Well again what can i say, a very good station design, sure aint a pro at modeling?.
Phill

That's a nice view and I particularly like the working signals and the fine looking crossing gates.

 Mike

Work continues at Middleton.  The narrow platform on the far side of the layout does not permit much of a structure, however, some form of shelter is necessary.  After scouting around I came up with a simple solution, which would be fitting for the 1960's.  I converted a simple concrete and wood bus shelter.  In fact I used the Peco structure (ex Merit I believe), painted in the railway colours and added a bit of detail.  It does the job nicely:






For the main station building I have more space and I have used the Dapol Booking Hall.  When made up as per the instructions it little more than a hollow shell, so I added and interior, glazed it and installed a booking office, waiting room and station master's office.  You can just see the hatch of the booking office through the entrance.  A bit more weathering, some people and some more detail and it should look alright:






Work on the footbridge is still underway.  Once finished the rest of the furniture and fittings on the station can be added.

Novice

you call yourself novice," bulldust ", that looks great
smart bit of kit bashing and with the bridge too. 8)  8)  :wink:

I've sat and waited on many a station like that. Nice one!

Mike

Well with the work on the footbridge finally completed it is now installed and I think looks the part.  That is the the station structure completed and all I have to do is add people and a few items around the station.






So…on to the next project.  I now need to lay the road and parking area to the rear of the station and up to the level crossing. To do this I intend to follow the instructions in Jeff's (Gwent Rail) article.  I have bought the fine grain ballast and have laid the first layer on top of a coat of PVA.  The job is being done by the same company who built the Upton tunnel.  Let's hope they do a better job as the credibility of the Railway board is now on the line (no pun intended)  :)






Novice

Well i for one would not call you a novice, it looks sp professional. Cant wait for the next installment
Phill

Phill, thanks.  Most of what I am doing I have picked up from this forum with a bit of trial and error.

Novice

A good project there Novice.
I like your treatment of the Dapol Station.
What about a "how to" thread, in the scenic section, explaining a little more about your work on the conversion :?:
I'm sure that there are a few of our number that would like some ideas about "kit bashing" for the first time :!:  

Jeff

I will try to pull something together.  I have some other Dapol kits which I am using in the Middleton area and I will do a piece as I did for the footbridge.  I know the kits are crude but I remember them from when I was a boy and there is a certain amount of nostalgia attached to them, but they are a challenge to make them look half decent.

As an aside I am enjoying the road building project.  I am about to commit more glue and then paint - we'll see what happens :!:

Novice

I like it  :)

Work continues at Middleton station.  I have now laid the tarmac, using the Gwent Rail process and it was largely successful.  I had a couple of glitches.  Firstly, even when wetted down and using a bit of washing up liquid in the pva glue mix, the fine ballast tends to ball up.  I solved this by giving it a good soaking with the pva mix and then sprinkled more dry ballast on it.  Then patted it level using a finger. The dry ballast stops the glue ballast mix sticking to the fingers - messy! The second problem was that I used scrap card and news paper to build the slope up to the station.  When I wetted the area and added the pva it warped a little and required pinning back down.  Something I will watch in the future as I will use this method on other parts of the layout.

I have also added a fence and some of the scenic work. Here is a general view of the station forecourt:









Mr Fatkatt sets off for home by taxi.  He is a cousin of Mr Dapol, but they never speak :)






A view further to the left, showing the bus shelter, which is a Skaledale item.  You will reacall I used a more modern, Peco, bus shelter as a shelter on platform 2.






Mrs Dapol awaits her bus.  She spots Mr Fatkatt and tuts under her breath :)






The next task is to work on the level crossing area, however, I have a church under construction.  More on that later.

Novice

It does it for me Novice :D …. looking good too, i will be interested in seeing if you go upwards as well :P I bet you do 8)

A Hint and a Tip for everyone :D If you are the ballasting type…don't pick your nose afterwards :P


Darryl

Darryl

If you mean by upwards the back scenes, then yes I plan to do this. However, I need to finish the work at the rear of Middleton station first as once the back scenes are in place I will not be able to access the area.  This is because the ceiling slopes across the back of the layout.

Novice

Nah mate :wink: i meant upwards 2-3 levels :P I reckon it would look great :D
You will just need some more track money i guess and scenery and buildings :roll: Hey…i am helping you to spend your money :lol:

Darryl

OK i see you have 2 levels,but what about 1 more then :D

Darryl

I may have taken on more than I can chew with what I am doing, however, I have been thinking about a narrow gauge extension.  That said, I reckon she who must be obeyed might have a view though :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

Novice

Luckily i am in the planning stages again :D all the layouts on here are making my mind dizzy…..i see changes to my layout already from what i see :D

The crossing gates :shock: Yep i think i need a set of them too :lol:

Darryl
Ps…i must try and find some pics of my last layout to post on here :wink:

Novice said

Darryl

I may have taken on more than I can chew with what I am doing, however, I have been thinking about a narrow gauge extension.  That said, I reckon she who must be obeyed might have a view though :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

Novice

Go for Broke Dude :D …just don't tell her about it, just sneak the stuff in bit by bit 8) And she will never know :P


Darryl

Great pictures Novice. Things are coming along very nicely, quick too.