A Nod To Brent - a friendly thread, filled with frivolity, cream teas and pasties. Longing for the happy days in the South Hams 1947.

[gwrrob]

I thought I'd start a layout topic as a place to put some photos.It won't be a blow by account as the majority of building/trackwork is complete.Inspired by Westerners 'Wencombe' I intend to give you a flavour of it and to share my rolling stock etc.Forgive me if I repeat the same shot angles with different locos but its not a massive layout to showcase my stock.

I will start with the cattle dock area using Ratio bits and Slaters plastikard for the walls.Scenics are from Green Scene using their mats with added static grasses using a Noch puffer bottle.Done before the Grassmaster appeared !

Along here is one of my favourite locations to show off my latest creations.

The fencing is also Ratio with the added use of EZ wire. The trackwork is code 75 Peco ballasted using 2mm Green Scene ballast in a mixture of colours.

 

 

 

 

Edited March 20 by gwrrob
detail, detail. detail.

[Guest oldlugger]

Edit

Edited March 20, 2013 by oldlugger

[Neal Ball]

Fab Robin, I will keep an eye on this with very keen interest!

 

What sort of size does the layout take up?

Edited March 20, 2013 by Neal Ball

[gwrrob]

What sort of size does the layout take up?

 

I'd say something like 14 ft by 8 ft .The curves I have take all the stock I currently have ok.Lets see what the new 72xx does.

 

Does anyone have a link to some suitable extra lighting I can easily rig up for photos to give me a boost.I'm sure I've seen some clip on types used somewhere.

[Neal Ball]

I'd say something like 14 ft by 8 ft .The curves I have take all the stock I currently have ok.Lets see what the new 72xx does.

 

Does anyone have a link to some suitable extra lighting I can easily rig up for photos to give me a boost.I'm sure I've seen some clip on types used somewhere.

 

Sounds a bit wider than my Railway room for Wharncliffe then.

 

With regard to lighting, I successfully used a tripod at the weekend and changed the white balance in the camera for the fluorescent lamps. I also set the camera into manual mode, which also made a difference.

 

Good luck - But I don't think you need a fancy lighting set-up. Maybe even a couple of halogen lights, but set in such a way to avoid harsh shadows. 

[westerner]

Keep the photos comin Robin. Very much liking what I'm seeing.

 

As to the photos, before I got the photoflood and only the power saving bulb as the single (mid room) light source, I put the camera, either layout or tripod mounted, and used the aperture priority mode with the delay shutter mode switched on. This sometimes gave me an exposure time of anything upto 25 secs but the photos were more than OK. Not quite as good as now but good enough. give it a whirl.

 

Many thanks for the mention of Wencombe.

[Mikkel]

Hi Robin, good to see the layout like this. Cattle dock looks good, nice fencing.

 

How close is the layout to the real Brent?

 

Regarding lighting I am in the same position as you. I currently mess around with all sorts of ad hoc lighting when taking photos, and I've grown tired of it. When finances improve I want to invest in some lighting equipment. What I'm trying to say is that it might be worth the cost for you to get some decent gear while you're at it?

[westerner]

Robin my photoflood is one of these you will have to get a stand as well  http://www.morrisphoto.co.uk/ProductDetails~man~Interfit~productID~4940~categoryid~173.html

[Mallard60022]

Hoorah. Great to see this outed Rob. More lovely stuff to admire and to which I must aspire.

P

[The Stationmaster]

Hoorah. Great to see this outed Rob. More lovely stuff to admire and to which I must aspire.

P

Definitely something to look forward to as it's a very nice layout (having had the pleasure of Rob's hospitality and a chance to see it in action)

[westerner]

Definitely something to look forward to as it's a very nice layout (having had the pleasure of Rob's hospitality and a chance to see it in action)

In that case Robin persevere with the camera and show us more photos. Pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

[cary hill]

I think a "Nod to MI4" shows this layout more than holding it's own in some exalted company.

[westerner]

I'd forgotten about MI 4. Thanks for the reminder. An excellent layout. Is there a possibility of a track plan Robin?

[gwrrob]

 

 

How close is the layout to the real Brent?

 

 

 

This is the real Brent, seriously though not very close.As I alluded in Andy Y's prototype thread its more a flavour hence the 'nod' with mainly the overbridge and station buildings to give the Brent look.The trackplan is quite close but the goods shed is miles away.I'm a bit of a luddite so doing a trackplan for everyone is a tough ask but if anyone wants to help it would be most welcome.

 

I'm actually quite overwhelmed in the interest this layout has had with the first three measly photos.You wait till you see a Castle with six or seven on.......

 

Thanks Westerner for the lighting link but I'm not sure I'd want to spend that much to be honest.

[Mallard60022]

Rob, if a track plan is a chore how about a photo from one end,(or even better, two pics, one from each end) showing the track layout?

P

[gwrrob]

Here are a few shots of how my overbridge came about.Lacking confidence in my ability to scratchbuild back in 2009 I had this commissioned by David Amias to build it. http://www.djamodels.moonfruit.com/

 

He had access to drawings and this was the results ready for for me to complete the painting and final detailing etc.

 

A  big thanks is also due to Captain Kernow for some excellent prototype photos and especially one which enabled me to try and blend the road into my backscene.

 

6829 'Burmington Grange' from Newton Abbot shed on a down parcels to Plymouth.

Edited March 21, 2013 by gwrrob

[Trains&armour]

Ah, no ferns, that's much better......

[Neal Ball]

Lovely Robin, but clearly adding a few 'photos at a time, just whets our appetite and clearly we will be saying "We want more!" - Looks terrific, thanks for sharing .... I need to up my game!!

[Mallard60022]

Cracking bit of scenics using that clever road scene running away from the bridge and lovely bridgework including excellent paintwork/stonework. 

I well remember that bridge and the branch peeling away into the cutting to the right as we (usually) thundered through en route to Exeter. As is often the case, I have never been to Brent village.

P

[M.I.B]

Thank you for sharing this.  I like many others look forward to updates.

[cary hill]

Spent a little time trying to identify the silver "lorry " which had apparently come grief in a ditch to the left of the bridge ...... I blame (rapidly?)failing eyesight for not spotting it was a cunningly disguised SVR clock. Surely "out of period" though?

Edited March 22, 2013 by cary hill

[gwrrob]

Spent a little time trying to identify the silver "lorry " which had apparently come grief in a ditch to the left of the bridge ...... I blame (rapidly?)failing eyesight for not spotting it was a cunningly disguised SVR clock. Surely "out of period" though?

 

Ah the lovely SVR clock. The children thought it would nice to buy this on the Santa Special one year out of their pocket money.Its long gone to the clock scrapyard in the sky but I now have a wall clock instead.

[gwrrob]

Anyway let me intoduce you to someone you may see a lot of on this thread over time.One of the porters at Brent was Mike Roper.A keen gardener by the looks of those flowers duely tended between duties on the Great Western.The company he's worked for since he left school.

 

The B set behind is a Comet kits E129 pair.

[john flann]

Rob, I was looking at some photos of Brent the other day, delightful. I remember it too from my trips down to Plymouth to visit my late father in the steam days of the 1960's.

 

If you want a plan I'm happy to help.

 

Send me a sketch and I'll see what  I can do.

Edited March 23, 2013 by john flann

[gwrrob]

If you want a plan I'm happy to help.

 

Thanks John but I just remembered I had this plan for when I was organising my control plan back years now.It doesn't have the overbridge or station buildings drawn on as yet but its a start for everyone and gives an idea.

Edited March 22, 2013 by gwrrob