chriscleveland

Thank you the USA tank is having the coal bunker extended and ladders added to the front just like the real thing. I only noticed it was like this the last time I saw it at the mhr as it’s now moved on and almost back in steam. all those little bits stack up but would like to do a really dirty loco although recently doing the crab support coach was nice as it was worn compared to other rolling stock. Although another Barry loco maybe on the cards. 76017 would have almost fitted into the time frame if the bridge went in a little later and shame it’s no longer there. For its accident back in the day was near Whitchurch I only found this out a year or so ago. if you do attend Taunton please do say hello there maybe one or two of us who own accounts there operating. Black 5 45379 trundles into ropley past a diesel overtaken yard. Some areas are starting to get there just need to sort other parts out

Thank you really appreciate the kind words. The trees have really refreshed the scene to go with the refreshed hill banks I did a while ago now onto the next project. plenty still to do before it will go quiet for a bit. I never thought it would be as well received as it has been or even thought it would ever be published. Just hoping it helps to get some more shows in the diary again soon with only rail ex in Taunton confirmed So far. I really wanted to make Ropley stand out from other layouts and really wanted to capture what preservation really looks like. I also wanted to model something I’ve not seen done before and recreate fond memories I have of the line at a younger age. I also didn’t want it to be an excuse to run what I like using preservation as my modellers licence to have different types of traction running side by side. It actually annoys me having to leave some traction as clean as I do as everything is modelled from photos in the time frame many weekend photographing and filming the site and so much I would do differently next time like the whole platforms not being on a slight curve but we live and learn. The locos have actually been the bigger challenge to building some parts of the layout. Talking of which here’s my next project off to the workshops to match what it actually looks like with ladders over the cylinders to the water tanks and an extended coal bunker which angles over back buffers and up to give it a bigger coal holding capacity.

Hopefully some more shows will come up soon as it only has rail ext in Taunton currently planned. Thank you for the photos this was the time when I had to stop all works until those sheds were built doesn't feel that long ago funny you should tag the dog poster here it is on the model. Although that bin could do with a repaint.

Thank you appreciate the feedback. plenty of learnings like any layout build main ones being not to build the next one in mdf and dcc would have been a better option. Must say trying a mega shunt at a show was interesting something we will try again soon Chris

From wagons to trees to wagons. At last I can tick one of these off the jobs list having remade over 50 trees to freshen up the layout a bit more and complete the overdue job I was meaning to do after its show to Alton last year. Hopefully will help make the layout look more colourful as I’ve also added in some tightly different colours too to mix it up a little also used some trees to try and help block out where the layout goes off scene on the point board made an additional 6 trees for when I get round to looking at the back boards and how to make the layout look more professional in due course. now back to wagons to see which ones would have been running in the time frame and decide if I really want to number them all to match like I did the coaches. also need to brave some other loco projects of weathering, coal loads, and other bits too.

When it’s not making trees it’s the start of research for the railways wagon fleet. All trees along the front are now complete so working along the back has begun. to break up just modelling trees I’ve been researching wagons the railway owns and what would have been in service in the time frame. Still unsure about numbering all to match the exact wagons on the railway but getting the correct wagons in models will be a start. Handy Bachmann have just announced the pal vans as my kit ones are a bit light and not much I can do about that now as they are all glued together. The railway owns x3 of these wagons is what I’ve found out so far. Here we have the mhr toad being made and I’ve done two versions for shows if we have Dave / Thomas out on the line to be accompanied by his mate toad. There will be a few posts on wagons as we continue to get the wagon fleet sorted. Feel it’s only fair as we did all this for the coaching stock. the Thomas toad needs its roof redoing to the darker colour to match how the railway currently have it.

Happy modeller today as the May addition of Railway Modeller has come out and feature’s Ropley Photographed last year at Alton model railway show when we had Ropley on show. I have looked forward to this coming out.

Thank you does help indeed I do like the idea of really worn and rusty or covered in grime. All locos usually get some sort of weathering but nothing as much like they would have looked back in steam days

I’ve run out of materials to finish the trees but definitely looking much better least I’m making treemendous progress

With a few days off it’s probably time to start a project that will take up that time. ages ago for Alton show I pushed myself to make all trees in time ready for the show however towards the end I tried another method which actually looks so much better which I did to the trees on the station boards now with a little bit of time having a long weekend I can go and update the trees on the embankment where the top car park is just off the board. this is how the trees currently look with woodland scenic poly fibre with scattter on top. This is the after look with replacing the fibre with foliage that you tease apart and tear apart to make the tree foliage. i also made a mistake in making the stumps with poly filler which has cracked on some so this will be removed and replaced with dad clay. hopefully will change this look a little for the better

I believe the coach is now back in passenger use? And was hard to tell as you can just see the lip on the windows just got to do the lettering and numbers at some point.

Whilst on the subject of roofs I’ve also tried something a little different modelling in preservation limits giving something a good weathering job. For the time frame I came across on YouTube a coach the railway used at the 2011 spring gala which they painted to be a support coach to the crane. Having too many brake coaches left over and one in the Bachmann dark green livery I decided to recreate this coach all windows are basically filled in and the roof is looking tired. Nice to sometimes have something on the layout that doesn’t look perfect and adds a bit of character. now back to shed roofs and working out what over projects I would like to complete before Ropleys next outing to Taunton show.

Bit more fun with roofs mainly now been repairing the strips on the front roof to get it ready for spraying and a edging to be made. Just the back roof to go. think this is what I’m looking to do once completed just temp fixing to be trialed now without the glazing adds a much better view into the sheds. Also I don’t think the back roof blocks the view as much as I have removed the front lip it used to have before the glazing so using the roof ridge as the top break gives another 2cm additional to the view in. I have also redone the lights inside which I hope will also help as they used to not help the issues of the reflection on the glazing. Now to find a spray colour I’m happy with to spray it up once the back roof has had repairs done and then we can look at securing sections and making access in easier going forward.

Another idea for this shed as this one to do maintenance the frame lifts out in full I could do this option as this is a different build to the others. I’ve cut the front roof to the board joint then I could stick this one down along with this one as the roof trusses could be used to hold it down. Then only the back would need magnets to hold it down and then can be stored in the boxing in of the fiddleyard when in transport? Then the other shed roofs could have the same build principle but potentially the backs could stay on in transport or again go into the fiddleyards?

Was thinking how well they would transport with magnets so that's handy to know. Maybe using the magnets to hold the big roofs down just for shows and not transporting being left in place might be an option