Jump to content
 

Paul Robertson

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    97

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Blog Entries posted by Paul Robertson

  1. Paul Robertson
    Having got the basic shell of a station building I wanted to give a bit of detail and shadow relief to the structure. 
     

    (starting with the picture windows. In order to get the thin balsa strips to bend enough I had to cut against the grain to allow the grain to bend for me) 
     
    Having got the window sills and frames I then turned my attention to the first floor roof which needed a bit of filling. I wanted a lift shaft at the end of the station to give a bit of height. Took some references from the clock tower at Surbiton. 
     

    (with lift tower included) 
     

    (the platform side. I'd put a secondary shadow strip around the platform canopy.)
     

    (a final view with the shadow detailing on the tower windows and canopy highlighting the design intent) 
     
     I have some balsa sealant on order before I consider painting these to get a good finish. 
     
    Many thanks for reading
  2. Paul Robertson
    Various odd jobs around the layout today. The first was an attempt at painting the Dock which utterly failed. My paints were cheap rubbish which I could do anything with so will have to invest in some better quality paints and try again. So with a quick change in plan I set about giving some relief to the railway arches which will form the base of my station. 
     

    (thin strips of balsa cut out to the arch shape and overlaid on the 5mm ply to give a bit of shadow and then a further strip of balsa to represent brick piers.)
     
    The idea is that these brick arches represent the original base of the 19th century railway station at Seahaven Eastern Docks which was subsequently knocked down and replaced by an art deco structure in the 1930's when the original train ferry Linkspan was constructed. Just need to get some n gauge brick paper to cover these. 
     
    Having completed this the next thing to do was to start the process of building the platform edge. I used the Peco concrete edging as this is prototypical for the southern region. 
     

    (platform edging in and a cargo wagon out to check clearances) 
     
    Next will be building the station in an art deco style. I want it to feel a bit like the architect thought of a cruise liner when he designed it. Think de la warr pavilion mixed with Surbiton station
     
    Some further shots around the layout at close of play today 
     

    (dockside) 
     

    (View across from station) 
     

    (aerial shot) 
     
    Thanks for reading
     
     
  3. Paul Robertson

    Mind the gaps...

    By Paul Robertson,

    There were lots of large gaps in the ferry woodwork which needed filling. The chimney stacks consist of 3 pieces of 5mm ply stuck together which had been cut out with a jigsaw so not desperately accurate. Whilst balsa helped to cover over the crude edges there were a lot of visible gaps between balsa and ply. With not much time for modelling today (I had a big odd job 'to do' list) I decided that might be a good small job to fit in around chores. I had bought some balsa filler which seemed to offer what I was wanting and set about stuffing it in the cracks and crevices I could find. Initially trying to tool it in but eventually gave up and just use my fingers! 
     

    (the resulting filled gaps roughly sanded. I need to get some finer sandpaper as what I had left a bit of a rough finish) 
     
     I've also allowed the upper vehicle deck to slide in and out in order gain entry to the train deck below if there are any derailments. 
     
    Having filled and sanded as much as I could I wanted to cover the last of the exposed screw heads on the ferry. I had used screws in order to provide a bit of rigidity to main joints but they need hiding from view. Luckily ferries have all sort of detritus stuck around them you can hide a multitude of modelling sins behind. I cut out some large grilles from balsa and stuck them over with a thicker bit of balsa underneath to bulk it out
     

    (grille and levelling piece stuck over the offending screw head) 
     
    Once this was complete it was back to the layout to see how it looked
     

    (a neater and less gappy nord pas de Calais in dock again.)
     
    Currently pondering winding gear and how to show this without fouling the bridges which I still want to remove. That will be for another day
     
    Thanks for reading
     
    Paul
     

  4. Paul Robertson
    So a busy day of modelling today with the aim of getting the Linkspan winding house structurally complete. 
     
    Firstly I assembled the leg structure cutting the tops and bottoms of theain structural supports to get them sitting at an angle as per prototype. 
     

    (leg structure coming on ready to be attached to main support structure made yesterday.) 
     
    Having created the legs a quick check was made to ensure the legs lined up with the 'concrete' pile caps. 
     

    (initial trial location to check they all match up) 
     
    Having done that it was time to make the roof. My first time making a hipped roof and lots of scrapping and shaving required to get the fit correct. Once relatively happy with it lots of styrene was used to cover up the gaps around edges! It's amazing what a little styrene will do! 
     
    Some thin balsa was stuck on the roof to indicate machine access doors should they need replacing and then a personnel door. Finally a walkway was created again with thin balsa with a kick rail as well. 
     

    (completed winding house with removable roof for later addition of lighting) 
     
    Below are some shots of the winding house in its proposed location. 
     

     

     

     
    Just some handrails, winding gear, control kiosk and some stairs up the structure to put in but that can be for another day. I'm pretty pleased with the overall structure. Nothing stuck down yet as I want to paint it all first. 
     
    Thanks for reading
     
     
    Paul
  5. Paul Robertson

    A start made...

    By Paul Robertson,

    Starting the Linkspan winding machine house building tonight. This will take more than an evening to complete. My styrene I beam arrived today so could get on with it. Firstly I started with the housing base structure which will eventually stand on legs above the Linkspan bridges. 
     

    (first stage - styrene beam structure) 
     
    Once I had finished with this I started on the housing itself made from Wills corrugated plastic sheet. 
     

    (progress on the upper housing) 
     
    Next will be a removable roof. I'd like to fixing Led lighting to the Linkspan structure and the housing will be a good place to hide wiring but will need access every now and again. Following the roof I will construct a walkway around the outside of the housing out of thin balsa. Something for the weekend. 
     

    (where the structure will sit or be it on angled stilts once the winding house is complete) 
     
    That's it for today - thanks for reading
     
    Paul
  6. Paul Robertson

    Found it!

    By Paul Robertson,

    Researching the structures I'm wanting to build is always an enjoyable part of the hobby for me. Unfortunately if you are trying to build something that has been demolished you are left to scouring the internet for photos, the odd scaled drawing, and perhaps a book on the subject if you are lucky. One online article that has proved a mine of visual information and reference in planning for this project has been http://www.doverferryphotosforums.co.uk/ and an article on the Admiralty Pier Train Ferry linkspan by Nigel Thornton (http://www.doverferryphotosforums.co.uk/admiralty-pier-train-ferry-berth/).
     
    I'd forgotten the link which I had come across a couple of years ago when planning the layout but after a quick internet search have just found it again. And not a moment too soon as I attempt to scratch build the linkspan winding house that sits above the bridges. The images show just what an incredible bit of civil engineering this structure was, and what a shame it saw only 8 years service before being demolished and its remains dumped in the old exchange sidings before being cut up for scrap. It would be interesting to know whether the investment actually had time to pay for itself in revenue from freight traffic! (Probably not). Not even sure whether train ferry traffic was profitable at all. Does anyone know? 
     
    There are some nice images of the Nord-pas-de-Calais actually tied up to the dockside which is useful reference. Most photos linked to the train ferry that I can find on the internet unsurprisingly concentrate on the locomotives and rolling stock coming on and off the linkspan with the structure very much a background object (such as the header image to this entry). In an age of 35mm Kodacolor film when each shot was potentially costly (not only in film but processing as well) you chose your shoots carefully. These days with 32 gigs in a standard digital camera we can 'click' away to our hearts content! Its not surprising with the train ferry operating in an age before digital cameras that those taking pictures around here (primarily train enthusiasts) would concentrate their hard earned negatives on the railway rather than ship!
     
    Another useful reference was the scale drawing of the Nord-pas-de-Calais. In my day job I use AutoCAD so was able to take this image, import it and scale it to the correct length (based on the Wikipedia entry for the ship) and then trace its outline. This then formed the template I drew out on plywood for the rear of the ferry on the layout. some additional photos of the ferry I managed to find also assisted
     

    (Whilst not in dock this is still a useful reference image of the deck arrangement of the ferry that's helping me to detail all the paraphernalia you would find on the Nord-pas-de-Calais. It also help me get the chimney widths better arranged (although mine aren't completely accurate due to scale width limitations). I also really like the vehicle deck surfacing detail here with the tie down points, yellow linings and tyre marks I assume from the ports own yard tractor units taking off unaccompanied semi-trailers. I bought a Kato n-gauge yard tractor from Osborns Models a couple of years ago and it might work nicely as a little cameo on the layout parked up ready to collect semi-trailers off the ferry. 
     

    (N gauge Kato yard tractor - Might need some Sealink branding to make it fit in)
     
    That's all for now - Thanks for reading
     
    Paul
     
     
     
     
     
  7. Paul Robertson
    So today I had a bit of time to do some more modelling and advance my scratchbuilding skills. I need a portakabin type structure to act as a combined office for the ferry and train staff on the quayside. Having done a bit of research on sizes of units and suitably scaled them down to n gauge I started to produce the model
     

    (my sketch drawings and scaled dims of a standard 12155x4050mm portakabin. I initially cut the floor and roof out of thick balsa and glued together with strengtheners in the corners to give a bit of rigidity. I then cut out the windows from thin balsa sheet and scored the door which I hope the outline will come out during painting. Windows had clear plastic fixed across them as per the kiosks I showed in a previous blog. For the toilet windows I fixed an additional sliver of white paper across the top
     

    (Initial shell construction of the portakabin) 
     
    Having got the shell complete I used thin styrene L shaped strips to pick out the edges and generally smarten up the box structure. The final finishing touch was to build the support legs and structure over the roof again out of the L strutt. The L strutt was actually a mistaken online purchase which I expected to be another form but it has come in very handy. 
     

    (rear view of completed structure with blanked windows for toilets) 
     

    (and a front view) 
     

    (Rough position for portakabin on layout with kiosks in the background located by train Linkspan to provide joint accommodation for the railway and port workers.)
     
    I will need to create another smaller  one for the network rail workers by the train station. My next task will be creating the winding house for the linkspan. I'm currently waiting for some styrene I beams to come in the post before embarking on it. 
     
    Thanks for reading 
     
    Paul
     
  8. Paul Robertson
    So having created a security kiosk I was happy with yesterday and with only a limited bit of building time this evening I decided to set up a little production line to produce the two others I required. 
     

    (sort of cabin I was looking to create found on a Google search with some useful dimensions that just needed dividing by 148)
     
    By close of play I had managed to complete all three:
     

    (three completed cabins) 
     
    And located on the layout
     

    (two controlling the entrance onto the upper and lower linkspans) 
     

    (and one controlling the access ramps) 
     
    Following this trial run with scratchbuilding I feel emboldened to perhaps try a portakabin or two which are required around the place. A bit more research required on dimensions and door / window sizes. That and the Linkspan wheelhouse will keep me busy for this week! 
     
    Many thanks for reading and happy modelling! 
     
    Paul
  9. Paul Robertson
    As well as more work on the civil engineering today I also made my first scratchbuilt building. A security kiosk. I need to make about 5-6 of these so this was just a trial run

     
    With a bit of painting and so correct signage I think it should do the job. Greater scratchbuilding challenges lie ahead. 
     

    (first attempt at a light mast base. Unfortunately couldn't cope with my drilling a hole in it) 
     

    (attempt no2. Working better. This 5mm diameter 300mm long brass tube scales to a 44m high light mast in n gauge which is about right for a port  complex. I'm hoping tomorrow to give the concrete paper a go
     
    Thanks for reading
     
  10. Paul Robertson
    So today has been spent on alot of detail. Taking lots of thin balsa strips and neatening tunnel mouths and providing a bit more structural detail on abutments

    (additional bridge abutment detail) 
     

    (tunnel mouth neatened up ready for some 'concrete' paper
     
    After a comment from another user here I spent a lot of time checking clearances with two types of wagon before sticking down the walls to the HM customs warehouse 
     

    (an early train load of taxable goods - probably scotch whisky) heads into the customs warehouse siding to check clearances) 
     
    It took about 4 attempts in shaving off plywood before the wagons would clear the walls!
     
    Another small step on the ferry was to round off the stern to give the end of the ship a more boat like feel. 
     

    (ferry stern cut and sanded down) 
     
    I'm also looking at the lighting masts and have created some balsa wood bases for them. The first attempt got destroyed when I tried to drill some holes through them. A second attempt was more successful. 
     
     

  11. Paul Robertson

    Why Seahaven?

    By Paul Robertson,

    Whitsun week in the 1980's for me as a child was always spent camping on the coast at the Warren in Folkstone in a blue canvas clad frame tent. Days would be spent watching the Sealink ferries arrive and depart from the harbour along with the obligatory trip to the Romney Hythe and Dymchurch Railway and building massive sandcastles on the sandy beach, whilst at night I would go to sleep to the sounds of EMUs pounding along the Shakespeare Cliff coastal mainline (or rain on canvas!). My visits encapsulated the changeover from BR corporate blue to Network Southeast Sectorisation and the splitting off of Sealink from British Rail. I wasn't really aware of the Train Ferry just a few miles up the coast and never witnessed its operation first hand. But I enjoyed the atmosphere of the close proximity of boats and trains on our occasional walks in to Folkstone Town and past the Harbour Station where third rail emus would trundle past the fishmarket, over the harbour viaduct and into the curved platforms to await their dwindling number of international foot passengers off the grandly Nordic named Sealink ships. If I'd known now what interesting rail manoeuvres were taking place daily on the Western Docks with a free refreshing walk along admiralty pier to boot I think I could have persuaded my father to make an afternoon trip of it and clicked away a few shots with my kodak instamatic camera. 
     
    My interest in building a train ferry layout stems from these childhood memories and also a growing interest in freight traffic and why we as a country seem unable to get so much of it off our roads. I appreciate the 'market forces / financial viability' arguments but there seems something intrinsically right about railways moving freight (which is the reason why they were built). I was also really interested in speedlink and wagonload freight and having come across David Ratcliffe's book (see below) it inspired me to think in more detail about a possible layout including childhood memories and my interest in limited freight traffic.
      
     
    Many iterations and plans were drawn up for grand loft layouts to model a whole working n gauge harbour but it quickly became apparent with a young family and lack of time and funds that such grandiose projects would have to be scaled down and so Seahaven was borne. Its primarily a shunting layout that works at 2.5 levels in n gauge and measures approximately 5ft by 1ft. the first 1.5 levels is a wagon shunting yard using a mock up of the rear end of Nord-pas-de-Calais as a fiddle yard connecting via a linkspan to the dockside, with a hidden storage yard off scene. Being new to n gauge and not having done any modelling since my teenage years I'm keeping it relatively simple and not going for movable linkspans or tidal effects! The 2nd level is the harbour station for third rail emus to trundle in and out from a connecting branchline through a suitably Shakespearean Cliff tunnel portal. As a suitably frustrated Civil Engineer I'm also enjoying detailing the structures and ensuring correct radii for roads, etc although I'm trying not to be too OTT on the detail, just want it to look and feel right. 
     
    I made a start over a year ago one christmas on the base boards although have been collecting suitable stock for a lot longer than that with birthday money being saved up. This summer with staycations happening I decided to spend a few days working on the layout a bit more and this is the current state of play:
     
     
     

     
    As you can see still very much work in progress but gaining momentum now and really enjoying getting back in the railway modelling saddle! I'll try and keep this updated as much as possible as I add new stuff.
     
    Thanks for reading
     
    Paul
  12. Paul Robertson
    So this evening I have been working on the marine architecture and civil engineering with more detailing on the ferry, bridge, abutment and retaining wall. Plenty of balsa wood used to try and replicate the mooring details on the ferry which seemed to have quite complicated bollards on the nord pas de calais prototype. I assume this has something to do with the moorings linked to the computer controlled Linkspan. Anyway done my best to represent it and will make good with a bit of filler! The upper Linkspan bridge now has parapets which will become concrete in the fullness of time. I've also tided up the ramp putting kerbs and footpaths in to neaten the edges. Along with using very thin balsa wood (0.7mm) bent to create the curved retaining wall. 
    Some images of tonight's progress below
    Mooring detail on deck of ferry
     

    The ramp to the lower Linkspan now tidied up a bit

    The upper Linkspan bridge with parapet walls now included. 
  13. Paul Robertson
    With family games night limiting my time on the baseboard today I decided instead to do a bit more on the signage sheet I've been putting together. I noticed that with the commercial sheets you buy there is inevitably quite a lot of wastage as I don't need most of the signs they supply. Also due to the very specific nature of my project there are also a lot of signs that I require that are not available commercially. I therefore decided to try and create a sheet myself. For the standard signs there are plenty of jpegs of DfT appropriate diagrams I could download, copy and paste. For the others it was a mixture of looking at prototype signage gantries and bashing it together on the computer
     
    I use Microsoft publisher as my preferred graphic design tool as it is relatively simple to use. The below it the result:
     

     
    I've already done one trial print when I was halfway through to check quality using a sheet of photopaper to give a bit of reflectivity feel that modern signage has. 
     
    Whilst relatively happy with the outcome I've since changed some of the text sizes to get them a little more readable so the detail stands out a bit more. It will be a long time before these end up on the layout (final dressing stage) but I've enjoyed the research that went with creating this  as well as the chance to have fun with create the Seahaven Harbour Authority with their own unique logo. I also managed to get my favourite tipple and chocolate bar on the advertising hoardings! Such is the fun of modelling! Will hopefully be back to physical modelling again this weekend. 
×
×
  • Create New...