Tales from The Room of Doom. Dipping a toe in various bucolic backwaters.
- Thread starter Flaxfield
- Start date
Flaxfield
Western Thunderer
Going back to Project Peco, lots of ideas are bouncing around. The common thread is that I've decided not to use the pretty but rather large engine shed/workshop. This has opened things up somewhat.
One of the more left field thoughts was that of a 1950s Italian ' goods facility '..
Rob
One of the more left field thoughts was that of a 1950s Italian ' goods facility '..
Rob
Rob R
Western Thunderer
Go for it.
Left field is good.
Nick Rogers
Western Thunderer
Yorkshire Dave
Western Thunderer
Nice - even more left field is to finish the buildings as Roman ruins.
Yorkshire Dave
Western Thunderer
On the Roman theme I'd go surrealist and turn it into a true Roman scene. Then and add some of these.... Ancient Rome • Speira Miniatures
After all, chariot wheels were allegedly 1435mm apart
.
After all, chariot wheels were allegedly 1435mm apart
.
jonte
Western Thunderer
In one respect, Rob, I’d caution against your choice of a European theme. Why? Simply because foreign layouts have never been well received by British Modellers. Indeed, the Continental Modeller probably sold in nth quantities compared to Railway Modeller for this reason, and sections for modellers of overseas layouts on British fora like RMWeb are very much ‘niche’.
That said, despite MRJ being overwhelmingly British railway themed, (apart from ‘Hurley’) John Wright’s wonderful Pennsylvanian themed layout of several years ago is a stand out for me, a key which unlocked the door to the dark side. I was simply fascinated, for instance, by the former Santa Fe’s lines as they wended their way through the dusty backstreets of Downtown LA, with their rusty rails sandwiched between industrial buildings seemingly left over from some mid Western town, a la Wayne and Eastwood,with barely a sleeper in site. I was hooked.
Additionally, I note that a couple of Columbian/Peruvian (?) based layouts by the same builder have been met with much acclaim of late, and requested to exhibit, so perhaps the tide is turning?
In any case, with your excellent skill set and attention to detail, I’m sure your creation will be well received, whatever the period/setting.
I’d say an unreserved ‘yes’ just by the appearance of those wonderful little tank engines with their multitude of valve gear.
Just my pennarth worth.
Jon
That said, despite MRJ being overwhelmingly British railway themed, (apart from ‘Hurley’) John Wright’s wonderful Pennsylvanian themed layout of several years ago is a stand out for me, a key which unlocked the door to the dark side. I was simply fascinated, for instance, by the former Santa Fe’s lines as they wended their way through the dusty backstreets of Downtown LA, with their rusty rails sandwiched between industrial buildings seemingly left over from some mid Western town, a la Wayne and Eastwood,with barely a sleeper in site. I was hooked.
Additionally, I note that a couple of Columbian/Peruvian (?) based layouts by the same builder have been met with much acclaim of late, and requested to exhibit, so perhaps the tide is turning?
In any case, with your excellent skill set and attention to detail, I’m sure your creation will be well received, whatever the period/setting.
I’d say an unreserved ‘yes’ just by the appearance of those wonderful little tank engines with their multitude of valve gear.
Just my pennarth worth.
Jon
Northroader
Western Thunderer
Forza! Amico mio.
Flaxfield
Western Thunderer
Hi, Jon.
Thank you for those very kind words. I think many of us have a quiet regard for another country's railway.
My interest in small Italian steam locos came by accident. I stumbled across them on ebay and for the reasons you mention, I was hooked..
My main 'foreign' modelling interest is pre-1990 Czech State Railways, but perhaps that's a discussion for another time.
I agree with your thoughts on Continental Modeller. It's very much an acquired taste for many British modellers, but there is some really good stuff in there on occasion. In fact, the recent issue featuring Tim Hale's Pottendorf is on the Desk of Doing as I type. I have enjoyed the occasional foreign subject in MRJ, and I do wish there were more. There are some very talented modellers out there who are creating some wonderful models, which us British modellers could learn much from.
I mean, what's not to like.
I'm not sure if Project Peco will turn into the Italian Job but as a self contained, small project, it could work out quite well.
Rob
cmax
Western Thunderer
Hi Rob, This is a photograph of the prototype....
It's excellent and proves to me, that less is often more, fantastic modelling.Gary
Flaxfield
Western Thunderer
Hi Rob, This is a photograph of the prototype....
Gary
Hi Gary.
Thank you. Here's another similar view of the same area.
Rob
Flaxfield
Western Thunderer
Morning all..
Final prep ahead of the run to Stow at Sparrowfart tomorrow morning.
New fascia piece cut and painted last night and fitted this morning. It replaced one that I'd c○cked up the spacing of the screws holding it in place, something that had bothered me ever since.
A quick coffee and on with clearing up the last few snags. I'm adding a baffle to mask the glare from the rearmost LED tube and need to touch up the engine shed.
Stock will be kept to a minimum, four locos ( 2 main, 2 standby ) and 8 wagons should do it. I'm advised I may have some guest locos appearing so that should be fun.
Check kit then settle down to watch the F.A Cup before loading this evening ready for an early start.
A busy day but no stress.
Rob
Final prep ahead of the run to Stow at Sparrowfart tomorrow morning.
New fascia piece cut and painted last night and fitted this morning. It replaced one that I'd c○cked up the spacing of the screws holding it in place, something that had bothered me ever since.
A quick coffee and on with clearing up the last few snags. I'm adding a baffle to mask the glare from the rearmost LED tube and need to touch up the engine shed.
Stock will be kept to a minimum, four locos ( 2 main, 2 standby ) and 8 wagons should do it. I'm advised I may have some guest locos appearing so that should be fun.
Check kit then settle down to watch the F.A Cup before loading this evening ready for an early start.
A busy day but no stress.
Rob
76043
Western Thunderer
Hi Rob, Can I ask what method of point control you are using for the Peco compo? Obviously for the compo we don't need to worry, but in terms of planning for afterwards I want to plan ahead and retro fit this sort of thing. Are you planning on DCC and pointy finger? How does that work in terms of electrofroggery?
Cheers
Tony
Cheers
Tony
There are some very charming continental locations out there- I have just spent a few days on the island of Lindau in the Bodensee(Lake Constance) which is bordered by Bavaria, Austria and Switzerland. Plenty of light railway industry (they are building the new Tyne and Wear metro trains around there) . Lindau itself is a tiny island with basically a harbour, the old and new lighthouse, a mediaeval town, and the station which also has an old customs shed and remains of a train ferry terminal. It’s just crying out to be modelled.
Flaxfield
Western Thunderer
Morning, Tony.
I'm not sure yet. Possibly Caboose Industries point throws or wire in tube let into the top skin of MDF. However, I do have both seep type point motors and peco twist lock jobs, though I need to check if the board is deep enough for those.
The froggy things will use Gaugemaster frog juicers as, yes, I will use DCC.
Hope that makes sense.
Rob