Evening all
I have been a bit preoccupied with the backscene of late. I must admit to getting really stressed doing them. SWMBO is quite a talented artist and has helped with the last two layouts but it very nearly ended in divorce last time...
The plan for Clevedon has always been for a continuous backscene. This will include the town at the Portishead end, pan round including Hangstone Quarry then flatten out to reflect the levels towards Weston.
Originally I envisaged a
Evening all
Gosh, it's almost 3 months since I posted anything about the WC&PR. edit can't count!
Well I have been busy with the T9...
Had a blast at Expo EM North last weekend and on the journey I home I was reminded that the next show I'm exhibiting at is Clevedon's debut. Eeek
Nothing like the headlong descent into blind panic to get the juices going!
So where was I?
Oh yes, at the last local EM meeting, there were a few mutterings about which side of the la
...and there was light. And it was not lo, but I saw that it was electric.
I've been making the proscenium arch and lighting rig for Clevedon. I've gone with the aquarium lighting again, this time 2 x 4ft sun-glo tubes with a slightly warmer tone than I used for Wheal Elizabeth. The arch is in 3 sections and supports off the floor via a couple of hanging rails which slot into the sides as I didn't want the foam boards to take any weight. They're clamped to the layout for stability. Th
Afternoon all
Sorry for the lack of postings recently, but progress is being made.
Don't know if it's the influence of Springwatch or the Chelsea flower show, but things are definitely blooming in Clevedon.
Fencing has been completed and the last of the various sheds have been built (finally). Signalling is all built.
With all the boards up, I've been planting static grass and am starting on the various trees and bushes. Fibres are a blend of Heki with some Green Scenes straw
Evening all.
After a very enjoyable outing to Scalefour North last weekend, this week I have been mostly back on the WC&P.
The middle board platform's had a coat of paint and the lineside fences added from Evergreen strip and EZ line elastic.
All three boards have been temporarily reunited so I can work out the line side fencing for the last board.
As can be seen it's going to be mainly scenic, with an occupation crossing at the Weston end of the loop.
The final scenic blitz is
Evening all
Have had the luxury of a week off work and so have turned my attention to the second board.
The platform has been built from ply sleeper strip and the water towers added at each end. These were made out of brass sheet and riveted with my GW models riveting tool.The supports are Evergreen strip.
Also added are two of the sheds. The left hand one is going to house the ganger's trolley.
Still a few bits of paintwork to touch up but I'm pleased with how it looks.
The trackwork has
I've pretty much done all I can do to the first board (in the modelling room anyway). The remaining scenics are going to be best left until the whole thing is put up in the garage for final spraying, weathering, coaling and flocking.
So I've put up the next board which essentially is the platform and yard throat. There'll be a couple of small sheds at the back, lineside fence and a few small trees.
Couldn't resist putting most of the stock out on the layout and you can get a flavour for what t
As it's been such a beautiful day, I couldn't resist putting a few bits of stock out on the layout and taking a few pictures.
Progress since the last update has mainly comprised making the various signs and putting some (hopefully correct) 1930's film posters on the hoardings. Eventually I'd like to make up some flyposters for the Curzon cinema and Knightstone theatre but they'll do for now.
Railcar creeps over the River Yeo bridge
Railcar emerges onto Lower Queens Road
Hesperus and c
Have just about finished the building in Lower Queens Road.
DAS was applied to the plasticard building shell and stonework carved with a pasteboard scraper when dry.
Paints are a mixtures of acrylics and emulsions for the Bath stone decorative sections.
Just a little toning down required with the airbrush, but that's for another day.
Evening
Have been building the end terrace for Lower Queens Road (the house was purchased by the railway when the line extended to Portishead in 1911). It's taken a long time to get this far as I decided (foolishly it turned out) to cut and place each quoin stone by hand. It's all plasticard and strip of varying thickness and section. The lighting rig will be up against the houses hence my only modelling the front inch of them.
The infill stonework was going to be Wills Course stone but I've d
Happy New Year to one and all. Hope Santa brought you what you wanted.
In between the usual festivities, I've managed to make a bit of progress with Clevedon.
The Christmas and New Year possession has seen an awful lot of fencing laid; MSE etched 5 rail local authority style and Ratio spear fencing.
I've also finished the point rodding, such as it was.
The Flockit grass fibre machine has finally made an appearance and I've been having a play with it. I think I'm going to need to paint
Things trundle on here in Ullypug towers.
The water tanks have a representation of the water softening equipment and an access ladder. Still a couple of pipes to add and some patches of missed paintwork to fill in, but I think it's getting there.
Bit of a session with the DAS last night saw the station approach area duly treated. The baby powder/Carrs and now with added MIG concoction has been sprinkled onto a coat of wet acrylic, but hasn't been brushed off yet, so the texture will flatten
I've started so I'll finish.
First some bad news. My trusty modelling chair and I have parted company. Literally. Unfortunately it gave way during a modelling session. Thankfully the replacement has been sourced. It swivels and tilts and everything. The only problem is the incessant bleeping every two minutes. Da da da daaaaa, da da.
Now that my buttocks have returned to a comfortable place, the other bad news. The pva river didn't work. It dried clear but with lots of tiny bubbles. I won
Progress continues. Well it wouldn't be progress otherwise would it? I've been experimenting with weathering using baby powder mixed with Carrs powders. As you can see I couldn't resist putting a few models out to take a few photos.
After trying a number of different colours and paints, I settled on a grey/brown mix sprinkled onto wet Humbrol acylic (roof grey). I've made three batches up varying the blend of Carrs to give a mottled effect. I'm quite pleased with it. More clay has been laid.
I've had the luxury of a week off work and plenty of modelling time.
It's been spent mainly painting the sheds.
Oh, and laying DAS air clay, Nevard style, in between sleepers to represent the ash and clinker ballast.
I've given the area a coat of grey acrylic but it's dried much too dark and shiny for my liking. I think I'll need to get the airbrush out and give the whole thing a spray over.
Still, you get the idea.
I've also made the base for the coaling stage, which will eventually b
Evening all
Now I've stocked up on Evergreen I've been able to make some progress on Clevedon.
The Engine Shed has gained a roof, made from a base layer of clear plasticard with car siding laminated to the insides and cartridge paper glued to the outside. The roof lights were then fitted with individually cut glazing bars from 0.5 mm square section. The roof lights were sealed in the later years with something and it's this laddered finish I'm trying to replicate (all except the front roof lig
Whilst the main engine and carriage sheds are in the paint shop, I've turned my attention to some of the ancillary sheds, of which there seem to be a great number.
All use Evergreen sheet, either car siding or V groove. I've collected quite a few photos over the years and kindly been lent some others but it's amazing how long it takes to interpret the layouts from different shots taken from different angles. I think I've just about got it right.
The slab and square block is actually the w
Have rediscovered the modelling mojo and engaged on Clevedon.
Firstly, the water tank panels have been soldered together resulting in a pretty good representation of the WC&PR tanks. Does anybody know whether Braithwaite tanks were open topped or did they have a lid? My guess is the latter.
Having spent a considerable time trying to work out how the various shed buildings and water tank interact, I came to the conclusion (surprisingly) that as the engine and original carriage shed wer
Having decided to start on the structures for Clevedon, the question was which one?
I finally decided on the water tower because it is pivotal for the engine shed complex.
I'm modelling the second set of tanks. The first were an all timber affair, spanning the original engine shed road.
The second was made from Braithwaite panels and was comprised of two tanks and incorporated a water softening plant.
Having consulted many, many photographs, I came up with a drawing that looks a bit like
Hello and welcome to a new blog which I've created specifically to document the construction of my new EM layout, Clevedon WC&PR.
Previously, bits and pieces for this layout have been lurking in my other blog, 'Tales from the Tinking Table' which has now amassed various other projects and layouts.
Previous blog articles on Clevedon WC&PR are linked into the index over the right.
If you're interested in Colonel Stephens' Railways and the Weston, Clevedon & Portishead Railway
