Jump to content
 

splodgestudios

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    51

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Blog Entries posted by splodgestudios

  1. splodgestudios
    Hi all!
     
    I’ve come to realise many don’t know about the Rev. W. Awdry, and his extensive writings. Or those who do, only know about the surface of them. This post will be an introduction, explaining the writings, and my additions.
     
    The Railway Series, which you probably know as the books that were later adapted into Thomas The Tank Engine. Awdry, started the stories for his bed-sick son and they developed into his own world with rich history. 
     
    If you’re interested I can recommend The Island Of Sodor; It’s People, History and Railways (IOS) Its scarce in terms of physical copies but digitals exist (although I don’t know this sites sharing policies). There is also The Real Lives Of Thomas The Tank Engine (try saying that 10 times fast), which has information from the IOS, and I believe some other pertinent sources. The site shows its age but is gold and it’s clear much care went into it. Finally there’s a proper timeline video made by a fellow fan which is excellently done linked here:
     
    However I’ll give you, my dear reader, a brief breakdown; The Island Of Sodor, situated between Barrow and Mann, is home to North Western Region of British Railways. This formerly was the North Western Railway (NWR) which formed from several smaller constituents. Its rail network boasts 80* engines, and the resource rich island warrants this number. Sudrians (as the inhabitants are called) are independent folk who value their railways and don’t much believe in replacing things that are still in good use. 
     
    Although the mainline sees much action, depending on who you ask the most important part of the railway is the Ffarquhar Branch. Situated on the west of the island, it climbs up from Knapford, and terminates to the quarries at Ffarquhar. The stone is valuable traffic for the line, although the farmers, dairy, and harbour form a rather busy line. Not to mention the passenger traffic, 7 trains both ways daily. 
     
    Awdry wrote much about the branch, and in due time more will be shared, this is just a appetiser for what will probably be a series of posts in this blog. To me it’s one of the most interesting and charming locations created, hence my choice in modelling. 
     
    I hope you have found this post interesting, I quite like fake but realistic history
  2. splodgestudios
    Hi All! If you have seen any of my previous threads where the foundations of my current musings began, welcome to something that will hopefully more organized and updated consistently.
     
    If you aren't familiar with the Ffarquhar branch, you're in for a treat. It was originally created by the Rev. W. Awdry, yes the author of The Railway Series, which for those who don't know has a large and storied lore behind it - far beyond just the trains with faces aspect. It is all fiction, but the detailed and storied "history" would have you believe otherwise, and since I was a child those aspects have captured my interest greatly. A full history of the Ffarquhar Branch will be put into a post soon.
     
    So my choice for modelling, it being fictitious allows for what I call loose modelling, time and place set but a kind of openness that doesn't force accuracy in location or stock.
     
    Now I'm sure you are wondering what the title of this blog has to do with anything I just mentioned. I like many modelers, am very limited on space, this isn't good with someone who wants to create large operable layouts with diverse traffic. My working space is really only 6x2 at most, so only so much to work with. I juggled over complicated designs, or designs that sacrificed more than I was comfortable with. I browse these forums frequently and eventually came across a fantastic blog, The Farthing Layouts I wish I found it sooner, but damn has it transformed my thinking when it comes to layout design. I won't waste time rewording everything said in the blog as I recommend reading it yourself, but in short the concept comes down to taking what could be a large station and narrowing it down to separate parts. Taking an elephant and breaking it into bite sized pieces 
     
    My current idea for a first bite is a model of Knapford, which may take multiple different layouts to capture its scope. The plan is to slowly build up a collection of independent small-micro layouts that can act independently but connected by location and stock. Again very inspired by The Farthing Layouts. 
     
    Finally heres a map of the Ffarquhar Branch 
     

     
    Watch This Space.
  3. splodgestudios

    Knapford Part I - The Harbour

    By splodgestudios,


    Plans and Design
    Hi all! Knapford is a can of worms I’ve chosen as my first step into layout building. This post will be a recap of my thinking so far, and look into what’s to come. 
     
    Knapfords track plan was never explained in detail by the Reverend although he did write in detail about some of the changes that it did undergo throughout the years. A full post about that will be made in future and will be linked here: 
     
    What is known is that Knapford has a junction station just NORTH of the River Els, with the Ffarquhar branch connection on the right and mainline on the left. Both branch and main cross over the river south. The Harbour line, which connects back to the branch at Toryreck, runs along side the river mouth beneath the branch and mainline bridges.
     
    Now this is a beast in itself to model, especially when considering operation and space. Wisely, for my own sanity, I’m choosing not to have an operational mainline, and the mainline will really be solemn shown at all. I’ve juggled some over complicated ideas like the one below. When all I want is a “small” layout that gives some mixed operational ability why over complicate things?
     

     
    I’m lucky I found The Farthing Layouts when I did, I wasn’t exactly happy with the monstrosity but I was seriously considering building it. The articles mentioned changed my thinking in terms of layout building. I’ve since developed two layout ideas that scratch the atmospheric and theatrical itch.
     


     
    Above is what I call “Between The Bridges”. This depicts the east of the harbour sidings, between the mainline (left) and branchline (right) my goal is to frame it in such a way that the onlooker is forced down making everything appear much larger - see sketch above (not completely accurate but gets a general idea across). Its somewhat simple but functional, the bottom kickback isnt set in stone. This and the next both work as shunting puzzels. 
     

    The Quays, depict just further down the harbour, west of the mainline bridge. A goods station and crane are the main features with the line going over the river and into a good shed with hidden sidings for wagon switching - Although I am not as happy with this one as the river is cut thinner, and the goods shed (red area) is never actually depicted Its strictly from my mind to build the scene. The river being so small is also disapointing to me but a necessity to make the scene work as intended. Despite that, there’s some interesting theatrics that would be needed to make this all work but I feel it could be rather interesting. Will most likely play with the design. 
     
    Both appeal to me but only one will be built as they are functionally the same, I do like the simplicity of “Between The Bridges” also allows some easier construction. Any ideas are welcome! 
     
×
×
  • Create New...