TomE

Hi All. I've come to the conclusion that modelling a real life location is somewhat of a mixed blessing. On one hand you can go there, see the place for yourself and get some valuable photos & notes to aid with replicating it in a smaller scale. On the other hand, you know exactly what you have to model and where it needs to go, and there is always the thought that if you miss something someone will point it out sooner or later! So, taking advantage of the fact that the Mid Hants is just a short distance from home, I charged the camera batteries and went to gather some photos of the various details around Ropley yard so they can be re-created in N gauge. On the face of it there doesn't appear to be much to the yard in general. Here is a view of the area being modelled looking East: And to the West: However, when you look around there is a whole host of smaller details that are begging to be reproduced. The ash pit outside the wheel drop shed is an area which will need careful attention to replicate the ash covered bricks and deposits. Those access steps (or whatever they are) will also need to be reproduced, possibly a candidate for a small etching? Also note the hose running along the ground and down the steps: Down by the water tower is a the diesel fuelling point, again a lot more detail and when combined with the water tower it's self almost a mini diorama: A flooded water drain, another etch for the drain cover perhaps? There are also a few signs dotted around for which the actual photos will be used to produce them by printing them off to the correct size: By the access road to the south of the shed there are a collection of storage sheds which will just sit on the very edge of the board. Again this is almost a mini diorama in itself and will probably be tackled as such before being added to the layout. There were various barrels and gas cylinders stored in these which will be modelled: And just next to these is a stored boiler. Another interesting proposition for modelling. Rivets in N gauge anyone! An interesting collection of springs by the coal staiths. Also some wheelbarrows which will need to be modelled: As mentioned there were quite a few hoses lying around the yard too along with various pipe work & taps. This photo also shows the old sleepers retaining the higher level yard, some of which don't seem to be doing much retaining! So whilst modelling a preserved railways yard on the face of it might not sound like much of a challenge, there are a lot of smaller details which will add a touch of realism to this project if I can recreate them effectively in N gauge. Some of them won't be easy, but that’s half the fun, right? Cheers, Tom Oh, nearly forgot, a couple of gratuitous preserved steam engine photos:

That 139....[Clarkson]sweeeeeeet[/Clarkson] The 37 look good too Tom.

Hi Nick. Yes, it's certainly come a long way in the last few years and hopefully will continue to improve! Cheers, Tom.

Thanks Nick, Dave & jackrob! Will - I don't think it'll fit in the letter box I'll watch for your blog update, always interested in different ways of producing scenics! Cheers, Tom.

The finish on the FGW sample on display at the members day was superb. I sometimes find Dapol finishes a bit flat, but this had just the right amount of shine to it. Just a shame I don't need one........ Tom

Thanks Pete & Missy I'm quite pleased how it's turned out. The technique just needs fine tuning a little before it's used in anger on Ropley. Tom.

Coming along nicely Will. Adding landscape it's the part I enjoy the most, it takes you away from shelf, to model railway. Tom.

Hi all. To begin with, a slight diversion from modelling, but in the name of research....Tangmere hauling the Dorset Coast Express just after passing Pirbright Junction on the 5th July: Back to modelling, following on from the previous entry I have constructed a larger test board to try out the method for producing bramble type ground cover. I was happy with the basic principals of using the Steel wool however I felt the Noch leaves were maybe a little on the large side for N. So, after a few passes through a sieve to weed (!) out the larger lumps I have tried producing a section of embankment similar to the section which will be needed on Ropley. This is the real thing, and the effect I'm aiming for: The test piece was knocked together using some foamboard scraps and polyfiller, although I think another method of producing the landscape will be needed for the layout as the polyfiller adds quite a bit of weight. Once dry, the whole thing was sprayed with RailMatch Frame Dirt and before this was dry, Treemendus Earth powder sprinkled on the base of the embankment and a short way up it. This was done to try and recreate the appearance of earth being dug away. Once this was dry, a light covering of Woodland Scenics fine turf was applied as a base layer but leaving some of the earth powder exposed at the bottom: After this, some steel wool was teased out, sprayed and the sieved leaves applied before being glued to the embankment. I left a few gaps here and there which then had Woodland Scenics Field Grass applied. Again I think Static grass will give a slightly better appearance here which is something to try next time: After this had dried a very light dusting of frame dirt was applied to even out the appearance. Sieving the leaves has helped I think. They are maybe still a little large but this doesn't stand out so much as part of a larger area. For comparison here’s the original test piece and the embankment together: Next on the cards is those trees along the top of the embankment! Cheers all, Tom.

It's nice to have finally seen Highclere in the flesh! It really is a super layout and thank you for letting me pla...err...operate it for a little while! It's also given me a few ideas to experiment with and I'll be watching for the signal mechanism development Thanks again, Tom.

First decorated samples on the Dapol Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dapol-Ltd/214563285228094 Tom.

Here you go Missy: As I say, I think the leaves are a little on the big side for N/2mm out of the bag. Maybe passing them through a sieve before to remove the larger pieces would help, something I'll try next time. Cheers, Tom.

I hadn't even thought of that! Running a magnet over it is probably a wise move but I think the dousing in paint then foliage should stop any stray strands. A final coat of hairspray will also help keep everything where it should be. Tom.

Thanks James. The photos are about 8 times the size of the actual piece of foam board! Tom.

Hi all. There are plenty of excellent materials available these days for producing scenics, many of which give excellent results without much effort. However I find scenics one of the most satisfying parts of building a model and I'm always on the lookout for materials which are easy to pick up but will give the same results as some of the products you can buy. Whilst I'm waiting for more track parts to arrive, I have been trying out methods of producing undergrowth for use on Ropley. I had seen reference to using Steel wool in tree making and whilst in a well known orange supplier of building materials picked up a roll for future experimentation. Having used seafoam on the modern image test plank for low growth on the embankments, I was looking for something a bit finer in appearance and the steel wool looked just right for this too. Here is the product off the shelf: This was gently teased out into roughly the shape I was looking for: It was then given a liberal coat of Railmatch Frame Dirt. Don't be shy with the spray! Before this was dry, it was quickly dipped into a bowl filled with Noch Leaves (two different colours mixed were used here): And this is the result attached to a small piece of foamboard covered with Treemendus Normandy Earth Powder and some Woodland Scenics field grass added. This would probably benefit from being applied with a static applicator: Really the Noch leaves are a little on the large side for N, I need to find a way of making them a bit smaller, but the effect is quite pleasing (to my eye anyway!) Experiments with trees are next on the cards. Cheers all.

Hi all. Not much visible progress to report this time, however there has been some progress in the power area. After using a Bachmann EZ Command rigged up to allow test running, I finally took the plunge and bought myself an NCE Powercab for use on Ropley. Dropper wires were attached along the length of the 'main line' which were attached to a main power bus running the length of the board and the bus was wired into the neat little power panel supplied with the Powercab. I also acquired a DCC Concepts Cobalt point motor and AD1 decoder to try out after reading the favourable reviews around the net. Unfortunately the first AD1 was faulty, but a replacement worked as advertised and I've been enjoying watching everything function simply by using the Powercab handset. Heres a short video from the iphone showing the first point wired and working http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEecEHS9HqI The Cobalt isn't exactly silent but it seems a bit more positive than the Tortoises I've used in the past and the wiring is really quite simple which made the installation a breeze once the working AD1 arrived! Once yet another shipment of parts arrives from the 2mm Scale Association work on the track in the yard can get underway, including the barry slip at the entrance. Cheers all, Tom.

Really nice work on the hotel David! Reminds me of St.Pancras but on a slightly smaller scale! Tom.

Nice work. It looks excellent! The cattle dock in particular is very effective. May I ask how are you doing the grass? With a static applicator? Tom.

Considering this is 2mm, that joint looks pretty darn good to me! Once you've got some grass on that embankment & painted the station forecourt it'll be pretty much invisible Tom.

Hi Michael. It was the Normal Earth powder, not the Normandy one. It's No.4 on their products page. http://www.treemendusmodels.co.uk/productguide.htm Tom.

Nick - Thanks for the info on the name! WC - Yes, I think you are correct, so I've adjusted the template slightly to give more distance between the frog and the blades: I think now clearance won't be a problem! Don - looking a photos of an obtuse crossing, I'm glad there are non here! Cheers all Tom.

Hi all! There has been one job I haven't really been looking forward too as far as trackwork goes, namely the overlapping points at the entrance to the yard. I'm not sure if there is an official name for this type of arrangement but here's the prototype setup at Ropley: © Copyright David Sands So today I've drawn up a template using that provided with the Easitrac point base in order to get the right geometry. I'm not too worried about 100% accurate sleeper positions because they are pretty much buried beneath a layer of ash & muck, more so these days than in the photo above! Here's the template: And printed and placed in position on the board: My only concern at the moment is whether the switch blades will have enough room given the extra allowances for N gauge stock, It's going to be a bit tight I think! Cheers, Tom

Hi BL. The test sample above was straight from the bag, so the treemendus ground powder is passable without being sieved. For the best effect i think it would benefit from at least one pass through. Cheers, Tom

Hi all Ballasting, some love it, some hate it, but there is no getting away from it. At some point it has to be done! The mainline 'plank' featured earlier in this blog (and still alive - just) was a fairly simple thing to tackle, although I wasn't really that happy with the Woodland Scenics "fine" ballast I used. It wasn't really fine enough for N. So for Ropley I've been looking around for a better product for the main line & loop which is pretty standard as far as ballast goes with non of the ashy muck found in the yard area. The latest trial is using something I stumbled across on the forum, and although not really intended as ballast, I think is just what I'm looking for. Enter Treemendus Earth Powder. A very fine product which is intended for making lanes or bare ground in larger scales but which works excellently as ballast in N / 2mm. The only thing I would recommend is that it's put through a fine sieve first as there are a few larger particles but otherwise I'm quite pleased with the results. (I must apologise for the photos, I don't have the usual camera with me so these are lowly iphone snaps!) The test stretch was fixed in place with Kleer which it seemed quite happy with before being weathered. All I have to do now is finish the trackwork and then I can get stuck in! Cheers all, Tom. P.S. I must say that the service from Treemendus was first class! No relation other than a very happy customer!

It would be a terrible shame to see Highclere scrapped, there is some really quite excellent modelling taking place! Usually if I come across something causing me grief I'll take a step back, and move onto another area of the layout for a while whilst I consider the problem. After a few days a new way of tackling the issue may spring to mind! For what it's worth I'd say stick with it! Tom.

It's taking shape nicely Will! Once you have the trees in and a sky painted the shadow perhaps won't be so noticeable? Tom.