LarryG buildings WB ...

LarryG

LarryG

Western Thunderer
I started by modifying the steps by removing a side screen (the producer kindly supplied two so I could make a stand-alone staircase) and then gluing them to the underside of the platform....

WEB Cambrian box 6.jpg

Railing were fabricated from 22 thou scrap brass soldered together and sunk into slots in the wall to act as a sturdy backing onto which I glued laser-cut wood railings. This Cambrian box has joined the queue for painting....
WEB Cambrian box 6B.jpg

A last minute alteration to strengthen the platform as per photos of the prototype...
WEB Cambrian box 6E.jpg

Thanks once again to Rail Model for providing the basics needed for this project.

Painted and completed 1st November 2020....
WEB big Cambrian box 2.jpg
 
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LarryG

LarryG

Western Thunderer
Let cattle pens commence! A home made drawing of the fencing bars was essential, as it was used throughout construction. All the bars were cut from 60thou Plastikard. I made the gates first and then attached everything else to them. The grey card platform surface was replaced with 30 thou Plastikard so there would be something to glue the fencing posts to...

WEB Cattle pen 6.jpg

The completed front was left to harden against something vertical.....
WEB Cattle pen 7.jpg

Ends and partition were fabricated and then attached to the front face. The white pillars are 10thou overlays...
WEB Cattle pen 7B.jpg

The pens at Llanfyllin were probably erected in the 1880's when up to 100 horses were needed to haul materials to the dam sight at Vyrnwy Lake. Most probably fell out of use afterwards so I have only built two pens. The back panel has yet to be added.
 
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LarryG

LarryG

Western Thunderer
Using the fence as a stencil, a scrap piece of plastikard was trapped closely behind it and was sprayed with plastic primer...

WEB Cattle pen 8.jpg

Strips of 30thou plastikard were laid on the pattern and glued together....
WEB Cattle pen 8B.jpg

Fencing removed from the pattern to form the back 'wall' of the cattle pens...
WEB Cattle pen 8C.jpg

Another completed structure awaiting painting...
WEB Cattle pen 8D.jpg

My gut feeling is a simple laser cut set of parts for the fencing, gates and floor would make life a whole lot easier for 4mm and 7mm modellers, and wood is a pens natural colour too...
WEB Cattle pen 8E.jpg
 
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LarryG

LarryG

Western Thunderer
The above signal box turned out larger tan I expected. So I purchased a kit for the small Cambrian box based on Llansantfaid, which is not far from Llanfyllin and similar in appearance. Seeing as I wanted a box like Llanfyllin, I altered the locking room window. This is as purchased....

WEB Small signal box 1.jpg

It was removed completely and replaced by a new window cut from 60 thou plastikard. There is space at the back on which to glue the glazing....
WEB Small signal box 2.jpg

There was no option but to cover all the brickwork with embossed plastikard...
WEB Small signal box 3.jpg

A new door had to be made from 30 thou plastikard with 20 thou panelling. The roof is removable...
WEB Small signal box 4.jpg

I decided not to clad the chimney stack seeing as it won't be seen on my layout. It's progressing slowly in between household chores. A new platform and staircase is next, which will differ from the one in the kit...
WEB Small signal box 4B.jpg
 
LarryG

LarryG

Western Thunderer
Building te balcony fence with the trusty 'cracker' setsquare...
WEB Small signal box 5B.jpg

The roof was built removable and contains the roof trusses....
WEB Small signal box 5C.jpg

Finished as far as construction goes. I have based it on a mirror version of Llanfyllin...
WEB Small signal box 6.jpg WEB Small signal box 6B.jpg

No drain pipes at the back 'cos I couldn't be bothered seeing as the back won't be visible. Not over-chuffed with the chimney stack....
WEB Small signal box 6C.jpg
 
LarryG

LarryG

Western Thunderer
Surprisingly for such a small building, this was 6 days job but enjoyable. The Peco interior kit arrived in double-quick time from Hattons and so no time was lost waiting around. Just about everything was altered (made smaller!) but I think everything bar the flags & detonators bin in in there. Even the coal scuttle has been left on the verandah!

WEB Small signal box 9B.jpg

The lush armchair was just squeezed in along with a convenient shelf for the telephone. A black phone wouldn't be visible. There's a yellow lever out of sight...
WEB Small signal box 9C.jpg

Ten-to-two in the afternoon and the kettles on! Only one token machine at a single-line terminus. The desk on which it stands was purpose-built to leave walking clearance....
WEB Small signal box 9.jpg
 
Martin Shaw

Martin Shaw

Western Thunderer
Can I put my one time professional hat on, if you've got a token machine, then you don't need any block instruments or bells, the block bell is integral in the key token machine which is in effect the block instrument. Back in today, really nice piece of work Larry, takes me back a long time.
Regards
Martin
 
JimG

JimG

Western Thunderer
Can I also add that you do not necessarily need the token machine in the signal box. I do remember that the token machine at Dalmally (Callendar and Oban) was in the main station building, well isolated from the signal box further down the platform. When I visited the station in the 1960s, the station master explained why it was thus but at almost sixty years remove, I can't rmember now. :)

Jim.
 
LarryG

LarryG

Western Thunderer
In all the time I spent in signal boxes I never once took an interest in proceedings, so thanks to everyone for your signaling advice. Just to make things clear in my mind, how would the signalman be advised to accept a train and how would be advice the next block that a train was leaving the terminus? By telephone? I can easily remove the block instruments. They would certainly free up a lot of space and I could install a telephone and a cat....:D
 
LarryG

LarryG

Western Thunderer
Thanks very much. I will sort the signalbox interior now. Meanwhile this is how things look. The colour of real slabs is interesting although they are not stone....

WEB Small signal box 12.jpg

The signal box just slots in. Bit by bit the finals have broken away. but lost wax brass ones ca be very prickly...
WEB Small signal box 12B.jpg
 
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Martin Shaw

Martin Shaw

Western Thunderer
Just so everyone understands this, a single line can be worked in four distinct ways, partly depending on historical alignment. Firstly one engine in steam which is self explanatory and it can be with or without a train staff. Secondly train staff/and ticket, this method requires block instruments and bells to maintain the space element of block working, the staff and ticket enforce direction. Thirdly electric token which can be either, electric train staff, there would be a separate bell, Tyers Electric Train tablet in various guises also with a separate bell, or the GWR devised electric key token where the bell is integral to the machine. This last is that which applies in Larry's model. Lastly there are the versions of tokenless block in which I would include RETB. If pics are required let me know.
Regards
Martin
 
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