Andy R

At the layout terminus- Melcombe Regis, another project has started. I’ve had this idea in my head for ages and it’s finally time to get it going.

The small area of board in front of the terminus and adjacent to the single connection forming the continuous run ( it curves off back to Hawkinsfield viaduct) was crying out for a little cameo scene. Given the terminus is meant to be at ‘the seaside’, end of the secondary route, although on the edge of town not by the sea,

I thought a nod to its seaside location would be nice. 
Hence I have started a small boatyard quayside- like a backwater really, for CL Dunn boat repair and service. 
1. First the area was jig sawed out to form the water area.
2. Then I have cut the water base using a template pattern. And used foam board to form the quayside walls and around the proposed slipway from the small boathouse. (Seen in photo)

3. Prime and paint sea wall made from Slaters 7mm coarse stone. I’ve used this scaled product as I love its tactile feel- it looks and feels solid, perfect for old world quayside! Paint mix of white/ black/dark green does the trick.

4. I’ve used polyfiller to form the basic seabed here. I wanted a mix of sandbank and channel and so formed the filler/ colours accordingly. Then shifted fine sand and coloured this to form the sand banks. Darker blue/ green for channel.

5. I’m about to seal the water areas with Modge Podge and this will then get a cold pour epoxy at some future date; as will the rivers elsewhere on the layout. 
6. Next I will build the slipway and detail the boathouse and yard area and find some small boats/ dinghies.

 Thanks, Andy R

Apologies for starting my post with a quote and then not adding my comment above.

My comment: The short BBC film on the link that Tony Gee has posted is fantastic historical record of a great model layout and one which I have been fortunate to visit and run (poorly.... as its complicated) on several visits up to the UK from NZ. Thanks for posting the link Tony. It brought back memories of several visits to 'the shed'.

Tony Gee -Im back in UK in April/May 2023 so will get in touch re possible visit again.

Regards Andy R

On 23/11/2022 at 12:31, t-b-g said:

 

Little Bytham is certainly easier to operate than Buckingham (and therefore in my view less interesting) but we have had that discussion before.

 

The whole point of Buckingham is that the operation is varied, interesting and challenges the operators to give their full attention so they are not caught out. If you are concentrating on using a camera your chances of running the layout properly are very slim indeed. I tried it for one of the "virtual" online exhibitions and quickly decided that it was not practical.

 

It wouldn't really represent how Buckingham operates to run it and film it at the same time single handed anyway. To work it properly requires a minimum of two and better still three (especially when Leighton Buzzard is eventually reconnected). I can run it solo but the video wouldn't include the block bells and instruments that form a big part in the operation.

 

I wouldn't really want it filming until a lot more work is done, especially to the signals and it would be nice to include the interchange of services at Grandborough for Leighton Buzzard and possibly to illustrate the Automatic Crispin in action too. When it is just the regular operators, we have learned to turn a blind eye to the ones that have not been fully restored and all the bits that still need work but to present it to a wider audience I would think more needs to be done.

 

This link may have been posted before but I will include it for anybody who hasn't seen it. I don't know if you need to be on Facebook to view it but that is where the BBC put it.

 

Although some of the running is a bit heavy handed on the controllers and one move described cannot happen in real life (trains cannot leave Grandborough and Leighton Buzzard at the same time - the Railcar is still in the bay when the other train arrives at Grandborough!), this does give a feel for how the layout works when in full working order with good operators.

 

https://www.facebook.com/BBCArchive/videos/1173056213553316/

 

One day, I hope to be able to produce a more modern version of something similar.

 

 

And to complete my update after a long period, a couple of scenes from my other layout; an O gauge BLT of southern railway theme, based loosely on Lymington Pier which is joint owned by four of us here in NZ. It only comes out a model train shows- usually once per year.

A couple of further catch up scenes…GWR Prairie heads west out of Melcombe Regis and enters Hawkinsfield Junction station.

Hope of some interest.

Further scenes from the layout taken in recent times, in no particular order…with GWR railcar No.26 chugging eastward from Hawkinsfield Junction station (platform 3) to Melcombe Regis,  and passing the MR engine depot area.

It’s a long time since last posting….Layout Work continues at a slow pace…

In a May 4 post above I showed photos of the Melcombe Regis engine depot area about to be reconstructed. This work has now finished and I post a couple of photos showing the completed scene. The turntable is standard PECO which has been motorised using a small 6 volt motor and series of gears underneath. The road alignment is set by eye and this works ok as it moves slowly.

Hope these are of interest.

On 16/05/2022 at 06:20, Gopher said:

Loco crew mess at Dewchurch

Great shot. Plenty of modelling inspiration here.👍

On 18/06/2022 at 19:13, Gopher said:

Little hut at entrance to loco yard.  Used by crews to book locos in and out of the yard.

Just love the authenticity of this little scene. Lovely modelling. Thanks for sharing. Andy R

Cheers there Les- nice to see we have all survived the Covid plague to date!

We are off to UK to finally catch up with our family/ grandchildren there in July and August. Might get to Hornby visitor centre as we are having a week by the seaside 😎

Keep up your incredible BLT work.🚂👍

As Im working on the station approaches scenic treatment at Melcombe Regis terminus, and also the new station building facade (3D printed) which will replace the current station buildings on the rear side of the terminus, I thought a couple of photos might help explain the situation as of today.  

In these photos, a) the station building which is still to be finished is temporarily in position behind the station train  roof. The train roof will be attached once the station building facade is in place. But this temporary set up for the photo conveys the general idea.

b) the scenic treatment of the station approaches and marshalling yard is shown, looking in both directions- ie; toward the station and away from it toward the engine depot.

cheers, Andy R

Its been a while since I posted a photo or two on my layout topic. Now in mid winter here in NZ and so modelling in the 'mancave' is spasmodic, but things are getting done and train are running...

I am now working along the terminus board of Melcombe Regis after completing the terminus engine shed scenic treatment. Even the old PECO turntable works very slowly as required powered by a motor and low gearing made for me by a friend. 

Scenic treatment of the approaches to Melcombe Regis station is nearly complete, and I will post some photos of that soon. Im currently working on the new station building facade (which has been 3 D printed by another friend ). Im putting stone paper, roof and tiles etc on this building facade which will be low-relief at the end of the platforms. The existing train roof will be modified to attach to the station building facade. More pictures to come.

In the meantime a few train shots; busy times at Hawkinsfield Junction and a local goods passing the recently finished terminus engine shed facility.

cheers for now...Andy R

Hey Les; nice to see your latest work. More wonderful modeling. 
Im slowly working away on Hawkinsfield new terminus area and engine shed. Not 100% happy with engine service area and more subtle painting required. Inspirational motivation from your efforts!

regards Andy R

At the other end of the layout the river quayside scene is nearly completed. I just need to scale down the quayside crane ( too big) and paint the river boat and then pour the river water ( either varnish or Woodland Scenic water). 

Into May… and I for one have no idea how/ why/ what happened to the full past photos on this topic but I’m guessing we just ‘start’ again with new photos on new postings?

in the last few months I’ve been focusing on redevelopment of the terminus station ( Melcombe Regis) and it’s engine service area. The idea here, given limitations of space on this corner site, is to provide a turntable for turning engines that run back from the terminus after bringing in new train formations; because there is no run round capability in the platforms. Once turned they can be run back to a set of coaches for journey back to fiddle yard. 
I guess freight locomotives can also be turned as needs be.

Hopefully I can post some progress photos…

Cheers Andy

On 06/02/2022 at 22:32, wiggoforgold said:

 

A closer view of the gate

Alex

Absolutely stunning modeling….so much to observe even in this single shot. 
Andy R

12 hours ago, checkrail said:

I've just had a small quantity of bus wire delivered from DCC Concepts, so while I stroke my chin and ponder my forthcoming automation of the fiddle yard pointwork here are a few vignettes of scenes around Stoke Courtenay.

 

 

 

John C.

Absolutely superb….!

The first photo looking across the station fence is sublime. 

Andy R

I have just caught up with this layout topic( only years behind…..) and really enjoying the GWR atmosphere nicely captured in these photos. Thanks for sharing. 

If of interest check out my own attempt at capturing GWR on my Hawkinsfield Junction topic. 
 

Andy R

On 28/12/2021 at 17:06, Dbr1295 said:

Unbelievable, over a year and a half since I've posted about the layout. Where does the time go? I actually haven't done much work at all in that time so therefore the paucity of posting.

On holiday at the moment so I thought I'd take a few pictures of the layout and post some on here just to show that the layout is still in existence for those who may be interested.

 

Cheers, Les

New year greetings to you Les from Tauranga. Wonderful weather to be on holiday and not really’ train shed’ weather for us. These photos are wonderful Les. I love the subtle colouring and blend of materials you’re getting. Screams little backwater BLT. Love it.

Unfortunately had to cancel the annual show here and will try for a weekend later in year. Hope we can catch up sometime at a show in our region. 
Regards Andy R

4 hours ago, checkrail said:

And here's Launceston Castle coming through the down platform at Stoke C.  I quite like this angle looking across the station.

John C.

Beautiful modelling … I recently looked at the BRM video on your layout and reconfirmed what a wonderful layout this is. Congratulations,  Andy R

15 hours ago, Graham T said:

 

Yes of course.  The base is thin ply, painted with a mix of black and yellow acrylic paint, then several layers of artist's picture varnish.

 

This didn't survive the additional landscaping work intact though, so has now been repainted with the same colours.  The varnish I used before took a long time for each layer to dry, so I'm going to steal an idea from @MrWolf and use Rustins next time.  I'll post some pics of how that turns out.

Thanks 

On 27/12/2021 at 11:04, Graham T said:

I've been gradually progressing the landscape work while the girls have been in bed.  A sensible planner (i.e. not me) would have thought about the river banks before installing the bridge.  So there was quite a bit of reaching into small spaces with tweezers to fit the formers, fill the voids with paper towel, and then apply the shell.  A touch fiddly, but it seems to have worked out more or less ok I think.

 

 

 

Graham- may I ask how you have done your river water?

Andy R

I thought I would show something a little different for Christmas/ new year particularly for our overseas RM webbers.

I have been heavily involved in the design and construction of our local Tauranga ( NZ) club layout- particularly scenic treatment. The layout has a New Zealand railway theme on one side and an English rail theme on its other side. Lots of club layouts in NZ are ‘ multi themed to cater for various interests.

In our case the old branch line that ran to Tauranga through a small town north west called Katikati is the basis for our NZR layout. Here is a photo of our local daily Taneatua express train heading towards Katikati station over the river trestle north of the station.

I hope some find this shot interesting.

The quayside scene nearly completed; just a larger 3D printed scow and then water compound to go.

Merry Christmas RM webbers….from a sunny New Zealand

On 16/12/2021 at 00:22, Graham T said:

I got some more "turf" laid last night.  At first I had tried using whole sheets of paper towel...

 

... but that failed miserably!  For some reason the sheets had lifted away from the card strips when the dilute PVA had dried, so it was time for Plan B.  That entailed smaller pieces of kitchen towel (about 2 x 2 inches) fixed down with lashings of dilute PVA, with brown paper towel of similar sized pieces laid on top while everything was still wet.  That seemed to work a lot better for some reason.  It's still a tad wrinkly though, so will need a skim of filler over the top as well.

 

Similar techniques to me on my Hawkinsfield Junction layout… simple, cheap and effective in my experience. Enjoy the scenic side