Southernboy

I absolutely love those (stage) coaches, I think if I wasn't modelling 1920s/30s I'd be recreating the 1840s-1860s. I really like your layout, but even more-so the stories you tell. I always look forward to posts from the dim and distant Farthings

Hello Red Devil, I used brass section from 4D Modelshop.

Your choice of colours and weathering of them in particular are very effective Mr Wibble. The corrugated iron fence in the first picture of your post above especially so. In-all it sets a very atmospheric tone.

Barry Ten, Thanks Hello Oldddudders, The coach is an Oxford Diecast Bedford OB Coach, 1939. So yes, a little late for my period. But you're absolutely spot-on with your observation: I'm happy to fill the gaps with items which are 'near-enough' or 'approximations' until such time as I can come up with something more accurate. Definitely gutter 'detritus' would be different, especially as the proportion of horse-drawn vehicles was still high and so much regular sweeping and hosing of roads to remove the slime (winter) or dust (summer) into gutters still occurred in towns and cities. Roads/surfaces/gutters had a different patina and hue then (at least, my observations of old postcards and photographs suggest this). But the same sources also show little evidence of general littering - with one exception: Between the platforms of large mainline termini. There often seems to be an accumulation of newspapers and other rubbish here, especially around the buffers. So I'll be replicating this in the station at the back of my layout Dave777 Glad to have been of help for 'next time' Mark

Claude_Dreyfus: You just preempted my 'edit' How did you do that ?? Thanks for your feedback, appreciated

Hello Kris: I did this work a few weeks ago and it's the first time I've looked at it through a lens. So I'm sort of looking at it for the first time at the same moment as you. I think you're right that a little more smoothing off and maybe a nick or two would add more realism. Especially as this area of my layout will be the 'old town'. (Most of the layout represents quite recent developments where 'crisp and clean' is the order of the day.) Dave: Yes, Langley. My roads are plaster so I carved a small shallow to take the etchings. The rest of my answer to your conversation is totally subjective ... I'm trying to use 'Colour Perspective' thus my roads are mid to light grey, and I found black below the drain covers was just too stark a contrast. Additionally I feel such details should be almost subliminal: ie. You barely notice them unless they are pointed out or you are really looking for them. Hopefully in the first of the three pictures I posted above you just see a street - it's only if you focus in that further detail reveals itself. Newspapers shouldn't be too difficult to do - but cigarette butts and coke cans ... I'll look forward to seeing what you come up with Road colour is again totally subjective and location/time sensitive. My solution? Whatever you eventually decide to do - do it with conviction! The paving stones are just standard Slaters sheets. My frustration with them (and similar products) is the lack of 'bite' in the grooves. When weathering it's really difficult to get paint to run/stay in the grooves. You'll see in my reply to Missy: "Someone suggested to me recently that in N gauge it's sometimes worth 'scaling up' the key features of a model, because otherwise in such a small scale they could be lost, and thereby the essential character or essence of what you're replicating." So whilst (for eg) mortar may not be visible between bricks when viewed in real life from a certain distance ... that doesn't necessarily translate into what makes an N gauge model look 'realistic', because the eye and brain work in different ways according to whether you're looking at something in the real world or looking at something in miniature. They're not the same thing. Well, sorry about this stream of consciousness - you just touched on a whole load of questions I'm thinking about myself quite a lot recently Hello jackrob, No, no weeds. This is the 1930s! People take a pride in presentation and brush and weed the pavement outside their house or business regularly. And shame on you if you don't! --------------------------------------------------------- EDIT: I said: " ... such details should be almost subliminal ..." and " ... in N gauge it's sometimes worth 'scaling up' the key features of a model, because otherwise in such a small scale they could be lost ... " Contradictory? Not really - things like drains and manholes you don't notice, unless you really look. But fine architectural details really jump out at you, almost like a focus-pull. That's the difference. Thought I should clarify that

Hello Simon and Paul, thanks for the pointer on Evergreen and Slaters - it looks like I can get 010 x 020 from Gaugemaster. I'll buy a pack next time I'm ordering and see how it suits. btw - the wagon ribs are very convincing Paul. Dave, Especially for you the following pictures taken this afternoon. This is a small experimental section of road on the very right of the layout. I wanted to see if I could replicate a section of road with cobbled gutter on one side, tramway in setts down the middle, plus a manhole and drain. Here's an overview (looking under what will be a railway bridge). And here's a couple of close up pictures ... In particular I wanted to get the look of accumulated detritus along the gutters and around the drain. I think the cobbles / setts / drain could do with a little better definition. And now I can also see the edge of the pavement should be rounded off slightly where it meets the curb, it's a little too clean-cut (or the gap should be packed with dust). Just thinking out loud there... Karhedron Thankyou! Please fell free to come back and comment again anytime ----------------------------------------- Thanks again to each of you for your kind and helpful comments. Mark Â

Thankyou everyone for your feedback - all very much appreciated MrSimon: The finest Microstrip I have is 010 x 040, the retailers I've used don't sell anything finer. Do you or does anyone else know where to buy anything finer? 010 x 020, or 010 x 010 perhaps? I did see the Oxford Diecast tram. It looks to be a nice model but unfortunately is not representative of those which ran in South London. But thanks for pointing it out. They are bringing out a Low Loader Taxi and Jaguar SS at some point though, which I look forward to bcnPete I much admire your modelling, so glad to know you enjoy my updates. That's a compliment indeed! Dave777 My plan is to be a little abstract with most of the Preiser figures: Just get the general colours right for clothing and a splash of flesh for faces and hands. A few I will detail more precisely where they will be more prominent, eg, traffic police and other key figures where the gaze is more likely to hone in on them more ... at least that's the plan. Although I do tend to get carried away with detail sometimes, so that could be 'famous last words' SteveBedding I'm pretty much a novice myself - only been doing this three years. In terms of planning and preparation you seem to be well ahead of where I was at the start of Frankland. I think that bodes well for your plans and I've enjoyed following your updates. I don't know how long it will take to paint the figures ... (as above) ... I guess it's a matter of 'watch this space' Well thanks again to everyone who has commented. It really is encouraging. Mark

Thankyou Missy, that's very kind of you My creative/artistic side comes from my family: Both Grandfathers were architectural engineers, and my Father is an artist - in fact as a child my bedroom was also his studio, so I guess it's sort of 'in the blood'. I work as a graphic designer. But I would say that whilst there may be some creative tendency in my family - I've learned as much again from reading model railway forums One thing with the hut: Someone suggested to me recently that in N gauge it's worth 'scaling up' the key features of a model, because otherwise in such a small scale they could be lost, and thereby the essential character or essence of what you're replicating. I thought this was an interesting point so exaggerated the grain in the woodwork. I wonder whether it's this, as much as the paint applied, which brings it to life? ------------------------------------------------------------------- Oldddudders: "Simply visionary in approach... " Steady on old chap! That's very flattering - But it's simply an expression of my fascination with the period combined with my (re)-discovery of railway modelling as relaxing hobby. But don't let that stop you (thankyou!)

Frankland update No. 4 Welcome to everyone tuning in from RMWeb... And now here is the news broadcast from Frankland. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- First is a report from the purchasing department: I won a few eBay bargains. Here are my favourites: A car for £4.30 ... Obviously it could do with a rub-down and repaint. I think it's a Black Standard Flying Twelve (??) introduced in 1935. For £1.04 this unpainted cart, which I think will eventually sit in a corner of the station yard. Most intriguing of all - this item appeared on eBay and the carriage at the bottom immediately caught my eye. This was the eBay picture ... I really wanted this to see how it had been constructed (and hopefully learn from what I saw). I won it for £10.05. And here it is ... Just look at the ultra-fine beading around the cab and along the first-half of the carriage. Likewise, the louvers just behind the cab door are so precise for such a small scale. To me this is exquisite work. Does anyone have any pointers to techniques and materials which may have been used? For instance, the panelling on the side is far finer than any Microstrip I have seen. The domed roof over the cab appears to be moulded, although I don't know what material was used - it's a translucent amber colour. Either way, although it's unfinished it's a great source of inspiration to me and well worth the money. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The other main purchase (from a retailer, not eBay) was a box of unpainted Preiser people and animals. It has all sorts of people, some washing lines, some trunks and sacks, gardening tools, but most importantly for Frankland - the figures are mainly very 'old-school' (hats, suits, longer skirts etc) - and can be painted in period colour clothing. At £21.75 for 120 figures, they work out at 18p each, rather than the £9.00 or more you pay for a box of six painted figures (ie. £1.50+ each). I won't tackle these for a while - I just wanted to get hold of some to see if they'd be right for when the time comes. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Landscaping: I decided to complete the cutting which is front-left of the layout. Here on the left is the base. It's a removable section so I can easily work on this area in the future. It's foam-board construction, and was later topped and skimmed with plaster. Here it is with a Photoshop sky. The skyline will one day have the backs of houses and trees. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buildings: In London's Soho Square is this picturesque gardeners' hut, built in 1890. I wanted to make a version for Frankland. The first two pictures below show the basic body shell and upper-floor panels being constructed from Platicard and Microstrip. The upright strip is just a spacer at this point as the outside uprights will be fixed in place last (so the ground floor sides can be detailed and painted more easily). Next: Main components are in place and roughly painted. The timbers on the original are rough-hewn, following the popular 'Arts and Crafts' rustic-look of the time. So I've tried replicating this with rough cutting and deep slicing into the beams. After a little filling and filing everything went together nicely. So here's the finished product. It's not an exact copy of the original, and I wanted it to look a little less well-kept and tired, but I hope it captures an essence - especially the irregular sides and rough woodwork. The roof, building and paved base are made as three separate units to make it easy to go back later and add detailing and more weathering if I want. And here's where it will sit on the layout. This area will eventually be a small wooded park. Trees will obscure much of the hut, you'll just catch tantalising glimpses of it through gaps in the trees. And that is the end of the news. Mark

Coming along nicely. Definitely interested in following your adaptation of the Tomix motor.

And more votes of respect from me - great details. I don't think I'd ever think to cut a car in half to create a 'low-relief' scene.

Good progress again Simon. Just to clarify your last post ... you painted window frames with a cocktail stick? That's an interesting technique - is it your tried and tested way, or just because you didn't have a suitable brush handy (like a long haired rigger, which is what I'd instinctively use)? You've got me curious so more questions if you don't mind Does just one pass work for each line? Do you find the paint flows evenly (no blobs?). Any hints or tips? I may have a go at that sometime. Thanks Mark

Hello Missy, I've been following your posts on this project and am not bored at all. If it's any consolation I much admire you for tackling this kit in the first case, but even more so for being brave and honest enough to publish your trials and tribulations for all to see, rather than just showcasing the success stories. We all have the odd project which causes such frustration that we have to 'walk away' for a while. Well, I hope you had a good break and look forward to forthcoming developments at Highclere

Happy Birthday Simon! Hope you had a good day at Crich. I used to help out there when I was a young teen. Must go back and visit one day.

Those three pictures; in particular the old warehouse; are subliminal. A perfect example of 'less is more'.

Every picture a winner! I particularly like all the work your doing around the points prior to ballasting. I can see the fire hydrant better in that last photo, it's really neat. I guess that's a home-made job?

That really looks convincing: A multitude of well observed details nicely reproduced - you've certainly given me some inspiration (and put my pace of work to shame!) Thanks for the 'step-by-step' pictures and commentary. It can be interesting and helpful to see the work process in detail.

Ditto ... and I'm looking forward to seeing this area come together. Keep those posts coming

I like the 'motley' aspect I particularly like the paneled example. Is that a kit or a conversion?

Ditto to comments above ... I think I'm going to like this

Hello Simon, Yes exactly, I was curious as to your method in comparison to Frankland. (I couldn't make out the hole in the baseboard from your original picture.) On Frankland I used T-Girder construction, so the entire length/width underneath the viaduct is open from underneath, but even so, in N gauge it still doesn't give much space to get a hand and screwdriver inside. The sides to my viaducts will be detachable for extra manoeuvrability in the event of point failure. Mark

I like the concept / urban setting / viaducts and the scenic work / details so far - also your plans for future development. One thing I'm curious about: The point motor seems to be sandwiched between the underneath of the track and the top of the baseboard, and very difficult to initially position and fix, or later to remove or work on ... is that the case? Or do you have some clever trick or technique? (Sorry if I missed something). Anyway, good luck and I'll follow your updates.

All looking very natural and effective. Is the back-scene water colour on water colour paper? It's quite atmospheric And can I ask what you used for grass? I like the colour.

Thanks for your further comments everyone ... they really are much appreciated My work on Frankland combines my design training, my interest in the period as a whole, and my decision a couple of years back to return to railway modelling (from a childhood trainset) as a recreational activity. So for me it all sits together quite naturally and happily. I used the motor from a 108 to power the 3-SUB. With the 108 set the second coach also has power pickups (but for bi-direction lighting, not for powering the motor). I'm currently adapting these for the trailer car of the 3-SUB so that I have three bogies across two carriages picking up power. I hope this will give me exceptionally reliable running. I may experiment with a different motor with the next unit - we'll see - still 'early days' on a big learning curve for me at the moment. Updates will be more frequent in future. Well thanks again for your posts - I must say I do feel encouraged by so much positive feedback Mark