Grahame's N/2mm bashes

[Grahame Hedges]

Here's some of my Covid lockdown N/2mm structure modelling output that might be of interest:



A little polyurethane resin casting for the GRP panels on the station footbridge:


And some in place just with a waft of grey primer ready to be painted brown!



Finally some partial work on extending a former warehouse building that I'd previously made just the left end section of:

 

[Obblygobbly]

Nice modelling. Out of curiosity, why do you call it N/2mm though, when they are two different things? Are you modelling the buildings to 2mm scale, or 1:148?

 

[Grahame Hedges]

N/2mm is a commonly used generic term and shorthand for the group of scales around that size. The difference between a scale foot in 2mm and 1:148 is just 0.06mm. This only tends to be noticable when models of the same item in each scale are placed side by side (such as rolling stock).

However, the buildings aren't exact scale replicas (due to necessary compression and simplification) so neither scale really, and of course, it is a darn sight easier to measure and cut using 2mm to the foot.

 

[Obblygobbly]

Sorry, I was just curious. Measuring 50 feet, or the overall size of a layout, the difference is far more noticeable.

 

[Grahame Hedges]

It only tends to be noticeable when the same items of different scales are placed side by side such as a 1:160 (continental N) and 1:148 (British N) coaches in the same train. It would be hard to know or spot whether something that should be 50ft long is in which N/2mm scale without any reference or comparison.

 

[Obblygobbly]

I assure you I am not a rivet counting troll I am fully aware of the differences and similarities. I was genuinely and simply interested, without in any way wanting to place a value judgment on your reply. Good modelling is good modelling, whatever the scale.

 

[Grahame Hedges]

Thanks, I wasn't assuming there was any nefarious intent in your enquiries. I guess the building models are a hotch-potch of various scales especially bearing in mind I don't actually have any plans or measurements to scale from.

They are just made from/based on the few pics I can find of them from the era I'm trying to replicate. And believe me some are very dodgy, fuzzy, unclear and only close to the intended period as well as often the buildings are demolished or significantly changed over time. I'm aiming to make something appropriate and representative that, hopefully, captures the character and atmosphere.

 

[Tim Watson]

After a while you get a sixth sense for knocking out London buildings. Grahame has clearly got it.
Tim

 

[Yorkshire Dave]

I definitely remember that footbridge at London Bridge.

 

[Grahame Hedges]

After a while you get a sixth sense for knocking out London buildings.

There used to be time when you could tell which region a building was from by its style and character. And they varied dependant on the period they were built. Unfortunately nowadays all buildings tend to look the same in their brightly coloured international flat roofed low-rise apartment/commercial block style. And they're replacing existing buildings which are getting torn down. Often you can't tell which county they're from let alone the region.

 

[Grahame Hedges]

I definitely remember that footbridge at London Bridge.

These resin cast GRP panels (pictured above) are for the narrower section of the footbridge that links the through station platforms to the terminus ones. I have already made the larger section with three layers of panels as in the pic below (photo taken before the new two layer panels were cast).


Due to necessary compression (and the ability to reach across the width of the layout) I opted to have just two through lines island platforms rather than three but that still means 5 lines through the station and umpteen terminating platforms (under the train shed). Here's an earlier photo of my modelling efforts showing how the footbridge interfaces with the old SER offices building (now demolished):

 

[Tim Watson]

That footbridge really was a most depressing structure. There used to be cubby hole / offices in the supports for the platform staff. It was where you consulted to find out what had happened to the Northbound Thameslink service that was apparently on the boards but had disappeared in the black hole of Bermondsey. You definitely need a gaggle of irate passengers hovering around that area.

Tim

 

[Grahame Hedges]

The interior of the footbridge was dark (no natural light), dreary and claustrophobic. It was basically only just functional. The GRP panels on the outside were a sop but the interior was utilitarian and little thought had been given for enhancing the experience of those using it. Nonetheless, it seems to have become something of an iconic structure or maybe just an anachronism.

I spent yesterday afternoon casting more of the outer GRP panels and now hopefully, so long as I've got my calculation correct, I've done enough. They've been stuck on the plasticard walkway box and given a quick wafting of Halfords grey primer. Next they need to be painted grot brown.

 

[Grahame Hedges]

Apologies for being boring and keeping on about a footbridge, but here's how it looks just roughly put together to give an idea. There is a section that joins to the SER offices building that I made a while back but I can't seem to find it (might have to make another). The comparison picture below it is rather more recent than I'm hoping to emulate and has the grey siding and ceramic tiles on the stair structures painted white/very light grey. I'll be restoring the darker grey siding and brown tiles:




One thing about the footbridge was that, love it or loath it, it was unique, very distinctive and of its time. I don't know of any other station footbridges that are similar. And I can't think of any N/2mm kits or RTP models that look anything like it. Consequently I've had to entirely scratch-build it. To a large extent it is a signature feature structure and helps set the scene and location. Without it the layout won't be London Bridge.

 

[Tim Watson]

You have captured the character beautifully.

Tim

 

[Grahame Hedges]

The urban scene continues to take shape. Here's a small section (although still far from finished):

 

[Joe's Garage]

Hi Grahame, a bit late in the day but some fantastic modelling. Do you have any shots of the layout that these will be put on? Just as a thought where can I find pictures of your earlier layouts such as the small one depicting a cutting in South London that used to appear on the exhibition circuit. I seem to remember it at a show many years ago?

There are some modellers like yourself and John Birkett Smith who prove that N gauge can be made to look splendid. Sorry I know there are many more on the Internet as well.

Julian

 

[Grahame Hedges]

Thanks.

My previous layouts were 'Stoney Lane Depot' and before that 'Hedges Hill Cutting'. There should be plenty of on-line pics and some videos if you google those names.

 

[Grahame Hedges]

Here's another N/2mm building that I've knocked up over the last few days photographed in the bright sunshine this morning.



It's a pretty dull and unremarkable office block type building - I don't think it even has a name. And, as usual, it is compressed and simplified, is not fully finished and is made from mountboard card and brick embossed plasticard. It fits between two other buildings (as in the pic below) with Telephone House (the yellow one on the left) and Fielden House (the white and blue one on the right). And this, the effective layout viewing side, of the row is not the more decorated front of the buildings meaning they are rather plain.

Perhaps fortunately, much of the bottom half of the row won't be able to be seen when on the layout being behind a Georgian terrace with mansard roof (formerly NHS and for a while railway offices) and because there is only a narrow access road between them. I've been playing around positioning them in their (almost correct) places to get an idea of how the group will look. These will form the front left edge of the layout and the railway will be on a viaduct behind with the station to the right. The space front right (in the pic below) will be a steel framed building construction site as a 80s style building was erected in that position (although that too has now been demolished and replaced).

 

[Yorkshire Dave]

St Thomas's Street at the front.

I've just looked at google maps and street view to place some of the buildings - or more correctly what has remained. The area around London Bridge is almost unrecognisable now.

Quite a number of 70's and 80's buildings have disappeared with the cost of land at a premium in cities.