GWR/LMS OO Gauge DCC RR&Co

In addition to the figures I got a batch of GWR (WR) head and tail lamps



Unlike the Springside models these dont come ready to plonk. They have to be painted and the tiny shiny lens inserted

A neat idea, which I had forgotten to use until this batch, is the minute slot in the base of each lamp.

With a pair of tweezers you can insert the lamp on to the relevant iron on the loco or coach. (Still has to be glued to older stock of course)

No more fiddling around with super glue.











I suspect I will still top and tail my coach rakes and those tank engines that work bunker first but it will definitely make changing loco head codes much easier!

Regards from a sunny Vancouver

I'm amazed at your commitment John - that's a lot of wine you had to drink, the day you decided to paint the figures and lamps!  And you didn't even go over the lines - impressive!

I like those figures too - I have recently purchased a few and am very happy with the detail.  A few more ordered and some others for the warehouses - not that they are all built yet - busy casting.  I will follow your progress, I'm bound to learn a new trick or two….

Michael

[user=1512]Headmaster[/user] wrote:

I'm amazed at your commitment John - that's a lot of wine you had to drink, the day you decided to paint the figures and lamps!  And you didn't even go over the lines - impressive!

Michael

     And that doesnt include all the screw caps…….its usually Chateau Plonk here!

Good luck with your figures I look forward to seeing them at Faversham

Cheers

After the figures and tiny lamps …..time to report some historic heavy construction.

Here is a reminder of a project I started last summer when I was relaying the Engine Shed area.




We live on the North Shore mountainside. The train room is on the lower floor …..15' above street level at the front, 10' underground  at the back. The windows are let into the concrete house foundations hence the thick walls.

The resulting deep window sills have always been a challenge particularly as they are, in places, a 4' stretch across the layout.

I constructed a raised shelf which will eventually have some form of permanent street scene. Note the tacky unconvincing Townscene cut out on the pillar



The twin tracks on the left climb from the lower level on a 1:40 gradient. I wanted to cover them by extending the new shelf and adding a retaining wall to link in with the coaling stage ramp. For obvious reasons this structure had to be removeable.

 Hidden sidings, on an incline, 4 feet away……what could possibly go wrong!




I rather like this still life……anything heavy I could grab without it being noticed to hold down a card extension while the glue sets. This provides a fixed point for the removeable section to notch into


A Scalescene Tunnel mouth provides the fixed point at the other end:




This shot illustrates the challenge of setting up the Scalescene wall so that the base matches the ramp angle and the top is horizontal and lines up with both the fixed wall running off the Coaling Stage and the tunnel parapet ……all measurements done while standing on a stool stretched out over the station forecourt…..not fun at all




This attempt was not entirely successful!

Start again….. but this time complete the tunnel parapets first





There are issues with the tunnel roof which rises above the street level datum but hopefully I can conceal it with a custom designed building




Second time lucky……..some of the angles/lines are a little suspect but will be hidden to some extent by the station roof.




The grass at the base conceals the gaps where it rests on the ramp. Look closely at the far buttress (just in front of the emerging wagons). The buttress is glued to the tunnel mouth. The removeable wall lots in behind it.

Somewhere in my trash bin is a shot of the unit removed but for now you will have to take my word it works albeit without a lot of hassle. For starters part of the station roof and attached buildings have to be removed first .





The buildings, mostly from the old brewery are just plonked for now……eventually they will be glued to a lift off base. I am taking my time deciding what will be the most effective grouping. I want to link the scenes on the two window sills with some credible ultra low relief on the cream foundation pillar……..I have a wild idea of doing something with Scalescenes Castle Folly 





Regards from Vancouver

Doing that John, would have tested the back muscles? And of course, we are not as flexible as we think we are!

Ah John ,

just when methinks that you have run out of things to do on Granby and will turn to automated signals ( semaphore of course) and then putting sound into one of those pesky panniers you go and find something else to do ….
 :thumbs :thumbs

[user=606]Sol[/user] wrote:

Doing that John, would have tested the back muscles? And of course, we are not as flexible as we think we are!

Sure did. I am not too flexible at the best of times….many years ago I had two vertebrae fused together so that doesnt help!  

Glad its done but it will be a while before I sort out the buildings

Cheers

John 

[user=540]gdaysydney[/user] wrote:

Ah John ,

just when methinks that you have run out of things to do on Granby and will turn to automated signals ( semaphore of course) and then putting sound into one of those pesky panniers you go and find something else to do ….
:thumbs :thumbs

You guys……always trying to tempt me. :lol:

I spend so much time operating that the buildings take a back seat…….In addition to the window sills, the brewery has to be finished and at the other end Station square is still an empty space……the problem being its a very convenient parking place for Coffee Mugs and  Wine glasses before ducking under.

Working Signals (semaphore) maybe….one day.

Best wishes

John

I can see that must have been a real struggle to do John not easy reaching over to do things like that and all the time there is the risk of wrecking something in front of it. Thats why on my new layout scenically im trying to work outside in but im sure as time goes by i will make modifications and have to reach over.
I note you are being tempted with auto signalling it would be a nice addition to Granby and would add an extra dimension to Railroad &co operating but as with all things its a lot of wiring and of course cost.
I will be doing it on my layout but it will be light signalling not semaphore

Brian

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

I can see that must have been a real struggle to do John not easy reaching over to do things like that and all the time there is the risk of wrecking something in front of it. Thats why on my new layout scenically im trying to work outside in but im sure as time goes by i will make modifications and have to reach over.
I note you are being tempted with auto signalling it would be a nice addition to Granby and would add an extra dimension to Railroad &co operating but as with all things its a lot of wiring and of course cost.
I will be doing it on my layout but it will be light signalling not semaphore

Brian

The pain was both physical and mental…….the little people waiting on the platform took a fearful pounding!

And that of course is another problem with semaphore signals …..they are very vulnerable to hands and arms reaching over…..I am forever reglueing / repairing mine, particularly on the low level branch. I do agree though that working signals with RR&Co would look great.

Best wishes

John

Nice work John.  I know the brewery etc are just plonked but it looked like a good grouping.  Sometimes, things just get plonked and actually they look pretty good!

The pillar could carry a flat warehouse perhaps?  The area is large enough??

Barry

[user=2006]Barry Miltenburg[/user] wrote:

Nice work John.  I know the brewery etc are just plonked but it looked like a good grouping.  Sometimes, things just get plonked and actually they look pretty good!

The pillar could carry a flat warehouse perhaps?  The area is large enough??

Barry

Thanks Barry

A Scalescene warehouse is my default solution to the pillar…..I have built enough! The latest one can be done in ultra low relief and I could clad the three sides. I just have a fancy to attempt the Castle using the same approach……if I can pull it off I think it might make a pleasing contrast to all the red brick. If it looks awful I guess I will just pull it down!

Best wishes

John   

John

A castle next to a brewery!  Lady Gwinevere Ale or how about a pint of Sir Percival?

Sounds a great idea.

Barry

Yet another impressive piece of engineering John.

 Often, one saw tunnels apparenty disappearing under housing and yours is so "credible".  The finished article is stunning.

I also like your little people - far more realistic than the usual "OO" figures.  Does their rank/social standing dictate which bottle you had to sample in order to supply their stand ?  If so, who would be atop a Chateau Margaux, Petrus or Gevrey Chambertin - I couldn't see the names on most "stands" but then realised a driver or fireman wouldn't command such a lofty position ………………..

[user=6]Petermac[/user] wrote:

Yet another impressive piece of engineering John.

Often, one saw tunnels apparenty disappearing under housing and yours is so "credible".  The finished article is stunning.

I also like your little people - far more realistic than the usual "OO" figures.  Does their rank/social standing dictate which bottle you had to sample in order to supply their stand ?  If so, who would be atop a Chateau Margaux, Petrus or Gevrey Chambertin - I couldn't see the names on most "stands" but then realised a driver or fireman wouldn't command such a lofty position ………………..

Thanks Peter, thats very kind of you.

I think scanning real live people makes the poses more realistic ans somehow the clothing, open jackets for instance, seems to "drape" better.

No hierarchy with the corks……just what comes out of the box first and virtually all Chateau Plonk…certainly none of the exotic wines you mentioned! :lol:

Best wishes

John

I haven't painted any of the scanned people but I know from experience that getting the paint at the right thickness is a priority not to obscure the detail, probably a couple of thinner coats would be better.

[user=753]Phil.c[/user] wrote:

I haven't painted any of the scanned people but I know from experience that getting the paint at the right thickness is a priority not to obscure the detail, probably a couple of thinner coats would be better.

Where is the "Agree" button?  :lol:

This was,possibly, one of my favourite Granby shots




In the spring of 2017 I spent a few months building this quite substantial Scalescene Warehouse. It was designed to mask the end of the storage yard as one entered the train room.




Aesthetically its great and visitors are suitably impressed. Operationally it has proved to be somewhat impractical. Its designed to lift off in the event of a stall which is fine when most of the operation is roundy roundy. Its not so good now that I am focussing more on end to end operation with increased use of the storage turntable.

If I am honest I will admit to being pretty happy with a 95% success rate when automatic uncoupling kadees. This means that 1 in 20 schedules require a swift touch of the hand of god. Again fine when reaching over low relief terraced housing. Less so removing a very large warehouse and all its supports. When testing and developing new schedules or even running intensively I found the warehouse and tunnel were spending more time off the layout than in place!

Time to think again:




Regular followers will know ,despite carefull cropping, its been like this since February :oops:


Last week I finally started to build another Scalescene retaining wall




Unlike the one on the other side of the room this is quite straightforward…….and quite long……almost 3'


Buttresses are the most tedious and time consuming task






Clockwise from top left……Template glues to 2mm card
                                          Cut out each individual segement
                                          Laminate in pairs………………best like this to get a smooth matching front surface
                                          Finally into fours
                                          Scribe and cut out cover layer
                                          Sandpaper
                                          Wrap and Glue


Buttresses glued to wall along with plinth wall at base





Rear wall and supports   The rear wall adds rigidity and doubles the width of the base for the main wall capping.






Yesterday I added the Main Wall capping, Buttress capping, Parapet wall and capping.




Only capping is provided in the print out for the parapet wall. I add mock pillars from scrap to match the buttresses.

Like all John Wiffen's designs the added elements both vertical and horizontal create an attractive structure but also one that is surprisingly robust.

It still needs weathering and bedding in but first I have to build a low relief Warehouse to go alongside the Townscene Cutout…………otherwise job done

I am getting quite used to making these walls……even so it probably took about 15 hours of modelling.Typically I do between 1 and two hours morning and afternoon. Breaking it up makes it less tedious and allows the glue to dry properly!


Regards from a very sunny and warm Vancouver

Wow, terrific and well organised modelling John, although time consuming, it's very much faster than in prototype scale!

I imagine such builds must be satisfying and I am looking forward to the time when I need to create similar and other infrastructure.

Best Loire Valley wishes,

Bill

John,

Re wall buttresses, have you considered gluing two layers of 4mm balsa together, cutting an 8mm x 8mm piece of the reqired length and then cutting it diagonally to get the required shape?
As my painful hands get worse, I have started using balsa strip and sheet for laminating as it cuts so much more easily than 2mm card.

Best wishes,

Doug