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Bunker first (1927)


Mikkel

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Farthing is normally set in 1907, but a while ago I decided to give my "out of period" stock a bit more attention by doing dedicated operating sessions for alternative time periods. Yesterday was a "1927" day, and here are a few shots. Above, Small Metro No. 1492 runs bunker first during shunting operations in the bay area. The loco features the enclosed cab and Collett style bunker with which many of the older tank locos were fitted in the 1920s.

 

 

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Driver Henry Pulling trying to get a good view as he backs into the siding with a four-wheel Siphon C. The loco is from a SE Finecast kit, but the builder is unknown as this is a restoration job like many of my locos. Not exactly a glass case model, and yet it's the kind of loco I like: Plenty of character and a good runner.

 

 

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A rather cruel close-up, but H. Pulling comes across well enough. Actually he is HO, being a modified Preiser figure. I find these useful for fitting in cramped cabs because of their smaller height.

 

 

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By this time, our driver is clearly struggling with neck pains and it's time to say goodbye. As will be rather obvious from this last image, I am experimenting with low-cost photo-editing software at the moment, as my current solution is getting a bit outdated. But the results are rather mixed so far, so it looks like I'm best off saving up for Photoshop or similar.

 

 

Edited by Mikkel

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  • RMweb Gold

Mikkel - It's always a pleasure to read the posts and narratives for The Farthing Layouts - the last image perhaps just needs the terrace housing ghosted a little to set it back from the foreground...that image might work better in B+W / Sepia?... Pete

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The Farthing Layouts are just fabulous and I always enjoy your posts.

 

The Siphon C is a particular favourite of mine - though the one you have modelled (1503 - Lot 1162 built March 1909 condemned May 1948) may well have operated by "C & J Harris of Calne" by 1927 and would have had roof boards "HARRIS BACON AND WILTSHIRE SAUSAGES, CALNE AND BRISTOL" and a panel between the centre and right hand doors stating "TO WORK BETWEEN CALNE AND BRISTOL TEMPLE MEADS" (as at March '29 from GW Siphons by Slinn).

 

This may seem a little picky, but I do take my sausages seriously...:D

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Always good to see more from Farthing :D

 

As to sausages, I'm not convinced. Slinn only records 1492 as receiving Harris branding before 1927. That was in 12/24, and I do wonder whether that is a typo as the others on adjacent lines are 12/34. In general, the Harris branding appears to have happened in the 30s as noted on p48.

 

Assuming that Slinn's dates are those on which the branding was applied, rather than just a date on which it had been observed, then I reckon Mikkel is quite safe, at least until March 1929 :unsure:

 

Nick

 

ps. Now look what you've done! The binding on my copy has started to give up and pages are falling out. Must take less interest in Siphons :lol:

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  • RMweb Gold
the last image perhaps just needs the terrace housing ghosted a little to set it back from the foreground...that image might work better in B+W / Sepia?... Pete

Hi Pete, yes good point, I did blur the buildings a bit but probably not enough. Will give it a try.

 

It's probably just me not knowing enough about all the techniques. Been working with Paintshop Pro 7 (sic!) these past few years, and so my knowledge of these things hasn't evolved while the programmes certainly have! I suppose I might even have to read the manual once I decide on new software - an outrageous thought! :lol:

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  • RMweb Gold

I might even have to read the manual once I decide on new software - an outrageous thought! :lol:

 

I normally just wait for my kids to explain things to me... :P

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  • RMweb Gold

Steve and Nick, thanks for pointing this out. Sausages should certainly be taken seriously! :)

 

I had a feeling I'd get myself into trouble with that Siphon! Serves me right for trying to pass off a vehicle in Edwardian livery in a 1927 context... Unfortunately I do not have the Slinn book (big omission, I know), so cannot say how the sausage issue should be interpreted.

 

There are other issues though. I thought I was being crafty as the 16 inch letters applied to some Siphons in the 1900s (in order to fit below the louvres) were standardized by the 1920s. This is all very good, but I forgot about the end letters, as seen in the first photo. I am not sure that these were still applied by 1927, especially in 25 inches (although the usual sources don’t seem too clear on this, and Slinn's GW Way page 86 shows two Pythons in the 1930s with end letters...).

 

 

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I doubt if Siphons were repainted very often, so you may be able to get away with it by claiming that it only received a repaint before it went to the Harris traffic in 1929. On the other hand, it does look a bit clean for an eighteen year old van.

 

I suspect, though, we're clutching straws here as there's a photo of 1519 taken in 1923 in Russell's Appendix 2 which has all lettering and numbering in the same places as the earlier style, except there are no large letters on the ends.

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  • RMweb Gold

Here is the last shot again, now in black and white and with background softened. I guess the original photo should have been better.

 

There is actually a long-term purpose to this image manipulation (sort of), as the third Farthing layout might feature something like this.

 

 

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Edited by Mikkel
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Love these layouts - this themed date thing is rather like that shopping programme currently being shown on British television - Don't know if you've seen it - each week the same High Street is themed as a different period, so we've had Victorian, then Edwardian, 1930's and then War time.

 

Could we see the same here, Edwardian Farthing, 1927 Farthing, 1930's Farthing, Wartime Farthing, Nationalisation Farthing, Beeching Farthing followed by Derelict Farthing and then Shopping Centre carpark, sorry couldn't resist that last bit.

 

Wonderful models as ever.

 

Looking forward to more.

 

Rovex

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  • RMweb Gold
I suspect, though, we're clutching straws here

I think you're right Nick. The idea behind these out-of-period sessions is to add some further operating interest to the micro/small-layout concept, and to make use of some of the stock that normally just sits in the drawer. But I then realized I didn't have much 1927 rolling stock! I'll try a bit harder next time.

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  • RMweb Gold
this themed date thing is rather like that shopping programme currently being shown on British television - Don't know if you've seen it - each week the same High Street is themed as a different period, so we've had Victorian, then Edwardian, 1930's and then War time.

 

Could we see the same here, Edwardian Farthing, 1927 Farthing, 1930's Farthing, Wartime Farthing, Nationalisation Farthing, Beeching Farthing followed by Derelict Farthing and then Shopping Centre carpark, sorry couldn't resist that last bit.

Thanks Rovex. I haven't seen that programme, but what you describe is more or less the idea I was trying to pursue. On "The bay", most buildings and people etc can be moved/replaced, so it is possible and I've already had some good fun with it. The idea is to do ten year-intervals from 1887 to 1947. I like the post-nationalisation ideas too, but have no stock for that at all. Will post some "1937" shots shortly once I've got them sorted.

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Having been distracted by the Siphon, I've forgotten to say that I really like this idea of the multi period snapshots and am looking forward to see how it develops. If I ever get Camerton to the stage where it can be operated, I hope to do something similar. Like Farthing, the layout will be based in the Edwardian era, but I do have some later stock and will be able to run it in 20s and 30s guise. In fact, I've just bought a Hornby 28XX for those eras. It may even get worse as I'm starting to develop the urge to model the BR(W) that I remember from the 50s and 60s -- Hymeks and Westerns on coal trains, maybe.

 

I'll also be interested to see what you have up your sleeve with this "third Farthing layout".

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  • RMweb Gold

Hi Nick.

 

Yes that 28xx is rather tempting. Have you considered backdating it? I haven't looked into what it would involve yet. If I'm not mistaken one even carried fully lined livery - maybe the prototype.

 

As for running one in a 1920s/1930s timeframe, it would look rather nice alongside one of the RODs....!

 

PS: The Third Farthing layout is just a loose idea so far, but may feature coach sidings and/or exchange sidings with the LSWR, with some terrace houses as part of the background. The latter as I was very inspired by Captain Kernow's railway cottage's: http://www.rmweb.co....ry/page__st__25

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I said "bought", but I'm still waiting for it to arrive. It's probably stuck in the snow somewhere :unsure: That, and the local Post Office has been suffering from backlogs -- the Köf was even delivered on a Sunday, and that was before the snow started.

 

Yes, Russell says that the prototype was originally black lined in red and repainted in lined green at its first shopping. However, there are differences in the boiler and smokebox from the Hornby model.

 

As to backdating, yes, I have thought about it, but maybe not just yet. I've ordered the early version (2818, as preserved at the NRM) so the main possibility for backdating would be to remove the top-feed. Of course, I'd then have to be careful to avoid one that was fitted with the short-cone boiler. I'll need to investigate suitable numbers. So far, I know that 2809, 2821 and 2828 were at Bristol in 1914.

 

Not so sure about RODs, though...

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Hi Mikkel,

Nice to catch up on your inspirational ideas.

I actually like the original coloured shot of the houses - at first glance I thought you had modelled some houses Captain Kernow style! Black and white is rarely convincing in digital in my opinion.

I spent some time with Photoshop a few years ago, and found it such a huge programme that I never really had enough time to get to grips with more than a few basic techniques, even after a six week course - but that's probably me being semi-IT literate at best.

I use Elements now, which for editing is fine, but of course it won't really do the same job as its big brother.

Regards,

Chris

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  • RMweb Gold

Hi Chris.

 

I know what you mean about black and white photos in digital, often it just doesn't work. I think one reason may be that it is difficult to get the contrast to look right. Sometimes I do like the effect though.

 

I haven't tried Elements, maybe I should have a look - thanks.

 

 

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Mikkel

 

You may have found an alternative solution in the year since this was posted, but if not then my alternative may be of interest to you.

 

It's something of an acquired taste, but I find that the GIMP does all that I need, and it's free.

 

Proficient Photoshop users tend to hate it - mostly because it's different, as far as I can see. To be fair to them, there are a few Photoshop features that the GIMP lacks, but I can't say that I have ever noticed their absence.

 

David

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  • RMweb Gold

Many thanks David. I had given up on finding a new programme, as it all suddenly seemed a bit costly, what with the financial crisis etc! So a free option certainly sounds interesting. I've found it and will have a look.

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