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JOURNEY'S END


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JOURNEY’S END

 

I’ve decided what I’m going to do for my sixth and final (get the handkerchiefs out!) CBC, this is a project entitled “Journey’s End”. This was of course the title of a book (which I actually recall reading in my long-gone school days)/play which looked at life in the trenches in WW1, though while I thought the title would be apt, the model itself has got nothing to do with either the book/play of the same name!

 

The model features part of a fictional run-down station, which has been rationed down from a double-track main line through station to a single-track terminus (hence the name Journey’s End, which is also rather a fitting title in view of it being the “grand finale” re my “CBC adventure”.) As for the station itself, it will take the form of part of an island platform, with a low-relief road bridge at one end, while a short goods/coal siding will help add to the interest. Also, the actual running track, abandoned track section and platform will be set at a slight angle, in order to try and eliminate what would otherwise be a slightly uniform appearance, ie everything more or less in “straight lines”.

 

Below is a plan (not to scale) of the intended model, also another plan showing how the model would have fitted into a larger/more general context, i.e. what it would have looked like on a slightly grander scale/had it maybe been part of an actual layout, with an actual station building (located over the tracks) in place, access to the platform being via a staircase(s).

 

On my previous CBC models, when it came to actual structures, I utilized a mixture of scratch built, kit-built and ready-made items for buildings etc. However, for Journey’s End, I’ve set my self a bit of a challenge, for asides from the obvious features such as track, “population” and small other small details, EVERYTHING else will be “home-made”/scratch built. Watch this space then for further details.

journeys end (1).pdf

journeys end (2).pdf

Edited by Andrew Cockburn
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Guest ShildonShunter

Hi Andrew this sounds and looks like a great little CBC what scale are you going to model this in.:)

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Guest ShildonShunter

Thanks Andrew for letting me know what gauge you planning to model this CB in will be watching with interest.:)

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Below is a rough sketch of how (in theory at least) Journey’s End will turn out. I acquired some of the materials I’ll need (ie paints and one or two other bits and bobs) for the project today from my local model shop, and I hope to start work this weekend. A further report then in due course.

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I’ve not done as much work as I’d hoped to do lately on “Journey’s End”, as I’ve been a bit sidetracked with one or two other things, including preparations this weekend for an event I’m attending next weekend (the annual Tanfield Railway Legends Of Industry weekend in County Durham, not too far from where I live). I’m exhibiting one of my layouts at the event, as one of two representatives of the Durham Modellers Group (a local railway modellers group of which I’ve been a member now for quite a few years), and as is my usual policy before I attend a show/exhibition/event, I give whichever layout/locos I’m taking a thorough “going over” at least a week before, just to ensure that everything is running smoothly/so that I have plenty of time in order to correct any problems which may have arisen (nothing worse than a fault(s) arising during a show!), thankfully none in this instance.

 

However, I’ve managed to progress Journey’s End a little, and the photo below shows what I’ve done to date. It will be seen that the model is still very much in it’s infancy, “humble beginnings” as one may well say, still a fair bit to be accomplished, but no great hurry, for as I’ve said before I’m a firm believer in taking one’s time with the emphasis always on quality, even if this means doing something half-a-dozen or so times over in order to get it right. The next immediate task will be construction of the low-relief road bridge which will eventually be located on the extreme left of the model, which I hope to carry out/complete during the course of next week, a further update then in due course.

post-32881-0-64948800-1528663189_thumb.jpg

Edited by Andrew Cockburn
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Guest ShildonShunter

Hi Andrew it's always great to hear fellow forum members getting a chance to exhibit a layouts. Journeys End is starting to take shape Andrew so I will be following with interest.:)

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  • 2 weeks later...

Its been a short (ish) while since I last did any work on Journey’s End/posted any pics & a progress report, as I’ve been sidetracked lately by one or two things, i.e. a spot of DIY & gardening (not that I’m a mad-keen gardener or DIY enthusiast), also of course the World Cup on TV (it was nice to see England win for a change, even though they did leave it late v Tunisia), while I also enjoyed exhibiting my N Gauge layout Nutt & Bolton at Tanfield Railway’s recent annual “Legends Of Industry” weekend. However, I have managed to make a bit more progress on “JE” in the last day or so, to be more precise on the low-relief girder bridge, which can be seen in the photo below, roughly positioned in order that I can get an idea of how it will look once it’s fixed permanently in place.

 

Metcalfe stone sheet has proved to be useful for the abutments, while the girder section has been rather painstakingly formed from card, and will have additional support in the shape of pillars, made from plastic tube or anything similar which I can get my hands on. But the next immediate tasks are to paint the girder section (matt black in order to contrast with the grey stone), also the tops of the stone abutments, while I dare say I’ll also add some weathering (& graffiti?). Another update then in due course.

post-32881-0-73477200-1529515747_thumb.jpg

Edited by Andrew Cockburn
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Guest ShildonShunter

Andrew very nice work on the girder bridge section i like the card you have used to produce the walled section of the bridge.:)

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@ ShildonShunter

 

Thanks for the comment/feedback, and the actual type of card used for the bridge supports/abutments is from the Metcalfe range. I quite like the Metcalfe range of products overall, although the slightly bland/ordinary & occasionally glossy appearance does sometimes call for a bit of modification/weathering. I'll also be using Metcalfe stone sheet for the retaining wall which will run along the back of the model, that will be my next task once the bridge is completed (hopefully this weekend).

Edited by Andrew Cockburn
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So Journey’s End continues to develop slowly but surely, bit-by-bit, although work has taken place in between other matters i.e. watching England hammer six past Panama earlier today, for what I believe is their record win in a major tournament, they may end up being world champions again yet!

 

Anyway, to return to the matter in hand, and the first structures have been fixed in place, namely the low-relief road bridge, also the retaining wall which I constructed today (UHU glue is very useful in this respect, in that it tends to go off pretty quickly, and thus allows you to cut corners/”cheat” a little bit, though generally speaking, I’m a firm believer in taking one’s time over modelling matters). But even when taking my time, I still had a slight problem cutting out the arches from the Metcalfe stone sheet which forms the retaining wall, i.e. the sheet tore slightly in one or two places, hence the “white bits” which can be seen in the photos below. Also, the arches are not quite perfect shape-wise, however, I dare say that such structures in real life, particularly older ones, had such blemishes, while I’m sure that a bit of touching-up, weathering etc. will cure the “white spots”. Theres also a slight gap at the bottom (between the wall and the ground), but this can be rectified by the addition of some ground cover, ie ballast.

 

Next tasks are to give the girder bridge girder (doesn’t that sound good?) a second coat of Matt Black paint, a bit more work on the retaining wall i.e. the addition of some coping stones along the top, then immediately after this it might be a good time to add the backscene, in common with that on “Into the tunnel”, this will be a hand-painted/watercolour affair. So plenty then still to go at, another progress report will follow in due course.

post-32881-0-17940400-1529866159_thumb.jpg

post-32881-0-76831100-1529866160_thumb.jpg

Edited by Andrew Cockburn
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Guest ShildonShunter

Hi Andrew I really like the retaining wall and girder bridge girder once weathering is complete you won't be able to see the white marks on the arches. Look forward to seeing your next instalment Andrew.:)

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  • 2 weeks later...

Well hello again, its been a bit of a while since my last update, but don’t worry, I haven’t vanished off the face of the earth and/or lost interest in “Journey’s End”. I’ve just been a bit busy of late, also, due to one or two household renovation projects, my garage/workshop has been out of bounds for a short while, as it was being used as a temporary storage location for the workman’s tools and materials.

 

But thankfully, the aforementioned tasks have now been completed, so its normal service resumed as far as moneymaking is concerned. And I’ve managed to progress Journey’s End a bit of the last couple of days or so, I’ve added a backscene to the model, and in common with that which features on my previous cake box offering, “Into the tunnel”, this is home/custom-made, i.e. hand-painted using watercolours, only this one has an industrial flavour to it, i.e. factories, chimneys, smoke, smog etc.

 

Also, as can be seen in the pictures below, I’ve added a strip of thin card along the top of the wall to represent coping stones, I also had a go at touching up the “white bits” on the retaining wall, using Humbrol matt black/white/brown. I can see a bit of an improvement, however, there does still appear to be one or two gaps/white bits still showing through the paint, maybe a job then for a bit of model filler/a bit more paint, though it may be in order to leave one or two “white spots”/gaps here and there, what in order to represent chipped stonework/general wear and tear. After this task is completed, I’ll probably paint the tracks (or at least the sleepers) a suitable colour, then start work on the platform & canopy. Watch this space then for further developments.

post-32881-0-58591700-1530980999_thumb.jpg

post-32881-0-09965200-1530981001_thumb.jpg

Edited by Andrew Cockburn
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@ Marly51 & 009 micro modeller

 

Thanks for the comments and feedback. Re the retaining wall, a bit more work to do on that yet, ie I've got to fill in one or two gaps here and there, paint the stone edge on the top, add a bit more weathering & some grafitti, then add some foliage/flock material. All good stuff/fun, I'll let you know how I get on sometime soon.

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I’ve added a bit more weathering to the retaining wall (I dare say it may also end up being “grafittiized”), painted the track sleepers in order to remove the glossy/”toylike” look, while work has also started on the platform. Also, the two “lumps” which can be seen behind the platform on the right hand side, will eventually represent gravel heaps, as the BR workers continue to uplift the redundant track. So still a bit more work to be done, but with the World Cup now about to reach it’s climax (a bit sad that England exited last Wednesday, that’s one less distraction, so its “full steam ahead”, pun intended!

post-32881-0-74436900-1531509004_thumb.jpg

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Journey’s End continues to progress, the platform has had it’s top surface (made from thick/thin card) added, while the loading dock is starting to take shape. I’ve also added some “greenery” on top of the retaining wall, while my least favourite task i.e. track ballasting has also now (thank goodness) been completed. The next immediate tasks will be to weather the track & ballast/paint the rails a “grimy” colour, finish off the loading dock, and paint the platform surface. Another update then in due course.

 

 

post-32881-0-54343600-1531938764_thumb.jpg

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Its been a short while since my last update, but in that time I’ve managed to make a bit more progress. I’ve added some more ballast roundabout the redundant track section at the rear, also some foliage along the top of the retaining wall. The top of the platform has also been given a "paint job", I felt that “tarmac”/black would look a bit bland, so settled for a compromise in the shape of various shades of grey, the rails have also been given appropriate treatment, ie a “murky”/dirty/dark brown colour, while the loading dock has also had it’s top surface added from card. Still a bit more work to do then, but I feel that the model is now beginning to look the part, and I envisage that it will be completed in a week or so's time. The next task will be to start work on the platform canopy, hut & coal staithes, should be fun/an interesting challenge of sorts, as these will all be scratch-built, another report then in due course.

post-32881-0-79202600-1532461145_thumb.jpg

Edited by Andrew Cockburn
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This is shaping up very nicely, Andrew. I really like the painted backscene too - like we're trying to peer through an industrial smog, but it conveys a sense of distance well. Has anyone else built as many cakebox projects, I wonder...

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