TomE

Poor Peckett! I do sympathise though. Things not going right is one of the more frustrating aspects of this hobby (Although I've not quite reached the stage of testing the aerodynamic properties of my rolling stock )

I have to wonder if the current level of 3D printing technology is up to the sort of standard that is required here. Whilst ok in larger scales, when we get down to 2mm FS the slightest imperfection is going to be a lot more obvious. If it were me at this stage I'd be tempted to try option 4, as I don't see that anything you do during assembly would cause the problem you describe.

I'm glad you are sticking with it though!

Tom.

Lots of bins to make too! The short grass might be best replicated with a carefully manipulated grass mat, with the grey gravel 'painted' over it, to avoid the appearance of a frayed, chopped edge?

The bins are another candidate for etching I think Will. Along with the new footbridge I have quite a list of items building up for etching, so will need to start looking into that soon!

Brilliant modelling even showing my mother the model she recognised it!

Well done it looks great

Thanks Tom! If people can recognise it even in unfinished form then I must be heading in the right direction!!

Beautiful scenics and groundwork, really impressive stuff.

 

Alex.

Thanks Alex!

Lovely work Tom.

 

Great to see more progress again...

Thanks Pete! Hope all the travelling between the UK and Spain isn't haveing too much of an impact on your modelling. I have visions of you with the mobile modelling stuido out on the seat back tray on the flight over here!

Cheers all,

Tom.

Nice work, Tom. I like the idea of using photos of the actual platform for the brick paper.

I bet you are really glad that the line features some of those nice LSWR barley-twist lamp posts aren't you?

 

David

Thanks David!

Luckily the two lamps that are on the section being modelled are mounted on lengths of rail rather than fancy twisted posts. I did think that if needed, some thin wire wrapped around some brass tube would create a twisted post effect passable enough in 2mm though.

I have been following this from the start Tom and all I can say is wow. I look forward to your next update and keep up the great work Stuart

Thanks Stuart!

Superb work with the brick paper. I have used it myself on a large retaining wall for the same reason. You get the added benefit of it looking exactly like the real thing.

Thanks Stephen.

I was worried that using paper wouldn't give enough relief, but i'm quite pleased with how the edging as turned out.

Looking very nice Tom, The platform looks fantastic as does the whole layout, It's going to be hard to tell the difference between model and the real thing soon.

 

Graham.

Thanks Graham!

Impressive as ever! Do you have any photos of the awkward bits on top of the embankment, the short grass or the fence?

Thanks Will!

This photo shows the fencing, and the grass area on top of the embankment. I think the fence is going to have to be a custom etch. I did think about making a jig with nails of the appropriate diameter and then wrapping thin wire around them before soldering on the horizontal sections, but that might not prove strong enough, not to mention it would be a bit on the fiddly side!

Cheers all,

Tom.

I can only agree with everyone else here, in no way have you let the side down!

I know exactly how you feel regarding the layout. Even though I have limited time with mine, sometimes I just sit there and look at it, but have no enthusiasm to actually do anything to it! Maybe a sideline project combining some of the new skills you have learnt the last year or so would help keep you in the modelling groove whilst working on Highclere whenever you feel like it? I'd also love to see what you can do in a smaller space!

Happy new year!

Tom. 

That luxury Toad is rather sweeeet! (in a Clarkson voice)

Tom.

Thanks all!

It's made a little progress since the post above:

Tom.

Hi Will.

The Class 37 definitely looks better shortend a bit. There was a little of the Class 40 about it before!

Tom.

It is understandable that there are days when there is not much to show despite working hard. Even though you do not have a lot to show it is always good to see pictures of your layout.

 

So with Christmas around the corner do you think there are any items of rolling stock that you will get?

Thanks Stephen! I don't think Santa will be delivering any rolling stock this year, not unless Dapol's West Countries arrive before the 24th!!

Fantastic photos as ever Tom.

 

If you haven't already done so, i'd suggest having a word with a certain young lady of this parish about getting the signals lit and working.

 

Andy

Thanks Andy! I have been going back through Julia's blog recently bookmarking the appropriate entries for just that purpose!

As above Tom, always good to see pics of the layout.

 

Lets hope Santa drops by Ropley...

Thanks Pete! Hopefully soon I'll be able to show something other than the water tower!

Nice pictures mate. Signal is looking good already, looking forward to seeing more.

Best regards,

Jeremy

Thanks Jeremy! The MSE etch is very good, considering the need to balance appearance with some structural strength!

Cheers all!

Tom

Wonderfully atmospheric! I've always had a thing for snow settings on layouts and that looks fantastic!

Tom.

Good luck with the new job Pete! Thats one hell of a commute though. Living only a 15 minute cycle ride from work, I really don't envy you!

Your comments about the brass sleepers are interesting as I was going to use that same method on Ropley, but may have to have a re-think if they are causing you issues. Sounds like PCB is the way to go perhaps.

Tom.

Something else to consider when gaping the PCB, is to offset it so it's hidden behind the rail on whichever side it is viewed from. Going further you might want to use a smidge of filler to hide the gap altogether.

I've seen many hand built points in all scales spoilt by a whopping great big grove down the middle of the sleepers!

Tom.

Easitrac does take a while to thread, but it's best to take it slow anyway to avoid bending the rail. I found that it doesn't take much to put a subtle bend in it which only reveals itself once the track is fastened down!

The 3MT is a lovely model, although I don't envy you converting it to 2mm!

Tom.

Another plus in favour of Power Spray I forgot to mention is that is can be used on clear plastic with no adverse effect. I left the glazing from the BG in some overnight as a test and it removed the printed bars on the inside of the glazing and the green paint from the frame with ease!

Cheers,

Tom.

Superb work there, I am intrigued by your use of Fairy Power Spray as I need to strip down a resin shell at some point soon so I am guessing it would be more suitable than a solvent based option...

Thanks Stephen! I've read that Power Spray can be used on Resin without any issues. I tested it out on an old body first and it even fetched off a layer of Halfords Primer without any effect on the plastic. The only thing I would say is get some gloves, as it does dry out the skin with prolonged contact.

I was looking at the picture thinking that cream is a good match but the brown is quite different and then I say the photo of the real one and realised that the brown should be quite different. A case of model what you see...

 

I like

Thanks Rich! The problem now, and as you can see from the photo of the real coach, is that the next one is a different colour brown again! Although given my track record its only a matter of time before it gets repainted in a different scheme anyway!

Looking good!

Thanks James!

That looks fantastic Tom Iv been following your progress on ropley and your standard of work is brilliant. I can only wish to get the same sort of finishes you get keep up the great work.

Stuart

Thanks Stuart! I've always said that if I can do it, anyone can!

Great stuff again Tom.

 

Always good to show the things that didn't quite go to plan so we can all learn by that...

 

Try and get served by the same person when you go back to get the roof colour

Cheers Pete! I wonder what she though I was painting! I think even Halfords will struggle with a match for Mk1 roof dark grey though!

Cheers all,

Tom.

Thanks Ben!

Tom.

Pleased to see the body has turned out well in the end! It's looking great, and that chassis is pretty impressive too considering the size!

Tom.

Lovely simple solution for point control there Pete! And the wiring is looking nice and tidy too.

Tom.

Looks like you had a great holiday, and some good finds too!

 

The 'Dutch' dogfish did seem to have had only a very limited release, while there were endless variations of the black with regional lettering, and crudely weathered rust black, with endless variations in regional engineers lettering. Inevitably those got bargain-binned, and it seems like Dapol decided on the basis of that "Dogfish don't sell well, we won't make any more for a while". Typical slightly flawed decision making of the RTR manufacturers! That said, not many of the dogfish made it into Dutch, despite it being more popular amongst modellers. I repainted one Dapol dogfish into Dutch myself, but then got some Stephen Harris finescale etches for both catfish and dogfish - perhaps I should sell on my Dapol wagon!

 

The finish on the blue riband Mk1 coaches is so good it almost seems a shame to repaint them doesn't it? I got a second blue BSK from a certain Liverpool model shop for a bargain price of

Nice work Pete. The point looks pretty enough to me! Those buffer stops are lovely too.

Tom.

Hello Tom.

Nice one - perhaps I ought to do this on my 0 scale "Ramchester" branch.

 

railwayrod

Thanks! If I can do it in this scale then really you have no excuse not too

Hi Tom,

 

Those lights look amazing mate! Especially in this small scale! Will you be doing some night time shots of the layout??

 

Best regards,

 

Jeremy

Thanks Jeremy!

Eventually, once the yard is a little more complete. I really need to work on the embankment and get some of the scenery complete at the rear of the layout before I install the lights to prevent accidental damage.

Cheers,

Tom.

Thanks Matt, Pete & David!

The lamp enclosures are from 10 thou plastic and made up of four pieces, top, bottom & 2 sides. They were a bit fiddly but worth the effort! Since the photo this morning I've found some very thin clear plastic to make the covers for the front of each unit. They were fixed in place with PVA and then then around the edge painted black. Heres a rather cruel close up to show this:

In the end I decided the light was a little too blue, so I painted on a very thin layer of Tamiya clear yellow which has brought it down a notch or two.

Cheers,

Tom.

Thanks Stephen. That isnt something I'd given any thought too in honesty, but I don't really envisage them being on for extended periods of time. In all probability the layout won't be set up for night running at exhibitions (It's not something that happens often on the real thing!)

Cheers,

Tom.

I wholeheartedly concur; exceptional quality and one of my favourite spots on the site.

Thanks Andy!

The depot is more compact than Green Street, St Hellier.

 

Lisa

Hi Lisa. I believe lack of space is something of an issue for the Mid Hants, and indeed Ropley is a small yard in comparision to many others on preserved railways!

Cheers,

Tom.

Thanks everyone! Much appreciated!

Tom.

Howdy Pete.

As already mentioned, the frame sets off the layout perfectly! Do those LED lights cast many shadows? From the photos it doesn't look like it but I would have thought that with all the individual light sources there might be some?

Tom.