Cessy-en-Bois: Une petite gare de triage

Simpas

Simpas

Western Thunderer
This is just a little voice speaking here (I am in 2mil) but I have to allow you to retain your right to self determination. That said it would really be pleasing to read here you would re consider whether to continue to the 2020 showing - I hope to be at Railex in 2020 as a punter and would love to see your railway in real time.

All the best, whatever you do.

Mick S.
 
Ian Smith

Ian Smith

Western Thunderer
Chris,
I'm really pleased that you have decided to continue. I'm sure that I'm not alone in thinking that Cessy-en-Bois is very well conceived and extremely well observed. I have to agree with a post by Pencarrow Chris a little above mine that from your postings it is difficult to ascertain how complete your layout is, which is unfortunate if that is what drove the judges decision. Although I must also say that from what can be seen in the photos you have posted that what you have there is a winner in anybody's eyes.

I hope that you feel you can progress the layout to a level of completion that you are happy with and also get it out on the exhibition circuit, like Pencarrow Chris, the location, era and scale are not what I model but I would certainly spend time at an exhibition soaking up the atmosphere that you have created.

Ian
 
allegheny1600

allegheny1600

Western Thunderer
Hi Chris,
I can do little more than agree with all the posters above, this layout is a fine piece of the model makers art.
You never know, taking it on the road may see it win more accolades than the other entries, fine as they are - who knows?
It's a very worthwhile project and kudos for bouncing back from your loss of mojo so quickly. It's taken me months to even start recovering mine!
Cheers,
John.
 
chrisb

chrisb

Western Thunderer
Thank you all for the kind and supportive comments.

I've been plugging away at the goods shed but someone on l'autre side [edit: As did Pencarrow above - apologies, I missed that] asked for a photograph showing the layout in situ, so here it is:
IMG_0248.jpg

You can see the mock-up of the goods shed which will be another concrete building at the extreme left, switches and status LEDs for the various power inputs at the right end, and the touch-screen control panel in the centre of the bottom fascia. I'll talk more about this in detail another time but basically there are two control systems - a manual (DCC) system to control the locos, turnouts and signal, and an automated (Arduino) system to control environmental lighting and sound and to generate and display the shunting puzzle sort order for the wagons.

I was interrupted after taking the above photograph. When I returned night had fallen:
IMG_0217.jpg
IMG_0216.jpg

but Maxense and Jacques are still talking:
IMG_0215.jpg
 
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chrisb

chrisb

Western Thunderer
The goods shed will be positioned at the very front of the layout and the opportunity to pull out all of the stops for this building is too good to miss. This will be another concrete building, very loosely based on a prototype at Villers-Cotterets although I'm using aspects from many other similar prototypes.

While working on the shell:
IMG_0277.jpg

two bungalow offices (basically portacabins) will be placed stacked in front of the bricked up loading bay at the far end of the loading dock and I've knocked these up from styrene:
IMG_0274.jpg

These will be heavily faded and rusted and while waiting for the various paint applications to dry, I've been plugging away at detailed interiors:
IMG_0279.jpg
IMG_0285.jpg
IMG_0280.jpg
IMG_0286.jpg
IMG_0278.jpg

The figure is from Preiser (29106) and I made heavy use of a building interior kit from Faller (180545), along with the usual odds and ends from the scrap box.
 
simond

simond

Western Thunderer
I squint slightly, and I’m in France. It’s so atmospheric, so convincing. This is really, really very nice.

Best
Simon
 
Focalplane

Focalplane

Western Thunderer
I am in France and I don't need to squint (see Simon D above) to recognize the flavour of la petite gare.

And this is 2mm scale? Hard to believe - c'est formidable, encroyable, un régal pour les yeux.

Paul
 
chrisb

chrisb

Western Thunderer
Yorkshire Dave said:
...The foam really lends itself to concrete structures.
Click to expand...

But not just concrete, here's a close-up of part of the wooden floor to the goods shed, also made from blue foam:
IMG_0294.jpg

The foam was first sanded smooth and then the planks were scored with a blunt edge. A rough grain was then gently worked onto the surface using a variety of wire brushes after which a coat of Tamiya Light Gray Fine Surface Primer (#87064) was applied. After leaving in the airing cupboard overnight to harden the surface was attacked more vigorously with the finest of the wire brushes (the paint seems to really harden the surface of the foam.) The planks were then gently re-scored and a wash of AK Interactive Naval Dark Wash for Wood Decks (AK301) applied.
 
M

matto21

Western Thunderer
I missed this thread initially but I've since gone through it from the start and I've got to say that it's absolutely fantastic!

I love the buildings - would never know they were made from blue foam!

Mayt
 
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