Carterton

[figworthy]

11 hours ago, Chris Chewter said:

Various modelling supplies have arrived including some model corrugated asbestos sheets from Wills. I can now put a lid on the signal box.

 

I normally use the clear sheets which gives a nice thin profile, but didn’t want the roofs being damaged by poking fingers, so went for the normal stuff, and it’s really thick!

 

 

I was using it for something (I forget what), and was concerned about the thickness.  I discovered that it is relatively easy (if not slightly tedious) to sand the back down to a compromise point between stiffness and thickness.

 

Nice work on the signal box.

 

Adrian

[Chris Chewter]

I did think about sanding them, but I thought that by the time I had finished, I probably would have gone insane!

Next time I’ll use the clear sheets. I think peeling it off these building might cause more damage than good!

 

Roof now on the station building.

 

 

And the roof to the signal box has been painted.

 

 

Now to weather them to hide my dodgy modelling!

[RailWest]

I notice a reference to the original signal-box being prepared for a move to the Swindon & Cricklade railway - does anyone know if that ever happened ?

[Chris Chewter]

I had hoped it had been preserved, in which case I could have taken a full set of elevations from it, sadly it is no more.  According to http://www.philipsharp.net.nz/CRM/TheOtherCartertonRailwayStation.html

 

"The signal cabin remained on the site until it was moved to the Swindon & Cricklade Railway March 1980. The plan was to restore the signal box but the box had decayed too much and parts of the box were used to repair and restore two signal boxes on the Swindon & Cricklade Railway."

[RailWest]

Thanks for the update....what a shame.

[Chris Chewter]

A bit of progress last night.

 

Gaps in the station roof filled.
 

 

Also when the kit was cut, I modelled some barge boards. Not prototypical but they do tidy the sandwich of construction.

 

 

I also started work on the bridge, but it needs to be considerably narrowed, so a bit of cutting will be required over the weekend.

 

 

And I finally finished the Bobby.

 

 

He can watch progress on the layout from his shelf. Gutters and flues will be put on as the layout nears completion. 

[Chris Chewter]

Baseboards assembled yesterday which gave me the chance to size up my challenge.

 

 

So I laid out the plans to start thinking about composition.

 

 

Seems to work Ok, however the distance between the station and the box is too close where I’ve compressed it, so they’ll have to remain at a prototypical distance.

 

Also I’ve been struggling with the width of the bridge. Having walked under the bridge at Langford, they are oppressively narrow, but I think my model is a little too tight.

 

 

Looks like a trip out might be useful later today!

Edited May 2, 2021 by Chris Chewter

[4firstimes]

Chris,

 

You might be interested in some additional information for your diorama of Carterton . I was based at RAF Brize Norton in 1991-3 and during this time looked at Carterton as a model in 2mm scale. At this time an article appeared over several pages in the RAF station’s Magazine including details of several photographs which have not appeared in the railway press . Interesting in the paragraph was details of how the station operated and the connections over. The taxi ways . I no longer have a copy of the magazine but a letter to the base commander might turn up trumps as the base may have information from the station archives. The person who wrote the article I think had connection with Swindon Model Railway Club as in those days a number of railway modellers at either Brize Norton or Lynham were members of the Swindon group. 
From my research via the clerk of the Parish Council which included Carterton one of the Signalman I think his name was Davies , had plenty of photos , I didn’t follow this up as at the time Carterton was too simple and I was more interested in Lechlade . However with all the developments in DCC and sound fitted locomotives the simple layout might be worth a re visit

 

 

[Chris Chewter]

Just popped over to the station site to grab some information on the parapets.  Using the surveyors laser I have in the car, I’m also able to get the clearance under the bridge without trespassing!

 

I also took a detour back via the old station site at Langford.

 

 

You can just about make out the sleeper for the siding on the left. If it wasn’t for the lamp, you’d probably miss this as an old station.

Anyway, the public bridleway goes under the bridge, so I can check the clearance here.

 

 

Well that tells me both bridges are approximately 12ft wide by 14ft high.

 

That means I was too narrow. If I space the abutments correctly, the bridge should look like this!

 

 

I better create a new parapet.

[Chris Chewter]

Well whilst RMweb has been offline this morning, I’ve been busy making the shelter to platform 2.

 

Windows are left overs from the signal box kit, glued onto a sheet of Will packaging with clear fix and stuck into the apertures.

 

 

I can’t find any photos of the other side, so I’ve presumed it had two windows on the reverse elevation.

 

Now to let the paint dry before giving it a bit of weathering.

[Chris Chewter]

Trialled where everything should go yesterday, plus started to work out some of the different levels.

 

 

Ive stopped the station ramps at the baseboard join. With the barrow crossing here, that should hide the join.

 

The other board I haven’t put the landform in yet, as I need to build the steps down from the road.

 

 

And a general overview photo. Once a few more materials arrive, hopefully it won’t look so flat.

 

[Chris Chewter]

Supplies have arrived, and topography commenced!

 

 

Roadway is supported on a polystyrene bank, and the rest has been made with expanding foam.  
 

 

I now need to cover it with plaster bandage to create the ground, and I can then move onto grass and foliage.

 

I also took delivery of a Dapol signal to sit by the signal box. The only one required for the layout, as all other signals are all off board.

 

 

Hopefully, I can make a bit more progress this afternoon.

[MrWolf]

This is a fascinating project that brings together lots of my own interests. I had a friend from university who hails from Witney and I used to go down there quite a bit until he and his wife got the chance to move to Java.  Being a GWR fan, I did a fair bit of hunting around the remains of the EGR and Old Worse & Worse Railway.

I think that you've got the colour of those red concrete blocks spot on too. I'll be following from now on!

[Chris Chewter]

Managed to cover the expanding foam with plaster bandages yesterday and painted with a base colour of dark brown.

 

 

I did try textured paint for the roadways, but decided to just use chinchilla dust instead.

 

Now onto grass. I thought about static grass but I might save the pennies and use hanging basket liner. Not sure on that one. Either way, my PVA supply is lower than I thought, so I’ve got a bit of time to decide.

[Chris Chewter]

I haven’t updated my progress as I’ve been having a nightmare with the platforms. Currently I’m waiting for the chinchilla sand to dry on the platform surfaces as textured paint just looked too lumpy.

 

With textured paint:

 

 

With chinchilla dust:

 

 

The texture is better but the colour is wrong. I need to paint it somehow. Let’s hope the glue cures!

 

I’ve also found photos suggesting a small privvy behind the signal box. It looks like it’s made from asbestos, so a Wills privvy was filled and flatted and painted cement grey. I couldn’t find an image of the door so presumed western region brown to match the station doors.

 

 

To be honest, I don’t really know if it served the signal box or the allotments, but it’s been modelled either way.
 

Finally, I found that scale model scenery do signal box nameplates.
 

 

Carterton box now has its nameplate.

[Chris Chewter]

I’ve also been winding tree armatures, but they are even less photogenic at the moment!

 

 

Some of the lower limbs are a bit long, but once covered with rubberised horse hair, it should do the job.

 

I need a date with some DAS clay to clad the trunks and waiting for some woodland scenics mid green coarse turf for the general foliage cover.

[Chris Chewter]

Managed to get a spare hour, so fired up the static grasser.

 

At first it looked a bit flat, but a quick go over with some 6mm fibres seem to have livened it up.

[Chris Chewter]

The trouble with trees is their trunks aren’t brown, or so I read in a modelling book somewhere. In fact it’s grey. Well, it’s a tad more complex, as there are brown and green hues, but the trunk is predominantly silver grey.

 

 

Trees were clad in DAS clay to give them a little more flex. Tiny pinches of clay were put onto the armature and smoothed. Don’t use big bits, it’ll turn out lumpy. The questionable bits will get hidden by the horsehair in the next stage!

 

So out with the trusty Halfords body shop grey primer, and the trunks were sprayed.

 

 

But wait, aren’t  trunks brown?

 

 

There is a bit of brown highlighting, so a slight waft of Humbrol earth brown should replicate that.

 

 

I did read in one of the wild swan books that they use Tamiya grey and greenish brown, and texture with Artex. Another modeller suggested used tea dust from the bottom of their tea bag tin. Perhaps some ideas for another day.

 

Now to give the tree its foliage.

[Chris Chewter]

I had hoped to get the layout outside to fit the alignment dowels and start laying track, but alas no. It’s raining.

 

So this morning I’m trimming fence posts. 

 

If it wasn’t for the fact I had several packs of Ratio fencing in my supplies, I’d be buying these ready cut. It’s a fairly mind numbing task...

[MrWolf]

I have about a billion of those to paint and trim. I also have a stack of telephone poles to paint now that the alterations have been made to them.

It will be interesting to see how you install and paint your fencing for when I run out of excuses for not having fences.

[Chris Chewter]

Ah, I use my favourite, posts painted with Halfords body shop primer grey. The posts are stuck into blu-tac blobs like a hedgehog and given a light spray.

 

The problem is the next bit. Fitting the posts and adding the wire!

Edited May 15, 2021 by Chris Chewter

[Chris Chewter]

An afternoon making model trees for Carterton.

 

 

Edited May 15, 2021 by Chris Chewter

[Chris Chewter]

Managed to get a quick hour last night to start on the fencing.

 

 

Although, the glue needs to cure before I start threading it together.

 

 

No progress this morning. A “quick” trip to Coventry for my COVID jab.

 

One of the things I observed trundling along the fosse way, is that trees are actually a fairly light shade of green!

 

 

I kept on stopping on the way back to take photos!
 

Looking at the tree I made yesterday, the medium green isn’t as offensive as I remember.

 

 

In fact, it looks alright to my eyes.

 

I also found this beauty on the way back.

 

 

I dare you to model it!

[Chris Chewter]

In between rain showers, I fitted the alignment dowels and laid the track work.

 

 

Which means I can take a photo of trains in the platform!

 

 

 Backscene, ballast, and some more rubberised horse hair on order. 
 

Edited May 17, 2021 by Chris Chewter

[Chris Chewter]

Last night I attempted the challenge known as point rodding.

 

Something stronger may be required!

 

Two hours later and all the components had been assembled ready to be installed, and my sanity is still intact.

 

 

 

Ive found that putting the point stools on a piece of double sided tape and using careful dabs of plastic weld really help make this easier.