P4 New Street

[Jim S-W]

Jim just how far are you going to go!!! are you going to make the pub that goes under the Rotunda and the surrounding buildings or is that just the back drop as it's visible form New Street

The plan is to model the city to a depth of about 3feet from the railway. The station is 22 feet long, the southern approach and proof house junction will be another 50 feet.

While the rotunda is very tall it's (in context) not all that big. The following drawing might put things into context a bit

This is the Wolverhampton end of the palisades shopping centre. I will have to model this in 2 parts as it scales out to be about 4feet wide and 9 feet long. The class 47 was included for a sense of scale.

Cheers

Jim

 

[Jordan]

You're going to go as far as Proof House Junction...??!!??

Building New Street was mad enough in the first place.... but to make it all portable as well (or at least transportable...), and now it's going to have another 50ft section added...??
My flabber is well'n'truly gasted .......

 

[Jim S-W]

Hi Jordan

Early on when we decided to build a shared fiddleyard it was always going to have to be at least 52 feet overall. However I couldn't get the dive under in and Tring (one of the other layouts) wouldn't fit either so 72ft overall it is.

Below is an older plan from 5+ years ago

Cheers

Jim

 

[Neil]

That's bonkers Jim; magnificent but bonkers.

 

[Pugsley]

That's bonkers Jim; magnificent but bonkers.

I'd like to make a slight amendment, magnificent and bonkers

 

[Neil]

I'll go with that Pugs.

 

[alcazar]

My daily commute into Brum as a student took me past the "Ansell's Rotunda".

 

[Jim S-W]

Its somefink to do aint it?

In reality though I dont know if its any more layout than the next guy builds, Its just one big one rather than several little uns.

The plan for the platforms is to do an etch for the tile pattern that will appear on platform 11 as that will be at the front and visible to the public As the other platforms will be mostly hidden by platform 11 I will use these printed pillars instead. The drawing below shows the face of platform 11 (split into 2 parts)

Cheers

Jim

 

[Pugsley]

In reality though I dont know if its any more layout than the next guy builds, Its just one big one rather than several little uns.

Yes, when you put it like that, I reckon George Woodcock has built more than 72 feet of layout over the years!

 

[Jim S-W]

Hi All

Thanks to my friend Tim and his laser cutter I have made a start on New Streets smaller waiting rooms.

a pretty simple structure, the first of 8 to go on the layout. Weathering for this will be a bit odd compared to other buildings as being under the roof it doesn't get rained on, rather it gets dusty. The join in the wall will be hidden behind pillars.

Also the first of 8 flights of stairs. Tim did the sides for me and the actual stairs are from evergreen strip. 4 of these will be half width to go along side the esculators

Cheers

Jim

 

[Jim S-W]

Hi All

Been busy adding a handrail to my stairs from a few bits of brass.

Its turned out a bit rough this one so i'll probably use it on the platform 2 and 3 island where its quite likely you wont be able to see it.

Also OMWB is a K8 phone box from the A1 Kit. I found the door to be on the side on all the piccies i looked at not the front so I re-arranged the sides.

You can see from the inset that, for a bit of a giggle, I added a phone book and the handset from microstrip and the cable from strand of wire.

Cheers
Jim

 

[Jordan]

....
You can see from the inset that, for a bit of a giggle, I added a phone book and the handset from microstrip and the cable from strand of wire.

Nah... the phone book should be missing/ripped to shreds and scattered outside, and the hand set should also be missing, with just the cable left hanging down.....
oh and finish the floor off with a puddle of yellow liquid.......

Almost makes you thankful for mobiles these days..!!!

 

[Jim S-W]

Hi All

Not posted any trains on the layout type pics for a while so to redress the balance...

47088 arrives light engine. This is a bachmann model featuring heljan bogie sideframes and tanks. I still need to correct the boiler port.

47457 departs for the south - this one is a vi-trains model.

50009 heads a line up of 3 more of her classmates. All of my 50's have been lowered and feature new windscreens, roof fans/grills and body side louvres.

Cheers

Jim

 

[Jordan]

I know Hoovers aren't the favourites of some members here, but I always liked 'em, and that last pic is just great - Largo looked so good on them!!

 

[Jim S-W]

It did indeed Jordan

Hi All I have finished the 4 waiting rooms at the B end of the platforms.

The benches are DC kits ones trimmed down a bit. I am not sure about the wheeled skips as I think they are too new but I would appreciate anyone who knows about this and can advise.

I have also completed the ramps that were used to move Brute trollies around. These areas and the waiting rooms have swallowed up over 60 benches.

Close up of one of the ramps. while the detail is based on pictures its kind of vague as once the roof is on it will be very hard to see (if at all). The backs of the nearside walls are blank except for the 2 lamps at the far end that you might be able to see (although probably not)

Cheers

Jim

 

[Jim S-W]

Hi All

47459 arrives from the Derby direction. In reality this wont actually happen on the layout as (being a Lima model with Lima drive) this loco is destined to shuffle around light loco to and from my imaginary Saltley. I figured that theres no need for all locos to be high spec chassis and theres absolutely nothing wrong with the Lima pancake in this respect. Besides actually detailing up old stuff is far more entertaining than tipping new stuff out of a box.

Cheers

Jim

 

[Geoff]

...........................detailing up old stuff is far more entertaining than tipping new stuff out of a box.

How true Jim, there is a lot of satisfaction to be gained by carrying out simple mods. and adding extra detail to the older models, it's also an ideal way to develop skills before moving onto kit or scratch building. It really saddens me that the I want it now, to my spec. brigade cannot spend a few hours making themselves a unique model. They even moan about new releases not being available out of the box with the number or yellow warning panel of their choice.

New St. continues to amaze me and looks so like the real place, 47459 also looks damn good to my eyes as well despite it's parentage.

Cheers,
Geoff

 

[28ten]

Id forgotten how handsome the inter city livery was. I agree binning older models is the road to madness, especially with the quantity that you need

 

[Alycidon]

There's a lot to be said for the Lima models - cheap to start with, and a bit of detail work makes them still stand up against today's offerings. Fit two pancake motors into the chassis, and the slow running capabilities (and control) are better than a central motor / flywheel mech' IMHO.

 

[Pennine MC]

47088 arrives light engine. This is a bachmann model featuring heljan bogie sideframes and tanks. I still need to correct the boiler port.

I'm liking that, I always liked the WR namers in scruffy blue. Liked 'em in green as well, mind.