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Mezzanine floor


Mikkel

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Some time ago, Miss Prism suggested that I could add a mezzanine floor to one end of “The depot” for extra goods storage.

 

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I liked the idea, and sought inspiration in some of the larger GWR depots, including (very loosely) the arrangements at Hockley. I tried to build the structure to look like an afterthought, added by the GWR when it ran out of storage space on the ground floor decks. The visible part of the mezzanine is imagined to connect to a more expansive off-scene section.

 

 

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After various experiments I built the structure right across the middle of the depot, thereby dividing up the layout both vertically and horisontally. Visually, what used to be a single large space is therefore now four spaces, as illustrated here, plus the yard outside.

 

 

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The “cut-away” effect at the front follows my preference for see-through structures at the front of layouts, which I think adds to the impression of depth and forces on-lookers to view the layout up close and at eye-level height, thereby placing him or her “inside” the scene.

 

 

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The main structure was knocked up from various bits and pieces, including Evergreen H sections and tubing, Slaters Plastikard and left-overs from various kits.

 

 

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The stairs and fencing are modified and detailed Scalelink etches. These save some fiddly work but are fairly basic as they come and do, I feel, need some detailing to look right. The fences were detailed with Evergreen strips and drawing pins for posts.

 

 

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I ended up extending the stairs with plastikard to fit the necessary height. The r/h side shows the original folded-up etch.

 

 

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Goods will be moved to the mezzanine floor by way of cranes that I plan to build for the ground-floor decks at a later stage. If I’m not mistaken, that was the arrangement at Hockley, with goods lifted to balconies such as this one.

 

 

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In retrospect there are various things I would have liked to do differently. A lower and more expansive mezzanine might have increased the visual interest further, and I wish I’d copied the structure at Hockley more closely, to increase the GWR imprint on it. Probably best to move on though, it's about time this stuff recieved some paint!

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23 Comments


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Gosh, this is amazing! When I first looked I thought it was your new railway room with a Waterman style raised area for your next layout!

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  • RMweb Gold

I wish! :) But less could do it - I wouldn't mind owning just a meter or two óf the Leamington Spa layout...

 

 

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Don't worry about Mr Waterman - I plan to *buy* the building when the site is 'rationalised ' fifty years into the future by British Rail' and convert it into a house! Might even use part of the mezzanine as a layout room. GWR of course!

 

Seriously tho' - what a cracking piece of model making - gives a whole new definitiion to the 'GWR Goods Shed'.

 

Another question - what the heck are you doing awake at 04.07 Mikkel? Not working 'nights' like me are you!:angry:

 

Regs

 

Ian

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Sounds like a good plan Ian :D. Maybe you could host the annual RMweb member's day!

 

It was actually 05.00 here in Denmark, and I was up early as we have had heavy snow and I had to drive quite a bit for an early appointment. (Turned out pretty scary actually, a truck slid off the road right in front of me.)

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WOW Mikkel!

 

That looks amazing! Its really comming together nicely, I love all the little bits of detail on the ironwork, it really brings it alive.

 

Missy :)

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I'm flabbergasted! Your attention to detail is absolutely amazing and your producing a beautiful masterpiece :good_mini: I watch your progress with undisguised admiration and envy!

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What can one say... outstanding! Not only is this wonderfully intricate, but the results seem incredibly tidy and clean too. Normally, photography up close can be cruel... but it's potentially only enhanced the effect here. Fantastic Mikkel.... it just goes to show what can be done with some basic materials.

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Now for a slight variation on a 'me too' post, I agree with everything that's been said so far!

 

I can't really add much, but to say that I really like what you've done :) .

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  • RMweb Gold

Outstanding Mikkel.I wish I could 'knock up' something as good as that.I do like those Scalelink stairs.Got any spare ? ;)

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Outstanding Mikkel.I wish I could 'knock up' something as good as that.I do like those Scalelink stairs.Got any spare ? ;)

 

 

My thoughts exactly Rob , makes you want to spit . :D

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Thanks everyone for these kind comments. I had a bit of a confidence crisis with this structure when I finalized it, worrying that it might look over-designed and not actually real. But if there is any of that, a paintjob and some weathering can hopefully help alleviate it.

 

Yes the Scalelink etches are nice, although as mentioned I think they need a bit of detailing. Here's a photo of the etch as bought:

 

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- and here's one showing two set of stairs, one just folded-up from the etch and one detailed and extended. The wonky rails were the result of an idiotic attempt at using brute force. Fortunately they have since been straightened out.

 

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Edited by Mikkel
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This is seriously good stuff. Your attention to detail is quite something. Well done!

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Fantastic Mikkel - you've been a lot more adventurous than I had envisaged when making the suggestion for the mezzanine, but this is even better. It's become wonderfully busy, and I like the odd angles of the structure.

 

I'm just wondering whether some kind of closed trellis on the back wall on the mezzanine level (indicating an entrance to a covered way going somewhere else to the back of the scene) would enhance the mystery.

 

Great pictures.

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Glad you like it Miss P, and once again thanks for suggesting it initially.

 

I think I can see what you mean about a trellis. One concern, though, could be that it may close off the view along the mezzanine (as per the last photo in the blog entry). I'll see if I can find any ideas/inspiration from my books though - thanks for the suggestion.

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  • RMweb Gold

Maybe I misunderstood. If the trellis is positioned where the dotted lines are below, it might impede the view of the mezzanine. Not normally a problem, but in this case the mezzanine is already quite close to the roof and so viewing is already restricted. But perhaps you meant something else?

 

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Edited by Mikkel
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Ah, ok. I did consider something like that at one point - or rather a balcony/"catwalk" along the entire back wall. But the urge to move forward to the painting conveniently took over! I'll sit myself in front of the layout tomorrow with a cup of coffee and give it some thought.

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  • RMweb Gold

Late in the day, but just to echo what has been said by others - remarkable modelling!

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