Tuesday, 30 September 2014
Taw goes to Eastleigh
Well the new locomotive Taw has not been the best purchase the management has made and she is now off to Eastleigh for some TLC. Strange squealing noises and poor running quality have been in abundance. However I'm reassured that in capable hands she will be returned as a fine runner. So one last look of her as she sets off back to Barnstsple and transfers to the standard gauge and a return to Eastleigh
Monday, 29 September 2014
Further progress
A little update on the baseboards,
Although Lynton modelling time has been a bit scarce of late, some progress is being made on the baseboards. I've managed to slim the station board down to provide the space where the station road will be and also taken a saw to the hillside board and reduced it further. Looking at the pictures I might decide to take even more out. Behind the baseboards I've now added a second backscene board onto the station board and brought the control panel back to be level with the backscene board. The control panel previously was arranged at a slight angle cutting into the hillside.This has left a hole in the hillside but , as the greenery will be remodelled this does not present a problem. So some modest progress step by step.
Although Lynton modelling time has been a bit scarce of late, some progress is being made on the baseboards. I've managed to slim the station board down to provide the space where the station road will be and also taken a saw to the hillside board and reduced it further. Looking at the pictures I might decide to take even more out. Behind the baseboards I've now added a second backscene board onto the station board and brought the control panel back to be level with the backscene board. The control panel previously was arranged at a slight angle cutting into the hillside.This has left a hole in the hillside but , as the greenery will be remodelled this does not present a problem. So some modest progress step by step.
Thursday, 4 September 2014
Flat out !
So now I'm back after the annual holidays I'm keen to make some impression on getting the baseboards in some semblance of order. All that lying around in the Sun gives you time to think..... Quite some time has been spent idling through old photographs of the area around Lynton to see how I can try and capture this. I wish to set the station on the hillside , as it was and not on the flat ( see previous posts)
One other factor to consider is one of logistics and how practical this can be in a limited space. I can't model a vast expanse of Exmoor for the sake of an artistic Wow factor. No , I have to deal with a loft access that determines just how much of this wilderness I can model whilst trying to create the sense of location . In addition to this , as you have seen in previous postings ( yes you were paying attention I'm sure) I'm re using ( environmentalists note) the old exit board of the layout.
From this board I rescued my attempt at a typical Lynton overbridge - modelled on Caffyns Halt if I recall correctly and managed to salvage huge great tufts of turf . Well in 4 mm scale these huge tufts of turf represent perhaps one single landowners inheritance in the 1920's but in our world 6 inch squares of hanging basket liner covered in static grass. Some inheritance then.
So the following photographs show that I've trimmed the board back and created the backscene so far.I've also got round to tidying up the electrics under the board. This was driving me mad with loose wires hanging down . Now they are all neatly covered up and still with easy access for fault finding or repairs. The curve neatly lining up with my old fiddle yard. Hours of work , but somehow so little to see. You can see my old control panel on the back of the station board. I intend to bring this back slightly upright so I can add a second scenic board to this one also. My idea is the back scene boards will have lining paper added to them to cover any gaps as well as scenery faced into them. To create the curved backscene on the exit I used stiff artists card screwed to the supports bent into shape slightly. So quite a mess at present and that's part of the problem of re doing a layout I guess that is over 10 years old . In my head I have a plan that's coming together slowly . Hindered in development by being side tracked onto other interesting narrow gauge projects ( Welshpool , Leek and Mainfold ) but I digress
The result of my pondering on the gradient and hillside will have to follow. More thinking - but this time in rain soaked Cheshire .
One other factor to consider is one of logistics and how practical this can be in a limited space. I can't model a vast expanse of Exmoor for the sake of an artistic Wow factor. No , I have to deal with a loft access that determines just how much of this wilderness I can model whilst trying to create the sense of location . In addition to this , as you have seen in previous postings ( yes you were paying attention I'm sure) I'm re using ( environmentalists note) the old exit board of the layout.
From this board I rescued my attempt at a typical Lynton overbridge - modelled on Caffyns Halt if I recall correctly and managed to salvage huge great tufts of turf . Well in 4 mm scale these huge tufts of turf represent perhaps one single landowners inheritance in the 1920's but in our world 6 inch squares of hanging basket liner covered in static grass. Some inheritance then.
So the following photographs show that I've trimmed the board back and created the backscene so far.I've also got round to tidying up the electrics under the board. This was driving me mad with loose wires hanging down . Now they are all neatly covered up and still with easy access for fault finding or repairs. The curve neatly lining up with my old fiddle yard. Hours of work , but somehow so little to see. You can see my old control panel on the back of the station board. I intend to bring this back slightly upright so I can add a second scenic board to this one also. My idea is the back scene boards will have lining paper added to them to cover any gaps as well as scenery faced into them. To create the curved backscene on the exit I used stiff artists card screwed to the supports bent into shape slightly. So quite a mess at present and that's part of the problem of re doing a layout I guess that is over 10 years old . In my head I have a plan that's coming together slowly . Hindered in development by being side tracked onto other interesting narrow gauge projects ( Welshpool , Leek and Mainfold ) but I digress
The result of my pondering on the gradient and hillside will have to follow. More thinking - but this time in rain soaked Cheshire .
