Thrubwell Hall

[Thorness]

A Gn15 layout 32" long by 171/2" wide specially sized to fit on a shelf in a piece of furniture.

This is a model of a fictional estate railway inspired by postings in this forum.
Like all the other models I have ever built it has a surfeit of motive power! Two locos to manage six wagons is definitely one too many.
This is very much a "work in progress" as lots of detail still to be added and it may even get an extension once I have put in gate to allow a way out of the yard.
The track arrangement is basically an "inglenook" design with an extra line to the rest of the world.









The link below is to a 5 minute video of operations.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqsmBFGf26o

[Mark Goodwin]

Don,

I think your layout is a fantastic little gem and suits the "Smallbrook" loco's well. Any chance of a track plan or some more photos please?
Regards
Mark

[SOUTHPASS]

Two loco's to every wagon, then you will have the ratio right

[howard jones]

Very inspirational and excellent modelling. Keep it simple - it works very well ! Are the chassis's both Smokey Joe's ? They seem to run nice and slow I assume with added weight ?
Nice work !

[Si]

Beautiful layout - full of character.

[demaine22]

Looks great, nice to see some steam service too! Those smallbrook locos look the part!

[Bilco]

Hi Don,

Nice work - it's almost enough to convert me to steam power

[Glen A]

layout looks great.
Well done!

[Thorness]

Hi Guys

Thank you for all the nice comments. It's the people on here that have inspired me to create this and also described most of the techniques used. I feel slightly guilty about not having "in progress" photos but I only ever seem to think about it after the event.

To answer some of the queries raised:

Track "plan"


This was taken after I had removed the DAS I had put down to give a filled in track effect then I decided I didn't like it!

Both locos are on Smokey Joes with a bit of extra weight added. They were both second hand and the green loco is a smoother runner than the red one.

Some more photos:

This one (above) was taken before most of the undergrowth (hanging basket liner) was put down. The log pile at the front hides switches for two isolating sections.

[Simon Andrews]

Are the walls printies? if so they look very effective.

Simon.

[Thorness]

Simon,
Yes the walls are prints, the outer walls are from a picture I took of an old wall, the building walls and slates are from : http://www.cgtextures.com/

I found the quality of the paper makes a big difference to the final appearance, heavyweight paper seems to give a better result.


Cheers

[Booga]

A very nice looking layout. I see you have "Jon" hanging around waiting for a 3rd loco to drive!

[Thorness]

Jon is taking a well deserved rest, he was the only member of staff until just over a week ago. Now there are a couple of extra staff and also two posh visitors!

There has been a bit of head swapping so I didn't have two identical drivers.

[Thorness]

I've finally got round to putting in a gateway to get from the yard to the rest of the estate.





This is pretty much the whole layout:




Next job I think will be some doors for the building.

Cheers

[Broadoak]

Very nice indeed. some superb modelling.

Like the view through the gate to the rest of the estate.

[chris stockdale]

Like the view through the gate to the rest of the estate.

I'll echo that - it works really well.

I also particularly admire the brickwork - I assume hand painted? I don't think I'd have the patience...

cheers,

[Thorness]

Like the view through the gate to the rest of the estate.

I'll echo that - it works really well.

I also particularly admire the brickwork - I assume hand painted? I don't think I'd have the patience...

cheers,

Unfortunately my painting skills don't begin to come close, the outer walls are prints from a picture I took of an old wall, the building walls and slates are from : http://www.cgtextures.com/

I found the quality of the paper makes a big difference to the final appearance, heavyweight paper seems to give a better result.

Cheers

[RoGNer]

:shock

Prints from a picture! and paper print outs?! That's really good, well done. Smashing layout

Roger

[michael]

Bill said

Nice work - it's almost enough to convert me to steam power Very Happy

Go on Bill have a go!

I was taken in by the printed walls they look very real in some of the photos.
neat layout.

[Tractionman]

This looks terrific!

I bought a Smallbrook loco kit a while back, as well as a Hornby chassis.

But I got tempted by 5.5mm and built this instead with the chassis:

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index. ... oco-build/

I've since sourced another Hornby chassis and seeing this layout is inspiring me to crack on with my planned Gn15 project, thanks!

all the best,

Keith

[Nobody]

I made a GnATTERbox search for something else and I found this topic. Great layout !

[Thorness]

After a long time I have finally got around to extending the Thrubwell Hall Estate railway.
The extension is the size as the original board and connected by a small bridge between the two modules.

This is the track plan for the new part:
Terabithia sidings by Thorness, on Flickr

And this is how it will fit with the original:
Thrubwell Hall Estate by Thorness, on Flickr

There is obviously a door to be cut in the left side board to allow access to the bridge.

The idea is that this is the exchange siding with the local standard gauge line.
Terabithia Sidings by Thorness, on Flickr
Terabithia Sidings by Thorness, on Flickr

Still early days on this, I need to scrape out some of the ballast in a couple of areas - the track powered locos struggle in some bits whereas the R/C ones quite happily ride up over the bumps!
Terabithia Sidings by Thorness, on Flickr

Cheers.

[Colin Peake]

Very clever use of a photo backscene there to represent the standard gauge!

Colin

[Thorness]

I wasn't sure that the wagons would look okay so they are separate pieces on card held in place by magnets. This also means that I can have one, two or none as the mood takes me.

Cheers

[Colin Peake]

I wasn't sure that the wagons would look okay so they are separate pieces on card held in place by magnets. This also means that I can have one, two or none as the mood takes me.

Cheers

So in theory you could have more wagon prints and "shunt" them about as the mood takes you

Colin