Making windows for Snitzl Town.
Here are some of the methods I use to model window surrounds and window frames.
Rather than make individual windows, I build an array of windows that become part of the structure which adds strength to the building. I align the window frets with two steel blocks, left and top and these become datums for gluing and if required also aid accurately cut windows with a vernier.
Brief introduction and Wheel Quartering Jigs .
Snitzl Works blog will illustrate and describe my efforts into modifications and scratchbuilding of rolling stock / locomotives along with all the sub assemblies / components such as gearbox's, gears, worms, wheels, motor bogies, wheel quartering jigs and will also include all the trials and tribulations that can sometimes occur along the way, so perhaps this blog should be a guide on how not to modify and scratchbuild locomotives. I
Warehouses - Three of a kind.
Warehouses - Three of a kind, has taken over 500 hours to model with an end result that recurs time and time again for me. It seems strange that some buildings modelled look perfectly fine on the workbench, but when placed in situ on the layout, they don't seem to belong.
Again, inspiration for the warehouses was taken from photographs of Tregarrick MKIV by Iain Rice in Model Railway Constructor - May 1980 and Model Railways - January, Febr
Walls Traverser Cover - Part 2.
This is part two of the 'Walls Traverser Cover' which was started last February and has taken at least 1260 hours to construct. Details of construction covered in part one are not repeated in this blog so illustrations move on rapidly. The model is virtually a micro, multi layered layout modelled in styrene. This blog also covers details of the traverser with its extruded aluminium tracks, mechanical switch and end of board track protection.
Walls Traverser Cover - Part 1.
It was only last February that I thought to myself that Snitzl Town only required a traverser and transportation rack to finish, then I could get on with some rolling stock modelling. Thinking about the traverser, instead of using two pieces of plywood to hide the traverse sidings from the viewing public, what about an actual model of stone walls and walkways. Searching the internet for ideas with search terms such as ' fantasy castle ', ' stone wa
Verne's Tower - Flying Machine.
As part of Fun Town, I was thinking of modelling a hot air balloon that revolved around the large tower, but in the previous blog on Mike Sharmans vertical boiler steam traverser, Mikkel commented that the traverser was very much in the stye of Jules Verne in appearance. This got me thinking about maybe modelling the hot balloon baised on something Jules Verne might have designed, a web search was done and after browsing through many images a compl
Trestle Bridge.
Based on Wickham Bishops trestle bridge over the river Blackwater with slight variations, this is a step by step guide to modelling the main components of this bridge in styrene sheet. The stone supports at either end of the bridge are briefly covered and further details of their construction can be found in Random Stone Walls. The bridge itself, is a fairly straight forward bit of model making ideal for the beginner. Most of the trestle bridge is constructed from
Timber Goods Shed for Kimberley.
Built for Ilkeston Woodside MRC's 00 / 4mm layout of Kimberley ( G.N.R./ Midland Railway ).
Here are a few illustrations following the construction of this timber goods shed and adjoining goods office. A small amount of Will's flexible brick sheet was used for a small area of brickwork in the office section of this building, the remainder was constructed from plain 0.5 and 1.0mm styrene sheet. Two photo's of the original building were av
Method used to create and tile a spherical roof .
I used a 3D solid modeling package to determine diameters of the rings that form this dome. Dome rings were created using a digital vernier as a pair of dividers to not only mark, but also score a groove deep enough for a scalpel to follow when cutting out.
Could have used the lathe, but didn't fancy the cold freezing temperatures of my workshop.
Thanks for Looking..........
A much slower but more effective way to model roof tiles and ridge tiles.
Step by step guide to Tiling Roofs.
I've tiled most roofs on Snitzl Town using this method, and there's no doubt in my mind that the overall look is well worth the time and effort. Its worth modeling the odd building with larger tiles, and that might be a good starting point. Try not to get to much liquid poly under the tile, because really thin styrene tends to distort. Use a small artists brush, not t
Three Buildings for Kimberley.
Built for Ilkeston Woodside MRC's 00 / 4mm layout of Kimberley ( G.N.R./ Midland Railway ). Here are a few illustrations following the construction of two small weighbridge buildings and a small goods shed. Laminations of 0.5mm plain styrene sheet and Slaters embossed plastic were used for the body shells, while electrical wire was used for the downpipes and brackets. Special focus is given to the lintels and step by step illustrations as to how reas
The Works or Halfwits Wondrous Wagon Works.
The works is a small wagon / loco repair shop, managed by Jack Halfwit, that services the rolling stock of Snitzl. Comprises of three small buildings, water tower, hoist and pit. Most, if not all the inspiration for "The Works" was taken from photographs of Tregarrick MKIV 1980 by Iain Rice in Model Railways February 1981. 'The Works' is presented here as a complete project with the usual snitzl step by step pictorial approach.
The Terraced Shops :
First of all, an apology, I didn't start taking pictures of the construction methods for the terraced shops till part way through this project, however, all will become clear with my next posting.
The terraced shops are part of what is to be a market place on the Snitzl Town layout.
The illustrations below show how they were constructed.
The Mart is one of my favourite buildings .
The Mart was a brick building that existed in the city of Nottingham in the early 1900's. I have modeled this building in stone, with the earlier wooden railings. The methods used in the construction of this model are fairly typical for all my buildings. However, changes to how the roof was attached have changed lately due to curling of the plastic. Like the terraced shops, this building is part of what is to be a market place on the Sni
The little people in 4mm scale.
Creating figures in 4mm scale is a bit of a hit and miss affair for me. When sculpting the face, some figures turn out great, while others turn into real monsters. The initial sculpting is done in dental plaster or chalk from which a silicone rubber mould is created. From this mould is cast a white metal figure which is further detailed to become a 'master figure'. If multiple copies of the same figure are required, then a second silicone rubber moul
I needed a Tenshodo type 14:1 worm and wheel for the current project I'm working on. The Tenshodo's were about the right size and would probably do the job, but a preference for metal gears prompted this sub project. The one thing that this blog demonstrates besides novice gear making, is how much time can be spent making side tracked components before work can begin on the job in hand. Now that the gears are complete, changes have been made in the main project that may render these gears as unr
Here is a method for creating realistic stratified rock.
An article from one of our model railroad friends suggested using ceiling tiles to make stratfied rock. When I mentioned this to John Lavender, a club member, he suggested using insulation board, some of which was lying about the club room. Apparently, this type of foam insulation board is quite common in the building trade.
Three layers of this board were used to create an eight foot long cutting on Ilkeston Wood
Building the stone steps and walkways for Snitzl Town.
A step by step illustrated guide to building the stone steps and walkways on the market place of Snitzl Town. The model is based on a walk way / railway bridge that existed on Main St, Kimberley, Nottingham.
The individual components of this model bolt together to form a complete assembly, an idea I've carried on into other modules of Kimberley Station, that I will post soon.
Modelling Stone Paving for Snitzl Town.
Random stone paving can take hell of a long time model, I know, I've tried it.
To help speed up the process, a method that requires only four stone sizes was developed, and if each stone was perfectly positioned, no trimming.
However, I'm not that good and a little trimming is required.
Thanks for Looking..
Using a laser printer to create printed circuit boards ?.
Stumbled across the method of using a laser printer to create printed circuit boards on the internet and thought I'd present my experiences with this method as a blog. Not having the appropriate software for creating circuit board artworks, I actually photographed the trackside of a now discontinued controller from the 1990's, made a few alterations, coloured the track in black, mirrored the artwork and then printed nine co
Continues with the development of an analog Pentroller type.
This blog brings to an end the development of an analog Pentroller type controller with a couple of versions that have turned out rather well. The blog also includes a shuttle circuit that is designed to be used in combination with the controller in a future fun type layout with automatic trains, automated chimney sweep brushes, people waving, light flashing and whatever else that springs to mind. So, while browsing the r
Here is yet another illustrated guide through the construction methods used on Snitzl's market stalls.
In all, ten similar stalls were built and modelled in styrene with bread, pies, flowers, biscuits, meat, books, dishes and vegetables made from various materials. A simple brass injection mould tool made years ago was used for wheel production and the small empty crates are modelled in 10 thou brass.
Construction of the simple brass mould tool will be covered in a fut
Harbour Walls and Warehouse.
Here is an illustrated guide through the construction methods used on Snitzl's 12 foot harbour wall, step ladders, mooring rings, mooring bollards and warehouse. A little time has been spent adding variations to the plain stone walls with bulging / multi-layered stonework.
Inspiration for the warehouse comes from both Dave Shakespeare's canal tunnel on Barden Road, featured in Model Rail - April 2003 and the front cover of a Langley Models b
An investigation into Stewart Hines Pentroller.
This blog investigates Stuart Hines Pentroller and presents a layout of the board, identifies components, includes schematics and presents various oscilloscope captures of the pulse width modulation and timimg pulses in an effort to understand the function of the design. Last night, I was a pleasantly surprised to receive a telephone call from Stuart, granting permission for details of Pentroller to be presented in this blog, howeve
Kimberley - Small Timber Station Building.
Built for Ilkeston Woodside MRC's 00 / 4mm layout of Kimberley ( G.N.R. / L.N.E.R. / Midland Railway ).
Here are a few illustrations following the construction of this part timber station building. The original building was constructed by the Great Northern Railway in 1876 and early photographs show wood panels down to ground level, later pics show bricks had replaced the timber from below the windows. Construction of the model
