3mm Scale, Chipping Compton
- Thread starter Bob
- Start date
Bob
Western Thunderer
I've used (so far) a mix of 2 and 4mm fibres. I must admit to starting off with some low-priced fibres off Ebay but these are rather lurid in colour....you get what you pay for of course. I now use Greenscene, Noch or Heki with subtle Summer greens together with some yellowy-brown thrown in. Talking to Gordon Gravett at the last Yate show was very helpful. I'm looking forward to doing the Cow Parsley, brambles and nettles etc.
Bob
Western Thunderer
There has been some progress on the layout front but little worth photographing.
It is due to make an appearance at a 3mm Society bash in Wootton Bassett at the end of the month.
This will seve as a kind of shake-down. If it fails there's no rush as it's first booking isn't until 2015.
I have taken this shot though. Purely to keep my interest up whilst it is temporarily packed away!
For now I'm concentrating on finishing the new chassis for the 57xx (as per my workshop thread that needs updating).
It is due to make an appearance at a 3mm Society bash in Wootton Bassett at the end of the month.
This will seve as a kind of shake-down. If it fails there's no rush as it's first booking isn't until 2015.
I have taken this shot though. Purely to keep my interest up whilst it is temporarily packed away!
For now I'm concentrating on finishing the new chassis for the 57xx (as per my workshop thread that needs updating).
Phill Dyson
Western Thunderer
Lovely weathering on the wagon Bob 
.....layout looks great too!
.....layout looks great too!
john lewsey
Western Thunderer
Superb wagon Bob
lancer1027
Western Thunderer
Bob
Western Thunderer
Thanks for the kind comments folks.
Building wagons is one of my main interests (the other being structures). Like many of you I probably have way too many wagons for such a modest sized layout but what the hell. Besides the more I do hopefully my standards might improve.....I do find the lack of a cosmetic coupling hook a bit of a pain but it fouled the B&B coupling (and no I will not contemplate 3 links!)
.
Rather than tackle the scenery on the whole layout I'm concentrating on this end first. If anything this is so I can take some photos. Having to dismantle the layout for other projects to proceed (and to get to one of the bookcases!) is a bit of a buzzkill and slows the modelling mojo. As I mentioned yesterday it's due to go to a 3mm event as a "work in progress" so will have to set it up to give it the once over.........nothing has run for a year!
Building wagons is one of my main interests (the other being structures). Like many of you I probably have way too many wagons for such a modest sized layout but what the hell. Besides the more I do hopefully my standards might improve.....I do find the lack of a cosmetic coupling hook a bit of a pain but it fouled the B&B coupling (and no I will not contemplate 3 links!)
.Rather than tackle the scenery on the whole layout I'm concentrating on this end first. If anything this is so I can take some photos. Having to dismantle the layout for other projects to proceed (and to get to one of the bookcases!) is a bit of a buzzkill and slows the modelling mojo. As I mentioned yesterday it's due to go to a 3mm event as a "work in progress" so will have to set it up to give it the once over.........nothing has run for a year!
Bob
Western Thunderer
For the first time in over 12 months all 3 boards of the layout are set up in the railway room. I'm in the process of checking everything over ready for it's outing to the 3mm event in Wootton Bassett next Saturday.
It's a sobering thought to realise that most of the locos haven't turned a wheel in 6 years! The one I'm taking has had all traces of the old oil removed and treated to some fresh stuff and an hour on the rolling road will do her a world of good.
As previously stated the layout is far from complete and will not be out on the circuit until Swindon in September 2015. The signalling will take time to set up properly:most of the gubbins is already in place underneath but only one signal has been built so far. I'm tempted to go for working ground signals too but time (and sanity
) will tell.
A vast amount of work remains to be done........and I'm not rushing it.
Earlier this year I posted a few pics on the thread of the layout devoid of stock. This brought comments that the layout had received the attention of Dr Beeching
so to put that right here are a couple of shots taken today. Apologies for the dreadful quality (mobile phone plus lighting conditions far from satisfactory), Chris Nevard needn't feel threatened.
It's a sobering thought to realise that most of the locos haven't turned a wheel in 6 years! The one I'm taking has had all traces of the old oil removed and treated to some fresh stuff and an hour on the rolling road will do her a world of good.
As previously stated the layout is far from complete and will not be out on the circuit until Swindon in September 2015. The signalling will take time to set up properly:most of the gubbins is already in place underneath but only one signal has been built so far. I'm tempted to go for working ground signals too but time (and sanity
) will tell. A vast amount of work remains to be done........and I'm not rushing it.
Earlier this year I posted a few pics on the thread of the layout devoid of stock. This brought comments that the layout had received the attention of Dr Beeching
so to put that right here are a couple of shots taken today. Apologies for the dreadful quality (mobile phone plus lighting conditions far from satisfactory), Chris Nevard needn't feel threatened.
Bob
Western Thunderer
Well, the layout had it's first outing to the 3mm Society event in Wootton Bassett yesterday and after getting there extra early in order to set up in a relaxed way, place what little stock I took on the layout and give it some juice......oh
.
The loco crawled along at a scale snail's pace..........and no faster.
Quickly swapping it for the AEC railcar was just as bad so it wasn't the loco (which had been fully checked the day before).
We diagnosed a controller failure (Gaugemaster hand-held job) and no spare being carried some oaths were said quietly. Step forward Mike from the adjacent Finney & Smith emporium who very kindly lent me a hand-held "Pictroller" and transformer..........saved.
I won't bore you with the reason but I couldn't use the electromagnetic uncouplers for the B&B couplings so the 74xx and B set handled most of the workings with a very infrequent freight and minimal shunting (resorting to a bent piece of wire as a shunters pole).
With the layout back home today I tried another transformer with the "defective" controller and it's fine. Looks like I will have to retire my 50 year old Triang transformer. It was rather noisy yesterday with a loud buzzing sound!
Nice to see Simon T there too.
Here are a couple of piccies I took of my layout at the show.
I should point out that the goods shed was only plonked in place for the event and has not been "planted" yet hence the gap.
.The loco crawled along at a scale snail's pace..........and no faster
.Quickly swapping it for the AEC railcar was just as bad so it wasn't the loco (which had been fully checked the day before).
We diagnosed a controller failure (Gaugemaster hand-held job) and no spare being carried some oaths were said quietly. Step forward Mike from the adjacent Finney & Smith emporium who very kindly lent me a hand-held "Pictroller" and transformer..........saved
.I won't bore you with the reason but I couldn't use the electromagnetic uncouplers for the B&B couplings so the 74xx and B set handled most of the workings with a very infrequent freight and minimal shunting (resorting to a bent piece of wire as a shunters pole).
With the layout back home today I tried another transformer with the "defective" controller and it's fine. Looks like I will have to retire my 50 year old Triang transformer
. It was rather noisy yesterday with a loud buzzing sound!Nice to see Simon T there too.
Here are a couple of piccies I took of my layout at the show.
I should point out that the goods shed was only plonked in place for the event and has not been "planted" yet hence the gap.
Bob
Western Thunderer
At Larkrail I took the station end board along as a static piece to show progress.
Whilst there I took the opportunity to take a couple of photos with my mobile phone. They're not great but I look forward to being able to point my camera at it outside in the sunshine to get better results.
No progress on the layout since these were taken but I might just push myself to tackle the platform lamps next.
Looking down the lane leading to the goods yard (on next board). I am finally pleased with the colour and texture of the lane and yard surface. Gordon Gravett's book on groundcover (part 3 in his new series) advised using gloss (yes, gloss) enamel grey sprinkled evenly with talcum powder whilst wet. I'm over the moon with the result and tests using the same method but with gloss black enamel results in the most convincing surface for a coal yard.
Two more views with the 57xx and Hawksworth coach in the platform. The second shot has already appeared in the Larkrail thread.
Whilst there I took the opportunity to take a couple of photos with my mobile phone. They're not great but I look forward to being able to point my camera at it outside in the sunshine to get better results.
No progress on the layout since these were taken but I might just push myself to tackle the platform lamps next.
Looking down the lane leading to the goods yard (on next board). I am finally pleased with the colour and texture of the lane and yard surface. Gordon Gravett's book on groundcover (part 3 in his new series) advised using gloss (yes, gloss) enamel grey sprinkled evenly with talcum powder whilst wet. I'm over the moon with the result and tests using the same method but with gloss black enamel results in the most convincing surface for a coal yard. Two more views with the 57xx and Hawksworth coach in the platform. The second shot has already appeared in the Larkrail thread.
john lewsey
Western Thunderer
Nice to see this layout again.
Bob
Western Thunderer
Whilst I've looked in fairly frequently I haven't posted in quite some time. Feeling a bit more like my old self and I've been busy getting Chipping Compton into shape (finally!) in time for it's debut at Swindon in September. There have been times when I could've cheerfully taken an axe to it and there have again been alterations to the "country end" of the layout. The station board is complete apart from adding the road vehicles and perhaps one or two more people (don't want to over-populate it). The other board is still being worked on and I think I'm as happy as I'll ever be with the general feel of it. I've decided to add some coal staithes after all, just to add interest. Many more hours work lies ahead!
OK it's 12mm gauge rather than the correct 14.2 but had I have opted for the latter it would not be this far advanced. I might well go 14.2 for the next project which will be rather smaller.........at 9'6" Chipping Compton is a big layout for me!
The road vehicles shown are not in their final positions by the way. The coal staithes will be where the Bedford is parked.
A quick shot of behind the station fence taken with my mobile phone in poor lighting conditions. This is the viewing side for Joe Public.
The William Clarke station building finally in place and bedded in.
OK it's 12mm gauge rather than the correct 14.2 but had I have opted for the latter it would not be this far advanced. I might well go 14.2 for the next project which will be rather smaller.........at 9'6" Chipping Compton is a big layout for me!
The road vehicles shown are not in their final positions by the way. The coal staithes will be where the Bedford is parked.
A quick shot of behind the station fence taken with my mobile phone in poor lighting conditions. This is the viewing side for Joe Public.
The William Clarke station building finally in place and bedded in.
Bob
Western Thunderer
After it's exhibition debut at Swindon in September a boyhood ambition has finally been realised as Chipping Compton is in the latest Railway Modeller.
It's at Warley in a couple of weeks so any Thunderer's in the vicinity are welcome to come along and introduce yourselves.
It's at Warley in a couple of weeks so any Thunderer's in the vicinity are welcome to come along and introduce yourselves.