7mm Layouts and Dioramas by Stephen Fay, including Kirton Lindsey & St Stephens Bank
- Thread starter Compton castle
- Start date
Compton castle
Western Thunderer
Moving well on with the paint stage 
Compton castle
Western Thunderer
First application of weathering powders applied, the brick sides added to the Intentio pits and a few washes added to the shed facade. 
Compton castle
Western Thunderer
Tantalisingly close to seeing St Stephen’s assembled in its entirety, next week will see the Holloway tunnel board bolted in place to complete all 20’ of the layout.
Compton castle
Western Thunderer
A day at the work table assembling water crane kits and fire devils, 
Also adding ModelU and warren Shephard detail bits around the shed yard
Painting some of the 3D printed bits as well
Also adding ModelU and warren Shephard detail bits around the shed yard
Painting some of the 3D printed bits as well
Compton castle
Western Thunderer
Barring one down pipe and it’s clips the Midland side of marches road is complete. I’ve got the fascia to add and the rear panel but that will be in one piece with the low relief buildings attached directly to it.
Compton castle
Western Thunderer
Made the most of the sunshine today to progress the western side of the shed, water cranes installed along with lamps, ground cover pretty much complete, next job is to add the mortar to the brick work and get the buildings firmly fixed in place. 
Compton castle
Western Thunderer
Wouldn’t it be super to see a princess alongside a kingHe Midland side of the shed is looking quite superb. I hope we see a Midland engine on the GWR side...
Compton castle
Western Thunderer
Marches road A back story
Both the LNWR and GWR chose the same spot to construct their engine shed facilities, Giving that they both had equal operational powers on the joint line and their own lines that radiated away from the area, The shed operated as separate entities up until the 1930’s when making use of the loans and guarantees act the LMS and GW used a joint proposal to modify the shed and rid it of some of the more outdated structures, the biggest change seen the GWR coaling stage demolished and the 55’ turntable removed and a new mechanical coal hoist and 70’ turntable built, this was to allow the largest of the LMS Pacific’s to be turned and serviced, The rear part of the shed was very much a joint area of responsibility from that point on, however the GW used part of the loan to construct a new austere type of coaling stage at the front of the shed principally to coal it’s top link locomotives as the GW liked to keep its coal from getting damaged and broken up to much as often happened whilst using the mechanical hoist now installed. Thus provided a physical boundary between the shed fronts and a set of steps had to be installed so staff could access either side of the shed. In the immediate post Nationalisation years the status quo remained and marches road had two shed foreman’s and when the BR painters arrived at the shed they set about repainting using the new chocolate and cream on the western side and Midland maroon on the midland side. Part way through this a staff reorganisation came about after a BR inspection found that whilst the shed had good facilities the moral was low due to regional rivalries and a new single shed foreman was introduced and the shed finally became one entity. Regional colours had been dropped and a greater sense of cooperation promoted. From that point Western locos and midland locos used either side of the shed and it became possible to see a Princess ex works off Crewe shed along side an Old Oak King both being serviced together.
This layout / powered diorama is 6’ x 3’ about the size of a single bed which is how most of us start out in modelling with a board on our childhood bed. What this layout does is showcase a collection of locomotives and that’s exactly what the customer wants.
Both the LNWR and GWR chose the same spot to construct their engine shed facilities, Giving that they both had equal operational powers on the joint line and their own lines that radiated away from the area, The shed operated as separate entities up until the 1930’s when making use of the loans and guarantees act the LMS and GW used a joint proposal to modify the shed and rid it of some of the more outdated structures, the biggest change seen the GWR coaling stage demolished and the 55’ turntable removed and a new mechanical coal hoist and 70’ turntable built, this was to allow the largest of the LMS Pacific’s to be turned and serviced, The rear part of the shed was very much a joint area of responsibility from that point on, however the GW used part of the loan to construct a new austere type of coaling stage at the front of the shed principally to coal it’s top link locomotives as the GW liked to keep its coal from getting damaged and broken up to much as often happened whilst using the mechanical hoist now installed. Thus provided a physical boundary between the shed fronts and a set of steps had to be installed so staff could access either side of the shed. In the immediate post Nationalisation years the status quo remained and marches road had two shed foreman’s and when the BR painters arrived at the shed they set about repainting using the new chocolate and cream on the western side and Midland maroon on the midland side. Part way through this a staff reorganisation came about after a BR inspection found that whilst the shed had good facilities the moral was low due to regional rivalries and a new single shed foreman was introduced and the shed finally became one entity. Regional colours had been dropped and a greater sense of cooperation promoted. From that point Western locos and midland locos used either side of the shed and it became possible to see a Princess ex works off Crewe shed along side an Old Oak King both being serviced together.
This layout / powered diorama is 6’ x 3’ about the size of a single bed which is how most of us start out in modelling with a board on our childhood bed. What this layout does is showcase a collection of locomotives and that’s exactly what the customer wants.
Compton castle
Western Thunderer
St Stephen’s all bolted together for the first time, the main line section, the Torcombe branch board is still to go.
Fantastic to see it all in one piece, I’ll continue with the scenics after Christmas.
Fantastic to see it all in one piece, I’ll continue with the scenics after Christmas.
Compton castle
Western Thunderer
New trestles, that will make finishing off Marches road a little easier. Count down to Christmas 
Compton castle
Western Thunderer
Some of the signalling that will appear on this layout, 
This will act as a repeater for
Built By Jon Fitness, they will be arriving very soon.
This will act as a repeater for
Built By Jon Fitness, they will be arriving very soon.
Compton castle
Western Thunderer
Getting very near the finish line now at Marches Road, extra little details being added and all the buildings now bedded in place.
The challenge I set myself on this one as I’ve done a few sheds was how can I make a large engine shed in just 6’ x 3’ and have 10 to 15 locos on shed comfortably. As a showcase for locos I think it will be superb.
The challenge I set myself on this one as I’ve done a few sheds was how can I make a large engine shed in just 6’ x 3’ and have 10 to 15 locos on shed comfortably. As a showcase for locos I think it will be superb.
Compton castle
Western Thunderer
I don’t think the weather is going to hold out for any out door shots before delivery later this week so here’s a few with some locos on shed 
Richard Gawler
Western Thunderer
I do hope the recipient enjoys model photography, this makes a superb setting.
Compton castle
Western Thunderer
A productive morning sees the very low relief buildings completed and mounted. I think these complete the illusion that this is just part of a much bigger shed complex.
Just a pair of Intentio steps to add and some cast plates and we are done just in time for Christmas.
Just a pair of Intentio steps to add and some cast plates and we are done just in time for Christmas.
Compton castle
Western Thunderer
Suns out 
Compton castle
Western Thunderer
A cancelled appointment allowed me time to get home and set marches road up in the garden to get some lovely natural light pictures.
It’s now disassembled ready for transportation tomorrow and Thursday.
I wish I had a Jubilee or a Scot for these pics or a Princess or a duchess or a black 5 !
It’s now disassembled ready for transportation tomorrow and Thursday.
I wish I had a Jubilee or a Scot for these pics or a Princess or a duchess or a black 5 !
Compton castle
Western Thunderer
That pretty much wraps this year up in terms of customer commission jobs. Early next year I’ll be back at it hopefully getting the box tunnel diorama completed first. I’ve got some interesting projects in the pipeline and my own Canton project to finalise and plenty more to keep me busy on St Stephens Bank.