Keith Addenbrooke

In the last post I said my next step would be to practice with a static Dapol OO model of City of Truro kit, as I've not made many plastic kits. The packaging explains the tooling is from Rosebud / Kitmaster kits that have been around longer than I have, so there's some tidying up to do along the way. I've built this as a test piece, and will happily admit to making plenty of mistakes - it has stretched my basic modelling skills, however I have been able to produce a model with relatively free-running wheels and coupling rods, which for me is an achievement. Painting is one of my many weaknesses, and there are some errors (the 'fly cranks' and axle boxes should have been red - and I know the safety valve cover, chimney cap and whistles need repainting when I have a metallic alternative to hand), but I am encouraged by how the cab detailing has turned out: The principal learning point is that the satin and gloss paints I have 'in stock' are very shiny - the tender coal above and the close up below show this: For a display model in ex-works condition, that will be viewed from much further away than the 'publicity shot' below when on a bookshelf diorama, the time has been well spent - these kits are a good way to practice, and I would encourage anyone to have a go (this one cost less than £10 from a local model shop). Baseboards will probably have to wait until the summer holidays now, but in the meantime I'm planning to work on a couple of Ratio building kits, including the Castle Cary Station Building I need for Short Edge, and for which more sombre colours will be a must.

Thanks for the reply - I realised after I'd posted that it was my rushed reading of the opening post: it does say OO gauge shunting puzzle. Are you including the fiddle yard within the 7' length (some do, some add on space for a "fiddle stick" or loco lift as an extra)? I agree a run round and fiddle yard for two coach trains will be tight in 7' - I've tried many times to crack that one in similar spaces. Sounds like DCC is giving you an alternative. Will be interested to see what you settle on. Keep having fun, Keith.

Afraid I don't know anything about motorbikes, but it's the display case* that's the first thing that stood out for me (followed by the quality and atmosphere of the model itself). Are you able to share anything about how the display case was made? It looks like a metal structure of some kind? I also like the way the sloping front draws us into the scene, and the suitably weathered road sign is a nice touch to finish. Thankyou for sharing your model. * the word 'baseboard' seems inadequate here.

Could I ask what size the module is (front to back)? This will help me understand the effect of the forced perspective. It is a very effective model.

The next buildings I need are from plastic kits, for the main Short-Edge layout, and my other project: Union Station. I have a couple of kits not assigned to a project, including a static Dapol City of Truro, which will give me some practice at assembly and painting. Ironically, I suspect it's probably not the best loco to try weathering - my guess is that more effort went into keeping Truro clean when it was in service than most other engines. I've been thinking further about the right hand end of my Short-Age Brewery practice piece. The idea I keep coming back to is that of linking the two layout modules together for operation, which will influence my approach to building / joining baseboards: This gives 5 places to 'spot' wagons, and the schematic starts to resemble a stretched-out variation on John Allen's classic Timesaver shunting puzzle. Joining the Brewery to the Station gives the run-round needed for the kickback siding (5). I'm still thinking about the "?" area, which now needs to fit next to the Station. Granted, it's not realistic when set up like this - I can't think of any examples with an Engine Shed in that central position, but the enhanced operating possibilities give something to concentrate on, and when the modules are separated and put back on their shelves, they should still each look OK.... ...as long as I move forwards to actually building them. Given the pace I can work, and the practice I need along the way, a realistic deadline for 'completion' of this project (and Union Station) is starting to look like December 2020: the overall space I'm looking to cover is the size of 18 cakeboxes, and it took me three months to complete just one of those (with two practice pieces along the way). There won't be much to show for a while yet, but I'm enjoying getting started.

Go for it - it ought to be possible in 7' x 2' (OO gauge by the sound of it) to develop a plan that offers both the run-round (1.) and Inglenook Shunting Puzzle (2.), but I would certainly encourage getting out the track pieces and some rolling stock to see what works and looks right.* As for baseboards, I've come unstuck at that point too - I think the key to overcoming is to have a plan you really want to develop to give the motivation to push on past that point (at least, that's the basis I'm working on). * the definition of "looks right" in this context being what you want it to be, of course

Afraid I just came across this news this afternoon rather belatedly, and like everyone who has already commented above, am deeply saddened and shocked. As with many others, I first encountered Jack's ideas on Carl Arendt's website well over a decade ago, and was struck by his capacity to not only generate simple yet effective micro-layout ideas, but also to bring them to life: whenever I saw the name "Shortliner" I knew I'd be seeing something good. As an earlier contributor to this thread also noted, it was a proud moment for me when Jack commented only recently that an idea of mine had prompted one of his - which led me to stretch my own thinking further too. For me, that is the mark of a true encourager, who we will all miss. My condolences to family and friends, Keith.

Steve, I hope it's OK, but I've referenced your layout in a post on my own build thread in this Forum this evening. I'm including a Metcalfe Brewery Kit in a Test module I'm making, and yours is the best example I've seen as to how effectively the kit can be weathered. I've never tried weathering, and won't expect to achieve much (my build is a test piece after all), but I wanted to point towards an example that I've been very impressed with, that shows what can be done. Keith.

Luke, I hope it's OK. but I've referenced this layout in a post this evening on my own thread. I've often thought it would be nice to include a small wharf / dockside on a layout, and you've clearly demonstrated there is room. I doubt I'll be able to produce anything as effective as you've got if I do go for it, but I'm encouraged to consider it having seen how well you've made it fit into the sort of space a micro-layout offers. Thanks, Keith.

First signs of progress – the Metcalfe Brewery Kit for my Test Piece – “Short-Age Brewery.” The kit fits together well and is the perfect size for what I need: there is room for the siding I want between the two larger buildings. I’ve built the kit as supplied, other than one minor modification: shortening the side entrance I’ve fitted to the small store, as it would otherwise partially obscure the ground floor window in this position. I’ll admit to feeling nervous about further work on these buildings, especially as this kit is now discontinued, but there are three commonly recognised areas where the kits are often improved on RMweb (see Metcalfe Yard by sb67 for a current example of what can be done with this kit: Metcalfe Yard) 1. Rainwater goods (gutters and drainpipes) are needed but not included. These shouldn’t be too difficult but I’d like to find a “no-cost” way to do this that I’m happy with (as I have several other kits to complete in this way now too). 2. The roofs used on Metcalfe Kits are very uniform and quite obvious on my model. They’re not as visible on all models – I made a couple of the low-relief department stores (below - not for this layout), and the dormer windows and roof detail largely hide those roof tiles. 3.The colouring on the brewery buildings is nice and bright, but not very realistic, particularly for industrial buildings in the steam-era. I’ve never tried weathering before, but it is one of the areas where the hobby has progressed hugely in recent years (while I wasn’t really paying attention). I’ll probably try out some test-test pieces before risking these models. Card kits can be realistic – the real picture below is from Altrincham, and I think it compares well with the Metcalfe Department Store, though I suspect the buildings haven’t always been this clean! Finally, even on a Billy Bookcase layout, I’ve space to play with at the right hand end of the model…one idea I'm tempted by is a small wharf behind the tracks (Marmalade Wharf by Luke the Trainspotter is an example in this Forum that shows there is room for such a feature) What I really ought to do is build some baseboards, now I'm satisfied this Test piece will work.

"Little Wonder" indeed - amazing!

Excellent - worth taking the time to read through the whole thread.

Mark, thanks for the pointer - it's a good start point. I'm aiming to get the buildings to a semi-finished state to give an indication of size / sight-lines as well. The brewery kit (now discontinued) does have bases, but each building also has loading docks with platforms to measure up too. The first task has been lining up and fitting the 71 windows into the three buildings - I'm glad I like the idea of small layouts!

So, deep breath, and here I go...I'm going to start with the buildings I need, both for the practice piece and the layout. Given the tight clearances on micro-layouts I'd like to be able to check the clearances around the buildings before cutting the baseboards or laying track. I also have some Roket Card Glue to use up after completing another card kit.

Thanks Joseph, it's a good idea. I am quite happy to do the woodwork - I enjoy it but it's just not a strong point. It'll help my snooker too, to get some practise.

I’ve broken down the project into 6 distinct steps to help my thinking: there will be new things for me at each stage. 1. Baseboards – I have the wood, but I’ve yet to master cutting in a straight line. I’ll need two boards (of different widths) that marry together. 2. Trackwork – I’d like to widen the sleeper-spacing for OO (which will be interesting for the points), as well as painting the rails and ballasting. Inside the engine shed I also ought to have track inset into the building floor. 3. Buildings – the station kit needs assembly. I may do this first and before laying track, to ensure clearances will work. The instructions include advice on painting and weathering, which I’ve not tried before. The inside of my resin-build engine shed is totally plain, and there’s a platform to build as well, which will be partly triangular to fit the siding. 4. Other scenic ground cover. I’ve been given a supply of traditional scatter materials to use, which I’m happy to try. 5. Electric power and wiring. Although very simple, I will need power to cross a baseboard joint. 6. Rolling stock: a lot of my R-T-R stock has large tension lock couplings. They prevent buffer locking on sharp curves, but it’d be good to try replacing them after seeing some of the examples used on other small layouts. I’m not planning a backscene on this layout, so the station can be viewed from all sides, though for display purposes when on the bookshelf and not in use it may be worth adding later. It will help me to have some practice with each of these six steps, so I’ve therefore decided to add a test piece into this build project, using one of the simple designs I offered as part of the Billy Bookcase thread in the BRM Magazine section of Rmweb: a small industrial module based on the old Metcalfe Brewery kit – working name, the “Short-Age Brewery”. This will be built in parallel, as it has the same six steps (step 5 – wiring, introduces a kickback siding). I’m not giving this a separate build thread topic at this point, as it’s really just to support the station model, but it may be referenced from time to time. One change: I’ll use Setrack points for consistency across the project – I have them and it seems to be an acceptable compromise that looks OK on micro-layouts. If this extra module works out OK, I may join them together (why not?). I’m just in the process of completing a card kit, which has given me time to think through my next steps before dashing in too quickly, and then this project will be next up.

"Short Edge" is the working name I'm giving to a fun project I'm looking at while my magnum opus - Union Station - pauses for delivery of rolling stock in the summer.* I'm still looking to make the leap from long-time dreamer / planner / collector to layout modeller, so want something to be pressing on with. "Short Edge" aims to do this by combining three design concepts into one: it's a Billy Bookcase layout, and a complete micro-layout, and a beginner's layout (based on the BRM Project: Edgeworth). I drew the plan in Anyrail - using a grid at 3" intervals. Track is OO Gauge Peco Code 100 Setrack / Streamline. The theme is a GWR Branch Line Terminus, something I've always wanted and for which I already have suitable buildings / kits and rolling stock. Control will be DC, and only needs one connection anywhere at the right hand end. How do I explain the 3-in-1 design: Billy Bookcase: the principal scenic area at the left is 30" long - this is the allowable length for a Billy Bookcase layout (note: I am using a little extra width for the buildings); Micro-Layout: the overall size, including the fiddle yard to the right is 4 sq. ft - fitting Carl Arendt's guideline for a self-contained micro-layout; Edgeworth: the design is based on the GWR Branch Line Terminus built as a BRM project: Edgeworth (selective compression reduces the goods yard from 2 sidings to 1).** Photo 1 is an overall view of the proposed layout - the baseboard is a very traditional 4' x 1' piece of Sundeala Board I have to hand. The shaded area will be cut from the board and used to lengthen the single track fiddle yard: total length 5'6". Photo 2 shows the Billy Bookcase scenic area from above, and the buildings needed. I'll be using the same Ratio Station Kit as used on Edgeworth, and already have an Engine Shed (Skaledale) and Signal Box (Metcalfe) to work with. Edgeworth only used three buildings, and they are in the same position. Photo 3 is an overall view. I even have spare room to lengthen the run-round loop by shortening the fiddle siding slightly.*** The main change from Edgeworth (other than compression) is to move the viewpoint to the other side - I think this is just because I'm left-handed, so it'll be more convenient. The final name will be something different, but "Short Edge" seemed more positive than "Edgeworth-less." Progress won't be quick - I have limited time and several other kits to build in the pipeline too, but I'm looking forwards to this and will post updates on RMweb when I get going. ______________________ * true to prototype? ** the original plan came from C.J.Freezer's book of 60 Small Layout Plans, and is based on Seaton in Devon. There's a second connection with Cyril Freezer - on page 95 of his 1993 book on Operating Model Railways, there's a picture of a very compressed version of Ashburton GWR Terminus attributed to one E.T.D. Revill, which gave me the idea to compress Edgeworth. *** The metric length of a Billy Bookcase is 76cm - if I trim my scenic area to 75cm, the overall length grows just enough to fit 10x pieces of standard geometry Setrack

Am also enjoying progress on Marmalade Wharf too of course: looking very good so far,

Of all the ideas I've picked up from RMweb so far this is one the wisest pieces of advice I've come across - thank you.

Further to the posts from the Bank Holiday weekend, I consulted a Dr of Civil Engineering about foundations for tall buildings above shallow rail lines before going further. Their advice is as follows: "The trains do run in the basement, like an underground carpark. Sometimes, they insert the piles first then dig down around them so they effectively become columns over the upper part and piled foundations over the lower part. They build ground beams linking the tops of the piles and a cast a floor slab with holes in it so then they dig down to make the basement (for cars or trains!) lifting the soil through the holes left in the floor slab and lowering excavators through to dig deeper. More slabs are cast as they work down if it is a multi story basement. Those holes can then become escalator or lift shafts/atriums (or atria) etc. It is called top-down construction and allows you to build up and down at the same time! Your mock up is the right idea, but you may need beams (i.e. thicker sections) in addition to your floor slab to stop the ground floor slab bending." With regards to older buildings (such as I'm looking at in New York), the approach was to start with the tracks in a hole and build up. ___________________________ Well, I've certainly learned something! (My apologies to those with experience of underground lines, for whom all this may well be rather obvious). In terms of the model: Step 3 - "Supporting columns between the levels," represents what would have been the most critical part of the real build. I'll need the rolling stock I've been offered to check vertical clearances under the beams I'll have to add in, as well as for platforms. It'll be a couple of months before I receive the passenger car kits, confirming a pause in this project, probably until late Summer. In the meantime, I've another idea for a micro-layout ready to lauch, but that's another story...

Another cracking issue from the look of it: 148 pages of stunning quality once again (+ DVD) is quite fantastic*, and it looks like there are some compelling articles to read (the test for me is if a topic that's not a personal interest still grabs my attention - the quarry features do that this month, based on an early perusal of the digital edition). We often read comment on how R-T-R models have leaped in quality in recent years, I think we should give credit to the advances in publishing in the same way - from where I sit the team have done a fantastic job once again. Quite how I'll find time to read it all - and attempt any modelling - before 4-weeks has flown past again is the challenge. Thank you to all. __________ *The adverts are worth reading too, I find.

Hi Duncan, 5 layouts are shown on page 35 of the May BRM, with Backroom Boffin's spectacular Hotwells concept selected as the winner. Hobb's Bridge Goods is one of the others featured. The introduction at the top of the article explains this is the result of the layout planning challenge - and separate to the layout building challenge Phil Parker is engaged in: it doesn't indicate which N scale plan he will be tackling (it could be another one altogether). Designs for the first two of the trilogy of layouts appeared on pages 44-46 of the Spring 2019 BRM, for models in 4mm scale and OO9. Two alternative plans were suggested for the 4mm scale / OO model, and it's worth checking out the Piercebridge MIll thread here on RMweb if you've not seen it, where the original planner (Cornamuse) is now building the other idea Phil looked at but didn't go for. Hope this helps, and that Hobb's Bridge Goods is coming along well. Keith.

Worthily chosen as the top pick in the May BRM (digital subscription edition out now). Delighted to see some of the other excellent N-gauge suggestions also given due prominence (and surprised to see one of my own 4mm scale ideas included too). I'm afraid it looks as if the gremlins might have struck during magazine production, as the design for this top idea appears to have been matched with text for another (also very good) concept by the same contributor. Mind you, given the complexity of modern publishing, drawing on so many different digital sources, the occasional slip up is bound to happen - I wouldn't fancy trying to pull together a magazine every four weeks. Anyway, well done to the challenge winner, and to the BRM team for another stunning edition of the magazine.

A worthy winner - well done. Thanks to Phil for running the challenge too.

My next step is to break down the build into stages. This is partly as I don't have a dedicated space for modelling,* but is also a practical way to get me building. I've identified six stages to tackle: 1 - Lower level track and platforms 2 - Union Station Building 3 - Supporting columns between the levels 4 - Cityscape backscene 5 - Platform detailing, including the crucial means of passenger access between levels (proposed use of Scalescenes Escalator) 6 - Street level detailing, including streetcar tracks (inset). There will be a pause now - probably for a few months. Step 1 will depend on rolling stock I've been offered to check platform heights and clearances: my experience of this kind of US commuter line is that high-level platforms are normal. Looking at the station kit suggests Step 2 will also take me a while: It's a kit that's been around for some years: there's an insert with the instructions with a Fax number to use if any parts are missing. A photo of a completed model was on the front of Model Railroader quite recently though, in October 2018. Building the station makes sense so I can work out the positioning of the supporting columns in Step 3. Having put together a 1:1 cardboard mock up, the existential question is whether it looks OK (or not) that the terminal building runs lengthwise over the tracks, rather than being end on. My mind is telling me it should be at right angles over the tracks, but there isn't space on the bookshelf for that. __________________________________________ * while this can be a disadvantage - I often have 20 minutes spare where I could do something productive if it was all laid out, the flip-side is that I'm thinking in terms of micro-layouts and dioramas I might actually be able to try building. Having done a quick audit of my ideas pipeline, I now have plenty of micro-layouts I could start using kits and bits I've collected, and I may make a start on one (or more) of those as well.