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Hi all

after a few years of modelling I thought I would brave it and share what I have made so far. currently in the pipeline I have my own personal exhibition layout Ropley based on the Mid Hants Railway in 2010-2013.

I have chosen Ropley as I have many childhood memories here and is a place I'm very fond of. Ropley was started I was new to the modelling world. Ropley is based in preservation era something I have only seen done on a few other heritage lines. Ropley is based on the Mid-Hants Railway in Hampshire and is where the railway main base is for it railways fleet. here at Ropley they store all their locos here and is where restoration projects take place. something I am keen to represent in model form as it is something that isn't done everyday for most layouts.

 

At Ropley other than a 2 line platform passing on a single line, there is also the main restoration sheds, a carriage repair shop, boiler shop, loco yard for all operational and stored locos, and is also where the diesels are kept as well as the steamers. 

 

 

 

 

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Edited by chriscleveland
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A picture to show the station building this is on a board joint so has to be removed after each show a section of platform comes up with it too and will have magnets attached to secure it into place so there is no lift like there is now

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Edited by chriscleveland
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Another on the go project on the workbench is a small town scene for the Basingstoke model railway club's first ever circular layout.

 

Beggarwood lane as it will be named is a southern mainline in the outskirts of London with 2 main running lines, a emu depot, a inter regional yard linking to the western region. The town will consist of over 30 buildings all scratch built! these will either be fully built or half relief structures

 

so far 11 houses are under construction 2 corner shops and the grey building will be a pub loosely based on the queens arms in Basingstoke

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Also today went for a wonder at Ropley and it must be shunting day ready for the cranes to arrive

 

as many people know modelling a preserved railway there is always restoration work going on this morning I saw a spam cam 34015 to be Swanage making an appearance out of the works having its boiler cladding stripped prior to a boiler lift

 

Extension works to the new workshop also seem to continue

 

Enjoy

 

Chris

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Hi

I have just found your layout thread for Ropley.

 

I know this line very well as I use to be an recognised photographer for the railway line and use to sell my photos in their shop at Alresford.

 

Your effort to reproduce Ropley is excellent, great detail and very realistic.

 

I still have quite a few photos of the Mid Hants Railway still on my Landscapesand steam website that may be of help to you.

 

Very nice work indeed

 

Regards

 

David

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Hi David

 

thank you for the kind comment still have a massive list left to go until ill be happy with the layout

 

so much to do for a 24ft layout and space can be an issue

 

I shall have to have a look through and see what I can find any photos are a bonus always something I have missed off

 

Chris

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Morning all

 

So after a busy weekend trying top sort everything that is going on at home building a custom made shed for my father sorting fish tanks out etc it was back to modelling in no time

 

Beggarwood lane currently takes priority on the building front with its first show next year and requiring all theses buildings etc. I have been informed the next board layout will be with me end of this month. so far the main concentrate point is the pub which over the weekend had the basic shell finished, garden wall put around it, fencing put into place and a patio installed. all we need now is some grass to finish this area off

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Also this weekend came a challenge

 

Due to Ropley being 18ft long, the same length of the lounge and me not being the only person who lives here means that space is always a fight so me and my father came up with a jig to construct to allow  one of the larger scenic boards and one of the smaller scenic boards to be worked on easier whilst the other two sit below for protection. Due to a household of pets things do get damaged when laid in prone positions!

 

here is a few picture showing the new cradle as well as other modelling goings on

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so far the items that I am holding are what is becoming scaffolding for the extension building being made currently, the coach bogie im not happy with so will be re done im trying to super detail it for show within the carriage workshops along with other items

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Evening all

 

Trying to finalise stock for Ropley but am struggling for a few photos of un operational locos in the time frame and state they looked too any photos if anyone had any would be good mainly 30828,the two yank tanks and the two locos stored at Alresford Frederick pile and 4mt tank. Finally finished painting th 10 ton crane will post photos

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Looking great Chris its really changed since I last saw it, I'll have to drop in for a closer look. What is the timeframe as I may have a few pics of interest although I don't have too many kettle pics.

Edited by Temeraire
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Morning all

 

a fresh week so a I thought a fresh post would be ideal

 

attentions to both projects was slow last week but still plenty going on

 

Ropley has now had a board swap over so my attention can turn to the road bridge end of the layout. This end is the main focus for what I call phase 2 which is going detail crazy within the sheds.

 

in the boiler shed is my main focus adding all sorts of detail within the works tool racking is currently being built for on top of the containers boilers of 4mt 76017 and s15 30506 can be seen within the boiler shop receiving attention the roof will be re done on the sheds both frame and proper cladding with peep holes. Unfortunately my cat is obsessed with the plastic strips.

 

the carriage shed is attached to the boiler shed and currently has a pmv and bullied coach attached within the works under repairs. all mini huts have been built for this shed and await placement. the second bullied coach has now been completed and will be one that runs so it can arrive by rail and be shunted into the carriage shops. I like the outcome of both so far one giving the look of the state on how they both entered the works. the carriage shed is also I believe too long only just! but this needs to be resolved.

 

Outside the works as can be seen in one of the pictures is 76017's tender laying on its side on its chassis being de scaled. in this area much is to change all the way to the coaling stage. the plan is the following, a new ash disposal area, new containers, 828's boiler, s15 workshops, 30499 on its concrete plinth in barry condition. unfortunately this area was the first part I did and I have never liked it so it has to go in my eyes.

 

 the last photo shows more under restoration locos that are being made these will be 30828 without boiler on chassis, boiler cladding on chassis and red oxide showing inside chassis and tender body. the loco in the middle is the MHR converted J94 to Douglas 0-6-0 without boiler and cab roof. The last one is 75079 I plan to model this 4mt with more tricky than I thought it would be! the cab roof will be missing, cylinders without cladding on, missing motion with main brackets in situ, boiler cladding straps on, missing footplate sections, cab floor removed missing dome and more.

 

I have also ordered from djh a Urie s15 which will be 30506 and 30499 made from scratch using djh frames as a template saves paying over £100 for a model that will be missing over half the parts when completed.

 

I also attached a picture of one of 2 cranes nearing completion this is the R&R 45 ton steam crane lovely kits to build

 

more to be posted later in the week

 

Chris

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Nice work; you've certainly captured the look and feel of a preserved railway there Chris. I love all the grot lying around - most layouts are far too clean and tidy. I have considered modelling the preservation scene myself, but the engines are too clean for me! Doing the workshops as well is a good way of balancing things out.

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Hi Michael

 

Thanks for the Comments appreciate it it's starting to really take shape after 3 years work. I have to agree clean locos do look weird but the ones that are out of service are kept in a nice weathered condition although all my locos will be a bit more grubby at some point nothing stays pristine over a couple of days service. The sheds are a while off completion I need to learn how to scratch build loco parts and components. Might be something I could pick your brains for after seeing your magnificent Barry locos. I'm really starting to like just doing the sheds. It is something I have not seen modelled and would like to give a good go at. 30828 had the airbrush dates booked for painting this will be fun!

 

Chris

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  • 3 weeks later...

Morning all

 

I have finally gotten round to modelling again this time purely focusing on Ropley

When I first started building the layout I rushed it leaving many pet hates on the line and over the years I have slowly eliminated these.

 

The main focus point has been up the yard near to the carriage shed. This area was never done correctly and has bugged me ever since so I have taken the plunge to make it look right!! after all I want it to look like the real thing.....

 

unfortunately I cant for some reason add pictures as I go through it all so all photos will be at the end

 

anyway...

 

after re drawing the entire yard shed to shed and adding new buildings ( the correct ones) I realised that I have over built the carriage and boiler shed which means these will have to be re made at some point or adapted

 

anyway one can of worms lead to another

 

I decided also that the yard should finally have its proper entrance point which is 2 merged right hand points one opening into the yard one opening into the carriage shed. these pictures will emerge one this point is complete

 

all the points in the yard originally were isolation frog and small radius but with the new mainline points working so well being elctrofrog I decided the yard should have the same so I have acquired medium radius points

 

 

after drawing the entire yard I also found all buildings that were on the layout all are in the wrong place aka too far back making the yard look massive when actually its very compact for what it is

 

anyway with decisions on a track remake as well as proper buildings was the perfect timing to re do the entire yard

 

with a quick visit down to ropley to take photos so all can see what it will eventually look like

 

more picture when the barry slip is completed hopefully by next week

 

 

Chris

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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So after a hectic weekend ropley has started to take to its new shape unfortunately some items gave been completely stripped down and will have to be rebuilt like the coaling stage I must confess that I should have done this change a long time ago the difference is incredible! Looks so much more like I'm there also completed another iconic piece of rolling stock for the line the 10 ton steam crane :)

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So after a busy week more has progressed with Ropley's new look

 

the yard now has been taken up and new track work put into its temporary place including the custom made point

 

I hope to have it all down this weekend along with the repositioning of the buildings

 

the coaling stage has been rebuilt after falling apart coming off the layout

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