Jump to content
 

Building a Southern Region layout


Tim Hale
 Share

Recommended Posts

Guest Jack Benson

Something different and a first, it is a Collett 2251 from Bachmann.

 

A nice photo of 3210 on the Highbridge branch caught my eye.

 

32-305.jpg.e690c0e75073f6ec6d06ca94734f8c7e.jpg

 

Trundling past Child  Okeford with a couple of non-corridor coaches, on its way to Bailey Gate seems to be singularly appropriate.

 

JB

 

 

Edited by Jack Benson
picture link added
Link to post
Share on other sites

Guest Jack Benson

Last night, the AD suffered an episode at home, quick thinking by Linda and admission to YDH resulted in a diagnosis of a heart attack.

 

Currently, he is in the Acute Cardiovascular Care Unit, no doubt surrounded by his family and railway magazines.

 

Cheers

 

Jack

 

 

Link to post
Share on other sites

Guest Jack Benson

Hi,

 

Following an angiogram, the 'AD ' is waiting for a bed at Bristol Royal Infirmary for urgent triple by-pass heart surgery.

 

We are considering the implications of loosing one of group (33%) and we hope to continue in the same direction.

 

Cheers

 

JB

Link to post
Share on other sites

Guest Jack Benson
On 12 April 2019 at 12:26, Oldddudders said:

That cameo is very redolent of the sort of detailed mini-scene I recall Tim Hale creating. This layout is becoming quite seductive.

 

 

 

Ian,

he is still awaiting transfer to Bristol Royal Infirmary for triple bypass surgery. Linda and his family send regular updates but he will not be 'up and about' for at least three months even if the surgery is successful.

 

In the meantime, a couple of images of his attention to the flora of Dorset, a nice wild flag.

 

Best wishes to everyone from the Beaminster Road Group but mostly thanks from the 'Artistic Director'

 

Cheers

 

Jack B

 

image.jpeg.e5d64ad9328af1d6ed0a5ea4a46154d8.jpegimage.jpeg.4496a17657dd0aa8f696b1e86b5a2122.jpeg

 

 

 

 

Edited by Jack Benson
Link to post
Share on other sites

  • RMweb Premium

Yes agree OD - it is remarkable the change this procedure has on the well being of patients in my experience.

 

I know that TH was looking forward to seeing his G6 completed so a few pictures of the completed SEF kit, hope it does the job!

 

1358651465_IMG_4999(2).JPG.f1230f426342792f9712aa81cb9933b5.JPG1825969365_IMG_4991(3).JPG.831b1e131488e6dd1045b4ae3f250e4a.JPG

 

Runs pretty well on my short test track - very low gearing. 

 

Kind regards,

 

Richard B 

  • Like 6
Link to post
Share on other sites

Guest Jack Benson

Tilly's Auto Repairs is typical of the independent establishments that were once part of every village, they would tackle almost any type of repair on all vehicles from tractors to bicycles.

 

image.jpeg.92346ed04d8c0a6fb342b8cbdbc892da.jpeg

 

At the rear of Mr Tilly's Auto Repairs, there is a once perfect caravan, it was taken in part payment for a repair and intended for the Tilly family holidays but has been relegated to become an office, kitchen and toilet.

 

image.jpeg.56c7b0e3f7ae6f28095699af26f27ffb.jpeg

 

It began its life as a rather nice Oxford model.

 

image.jpeg.82f0aa48b3a86abe637a904b3d5f04d3.jpeg

 

This stuff was used to create a layer of moss and green mould.

 

image.jpeg.134a761fad8d7d6e521d2004d9c2494d.jpeg

 

JB

 

 

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • RMweb Gold
19 hours ago, Jack Benson said:

Tilly's Auto Repairs is typical of the independent establishments that were once part of every village, they would tackle almost any type of repair on all vehicles from tractors to bicycles.

 

image.jpeg.92346ed04d8c0a6fb342b8cbdbc892da.jpeg

 

At the rear of Mr Tilly's Auto Repairs, there is a once perfect caravan, it was taken in part payment for a repair and intended for the Tilly family holidays but has been relegated to become an office, kitchen and toilet.

 

image.jpeg.56c7b0e3f7ae6f28095699af26f27ffb.jpeg

 

It began its life as a rather nice Oxford model.

 

image.jpeg.82f0aa48b3a86abe637a904b3d5f04d3.jpeg

 

This stuff was used to create a layer of moss and green mould.

 

image.jpeg.134a761fad8d7d6e521d2004d9c2494d.jpeg

 

JB

 

 

Thanks for that, Jack. It looks very effective and certainly seems to beat messing around with powders of a similar colour (I am also planning an old caravan at some stage).

 

Link to post
Share on other sites

Guest Jack Benson
5 hours ago, Captain Kernow said:

Thanks for that, Jack. It looks very effective and certainly seems to beat messing around with powders of a similar colour (I am also planning an old caravan at some stage).

 

Cap'n,

 

The AD is a dab hand at weathering with MiG washes and has recently demonstrated the nuances of their use at the local club.

 

They are enamel based but dry dead matt when used on acrylics, not a hint of stickiness.

 

Cheers

 

JB

 

 

Link to post
Share on other sites

Guest Jack Benson

Hi,

 

AD was discharged from Bristol Heart instititute on Saturday, currently recovering at home.

 

Still suffering usual post-op problems plus almost total loss of sight, consequently no return to modelling for the foreseeable future, he appreciates the kndness and messages, he wishes everyone peace and love. 

 

Thanks guys

 

JB

 

 

Edited by Jack Benson
Link to post
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...
Guest Jack Benson

The return of the prodigal

 

After the multiple failures of Hornby locos, confidence in the brand was at an all time low, the only the Hornby product in our ownership is actually exMainline. 

 

However, the prospect of a 'special' offer from TMC seemed too good to ignore and this is their Camelford (awaiting an eventual change to Crewkerne) and wearing a hint of weathering about the running gear.

 

R3445_Camelford_Weathered_1000.jpg.914f3842bcfa594ffd7f611d2bbed42b.jpg

 

The proof of quality will be in the running qualities, as yet untested.

 

Postscript edit:- Just tested, super smooth, it just needs new identity, brake rods, steps etc. 

 

Cheers

 

 

Edited by Jack Benson
Postscript post testing
Link to post
Share on other sites

Guest Jack Benson
On 26 August 2019 at 17:07, Oldddudders said:

A number of RMwebbers have had a triple-bypass and returned with new vigor. Let’s hope TH has the same good fortune. 

Ian,

 

Thank you, a few weeks have passed and progress has been painfully slow. He still sleeps in a recliner as a normal bed is impossible and prunes/Guinness have become a daily obsession.

 

However the spirit is still strong and the garden has become his solace when the pain overwhelms.

 

Thank you for your comments, love and best wishes to everyone is his response.

 

Cheers

 

Jack 

Link to post
Share on other sites

Guest Jack Benson

Work on Child Okeford restarts - the AD will be happy

 

A recent visitor, Mike Hitchin, declared that the original mousehole exit to the lifting section was 'boring' and the section of cutting needed a road bridge, preferably an occupation crossing for livestock/Fergusson tractors rather than the cliche bus. 

This is the progress, to date. The bridge is a Wills occupation crossing and the surrounding rockwork are bits of aquarium backscene that have been cut to size and 'No More Nailed' into place.

Btw, it is nowhere near finished but we thought a 'work in progress' posting might be of interest.

 

IMG_1213_1000.JPG.jpg.364f48ec2c294c3c4c6701f98d616710.jpg

 

IMG_1214_1000.JPG.jpg.ab8cb2aaac14f8589910eb60b7fb1a82.jpg

 

Lots of lightweight Polycell and matchpot emulsion will transform the scene.

 

Cheers

 

JB

Edited by Jack Benson
Link to post
Share on other sites

Guest Jack Benson

Another recent visitor comment did make us think 'what's the point of Child Okeford?'

 

A bit of a left field question that started some frantic navel-gazing and not a small amount of self-doubt. After all the very real station of Shillingstone is just across the valley, almost everything is available from Scenecraft (if you search hard - fair point.

 

The actual answer is space and the lack of, Shillingstone needs about 10,5M and we have just 4,8M but we could have gone down the 1/160 route except we had a shed half full of 1/76 BR(S) stock. So, we set about judious compresssion and decided to 'pinch' bits of the Dorset Central Railway in order to create a plausible alternative scene BUT the real driver was to create something that anyone could build without special skills and to share our experience on the blog, RMweb and social media. 

 

Has it worked......?   We are about half way towards completition, everything works and we still speak to each other, so yes.

 

Regrets.....?  We should have made more effort to separate the modules to make it fully portable but instead we are building a micro diorama using the layout's iconic Permanent Way Depot which just needs a car boot to travel. 

 

Cheers

 

JB

 

 

 

 

Link to post
Share on other sites

Guest Jack Benson

Classic S&DJR pairing

 

IMG_1215-1000.JPG.jpg.f05685b72b26342f031882c40f207f7c.jpg

 

The 2P really needs attention to weathering and the Bulleid needs to change its identity asap.

 

Cheers

 

JP

 

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • RMweb Gold
18 hours ago, Jack Benson said:

 

The actual answer is space and the lack of, Shillingstone needs about 10,5M and we have just 4,8M but we could have gone down the 1/160 route except we had a shed half full of 1/76 BR(S) stock. So, we set about judious compresssion and decided to 'pinch' bits of the Dorset Central Railway in order to create a plausible alternative scene BUT the real driver was to create something that anyone could build without special skills and to share our experience on the blog, RMweb and social media. 

 

I don't think there's anything wrong with what you've all done, taking the essence of the Dorset Central Railway in BR days, using selective components from the real thing and combining them to make a believable and very pleasing scene.

 

  • Like 1
  • Agree 4
Link to post
Share on other sites

Guest Jack Benson
11 minutes ago, Captain Kernow said:

I don't think there's anything wrong with what you've all done, taking the essence of the Dorset Central Railway in BR days, using selective components from the real thing and combining them to make a believable and very pleasing scene.

 

Cap'n,

 

Our primary goal was to build and share the experience with others and if only one person takes onboard what we have done and how we did it, then we have succeeded in our task.

 

The reality was that it was far easier than expected, even without using Scenecraft's lovely station building and bashing a humble Peco station kit into a passable representation of a DCR station was a minor achievement.

 

Now, we are looking forward to taking Child Okeford's PW Depot 'on the road' if only so that we can explain how and why we did it.

 

Cheers

 

Jack

 

Link to post
Share on other sites

Guest Jack Benson
3 hours ago, JZ said:

Just needs a couple of crew.

 

Yes, it would be nice.

 

image.jpeg.2d5e4961e2144720167c3b6d969fcf61.jpeg image.jpeg.aa5618a3dce5a8b2ab1562d1e2d635c0.jpeg image.jpeg.cfc796d4a5a8b2b0fb7a8e4c510e74b1.jpeg

 

In the best tradtions of Mikkel, some judicious surgery might provide a couple of suitable figures. Only one is designed for the Wickham, the two others are random bus drivers, all found in our 'rainy day' box.

 

JB

Edited by Jack Benson
Images
Link to post
Share on other sites

Guest Jack Benson

A final decision, Templecombe's resident Jinty really does cut the mustard when it comes to shunting when combined with Gaugemaster's  W Handheld controller. It has been renumbered and weathered with a subtle wash of Humbrol enamel washes. The unseen crew are from Hardy Hobbies and must be hanging out of the left side of the cab.

 

image.jpeg.7abe62c7ef350b304e9300abb704356c.jpeg

 

JB

Link to post
Share on other sites

On 07/10/2019 at 10:28, Jack Benson said:

The return of the prodigal

 

After the multiple failures of Hornby locos, confidence in the brand was at an all time low, the only the Hornby product in our ownership is actually exMainline. 

 

However, the prospect of a 'special' offer from TMC seemed too good to ignore and this is their Camelford (awaiting an eventual change to Crewkerne) and wearing a hint of weathering about the running gear.

 

R3445_Camelford_Weathered_1000.jpg.914f3842bcfa594ffd7f611d2bbed42b.jpg

 

The proof of quality will be in the running qualities, as yet untested.

 

Postscript edit:- Just tested, super smooth, it just needs new identity, brake rods, steps etc. 

 

Cheers

 

 

This post may be of interest here. 
 

 

Edited by barrymx5
Link to post
Share on other sites

Guest Jack Benson
On 12/10/2019 at 23:58, barrymx5 said:

This post may be of interest here. 
 

 

Hi Barry,

 

The posting about the return of a Hornby Camelford was a belated response to the original entry in April - click here - which attempted to explain the rationale behind rebranding the layout to become a S&DJR subject after a number of Hornby mazak related failures of SR outline locos and the subsequent switch to a largely Bachmann powered stocklist.

 

R2315.jpg.e1cdc508b4fce2115e0f258a0c866781.jpg

 

The 'leap of faith' to acquire another Camelford was made possible by TMC's offer to test the loco prior to dispatch and the model was also rigorously tested on arrival - it passed muster. However, it will remain the only Hornby loco on Child Okeford by virtue of the fact that the stocklist is now full*

 

Cheers

 

JB

 

*except for the awaited Johnson 1P 

 

 

 

 

Edited by Jack Benson
Link to post
Share on other sites

Guest Jack Benson

FREE OFFER

 

As posted elsewhere, we are considering abandoning Child Okeford with its stock and concentrating on the mini-diorama. The difficulty of disabled access and rapidly ageing nature of the Beaminster Road Group is daunting whilst the diorama stays indoors.

 

Rather than selling the layout, it is offered as a functioning modular 16'x10' layout free for anyone to dismantle and take it away. Access is easy for anyone able-bodied with no parking issues and it is located in West Dorset. 

 

Stock and controls will be sold on eBay, otherwise the layout is free to take away. 

 

bensonjack1952@gmail.com

 

Cheers

 

Jack 

Edited by Jack Benson
Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...