Southernboy

Thank for your kind comments everyone Oldddudders: Du Cane Court is 10 minutes down the road from me and I took some photographs on that same walk I pictured the gas lamps. It really is an outstanding building and still today a very desirable address. I did look into modelling it for Frankland, but even a 'compromise' version would have overpowered the layout (check it on Google Earth or similar to get an idea of the scale of the place). It was opened in 1937 and apparently is still the largest privately owned block of flats in Europe (676 apartments). Instead my block of flats will be based on Hartington Court, Chiswick, which was built in 1938. Pete: Thanks, I'll take you up on that offer.

Frankland update No. 5 Hello everyone and welcome to another in our series of occasional broadcasts from Frankland ... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The South Western Circle: I recently joined the South Western Circle, chiefly to find out which LSWR stock would still be running in earlier Southern Railway days. From my Membership two good things immediately presented themselves. The first was the following booklet which turned up completely out-of-the-blue. To say I was excited is an understatement. This book was a fascinating read for me and has greatly enhanced my learning about the LSWR EMU programme. The second pleasant surprise was I could order books which I thought were no longer available. In the booklet 'Waterloo Station circa 1900' I was delighted to find an original plan of the station from 1848. Waterloo was originally designed as a through station en-route to a terminus nearer London Bridge / The City - and I hope to include a semblance of this history in a future layout. I've redrawn that plan of Waterloo here in simplified form (copyright reasons) - showing passenger lines, but omitting goods and engine facilities. I really like the top bay and in particular the loop (?) platform - I can see that working with EMUs / off-peak short workings / as layover platforms. Either way I think it's quite an interesting arrangement and one I'd quite like to model one day. Any comments on this plan? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Parade of Shops: Since my last post I've been mainly working on a parade of shops. These were based on a couple of pictures in the London Transport photographic archive: Section of a parade of shops, in Station Road, Edgware 1 One of the aspects which drew me to this particular building was the little bow window to the shop on the left, which you can see in the linked picture above. Section of a parade of shops, in Station Road, Edgware 2 I didn't set out to reproduce the building precisely - but to use it as a guideline to style, detail and proportion. I started by drawing up a plan, although quickly realised the photos weren't clear enough to count bricks and tiles so used multiples of approximate door heights to guestimate dimensions. And I had to make allowance for the shops being on a hill. I made a basic shell and gradually added the larger structural elements. Roof part 1 Roof part 2 Tiling: I cut the front and rear roof sections each in one piece to ensure the tiles lined up all around On one day during construction a blue taxi arrived. It was Mrs Lopsided coming to visit her sister who is considering buying a flat above the shops. I did an internet search for various original shop signs, period packaging, advertising and window displays. My plan was to print them out on the office printer, but on close inspection found that reproduction wasn't that hot. In the picture below the top image is the original, the lower image is how it printed out. I thought of reproducing them in a page layout / design package, but found that in small scale close-up you can still see the 'dots' of the print-head. So using Photoshop and InDesign I made an 8" x 6" sheet of everything I would need And printed it out at a shop that has a photographic print machine. The quality was much better. I made four sheets, each with variations in tone and saturation to see how they turned out. At 75p each it was an inexpensive experiment. Next I moved on to the more detailed sections of the building. I thought it would be easier to make the various minor sections as separate pieces, paint them up, and then fit them onto the main structure at the end - rather than make the whole thing and then try and paint those awkward-to-reach / very small parts and in the process damage something I'd already done. This is the first time I've used etched window frames. They're remarkably fine and crisp - although multiplying the cost of retail etchings by the number of windows I'll need across all the buildings I plan for Frankland gets a bit frightening. For future projects I was thinking about using a Rotring pen on acetate to draw my own window frames, does anyone have any views / experience on this? I also made the shop windows / displays as separate 'slot-in' sections, again, because I thought this would be easier than trying to fix all these fiddly bits into a larger ongoing whole... Also in this picture are the lamps that sit atop the building, simply because I was painting them at the same time. So here are the shop windows before and after assembly. In each window I've used a floor-to-ceiling background image and a lower foreground image to try and create some depth to the displays. These window frames are strips of very fine microstrip glued with Humbrol Clearfix. So that's the construction of my first 'proper' building 100% from scratch and I'm very pleased. Of course there are a number of things I can see which could have been better, but it's all part of life's learning curve :-) -------------------------------- Well today (Sunday 10 April) the sun is shining and the skies are clear and blue: Ladies and gentlemen we welcome you to ... Parade of Shops: The Grand Opening Here's the back of the shops. You won't see the ground floor because the building is positioned so close to the viaduct. I may go back at some point and add drain pipes for bathrooms/kitchens etc. The ground floor windows and door have frosted glass. I figured the rooms at the back could well be 'cold' rooms or large larders (which is why they also have the ventilators in the windows) This is the back of the advertising hoarding, all properly boarded with planks at the back. The chimneys are made from cocktail sticks. Weathering powders over the whole structure would enhance texture, but that's something for another time. But all-in-all this is a brand spanking shiny and new parade of shops, just opened today - so there will be no 'weathering' as such. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Travels around London: On a recent stroll to Tooting I photographed these wonderful gas lamps - and thought I'd share. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other news: This picture is the proposed Oxford Diecast RD001 King George V Royal Daimler (Sandringham). I may have to get one when they are released. They're expensive at around £24.00, but I very rarely indulge myself ... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- More EMUs coming to Frankland: When I made my 3-SUB from Farish generic stock someone commented that the compartments were too far apart. Also, in my mind, the whole thing looked a bit chunky. I wasn't worried in the context of it being my first go at anything like this ... but at the same time both thoughts stuck in my mind as something to deal with next time around, although I wasn't sure how ... ... until a few weeks ago browsing the pages for 00 kits on the Worsley Works site I chanced across the following notice: "We can produce any of the Southern Electric Multiple Units shown in the Brian Golding Book." I contacted Mr Doherty who confirmed he would also produce any EMU in N gauge - so I ordered etches for three 3-SUBs - and here they are For anyone interested, these are: DMBT, 49' TC, DMBC, which are on pages 34, 37 and 35 of the book respectively. Here's the driving car. Notice lower right the cab front. Below the window are what look like grills. It took me a while to realise these are actually to allow the lower half of the cab front to curve in to match the tumblehome on the carriage sides. It's going to be interesting getting that perfectly formed - but neat thinking too! And here's the trailer. The panelling is just perfect. The one thing I notice is that door frames are not represented. What tool would people suggest is best to use should I choose to represent door frames? Anyway, the bigger picture is that the availability of EMU etchings has overcome the main stumbling block Frankland had always faced - how to get/make stock. I am so happy! I'll probably motorise two sets and have one unmotorised so I can run a six-car set. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- And finally: There's nothing the people of Frankland like better than to tune-in their wireless at 5.15 to hear Henry Hall and the BBC Dance Orchestra. So whilst this news broadcast now concludes, listeners can continue to soak up some entertainment Frankland-style. Please turn up the volume on your radio and click on the link below as we say: Goodbye everyone, and .

'Delicious, Exquisite and Sublime' ***** Frankland Echo 'Masterful Filmmaking' The Frankland Light Service

I think that's an excellent approach, especially the step of 'stippling' the clay. Very effective. Certainly something I'll be keeping in mind for future reference.

Sandhills: I have to say that's the first time I've seen a picture from a layout that someone has converted to b/w / sepia that actually works. There's more than just stripping out the colour to make such a picture look convincing in monotone - and you've done it exceptionally well There's a feel of the original Daguerreotype to your pictures that I really like

'The Vale has been designed with the old phrase " less is more" approach.' I think that approach requires some self-discipline - and you've exemplified this very well. I really enjoy the relaxed, open, uncluttered feel of your layout. And I don't think it's to do with how much space you have to model in - more concept and visual awareness. Top marks from me

That was me asking for an overview - so thanks, much appreciated. Pictures of layouts are one thing, but I always like to put them together in my mind's eye in the context of a layout plan or something so I can picture how the finished product sits together

I love the terminal building - nicely observed and executed, and just my thing. I've not come across this layout before. A search turned up a few entries - but I couldn't find a broad over-view or trackplan (I like to picture in my head how everything sits together) ... any chance of one some time? I'll be keeping my eye on this layout in future

Your pub is an absolute delight Simon - especially with the ground floor detailing. The time and effort you've invested really makes all the difference "I need to tone down the gold (I thought it was brass)... " I think clean and shiny metals such as door handles and kick-plates can be difficult to get right in N gauge. Possibly mixing (for eg) brass with brown or tan would reduce the brightness too a realistic 'scale colour' (so it has fewer reflective particles in it) ?? Either way - thanks for the updates, I always enjoy them

Very nice work - especially the conservatory. I like the second picture (view under the bridge) - very atmospheric. I don't think buildings like this being slightly crooked is necessarily a problem: you often find older premises sagging and leaning a bit - all part of their charm really

Yes, it's a small foam roller from an art store. Actually it's about one-and-a-half inches across (but they come in different sizes). For broad and flat areas a roller is fine - but where you have more detail (like the top section of my bridge) a roller doesn't get into the nooks and crannies - so I stippled the paint with a small hog hair brush. I then sanded the paint back almost to the undercoat with a very fine wet n dry type paper. I hope that helps and I'll look forward to seeing an update to Yamanouchi Oshika

Thanks Andrew Simon: Yes, I think the path could be narrower - it's one of those things which you see differently in the light of a new day/gain a different perspective when you look at the photographs I'm undecided on one or two trees, or none. I'll wait until I've painted more of a broader picture in this area and then revisit sight-lines. Just for interest, there's a marvelously evocative double-page picture-spread in Southern Electric vol.1 pp68-69 of construction of the 1938 Chessington branch bridge over the Epsom-Kingston dual-carriageway. It shows mature trees standing amongst the earthworks, although I'm sure retained for aesthetic reasons rather than any environmental concern. Great 'Public Improvement' clip Pete: Thankyou. You're right, I do prefer to present my work in stages. I read the forum frequently, but find I can be too easily distracted if I engage in regular piecemeal updates - time better spent focusing on work in hand. Like you say, we all have our way of doing things Thanks again for your feedback gents, always of value and encouragement.

Thanks for your kind comments gentlemen, really very much appreciated indeed Kris: The drain covers (and manholes) are Langley Models item A54. As for the cab drivers (along with passengers on trains and buses etc): Funny you should ask as for Christmas I had a box of Preiser unpainted seated figures ... so they're on the cards.

Frankland update No. 4 Welcome to another in our series of occasional broadcasts from Frankland ... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Christmas: A few goodies arrived at Frankland this Christmas ... Keeping up appearances: It seems the neighbours both bought the same model of car - two Jaguar SS saloons. They must be quite well off, these are the top of the range 2.5 litre models which cost £385.00! Most of us are lucky enough if we can even afford a taxi: At least there's always a queue of them outside the station. But the best present was this one ... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pavements: In real life paving stones are cut and laid to follow the curve of the road - and I wanted to emulate this on Frankland. I also wanted to avoid obvious joins between sheets of paving ... To avoid obvious joins I step-cut across the end of strips of paving to create long continuous runs Where curves were required I sliced 75% of the way across between paving stones, curved the strip into shape and glued into place. Then the gaps were filled, and later smoothed off with wet and dry Here's another one ... Two pavements that meet at an oblique angle ... one of which is curved ... Add Microstrip kerb stones, a drain, paint it up - and I think that works quite well. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Frankland Cutting: My latest project has been Frankland cutting. The walls of the cutting are concrete - but not old and grimy as we see them today - these are almost new, clean and bright! I did some research on the different types of concrete - and looked at typical SR constructions (the Southern E-Group was quite handy for this) - before designing Frankland cutting. The cutting runs through to a very deep bridge (like at Wimbledon - where the bridge accommodates a main road with shops each side - so it's almost a tunnel). First up was the face of the bridge And here are the parts with a wash of grey ... ditto a section of walling ... I then used a small roller (about 2" wide) to apply 'Silver Grey' Vallejo model colour. I used the roller because I wanted a stipled finished. Later I rubbed the surface with wet and dry until it was almost completely smooth Next I made some cable retainers from Microstrip I also made some ballast boxes and drains Water pipes run along the right of the cutting Cables are strung along the left The pipes and cables are all made from Microstrip and rod - and they took a long time! Anyway, as you can see - everything still needs bedding in. The left hand side of the cutting and bridge facade are detachable ... ... which allows me to get up close and personal for arty photographs when I want to I've added grass ... I particularly wanted that scraggy look, where erosion / overhanging trees leave bare patches. There's a footpath worn in the grass where children cut across to watch trains go by ... Trees will come much later, as will bushes (I'm thinking gorse bushes, with yellow buds, and rhododendrons - I'll have to do some research on what plants grow where etc). Fences are also on the list. I've noticed that grass around manholes often grows more vigorously and is more verdant than that around it ... so I had to do that. Here's an overview of the general area - obviously more grass to do on the left and right - but that's the bulk of the cutting itself done. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Finally - the semi's now have lawns ... walls and fences still on the to-do list -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- And that is the end of broadcasting for today. Mark

Another character building taking shape there Simon - the shapes formed by the roof/chimney lines already look pleasingly idiosyncratic

Happy Christmas Missy! Great pictures - That Photoshopping looks pretty professional to me

I love that last photograph - a convincing scene on many levels. Great modelling of well-observed detail. Hats-off to you Simon! For the back yard - I somehow picture scrubby grass, maybe a washing line, or perhaps an old washing machine waiting to be taken away (?)

Your dedication and perseverance is really inspiring Missy. It's really looking the business

Some lovely detailed work there Simon ... always an inspiration. In particular the shop front is an eye-catcher

Just to second all the comments above I'm sure a display screen will attract the younger audience in particular - they seem glued to them every where they go these days

An eminent discussion; and learned indeed; conducted in most gentlemanly (and dare I say it, ladylike) fashion. Such civil yet entertaining exchanges are a fine example to us all Sir! If this discourse is available in wax cylinder format with illustrative Daguerreotype's I for one will be most obliged should care to you send me further details. Yours most faithfully, S. Boy Esq.

It looks great Missy - I do admire your dedication and perseverance. It's also very much 'my period' and love it's 'streamliner' aesthetic

That's a clever use of a mirror I've not come across before. I've made a note for possible future use

I admire your perseverance Missy. Inspiring work as always and thankyou for taking the time to give a detailed step-by-step of progress, most instructive

Excellent work. You have an eye for replicating the grandeur and atmosphere of great stations. I think with this the devil will be in the detail: The plethora of signs, ironwork and the bustle of crowded platforms. Best of luck and keep the updates coming