Ambasador Works... Chocolate Box Micro

[Colin Peake]

Thanks for the comments on the couplings folks, might be worth further trials when I get time. I may well consider trying to see if a dummy 'chopper' style front can be added to the Bachmann coupling. For heigh setting I have an old Triang wagon with one of these couplings that acted as coupler height gauge in my OO work.

Those who know the Bachmann range will know that some stock has a dropped shank coupling sat in a NEM pocket (consequently set higher than NEM standard ). This actually fits the Lister but looks very odd!

Colin

[Pandy]

Hmmm, think we might have to look into suppliers for these couplings Although we want to get away from the "toy" image they dont look too bad plus we already have some OO chassis/donor wagons that have tension lock couplers fitted. plus with the current acute financial cramp they may just have the edge over other types.................

[Colin Peake]

Time, as ever, for a quick update....

A couple of weeks ago I played around with the 'Ambassador' printy boxes Steve drew up, and ended up making different designs, colours etc to add some variety. I took the opportunity to re-do the doorway to the building and remove any question of how the crates were stacked.



I've also painted up my scratchbuilt 'estate' style wagon which has come up rather well. I have also finally had the chance to experiment with couplings in true 15" fashion...



...but I think they deserve a topic of their own!

Colin

[dieselwater]

I like the boxes, the variety in colour and design is effective. They're framed nicely by the doorway

[Glen A]

The way you have stacked the boxes looks really natural Colin.
You end up being so distracted looking at the range of colours and angles due to the way they are stacked, that you don't even notice that the shed has no depth to it.

[Steve Bennett]

A couple of weeks ago I played around with the 'Ambassador' printy boxes Steve drew up, and ended up making different designs, colours etc to add some variety.

Damn, think I need to add some variation to mine now, they look really good in different colours. Great idea Colin.

[Colin Peake]

Thanks for the comments about the boxes, more will be required in due course to load all the wagons scuttling about the works.

Wagons? More than one?! Yup!! Impressed with how the flat wagon turned out I have started work on another three wagons to the same basic design. As with the first (which has had a gestation period of years) they are based on underframe parts (well, solebars and 'W' irons) from OO gauge kit wagons.



Two two-plank versions with Airfix mineral wagon kit underpinnings, and one flat with Parkside parts hidden away underneath.



One of the two-plankers. Lots of detail still to add, including wood grain, more strapping, bolt heads etc.



Side view for the size curious. This one actually incorporates underframe parts used for a second wagon when the first was started all those years ago. Not sure why that one got scrapped!

More pictures as they progress....

Colin

[Steve Bennett]

Nice work Colin, I like the proportions, did you use what we discussed some time back

[Colin Peake]

Nice work Colin, I like the proportions, did you use what we discussed some time back

Thanks! Yes, just about that size, from memory they are 58x40mm they are probably the biggest Ambassador works can handle, but I think a longer train on a bigger layout would look pretty neat too. One day... one day...

Colin

[Little Andi.]

Just a quick post to say I've really enjoyed reading through this thread Colin - spent a very enjoyable cup of coffee and a half hour or so simply immersing myself into your Thoughts, trials, and tribulations. Great to follow along as you've pondered and considered - changed your mind and ruminated why?

........... Just Great.

Smashing, thanks................. Andi

[Colin Peake]

Thanks for that Andi, I must say that reading your threads is proving equally absorbing!

There have been developments today on Ambassador Works, all will be revealled soon...

Colin

[Colin Peake]

The other day I was (finally) handed a second Ferrero Roche box and could therefore start work on 'phase 2' of development of Ambassador Works. I have never really got on with using the cassette system so my priority was to incorporate a point to bring the two lines together... luckily my spares box contained a working Peco 0-16.5 point from days of yore and there were a few offcuts of track left over from the original version of the cassette. So here is phase 2 of the layout:



Link to the original part is by fishplates, soldered to the rails of the new section:



All electrical connections are now mde on the new section, including a proper plug-in point for the controller for the first time. Point operation is by slide switch, also changing frog polarity:



The old cassette now forms the headshunt, and it is an inch too short to hold the Lister and three wagons behind the point!


(or bigger here: https://flic.kr/p/ZYV5ku)

Although the layout could still be used in original form, at present I have disconnected the wires on that section, the new set-up is preferable to me

More as it develops....

Colin

[Willow Creek Traction]

More as it develops....

More photos of the layout, or more workbench clutter?

[Steve Bennett]

Ok, that gets an official WOW from me
The extension changes the character of the layout completely and your Lister looks right at home posed on there
Am I right in thinking, that it is just under 3' in length overall It certainly looks longer

[John New]

Modular micro's is a very interesting concept to explore further.

[dieselwater]

I like the new board Do you plan to do more scenic sections in the future to connect to this set up?

[Colin Peake]

Ok, that gets an official WOW from me
The extension changes the character of the layout completely and your Lister looks right at home posed on there
Am I right in thinking, that it is just under 3' in length overall It certainly looks longer

Thanks Steve Yes, a tad under 3 foot at the moment, each box is a convenient foot long. Dieselwater, there is the chance of another module at some point, however the longer term idea may be something a little more conventional. We shall see...

I have knocked up a quick concept sketch for this section:



Essentially a roadway will dip down over the lines, making the existing pillar a disused gatepost, the road may be blocked off on the other side, I don't know.... The curved roofed structure is a grounded standard gauge wagon body, whilst the run off will be part screened by a corugated iron fence. Well, that's the plan for now...

Colin

[NeilHB]

Colin,

I must say I really like how the layout has developed. Love the idea for the extension, really seems to all fit together nicely.
Think I've got one of these Ferrero Rocher boxes floating around somewhere in my train room, I see an idea forming!

Wonderful work as always.

[Simon Moore]

This is going to look brilliant when it's all put together and scenery added, the first 'board' looks brilliant and the sketch for the second shows it will only add to the looks. I've never seen before what you meant about the Lister being big for the layout Colin but actually seeing the zoomed out view I do see.

Very much look forward to seeing more!

[Jon Randall]

I like the sketch Colin. The standard gauge van will make a great talking point.
With regards to the ex-cassette, how about mounting it in a Ferrero Rocher lid and adding rough, dirty coloured varnish and hey presto a bridge surrounded by flood water.

[Korschtal]

I really like the look of the second half and the ideas for it, looking forward to developments.

I'm itching to build something again now, only a few weeks until we move...

[dieselwater]

Gnreat sketch. The layout is gnoing to look fantastic

[Colin Peake]

I like the sketch Colin. The standard gauge van will make a great talking point.
With regards to the ex-cassette, how about mounting it in a Ferrero Rocher lid and adding rough, dirty coloured varnish and hey presto a bridge surrounded by flood water.

Thanks Jon (and all who have commented on the sketch!), I do like that bridge idea, may have to think along those lines as a possibility... we shall see, need to get this phase built first!

Colin

PS, good luck with the move Andy!

[Colin Peake]

A little update on progress!

Plenty of time, cardboard, newspaper and some treated balsa have been added to the board since the last pictures were taken... and the form of the land is now in place:



What isn't immediately apparent is that the section over the plugs and wiring is removeable to allow access to the wiring if required. This is seen to (slightly) better advantage in this lower level shot:



I have mocked up the grounded van body based on dimensions of a 4mm scale model, hopefully this will sit OK size wise with the existing builing - haven't had the two sections back together yet!

Colin

[More_Cats_Than_Sense]

I have mocked up the grounded van body based on dimensions of a 4mm scale model, hopefully this will sit OK size wise with the existing builing - haven't had the two sections back together yet!

I've seen the size of Gauge 3 Box vans, they are BIG!

Like what you are doing Colin