Breakwater

[Overseer]

I have been thinking about a display / photo track for 1:48 models for some time. Something which just needs sky behind to keep things simple. I am going to try to build a small section of this over the next few months. It seems simple enough….

The idea is a model of a section of Warrnambool breakwater. It was built around 1890 in concrete to a design by Sir John Coode. It still has very rusty track visible on the surface. I have been taking note of Neil's inset track, and other methods. Not that it matters for the model but the inland side of the breakwater faces north so is well lit, being in the southern hemisphere, and has the Southern Ocean beyond.

From the air (not my photo)


As it was

The breakwater plan

As it is today




Now to work out how big it will be and what it will be built from so I can get started in August.

 

[simond]

Fraser,

That’s a great idea!

There are some similarities with the Folkestone harbour arm (there’s a chap doing a model thereof, it’s described on the G0G forum) in that they both have inset track, rust & concrete, but I guess that’s to be expected.

I look forward to seeing this.
Best
Simon

 

[Overseer]

Breakwater construction has begun. No Titan crane, precast concrete blocks or poured in situ concrete though. A small 1200 x 900 sheet of 7 mm pine plywood purchased on sale for $2 from a large diy warehouse forms the structure. Cut into strips, glue and pin together, add some diagonals and a very rigid lightweight base results. This is much smaller than a normal baseboard being 1200mm long by 195mm wide. The height of the base forms the backing for the inland wall of the breakwater. The concrete walls will be 3mm mdf with laser engraved details. Some secondhand Peco OO track was bought a few months ago for a very reasonable price to provide track building material. There doesn't seem much point in using O scale rail when it will all be buried.






I think it will work well as a photo plank. The plan is to use it outdoors with real sky behind and maybe a separate water board in front if taking longer views. There may be a bit of a delay before the next update.

 

[Overseer]

Trackwork has progressed on the breakwater using secondhand Peco code 100 rail and as few pcb sleepers as I could get away with. All the ugly bits will be buried in the asphalt. It will be wired up so it can be used as a test track.





The laser has also been in action marking out the plank and pour marks in the in situ concrete wall. The idea is to hand cut the pour joints to represent the irregular breaking away of parts of the concrete. The trial only took a few minutes with a scalpel and I think will work once painted. Still to decide whether to represent the remnant wood grain on the concrete from the timber formwork planks. The lower wall will have timber vertical fenders to distract the eye so paint will probably do without extra texture on the 'concrete'.

 

[simond]

Fraser,

Good to see your progress, it looks very good, and I look forward to seeing your concrete painting.

I rather suspect there are very few of us doing the Display Track Build. Mine has been pretty much on the back burner as I’ve been lasering & constructing my loco shed, but I shall get back to it in time to complete it in line with the deadline.

Best
Simon

 

[Yorkshire Dave]

Concrete pour lines generally stand proud once the timber shuttering has been removed. Is the idea to cover the wall with DAS clay or similar, dust the engraved plank with french chalk/talc and press this on and remove to create the raised shutter lines?

 

[Overseer]

Concrete pour lines generally stand proud once the timber shuttering has been removed. Is the idea to cover the wall with DAS clay or similar, dust the engraved plank with french chalk/talc and press this on and remove to create the raised shutter lines?

No, the breakwater shuttering was not as poorly put together as your example, or was not being used as an architectural expression, so the joints between planks are not as noticeable. There is some difference in thickness of the planks and the imprint of the planks can be seen in the concrete. The idea is to create an impression (as in give the appearance of rather than a literal impression) and a bit of texture to represent off form concrete. The photo plank is intended to provide a fairly neutral setting for photographing stock, not be the main feature.

 

[Overseer]

Breakwater is not going to meet the completion deadline but I might get some more done this weekend. This was the state of progress a few days ago. Most of the actual construction work is now done. A few more bits to add to the breakwater wall and then it can be glued to the base. I need to stick lots of bits of card around the track to reduce the volume of Das needed for the asphalt surface. A few mooring bollards and vertical timbers on the concrete wall then mostly painting. I was thinking of a gas lamp mounted on the wall but I think it would be more of a nuisance - who needs a fancy gas lamp sticking out of the top of the loco or wagon being photographed?





This is what I will be aiming at for the asphalt surface. We will see how it goes. Due to the design of the breakwater and public access there are a remarkable number of photographs in existence showing the condition of the track and paving over the years.

 

[simond]

Fraser,

Your gas lamp could indeed be a nuisance, but equally, offers an alternative focal point (and potentially some lighting effects).

Could it be “plugged in” when required?

Best
Simon

 

[Overseer]

That's an idea. I could install a power socket now and make a removable lamp some time.