Time to build a railway...but where?

Post by **philipy** » Thu Jul 14, 2016 8:52 am

Peter Butler:118960 wrote: I am particularly pleased with this now as it finishes the 'end of the line' in a most convincing way, (well I think so!), I hope you agree?

I do agree Peter, looks really good.
May I make one suggestion though? Something to disguise the level difference at the join between the tunnel portal and the mine front wall. A straggly tree perhaps, or some bushes and bramble drooping down? Your fertile imagination is better than mine, but my logical side says that the tunnel needs to be into a hill and they would more likely have built a cutting than tunnel if the ground was so much lower at the side?

Peter Butler · Post by **Peter Butler** » Thu Jul 14, 2016 10:36 am

Bazzer, many thanks for the reply, you may well be right in that the signal arm could possibly have been removed. I don't know these things as my knowledge of railway operation is zero! In my simple mind I think I would prefer to leave it there as, without it, my 'average' visitor might see it as an unfinished item waiting for an arm?

Philip, again another valid suggestion which I hadn't considered previously. Possibly a green 'lump' painted on the back-scene might finish off the illusion? It took a great deal of courage to apply the cloud and sky paint in the first place and I didn't want to push my artistic 'skills' to the limit, but now you have made the point I feel I must oblige. I'll post pictures......

Post by **philipy** » Thu Jul 14, 2016 3:14 pm

Peter Butler:118964 wrote:Bazzer, many thanks for the reply, you may well be right in that the signal arm could possibly have been removed. I don't know these things as my knowledge of railway operation is zero! In my simple mind I think I would prefer to leave it there as, without it, my 'average' visitor might see it as an unfinished item waiting for an arm?

Philip, again another valid suggestion which I hadn't considered previously. Possibly a green 'lump' painted on the back-scene might finish off the illusion? It took a great deal of courage to apply the cloud and sky paint in the first place and I didn't want to push my artistic 'skills' to the limit, but now you have made the point I feel I must oblige. I'll post pictures......

Peter,
Personally I'd add a lump of good old fashioned horsehair/woodland scenics with dark green scatter applied to it at the top of the mine wall and dangling down, to simulate brambles. The 3-d effect would disguise it more than a green splodge on the sky ( and it would leave your artistic efforts intact!).

As for the signal, I'm no expert at all, but I'm sure I've seen pictures of signals with a couple of pieces of wood nailed on in X fashion to indicate that the signal is out of use. No doubt the experts on here can confirm or deny that!

Peter Butler · Post by **Peter Butler** » Fri Jul 15, 2016 7:45 pm

Update.... sorry Philip, but I have not followed your advice to the letter but began with a coloured background which I can add to with some sort of shrubbery(?) later.
Whilst looking through my, 'I'm sure that will be useful one-day' collection I came across some exhibition carpeting which is textured like furrows. Also it is completely matt and non-reflective so it seems to give the impression of distant fields (in my imagination!).
I chickened out of the paint option as being too risky but this alternative holds promise.
Perhaps it looks more convincing in real-life?

Unfortunately my afforesaid collection contains no rubberised horsehair but I'm sure I can find something suitable.

Post by **philipy** » Fri Jul 15, 2016 9:00 pm

Absolutely no need to be sorry, Peter. Was only offering thoughts, but it certainly looks better already, to my eyes.

Soar Valley Light · Post by **Soar Valley Light** » Fri Jul 15, 2016 9:27 pm

Very nice Peter, and very convincing.

As regards the signal I doubt there is anything as firm as 'usual practise' in a situation like this, especially in the narrow gauge light railway world.

I think what you've done looks spot on and would have been the most likey to have happened in reality - purely on the basis that it's a no cost solution! On a signalled railway there would be a need for some sort of fixed stop signal. This could be a red lamp fixed to the sleeper across the track, but why go to the effort and expense of dismantling an existing signal to replace it with a less 'fixed' solution. Better to leave the signal in place, disconnected if really necessary, but everyone knows the line stops there now, so why would any one pull it off anyway? I'm glad you left it there, it's a beautiful thing in my book.

Andrew[/b]

Peter Butler · Post by **Peter Butler** » Fri Jul 15, 2016 9:44 pm

Brilliant..... two issues resolved!!!

Moving on, I have at last managed to finish the rope-work on my tarp. covered wagon. I managed to buy some cleats from a model ship suppliers and they look just right. The 'rope' is some twine which looks scale size and which I sewed in with a curved needle.

The end with a hole for the connecting plug from the loco.....

Behind a loco other rolling stock, the hole can't be seen.

LNR · Post by **LNR** » Sat Jul 16, 2016 4:47 am

Catching up after a horrible Windows 10 upgrade (GRRRRRR!!!). When you started this wagon Peter, I thought "how's he going to have a tied down tarp, with a removable top". Very nice job, do like the Railways brand on the tarp.
Grant,
wondering why it takes me three times as many clicks, to get to where I used to be able to get to with one!!!

Peter Butler · Post by **Peter Butler** » Mon Jul 18, 2016 11:39 pm

More work today, in scorching hot sunshine... What is going wrong with the world?.... I managed to fit the slate rectangles forming the platform edge using quick drying cement, followed by a cement mix containing black powder and SBR to make the platform surface. This area is fairly large as it will be the main station for the town of Brockhamton so I will need to provide suitable buildings to suit its status.
Also, more ballast on the track alongside the station area and a short section beyond. This, again, is the same fine grain crushed stone and chicken grit bonded with SBR.

Soar Valley Light · Post by **Soar Valley Light** » Tue Jul 19, 2016 6:31 pm

Nice neat work Peter - we've come to expect no less! It looks like a properly engineered job which adds ten fold to the realism of the model. Thanks for the continued inspiriation.

Peter Butler · Post by **Peter Butler** » Tue Jul 19, 2016 9:32 pm

I do like to keep you up to date with my continued ramblings and slow progress. It is so unfortunate that many Forum members are situated so distant, combined with the sad demise of the PMR and the forthcoming loss of my nearest neighbourhood garden railway friend and associate nutter, Big Jim. These circumstances make the B.U.R.P.S. a very isolated railway.
I have extended an invitation to Forum members in the past and repeat it again.... anyone who is visiting the West Wales area for holiday etc. is more than welcome to arrange a running session. PM me for details.
Meanwhile, I have friends from Brum. coming to stay this weekend, an '00' modeller, but a railway enthusiast nonetheless!
His reaction to my 'alternative railway modelling' will be interesting!
I will try to report his reaction if the expletives are printable.

jim@NAL · Post by **jim@NAL** » Wed Jul 20, 2016 10:23 pm

looking great peter I will definitely have to come visit one day

Peter Butler · Post by **Peter Butler** » Mon Jul 25, 2016 2:14 pm

Well, our friends from Brum have now gone back home and we managed a stint on the railway with the opportunity for him to drive my 'Lady Andrea', his first RC live steam experience! No doubt about it, he was impressed, but not converted.
He is a committed, mainline, GWR man and nothing will change that.
Back to normal rain today so no further progress to report.

Peter Butler · Post by **Peter Butler** » Sat Jul 30, 2016 10:04 pm

Work on my new station building began this morning, spurred on by a surprise and very fast delivery of embossed stone effect plastic sheet from those extremely helpful people at Glendale Junction. I ordered this on Thursday afternoon and it came today..... wow!!!
Having consulted my collection of SMT mags. I failed to find a suitable building to copy so I had to start from scratch. I wanted a structure with some character and self importance to represent its position serving the village (not yet built!). A rectangular box would not do, so I thought of this....

As you can see, it is made of Plastikard which is going to be weatherproof, also allowing me to bond the stone effect sheet to it.
Inside it is well braced with strengtheners along and across the building. I can tell you it is certainly strong.

The windows are plastic and bought off ebay some time ago (maker unknown) but look just right.

Despite having to set up my exhibition stand at Saundersfoot this afternoon I managed to get this far with the build. A day off tomorrow at the show but back to work on Monday!

Post by **philipy** » Sun Jul 31, 2016 6:31 am

Looking good so far, Peter.
What thickness sheet is the shell made of?

LNR · Post by **LNR** » Sun Jul 31, 2016 9:13 am

Very nice Peter. Painting all that stonework should keep you off the streets for a while.
Grant.

Peter Butler · Post by **Peter Butler** » Sun Jul 31, 2016 9:55 pm

Back from our exhibition today, good show but, as it is the first in the venue, a little short on visitors...... better next year!
I showed my Emetts and a selection of 16mm stock.....

I thought there would be no time for more work on the building but I managed an hour after dinner this evening....

The chimney is now attached and clad in stone and the roof sheet is also fitted for plasticard 'slate' to be fixed.
The main structure is constructed of 2mm thick sheet which is very strong with all of the bracing I have fitted.
Tomorrow I hope to fit bargeboards and give a first coat of primer. Then the fun begins painting the individual stones.

Dr. Bond of the DVLR · Post by **Dr. Bond of the DVLR** » Sun Jul 31, 2016 10:02 pm

Looks a hansom station. Your collection of Emmett models must have drawn the crowds!

Peter Butler · Post by **Peter Butler** » Sun Jul 31, 2016 10:20 pm

People either love the quirkiness of the Emetts and want to talk about the man and his work, or they don't understand what they represent and walk on by!
Today I was impressed by some who had experience and knowledge of his Festival Railway (Far Tottering) from 1951, although they are few in number and gradually diminishing with the years. I will continue to add to my stock and eventually pass them to the Rowland Emett Society for safekeeping and display to keep his memory alive.
In the meantime I am able to run them on my garden line for light entertainment!

Peter Butler · Post by **Peter Butler** » Mon Aug 01, 2016 9:19 pm

Far too wet today to do any spraying so I concentrated on detailing the station building, possibly more than I intended but well worth it.....

I thought Jim@NAL would like to see the timber-work on the roof as he is into carpentry! The two chimney pots are plastic tube with thin plasticard wrapped around the top to finish.
I will fit the guttering next before spraying.... this is made from plastic tube, cut in half on my bandsaw and with plastic end caps fitted. I will need to make support brackets and downpipe too but haven't worked that out yet.

Meanwhile, I decided to begin a signal box using plastic windows from doll's house suppliers which I bought yesterday at the exhibition.
These needed the cills removing first, then the box built around them.
It is raised on a stone built base and will have steps on one end for access.

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Time to build a railway...but where?

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