The Coal Stage

[Southwell]

Hi all - having read about some of the incredible efforts in the cakebox challenge so far I thought I'd have a pop at one myself. 

 

My main goal was to not spend any money at all - just use stuff I had in the bits box or things I could scrounge from somewhere and any rolling stock would just come from my main layout. One thing I've made recently is little cameo involving a BR coal wagon and a workman taking a well earned break from shovelling - it's a static model that normally sits in a disused siding. 

 

 

 

So, it had to be something to do with coal. I also liked the idea of having two tracks at different levels to give the cakebox some height - this all led me to the idea of a coal stage served by an elevated track at the top of the bank. For a bit of inspiration I did an image search for coal stages and came up with an old photo of a wooden one.

 

 

Due to a faulty kitchen hob I happened to have a pot full of half used matches which made perfect building materials for the frame, I also had a load of modelling clay going spare for the bank too so decided I was on to a winner and got to work.

 

The base is made from an off cut of 18mm MDF. I used a bit more of this to create the height for the bank, all of which was then covered in modelling clay. I sunk the matchstick upright into the clay and cut them all to the same height. It was then left on the windowsill to dry overnight.

 

Or so I thought, because then the cricket season got in the way and I'm ashamed to say that was about 4 months ago and I've only just come back it (the cricket's not gone well, so thought I'd come back to trains!). Having painted everything a muddy brown colour and glued a bit of track in place, I set to work adding cross braces to the frame. I'm pretty happy with the results so far.

 

 

 

Having pilfered a fair amount of coffee stirrers from the tea point at work I was also able to make the deck for the stage too.

 

 

Next up will be adding some ballast and grass I guess - having looked at the sides I may also add a bit more clay to the sides to get a nice sharp edge - currently it's a bit too rounded for my liking. 

[Guest Saltburn]

This sounds like a great idea for your CBC I love a coal themed layout and you have started really well and the wooden structure looks great.

[Andrew Cockburn]

Seems like a good theme, and I like the look of it so far, it will be interesting to see how it further develops.

[Southwell]

A little update from me - had a very productive day yesterday on my cakebox - really coming together. after my first post I decided to add some more clay to sharpen the edges on the side and, whilst I was there, add a bit to the bank behind the higher coal line, just to give the idea that that bank might rise further off scene.

 

Once that had dried I added the second piece of track and some steps I had in the bits box to allow our coal shovellers up to the stage. 

 

Next i added some grass, ballast and loose bits of coal that have gone astray under the stage. I also added a little beaten path up the bank from the railwaymen trudging up there to transfer the coal over from the waiting wagons.

 

Then I weathered the whole thing with my airbrush, adding some much needed grime and soot. 

 

 

I'm pretty happy with the results - one other thing I added which I hadn't thought about when starting off was a little wire fence at the top. I think it adds something and is a nice cut off to the edge of the scene. Continuing my theme of not spending a penny on this challenge, The posts are bits of sprue and the wire is some black thread. Holes were drilled in the end posts and notches added to the posts in the middle which hold the thread in place once it's wrapped around them. The thread then had a brush with some glue to give it some wire like rigidity before a brush with some metallic paint. 

 

 

Next job on the base is to add some more lost coal to the tracks and surroundings and maybe add a barrel or two to add some variety. The top of the coal stage needs a dividing wall added but I need to wait until I'm back in work to pilfer more coffee stirrers as my supply has run out! Then i'll add some coal to the staithes and maybe a figure before glueing it on to the frame and then it'll be pretty much there. It's odd that the finish line is already in sight, but I guess that's the point of these things, they don't take long!

Edited August 17, 2018 by Southwell

[Andrew Cockburn]

Coming along nicely, and the wire fence looks really good!

[009 micro modeller]

I love the wooden framing on the coal stage itself and the scenics are looking good too.

[Guest Saltburn]

Looks really good taking shape nicely looking forward to seeing more.

[Southwell]

It's finished!

 

Got around to snaffling some more coffee stirrers to finish off the platform of the stage. That was then filled with coal and weathered before I added a few tools and a railwayman with brush in hand sweeping up before gluing it in place on top of the frame. 

 

 

I also added some coal to both sets of tracks - I figure a fair amount would go astray during all the loading and unloading - as well as a couple of sacks and barrels dumped under the steps. 

 

 

The plan was always to stick a loco on the lower line too, waiting to be reloaded, but having done it I think I prefer it being empty, starts to look a bit cluttered I think, I'd be interested to hear peoples thoughts though.

 

 

I also painted the sides black to make it look more presentable and that's The Coal Stage finished really. Had a lot of fun making it and will be properly entering it into the competition for the sake of it (though, given the competition, I'm not holding out much hope!) - I'm also toying with having a crack at another one before the deadline, this time in N Gauge so keep an eye out for that!

[Andrew Cockburn]

That looks great, nice modelling!

[Guest Saltburn]

A brilliant piece of railway modelling the coal stage is really good.

[009 micro modeller]

I like it with the loco. I suppose it makes some of the details around the base of the stage harder to see but it gives more of a sense of what the scene is representing.

[Southwell]

Hi all - happy to say I've emailled in my entry for the challenge, which meant taking some proper photos of the Coal Stage. Obviously you can only submit 3 properly so thought I'd put up some of the ones that didn't make the cut. In the end I decided to leave the loco off as I preferred the uprights of the stage being visible. Enjoy!