Jump to content
 

RichardS

Members
  • Posts

    505
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Recent Profile Visitors

The recent visitors block is disabled and is not being shown to other users.

RichardS's Achievements

272

Reputation

  1. I rarely comment on other people's posts. We British have for a tendency to accept what we are given. There'll be some huffing and puffing but the stiff upper lip and other silly mythical traits together with the habit of having a cup of tea and carrying on regardless has often meant we end up with second best or what manufacturers deign to provide. Heavens, we still accept track gauge from manufacturers which is wrong and happily and gladly do so! Why should we? Why shouldn't things be right? Why shouldn't they be better? We've never had it so good have we? But why shouldn't we have even better? If manufacturers such as Rapido want to add detail or improve things generally we should be saying thank you. Not saying what's the point. What's the point of improving anything? There's a saying about integrity. Those with real integrity always try to do the right thing even when there is nobody there to see them do it. (How many people reading this drop litter or fail to pick up some they drop if they think no one is looking I wonder.) ie: just because you cannot see something doesn't mean it shouldn't happen or be there Keep it up Rapido I'm very happy to buy your products - and yes I'm shifting 'lesser' items onto the s/h market as will many others where of course those who do not want the extra detail or finesse will find a larger choice. There are no doubt people still happily running Wrenn Std 4MT tanks in GWR Green who might say they fail to see the point of having anything accurately coloured or more finely rendered. Model Railways, full stop. What's the point? Sorry rant over but I deplore negativity and the 'second best is good enough for me' attitude. Be special - demand better.
  2. RichardS

    On the level.

    My recent endeavours have been struggling, struggling I say, with the track-beds for the embankment. Getting these level, without twists, and sagging has not been easy. I thought 12mm Birch Ply would be sufficient but it has not proven so. I’ve tried braces, supports, different types of wood in fact the final manifestation (the fourth) is a mix of all three. I’m sure there must be an easier way than I have adopted. The garage floor dropping over 20mm through the length of the railway has not been helpful. But the trackbed is now essentially level albeit with quite a bit of packing in places. Despite a lot of planning I didn’t actually plan the baseboard construction as well as I might. A major scenic build like this requires much better design of the former boards and better woodworking skills than I possess (although I have improved.) A room where it is possible to walk around the layout would be preferable. The environment in the railway parlour presents a problem in the winter. Rather than damp it is cold and unwelcoming. I had been thinking of installing a storage heater but with the present cost of electricity this may not be possible. View the full article
  3. RichardS

    On the level.

    My recent endeavours have been struggling, struggling I say, with the track-beds for the embankment. Getting these level, without twists, and sagging has not been easy. I thought 12mm Birch Ply would be sufficient but it has not proven so. I’ve tried braces, supports, different types of wood in fact the final manifestation (the fourth) is a mix of all three. I’m sure there must be an easier way than I have adopted. The garage floor dropping over 20mm through the length of the railway has not been helpful. But the trackbed is now essentially level albeit with quite a bit of packing in places. Despite a lot of planning I didn’t actually plan the baseboard construction as well as I might. A major scenic build like this requires much better design of the former boards and better woodworking skills than I possess (although I have improved.) A room where it is possible to walk around the layout would be preferable. The environment in the railway parlour presents a problem in the winter. Rather than damp it is cold and unwelcoming. I had been thinking of installing a storage heater but with the present cost of electricity this may not be possible. View the full article
  4. Over the Easter Holiday I’ve turned my attention what would be the east end of the layout. Here the lines leaving Bosmelin Junction pass over the river on two bridges before disappearing along the valley as they diverge to their different destinations. Due to the nature of an oval layout the river, embankments, bridges and the exit portals for the lines are a little compressed which is made wore by the whole are being on a curve. Frankly it’s a bit busy. The approaches to the river bridges require embankments and I have cut the track-beds to the curve and to the dimensions of the embankment tops. Even with stiffeners added the ply tops are flexing a bit and not perfectly flat having some slight dips. I’m disappointed that the stiffeners haven’t resolved this. So it is ‘Plan B’ tomorrow. View the full article
  5. Referring somebody to this Bosmelin Site today I discovered that I had made no updates since February 2021. I was somewhat aghast although it was never my intention to document progress that frequently, a year was far too long between updates. Nevertheless when I observe what progress there has been it is actually hard to see that much has happened despite my toil and endeavour. So without excuse here are some pictures of the baseboards. In fact a test run around the layout to check joins and level is probably not too far off now. The junction area showing land form General view. The plan is essentially Boscarne Junction And being Boscarne Junction there is a river & two bridges. Quite a lot of compromise in the track plan & landscape here. Incidentally the floor is about 25-40mm lower at this end of the Railway Parlour. The ‘back stage’ area. I think I’ve made this a bit narrow but space is short. I think a combination of some sidings and cassettes will be used for changing trains will be necessary. And a reminder of the track plan. Phase 2 will be the area on the left and will feature a B&WR halt a bit like Nanstallon.View the full article
  6. RichardS

    A mudle of a Model

    During my enforced rest from vigorous carpentry I decided it might be a good idea to make a cardboard mock up of Bosmelin so I could get some idea of what the scenery might look. Of course such a course of action is recommended by most layout designers and often mentioned by the more skilled builders. Of course like most people I initially omitted this step and ploughed on with wood cutting and baseboard building. But I have to say having effectively been forced into making a mock up I have learnt how useful it is. I decided on quarter scale which has proven about right. For a smaller layout than Bosmelin one third might be tried. I didn’t make each of the model baseboards separately but split the scenic front of layout into 3 parts. Using Anyrail I printed the track plan off 1:4 and used this to create the card track beds. I then used polystyrene to form the land and duly covered this with plaster bandage before finally finishing with an interior filler to which I added a dollop of PVA. Once dry I painted the surface with emulsion from some tester pots I bought cheaply in Wickes when the colour range changed. And here’s a couple more pictures showing the process to this point. mde So having produced what I thought was a lovely model of a model I stood back to admire my handicraft. However, something was not quite right. I had made the backs of some of the boards too high. This meant that the landscape was too high and consequently too steep. Major surgery ensued with the backs being cut down and large chunks of the land being removed. I was now presented with another problem as the revised profiles were no longer ‘right.’ To gain sufficient height in the land the boards needed to be deeper. Fortunately the overall design allowed for this as I had always intended to have a proper backdrop to the layout. That is to say a three dimensional perspective driven backscene rather than a flat “D one. I have had Paul Bambrick’s book ‘Creating a Backscene’ for a while and referred to this to see what was possible. And here I will end this blog post and will describe the next stages of MiniBos in the next post. In the meantime if you are interested in scenic backscenes you might enjoy a look at Paul Bambrick’s website: http://bambrickstudio.co.uk I do think that the backscene is the next ‘big thing’ in the scenic railway modelling. See you soon! View the full article
  7. RichardS

    A mudle of a Model

    During my enforced rest from vigorous carpentry I decided it might be a good idea to make a cardboard mock up of Bosmelin so I could get some idea of what the scenery might look. Of course such a course of action is recommended by most layout designers and often mentioned by the more skilled builders. Of course like most people I initially omitted this step and ploughed on with wood cutting and baseboard building. But I have to say having effectively been forced into making a mock up I have learnt how useful it is. I decided on quarter scale which has proven about right. For a smaller layout than Bosmelin one third might be tried. I didn’t make each of the model baseboards separately but split the scenic front of layout into 3 parts. Using Anyrail I printed the track plan off 1:4 and used this to create the card track beds. I then used polystyrene to form the land and duly covered this with plaster bandage before finally finishing with an interior filler to which I added a dollop of PVA. Once dry I painted the surface with emulsion from some tester pots I bought cheaply in Wickes when the colour range changed. And here’s a couple more pictures showing the process to this point. mde So having produced what I thought was a lovely model of a model I stood back to admire my handicraft. However, something was not quite right. I had made the backs of some of the boards too high. This meant that the landscape was too high and consequently too steep. Major surgery ensued with the backs being cut down and large chunks of the land being removed. I was now presented with another problem as the revised profiles were no longer ‘right.’ To gain sufficient height in the land the boards needed to be deeper. Fortunately the overall design allowed for this as I had always intended to have a proper backdrop to the layout. That is to say a three dimensional perspective driven backscene rather than a flat “D one. I have had Paul Bambrick’s book ‘Creating a Backscene’ for a while and referred to this to see what was possible. And here I will end this blog post and will describe the next stages of MiniBos in the next post. In the meantime if you are interested in scenic backscenes you might enjoy a look at Paul Bambrick’s website: http://bambrickstudio.co.uk I do think that the backscene is the next ‘big thing’ in the scenic railway modelling. See you soon! View the full article
  8. RichardS

    Mini Bos

    With increased woodworking activity on the baseboards now that the door to the railway parlour has been replaced my enthusiastic sawing, sanding & rasping has caused me to develop tennis elbow. So all that industry has ground to a halt. So I’ve been working on Parsnip Cottage – one of Petite Properties products and I’ve now started making a 1/4 scale model of the layout to mock up the scenery. Of course conventional wisdom decrees that this is the first thing you do. But we dew diff’runt in Narfolk! Here’s some pics. View the full article
  9. RichardS

    Mini Bos

    With increased woodworking activity on the baseboards now that the door to the railway parlour has been replaced my enthusiastic sawing, sanding & rasping has caused me to develop tennis elbow. So all that industry has ground to a halt. So I’ve been working on Parsnip Cottage – one of Petite Properties products and I’ve now started making a 1/4 scale model of the layout to mock up the scenery. Of course conventional wisdom decrees that this is the first thing you do. But we dew diff’runt in Narfolk! Here’s some pics. View the full article
  10. Yes, it’s nearly eight months since I last ‘writ’ something for this blog. But it’s not been eight months of complete idleness in the construction of Bosmelin as there’s been bursts of frantic activity, periods of self doubt, periods of re-planning and periods of, yes, finding other things to do rather than railway modelling. So today’s update will be a compilation of where I am today with the project and why. Concept: originally Bosmelin was to have been a reasonably close representation of Boscarne Junction and built as an exhibition layout. But two things have happened which means this has to change: 1) I realised that it was going to be boring. 2) Covid has presently destroyed the exhibition circuit and while I expect it to recover, I think it will be changed when shows do start up again. Baseboards: basically the individual boards were too big and heavy. Size: The layout planned was too big. It would have been impossible to set up fully in The Railway Parlour and as previously explained have to have removable boards when not in use so others could use the garage. The Parlour: the outside door to The Parlour was ‘period’ for the garage built in the 1970s and was starting to rot. So a new door has this very day been fitted – double glazed and draught proof. It was for various reasons decided that it would open inwards but the consequence of this is that where the door is when open the width of the Parlour is somewhat diminished. Bosmelin 2021 With all these factors in mind a major decision was taken in the summer of 2020 to re-plan layout so that it was more usable at home, with lighter individual boards should it ever be transported, and so that it fitted the parlour, accommodated the new door and allowed access for other users of the garage. I’m actually rather more pleased with the outcome actually. The new plan allows the layout to be used as a long end to end or with the addition of a small board and a large dose of ‘Rule 1’ a circular layout. We still have the basic track arrangement of Boscarne Junction but this is supplemented by another ‘input line’ ostensibly a branch of the North Cornwall Railway – this line is the link that makes the circuit. The Bodmin and Wadebridge is essentially the ‘end to end’ running the whole length of the garage passing through ‘Bosmelin.’ I should have room for a representation of Nanstallon Halt & Siding now. Plus, and this is to be decided a mineral branch similar to the Ruthern Bridge line from Grogley. Baseboards: have been modified and built – including some with sinuous curves. The new plan appears below. And that is where I shall end today but there is more to tell another day. View the full article
  11. Yes, it’s nearly eight months since I last ‘writ’ something for this blog. But it’s not been eight months of complete idleness in the construction of Bosmelin as there’s been bursts of frantic activity, periods of self doubt, periods of re-planning and periods of, yes, finding other things to do rather than railway modelling. So today’s update will be a compilation of where I am today with the project and why. Concept: originally Bosmelin was to have been a reasonably close representation of Boscarne Junction and built as an exhibition layout. But two things have happened which means this has to change: 1) I realised that it was going to be boring. 2) Covid has presently destroyed the exhibition circuit and while I expect it to recover, I think it will be changed when shows do start up again. Baseboards: basically the individual boards were too big and heavy. Size: The layout planned was too big. It would have been impossible to set up fully in The Railway Parlour and as previously explained have to have removable boards when not in use so others could use the garage. The Parlour: the outside door to The Parlour was ‘period’ for the garage built in the 1970s and was starting to rot. So a new door has this very day been fitted – double glazed and draught proof. It was for various reasons decided that it would open inwards but the consequence of this is that where the door is when open the width of the Parlour is somewhat diminished. Bosmelin 2021 With all these factors in mind a major decision was taken in the summer of 2020 to re-plan layout so that it was more usable at home, with lighter individual boards should it ever be transported, and so that it fitted the parlour, accommodated the new door and allowed access for other users of the garage. I’m actually rather more pleased with the outcome actually. The new plan allows the layout to be used as a long end to end or with the addition of a small board and a large dose of ‘Rule 1’ a circular layout. We still have the basic track arrangement of Boscarne Junction but this is supplemented by another ‘input line’ ostensibly a branch of the North Cornwall Railway – this line is the link that makes the circuit. The Bodmin and Wadebridge is essentially the ‘end to end’ running the whole length of the garage passing through ‘Bosmelin.’ I should have room for a representation of Nanstallon Halt & Siding now. Plus, and this is to be decided a mineral branch similar to the Ruthern Bridge line from Grogley. Baseboards: have been modified and built – including some with sinuous curves. The new plan appears below. And that is where I shall end today but there is more to tell another day. View the full article
  12. RichardS

    Closure of The RSR

    The Board of The RSR are required to advise all customers that with immediate effect all services provided by this blog are teminated. A replacement blog service is being provided by: https://bosmelin.wordpress.com/ All passengers, purveyors of goods, minerals and livestock, tramps, vagabonds, rogues and even trainspotters are cordially invited to avail themselves of the new service which they will find more focussed and, well, simply nicer. The Board wishes to express their thanks to all customers and patrons of the previous service and assure them of their best attention etc etc. Signed by order this the Twentieth day of May in the year Two Thousand and Twenty – RichardS – Chairman, Director, Manager, Navigator and General Idler. View the full article
  13. RichardS

    Closure of The RSR

    The Board of The RSR are required to advise all customers that with immediate effect all services provided by this blog are teminated. A replacement blog service is being provided by: https://wordpress.com/view/bosmelin.wordpress.com All passengers, purveyors of goods, minerals and livestock, tramps, vagabonds, rogues and even trainspotters are cordially invited to avail themselves of the new service which they will find more focussed and, well, simply nicer. The Board wishes to express their thanks to all customers and patrons of the previous service and assure them of their best attention etc etc. Signed by order this the Twentieth day of May in the year Two Thousand and Twenty – RichardS – Chairman, Director, Manager, Navigator and General Idler. View the full article
  14. METAMORPHIC ROCK is ANY OF A CLASS OF ROCKS THAT RESULT FROM THE ALTERATION OF PREEXISTING ROCKS IN RESPONSE TO CHANGING ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS, SUCH AS VARIATIONS IN TEMPERATURE, PRESSURE, AND MECHANICAL STRESS, AND THE ADDITION OR SUBTRACTION OF CHEMICAL COMPONENTS. The underlying rocks of Bosemlin are plywood and deal and I am altering these by a process involving the application of a saw and drill slowly turning them into sawdust. Yes, I am still rebuilding the landscape at the River End. I shall bullet point the actions taken lest this episode becomes a lengthy description about cutting plywood. Although as the Corona Virus lockdown proceeds even reading such a diatribe could be a light relief from listening to politicians wittering on with excuses about why nobody in the UK has actually be tested and there’s only enough PPE for a St John’s Ambulance Treatment Unit in Hawick. Exaggerate? Me? Never! In fact I’ve changed my mind. I’m only posting photos. Each is said to be worth 1000 words. You decide. I am never sure where the actual junction at Boscarne is. That is to say which end of the lines. Here are the diverging lines. This is the final Templot. More about Templot another time. The approximate positions of the two river bridges. The actual height of the bridge is a bit more than half that allowed. The extra height allows more landscape flexibility. Bird eye view of the final curve alignments. Nothing less than about 38 inches. And the view from outside. It has taken me quite a while to extend the baseboards and devise the curve and also get it level. Still some woodwork to do at this end but the main elements are in. Quite a lot of the scenery at this end will only be properly visible from inside the layout. Thanks for reading. Stay safe! View the full article
  15. METAMORPHIC ROCK is ANY OF A CLASS OF ROCKS THAT RESULT FROM THE ALTERATION OF PREEXISTING ROCKS IN RESPONSE TO CHANGING ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS, SUCH AS VARIATIONS IN TEMPERATURE, PRESSURE, AND MECHANICAL STRESS, AND THE ADDITION OR SUBTRACTION OF CHEMICAL COMPONENTS. The underlying rocks of Bosemlin are plywood and deal and I am altering these by a process involving the application of a saw and drill slowly turning them into sawdust. Yes, I am still rebuilding the landscape at the River End. I shall bullet point the actions taken lest this episode becomes a lengthy description about cutting plywood. Although as the Corona Virus lockdown proceeds even reading such a diatribe could be a light relief from listening to politicians wittering on with excuses about why nobody in the UK has actually be tested and there’s only enough PPE for a St John’s Ambulance Treatment Unit in Hawick. Exaggerate? Me? Never! In fact I’ve changed my mind. I’m only posting photos. Each is said to be worth 1000 words. You decide. I am never sure where the actual junction at Boscarne is. That is to say which end of the lines. Here are the diverging lines. This is the final Templot. More about Templot another time. The approximate positions of the two river bridges. The actual height of the bridge is a bit more than half that allowed. The extra height allows more landscape flexibility. Bird eye view of the final curve alignments. Nothing less than about 38 inches. And the view from outside. It has taken me quite a while to extend the baseboards and devise the curve and also get it level. Still some woodwork to do at this end but the main elements are in. Quite a lot of the scenery at this end will only be properly visible from inside the layout. Thanks for reading. Stay safe! View the full article
×
×
  • Create New...