rcf

1 hour ago, Siberian Snooper said:

A PM to the mods, may get you an answer to your photo query.

 

 

Thanks for that, I have done an item on the faults and help topic, so will see what happens.

Rob

Hi

I started a thread on Layout Topics back in 2012 but when I had a look back today to check something I noticed that none of my earlier photos were available, and this included some downloaded by others. I know that these may have been input prior to the restriction on picture size and am wondering whether this is now an issue. However, they were there until quite recently. The message I get is 'requested URL not found on this server'. Can anyone help with this problem and is there anything I can do to retrieve these photos?

Rob

Hi Everyone,

I can't believe how long it is since I posted on any progress. As I mentioned in one of my last posts the railway room was required for other reasons. This went on longer than expected and I guess my mojo also left me by the time the room became available again for railway related activities. However, I managed to rouse myself to the extent of re-erecting the old New Osney boards after Christmas so I can now wander in and consider options for its future development and play around with card mock-ups.

As part of on going research I was looking back through this thread for a photo of one of the previous layouts and discovered that the photos on earlier pages no longer load and this includes some photos that others had down loaded. I recall that at some stage there was a restriction on the size of photos you could down load and it it likely that those photos that won't load pre date that restriction. If that is the case it is quite a recent problem as I can recall looking at some of these older photos not so long ago. If anyone with more technical know how has an answer to this issue I would love to know what it is and whether there is anything I can do about it.

In the meantime I continue to play with ideas for the new build.

Regards to all Rob

18 hours ago, Stubby47 said:

Have been meaning to do the Welsh Highland line since it opened, haven't managed it yet. 

 

 

Hi Stu, I can thoroughly recommend it, lovely scenery  but it is a long trip, if you travel the whole line you need to allow the best part of the day.

17 hours ago, marc smith said:

Hi Rob,

It has been some time since I last caught up with your modelling good sir. And I must say, I'm as pleased as ever that I have been browsing this thread  
Superb, as always. Although you say your modelling has been at a "snail's pace" - it's more than I've been doing... and anyway - this hobby is not about rushing things (well, not for me anyway lol)

I always liked that very short siding in front of Hemyock station, by the cattle dock - and I see you've replicated that. Nice indeed.
I agree with what others have said too. You have created some lovely details and cameos. Now, I must read back through the thread, in case there's anything I've missed. 

ATVB, and hope you're well, and continue your excellent modelling  

Hi Marc, good to hear from you and I'm sorry you are unable to model at the moment. I have long been a fan of your work and as you may remember you were instrumental in getting me posting on hear in the first place, so hopefully you will be able to get back to it some time in the future so we can once more enjoy your work.

Rob

The consensus seems to be to keep the siding, but you know me, simple in everything, and if you are struggling to find a use for it, then in my book, it is surplus to requirements and should come out. I think it would look ok without it, just my personal opinion. I will watch the build with interest.

Rob

1 hour ago, Donw said:

If is often nice to have something big at the front I think a nice old willow leaning over the river osney.

 

Don

I'm a big fan of having something big at the front Don, but a willow tree sounds like a step too far, but then again, what a challenge. I will have to get my Gordan Gravett books out. He must have made one!

Afternoon all,

Well, there has been a lot of thinking since my last post. As I said before, I want to create a picture to make the best use of my coaching stock to complement the Wharf, which is goods only. While I am not looking for anything complicated I want the final picture to look balanced, but at the same time the railway aspect must be a realistic portrayal of the railway scene, at least to me. All this in 5 feet.

The two stations that I have homed in on are very different, Hemyock has been modelled many times and I do not intend starting again, and it is too big anyway but I do like the way a siding leaves the platform line to serve the dairy on the other side of the road. The Looe line has some lovely halts along its length, some associated with some lovely bridges as scenic breaks. Coombe Junction station, where trains reversed direction is simple in the extreme with just a waiting shelter on the platform.

So my thinking, so far is as follows, a short platform, served by a single line with a siding leaving to serve the wharf. The line would be contained between two complex bridges with arches to serve the railway, the adjoining Osney river and a footpath. The front of the layout would comprise the river its banks and a lot of vegetation. The risk is that all the interest will be at the rear of the layout. My first effort involved just a waiting shelter but it actually looked too small and disappeared completely behind the auto coach!  So I went for a small station building similar to those on the Hemyock branch.

To make some sort of sense of all this I have attached some photos. The old track bed will roughly form the river and the bits of the old platform are just to give a sense of what it could look like with a building to the rear to give some interest. This reflects the old mill behind Coombe Junction station.

So that's it for now, comments always welcome,

Rob

17 hours ago, Calidore said:

Hi Rob, I missed the last few sets of photos when you posted them. I think Osney Wharf is your best yet (which is saying something), so I think you're absolutely right to talk about the 10-year experience as something of a journey!

 

I still find The Shed inspirational, so I hope it doesn't find itself cast out entirely just yet. It's a beautiful little scene.

 

Osney Wharf is really something though. The two chaps having a discussion through the gate are such a classy touch, and the walled yard they're standing in is just the kind of ramshackle structure which gives these layouts character. I think lots of people (myself first amongst them) fall into everything either being 'a building' or 'open ground', with nothing in between. But these kinds of areas make your layouts into something so much more convincing.

 

Looking forward to the next one (again!)

 

Adam

Hi Adam, many thanks for your comments. The Shed has always been one of my favourites, as I think it came closest to what I try and achieve in my layouts and the picture I see in my head. I have no current plans to get rid of it for a number of reasons but it no longer has pride of place in the workroom!

I'm glad you like Osney Wharf as I feel it does what I set out to do and has taken the place of The Shed as a result, physically and mentally. You cannot always plan these things, the little cameo with the two men really came by chance. I have mentioned previously that that particular corner had caused me problems and a number of solutions had been tried until I literally stumbled on the final solution. I always think about what my wife has said to me in the past. If a particular model works for her she says that she wishes she could shrink herself down so that  she could  walk down a certain path or open a door of a building to see what is inside. So I tend to use that test when I am working, what would it be like to be able to walk around that area?  What would I see? Does it feel right?  However, at this point I think I had better stop as I keep thinking of that line in The Big Bang Theory, I'm not mad, my mother had me tested!

best wishes Rob

Hi All,

You may have noticed a change of title to this thread. This is to reflect what the thread has turned into during the course of the last few years and hopefully how it will continue.

The Wharf, as it will probably end up being called, is still receiving attention in its new location in front of me, rather than in a different room, so much more convenient for adding the occasional detail when inspiration strikes. I have, however, been giving a lot of thought to where to go next.

As mentioned in my last post I am looking for somewhere to run and pose my passenger stock as a contrast to The Wharf which is a shunting layout. I'm looking for something simple, in line with my modelling history of keeping things simple but creating an overall picture. Passenger stock is always going to look large in a cameo, especially as the scenic area is only 5 feet in length, or unless you use 4 wheeled stock, which I don't have. In the past I have used the trick of putting the running line behind the platform to reduce the impact, Osney Town for example. Having been down that route more than once I think it is time for a change.

I have had my books out looking for inspiration, that one glimpse of something that will provide inspiration, and have homed in on Hemyock, on the Culm valley line, and Coombe Junction, on the Liskeard and Looe line. I have an idea that combines elements of both, but leaning more towards the latter.

In the meantime I have been preparing the base boards. These had a photographic backscene, which you will recall I was less than pleased with, so having removed the old scenery my intention was to paint over the backscene. Simple!  Not so, when I removed the scenery I discovered the vinyl was coming away from the backscene in a few places. Closer inspection revealed that the mounting card I had used to create the curved backscene was also coming away over large areas. I had used the card thinking that as it was not going to have paint on, it would be ok. What I should have done, I think, is to have sealed the card prior to applying the glue. So, it all had to come off. I have now replaced the lot with bendy mdf, which is what I should have done in the first place.  

So that is where I am at the moment. The next step is to mock up a few ideas and then I can take some pics to share and get your views.

Regards rob

Hi All,

Just a quick update on progress. First of all thank you for all your likes and to Stu, Steve, David and Pete for your lovely comments. I did hit the thanks button but that seems inadequate as a response, as your comments are really appreciated.

In considering my next move I was thinking about when I started The Shed, so I looked back through this thread and discovered that it must have been in 2011. How time flies and not surprising that it is looking tired. Looking back also got me reading through some of the thread which made me realize how much has happened in my modelling over the years and just how many of you have followed my ramblings along the way. Some of you I have met but others I probably never will but it's what makes this hobby all the more rewarding. So thanks to you all.

Having got that out of my system, back to the current situation. I have bitten the bullet and moved The Shed into long term storage in the garage which we all know means that it is one step nearer to the end, although for emotional reasons that is probably still some way off!. There are also details on it which I would remove and reuse as they provide a link to the past and provide, for me, some continuity in my modelling. The Wharf now takes pride of place in the workroom where it can still be worked on and small details added. New Osney, or what is left of it, has been moved back in on the trestles vacated by the Wharf, after dusting it off and removing the spiders. It is now handy for planning the next move. Looking back through the thread someone mentioned that however long you look at something, if it doesn't look right it is never going to get better. My view entirely, so the wrecking ball will shortly be applied while I consider the next step which will almost certainly include more pictures of the Wharf with any added details. If there is anything else I will keep you updated.

Regards to you all, Rob

13 hours ago, mudmagnet said:

Coming along really well Rob!

 

Has got me thinking about something in 7mm again, now that I have a growing collection of wagons ....

 

Hi Richard 

Thanks for that and you know that in O gauge you don't need a lot of space. 

best wishes Rob

18 hours ago, RAY NORWOOD said:

Looking good. Cannot wait to see at the shows.

Hi Ray, good to hear from you. Hopefully things are moving closer to the day we can all go to shows and meet up with old friends. As we all get older the effort in exhibiting  seems to get greater and after two years away I begin to wonder whether I will be up to it, if indeed I'm invited!!

best wishes Rob

3 hours ago, sb67 said:

I love the atmosphere you've created there, the trackwork, weathering all look superb. 

Is that static grass used in the pics? I'd like to try something similar in 4mm but I'm wary of the fibres getting caught up in mechanisms . 

Hi Steve, yes it is static grass applied with a puffer bottle. No fancy electrical gadgets here! Due to the size of my layouts this method has always been adequate for my requirements and I find it gives me the close control I need. The bulk of the grass is a Woodland Scenics static grass flock - Burnt Grass with a few other bits added when necessary. 

Regards Rob

13 hours ago, Siberian Snooper said:

I do like the way that the back line meanders through the buildings, reminds me of Dumere crossing on the wenfordbridge line.

 

 

Glad you like the curve, I have a photo somewhere of a line wending its way through industrial buildings which was at the back of my mind, but the Wenford Bridge line also has that feel as you say. I took the photo as this view is not one that is normally available from the usual viewing angle.

Rob

3 hours ago, Brinkly said:

Hi Rob,

 

I've only just discovered your thread. What a lovely little layout - the scene looks so natural and at one.

 

I look forward to watching your progress.

All the best,

 

Nick.

Hi Nick, thanks for your comments, hopefully progress won't be too slow.

Rob

Hi Barnaby, Stu and Richard, many thanks for your thoughts on atmosphere and what contributes to it. I think you all understand my modelling better than I do, but you don't hear all the swearing that goes on when it won't go right which is frequently! Like you Richard, I do like to try things out and leave them for a few days. At the moment I have got mooring bollards sat on the quayside and you wouldn't believe how many times they have ben moved.

Stu, it is good to see you back, I was a little concerned at your apparent absence but saw you recently explaining on another thread, so welcome back.

Kind regards to everyone Rob

Hi everyone, I thought a brief update would be appropriate as it has been a while since my last post. The news is that there isn't much concrete news! Since the last update life has tended to get in the way of modelling, half term, decorating and a spell of poor health. However stepping back from the modelling for a while is always good, I find, as it gives you an opportunity to look afresh at the model so far. The good news is that coming back fresh to the Wharf has ensured I am still more than happy with progress and it has given me new energy to get on.

The other thing it does is give time to assess what you are doing generally and I have given a fair bit of thought to Dons comment re atmosphere, a comment much appreciated, and after considerable thought I have come to the conclusion that I haven't got a clue what gives a model atmosphere, I'm just happy that others may think that the Wharf has it, whatever it is.

I have also been waiting for a delivery of small detailing items, quayside bollards, ladders, lifebuoys etc, which all arrived today giving a further boost to the modelling effort. So I am optimistic that there will soon be progress to report.

Regards Rob

Hi Barnaby,

Thanks for that, I am well pleased with progress so far. I always think that one of the advantages of limited space and micro layouts is that your options are restricted. This means that you can plan the construction easily with a definite end to the project. If you don't like the result you can move on, which I have done several times. I know from my experience that if I had a lot of space I wouldn't know what to do with it so I can sympathise with your problem but if we enjoy what we are doing what does it matter if we don't finish, if we do we will only have to start again when the next great idea for a layout jumps into the head.

Regards Rob

22 minutes ago, Donw said:

Superb work Rob really full of atmosphere. My 1365 would look quite at home on there.

 

Don

Hi Don, yes indeed, it would be the perfect loco for the wharf, just shunting the odd wagon around. I can see it in my head!

Regards Rob