A Beartoon on Sovereign Street.
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
NorthBritIt is December 1915.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
I received some 'flowers' from my grandchildren. Matt Summers had the job of planting some in Roseville Station. He takes a 'breather' as he sees the midday Class 121 from Seacroft to Leeds Central arrive.
It is December 1915. A light dusting of snow has fallen. Will it clear or is more snow forecast?
hon30critter I hope you realize that I was just kidding you. I think the plumbing looks just great! Dave
I hope you realize that I was just kidding you. I think the plumbing looks just great! Dave
Not offended at all, Dave. I genuinely dislike things being 'too perfect' on my layout. I do not see things in life perfect. People always have something that needs doing in and around their property.
Agnes Marston has a lovely house inside. A lovely garden. Her husband, Charlie is too busy in the scrap yard, so she has called her local roofer to fix the drainpipes.
He is busy at the moment (Me!) Busy revamping the layout and a spring clean.
NorthBritRealism, Dave. I hate things perfect.
I hope you realize that I was just kidding you. I think the plumbing looks just great!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
LastspikemikeExterior sanitary drainage piping is common in the UK
My dad told us that during WWII sometimes the only thing left standing after a house was bombed were the exterior sanitary drain pipes.
hon30critter I love all the little details David! I'm not too sure about the exterior plumbing though. Looks like they had a shortage of straight pipe so they decided to use all their spare parts!?! Dave
I love all the little details David!
I'm not too sure about the exterior plumbing though. Looks like they had a shortage of straight pipe so they decided to use all their spare parts!?!
Realism, Dave. I hate things perfect.
Actually the house was in a 'job lot' and renewing the pipework was a job to be done. Mrs Marston has contacted the local roofer. He is busy at the moment, but will come round and fix it (eventually).
NorthBritIt's not all about running trains. Little scenes to bring it all together.
It's not all about running trains. Little scenes to bring it all together.
Agnes Marston is off to the local store. Charlie, her Corgi dog is leading the way. It is 1971, dogs in the UK did not have to be on a lead.
Note the flowers in the garden. I received them from my grandchildren for my birthday.
It was a windy day yesterday, so Keith Armstrong has his wheelbarrow out to tidy the garden. A quick look to see the locomotives over the wall.
Two new container wagons have arrived. I bought them from 'The Medway Queen Preservation Society' https://www.medwayqueen.co.uk/ Money raised on the sale of wagons goes towards the preservation of the ship.
Other wagons bought previously with G.S.N.Co. markings.
More wagons bought from M.Q.P.S. on the layout passing Crown Point Yard. Class 37 37026 Glencairn in charge.
hon30critter It is at the point where it needs to be painted but I haven't done any painting for a couple of years. Lazy I guess. Dave
Heck no!! I bet you are like me with a long 'To do' list. Then there is the emergency bits to do. Plus the little ----- .
All part of model railroading.
Lately, all I have done is run trains.
NorthBritI am in the (slow) process of building a LMS Stanier Class 5 4.6.0 locomotive. Commonly known as a Black 5. Here she is on a test run prior to lining and adding 'the fiddly bits'.
Hi David,
That will look nice when finished.
I probably have you beat on doing a 'slow' build of a locomotive. I have a Roundhouse (IIRC) 4-6-0 that I have been working on (or rather, not working on) for more than 10 years. My intent is to backdate it to resemble an early Grand Trunk Railroad unit. It is at the point where it needs to be painted but I haven't done any painting for a couple of years. Lazy I guess.
I am in the (slow) process of building a LMS Stanier Class 5 4.6.0 locomotive. Commonly known as a Black 5. Here she is on a test run prior to lining and adding 'the fiddly bits'.
A couple of pictures of the container train with Class 47 47299 Ariadne in charge.
Passing the junction
and passing Crown Point Yard.
Recently I have just been having fun running trains. However, today I have been cleaning wheels on my carriages and trucks. Laborious I know, but we clean the track and the engines, but the 'poor' carriages and trucks collect so much gunge it is unbelievable. Also they are getting a 'spring clean'. It is worth it in the end with 'free running' and looking smart again.
Hi Dave. I agree. Keeping the buildings tall gives a feeling of importance and therefore a busy area.
NorthBritRegardng the 'tourist trap' once again compromise on what you want.Can you put it on a backscene with a footbridge over the tracks to a small area actually built?
My layout is free standing so there aren't any 'backscenes' or backdrops. I think that makes it a bit more challenging to condense scenes in the manner which you have done. I have eliminated any extra space around the industrial tracks that form the small yard in the center of the layout. In other words, I can't get the large industrial buildings any closer together than they are now. I could make the industrial buildings smaller but that won't convey the image of a large industrial site that I want.
Thanks again,
Hi Dave. There never is enough room to have what we want on a layout.
Not to be outdone. Most of what I wanted on my layout is actually on the backscene. The farmland on one side of the layout is there. A picture of my son on the quad bike is miniaturised and ios seen 'rounding up the sheep'. There are only three models of sheep showing.
A well-known (over here) layout shows trains arriving at an airport. The runways, airplanes etc. are on the backscene. Just a little of the airport perimiter is on the layout. There the builder has two maybe three of his model aircraft. He changes them around with other models he has. He compromises.
Like you, Dave, I have a number of transport rigs etc. If I had them all on the layout there would not be enough room. Then I have a small fleet of buses.
I have a small industrial park. On it is 'Archbold & Glendinning's'. In real life they are/were separate Companies. Both have/had huge warehouses and trailer parks. I had to have them both on the layout, so I 'merged them' into one Company. Obviously I could not have 50 plus vehicles, compromise was the only way again. I have thee Glendinning's vehicles & 2 of Archbold's. Even then I can have only two vehicles at the site. The other three vehicles get moved around the layout.
The Industrial Estate. Archbold & Glendinning's is the blue building at the top.
Regardng the 'tourist trap' once again compromise on what you want.Can you put it on a backscene with a footbridge over the tracks to a small area actually built?
It all comes down to selective compromise. Dave. I know you can do it.
Thanks for all the pictures and suggestions!
My layout is 5'4"x12' but almost all of the track is within 2' of the fascia. That leaves a fair bit of space in the middle. I have planned a downtown section that will have about a dozen multi story buildings in close proximity to each other, centered around a main intersection. The main roads are slightly narrowed but I have enough space for two lanes with parking on both sides. Most of the other roads are single lane or slightly wider.
Where I think I got hung up was with the amount of space around the industrial buildings outside of the downtown area. The industrial buildings are fairly large and multi story as well. I have a number of transport trailer rigs and I want to make the industries look busy, but leaving enough space for a full sized transport truck with 40' trailer to manoeuver requires a large parking lot. That means lots of space between the industries which I think will make the industrial area look sparse.
I also have a tourist trap area next to the water feature which is spaced out too much as well.
I'll have to do some more thinking about the two areas.
Cheers!!
York1 More nice pictures of your great layout, David. Thanks for sharing them here!
More nice pictures of your great layout, David. Thanks for sharing them here!
My pleasure John.
Dave. You say there is too much space between buildings in your urban scene.
Before I go any further I must say this is the way I do things. It is not the way. Other modelers do things other ways and are successful.
That said, I am amazed (sometimes) how some modelers will have stations that in real life are 50 or more miles apart and compress the line in a small space. Then become meticulous over other details. There is no compression?
Model things as though you see them from the control/viewing area.
Say you are building a model of a real Store. In real life it has 10 parking bays. The model of the store is done. It does not detract the model if there are only five parking bays. It is still a great looking model.
A road does not have to be the 'normal width'. It can look okay if it is narrower. If the road is narrower the building across the way is closer. Placement of road vehicles is the key. Don't have two large vehicles trying to pass when there isn't room. Use smaller vehicles instead.
Here are some pictures to explain.
Sovereign Street Station seen from the viewing side. I want an enclosed feeling.
Sovereign Street seen from the back. The road at the back isn't really there. (The strip along the floor is lights for the buildings.)
The main road on the layout. Technically it should be two lanes either side. Two large vehicles would not be able to be side by side. The use of automobiles instead to believe it is a busy road.
A similar procedure for the road at the back. It should be two-way traffic, but traffic really cannot pass.
A scene at Clarence Dock
Compression to make the above scene.
If you have a model of a house that really has a large grass area etc. The house still looks great in a smaller garden. Just a bit of compression.
A thing to look out for. If you are modeling say the 1950s; do not have anything on the layout that was made or built after that time.
A new section at Clarence Dock (Still some work to be done). Timeframe 1914/1919. The postbox is a 1995 design.
Have fun. It is a (great) hobby.
York1 John
Thanks for your comments, Dave. Much appreciated.
I am busy today, but I'll be back later and explain a 'few tricks' I have done that might help you with your railroad.
NorthBritThe decals from the rough ones were removed and 'Craigellachie' ones added.
Nice work! You now have some really valuable shipments on your layout!
By the way, I love how 'dense' your layout scenery is. I have a detailed layout plan with lots of buildings in a primarily urban scene but I'm still worried that the layout will look too 'open', in other words there will be too much space between the buildings. I have allowed a lot of space for roads and parking lots but I'm giving that plan second thoughts.
Recently I bought three Triang Toys/Pedigree Prams containers. One was in good condition the other two were 'rough looking'. The decals from the rough ones were removed and 'Craigellachie' ones added.
Thanks Mark. It's just a lot of little scenes I remember put together. The railroad just passes thru.
Even now I see a little scene. See someone propping up a fence that is about to fall down in the wind.
Follow someone out of a store; why do they stop outside so you cannot pass
Bonnet up on an automobile. Is it broken down or is the owner giving it a service?
A train passes and children look at it. Adults have their things on their minds.
Nature is not 'prim and proper'. There are 'fifty shades of green' in a small area.
The sky is not always blue. The clouds are not always 'fluffy'. Is that rain approaching. Fog? Heat haze?
Puddles after rainfall
Just little scenes that are all around us helping to bring a railroad to life.
When I look at 'memorable layouts' I try to see 'why are they memorable'? It certainly isn't the track plan. It certainly isn't the locomotives etc that are run. If it were, all layouts would be memorable.
My most memorable layouts I have seen and read about have lots of little things one remembers and seen. Things we see yet rarely model. Those layouts have a reason to be one and operated as a real railroad. Their owners have taken their railroad to the highest level by daring to be different to others.
I have a long, long way to be as good, but even if I do not succeed, I will be able to say 'I tried'.
I have said to others, have a railroad that has that 'edge'. Stretch your modeling capabilities. Dare to be different. See what you see and not what you think you saw. Bring your layout to life. Have a 'Living Model Railroad'. Make your railroad 'memorable'.
David, your layout is exceptional. One could get lost in the detailing shown in your photos.
Mark P.
Website: http://www.thecbandqinwyoming.comVideos: https://www.youtube.com/user/mabrunton
I have been making some removable loads. Fairly simple to make.
Glue a piece of wood to a piece of card
Paint the card a dark color.
Glue the required load to the card.
Place in wagon.
Repeat with other wagons
A fully laden train heading to Barnbow
For the return journey lift the loads out -- a train of empty wagons.
Add people to the layout. Makes it a reason to be there. A Living Model Railroad.
Which people are going to Julia's Bakers? Who are heading towards the crossing?
See the man delivering the coal. The man on his bicycle waiting at the crossing.
It isn't all about the railroad. D. K. (Archbold) is about to leave to go home. He is seen here talking to the fork-lift driver, Terry Pearson.
Scenes of life. Making a layout more than just running trains.
'Watching the trains'
Class 25 25237 with a train of Ale boxvans passing Roseville Station and heading north.
Staff Nurse Sandra Brown passing Roseville Station one her way to the hospital. St James' Hospital is just round the corner.
Thanks for your comments, guys. Glad you like the layout.