So it has been over a year since the last time I updated this blog about what I was thinking of/planning.
Some big changes occurred in that time, namely I moved house, to a smaller 1bed ground floor flat. This has presented problems and Improvements in equal measure.
The biggest improvement has been mobility/health. I no longer have to contend with a myriad of stairs which helps immensely.
Unfortunately the nature of the flat means I have very little in the way of storage space other
I've not been active on RMweb for a while due to a mixture of health and other matters taking precedence.
Owing to financial situations of both myself and Natalie, layout progress or building sadly hasn't occured. But with enough plans in our heads collectively we will manage something eventually.
Out of all the plans we do have, we are likely to hopefully sometime in the next few months or so start on the simplest of the ideas. That being a small layout set around Woolwich Dockyard on t
I've decied the bst way to make this blog readabe and so on, is to split West Cromwell Road to its own blog, similarly for the RAF Chilmark inspired layout, which has now been given the name of Winterbourne Exchange.
I'll leave the content already here in place, as no sense in changing that.
But future updates here will be more generalised, and feature models as i (hopefully) manage to make them, regardless of where they're intended for perhaps. I'll figure it out!
Recently I've been giving thought to what to use for the boards/storage for West Cromwell Road.
I had initially thought about using a combination of plywood and foamboard. Whilst this would be very light, with my health, it'll require more effort and time. I intend to use it for the Chilmark layout however as the IKEA APA boxes I've decided upon wouldn't be suitable for that layout.
So, yes, I've decided to go down the IKEA APA box route. As they're cheap (£10.99 each) and not very big
Been giving some though to West Cromwell Road again today, whilst not being able to get much else done due to being too ill.
The main stock/train movements is going (possibly) to consist of:
LT pannier tank (ex-GWR 57xx)
Rolls-Royce/Sentinel (0-6-0DM (Judith Edge Kits) [3 aquired by LT 1971, one a Lillie Bridge, replaced Panniers]
Ballast motor/battery loco with engineers train stock (ballast hoppers, crew carriage)
Pilot motor
Weed killing train/de-icer
Breakdown/recovery trai
So I have a small number of Dapol/Airfix plastic kits. One of a BoB, a few of mineral wagons, some tank wagons and other assorted ones. Think theres a Schools in there somewhere too.
The BoB isn't going to be anywhere near as good as Hornby's current model, but I had the thought that it could well be usable to make up as a loco being taken to scrap without connecting rods and other bits. Could be an interesting challenge to model. It would also be just in the right era too for the Chilmark i
Has been a while since I last visited the site. Other things and my health have kept me occupied really. Health has been very poor over the last 6 months.
Am still going to exhibitions with Natalie when i/we can manage it. The last one being the Leamington Spa & Warwick MRS Show at the NAC, Stoneleigh, which we both enjoyed a lot.
As well as that we went along to the LWMRS open day at their club rooms and had a very good, interesting day out there. We both left feeling like we'd join
Still recovering from Saturday, but a fantastic day it was! Photos are edited and online. Video to follow later.
Been discussing West Cromwell Road (name for 2011 Challenge entry) more with Natalie, so a finalised trackplan and arrangement has been worked out with the aid of old stock and track to get impression of what fits etc.
More work on track plan for the narrow gauge and standard gauge military layout, which is still without a name, continues also. I think the trackplan is almost
Decided to download Inkscape and have a go drawing a full plan. It is still rather rough and still needs more thought, but I think its starting to give an idea of whats what and where etc.
Added a road section to allow lorries to load/unload from the transship shed as well as a tank/truck/vehicle ramp for loading/unloading onto trains etc.
kelly
After having a rather busy last few weeks with DEMU Showcase and a DEMU airbrush/weathering meetup in Tamworth haven't had much chance to sit and do anything at the newly cleared workbench alas.
However, conversations with Natalie have progressed on various aspects of both the Salisbury/Chilmark layout plans and possible subjects for the RMWeb 2011 Diorama Challenge.
My thinking now is to work on the Diorama and put the Salisbury/Chilmark idea on ice to some extent and continue researchi
... by that I mean i've cleared space off of my desk enough to have a work area at last!
Now to decide what to do with the space... (box in left corner is full of plastic kits (mostly Dapol/ex-airfix))...
Not been posting on rmweb recently due to personal life issues (mainly health related). But have still been thinking about the plans I have with Natalie.
Finally got the 25W soldering iron at the weekend at DEMU Showcase for a better price than I could find online, so was happy, as had to cancel previous order as the site couldn't get stock.
Also picked up a few books and a couple of magazines. So came away happy without spending too much.
So pretty much have most of the tools I thin
As well as the narrow gauge module, there will be the depot/transfer shed module.
A rough outline of which i've drawn below:
Unsure whether it will stay quite like that, I may take one of the storage sidings (with blast shields) out and the engine shed perhaps.
So things are starting to get an image forming of how things will be laid out I think. Still very rough atm, not sure really on what buildings would fit.
Then theres the selection of stock that will be needed. N
Now almost recovered from Taunton I've been giving some thought to the plan of the narrow gauge module.
As you can see, it is pretty simple in design:
Really is just a couple of sidings and a bunker. One of the lines to the bunkers may well go to a fiddle yard off view, not sure yet.
The real Chilmark had a lot of natural surroundings to provide good cover, so plenty of trees and scenic items will be needed I suspect as the RAF/MOD basically let nature do as it pleased apart fro
So, firstly Taunton
Wonderful event, glad I went. Long tiring drive there (for me 100+ miles is very tiring and painful), but by the time to go came, I left with a feeling that it was all very much worth it!
Having better access to the layouts to actually see them working and admire the handiwork of those who have lovingly created them was the best aspect. Shows such as Ally Pally and so on are great, but the sheer number of people who go means actually seeing and admiring or talking to
Tomorrow sees Natalie and myself heading down to Taunton for the members day. Very much looking forward to it, will be first time I've been to one as well. Looking forward to seeing various items people have said they're taking.
Recently I've been inspired a little to think of a very small format layout other than the Chilmark or Hilsea ideas that myself and Natalie are going to be working on. [Hillsea is Natalie's layout plan/idea, I was getitng myself confused].
I've come up with a few
Seems I got a little confused previously. The chilmark based layout is to be a joint effort between myself and Natalie. Natalie has taken the rough plan I did and reworked it (see attachment).
Its starting to come together I think now.
Thinking of '39-'45 or early/mid 50s or maybe mid-late 60s as era.
Attached image done by Natalie. Thanks!
Kelly
Had a play with AnyRail just now to put together a rather rough idea of the trackplan.
Its pretty simple. The idea that it'll be in two phases.
Phase One:
Exchange sidings + Exeter mainline
Phase Two:
Chilmark Depot
Still rather rough and might well change depending upon input from Natalie who I'm liaising with on this.
The nice thing about the area/plan is that it allows for similar stock to be used on this layout and the one Natalie and me are planning together (Hil
Whilst searching for more info on RAF Chilmark for a layout plan I'm thinking about I came across the following:
RAF Chilmark visit by 28dayslater site
Another visit report
The photos show some interesting aspects of the Narrow Gauge railway in the facility.
Not sure I'll model the NG stuff, but interesting non-theless.
Kelly
Having discussed a little with Natalie possible locations to model, I think a WW2 or 1960s transitional era Chilmark based layout might well meet my needs.
Will need to do more research when time permits, but from looking at the plan Natalie showed me seems to be small enough and with enough interest for me to be interested in doing it.
Kelly
I've been wanting to make a start with making brass (and white metal) kits, and theres been a lot of helpful suggestions on the forum here - thanks! - but I'm wondering if it might be better to start getting some scraps of brass sheet and try my hand soldering that rather than risking a kit for a first attempt.
So have a sort of shopping list forming:
Soldering Iron (have an 18W Antex CS) - 15W and 25W (£13 for Antex XS25 from Rapid Electronics) should cover it? or 15W overkill? any hi
Today I've been browsing the rmweb galleries and blogs and came across Tanis 1937 by Will Vale. Whilst that is pre-war German setting, it has given me some thoughts of what to do myself a little.
Something along similar lines perhaps, but with a post-war British setting.
Quite what setting and so on I'm not sure, but it seems about the right size for what I want to do perhaps.
Due to costs I suspect I'll stick with OO. N is just too small for me and whilst I've worked in 1/48th befor
I've recently gotten the bug and inspiration to get back into doing model making after a number of years out of the hobby.
Primarily I've an interest in Aviation modelling - WW2 and/or Cold War mainly - and the majority of my modelling output may well be in that direction.
However I've been thinking of seeing if there is a way to have a 60s to 80s era RAF dispersal diorama with some element of railway modelling to it, maybe for transport. Possibly a narrow gauge line bringing armament? I
