Ophir loop in 1/20.3 scale.

[kirtleypete]

I have been asked to build a model of the Ophir loop on the D&RGS narrow gauge in 1/20.3 scale as an indoor layout in an old coach house. I am sure you are all familiar with the location, but just in case anyone isn't here are a couple of pictures:

 

 

 

It's just a single track with a viaduct at each end and  one siding. The attraction is the spectacular location.

 

 

This is where I am working; the baseboards were already in place. 

 

 

The black rectangle is the floor template for the depot building.

 

 

I made up the bents for the two trestles at home, mainly from 15mm square stripwood. They are 885mm high on the larger trestle.

 

The bridge was assembled in site as it curves at one end and getting that right was critical.

 

 

Obviously the real thing was much longer but that's all we've got room for. 

 

The bridge is assembled using Superglue, believe it or not, and the joints are so strong that the only way to part them is the break the wood. It has to be strong because to paint the backscene and model the ground surface I have to lift it out, and in fact I have brought it home to finish off and paint. 

 

The backscene is being painted using artist's acrylics:

 

 

I'm going back on Monday to finish it off and to begin laying in the ground cover, and then the trestle can be fixed in place and hopefully a K27 posed on it!

Peter

 

 

 

 

Edited June 24, 2022 by kirtleypete
mistake in title

[kirtleypete]

I've completed and painted the trestle now ready to deliver on Monday.

 

 

 

The track is Accucraft and is very stiff; I cut all the webs between the rails on the curved section. It is pinned in position just in case it needs to be altered when it's in place. 

 

 

I began painting by giving the whole structure a coat of grey primer...it took three cans. 

 

 

 

I then misted on random sprays of black, brown and finally white which blended the other colours together. Colour photo's show that trestles weathered to very light grey over time. The unpainted bits will be covered by the ground surface in due course. The structure is five feet long - it went in my car with half an inch to spare!

 

 

 

The sides of the rails had a coat of Railmatch dark rust, brushed on.

 

 

You needed a head for heights to work on these structures!

Peter

Edited June 24, 2022 by kirtleypete
More information.

[Regularity]

Impressive structure, both from a prototype and model perspective!

 

What brand/form or superglue did you use? A gel type, or runny?

[kirtleypete]

Runny, B&Q own brand at £5 a bottle. It runs into the gaps and sticks almost at once, and once it's set it's like steel.

 

Peter

[kirtleypete]

Having built the bridge I thought a painting might be nice on the wall above it, so I've spent today doing this:

 

 

Peter

[kirtleypete]

After doing the painting above i thought I'd like one too!

 

 

I'm going back tomorrow to carry on work on the layout,

 

Peter

[D6775]

That bridge is fantastic. I'd like to do something similar in 0N16.5 but it'll well down the to do list!

[kirtleypete]

It was fun to do because you're basically building it like the real thing, cutting lengths of timber and joining them together. I usually model in plastic so this made a refreshing change.  It's also got me watching videos of American narrow gauge on Youtube which is an impulse I need to fight!

 

Peter

[kirtleypete]

I've just got back from working on the layout.

 

 

The first job was a put in the hillside behind the trestle, using cardboard and a hot glue gun.

 

 

The surface was covered with a grass mat and some horsehair bushes.

 

 

I then finished off the painting of the backscene.

 

 

Finally the trestle could be fixed in position. We have removed the track as it will be easier to lay it in situ as part of the whole layout. 

 

 

Next I was able to build up the ground around the trestle, again using cardboard.

 

 

 

The Sculptamold is the river bed and rock faces on the steep hillside. I couldn't do any more as the Sculptamold has to be perfectly dry before it is painted.

 

 

Not a K27 yet, but it will do for the moment.

 

 

My customer is going on holiday so there will be a gap before I can do any more on this scene, but in the meantime I've got he depot to build.

 

Peter

[Oldddudders]

I like this. Your sensibly shortened rendition of Trestle 45A, which I think was 440 ft long, looks just that - sensible. The top picture shows the speeder hut opposite the General Merchandise store, of which we can only see the petrol pump. That speeder hut disappeared at some point well before the demise of the RGS in 1951. In that pic, Mrs Skillen's store looks very bright on the hillside - I think she also offered rooms. 

 

With only three points, one by the house at the end of the trestle, two in the loop beyond Trestle 45B, the operating potential is limited. I hope your client understands that. 

[kirtleypete]

We've only got room for one point! It's just a big diorama really but it will give somewhere to run the loco's which are currently just in boxes. He's got other layouts for playing trains on.

Peter

Edited June 28, 2022 by kirtleypete

[kirtleypete]

I've been working on the depot building over the last couple of days:

 

 

The shell is corrugated card with planking from lime wood strip from Cornwall Model Boats. 

 

 

 

 

I've run out of the wood now so there won't be much progress until more arrives,

 

Peter

[kirtleypete]

I've made more progress with the depot. I've been able to fit the bargeboards to the roof using stripwood:

 

 

Happily these only appear on two sides!

 

I've also painted the finished areas because I wanted to see what they would look like....I used Tamiya acrylics, the cream my own mix.

 

 

I do wish the D&RG Southern had painted their window sashes in white not brown!

 

 

All the pictures I can find show blinds pulled down over two thirds of the windows with curtains behind them so that is what I've done, but they my be removed if my customer doesn't like them. There is certainly no point modelling a full interior with them in place. 

 

 

I hand painted the lettering but it still needs tidying up. On the other hand the real thing was no doubt hand lettered too so maybe it looks realistic.

 

 

The next delivery of wood should arrive tomorrow, but in the meantime I can make up the shell of the goods shed which was attached to the depot. 

 

Peter

[kirtleypete]

The goods shed has taken shape; I'm still undecided about whether to attach it or keep it separate. I'm edging towards the former, I don't like gaps where buildings join. 

 

 

 

 

The shed is shorter than scale but it's quite big enough for me!

Peter

[kirtleypete]

Unfortunately all the work I have done on the depot has been wasted; I built it on a template given to me by my customer and it's much too big. I'm going to have the scrap the model and begin again. It's my own fault, I should have checked,

 

Peter

[pH]

2 hours ago, kirtleypete said:

Unfortunately all the work I have done on the depot has been wasted; I built it on a template given to me by my customer and it's much too big. I'm going to have the scrap the model and begin again. It's my own fault, I should have checked,

 

Peter

 Could you not sell it elsewhere? It seems a terrible waste to scrap such great work.

[kirtleypete]

No, to do that I'd have to finish it and I haven't the time to build it twice. It will be going to the tip tomorrow.

 

Peter

[kirtleypete]

Things are back on track; a new model and this time it's the right damn size!

 

 

 

I've used card for the planking and plastic for the lower part, I'll keep the wood for the roof shingles. 

 

Peter

[kirtleypete]

I've made good progress with the new Depot.

 

 

 

 

This side is pretty much complete but the other side has yet to be started.

 

 

Oddly there don't seem to have been any gutters, possibly because they get more snow than rain up there.

 

 

The droop on the goods shed in this shot is because it's off the end of the bench, it doesn't do that when it's fully supported. The end wall of the house needs bracing to prevent the flexing but if I'm going to be modelling the interior that's difficult.  

 

 

I've put a lot of hours in over the last three days but it's worth it because I know I'll be able to finish it in time now. 

 

Peter

[kirtleypete]

I've painted the finished side before turning the building around to do the rest. I generally do this, it encourages me!

 

 

The brown is Tamiya flat brown, the cream a mix of Tamiya white, yellow and flesh paints. The roof is Tamiya flat earth (great name!) with individual shingles then picked out in lighter shades.

 

 

 

 

Peter

[kirtleypete]

The depot is coming together now, but I can't finish the roof because I seem to have cleaned Cornwall Model Boats out of the stripwood!

 

 

 

 

 

I'll finish this wall today.

 

 

I can finish off the wall but the roof will have to wait for a bit.

 

 

It's a shame that is attractive side of the building will be all but hidden when it's in place. 

 

Peter

[kirtleypete]

One advantage of making the walls from cardboard is that when you forget a door it's easy to cut a hole and pop it in!

 

 

 

 

The Depot has also gained it's chimney.

 

 

Peter

Edited July 9, 2022 by kirtleypete

[kirtleypete]

I've just got back from another day working on the layout; I came back early as the next job is to finish all the various buildings. I did complete the scenery around the trestle:

 

 

I think the painted backdrop blends in quite well. 

 

 

The river needs several more layers of varnish, a job for the next visits.

 

 

 

 

The timber cribbing at the end of the viaduct.

 

 

The card marks the position of the road, and the black rectangle is the position of the shop. 

 

 

I've brought the bents home to complete the small trestle.

 

Peter

[JAMO]

Waow! What a nice project!

[kirtleypete]

I've been working on the buildings:

 

 

This store stood right by the line at the end of the smaller trestle. It's a low relief model, the dormer windows and chimney are flat.

 

 

This is the tram house that stood next to the depot.  I've run out of corrugated sheet but more is on order. It's another big model; we need 10" of height to clear the loco's and rolling stock.

 

 

This is one of the bedrooms for the depot building; I found the furniture on Ebay, all laser cut. It's 1/24th scale but it looks fine. 

 

 

The whole upper floor lifts out to give access to the ground floor rooms; detailing them is tomorrow's job.

 

Peter