Neil's HO workbench - Been back to Belgium

michael080

Western Thunderer
Your green van and the real one in the picture are both of a German type. The one in the picture is a later version with various detail differences, principally the extra bracing at the ends. Many thousands of these vans were built by German industry, for railways both at home and all over Europe and from the 1890's until larger designs came along in the 1910's . Many were then requisitioned after both World Wars by the Allied countries and the East European block . Your van is quite plausible as an SNCB vehicle .
Hi,
This is a G10 wagon. 121000 were built from 1910 to 1927. This has been to most common covered wagon until the 1950s. There is some information at wikipedia about "Verbandbauart" wagons. Verbandsbauart - Wikipedia This program is comparable to the RCH standardisation. They were spread all over Europe after WW2.

Michael
 

Neil

Western Thunderer
Gentlemen, many thanks for the additional information, it's most appreciated. My enthusiasm for the railways of Belgium exceeds my knowledge but in some ways that's part of the attraction. The voyage of discovery is a fascinating one so my thanks again for helping me take a few steps further forward.
 

Neil

Western Thunderer
Thank you Dave, I've only given the underparts the most cursory of glances so far but I'll have a good squint later on.
 

Neil

Western Thunderer
As stock weathering trundles on I've been using the drying and hardening time to press on with the cafe. It now sports a roof ...

plan 90.jpg
..... and some detail to the yard.

plan 91.jpg

I'm afraid I couldn't resist another photo of the cafe in position on the layout. There's still some work to do installing gutters which will camouflage the heavy edges of the tiles. Further paint to tone down the roof and introduce some variety to the tiles will also be needed. I think I'll have to cobble together some representation of the bar at the front as the big windows reveal all.

plan 92.jpg
 

Yorkshire Dave

Western Thunderer
Excellent work Neil - especially the yard :thumbs:.

The blank side wall is crying out for a roadside painted advertisement....

lux0209.jpg


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Neil

Western Thunderer
Ah a dilemma; I like painted signs but I've seen very few in the Dutch speaking part of Belgium where the layout is set. Those I have seen have been to do with the business run from the building rather than advertising a product. Our last trip to the Dutch city of Leiden threw up a number of painted adverts but I'm not sure they're typical for Belgium so it looks like it's something I'll have to deny myself this time.
 

mickoo

Western Thunderer
Ah a dilemma; I like painted signs but I've seen very few in the Dutch speaking part of Belgium where the layout is set. Those I have seen have been to do with the business run from the building rather than advertising a product. Our last trip to the Dutch city of Leiden threw up a number of painted adverts but I'm not sure they're typical for Belgium so it looks like it's something I'll have to deny myself this time.
Rule 1 ;):thumbs:
 

Neil

Western Thunderer

I know, I know I could but though I like painted signs I want the layout to transport me back to Belgium more. I will however be indulging my fancy for painted signs on my OO gauge effort which will be taking shape in the garage once I finish the lighting and can make a start on the baseboards. Meantime the fish van has gained a companion in an earlier livery and therefore more distressed finish.

plan 93.jpg
 

Neil

Western Thunderer
Since I last posted Vischkaai has been on the back burner as I turned my attention to building baseboards for my OO gauge extravaganza in what was the garage. Now that all my diy donkey work is out of the way I've time to progress both home and away layouts. Vischkaai now sports another area of paving, that which will surround the water side cafe.

plan 001.jpg

I've had to construct this in two parts as it's two long for a single sheet of card. Despite careful planning the join between the two hasn't ended up as square as I would like. I deliberately stopped the paving at a distance from the edge of the backing card to leave myself some wriggle room. For the kerb and river edge stones this isn't a problem, but the paving will have to be trimmed to a slight wedge shape to fill in the gap I left.

plan 002.jpg
 

jonte

Western Thunderer
Since I last posted Vischkaai has been on the back burner as I turned my attention to building baseboards for my OO gauge extravaganza in what was the garage. Now that all my diy donkey work is out of the way I've time to progress both home and away layouts. Vischkaai now sports another area of paving, that which will surround the water side cafe.

View attachment 91135

I've had to construct this in two parts as it's two long for a single sheet of card. Despite careful planning the join between the two hasn't ended up as square as I would like. I deliberately stopped the paving at a distance from the edge of the backing card to leave myself some wriggle room. For the kerb and river edge stones this isn't a problem, but the paving will have to be trimmed to a slight wedge shape to fill in the gap I left.

View attachment 91136

I’ve enjoyed watching this develop, Neil; an unusual subject beautifully modelled and with bags of character. Hope it’s not too long before you resolve this little issue.

Btw, you make mention of a ‘OO’ gauge layout you're preparing. As I’m also considering building a small affair to the same scale, I wondered whether you’ve a thread I could follow?

Kind regards,

Jonte
 

jonte

Western Thunderer
Thank you for your kind words Jonte. Regarding my OO gauge project I've put a few pictures and words up here on Thunder, but you can find more detail here on RMweb; the choice of location due to it seeming to be a better fit over there as it's not finescale, large scale or Western in nature.

Right you are, Neil.

Many thanks for your kind efforts in answering my post.

I look forward to reading and following your progress.

Kindest,

Jonte
 

Neil

Western Thunderer
This afternoon I finished colouring the pavement. Initially I'd painted the paving with a dilute wash of the same grey used for the roads; once dry I darkened the surface with powdered pastels brushed on then blended by wiping with tissue. As a bit of a treat I dug out the buildings from their dust proof storage and plonked them down in position. I couldn't resist getting some toys out too and posing them for the camera.

vis 01.jpg

vis 02.jpg
 

Toffee

Active Member
Always had an attraction for a bit of street running. Lovely. Don't know if it's jotted down somewhere but what will be the full dimensions when it's all finished, that of course if anything ever is ? Do you find the little added extra space in HO rather than OO makes a difference ? It seems to be quite natural with no 'forcing ' to fit a given space.
 

Neil

Western Thunderer
The layout (inc fiddle yard) is 8' long by 1'6" at its widest point. Now you come to mention it I did find that this layout seemed to be an easy fit into the space I had and like you suggest possibly because most of my other work has been at 4mm/ft. Perhaps if I came at HO from TT or N I might think otherwise.
 

NHY 581

Western Thunderer
Hi Neil.

I must say this looks smashing but to highlight one aspect, the finish on the inlaid track and pavement is spot on.


Very nice indeed.

Rob.
 
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