pirouets
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Posts posted by pirouets
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So one of the questions being mulled over whilst the station buildings come together - What goes along the backscene behind the platforms? In one corner of my mind I am thinking its simply station parking, but hiding away in another recess of my mind is some low relief shops/offices. If its the latter then now road and simply a pavement area between then platform and the buildings.
The edge of the platform will have a brick wall about 4ft tall added to it that will go all the way up to the warehouse building that is on the end of the platform.
As for the station building its starting to come together. The building on the left will have sliding doors added where as the station entrance/exit will have doors mounted internally. Plan is to fit out the buildings and I am thinking its time to start adding lighting to buildings, which also means I need to have a think about lights for the platform.
Oh, and thinking back to the start of this post, another cell in my brain is wondering does the station building also wrap round the passenger platform? Think this is the least likely of the ideas.
I've also added the platform starter. Not wired in yet and I need to work out what signal goes at the end of the station given the control there needs to be
- Out of the station platform
- From the sidings to the main line
- Departure done the freight only branch (to the hidden siding)
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27 minutes ago, AY Mod said:
If you still wish here to there for you in the future
But sir, you always tell us off for wish lists.
Thanks for the update and i shall get my coat.
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And here we have the finished platforms. I wasn't planning on it but the warehouse building still fits which is good which means the short siding just before the platform can still be the warehouse platform for box vans, etc. The quick mock up of the station building got slotted in and the scene still works.
The edging is from the Scalescenes platform kit whilst the platform surface is acrylic paint simply stippled on to the surface. It doesn't show to well in this photo but I have added the brick layer below the platform edge for the 1st time. If anyone is looking at the parcels bay and wondering why there are paving stones in the middle, well that is simply because I'm a prat. I forgot about the extension it needed and put the end wrap of edging stones. However rather than rip it up I thought I would leave that in and maybe it means the bay platform was extended at some point.
The other plus point of having the warehouse out during the rebuild is I fixed the sagging roof.
Not sure what's next other than time for a good running session I think.
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10 hours ago, Loxborough said:
And in the centre Mrs Davies, who has done the books and manned the telephone since the old king died, and whose relationship with the late Mr Meakin we DO NOT talk about.
I assume Mrs Davies actually can never leave as she knows where all the skeletons are as wel
Seriously though, you almost ignore the railway in these pictures given all the cameos such as the escape train spotting chicken. How many hours have you spent on interior detail that only you can see once you have done 20 mins stretching to crane your neck into the right position?
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So a start made on the platform base. Its set at 17mm so I can add the surface once i have worked out which option works best. As for brickwork it will a brick paper but the question is whether I use Scalescenes or try something else such as the range from Scale Model Scenery. I can also make the main platform in chunks and assemble at the end rather than trying to make the full 1.2m and then cover it.
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Started playing with ideas for the platforms. In the past I have used Scalescenes papers for the surface but I find that you get the odd edge that lifts very slightly so with the rebuild in mind I thought how else can I do this and I have 2 ideas in mind
- The top piece simply has the paving carved in to the edge and was then painted by stippling the paint to get a slightly rough surface rather than seeing brush strokes on the card.
- The other option is to carve in the paving stones for the whole surface but i don't have the paints for this. I did make a mistake in the pattern which is why there are 2 pairs of rows where the slabs are laid side by side rather than off set though I have seen some station pictures where it is laid like that.
The only issue I did find is that the frog tape did pull slightly at the surface of the card but we will see how well it looks once paint the edge up. I also hope if I build up in layers I can get rid of the card join with the asphalt effect, where as for the paving stones it won't matter so much as long as the pattern lines up.
What I do know is that looking at these test pieces I will probably end up redoing all platforms on the layout and not just Dinfield.
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So a quick bit of cutting and gluing mocked this up and glad I did because it made me realise the idea I had in my head is way to big. Whilst their will be an unloading platform on the left hand side, the building when I make it will ne about half the length seen here which in turn, leaves more room for a couple of vehicles in the yard area. The remaining question is whether I add a building that will run down a short length of the passenger platform or do something else.
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Well, the plunge has been taken and the station isn't going to be central and I am back to the terminus idea. I have shortened one of the sidings slightly so I can have what today is used as a parcels platform. I am thinking the station building itself will one of those that is far grander than the town needed and be wrapped around the end of the station. From an electrics point of view I am lucky as there is an un-used switch wired up that can be used to power the track where the 33 is sitting.
Not going to rush to much and will mock things up first as having been shoe shopping for one of the kids, there are 4 empty boxes. (And to think their is a debate in another thread about whether modelling is luxury - kids cost way more
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I also cut the length of the factory siding rather than remove it and that will remain there but a new smaller factory will be built.
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So the bulldozer has been in an removed all the buildings. For a while now the station set-up had been bugging me as it felt to compressed. Nothing got thrown away and all the buildings have gone in to storage.
I have an idea that the station actually is rebuilt centrally with houses or shops at either end. Not sure whether it will be backs or a road scene up to the lineside. Freight would run through the station but passenger trains would terminate here as further up the line is now only some remaining industry.
This does mean that where the box vans are sitting will have to go.
Before I make any changes though I will get some drawings done as the other idea is to have this back as a terminus with a longer platform and the box van line would then be platform 2.
Either way enough work to keep me happy for a while and various buildings needed. The yard area will also need some thought as to buildings and loading areas. It may be that I treat it more as a set of exchange sidings for the branch that leaves which is also freight only.. (See pic 2)
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Not been in the shed recently given the heat but everything seems to have survived. It did peak at 108F though not sure how accurate the thermometer is. What amazed me today is how well things ran given the track was filthy. The Hornby HM6000 has made things easier for sure.
Last few weeks has been looking getting a signal box built for Norton Rd. First of all I tried the Scalescenes (R010) but decided it wasn't quite right. I also tried a ratio model but couldn't get the steps assembled well enough so 3rd up was Metcalfe. However given everything is built using scalescenes brick paper I have changed the base. In a nutshell I cut the base of the stone base in the kit (there are 2 shells in the kit luckily) and made my own. I then built the top part before a couple of attempts to them build and attach a base. The only thing is despite it being based on the measurements of the Metcalfe kit the steps don't reach the ground.
Only problem is the phot has made me realise I messed up the brick lintels. Hmm, base mk2 maybe needed.
So i thought I should see what the view up and down the line is like and prepared to say, not bad, not bad at all. Its nice when the idea in your head actually starts to come together.
Over at Dinfield Rd, the house backs are coming on, but having got a signal box on the other station I am now wondering whether the low relief factory idea may have to change. Not an issue as everything is just plonked in place at the moment including the fence. The other idea would be that the signal box is just off scene. Won't rush in to anything.
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21 hours ago, grahame said:
I didn't realise you'd given up on N gauge
Eyesight and fat fingers were the ultimate decision and in truth I think I am managing to achieve a better level of modelling by going up a scale but it doesn't mean I don't miss the sight of a full length freight train creeping through the landscape. My kids both have small n gauge layouts still though so it hasn't left the building.
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I don't model in n gauge anymore but liked the front cover so much thought i would get a copy. Good news is you can do guest checkout on ebay which i did not realise was an option till just now as i quit ebay some time back.
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3 hours ago, Edward said:
I fear in my case it's just cackhandedness!
Ah, a fellow sufferer of everyone else must be better than me :-) Can't see any signs of cackhandedness if you ask me.
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45 minutes ago, bourneagain said:
I currently receive my Virgin Media phone line through a separate master / slave plug in box,
And it should stay that way for now. VM moved to Voice over IP for all phone lines a while back and there was a clever box added to the solution that allowed the existing twisted pair lines to be connected to the new platform so they could close down the old exchanges.
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As others have said, impressive, Barclays in particular with the detail around the doors and windows.
As for the stains I went for a different approach. I stopped using scalescenes roofing and have gone for Scale Model Scenery tiles. They do a set of laser cut weathered tiles which I then stick down with clear PVA and have not had the staining issue I used to get with paper. Below is an example using their dirty tiles which have lots of bird poop but there is also a lighter weathered sheet.
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2 hours ago, The Johnster said:
Perhaps you picked up the notion that some sort of control board with a track plan was part of the deal
I think its the wording when you start the app about an active layout - "There is no active layout......" that made me think that. Should have watched a few more videos before jumping in.
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Been playing around with additional layers for the ground cover and 1st attempts have focused on adding scatter to beef up the look. Only problem is the smell left by the cheap hairspray which did leave me wondering if I should have worn a mask.
This also got me thinking about the roots of the tree which are a bit to prominent for my liking so a bit of scatter hides them quite nicely.
Mean while a few locals have ventured out for the 1st time since covid hit last year (and the time the layout was started.) There is another cane further down the river bank as well.
Wish I could figure out an angle to get this shot without the base board edge - any idea's gratefully received.
Finally I was having a play with various angles across the layout and this hasn't turned out to bad. I'm thinking it may be time to learn about depth of field and image stacking as it I could my the fishermen from the last picture and have him at 1 side of it. Also may be a small number of reeds pocking out of the water.
Hopefully get time to go and start on the roofing for the terraced houses tomorrow as a delivery was received from Scale Model Scenery with a couple of sets of tiles. A couple of friends are trying to say we should use the booking we have at the pub but rain and 30mph winds don't sound appealing.
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For a long time I have been mulling over what to do behind the station platform at Norton Rd. In pottering around yesterday I found at some point I had ordered a woodland scenics tree kit. ISo rather than make the trees up, pulling the canopy material apart it forms scrubby bushes behind the station. At the moment it is just put in place but I plan to take it out and add a little light green scatter along with some reddish scatter to represent berries.
The other question in my mind is whether to get a photo backscene on the layout or not. I guess my worry is can I mount it correctly and not ruin things.
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On 25/04/2021 at 21:41, RAF96 said:
You don't need a track plan to run the app
So you don't. Not sure where I got the idea I needed that from which means even though Android 7.2 is technically not supported i can use my mobile (old Samsung S6). Also the fine control on the mobile is better than on the tablet despite the smaller screen. Spent a good hour running trains yesterday.
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Really happy with this and need to have a good play around with the settings now. Also an excuse to get a new phone as my S6 won't run Android 8.
Having had my 1st proper play and the only glitch I can see is on older versions of Android (8.1.1) is it still doesn't import the layout. Only needed the oval to get control and in it then took about 1 min to build an oval myself. The other thing need to watch out on is because I have a fiddle yard where 1 track holds 2 trains, I need to be ready to stop the train but that is down to my layout design rather than the app.
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It turned up today so Kudos to Cheltenham Model Centre for quick service. I was amused at the size of the box for the PSU which was about 3 times that of the unit itself and mostly filled with paper. Got set up OK though it has proved my mobile is now to old and does need upgrading even though it has Android 7 as the app has a few issues such as will not import a simple oval which is all I need to run my layout, but my tablet on Android 10 is fine.
Only challenge is holding a 10 inch tablet is not what I was looking for but my phone is 6 years old an I have been putting of the upgrade for some time. Before I try that though I have got one of my kids old tablets that i will see if it will upgrade to Android 8 at least as that might be the easier solution and its a 7inch screen which is fine
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Quick question, what did you use of the main stems of the ferns before applying the static grass and scatters?
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13 hours ago, Patriot87003 said:
My shed is fitted with a sound bar
I've got one of these in the post so looking forward to trying this out when it arrives. I mainly ordered instead of getting my self a walk about controller and not so fussed about sounds and have to many points, signals to use the accessory control side of this.
Mr Patriot, do I take it from this your ipad had no problem connecting to both the HM6000 and the soundbar? I'm more asking as I have a bluetooth connection to an old hifi that is in my shed so hoping I can still play music from the phone at the same time as shunting trains.
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Chris, I have the Branch line to Fairford by Vic Mitchell & Keith Allen and The Fairford Branch by Stanley Jenkins as I have an aborted attempt at Alvescott in the past. If you have any questions let me know and i can see if the books can help with any additional information.
Who knows, one day I may have another attempt at Alvescott.
regards
Steve
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RMweb Gold - a new premium membership
in Forum Rules, Notices, Faults & Help
Posted
Something I have been trying to work out using exact editions. I have a 22 inch monitor and was wondering if there is a way it can display the content in a full screen mode? If I could see the pages without the menu at the top and the navigation bar at the bottom it would make it that little bit better. Whilst I am like others who though the step back from having app based access on a tablet was a retrograde step from a user experience, I did take Gold to get access to the archive specifically along with the free ticket at some point. (Oh and if you could see your way to me winning a WOR comp at some point that will mean a few hours being less middle aged and grumbly
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