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'Linden Ford' A Second Hand Inglenook Layout...


gazmanjack

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Well, where do I start ??

 

Earlier in the year I had been waiting on a few scratchbuilding items to arrive from the UK, so I could go on with building of my (now other) layout Kelly Bray. Whilst waiting, I decided on a small project I could knock up in a few weeks, just so I could run some trains, do a bit of shunting. Basically it is a play thing whilst building Kelly Bray. I have also used this layout as a 'how to' tool for the new modellers joining the forum, to learn certain techniques and show how easy a layout can be built. The layout is currently nearing completion, with just a few detailing bits to do and will be exhibited later in the year.

 

The whole layout is made up of second hand track, left over from building my sons layout 'Jacks Corner' (http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/gallery/member/14327-gazmanjack/), and former layouts, an old wardrobe base, mdf, and a load of scenic scatters, card, balsa, styrene etc. The 'original' idea was to run my old dc Hornby, Mainline, Dapol & Lima stock on. More on this theory later !

 

A simple plan came together quite quickly, utilising the Inglenook principles and limited space. First up, the plan.

 

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Below is a pic of the track laid out on the board. I did say it was second hand ! The actual positioning will be jiggled to suit, as well as shortening some sidings. 

 

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Once settled onto a plan, everything started coming together quite quickly. The track was laid on a 1/8th cork road bed, off cuts ofcourse ! My next decision was 'how will I operate my points ?'  My solution is the tried and trusted wire in tube method. Again, going on the recycled/second hand path, I utilised some drinking straws, some lengths of welding wire and a few old Hornby lever switches.

 

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Above, The straws do look rather large, but these will be hidden within the landscape... A seperate switch can also be seen next to the levers. This is just an isolating switch for the platform road. I like the idea of holding an engine or DMU in the platform whilst shunting duties are carried out in the sidings.

 

Below shows how I tore into the levers and removed all the unnecessary electrical innards, drilled the lever arm and attached the 'bent to shape' welding wire. This wire then ran through the drinking straws to the points.

 

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Now, knowing all is working with the points and electrics, the scenery and structures will shortly begin.

 

Back soon,

 

Cheers, Gary.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Before any scenery could be shaped, I had to build myself a platform so that I could model the landform up to the back of it. I decided to use the Scalescenes platform download, as I had it already. It just required printing out. After cutting all the card up, glueing on the print, the main platform surface was coated with some very fine sifted earth, as can be seen below.

 

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Once it had dried, I started on the styrofoam land forms. This included a bank behind the platform and a slight rise in the scenery to the right of the board. I carved out a cutting for the track and a shallow cutting for a roadway.  The rest of the base board was covered in old cork floor tiles to bring everything upto a level. The styrofoam and cork was covered in Chux clothe and plaster, before painting an earthy colour for a scenery base.

 

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During the period where I had to allow time for glue, plaster and paint to dry, my evenings were endulged in making some buildings and painting up an old Hornby platform waiting shelter. The goods shed was made from scribed card, corrugated card and a few parts from the free Scalescenes 'small goods shed'. The coal staithes are made of scribed balsa and the small ground frame out of layering styrene, so it matched the same construction methods as the Hornby platform shelter.

 

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The only other main structure to build was the cattle dock. After searching for an adequate pic of a small cattle dock, I decided on a timber framed cattle dock, quite similar to the one at Goathland. Some North Eastern Lumber was used for the posts and laterals. I used styrene for the gates diagonal cross bracing. Here is a pic of the semi completed cattle dock. The back fence section that leads upto the gates will be installed once scenics (grass/groundcovers) are completed.

 

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I continued on with installing the cattle dock and land form/ramp to gates, then went on with covering the whole scenic area with fine earth. Following this the sleepers were painted in a wash of weathered grey, then ballasting begun, using an Aussie product, Chuck's Ballast. The area I left for roadways was treated with a fine mix of Chucks Ballast Supplies 'Filth', a very fine grey dust that I mixed with some blue metal dust.

 

post-14327-0-95045400-1405422948_thumb.jpg

 

Next up, the greenery begins... I have a good variety of scenic scatters, static grass etc. Once the earth layer had dried, more PVA has been painted and scatters applied.

 

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Static grasses, flocks, and course turf going down on striaght PVA and below, some bushes, grasses etc behind the platform. The tree in the background (above platform shelter) is the first wire frame tree that I made some time ago. It has been waiting for a home for quite some time.

 

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Another update tomorrow,

 

Cheers, Gary.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Thanks for the likes Stubby and CNW6847. I must be doing something right !

 

Now with the scenery underway, fences and trees are on the agenda. In some cases I opted for the Peco lineside fencing, but some other fences were scratchbuilt. The fences I scratchbuilt are for the station, the railside and ofcourse the cattle dock, which follows tthe method used as the cattle dock itself.

 

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Above, the station platform post & rail fence in the making. This is made from Evergreen Styrene.

 

Below, the post and wire railway fence, again made from NE Lumber and some old copper wire I had lying around. The copper sure does look shiney, but it will be painted in due course.

 

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Below is a pic of all three fences, the cattle dock ramp fence, the platform and the lineside, now painted. There is still plenty of weeds and course turf etc to add to bring the scenery to life.

 

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During the evenings, I 'wired up' some tree armatures. These once completed, were painted with acrylic gap filler. I gave the gap filler a few days to dry off before painting the trunks and branches with a few washes of browns and greys. After allowing the paint to dry, it was foliage time.

 

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A pic of the completed trees before installing them on the layout amogst other bushes and weeds.

 

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Ofcourse during the curing time that the trees endured, I purchased the Scalescenes 'Lock Keepers Cottage'. This is used to hide the point levers on the edge of the layout. Not all of the kit was used, just the main building. This is where the Station Master resides ! The roof was left to last, so that I could work out what sections need to be removed for easy operation of the levers inside.

 

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A shot of the Station Masters house firmly grounded on the layout. There was more 'horticulture' to be carried out in the gardens, namely some roses and ivy on the bare wall.

 

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Extra little details such as station name boards, yard crane, railway crossing and signs, property fences, people, coal, crates etc were slowly added. here is a selection of pics of the layout with these additions. Again, plenty left to do !

 

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Well, I hope you enjoyed the pics of this ongoing story. More to come tomorrow.

 

Cheers, Gary.

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Hi slowshunt, thanks for the encouraging words. To those who have thrown up a 'like' and 'craftsmanship/clever', thankyou.

 

It was about this stage in the building of Linden Ford that I had an invitation to exhibit the layout, so I thought I'd give it a run. Well, 'Murphy's Law' struck and I had one point failure...  The only cure was to completely replace this point with a brand new one. So much for the 'second hand' scenario ! The point in question is the one that leads off to the goods shed, the one that occupied the space below.

 

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This job proved to be bigger than I had anticipated. Due to the original point I had in there being second hand, it had been shortened to suit a previous layout. The first 5"-6" of the goods siding also had to be removed.

 

post-14327-0-37934100-1405592350_thumb.jpg

 

...and finally, all back in place and looking good. Not to mention that it all works, correctly !

 

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You may have noticed some extra detailing in the above pic. Some rusty rails and sleepers were placed in the 6' and the platform fence gained some advertising.

 

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The station and goods shed advertising is from Gauge Master Tiny Signs. These signs I do like very much.

 

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^ Yes, the little people need thier bases removed ! Speaking of little people, here is a pic of some Dapol figures I had cut and shut. The original figures being grey and the bespoke figures in a  black wash.

 

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I had been deciding on which side of the layout would be better viewed. Here is a selection of pics from both behind the platform and from the front, using either of the two sections from two different 9" high ID backscenes.

 

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^ D6316 shunts open wagons.

 

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^ Looking from the back of the layout towards the front.

 

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^ Up and over the railway crossing towards the Station Masters house.

 

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^ Linden Ford yard viewed from the edge of the platform and below is the backscene I decided on. It does give the layout a nice feel.

 

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Well, that is it for today...

 

Cheers, Gary.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Thanks George. 

 

Even though this is a late response to posting a thread on the layout, as I started it in January and where it is upto on here (above) is about week 8 of the build.  There is always more to do in regards to scenery and those little detailing extras. Coincidently, I have just had an arrival of point levers, dogs, cats, SR station seats etc from Dart Castings. Hopefully I'll be getting on with these extras over the weekend. I won't get ahead of myself on the thread, as there is more to report on to bring it up to current day.

 

Cheers, Gary.

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Thankyou 69834. You'll have to come to the exhibition in November if you're not doing anything then !

 

Ok, one thing I have always pondered on the layout is uncoupling methods. I know there are a few different ways of uncoupling, notably the ramps from Hornby and Peco, clear styrene ramps, staples on couples/magnets under track and/or changing my stock to Kadees. Eventually I will be going down the Kadee route, but not just yet. The uncoupling ramps are simple, but I don't like the look of them sitting proud of the sleepers and I don't particularly wanted to go down the clear styrene ramps, nor the staple route. I think there is too much fiddling with staples.

 

The method I chose, I found on here and a link on youtube, that provided the detail. This is what it looks like, a barrow crossing, the uncoupler closest is raised (manually), whilst the one under the train shows the clearances.

 

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A video of the uncoupler in operation can be found here ; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClV2Kj_PcEs

 

There are four of these uncouplers on the layout in each siding, ie, platform road, goods shed road, coal staithes siding and cattle dock siding. The two in the coal and cattle dock siding are brass strip sections with some very fine ballast and that Chuck's Ballast 'fflth' glued to it to disguise them on the sleepers.

 

During this time I had to think about how I am going to present the layout at exhibitions. I didn't really want to make myself some rather heavy timber legs, as I want it to be easily set up and not to carry too much when transporting. My wife was doing the ironing and it was the ironing board that gave me inspiration...! Scissor action legs with a drop in locking piece. Simple, as I have 5' lengths of rectangular alluminium tubing in the garage and necessry hardware to put it together.

 

So, here it is..., The timber at the base is the brace. This can be removed as the layout frame holds the scissor frame to shape.

 

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Lighting was actually something that is needed, as you never know what the lighting will be like at the venue. More of the same alluminium tubing came in handy to build up support for the 'cheap Chinese LEDs' I purchased. These LED strips have 36 individual LEDS to the 50cm length and at approx $13.00 (including delivery) for 3m is a bargain. I only used two sections on the frame. These LEDs are powered off a second train controller at about 6 volts. The lights can be purchased from here ;

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/161081622661?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

 

First up, the LED strips. These come as three lengths joined horizontally, nothing a few bends by hand won't seperate.

 

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...and them mocked upon the frame above the layout, leds on, internal room light off. Sorry for the blue hue, they are not this bad.

 

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The only major job to finish off is to dress up the backscene. I chose to frome the backscene edges with some timber moulding. This actually helps the rigidity of the 3mm MDF I used to glue the backscene picture onto. I also painted everything black, including the outsides of the backscene and the baseboard frame. Once the paint was dry, a coupleof Linden Ford prints were done up in a green totem and glued to the front.

 

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Now, here are a few more scenic pics of the layout...

 

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This basically brings the layout upto date. Thats a quite a few weeks worth of work posted over 5 nights in this thread. Hopefully this weekend will be a good one for adding extra details to Linden Ford.

 

Until the next update....,

 

Cheers, Gary.

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Hi Gary

Thanks for sharing your layout. It is always inspiring to be shown how a layout is developed from scratch into a convincing scene.

I do have a couple of question, if you don't mind. Firstly, how do you operate the passenger and goods movements, including shunting the yard, without a fiddle yard? Secondly, do you have a detachable fiddleyard/ fiddlestick, as you haven't mentioned it so far I think?

Nigel

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Hi Nigel,

 

Thanks for the kind words.

 

As of now, I haven't included a fiddle yard. I intended the layout to be a shunting Inglenook utilising the space I have. This is something I am considering at the moment, possible small cassettes that allow me to switch complete trains during the exhibition. I'm looking at using some alluminium angle on lengths of timber. This will connect to the front of the layout where the curve meets the front edge.

 

As for passenger traffic, this is where the cassettes will come into there own. I have thought about running a DMU or small one coach train into the platform, then use the other three sidings for shunting. The platform road will only be utilised when there is no stationary train waiting departure. I have considered making an extension to the layout, which will include a central fiddle yard followed by another scenic section, perhaps a different scene, ie, industrial, wharf/quay side etc. But this won't be until after the exhibition. The layout as it stands now, was a 'thing to do whilst I waited', which become a 'how to' on another forum.

 

A much more detailed observation can be found at ; http://yourmodelrailway.net/view_topic.php?id=12116&forum_id=21 , which goes down every route of the layout from individual scenics to scratchbuilding and rollingstock.

 

Cheers, Gary.

 

ps, I'll follow up on locos and rollingstock shortly.

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I think this is absolutely fabulous!  Because of a house move I no longer have space for a large layout and don't get back to my original one enough.

 

I have been thinking about an inglenook layout.  This has proved how much good stuff can be fitted in a small area!

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Thankyou C&WR, hopefully we will see an Inglenook of your own soon ! 

 

Thanks Corbs, I do like some form of relief on a layout, especially a cutting. I try not to make them too dramatic, just subtle, natural looking cuttings.

 

Over the weekend I decided to put some Shire Scene platform seats and trolleys together. I have never previously built any brass kits and this was eye opening, or I should say, fiddly. It would have been nice to have one of those little bending jigs...

The other job was to paint up some animals. I already have two cows on the layout, black & white cows from Modelscene, but I was never happy with their shiny paint job. These two cows were painted into Herefords. Two dogs and a cat was also painted up, these being from Dart Castings.

 

So, some pics...

 

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^ The Shire Scene seats all soldered up, ready for a wash then paint.

 

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^ Seats on the platform with two local occupants.

 

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^ This is 'Bear', the goods shed dog. I wonder what has caught his eye...?

 

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^ This is who has caught Bears eye. 'Charlie' the station cat !

 

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^ The second dog on the layout, 'Fetch', being walked by his loyal owner. Looks like the cows have caught Fetch's eye...

 

I did mention in a previous post about rolling stock on Linden Ford. Now some has been shown in pics from previous posts, but here are some that I have recently weathered.

 

post-14327-0-61638400-1406020800_thumb.jpg

 

^ SR brake van, LMS Egg van, & GWR Fruit D. (Bachmann & Dapol)

 

post-14327-0-24419700-1406020839_thumb.jpg

 

^ Roberts Tarmacadam x 4 (Bachmann)

 

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^ LMS Cattle/livestock wagons (Mainline)

 

post-14327-0-32281800-1406020933_thumb.jpg

 

^ Ore and open wagon. (Mainline)

 

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^ Milk Tankers (Dapol)

 

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^ An old Triang ICI tanker. At the moment it has Hornby 14mm coach wheels on it, but new wagon wheels have just arrived to replace these.

 

The wagons in the last 4 pics were weathered using IPA (Isopropyl alcohol) and powders, a technique I learnt at a recent exhibition demo stand. First up I sprayed the models with a clear matt finish and allowed to dry thoroughly. I then dusted in the first coloured powder. Lightly airbrush on the IPA and allow to dry (within seconds). Apply the second colour and airbrush the IPA. The IPA reacts just enough with the base coat of clear matt and fixes the powders into place. Slowly but surely colours can be built up on the models to some good effect.

 

Eventually all of my stock will be switched from tension lock couplings to Kadees. I must have about 15 packs waiting...

 

Locos on Linden Ford will comprise of a Class 22, Class 08, M7, the little Pug (an old blue CR model from Hornby, repainted) and soon either a 3F (possibly Jinty) or 4F or a SR Class C... Decisions, decisions...   :scratchhead:

 

Until next time...

 

Cheers, Gary.

 

 

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Everything about this layout makes a perfect photo. Your creation of scenery is superb, and even though it is small, the different angles you have captured photos with make it look infinitely big. The backdrop is cleverly woven into the what is represented by the model. One of the best touches is the weathering of your stock. You have created something awesome :)

 

-Alex

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Hello Paul, Andy and Alex,

 

Thanks for the kind words, much appreciated. I had tried to give the illusion of space on this layout, and by some of your words, I have achieved that goal. One thing I have learnt about modelling on small areas, is to try and not lay the tracks parallel to the boards. This is one way of creating some depth. It also allows for possibly longer sidings too !

 

As for weathering, I used to be the type that airbrushed on a grimy black/grey colour, then airbrush on some dust/dirt and that was it. Now I tend to sit down at demo stands at exhibitions and learn as much as I can by the people who make some money out of it ! A combination of both paint (or washes) and weathering powders seems to have the right balance, well to me anyway. I still have my locos to weather, but I found that the wagons are a better place to start. I don't really want to make a mockery of an expensive loco.

 

Cheers, Gary.

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Over the weekend I managed to finish of the post & 4 wire lineside fence from the ground frame to the railway crossing. This was made exactly the same method shown earlier in the thread, North Eastern Lumber (timber) and copper wire. I finished off a small length of fence next to the cattle dock. This needed doing as having a stray Hereford or two on the tracks or wandering within the yard is just not acceptable ! :no:  I finally placed some buffer stops at the end of the platform and goods shed sidings as well. These still need to have the lamps painted black and a red lens.

 

post-14327-0-77520800-1406631940_thumb.jpg

 

^ The lineside fence now runs to the railway crossing.

 

post-14327-0-78938100-1406632042_thumb.jpg

 

^ The fence extension next to the cattle dock, keeping the beasts in... Below, from rail side.

 

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^ The two buffer stops installed.

 

And below is one of a hungry 'Fetch' waiting for his loyal owner to stop gas-bagging to the Station Masters farmhand, so he can get home for a feed...

 

post-14327-0-92098100-1406632306_thumb.jpg

 

I have purchased two locos over the weekend to help out, for when I exhibit the layout. One is the Bachmann SDJR Jinty (blue) and the other is the ex-SR Terrier 'Portishead' (GWR green). Both of these locos will be repainted in weathered loco black and decalled accordingly with BR logo and numbers. Just to mix the stock up a little, a Dapol 57' Brake (Third) non corridor in BR livery was also purchased to form a short one car train to service Linden Ford.

 

Cheers, Gary.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Looking over the layout the last few days, I have been wondering about the grassed area between the ground frame and the Station Masters house, and what could be done with it. I have had comments (on another forum) about a small timber merchant, a scout camp with tents etc, more fencing and sheep in a paddock (although it is a rather small area) and a few others. Now Linden Ford being a sleepy little rural village, producing some of the best produce in the region, I thought that a 'fresh/farmers produce' stall/shack could fit in here just nicely, without overcrowding the scene. This is the area in need...

 

post-14327-0-08829600-1406793688_thumb.jpg

 

Last night I cut up and glued together some card, positioned it on the space with a few barrels, crates and sacks and added a few bushes and vines scrambling around the back of the shack. This is the overall idea I have in mind... 

 

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Tonight, I'll start the scratchbuild of this little structure. Being an open structure (blackened out area), I'll have all the internal timber stud work quite visibe. Eventually, it will be adorned with the freshest produce Linden Ford can muster up !

 

Cheers, Gary.

 

 

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Thanks Sharky.

 

Last night I had started on the produce stall. I did change the size of it slightly, from the card mock-up. The card one shown above measured 12'3" x 10' with only a small overhanging roof of 2'6". The model below measures at 11'9" x 8'6" with a front roof overhang of 3'8". The proportions look a lot better than the mock-up.

 

The structure is made of Evergreen Styrene clapboard (weatherboard), styrene sheet and strip, Broad Gauge bodies corrugated iron (roof), North Eastern Lumber (timber) and the interior of the Scalescenes 'Small Goods Store' kit. This is how far I got with this little project..

 

post-14327-0-28936300-1406885296_thumb.jpg

 

^ Close up of the interior with North Eastern strips used for stud/frame work.

 

post-14327-0-12548400-1406885320_thumb.jpg

 

^ With the roof on. Please ignore the paint job so far. This is just a wipe over of grimey black to help make the final paint colour look worn and faded.

 

Still to do are the benches/tables, some interior shelving and tables, fix a door to the side, making some crated veg/fruit and a proper paint job. I'm going to take a leaf out of Nick Wood's 'Much Murkle' layout ( http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/58847-much-murkle/?p=752257 ,scroll down) and used painted mustard seed, as some of the fresh produce.

 

Cheers, Gary.

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