West Fraddon & RSLR's Workbench - Building Buildings

[Jack00]

Reece im stunned at the signal boxes. They look bang on the money.

Your fingers must have ached after all those roof tiles??

 

Good luck with the stoves, DAS clay bacon and eggs? Lol!

 

Cheers

Jack

[RSLR]

Hi,

All my different paints have been arriving in the post over the last few days which has enabled me to do some colouring in!
So here's a painting update for the Goonbarrow Box.

Levers, a token machine, cabinets, a chair and a stall are now ready to be installed inside the box once the interior decorating is complete.
The roof slates are now also painted and waiting to be installed, detailed and weathered.

 

Another new kit is now in progress for the Burngullow section... Or the Goonbarrow section.
I think we can guess which Loco I'll be modelling (got the orange paint ready!) although I'm yet to locate suitable nameplates.



Please feel free to comment, input and advice is always welcome!

Cheers, Reece

[Jaz]

Those tiles do look great, you should experiment with weathering powders, lovely work

[treggyman]

Hi Reece

 

Certainly good at colouring in....Looking very good......

 

Looking back through your posts would I be right in thinking you scratchbuilt the cupboards ? They are white rather than metallic....

 

The shunter.....Is that a knightwing kit?

 

I started a Judith Edge kit ages ago but havent progressed much as the motor runs poorly , a Tenshodo spud as I recall.....

The kit is fine but as it ran poorly I lost interest so have an alternative raring to go at Wadebridge in a fortnight......

 

Keep up the good work...

 

Cheers Bill

[RSLR]

Hi Reece

 

Certainly good at colouring in....Looking very good......

 

Looking back through your posts would I be right in thinking you scratchbuilt the cupboards ? They are white rather than metallic....

 

The shunter.....Is that a knightwing kit?

 

I started a Judith Edge kit ages ago but havent progressed much as the motor runs poorly , a Tenshodo spud as I recall.....

The kit is fine but as it ran poorly I lost interest so have an alternative raring to go at Wadebridge in a fortnight......

 

Keep up the good work...

 

Cheers Bill

 

Hi Bill,

 

The cabinets are formed from plasticard mainly 80 thou for the main body, 20 x 10 strip for the doors and a strip of 30 thou on top.

It was put together with data from some observation drawings I did, sizing in relation to the other furniture etc to get accurate sizes.

 

The sentinel is indeed the knightwing kit, I picked it up on ebay for a bargain price including chassis kits etc all unopened. turned out the chap selling only lived up the road from me so he refunded the postage and had it delivered to my door! Ideal!

Seems to be progressing alright so far although it needs some minor modifications to match the prototype I'm making. I'm yet to locate some suitable Sentinel axel boxes.

 

I think the Judith Edge kit is much better quality because it's made of brass and all details are included (including the sliding doors) but the knightwing plastic kit is that basic it will need allot of work to bring it up to scratch. I'm looking forward to it though, not too sure how I should proceed with the chassis because I've never built a working chassis in this scale before but with some more research I'm sure I'll figure it out. I have a feeling I'll need more than a calliper, steel rule and a stanley knife.

Hornby are releasing their Sentinel soon although it's the wrong colour, shape and some details are incorrect for the prototype I'm modelling. So I'm sort of looking at it, well there would be work involving paint striping, cutting out panels etc.  And it is a brand new model to be cut up (although I'll probably buy on anyway!) so making the kit or bashing RTR would require about the same amount of work. 

 

Cheers, Reece

[treggyman]

Hi Reece

 

Seeing your standard of modelling, and the accuracy you attain I don't think you'd have a problem with making a working chassis....

 

Same rules apply.....taking your time & not rushing it is very important though.....

 

Oddly enough I saw the Judith Edge box on the shelf the other day & wondered what it was......I now know....

 

Got it down this evening......That motor is an awful runner.....I now remember spending ages trying to get it to run well.....without success hence the kit not yet being built....

 

It'll get built one day.....

 

Cheers Bill

[RSLR]

Hi,

I did a poorly and not very well drawn plan off the top of my head. 
Think I'll have to re think this plan a little because it would take a minimum of four people to operate

Jobs:

- St Dennis Junction section operator who would have to communicate with the Burngullow section and Goonbarrow section and manage the Newquay passenger trains and those on the Retew branch as well as incoming... trains from both the Goonbarrow and Burngullow sections, they would also have to open and close the gates at Tregoss when required.

- Goonbarrow section operator would need to manage the Goonbarrow trains, communicate with the St Dennis Junction operator and the fiddle yard manager. also will need to manage incoming trains from the Tregoss section and the yard

- Burngullow section operator will need to manage the St Austell/Penzance trains which will stop at the Station, communicate with the yard manager and the St Dennis Junction section when necessary

- Yard manager will need to assemble trains for the branch lines, sort empty and full trains. Communicate with the Goonbarrow and Burngullow sections

And I haven't really got this figured out yet....
A better more efficient track plan tomorrow maybe

 

I'll get this planning thing figured out sooner or later.

Ideas are welcome.

Cheers, Reece

[Jack00]

Hi Reece hope all is well.

The plan looks really good. Took me a few views to understand (im a bit short sighted lol)

But it looks like operational potential is really high, also good fun. Prototypically interesting too.

 

Your rasing the standards for Cornish modelling (Bill Penhallick included)

Cant wait to see this develope. I may have missed this, but you building this at home?

If ever you want a hand with anything let me know mate.

 

And the sentinal looks good too. The one at Burngullow hiding under the old clay works building has scabbed over in rust and clay dust...well i say clay dust it may even be seagul deposits...!

Did you see Captain Kernows detailed shots of it in the "Cornish railways" section handy if you need a little help with weathering ideas etc.

 

All the best Reece.

Jack

[treggyman]

Hi Reece,

 

Some layout plan!!!!!!

 

When you said it would be about 30ft I assumed you meant in a straight line.....Not a 30' x 30ft square!!!!!!

 

Certainly has potential , but could take years to build....

 

Anyway , Good luck with it......Will watch with interest.....

 

Cheers Bill

[Jack00]

30x30ft !!

Thats some project mate. Hey-ho keep you busy though.

Put those Boxes to good use.

 

Cheers

Jack

[RSLR]

Hi,

The signal box is now painted and 90% done but I won't bother uploading until it's completly done. (unless anyone would like me to)

Some pictures of goings ons:















Cheers, Reece

[Jaz]

working pictures are always welcome

[RSLR]

Hello,

I've built one coal wagon which I bought at the Exeter Garden Railway show yesterday not bad for £1.50, a little mouldy but the contents were fine.
The thing on the left is a chuff pipe to go in my 16mm scale steam engine, it fit's inside the loco's clagg pipe (chimney) and makes the loco sound more realistic. It also stops the oil splattering all over the engine.

 











The model represents a GWR N13 coal wagon. I'm not too sure what place it has on a china clay layout yet, perhaps delivering coal to one of the kilns or just the odd coal wagon in a mixed goods train. I've yet to research if I should paint it in BR livery or use GWR grey and the transfers supplied.
I've made two modifications of my own, the original floor was a wood effect which was incorrect for the prototype, the prototype is a all steel construction and so the floor is metal. I've represented this by sanding down the planks and inserting a piece of 10thou plastic cut to size and welded to the main floor. I've also given this wagon more prototypical 3 link couplings.
In the future I would like to add to the brake gear (I've ran out of rod at the moment) The model retains the original plastic wheels and buffers, there's nothing wrong with these, they look fine and run superb but to add a little more weight I want to replace these too at some point.
I almost forgot how much fun wagon building is, another one from Reece's Wagon Works!

Unfortunately the photos contain a sneak peak of the Signal Box so far, so here it is

Still needs guttering, weathering more colour variation and the interior finishing. Then I can go onto making the next few buildings.

Cheers, Reece

[RSLR]

Hello,

I've not updated this thread for a while, probably due to attending various model railway shows etc.
I think I'll start with the more recent show at Bodmin where I attended with a small display for the MCR group with a few photographs of the members projects with descriptions and some of my own models. They didn't want my layout this year and the members at the club have upset me lately which brings up the question how do they plan to get younger members etc but that's another story. Back to a positive note at the show the stand got some interest from public and some good complements on my boxes.
Next door to me was member Mike Hatton with his small N gauge model Little Oak Drier which displayed lots of interesting modern traction and stock with the odd passing train. Other side of me was Clare, She was building downloaded scalescenes card kits.

Show went quite well with a number of interesting layouts attending. Although public did ask on a number of occasions were was my layout this year and I had to give the same answer each time.

 

The Signal Box is close to completion, with only waiting on the interior to be completed which I'm planning to do so in the next few days, parts have also been ordered for the next three boxes.
A concrete paraffin hut is being built for the first box and is coming on nicely using measurements taken from the prototype. more furniture is also built for the Box's interior a desk, table and another token machine have been made up using again measurements from the prototype. The block instrument shelf is next on the list to be built and also a small bench which sits next to the cabinet next to the token machine in front the porch. I think I'm really going to town on the interior for this one, seems to be almost in some kind of rivet counter fashion.
The signal box seems to be filling up inside with detail and is I feel adding allot of character to the model. At the moment I think this is my favourite part so far!
The box has also gained some lights.

 

Like the real Signal Box the model has gained a ghostly signalman



The table and desk in construction stage using notes and doodles



And finished and placed in the approximate positions

 

The interior so far at this stage



Another small project I've been working on is a population for the layout so here we have a before and after for the token machines but also a Signalman who is a Dart Castings figure
Around eight different colours were used painting him.
His main uniform blue is matched to the original 1960s BR uniform this includes trousers, waistcoat and cap. his waistcoat has a slightly sheen back (as the prototype was a cotton material which appears slightly satin/gloss, for those of you who don't know about old fashioned clothes etc the silky back to a waistcoat was so the jacket could easily be put on without catching)
The peak of his cap is a black colour with glossier peak, his shoes are also a deep glossy black with a acrylic varnish used for polished shoes. He also has a dark tie and white shirt as per the uniform code during the era.
I've used thinned acrylics for this figure which have worked very well, other than the primer which is cellulose based.









And finally walking down the Signal Box steps, his exact location isn't decided yet but he does come with a long rod on the bottom of his foot so I may drill a few holes in places so he can move around on the layout.









 

Other than that I fixed and weathered this steam locomotive for a friend, no detailing on this one as the owner didn't want super detailed stock (he's not too fussy about the details) and likes to just run trains and doesn't want detail that could easily be broken off etc yet he's very fussy about numbers and I was impressed by his knowledge on the engine side doors and cab doors of Class 08s
So with this loco I just improved what was already there and tried out some bits and pieces as I always wanted to weather a steam loco, this was copied exactly of a photograph of a loco of the same class taken at St Blazey.

 

His response when I given it back he was chuffed to bits, saying it was a big improvement.

One other thing I've done - At the Bodmin Show I bought a Hornby Class 50 for £50 which is reasonable, so over the week after the show I painted and fitted drivers and the second man again using some Dart Castings figures although made to fit. fitting cabs etc was a very long story which I won't repeat here. (unless you want me to) I also fitted the buffer beam details.

 

They are of course painted in a similar way to the signalman

 

Buffer beam pack fitted. I'll be fitting DCC sound to this loco soon I think

That's all for now, please let me know what you think.
Cheers, Reece

[Jaz]

Some interesting stuff going on, especially interested in the scratch build. Looking forward to seeing it coloured up. Liking the touches to the signal box as well.

[treggyman]

Hi Reece

 

Most impressive...especially your painting of the signalman.......

 

Yor 'Box & it's interior are excellent....

 

Sorry to hear of your problems with the club....Had hoped to make it to the show but other things cropped up

 

Keep up the good work

 

Cheers Bill

[mudmagnet]

Good work there Reece!

 

Makes a huge difference with the crew in the 50!

[RailWest]

Is the signalman carrying the key to wind up the engine???

[cornish trains jez]

Fantastic Box Reece! Love all the internal details, well worth the effort!!

[RSLR]

Hi,

Thanks all for the kind comments. More boxes soon as the interior for this one is almost done!
I've not been on for a while, Mainly busy doing other things because I've been restoring a original BR signalman's Bardic Lamp, sandblasting, cleaning etc. (another one to add to my railway junk)

I've been planning the new model and meeting with the signalman regularly to find out more, seeing his collection of photographs and video footage from the 70s, 80s along the branch for inspiration and key details.

Some more boxes have began construction, A small N gauge box based on Largin for a friend's layout and another 4mm Goonbarrow box is going to be built (of which now I have all the parts to start building) for another friend to go on his layout.
Now that windows, bricks, plastic strips etc have all arrived I can now crack on with them all and my own as I'm building four more for myself.
No layout construction as of yet but I should be getting more materials and screws to get on with. I'm still working on detailed plans with precise measurements. I'm also making a scale template which is basically a satellite image blown up and printed out to scale and will be simply attached to the main board and worked on top of a bit like a track mat.

I think I'll start with the N gauge Largin box I've been working on for a friend. He wanted a signal box for his new layout which he'll be exhibiting soon. But suitable boxes were not available commercially. We looked at some he liked, initially he wanted one like at buckfastleigh on the SDR (the one closest to the footbridge) but the box in question was far too big for what he wanted and I looked through a few books for a suitable plan and then I looked into suitable prototypes close to his specified area size. he said to surprise him and so Largin seemed an appropriate choice.
So far the main structure has been built with hand scribed planking (since I don't normally work in N gauge)

 

I think I'll do a small write up on a couple of cars I've been playing around with, they were on a old Hornby car transporter, both blue. Not too sure if the Hornby Car transporter is based on a prototype? it has Mk1 bogies but doesn't look much like the Motorail ex BR mk1s I'm familiar with.  
I think the cars are supposed to be Triumph 2000 Mk1s however with a very basic level of detail but quite good in my opinion, Should look alright going along my A30 at the Junction (old A30 of course) when suitably detailed in order not to look like toys.
I'll just post these start to finish photos with a small description on the process at the end.















Just the one complete for a minute but that's my Triumph 2000 Mk1 done, needs only a number plate and a interior with driver (some mirrors too if I go that far).
Resprayed from blue into red, bumpers and grills etc painted, indicator lights, mud flaps and windshield wipers have all been added. The Paint has also been varnished, shined and highlights added.

Well worth the effort I think, I'm quite pleased with the end result or at least so far. If I can get a few more I will do the same

One other small purchase is this 'soiled' ex display Kernow signal box I purchased at a reduced price (not what's on the box), I'm not too sure where to put it but I'm sure it'll find a home! and I'm looking forward to detailing it one day.

 

 

For those of you that were slightly interested in my lamp here's the finished article ready for service!
It was all black with corrosion and scratched up before. The lamp hook on the rear was also bent out of shape and missing two screws (bolts with crossheads) so all of these were re threaded and all new screws inserted, the hook was also re shaped. The body sandblasted and the rest of the parts cleaned. Then all put back together like a kit! Quite pleased with this also.

 

There's I believe a Model Railway Show down Hayle in a few days which might be worth a look. 

That's all for the now.
Cheers, Reece
 

[treggyman]

Hi Reece

 

Keeping busy I see...

 

Good to see your progress....

 

I shall be popping in to the Hayle show so may see you there.....

 

Cheers Bill

[mudmagnet]

What a huge difference re-spraying the car. Great work!

[RSLR]

Hi,

A small update on the Largin box. Which is now finished and has been delivered to the customer, he was very pleased with the result.
The stairs are also scratch built, with other small details added. For N gauge it was a relatively simple project and built within a week. I earned £10 for building it!
The box will appear on his new layout which he will be exhibiting some time next year.

 

[RSLR]

Hi,

I attended the Hayle model railway show over the weekend to see a few friends, including Tom who attended with his new small layout of Lostwithiel.
A most interesting layout with a loop at either end so the train can run on the up line then return on the down line. Nicely detailed, with proper clay trains, a model of Lostwithiel Signal Box, a crossing with barriers and a bridge over the river.
The Rat on the long train of Clay Hoods was my doing as I convinced Tom to put them all on, it was too long to run around the loops at each end but it looked awsome!







While I was at the show, I went up to Kernow models stand today and said to Andy one of those, one of those and one of these.
I also purchased some chimneys for the clay dry and a GWR footbridge kit from another trader there.



Here they are out of the boxes, the 47 will be renumbered to 47306 The Sapper, the 25 to one of the St Blazey rats and I also got one of the new Polybulk wagons which Andy said they arrived the day before the show.The Polybulk has been eagerly awaited by many modellers.
I'm now waiting on the Tiger wagon to add to my collection of stock.



I've Unpacked the chimneys. They look awesome as is but some modification is needed.
I'll probably cut the tops off and build a more Cornish style cap, then just cut off the bottom portion and use the top half for my own stack. I've got an idea for the base which will be built in a stone finish.
I'm yet to decide on a colour but either a creamy yellow brick for the top or a red brick. Once finish i...t will be good to add the much awaited chimney to my West Fraddon clay dry and finally finish the roof with the sheet materials that came with my last order.

I'm researching the subject at the moment (and basing it on knowledge I already know). The tallest chimney to be built in Cornwall was around 250ft tall (Exact height is debatable) which belonged to a lead smelters and stood next to the railway line at Par, at the time it was the tallest structure west of Bristol. But was struck by lightening and later slowly demolished by local steeplejacks and eventually fell over by itself. The bricks were later reused. It's height equates to 1000mm or 1 metre in 4mm scale.
However my chimney belonging to a clay dry it will be considerably shorter.
Earlier last year a chimney on Par Moor was demolished which measured around 75ft.
Another chimney on a engine house (can't remember it's name) near Chacewater measured 70ft high although it was originally shorter but later it was extended to draw a greater draught.
The chimney belonging to the engine house at Lappa Valley is (supposedly) 120ft tall.
A paragraph in a old book about the height of a Cornish chimney stack say's the height of the brick top is 1/3 of the chimney's overall height. Another say's where the masons stone could not practically be cut smaller the rest of the chimney's height was built with brick to maintain the flue's internal diameter.

I'll probably model my chimney on the one at Rosemellyn as it's just down the road from where I live, and it's the most 'complete' stack in the style I'm after. There are a few interesting chimneys where I live. Round all brick, Square all brick (not surprising as they both belong to a brick works), Round 1/3 brick 2/3 stone.
With some careful detailed measurements, diameter measurements, brick counting and some light trigonometry I should be able to make a convincing scale chimney stack.


 

Something else happening on the real railways during last week was between Par and Newquay, there has been extensive PW activity and maintaining the line, a replacement bus service has been in place over the week.
One of the fascinating Rail machines out on the line is this Railvac machine which is pretty much a huge vacuum cleaner it can suck the old ballast and soil from beneath the sleepers so new ballast and packing can be placed, I believe as well as performing this task it can also clear leaves from the line to prevent the build up of residue on the rails.
I seen the machine briefly at night from a secret location

A full article on the machine in action can be found on the Cornwall railway website and a short film can be found on facebook.

Picture belongs to Mr Richard B aka richard37670

Cheers, Reece

 

[RSLR]

Hi,

Back to my own bit of modelling I've been Unweathering the Bachmann factory weathered Class 25 with my super awesome secret weapon! Die factory weathering! Die!
No paint finish, numbers, logos or windows were damaged during the process.
Here are some before and after shots:

Before

After


Half/Half


Half/Half


Relatively easy to remove. Later in the evening I given the engine a few laps on the West Fraddon layout.
New 'Bargain' Rat and the (in need of repair) clay dry with the chimney to show where it should go. (I hadn't completed all the unweathering at this point)

Just about see where the Chimney will go



Then I ran it with the Polybulk for a bit

 

Rat on Polybulk! Arrives into West Fraddon for loading.

Short Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJ3eewQWMFE&feature=youtu.be

 

Then Closer to the time now this is what I'm doing at 5:10 am, retouching in the front handrail to my Rat.
Used these Humbrol brushes a few times, they're not the finest available (as in size only going down to 00) but the grips, paint load and control you get is very good. Handy for doing the basic modelling tasks.
The Bachmann Class 25 is now free of any excess factory weathering, paint the driver and second man tomorrow then I can put it back together. Then it will join the rest of the fleet


 

Cheers, Reece