Bodmin Generally

[Phatbob]

Last weekend saw the debut of my “new” exhibition layout, “Bodmin Generally” at the Furness MRC show in Barrow in Furness.  “New” is in quotation marks as the layout has in fact been around a while and has been exhibited before a few times “Daarn Saarff” (I now live in Warrington).

The layout is based on Bodmin General, but is not a precise reconstruction, hence "Generally", rather than "General".  It was built by my friend Brian Stenning and purchased from his wife after he sadly passed away.  The layout is now in my care and operated as running in the summer of 1963 using my own rolling stock.  I picked 1963 as the WR had moved to diesel hydraulic traction by then, but the SR were still using steam.  A great excuse for both types of traction on the same layout.

The following paragraphs were written by the builder, Brian Stenning who sadly passed away in 2014. 

“I wanted to build a Western Region layout based on a prototype station.  Preferably, a small branch terminus, and after searching for a suitable track design I finally decided on Bodmin General around the late 1950s, early 1960s period.  I have adapted the track plan to suit the board size and whilst I have tried to make the buildings as near to the prototype as I could, with my limited modelling skills, I soon realized that I would have to settle on buildings that are similar but not exactly prototypical – hence the name Bodmin (Generally).  I hope the purists will forgive me.”

The base-boards are constructed of 9mm MDF on 2” x 1’’ softwood frames.  All trackwork is PECO Code 75 on a cork base and ballasted with granite chippings.  Points are controlled electrically with PECO point motors.

The station building is constructed using at least three Ratio station building kits suitably adapted, whilst the signal box and goods shed are also slightly modified Ratio kits.  The engine shed is scratch built using, in the main, Wills materials, as are the platform, retaining walls and the bridge.  Woodland Scenics materials have been used for the majority of the landscaping.

[Pigwife007]

Hi Phatbob

Sounds very interesting. Got any pics for us

Dan

[roundhouse]

A few photos of the layout taken last weekend at the Furness show.

 

A quiet moment for the signalman. A well made model by Brian.

 

 

Also a quiet moment at the loco shed

 

An overall view of the scenic part of the layout

[hayfield]

My next layout will be bases like yours on Bodmin General, but in preservation era, so I can run both GWR and SR locos in varying liveries. I too thought of a bit of kit bashing for the buildings plus altering the goods yard slightly, as the turnouts and crossings will be hand built I have decided to build it to EM gauge, I have mostly kit built locos with Romford/Markit wheels so a quick chassis rebuild and axle replacements is all that's needed

 

Great set of photos and more would be interesting, thanks for the thread

[roundhouse]

A few more photos taken at the weekend.

 

The bubblecar is one of mine and is fitted with sound. However this layout is conventional DC.

 

Some  of Bobs Hydraulics

 

Another one of my locos on one of the SR workings from Wadebridge. Bobs 02 will be a  regular visitor on Bodmin.

Edited October 17, 2017 by roundhouse

[LBRJ]

You seem to have generally captured the feel of the place very well indeed!

[Phatbob]

If anybody would like to see the layout "in the flesh", so to speak, I'll be taking it to the Warrington MRC's exhibition this weekend.
http://www.warringtonmodelrail.co.uk/exhibition/4576118762

[Regularity]

Hmm.

Incorrect track gauge for the scale.

Wrong rail profile, mostly.

Wrong size and spacing of sleepers and timbers.

 

But frankly, who cares? This is really well executed, and lovely to look at. I looked at how carefully the track has been laid, and I bet it runs as well as it looks.

 

Bittersweet for you, I am sure, but it is always wonderful to see a friend taking on the mantle for a deceased modeller. I imagine you are very proud to be able to do this.

Edited October 19, 2017 by Regularity

[St Enodoc]

Last weekend saw the debut of my “new” exhibition layout, “Bodmin Generally” at the Furness MRC show in Barrow in Furness.  “New” is in quotation marks as the layout has in fact been around a while and has been exhibited before a few times “Daarn Saarff” (I now live in Warrington).

The layout is based on Bodmin General, but is not a precise reconstruction, hence "Generally", rather than "General".  It was built by my friend Brian Stenning and purchased from his wife after he sadly passed away.  The layout is now in my care and operated as running in the summer of 1963 using my own rolling stock.  I picked 1963 as the WR had moved to diesel hydraulic traction by then, but the SR were still using steam.  A great excuse for both types of traction on the same layout.

The following paragraphs were written by the builder, Brian Stenning who sadly passed away in 2014. 

“I wanted to build a Western Region layout based on a prototype station.  Preferably, a small branch terminus, and after searching for a suitable track design I finally decided on Bodmin General around the late 1950s, early 1960s period.  I have adapted the track plan to suit the board size and whilst I have tried to make the buildings as near to the prototype as I could, with my limited modelling skills, I soon realized that I would have to settle on buildings that are similar but not exactly prototypical – hence the name Bodmin (Generally).  I hope the purists will forgive me.”

The base-boards are constructed of 9mm MDF on 2” x 1’’ softwood frames.  All trackwork is PECO Code 75 on a cork base and ballasted with granite chippings.  Points are controlled electrically with PECO point motors.

The station building is constructed using at least three Ratio station building kits suitably adapted, whilst the signal box and goods shed are also slightly modified Ratio kits.  The engine shed is scratch built using, in the main, Wills materials, as are the platform, retaining walls and the bridge.  Woodland Scenics materials have been used for the majority of the landscaping.

Very nice. I didn't know Brian but his (also, sadly, now late) son Graham was a former colleague and good friend. I will follow your thread with interest.

[Phatbob]

Very nice. I didn't know Brian but his (also, sadly, now late) son Graham was a former colleague and good friend. I will follow your thread with interest.

 

Thanks for that.

Graham was a very good friend of mine too.  He, others, and I spent many a weekend at shows operating one of Roundhouse's layouts, then enjooying each other's company and a few real ales "apris-exhibition". 

We've carried on without him, but he's much missed when we raise a toast to "absent friends".

[St Enodoc]

 

Thanks for that.

Graham was a very good friend of mine too.  He, others, and I spent many a weekend at shows operating one of Roundhouse's layouts, then enjooying each other's company and a few real ales "apris-exhibition". 

We've carried on without him, but he's much missed when we raise a toast to "absent friends".

PM sent.

[roundhouse]

A few more photos taken at the Furness show last weekend. Unfortunately I couldn't be helping this weekend at the Warrington show so Bob has been working on more of his locos instead of using a few of mine but that does mean that if you are visiting both shows then there will be a bit more variety on the layout.

 

One of the photos shows Mike modified slip coach. He is currently working on one for Bob to produce the later version after it was no longer used as a slip coach

[Phatbob]

'Afternoon all.
In case anybody is interested, Bodmin Generally will be appearing in public again soon.  THis time at the Macclesfield MRG show in March.
https://www.macclesfieldmrg.org.uk/exhibition/
Do say hello.

[Phatbob]

They say that every cloud has a silver lining.  The cancellation of the Preston show last weekend left me with a free weekend at short notice.  So a few improvements got made to Bodmin Generally over the weekend, ready for the Macclesfield show this weekend.  Hopefully, my layout minions will appreciate the improved ergonomics in the fiddleyard.  Next job will, I think, be to imbed more magnets in the track for the Kadees couplinngs, now that I have more of an idea where they should be located.
Hope to see some of you at Macc this weekend.

[Phatbob]

Macc show done and dusted.  What an excellent weekend it was.
Splendid exhibition, great hospitality and an excellent feed from the dinner Ladies of Tytherington school.
The modifications to the layout worked okay and I now have a couple more possible invitations to future exhibitions elsewhere. 
After another weekend of operating the layout the exhibiting team have come to a remarkably unanimous decision as to where the uncoupliing magnets for the Kadees need to go.  So that's the next job.

[roundhouse]

Bodmin Generally is in the following video (at 5.25) taken at the Macclesfield show

 

https://youtu.be/DKcWtuhcvsE?t=327

[Phatbob]

If you want to See Bodmin Generally "in the flesh", I'll be showing it at the L&YDCC groups show at the Transport Museum, Manchester on 19th and 20th of May.

http://www.lydcc.org.uk/exhibition2017Maymodified%2010052017.html

Do drop in and say hello.

Edited May 9, 2018 by Phatbob

[Andrew P]

Superb Layout and pics, cheers for sharing.

[Phatbob]

Bodmin Generally is now set up at the Transport Museum, Manchester.  Now ready for a couple of days on show at MRX 2018.  I gather that there's a wedding on somewhere tomorrow and some footballing going on in that London, but I'm sure everybody will come on down to the show instead.
Please!

[Phatbob]

Bodmin Generally will be appearing at The Model Show in Poynton, Cheshire this weekend.
http://www.themodelshow.co.uk/?page_id=1271
Do pop in and say hello.
Always a great event.  Now only plenty of layouts, but also boats (in a pool!  ), planes, the whole spectrum of model making.

[Phatbob]

Bodmin Generally will be appearing at the York Show this weekend.  Do say hello.  We'll be at the North end of the second mezzanine floor, possibly sweltering in the heat in front of those big windows.  We shall see...................

 

[Phatbob]

Bodmin Generally is going to the Liverpool MRS show in the old church at Waterloo (that's Merseyside, not Lambeth) during the weekend after next.
Do pop in and say hello.  Always a good show.

 

[Phatbob]

After a lengthy hiatus courtesy of "germageddon", Bodim Generally will finally be making it's appearance at the Preston show (

) over the first weekend in March.  Do pop in and say hello.  So long I get the modifications finished in time Bodimin Generally will be featuring fully working signals for the first time.

[Phatbob]

I've been looking through my camera and have realised that i've not uploaded any of the images I took at the last York show.  So here they are.  The Hawkesworth "ex-slip coach" BCK was converted for me by Mike Peace using the RTR Hornby model of an ordinary BCK as a basis.

Edited April 3, 2022 by Phatbob
Reposted

[durham light infantry]

Are you going to install the sign, that I took a photo of for you. Seems like such a long time ago.

 

Mike