Exeter St Davids

[bootneckbob]

So here's how this one was constructed. As usual I made a rough version in foam board. This allowed me to gauge the size based on google earth dimensions and old photographs online. 

 

As always some compression was required as I don't have the space for a replica, but I've got 3/4 of the length.

 

The model stayed this way for a long time as I pondered how to build it. Plasticard being expensive and quite difficult to paint (for me) plus there would be an awful lot of arches to cut. In the end I decided to use  1,2 and 3mm balsawood sheet. This was easier to drill, file imperfections and ultimately be more rigid than card or foamboard as a free standing structure. 

 

 

 

Just getting to this stage took quite some time.

 

 

I decided to use the roof from the original mock up. 

 

Edited January 2 by bootneckbob

[bootneckbob]

The next stage was a combination of seeing what I could do with scalescenes papers and painting. 

 

 

 

I settled on aged red brick and brown brick in the end. It was difficult but the building opposite is red brick and despite them both being old I wanted some variety in the overall finish. 

 

I used the painted white brick for the inside. I have two pictures of the inside which helped me with the internal detail. Although it will be really difficult to see I did quite a bit on the roof. This also served to add strength to the card.

 

The next stage was adding the brown brick elements and the stone work. I also did the unloading platform which was added when the old broad gauge line was removed.

 

 

The roof tiles were also done and the windows fitted. Again all scalescenes.

 

The boarded up end is 1mm balsa wrapped in scalescenes clapboard. I will probably swap this out with some Wills or plasticard clapboard as it will look a bit better. It's difficult to see but the platform front is wills stone and the raised section made with strips of balsa then the platform is card which is painted and scored.

 

[bootneckbob]

The next stage will be some weathering, more detail on the stonework, drain pipes, gutters and potentially a new roof; or at least a new covering with plasticard. I had trouble with the paper tiles and it took about 6 hours in all as the paper curled a little where there wasn't enough glue on the overlap. This got worse when I varnished it to seal it. I then had to go over it all again with loads of PVA last night to try and get it to stick down. I'm off to the shed soon to take a look and see how its set overnight.

I say next stage but that will be on this building. I'm probably going to switch fire now as I've been on it for so long. If I push on to get it to a finished standard it will sit there amongst other buildings not nearly completed or started. I wanted to have the whole layout build slowly so I learn as I go and the level of finish is spread around the layout rather than one end being a bit rubbish where I did everything for the first time. 

 

I've got a lot of electrical wiring to do under the baseboard as I'm going to install separate wiring buses now for track and accessories with circuit breakers on both. I've also got another 6 Cobalts point motors to install.  Better get a move on.

[John Besley]

Rome wasn't built in a day... and Exeter St David wasn't either.... keep up the good work, that building captures the atmosphere spot on and is a very recognisable part of the area

 

Happy new year

[treggyman]

Hi 

Thanks for the step by step guide on the shed....

It was very informative & gave me ideas on a shed I'm planning for a future layout....

The end result is excellent.....Hopefully the roof tiles end up as required.....

 

Keep up the goodwork....

 

Cheers Bill

[bootneckbob]

Here's a little overview with some of the other buildings back in. I did a little bit this afternoon on the garage roof and I've done a little bit of detail work on the 'brewery' before I can varnish it and start work on the windows. Tomorrow I'm planning to get in the shed early and get on with the extension to the transfer shed. 

 

Plus some views from a lower perspective.

 

  

Edited January 1 by bootneckbob

[bootneckbob]

Oh and the PVA fix to the roof worked albeit a bit shiny. Another dusting with matt varnish and the weathering it should be fine.

[bootneckbob]

So yesterday I started work on the newer extension to the shed. I say newer but it's now long gone but was very much there for my era of the late 80s. Work continued today on it. Unlike the transfer shed  which is built from ply and wrapped in scalescene paper, this one is card and foamboard base for the platform which is wrapped and the rest will be plastic construction. 

I also added a little more detail on the stonework for the transfer shed and a bit of prep for the ballasting of the new scenic section on the incline (up to Exeter Central.

 

[bootneckbob]

Well I would have thought with all my time off over Xmas I'd have done more than I have done. That said, these buildings are some of the most significant on the layout at least until I get to the station itself. 

Today was just construction on the extension shed. The sides are done but I want to get some paint on them before I glue them on.

This photo shows how I worked with the other shed to get the details right.

 

On the layout; this view  was hardly ever captured for real back in the 80s although I have found one or two pictures showing the odd class 50 back there.

 

 

Finally one long shot from the station area. The buildings are closer than I'd like obviously, but I think it's still looking ok.

 

 

 

[Cowley 47521]

Brilliant work Bob. Some of those classic scenes are really starting to take shape now.

[bootneckbob]

More work on the shed today; some hours gone into this build and I've not got the airbrush out yet! I said yesterday the view from behind the transfer shed is not often seen in photos from the 80s but that I had a couple of photos I found online. Well here's one of them, and a quick mock up I did of the same (ish) shot before calling it a night. Just a bit of fun, think it will look ok when its done/finished.

 

 

[ISW]

16 hours ago, bootneckbob said:

More work on the shed today; some hours gone into this build and I've not got the airbrush out yet! I said yesterday the view from behind the transfer shed is not often seen in photos from the 80s but that I had a couple of photos I found online. Well here's one of them, and a quick mock up I did of the same (ish) shot before calling it a night. Just a bit of fun, think it will look ok when its done/finished.

Absolutely  great stuff. You really are capturing the scenes from Exeter brilliantly. 

 

On 04/01/2024 at 20:00, bootneckbob said:

Finally one long shot from the station area. The buildings are closer than I'd like obviously, but I think it's still looking ok.

 

 

This is just so recognisably Exeter St. Davids looking north. Extremely well done to get it looking so good. I just miss that old centre-track through the station ...

 

Ian

[bootneckbob]

Deleted duplicate post

 

 

Edited January 7 by bootneckbob

[bootneckbob]

Okay so here's a view from a slightly shaky camera angle from the end of platform 4 looking north. The end panels are on the newer shed and although it still isn't painted it's not too bad from this angle. 

 

Back to work tomorrow so I'll be much more limited in time to spend on the layout, but I might still get some hours in during the evenings. I need to take a leaf out of Charlie (Chadwick) Bishops book, and decide to do one job before I go to the shed so I don't get side tracked and end up doing very little!

 

 

[bootneckbob]

Now I'm looking at the last picture against a reference picture to see how it's looking I've decided I will alter the end panel on the shed. I wasn't happy with the pointy bit and if you look at the real one and mine you will see why. A simple fix at this stage but worth it as it's such a iconic (?) view. Well it is to some of us it is anyway.

 

[ISW]

50 minutes ago, bootneckbob said:

Now I'm looking at the last picture against a reference picture to see how it's looking I've decided I will alter the end panel on the shed.

I thought I'd include a few more 'reference photos' for you that I took in the summer of 1979:

 

North End:

 

 

 

Mid-Platform on a rather busy Sunday! The Class 31s 31423+31419 was on a Folkstone to Oakhampton special:

 

I have plenty more, if you need anything specific.

Ian

 

 

[bootneckbob]

Thanks Ian. I've been studying the station for years through online photos. Really I should be modelling it in the late 70s as this is when as a child I used it the most; it obviously left an impression on me. Unfortunately the track plan and semaphore signalling ruled it out and I took the easier more colourful 87-88 option!

 

[ISW]

20 hours ago, bootneckbob said:

Unfortunately the track plan and semaphore signalling ruled it out and I took the easier more colourful 87-88 option!

I had the same issue with my layout of Burton-on-Trent. I am modelling the 1883 (aka pre 1972) station building and the south Bay Platform, but I had to use the later 'simplified' track layout at the Leicester Line Junction due to space constrains. The original one was masterful, but would have increased the profits of Peco by a significant amount! I don't even want to think about the signalling ...

 

Here's what it 'should' have looked like:

 

And here's what I actually built:

 

At least it 'functions' correctly.

 

Ian

[John Besley]

When did the signal box go at Red Cow?

[bootneckbob]

It went late 85/86 iirc. Certainly gone by 87. To be replaced on my layout by a small portacabin and the little box for the crossing guy. Lazy option. I left a flat bit of space at the southern approach which is a nod to where that box was before demolition.

[bootneckbob]

I was good tonight, I spent an hour and a half in the shed. Which as I told the wife when I came in was colder than the fridge. Only 2C in there.

Rectified the end of the shed I didn't like and started some work on what I hope will add depth to the trees on Cowley Bridge road from Red Cow down to the Bus stop at least. I'm planning on sliding acetate film in between the backscene and the baseboard. I've painted the film in brown trees then added  layers of foliage, bush, seafoam trees and lichen. The idea is I drop that in then put some more seafoam trees in the 2-3cm strip of foam behind the high wall. Hopefully this will give it some depth and height. I'll take a photo of that when its dry and in place (if it works!).

In the meantime, here's another shot of the transfer shed with the rectified end and I threw a train in for good measure. Bit blurry again but I can't see what I'm doing with the camera as I have to take the pic on a timer and hold the camera out at arms reach to get this angle. 

 

 

My scene 1987 post re signalling and simplification of the trackplan. The through road between platforms 1 & 3 gone, Platform 3/4 extended and the Middle signal box (I believe) demolished. The original or 70s layout shown below.   

Edited January 8 by bootneckbob

[ISW]

19 minutes ago, bootneckbob said:

and started some work on what I hope will add depth to the trees on Cowley Bridge road from Red Cow down to the Bus stop at least. I'm planning on sliding acetate film in between the backscene and the baseboard. I've painted the film in brown trees then added  layers of foliage, bush, seafoam trees and lichen. The idea is I drop that in then put some more seafoam trees in the 2-3cm strip of foam behind the high wall. Hopefully this will give it some depth and height. I'll take a photo of that when its dry and in place (if it works!).

That does sound most interesting ... I hope it works, so be careful to avoid any annoying 'reflections' on the acetate.

 

Ian

[Chris M]

Coming along nicely. I look forward to watching further progression.

[bootneckbob]

Here's a quick look at the foliage film this morning. This isn't finished, but it's to see what the idea looks like. The picture below is the foam insert against the back scene. For those familiar with the location the backdrop is a pretty steep bank with trees and houses behind going up the hill parallel to this road. I had to massively compress the scene to get the road in. Really I should have used the full width for the buildings (garage and brewery) and also the carpark by Red Cow crossing, but I thought that would be a difficult step to the backscene missing out the road. Anyway, as you can see the foam insert is only 2-3 cm wide.  

 

Now with the foliage film fitted.

Although I can do more with the film the idea is to 'plant' trees in front of it to give the illusion of depth and height.

Finally a picture looking down the scene.

The road is nearly 10ft long and the film cost £4 for 10 sheets which will be enough for that stretch. Quite a cheap option I think as it will save trying to cram lots of seafoam trees in a tight space to block out the backscene, whilst also giving the illusion I'm after? 

Edited January 9 by bootneckbob

[treggyman]

1 hour ago, bootneckbob said:

Here's a quick look at the foliage film this morning. This isn't finished, but it's to see what the idea looks like. The picture below is the foam insert against the back scene. For those familiar with the location the backdrop is a pretty steep bank with trees and houses behind going up the hill parallel to this road. I had to massively compress the scene to get the road in. Really I should have used the full width for the buildings (garage and brewery) and also the carpark by Red Cow crossing, but I thought that would be a difficult step to the backscene missing out the road. Anyway, as you can see the foam insert is only 2-3 cm wide.  

 

Now with the foliage film fitted.

Although I can do more with the film the idea is to 'plant' trees in front of it to give the illusion of depth and height.

Finally a picture looking down the scene.

The road is nearly 10ft long and the film cost £4 for 10 sheets which will be enough for that stretch. Quite a cheap option I think as it will save trying to cram lots of seafoam trees in a tight space to block out the backscene, whilst also giving the illusion I'm after? 

Hi 

 

That looks very effective.......

A very good idea that certainly will give the impression of depth......

I feel I may have to 'borrow ' the idea myself.....

 

Really enjoying the thread.......

In the mid '80's I used to pop down to St Davids in my lunch hour or on the way to work in the morning to see what was about & to take some pictures.......I wish digital cameras were around back then.......

You've really captured the scene as I remember it......

 

Keep up the good work,

Cheers Bill