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Grantham Coaling Plant 2FS - A little home for my A4

cornish trains jez

Entry posted by cornish trains jez

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Good evening all,

 

It's been a while seen I have added a blog entry, so thought it was time to pick up on this. This particular one is another "off Par station" subject, after having almost finished my class 90 upgrade, I decided that I would like to build a little home for my Dapol A4, purchased a while ago as I have always loved this loco. I currently run this loco on Par as a specials working, but thoughts have turned towards a mini layout set in it's own period late 50's.

 

So ideas have been that I would create a snippet of Grantham, a location that I used to spot at during the 80's with my late grandfather, who was born there. Having researched a suitable area, I decided that the coaling plant area would make for an interesting mini project as this would allow me to build one or two structures which would add to the depth of the layout and interest of operation. Luckily, some material was readily available at home in the form of Steam World mags, collected over the years when the ECML in the 50's-60's articles were featured. I have two which specifically features Grantham which was my initial port of call. However, the LNER encyclopedia website has an excellent thread entitled "returning to Grantham" which has an excellent abundance of quality photos, several of which were of the coaling plant and also some plans of the structure.

 

Photos here http://www.lner.info/forums/download/file.php?id=11541&mode=view and here http://www.davesrailpics.bravehost.com/grantham/granthamshed.htm The second photo down in the second link will be the main area of the layout plan.

 

According to the architectural plans featured on the LNER "returning to Grantham" thread, the structure is about 80'10 high, making it 16.2cm high in 2FS. Using this measurement as a base, I have now calculated measurememts for the whole structure and have ordered up some plastic sheets and strip which I will use to build it.

 

Well, this is just a start. A couple of photos below of my A4 which I weathered a little while back with weathering powders. It might be joined shortly by a Farish A1 once I can get my hands on a reasonably priced one!

 

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Any comments are welcome and I hope to have some parts cut out and a layout plan for the next blog entry.

 

Best regards,

 

Jeremy

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D869

Hmm... how many layouts?

 

Maybe a new type of boxfile layout? - with the file stood on its end this time.

 

Nice weathering on the A4 - maybe a little crud to tone down those shiny rods underneath?

 

Regards, Andy

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cornish trains jez

Hmm... how many layouts?

 

Maybe a new type of boxfile layout? - with the file stood on its end this time.

 

Nice weathering on the A4 - maybe a little crud to tone down those shiny rods underneath?

 

Regards, Andy

Hi Andy,

 

You can never have too many layouts!! I only have Par at the moment, and the class 90 was a bit of a one off as I really liked the detail etch produced by PH designs. I used to have an N gauge layout based on the ECML in the 50's, on which I ran my minitrix A3 and A4, but that went a long time ago with a house move.

This project will be something I will run alongside progress on Par. Box file on end sounds cool, maybe I'll have to have 2 or 3 side by side as the water tower is quite high too. Who knows, I still haven't finalised the trackpan yet, although I do have plenty of easitrac ready!!

 

The rods do need toning down, they look a bit clean compared to the rest.

 

Best regards,

 

Jeremy

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bcnPete
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Only have Par? What about that 2FS swiss layout you started? :O ;)

 

Can't help thinking I have passed on my bad habit (2FS not being one of them though) of serial layout building ;)

 

Problem is, there is always the thrill of research for a new project and it can sometimes be good to have a different focus.

 

Good luck to you - I shall be keeping tabs on this...

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cornish trains jez

Only have Par? What about that 2FS swiss layout you started? :O ;)

 

Can't help thinking I have passed on my bad habit (2FS not being one of them though) of serial layout building ;)

 

Problem is, there is always the thrill of research for a new project and it can sometimes be good to have a different focus.

 

Good luck to you - I shall be keeping tabs on this...

 

Hi Pete,

 

I think I do have the serial layout bug. I have shelved the swiss project for the time being and will use the boards to create this little layout for which I have a lot more enthusiasm. We've also just put our house on the market and Par has been banished to the garage.....to keep the house tidy (according to my wife!!) So this little project will allow me to run trains in the house until we move.

My plastics arrived yesterday so I may start making some progress later on tonight.

 

Best regards,

 

Jeremy

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RichardW1

Weathering on the top of the boiler is superb- how have you managed to get it to stay put? I never have any success with powders.( probably not reading the instructions!)

Richard

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cornish trains jez

I normally use Humbrol matt acrylic varnish from an aerosol, sprayed over in very thin mists and from a distance so as not to displace the powders. I really like working with the powders, both dry and mixed with water to create the different effects. I think powders are very suited to steam locos as they tended to be very dusty and sooty.

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