Outwell Village (W&U Tramway)

Rippers

Western Thunderer
Given the positive feedback recieved from the members of this forum related to the references to our 7mm layouts 'Hospital Gates' and our current project in build 'Millicent Street', I thought that I might introduce some of our other works (albeit not in 7mm scale) if only to proves that as a modelling group we the ERFG are somewhat diverse in our interests.

Here are a few shots of the latest state of play on Outwell Village in 4mm scale
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(ok its not Western......... unless you count it as the Western-most fringe of West Norfork.....and even then most of it was in Cambridgeshire!)


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Outwell was is owned by one of our group Alan Price and is over 13 years old having originally being a joint project between himself and Neil Rushby (Neil of this parish!). Though Alan has flown solo on its development (mainly as a pre war LNER period model) for many years after Neil moved from the area.
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However his recent involvement with our goup has seen the layout given a sypathetic scenic upgrade to encompass modern materials, new backscenes and better fiddleyards. Plus a whole set of mid 1950's stock as seen here so as to be able to offer the model in a second time period. (or just to ring the changes)
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The earlier period hasnt been forgotten either as new stock is also under construction for that period (including more of the passenger stock should we wish to backdate further).
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Plus to prove what big softies we really are here are the prezzies that were aquired and built in secret to be presented to Alan on the occasion of his recent milestone birthday (ie one of those that ends in a '0'!;)

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Namely a new J70 (bult from a very old unmade whitemetal kit) and a 1934 Morris C type semi forward control fruit lorry made from new RTI resin parts.

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keefr22

Western Thunderer
Lovely looking layout, I particularly like the river scene.

How big is the layout overall?

Keith
 

Rippers

Western Thunderer
Lovely looking layout, I particularly like the river scene.

How big is the layout overall?

Keith

Smaller than it actually appears in the pictures..........
o1.jpg
The main scenic area is a mere 8ft long by 2ft deep (and yet is more or less to scale).

Whereas the two new fiddleyards recenty added are the same width but 3ft 6ins long (seen here in an early stage of build). The design incororates a turntable to access a series of storage roads at either end which has cut stock handling at shows down to a bare minimum.

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Rippers

Western Thunderer
As 0ne or two of you have contacted me for more details of the changes made to the model here are a few shots showing it at the very start of the project.
Out1.jpg

The basic layout as it came to us was already a very nice model but lacking depth perhaps due to the rather plain (and very blue backdrop).

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Initial thoughts were just to reduce the height of the backscene and add some small details seen in period shots in numerous publications on the line such as the correct pattern fencing to the yard (partially scatchbuit in brass) and the bollards on the pavement.

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Plus add a representation of the roadway alongside the rail line over the bridge.

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Of couse when we found out the open minded owner was going to be busy for a few weeks and the layout would be left with us unattended................. plans for a more intensive upgrade including replacement of the labour intensive fiddelyards to improve exhibition operation were hatched and implimented resulting in the model you see in the initial shots on this thread.!
 

Rippers

Western Thunderer
The initial stages of this more intensive upgrade mainly involved the reworking the surface of the yard (including adding the access between the main line and dissused siding at the frontage along with its associated crossing near the bidge to the area used by the local coal merchant in later years. (initially he unloded wagons on the street via a short loop on the far side of the rail bridge from the yard).

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In addition to the attention given to the yard surface the generl grass and vegitation was given a refresh and update using newer static products and similar (mainly affixed in place using cheaper own brand extra firm hold hairspray!;))

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As you can see just these two changes make a difference to the look of the model and that before we started on the backscenes and any real level of detail.

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Rippers

Western Thunderer
The next stage was to attend to the backscene of the layout in order to give the layout some depth as well as to include the distinctive church which forms the backdrop to many a photo of the prototype location).

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Therefore the basic layout of the backdrop (based on an enlargement taken from a 1920's hand coloured postcard of this street scene) was lightly pencilled in on the the backscenes which had been undercoated and given a neutral white finish in place of their original blue.

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Before being painted in acrylics with particular care taken to blend the colour of the road with that on the layout (plus making use of parked vehicles and the addition of the shop building on the left behind the depot office to help disguise the join - (the latter is correct for the site but in reality was demolished long before the later period the layout can represent)
out2.jpg
The result hopefully when combined with some more added detail such as the telephone and power line poles etc giving more depth and purpose to the town end of the model aswell as offering a vista more reflective of many of the well published angles of the real thing.

out1.jpg
 

queensquare

Western Thunderer
I saw this layout earlier in the year and it really is a gem, St Albans I think. The backscene is particularly effective.

Jerry
 

Rippers

Western Thunderer
I saw this layout earlier in the year and it really is a gem, St Albans I think.

Jerry

Quite likely as St Albans was the layouts first outing with both its full set of upgrades and the first of the alternative later period stock (which we ran on the Sunday to ring the changes).

Aside from a few electrical changes planned the layout is now considered to be in full exhibition rig though work still progresses on more stock and locos for each of the periods represented.
 

Rippers

Western Thunderer
the idea for the train turntable/storage is quite neat...

The fiddleyard arangement is an addaption (reversal really) of the design we came up with for use on our 7mm layout Hospital Gates.
hfyc.jpg

Seen here in an early stage of deveopment when we had thoughts of using it in an alternative side on format so as to reduce the overall frontage of the layout (and ensure it fitted in the room we were working on the layout in at the time).
In truth since we now have a bigger purpose built playroom the facility to use the yard in L format has been removed (but it is a good idea for the pot if you are starved of space)
 

Jordan

Mid-Western Thunderer
I like the dis-used sidings in particular, really gives some rundown atmosphere to the line. Dis-used track is seldom modelled.
 

Rippers

Western Thunderer
Following on form the backscenes and detail at the villiage end the rear of the layout was filled out with a lot more trees courtessey of Alan (one of his specialities............but there again sitting in a tractor all day he sees a lot of them!).:D
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On the prototype there was a large hedge and decorative lawned gardens between the rear of the yard and the trees which can be seen in period photos fronting the church. However we felt the scene a lot more ballanced to use the row of trees on scene rather than a painted option on the backdrop........ probably offering a more pleasing and ballanced scene to the viewer than a strictly correct more would of!:confused:
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Whereas several futher coats of varnish were added to the waterways so as to add depth (and stop the wood grain 0f the base showing through!). Plus we also added a lot of reeds and vegitation growth around the edges of the water......
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On top of which scratch built repesentations of the derelict houseboat and old transport lighters (which in many cases in later days were actually ex army bailey bridge pontoons) which can be seen in many prototype shots of the area were also added to help bring atmosphere to the scene..
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Which was finished off with the addition of a handful of figures, animals and period vehicles to bring the layout to life............ and the scenic are given better lighting by way of the front facia seen in earlier shots (plus the original baseboards had a folding leg set added to atch the new fiddleyards so as to make erection and dismantling easier (plus reducing the number of overall components).
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Which just left us to concentrate of the stock......but thats a whole new story........
 
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