Oldham Goup

[Hugh Norwood]

Oldham & NW groups meeting 8th November, 2023. cont/d.

Andrew showed us a number of photos of new developments on his 009 layout which included track laying for the lower station, a carriage shed (ex Ratio) that was under construction, and engine shed (Bachmann) and an adapted industrial building (Metcalf) that had been completed with an extension along with other new features around the landscape.

John reported: "Garry had kindly offered to build a heavy hauler for Ghylldale's stone trains a long time ago; probably when we first began exhibiting together.  Time and other commitments meant that other matters intervened.
Imagine my delight and gratitude, when Garry gave this locomotive to me during a Boys' Away Day earlier this summer.
Garry named it "IONICUS", the pseudonym of the artist Jos Armitage. It was he who coined the name "Ghylldale" for the fictional village in cover illustrations for Yorkshire Dalesman magazine in the '50s and '60s.
Thanks are also due to Charlie Insley who helped Garry finish the model, including the beautiful lining."

[Hugh Norwood]

Oldham & NW groups meeting 8th November, 2023. cont/d.

Darryl talked us through a number of projects and purchases. He intends to show us progress with his 'Boat yard, 1920's' layout at the next meeting. Additionally he'd bought a near indestructible radio controlled light aircraft and the grandchildren enjoyed playing with his ancient Hornby tin plate 0 gauge in the garden.

Tony had exhibited Grimbledon Down (009) at the Hazel Grove MRE at the end of October. We were able to see photos of various layouts in different gauges and scales. The standard of layouts on display was impressive. Tony thanked Paul T. for his help on Saturday and Paul Ta. for his help on Sunday.

{Photo:} Two Oldham group characters with the layout, Tony left, Paul T right. I had asked Tony for a suitable caption but it was a little non-PC...

[Hugh Norwood]

Oldham & NW groups meeting 8th November, 2023. cont/d.

Paul T. showed several ongoing projects including his latest build of the Dundas Models Snailbeach hopper wagon. {Pic06}
Paul asked the question "Is this the most difficult of the Dundas kits to make?" There was a chorus of "yes!" ~ No dissenting voices.
A report on progress next meeting.

Stuart admitted to having 5 to build...

Progress had been made with the new Clogher layout and all the major items of woodwork have now been completed. Next steps are painting track and sleepers, laying the platforms and ballasting. {Pic07}

[Hugh Norwood]

Oldham & NW groups meeting 8th November, 2023. cont/d.

There was plenty of discussion on modelling matters, the 50th Anniversary exhibition at Statfold, the forthcoming 009 village at Warley and other upcoming exhibitions.

The next meeting will be held on Zoom on Wednesday December 13th starting at 8.00pm. Joining details will be circulated the weekend before.

s.p.t. 13-11-23

[Hugh Norwood]

Oldham & NW groups meeting 13th December, 2023.

Twelve group members were present for the meeting, Alan, Andrew, Charlie, Darryl, David E., Hugh, Ian, Paul M., Philip, Stuart, Tony and Paul T.
Apologies had been received from Alan S. & Bob.

Paul began the meeting with a short reflection on Garry. He had been attending Oldham group meetings since February 2008 and was a good friend to many of us. He had attended our last Zoom meeting in November and whilst we knew he wasn't well I don't think any of us had expected his passing to happen so soon.

Paul had posted an appreciation of Garry to group members.

He will notify those at the meeting of funeral details when he had received them and will attend on behalf of the group if at all possible.

Alan had made progress with his model of King Edward, a Cavan & Leitrim 0-6-4T. He had overcome the protruding gearbox problem. He has managed to do this by changing the shape of the boiler wrapper and the Walschaerts valve gear cover so they hide the gearbox from view. Some of the boiler fittings have been added to the locomotive but there is still a lot of work left to do to complete the model.


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[Hugh Norwood]

Oldham & NW groups meeting 13th December, 2023. cont/d.

Charlie showed us progress with several projects. He began the presentation with a photo of Garry receiving his Life Membership at the Society AGM in 2008, a happy time.

We saw photos of Fort Whiting at Warley on which much of the stock running belonged to Rob.

His current major project is a modified build of a Roxy Cyprus tender loco, using a Minitrix 2-10-0 chassis converted to a 4-8-0, to create a new colonial loco.

Other projects lined up included several Fourdees 3D prints which use the Bachmann quarry Hunslet chassis.

We look forward to seeing these models develop.

Darryl showed us progress with his layout 'Boat Yard, 1920's'. He had constructed a length of quayside and had a boat to go with it. Next time we'll see the lighthouse he's constructed.

Ian had constructed a tram loco kit from Fourdees. It runs on the Kato 109 chassis. It is made up of four different parts. The internal cab and boiler detail is comprehensive though when completed is hidden. The roof has been made detachable to view this detail.

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[Hugh Norwood]

Oldham & NW groups meeting 13th December, 2023. cont/d.

Paul M. had several projects on the go involving adaptation of models such as a Bedford bus made into a railcar (with a Kato 110 chassis), some Lima HO BR fruit vans (using PECO wagon chassis's) as narrow gauge stock, a Dundas Welsh Highland coach to be adapted into a railcar and a Matchbox diesel loco also to become a narrow gauge shunting loco.

Philip has started an extension to Lockwood Wharf and has constructed a large brick kiln that will be positioned close to the tracks. Inspired by an example he saw on the visit to the West Lancs Light Railway (organised by Stan) he's also built a rail mounted burger van.

Tony has been busy with several projects including adding couplings to his ex TT Triang tank wagons and is working on 'whole train stock boxes' using the widely available plastic pencil/crayon boxes. He'll sort out some padding to keep the stock safe in transit.


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The tank wagons before couplings attached.

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(Box being checked for stock.)

[Hugh Norwood]

Oldham & NW groups meeting 13th December, 2023. cont/d.

Paul T. gave an update on the construction of the Dundas Snailbeach hopper wagon, the current progress on the final half timbered building for Melton Market and a card mock up for the T&D Railway loco 4T as built (the Castlegregory branch loco) which will become a new 3D print for 00n3.

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Wagon held down with Blu-tak to help with attaching strapping. Note 1: nothing completely square! Note 2: Strap should really rest on sole bar!

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[Hugh Norwood]

Oldham & NW groups meeting 13th December, 2023. cont/d.

Charlie, Hugh and Paul showed photos of various layouts exhibited in the '009 village' at the recent Warley Model Railway exhibition, a successful event for the Society.

The next meeting will be held on Zoom on Wednesday 17th January (t.b.c.) starting at 8.00pm. Joining details will be circulated the weekend before.

s.p.t. 21-12-23

[Hugh Norwood]

Oldham & NW groups meeting 17th January, 2024.

Fifteen group members were present for the meeting, Alan G., Alan S., Bob, Charlie, Darryl, David E., David H., Hugh, Ian, Paul M., Philip, Stuart, Tony and Paul T. We were pleased to welcome Stephen to his first meeting.
An apology had been received from Richard.

Alan G. has now completed his model of the Cavan and Leitrim 0-6-4T locomotive King Edward. He has spray painted the locomotive in the original C&L emerald green livery with red lining. He has added the large headlamp and cowcatcher which were features on the locomotive when it was first supplied to the C&L railway.

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[Hugh Norwood]

Oldham & NW groups meeting 17th January, 2024. cont/d.

Bob showed his 1:100 Côtes du Nord Blanc-Misséron loco, using a print from Ivan industries, kindly re-scaled from a 1:87 design by Ivan.  He also showed recent progress on scenery for St-Trojan, including a small vineyard built using modified parts from a Busch HO kit.

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[Hugh Norwood]

Oldham & NW groups meeting 17th January, 2024. cont/d.

Charlie showed us some photos of his canal side layout Kinwardine Wharf which had recently been exhibited. There was also progress with a number of locos including a repainted Minitrains Henschel, a Narrow Planet O&K 0-4-0T and a Fourdees Pioneer that ran on the Bachmann quarry Hunslet chassis.

Darryl had made progress with the lighthouse with flashing light. A decorator (with moving arm) will be painting the door. He'd also fitted a smoke generator to one of the moored boats and there was a speaker available that played a number of sounds including market sounds and sea gulls.

David E. showed us photos of a Joe Works wagon kit he had recently built, also a 3mm scale salt wagon that he'd acquired with thoughts of making it into a works wagon.

David H. had progressed the project for T&D No 4 (a tram loco) and showed us prints from his own 3D printing machine and Shapeways. He'd also designed and printed a model of the Grade 2 listed tram shelter found in Huddersfield (please contact David if you are interested in a print of this structure).

Paul M. showed us a number of projects that he'd commenced. He'd modified an Eggerbahn coach with the intention of creating a tram for a possible tramway layout. He'd also modified two Hornby vans to create a narrow gauge bogie wagon and was modifying a Kato chassis to fit under the diecast diesel loco body.

Philip had bought two 009 models that needed completing or some tlc. One was a VoR 2-6-2T loco (Chivers kit) and the other a L&B 2-6-2T. He asked if anyone had photos of the top of a VoR loco to help with the locating of pipework. (Images were later provided by Bob and Stuart which were most helpful).

As you can see from the photo below Philip has started to make some progress with the detailing.

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[Hugh Norwood]

Oldham & NW groups meeting 17th January, 2024. cont/d.

Stephen had built a small mixed gauge layout (Tilling track) with 009 and H0 stock. He had also started a small 009 test track to try out an automatic electronic project. Hopefully we'll see more of this at a future meeting.

Stuart had built a new baseboard for his next 009 project and had made good progress with indexing the articles in the 009 News for the Society.
At Statfold he'd purchased one of the Society's Anniversary vans. Unfortunately one set of wheels didn't run true so he contacted PECO and replacement arrived a couple of days later showing excellent customer service.

Tony had received a model of a Golf Mk2 GTI as a present. It was remarkably similar to the 12"/ft version in his garage.

Paul reported on several projects that were inching forward.

There had been progress with the half-timbered building on Melton Market that was currently the focus of attention for completion.

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Several ideas were discussed on how to tackle the brick-built station building at Clogher which will be a significant modelling challenge if it is to be completed more or less accurately.

There was also discussion on the use of super fine N gauge ballast and fine 00 ballast, both from Geoscenics of Warrington. It was decided that the fine 00 ballast worked best.

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(Left N gauge fine scale, right 00 fine ballast)

[Hugh Norwood]

Oldham & NW groups meeting 17th January, 2024. cont/d.
Thank you to Alan, Bob, Philip and Stuart for their help with this report.

The next meeting will be held on Zoom on Wednesday 14th February starting at 8.00pm. Joining details will be circulated the weekend before.

s.p.t. 30-1-24

[Hugh Norwood]

Oldham & NW groups meeting 14th February, 2024.

Twelve group members were present for the meeting, Alan G., Bob, Charlie, Darryl, David E., Hugh, Ian, Paul M., Richard, Rob, Tony and Paul T.
Apologies had been received from Alan S., Andrew, David H., John, Philip, and Stuart.

Alan explained why he his replacing his LBER goods vans, as the first ones he made are on display with the layout on exhibition at Burtonport. He outlined the method and materials he is going to use to rebuild this new L&BER rolling stock.

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