Blackgill: Tyne Dock to Consett in P4

 

by Arpster

 

original page on Old RMweb

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Comment posted by MEGair on Sun Aug 30, 2009 11:49 pm

 

Superb! Really like the buildings, especially the Station building and signal box.

 

look forward to seeing some of those listed Locos on the layout.

 

Is the layout an end to end or does it go around the room, a bit hard to tell?

Mark

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Comment posted by micklner on Mon Aug 31, 2009 11:31 am

 

Excellent work

 

Mick

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Comment posted by 45156 on Mon Aug 31, 2009 11:56 am

 

My first reaction was OMG - that's good - then I sarted to look a bit more, and realised it's not just good - it's stunning. As usual, my eyes strayed to the trackwork first, as if someody gets that right, they tend to have the skills to get the rest right, and your dad's got the skills in spades.

 

For seasoned forum regulars to come in with comments like these, this has to rank as one of the gems currently on display on this site! I look forward to seeing it in the glossies - glossy publishers on here, please note for a future issue as this layout deserves to be shown to a much wider audience.

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Comment posted by CUTLER2579 on Mon Aug 31, 2009 12:19 pm

 

Its what I would call an All Right sort of layout.

 

So All Right I could never build anything approaching this sort of quality,BUT, I can enjoy the superb Quality and Atmosphere of this phenominal peice of modelling.

Regards,Derek.

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Comment posted by Mucky Duck on Mon Aug 31, 2009 2:47 pm

 

Hi Arp,

Thanks for getting round to sharing these images. Your dad's layout is even more astounding than the pics in the 'How Realistic' thread suggested. I've just had a quick glance through, now I'm going to spend some time soaking up all those wonderful details. I can't add much to the favourable comments so far??¦ simply gorgeous! One question; What are the layout's dimensions please?

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Comment posted by Mucky Duck on Mon Aug 31, 2009 2:55 pm

 

??¦ and I think this layout is a massive MRJ feature in waiting!

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Comment posted by Pennine MC on Mon Aug 31, 2009 3:22 pm

 

I was wondering how I'd missed this, then I realised it had got a page and a half of comments just since Saturday. Absolutely excellent layout, I shall look forward to seeing more locos and stock on it - and you're pretty good yourself with the camera

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Comment posted by iak on Mon Aug 31, 2009 7:13 pm

 

Phwoaaaaaaaaaaaaar....

This is one belter of a layout - bravo!

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Comment posted by jonte on Mon Aug 31, 2009 11:39 pm

 

Hi Arpster

 

This is the standard of modelling to which we would all wish to aspire.

 

Your Dad is extremely talented.

 

Jonte

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Comment posted by mines a pint on Tue Sep 01, 2009 12:13 am

 

Lovely layout, I hope we get to see much more!

 

We've cycled the Waskerley way a few times which must be a contributor to this railway system, originating from the Stanhope incline. fantastic

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Comment posted by J83 on Tue Sep 01, 2009 8:57 am

 

Just to add to the comments made by others, this is a fantastic layout. If I ever build anything half as good as this I'll be very very pleased. I particularly like the trackwork - this must have taken hours and hours to get looking so smooth and realistic.

 

I'd love to see more photos (and even videos) if you get the chance!

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Comment posted by Mallard60022 on Tue Sep 01, 2009 9:15 am

 

This is one of the very best 'layouts' I have ever seen. A TRUE model railway and in P4. If I ever get anywhere near this standard of work and that only in finescale OO or EM, I shall be in heaven! This has got to be in MRJ. At present I am struggling with a D. Alexander/P Stanger EM chassis Q6; this standard of work just makes me think how can I be so bungling a modeller? However, this work also inspires me hugely and as a young visitor to Consett station (long closed) for a few summer days in 1960/61 & finally 62 (when my dear grandparents passed on) this brings memories flooding back. With the recent flood of superb B & W pics of the NE on the prototype forum area, this has made my summer. Thanks so much. Congratulations to your dad; his work is just superb and your pics are easily as good as TW's!

Very Sincerely, Annfield Plain

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Comment posted by jwealleans on Tue Sep 01, 2009 9:32 am

 

Top drawer. Thoroughly enjoying this thread and I can only echo the comments already made.

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Comment posted by micknich2003 on Tue Sep 01, 2009 9:55 am

 

FANTASTIC. Mick.

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??? posted on Tue Sep 01, 2009 10:52 am

 

Thanks again for all your comments. I'm glad you enjoyed the photos and hope that I can take some more soon. I've been egging my dad on for years to get this layout finished and to get it seen by a wider audience. He's too modest to ever publicise himself, so I took it upon myself to show the world for him! I'm working on getting him to agree to take it to exhibitions now, even though he claims he's too long in the tooth for that!

 

In answer to a couple of questions, I'm not entirely sure of the dimensions. It's an L-shaped railway, with a straight scenic section and two fiddleyards, one at 90-degrees to the rest of the layout. It's probably about 30-feet by 15 feet all told but that's a very rough estimate.

 

Oh, and the name is a mixture of Blackhill and Stella Gill!

 

Thanks once again for your very kind words. I'll pass on the comment about the end platforms on the 21t hoppers too!

 

All the best,

 

Arp

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Comment posted by Horsetan on Tue Sep 01, 2009 12:58 pm

 

I think you should contact Chris Pendlenton and Dave Bradwell - they are pretty the BR (North-Eastern) gurus, and would love to see others joining their fold to this type of standard

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Comment posted by number6 on Tue Sep 01, 2009 3:59 pm

 

Just one thing: when you take some more photos make sure you don't clutter it up with too much stock! The emptiness of the sidings and yard is what make it so evocative.

Superb.

 

Raphael

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Comment posted by Portchullin Tatty on Wed Sep 02, 2009 10:58 pm

 

Arpster

 

Firstly, I would echo all of the comments that others have set out before on this thread. This is a really fine layout and oozes atmosphere.

 

I am trying to get a PM through to you and for some reason it will not shift out of my "outbox", so it will not have got to you. Would you mind popping me either a private mail or an email (both functions should be open to you via this site) with a means to communicate that does not get bogged down with the vaguries of RMweb? I would much appreciate it.

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Comment posted by Pennine MC on Wed Sep 02, 2009 11:00 pm

 

It wont until he opens it Mark, and when he does it'll move to your 'sent' box; it's a common misunderstanding.

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Comment posted by craigwelsh on Thu Sep 03, 2009 1:50 am

 

If you could get some pictures of your dad's 9F build for the workbench section that would be eagerly awaited too based on the completed items shown.

 

It would be good to learn how he is finding the AJ's on his stock and how he fitted them as well as the track construction technique used.

 

I'd love to see what Chris Nevard could do with a chance to photograph this (not to detract from your own photos which are very good but he can find some 'new' angles sometimes!) although an article in MRJ would be the 'proper' place for such an excellent layout imho. The buildings deserve an article in their own right too.

 

Is the J94 a Hornby one by the way?

 

A particular favourite is that bufferstop at the end of the coaling stage!

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Comment posted by ikks on Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:28 am

 

Congratulations!!

This as good as gets...agree, MRJ where are you??

 

Rgds.........Mike

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Comment posted by Worsdell forever on Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:33 pm

 

Absolutley fantastic!!

It's one of those layouts that gets you deep down inside and you know that it's just right. Look forward to seeing more.

(If my efforts are half as good as this I will be very happy.)

 

Paul

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Comment posted by michael delamar on Tue Sep 08, 2009 5:40 pm

 

really top notch modelling, colours all look superb as do the quality of the buildings trackwork etc.

 

Mike

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Comment posted by mattots on Thu Sep 10, 2009 8:57 pm

 

This is superb modelling, definitely MRJ standard - it would be a crime for it not to get published. I've never really been a great fan of the NE myself, favouring the opposite corner of the country(!), but even so this is inspiring stuff.

 

I'd love to know more about how it was built and the techniques employed in construction - especially the exquisite ballasting. You should get your dad writing on here.

 

The photography is top class too - especially the eye-level shots. It's not often you see photographs of 4mm models that really give the sense that you're looking at a full size railway rather than a model. Maybe some photoshop-ed sky would just finish them off to perfection...

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Comment posted by Wee Aja on Thu Sep 10, 2009 9:17 pm

 

Agree with mattots - a bit of 'fiddling' with the sky and you'd struggle to believe this was a model.

 

Truly superb work.

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