Small layouts in small spaces

Tim Hale

Tim Hale

Western Thunderer
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Although unfinished, the most hated task (wet ballasting) is complete, tomorrow afternoon, when it is set really hard, the excess will be removed. As soon as I am happy with the ballast, laying the grass is next; two lengths, neat/tidy inside the compound (fire hazard) and not so neat outside. Today, I was collecting gravel from the garden centre car park so that the depot SNCO can gaze out at whitewashed stones beside his path.

The puzzle didn’t work out as planned, the quoted lengths were somewhat ambitious, the headshunt just holds a Ruston+three 14t tanks, however operating is a hoot. It should be popular with both military and railway modellers.

Tim
 
J

john coates

Member
Some one quoted Wantage as a oil depot but having lived in the area of the Wantage Branch I do not believe there was an oil depot in the area although there was an airfield at Grove. John
 
Overseer

Overseer

Western Thunderer
john coates said:
Some one quoted Wantage as a oil depot but having lived in the area of the Wantage Branch I do not believe there was an oil depot in the area although there was an airfield at Grove. John
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A number of reputable publications by a relatively local publisher (Wild Swan) have included photographs, drawings and reminiscences of the oil depot at Wantage. It was not large but was located in the Lower Yard.
 
Tim Hale

Tim Hale

Western Thunderer
The masking tape has been removed without too much drama, possibly the worst tape ever made by Mammoth. The rail tops were polished with a Roco track rubber, once given away by Roco, they are nearer to £20 these days. Somewhere hiding in the shed, there is a packet of etched turnout levers, a nice touch once found and fitted.

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Henry cleaned off the detritus and now the grassmaster is being loaded with some 4mm meadow mix for the compound and 10mm for beyond the fence.

Tim
 
Yorkshire Dave

Yorkshire Dave

Western Thunderer
When my dad (as a meteorologist in the Air Ministry) served his National Service between 1949 and 1951 - surprisingly, as a meteorologist - at RAF Leuchars and then at RAF Ringway (before it became an airport) he often remarked to me when there was a special occasion, visit or pararde any uncut long grass blades next to a post were often painted white. I think this was also the case when we were stationed in Germany in the late 1960s and at RAF Wattisham when we returned.
 
Yorkshire Dave

Yorkshire Dave

Western Thunderer
Tim Hale said:
Some of the short* grass has been laid inside the compound and I cannot find the point levers.


*Well maintained short grass supposedly reduces the fire risk but the actual reason is military 'neatness'
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Depending on your time period it could also provide a reason to have a plinthed WWII tank by the gate, although plinthed aircraft and/or tanks were generally at main gates.
 
Osgood

Osgood

Western Thunderer
I've never seen, and doubt there ever was, a 6x6 AEC refueller plinthed - but you could always invoke Rule 1 :D
 
NHY 581

NHY 581

Western Thunderer
I've always used good quality Evo-stick PVA to secure static grass, on the subject of which, elsewhere on this forum you'll see my earlier comments on Woodland Scenics static grass, something I now refuse to use or recommend.

Rob
 
alastairq

alastairq

Western Thunderer
I wasn't thinking specifically of security fencing, but maybe odds & ends of remnants of old fencing lines?

Or the odd small fenced-off compound, perhaps around an innocuous small hut with a louvred, locked door? Nobody ever knew what was inside, or what the small huts were for.....
[I'm reminded of the last 20 years of my working life, spent based at a large military establishment nearby.]
 
Tim Hale

Tim Hale

Western Thunderer
I think that this is not so much the beginning of the end but most certainly the end of the beginning. Now the fun can start, the small details;- a proper firepoint with adequate spillage apparatus (speedy-dri), an armchair in a quite but sunny corner, white stones and the obligatory signage.

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alastairq

alastairq

Western Thunderer
Probably a need for some quite tall floodlights here & there?

Given the fence [not very Mod-like, in my experience]...and gate hole, there might be a need for some sort of 'permanent'....small building to house potential security guards of some sort? A sentry 'box' might not be enough.
This would need to be 'lit' as well...even if not actually, ''in use?''
Then there's the telephone lines?
I am trying to recall the incidental details of the POL point situated where I ''used-to-work?''
POL points would have a fenced-off compound for filling and storing fuel containers['Jerry' cans]
I'm not sure this facility would need that, though?

There would need to be a designated 'vehicle park' for the vehicles used by the 'staff' here, though..not just some random spot!
Fire control points were also a probability....If not actually having a decrepit fire appliance permanently parked, however. So lots of 'red' bits here and there...[for a bit of colour?]

Would one of the tracks not actually have a raised gantry to support top loading or discharging of tank wagons?

Lots of 'manhole' covers dotted around are also useful 'details' I recall....These might also be 'built-up' with brick, as well as flush with the ground surface. Not very high, but enough to barff one's shins on in the dark.

Boundary fencing [barriers] were not always present [even where I worked] at the MoD property boundaries either........with security fencing being around specific areas mainly. Hedges of a decent thickness being the norm where I worked....security fencing and gates being more 'internally' located.
Security compounds regarding fuel, etc, being more about preventing pilfering than anything else.
 
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