PaternosterRow

Hi Adam - welcome aboard from a fellow Brummie (ex-pat now living in Ireland).

This sounds like a really interesting project. No need for bravery with any subject, just post away. All the modelers at RMweb are only too happy to help fellow members - and don't forget advice bounces both ways. Looking forward to the pictures.

Regards

Mike

Frank

This is brilliant work - the river bank, wall, bridge and rocks just look right together. You've really balanced the use of natural materials and I can't wait to see pics of the locos going over the bridge. Great stuff.

Regards

Mike

Gosh - thank you all for the comments. Getting great comments from modelers of a really high standard is very inspiring. I came back to this marvelous hobby of ours only three years ago - after a gap of nearly 35 years - and never really expected to get drawn into it at this level. It really is an absorbing past time and is made even more so having the support from other members here at RMweb.

I will indeed try to get some smoky shots - don't know much about dry ice, but I will try the old cigar smoke trick! The first of the lights are now going in and so hope to get them up and running by the weekend. More shots then.

Thanks all again.

Regards

Mike

Hi Pete

May I second Mikkel's comment - very neat, Pete!

Love that station building. Interesting what you said about being an impatient modeler. I think were all a bit like that and want to get things done asap. It has slowly dawned on me over the last three years of coming back to the hobby that with a little more patience things seem to fall into place better - what's that old cliche again - more haste less speed.

However, still can't wait to see this completed!

Regards

Mike

Thanks Ian. Looks like code 75 is out as I have a couple of much loved Hornby Class 86's that are well over 10 years old. Whilst there are no OH wires at Barrow Hill I do want to run them around - there's no third rail either, but I also want to accommodate my Bachmann 4 CEP. Thanks for the advice.

Regards

Mike

Great mud bank - a very effective way of creating mud, must make a note of that method. How did you make that great stone work?

Neat model - love that bridge.

Thanks Pete and GWRfan. The grimey windows were an accident - slip with the matt varnish brush!!

Those trees are brilliant - I'm definitely going to have a go.

Mike

Many thanks Mikkel. Yes, I'm going to do the yard (fingers crossed) - this how the current model started out really. My first shed model was completed about 18 months ago, but I was never happy with the look. It was way too small and really only an experiment. I'm not sure whether to go with code 75 or 100 for the yard - what's the running like on 75 - is it reliable? I've never used it before and love the look of it, but if running is compromised is it worth it?

Mike

Hi Pete

It's option 6 for me. The grassy knoll in the foreground is much brighter and helps make the mountains across the estuary look further away. To be honest, and it's probably because of the resolution of my screen, but I can't see much difference in the other options.

That station building looks cracking by the way.

Regards

Mike

Thanks everyone for the comments. Also the advice with the lights - yes, I think LEDs are the way to go. I'm having a look on ebay although some of the lights available from Express Models look really attractive. It's all about money nowadays so I have to keep to a tight budget (LEDs are really cheap alternative though). Keep the advice coming as it really is invaluable to me.

Regards

Mike

I need to apologize for the picture of Barrow Hill, this was sourced from the internet (can't remember where) and was in my own folder of pictures I took at Barrow Hill 18 months ago. I failed to check this before uploading. If anyone can identify for rightful credit I would be grateful.

Thanks very much for the comments guys. Yes, I think you're right about the hoods - just for the sake of uniformity they need to go in. I'd better get busy again!!

Regards

Mike

Hi Pete

You ought to write a book about layout design. Those mock ups are a delight and are so self explanatory. Very impressive stuff as usual. In any event, I'm sure Mr Ingvar Kamprad would be delighted to employ you as his number 1 Spanish representative!!

Regards

Mike

Very atmospheric you must be pleased with the way it is coming along. I look forward to seeing more.

Thanks N15class. I am pleased with it so far and hope the roof cover doesn't ruin the look.

Personally, I think the hoods add further to the look and feel. Plus, they would be obvious by their absence.

Hi Mikkel, thanks a lot for the comment and I'm glad that they look about right. I guess that you should always model what you see rather than what you think is right.

The only thing I would say - and it may be a perception rather than reality - is that wouldn't the lower edges of the hoods be closer to the funnels i.e. not so much gap between the two?Stunning model though, and way beyond what I could achieve :-)

Thanks dvdlcs, yes you are right and I'm thinking of lowering the rest by about 10mm so they sit further down. I've got to be careful about height so as not to impede the view from the front.

Love that aqueduct - very neatly put together and uniform - make a smashing scene on its own. One suggestion - wouldn't you be better off looking at the circle from the other side - through the arches themselves or is that your intention? With lots of trees in the background you wouldn't need a back scene as it would make a great stand alone model viewable from all sides. Great, neat work and can't wait to see trains on it!

Regards, Mike

Thanks Pete

I'm pleased with it so far - the roof structure is still straight and hasn't buckled - it's not perfect and there's some ugly solder joints, but it looks okay. It's designed to be lifted off for track cleaning etc so the girder uprights are only cosmetic. Here's hoping I don't ruin the look with the smoke hoods and covering.

Thanks also Flyingscotsmanfan

Yes, Barrow Hill is an amazing place. Unfortunately, trips over the water back home (I live in Ireland now) are rare and expensive so I'm not going to be able to go back to BH for some time. I just love the fact that it is a working Round House and gives a real feel what those places were really like back in the good old days. Static displays and sanitized museums are okay, but there's nothing like a real place to remind us of good old British ingenuity and engineering.

Hi Pete

What a great idea. Original too. I have a 4mm CEP and haven't yet built a layout for it and wonder how your pack away layout would scale up to accommodate. There's a load of mileage in a design like this - just imagine, we'd be able to pack away a layout when going on holiday. Although I'm not sure what the other half would think! They'll be selling this in IKEA one day!!!

I love the way you've designed it and done the cardboard mock up. Usually, I just trundle on with a build and make alterations etc along the way, but this is a much more sensible approach. Perhaps a detailed blog on your thoughts about layout design and build in the future?

Good show in the competition by the way.

Regards

Mike

Will

The plan is based on Saltley Shed in Birmingham and not Tyseley as stated - sorry my mistake.

Thanks Will and Mikkel

I was at Barrow Hill about 18 months ago and found it fascinating - it is a must see place. The plan I used is from a pdf of the Tyseley Depot I found on the internet - Tyseley had much longer roads so my model is only loosely based on Barrow Hill. A bit of both really. I grew up in Birmingham (now live in Ireland), and miss the city - especially the railways.

The roof was actually much easier to build than it looks - templates were used to get the uniform look and the whole thing was made from several basic identical parts before final assembly. It is designed so that it can be lifted off in one piece in order to clean the track and place locos etc. The roof is a near a copy to Barrow Hill as I can make it.

Hi Mikkel

Thank you for your kind comments. I'm very flattered that you were interested in my video, especially given that you are such an accomplished GWR modeler yourself. It was inspired by your splendid video 'Across the years' which really captured my imagination - the quality of your creations are just mouth watering. I just wish I could model to your standard, maybe one day if I keep at it!

Yes, I was surprised by the Hornby's coaches too - very accurately painted with good molding on the panels etc. They are part of the Dean Single 175 Hornby anniversary pack and for something that really is only a 'train set' the quality is exceptional.

Keep up the good work - looking forward to the next post with anticipation.

Regards

Mike

Hi Mikkel

Great to have the Farthing Layouts going again - it's very rare to see late 19th C railway models and have always wondered why the RTR manufacturers don't actually cover more models. Love your work and dedication to detail. Think the videos of work in progress are brilliant.

Regards

Mike

Thanks for the comments everyone. I have now moved over to the Modelling Questions, Help and Tips section. You'll have to excuse my fumbling about on RMweb as I'm a beginner.

Mike

Wow

I grew up in Birmingham and remember the old Snow Hill. How on earth did you construct them - what great models.

Mike