Fastdax Posted November 5, 2018 Author Share Posted November 5, 2018 Thanks Fabrice. Yes, I will be adding part of a station building to the right of the signal box. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fastdax Posted November 5, 2018 Author Share Posted November 5, 2018 (edited) Signal Box Not sure whether to sit the box on the platform or sink it in. One of my books quotes 8 feet from rail top level to the operating floor. If I sink the box 3 feet into the platform (i.e. the height of the platform above rail level) then the operating floor is still 8 feet above rail level and the signal man can just about see over a standing train: In this photo the box is sat on the rear track and my "Standard Joe" (5' 10") has a view over the Jinty. I was looking at a few pictures of Garsdale Signal Box (like this one) which shows a wooden-base Midland box sunk into the platform by about 3 feet so it seems like it did happen. Opinions welcomed. Edited November 5, 2018 by Fastdax 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fastdax Posted November 5, 2018 Author Share Posted November 5, 2018 Station Canopy Mock-Up The two high-level tracks disappear off the right-hand end of the layout. To disguise the exit I want to have a bit of station overall canopy over the tracks, to provide a sight-break. Jim and I mocked up a fairly low-relief canopy in 5mm foamboard: The real thing will be steel frames over masonry walls, with dirty glazing over. This proved that you could see the backdrop (well - roll of lining paper) very clearly through the canopy. So we added an extension out of more foamboard to make the canopy longer: I think this is now too long but it's easier, as they say, to take a bit off than to add a bit on. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 5BarVT Posted November 5, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 5, 2018 Love your cartoon, really made me chuckle. Like the modelling too! Paul. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fastdax Posted November 6, 2018 Author Share Posted November 6, 2018 Footbridge At the weekend Jim and I started a trio of station-area structures. I've posted pictures of the signal box and mock-up station canopy. I also built a York Modelmaking laser-cut footbridge. Finding space on my messy bench was the main problem ... You can adjust the overall width of the bridge from 161mm to 460mm in 33mm (4' 8.5" ) increments. My platform area is about 316mm wide overall and the bridge ended up at 300mm which is fine and gives a little clearance for a fence or something. This footbridge has a nice Midland flavour about it, although lacking in some details. For example, each side piece is a simple, flat 2D laser cutting. I will add handrails to the top. The bridge sits nicely in front of the station canopy and will help block the view into the dead-end under the canopy. I may add decorative strips of rivets over some of the butt joints as well. 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fastdax Posted November 6, 2018 Author Share Posted November 6, 2018 Footbridge Sticking handrails on: One can never have too many dinky clips. 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fastdax Posted November 7, 2018 Author Share Posted November 7, 2018 Footbridge and Signal Box The footbridge resting in position, with its handrails mostly done. I cropped the mock-up station canopy by about 75mm, which improves its appearance. The shell of the signal box had a quick blow-over in grey primer, to highlight areas which need filler. I did decide to sink the box into the platform. A bit of cutting of ply and foamboard and some packing to get it sitting at the right level saw it looking like this: 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold MarshLane Posted November 7, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 7, 2018 Hi Duncan, Looking superb Well done .. you've made an excellent job of the footbridge, but the whole station area is going to look very nice when your finished. Rich 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fastdax Posted November 8, 2018 Author Share Posted November 8, 2018 Looking superb Well done .. you've made an excellent job of the footbridge, but the whole station area is going to look very nice when your finished. Rich Thanks Rich! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ffayolle Posted November 8, 2018 Share Posted November 8, 2018 Well done... Could I take a ticket to ride, please? Fabrice 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fastdax Posted November 8, 2018 Author Share Posted November 8, 2018 Platform Time to add decorative sides and tops to the foamboard platforms. First, a rather simple jig. This cuts away the foamboard platform top to a consistent height of 19mm above the rail tops. In action: Then, from the same MFC-covered MDF offcut, another jig which sets the edge of the platform stones a consistent 19mm (and a bit more round the curves due to the overhang of the jig) from the rail running face. This is 1mm more than the GOG recommendation, but I want to be sure I have clearance for long coaches round the platform curves. In action: I used 2mm laser-cut platform edge stones that I picked up from (I think) Warley last year. Mr. Sticky's PVA fixes them to the foamboard without dissolving it. I find a mirror is useful to see whether a curve flows or has kinks. The platform wall base layer (Slaters embossed plasticard) goes on once the edge stones are dry. ... followed by more Slaters slabs for the platform surface. 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimhurst Posted November 12, 2018 Share Posted November 12, 2018 Looking good, the handrails definitely add more of a three dimension look to the sides of the bridge! Footbridge Sticking handrails on: 2018-11-06 001.JPG One can never have too many dinky clips. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fastdax Posted November 12, 2018 Author Share Posted November 12, 2018 Thanks Jim. Glad you found your way back to RMWeb! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fastdax Posted November 14, 2018 Author Share Posted November 14, 2018 Platform I ran out of enough Slaters slab plasticard to surface the whole of the platform tops, so I decided to finish them in tarmac. The backstory is that the platforms were extended sometime in the 1950s, with the cheaper tarmac. This is actually 2000 grit wet-and-dry paper, which has a nice blue-grey colour and a bit of texture. I had to back it up with some cornflake box card to bring it up to the same height as the plasticard. I've also started making some Poppy's Woodtech Midland diagonal fencing. This is slow to make but gives a fantastic realistic wood look. 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fastdax Posted November 15, 2018 Author Share Posted November 15, 2018 (edited) Bridge The bridge carrying the high level over the exit to the goods yard had been in bare plastic for quite a while. I blacked the brass railings and gave it a coat of grey primer, followed by matt black. I also added some Archers rivet transfers to break up the 2' beam a bit. In place. Standard Joe keeps watch: Then it was finished with some dry-brushed grey and Model Mates Rusty Red wash. You can see that the fencing has also had some white paint applied, but mostly on the platform side as the painters couldn't reach the other side! Edited December 20, 2019 by Fastdax 17 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew P Posted November 15, 2018 Share Posted November 15, 2018 Looking great Duncan, excellent work on the Footbridge and Platform. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fastdax Posted November 15, 2018 Author Share Posted November 15, 2018 Thanks Andy! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Gristwood Posted November 16, 2018 Share Posted November 16, 2018 Great job. The Archer rivets look really effective on the bridge girder. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fastdax Posted November 16, 2018 Author Share Posted November 16, 2018 Thanks Robin. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold MarshLane Posted November 20, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 20, 2018 Superb work as ever Duncan! Really does look good. Rich Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fastdax Posted November 20, 2018 Author Share Posted November 20, 2018 Cheers Rich! These positive comments and Likes really do help maintain the mojo. Many thanks to all for the encouragement. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fastdax Posted November 21, 2018 Author Share Posted November 21, 2018 Platforms Some more brick plasticard strips for the overhanging brick courses under the platform edges: The platform-mounted signal box needs a place for the operating rods and wires to come out at rail level. The opening was cut, based loosely on a photo. A bit of rail is used as a lintel: Tarmacking of the rear platform is now done. The platform walls are also painted and weathered. The platform edge stones were sanded (to knock off the sharp leading edge), painted and grouted (Wickes Fine Surface Filler): The signal rod outlet has engineering brick lintel supports. The lintel needs weathering. The white powder is excess filler. It's smoothed simply by rubbing a finger along the joints. You can see the mortared stone effect that it creates. I may do a final wash of dirt to tone down the white of the filler. 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Gristwood Posted November 21, 2018 Share Posted November 21, 2018 Just gets better and better Duncan. With all that expanse of glazing in the signal box, are you planning on detailing the interior? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fastdax Posted November 21, 2018 Author Share Posted November 21, 2018 Sure am Robin. I've got a couple of interior kits to try out. Stay tuned ... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fastdax Posted November 21, 2018 Author Share Posted November 21, 2018 Station Rails Time to paint and weather the tracks through the station. I have used Joey Ricard's method on previous track and I used it this time, but with the time-saving substitute of using rust-coloured acrylic paint instead of mixing up my own ragu from chalk and IPA. First step - paint the track flat black (or matt dark grey in this case, as it's what was to hand): Second step - paint the sleepers with a beige/suede colour. I used my "go to" cream colour, Woodland Scenics Concrete: Third step - paint the rail sides and chairs with the rust colour. No need to be super accurate here: Since OQ will only be viewed from the front, either at home or (possibly, maybe, perhaps) at an exhibition sometime, I didn't bother to rust the backsides of the rails. Nobody wants to see a rusty backside anyway. I'll let this lot dry overnight before continuing. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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