Andrew Barrowman wrote: I won't be posting any pics of my workspace. No siree! Nor me.

Martin.

__________
message ref: 26067

About 4 years ago there was a massive reorganisation, of what had been a bedroom used as a storeroom and model railway workshop, into a dedicated railway room, with both the layout and the workshop. To get a rare glimpse of a tidy space I took a few pics. Here's a couple before the layout itself was installed:





And here's one slightly later with the layout as it was installed:



It is of course nothing like that now!

Nigel

__________
message ref: 26068

That's very impressive indeed Nigel.

Lets see what its really like now, not so much to gloat , as make myself (and possibly others?) feel better...?

Andrew

__________
message ref: 26069

Rob Manchester wrote: Hello Andrew,



Very tidy, well done. Where did you get the 6-drawer unit next to the trolley ? I have a very similar one, minus the castors, that came from Ikea a few years back and is very good for rolling stock storage after I lined the drawer bottoms with some soft material. Last time I looked Ikea didn't seem to list them anymore.



Rob



It looks like it's this:

https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/products/storage-furniture/drawer-units-storage-cabinets/alex-drawer-unit-on-castors-white-art-40196241/

__________
message ref: 26070

richard_t wrote: Rob Manchester wrote: Hello Andrew,

Very tidy, well done. Where did you get the 6-drawer unit next to the trolley ? I have a very similar one, minus the castors, that came from Ikea a few years back and is very good for rolling stock storage after I lined the drawer bottoms with some soft material. Last time I looked Ikea didn't seem to list them anymore.

Rob

It looks like it's this:

https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/products/storage-furniture/drawer-units-storage-cabinets/alex-drawer-unit-on-castors-white-art-40196241/
Thanks for the link Richard, 

Hello Rob

I could well imagine that it would be ideal for stock storage with its shallow drawers. And it’s  pretty good for tools, electrics and track building stuff all of which gets stored in it at the moment. 

I bought mine a year or so ago and its really useful having the castors, as it makes so easy to pull towards me even when sitting down, rather like my new trolley! It’s one downside is that the drawer runners dont allow the drawers to fully open which  can be a frustration. In fact the runners engage in slots in the sides of the drawers and I’ve left them otherwise unscrewed so that if I do need to get to the very back of a draw I can yank it out a bit further. I suppose I could put longer draw runners on it to improve matters...?

When I get bored one day perhaps?

Andrew





__________
message ref: 26071

Richard,

Yes, thanks. That is it. Mine is black which maybe why I didn't spot it on Ikea as that doesn't seem to be a current colour. Mine was a lot cheaper than that but I have had it probably 7 or 8 years.

Andrew,
I made sure to put the drawer securing screws in place. I can imagine what would happen to the drawers otherwise . I took my castors off as it was to be in a fixed location - funnily enough I came across 4 castors last week and couldn't fathom what they had been on, now I know.

I will post a pic of my ( small ) bench next time it is tidy, just to prove I don't model in an armchair

Rob


__________
message ref: 26072

Andrew Duncan wrote: That's very impressive indeed Nigel.

Lets see what its really like now, not so much to gloat , as make myself (and possibly others?) feel better...?

Andrew
Certainly Andrew





These were taken after the layout, desk and floor had been tidied up ....

Nigel

__________
message ref: 26073

Nigel,

Getting ready for the next layout ? - I spot a Walthers HO scale box ( and some Athearn ) under the workbench

Rob


__________
message ref: 26074

Andrew Barrowman wrote: I won't be posting any pics of my workspace. No siree!Hello Andy

Look at it this way. If it’s chaos incarnate, then you’ve made everyone else feel better about theirs. If it’s a picture then we’ll know never to trust a man who can print his own track....good lord whatever next?

Andrew

__________
message ref: 26075

Nigel Brown wrote: Andrew Duncan wrote: That's very impressive indeed Nigel.

Lets see what its really like now, not so much to gloat , as make myself (and possibly others?) feel better...?

Andrew
Certainly Andrew





These were taken after the layout, desk and floor had been tidied up ....

Nigel
Hello Nigel
That’s a very acceptable level of order I’d say. Isn’t it funny how we have quite large benches and all the work takes place in about six square inches of space right on the edge where small bits fly off or drop on the floor never to be seen again. We’re a strange breed. 

Incidentally I rather covet your vice (in an earlier pictures) which looks as though it could do contortions quite readily and in doing so get anything to any angle you desired? Is it as good as it looks?

Andrew



__________
message ref: 26076

Walthers, Athearn, Proto 2000, Atlas, .... you name it! It's an old layout. When I started getting seriously stuck into 3mm/ft, as nearly everything had to be built I realised it was going to take some time to get anywhere, and a lot of time experimenting with things was needed. So I dived into U.S. HO for some light entertainment, while I pursued the 3mm stuff at leisure. Did what I was looking for; here's a couple of pics:





I got a lot out of it, it was the first layout I made a proper go of, and it taught me a lot. One was that I didn't like trains buried out of sight. Another was that if you can't readily access your point motors and one of them fails you're stuck! The first half of the layout was a success but the second half didn't really fit in. The time came when I'd got everything out of it I wanted to, and it was dismantled in preparation for my developing 3mm stuff.

The vice is Proxxon. It's reasonably good; it attaches to the bench by suction, but they also do one with a clamp which may be a better idea. Like most Proxxon stuff it's well made. You can have things at different angles.

Nigel

__________
message ref: 26077

Hi Nigel,

Thanks very much for the US pics. The UP SD7 drifting down is excellent - one of my favorite locos. I know what you mean about point motors - been there.

I love the way US modellers have it easy - no need to choose between 3-link or Jackson/Spratt&Winkle couplers as you just use KD's and you are good to go. No messing about with wagon springing or compensation. Don't even get me started on the many lovely craftsman building kits that have been available.

Proxxon stuff is good although the machines have gone very expensive the last few years. I have the disc sander and the mini circular saw and both are excellent.

Rob


__________
message ref: 26078

While we are on the subject of US practice, what is the diameter of the wheels on modern US freight cars, please?

Martin has got me watching some US trains and the wheels look very small.

John
__________
message ref: 26085

John Lewis wrote: While we are on the subject of US practice, what is the diameter of the wheels on modern US freight cars, please?

Martin has got me watching some US trains and the wheels look very small.

JohnHi John,
Traditionally 33" has been the standard US freight wagon wheel size. 36" wheels are used on some heavy duty cars such as hoppers. A smaller 28" size is often used on cars that carry a tall load such as double stack container wagons to help get the base of the wagon frame as low as possible.

The wheels can look small as some of the cars are rather large, compared to british practice.

Rob


__________
message ref: 26086

Thanks, Rob

John
__________
message ref: 26087

The rot has started....Sorry about the weird angle



__________
message ref: 26088