Hunters Lane WCML in N

[bmthtrains - David]

The GSM-R mast is a 3D printed design I made - I think they’re still up for sale on Shapeways if you search for ‘modern image models’.

 

I’ve removed the scenic section to work on the rear this morning and thankfully it just lifted off with no problems at all. I’m still in two minds about the colour of the embankment grass though. In natural light it’s a bit better but it’s very bright to my eyes and I’d prefer something a little more desaturated. I’ll continue on this section as it is but will also order a late summer version of the grass mat as this looks more faded and washed out. It wouldn’t be too disruptive to replace the two sections if it looks a lot better.

 

David

 

[bmthtrains - David]

A bit more progress now - the rear has been landscaped and the road markings finished. Lamps, fences and the post box have been added. Still to do are road signs, street name signs, and a traffic lighted pedestrian crossing at the back right. I’m happier with how the front colours appear now but can always redo that bit if I decide to.

 

last photo shows how the buildings will fit into this are of the layout. 
 

David

 

 

 

[woodenhead]

It's looking really good, but I am confused by the yellow box junction - exactly what is it protecting from blocking?

 

Sorry to be picky.

[bmthtrains - David]

It probably shouldn’t be there as the real location has another road to the right so it would stop traffic blocking the route. I’ve kept it simply to add colour and interest even though I’ve omitted the road. I can always peel it off if I decide it’s too odd.

 

David

[Melangoose]

Great progress on the layout, you are putting the rest of us to shame.   Keep up the good work.

[bmthtrains - David]

The late summer version of the grass mat I used on the embankment arrived over the weekend and while pictures may not show the extent of the difference I was sufficiently impressed to replace the existing mat. It was a fairly simple job and I’m much happier with the more faded and less lurid colours. The bottom photo compares the new (top) to the old (bottom).

 

Only snag was that was the last sheet of that colour mat I’ve been able to find in the UK. Getting more may prove expensive!

 

David

 

 

 

[Melangoose]

That looks amazing David (looks so realistic),  I’m going to have to look into this Martin Welberg stuff for my layout.

[bmthtrains - David]

Hi Nigel, I may have to stock up before everyone else buys all the stock! The mats are very easy to work with and all the tufts and bushes add a lot of realism when placed on top.

Currently pondering exactly what will go on the front right of the scene to the right of the industrial units - possibly some overgrown disused land.

 

David 

 

[bmthtrains - David]

As the urban end of the layout is developing I’ve started to mock up the buildings that will go there. Drawing up some quick facades allows me to check different massing and detailing options. The block of flats by the bridge is fairly close to being a final design (it now has an entrance to the rear parking which kind of justifies the yellow box on the road outside!):

 

 

Behind the left hand road is going to be a Royal Mail depot with offices, so a low warehouse with a tower block to the side. Three versions of the block are helping me decide between them: 

 

brick to one side:

 

brick and staircase glazing to one side:

 

the same as above but a wider facade:

 

All three seem to work but I’m currently leaning towards the first but with the staircase glazing used on the side facade.

 

David 

[bmthtrains - David]

Here’s the hybrid version that I’m thinking of going with:

 

 

David

[JackB95]

That's fantastic! Really beautiful scenery work. How are you going to build the buildings? Delicious.

[bmthtrains - David]

The buildings will be mostly laser cut Perspex to match the ROC. On previous layouts I tended to use card and the excellent Scalescenes texture sheets but I am using an all-plastics approach this time so I can build experience using my airbrush for painting and weathering. As with the ROC they will have backsprayed windows and no interiors - glass is actually far more reflective than Perspex or acetate and so at this scale from normal viewing distance you wouldn’t see inside anyway. Too clear windows on a model don’t look at all realistic to my eyes.

 

David

[Melangoose]

8 hours ago, bmthtrains - David said:

Here’s the hybrid version that I’m thinking of going with:

 

 

David

Very nicely done

[branchie]

Looking good - I'd be perfectly happy to use the mock ups!

[shanks522]

The mock ups look spot on, I think the large drab brickwork is perfect, for me it’s the gentle gradient of the road, just looks right.

 

keep up the great work.

 

Graham. 

[bmthtrains - David]

A small update today - appropriate as small things have been added to the road scene: road name signs, traffic signs, a grit box, and the traffic lights and railings by the crossing.

 

Next jobs are to finish the drawings for the apartment block, and then lift this scenic module off and get back to wiring and rail painting…

 

David

 

 

 

[ste234]

Looks fantastic, the royal mail mock up is better than some things I've made and finished! The road surface looks so realistic, it's a big bug bear of mine at the moment that I can't decide what colour to use for the surface, you seem to have nailed it!

[bmthtrains - David]

Thanks for all the nice comments so far!

 

Completing the CAD drawings of the apartment block over the weekend I decided that I’m going to use metal etches for the window frames. This meant a slight detour in that to keep the price down to a minimum it will be far cheaper to order everything I intend to have photo etched on the same plate. With this in mind I spent a couple of hours drawing up a full plate with everything I will need. This includes windows for the apartment block, Royal Mail offices, the front industrial units, and the ROC (which is still unfinished until these are installed). I also drew up the new OHLE components I need as N Brass only do older register and support arms. Two types of current WCML arms have been designed.

 

I will have to save a few pennies before ordering this as it will be around £100 I think, but the etches will add a lot of fineness to the layout so definitely worth it.

 

David

 

 

 

[bmthtrains - David]

Another planning job this week has been working out the order and height of the OHLE equipment. There will be 7 portals on the stretch of line I’m modelling, with bridges at either end and the big signal gantry about 1/3 of the way along. To get a realistic placement and to decide between the different equipment types, I drew up a diagram to see which would best go where:

 

 

The bottom row shows (left to right): standard N Brass fittings at the ‘standard’ height as marked on the portal etch, about right for the bridge height; the signal gantry height showing good wire clearance; my new etches on a standard height N Brass portal; and my other design on a full height portal. This last one looks a good one to place in front of the signal gantry as the portal doesn’t block the view of the signal heads.

 

The top row puts them in order (bridges either end and gantry between portals 2 and 3).

 

There won’t be any actual wires but hopefully this will give a realistic appearance  to the rise and fall of the imaginary wires as this 3D version of my diagram shows:

 

 

Looking at images and films of OHLE on the real WCML there seems to be no rhyme or reason why different equipment is used on open track - I’ve seen individual 4 track portals with 3 different types of arm on. Even with the raised triangular support arms some portals have all 4 pointing the same way while others have 3 pointing right and one left, or 2 pointing each way…

 

Which ways I have them pointing will probably be an artistic decision - too many variations may look a bit odd.

 

David

[bmthtrains - David]

Continuing my efforts to avoid the necessary but boring tasks of wiring and rail painting, I’ve made a start on the ROC car park. There is only so much I can do before the base is glued down so there are plenty of details such as signs, fences, lights, CCTV cameras etc, and a covered cycle store that has yet to be designed still to come. I’ve sprayed the road and pavement, added grass mat where the rear bushes and trees will eventually sit, and added and weathered the markings. The bay markings are a little too short but won’t be particularly visible when this is all finished. The ROC will sit on the large pavement section.

 

David 

 

[bmthtrains - David]

A quick check of the car park base in situ. The card is curling a little but that will sort itself out when glued to the baseboard.

 

I’ve been looking in vain for any decent bike racks and have decided to design my own and add the parts to my big etch order. Now I need to find some decent N gauge bicycles to check the sizes against.

 

David 

 

[AndrueC]

How are you intending to paint the rails? I'm a long way from that myself but would like to do a better job than on my last layout. Previously I tried the Woodland Scenics painters which were okay but the tips didn't last long enough becoming ragged after just a few metres of track. I kept the pens as a source of paint.

 

I also have the problem this time around that I don't want to get paint on my ballast because it's foam so I'm thinking I might just have to grab a very fine paint brush and do it manually.

 

It's also interesting to see your yard in that shot. I have two I will be doing and was going to go with concrete for a modern look on one and old cinders/dirt for the older one.

Edited June 21, 2022 by AndrueC

[bmthtrains - David]

The rails on the left board have already been painted - a boring job but the best approach really is a fine brush and a tin of Humbrol paint. I always paint them before ballasting but if you’ve got foam ballast it’s a bit more tricky. With a steady hand you shouldn’t get any paint on it, I tend to get a couple of marks on the sleepers but they just wipe off.

 

David

[GWRPhil]

7 hours ago, bmthtrains - David said:

A quick check of the car park base in situ. The card is curling a little but that will sort itself out when glued to the baseboard.

 

I’ve been looking in vain for any decent bike racks and have decided to design my own and add the parts to my big etch order. Now I need to find some decent N gauge bicycles to check the sizes against.

 

David 

 

That shot really gives a great feel for what they layout is going to become. It’s really starting to take shape. Great work. 

[bmthtrains - David]

Wildly off topic, but it probably comes as no surprise given my modelling history that I have a deep interest in architectural modelmaking. Having retrained as a professional modelmaker and moved into higher education teaching, I was awarded my PhD last year and have now written a book charting the history of architectural modelmaking in Britain, due to be published by Routledge this December. It’s an academic text and has nothing to do with model railways (except for an appearance by Wenman Bassett-Lowke) but it might be of interest to a few members of the forum.

 

David

 

Edited June 26, 2022 by bmthtrains - David