The G&DLR begins.

[markoteal]

They look good - I like the gradient signs especially

One quick query to you and any others, how do you attach your platforms to the ground? I have problems in getting my to stay put - I've tried various bonding/stick products - just wondered what others use?

My are wooden and need sticking to wooden bases - so wood to wood in an external environment that is now fairly wet from day to day

[Sylvian Tennant]

Thank you for the kind comments

Currently and for the foreseeable future the platform is just floating on a row of spare bricks my parent give me when they dug out their garden (I found a load too when i was digging the foundations for this too!...weird)

One thing that might be worth looking at would be silicone adhesive from Maplins that's what I've used to stick the coaling stage to my platform.

I'd have a contingency plan for those fairies - they sound a nightmare.

[Sylvian Tennant]

Just a quick update on my level crossing. The main structural components are now complete. Currently being held together by blu-tack.



I need to build up the hinges and paint them black along with the sanctions and brackets and finish off the lamps. Finally a roadway made from roofing felt needs to be added either side of the crossing, then it can all be glued together.

[bazzer42]

You have a steady hand Mr T, I really struggle to get decent looking numbers. Don't low track level shots look the best? Hope that moss takes hold, I water mine with beer and sugar....the dogs like it as a concept![/i]

[Sylvian Tennant]

They do Bazzer. Though I must be honest that it will look better when it's finished and the flowers have started growing and all the buildings are in place.

That being said, my most challenging build so far has been completed and bloody hell it almost cause a divorce and several breakdowns. My level crossing.




Inspired by the those on the NER and Scottish lines. Being a line set in on an island off the coast of Teesside & North Yorkshire I looked toward the NYMR and other local lines for the basic design of the gates.



The diamond red spot thing was based on one i saw in a picture of a Scottish line in the good old days. I thought it was quite unique and far simpler than the circular patterns.

The road is roofing felt which and the lamps are along with the rest of the crossing scratch built.



The whole thing has been stuck to the track with silicon adhesive.

[Soar Valley Light]

That's a cracking piece of work. You don't half see some tacky and bodged level crossings about (not on here of course!) Yours looks really great, well researched, well built and well detailed. It's all beginning to come together for your line now. I bet you're looking forward to the plants filling out next spring.

Andrew

[dizzysteamer]

I love the set up such a lot going on in such a tight space, well done on the crossing it certainly looks right.

We have opted for laying our track on thermal blocks for now but but I like the idea of the moss invading the track it will look better and better as things grow.
we need A rethink maybe.
A proper job

dizzysteamer

[Sylvian Tennant]

Unfortunately true...not that anyone here have something less than superb structures and line side items. But I have seen some horrors on my investigations.

In the end you've spent a lot of time and money in a scale where you can make these thing far more easily than the smaller scales. Though..each to their own and if it brings enjoyment regardless I'm defiantly not one to shirk my nose up. Plus I favour style over practical and the crossing works but is not perfect in that way.

As time and money are limited, so all I have is a quickly oval so I really wanted to try and make it quite interesting to look at as the operation is limited. I thought back to my first train set and the bits that included (such as level crossing, telegraph poles and mile/includes posts).

thermal blocks will give a nice level line free from a lot of the issues I face with it being on a wooden/reclaimed brick support but given the basic outline -and my first attempt- I'm willing to live with it.

[jim@NAL]

great looking signs and a nice little line great fun keep it up

[Sylvian Tennant]

Cheer guys - just finished off my new coal train. (more of that in the rolling stock section). But no sooner had i went to light Vyv up then it p*****d it down.

[jim@NAL]

great pictures and a good long load looking great

[Sylvian Tennant]

Phase VI of Operation Small but jolly garden railway is now underway.









So far I have several Modeltown building kits to make up including a signal box, wooden station, stone station masters house and stone water tower. Each will be was modified to include some interior (inc lighting) and replacement parts to personalise them. I also purchased some GRS fire buckets and North Pilton Works station accessories as well as some Modeltown signs. The overall outcome will be, as my girlfriend calls it, 'shabby chic' with visual elements from Grosmont, Goathland and Andrews House Stations from railway in my local area.

Further more, I have started to make some other bits from scratch such as a footpath crossing, telegraph poles and four signals (two home and two distant). As to the current schedule - work and uni will have to take priority so deadlines will be very relaxed but here's to trying to get everything done within the next six weeks.

Just one further question I'd like to ask - does anyone do any purple/plum spray paint for a railway related project?

[bazzer42]

Don't know any railway paints but there may be a purple in the Army Painter range. I use them a lot and they cover nicely and no nozzle clog (painful to say the least).

Alien purple is the colour - perfect for tyranids or dark elves! Suit you sir.

[Sylvian Tennant]

No worries - cheers anyway. I think I've found one I quite like in the end.

Further updates I've done are now creating telephone pole from 3/16" wooden dowel and spare strips from IP Engineering kit frets creosoted and plated, the insulators were white beads bought from Boyes.





I've also finished the footpath across the railway too to give my "beware' some justice.



Now are the seasons are looking to change we are starting to see shoots arising which is a bit of a relief.



Station Master Nigel is more interested in his morning stretch and keeping a close eye on Elsie (or other cat) as we begin to give her a little more freedom out of the house.

[bazzer42]

Coming together very quickly Mr T, are those bare stone/concrete patches to home buildings?

[Sylvian Tennant]

Aye hopefully once my essays are done for this semester I can put a little more effort to get the station buildings and signal boxes completed. As they are model town, they look the part but have no interiors (save the signal box) some I'm going to be chopping around with some wood and bits to rectify that.

The bricks are actually mainly to provide a stepping base in case (and inevitably does) an engine comes off the track and to help clear debris. Saying that though, I can see the tree having some ones eye out. (hopefully not mine). Though there is one next to the track which will be a base for the signal box.

[jim@NAL]

great telegraph poles and I do like all your little signs

[Sylvian Tennant]

Cheers Jim

They may need a slight tweak as the glue I used for the beads hasn't been too effective from feline intrusion.

Its getting to the exciting bit now as buds are really starting to sprout up.

I the next couple of weeks we could have signals and buildings up but I'm not putting a time limit up for those as I seem to go past my dead lines.

[Sylvian Tennant]

Today, I made a start on the buildings. All my buildings are from ModelTown and unless scratch built will continues be as I quite like the quirkiness of them - plus they seem easy to build and are ripe for mods.

First up is the wooden station building. As I plan to have lights inside of them I decided to create an interior including a particion to separate the waiting room from the ticket office.










more to come soon

[jim@NAL]

looking good .great progress keep it up .