Garden Railway Forum

tom_tom_go wrote: ↑Sun Jul 01, 2018 8:53 am Rik, if you Google 'Bluebell railway water tower' you will see a newly built one similar to yours. Might help with your dimensions.

Thanks Tom - yes, very similar. I might even start counting brick courses ......

Rik

ge_rik wrote: ↑Sun Jul 01, 2018 8:34 am Decided to take 1.6mm (ie four brick courses) off the bottom. I think it looks better. Just trying to decide whether to take another couple of courses off at the top.

I'd vote yes, FWIW.
Since its for the stationary engine you don't have to worry about loco height for filling and a squatter shape would improve it, I think.

BTW, I love the fire engine on that French site.

philipy wrote: ↑Sun Jul 01, 2018 12:16 pm Since its for the stationary engine you don't have to worry about loco height for filling and a squatter shape would improve it, I think.
BTW, I love the fire engine on that French site.

I'm thinking I might use it as a dual purpose tank - and position it between the main tracks (as per the photo) to also act as a filler for locos.

Yes, some really exquisite modelling on that French layout - most of which is scratchbuilt or kitbashed. Spent a few happy hours with a dictionary and Google Translate reading the text in the magazine. Amazing how many French words have different connotations depending on the context. I was puzzled by one bit that kept mentioning 'boudin' which my little dictionary informed me was a 'black pudding'. Turns out (thanks to Google Translate) that it also means 'flange'. I was also interested to learn that the French call the frog on pointwork the 'heart' of the point.

Rik

Just caught up with this thread. A masterclass in building with foamboard scribing, can't wait to see them painted.

What thickness do you use Rik? Do you laminate sheets for strength? My engine shed has a slight bow, I used a single 5mm sheet so not sure whether the glued wood is the cause.

bazzer42 wrote: ↑Sun Jul 01, 2018 9:02 pm What thickness do you use Rik? Do you laminate sheets for strength? My engine shed has a slight bow, I used a single 5mm sheet so not sure whether the glued wood is the cause.

Hi
I also use 5mm. So far I've not experienced any distortion. The water mill had a first floor which acted as a stiffener. I noticed the walls of the boiler house had a slight bow despite right angled triangular braces in each corner, but this disappeared when I glued on the roof. I use accelerator spray with superglue for some joints like the roof, when I can't get clamps or straps to hold joints in alignment while the glue sets. I'd probably use stiffening braces if I made a larger single storeyed building.

Rik

This is an example of the kind of stiffeners I use in my Plasticard structures.... I would never consider using wood as it is sure to place uneven stresses in changing conditions and will certainly get wet and rot eventually.

Peter Butler wrote: ↑Mon Jul 02, 2018 10:40 am This is an example of the kind of stiffeners I use in my Plasticard structures....
IMG_5084.JPG
I would never consider using wood as it is sure to place uneven stresses in changing conditions and will certainly get wet and rot eventually.

Thanks Peter
Useful info. Top and bottom bracing along the sides seems eminently appropriate for larger foamboard buildings as well (and maybe smaller ones too).

Rik

Iv done excaky the same thing as Peter with my buildings this works a treat

First stage of the painting process now finished. Bit more tweaking and weathering to be done, once this lot has hardened off a bit. Also, want to do something to the interior of the boiler house - nothing fancy, just something to glimpse through the windows.
Rik

Very nice tonal variation in the brickwork Rik.

Very nice Rik. When you've finished the final tweaks it will be a work of art to match the sawmill itself.

Beautiful!

Wonderful work Rik, the brickwork is perfect and I love the roof slates too.
Interesting to see more members developing scenic additions to their railways, no doubt your detailed description will encourage others to follow.

Peter Butler wrote: ↑Thu Jul 05, 2018 12:37 pm Wonderful work Rik, the brickwork is perfect and I love the roof slates too.
Interesting to see more members developing scenic additions to their railways, no doubt your detailed description will encourage others to follow.

I am one of them...

Thanks folks. You're very kind.
Clearly, I am very much aware of the imperfections but am gradually learning how to avoid or correct them. I reckon, that by the time I have constructed the very last building on my railway, I will almost know what I'm doing......

Rik

Just been experimenting with a smoke unit for the boiler house, following the excellent guidance on Dave Bodnar's website - http://trainelectronics.com/Animation_Smoke/



URL - https://youtu.be/qeKCpGfyUlE

Many thanks to Gregh for alerting me to this info.

Not quite there yet - it's a balance between getting a good amount of smoke and making sure it's projected upwards. This video is unlisted as it's onlyexperimental so far - will post a public one when I'm satisfied with the outcome.

Rik

Fantastic looking building and I love the smoke looks great

Many years ago I experimented with a Seuthe smoke unit. I found that glycerine worked quite well but did tend to leave an oily residue on everything the smoke landed on. The trouble is that synthetic smoke particles tend to be heavy and settle quickly, rather than going up and away, and I see signs of that in your video. I'll be interested to see how you overcome that.

Think you've surpassed yourself there Rik. The buildings were crackers before painting but painted they are something else! Top notch.

Just been catching up with threads since our house move is now coming to an end, (Just the Garage to finish sorting) and your build is one of exceptional talent indeed Rik…there is no way I could get close to what you have done. The bricks are all inline and perfect from where I am, I feel has though my little efforts on my rolling stock builds are not that good now…..

BRILLIANT Boiler house and Water Tower Rik, please show more of your builds and one day I may have a go at doing one myself.

For inside the Boiler house Rik, maybe a Boiler Door half open and a small red or yellow LED for a glow might work.