Here is the "grand plan" for my Demondrille-Kingsvale layout:

The modules (the rectangles shown above) would be in my train room; the loop on the left would be in an area under a balcony which I would have to enclose.  I have to create openings in the brickwork for the track to exit and re-enter.  The loop on the right is in an area under the house - difficult to access for operation, but plenty of room for construction of a simple un-landscaped loop, probably in code 100 for reliability.  But my plan is to build it in stages and take my time.  So I don't have to worry too much about that yet.  The most pleasing thing about this design is that I can run trains continuously as well as preserve the character of both Demondrille North and South, as well as the branch line to Young/Cowra/Blayney, via Kings Vale.

Below is the condensed diagram from the 1954 ARHS Bulletin (ideal given that I'm modelling 1953).

 James.



Hi all
A long time between drinks, but that reflects my general of level of busy-ness as the new year (which isn't so new anymore) got underway.

But fear not!  I have been busy modelling and have achieved a lot.

1.  Painted the station building and signal box.  Needs another touch up before weathering.

2.  Almost finished the brick platform facing.  This uses Keiran Ryan's etched brass brick sheet.  I'm not completely happy with it yet, but it's getting there.

3.  As you can see from the photo above, I've also painted the rail and glued down the sleepers.

4.  Contoured the platform and painted a base coat before adding white N scale ballast to represent the crushed quartz surface.

5.  Developed the "grand plan" for my layout.  Not sure if I will get this done in the current lifetime, but   I think it can fit into the space, so I can work towards it.  It's got me excited.  I will post a drawing; it's on my other computer.

6.  I have fitted some new Ikea shelving in my train room to get better organised.  The shelving also forms the basis for supporting the layout.  That is, layout on top, storage underneath.  This is a great step forward for improving my workspace.  The photo still shows disorder and clutter, but you should have seen it before!

7.  Starting to work on the landscaping - building up the cutting at the north end of the station precinct.

Also, not layout related, but I have been doing some brass etches for a friend and preparing some magazine articles.  So no wonder I haven't updated the blog for a while.

I also made some new additions to my "Wild Swan" library - the book on modelling trees is brilliant.  I'm really looking forward to giving that a go.  Plus a couple of older titles on layout design.  If you're looking for these, I ordered them from The Titfield Thunderbolt (www.titfield.co.uk) and they were great.

I hope to post some more details soon.

Toodle-pip.

James

Railway tourism

Hi all,
I've been having a great time exploring pioneer lines and discovering structures which have somehow survived the ravages of time in some form.  Sampling the Aussie pub cuisine and beer at the end of the day as well.  A great combination.

I made a few new discoveries today:

• I know the Blayney - Demondrille line has been officially closed since 2009, but I noticed there is a stop sign and a sleeper across the branch near Demondrille station, which I hadn't seen before.  The scene continues to decay, as does North Box.  So glad I took all those photos 15 years ago when there was something left.
• The North Jindalee back road, my favourite part of the Main South, which follows the old aligment of the line near Morrison's Hill.  This would be a great area for photography if there were a few more trains running in daylight.
• The viaducts/approaches to the Murrumbidgee River bridge at Narrandera.  Very sad to see all this slowly disintegrating; what a lot of labour must have gone into all those iron-bark trestles.  I had never seen this before but it is an impressive and fascinating piece of railway archaeology.
• Took some soil samples at Kingsvale and some more photos.  If modelling a particular location, I think at least two visits are necessary.  The second visit is for all those details you miss the first time!

Cheers
James.

Northern approach to Murrumbidgee river bridge at Narrandera.

A view of Kingsvale showing the loading bank and platform at the left.

Work is the enemy of modelling

Hi all, and happy 2012.

After 10 days off work, I have made some pleasing progress with my small layout. This is despite the 3 kids, a long list of chores etc, and the usual festive engagements. Clearly it's work that prevents me modelling more during the year!

I've got my track working, two points operating and DCC functioning. I had some more shenanigans with a short, but managed to sort that out.

This shows the construction of the module - a rivetted aluminium frame and ply cross-members and top.  Very light but stiff. 

This shows the mess of wiring, for just three roads and two turnouts.  In future, I will draw a grid on the underside and place all wiring on the grid.  I am yet to add labels to the wires for future trouble-shooting.

The platform facing and the two types of brick sheeting used here; brass etching for the face and styrene sheet strip for the top edge.  Not happy with the colour of the etched brass.  I have seen brickwork this basic colour, but in this instance, the bricks are more orange/red/yellow.

Another view of the platform face.  Also seen here is the balsa strip glued to the top of the platform to represent the contour of the platform, in particular the fall from the station building to the platform edge.

Applying PVA to the cork road-bed prior to adding sleepers.

Stained sleepers ready to lay.  These are stained with diluted Raven Oil which gives a great natural variation to the sleeper colour, but all are greyish with the silvery sheen of weathered timber.

Sleepers in position before the glue dries.  The rails are not yet attached to the timber sleepers; the gauge is maintained by the copper clad PCB sleepers at approximately 30' intervals.  These will be disguised by stained basswood strip.

The platform facing is glued on. I have glued some thin balsa to the platform surface and shaped it to a prototypical contour.

I started gluing down some stained sleepers and have started brush-painting the rail. I was all ready to airbrush the rail and the platform face, when - my compressor died! Murphy strikes again. Off to Bunnings half an hour before closing time; a new one was just $79, about $300 less than the lat time I bought a compressor.

Here's hoping I have more success tomorrow.  But at the moment, I am feeling quite optimistic that the end is in sight!  Why it has taken me this long to get this far, I don't know...although, I am at the point where I have just about everything I need to undertake any modelling job.  Except if a compressor carks it.

The station building is being painted in the stone colour scheme and looking very handsome so far.

Some time ago, I promised some pictures of Kingsvale, but never got around to posting them.  Here is all that remains (as at March 2010).

Looking south (towards Demondrille) with the platform at right and the loading bank and grain shed in the distance on the left.

A closer view of the loading bank.  The centre road has been removed.

The footings of the station building

The catch point at the northern end of the loop

James

Merry Christmas all

Hi everyone,

I have really enjoyed being part of this blogging community this year; it has been both motivational and inspirational.  Thanks to all of you, the followers and the followed. 

There are a few things on the go, and with three weeks holiday I'm hoping to make some solid progress.  Will report, with photos, in next few weeks.

Best wishes to all for Christmas, and for 2012.  I hope Santa has some nice packages for you in the morning.

James.

Good intentions

It's been a while since I last posted, so here's what I've been up to:
1. Studying
2. Busy time at work
3. A 20-month old who needs constant supervision (don't want him playing with my brass locos,now,do I?)
4. Writing an article for AJRM (slow, but progressing)
5. Dreaming, particularly being inspired by my old mate Ian Millard and his Liverpool Range layout.
6. Working on some artwork for brass etching

What's left over is for modelling.

However, the article I mentioned is about modelling brickwork, an area which is often overlooked here. I have been trying different methods of representing brick walls, with varying success. I will post some photos when I get them off the camera.

Until then, may all your days be spent in the train room.

Kings Vale - first train

Passed a significant milestone today with the first train (CPH 12) operating over the line under its own power.

This was followed by 3813 running light engine.

Very chuffed (if you'll pardon the pun)!

Cheers
James