RWJP Posted October 23, 2011 Share Posted October 23, 2011 Glad I mentioned it then! I only remembered I was free for it when you mentioned in the first place! Fair enough on the backscene, I wasn't quite sure on your plans for it. Way I was thinking with the platform extension was kind of like how that Welsh layout next to us at the Wimborne show did things, with extra scenery behind the tunnel mouths to make it look like the line carried on, rather than just disappearing into a bizarre dimension comprised entirely of plywood! I'll definitely be using that kind of method for departure screens on my station. Will hopefully bump in to you at the Poole show, and I'll get you over to mine once track has been laid on Winterbourne Sellers, which should be very soon! Ross Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmthtrains - David Posted October 24, 2011 Author Share Posted October 24, 2011 Look forward to seeing how you're getting on Ross! The OHLE portals are up today, and its starting to look like a railway at last! David 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmthtrains - David Posted October 24, 2011 Author Share Posted October 24, 2011 Final shot of the day's work - lineside ducting has appeared, OHLE is now 90% complete, and with the remaining signals under construction this evening, the scenic trackwork will be pretty much completed tomorrow. Next jobs: Finish detailing platforms Build Palace Theatre Scenic area to the front of the viaduct David 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodenhead Posted October 24, 2011 Share Posted October 24, 2011 How many coaches can you manage on the Virgin MK2s in the fiddleyard? The layout certainly looks a lot bigger than it actually is, how do you manage that? I remember the layout before Ring Road which was a similar feat of making a small layout look big. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmthtrains - David Posted October 24, 2011 Author Share Posted October 24, 2011 Easy answer to that - at present there is no fiddle yard! The track simply loops round at the moment, but as funds allow more point purchasing, there will eventually be 10 storage tracks of various lengths, longest I think fits a loco plus 6 coaches. Most of the time, stock running will be freights and DMUs/EMUs, so the expresses are a bit of fun, as really too long to fit (I ran my Pendolino earlier, it was almost the length of the layout!). David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Removed a/c Posted October 24, 2011 Share Posted October 24, 2011 A fantastic layout, I have enjoyed reading and following the progress so far. Looking forward to more in the future. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodenhead Posted October 24, 2011 Share Posted October 24, 2011 That's why I was asking, I didn't think you'd scoped another WCML type layout - still 6 coaches is a cross country type rake which would be right for the Oxford Road corridor - perhaps you could swap traction in the station electric to diesel. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmthtrains - David Posted October 25, 2011 Author Share Posted October 25, 2011 Its sort of 'off the WCML' - Oxford Road ish, lots of freight avoiding the city centre, and busy commuter traffic with DMUs and 350s/321s, and the occasional diverted WCML service. I am tempted by the Dapol Virgin HST set - a bit 'historical' now, but it would look good passing through the station I think. The location is very vague though - while based on Manchester, the station is in London Midland colours, and the local TOCs are going to be a mix of Central/London Midland, ATW, and maybe a bit of Northern. In my mind, this is a mix of Birmingham and Manchester (called Maningham on the road signs) and geographically located between the two, so north wales traffic meets midlands meets north west. Update today, signals are on, and trackwork is pretty much complete for now. Back to making buildings! David 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmthtrains - David Posted October 28, 2011 Author Share Posted October 28, 2011 The theatre is coming on today - still needs a roof and some architectural details to cap it off (I need some pre-made finials for this), so there is a lot of light bleed inside that won't show when completed. I based this on Dorchester Brewery. The whole area by the station is being redeveloped, and there is a fascinating 1:150th scale architectural model on display (I drool over such things), and so anyone familiar with the place will recognise this fairly easily. And having been to see Shrek! The Musical in London last night, I decided what better show to be on than a touring version! David 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heinz57 Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 Wow! The layouts looking great so far! Great work! The Theatre looks fantastic! Shreck is on tour I see! Perhaps every so often you could even also change and rotate the signs, as if another show has come to town. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gloucester Road Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 (edited) That theatre is brilliant. On par with your usual standard. Edited October 28, 2011 by Gloucester Road Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
millerhillboy Posted October 29, 2011 Share Posted October 29, 2011 Ballast and trackwork colour looks spot on to me, very realistic. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmthtrains - David Posted October 30, 2011 Author Share Posted October 30, 2011 Thanks guys! I've reached a natural pause point with the layout now, and having completely re-organised my storage cupboards this week (after a handy trip to Ikea), the layout is now away for a while. It all fits neatly into the dining room cupboard. Unless my wayward Tornado returns from Farish in the meantime, the next time the board will be out will be the day of the Poole show, as I should be able to pick up all the station details I need to finish that area of the layout. Until then, I've measured the 'plots' for the next 4 buildings, and so can be making steady progress with these. I'm expecting these to take a while though, as they are full relief, and will need basic interiors. I'm also going to be highly critical of them as they will be in the foreground and need to be even better than the buildings I have already made. Yesterday I went down to visit my parents, and saw my Dad's new N gauge layout for the first time. There's a lot of detailing work to do yet, but I'm posting a photo here just to show yet again how much you can fit into a small space in N - this board is the same dimensions as Cross St, just with a very different location and era! David 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodenhead Posted October 30, 2011 Share Posted October 30, 2011 Can see where you get your inspiration from - another simple but very effective railway modeller. Doesn't he want to join RMWeb. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shanks522 Posted October 30, 2011 Share Posted October 30, 2011 Great to see the layout has progressed so fast David, I really like the photo in the wardrobe, Google maps if ever i saw it. Graham. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmthtrains - David Posted October 30, 2011 Author Share Posted October 30, 2011 Google maps if ever i saw it. Graham. Hi Graham, glad you said that - my whole modelling 'philosophy' as it were with N gauge is exactly that - creating the feel of an aerial photograph of a busy modern scene. I might have to create a 'fake' google map of the layout when its done! David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
millerhillboy Posted October 30, 2011 Share Posted October 30, 2011 Can see where you get your inspiration from - another simple but very effective railway modeller. Doesn't he want to join RMWeb. Second that, looks a very nice stretch of track. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeavyDuty Posted October 30, 2011 Share Posted October 30, 2011 I'm very much enjoying Cross Street (as I did Ring Road). You father's is fantastic, too! Hard to believe that's on 6' x 2'9". Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmthtrains - David Posted November 3, 2011 Author Share Posted November 3, 2011 Well I seem to be doing my usual thing and moving forward far quicker than I intended. The set of 4 buildings to go behind the viaduct were supposed to be a long term project to keep me occupied over Christmas when I don't have much time for modelling due to work. Given I wanted each building to take about 2 weeks each (to spread the enjoyment over a full 8 weeks), the first one has been completed in 3 days(!). This is part of the 'super detailed' set of buildings that are full relief, so although something like the hotel was very complicated to build, it is only 3 sides with no interior floors. This one, although you will never see the back, needed to be a solid 4 sided construction. I started designing the elevations as always, printing the final images onto thin card 3 times, cutting them out and building up the layers to give some relief detail. Edges are run over with a felt tip pen, and the image is printed a 4th time onto OHP acetate to create the windows. The basic wall sides can then be glued together and floors added. As the windows on this building are quite small, I decided to just use plain mounting card, as there isn't enough light inside to see whats in there. For buildings with larger glazing, I tend to add simple floor designs, and walls if needed. This building is viewed from the 'back', the brick side facing, and as it is so close to the viaduct, I've deliberately omitted the windows from the lower floors. If you can't see them, why spend that time cutting them out? It does make it look a bit odd in these photos, but makes sense when on the layout behind the viaduct. The roof is then added - this one is quite complex as it has a sunken area for all the plant machinery. The building is closely based on one in Manchester that is next to the viaduct at Oxford Road, but has moved positions relative to the hotel. One side of the building will have a grimy alleyway filled with bins and other rubbish, and there are drainpipes and gutters to be added to complete this side. I have also added a brass air-conditioning unit on the wall. And this is the road side - the short wall will be visible alongside the bridge by the station, but the longer frontage will never actually be seen, so is a shortcut - a single layer of the design, no relief, and roughly made. So there we are, almost complete, now just needs adding to the layout and extra ground detail added. Next up will be a fairly high-rise office block David 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmthtrains - David Posted November 3, 2011 Author Share Posted November 3, 2011 I couldn't resist getting the layout of for an hour to see what the finished building looks like in place, so here it is! Very pleased how it fits in, the layout is starting to get a decent feel of depth now. David 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MrSimon Posted November 3, 2011 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 3, 2011 Looks brilliant there Mr! Wish I'd put gresby in the city centre now I used to have my Sunday Morning coffee in the starbucks near Oxford Road, and it really captures the feel of that part of town Keep up the good work! Simon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWJP Posted November 3, 2011 Share Posted November 3, 2011 That looks brilliant! You really are putting us all to shame with your speed David! It's taken me three days to lay a handful of track... Ross Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmthtrains - David Posted November 3, 2011 Author Share Posted November 3, 2011 Thanks both, Funny thing is, I never set out to be fast at all! I suppose its down to how I use my time - this is my only 'practical' hobby, and having the layout easily accessible in the flat, means an hour here, an hour there, gives me enough time to get on with things. Its also well-planned in my head. I know what I want, so I don't have to stop and think what's next. David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pitbull1845 Posted November 3, 2011 Share Posted November 3, 2011 Really impresive work David, as usual.. If I was small enough (some say I already am) I would happily spend a few hours on the platform watching the trains go by... Cheers Scott Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southernboy Posted November 3, 2011 Share Posted November 3, 2011 (edited) "Well I seem to be doing my usual thing and moving forward far quicker than I intended... " Yes, your pace of work sometimes astounds me David, and always with excellent results This last set of pictures in particular have really demonstrated your eye for getting a sense of historic setting right, it all feels very authentic - and I do like the 'moody' sky you've chosen for your backdrop too - it's very atmospheric. Always top marks from me Edited November 3, 2011 by Southernboy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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