Ashburton -

[28ten]

Hi

It doesn't matter what scale you build in - any project that you attempt on your own requires a huge commitment. I can't see Ashburton 1:32 requiring any more than Ashburton 7mm.  And if Cynric is happier, it's more likely to get completed. Hell, I might even build something in 1:32 to run on it ;D

Richard

I do agree. IMHO the work is the same in 7mm or 1/32. the merit of the larger scale is the 'in yer face' impact. A through station in 7mm would be a bigger project simply because of the extra track, wiring and stock required.
Seeing Worcester road changed my perception of what I want, its the difference between being 'in' the scene and watching the scene, im really not fussed about operation so I view the project as being a moving diorama. I have posted this link before http://www.diorama-clervaux.com/ but it has had a big influence on my thinking.
The other factor is that I can build in 7mm for fun without the pressure of having to fit a particular period 

 

[Steve Cook]

http://www.diorama-clervaux.com/

I'm not sure what to say to be fair - initial thoughts would probably strain a profanity filter to its limit.
That is seriously impressive, both from a determination and a talent point of view.
I'm going back for another look....

Steve

 

[Neil]

I do agree. IMHO the work is the same in 7mm or 1/32. the merit of the larger scale is the 'in yer face' impact. A through station in 7mm would be a bigger project simply because of the extra track, wiring and stock required. .....

Heartily concur, when built to a good standard I believe that it's total acreage that determines time taken rather than scale. Well for the layout that is. The availability of some rtr short cuts in 2,4 & 7mm scales may play a part in speeding up this facet, on the other hand if the commercial offering is a bit pants then time spent bringing it up to scratch can equate to that for kit building.

 

[28ten]

Heartily concur, when built to a good standard I believe that it's total acreage that determines time taken rather than scale. Well for the layout that is. The availability of some rtr short cuts in 2,4 & 7mm scales may play a part in speeding up this facet, on the other hand if the commercial offering is a bit pants then time spent bringing it up to scratch can equate to that for kit building.

I bet there are more sleepers and chairs in Morfa than in Ashburton! certainly its a lot more work even using the very best rtr
The interesting comparison would be to build something in 4mm in the same space - say Kingswear - far more work with all the cranes boats and houses.

 

[Simon Dunkley]

Heartily concur, when built to a good standard I believe that it's total acreage that determines time taken rather than scale. Well for the layout that is. The availability of some rtr short cuts in 2,4 & 7mm scales may play a part in speeding up this facet, on the other hand if the commercial offering is a bit pants then time spent bringing it up to scratch can equate to that for kit building.

There is also the point that one doesn't need so much stock to create an impression, nor to occupy the space - this is really about area, rather than volume, but compared to 4mm scale, you would require 5.66 times the number of vehicles to fill the same area, and 2.38 times to occupy the same length of track!
The human eye has a narrow angle of focus, about 60[sup:34yq4km3]o[/sup:34yq4km3], so if you stand 4' back from a train, only 4' of it is in focus at any one time.
In 1:32 scale, that is only 6 wagons, so if you put a loco on one end, and a brakevan on the other, then the whole train (viewed broadside on from 4' away) may not be fully in focus, making it look much bigger.
1470 with an auto-coach, maybe 20 wagons plus brakevan and either a pannier or a small prairie (4400 or 4500 to suit period and taste) and you are done.

Oh, and Guv, can you please stop reminding us of that military diorama: so good it makes me want to weep.

 

[28ten]

It is also worth mentioning that you need a bigger cutting mat! I am waiting for the glue to dry on the warehouses and the whole run is almost seven foot in length  As an exercise I have already discovered a great deal and I just love the size of it, my little boy looked at it and said 'daddy you need some more track' 

 

[Simon]

.......... I can't see Ashburton 1:32 requiring any more than Ashburton 7mm........

Richard

[Scrooge mode "on"] I can see where Richard (and others) is/are coming from with this comment, but it doesn't hold water [Scrooge mode "off"]

If you are using what the trade has to offer, and are happy with working to G1F, then this comment is probably true, although as Cynric has already observed, the "things" you end up making really do take up a lot more space than 7mm.

If however, (as I suspect Cynric and any other decent modeller contemplating Gauge One would be doing), you are wishing to model to a good standard, at the correct scale and with prototype fidelity in the track and wheels department, then you are going to find 1/32 a darn sight harder than 7mm is.

For those that haven't looked into it, this is because the quality of G1 supplies in general are far poorer than those offered to the 7mm fraternity, mostly the wrong scale and aimed at the steam running market, which is quite a different "animal". Moreover G1MRA, the traditional (since the War) and only current group/society supporting G1, are completely blind to the "constituency" that I , Cynric, Simon D, Steve Cook and probably everyone else reading this here represents.

Looking on the bright side, all of the above makes the  realisation of one's modelling aspirations in this scale even more satisfying than it would otherwise be.

Perhaps it really is time to set up a ScaleOne Society?

Although the G1MRA committee has just changed for the better I suspect that the combined effects of Anno Domini and the entrenced views of the existing membership will render any positive forces (from the above perspective) impotent for some while yet.

Simon

Not wishing to sound elitist but increasingly weary of the cr@p that continues to emanate from G1MRA

 

[Graham Powell]

Very interesting reading all your messages.  I used to read all the model railway magazines and always dreamed of having a large railway empire. What they don't tell you is the vast committment in time required. The Americans describe it as building a battleship in a basement and thats about right. As I've said before , I just don't get on with layouts. I think as one gets older its just the sheer amount of time involved that is so offputting. Ken Payne ( now in his 80's) started his O gauge layout when he was sixty and my other friend Roy has started his marvellous 00 layout in 1963. They both had a vision of what they wanted which they have now completed. It takes a certain type of modeller to achieve that and a lot of us ( myself included) just don't have  the necessary drive and vision. I've tried layouts in lofts, spare rooms, sheds and made two exhibition ones which were the only ones ever totally completed. The trouble with small layouts is, I just don't find them very interesting to operate so I think I'll stick to building trains (which I enjoy) and run them in the garden ( weather permitting) which I also enjoy. My wife is giving me Festiniog Odyssey for Christmas. Now there's a thought. Model a complete railway in 009, would just fit in that spare room upstairs..............
Every success with your Ashburton project. There is a very nice N gauge one in the Railway Modeller.
Regards to one and all
Graham Powell
Highbridge
Somerset

 

[28ten]

Graham,
I agree with your sentiments about layouts, very few I have seen or part built myself have 'turned me on' but that's another thread in itself! I have always found layouts featured in the mags totally underwhelming when seen in the flesh.  ** edit  I suspect because exhibitions don't do the majority of layouts any favours

Simon
The main problem I see is the correct GWR chairs, but this is a solvable problem. Baseboards will need some thought because of their size, but I will probably make an F1 style tub and hang the scenic elements off it.  As far as stock is concerned Freds 63 and the Bachman 03 will be sufficient which just leaves some wagons to build. Everything else is a scratchbuild in any scale, so I'm not that daunted, and I have got some enthusiasm back.
A society sounds good, track gauges would be a good start!

 

[Graham Powell]

I agree. Some layouts you've seen in the magazines are not so clever when viewed at Exhibitions. I can assure you Ken Payne's O gauge LMS layout is better in the flesh though it does come over in the mags as good to. One layout I have seen which was good in the magazine and even better on display was a little NG layout called Portpyn built by Christopher Payne. It was truly excellent. Christopher did another one of a French street scene and that to was a very nice model.  One of the best ones I've seen in recent years was again a NG one but this time a model of Hythe on the RHDR. Nicely modelled, worked superbly and lots of action. I loved it.
I keep thinking about trying something else but in the end its back to metal bashing in the workshop!. ( Yesterday I think my fridge was warmer)
rgds
Graham Powell

 

[28ten]

More foamboard has been cut and this is the result in 8x4  yes its BIG 

 

[Simon]

That is looking really impressive - I love the way the Slaters wagon is dwarfed by it all.

I really do hope you do go for it - will it be portable for exhibitions?

Simon

 

[lancer1027]

Looking good Cynric 8) 8)

Rob :wave:

 

[28ten]

That is looking really impressive - I love the way the Slaters wagon is dwarfed by it all.

I really do hope you do go for it - will it be portable for exhibitions?

Simon

I think this going to happen, I have some 7mm bits to finish in the meantime but I can just see a Fred Phipps D63 or a guest Warship sitting there  8) 
It will be 'portable' but that is going to be one of the biggest hurdles, but im going to approach this differently by making the layout and the worrying about stock later,  rather than trying to build stock for an unstarted layout which seems to be the lead to distractions.

 

[Simon]

I think this going to happen, I have some 7mm bits to finish in the meantime but I can just see a Fred Phipps D63 or a guest Warship sitting there  8) 
It will be 'portable' but that is going to be one of the biggest hurdles, but im going to approach this differently by making the layout and the worrying about stock later,  rather than trying to build stock for an unstarted layout which seems to be the lead to distractions.

Fantastic!!

That's Cynric for chairman then

 

[Jordan]

It will be 'portable' but that is going to be one of the biggest hurdles, ...

"Transportable" might be a better description... as long as it'll fit through the workshop door!! :scratch:

 

[28ten]

"Transportable" might be a better description... as long as it'll fit through the workshop door!! :scratch:

You got it right there Jordan  it be considerably less work to make a semi permanent layout, but it would be nice to get it out now and again!

 

[28ten]

Fantastic!!

That's Cynric for chairman then

I  would never join any club that would accept me as a member !

 

[Neil]

You got it right there Jordan  it be considerably less work to make a semi permanent layout, but it would be nice to get it out now and again!

It took me about the same time, four days with multiple tea breaks to build the baseboards for Morfa (18'x12' - permanent fixture) as it did to build those for Abergwynant (5'9"x11" - highly portable) though the Abergwynant time also includes the lighting rig. Having said that I'm not sure if speed of build is ever a virtue in our hobby, if we enjoy making models then spending longer doing it would seem to be a better goal to aim for. I like the notion of savouring each phase of the build, rather than charging ahead to the finish. [sweeping generalisation] If as I suspect we tend to prefer the making to playing [/sweeping generalisation] then once a layout is finished what next?

 

[Graham Powell]

A friend of mine who has now passed away was a leading light in a well known MRC up north. He told me that a certain layout by a very well known writer on model railway matters was at their show and that nothing worked!. I've always thought that the running of a model should be part of  the modelling competition at Guildex.
Years ago I was shown a loco that had won a Silver Medal at the ME exhibition and it was in my friends workshop in order for him to make it work!.
Chris Payne is truly inspirational but you've got to be into quirky narrow gauge. The standard of  modelling and the whole concepts are first class.
I think some of the best layouts I've seen lately have been narrow guage. Plug for small and Delightful  show at Shepton Mallet.
I haven't seen Ken for a while. Fred goes to see him fairly regularly. I understand that he now had his Claughton painted by Alan Brackenborough and that it looks superb. On the Guild website there has been some talk about laser cutting machines. Very interesting but not sure how I can explain to the wife  "it only costs ?3000 but it will save me time in the long run.........plus I know nothing of CAD design. Certainly the guy has made superb wooden kits of buildings using a Chinese laser
cutting machine. Worth a look if you have access to the Guild website.
rgds
Graham Powell