MikeTrice Posted December 5, 2016 Share Posted December 5, 2016 As part of another topic regarding using Inkscape to produce cutting files I started to build a new diorama based on the Swiss Erstfeld Depot in N Gauge. Most of the remaining work is really down to scratchbuilding so I felt it more appropriate to start a new topic to cover the remaining build rather than continue cluttering up that topic. For anyone interested in ready in depth progress so far then feel free to visit http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/114528-using-inkscape-to-produce-cutting-files-a-worked-example/page-7&do=findComment&comment=2467653 For those of you that would like a quick summary here is a view of the depot building in question: My plan is to build the diorama in a 18ltr Really Useful Box. I took the precaution of producing a mock up to ensure everything fitted: The angle of the base was rotated using the rulers to denote the box dimensions until I was happy with the arrangement: A baseboard was built from a sheet of 5mm foam board: And a final check it fitted in the box: Various laminations of 10thou styrene were cut on the Silhouette cutter and assembled to make the two sides of the main shed. The side was then detailed with buttresses: The main shed front was more complex and is currently in this state: Watch this space! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike at C&M Posted December 6, 2016 Share Posted December 6, 2016 Watch this space! Space being watched.... with great interest! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeTrice Posted December 8, 2016 Author Share Posted December 8, 2016 6 of the 8 10 thou laminations that make up the front of the side shed: After lamination and spraying with primer. The white band on the left is bare styrene for subsequent solventing: By using lamination the different depths of the various features can be reproduced: The side of the main shed was left in two sub assemblies. These have now been laminated together after tidying up the window apertures: Closeup of the door detail: So I now have the main 3 sub assemblies which will hopefully become one unit this coming weekend: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeTrice Posted December 9, 2016 Author Share Posted December 9, 2016 I did get a chance to join the front and side of the main shed yesterday: The rear was reinforced with strips of 5mm*5mm styrene and corner fillets: Whilst doing this it started to dawn on my that I really did not know how to proceed having not thought the rest through. When I first attempted Erstfeld everything was aligned square to the board and the frontages were assembled as a single zig zag unit which was considerably lighter than my new attempt. Placing the new sides on the plan might help demonstrate my issues: Thinking things through I think I will initially build the two sheds separately. They will need rears to best support the roofs. Being at an angle may result in some interesting distortions, especially for the side shed which is not very deep. So I think I have worked out what I need to do and hopefully tomorrow will get an opportunity to prove it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeTrice Posted December 9, 2016 Author Share Posted December 9, 2016 Well that went well! A new back profile stretched from the Inkscape drawing to suit the skewed angle,cut out to provide access to the windows for later glazing: Front view. Needs tidying up but looking promising: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeTrice Posted December 10, 2016 Author Share Posted December 10, 2016 I think I am getting my mojo back! The main shed front face has been thickened with scraps of styrene and a roof profile former added: The same roof profile formed the basis of the rear support: I am using two layers for the roof, an inner thick styrene one and the one used as a base for the tiles. Here the upper part of the inner roof has been added stiffening up the whole structure. Another piece of styrene has been added as an eave filler: The lower piece of inner roof was cut to shape, scored to provide the bend at the eaves and fixed in place: The basic roof in place. Needs tidying up next: : Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeTrice Posted December 10, 2016 Author Share Posted December 10, 2016 A job I was dreading - adding the roof tiles. Here was the roof sheet I had produced on my previous topic using labels cut on the Silhouette and applied to a 20 thou styrene base: Much to my amazement it all went well: Sticking on the tile strips was a long tedious job so I only did enough to cover the roof with little spare. It was always my intent to have only half the roof present but I did have to tile the main wall where it would be visible from the front. As you can see I had very little spare to use: Could not resist posing the two sheds together for the first time to see how they are looking. Very pleased with the result: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeTrice Posted December 11, 2016 Author Share Posted December 11, 2016 My doubts regarding the effectiveness of the label adhesive proved well founded and they started to lift off the underlying substrate: Fortunately I was able to peel the tile layer off completely then apply 5 minute epoxy to the roof and reapply. They are not going to move again! 9 sets of door + 1 spare. It is so tempting to glue these to the ends but I know they will be a painting nightmare if I do so I need to be patient: Of course I can do a dry run to see what they will look like ;-) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeTrice Posted December 13, 2016 Author Share Posted December 13, 2016 Side shed has had more roof details added: The main shed has had various details added: ridge tiles, flashing, blind boxes, end lower rendering etc. The slightly milky bits are where I have used Vallejo Acrylic Putty to fill some of the gaps: Both parts have now been sprayed white ready for final painting. They still need a degree of handling so I need to do the ground contours first: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeTrice Posted December 14, 2016 Author Share Posted December 14, 2016 A new sheet of 5mm foamboard was cut to fit the baseboard and the outline of the buildings marked and cut out to form a recess: This has the effect of seating the buildings into the ground and locating them accurately: A quick check with a short length of code 55 Peco track confirms the height is OK: The ground level changes between the main shed and the side shed so the main shed ground was raised by laminating card and glueing to the baseboard: The ground level foamboard was then glued to the padding and the end glued directly to the baseboard in front of the side shed. This results in a slight slope downwards: The bit that was cut out was glued back joining the two levels with a gentle slope: After reseating the buildings the two different levels now work correctly: In readiness for laying the track the plan was put on the baseboard and the track outlines pricked through: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeTrice Posted December 15, 2016 Author Share Posted December 15, 2016 Peco Code 55 track has been glued in place. I had hoped to fudge the turnout crossing but it looks as if I am going to have to bite the bullet and produce a custom one. Might be a while: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeTrice Posted December 16, 2016 Author Share Posted December 16, 2016 I debated whether to cut up a Peco point to just leave the crossing but did not feel it would match the current rail positions. IT looked as if scratchbuilding was the only option. Having dabbled in building N Gauge turnouts in the past I had a supply of copperclad timbers and C+L Code 55 rail to hand. First a quick and crude template produced in Inkscape cut and fitted to test appearance. Once happy it was spaced in height with card so my finished turnout would align with the Peco track: A second copy of the template was printed and used as a crude assembly jig for the crossing vee: Timbers were cut and glued directly to the basebard template in the Swiss fashion: The vee was then soldered in place to align with the track: Stock rails were then added: And the final wing rails and check rails. No gauges were used for these as no stock would be running over it: This is the result, taken under artificial light. Surprising how visible the turnout will be in the shots so it has all been very worthwhile: Closeup in daylight: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Siberian Snooper Posted December 16, 2016 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 16, 2016 Great work, Mike. Although not a subject that I have much interest in, I have found this thread to be inspiring. Thanks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeTrice Posted December 19, 2016 Author Share Posted December 19, 2016 All exposed foam edges have been sealed with two coats of PVA glue brushed on. The trackwork has been sprayed in best Chris Nevard fashion with a mix of Halford's Grey, Red primer with some matt black thrown in for good measure: Now my scratchbuilt turnout blends in a lot better: With Christmas fast approaching SWMBO is finding more and more jobs for me to do so progress on Erstfeld is likely to be spasmodic. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahame Posted December 19, 2016 Share Posted December 19, 2016 Fantastic build and progress. G. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeTrice Posted December 21, 2016 Author Share Posted December 21, 2016 I have started laying the various walkways. Those at the front of the shed were based on some strip scored and cut on the Silhouette. In hindsight those in the centre of the rails need raising a fraction: The rear walkways are planked (probably old sleepers) so these were also done on the Silhouette: Doing these sort of details makes me realise how little information I have on these areas of the shed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Siberian Snooper Posted December 21, 2016 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 21, 2016 Mike, will you be putting track in the shed? as you can see so much through the windows. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeTrice Posted December 21, 2016 Author Share Posted December 21, 2016 Yes. I also have a couple of Del Prado static N Gauge models to mount on the track. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neils WRX Posted December 21, 2016 Share Posted December 21, 2016 Are you planning to put power to the track so you can move a loco in and out of the shed? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeTrice Posted December 21, 2016 Author Share Posted December 21, 2016 No, the doors will be permanently closed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neils WRX Posted December 22, 2016 Share Posted December 22, 2016 No, the doors will be permanently closed. Ok, just a thought it would have made an interesting project for automation, shed doors open, loco puts its lights on and crawls into the daylight, then the doors close again, then a bit later the whole process reversed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Satan's Goldfish Posted December 23, 2016 Share Posted December 23, 2016 Finally, a use for Del Prado! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeTrice Posted December 24, 2016 Author Share Posted December 24, 2016 You look at something for ages and think you know it well, then suddenly discover something that should have hit you in the eye from the start. Reference to the first photograph on this topic shows a door let into one of the bays of the main shed. Guess who has only just spotted it???? Further progress will now have to await until after Christmas so may I take this opportunity to thank those who have been following my progress ans wish them a very happy one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Siberian Snooper Posted December 25, 2016 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 25, 2016 Merry Christmas, Mike. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold PaulRhB Posted December 25, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 25, 2016 Very nice Mike, when laminating the thin layers do you just flood around the edges or have spit holes in the laminates that get hidden later. I always worry about trapping glue where it's not going to go off with styrene cement. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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