RMweb Premium Claude_Dreyfus Posted July 20, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 20, 2012 Thanks... The 1910 B type is one of the vehicles I am interested in...so will watch any developments in that department with interest. The SL set will produce some challenges, not least the bow-type pantographs - although I may have found some suitable from a Japanese supplier that could be modified - and the painting (Marsh umber and cream by that time). Japan would also be origin of the motor...Tomix provide an adjustable motor chassis, one of which is a base length scale 19 metres. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-UnitMad Posted September 29, 2012 Share Posted September 29, 2012 Any more progress on this awesome layout lately...?? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Southernboy Posted January 2, 2013 Author Popular Post Share Posted January 2, 2013 (edited) Frankland update No. 9: Hello everyone and welcome to another in our series of occasional broadcasts from Frankland... --------------------------------------------------------------------- BOOKS: First up we have two books recently added to the Frankland Library. LSWR Carriages of the 20th Century has long been out of print and so I was very pleased to find a rare copy in excellent condition, and at a reasonable price too. It covers the passenger stock that would have run on Frankland in the earlier years and so for me is essential reading. Track: How It Works and How to Model It is a new publication from the 2mm Association which I have only recently received - but from a quick skim through the 140 pages it certainly looks like it does what it says on the tin. --------------------------------------------------------------------- NEW LOCOMOTIVE A new locomotive was seen passing through Frankland recently ... ... but what was it? It was the Union Mills T9 - my first properly 'in period' locomotive. Very chuffed I am with it too --------------------------------------------------------------------- TREES: Since the houses at the top of the hill were built I've always felt they looked a little stark ... So when I visited the 4D Model Shop and saw their magnificent Silver Birch trees I had to make a purchase ... ... well, three purchases in fact. And what an improvement to the view - Frankland is becoming quite a leafy suburb these days But there was something needed to complete the scene - Tree Guards There, that's better For the tree guards I used Chestnut Paling, also from the 4D Model Shop. I also bought a tree for outside the shops, but felt railings would suit this location better than paling. I used Ratio Spear Fencing (with the spears cut off) - but not without difficulty: Try as I did to roll the fencing into a tight curve (using warm water, the heat of my hand etc), it just kept snapping. So I laid a section of railing onto a strip of masking tape, gently rolled the tape around a paint brush and put a peg on it, then immersed it in hot water, next ran it under cold water, and hey-presto! ---------------------------------------------------------- And now to our main story OLD SHOPS FOR FRANKLAND The last time we visited Frankland was to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the famous viaducts, and at that time the old shops at the bottom of the hill looked like this. Obviously something had to be done about it! For inspiration I planned to visit some old shops at Clapham North that still bore original Victorian painted adverts for such things as Pianola rolls. But when I went to look at them the buildings had been gentrified. Luckily a few pictures can be found online: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vicimacdonald/5209914985/in/photostream/ And here's how they look today ... So I worked from a combination of observing the buildings as they are now, and online finds of old pictures of these and similar shops, to plan how things should look for Frankland. The original buildings are in a straight line, whereas mine go round a curve in the road - and have to fit in an awkward shape that is narrower at the back than at the front ... and at first I wasn't sure how to deal with this. Then I remembered some shops at Clapham Common and a quick Google came up with some answers ... Next I researched period shops and started a sort of 'crib sheet'... ... and after a few plans and card mock-ups, work commenced. Here's the back of the shops (the yards are detachable to make them easier to work on). And here are the front of the shops / rooves. Next onto the part I was most excited about - the pilasters - they are quite exquisite. I've had them for ages and have been really looking forward to making use of them And here they are lined up along the extended shop fronts. The extended shop fronts are a separate section to the main buildings for ease of working. Then onto making the individual shop fronts. Each is based on an original period photograph. And a dry-run to see how things were looking ... For the rooves I used strips of masking tape to represent asphalt And that was the basic shell completed - so next onto painting and detailing. ------------------------------------------------- I took my camera out to photograph buildings of the period in order to gauge colour, patina and other details. An original street sign Bricked up windows A wonderfully faded and worn old shop front. Look at how battered and knocked-about are the pair of doors and frames on the left. Bricks and window frames akimbo! A photo taken square-on to illustrate how the bar over the door is considerably lower on the right compared to the left! ------------------------------------------------------ And then painting commenced... ... including lots of dry-brushing. ------------------------------------------------------ By now my crib sheet had extended to include signs, interiors and other features ... ... from which various items were printed onto photographic paper (left) and Crafty Computer paper (right). The Crafty Computer Paper was used to create the adverts painted onto the walls And then I started work on the more fiddly bits. These are radio sets ... ... here they are in a shop display ... ... and here's the shop window. I used slices of sprue to make cakes ... ... and here's that cake display: Delicious Iced Madeira Cake, Cherry Almond Cake, Rich Tea Cake dusted with Icing sugar, Chocolate Cake, Coffee & Walnut cake, and a tempting selection of Petit Fours and Cupcakes in a variety of delicious flavours. But this was the one I found most difficult... ... meat for the butcher's window. I used Squadron Putty to form the shape of the carcass around the frame and it took quite a few attempts to get it right. And here's the rest of the display: big juicy steaks, pork pies and sausages. The next item is a bit 'general purpose': It is a section of thin Plasticard grooved quite deeply with sandpaper and painted. In N gauge it can equally represent wood as well as wicker ... ... and is useful for such things as the wicker basket on this delivery bike. I didn't make the bike, but I made the basket and frame for the basket. I also needed a horse trough - so here's one made from Plasticard, Plastic Rod, and an off-cut of plastic sprue. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Well that's enough on construction. Soon we will head off to Frankland to see the finished product - but first we need to get our heads into a different time and place - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- So now ... Let's Go Shopping! Welcome everyone to another fine Spring morning here in Frankland, it's nice and early and we're taking the tram down to the shops. Have your tickets ready please! Well here we are arriving on an early morning tram ... This is the stop we want ... ... let's hop off and take a tour of the shops. It's quite quiet at the moment, most people are still in bed. First we come to Fulk Bros Family Butcher and next door is Walkers Boot Repairer, Leather Seller and Ironmongers. Next door we have Mrs D'Creasy Grocer and Haberdasher, with a fine display of wools in the window. In the middle is the Stationer & Newsagents, and on the right J Lyons Tea Rooms. And finally we come to Clements Gentlemens' Outfitters, and Rashbrooks Bicycle & Radio shop. We'll pop down the alleyway to the right of Rashbrooks and take a look at the back of the shops. Here's the view you get from the top of the flats next door. I think that's an old tin bath in the yard on the left ... If we take the path on the right we'll come out by the butchers again. Well it looks like people are starting to wake up - the butcher boy's bike is out and Walker's are putting their wares on display. Mrs D'Creasy uses old tea chests and baskets and beer crates to display her fruit and veg. And next door I see the morning newspaper headlines are out. A pleasant feature of this area is the stepped-kerb pavement. Lyons Tea Rooms have their 'A' board out advertising ices and teas, very tempting. And here's some bicycles outside Rashbrooks. Well the sun is coming out and the day seems to be warming up quite a bit ... ... but we don't want that butchers meat in the window cooking in this heat - better slide the blind down! Oh, that was fun! Let's do it again! Blind in ... Blind out... Hmmm, it seems quite a few of the shop keepers are in on the act! Well enough frivolity - although it's sunny now I can see dark skies on the horizon so we should be going soon - but before we leave let's take a view from across the road of all the shops together. As we walk back to the tram stop we pass the statue of Alderman Frankland, it's quite a local landmark I suppose. And behind the statue is the old horse trough of course - although these days it's just a place to park taxis. But quick! There's our tram! And off we sail into town for an evening of dance music ... do come and join me after the end of the news! And that is the end of the news. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EDIT 1: New YouTube clip of Frankland: EDIT 2: Work on my 3-Sub is about to commence and I've started a thread: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/66512-n-gauge-lswr-3-sub/ Edited January 7, 2013 by Southernboy 120 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian b Posted January 2, 2013 Share Posted January 2, 2013 Absolutely jaw-droppingly stunning modelling of the highest quality! My heartiest congratulations on what is an inspiration and an eye-opener as to what can be achieved. I bow to your abilities, sir! 12 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Sheep Posted January 2, 2013 Share Posted January 2, 2013 Sorry, was that working shop canopies? That's nuts and awesome at the same time! 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shanks522 Posted January 2, 2013 Share Posted January 2, 2013 I really do enjoy your update's Southernboy, Absolutely Fantastic, Your attention to detail is brilliant and those buildings look superb, I especially like the masking tap for the roofs, simple yet very effective. This has to be one of my favourite layout's on RMweb. Well done indeed sir. Graham. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
artizen Posted January 2, 2013 Share Posted January 2, 2013 Just hitting the 'like' button isn't enough for this masterpiece! Please keep posting. 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
westerner Posted January 2, 2013 Share Posted January 2, 2013 Absolutly stunning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The cinema, Have I missed it, is it done yet or have you changed your mind? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold TomE Posted January 2, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 2, 2013 Fantastic update Mark. Those shops are outstanding! Tom. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sykes Posted January 2, 2013 Share Posted January 2, 2013 Absolutely marvellous modelling! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MrSimon Posted January 2, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 2, 2013 I lived in a parade of shops next to a parade of shops just like that a few years ago. What an amazing model! Its completely London and just like the old pictures, well done sir! And the T9 is pretty cool too Simon 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold queensquare Posted January 2, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 2, 2013 Great to see another update. Fantastic modelling and beautifully observed - an absolute joy. Jerry 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BernardTPM Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 I have here a gob... and I am smacking it! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gloucester Road Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 Been waiting for an update. Yes, well worth the wait; that is superb modelling and attention to detail. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Revolution Ben Posted January 3, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 3, 2013 Hello Mark Thanks for a splendid New Year's update! You're making great progress, and the layout is coming together very nicely indeed. I love the way you tie all the different elements together to create a coherent and fully rounded vision. And the way you present your updates makes it really feel like we are being invited to step into a completely believable world! What's the next area you're planning to develop? cheers Ben A. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
backofanenvelope Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 I was just thinking about what had happened to your layout and wow was the wait worth it!! I can only echo others thoughts and say you have captured saarrth Larndarn to perfection.. T. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave777 Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 Mindblowing. Absolute top drawer modelling. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Madog Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 It took me an hour to close my jaws, as they snapped open when seeing these pictures! Absolutely smashing! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmthtrains - David Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 Discovering a new update is like stumbling upon a new novel by a favourite author. I have run out of words to suitably express either your staggering modelling skills, or my enjoyment of reading about your progress. N gauge sausages - who would ever have expected to see those modelled... David 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
artizen Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 Just an update really - isn't it amazing that this new update features the railway only in the first four or so photos? The rest of the modelling just kept getting better and better!!!!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteT Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 Oh! How I wish I had your modelling skills. Really inspiring stuff. Pete Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold roundhouse Posted January 3, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 3, 2013 Excellent modelling in those photos. I wish that I had been following htis layout before. Ian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
packetlos Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 How have I missed this before, simply in awe of the skills on show. Andrew Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Oldddudders Posted January 3, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 3, 2013 Once again we find ourselves in Frankland, looking at 2mm modelling that would simply shame many of us working in 4mm or 7mm scales. You have the imagination, skills and ingenuity in equal measure. Quite remarkable. 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglian Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 Utterly magnificent. The row of shops is amongst the very best I've ever seen. Detailing, imagination and beautifully conceived with a sympathetic eye for colour. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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