An Industrial Narrow Gauge Adventure - the layout part three

The canal walls have been clad with some resin slabs that I had spare from building masters for Grand Manner. The slabs were cut into sections and glued in place with two-part epoxy. The kerb stone topping or edging stones were constructed from 5mm thick laminate flooring underlay which although soft and easily damaged, can be strengthened by painting with a uPVA, filler mix.

The edges were detailed with more Milliput, then I painted all the stonework with a uPVA glue, filler and fine sand mix to give it greater texture.

On a visit to the canal basin in Droitwich town centre, I took these images of the canal walls and thought that the waste water or overflow gate and wooden strakes were worth modelling on my diorama/layout.

The overflow gate was constructed from plastic card and the wooden buffers were modelled from strips of balsawood detailed with plastic card and plastic rod bolts.

For more details and images of my Industrial Narrow Gauge Adventure please use the Narrow Gauge label to the right.

Tony

Much Ado About Nothing at the Globe Theatre in London

On Sunday 8th of October, Holly met up with Sue and I to see a performance of Much Ado About Nothing at the Globe Theatre in London. This was the first time that Sue and I had visited the Globe Theatre and were we in for a treat.

I am not ashamed to say that on entering the theatre there was a 'lump in my throat', this really is a very special building and experience, then the performance! One of the most spectacular Shakespeare plays I have ever seen (and trust me I've seen many) with parts that were 'laugh out loud' funny and others that were 'tear to the eye' moving. On the way back to catch the train home I was amazed to realise that we had been in the theatre for over three hours, the time just flew by. The setting of the play was in Revolutionary Mexico with a Santa Fe boxcar as the backdrop and actors dressed in typical Mexican dress complete with crossed bandoleers and huge Mexican sombreros. Although at first this was a little off-putting withing minutes the core of the play took over and I felt this unusual setting actually added to the experience. The performance was a signed performance for the deaf or hard of hearing and the BSL translator did a great job in both translating and at times adding to the performance - at the end of the play Sue, Holly and I were able to speak to her and congratulate her on the BSL translation.

A big fat 10 out of 10 from me.

Here is the official link for more information;
The Globe 2017

Tony

An Industrial Narrow Gauge Adventure - the layout part two

I have extended the length of both the base and the back scene board to 920mm or 3 feet by adding half a black kitchen door to each. 

The canal part (to the front) has been raised by adding layers of corrugated cardboard and the track base area extended with more corrugated cardboard. Any joins have been covered with brown wrapping paper or spare card.

The sides and front have been clad with 5mm thick plastic card and any joins filled and smoothed out with Milliput epoxy putty.

The shelf layout is now 920mm long by 320mm deep.

For more details of this project please use the Narrow Gauge label to the right.

Tony

An Industrial Narrow Gauge Adventure - additional image two

Another short update showing the 1:27.7 scale Feldbahn narrow gauge engine, driver and scratch-built skip on Peco 'crazy track'. Details of each can be found by following the Narrow Gauge label to the right.

Tony

An Industrial Narrow Gauge Adventure - additional image

Today's post is more of a quick update. I have placed a section of Peco O-16.5 'crazy track' with the finished Feldbahn engine on to the cardboard base to give an idea of the scale/size of the planned layout.

Hopefully. I can get more work done this week.

For more details of this 1:27.7 (or 11mm = 1 foot) model railway project see the Narrow Gauge label to the right.

Tony

An Industrial Narrow Gauge Adventure - the layout part one

The two kitchen cabinet doors have been glued and screwed together. A corrugated cardboard sub base has been glued in place with my hot glue gun. This area will form the main operating part of the layout with the forward area being a section of canal as you can see in the plan below.

I have reinforced the front section of the canal with strips of brown wrapping paper applied over uPVA glue. This forms a strong but light core onto which I will be modelling more detail. The two doors were picked-up for a bargain price as they were being discontinued.

Each door is 700mm tall x 300mm wide. So this Mk I design is 700mm long with a 300mm high backdrop.

Tony

An Industrial Narrow Gauge Adventure - my first thoughts about the planned layout

As the Industrial Narrow Gauge Adventure progresses, I have started to think about the type of layout I would like to build. In an ideal world, it would be huge, stretching from one end of the double garage to the order with run round loops and rolling countryside plus an industrial setting to one end. This plan although impressive would never get finished, so I am restricting myself to a smaller 'shelf style' layout a layout more akin to a working diorama.

My first doodling (see above) is a simple box and a single track running across a culvert. Simple and effective with loads of diorama potential but boring!

Mk II is a little more impressive with just one turnout and a curved back scene.

Mk III and the factory unit to the right becomes more prominent.

Mk IV Developing the theme even further with a curved front and a turntable.

Mk V I have been given a couple of old kitchen cabinet doors - 700 long and 300 wide. These would be ideal as baseboard and backdrop, so a flat back and just a single track running from left to right.

I know that this would be too simplistic, but it would allow for super detailing of the back scene.

Mk VI By extending the doors to 900 x 300 I could build this layout. A layout with just one turnout and a canal side running along the front.

I have found a third kitchen cabinet door which has already been cut in half and the shelf layout is now 900 long by 300 deep with a similar solid backdrop. Expect some first attempt images soon.

Tony