kingrail 52 Posted April 3 Share Posted April 3 I have been working on this project for the last year so I thought it about time to start a blog. The gasworks in Granton Edinburgh were built around 1900. The site was chosen so that there was easy rail access from the Caledonian Granton branch. In addition to ensure that there was always adequate coal supply a small branch was made to NB sidings. The works was quite unique in that it had its own private station. This building still stands and was largely the motivation behind choosing this project. The works were large and complex so the plan is just to model the Eastern half of the site including the CR branch. I am a previous N gauge modeller so there is a steep learning curve for me with this project especially with track and rolling stock construction but the challenge is all part of the fun. I will post over the next few weeks some of the progress over the last year 5 1 Link to post Share on other sites
kingrail 52 Posted April 3 Author Share Posted April 3 The aim will be to model the pre grouping era 1910-1920. However apart from some minor track alignment alterations little changed over the next 50 years so it will probably possible to model a later era simply with stock change. The gas complex had its own standard gauge railway and a narrow gauge one. The majority of the companies locos were bought directly from Barclay and make great modelling projects in themselves 3 Link to post Share on other sites
kingrail 52 Posted April 3 Author Share Posted April 3 Narrow gauge Barclay Not quite the first part of the project attempted but always going to be a challenge was some form of reproduction of the narrow gauge system. The locos were low height on 2ft gauge. Luckily a plan of a very similar Barclay engine was available online. This saved a near impossible trip to Glasgow to browse over Barclay archives (I say luckily because this would be a challenge in lockdown period). This plan and photos were used to make 3D plan of the loco using a simple free program called Tinkercad. I have no design experience but actually quite enjoyed playing around with this programme (maybe start with something simpler than an engine). My kids tell me the programme is for kids so it cant be that hard, so I would encourage others to give it a go. I have an anycubic printer which was used for tests but because this was to be a small detailed model the final versions were printed off by Shapeways. Two of these locos survive for real in preservation. No 5 Esme, pictured is one of the originals Note the not quite prototypical gentleman driver! At present locos are wheel-less and static. The plan will be to try and motorise probably using T gauge mechanisms? 9 Link to post Share on other sites
kingrail 52 Posted April 3 Author Share Posted April 3 THE STATION The station had no direct road access and was designed purely for workers trains. The building is listed and still stands along with the original gas holder. All other buildings have been demolished. I was lucky enough for Scottish gas to allow me a site visit a few years ago so I have a good selection of photos. There has however been some modification over the years. Using the photos for measurement I managed to make some basic scale plans and subsequently replicated on Tinkercad , 3D CAD. 5 Link to post Share on other sites
kingrail 52 Posted April 3 Author Share Posted April 3 STATION Cont Station building is still work in progress 3D printed in parts on my anycubic. Used a textured brick paper by redutex which I further painted/detailed Link to post Share on other sites
kingrail 52 Posted April 3 Author Share Posted April 3 Front and side with brick paper and painted Only problem now is how to do the windows.... Link to post Share on other sites
Caley Jim 7,235 Posted April 3 Share Posted April 3 14 minutes ago, kingrail said: Only problem now is how to do the windows.... You could draw them on paper, place the glazing material over the drawing, scribe the glazing bars onto it and then fill the scribed lines with paint. A less laborious method would be to draw up an etch for them. The windows on my buildings for Kirkallanmuir are mostly etched. Jim Link to post Share on other sites
kingrail 52 Posted April 4 Author Share Posted April 4 Thanks Jim I actually have to confess that I have moved from this stage. Although no previous design experience I had a shot at CAD and went for a photo etch. A bit of a learning curve as some frames I made a little too delicate which made them near impossible to file down to size without distorting. The larger windows pictured worked better. So a few frames are a little distorted but I am generally happy with the results. 8 2 Link to post Share on other sites
2mmMark 2,258 Posted April 5 Share Posted April 5 On 04/04/2021 at 08:50, kingrail said: Thanks Jim I actually have to confess that I have moved from this stage. Although no previous design experience I had a shot at CAD and went for a photo etch. A bit of a learning curve as some frames I made a little too delicate which made them near impossible to file down to size without distorting. The larger windows pictured worked better. So a few frames are a little distorted but I am generally happy with the results. Tamiya do some photo-etch scissors which make cutting delicate items off the fret an absolute doddle. As do Xuron. What they both fail to offer is a tool to find them in the carpet afterwards. Mark 1 2 6 Link to post Share on other sites
kingrail 52 Posted April 6 Author Share Posted April 6 Thanks Mark Bought a pair of those a while back. Cant recall if they were for metal etches or plastic sprues. In any case I was’t impressed and they now linger somewhere in the depths of the toolbox. I don’t have a carpet yet still manage to loose the bits! Link to post Share on other sites
kingrail 52 Posted April 6 Author Share Posted April 6 This is the inside station portion of the platform. Some pics from previous site visit. Again 3D printed base with etched windows. Window frames need a bit of a tidy and the walls will have tiles added. The curved roof is an unusual feature. I think this shows the benefits of 3D printing. Shame is that when constructed most of this will not be easy to see! 4 Link to post Share on other sites
Geordie Exile 786 Posted April 6 Share Posted April 6 3 hours ago, kingrail said: Shame is that when constructed most of this will not be easy to see! But you'll know it's there! 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites
2mm Andy 805 Posted April 6 Share Posted April 6 Presumably the curved roof is a form of fireproof construction? I have seen similar in textile mill buildings, usually with brick arches spanning between iron beams. Andy Link to post Share on other sites
RMweb Gold phil_sutters 8,407 Posted April 6 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 6 At the other end of the country there are similar brick arches in the former East London Line station at Surrey Quays in south-east London, now part of the London Overground system. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
kingrail 52 Posted April 8 Author Share Posted April 8 Quote Updated pics of internal platform wall Just completed the internal wall tonight. The tiling is actually redulux 3D brick paper painted over. Again shame this wont be seen. Maybe have to have to install a platform cam 4 Link to post Share on other sites
dseagull 1,394 Posted April 8 Share Posted April 8 On 05/04/2021 at 17:41, 2mmMark said: Tamiya do some photo-etch scissors which make cutting delicate items off the fret an absolute doddle. As do Xuron. What they both fail to offer is a tool to find them in the carpet afterwards. Mark To the inventing shed, I've found a market, now I just need to work out how to make a palm-sized metal detector...! I never fail to be impressed by those who design their own etches for things as tiny and delicate as can be used in 2mm. Looks a great project, looking forward to following. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
kingrail 52 Posted April 10 Author Share Posted April 10 Starting point for the next bit of the project from ebay? 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Caley Jim 7,235 Posted April 10 Share Posted April 10 According to an article by Kenneth Williamson in a recent issue of the CR Assoc. Journal (The True Line, or TTL as it's referred to), the original is still in working order. There are photo's of the station and the gas works locos near the foot of this page . Jim Link to post Share on other sites
kingrail 52 Posted April 10 Author Share Posted April 10 Jim assuming you might be referring to the clock on the station building? Not been past in recently to confirm if the clock still reads correct time or not. There have been intermittent plans to reuse the station building (and the gas holder) that are both listed. The most recent involves it being a social square centre piece near tram station, so hopefully a useful future for it. Link to post Share on other sites
kingrail 52 Posted Wednesday at 14:05 Author Share Posted Wednesday at 14:05 FUNCTIONAL CLOCK-FACE The previous watch picture is what is called a ring watch. Its face is the right size for a 2mm scale clock tower. Glass removed. Edges filled down Existing face scratched off as of too modern design. However clock face transfers ‘without hands’ are hard to find. I eventually found this nail art set bought from Australia! News transfer added and a coat of varnish Stuck to the back of the 3D printed clock tower with tacky wax at present which actually holds quite well. 4 Link to post Share on other sites
kingrail 52 Posted Wednesday at 14:16 Author Share Posted Wednesday at 14:16 Just before someone points this out, the clockface surround is different from the present day real one. I have yet to find a picture of the clock from the last century (it would have to have been taken from the works itself). However pictures from 20 yrs ago show my design. (Actually 2005 ) , although I don't know for sure this is the original. There was subsequently storm damage to the real thing leading to the present day white surround. Link to post Share on other sites
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