Russ (mines a pint)

good thinking and with the variations of bowls, pans, lids etc in size it should be possible to find something for each size of curve you need.

Excellent bit of 'small & simple' that I'd not yet come across, keep the pics coming! B)

Thanks for the vote of confidence Tom! - competent or otherwise my main struggle is keeping focussed on the project in hand, far too easy to get attention diverted by other projects or even other hobbies!! B)

I can sympathize with both the mountain biking and the single track layout . There's something very appealing about the utter simplicity of simple stations like this, and Coanwood looks like an excellent example of that.

 

Indeed- this particular station is one that has inspired me both in old pictures and walking/riding the various sections of Alston branch open to visit, its an interesting route in its own right, possibly one of the last rural branches in the North of England and also the passenger service outlasted the freight- it is usual for it to be the other way round in these backwaters!

I ummed and erred about that, but I want to know that the stuff will run in N before knacking up the warranty by converting- I've got a seperate point underway which will fit on Banff that is being done to proper 2FS standard gauges I am going to put this onto a cassette so that converted stock can run through it onto the cassette.

 

This is a lot more about getting back used to the small scale of things than operation, believe me I am struggling with the fiddlyness of it more than anything- almost to the extent of going back to 4mm! - but not yet!

 

I need to get to a point of knowing I can get somewhere with the finished look of this scale before investing masses of time in the 'niggly bits' - probably the wrong approach, that of a mountain biker, a simple singletrack will do me every time!

You might need some chairplates to match the height of the copperclad sleepering to the Easitrac?

 

 

I'll probably just add height under the sleepers, as I did on the EM track. I soldered rail direct to sleepers in 4mm scale and have to say that the lack of chairs and/or chairplates did'nt bother me visually - the main thing to me is getting away from dodgy sleeper spacing, chunky point blades (on code 55 at least) and dodgy geometry of pointwork, as Martin says the biggest points available in the Peco range are only really suitable for goods yards!

 

I got the crossing filing jig in 1:8 so its likely all points will be B8, unless I go to the expense of another jig!

 

...do you have an overall shot of it so we can see the scope of the project?...

... will do this and a plan for the next instalment! - but its basically a through line with single track platform and a loop for turning back from a quarry or colliery (TBC!) and a small siding, similar to what Deadwater might have become if I had extended it.

Could you not make a simple mock-up of the station building just to see if it feels right. Then get on with the track etc. You can then go back to the station building there's not so much else to do. You could choose a simpler building. ilding layouts quite a slow progress. The more you can do for yourself track, buildings etc. the more satisfying it is but it also slows progress. Don

 

As above I think yes you are right, the building COULD be simplified without loosing too much characeter I suppose it is the arch into the trainshed, which could be made square and also simplyfy the out buildings of the trainshed, I think I am also going to make some of the bits from card instead of plasticard, its easier to cut neatly and also to join.

Hang in there Russ...I am still at trackbuilding stage after last week As Don says, a cardboard mock up to check size and profile and put aside to make way for the other fun stuff. I mocked up the station building for my boxfile Kyle layout...and one year on...its still a mock up.Get the trackbuilding on the go...a few things running...and then you won't need the beer and relaxing CD's...maybe!

Yep wasnt going to start on the track until the buildings were somewhere near, but put like that it makes sense, I can always adapt the trackplan to another place even if the buildings never get finished I suppose.

Dare I say kitbash/RTRbash the buildings? I've never paid any attention to 2mm RtR buildings but some of the 4mm offerings have potential to Alba-sise, by changing the stone colour to something more native?Won't be Banff, but might be sufficient?

 

 

Yeah had a look at that already, just in case, the concrete provender style goods shed could pop up anywhere, and there is a Grafar station building which has a resemblence of some of the stations round Tain, I think - I think it needs some stamp of individualty, but I suppose the option is there if I get really stuck.

found with the 2mm stuff from the few pics I have taken of 2mm stuff that it can all get quite depressing! To get a view close enough with the camera you have to go far closer to it and focus it much better to get anything like (I haven't even mastered that yet!)

 

- remember the '3 foot' rule, that said if its affecting running which you say it is then it needs fixing. Glad you have got some ideas for improvement.

 

I think if it was me i would have built the covered track in PCB with as few sleepers as would hold the track in gauge (1 in every 4 or 5?) then got the whole lot level with card/other infil before starting any top surface, I've found before that otherwise the clay 'drops' into the gaps between sleepers as it hardens.

 

hope your new plan goes well.

yeh I know, about 180mm diameter quoted for the scenecraft one I think!

 

-well as its not to be a 100% reperesentation I am thinking maybe to replace the gasometer area with a small fuel terminal, easier to model and provide some railbourne traffic, I was thinking of having the front most siding to drop tanks off into.

 

Track order has come today!

in fact I've just had a eureka moment! cut the board down and make the fiddleyard seperate. pics, explanation in new entry, to follow

well Pete, I've been having a look at it again today, the Port Pennan layout which was on the old forum doesn't look all that different from Banff really (both plans I think originally came from the same group of modellers IIRC), apart from having a seperate platform face at Banff, so I think what will follow will indeed be a condensed version, loose the short frontmost siding possibly, try get rest to fit in the length of 2 boxfiles joined end to end.

 

I remeasured the goods shed again and found that it IS actually more or less to scale, must have been something I was drinking last night, so now on with trying to get the roof in proportion, quite difficult as the ridge of the roof is only about half the length of the entire length of the building. here's a link to the real one . I hadnt quite realised the trackbed was raised, the other pics I have seen being from the station end. This is why it may help to loose the other siding, the crossover can move out a bit to allow the track to rise. I do like seperate levels in track and for such a small and simple layout I think this feature is more attractive than anything offered by an extra (v. short) siding?

as others have said that photo is very good and looks real. More when you are ready please!

Hi RussThis is constructive - Honest! That building looks pretty scruffy. You need to get things like the arch nice and smooth and also remember that a stone wall is thick. I would use a core of 4mm foamboard and clad both sides with your stone texture if I were you. I only say this as I carried on regardless with my first build of my signal box knowing that it wasnt really good enough. In the end I could stand it no longer and ripped all the cladding off and did it again.Hope this is helpfulJim

 

 

Dont worry Jim its far from finished that is just a mockup to judge sizes and proportions against the trackplan!

- its likely that the outside walls will survive but as you say the inside will be built and the arch probably either neatened up or rebuilt. its just to get an idea.

I know I was in two minds whether to go for blog/thread etc. I might put a thread up too when I've something more to show... The blog format is good for starting out, ramblings and generally thinking aloud, bits can be added & removed without it making the other bits not make sense!

 

Yes Banff is ideal in alot of ways, perhaps a scenic break will have to be contrived but in the BAnff-ish plan linked to earlier this has already been taken care of by 'rippers', I've gone for a mixture of features from this and the plan in Ian Futers book 'Modelling Scotland's Railways, I dont think either trackplan is true to prototype, but I'll hopefully end up with the best bits of each.

 

Time period is at the moment right at 'the end' - seem to be a bit of a habit developing

if you did it all in one hit you might find you can see where the sleepers are as it all dries and settles- certainly does in 4mm - the smaller scale might make things kinder on the eye! another selectively applied layer can sort it- interested to see how it goes in the smaller scale - as I've joined in with it myself due to a lack of space, but its taking some adjustment!

The effects in the bottom pic look encouraging- did you build the clay up in layers or do it all in 'one hit' so to speak. I used both DAS and other 'air-drying clay' in previous layouts the cheaper stuff is better I found, the texture is easier to work with.

 

Layout looking very impressive! B)

Thanks Steve!

Aw ###### theres a real one! - will think of something else!

 

at least I found some nice picsof the trainshed to be going on with, fairly confident to scale it to about 60ft - one short coach- length by about 28ft - 3 times width of the actual track- it seems like the heght seems to be my perpetual problem, taller than the train would be good

Might as well get on with the below track level stuff whilst awaiting the track order!

- also keep up with the buildings, thinking originally the goods shed might be a write-off, but I think with a bit of fettling (ie bodging ) it'll be ok.

yes may have to move the first point out a bit had not noticed it had got too close- I did wonder about a 3 way but think thats just asking for trouble!

you do know that a swear box is a prerequisite of any 2mm modeller helps pay for all the drill bits you break

 

 

H'mmm thats true, when i was faffing about with buildings yesterday my wife said "O its nice to see you have such a relaxing hobby" very sarcastically!

Russ,Are you a member of the GNSRA? - they have plans of a nice selection of the company's structures. I've a few pics of Blacksboat as well (taken about 14-5 years ago) if you need more info.Bruce

 

 

Not at the moment but have been looking at their website, which brought me to Banff, a simplified version of which might be very tempting!

What van did you try? I know that some, especially older ones are not modelled very well to scale.

 

 

yeah its old grafar fishvan, its probably miles out!!