pirouets

Bit more work round the garage area with the path now running all the way along the back as well as signs added to the Garage.

Over on the other side I have fixed the 1st platform in place as this allows me to think about placing the back scene. I still have not worked out whether to have a high level road scene, add an extra line to the fiddle yard or just have some space between the station and fiddle yard. I now have some board to make this so for now will probably knock it up so it can easily be removed.

I'm another for I have an oval but on the fiddle yard side, there is a minories inspired station in front of the fiddle yard so passenger and parcels have a destination. It was also about whether I wanted 1 scene on the layout (its a 12*6 shed) or 2 totally different scenes.

Interestingly whilst it feels like I have more scenic space due to having 2 8ft scenes, in reality it takes up the same scenic space as my previous layout did modelled on 1 side/end and a fiddle yard on the other side.

A bit more on the gardens today with the base grass layers as well as put the dirt layer down around the ballast and pathway. The space in the left hand garden is for a shed I will order when Scale Model Scenery re-opens following its move. I'm thinking of the following sorts of things to add

- Washing line in 1 of them

- Flowers for the beds

- Lots of weeds for the 2nd from right garden

- Garden furniture

- Flag pole (My neighbor had one)

- Bins

So I've been spending a fair amount of time exploring http://www.cyber-heritage.co.uk/north_devon_line_okehampton_web_optimised/index.html thanks to Ramblin Rich and its a great resource. It might just be from here on all future layouts will be based off this. Its also going to get expensive given the number of additional loco types that seem to have made it down the line in the 70's and 80s.

Its also given me a way to use the clay wagons and box vans I have as there are some great picks of class 25s pulling such a train. (Link below as not sure on copyright if I hot link to the image)

http://www.cyber-heritage.co.uk/north_devon_line_okehampton_web_optimised/154 Along Anchor woods.html

In other news, we find the wifi reaches the shed so whilst pottering about the other night I also enjoyed watching the 1st 2 episodes of Dark on Netflix. Turns out my points hold the tablet just right :-)

So all that pottering has started to bring the more populated end of the layout together. The aim is to have a path by the fence that runs down past the Nissen hut, behind the Garages and houses to the end of the layout. Ignore the loose fencing as waiting for the initial glue join to dry before fixing the other end.

Luckily the cottage owners will all have gates on to the path. The house isn't fixed in place yet and i've since started adding patios and mud for flowerbeds in to the garden except for the 2nd to last near the backscene - That will be the neighbor with a very overgrown back garden.

The roof is now on the Garages but lots more to do in terms of boards under the roofs, guttering, concrete lintels and doors.

Finally this is how I see the scene ending up. On the other side of the line at this end I am thinking it will be tree lined from the station to the end though I am contemplating a low relief Station Arms pub, front on the line so the beer garden would be off scene.

Oh, and I even ran a train, just because I could.

Tried it and opened a fresh email with 

webmaster@sixbellsjunction.co.uk

Is that what you were after?

58 minutes ago, Ramblin Rich said:

Near Eggesford, mix of Clayhoods and sheeted opens

http://www.cyber-heritage.co.uk/north_devon_line_okehampton_web_optimised/55 31 leaving Eggesford on freight.html

Nuts, Just flicked through the site and I should have bought that class 31 & 33 that were on display when I was Alton Models earlier today. :-)

This one answered another question in my head, can I run phone lines over the sidings, and the answer at Lapford is yes.

http://www.cyber-heritage.co.uk/north_devon_line_okehampton_web_optimised/534 Lapford station 1979.html

Thanks.

Mind if I steal your idea as just what I need in that picture. I had been wondering what to do with clay hoods and box vans for my layout which is somewhere out west as well.

4 hours ago, Ramblin Rich said:

Late 1970s, a class 25 (pencilled to be 25 206 when I can get transfers) on a vacuum braked freight heading for Barnstaple. Empty 'clayhoods' and opens, plus vans either loaded with fertilizer for Torrignton, or empty heading to the clay works at Meeth for loading.

Been playing around with the built up end of Norton Rd and think I have a layout I like. Behind the cottages i'm going to add small gardens backing on to a path. Each cottage will have a gate in the back wall so I will sort those out 1st and then add the remaining garden walls. The gates themselves are from scale model scenery who provide the chain link fence as well.

The road will run along the front edge leading to a set of garages which I am going to add a sloping roof rather than a flat roof. Beyond that the road ends goes past the local mechanics before ending at the Nissen hut whose purpose is yet to be decided, though thinking maybe a wood working firm of some description.

Also made it over to Alton Models today and picked up a some pipe wagons. Could have easily spent a small fortune as there was a 33 and 31 in the cabinet there but resisted for now. I have been wondering what to do with various clay wagons and box vans and looking at Ramblin Rish's Kings Tawton thread the final goods train will be a mix of these having seen this picture in his thread.

45 minutes ago, Ian J. said:

The more you sell of something, the more profit can be made?

The challenge with this is its not that simple. As few thoughts as I wonder if point 1 is actually the key:

- a run of 500 models may fit a single pallet to ship, but a run of 750 needs 2 pallets. The problem is shipping works per pallet so the cost doubles for only a 50% increase. 

- Handling extra models when received costs more and at what point does it mean either more space or people are needed locally?

- At what point does the size of the run become speculative and end up with models not sold even though some people now do buy more models or a model they may not have bought.

All of the above on their own may not make a huge difference, but when you add the 3 together probably ruin the margin, and thus less money to reinvest in new models. Also if there is 1 thing I can be confident of, the manufacturers will know their numbers.

12 minutes ago, Ian J. said:

I would expect a professional designer, if shown an error, to be able to see it, accept it, and correct it

Ian, whilst I agree with the statement you wrote it does rely on the information making it to the designer in question in the 1st place? As other threads seem to imply it happens with varying degree's of success but Ben Jones has now said how we can do that for Heljan products.

There is an article in a past issue of BRM about Rapido trains and the designers in that case China so rely on the inoformation they are given. Not sure where Heljan and Bachmann are though I think Hornby design in the UK from watching the James May Hornby program a while back.

Slow progress over the last week or so but found some parts to a station kit with boards so thought they would look good in the hall area. 

Down by the canal I have started with the 1st layer of static grass up to the gate in to the yard area. The path will extend to gates across the line when done. Though I sit here typing thinking should I have painted the backscene?? hmmm!!!!

Looking the other way the path is in and the edging. Also knocked up the Nissen hut which is just sitting there at the moment. I'm thinking that as the river curves to the edge of the board a Weeping Willow or 2 would look good there but we shall see.

Ah, now I understand. I was worried you had done something that proved you had grown up or something. Enjoy the sunshine, the strolling and remember those golf videos you've been watching as you go, i'm sure they will help in some shape or form.

2 hours ago, gordon s said:

Nice to know you are being read, otherwise I'd be talking to myself...

 

Woke as usual around 04.30am

Who talks to you at that time of day? 

More importantly, what privileges are bestowed upon super seniors?

I guess one of the challenges for the manufactures is what %age of their customers have studied prototype X to the nth degree and where is that line though given the challenge of a price point to hit? Also within the CAD teams, they move from Product to Product, so do they get have the actual knowledge or is that more down to whomever they have to use as reference points to check with?

I'm just starting to look in more detail at what I run and why I run it and I know that one of my class 24's being an earlier model doesn't look good. However once I stand up, look at the whole scene would I notice if a body shape was wrong or a brake shoe is to far away, no and not sure I ever will worry. I don't say that to take away from the types of comments being made but my view is its just part of the continual improvement that has gone on in the past and will continue. 

Interestingly something i noted on another thread as an example. How many people use fencing with the wire through the post rather than tacked on the front? It was pointed out as something that often gets replicated on layouts even though more often that not, the wire is generally tagged to one edge of a post. 

As for Mr Parker however, my sore knee's are ALL his fault. (BRM sample issue - line side variety article and fitting chain link fencing from scale model scenery - can't see the damn stuff unless I fit it from eye level with glasses removed and stare very closely - probably explains why I can't see the faults on a Bachmann Class 25 :-) )

I've been building something similar based on an adapted version of Minories. I assume you are modelling in 4mm and my platforms are

- 50mm against the back wall

- 68mm for the island though I do need to ease the track slightly

If i've managed to copy the link here is a shot of station building end. I'm yet to put a back scene in as mainly focusing on the the other side of the layout at the moment. Click on May 10 on the piece below and it has me laying things out.

Sam's your golfing partner to I see :-)

No progress on the fencing as i have not yet ordered the extra pack and might be simpler to say get it as a Fathers Day pressie given I can normally think of nothing.

In the meantime started on the inside of the main station. I know its never going to be seen but for the 1st time I am looking at interiors to my scratch built buildings, so on one side we have a ticket hall and the other has the door for a waiting room. I do plan to fill the rooms out prior to adding the ceiling/1st floor.

Over on Norton Rd I have been working on the canal/river (still not sure which this is yet) but painted the base using some pictures of the Kennet & Avon in sunshine for the tone of the water. The 1st picture is with the PVA layer sealing itself and the edging cut. The 2nd is this evening with it in place and the piles added to hold the timber back in place. You will notice that it curves from the edge I cut in the board so that needs filling in down the line. The 2nd picture does show the 5th pile got fixed in using the wrong edge as you can see the matchstick itself.

No progress on any buildings but after much searching around for fencing options I went for these from Scale Model Scenery. 1st time i've ordered and good service. They said they were busy as only 2 of them can work in their building to dispatch but it was here in a couple of days. Lots of useful extras on the site so will be going back, especially as my rough calculation on fencing is about 40 cm short and need 1 more pack.

First off I made a short section on my river test. Need to get some better tape to stick the netting to before cutting it.

The using some mig weathering painted up all the posts and have glued them in place down the track side. Once done I then was able to ballast up the sidings and I can start working on all the line and siding edging as well as look at making one of the gates up. I did however realise I have not left enough room for the ground frame in the yard so need to have a think about how else I can show that.

Not hard to find. Found a telegraph article but needed to sign up to read it all so is straight from him on C4 news. 

https://www.channel4.com/news/coronavirus-risk-to-young-people-like-a-weeks-worth-of-driving-prof-sir-david-spiegelhalter

Another day of pottering an the shell of another building started. I really need to look think about finishing a building at some point.

I did make a mistake. The shape of the station was based on Lapford as I said in the previous post, but having put the template on, cut the windows and doors out I then added the brick paper to the exposed card side which promptly switches the doors and windows round. Do I mind, not really as it was the shape I was after rather than an exact replica. I need to have a look back at Lapford pictures to work out where chimney stacks need to be before adding the roof but that is for another day

Along with that need to think about gutters and down pipes, signage and whether there will be any form of canopy along with what is the right type of fencing for the back of the platforms.

Well a week of 1/2 days (almost) means a good amount of time in the shed. Lesson learned today is have the door partially open from 9:30 means the temp only climbed to 90 today rather than the 105 it has hit a couple of times this week.

The main station has a set of windows now. Simply marked out in powerpoint, glued to thin card and then lots of very slow cutting out. Time to start thinking about whether to have interiors now.,

Over on Norton Rd 2 things have happened. The ballast went down. Simple mix of 2 fine grades of brown with a 3:1 ration for the darker brown. I did have 1 point that got a bit gummed up but managed to free it. I think some glue had run down to the point motor below but a bit of oil down the pin seems to have fixed that. 

As that is done the platform is now being fixed in placed so a little bit of tidying up will be needed to have the ballast flush to the edge.

In other news, the station building will be based on Lapford. I can't remember which thread in here a n gauge model appeared but when I looked on google it has a fair sized building for what is not the longest platform. Again using powerpoint i knocked up the template and it will be low relief rather than a full depth building. Fingers crossed will be able to get the main pieces cut tomorrow.

So i think the mock up came out OK. Plonked it here to show what I am after but obviously the grass will vary in depth to accommodate the sidings. At the end the path will continue on to the backscene as well as a 90% spur to the right to a crossing. probably will throw in a tree or 2.

So with 3 cuts on hands, 2 cuts to the head and a pair of sore knees it can only mean for now I am done with wiring. The signals are working but I did cut the optics to short in the Exkon ground signals so will see if I can get a new head unit and redo to get the clarity. I was toying with ballasting but I think for the next day or 2 its time to play trains. The good news is the kids looked at the new control panel and think it now makes sense, but only time will tell.

He obviously ran out of things to model as he previously said on the 23rd "life's too short to bother and I'd rather do some modelling."

So baring a point motor that seems to have shorted the electrics are working and everything can run. I have been holding off ballasting Norton Rd thinking I should have the basics off all the buildings but I think I am at the point it is time to find a couple of hours and ballast it. That will mean I can start thinking about the track boundaries, fencing and paths. 

Alongside that i have been watching various video's on making canals and have created a test piece to plat with. Whilst it looks quite dark when I left the shed, the water colour was drying much lighter. Aim of this is to look at

How to edge the bank

Reeds at the edge where needed

Path way across the bank, grass edge between the water and the path itself.

But for now the kids are off to bed which means I can watch the next 2 episodes of House.

17 minutes ago, KNP said:

In order to get you the pictures I am pushing the envelope!

Oh the white knuckle ride of railway modelling 

Keep them coming though as its fascinating to see all the angles and makes me think more about scenes and cameo's I may have in the future.