Dan's S7 Workbench, BR (Western Region) 1960 -1975
Entry posted by Dan Randall
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Sunday 11th October 2009: So, here we are in the brave new world of RMweb4. Those of you, who subscribed to my 7mm Workbench ramblings on the old RMweb, may be pleased to know that there will be more of the same here. 
I hope to bring across all my previous workbench stuff, but I??™m also hoping to separate each project into its own section if possible.
I have two locos on the go at present ??“ a JLTRT Western and a JLTRT/Mitchell Castle. I also have a number of Slater??™s vans and wagons on the go, including an ex. SR PMV, BR 12t Van, BR Insulated Van and a Conflat.
As an ex P4 modeller, I was becoming increasingly unhappy with the clunky appearance of O gauge wheels and as recently as two weeks ago, I decided to move from OF to Scale Seven (S7). As a result of this, I have already had the Western??™s wheels re-profiled, so there??™s no going back now! In due course, I??™ll get the Castle??™s wheels re-profiled, then strip the chassis down and rebuild it with S7 frame spacers. The wagons and vans currently on the go do not present too much of a challenge, as some of the underframes aren??™t even built yet!
I??™m also keen to build a small S7 layout, which I??™ll document here. I don??™t have a lot of room at my disposal (7mm stuff is big!), but I keep being drawn to Gordon Gravett's "Ditchling Green" (MRJ No 50). The scenic part is 11' 3" long and our lean-to is 12', so I could at least get something of similar dimensions built. Any curves would be very subtle, so I don't see any problems there. Fiddle yard boards would add additional length, so running sessions would be confined to outside on dry/sunny days! 
I have in mind a half-station layout, similar to Ken Gibbon's "New Quay", with a small fiddle yard at each end. Passenger trains terminate at the station (for whatever reason), so you only get to see the loco and first two coaches, the rest of the train (which obviously doesn't actually exist), is being obscured by a footbridge, overbridge or whatever view blockers I can engineer.
This means I won't need much in the way of coaching stock and is the perfect excuse to obtain a couple of MMP Mk1s to hang on the back of my JLTRT Western (or JLTRTs forthcoming Warship!). Short freight workings can continue through the station (to the other fiddle yard), to serve some sort of off-scene industry, such as a Dairy (which would satisfy my craving for some 6-wheel milk tanks!). 
My modeling preferences are BR (Western Region), 1960 ??“ 1975, so the station would reflect this, with typical buildings, enamel signs (I love Totems!) and platform furniture such as lamp posts, fencing, benches and trolleys.
I did manage to buy some timber a few weeks ago, but haven??™t yet formulated a track plan. As soon as I do, I??™ll be getting stuck into some carpentry, track laying and all the other tasks that layout building entails!
Here??™s a reminder of what??™s to come??¦.
Regards
Dan
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