Osgood
Western Thunderer
Just found it while you were replying Adrian - post 54 - but thanks! (I got a bit sidetracked by the cobble surface work, been scribbling notes on scribing - fantastic quality!!).
Captain Kernow's layouts
- Thread starter Captain Kernow
- Start date
Just found it while you were replying Adrian - post 54 - but thanks! (I got a bit sidetracked by the cobble surface work, been scribbling notes on scribing - fantastic quality!!).
Captain Kernow
Western Thunderer
A few more images of the signalbox:
Captain Kernow
Western Thunderer
OK, here are some quick images of progress so far. Bit too tired to start faffing around setting these up on the layout, I'll have a go at that once I've completed the work.
The factory gates (in grey primer):
This is the shortened factory building, now a flat roofed structure (which had also had a bit of weathering since the previous photos of it, in it's 'northlight' configuration):
The whole ensemble (the final length of the left-hand bit of brick wall will depend on how well it all fits with the existing corner part-relief factory, the one with the sloping roof):
The factory gates (in grey primer):
This is the shortened factory building, now a flat roofed structure (which had also had a bit of weathering since the previous photos of it, in it's 'northlight' configuration):
The whole ensemble (the final length of the left-hand bit of brick wall will depend on how well it all fits with the existing corner part-relief factory, the one with the sloping roof):
Jordan
Mid-Western Thunderer
Captain Kernow
Western Thunderer
Cheers Neil!
I've been wondering about the notion of a plinth/dwarf wall or whatever the correct architectural term is - I'm tempted to build one out of matching brick paper, but probably not too high, certainly no higher than your stunningly artistic example...?
Neil
Western Thunderer
WARNING - KLAXON OF PEDANTRY ALERT
"CALLOW IANE"..??
B*ll*cks, it looks like I let up on the shift key and got a lower case intruder however .....
..... I think I prefer the notion of a plain brick wall now you mention it Tim. I may have been spending too long in the world of twee narrow gauge of late.
john lewsey
Western Thunderer
Still my favourite layout
Captain Kernow
Western Thunderer
Captain Kernow
Western Thunderer
Gradually getting there with the 'retro-fit' of a brick upper wall section, in the manner described by Neil in his post above, although this is from matching brickpaper, rather than some kind of wooden advertising edifice! Photos to follow...
Captain Kernow
Western Thunderer
OK folks, I've pretty much completed the modification of the main factory structure with it's 'plinth upper wall thingey', and also the new section of brick wall to go either side of the factory gates. Today, I put the lot in position on the layout and fiddled around with the position of the rear left-hand side low relief factory structure (the one immediately behind the row of 4 cottages as you look at the layout). I've essentially come up with three 'options' regarding where this left-hand factory structure goes in relation to the gates, either right up close to them (in it's original position), or quite far back (which would require a fair bit of the structure to be cut off), or a compromise position, giving a 'balanced' length of brick wall to the left of the gates ('Option C', which is actually my preferred choice). See what you think:
Some more views of this section of the layout:
The plasticard structure in this view is part of a disused platform, where only the rear wall remains, the visible section will be filled in with scenery and general overgrowth, where the old platform has been gradually dug away over the years, leaving little left:
This looks like one of the scratchbuilt nickel silver buffer stops you could buy, ready assembled, from Puffers in Kenton years ago. I bought the last three remaining ones he had in OO at the time, and used them on 'Engine Wood' and 'Bleakhouse Road'. This P4 one came to me courtesy of that fine fellow, Re6/6. I've now soldered it to some copper clad sleepers, which have been 'distressed' and cosmetic chairs added:
This is a Lanarkshire Models Midland Railway buffer stop kit from Dave Franks, and very nice it is too. I've cut some thin copper clad sleepers from some 0.6mm sheet (the end of this siding is laid using C&L flexitrack, which has thinner sleepers than the P4 Track Co stuff in the other view), and soldered the assembled buffer stop to them. Cosmetic chairs have still to be added. Assembly was pretty straightforward using low-melt solder from Carrs. I don't now have a dedicated low-temperature iron, but use a mains variable temperature Antex one. Even at the lowest setting, I still didn't trust the whitemetal not to simply melt when the iron touched the castings (they are essentially cast sections of Code 75 rail!), so I brought the iron up to temperature (lowest setting), turned it off again, and then used it to solder the pieces together. I'd personally recommend soldering these buffer stops, but you can use glue:
Some more views of this section of the layout:
The plasticard structure in this view is part of a disused platform, where only the rear wall remains, the visible section will be filled in with scenery and general overgrowth, where the old platform has been gradually dug away over the years, leaving little left:
This looks like one of the scratchbuilt nickel silver buffer stops you could buy, ready assembled, from Puffers in Kenton years ago. I bought the last three remaining ones he had in OO at the time, and used them on 'Engine Wood' and 'Bleakhouse Road'. This P4 one came to me courtesy of that fine fellow, Re6/6. I've now soldered it to some copper clad sleepers, which have been 'distressed' and cosmetic chairs added:
This is a Lanarkshire Models Midland Railway buffer stop kit from Dave Franks, and very nice it is too. I've cut some thin copper clad sleepers from some 0.6mm sheet (the end of this siding is laid using C&L flexitrack, which has thinner sleepers than the P4 Track Co stuff in the other view), and soldered the assembled buffer stop to them. Cosmetic chairs have still to be added. Assembly was pretty straightforward using low-melt solder from Carrs. I don't now have a dedicated low-temperature iron, but use a mains variable temperature Antex one. Even at the lowest setting, I still didn't trust the whitemetal not to simply melt when the iron touched the castings (they are essentially cast sections of Code 75 rail!), so I brought the iron up to temperature (lowest setting), turned it off again, and then used it to solder the pieces together. I'd personally recommend soldering these buffer stops, but you can use glue:
Steve Cook
Flying Squad
Option B as an invited committee member...thanks Tim I prefer the way the eye is drawn around the corner of the houses rather than having the wall when looking down the lane.
However, having said that, have you considered Option D where there is no wall to the left of the gates at all - i.e the factory sticking out from the houses and the gate posts straight on the building?
Steve
PS - Sorry, forgot to mention just how good your trackwork looks when looking down the line
I prefer the way the eye is drawn around the corner of the houses rather than having the wall when looking down the lane.However, having said that, have you considered Option D where there is no wall to the left of the gates at all - i.e the factory sticking out from the houses and the gate posts straight on the building?
Steve
PS - Sorry, forgot to mention just how good your trackwork looks when looking down the line
Neil
Western Thunderer
B for me too Tim. Seeing the expanse of plain sky behind the factory has me itching to see silhouettes of industrial structures like those which grace Al Reynolds fabulous Cogirep.
Captain Kernow
Western Thunderer
Interesting thoughts, chaps, and thanks for the feedback. I'd have initially gone for 'C' myself, which seems to be the view over on RMWeb as well, but I see the point those who support 'B' are making...
I've had another look at Al Reynold's delightful Cogirep, although I will say that I had not envisaged the area around Callow Lane being quite so industrialised. Having said that, I have found some internet factory images that I was thinking of printing off in faded colours and playing around with, and with perhaps just one or two faint silhouettes beyond them of other buildings.
If I go for Option 'B', I may build a new left-hand side low relief building, rather than slicing the existing one in two (can always then use it for something else...). Perhaps I'll do that next, together with the retaining walls I need to construct to go behind the water tower at the other end of the layout.
After that, I need to finish one or two little jobs on the track (mostly weathering), and sort out the layout covers (I don't want to start to 'go to town' on the scenic work unless I've got a robust way of packing the boards away, should the need arise).
I've had another look at Al Reynold's delightful Cogirep, although I will say that I had not envisaged the area around Callow Lane being quite so industrialised. Having said that, I have found some internet factory images that I was thinking of printing off in faded colours and playing around with, and with perhaps just one or two faint silhouettes beyond them of other buildings.
If I go for Option 'B', I may build a new left-hand side low relief building, rather than slicing the existing one in two (can always then use it for something else...). Perhaps I'll do that next, together with the retaining walls I need to construct to go behind the water tower at the other end of the layout.
After that, I need to finish one or two little jobs on the track (mostly weathering), and sort out the layout covers (I don't want to start to 'go to town' on the scenic work unless I've got a robust way of packing the boards away, should the need arise).
It doesn't need to be industrialised, trees buildings etc can be done in a similar vein to Al's method, whatever you do there, I think a similar 'take' would work. Al's is helped by his lighting too which accentuates the colors he's used and its enclosed with fascias. Don't forget though 'IYTS' :0)
daifly
Western Thunderer
Phill Dyson
Western Thunderer
I'm another fan of option 'B'
Captain Kernow
Western Thunderer
One of my little 'conceits' with Callow Lane, in terms of it's putative location, is that the link to the old Coalpit Heath area collieries was re-orientated to run directly into Callow Lane, enabling a colliery tripper to run. The Coalpit Heath pits were all closed by shortly after the second world war, but in my world, one of them - Frog Lane Colliery - was modernised after new deposits of good coal were found. The NCB is now in charge, of course, and their locos are authorised to run onto BR metals as far as Callow Lane, in order to bring loaded coal wagons out of the colliery and to collect empties. Typically, a BR loco and brake van would be diagrammed to wait at Callow Lane for the colliery trip to arrive, and to then work the wagons forward to Westerleigh Yard and beyond...
Here we see a view circa 1960, with 8701 and brake van sitting in the old platform, whilst RSH 'Thunderbolt' from Frog Lane arrives with some 16 tonners:
We now fast-forward to circa 1970, and we see the same workings taking place, only now we have D7042 waiting for the colliery tripper, with the colliery's new Sentinel arriving with the wagons:
And now, in a bizarre twist of fate, we see the same scene, in the unlikely event that Sentinel locos have taken over the world...
I would point out that neither Sentinel is yet converted to P4, alas, and the red one isn't even mine, it was the result of a successful 'proxy shopping' trip on behalf of my friend John Farmer!
Here we see a view circa 1960, with 8701 and brake van sitting in the old platform, whilst RSH 'Thunderbolt' from Frog Lane arrives with some 16 tonners:
We now fast-forward to circa 1970, and we see the same workings taking place, only now we have D7042 waiting for the colliery tripper, with the colliery's new Sentinel arriving with the wagons:
And now, in a bizarre twist of fate, we see the same scene, in the unlikely event that Sentinel locos have taken over the world...
I would point out that neither Sentinel is yet converted to P4, alas, and the red one isn't even mine, it was the result of a successful 'proxy shopping' trip on behalf of my friend John Farmer!
