Tim Watson
Western Thunderer
Cloudy day.
Tim
Tim
Grahame's N/2mm London Bridge train set
- Thread starter Grahame Hedges
- Start date
A start made on the first trainshed skylight (although still the ridges to make and add) with only ten more to do and the foundations for the second one underway.
And, as a break, the brick build block structure next to the signal power box has been knocked up (I've since added hopper heads and down pipes).
And, as a break, the brick build block structure next to the signal power box has been knocked up (I've since added hopper heads and down pipes).
Another samey snap for those interested seeing the slow development of the trainshed roof. I've given the four completed skylights a dusting of grey primer to make it easier to photograph. Currently I'm awaiting delivery of some more corrugated styrene sheet to make the rest - another seven! The last one on the near side will be smaller and not as tall as the others, similar to the prototype.
Grahame Hedges
Western Thunderer
I'm still awaiting delivery of the corrugated styrene sheets to continue making the trainshed roof skylights. In the meantime I've cut the forecourt canopy roof to size and shape from mount-board so that it fits accurately around the Southwark Towers carcass. It's not an exact replica as layout compression has meant the need for some compromises and a little redesign. But I'm hopeful that when detailed and finished it will look the part.
There's two major concerns. One is the huge number of pyramid shaped skylights that I'll need to make and add. My current plan is to make a master and cast them in clear resin. The other is the panelled edging.
There's two major concerns. One is the huge number of pyramid shaped skylights that I'll need to make and add. My current plan is to make a master and cast them in clear resin. The other is the panelled edging.
I've reduced the number of pyramid skylights planned for the canopy from over 100 to just under 50. That should save a lot of effort cutting square holes, making the frames for the pyramids to sit on, and casting and painting them. As they are difficult to see from the ground and will mostly be behind the Southwark Towers block I doubt anyone really knows how many there were and their locations.
Anyway, today I've cut all the holes but I had insufficient styrene strip of the size I wanted to make the fames so had to go out to the model shop to buy some more. With two buses there and two back it's a three hour round trip and then I needed to take the cat out for a walk, so it has wiped out most of the day, although all the frames are now on. Now to make my dinner so that's modelling finished for today:
Anyway, today I've cut all the holes but I had insufficient styrene strip of the size I wanted to make the fames so had to go out to the model shop to buy some more. With two buses there and two back it's a three hour round trip and then I needed to take the cat out for a walk, so it has wiped out most of the day, although all the frames are now on. Now to make my dinner so that's modelling finished for today:
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It's getting to a critical stage with things like sizes, shapes, heights, fit and the roof being horizontal in all directions. I seem to have been quite lucky. A test fit of the front deep valance appears to be about right in terms of height (I estimated it to be over the height of a bus from photos, at around a scale 16ft) and still allow buses to pass easily underneath - which it does (see pic below). I've also added strengthening struts underside and along the back edge to keep the structure flat which seems to have worked. Overall I'm quite pleased with progress.
Today I'll endeavour to get the rest of the deep front valance on (but not the pronounced panels as I need to decide the best way to represent them). Then I might start to consider the forecourt itself, with bus and taxi stands and the ticket office/travel centre frontage (see pics below), but I've a pork joint to prepare and cook, and I'd like to get down to the local for a pint or two.
Today I'll endeavour to get the rest of the deep front valance on (but not the pronounced panels as I need to decide the best way to represent them). Then I might start to consider the forecourt itself, with bus and taxi stands and the ticket office/travel centre frontage (see pics below), but I've a pork joint to prepare and cook, and I'd like to get down to the local for a pint or two.
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Peter Insole
Western Thunderer
Never mind "no smoking under the covered way"... there should be a rule about not snogging too, (image 100_1131red.jpg) in the previous post!!
Come to think of it, maybe the architect responsible for the whole station refurbishment (back then) should have faced some sort of punitive action?!
That is why I am enjoying your thread so much Grahame... you are thoroughly succeeding in making something that was so utterly, and depressingly ugly... into an object of great beauty!
Thank you!
Pete.
Come to think of it, maybe the architect responsible for the whole station refurbishment (back then) should have faced some sort of punitive action?!
That is why I am enjoying your thread so much Grahame... you are thoroughly succeeding in making something that was so utterly, and depressingly ugly... into an object of great beauty!
Thank you!
Pete.
timbowales
Western Thunderer
Peter you are being too kind in your choice of words, " hideous" is much more appropriate 
I wonder if that's a deliberate image as the couple is directly in the middle of the photo?
I wonder if that's a deliberate image as the couple is directly in the middle of the photo?
Grahame Hedges
Western Thunderer
Peter you are being too kind in your choice of words, " hideous" is much more appropriate
Not 'hideous' but 'of the era' and 'challenging' from a modelling perspective. At least it's gritty and down to earth, unlike a lot of green and fanciful rural layouts. And it's something you don't often see as a theme on many layouts. I hope I'm doing it justice. Well, at least I'm making the effort and trying to.
timbowales
Western Thunderer
And succeeding very well, Grahame!
Having had to attend several meetings at LB during my 40+ years in S&T your model brings back memories of what was there.
Arun Sharma
Western Thunderer
It looks like the snoggers may be chinese - Perhaps they are unaware of the restrictions on snogging on BR property?
I managed to do most planned things; went to the local for a few beers stopping off to buy a newspaper and get some shopping on the way, cooked a roast dinner, took the cat for a walk, watched the football on TV and got the plain deep canopy valance section completed. Unfortunately I didn't get to make the pyramid skylight master. That'll have to wait as I'm going to relax now.
Here's a few early shots of the station entrance - one looks like it is under construction (dated 1978!?). The colour pics (above) were ones I took around 2006-9 and show quite a bit of commercial development. And one of the bus stands (around 1983 - I think) showing how much even the road surface and bus stop flags changed.
Here's a few early shots of the station entrance - one looks like it is under construction (dated 1978!?). The colour pics (above) were ones I took around 2006-9 and show quite a bit of commercial development. And one of the bus stands (around 1983 - I think) showing how much even the road surface and bus stop flags changed.
Overseer
Western Thunderer
As an architect who studied during the 1980s, I never thought London Bridge station was particularly bad. My view is probably skewed by understanding the viewpoint of modernist architects of the 1960s thanks to a lecturer or two who thought 'efficient' buildings with minimal floor to floor heights and no wasteful decoration were the ideal to aim for. The 1970s refurbishment at London Bridge was designed by NDT Wikeley, the Regional Architect for the Southern Region and completed in 1978. The colours were very fashionable at the time, but less so only a few years later. The space frame forecourt roof structure was decorative, but functional, efficient and not decorated. Considering what was probably a minimal budget I don't think the architect did badly but fashions change and the general population has never really understood modern architecture. The lack of care in adding later equipment etc around the public parts of the station didn't help.
Tim Watson
Western Thunderer
I think some of these stations looked OK for their time, but then became very cluttered and ugly with commercial add-ons: probably the worst example being Euston.
On a slightly different topic, I do recollect a model railway exhibition organised at LB on the platforms which simply could not happen nowadays. Even more off topic, the MRC made some investigations about using St Pancras as an exhibition venue in the late ‘90s (well before HS1) but then partnered with Warners and made a show at Wembley, followed by Ally Pally. The pidgeons at St P would have had good dive bombing practice.
Another recollection I have of LB is a one man band who used to play on the stairs going down towards St Thomas’ St. Proper job he was - cymbals between knees, accordion, squeeze box etc.. There was also a hot dog stand on the exit from the tube station, which I often supported when returning to Guy’s by tube, after working on Chiltern Green at the MRC - that would have been in the late 70s.
Tim
On a slightly different topic, I do recollect a model railway exhibition organised at LB on the platforms which simply could not happen nowadays. Even more off topic, the MRC made some investigations about using St Pancras as an exhibition venue in the late ‘90s (well before HS1) but then partnered with Warners and made a show at Wembley, followed by Ally Pally. The pidgeons at St P would have had good dive bombing practice.
Another recollection I have of LB is a one man band who used to play on the stairs going down towards St Thomas’ St. Proper job he was - cymbals between knees, accordion, squeeze box etc.. There was also a hot dog stand on the exit from the tube station, which I often supported when returning to Guy’s by tube, after working on Chiltern Green at the MRC - that would have been in the late 70s.
Tim
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A little progress on the canopy this morning. I've completed the end wall section that covers the bay platform 7/8 and butts up to the trainshed roof. And I've started on the relief decoration on the valance frontage but I've run out of suitable styrene strip so need to go and get some more. Just a few bits to add and then the angled top and bottom can be filed (the pencil marks will be a guide). Then it can be painted ready for the pyramids, which have yet to be made. The underside supports, forecourt paving and bus stands, and ticket offices/travel centre will be the next stage of the canopy project.
I'm very pleased with how the canopy is turning out. It just drops in place and covers a fair area even though it's compressed in size - hiding quite a bit of mess and the terminus platform compromises in that they extend back further than they should to accommodate longer trains. It's quite a big structure. Imagine if it was OO/4mm scale (it would be twice the size and unwieldy).
I'm very pleased with how the canopy is turning out. It just drops in place and covers a fair area even though it's compressed in size - hiding quite a bit of mess and the terminus platform compromises in that they extend back further than they should to accommodate longer trains. It's quite a big structure. Imagine if it was OO/4mm scale (it would be twice the size and unwieldy).
John57sharp
Western Thunderer
It’s all very impressive Grahame - especially as you manage to fit the rest of life in too!
Another busy day today. My sister came over and we went to a garden centre and supermarket, then had lunch. Gave the cat his parasite treatment (he doesn't like the handling) but still able to add all the valance relief details and get the basic blocks of colour on the canopy. I think I'll give progressing the canopy a break tomorrow, but here's how I'm leaving it tonight:
timbowales
Western Thunderer
Lovely work as ever