Schooner's (Mostly Maritime) Musings

[Annie]

Looks good and appropriately useful.  

[Schooner]

Sunday already?!

 

There's been a fair bit of pottering on the layout - the platform is now at 'working prototype stage', the bridge Mk.1 has been hung in the balance and found...okay, for now. Good enough to play with the sculptamold to build up the embankment leading to it, which is pleasing. Foam was embossed for setts, which is quick and easy enough to get blisters, although the foam splays under the pressure requiring it to be re-trimmed to fit.  I knew the foam takes spray primer well (from previous trials), but did not know that too heavy a hand leads to the whole lot melting. Now I do

 

Mostly dropping in to leaves these here:

 

...y'know...just in case...

[Edwardian]

Well there is a scene just crying out to be modelled!

[Edwardian]

I don't know Gloucestershire.  The map link was most useful, establishing this as a MR branch and showing adjacent walking stick mill and 'incubator works'!?!

 

 

[Compound2632]

7 minutes ago, Edwardian said:

I don't know Gloucestershire.  The map link was most useful, establishing this as a MR branch 

 

... and not a D299 in sight!

[Tom Burnham]

47 minutes ago, Edwardian said:

I don't know Gloucestershire.  The map link was most useful, establishing this as a MR branch and showing adjacent walking stick mill and 'incubator works'!?!

 

 

And slightly further is Frogmarsh Mill (Pin) 

[burgundy]

For anywhere in the West Country (including Gloucestershire), Know Your Place is an invaluable historical and map resource. 

Best wishes 

Eric  

Edited February 21, 2022 by burgundy

[Schooner]

On 21/02/2022 at 08:31, Edwardian said:

The map link was most useful...

I'm glad you thought so. I've certainly enjoyed exploring the MR (particularly, with the many private sidings and mill networks) and GWR branches in the area.

 

On 21/02/2022 at 08:39, Compound2632 said:

... and not a D299 in sight!

Unique?! 

 

Updates:

Busy with other things the past week or so, progress should restart in the coming days. This is roughly where I've got to with

• Platform WIP. Is the gate layout plausible to readers?

 

 

• Bridge

 

•  the arrival of some more stone walling, allowing a bit of false perspective to be used on the narrowing road at the back of the layout:

 

...oh, and that's the upload limit hit! Other major development is the building up of the embankment up to the bridge, and down into the wharf in Sculptamold and DAS.

 

Plan for this week is to keep that surfacing going, esp the road, and re-do the setts in foam (this time being very gentle with the spray primer).

 

The luxury of such a pastime is being made particularly clear at the moment. That being so, hobby funds are currently being used elsewhere which will slow layout progress. This is no place for a discussion, but perhaps I can simply urge readers to help however they can, wherever they can.

 

Take care,

 

Schooner

[Schooner]

Ooooooh go on then!

 

 

+

 

 

=

 

 

 

1) Hard standing (setts, rest of the ground cover largely bare earth and timber)

2) Cassette (c.300mm)

3) This warehouse

4) Wagon turntable

5)  This shed (seen from the inside looking towards the back wall, as it were)

6) Lighters

7) One of these transit sheds (for example of a sectional sheds, and as below for proposed style)

😎 Thames barge, to ram the point home

9) This crane

10) Brick engine shed (maybe). Details could be taken from the Millwall Dock shed, as in the backround for several loco portraits eg

 

Backscenes to be something like workshop-ends (v low relief) to the left, behind

 

...at the back, dock wall, with terraced house roofs with masts and spars above/beyond... (I think, but possibly that imposing West India Dock warehousing facade)...

 

...and at the right, there should be enough by way of view block...

 

 

...the footprint is identical to Ingleford, and is proposed as a follow-on project...

 

Comments, please!

Edited March 31, 2022 by Schooner
Pics re-inserted

[EDDY100]

Hi Schooner. It looks like you have got the same inspiration as me from the East End docks.

Some of my uncles used to work in the docks and most of my family came from Stepney.

It's a shame your layout pics are missing as I would like to see how you are getting on.

You seem to be taking locations and buildings serious whereas I am making it up.

I remember the area as a kid being dirty and rundown which reflects in my layout.

Hope you get a chance to upload some pics.

Eddy

My layout

 

 

 

[Schooner]

Things of a rural nature (shh!) now taking place in a dedicated Layout thread, something to get us back on-message here:

 

Here, a smidge late for period (fascinating to see these berths still full of ship-rigged shipping*), but spot on for location.

 

One thing I'm learning from Ingleford is that when it comes to next time I'll definitely be seeking professional help...

 

...and with the next layout build too!

 

Good to be back  

 

 

*Actually probably mostly barques but anyway...

[drmditch]

2 hours ago, Schooner said:

Things of a rural nature (shh!) now taking place in a dedicated Layout thread, something to get us back on-message here:

 

Here, a smidge late for period (fascinating to see these berths still full of ship-rigged shipping*), but spot on for location.

 

One thing I'm learning from Ingleford is that when it comes to next time I'll definitely be seeking professional help...

 

...and with the next layout build too!

 

Good to be back  

 

 

*Actually probably mostly barques but anyway...

 

Interesting picture. Thank you.

Why would they all be moored 'bows-on'?

Surely most inconvenient for loading/discharging cargp?

[Schooner]

 

For context, check https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=19.642738086722925&lat=51.50300&lon=-0.02133&layers=163&b=1

 

Linked via 'Here' in the previous post, should clarify  Also

Plausibly captioned as the 1870s, but I've not investigated. There's a higher-res version hiding on the web somewhere, but can't lay my hands on it at the mo. One of my faves! Open-bridge tramp steamer, laden lighters, a forest of spars, and John Fowler's 3807/1880 Swift in the mix, throwing wagons around the quayside three times a day, clearing the way with the loudest whistle in Docklands.

 

...I must make more of an effort to get the ball rolling with this project, I'd forgotten how much I like it!

 

EDIT: Sorry, got carried away and failed to ATFQ

18 minutes ago, drmditch said:

Why would they all be moored 'bows-on'?

To increase the tonnage alongside in each basin.

 

Rather than have vessels have to raft up alongside the quay itself, those jetties permit 'alongside' access to a greater number of vessels, and represent a modernisation of the West (and East) India Docks in the late 1800s. They were then demolished with the arrival-in-earnest of the steamship, one of which could shift more tonnage of cargo per voyage than the entire British-flagged clipper fleet (he says, not checking any numbers at all) - one of the factors which negated having to handle such a large number of vessels at one time (the other mains one being increased efficiency of cargo handling and scheduled sailings).

 

18 minutes ago, drmditch said:

Surely most inconvenient for loading/discharging cargp?

Into railway wagons, no! You're right to spot the issue, but I don't think it can have been much of one - the overwhelming majority of goods landed at the Docks was bound for local warehousing, and thence to local markets. Some of the other docks catered better to rail/ship direct transfer (eg. as advertised in GWR timetables - whichever it is which are reproduced in Great Western Docks and Marine IIRC).

 

The West India in particular had a bit of an odd relationship with the railways - an early adopted, but slow to capitalise on the potential - and I think we see a hint of that in the Way drawing above  

 

Edited April 6, 2022 by Schooner

[Edwardian]

Wonderful photograph.

 

This is surely a Hornby Peckett B2 conversion just waiting to happen!

 

[Schooner]

B2: 3'7" drivers on a 10' wheelbase

 

Swift: 3'6" on a c.9' wheelbase (working off the above photo)

 

...not bad!

 

The skills required are a bit beyond me, but wouldn't it be great if one turned up as a body kit...! Apart from so few being built (just three) she'd make an excellent RTR I'm sure, overflowing with character, and it's possible drawings exist:

 

 

The manufacturing records are notable for the collection of over 10,000 engineering drawings [TR FOW/DO1]. Registers of all drawings held at Reading have now been compiled as an adjunct to this catalogue and individual index cards made out for sorting this information into classified form. The drawings include originals, tracings and prints on a variety of grounds, most of which belong to the main series, dating mainly to 1890-1935. The first three original registers for the series are also preserved, ending in 1912, at no. 57889 

 

"mainly dating to 1890-1935", but

 

DRAWINGS TR FOW/DO1 [n.d.] Contents: Fowlers' own drawing numbers have been retained as part of the catalogue numbers to facilitate reference. The total Reading holding is over 10,000 drawings, including originals, tracing and prints on a variety of grounds. Main series. TR FOW/DO1/63-76034 1860's-1912 Supplementary information: All drawings preserved have been listed in numerical sequence in two registers subsidiary to this catalogue. The listing is divided into the four paper sizes in which the drawings are stored, namely: DE [double elephant]; 2DE [half double elephant]; 4DE [quarter double elephant] and 8DE [eighth double elephant]. Index cards, one per drawing, have also been produced for subsequent filing in a product index. Related information: The firm's own drawing registers, TR FOW/DO2/1-3, are extant for 1 - 44138 only.

 

Main series covers 1860's-1912, so you never know...

[Schooner]

EDIT: Right, let's try that again...

 

I'm now, on behalf of the Stroudwater Navigation and Thames and Severn Canal and Railway Company, the (over)excited owner of this newly-built Neilson:

 

 

 

...just the thing :)

 

 

She joins a WIP Manning Wardle H Class, and they're seen here malingering together under the shed which went up on the New Wharf yesterday

...resisting the urge to name them Port and Starboard...

 

Motivation for Ingleford +1 :) 

 

Motivation for a future Port of London project +1 :) 

 

What a beauty!

Edited May 8, 2022 by Schooner
Pfft

[Edwardian]

Superb

[Schooner]

EDIT WITH NEW WORDS...I try :)

 

So, apart from the new addition the pics above show some little bits of progess about the layout. They also show the damage done to the layout in the process of working on it. One step forward, a near-equal stagger back...but the trend is in the right direction at least.

 

They also also indicate the size of the stable. I've decided this is smaller than the size of the stud...

 

...and so conclude that the odd one out must  should go.

 

Anyone in the mood for an as-new 00 Works Beyer Peacock/LSWR 0330, feel free to drop me a line and I'll supply details, pics, and vids as desired. It'd be nice if she found a home in the parish - a lovely loco, just a bit big! - rather than being abandoned on the doorstep of Ebay...

 

Edited May 8, 2022 by Schooner
Wurds

[Schooner]

To follow up from yesterday after a little more sleep and a little less wine...

 

This arrived in the post yesterday, carefully wrapped and packaged, from the talented @Carnforth:

 

 

His are the 'Craftsmanship/clever' tags, and the skill which earned them. I merely provided funds and excitement :) Thanks Steve - top job!

[magmouse]

1 hour ago, Schooner said:

His are the 'Craftsmanship/clever' tags, and the skill which earned them.

 

Not entirely, I suggest - Steve has produced a really excellent model locomotive, but you have created the setting. It is the two together that draw us into a world full of atmosphere and resonance.

 

Nick.

[Mikkel]

I agree with Nick, the loco is a gem but the world that is emerging around it in these recent photos is quite special. The setts really come into their own in some of the shots too, great stuff.

[Annie]

The thing that I immediately noticed about the Neilson were the wide dumb buffers which were typically used on engines that worked over mixed gauge trackwork.  That apart it really is a beautiful piece of modelmaking.  A fine engine on a fine layout.

[Compound2632]

On 07/05/2022 at 22:49, Schooner said:

a lovely loco, just a bit big!

 

!

[Annie]

On 08/05/2022 at 09:49, Schooner said:

Anyone in the mood for an as-new 00 Works Beyer Peacock/LSWR 0330, feel free to drop me a line and I'll supply details, pics, and vids as desired. It'd be nice if she found a home in the parish - a lovely loco, just a bit big!

I'd call a LSWR 0330 a number of things, but 'big' isn't one of them.

[Regularity]

42 minutes ago, Annie said:

I'd call a LSWR 0330 a number of things, but 'big' isn't one of them.

Size isn’t everything, but comparisons are…