GWR/LMS OO Gauge DCC RR&Co

[user=2137]Briperran[/user] wrote:





How does itrain handle locos entering an occupied block?

Hi John

It is performs a similar action to the RR&Co flagman but with a different way of entering and showing it.

With ACTIONS,condition,operator,triggers ,time plus other things aswell its done on a window by selecting things in a drop down menu add text adding areas and various other tabs. It is not a graphical drawing like you get in R &co but does a very similar thing.
Bear in mind im no expert yet with it as i know its capable of far more than i understand the program has advanced a great deal in the last few years

Brian

Quote from Nick's thread:


Hi Nick I always admire your weathering and these locos are no exception……subtle, understated but looking just right. Hopefully I can achieve a similar effect on my Barclay…..super little loco  I envy you and Bill with the railcar…… I dillied and dallied because of reports of poor running and by the time I made my mind up the livery I wanted was either sold out or available only at a very silly price. Obviously running is not an issue with you guys……grrr:mrgreen:. Great job with the passengers, makes a big difference.  Good luck with the show  Best wishes  John

Hi John,

Have you heard about the Kernow GWR railcar: 

Kernow Models
and
KMRC Locomotive - GWR Steam Railmotor

It may be a tad late for your period, but once this one goes, there's just a complicated brass kit! Just a thought!

Best,

Bill

Thanks Bill.
You are correct that they are bit early for me. I believe they were all converted by the mid thirties? Nevertheless I suspect I may be tempted if and when they are made. They have been so long time on the drawing board that the currently quoted price makes them look s bargain…….I wonder if that price will hold?

Best wishes

John

Yes, my thoughts exactly regarding price and period for Granby. Still, I'll use the time it takes to get to market to build something for it to run on!

Best,

Bill

I placed an order for K2031 in 2014  I read that they have the CAD completed so it could be a while yet- hopefully not as long as the Class 41 Warship which I ordered in 2010 !

Back to the Engine Sheds.

 The delinquent Water column is re-attached to its base and is more or less vertical.

The doors, a round dozen, are back on the GWR shed





Here is a close up







The doors were scratch built from plastic strip and Wills planking. I scribed planks on the blank side of the Wills sheet but made sure they were on the non-viewing side………. LH front  RH back.  :lol:

I didnt spend too much time getting them exactly lined up. They were pretty vulnerable in real life, in fact I am not convinced that all 12 would actually have still been in place in 1948. They are certainly vulnerable in model form to the "hand of god" and I am reconciled to having to replace a few whenever the shed is lifted. Hence all the testing to ensure the track is perfect. Its a good incentive to do lots of operating…….one of the benefits of DCC……regular running = clean track.

So, with the doors on, its time for detailing…..an aspect of the hobby that I really enjoy and look forward to. If nothing else it signals the project is approaching the finish line.


Additional bits and pieces from Dart Castings



I really only wanted one bench outside the Mess room so a couple of sub sheds will benefit.

This is my fire point of choice……I must have at least a dozen already scattered around Granby.

They are a bit fiddly to assemble and paint but they look just right for scale unlike some other kits. Another benefit is a stand can "lose" the odd bucket……quick repaint and it fits perfectly on the back of a Pannier.

Dont take the paint scheme as gospel for the GWR. White stand, Red Buckets with Black handles was how it was done in the Kings Regiment (Liverpool) over half a century ago. Old habits die hard.









Firepoint outside the Booking- in Office. Fire alarm is from the Ratio engine shed kit. Hose cabinet is a new item from Modelu. The original was scanned at Didcot


Touch of whimsey




A relic of WWII fire watching






Now a glimpse of the next stage






Replacing the thirty or so figures that have been in storage for the past 6 months





36 ( there are 6 already in place) may, at first sight seem excessive. When I first built the shed I tried to establish the numbers employed in a medium sized shed. The consensus was that my estimate of 200 was on the low side.
….
36 on site during a week day is, therefore, not unreasonable………..in fact I am going to add a few more 





This tea party is destined to stand outside the Mess room.

From Modelu (usual disclaimer). Scanned from live models, they are excellent with  some exquisite detail.

They are somewhat different from the rest of the cast from Montys Models, Dapol (ex Airfix) and Gem. Heads and limbs are slimmer and more lifelike. Bodies are somewhat larger They appear to be somewhat better fed than the average post war railwayman!

The original cast were painted 5 years ago. They dont need a complete repaint but will need some touching up and as you can see above I think I have, at last hit on a more authentic shade for the ubiquitous blue overalls than the brighter blue I used previously.

When completed they will be set up in little cameos….. Mess Hall, Booking In Office,Bicycle Shed,Repair Shop etc.

Regards from Vancouver where we continue to enjoy some wonderful Autumnal weather.

 

Once again John, absolutely stunning!  The detail on those doors is wonderful and your painting of those figures is a real talent.  I look and learn!

Michael

more great work John,

Those Modelu figures look fantastic

Hi Ken,Michael and Dave
Thank you so much for your kind comments. I always enjoy feed back on my Granby updates particularly when they are as complimentary as yours!:lol:

My thanks again

John

Here is the first of the completed cameos on the Engine Shed.


The Scalescene medium station was modified as a Mess Room and Office building about three months ago.






Added Detail




and to complete the scene





Here is a close up of the tea party, last seen delicately poised on wine corks




The scene is not exactly as planned. Modelu back ordered the two seated figures that were intended  to form the centre piece on the newly acquired ex waiting room bench. I had to hastily press into service an autocoach driver……hence the arm outstretched ….which I almost concealed  




I have tried to suggest this is part of the kitchen building……waste bins, sack of potatoes and cartons of perhaps beans or tomatoes……etc.





One of my favourite Modelu figures. The handles on the head lamps are exquisite.

The contrast between this figure and the toy like figure in the background is quite marked…….something I had intended to avoid. On this occasion I regret achieving good depth of field!.


So thats one segment complete. Hopefully I have achieved a sense of activity without being too busy or cluttered

Well that takes the cake. I'll be sending the boys round to kidnap you and introduce you to forced labour. Very, very nice.

Hi John.  Excellent workmanship indeed. Your painting of the figures really brings the scene to life. Did you use “ Matt” paint? And the actual figures look a better quality than the run of the mill figures. I could even feel at home sitting on that bench drinking Tea and sharing it with “me mates “ . Best wishes Kevin 

Extremely nicely done John you certainly have the knack of capturing atmosphere.


Brian

I have absolutely nothing to say.  Nothing at all ………………………

Why ?  Because I'm speechless …………..

Truly stunning modelling John.  This shot is just so incredibly real:




I love everything about it John - when I re-start, Granby will be my encyclopaedia.

What's the factory in the background ?  It's very impressive.

 I'm going to sit in a corner now and contemplate Brexit……….. …………………it's far less depressing than contemplating how far my skills are behind yours………….

P.S.  You could always put a plate of Jammie Dodgers in that outstretched arm …………………………..
 

Wonderful  :thumbs :thumbs :thumbs :thumbs :thumbs



Ed

Just perfect John, a great balance.  I can hear the conversations and smell the brew!  There is a real sense of movement and purpose to everything you do……  super to see how it's done.

Michael

Another idea I will be stealing from you, the crew member carring the lamps nice touch.

Pete, Kevin,Brian,Peter,Ed,Michael and Bob


Its a long time since I had so many responses to a single post. :thumbs  lts enormously satisfying to get such positive feedback and know that my efforts are so appreciated.

 I freely admit that I enjoy detailing……..from time to time I probably spend too much time on a minute cameo that is rarely seen, rather than keeping the trains running. However the cameos taken together do set the scene…..a time and a place where one would expect to see the type of trains that I like to run.


I think the last few posts have looked more effective because I have changed my editing software. I always used to use Photoshop Elements but recently switched to Affinity Photo and I think the quality of the photos has improved significantly. I am no expert, I just crop and press the automatic colour, contrast and balance buttons ……..it just seems the Affinity buttons are better! :lol:  Lots of new gizmos on the software…….I hope to eventually learn how to cut out the non railway background…..you guys must be fed up with seeing bits of the veg garden


I will try and answer the individual questions but once again thank you again for taking the time to write such supportive comments






Passed Driver wrote:

. . Did you use “ Matt” paint?

                                                                                                                                                                                               

The figures are painted with Josonja Matt  acrylic. Mike C an artist who used to be a member here recommended  them….they are made in the US but should be available in the UK. I  also use Vallejo acrylics principally for weathering

Petermac wrote:

What's the factory in the background ?  It's very impressive.


P.S.  You could always put a plate of Jammie Dodgers in that outstretched arm …………………………..

Its a Metcalfe factory building……you will have seen it a few times over the years. I think there are two units joined together…….its found a permanent home there. When the shed is finished and I start on the back I will add a few figures and a lorry or two.

I should have thought of adding a plate. A guy on another forum suggested a pack of Woodbines or Park Drive….a scrap of white plastic should do the trick……he can stay there. I have two more benches to populate.

81C wrote:

Another idea I will be stealing from you, the crew member carring the lamps nice touch.

Its one of Modelu's latest releases….I hadnt seen it before although I guess you could reproduce it with another figure and Springside lamps


Thanks again guys

John
 

Finally, the GWR shed is finished:

The hold up has been the cycle shed which I have been building on and off since September. When I finished the GWR shed in 2014 I remember Bob (81C), a long time supporter, asking where is the bike shed? Well there was one but it was so small I couldnt even find a photo to show you!

With the rebuild, I wanted to have a bike shed that looked reasonably credible for a site with at least 200 workers.
I would imagine that many would have walked to work…..some may well have lived in nearby Company terraces. There would also be buses of course. Nevertheless I feel that a significant number would have cycled in.

I am wondering if I should add a car or two? A Hillman for the Shed Manager…..is that the correct term?……and perhaps a battered Austin 7 for the Workshop foreman…….but that would be it. Its an interesting reflection on the increase in car ownership….fast forward even 30 years and there would be at least 20 cars on site.

 I hope you agree that this type of social history/research is one of the many charms of the hobby.


Next, how I made a bike shed from bits and pieces……and why did it take so long
  




This could be taken from the "Great Model Railway" scratch build challenge. A much battered Wills Timber yard.


Build a frame from plastic strip on card "concrete" slab





Paint and weather and then fabricate Racks from the Wills Kit






Paint a dozen bikes (Wills and Shirescenes) and hope they can be placed to suggest a lot more.






  This took forever!

 









I do wonder now whether I needed to spend quite so much time painting the bikes……..but at least I know the saddles are all painted in tan leather!

 The hidden plus is that the bike shed is glued to the baseboard but separate from the the main building.It will be a good solid guide and marker when the main building is lifted and replaced.


 
A few more figures added to complete the Booking in Office scene






 Panning back more "clutter" has been added. This also serves as a guide and hides the undulating foundation….a constant worry on this project.





 This is actually the passage way between the GWR shed and the workshop a good segue into this weeks project

Regards from Vancouver

John