Melville Street

[lash]

Thank you all for the encouragement, much appreciated.

 

Some rewiring tonight as I had broken the cardinal rule (Dutch cleric I believe) of feeding the toe. All done and no collateral damage except a bit of solder on the rail tops to polish off.

 

More scenic work and mock up of arches to measure up some clearances ... and play trains of course.

 

[lash]

As ever many thanks for the “likes” .

 

More work on wiring and sort of sorted it with feeds to the toe of points but more to do and understand. I managed to cause a persistent short circuit as well. If I’ve learnt anything about electrics and me it’s keep it simple because if I can cock it up I will.

 

The Wills quoins arrived today, lovely product but I really should have had them from the start as they needed quite a bit of work to thin the plastic if attached to a corner already.

 

I’m very happy with the way the station building is going, another mock up to test the look and clearances helps too.

 

I’m going to add a single story extension on one side and am building a vary girder bridge structure to support the whole thing.

 

 

 

[lash]

Got out all my blue locos today including running in my class 73 I’ve had abut 18 months but never run. All good fun. The Hymek isn’t really for Melville Street but looks good anywhere. I’ve managed to acquire the correct 

Mark 1 coaches plus a Gresley buffet for a Cardiff Pompey service on my planned  continuous run, next  project after Melville Street.

 

Scenics and buildings coming along nicely.

 

[Calidore]

Really enjoying watching this one, lash. All very nice and cramped (in a good way), the parcels stock suits it nicely. Do keep up the posts!

 

Adam

[lash]

Thanks Calidore. Had a look at your topics and liked them a lot. Always fascinated by the Meon Valley line  and walked it a lot . Great pubs too  but with sad thoughts of the demise of the Red Lion in West Meon.

 

A couple of happy evenings modelling buildings and scenics. All a bit messy for the moment but pics soon.

 

Exciting arrivals today some Sankey Scenics signs ( goodness unintended alliteration) and more arches and some laser cut roof tiles from Lcut.

 

[lash]

More work on scenics which are coming along.

 

The signal box now has glazing and a name and just needs a handrail for the stairs. I tried building the handrail up from  thin plastic rod on a jig but it was too flimsy. Will persevere.

 

Tiling the station roof, very therapeutic with Lcut strips, this is the closest I will ever get to an Alan Downes moment and wasn’t he just amazing.

 

Ended the evening with some fun with trains and broke out my blue 2bil which looks rather splendid alongside the 2hal.

 

[sb67]

I've just found this thread, great looking layout and I like the plan. I've always been a fan of Ian Futers layouts and that is a plan I've come close to using a few times.  I like the setting, look forward to seeing some more photo's 

What are the dimensions of the baseboards Iash? 

[lash]

2 minutes ago, sb67 said:

I've just found this thread, great looking layout and I like the plan. I've always been a fan of Ian Futers layouts and that is a plan I've come close to using a few times.  I like the setting, look forward to seeing some more photo's 

What are the dimensions of the baseboards Iash? 

Many thanks Steve.

 

The baseboards are two Scale Model Scenery BB017s  1102mm long and 220mm wide. The visible layout will be about 1300mm with the rest fiddle yard. The design is built around a train length of  560mm which accommodates the 2 car emus nicely and gives a bit of flexibility for parcels stock. 
 

You could compress the scheme by as using short turnouts, I have used medium, and a cassette based fiddle yard. I looked at this  and could cut the length by a quarter and so use one BB017 and a BB021 550mm extension. However I rejected this as I had the length to play with and preferred the simplicity of a fiddle yard with points and a Peco loco lift or two. Also I really like the look of the medium radius points which might seem a luxury on such a small layout but which somehow seem better aesthetically and emphasise the narrow cramped urban feel I’m going for.

[sb67]

7 hours ago, lash said:

Also I really like the look of the medium radius points which might seem a luxury on such a small layout but which somehow seem better aesthetically and emphasise the narrow cramped urban feel I’m going for

 

I'd agree with that, they do look a bit better than small radius especially with longer bogie stock. 

[9C85]

My sort of layout in my sort of era. Enjoy it!

[lash]

Making a total mess of the platform this evening but think I’ve rescued it. Full story when it’s looking half decent.

 

More work on the station building and finished tiling the roof. Ridges flashing and gutters to sort before painting . Quite pleased so far.

 

[lash]

Station building is coming on nicely. Brickwork had a coat of Railmatch concrete making sure it went into the mortar gaps between bricks and then when dry rubbing over and smudging various suitable shades of colour pencils ,mostly pastels for the brickwork. Stonework painted with a first coat of Railmatch weathered stone and a bit of filling with Vallejo plastic putty. 
 

Still hate digital close ups ,so cruel on minor imperfections, but you get the general idea.
 

[coastalview]

This is looking rather good will be following with interest.

[woodenhead]

On 14/12/2020 at 23:01, lash said:

 

 

Could you install a set of points between the middle and lower line - that's a long fiddleyard line which if broken will given you another train to hold - either substitute the existing point for a threeway or put in a crossing.

[lash]

4 minutes ago, woodenhead said:

Could you install a set of points between the middle and lower line - that's a long fiddleyard line which if broken will given you another train to hold - either substitute the existing point for a threeway or put in a crossing.

Valid point and I have considered an right hand turnout to give access to the line nearest the board edge. That would still give storage for a 560mm train. On the other hand I wanted to keep the possibility of that track being on the scenic side as an industrial siding or similar, we will see. The idea is to complete the main scenic sections and then take stock at what if anything comes next .

 

Many thanks for your interest it all makes it more enjoyable and good food for thought, and it occurs I might just have a cunning plan.......

[Calidore]

That building is really coming on a treat Lash -- will be a great focal point for the layout and as you say, captures the look of the LSWR buildings from places like Eastleigh very accurately indeed.

 

I've been thinking about trying out a 'big' version for a fictional London terminus, with canopy over a concourse in front etc. Intended as something of a hybrid between this kind of station building, and that fine LSWR parcels office in Plymouth. Hope you don't mind me posting a pic.

 

Adam

 

Edited January 27, 2021 by Calidore

[lash]

6 hours ago, Calidore said:

That building is really coming on a treat Lash -- will be a great focal point for the layout and as you say, captures the look of the LSWR buildings from places like Eastleigh very accurately indeed.

 

I've been thinking about trying out a 'big' version for a fictional London terminus, with canopy over a concourse in front etc. Intended as something of a hybrid between this kind of station building, and that fine LSWR parcels office in Plymouth. Hope you don't mind me posting a pic.

 

Adam

 

Not a problem and I like the dimensions and look of this. Not a lot of swank with this sort of building when you compare to something like Southampton Terminus which was/is neo-Georgian Italianate . So maybe a secondary commuter terminus on the edge of the City or or part of the West London Line where stations like Kew Bridge were in this style. How about a terminus at Hammersmith Broadway and imagine the LSWR lines lasted into the 70s, all ancient grime and semi dereliction, a bit of a Last days of Broad Street look. 

[lash]

Roof now completed primed and in a first coat of slate.

 

[lash]

I have mentioned the platform is not going well. I think the time has come to acknowledge I have completely b#####ed it that the layout deserves better and it’s time to start again.

 

[lash]

I mentioned in an earlier post it wasn’t going to be chocolate box modelling, it’s been a while since Melviile Street had a coat of paint and a wash and brush up. Been working with the weathering powders.

 

[Calidore]

Wonderful!! Great textures.

 

Adam

[lash]

No it’s not a Viking long boat it’s the new platform with cocktail sticks as I’ve no pins.

 

The idea is something a bit more precision than my failed attempt which was a composite of three layers of foam board balsa and sanded filler. This worked well on my previous layout Milton Quay but I think my fitting of the various layers was too inaccurate so the sides were wonky and and the plasticard brick strips couldn’t get a purchase. The new idea is foam board sides and crossmembers with a 2mm balsa top and embossed plasticard sides finished with with filler for the tarmac.... or that’s the idea.

 

 

 

[lash]

Platform is structurally complete as intended. Next job filling sanding and general fettling. I have checked the fit on the layout and clearances all look fine.

 

[lash]

I decided the brickwork under the station building really could do with some weeping lime streaks . So here you are, just dry brushing  with matt acrylic white and a bit of streaking with fingers.

[lash]

Nice progress with the platform. Weathering to be done and the surface isn’t everything I would want but pretty pleasing.

 

Mock up of things to come..