TFW’s workshop

[Tim Watson]

Thought this might be of interest, showing the crating of CF. All of that lot fits into a 35cwt Luton headed transit, so keeping down transport costs.

The stowing and crating arrangements are probably how CF has managed to survive for 38 years. Membership of the MRC is cheaper than a gym.

Tim

 

[garethashenden]

I'm not aware of any gyms that have a bar either...

 

[Tim Watson]

After fairly frenetic activity over the last few months I have been doing a bit of grotty modelling in the camper van in stormy Cornwall.
The hut under the arch really was a grade 1 bodge.
It really shows off the clean lines of Jim Watt’s etched steps and Matthew Wald’s signal box. There are a whole load of point rodding covers to place around the foreground.

Tim

 

[Grahame Hedges]

But an impressive bodge nonetheless.

 

[Tim Watson]

This light really should be on the Midland Office building that Tom Knapp is making in Hawaii, but it wouldn’t last five minutes in that location. The fantastic etches were from Jim Watt, of course.

Tim

 

[Tim Watson]

Another of Jim Watt’s etches is now in place. The original 1851 GNR terminal at Maiden Lane was incorporated into the eastern goods sheds in KX Yard, once the 1852 Cubitt station at KX opened. The iron work can just be seen below the eaves of the shed, with the sides filled in by brickwork. The fancy lamp is also visible on the corner of the building: nice and subtle.

A close up, not the most exciting photo, shows how Jim has made a really good representation of the cast iron spandrels, some of which still exist at KX.

These probably wouldn’t have been particularly visible where we have modelled them, but it does show a bit more history in the overall scene, albeit our interpretation rather than strictly accurate. The canopy on the end will be the next construction for the sheds.

Tim

 

[adrian]

but it does show a bit more history in the overall scene, albeit our interpretation rather than strictly accurate.

nevertheless the atmosphere is palpable.

 

[Tim Watson]

Jim Watt’s canopy has now gone together. The etches assembled very easily (Jim had already done the hard work on the beams). The structure was quite rigid, but desperately fragile at this stage.

The ends were made from Evergreen planked styrene and black styrene pads for the roof eaves added, which also serve as gutters. Getting a bit more protected now, with the ends in place.

The glazing was guillotined to the exact tight fit between the ends and scribed for the glazing bars. The whole assembly has now become quite strong. Roof slates were also attached, using Slaters sheet; heavily sanded, of course.

This view will be difficult to get on the layout, but shows the finesse of Jim’s etches. The canopy valance was from a Scalelink etch: the last time I used this was on Luton Hoo station 40 years ago!

Just a rough snap showing the positioning of the canopy across the main shed end. It will need fettling in to the main structure with suitable flashing and the I beam legs making to support it. I will try this new building out on the whole board tomorrow.

To say I am pleased with it is an understatement; thank you Jim.

Tim

 

[Tim Watson]

Jim’s canopy now has six legs. They are quite tall, because this structure is used to mask the track / building height differences behind the York Way viaduct.
The canopy will probably be a removable structure (at least in the short - medium term) and so it has steel pads at the bottom to be retained by rare earth magnets.

Tim

 

[Tim Watson]

With the south end boards together the canopy can be seen slightly more in context.



It is a fairly simple building in these views, but will come into its own when viewed from the NE with the viaduct in place. The St Andrew’s cross beams (shown in the previous post) should be visible and eye catching.

Tom Knapp’s Midland Offices building is now in the UK, having travelled all the way from Hawaii.

Once installed, that building will complete the above-ground works at this end of the layout.

I will probably return to horses and wagons next week: good projects for the campervan.
Tim

 

[Tim Watson]

Tom’s building arrived today. It has now been fettled in place. Just needs a little bit more weathering, but it certainly does an excellent job of framing the end of the layout.


Tom’s slightly different colour palate makes for some variety, when compared with the home grown product.
Tim

 

[Tim Watson]

Bert and the horses have a quick nap and food break, whilst Will, the lad, has headed off to find where exactly the next ice delivery is to be made.


Before it was manufactured, the imported ice block trade was very prevalent around KX, with Norwegian ice stored in large deep wells: there were at least two on CF, operating up until the late 1920s.
London Canal Museum Home Page

Photo courtesy Malcolm Tucker & the canal museum.

Quite amazing to consider that the horses, wagon, driver & street lamp top were all 3D printed. The fun and games come with the painting…

Tim

 

[Tim Watson]

After my 18 month old granddaughter took a liking to the brightly painted ice wagon, it has now been re-sited to a more Lara-friendly position (after minor repairs).

I think this is actually a better position for it and, as a bonus, the near side is slightly better painted.

Tim

 

[Tim Watson]

Well, the small stuff has taken a bit of a back seat just lately (I’ve been working on the 3.5” A3), but MikeRandall and I have been making the case / diorama box for the south end. The intention is that it will be able to go on exhibition as a stand alone scene (like Mrs W’s yard). The diorama will obviously have a very curved plywood-laminated back scene:
.
Here, it is being inspected by Pip and the CXO.

In the foreground, the Piccadilly line tube station and crossover will feature; the management of the perspective at the rear of the scene will stretch the little grey cells a bit. The diorama will have a matching box lid made for it so that it can be secured for travelling.

We had a KX site visit yesterday: the transformation of the area is amazing. Tom Knapp’s end building can be seen in the middle distance.

The trip was rounded off with a guided tour of the ice wells at the nearby London Canal museum.

These wells were originally 42’ deep, but had been filled in post war. They have been partially excavated. This is where our ice wagon may have come from. Ross Balderson from Australia has also sent us another horse drawn vehicle:

At the moment it is simply placed on the layout with a couple of NZF horses - they will need working up with plumes etc. Modelu make some Victorian figures that may serve as undertakers. Not quite sure where it will end up. It might stay very close to where it was photographed in fact, because it is an amazingly fine piece of modelling and would lend itself to conversations, also bearing in mind the cemetery building is just down the road.

Tim

 

[Grahame Hedges]

That's a very fine model of a horse drawn funeral casket coach.

 

[Tim Watson]

I haven’t been that active with small scale modelling of late, but Mike Randall and I have been working hard (especially Mike) on the display crate for the south end boards. This exciting picture shows the interestingly shaped box (and Pip):


Removing the lid reveals the support structures for the odd-shaped South End base board:


As usual the boards are held in place using shooting bolts. The lip at the front is to act as a ‘roof’ to the tube line platforms that will be underneath; the recessed area will accommodate the lift, ventilation and escape stairs for the overhanging York Road tube station. The main board slots in first:


Followed by the Goods Shed and Potato Market board:


The box will of course act as a diorama for displaying the south end boards in isolation, with an analogue of York Way viaduct to be incorporated:


Pip isn’t that impressed with this model railway stuff, but puts up with it, so long as his toys get thrown regularly. We have subsequently made the box easily transportable, featuring removable wheels, a suitably placed handle and also a novel way of displaying the scene on a trestle table: it’s even had the screw holes filled, sanded and varnished! The display will give it an excellent viewing height for all but the most vertically challenged and will enable a superb view of the underground railway, when incorporated, and street scenes.

All will be revealed at the Model Railway Club’s Mini open day on 28th November.

Tim

 

[Tim Watson]

The box has now been finished and features wheels that are demountable, being mounted on a wooden stretcher with two 12mm diameter pins locating in steel housings fixed to the box lid itself. These can be removed by taking out the R clips.


The reason for being able to take them off is that they would look very ugly when the lid is used to support the diorama section when sat on a table.

As mentioned previously, there was always the intention of making mini-scene with an analogue of York Road viaduct. This was tried out with a paper mock up.


York Road viaduct had a convenient kink in it, but the diorama version is a very poor relation of the real one when it comes to arches. The shape was roughed in with plywood.


This was then clad with Skaters brick plastikard, heavily rubbed down, with enough detail to take the eye into the distance, but not too much.


After some Farrow & Ball treatment the bridge and back scene work OK, but there is a huge amount more needed to bring up the perspective finishing between the ground level and vertical painted scene.


However, the high viewing angle makes these difficult areas much less visible. The perspective view down York Way works well enough, but it took a bit of experimentation to get the correct angles at the far end. Unusually for me, the sky has no blue in it and the weather has deteriorated over the last few hours. Wembley is definitely getting a downpour.

The little car in the far distance is a Z gauge taxi.


We also found out today where the MRC gets it’s tea from…


Tim

 

[Tim Watson]

2mm fine scale modelling, but of what?



Tim

 

[AndyB]

Gas holders?

 

[adrian]

2mm fine scale modelling, but of what?

A s.w.a.g. following a clue in the larger scale thread - shaft bores (stairs/lift) to connect to the tube station? The sections to represent the cast-iron shaft lining.