Fear not my little Corkette chums. Your long wait is over - The Corkmeister has returned.....Oh My Lords!
If you've not already heard the word on the street, the big news for this update is the publication of yet another Corkscrew-Lines article in the always magnificent Hornby Magazine...Hellfire! The March 2013 edition includes an in depth article on the portable return loop, or "Turbo-Banjo" as I prefer to call it. The Banjo gets the full treatment with 6 pages of fascinating insightful text and a grand total of 15 absorbing photos! Over-hyped? - Never!....Dreadful!
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| Corky says..."Get your copy while you still can" |
The article includes the blog address details so if you have arrived here for the first time via Hornby Magazine - welcome to the wacky world of the Corkscrew-Lines and my frequent tangent tendencies into full size railways, photography, Prog-Rock, anything model railways and of course adventures with my band of loyal friends and long suffering associates - the Corkettes!
I had submitted an additional photo to Hornby Magazine showing just how portable and manoeuvrable the "Turbo-Banjo" really is but they almost certainly (and quite rightly) considered it too bizarre for publication to a sensible, mainstream model railway audience. But I make no apologies for publishing it here once again for you to enjoy...Dreadful!
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| Obviously time for Corky's medication and a lie down! |
On My Workbench
The workbench in Alton has recently seen the completion of a grand total of 6 Dapol Lowmac kits. These wagons will become part of my "Military Train Project" fleet and are the first in what I hope will be a varied rake of vehicles transporting all kinds of mundane, unusual and down right esoteric 1960s military vehicles. The kits have had a couple of coats of green paint and are now awaiting underframe painting, lettering, weathering and the addition of military vehicles, additional weight and some cosmetic chains to secure their loads. I have fitted Kadee No.5 couplers (see detailed photo below) and wanted to make sure they were operating correctly before I proceeded further so the rake was taken back to the layout and a series of test runs carried out. Even in their current featherweight state they performed faultlessly so I will now try to push on and complete them as soon as possible.
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| Dapol Lowmac having Kadee No.5 couplers fitted |
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| Couplers fitted and checked using Kadee height gauge. |
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| Lowmac rake being test run on the layout |
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| Testing proved successful so the wagons are now back on the workbench for completion |
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| Components gathered - watch this space...Hellfire! |
PROJECT TAT - "Typical Army Truck"
You will no doubt remember from last time (if you were paying attention!) that I outlined my desire to cobble together a representative 1960s British army truck which wouldn't take too long to complete, wouldn't cost too much to build and could reasonably speedily be produced in batches. The trucks would be used as a means of setting the scene and reinforcing the notion that this is a military facility or a troop train is expected at a particular station. Nothing shouts army barracks to me more than a line of canvas backed trucks parked around a parade ground. I have a fascination for military vehicles and as is so often the case with model railways, sub-hobbies and interests can also be incorporated into the main theme.
Progress has been promising and I have now assembled the first batch of 4 trucks. They have been finished to a "good enough" standard because they will be bit part players on the layout and not the main focus of attention. Their role is one of suggestion and reference in key locations so I don't want to lavish too much attention on them. Any "rivet counters" out there would be seen running away screaming and flailing their arms in the air but that doesn't bother me. With a project as large as the Corkscrew-Lines I cannot allow myself to become bogged down with one aspect too much or the layout will never reach a satisfactory level of completion.
Key components are the Airfix kit of the Bedford MK truck of the 1970s which is combined with the Base-Toys Thorneycroft cab in a horrific Frankenstein-esque operation to produce the monster below. I'm pleased enough with it to continue building another batch and at a grand total of £6.49 per truck I'm happy with the price too, especially as the components not used include spare tanker bodies and chassis for future projects.
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| Component parts for Project TAT |
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| You try hailing a cab without success then 11 come along together...Dreadful! |
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| "What a Load of old TAT" |
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| Just some touching up and transfers required and the first batch is complete |
Traction Action!
A detailed look at what's currently happening to the Corkscrew-Lines traction fleet.
Once again my lovely little Corkettes I have to report that I have only actually managed to get home to Jones-Towers for just a few days since the last update. Therefore I have made no further progress with the upgrade to my loco fleet and have no news regarding sound chips, weathering or detailing.
However, the month of March will hopefully see the arrival of perhaps the one iconic loco that I have been looking forward to receiving more than any other since I began this insane project. Yes, the Dapol Western is imminent and if all goes according to plan, next time I update the blog I will have a Green (small yellow panel) and if I'm very fortunate an accompanying Maroon (small yellow panel) class 52 to show you all. I have heard that due to a communication misunderstanding between Dapol and the Chinese manufacturers, the clip-in cabs have unfortunately been glued in which means fitting a traincrew could be very tricky! I'm going to risk it and see what I can do when the models arrive. If it proves impossible then I may reluctantly sell the locos on and re-order others from the next batch without the glued cabs so I can reach my ultimate goal of "Totally Bald Headed Specification" (see update No.37).
Other new models on the horizon include Class 205 Thumpers, Class 22s without headcode boxes, Class 128 parcels railcars and AC-Cars railbuses - all totally HELLFIRE!
Visiting Corkettes (feline friends!)
If you've checked out the "Who is Corky" section you'll know I am currently working as a Signaller at farnham in Surrey. I'd like to introduce you to a couple of my work colleagues who are continuing a tradition going right back to the start of Railway Signal Boxes - the "Box Cats"
I have tried to explain the intricacies of the absolute block section, railway bell-codes and the operation of the fully interlocked lever frame to these scamps but they just don't seem to be able to grasp any of it! Giving them the benefit of the doubt I suppose not having opposable thumbs makes it tricky to operate the lever frame but to be honest I think they just use that as an excuse!
We have now reached an understanding where I will carry out all signalling based duties and deal with the safe passage of the trains and they will be in charge of curling-up, stretching, sleeping and nicking the warmest and most comfortable seats!
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| Regular Farnham Box cat "Camouflage" sitting on the train register. |
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| He normally jumps a considerable distance when the phone rings...Dreadful! |
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| "Wolfie" once again nicks the best seat in the Box....Grrr! |
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| "Wolfie" checks the paperwork for tonight's engineering possession is in order! |
New Arrivals on the Corkscrew-Lines
Various bits 'n bobs have arrived which further my kit building and research projects. I commented this time last year about my favourite model railway magazine - the annual publication of Model Railroad Planning. The 2013 edition has now arrived in the country from the USA and once again it is full of inspiration and wonderful layouts built without compromise or limitations. The feature layout includes Iron Ore operations on a double decked layout filling a 100ft x 60ft room which requires a minimum of 1,000 hopper wagons to represent the prototype operations. This makes the Corkscrew-Lines look like a shunting plank style layout!...Hellfire! My arguments to Mrs Corky that my layout is in fact quite a modest affair in comparison have however fallen on deaf ears!
More Airfix kits and Base-Toys trucks have arrived for Project TAT as have a couple of model railway kits in the shape of a GWR Signal Box (Not another Signal Box - Oh My Lords!) and a loco hoist ready for my TMD, when I eventually start to build it!
New rolling stock includes a couple of Dapol Prestwin kits, a few Bachmann cattle wagons and most interestingly, a Flangeway Models snow plough - again, ready for placing on my TMD at a future date.
You'll also notice a fascinating book covering the operations by the Southern and SR on Southampton Docks. A significant part of the Corkscrew-Lines Mk2 will be comprised of a Dockside area and a Marine Terminal handling both Ocean Liner trains hauled by Bullied Pacifics and numerous parcels trains composed of a motley collection of brake vans, CCTs and SR bogie vehicles. This book has inspiration on every page...Dreadful!
Full Sized Railway Adventures
I am about to confess something to you all that I would normally keep secret. Because I know I am amongst friends and I know you won't judge me I am prepared to admit to something I used to openly do on a regular basis right up to about 15 years ago. It's not that I'm ashamed of my past, it's just popular opinion and culture suggests this activity is something that shouldn't be encouraged and I would imagine there is still a great deal of prejudice and open hostility aimed at those who are still practising this activity on our streets. My Corkette friends - the Corkmeister was once a fully blown, frothing at the mouth Omnibus Crank! There, I've said it - I feel better already. It's like a weight has been lifted...Oh My Lords!
In my defence, my father was a bus driver in London in the 1950s and used to trundle around the streets of the capital in an AEC RT. He once misjudged a tight turn at a crossroads and demolished a fruit and veg stall and was overtaken by apples and oranges rolling past him in the street. Then in the 1970s, when I was a boy, my older brother was a bus conductor for Hants & Dorset in Basingstoke so a trip to the town centre on a Bristol FLF was always an adventure...especially if you had a free ride because big-bruv was on duty.
This initial interest was then encouraged and developed when I met Mark Lyons, who became my best friend through my school years. Now Mark, who is a fully blown Corkette, had it bad and still does. He never lost his love for the omnibus but I managed to eventually wean myself off them to the point where now I can honestly say I have no interest in the current bus scene whatsoever. This wasn't easy however because in my heyday I had numerous book and magazine cover photographs published and absolutely loved the aural and visual delights of a Leyland National, Daimler Fleetline or Bristol LH. Thankfully with the love and support of my family I have now re-joined mainstream society again and as you all know, I now deal exclusively in the completely respectable, manly and prestigious and social acceptable hobby of model railways....Oh dear!
So what is all this leading to I hear you ask? Well, just because I find nothing of interest in the current bus scene doesn't mean I don't appreciate our omnibus heritage. A few weeks back I had a few hours to kill in London whilst waiting for Mrs Corky to finish work. I decided to use my time productively and visit the London Transport Museum at Covent Garden and a thoroughly enjoyable time I had too. The entrance fee was expensive but the ticket is valid for a whole year so I'll certainly be heading back on another day because there is so much to see. Buses, trams, trolleys, tubes, architecture, advertising...there's load of interesting stuff. I took a few snaps...as you do! so enjoy just a few images of vehicles which have style and character. Vehicles which don't all look the same as they seem to these days....Dreadful!
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| A portable air-raid shelter for LT overground staff - I kid you not! |
That's about it for now my friends. Rest assured I'll keep assembling kits, taking photos and burning the midnight oil at my workbench so there'll be more things for me to drone on about and ramble over in the next incredible update for the Corkscrew-Lines. Don't forget to check out the video section if you haven't already and thanks for reading all of this nonsense once again.
Until next time, take care my little Corkette buddies,
Corky!
