MOB 2002

Good to see that the remaining Ge4/4 I are still finding gainful employment. There can’t be many places where you can see a 1947-built locomotive on regular freight in 2020? Shame about the Capricorn units appearing in the Davos platform at Filisur though ... that’s the first place I sampled Ge4/4 I haulage a couple of decades ago now!

I was restricted to quick snaps on my WAB and JB trip in September 2017 as the trains, and stations, were a bit a scrum ... longing for the chance to do it again though right now!

Life away from modelling has been pretty manic of late, so I’ve only managed to slowly plug away at odds and ends. I have managed to grow the stock list a little though, so last night I gave everything a test run. Thought I’d do a little video while I was at it. I’m currently working on the little fill in job of the footbridge you can see an abutment for in the centre of shot before I pour the water for the stream. I’m also in deep internal debate as to whether I scratch build the structures to go opposite the station or resort to plastic kits. I’m struggling to find a prototype that I’m really happy with for the obligatory shop and bar/restaurant opposite the station. The engine shed away to the left of view will have to be scratch built, so I guess that might be the decider. Mark

I’m sure there was a reason, this is Switzerland after all, but I have no idea what it was!

That’s almost exactly what the intermediate carriages are ... EW I ‘converted’ as part of the BLS Jumbo programme. There’s a nifty video on YouTube showing the scale of the work: Mark

The current BLS livery is certainly an acquired taste. It sort of works on the latest units, but I’m not really sure on an Re4/4 II or the ex Swiss Express stock. This was taken at Interlaken Ost in September 2017. I gather that there are very few scheduled BLS loco hauled passenger workings left now.

Hopefully a fairly full weekend of modelling awaits. During the week I’ve managed to knock up a couple more Faller kits, even if I’ve only managed to paint one so far. I’m not sure why, but I expected to be unsatisfied with the plastic kits and viewed them as a bit of a stop gap, but I’m not too upset with the one I’ve got painted and I can see at least some promise in the others. Anyway, thought I’d share a couple of quick pics of progress so far (hope the pano works on here). If nothing else because I couldn’t resist taking some photos with a very nice Roco Be4/6 that’s just joined the roster. As far as I know it’s not prototypical sadly, and a little out of my planned era too, but it’s a cracking model. Hoping the scene will be looking a little different by this time on Sunday. Mark

With ballasting now essentially complete, and a few other jobs tackled, I’ve moved onto the station area. The lesser used ‘platform’ below rail height is ready for a serious spot of weathering in due course. A good chunk of the main platform likewise, so I’ve introduced the part finished station building to confirm my measurements. Next job is to trim the main platform surface to suit so I can sink the station building in rather than being simply plonked on top. Then I can turn the paper template seen below into an actual platform and fill in the 4ft of the road the De4/4 is seen on here ... oh and finish the building. Mark

I’m really looking forward to seeing your techniques on the actual buildings. Even the card mockups look very imposing. Mark

I’m really looking forward to seeing your techniques on the actual buildings. Even the card mockups look very imposing. Mark

The silence for a few days doesn’t mean I’ve been idle all the time ... although most of It hasn’t been overly exciting. All of the land form is now in place and sealed with a coat of grey/brownish paint. About half of the many retaining walls needed are now there in basic form. Some of them have even had their first coat of ‘concrete’ paint. The first small area of trial landscaping has been done; I’m fairly happy with the muted, late summer colour. I’ve also done a small test patch of rail side ‘rust’, courtesy of a Rail Match pot just like almost everyone else I’m sure. A quick trial photo (attached) proves the shade isn’t too overpowering, despite my fears. I’ve also made a small variation to Plan A. This pic from Ernie Brack’s collection on Flickr changed my mind somewhat about station building plans: The additional Kiosk and office at Reinach lend themselves to being a focal point towards the front of the baseboard. I’m going to cheat at first and make only some minor changes to the Faller Hochdorf station kit to achieve that rough look and we’ll see how the additions go. Obviously I’ll have to paint and weather it (a lot) but it’ll give me something to scale everything else from. I’ve got to admit all of my previous scratch building has been in 4mm scale so I’ve got a steep learning curve even once I’ve knocked my rustiness off. Now to carry on at least trying to find ways to resist rushing to acquire an all over green Piko Rbe4/4 and steurerwagen. Mark

An impressive collection, and I agree there is definitely something about a ‘Grey Mouse’ that gives them a special appeal. Have to admit I’m most envious of the more humble Rbe4/4 though.

Thanks for the positive feedback everyone. I am indeed planning cassette storage, although at the moment I’ve made an oversized cassette with simple run round loop to get things going with a minimum of material. That can be swapped out for standard cassettes in due course, but thankfully prototypical trains are short. Even though I’ve been visiting Switzerland since 1992, and have been to Luzern a few times, I’m ashamed to say that I wasn’t familiar with the Seetal line until very recently either. I’ve mainly been interested in the narrow gauge scene, although I never totally ignored standard gauge. The Ae4/7 fascinated me as a child for example (photo of a very early photo taken in Chur below). I hadn’t considered Ernie Brack’s collection... even though I’ve seen his industrial stuff (giving away my other interests). I’ll be having a good look now. Hopefully I’ll be able to make some more progress tomorrow night.

I’m a long term loiterer here, but first time contributer. Like many people I suspect, I’ve been tipped over the edge to pick up modelling again after around 20 years due to spending a lot more time than normal in the house right now. My first intention was to go for HOm and I got as far as the detailed design work on a layout inspired by Montbovon on the Montreux Oberland Bernois Railway. But when the scale of the lockdown situation became apparent I had to take a long hard look at what I had to hand as well as what could be obtained speedily in this country. What I didn’t want to do was go for the expected multilevel, mountainous tail chasing Swiss layout though. I stumbled across the answer in a photo of the now-closed Beromunster station and branch, followed by discovering more of the Seetal line it joined. Spotting an N scale Kato De4/4 made my mind up. So, at present I’m trying to use my long-untried modelling skills to recreate something of the feel of a standard gauge SBB backwater during the early 1980s to early 1990s. The less said about the parentage of the board the better, but it was available and relatively solid. Tracklaying and wiring was kept painfully simple with traditional DC control and live frog points. Point control will be wire in tube in due course (the board is drilled to suit). I took far too long mucking about with ballast but I’m nearly happy with the results now. I’ve just started landscaping, but again sticking with use of what I’ve got to hand during lockdown, I’m making much use of card. So, I’m looking forward to discussing progress and I’m hoping that the far more experienced modellers here will have no fear in giving lots of creative criticism. Pictured are an early test laying of the track ... It’s Peco code 80 because I wanted to make it possible to use an ancient Minitrix Ae6/6 and Re4/4 I have. I may live to regret that. A cruel close up of the ballasting attempt. And a hint of what I’m hoping for with a Piko Ae3/6 in the foreground as the Kato De4/4 and light steel carriage climb away in the distance while countouring work is still underway in between.