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About this blog

UPDATE 20TH JULY 2020Calshot (MkII) is no more! Sadly, I decided to abandon the project due to being stored in a dusty garage for 10 years. However it is more than likely to live on in another guise... watch this space!

 

The Ramblings of a Junior 4mm Modeller

Entries in this blog

Where I'm headin' next...

It's been a fair few weeks since I've actually done anything productive on the layout. The only thing I have done is print out the information panels! I'm now looking to do two major things: Sort out running issues Add some details Sorting out the running issues After a very quick scour over the layout, the probable source of the running issues has become clear. Firstly, there is a tiny amount of glue between the stock rail and the check rail of one of the standard gauge points. Second

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What a difference a day makes!

Some strange goings on have been happening today. Things such as walking past an aisle in a shop and something flying off the shelf without anyone there. Another strange thing has been this: The egg(ish) shaped layout works out at 4ft x 3ft It may not be what you expected (or I!), but this is the start of the construction of Calshot -MkII. It's a kind of egg-shaped layout (I like to be different, and it shows!) but I'm yet to decided what will go where yet, although I do have a vague idea.

V.2 Operation Mirror Image [Part 2]

Last night I altered a few bits on the plan, so just to keep you up to date the plan should appear below:       Now, originally the layout was built to be transported in a small car, however, it doesn't fit! Therefore I have had to use my dad's van which has ample room in both width, length and height. If I was to start this again (which, for the record, I won't ) I would double-check the room available in the car BEFORE building the layout. (Lesson learnt there I should think ) This mea

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V.2 Operation Mirror Image

Despite my status update earlier, I'm still planning an extension, not just a fiddle yard. Here's my latest plan after a thought struck me earlier. It occurred to me that my abnormally-shaped plan for my extension would be hell to transport! So, I took the original layout and mirrored it and came up with this:     This design allows me to stack the two boards on top of one another. I'd have to create a squared off section for the original board to make it easier to connect the two boa

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Unique, interesting or just plain silly?

It's about time I actually involved my brain instead of persisting that 'I can't do it' or that I've got 'modellers block' when in actual fact I haven't sat myself down and really thought about the project!   I always set out to build something unusual from the very start. Yes, there are more and more RAF base layouts nowadays, but they always use the same kits. I wanted to build something unique - a seaplane base, the only layout I can think of with a seaplane base is the inspirational and

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Thoughts about presentation

Hello, Progress has been slow, a bit like the pace of life in general this week, but I thought i'd talk to you about latest happenings on the F&CR... The narrow gauge trench has finally been dug out using an electric drill and chisel meaning the narrow gauge track has been cut to length. The NG bridge is also being installed and i'm hoping I can get the NG track laid down today. I don't have any fishplates for the NG track though unless I can find some in the house (as you do!).   Toda

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Things what I 'ave bought!

I finally got round to making some purchases! I've been umming and aahing about what I should buy for quite a long time now. After finally having made up my mind I decided to plump for the following:     Acquisition no. 1 Steiermischen Landesbahn diesel shunter VL6 is seen here after having arrived from Germany after a certain lack of motive power on the RAF NG Railway at Calshot. It is surprising to note that it is a brand new engine although it looks like some modifications may have to be

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The Schneider Hangar

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank my loyal blog visitors and especially those who have left comments or advice. So let's get on with the show...   Well I've been able to continue with the layout tonight and have followed up on Shortliner's suggestion (thanks Jack) of how to fix the hangar door problems I was having and have started to make some good progress.   Basically the idea was that a trench would be dug for the doors to sit into, and two guides for the hangar doors to slot

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The Mock Up - Part 2

Thanks to a member on NGRM I have a new plan:     The majority of the layout mock up   Out of focus, but it's a nice viewpoint. I really like this composition as it gives a slice of the atmosphere of Calshot.   Overall I think this plan has a lot going for it, it looks similar to the prototype and works well as a layout. The composition seems to work well. A slipway will be in the foreground in front of the hangar. There may be a pier on the extreme right where the NG siding is. Th

The Mock Up

Firstly, thanks for all your feedback - it has been most appreciated and most interesting! Here's the mock up I started last night - The hangar made out of cardboard is much bigger than I first expected! (Which is why mock ups are so vital).       Calshot MkII - A mock up trial       Aerial Photo       Inside the hangar       View from the slipway and pier       Towards the hangar and castle

The final push?

With a deadline moving ever closer I've still got loads more to do. However, I have managed to achieve the following: . NG Infill painted . Stream grass banks added . Castle horizontals scribed . Bottom section of Castle scribed and painted . Sea painted . Sea walls painted . Fascia fitted . Some weeds added . Ballasting started   But I've still got loads to do: . Paint SG concrete infill . Scribe the rest of the castle . Paint the castle . Build the castle roof and gun emplaceme

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The construction of Calshot - Part Two

Click on the photos for a larger version: Next job on the list is to construct the framework for the underneath of the board. Then I need to buy 3 right handed 009 points and two yards of flexible 009 track. I will be able to get some builders insulation for the rest of the board (to keep weight down) in the week so a start can be made on the basic relief of the land. The next job then will be to drill holes for the point motors and then pin all the track do

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The construction of Calshot - Part Three - Basic relief

Construction is ongoing on Calshot MkII. Progress is a little slow due to lack of materials but I did manage to scrounge enough polystyrene to do the majority of the first layer of the basic relief. The polystyrene isn't quite thick enough to be up to the trackbed height so another layer will be needed.   In the photo below the Walrus seaplane is standing on the slipway (yet to be carved) and the inset image is one little cameo I hope to include which will be a sunken pillbox with exposed and

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The construction of Calshot - Part Six - Quay basics done

Are you getting bored yet?   Another few hours worth of work sees the quay starting to take shape. All this is removable including the sea bed in readiness for wiring the layout. I will need to cut some access holes underneath the baseboard as the pins on the point motors are just that little bit too short to fit underneath the ply base. Hopefully all goes well and there is enough access to put the point motors in and the wiring. I have also made a culvert (hard to see in these phot

The construction of Calshot - Part Seven - Sub-frame assembly

Unfortunately carpenter Dad has been unwell recently so I've had to go it alone on the woodwork front. However, all is not lost as I'm not too bad at it myself (although not a patch on Dad!). Yesterday and this morning I started building the sub-frame. I have left it quite late but in actual fact this has been for the better. It is made from softwood reclaimed from an old layout.   To start with I marked out the longitudinal battens and worked out where I wanted the notches. The notches were t

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The construction of Calshot - Part One

I have (with the help of carpenter Dad, of course!) made a strong start on the construction of Calshot. For those that requested, I have put up a gallery that will contain all the pictures from the construction process. Total time spent so far (excluding planning (!)) - 120mins.   Here's the gallery: http://jamiewarne.fotopic.net/c1870342.html   (Can't link to one of the photos because it doesn't agree with the system so I can't show a sample image.) Should make some very visible progress

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The construction of Calshot - Part Four

Just a small update. The layout has been moved to MkI's legs with a drape around it to win Brownie points! That way I can have it tucked in the corner and can work on it where it is out of the way. Having it like this makes me wonder if I actually need a backscene. Then again, it is not going to be very photogenic without one. A sluice and little footbridge have been built from left over scraps in the scrap box (funnily enough!). Still needs the mechanism and a spot of weathering. If i

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The construction of Calshot - Part Five - Sluice and quays

Well another day into my summer holiday and another bit of progress to share. This is my first proper attempt at making quay walls out of DAS modelling clay and they look pretty decent if I may say so. The reason they are all at funny angles is because they have not been glued due to obvious reasons. These photos aren't very good, but they are adequate for now. I have tried to recreate worn looking stones with some stones missing and cracks appearing. I am pleased with the results so far, but I

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The construction of Calshot - Part Eight - Weathering trials and other news

The construction of Calshot - Weathering, modelling quay walls and general progress   Well, work is ongoing on Calshot II. I have experimented with weathering as it is something I have always wanted to try but never really been confident with trying out. The first image shows my two weathered wagons (I'm yet to work out how to weather the roof). First the wagons were given a wash of a browny colour and then mostly dabbed off with a cotton bud. The raised metal detail is then paint

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Textured paper - Wooden hangar doors

Stubby47 said he is going to base his boat repair shed using doors similar to the hangar on Calshot. This made me think - 'Maybe I could put some more effort into them'. I had always thought they could be improved, and now was the chance to do so.   The texture was made from a stock image and then 'stained' to the right colour. It was then brightened in Paint.net and printed off at the correct size. If anyone wants the image send me a PM and i'll see what I can do.  

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Straining at the leash...

After numerous comments and advice on NGRM-online by members some things have been called into question (and rightly so!). The balloon loop takes up far more space than I would and there are various other suggestions made such as adding a loop at the front of the layout for the narrow gauge. I have even had a sketch drawn up for me for which I am very grateful. I have modified it slightly to show some of the additions - hope he doesn't mind, but it's much better than I could do myself: The qu

Some new photos...

Going back to college has been hard after such a long break, but I've been back two weeks already. Unfortunately, coursework and college life in general means I have had no spare time nor energy to even think about the layout. I am pleased with how it is at the moment, but there are some flaws in the layout. The scenic exit is appalling and the hangar has fallen apart for some reason. Running is still not great which is a real nuisance as I can never get a layout to run well. I need more NG stoc

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Some half decent snaps and a fiddle yard

Yet more progress today... But first, some pictures of the layout with backscene held up by a willing volunteer! I'm hoping to have the backscene free standing once I work out how to achieve this.                   Dad has very kindly fixed the traverser fiddle yard onto the layout. This means that the traverser top can slide over the control panel supports which should save some space. The traverser was originally built for MkI but rebuilding it slightly has meant it is ea

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Simple lintels...

Here's a quick guide on how to make lintels (with help from Jamie) The material used for the lintel was Hobbycraft's 'Fab foam'. Jam B)

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