked like sharks fins sticking out of the water but they were metal coloured and then we saw the eyes glowing under the water. Hone exclaimed that it was taniwha, the rest of us had no idea. It was the strangest thing, it like it was it was staring at us and then there was the noise like the beat of a slow steam engine.

We didn't know what to do then Hone jumped off the trolley and started doing a haka with his axe in one hand. As if that wasn't scary enough the whole trestle, which is not strong at the best of times, was shaking like mad as Hone stamped his foot onto the sleeper. The boss yelled out for him to stop but he kept going until finally he flung his axe at the taniwha. When it struck there was the strangest sound, like hitting a hollow cardboard box.

That had an immediate reaction from the taniwha. The noise increased ,and steam and air bubbles flew everywhere and the thing rose out of the water. It was the strangest looking thing you have ever seen but it was definitely a submarine straight out of a Jules Vern book. We then realised Hone’s axe was actually embedded in the side of the thing.

The boss sent John to call 111 and get the police as submarines are not allowed in the lagoon. John made his way back along the trestle rather slowly as he stepped from sleeper to sleeper but eventually he made it to the end and climbed the big tree on the right as it’s the only way to get cell phone coverage in the forest. Eventually John called out that he had the Police Emergency Centre in Christchurch on the line but they didn’t have the No Name Silver Pine company on their database nor the location of our tramway. We couldn’t help as we don’t gnow where it is either.

Eventually the boss suggested they call the local cop as he gnows were we are. Anyway a few minutes later he rings and John explained he sounded rather grumpy as he was down the beach fishing, typical. After listening for a while Jon scrambled down the tree and rejoined us. He explained the emergency centre had called the Navy, Army and Air Force but they were all on Christmas leave so couldn’t help. Fred from DOC (Department of Conservation) was coming, as the lagoon was DOC property, along with the local Whale Rescue rep as he was convinced it was a beached whale not a submarine.

Then there was that hollow cardboard sound again. We all spun around to see a hatch opening and a series of pirates appearing. They were the strangest bunch of characters finished in low sheen paint. The Captain called out ‘Who is challenging me’. Hone stepped forward, nearly falling into the water in the process and replied ‘I am’. Suddenly all the anger washed from the faces of the pirates and the captain invited Hone aboard. We were all confused until the boss noticed that Hone was wearing his old black Pirates Rugby Club rugby jersey with the skull and cross bones emblem on the front which the pirates apparently recognised. So Hone jumped down onto the submarine and pulled his axe out of the side.

After a short conversation, which Hone still won’t tell us about, the pirates clambered back into the submarine, the hatch closed and with a several toots on the steam whistle it backed off and chugged into the mist.

As I said it been quite a challenging day but Gnow we all have a gnew appreciation of the versatility of cardboard.

P.S. When the cop arrived with Fred from DOC, the local Whale Rescue rep and Miss Smith, the school teacher, Chairperson of the Literary Society (and a Captain Nemo fan) and founder member of the West Coast Origami Club, they didn’t believe a word of our story. Actually I don’t either Yes its a nice quiet holiday with not much to do

[Geno6309]

Good bit of work, that. You're the next J. K. Rawling.
Hoist another Guinness and have a Merry Christmas.

Edited for spelling, you'd a thought after this many years I, at least, could spell GuinNess

[Steve Bennett]

Edited for spelling, you'd a thought after this many years I, at least, could spell GuinNess

Dont worry, you are not alone. They even print it on the glasses here in the UK and we still forget by the end of the evening

Yet another wonderful tale Paul, all these budding writers on here, we will need a new section soon for all the literature .

[DCRfan]

Dont worry, you are not alone. They even print it on the glasses here in the UK and we still forget by the end of the evening

It is because your glasses and beer are warm Try putting them in the fridge first. Cold beer is Gnniesser and better for your memory, at least I think that is what someone told me once. Can't quite remember clearly

[michael]

See what a challenge can do
Great Yarn Paul.

[DCRfan]

The summers crop of Yarrow is just starting to dry out after flowering so getting close to harvest time . I went for a long bike ride today to spy out the best patches after the City Council inconsiderately mowed a huge patch the wife and I have been watching mature for some months:cry:

Then hopefully I will be able to finish the forest (only a couple of months late).

[andrew milner]

I'm sure it will be worth the wait

[DCRfan]

I've just found this picture in an archive linking two of my threads. Note the war time censor has covered the markings on the British Beaverette. I didn't know my tramway was so old. Just what it was doing on the West Coast of New Zealand is a mystery. Possibly it was imported as a prototype for the Kiwi version

[DCRfan]

After taking the above picture I was looking over the layout as I about to start making some more trees when I realised the stub points were not working as there has been about 0.5 mm of movement of the moving rails to the extent one of the soldered joints has ripped the copperclad off the sleeper. The baseboard appears to be straight so could the whole thing be shrinking??

[rue_d_etropal]

I've found that temperature can play havoc with track. Build it in a cold room, move to hot room and track expands, and vicaversa

[Trevor Coburn]

Paul, I experianced similar problems using copper clad tie bars on stub points. (I had about 30 on vairious 0n3 & 0n2 layouts). in the end I used the type of copper-clad that is fibreglass based. Removed the copper, it will peel off using a blade & very hot 75W + soldering iron. Drill two holes on the out side of the rail, (I was using code 100 on 0n3) then either using 14ba counter sunk bolts from under side solder the rail to those. Allowing just a modicum of movement. The fixed end of the stub rails I just relived the foot so that it would slide easliy in the rail joiner. Dont rely on the bend in the rail, it wont work, too many stresses involved!
Hope that helps

[DCRfan]

Surprisingly the joint that has sprung is on the far side of the frog not the blades which pivot on pins. I don't use rail joiners for the blades.

[DCRfan]

I received confirmation that I have been invited to display the cardboard challenge at an exhibition in Taupo next month so I dragged it in from the garage for a quick survey of jobs to do. Then the wife asked me to recover some of her primary school teaching aids that clutter up 2/3ds of the garage (as Gavin and Chis can confirm )

One of the things on the list is a few more bits of rollingstock. Guess what I found in one of her boxes - a new rail car and new rail bus

[Jon Randall]

Congrats on the show invite Paul.
You're a brave man to cut up such accurate models. Why gnot use them as wagon loads

[DCRfan]

What's happened, has the old man purchased a Tamyia paint franchise



The old veranda has been replaced with a significantly deeper roof to provide a work area. The figure is from the Italieri Truck Acessories kitset.

[Steve Bennett]

The old veranda has been replaced with a significantly deeper roof to provide a work area.

That does look better Paul, seems much more useful than the previous one, good move.

[DCRfan]

Been busy with the yarrow, masking tape and sawdust today making and planting more trees to achieve the original aim of having the tramway disappear into the trees on both sides of the layout. So I've just added five more to one side but they have quickly been swallowed up. Unfortunately to achieve the look I was after needs about 50% more trees A visit to the favourate yarrow patch is planned tomorrow

[Glen A]

I love the way you paint those trunks, Paul.
I would never think of putting white on a tree trunk, but they look so right.

I know what you mean about collecting Yarrow. I have got 2 batches hanging in the glass house now. I stop at Cass and collect a bag or two every time we go over to the west coast now. There should be plenty available to make trees for the new module later.

[DCRfan]

Rather overcast outside today but better than using flash. 42 trees planted, now I can claim the word record for 1:24th scale super feet of timber on a pizza layout.



The setting for the woodcutting and moss gathering scene



Not sure what I did to the colour



Behind Wally-the-Trolley is the start of the moss drying rack

[Will Vale]

Those extra trees make a huge difference, I love how the canopy is continuous in the middle now. The weathering on the shed is great too.

[More_Cats_Than_Sense]

Looks great Hard to believe that there are 42 trees there

[Gerry Bullock]

Transformed Paul a great looking layout.
Now I know where to come when I Gneed some trees; transport could be an issue though.

[Simon Andrews]

Great looking layout Paul. The scenic work is fantastic, very realistic

Simon.