wiggoforgold

Well done Rob. Alex

The up platform building at Yelverton is both unique and recognizably Great Western. The wooden pentagonal building, juxtaposed with the foot bridge and the lattice girder accommodation bridge crossing the station, could not be anywhere other than Yelverton. At the same time, the design is recognizably Great Western, similar to many other buildings on the system. Although quite small, it has a grandeur that belies its size. Not bad for what, in station terms, was a bit of an afterthought. The building has been modelled before, perhaps the best known being the model which forms the station building at Pen Tor Road on the Dartmoor scene at Pendon museum. The building didn’t appear to have been repainted since GWR days; it was still in GWR light and dark stone in 1959, by which time the paintwork was heavily weathered, particularly the southern end which was exposed to the prevailing winds from the English channel. I couldn’t find a drawing – I hoped Pendon might have one, but that drew a blank. I found lots of pictures on the web, in particular a colour set taken in 1959 by George Illife Stokes for construction of the Pendon model. The can be found on Malcolm Mitchells “A”shop Facebook page. I asked a lot of questions, and the kindness of RM Web members allowed me to produce a dimensioned ground plan. (Special thanks should go to Harlequin/Phil who kindly measured the plan of the building from the OS map.)This is his plan: A lot of the photos of the station show the Southern and South Eastern walls, so the Iliffe Stokes shots are particularly useful as they address some different views. The other particularly useful picture was this view of the building originally posted by Miss Prism, which I’ve repeated here: Armed with the measurements of the ground plan, the photograph, a sheet of 2mm planked plasticard, the notes I had made for the Down building and Excel, I was able to transfer the dimensions of the building to the plasticard in 4mm scale. The measurements provided by Harlequin enabled me to produce a ground plan in 4mm scale. The photograph gives a square view of the SE wall, so I was able to measure the various verticals on the photograph, and using Excel, found the ratio of these to the length of the side, which was then applied to the length of the side in 4mm. This enabled me to work out the positions of the verticals, and also the heights and angles of the roof and chimney. These dimensions were then transferred to a sheet of 2mm planked plasticard, and adjusted accordingly to match the planks. I don’t feel particularly constrained by the lack of a drawing. My eyesight is less than perfect, so things like planked plasticard are helpful in setting things out. It is alson helpful for keeping everything square and evenly spaced. For the construction of the station, I’m using the following materials: · Sides Slaters 2mm planked plasticard; Framing – Plastruct strip – verticals 0.8x2.00mm ref 90734; horizontals 0.8 x 1.5mm ref 90733; Cap strips – 0.4mm Plastruct rod ref 90849; Plinth - Slaters embossed brick sheet – Flemish bond · Inner sides 20 thou plasticard · Floors, interior walls, floor , ceiling and roof supports 40 thou plasticard. · Windows Frames - 10 thou plasticard; Glazing bars – 0.4mm plastruct rod; Glazing 18mm square microscope slide cover slips (glass) · Roof Wills slate sheet · Canopy Slaters GWR valancing; 40 thou pasticard; Slaters 2mm planked plasticard. The basic construction methods are as described for my model of the Down platform building earlier in this tread. Construction commenced with marking out the dimensions of the sides on 2mm planked plasticard sheet. Construction has commenced with walls B-C (the southern end), and C-E, (the SE toilet wall). Allied with the floor plan, I should be able to extrapolate the dimensions of the other two walls from these two Wall B-C Wall C-E Both Together: Next jobs are to finish the inner walls on these two sides, then I will start work on the Up Platform wall - A-B Alex

The footbridge is nearly finished. It just needs a bit more weathering, and I need to make the gable ends over the ramp entrances. Here it is with the down platform buildings. Next will be the Up platform building. Alex

I've done the legs on the footbridge. The kit has some moulded cast type colums. The prototype at Yeleverton sits on a frame made from angle iron - nothing like the legs in the kit so they had to go. New legs were made from square section plastruct strip and "L" section, assembled on a a 20 thou plasticard base. I added some detail to the panelling, did a bit of cleaning, and have put a bit of filler on the roofand at the edges of the wooden side panels. When it's dry (tomorrow) it will receive a coat of grey primer which will highlight any blemishes, and once those have been dealt with, a bit more primer and painting can begin. Alex

After taking Upwell Drove to the Yealmpton show, my intention was to start work on the Up platform building for Yelverton. There has been a slight change of plan, which means the start of work on the Up platform building will be delayed by about 10 days or so. Yelverton has a footbridge. In planning for the layout, I thought that the Gaugemaster (formerly Hornby) footbridge would make a suitable starting point. I finally got hold of one the other week, and having made an initial examination of the parts to confirm they would be suitable, ended up starting work. The kit comes moulded in 3 colours of plastic, and can be made up either for platform or track level mounting. The ramps are marked where they can be shortened for platform mounting, and the legs have additional sections if additional height is required. The plastic is quite soft, which makes it easy to work, and modifications easy. What it gives me is the basic shape, neatly moulded staircases, and a roof, which made a good starting point for my model. The kit is based on the footbridge at Hagley, and is a rather more ornate affair that the one at Yelverton. The Hagley bridge is lattice work and ornate sides to the ramp. The Yelverton bridge is plate girder with planked sides to the ramps, rather more befitting the rural location. Thus the ornate bits had to go. In addition, the ramps on the Yelverton foot bridge are on opposite sides, whereas the ramps at Hagley are both on the same side, so one side had to be altered. Work started by modifying the sides. The lattice work at the end platforms was cut away, to be replaced by sections cut from Slaters 2mm planked plasticard. The lattice panels in the bridge section were replaced by plates cut from 10thou plasticard. The green coloured planked floor was used as supplied, as were the steps in the side ramps. Before installation, these parts were all sprayed with MiG “Faded Sinai Grey”, followed by a dusting of “Old Wood” and “Dust”. Once dry, this was painted with a mixture of Humbrol “Smoke” and “Dark Earth” weathering powders, mixed with water and Decalfix. Once dry, much of this was removed with micellar water (make up remover) applied with a cotton bud. The whole was then given a dusting of Humbrol acrylic matt varnish to restore the matt finish. The ornate sides to the ramps were removed, leaving the top and bottom rails. These were replaced by new sides made from 2mm planked plasticard. On the inside, the new piece is glued to the top and bottom rails, remembering to leave a rebate at the bottom for the installation of the staircases. The outer sides were cut to fit between the top and bottom rails, and glued to the inner sides. The lower of the two bottom rails was removed, and a less ornate bottom one made from a strip of 10 thou plastic. Detail is from various Plastruct sections and rod. Before assembly, the completed sides were sprayed on the inside w9ith MIG “New Wood”, which seems to be s suitable match for WR cream. The insides were weathered as for the floor parts. The roof is made up pretty much from the supplied parts. On mine, one of the staircases is reversed, so I altered the roof of the staircase appropriately. I shortened the staircase roof appropriately for a platform standing model. The next stage is to consturcut legs. The picutes show work to date. That's all for now. I hope to get the legs done this evening or tomorrow. Alex

We had a good day at the Yealmpton show. Upwell Drove behaved itself and seemed to be well received. We met a few friends ( I got the 45xx Neil) and picked up some new ideas. Here's some pictures taken on the day. Alex

Hi Steve. I really like what you have done. Sorry I hadn't found it earlier, but I'll be following avidly from now on. Alex

Looks good. I'm interested to see what happens with the brake van. point rodding,s a bit of an art, isn't it? I've been studying the subject recently, and found a few useful sites on the net. Talking of using old parts, I,ve got a couple of Colin Waite etches that might get pressed in to service. Alex

Is there anything useful to you in Bernard Mill"s "Backtracking around -Millbay, Saltash and the Tamar"? There's before and after pics around Stonehouse Pool, but the "before " pics are about 1965 so possibly too late for you. Alex

46447 = proper engine

Thanks Chris. 23 was the one I meant. I got my up and down lines muddled. Sorry. Alex

Hi Keith. It's a pretty little station isn't it? The Princetown branch does add some interest. At the moment, I don't have the room to do the Princetown line as well, so I'm modelling it after the track was lifted. However, my plan is to build the baseboards and platforms so that the track could be relaid if the opportunity arises. I'm planning to start work on the up platform building later in October, after I've taken Upwell Drove to the Yealmpton show. I have a question. I've been studying the point rodding and signalling. I notice that the signal box diagram shows that at one time there was a catch point in the up line , presumably to protect the facing point in the running line at the south end of the loop. I can't see any sign of it in later years. Could the crossover giving access to the refuge siding give suitable protection? Alex

I've nearly finished the village street, and am now test running ready for the outing to yealmpton in a couple of weeks. A J70 arrives with the morning freight Another view of the goods arrival, this time from across the village street. Another J70, 68223, moving into the loco spur to tak e on water An ex GW open in the yard. This started life as an Airfix rtr model - a 50p bargain buched find. A A cople of shots of the tramwat waiting room. Alex

That looks great. My wife particularly likes it as she is from Torbay. We have several pictures of that scene in the railway room. Alex

Ah, merchandising. I could have mugs with pictures of J70s on them

The number plates have arrived for 4658 and 4588, so a bit more progress has been made. I used Fox plates on 4588. I know the porthole windows in the cab front shouldnt be there. I knocked the Bachmann glazing out when I was weathering it, and currently can't get the cab roof off to get it back in! 4658, seen here on a Launceston-Plymouth freight, uses Railtech 3d transfers. I've done a bit more weathering on it. Various shades of Tamiya grey and NATO black were gently airbrushed on the top of the tanks, before brushing with Humbrol weathering powders, mainly smoke, applied dry this time. Alex

Upwell Drove will be making a couple of public appearnaces later in the year: 12 October: Yealmpton 7-8 December: Manchester I'm currently working on making sure everything is ready for Yealmpton. I hope to have the village street finished by then. Here's a picture of work in progress: As alluded to above, Elm Lane has been shortened to fit the layout room at home. About 1822 was removed from one end with a saw, and the end and backscene were rebuilt. Finally a couple of pictures of the layout in operation: A J70 arrives at Upwell Drove with the morning freight. A lone van awaits unloading in the yard. Alex

I haven't posted any updates here for a while as I've been busy with other projects. Upwell Drove is currently being prepared for the Yealmpton show next month. I mentioned earlier in this thread that the installation of a fitted cupboard in the room where the layout lives meant a reduction in the size of Elm Lane, so here are some pictures of the refurbished board. More picutres of Upwell Drove will follow soon. Alex

I think it must be solvent based. It's a Humbrol product, label says it's flamable. It's a bit jelly like in consistency. I got it for fitting etched plates and glazing. I tried it because I had it to hand. Alex.

So far, so good. The Scalescenes paper is printed on matte photo paper. On the large building it is stuck on with Clearfix. On the trolley house I used Mekpak. I think the Clearfix has the edge in leaving a little more time for adjustment. Alex

How about getting a new Hornby mech to put under the Airfix body?

Is that the Bachmann class 24? The 60's style looks good. You need a class 31/Brush type 2 though. Alex

The huts behind the signal box in the station yard are virtually finished. Final weathering and detailing such as down pipes will await the time when they are installed on the layout. The larger of the two brick huts is constructed from a shell of 40 thou Plasticard, covered with Scalescenes brick paper. The window is my now usual method of an outer frame from 10 thou Plasticard, with glazing bars from Plastruct strip, glazed with a glass microscope slide cover slip, which fits in to a slot behind the glazing bars. The smaller hut is, I think, a trolley house, and is the only one for which I had any sort of drawing, this being a sketch plan of the trolley house at Hatch on the Chard Branch in the May 1969 Railway Modeller. Like the larger brick hut, the shell is from 40 thou Plasticard, covered with Scalescenes brick paper. This one appears to have had a slate roof, which is made from Wills slate sheet. It was first painted overall dark grey, then lightly airbrushed with a paler grey, so that the darker lines between the slates were visible. It was then stippled with Tamiya dark grey, and when dry given a wash of Humbrol weathering powders – smoke and dark earth mixed with decalfix. When dry, much of this was wiped off with a cotton bud dipped in makeup remover. Finally, a couple of pictures of the completed row of huts. I now need to crack on with work on Upwell Drove, which is appearing at the Yealmpton show in October, so nothing on Yelverton for a few weeks. Alex

See you there Rob

The next building in the row of huts is the large wooden one. This is a simple box from Slaters 2mm planked plastic, with inner walls of 40 thou plastic. The capping strips are 0.6mm Plastruct rod, set in the groves for the planks. The door frame, hinges and hasp are from various thicknesses of plastic strip. The roof is from 40 thou plastic sheet. The canvas effect was inspired by childhood memories of getting sticky fingers on Airfix kits. The roof was flooded with solvent, which was then dabbed with a piece of tissue to roughen the surface. When dry, capping strips were added from plastic strip. The building was painted with MIG colours, and brushed with Humbrol weathering powders, mainly smoke, applied dry this time. The whole building was then given a light spray of acrylic matt varnish. Alex Next, on to the larger of the brick huts