Entry posted by TomE
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Landscaping for the rear embankment is now complete.
Hi All.
Things are moving slowing down at small scale Ropley at the moment, significantly slower than at the real location it seems! You may remember a while back that I was considering whether to keep up with the changing scene at Ropley and model the ex Kings Cross footbridge which is now in the final stages of being installed across the yard. It now seems that some significant tree clearance is taking place along the top of the embankment. How far this is going i'm not sure yet, but I suspect the number of tress I need to make is going to drop by quite a few!
This all became evident whilst looking through the images posted to Steam Tube by Tony Wood, a very useful resource for me thanks to the many photos taken from in and around the yard. This particular image shows the extent of the tree clearance along the top of the embankment:
I'd always intended that the model would be somewhat flexible on timescale, the recent addition of the bridge requiring the reality distortion field to be dialed up a notch further when running stock which predates it's installation such as 60019 in green, and Std 5 73096, a stalwart of the line for many years up until 2011, but the removal of the trees may provide a final cut off point as for me this area loses some of its appeal without that line of green atop the embankment. The Spring steam gala at the start of March will provide the opportunity to try and work out what is happening in this area, and if it's something that I will want to replicate in miniature.
Anyway, back to the model, and the basic ground works for the embankment are now complete. This is a significant step forwards, as it means scenic work can now start in ernest (at least where things are not changing!) The method was the same as previously described, with a foam board top fixed to formers being used to help keep weight down. The path and track have had a thin skim of filler which was sanded smooth once dry before the whole lot was sprayed with sleeper grime.
The embankment complete. The roof on the Carriage and Boiler shop has warped beyond use and will be replaced.
The vertically challenged Down Inner Home signal is also now nearly complete bar a few minor details and some final tidying up. The cut out in the embankment where this is sited has been reproduced by applying a thin layer of filler to the sides, then having a small ball of tim foil pressed into it to try and replicate the stone seen in the real thing. Hopefully once painted this will look reasonably like the prototype! You can see the various staged of the construction of this signal in the 2mm workbench thread here. Well worth a look for the other superb work on show there!
The Down Inner Home in its embankment cut out.
The view from the head shunt line.
The completion of the embankment has really spurred me on now to try any complete some of the scenic area towards the rear of the layout so that things can progress at the front without the risk of damage by leaning over. I also need to crack on and finish the Carriage and Boiler shed so that work can start on the main shed and wheel drop as well as finishing the ash pit, so, lots to do!
Cheers all,
Tom.
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