The Bigbee Line

The chimney has been snugged down a bit and a bit of neat PVA wiped round the joins. Then some Tesco till roll PVA’d over the join. In the morning I’ll add some reinforcement inside. This chimney won’t get knocked off easily.

I’ve made a card sheath for the biggest chimney. Thin card for the sides and a piece of mounting board set in the top to keep it square. Here it’s just sat over the core. When it’s dry I’ll trim the core for an easy slide over fit. Then glue and add a base join where the flashing will sit. The view from above.

Just fretted out the timber frame for the gable ends. Quite pleased with the effect. This was cut from a single piece of card. It might be easier to make it from multiple layers.... View from the approach road. This is the view from the back.

The card test piece is now in position with some PVA. When it sets the joints will get reinforced

I’ve drawn out a pattern for the ornate timber at the three gable ends. I will cut a trial one from card. I’m planning to make the roof a removable unit. The chimneys maybe as a sheath over the solid core.

Today started to build the carcass of the station building roof. To cover this area. Some pieces were cut to set the pitch of the roof.

Got the paint on this afternoon. Quite please with the look.

Try this out

I’ve added the ‘Corrie’s Patent Droppers’ at 6’ spacing to match the fence at Hayling Island. Thickened the main posts and added an additional piece of skewer and some card. Hopefully some paint later. I’ve tried not to make it too neat.

Mr No Patience as usual... Here with the wires strung. Another shot square on. Tomorrow I’ll add the 2 droppers between each pair of posts.

John Not sure if you've seen these, but Ian D Nolan has some excellent Western Region Milk and Dairy related shots -

Holiday modelling - Today its a test of Southern Railway 8 wire fencing.... Hmm how do I test my theories of construction? Make a test piece.... So here is the test piece under construction. The end posts with strainers should be thicker, but this is just the test. The clothes peg is just keeping the strainer lined up while the glue dries.. With my limited holiday tool kit I've PVA'd the posts to a piece of timber... This is the backside showing posts glued and braced with scrap card... I marked the wire lines on a master post and marked up the others. I have a roll of fishing line that I am going to trial for the wire. I have cut slots with a razor saw to locate the line. In reality the wire was held with a kind of cotter through a hole in the fence post..... End post ready to have the strainer glued on...

Michael Maybe best that the purchaser does the sheets as they would all be identical if you made them. Ernie

Holiday week. Modelling box.....

I’ve been working on the approach road. The base is the usual laminate floor underlay glued to support pieces. These were arranged to provide a smooth but not completely level surface. The contour was held by a series of screws until the glue dried. I then set to, in creating the gutters where the platform surface edged out beyond the station building. A small disposable craft knife is the ideal weapon. The blade can be fully extended and carefully used in the fashion of a spokeshave, scythe or one of Bodiceas swords....

Plus these 2. Not sure how common these paint schemes were. Maybe there’s a vanweb.

I’ve got one of these on order....

As mentioned I try to get a model and a prototype image from the same viewpoint. The looking at the detail. First. My image. Then an RCTS shot... The things to add include: Fence, posters, rail bumper, telegraph pole, lamp post etc etc etc

Thanks Steve. It’s trying to do enough at each stage to make it “good enough”. So I tend to dodge about a bit between different things. The main theme at the moment is the scenic edge, then the surface, the rest of the track also going in. Other things are also on the agenda. The control panel etc. Plus wagons to build. The lights are a big bonus. Making it a little theatre. Yesterday I added a second row tube to illuminate the yard area and take the station building out of shadow. A great hobby. A great boost to learning.

The main part of the platform surface is in. I take pictures from various angles to check I’ve got the proportions right. I can now fill in the edge of the car park adjacent to the track, it’s a small chalky bank topped with Southern railway wire fence with chain link fencing. There will be 3 poster boards facing the viewer.... Also to make is a bullhead rail bumper protecting the station building.

Hi Pardon me asking. What sharpie do you use and what’s your technique? I used a green one to mark where some rivets had to go.... To be honest it was a 100% improvement without actually adding them.....

I can remember the open conversations in the rakes of wagons at Ashford for scrapping in the early 80’s. I particularly remember one had an S prefix. Still had clay on them. Wish I’d taken more pictures.

The glue is going off well. Finished screwing the facia up to the baseboard joint and ran some more glue into all the joints. Then a quick sweep with a brush. Then a ceremonious parking of a road vehicle. I have memories of collecting and delivering with dad. Brighton, Kemp Town, Lewes Road.... Brighton Lower Goods was alive with Scammel Scarabs. Dodging about. Happy days.

Just been out to fill in the missing piece of platform. Looking towards the stops. The board has been cut to fit. Then glued and screwed. You can see the hole where the station building will sit. Here the canopy has been dropped in place.

The area under the approach road had various odds and end graded for size and glued down. A single piece of board was then cut and glue applied. First placed and weighted down. I then started adding screws through into the baseboard. Not sure if you can see the variations of levels. Before screws added. After....