Torre Station - Western Region in the 1950's in P4

[Stephen Freeman]

6 minutes ago, 5BarVT said:

Camping coaches?

Paul.

I think I would have noticed, perhaps destined for such use or just spares in case of need. I think that Camping Coaches had ceased by then.

Edited June 14, 2021 by Stephen Freeman

[Re6/6]

On 04/11/2020 at 23:56, MPR said:

Not a lot of progress to report - I’ve lost motivation somewhat over the last few months. I’ve had very little modelling time, although I have been working towards completing a Narrow Planet-ised Talyllyn for a friend. I won’t restart on Torre until I have completed it!

I did get a little static grass down before ceasing work though - the photos below show this being done.

The adhesive was PVA, I usually use Resin W wood glue, diluted somewhat and with a drop of washing up liquid to kill the surface tension.

This was applied liberally to the turf layer with a flat paintbrush. I save these little jam pots for this sort of thing, they aren’t prone to falling over so easily and are reasonably airtight.

I did about 12 inches at a time.

 

I used a mixture of 2mm and 4mm Woodland Scenics grass, the 2mm using a Noch Puffer bottle...

...and the longer fibres with John’s Grassmaster.

The result was quite pleasing, but is still too even and too vibrant for my liking - I will address this in the next round of application (whenever I get round to it!)

 

 

Martin, this was done with layering 6mm straw (dead) grass using Peco layering spray (stocked by The Paignton Model Shop) which gives a 'firmer hold' than the usual hairspray.

I don't know whether this was the sort of thing that you were looking for! 

 

 

A more unkempt look can be achieved by adding Woodlands fine turf or better still the Model Tree Shop fine ground foam as a finishing material. This is all layered static grass started with a basing layer of 2mm spring green and then 4mm dead grass and then more 2mm and finished with fine ground foam.

 

 

 

[Graham T]

I only found this thread yesterday - lovely work.  I'll be following with interest and picking up lots of tips I'm sure!

[MPR]

1 hour ago, Re6/6 said:

 

Martin, this was done with layering 6mm straw (dead) grass using Peco layering spray (stocked by The Paignton Model Shop) which gives a 'firmer hold' than the usual hairspray.

I don't know whether this was the sort of thing that you were looking for! 

 

 

A more unkempt look can be achieved by adding Woodlands fine turf or better still the Model Tree Shop fine ground foam as a finishing material. This is all layered static grass started with a basing layer of 2mm spring green and then 4mm dead grass and then more 2mm and finished with fine ground foam.

 

 

 

Thanks John - I was planning to ask you about this exact question at some point soon! I haven’t spent much time on the layout again until recently - I am easing myself back into modelling with a mainline Collett 3rd rebuild at the moment.

Best Wishes

Martin

[MPR]

1 hour ago, Stephen Freeman said:

I think I would have noticed, perhaps destined for such use or just spares in case of need. I think that Camping Coaches had ceased by then.

I’ve seen references (and photos) of stock being stored midweek in these sidings in the peak holiday season - 1966 seems very late for this though.
 

Also, both seem to be GW-designed coaches - there can’t have been much pre-Mk1 left by that point, although peak season strengthening seems a plausible last usage. It’s good to see though, it gives scope to display rolling stock on the layout in an authentic manner!

[Stephen Freeman]

2 hours ago, MPR said:

I’ve seen references (and photos) of stock being stored midweek in these sidings in the peak holiday season - 1966 seems very late for this though.
 

Also, both seem to be GW-designed coaches - there can’t have been much pre-Mk1 left by that point, although peak season strengthening seems a plausible last usage. It’s good to see though, it gives scope to display rolling stock on the layout in an authentic manner!

Absolutely 100% 1966 , probably August as the film was processed and printed Sept 1966. It wouldn't have been before August. As for the Toplights at Goodrington not 100% certain but think it was 1954. I will see if I can get the scanner to work (it's playing up at the moment, or least socket is).

[mdvle]

Thanks for the responses.

 

Despite the year I guess it most have just been additional storage, whether overflow or perhaps tucked away for someone potentially considering buying them?

 

I doubt it would be camping coaches as Torre really wouldn't have been a great location for that, particularly with an active coal siding(s) still there.

[5BarVT]

I looked up Camping Coaches and the internet (which is always right ) does not list Torre as a location.  So my earlier assumption was incorrect!

Paul.

[Stephen Freeman]

As a matter of interest there are a few photos of Torre in the new magazine Western Times covering an accident there in 1955

[MPR]

The station building has long been lacking poster boards, so I thought that I would add them as a nice easy project to get back to progressing the model.

I started by ordering a few packs of etched brass signs from NBrass. These are rather cleverly designed with a half-etched border.

 

The idea is that you bend them over an edge with half-etched line on the outside. 

I used my fine pliers, my P4 back to back block and a steel rule to persuade the edges flat. 
The result was very neat and will do nicely for the platform side boards, but they were a little over-sized so I decided to alter them  a bit for the road side.

A double poster board needs to be this big…

…and a single poster board a little narrower.

I was able to remove one edge by bending back and forward with the  pliers. I then scribed a line to align to, reduced the length of the edge piece to 14.75mm with snips and soldered the edge in place.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 12, 2022 by MPR

[MPR]

 

Poster boards as supplied (flat in foreground) - neat but slightly over-sized.

Modified and unmodified boards - I used the fret waste for the top, rather than the through etched “British Railways” pieces supplied.

 

Three boards, ready for cleaning up and painting.

 

I have bought some rather nice self-adhesive timetables and posters to fit afterwards.

Edited April 12, 2022 by MPR

[St Enodoc]

28 minutes ago, MPR said:

Poster boards as supplied - neat but slightly over-sized.

Modified and unmodified boards - I used the fret waste for the top, rather than the through etched “British Railways” pieces supplied.

Three boards, ready for cleaning up and painting.

I have bought some rather nice self-adhesive timetables and posters to fit afterwards.

I like the idea of having "Devon", Brixham" and "Paignton" posters at Torre!

 

More seriously, I suspect that some of those are from the 60s rather than the 50s - might be worth checking photos if there are any.

Edited January 31, 2022 by St Enodoc
speling

[MPR]

26 minutes ago, St Enodoc said:

I like the idea of having "Devon", Brixham" and "Paignton" posters at Torre!

 

More seriously, I suspect that some of those are from the 60s rather than the 50s - might be worth checking photos if there are any.

The few 1950s images I have show mostly timetables on the road side (perhaps unsurprisingly). I will probably use the Wells poster, running under “Rule 1” in honour of the layout’s first exhibition though! 
I agree that a number of the posters on the sheet are 1960s.

I’m not sure if the space would be used to advertise local destinations, more distant places on the Western Region, or attractions off the region as a rule.

Edited February 1, 2022 by MPR

[Nick Gough]

Is it just me or does it seem a little odd for a model railway supplier to produce posters with the legend, "Station closed due to scheduled track maintenance alternative bus service available"?

[5BarVT]

24 minutes ago, Nick Gough said:

Is it just me or does it seem a little odd for a model railway supplier to produce posters with the legend, "Station closed due to scheduled track maintenance alternative bus service available"?

Seemed odd to me too.  I suspect it’s supposed to be amusing and a reflection of the amount of time a model isn’t operational.

What struck me about most of those chalk notices was that the wording was out of context for the time it is supposed to be.  Notices weren’t worded like that then.

Paul.

[Oldddudders]

8 minutes ago, 5BarVT said:

Seemed odd to me too.  I suspect it’s supposed to be amusing and a reflection of the amount of time a model isn’t operational.

What struck me about most of those chalk notices was that the wording was out of context for the time it is supposed to be.  Notices weren’t worded like that then.

Paul.

Agree. But they'd be awfully handy for the one-man-band exhibition layout when the operator has a personal needs break!

[MPR]

I certainly won’t be using the chalked messages, but the printing seems very crisp and they are diecut, so if you are using them direct, they are a very easy way of obtaining a good result. I bought this pack from eBay, but they can found at https://tracksidesigns.co.uk/pages/station-signs-and-signage?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIsdTj56vh9QIVAurtCh3v8QYwEAAYASAAEgJS2_D_BwE

I’ll let you know how cutting the posters out separately & mounting them on the etched boards goes.

Edited February 3, 2022 by MPR

[TrevorP1]

46 minutes ago, MPR said:

I certainly won’t be using the chalked messages, but the printing seems very crisp and they are are diecut, so if you are using them direct, they are a very easy way of obtaining a good result. I bought this pack from eBay, but they can found at https://tracksidesigns.co.uk/pages/station-signs-and-signage?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIsdTj56vh9QIVAurtCh3v8QYwEAAYASAAEgJS2_D_BwE

I’ll let you know how they go mounting them on the etched boards.

 

I should have thanked you for the 'heads up' on the N Brass range. I don't need station signs but I've been looking at the Conflat container securing chains, also the wooden p-way trolley.

[Captain Kernow]

That looks great, Martin.

 

Are the NBrass poster boards suitable for large, roadside advert hoardings, please?

 

Also, what is the source of your printed adverts etc.?

 

Thanks.

 

[MPR]

2 hours ago, Captain Kernow said:

That looks great, Martin.

 

Are the NBrass poster boards suitable for large, roadside advert hoardings, please?

 

Also, what is the source of your printed adverts etc.?

 

Thanks.

 

Hi Tim - I don’t think so, they are sized for 1 -3 standard posters, side by side, with or without a 2mm high top board.

The posters themselves are by Trackside Signs, who also do large advert hoardings

https://tracksidesigns.co.uk

Or from the EBay shop, https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/172339607951?hash=item28203db98f:g:nngAAOSwRLZT8w2z

[MPR]

All the poster boards have now been altered and will be cleaned and painted next.

Edited April 11, 2022 by MPR

[Re6/6]

Lovely work Martin.

[MPR]

As I am now awaiting a still, dry day to spray the poster boards, I decided to add some further parts to the pile to be painted.

Most of these are from a custom etch that Narrow Planet made to my design a couple of years back, plus a customised signal box nameplate from their range.

First up was the nameplate for the signal box. This was removed from the surround with a Swann Morton blade, tidied with nail scissors, then dressed around the edges with needle files.This will be sprayed acrylic white, allowed to dry and will then be flooded with black-ish enamel.

The full custom etch was designed to complete the missing windows on the signal box - the five pane windows were removed and the edges were dressed all round - they need to be a snug fit in the frames. The lock room windows can stay on the etch for now, they will sit behind the brick work & it will easier to handle them as they are.

The test fit of the new windows was satisfactory.

 

The name board and other signs will each need posts making and fitting,, but are otherwise ready for paint too.

Lastly, I made up a guard rail for the goods platform loading bay - it is a bit tall, but will be cut down to fit after painting.

Edited April 11, 2022 by MPR

[St Enodoc]

1 hour ago, MPR said:

As I am now awaiting a still, dry day to spray the poster boards, I decided to add some further parts to the pile to be painted.

Most of these are from a custom etch that Narrow Planet made to my design a couple of years back, plus a customised signal box nameplate from their range.

First up was the nameplate for the signal box. This was removed from the surround with a Swann Morton blade, tidied with nail scissors, then dressed around the edges with needle files.This will be sprayed acrylic white, allowed to dry and will then be flooded with black-ish enamel.

The full custom etch was designed to complete the missing windows on the signal box - the five pane windows were removed and the edges were dressed all round - they need to be a snug fit in the frames. The lock room windows can stay on the etch for now, they will sit behind the brick work & it will easier to handle them as they are.

The test fit of the new windows was satisfactory.

The name board and other signs will each need posts making and fitting,, but are otherwise ready for paint too.

Lastly, I made up a guard rail for the goods platform loading bay - it is a bit tall, but will be cut down to fit after painting.

Have you seen these (by fellow RMwebber @Harlequin)?

 

https://www.the-pattern-shop.com/

[MPR]

9 hours ago, St Enodoc said:

Have you seen these (by fellow RMwebber @Harlequin)?

 

https://www.the-pattern-shop.com/

The letter forms and size on these do look better, don’t they? I do like the relief that the etched parts give, so I expect that I’ll continue with the current board for now, but I won’t glue it on too firmly…