Jump to content
 
  • entries
    19
  • comments
    109
  • views
    19,555

Scaling things down? A quandry...

James Hilton

Entry posted by James Hilton

398 views

 Share

Well Christmas and New Year have come and gone and despite a few items (a sound equipped 37, EWS Seacow and a Dynamis controller) I've managed to make some progress on Rose Hill.

 

This evening I've been scaling up dimensions from Google Maps (great tool - when you draw a line it tells you how many feet it is!). From my simple layout (see below) I've determined a number of key dimensions:


  • Platform length = 332ft = 1328mm
  • Station building length = 42ft = 168mm
  • Pub length = 52ft = 208mm
  • Flatbottom rail = 440ft = 1760mm
  • Bullhead rail = 175ft = 700mm
  • Rough layout length (length of blue rectangle) = 628ft = 2500mm

 

gallery_6671_270_21836.jpg

 

Woah! Daunting or what? That's a pretty hefty layout for just a SLT!

 

So having already scratchbuilt the station building on a slightly condensed scale (as it was originally intended to just be a photo plank) I measured that up again. Length = 12cm. A happy comprimise? Anyhow for now it's far too good to scrap!

 

So what scaling factor does that give? 16.8cm/12cm = 0.7

I then applied that to the other dimensions to see how they looked...

  • Platform = 0.9m
  • FB rail = 1.2m
  • BH rail = 0.5m

 

Promising, I thought - if it would pull it off full size, so out came an old roll of wrapping paper left over from Christmas and I laid things out on the floor.

 

Wrapping paper, some postcards, Pacer chassis, track and a sharpie pen!

med_gallery_6671_270_264469.jpg

med_gallery_6671_270_320267.jpg

med_gallery_6671_270_304834.jpg

med_gallery_6671_270_224060.jpg

 

As you can see it's still pretty massive for a single line terminus, and luckily, as the track plan is so simple, that kind of visually hides the reduction in length.

 

For comparison here are some prototype shots:

1994 http://kevin818.fotopic.net/p48334824.html

1997 http://117305.fotopic.net/p47647470.html

2006 http://jst.fotopic.net/p37311167.html

2006 http://dwb.railcollection.fotopic.net/p35274350.html

 

Now I'm at a quandry. This layout is supposed to be an exercise in prototype observation, in 'scale' modelling, and with an interesting baseboard shape to give a novel viewing situation if ever exhibited... Is this 'scaling' of reality really the done thing? I mean, is it a comprimise too far?

 

If I don't scale the layout then it will need to be made as two boards - itself not a problem, until you lay the platform down and end up with a mighty big join in the platform, the station car park etc etc. I really wanted to avoid that and at about 170cm the reduced size plan is long, but do-able (and it will fit in my car - just).

 

See what I mean, this is a real issue! Can I have a few thoughts please?! :)

  • Like 1
 Share

4 Comments

Recommended Comments

dave_long

Personally James, I think the look you have on the wallpaper layout looks more than acceptable comparing it with the fotopic shots, the platforms do look short if your looking purely from google earth.

 

I can't tell from the map but doesn't the platform run under the bridge at that end or stop short?

 

Lets hope your geometry teacher doesn't read about your 'blue rectangle' either. :)

 

 

Link to comment
Flymo748

I'd agree with your compression factor. It's simply an unfortunate fact of life that railways take up a lot more space in the prototype than we generally have available for them :-(

 

If there is one thing that perhaps you could try, it would be to move the bridge (and thus the whole ensemble) along maybe 15-20 cm towards the baseboard end. That may allow you a little more platform length, and preserve a proper slope down the ramp, as to change that would look odd in the vertical dimension.

 

I believe that for contemporary modelling, the "gaps" such as that between the location of the pacer and the end of the line are essential to give that feeling of space. Not often noticed, but vital.

 

HTH

Link to comment
James Hilton

Thanks chaps!

 

Re-looking at photos and my mock up in the COLD (it's very cold here, -7) light of day I think you are both on to something.

 

The paper isn't the baseboard size, so last night, in my head, the scenic board ended at the bridge. The platform stops just short of the bridge and I wondered last night whilst watching TopGear, about creating two boards but un-equal lengths.

If I extend the platform (by moving the bridge back) say 15-20cm that will make it look much better. I'll then need to create a baseboard join at the end of the platform closest to the buffer stops. This will still fit within the area challenge, as the car park side can be angled to increase, or reduce the area as required. I won't decide this until I mock up the hotel/pub building this week (prior to starting on that in plasticard).

 

Anyone else?

Link to comment

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...