Scratch-built card and styrene structures (based on real buildings around London Bridge)

[grahame]

Yesterday, before going to the pub and then on to the village club, I glued the completed parapet wall master to a rectangle of plasticard and added sides to form an open box. This morning I've mixed up the silicon rubber compound (two part) and poured it in to the box up to the brim. I spent a while tapping the top edges to make any air bubbles rise and burst in the open - hopefully I've spent sufficient time on that. And then it has been placed in a safe location to cure and firm. I seem to recall it takes 24 hours.

 

[grahame]

For information should anyone be interested, but I'll be 'demonstrating' N/2mm building construction at the forthcoming premier D&E exhibition 'DEMU Showcase 2024' which will be held at Sutton Coldfield Town Hall on June 15/16th. 

 

Pop along if you want a chat about my methodology and techniques, and to see some of the examples featured in this thread.

 

 

[grahame]

This morning I removed the silicon mould from the shuttering and master. And was pleased with the result - no air bubble pockets visible. Later this morning, after a decent cup of tea (currently brewing), I'll undertake a test casting.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 7 by grahame

[grahame]

The test one out (I also cast one of the three arch lower sections as I also need more of those) seems to have come out well.

 

 

They do need a little tidying and filing but the viaduct is old and the brickwork was crumbling, damaged and patched in places. Anyway I've started a production line:

 

 

[grahame]

I'm contemplating using the cast parapet walls sections for the entire length of the viaduct from the end of the train shed and obviously excluding where the signal box overhangs.

 

 

Edited May 7 by grahame

[acg5324]

Looking really good Grahame.

[John Besley]

Reminds me of the Franklin and South Manchester Cityscape, not something you see that often, makes a change from rolling hills and trees - neat

[branchie]

Looks amazing Grahame.

 

Very evocative of the location (even in this unfinished form).

[grahame]

And a start has now been made on the bridge/tunnel entrance for Bermondsey Street:

 

 

 

[grahame]

A little progress on the bridge/tunnel entrance. I'm quite pleased with how it matches up with the cast sections, but next to decide how the top section/parapet wall and underside of the signal/power box fit. However, that's it for today as I'll shortly be off for a stroll down to the local for the afternoon sesh stopping off at the PO.

 

 

Edited May 9 by grahame

[grahame]

A couple of snaps on the layout thread.

Edited May 9 by grahame

[grahame]

I've finally got to the end of the arched viaduct frontage with sections of resin cast panels and scratch-built sections (although it needs detailing, painting and fixing in place) to the final under bridge. This bridge is at the right hand edge of the scenic section and roughly represents a mix of less prototypical and more freelance area although the bridge will be based on the real one where Crucifix Lane passes under the viaduct and becomes Druid Street;

 

 

 

 

[grahame]

The bridge at the end has a bowstring truss side. I've cut a basic template to size, and I guess it's going to be fiddly and time consuming to cut the gaps to form the vertical and angled cross struts. But hey, that's what modelling is all about - making things even if they are tricky rather than just purchasing and making do with RTP.

 

 

I've also managed to bash and jiggle the section where the signal box sits and overhangs so that the underbridge pier fits snuggly and the cast concrete base now looks less chunky. I'll probably add a thin fillet along the underside of the box and where it sits on the three arch sections so that the eye is drawn along and it appears even less chunky and over tall. 

 

 

 

Edited May 16 by grahame

[grahame]

This morning I knocked up the east side abutment. This is the right hand edge of the layout where trains will enter/exit the scenic area, basically from behind the biscuit factory building on the right below. Next to crack on with the bridge side:

 

[grahame]

I've scraped together this from plasticard. It's not brilliant but, with some more details and a paint job, should be okay as a placeholder until I can produce something better:

 

[Siberian Snooper]

That looks pretty good to me, bearing in mind it's 2mm scale.

 

[grahame]

I recently took a couple of snaps and, although they don't illustrate any particular progress or point, rather than waste them here they are. They might be of some interest; 

 

 

[Siberian Snooper]

They give us a taster of things to come.

 

Looking forward to seeing EMUs on the move.

 

 

[NScaleNotes]

On 20/05/2024 at 16:23, grahame said:

I recently took a couple of snaps and, although they don't illustrate any particular progress or point, rather than waste them here they are. They might be of some interest; 

 

 

 

 

This shot captures my favourite way to view layouts at exhibitions; I try and get down to as close as what would be eye-level if I was 1/148.

Makes it feel even more realistic when the modelling is good and yours certainly is.

Love it, keep up the good work, I've been really enjoying watching your progress.