GWR/LMS OO Gauge DCC RR&Co

[user=434]John Dew[/user] wrote:

…………

Now I just have to build my two tone retaining wall extension (new brick paper print run! )

 

What a wonderful collection of photos, which I am just managing to catch up on.  The figures look superb and their positioning is, as always, perfect.  The hotel area is  such a wonderful scene.  Belated congratulations on the landmark too, clearly an inspiration to a lot of us.
Michael

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

What a wonderful collection of photos, which I am just managing to catch up on.  The figures look superb and their positioning is, as always, perfect.  The hotel area is  such a wonderful scene.  Belated congratulations on the landmark too, clearly an inspiration to a lot of us.
Michael

Thanks Michael, that is very kind of you. I am still working away populating the street area in front of the hotel…….I tend to be a bit of a butterfly flitting from project to project anyway but with figures I find its best to do a batch of no more than 6 and then take a break……so more to come!:shock:

Best wishes

I agree, it looks absolutely super. Some amazing modelling going on!

This weeks project was to extend the Scalescene wall :



I have made a few of these in the past so progress was relatively fast:



Typical Scalescene kit…..lots of laminating and you finish up with with a an attractive and very robust wall. Its also very adaptable so, as here, it can be built to fit a specific length

There was a certain amount of fiddling at the base to accommodate the edge of the turntable. Now it just needs weathering and bedding in.

The final job is to build a low relief Warehouse to hide the remaining exposed strip of wall. I think that I make it similar in design to its neighbour but not as high………partly to save time and effort but also because I think a height difference will be more interesting. Apart from that I am quite attached to the old Townscene back papers.


I also found time to run some trains.

Here is Collett Goods 3217 crossing the Shropshire Union Canal at Richard's Wharf:














You may be wondering about the motionless Austin Threeway as the train rumbles by? There is actually a short line up of vehicles at the Lower Wharf Locks where Canal Street narrows to a single lane



I thought that I might take some more shots of the canal next week. However, first I need to a bit of road sweeping and canal dusting!




Regards from Vancouver

Really good shots John. I do like that bridge.

Hi John,

lovely work on several fronts here, I don't think I've commented for a while.

I went back to p1 and your time-condensed start up reports to recall the overall structure you have there.
 What is the height of your main layout level off the floor? It looks to be a very comfortable height to work on and view but I'm guessing reaching the turntable was a right pain. It is amazing how much you've fit into just 2ft 8in width, especially in the station side.

Regards,

The scale scene wall looks very effective but that bridge over the canal is brilliant. As Colin has, I need to go back and have a look at past posts as I’ve not seen it before. I look forwards to more photos once the cleaning crews have been out!

[user=1120]peterm[/user] wrote:

Really good shots John. I do like that bridge.

Thanks Pete

I think the Bridge is a Kibri Kit. I bought the kit for Granby II so its at least 15 years old. Its technically H0 but its not at all obvious

Cheers

[user=2170]Colin W[/user] wrote:

Hi John,

lovely work on several fronts here, I don't think I've commented for a while.

I went back to p1 and your time-condensed start up reports to recall the overall structure you have there.
 What is the height of your main layout level off the floor? It looks to be a very comfortable height to work on and view but I'm guessing reaching the turntable was a right pain. It is amazing how much you've fit into just 2ft 8in width, especially in the station side.

Regards,

Thanks Colin.

The Main Level from floor to track bed is 48".  The branch is 3" lower which is arguably a better viewing height. Underboard access is good although advancing years make it rather less comfortable. The storage turntable can hardly be reached from inside the layout but is easily accessible from outside but that involves a lot of scurrying back and forth under the duck under. Fortunately I have a throttle on long extendable cord.

I am 6' 1" and have long arms to boot but I have a couple of foot stools to help access the very back of the layout…..particularly the corners. I think I pushed the baseboard width 2'6" is probably a better depth.

 

[user=2057]TeaselBay[/user] wrote:

The scale scene wall looks very effective but that bridge over the canal is brilliant. As Colin has, I need to go back and have a look at past posts as I’ve not seen it before. I look forwards to more photos once the cleaning crews have been out!

Hi Chris

Glad you like the bridge. When I was writing the blog I couldnt remember the name of the canal so I had to go back through some of the earlier pages. It was quite amusing reading about some of the issues I experienced……in fact I was thinking of you when I came to my adventures with Magic Water!  Page 8 onwards if you are interested.

I was very fortunate that Richard (Wheeltapper) was a canal enthusiast. He was a wonderful mentor thats why the Wharf is named after him

Hi John

I love the height variations - not often seen on layouts but so very obvious in real life.  The bridge across the canal looks brilliant!

Barry

Thanks Barrie. Glad you like it. The canal scene with 4 bridges is perhaps the best visual feature of Granby. The downside, which you were kind enough not to mention  :lol:, is the duck under. If I were doing it again I would ensure I had walk in not crawl in access and devise another way of incorporating a canal. I dont have a problem, even at my advanced age, but its a real deterrent for casual visitors. 90% of the detail is rarely seen close up other than on the internet ……..one lives and learns…..mind you it keeps me fit doing a minimum of 6 knees bends every day! :lol:

Best wishes

Back to the storage turntable where the sidings are now fully operational.

 To complete the scene the rear wall still needs a low relief warehouse



Veering for a moment off topic. The train the Down line is something of a rarity on Granby…..a short train of Horseboxes on their way to Chester Races.

The next shot shows the Warehouse strip in place and everything weathered. Separately cut ledges and a parapet add a sense of depth even though there is very little room.





Finally with everything finished the Wright's Factory can be put back in position to conceal the light switch




The autotrain can resume its journeys to and from Canal Street Halt:







To finish a couple of shots from the Autotrain looking down at the Canal:







The next project is on the other side of the room


 
In the left hand corner, just above the Star and Dragon, you can see the Roof and Upper Floor of the Canal Warehouse



There are more little people to be painted for the hotel frontage along with a scenic retaining wall but the big design challenge is to integrate the warehouse with the platform area at the side and rear of the hotel:



 
I am afraid the warehouse has been like this for almost a decade. Its amazing what you can get away with- courtesy of the Affinity cropping tool!

But now it is decision time. Somehow I have to close off the rear and incorporate it into the narrow triangular platform area. I have some ideas but need to test them out with mock ups.

Apart from these projects I hope to fully utilize the storage turntable with a series of commuter routines ……..it should be a busy fall.

Regards from Vancouver

Absolutely fascinating looking at those photo's. There's so much to see, you could spend ages just picking things out.

I am stunned. What a room! :doublethumb

A few pints in the Star & Dragon and a ride home on the Autotrain - a good night out in Granby!!!!

I am afraid I got distracted last week- My apologies to Pete, Claus and Barry for failing to acknowledge their very kind comments  :oops:. Belated thanks guys…….they were much appreciated  :thumbs

No problem John and no need for apologies. Thanks for posting in the first place.

Not much modelling done. I got a bit distracted last week. Apart from an election that nobody wanted, our eldest daughter finally remarried after three previous attempts had been thwarted by Covid. She and her partner chose to be married on the beach in West Vancouver. Bearing in mind Vancouver's Fall weather pattern this was a bold (or desparate?) decision.

The week before the wedding it rained, non stop. Similar story this week. Fortunately, for the week of the wedding, the weather was glorious. Spectacular setting, a simple but moving ceremony followed by a great party.

 Alls well that ends well……..hardly surprising I missed my weekly deadline.

Here is the extent of last weeks modelling









Not sure why I waited 10 years to do this. Mind you, I still have to create an extension that will link warehouse and platform……that could take a while.

 
One other reason for my slow progress is my resolve to only model in the morning and devote the afternoons to developing automated routines for the timetable

Here is part of a routine I am currently working on:

A Down Parcels train to Birkenhead leaving the Storage Yard



A work stained Hardwick Grange hauling seven assorted XP vans towards Granby Viaduct



The routine calls for two loaded vans to be exchanged with two empties from the King St Parcels Depot at Granby



The vans in the dispatch siding have to be shunted across the main lines prior to the arrival of the Parcels train



The Station Pilot (9407 on loan from Oxley) couples with the Vans







Draws back into Bay 1 and then propels the Vans out of the bay area to the Up Main

There is a slight continuity problem here……the sharp eyed will see that the Siphon G that was drawn into Bay 1 emerged miraculously without corridor connections as a Siphon H with a tail lamp……..I did mention I was testing the routines……..the Siphon G failed being consistently propelled over the throat double slips!



Having cleared the throat points the Pilot reverses and pulls the vans across the Down Main and into Platform 6

 





Where it will await the arrival of the Parcels Train…………..to be continued  :lol: