PaternosterRow

The roof panels are now complete. A couple of pics to show different light levels achieved by altering the camera settings. A first shot showing the Stygian gloom on an ordinary indoor setting (candlelight). The next shot on a sensitive setting at a longer exposure. Quality is compromised on this type of setting. I'm not entirely happy with some of the openings - they are not all flat, but this is because of the thinness of the card used. However, what can you expect when there are 152 of them! Next - the lights. I bought some ready made pendant lights from Express Models (very prompt service - I got the package only 2 days after ordering). 8 of these will hopefully bring up the interior light levels for some good shots of the locos. Comments most welcome.

Hi Pete May I second Mikkel's comment - very neat, Pete! Love that station building. Interesting what you said about being an impatient modeler. I think were all a bit like that and want to get things done asap. It has slowly dawned on me over the last three years of coming back to the hobby that with a little more patience things seem to fall into place better - what's that old cliche again - more haste less speed. However, still can't wait to see this completed! Regards Mike

Thanks Ian. Looks like code 75 is out as I have a couple of much loved Hornby Class 86's that are well over 10 years old. Whilst there are no OH wires at Barrow Hill I do want to run them around - there's no third rail either, but I also want to accommodate my Bachmann 4 CEP. Thanks for the advice. Regards Mike

Great mud bank - a very effective way of creating mud, must make a note of that method. How did you make that great stone work?

Neat model - love that bridge.

Thanks Pete and GWRfan. The grimey windows were an accident - slip with the matt varnish brush!!

Those trees are brilliant - I'm definitely going to have a go. Mike

Many thanks Mikkel. Yes, I'm going to do the yard (fingers crossed) - this how the current model started out really. My first shed model was completed about 18 months ago, but I was never happy with the look. It was way too small and really only an experiment. I'm not sure whether to go with code 75 or 100 for the yard - what's the running like on 75 - is it reliable? I've never used it before and love the look of it, but if running is compromised is it worth it? Mike

Stage 1 of the roof covering. Scale scenes corrugated roof texture has been photocopied on to 160 gsm light card and window openings cut out. I thought I might get away with just one layer with the texture on both sides, but it leaks too much light. Another layer will be applied - another lot of windows to cut!! The openings have been covered over with a transparency which has had the same texture copied onto it - this nicely emulates dirt that has collected in the corrugations as on a real roof. The other layer will cover up all those nasty white bits. One bugbear - the photocopier at work broke down last week so I had to use the local newsagent, but their copier is not a good one and the texture has come out with a slight pink tinge. I'm hoping a bit of weathering and some matt varnish will tone this down a bit.

Hi Pete It's option 6 for me. The grassy knoll in the foreground is much brighter and helps make the mountains across the estuary look further away. To be honest, and it's probably because of the resolution of my screen, but I can't see much difference in the other options. That station building looks cracking by the way. Regards Mike

Thanks everyone for the comments. Also the advice with the lights - yes, I think LEDs are the way to go. I'm having a look on ebay although some of the lights available from Express Models look really attractive. It's all about money nowadays so I have to keep to a tight budget (LEDs are really cheap alternative though). Keep the advice coming as it really is invaluable to me. Regards Mike

Smoke Hoods are now all in - phew! I actually do think it looks better now, but comments/suggestions always welcome. Been experimenting with a roof finish also. On the last model I used 160gsm light card that was photocopied with Scale-scene's corrugated texture on both sides and transparencies with the same pattern as the windows, but it never looked right. This time I've used 1.5mm card with cut out window openings - the papers have been pasted on and transparencies with the corrugated finish have been used to cover the openings. Anyone who might have a better suggestion, please let me know. The roof structure is a lot stronger than it looks and can easily support the weight of the card without sag. A shot of the real location taken on a visit 18 months ago. However, the lights are going to be a headache. I'm trying to keep to a tight budget so suggestions from those with plenty of experience with LEDs, grain of rice bulbs etc would be gratefully received.

I need to apologize for the picture of Barrow Hill, this was sourced from the internet (can't remember where) and was in my own folder of pictures I took at Barrow Hill 18 months ago. I failed to check this before uploading. If anyone can identify for rightful credit I would be grateful.

Thanks very much for the comments guys. Yes, I think you're right about the hoods - just for the sake of uniformity they need to go in. I'd better get busy again!! Regards Mike

Smoke hoods now in. I only intend to cover 12 roads out of the 24. I took on board the advice about lowering them closer to the locos but looking at the pictures of Saltley and old pics of Barrow Hill I noted that they are about this height anyway. I guess that when initially installed in Victorian times they suited the height of the tall stacks on the steam engines of that time. Hoods for newer roundhouses were then brought down much closer to suit later train design. Below is a picture I took during my visit to Barrow Hill for a comparison with the model. Also a shot between the locos Another shot of the hoods. I'm not sure if I should cover all the roads for effect but it'll have to be done before the roof covering and lights go in so comments are most welcome.

Hi Pete You ought to write a book about layout design. Those mock ups are a delight and are so self explanatory. Very impressive stuff as usual. In any event, I'm sure Mr Ingvar Kamprad would be delighted to employ you as his number 1 Spanish representative!! Regards Mike

Hi Ron Hadn't seen your station roof until today and can't stop looking. Awesome engineering work and I love the first shot of the cans of lager suspended underneath to demonstrate how strong the structure is. Looks like the heat over there last summer didn't put you off too much! How long has it taken in man hours to build? This is real dedication to detail.

Wow, stunning and awesome are inadequate to describe this engineering marvel. This is what you call true dedication to detail - should be on permanent display. Brilliant stuff and can't wait to see more.

Thanks N15class. I am pleased with it so far and hope the roof cover doesn't ruin the look. Hi Mikkel, thanks a lot for the comment and I'm glad that they look about right. I guess that you should always model what you see rather than what you think is right. Thanks dvdlcs, yes you are right and I'm thinking of lowering the rest by about 10mm so they sit further down. I've got to be careful about height so as not to impede the view from the front.

Tried a couple of smoke hoods just to see if they look okay. These are copies of the old types as used at Saltley. I tried another design first and made twenty before deciding that I didn't like them!! The ones in the pics actually look as if they are designed to do the job. Tried a long exposure shot - Comments most welcome because I don't want to destroy the look already achieved without the hoods. I notice that at Barrow Hill only under half the roads have hoods for the steam engines whilst the diesel end has none. Therefore, I'm only going to cover 8 or 9 roads.

Love that aqueduct - very neatly put together and uniform - make a smashing scene on its own. One suggestion - wouldn't you be better off looking at the circle from the other side - through the arches themselves or is that your intention? With lots of trees in the background you wouldn't need a back scene as it would make a great stand alone model viewable from all sides. Great, neat work and can't wait to see trains on it! Regards, Mike

Thanks Pete I'm pleased with it so far - the roof structure is still straight and hasn't buckled - it's not perfect and there's some ugly solder joints, but it looks okay. It's designed to be lifted off for track cleaning etc so the girder uprights are only cosmetic. Here's hoping I don't ruin the look with the smoke hoods and covering. Thanks also Flyingscotsmanfan Yes, Barrow Hill is an amazing place. Unfortunately, trips over the water back home (I live in Ireland now) are rare and expensive so I'm not going to be able to go back to BH for some time. I just love the fact that it is a working Round House and gives a real feel what those places were really like back in the good old days. Static displays and sanitized museums are okay, but there's nothing like a real place to remind us of good old British ingenuity and engineering.

Progress so far. Walls are up - some Scalescenes papers and a few spare Brassmasters windows later and the roof still fits fine. Smoke Hoods, detailing and roof covering still to complete. Another pic from a different angle. It isn't an exact copy of Barrow Hill, rather a mish mash of what a Round House would look like although the roof profile is the same. I've used a pictures from Both Barrow Hill and some old photos of Saltley as a reference.

Hi Pete What a great idea. Original too. I have a 4mm CEP and haven't yet built a layout for it and wonder how your pack away layout would scale up to accommodate. There's a load of mileage in a design like this - just imagine, we'd be able to pack away a layout when going on holiday. Although I'm not sure what the other half would think! They'll be selling this in IKEA one day!!! I love the way you've designed it and done the cardboard mock up. Usually, I just trundle on with a build and make alterations etc along the way, but this is a much more sensible approach. Perhaps a detailed blog on your thoughts about layout design and build in the future? Good show in the competition by the way. Regards Mike

I've used simple push to make buttons for the individual roads, a DPDT switch for the turntable and another push to make for the turntable motor. I still use analogue, but when there's a few bob spare I'll invest in some decoders etc at some time in the future so all the roads can go live. The small box used as a control panel is ugly, but I have to be able to get the model through the loft hatch for storage and I only just got about 3 feet to do it in. It works though!