rovex

I didn't initially realise these were 2mm - very impressive Rovex

Looks amazing

Thanks Guys, I'll have to dig a copy of the book out. I've scoured the online sources (generally very informative but almost all show Snow Hill in its last stages just before demolition). I've got the usual books on the station itself and GWR architecture - couple of useful shots in Vol 4 Historical survey of GWR stations and Russells book on GWr signalling. Thanks again

Work has progressed apace, the supporting girder work has been finished including the curved bracing to support the box floor. In order to try to get these as identical as possible, 14 pieces of 20 thou plasticard (20mm by 15 mm) were glued along the edges. the shape marked out on the top sheet and then the curved bottom part cut and sanded on all 14 sheets at once. the sheets were drilled to provide the inner curve then seperated and cut and trimmed to fit and glued in place. The relay and storage boxes between the legs have been fitted and wire draped beneath the box to represent some of the underslung cabling. The roof was leaded and so this avoided the need for laying loads of slates. The stairs currently stop well short of the ground, as I'm awaiting receipt of the other set, but the eagle eyed amongst you will recognise the steps from the Hornby Signal Box. Some filling to do and a little bit more work before I consider the paint job. I'm giving myself a bit of a headache about the actual paint scheme, all the photos I've got are black and white and all relatively late in the box's life. They seem to show it in an all over light colour including the supporting girder work. As my model is meant to be about 1950, this would suggest GWR light and dark stone, but what colour would the girders be? Any thoughts anyone? Rovex

That "Beeching" look doesn't come cheap

I like etched brass windowframes, you can't beat them for getting a really fine look, but I have a knack of getting glue all over the them when I try to use them, so I'd thought I'd try this instead.

Thanks John. Got the central panel the cross bracing at the ends and the sliding doors fitted this evening. More work to do tomorrow then I'll post a couple of photos of progress. Rovex

Whilst I await some decent weather so that I can order the materials to line out the new shed without them getting soaked I've been dabbling with building the North Box for the station. This is based on the old one at Birmingham Snow Hill, which was some 50ft by 10 ft and stood on girder stilts because of the restricted site. The basis of the cabin are some butchered sides from a number of the Hornby GWR Dunster Signal boxes, the windows whilst typucally GWR do not match those of the prototype but life's too short to get overly concerned with such matters. The photos give an indication of the work so far. The box was electrically operated so no locking bars to model just lots and lots of cabling. The photos I've managed to dig up show lots of cables slung beneath the box and carried down the side of the stairs. This shows the parts from the Hornby kit which are going to be used. I used four kits to get the necessary parts, I could have used fewer but that would have meant more joints. The windows from the remaining parts will be used on the South Box, whilst the level crossings I'll stick back on ebay. These are the parts, with all but one trimmed and butchered. The windows turned out to be finer than I thought, obviously thicker than etched ones, but with a little work thinning the back of the frames down quite acceptable. With the sides fitted to a new base, and some stregthening of the back wall. The only photo I have of the rear of the box, which because of the way it will be placed on the layout will be the public face of the box was unusual (well to me at least) in that several of the panels of windows were painted out. Perhaps even stranger whilst there is an obvious soil pipe for the toilet facilities, these appear to have been behind one of these painted out window panels (in this case the first one after the access door). And now it sprouts legs. I was concerned that the girders looked strong enough to support the structure, and having glued them in place (evergreen plastic mouldings), was becoming a bit worried that I'd gone over the top. cross girders start to go in. Final shot for this post. Most of the girders are in place. There are two cross girders to go in at the ends to give "X" bracing. Between the other legs were a series of cabinets with sliding doors for stores so far as I can work out, and a panel carrying cables. Braces also need to be added from the top of the legs to the edge of the Box. These will be fun to try and cut. The roof is loose for now to allow access to glaze the box after painting and because of the large number of windos to allow me to fit some kind of interior. Rovex

With the aid of the annual bonus from work I've purchased teh home for Brackhampton. Its at the end of the Garden and thus allows the long suffering other half to be free of all things model railway. It was put up surprisingly quickly on Saturday and once boarded out will give approximately 21ft by 14.5 ft to fit the railway in. Right, where did I leave that number of the builders yard Rovex

Thanks to Mikkel's help and a bit of lateral thinking, in that I could only save the screen print's in a format which I couldn't upload, so I ended up printing them off and scanning them in, here are two track plans for the environs of Brackhampton station. This first one shows the overground approach with four tracks from left to righ the main up and down lines and then the relief up an down lines. These run into from extreme top to bottom, platform 12/11, bay platforms 10 and 9, platform 8/7, two through lines, platform 6/5, two more bay platforms 4/3 and at the bottom platform 2/1. Whilst looking very complicated the plan isn't finished and so far I've omitted the turntable, carriage sidings and cross over lines to gain access to them. Some of these are going to have to go. Building the access lines on a curve makes for very difficult geometry. This one shows the opposite end of the station and again some rationalisation here as well as most of the point work will be under neath the city centre, consequently the fish sidings have been omitted as it would be impossible to work these. The top track splitting offo from the curve is intenede as an engine spur and again as it is underground there seemed little reason to keep it running along with the main line. This is very much a first work in progress and bits will need printing off to get a feel for the size. But I've measured the area where the layout is going to go (when I've built the shed) and it should fit. I was thinking for the opposite sie of having a split level fiddle yard with down and up lines on different levels. Rovex

perhaps not, never got the hang of adding pictures to comments - i'll try another post<br>

Thanks Mikkel. I've had a play around and hopefully these shots will give an idea of work so far.<br><br><a>file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/dean/My%20Documents/My%20Pictures/brackhampton%201.bmp</a><br><br><br>

Modelling progress has been non-existent for the last couple of months as I broke my thumb during some very heavy gardening. I managed to drop several stone paving slabs on it, and when the swelling hadn't gone down after a week I went along to A and E. There were very impressed with the break and I've had to have a pin put in. All in all very painful and not to be recommended. Anyway I hope to get back to work on things soon, but with two new puppies demanding most of my spare time, things may be slow (very slow). In the meantime I have consoled myself by attempting a track plan. I decided early on that the track was going to have be hand made for the layout. I tried marking it out using peco track but it just wasn't going to work. Whilst I don't trust myself to make the track myself, I'm hoping I can find a willing volunteer (well - a paid volunteer anyway). I've purchased templot track design program which I must say has been a struggle to use ( steep learning curve doesn't come into it) and if anyone can tell me how I attach a trackplan from templot I'll let you have a look at my efforts so far. As the railway room is going to have to be built, any kind of construction is a long long way off, but the plan currently allows for the main platforms to be 3.7 metres long which should allow for a decent length express train. And whilst I'm building up stcok and scenery, I can get some of the pointwork made. Belated Happy New year to you all. Rovex

Once again another tour de force. Rovex

Love these layouts - this themed date thing is rather like that shopping programme currently being shown on British television - Don't know if you've seen it - each week the same High Street is themed as a different period, so we've had Victorian, then Edwardian, 1930's and then War time. Could we see the same here, Edwardian Farthing, 1927 Farthing, 1930's Farthing, Wartime Farthing, Nationalisation Farthing, Beeching Farthing followed by Derelict Farthing and then Shopping Centre carpark, sorry couldn't resist that last bit. Wonderful models as ever. Looking forward to more. Rovex

Whilst starting the scenery first is cetainly an usual way to build a model railway, its more protypical than most model railways, after all the scenery was there before the railway. good luck with it Rovex

Good to see I'm not the only one whose modelling goes in fits and starts - keep up the good work rovex

I must say Pannier I am tempted to try building my own. I've having a go at some building some brick walls in the garden as well as a new formal pond and if my bricklaying is any good I might have a go at building the railway room myself. We'll see. Good luck with yours. Rovex

Thanks for all the kind comments to my last Blog entry. Having had my two nephews (4 and 7) and their mum stopping with us for the last week the opportunities for modelling have been limited. Anyway with them packed off back to Leeds, I've been catching up by mass producing chimneys and roofing the central portion of the hotel. The roof has been made as a separate unit so that it can be lifted off to allow me access to the building to finish making all those windows. I've installed some (being those that came with the original Kibri kit, but lots more windows will be needed especially for the back of the hotel. As these are made up from a frame and two sashes, I've been putting it off. Here's the progress on the front The white structure in front of one of the windows is going to be a newsagents and tobacconists. The original building ended its days festooned with at least three such structures. I've decided to model just the one. I am however intending to add the huge lettering which adorned the front, advertising the fact that this was the Great Western Railways Snow Hill station and the several signs advertising refreshments. I've also bought a large stock of posters to put in the concourse. GWR/BR(WR) didn't seem to mind that these blocked many of the groundfloor windows. Heres an arial shot, to give an idea of the eventual size of this part of the station. The arched structure supported by the speaker will eventually form the ticket office wall. Right, back to work Rovex

Looking good BT. Very impressed with the paint job

Having discovered that my brickwork should have been white, I got my spray can out and whited out the brickwork again. Once completely dried I gave this a wash over with diluted black enamel, varying the mix so as not to give a variation in colour. Areas were washed down with more white spirit (like the front of the columns) to add greater variety. Have also started building both attic pavilions. The arched heads were done with a 10 mm flat drill to make sure there were equal. Ordinary drill bits just chewed up the plastic - very infuriating. Tell me what you think of the paintwork Regards Rovex

Well we've been moved almost three months now and tonight was the first night I've done any modelling - althoug whether you can call daubing a bit of paint about modelling is questionable. I've not been idle the last three months, but unfortunately other things have been keeping me busy. Including trying to sort out the garden (it now looks like the Somme - whatever happened to GroundForce - I must have a birthday surprise coming up), extending the old pond, starting a new one. Once we can afford some bricks I'm going to have a go at building some brick walls. I've already built some breeze block walls for the new pond. It must be the builder gene I've inherited from my father. I only hope it looks alright when they done. I've also investigated the cost of a new shed the size I can fit in is about 16ft by 24ft, and a local firm can supply one for £2,000 (that was before the VAT increase). So I've got a lot of saving up to do. Although I'm currently thinking about having a go at building it myself - subject to planning and building control But the reason for tonight's modelling is to keep me off ebay. I'm spending far too much on things I WANT (in fact I don't know how I've managed to live without them all this time). So far I've bought a K's 42xx kit, lots of ratio canopy kits a lot of engines (well Brackhampton will be a busy station) and lots of scalelink cars and vans and coach kits. I've also bought a couple of the old Graham Farish composite suburban coaches. I think with a repaint, new underframe, detailed ends and roof , I might make a passable representation of a GWR 55ft suburban all third. I'll let you know how I get on. Anyway I've been daubing the brick colour on the station building, some touching up to do and then it needs a lot of weathering to capture all that city centre grime so redolent of the 50's. Hopefully I can get some actual modelling done soon and start on the attic storeys. I'm experimenting with a hand drill and some double sided sticky tape to try and get all the arches equal, but more of that later. So to the photos. A couple of the front and two close ups of the Snow Hill end pavilion. The columns are made from ink cartridges and the capitals are made from milliput (still got four more to make) now the Snow Hill side The concourse side, I made a start on the ticket office side before moving, and the arches have all been cut out but a long way to go yet. and that just leaves the Livery Street side. Finally I've been trying to decipher the platform signs which hung at end side of the concourse on the original Snow Hill, I've got two decent photos of the one for London bound trains but only one photo of the one for North bound trains. I've guessed most of the destinations but two remain a puzzle, I think they are "Manchester" and "Crewe", but I wasn't aware that those towns were served by the GWR, of course it could have been through trains. A colleague whose father travelled from the station has said her father thinks I'm right but if anyone can give confirmation I'd be grateful. Regards Rovex Edit - having just checked my reference material, it lloks like the hotel was faced in white brick (###### ), so I might spray it all white again and then give it plenty of dirty black washes for the soot, more so perhaps on the brickwork. If I do I'll leave the back brick colour as the Victorians tended to user cheaper materials round the back where it didn't show. ###### again.

Sorry to hear about the job, Wollaston. I got made redundant 18 months ago and it took me six months to find a new job, hopefully your search won't be so long. Modelling kept me sane ( well watching daytime television wasn't going to do it) and I got quite a bit done on the layout. Only shame was that when I found a new job it was over a hundred miles away from my old home and so I had to dismantle it all. Hope you find something closer to home. Rovex

once again absolutely superb. Rovex

Thanks Tornado. I'm obviously too trusting, I'm not so bothered about thefts because there's no rear access to the garden but better safe than sorry. Rovex