Simplicity Sidings

[Gerry Bullock]

Great Steve, I've been using these lighters for a few years now however you've given me uses for parts I previously ditched. One of our MRC members is a (non-smoking)Trucker so I'll get him to collect a few more on his travels.

[Glen A]

Some fantastic detailing ideas there (as usual) Steve. Great for putting in a small gap on any layout.
I don't know any smokers, but those old CD drives and other electronic junk I horde in the garage must have similar spring etc, so thanks for the good ideas, I might just go out and have a rummage

[foswaldy13]

I must say Steve, For such a small simple layout, this is magnificent. Sometimes layouts get overdetailed to the point they become a distraction from the trains themselves. I am glad you exercised some restraint for once.

[Steve Bennett]

Restraint thats my middle name and thanks for the compliment.
To be truthful, it has taken a long time to learn that and I do find it easier with scenic work than with weathering, where I often go too far.

It was a change in technique that made the real difference for me. Instead of looking at the layouts/dioramas as a whole, I switched to making a series of small cameo's with negative space between, where nothing much was happening.

Even on a layout this small, I still deliberately left areas rather plain, with the main areas of interest being around the garbage bin at the back right corner, the area around the fire hydrant against the building, with finally the fence along the front.
The areas I tried not to draw attention to, are the gates at the left and around the tracks in the middle, leaving centre stage clear for the main players, the trains . Though maybe not to everybodies taste, it works for me .



There is an old saying in modelling, it's not what you put in, it's what you leave off, that makes the difference . Maybe there is some truth in that.

[martin]

There is an old saying in modelling, it's not what you put in, it's what you leave off, that makes the difference . Maybe there is some truth in that.

There is a career in theatre design waiting for you if you ever need it! That's pretty much what Ralph Koltai (perhaps britains greatest theatre designer) said : "once you have finished, take absolutely everything unnecessary away and then you have your design"

[Steve Bennett]

There is a career in theatre design waiting for you if you ever need it!

Not sure about a career Martin, but I have done a little on a purely amateur level. My sister has a ballet school and puts on a theatre show every couple of years and I help with the set design. I think that is about my limit though, but thanks.

[Steve Bennett]

Some fantastic detailing ideas there (as usual) Steve. Great for putting in a small gap on any layout.
I don't know any smokers, but those old CD drives and other electronic junk I horde in the garage must have similar spring etc, so thanks for the good ideas, I might just go out and have a rummage

Dont fill all the gaps though Glen, take note of the comments above .

You are right, there are loads of parts waiting to be used in old electronic gear, especially something that is motorised in some way. Printers, scanners, disc drives, not to mention cassette players, clocks and a host of other items are full of potential clutter. Let your imagination go, it's fun seeing what you can use .

[Jon Randall]

Steve Bennett wrote:

a massive 2kg or 1 pound 2 ounces

Which one Steve 2kg is 4.4lb. 1 lb 2 oz is 0.6kg

[dieselwater]

Great idea I'll have to nab my friends when he's finished with it. Surprising amount of bits from one.

[Steve Bennett]

Which one Steve 2kg is 4.4lb. 1 lb 2 oz is 0.6kg

Can you tell I'm not used to these metric weights yet was reading the wrong dial on the scales

The correct weight is 1 lb 2 oz or if you prefer 0.6kg.

Back to school for me

[Jon Randall]

Cheers Steve I thought 2 kg was blooming heavy. I'm the opposite I can't work with imperial. I use the bag-of-sugar index. 1kg=2.2lb.
I had to google how many ounces in a pound.

[Steve Bennett]

Cheers Steve I thought 2 kg was blooming heavy. I'm the opposite I can't work with imperial. I use the bag-of-sugar index. 1kg=2.2lb.
I had to google how many ounces in a pound.

See, we are from different generations
I tend to use the bag of sugar index as well, but it didnt register with this

[Jon Randall]

I'm from the cross-over generation I weigh myself in stones and my tobacco in 1/2 ounces. Everything else is in grammes
As for distance, millimeters, inches, feet, metres and miles
They should decimalise time next

[Steve Bennett]

They should decimalise time next

Metric time I like that. 100 minutes in an hour and 100 hours in a day, that might just give enough time to get everything done

[DCRfan]

They should decimalise time next

Metric time I like that. 100 minutes in an hour and 100 hours in a day, that might just give enough time to get everything done

But 10 days in a week ......

[DCRfan]

See, we are from different generations
I tend to use the bag of sugar index as well, but it didnt register with this

Now we gnow it is a very sweet layout

[Steve Bennett]

Now we gnow it is a very sweet layout

[Jon Randall]

Very gnice Steve.
Hve you considered a dual-gauge micro layout to connect Simplicity Sidings to Vanguard Works (Sorry )

[Steve Bennett]

Very gnice Steve.
Hve you considered a dual-gauge micro layout to connect Simplicity Sidings to Vanguard Works (Sorry )

No, not thought of dual gauge, though it would be fairly simple to do.
I am considering a new version of Vanguard Works though, as I play mainly with the 9mm gauge at home. Maybe the design will evolve another stage yet

[ROBBOSTRAINS]

Steve,where did the factory wall and the brick walls come from?I thought I had copy of them somewhere but Sods law can't find them!

[More_Cats_Than_Sense]

Steve,where did the factory wall and the brick walls come from?I thought I had copy of them somewhere but Sods law can't find them!

If you PM me an email address, I'll send you a copy of the files.

[Steve Bennett]

OK, this is only slightly on topic, but in the part on using Sea Foam to make plants ( http://forum.gn15.info/viewtopic.php?p=64976#64976 ) I mentioned about the seeds on the pieces used for modelling.

Well, I put some of those seeds into a plant pot on the window ledge, watered them in and put an old coffee jar on top, then forgot about them. This morning I had a look and there are about 10 tiny little plants Just 2 leaves on each so far and too small to photograph at this stage. If they continue to grow, I will report back on progress.

I must admit, I didnt expect them to grow. I did put some seeds in the fridge to chill them, as from what I read on the web stated they needed to be chilled to germinate, but seems I could have saved some time . Remains to be seen if they grow far enough to provide any modelling material, but worth a try .

[Alan]

Remains to be seen if they grow far enough to provide any modelling material, but worth a try.

Wow, so with large degree of added patience, one initial purchase of a box of material could really last a lifetime!

[Steve Bennett]

Wow, so with large degree of added patience, one initial purchase of a box of material could really last a lifetime!

Maybe not as much patience as you think Alan, from what I understand, it is an annual plant, grows and flowers in a single growing season, so it could produce a crop each year . Then again, they might not grow that far in our climate, we shall see but yes, it does have the potential for a lifetime supply.

[DCRfan]

Move the pot plants to Simplicity Sidings as the track is already laid to harvest your new cash crop