CoombeTown

I think that is a better plan Graham. I’m having the same issues planning Coombe Town, I think in the case of BLTs less is more. Especially remembering to leave turning space for lorries visiting the crane, I doubt Scarabs were easy to perform a 3-point turn in!

The upper walls on the box are now assembled. These are currently in two sections so I can prime and paint the interior, which will be done once the framing is added. Painting of the Goods Shed office roof is also in progress so I can look at the tiling that in the near future. I really should just finish one thing... but where would the fun be in that?

Well we've reached the end of 2021. This year has seen the Goods Shed started and nearly finished, and the beginning of landscaping for Coombe Town. More locomotive arrivals than my wallet would care to handle, although as long as no one announces a newly tooled County or 57xx, it should be safe-ish next year. And just sneaking in, the completion of the main Signal Box CAD. All the black components will be added to a Sprue to be 3D printed in one part, along with a desk for the Goods Shed Office & troughs for the Cattle Dock. To all those that read this thread, I wish you all a Happy New Year and best of luck for the 10th January announcements!

I completely agree that a new 57xx/8750 is very much needed. Definitely following the Rapido 16xx model with plenty of die-cast involved for decent traction. I think part of the push required is a vote with feel. I for one am not buying any 57xx/8750 beyond my current one until it has seen a decent retool.

Finally, I got some of the 6mm Dead Grass on the embankment. Spread thinly as on the left side it does look good, so will be used on the main layout. Thanks Graham, That's all the modelling time until the New Year, but I'll hopefully get some CAD done for details and the signal box over the holiday. Merry Xmas and Best Wishes to all who have supported the Coombe Town journey this year!

Yesterday I managed to add the final downpipe to the Goods Shed and also Construct the office roof. Seeing it all together it really does look like my reference picture of the Washford Goods Shed and I feel I've done it justice. And an overall look at the Shed area with the freshly plaster clothed embankment.

Same view, 10 months later... It's nice to reflect back on the year and look at the progress. Completely painted and weathered Bridge. Started landscaping on the layout. Rebuilt the fiddle yard to cassettes and managed to pretty much build an entire Goods Shed. I'm pretty happy, but it'll be good to properly get away from baseboards and into trees, hedges and grass to create something that feels like the country.

That Fireman looks great Chris! Merry Xmas to you and your's.

Thanks Chris, Warren looks great so some 6mm definitely could be the way forwards. I'll echo Graham's question as well, the trees look great. How did you do them?

Thanks Graham, that doesn't look as long as I feared. I may try adding some 6mm dead grass to the embankments then to see how it looks to the naked eye, after all that's what test pieces are for!

Little bit more progress with the weathering of the lean next to the Goods office, and the addition of stand pipes to the cattle dock. Both captured below during this morning's shunt. Keen eyes might notice the Goods office door, it's awaiting the floor painting before it can be installed.

Well the static grass has now made it on. I prefer the embankment to the right so will be basing with WWS 2mm Autumn & Summer, then topping with 4mm spring with patches of Autumn. For the well kept areas around the station and station master's House I'll base with 1mm and then 2mm. 6mm grass feels like it will be too long, has anyone used it in 00?

Thanks Graham, that reminds me, I need to give the drains at coat of Humbrol Gunmetal still

Having made a bid for freedom with a long weekend post-isolation, I have some woodland scenics turfs as a base on the photoplank. Possibly a first layer of static grass will gone on tomorrow, otherwise it'll probably be next week! But any progress is good progress, no need to rush.

Looks like another thing to add to Christmas list! Definitely does the job. Very amusing choice of soundtrack as well

Few more bits of progress over the last couple of days. Downpipes now added to the Shed Office and also the floor fitted inside the office. The shed doors have also been painted and hung. I think i'm going to light the interior with a nanoled on some crates a la @chuffinghell. It seems a shame to hide all that work on the front of the layout in shadow. I've also been painting up some Modelu standpipes for the cattle dock as well as some bits for the Goods Shed office.

I'm in the same boat... I was getting one to replace a Bachmann model anyway, but tempted by more with the number of variations! Are Toads like Panniers? Can you ever have enough?

Further progress today... The first couple of walls of the locking room are cut and assembled. The front wall will need the window opening cutting next. The embankment against the backscene has had a covering of plastercloth, which makes a world of difference. And finally, I've made a start on the retaining walls around the signal. Would these walls have had columns at the end like the tunnel portal though? I can't decide what looks more appropriate. Either way, back to work tomorrow so the progress will likely slow, although another 3 days of isolation will allow some further progress.

Well an unfortunate stay at home order has created a free weekend of modelling time, which I'm trying to fill in between the required rest. Yesterday I built up the foam embankment on the photo Plank, which was covered with plaster cloth today. Yesterday also saw the addition of gutters to the Goods shed office, and fabrication of the corrugated lean-to. And today has seen the installation of the embankment against the backscene. I'm pleased with how this looks and it'll be good to get some greenery down. tomorrow I'll get some sculptamold on the photoplank embankment. I'm considering putting some plastercloth down to the roadbridge on the layout and building the retaining wall around the signal. If I feel up to it, maybe I'll build the steps down to the signal box locking room.

I've got a sound fitted one on order in the hope that the sound file lives up to that shown for the Mogul & Manor. I doubt it'll turn up before the New Year though so will be interested to see impressions of the analogue model.

I think the statement on the Rails website was slightly misleading, they have infact only arrived at the Dapol warehouse not with Rails themselves. Either way, they're nearly with us. Does anyone know if the sound fitted versions were fitted in China or will it be like the Mogul where the fitting took place in the UK and the models followed a few months after the initial release?

Thanks Lez, hadn't thought about a hedge, definitely something to try before a major rebuild on the bridge. Hopefully I can put something together that looks right along the road and from the track.

Tonight I've finished cutting the first bit of landform, and run straight into a dilemma... in order for the slope of the embankment to fall behind the wing wall, it has to start someway into the bridge deck. Would a small retaining wall to hold back the road surface be prototypical?

Finally got around to fitting the pannier and peckett crews this week. Such a difference even before the locos are weathered. Hopefully this week will see a start on landscaping, when I get a chance.

For the first panel: How do you go about researching freight trains to model? Photographic resources are often scarce, especially of the stock and formations were never the same twice. Do you make an approximation based on the known traffic flows or model what can be seen from photographs?