4mm Orchard Hill (WD Yard)- a narrow gauge indulgence.

[jonte]

A further minor advance with this indulgence of mine. A name has been plucked from the ether and the little layout will be known as Orchard Hill. This will enable me to at last use a bulk(ish) purchase made some time back of modestly reasonable trees which had travelled all the way from Viet-Nam to the UK retailer! However, they are reasonable and relatively uniform so should , I hope, make a reasonable orchard - the actual crop has yet to be decided, . Attendant structures will, I am happy to think, be minimal.

Trackwork and wiring having been completed, including a minor modification to the 'yard' which has seen one siding lengthened and the other one removed. Test-running has been undertaken and a couple of wrinkles in the system ironed out, so now the locos and stock have been put in to storage whilst I start the scenery. The first job is the assembly of some buildings so that the siting of them can be done to enable the rising contours to be evolved, As this side of the hobby must rank as my favourite part, I hope further progress will soon be available for another report. So until then.........

Roger.

Good to hear, Roger, and glad you’re over the frustrating bits of the hobby which can affect impetus and thus progress

Atmospheric choice of name too, ‘Orchard Hill’. Puts me in mind of Somerset, and the orchards/artisan’s gardens that once limed the minor roads of the County, before it became Yuppies retreat.

I suppose that would also provide the solution as to the question of the type of crop: lemons!

Only kidding, Roger. Is Scrumpy the local term for Zomerzet Zider?

Enjoy your scenicking, Roger, which hopefully can be accomplished indoors during the pending inclement season, and I look forward to seeing pictures of developments as and when.

Jon

 

[Roger Pound]

A further progress report on this small diorama type layout. The layout is now officially christened as Orchard Hill, as implied in the new title of this thread. The basic completion of buildings mentioned in the post #20 has been carried out. These consist of a pair of cottages and a station halt building provided as 'freebies' by a well known magazine. They now await a bit of detailing and general fiddling about after which placement can be done. The refitting of uncoupling units remains undone - I am still in two minds as to their value on this layout, whereas I can possible find more appropriate use for them on my 2025 project of a mini-Stutzendorf - more to follow on that!

The state of play at present is that the small hill upon which the token representation of the orchard will stand has been installed and the first layers of material are currently gently drying out. Being very old school, the method I have used is expanded polystyrene carved to shape, and glued to the board cork surface with a thick mixture of wallpaper paste. This is then covered with layers of scrap paper glued on with the said paste, to ease out any angles and obtain the required basic shape - it is all rather like a poor man's papier mashe but I've been using it for years and it works - so if it ain't broke.......... When the basic shape has dried out over twenty-four hours it will be generously coated with s slightly thinner mix of wall-paper paste and then covered with a mix of surface dressings and this allowed to dry out once again. The final move will be the planting of the trees and the adding of details using coarse turf and similar dressings. I have not yet mastered the new methods of creating certain scenic effects by use of the natural static effect to my own satisfaction, but have used and do appreciate some of the ready made scenic items now available. However, with Orchard Hill economy is the watchword, and my old methods still allow me the pleasure and satisfaction of completing the work in hand. Vacuuming off the loose surplus and that final tidying concluded by washing one's hands to remove the paste and anything else that me have stuck to them is, for me, most satisfying.

Having said that -it's usually when you come back from the wash-basin you see the bit that you've missed .............!

I feel that the sight of a rather soggy hill base is not worthy of a photograph, but I do hope that Orchard Hill will be more photogenic next time. Until then......

Roger .

 

[Roger Pound]

Some further work on the aforementioned "soggy hill". Having the base materials firmly set and the paper coverings fitted, I have started work to, hopefully, make the hill in Orchard Hill look a little more realistic. Work so far has gone as follows - two different types of 'grass' matting remained in my stash of scenic leftovers and it occurred to me that a splice of them would enable a very obvious difference from the uncultivated embankment to the 'dressed grass' surface of the orchard. So the matting was laid and allowed to dry overnight and this morning the sloping sides of the hill, which had been left uncovered were assaulted with a variety of flocks, turf and other materials. This attack has resulted in the sight below. The slopes are not actually as severe as the pictures make them seem to appear.

A general over all view. The area is yet again still drying out !


This gives an almost 'ground level' view. Apologies for the flash reflecting off the back-scene. It isn't the arrival of The Vulcans, the Klingons or even ET............... You can tell I spent too much time watching Sci-fi, can't you?



I would add that the colours will change slightly in some areas as they dry and settle. The bank as it goes round the corner towards the railway is next and will include some ballasting too. Going to let this lot dry out now and sort out the trees ready for planting .

Well, folks, that should give you an idea of how I go about achieving effects using the methods I learned as a lad - say seventy plus years ago. I have embraced many of the advances in our hobby including the use of the huge variety of scenic aids now available, but as you see, still enjoy many old methods. I am not au fait with dcc control nor do I have any particular engineering skills but even without these wonderful skills, I still enjoy following my own path in this wonderful hobby.

Happy modelling to you all, and there will, I hope, be further news of Orchard Hill quite soon.

Roger .

 

[jonte]

Some further work on the aforementioned "soggy hill". Having the base materials firmly set and the paper coverings fitted, I have started work to, hopefully, make the hill in Orchard Hill look a little more realistic. Work so far has gone as follows - two different types of 'grass' matting remained in my stash of scenic leftovers and it occurred to me that a splice of them would enable a very obvious difference from the uncultivated embankment to the 'dressed grass' surface of the orchard. So the matting was laid and allowed to dry overnight and this morning the sloping sides of the hill, which had been left uncovered were assaulted with a variety of flocks, turf and other materials. This attack has resulted in the sight below. The slopes are not actually as severe as the pictures make them seem to appear.

A general over all view. The area is yet again still drying out !
View attachment 233735

This gives an almost 'ground level' view. Apologies for the flash reflecting off the back-scene. It isn't the arrival of The Vulcans, the Klingons or even ET............... You can tell I spent too much time watching Sci-fi, can't you?
View attachment 233736


I would add that the colours will change slightly in some areas as they dry and settle. The bank as it goes round the corner towards the railway is next and will include some ballasting too. Going to let this lot dry out now and sort out the trees ready for planting .

Well, folks, that should give you an idea of how I go about achieving effects using the methods I learned as a lad - say seventy plus years ago. I have embraced many of the advances in our hobby including the use of the huge variety of scenic aids now available, but as you see, still enjoy many old methods. I am not au fait with dcc control nor do I have any particular engineering skills but even without these wonderful skills, I still enjoy following my own path in this wonderful hobby.

Happy modelling to you all, and there will, I hope, be further news of Orchard Hill quite soon.

Roger .

Noted

Jon

 

[Roger Pound]

The saga of the hill continues......!

The decoration of the side embankment has been started and athough one side is only partially completed, the other just requires a bit of fine detailing and I can then let it lie. The orchard has been planted and the trees appear in blossom - looks like it could be a cherry orchard - nothing to do with the well known play of a similar name, I assure you. The pink blossom seems to infer that to me although those fruit tree experts among you may know differently. Suggestions on a postcard please............? As the pack of model trees from which the orchard examples are extracted originated in Viet-Nam, I can only guess here. The orchard itself needs considerable extra fine detailing and some judicious brush work on the tree trunks may be of benefit too - typical of me, I should have thought of that before planting them . Anyhow, have a look..........

A general view of the fruit trees in particular - the just visible building is the Orchard Hill Halt - a Peco RM/Metcalfe 'freebie' kindly supplied by a good friend:


Two views from slightly different angles of the improved embankment to the disappearance point to the yard/storage area.



This one shows the unfinished area, warts and all...!



So there we are - yet another stage of the adventure being undertaken by a relic of railway modelling (me, that is .) No doubt it will still rate a "Could do better" on the end of term report, but it's all fun anyway . After all, what are hobbies for if you don't enjoy yourself and can't have a laugh?

All the best fellow Thunderers,

Roger .

 

[timbowales]

Roger, from where did you obtain the Vietnamese trees?

 

[Roger Pound]

Tim,

Gaugemaster. They were on their scenery lists on their web-site on the web and arrived as part of a mixed order I placed some time back. I believe they are described as a bulk pack. Certainly some of the better mass produced trees I have seen in my time. Hope this helps.

Roger.

 

[timbowales]

Tim,

Gaugemaster. They were on their scenery lists on their web-site on the web and arrived as part of a mixed order I placed some time back. I believe they are described as a bulk pack. Certainly some of the better mass produced trees I have seen in my time. Hope this helps.

Roger.

Thank you, now visiting the Gaugemaster website

 

[Roger Pound]

A further update pending a temporary halt in work on Orchard Hill - health problems and old age strike back ! So far the small railway halt for the area has been installed just to the south or Orchard Hill itself and partially tarted up with a bit of scenic dressing. A road area has been partially installed and a cunning plan evolved to make the disappearance in to the back scene look a little more realistic. (I got an MA in 'Cunning Planning' at Baldrick University..........). That is where work has currently stopped and I shall be taking a rest whilst I get myself sorted out.

I hope to have further news ere long - with pictures even !

Roger

 

[Roger Pound]

I am continuing my break from Orchard Hill whilst I grapple with the whims, whereby's and what-if's of learning how to competently use my new lap top - . On the plus side, everything is faster and brighter, so one mustn't grumble. However, please bear with someone of my age who still considers a computer as a typewriter that has pictures and files stuff....... !

It does also provide an excuse for the removal of Orchard Hill temporarily to the back burner and starting on my 2025 project of Stutzendorf in N. Well, they do say a change is as good as a rest - .

Back soon,

Roger.

 

[Roger Pound]

Hot off the press - events are scheduled at Orchard Hill that will bring a connsiderable change to the original scheme. The calendar is to go sharply into reverse (I wish mine could......... ) and suddenly we shall be back in the nineteen-forties. The military will become a prime presence in the area and the sidings are for their use. A modified title is envisaged, not to mention a revised back story.......!

The reasoning for this is the pending demise of my Sumwear-in-England layout following the structural deterioration of the outside shed in which it is housed. I have a fair amount of militaria which I acquired for that layout and I am loathe to see it go. Giving the matter a little thought I came to the conclusion it would allow me to further indulge this theme of having a military-cum-railway mixture. Albeit this is a more confined space but nevertheless will increase the pleasure factor for me. The decision was encouraged more than a little by the proposed range of rolling stock for 009 just announced by Rapido. So stand fast for further news on this development in the future when the 009 layout comes indoors again for further work - l guess it will depend on the rate of dismantling of Sumwear but I reckon it will be a couple or three months , not to mention good fun .

I'll be with you again soon.

Roger

 

[Roger Pound]

Another month has disappeared without trace - they say time passes more quickly as the older one gets, but it seems to be to be on Warp Factor 9 for me just lately ! Followers of Orchard Hill may be aware of the minor set-back I have received with my 2mm escapade, Stutzendorf, not to mention the dismantling of the 4mm Sumwear-in-England. Whilst having these works undertaken, I can return to a war-time period at Orchard Hill to do some constructive modelling. I have already started by modifiying the line of the backscene to allow a modest increase in the area available for scenic treatment. I have obtained some tents (a Faller product) to create an 'Under Canvas' military site and of course, many of the military vehicles from the Sumwear layout are available too. Further ideas have flickered within my imagination but one must rein in most of these thoughts before getting too carried away. I hope to provide pictures soon when some of the practical alterations are installed - shouldn't be too long.

Thanks for sticking with me on this one - see you soon .

Roger

 

[Roger Pound]

There has been a slow resumption of scenic work on Orchard Hill, which can be seen in the form of a road, dry-stone walls and gravelled area by the siding. Not a lot, you may quite rightly surmise, but a combination of hazards, ranging from increased household and gardening tasks, not helped by the age induced reduction of ability and energy, plus some further illness associated stoppages which induced a period of depression when my modelling mojo went on strike . These have all contributed to the apparent slowness of work. However, not withstanding the forgoing dose of self-pity, for which I do apologise, I am happily back in the swing of getting scenic features, using my old fashioned methods to attempt to realise the setting I seek. Wallpaper paste mixture and scenic mats, flock and the like are scattered at one end of Orchard Hill - cunningly off camera of course, (but what else would you expect.....) These are my tools - yes, they take longer to deal with and drying out is a slower thing than with many modern glues, but it is effective and inexpensive to boot. So, here are the pictures:-


This shows the edge of the work so far - the tree is temporarily placed and will have the trunk washed over to reduce the shine and single tone, making it look a little more realistic (I hope.). The dry-stone wall was something I must have purchased back in the mists of time, but was recently discovered lurking in a 'bitsa' box. I immediately saw a use for it in Orchard Hill. I have no idea of it's make or origin, but wouldn't mind getting some more.......


This shows the other end of the siding and dry stone walland the gap where a level crossing will be installed. Bearing in mind that the OHLR is a narrow gauge line this will be ungated and protected by a flagman working form the adjacent station. Once again, huge amounts of scenic work require either completion or entirely new construction. Definitely work in progress, gents !

There we have it for this time. Now to texture that gravel base alonside the siding and build and insert the crossing ramps. I plan to make the centre filling of the crossing by curving strips of polystyrene, the theory being that it will be a relatively simple way to achieve wheel clearances accurately. We shall see . Further plans involve the alleged Orchard - my good lady wife quite properly pointed out that nice as the trees looked, they were not fruit trees. She should know - she is a farmer's daughter and I rely on her for advice on country features. As 'The Military' will be a presence in the area in future, the Orchard will be modified to a military site - the plans are already made but these details will be available later and the Orchard Hill of the title willl now exist 'further down the line', off stage.

It's all in the mind, you know !

Further news and pictures when they let me out again..........

Roger

 

[Roger Pound]

A brief note - and not before time I hear you quite reasonably say ! A mutitude of non-related events varying from health, household tasks, horticulture and the trials of age, (the latter seem both ever increasing and never ending), have conspired against my making a deal of progress in the conversion of Orchard Hill to Orchard Hill (WD yard). Sounds flamboyant, but it's just the name that has changed, the actual layout remains much the same. I am at the scenic stage and had hit a scenic-maker's block, so to speak. Thus things remained in the doldrums until the dismantling of Sumwear-in-England (details appear in it's thread as to why). This released certain necessary buildings and other bits which had been hidden away in store and forgotten about -age again .

Thus the mental block was kicked aside and I have started to get on with Orchard Hill (WD Yard) again. One bit of help I got was from a surprising source on YouTube - a video showing a situation at Egginton Military sidings which solved a problem of how to make the sidings look somewhat militarised without being over formal. The original Orchard Hill was intended to portray a somewhat run down, principally agricultural narrow gauge railway. Now, thanks to the wartime situation, the WD will have upgraded the line somewhat and an element of regimental tidyness will apply. This is also bourne out by the varied stock from comandeered from many sources. It all adds to the fun of railway modelling though by not having a pedantic chain holding one back. Rest assured work is in hand and progress will be illustrated next time, which should hopefully be very soon.

See you then, .

Roger

 

[jonte]

A brief note - and not before time I hear you quite reasonably say ! A mutitude of non-related events varying from health, household tasks, horticulture and the trials of age, (the latter seem both ever increasing and never ending), have conspired against my making a deal of progress in the conversion of Orchard Hill to Orchard Hill (WD yard). Sounds flamboyant, but it's just the name that has changed, the actual layout remains much the same. I am at the scenic stage and had hit a scenic-maker's block, so to speak. Thus things remained in the doldrums until the dismantling of Sumwear-in-England (details appear in it's thread as to why). This released certain necessary buildings and other bits which had been hidden away in store and forgotten about -age again .

Thus the mental block was kicked aside and I have started to get on with Orchard Hill (WD Yard) again. One bit of help I got was from a surprising source on YouTube - a video showing a situation at Egginton Military sidings which solved a problem of how to make the sidings look somewhat militarised without being over formal. The original Orchard Hill was intended to portray a somewhat run down, principally agricultural narrow gauge railway. Now, thanks to the wartime situation, the WD will have upgraded the line somewhat and an element of regimental tidyness will apply. This is also bourne out by the varied stock from comandeered from many sources. It all adds to the fun of railway modelling though by not having a pedantic chain holding one back. Rest assured work is in hand and progress will be illustrated next time, which should hopefully be very soon.

See you then, .

Roger

It’s all beginning to make sense now, Roger

A worthy distraction, if so, indeed old friend

A layout built to Rule No.1 makes for a happy build in my book, but no less still believable with your knowledge and guile.

Will keep a keen eye to impending developments

Best wishes,

Jon

 

[Roger Pound]

It’s all beginning to make sense now, Roger

A worthy distraction, if so, indeed old friend

A layout built to Rule No.1 makes for a happy build in my book, but no less still believable with your knowledge and guile.

Will keep a keen eye to impending developments

Best wishes,

Jon

Thank you for your flattering words ,Jon. I happily admit that a lot of my achievements have been more by luck than judgement and I have always been a leading member of the 'Make-it-up-as-you-go-along' School of Modelling, whatever scale I was following at the time .

My firm belief is that a hobby should give pleasure, not strife, and to paraphrase the late Linn Westcott, a former editor of 'Model Railroader' magazine, "Railway modelling is fun". Long may it remain so.

Roger

 

[John57sharp]

My firm belief is that a hobby should give pleasure, not strife, and to paraphrase the late Linn Westcott, a former editor of 'Model Railroader' magazine, "Railway modelling is fun". Long may it remain so.

Amen!

Looking forward to reading more in due course.

John

 

[Roger Pound]

The initial stages of development of the general scene at Orchard Hill in pictures - this time I made sure I had some juice in the camera before running off at the mouth.. ! I would however emphasise that this is very much work in progress and a temporary back sheet will be seen, it's hiding the scenic builders kit parked on the as yet to be developed bit of the board. Enough chat, here are the pictures for the current stage:-

A pair of nissen huts at the yard entrance. The far one has yet to be camouflaged, but a relatively easy job for me. The open fronted one was removed from my old Sumwear in England layout and had been subject to some painting there. The damage at the base will be rectified - due to clumsy recycling .


A slightly wider angle view, also showing a pair of canvas storage tents.

A view towards the yard road entrance. The tree has had the trunk painted in to what I think is a more realistic colour


An overall view - as can be seen, much remains undone, but I'm working on it, honest guv!.

.

That's it - more soon, I hope.

Roger.

 

[Roger Pound]

To continue - a step further towards a fairish look - I won't say finished, a layout never is (and I have approaching eighty years of experience in that field) and would be happy to think that Orchard Hill (WD Yard) is in the region of becoming presentable. There is still much detailing and some modestly serious scenery to be completed. One thing holding some of that up at the moment is that I have mislaid a box of various miltaria bits ranging from machine guns to back packs and most points between . I have a vague idea where it is - but then again, thats me -vague, you know. It's an age thing ! Enough waffle - here's a few pictures to show the latest efforts:-

Views of the area behind the Nissen Huts. The row of trees serves as a boundary and also hides the disappearance of railway traffic to the sidings behind the main backscene.

From a lower level

Lower level again, from a slightly different angle.

The ballast will be tidied up and then detailed to better represent the often overgrown track seen on narrow-gauge lines at the time in which this model is set. The siding is also due to receive some kind of buffer stop - just what is currently a matter of conjecture........

An overall view of the area being worked upon - very definitely work in (rather slow) progress.

Things to be done are really quite obvious - ballasting of the remaining visible track area and creating a revised frontispiece as I intend to shorten the siding at the immediate front of the layout to about half its present length. The completion of the top left hand corner including some pictorial backscene being added to the plain board currently there. I won't even start to bore you with the further fine detailing - suffice to say it keeps me happy and I get to use stuff that has been packed in boxes doing very little for too long .

The final picture shows the other end of Orchard Hill which was at this stage before the revision of time and purpose of the layout occurred. The trees in full blossom have been re-arranged as can be seen and the open area will be employed for military purposes - ideas abound but decisions are slow to be made - a reflection on real life perhaps........! Unfinished work is as it was here - I really must extract digit .


Hope it gives some pleasure. Thanks for looking - be back soon.

Roger .

 

[jonte]

To continue - a step further towards a fairish look - I won't say finished, a layout never is (and I have approaching eighty years of experience in that field) and would be happy to think that Orchard Hill (WD Yard) is in the region of becoming presentable. There is still much detailing and some modestly serious scenery to be completed. One thing holding some of that up at the moment is that I have mislaid a box of various miltaria bits ranging from machine guns to back packs and most points between . I have a vague idea where it is - but then again, thats me -vague, you know. It's an age thing ! Enough waffle - here's a few pictures to show the latest efforts:-

Views of the area behind the Nissen Huts. The row of trees serves as a boundary and also hides the disappearance of railway traffic to the sidings behind the main backscene.
View attachment 248013
From a lower level
View attachment 248014
Lower level again, from a slightly different angle.
View attachment 248015
The ballast will be tidied up and then detailed to better represent the often overgrown track seen on narrow-gauge lines at the time in which this model is set. The siding is also due to receive some kind of buffer stop - just what is currently a matter of conjecture........

An overall view of the area being worked upon - very definitely work in (rather slow) progress.
View attachment 248019
Things to be done are really quite obvious - ballasting of the remaining visible track area and creating a revised frontispiece as I intend to shorten the siding at the immediate front of the layout to about half its present length. The completion of the top left hand corner including some pictorial backscene being added to the plain board currently there. I won't even start to bore you with the further fine detailing - suffice to say it keeps me happy and I get to use stuff that has been packed in boxes doing very little for too long .

The final picture shows the other end of Orchard Hill which was at this stage before the revision of time and purpose of the layout occurred. The trees in full blossom have been re-arranged as can be seen and the open area will be employed for military purposes - ideas abound but decisions are slow to be made - a reflection on real life perhaps........! Unfinished work is as it was here - I really must extract digit .
View attachment 248023

Hope it gives some pleasure. Thanks for looking - be back soon.

Roger .

A rather appealing scene, Roger, despite its ‘infancy’. The sort of idyll one would like to stumble across after it fell out of use (stumble being the operative word ).

I envy your laid track which I expect works faultlessly

At least you can still have operating fun even at this stage

Keep us posted, ol’ friend.

Jon