7mm Pencarrow - Cornish BR(S)

[Pencarrow]

Looks impressive with the buildings in situ. Tantalising views to come when completed.

The low level photos in the sequence, to me, shows how the background buildings prevents the eye wandering beyond. Instead you are drawn to look left and right to follow the buildings. I don't think the grassy knoll bank would have the same effect.

And to quote Shakespeare's Henry V completely out of context for the next developments.... The game's afoot; Follow your spirit: and upon this charge, Cry — God for Pencarrow! Cornwall and some ale!

Thanks for that Dave. Shakespear on a modelling thread!

I'm aiming for a natural, believable setting for the trains to sit in. I could have fitted in lots more track in the board footprint but instead have given over a lot of space to the environment. I wanted to avoid the usual station building at the rear set up, after all the majority of the photos of Bodmin North are taken from the platform looking into the yard.

I also wanted to avoid using low relief flat buildings at the rear. I've chopped rears and corners off buildings on previous layouts and it's not easy to hide that you've done it. I'm not keen on 'flats' either - you know, gable ends stuck to a backscene as they can be unconvincing when looked at side on.

I did think when I started this that the boards being 980mm deep would be enough, after all 3-4 tracks take up only a third of that. But by the time you add scale width platforms, a bit of space in the yard and buildings at the rear, it's all gone and not easy to fit in.

Whilst I'm building Pencarrow it's set quite low, table height, to aid reaching across and working on it. It will be higher when finished so I'm hoping there will be lots to look in, through and around. I'm also hoping the buildings at the rear help contain the view so that the backscene behind can be quite simple and just hint at the town beyond.

Time will tell if I achieve something natural and believable.

 

[Pencarrow]

Cracking on...

 

[Pencarrow]

Bottom is the Wills random stone straight out of the pack. Left hand top is the sheet sanded down. Right is the sanded sheet with extra stone coursing added.

 

[Pencarrow]

Working on the stonework is somewhat tedious and so I've moved on to the finish of the ground floor of the building.

Strips of 40 thou cut just less than a scale 1' wide. These are spaced using a length of brass to form the gap.


There's a second layer to go on which will need the tops chamfering to 45deg. Will have to give that some thought....

 

[Pencarrow]

First layer done...

 

[Heather Kay]

It's nice to see rapid progress on a model. It's also nice to see you back with the bit between your teeth.

 

[Pencarrow]

Thanks Heather, quite enjoying working on this building.

Tricky bit is working out how the building would look in the 60s, c80 years after it was demolished. I've decided that the upper door/opening in the left gable would have been closed off as, once the track was gone, there was no need for it.

The bottom right door is going to be rotten and patched timber. Not sure what to do with the bay / oriel window on the 1st floor. Would it have survived or rotted away? Was the bit below the window made of under the render?

 

[Yorkshire Dave]

I've decided that the upper door/opening in the left gable would have been closed off as, once the track was gone, there was no need for it.

However you can still model the heavy duty rusty door hinges left behind though

I'd include the bay windows as they would add character. They can just be boarded over or modelled in full with broken and dusty glazing.

I also notice the single right hand building front is rendered all over.

 

[Pencarrow]

However you can still model the heavy duty rusty door hinges left behind though

I'd include the bay windows as they would add character. They can just be boarded over or modelled in full with broken and dusty glazing.

I also notice the single right hand building front is rendered all over.

Looking at photos, the left top opening didn't seem to have a door. There was a wooden frame attached to the wall on the right - no idea what that was for. So no hinges...

I'm going to include the bay windows. The one on the left hand building will be boarded over with corrugated iron. The right hand building will have windows but broken.

Ah the render, I think there's going to be areas which have broken off. It was failing in the 1880s so, would have been worse for wear and/or patched by the early 60s.

Quick blast of primer to see how it looks. Couple of bits need looking at, and I've missed a column of joints in the bottom stonework.

 

[Pencarrow]

A few more but in-situ:

 

[Pencarrow]

Just heard that Allan Downes has passed away. Very sad news, Allan's magazine articles and Downsplan books inspired me to make a start in scratchbuilding a good 30 years ago. That building still exists and, repurposed, still goes to shows on a layout. I never knowingly met Allan but his work was truly inspirational. RIP Allan.

 

[Pencarrow]

On a happier note I worked from home today so not only did I knock off on time but also the commute was much shorter. As a result I've done a couple of hours on this...



Lots of tarting around!

 

[Yorkshire Dave]

Look good Chris .

 

[Pencarrow]

An extra 8 sheets of the Wills stonework arrived today so I was able to finish the gable tops. Should have enough for the remaining walls now.

 

[Pencarrow]

Nice bit of video of the railways around Wadebridge with the opening section being Bodmin North.

 

[Yorkshire Dave]

Interesting footage of the area and period - well worth watching by anyone modelling this era for the colours and weathering. I've already noted a few observations for future use.

The SR concrete Padstow station name board at 01.12 also showed some useful weathering and detail, namely the chipped concrete post revealing the rusted reinforcing rod.

It's strange how the majority of us paint our locomotive valve gear black or a variant of polished steel. When looking at the film I noticed around 02.58 when the loco is reversing around it's train the close up of the valve gear reveals the moving parts and nearby areas (piston rod, connecting rods etc) to be an oily light rust/bronze colour. I also noted the wheels to be a grey colour with the tyres being a light rust from the brake dust I presume.

Of course some of this could be the lighting, the film stock and processing thereof.

Thanks for posting this .

 

[Pencarrow]

No problem Dave, great observations. Found the clip when looking for something else this morning.

Anyway, a few shots of this morning's activities...

 

[Pencarrow]

And now in primer...

 

[Pencarrow]

And a few of it in place to get the impression...



The second building will be finished in slightly more loved condition with the bay glazed (but dirty) and door in use (but in poor nick).

Close up of the door area...

 

[Peter Cross]

Video was very good, bit late for me. But how much would of changed in 30 years in this backwater. From what I remember from living in the sticks as a kid in the 60’s things moved slowly.