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Rhatische Bahn in the Canton of Graubunden


Simon Moore

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Last year i took a trip to Interlaken in Switzerland & had a wonderful time traveling & trainspotting too. Whilst i was there i decided to have a really good spend in Buhlers near Interlaken West station. I managed to pick up some locos, coaches & a trainset plus Kibri's kit of Solis station.

 

As your all probably thinking, you crazy man modeling Bemo's. There expensive to say the least, but as i have said before Hom is the perfect gauge IMO & with excellent running qualities they fit the bill perfectly.

 

Not long after i returned from Interlaken i had a very serious motorcycle accident of which i am still recovering from so i cannot do a lot of serious modeling because my lower right arm still refuses to work correctly. I'm also on the stat sick pay so i'm not earning enough to build something spectacular.

 

I've been fiddling with SCRAM & i've designed a small oval layout with a few sidings etc which is managable to build & i'm aiming to make it scenic & hopefully paint a small picture of the holiday i enjoyed last year.

 

I plan to upload a image of the trackplan once i transfer it from the windows computer. Tomorrow i'm going to photo the various trains & bits of stock i own so you can see what will be running on my small layout. Heres a few snaps of the trainset set up temporarily until i build the full layout.

 

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Cheers

 

Simon

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Hi Dutchmaster

Buhler's was a starting point i suppose & found that the krokodil trainset was cheaper there than it was at Winco here in the uk. I'm picking up bits second hand off Ebay & I'll certainly checkout the shop you've mentioned for the future bits & pieces i'll buy. I'd really like to track down at the minute the Kibri Swiss village boxset that would finish off the buildings side of the model. The trackwork should be with me shortly as i've just about raised money for it.

I've a list of items i'd like in the future but its not cheap but i guess you get what you pay for ;)

Simon

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Whilst I don't model Swiss metre gauge (or any Swiss gauge for that matter), I certainly do admire both the prototypes and HOm layouts. There's something very appealing about the size, added to which is the excellent performance of Bemo stock.

 

Perhaps the Swiss experts could answer a question about an item I've acquired in a mixed job lot from an auction? I bought the lot for a Chivers kit of a D3 0-4-4T, however the previous owner obviously also modelled US and Swiss subjects. The baffling item is a boxed D&R Modellbahn 30003 Bahnhofslautwerk for Swiss railways. The previous owner has written on it that it's an electronic station bell for Rhb/FO/SBB. Is it just that, a bell? Is the bell sounded before the departure of a train, or just before the arrival, or as a right away to the driver?

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These bells ('cause that's exactly what they are) where used to announce to station staff the imminent arrival of a train. The number of bells and chimes determined from which direction it came. (actually, the other way round :P ) It also signalled to staff that the platforms (who were low, rail-head level) must be cleared, essentially move all passengers to the station so the train could safely enter the station. The bells were sounded when the train involved left or passed the previous station.

That's for that - very interesting. At least I have more respect for my new gizmo. I'll probably never use it, but it does sound (no pun intended) like fun, so you never know...

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  • RMweb Gold

Another good source of good deals on secondhand Bemo can be the 009 society sales stand at the specialist narrow gauge shows at Shepton ( this weekend), Sparsholt nr Winchester in April and Swanley in October to name just three.

Look forward to seeing the plan.

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Hi Backofanenvelope

Sounds like your in the same bemo boat as me so to speak ;) Sounds like its going to be a fun project & something not often seen. I don't think i have ever seen a freight only bemo layout but theres always a first time for everything & hopefully it'll be a belter once done.

As i said yesterday i would post a few snaps of the trackplan & my rolling stock.

Below are 2 images created using SCRAM which is a brilliant user friendly layout design software showing my trackplan.

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All the track i am using is Bemo standard track, as my arm isn't looking like it will ever be right again i need to look at setrack rather than flexi for most of the layout. Its not the best trackplan in the world but its something to get started with & achievable. One thing baffling me is the Bemo turnouts, i've no idea how to fit motors to them. I was thinking of maybe tourtoises ??

Anyway back to the trains. Below are images covering all of the stock i own & hopefully some small trains to suit my small layout.

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My first proper project on this small layout is to build & paint the Kibri solis bahnhof. I've found a few images on the internet on which to base my model but still lacking a few. I did a small paint test this morning to find something to match that dark sleeper stained colour wood effect most buildings in Switzerland have. Tamiya XF9 hull red is perfect for the job its got quite a bit of tone to the colour & should work well.

Thats all for now but hopefully it gives you a little bit more info on my small bemo offering.

Simon



 

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  • RMweb Gold

A simple plan is fine and typical of many small RhB stations. I've even done one down to 3ft square stored due to a fold down loop. I haven't used the Bemo points but it should be easy to attach an operating wire ;) while I'm a big fan of the tortoise and use them on my RhB layout they are deep so you'll need a deep frame. I'm planning to use servos in future purely for their small size.

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Simon, I also echo others comments that is a nice collection and I think that small and simple are easily achievable. Also I don't know if you have seen this but it is a wealth of info

 

Paul, I have since seeing your plan elsewhere been thinking of building something very close to that particularly like the flap at the back idea :)

 

When all the ducks are in place one day..

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Well it's been a funny couple of days trying to buy track !

Firstly i rang Winco hoping to get everything i needed to complete the small plan but i was out of luck. They had stock of the points but no 2nd radius curves so i will have to wait until next months delivery for those items. I've three new items coming for the layout though in the form of a Ge4/6 & a couple of freight wagon which i am very happy about. 

Paul i really like your little plan there for the layout, i was planning on a fiddle yard at first but decided against it due to space restrictions.

Backofanenvelope thanks for the link i wasn't aware of that site & i've been having a good look for ideas & i've got plenty so cheers ;)

Stadman, i instantly thought of this when i saw your post ;)

I've started to put the Kibri Solis Bahnhof kit together & what a dream of a kit it is. The kit is designed to clip together without the aid of glue so it is well designed & the parts fit together without any hassle at all. I've started by gluing the various bits of wood to the wall sides ready for painting. My preferred method of painting is to do as much as i can before final assembly & most items are done on the sprus for ease. The base has been painted using Floquil concrete, shame these excellent paints are no longer produced because there great paints. I've been searching for a decent paint that looks like a good dark wood & i've settled on Tamiya XF9 which is hull red. The colour has a real depth of black, red & brown so it really does look great.

Hopefully i'll have the Bahnhof built & painted over the weekend so i'll get some photos posted once its done.

Thats all for now

Simon 

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Well I've been exceptionally busy this weekend with the bahnhof. I've just finished putting on a mist of dullcote to seal all the paintwork. It's really looking fantastic all the colours pop & once a few decals are added & the last few detail parts are added the model will be finished. I'll add some photos once its totally finished to show my weekends efforts.

 

That's all for now

 

Simon

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After a few final tweaks yesterday it is 99% completed now. I've just a few ticket machines & platform details to add to the bahnhof. Kibri really do make the best kits ever, every part sits perfectly in its place & fits without any trouble at all. Below show's the fruits of my labour over the weekend. I think it has come out perfectly & exactly as i had wanted it too. 

 

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I really like the sheet of transfers you get with this kit, just peel, cut & stick so the timetables & railway advertisement signs are easily fitted. I'm going to hit it this afternoon & get the last few bits fitted to it the i can relax & wait for my Kibri Stienbock Inn, Grevasalvas  kit to arrive. I'm already  trying to find some good prototype images to work from.

Simon


 

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Tom thanks for the comments ;)

 

You really must get one, its the easiest kit I've ever made & practically builds itself. The kits easy to come by too I think both gaugemaster & ontracks sell it.

 

Paul I'm planning a mountain type village scene with as many familiaritys as possible to my first visit to Switzerland.

Whilst I was in Switzerland I took a lot of tourist shots but with the idea of using them in a Swiss layout build. I'll upload a few when I have time to show a few of the things I want to recreate in my model. The whole concept of this layout is to build a small layout based on the rhb but something I can look at & remind myself of my holiday.

 

I'm going to document my next structure build with a bit more detail. I don't see many kibri/vollmer or faller kits built on the forum so hopefully it will give a bit of a insight into what comes in the kit box for prospective builders.

 

Simon

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  • 1 month later...

Well it has been a while since i last post about the layout.

I've been suffering a bit recently trying to come to terms with the fact that i'm permanently disabled at 32 through no fault of my own :(
The layout has progressed though, it's been a god send really to have something to occupy my mind. I've built the baseboard & laid the track although i have a bit of wiring to do to finish up. I was going to Dcc the layout but bemo models are about as dcc ready as the kitchen table so i will stick to Dc power.

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Still loads to do, buildings to finish etc but i am plodding along slowly away & enjoying the build.

Simon

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I have been looking forward to updates Simon and was wondering how you were getting on. Hope the modelling can help with dealing with life I know it has certainly helped me even when I haven't actually being 'doing' something and has been a constant thread throughout my life ever since racing my Hornby Polly and a Dock Shunter set round the kitchen table aged 4-5 :D

 

I am interested to know what the building is in pic 7 of last set?

 

Regards

Tom

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hehe the old Tri-ang Dock authority shunter i have one of them too ; )

The building you ask about Tom is a Faller kit which is nearly finished just need to add the benches & flags. Would you believe me if i told you that i have not actually put 1 drop of paint on that model & that it came out of the box like that ?????
Brilliant model & a very enjoyable birthday gift although my missus tells me it was expensive but worth every penny in my book it looks great.

Simon

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Thanks Simon yes the Faller kits i have often looked at, though never had the cash to buy them at shows :) Thats pretty amazing that you have not painted it and with a bit of weathering I think they will blend in very nicely. I am hoping the family get me some relevant railway modelling stuff for my birthday soon, but I will probably get the normal 'useful' pressies ;) I am also interested in DCC'ing my locos but still a way off but will be interested in seeing if you have a go.

T.

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  • RMweb Gold

Looking good, I guess such a big change to your dexterity is a lot to deal with on top of the rest of life. Hope that eases as you discover ways to work round some of it. Are you able to make this portable and get friends to help exhibit it? It does open up a whole new part of the hobby on the social side too.

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Hi paul

 

Its been designed to be portable for family visits so it would be nice to think it could be exhibited. I have a show in the school round the corner so I might enquire this year see if they would be intrested.

 

Simon

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