Blackhall Sidings

[demaine22]

I'll let the pictures do the talking for my latest project – well except to explain my intentions...


This lovely bit of modelling is Black Hall Sidings, Simon Andrew's O9 layout which has been featured on the Gnatterbox before here: http://forum.gn15.info/viewtopic.php?p= ... 9de1a66744 , I think it's Autumnal theme and colours are a great setting to play trains and photograph stock.

Simon approached me after I had advertised my interest on the forum for a 9mm gauge project a little while before. Initially I had to turn him down because of personal issue at home but thankfully they were resolved quickly leading to me discussing the conversion of the layout to Gnine. We came to the conclusion the layout would convert very nicely with little more than a couple of detail changes to be made. I have always fancied having an inglenook layout to play with so before you knew it, I had the layout at home within a week. It was a little like Christmas.

Yep. That works

The only changes I plan to make are to the building on the platform really, obviously replace it with a g-scale one and removing the fencing and gate from the back behind the trees.

That's it really. There are some little cosmetic jobs I need to address, some tree's have come away from the board,


however, with a little drill and some glue:

They're now back and secure in place.

Now on to some real work...

After I stop playing trains, the plan is to make a new building for the platform. Just five more minutes won't hurt...

[Zoange]

hello
very nice

[Simon Andrews]

Nice to see the layout made it safely to it's new home. Don't spend to much time playing.... I want to see the changes you have planned
Simon.

[only15]

I liked seeing this layout in it's O9 guise, look forward to seeing it develop into it's Gnine phase!

Regards,
Nathan

[demaine22]

Thanks for the comments chaps. I was considering making the building removable so I could possibly switch between Gnine and O9 – would something like that even work?

[Oztrainz]

Can't see why gnot.....

[Bilco]

For some reason Black Hall Sidings slipped past me unremarked when it first appeared. It's a very attractive little layout, both in O9 and G9 - a great idea to make it convertable. It's amazing how it can switch so easily between the two scales - trees become shrubs

[skylon]

For some reason Black Hall Sidings slipped past me unremarked when it first appeared. It's a very attractive little layout, both in O9 and G9 - a great idea to make it convertable.Iit's amazing how it can switch so easily between the two scales - trees become shrubs

Quite agree, that first shot looks great. It's only the buildings that give the others away.
Great layout, which I had the pleasure of seeing in the flesh.
Looking forward to new developments!

[Simon Andrews]

Simon,

As we discussed you may want to use a shunter's wagon due to the radius of the approch curve if using standard length Sidelines / Avalon chassis (my O9 locos were all shorter).

I use a short Sidlines flat with a fixed link at one end and a Greenwich coupling at the other. I use a staple, often shortened as the fixed link.


My Gnine locos use the cast couplings as supplied in order to negotiate tight radius curves. The curves on the test track below are as little as 31/2".


Hope that makes sense.

Simon.

[demaine22]

First of all, thank you every one for the comments on the idea of a dual-scale layout, I hope to start on the Gnine structure tonight, something along similar lines to the O9 version, just a little taller and using G-scale printies.

Simon, thank you for showing your coupling method, makes perfect sense – I will build up my shunting wagon tonight and test it

Like your test track, I may try something similar one day.

[demaine22]

Here is a little update on the building progress.

I have managed to get the old 09 building up without doing too much damage, there was only a bit of brick paper torn where glue had come from the bushes nearby.


Once the way was clear I put my plan into action for shed building and posed the lads and their engines together for a size comparison.


However, from the side the building looks a little odd...
 


So I have decided to lower the height of the building a little and see how that goes, if I am still not happy with the look of the building I may try something different to fill the gap.

[Bilco]

Very neat - just by changing the building the track gauge narrows but the vegetation still looks right! I guess removing one plank would make the building look right - have you got a standing figure of the right scale to compare?

Keep it coming ...

[demaine22]

Very neat - just by changing the building the track gauge narrows but the vegetation still looks right! I guess removing one plank would make the building look right - have you got a standing figure of the right scale to compare?

Keep it coming ...

Thanks Bilco

I was thinking the same about removing a plank and seeing how it sat then. Sadly don't have a standing figure at the moment but there is one on my list of 'things to get' so maybe I'll wait till I get him before I adapt anything too much

[Cross Kitter]

Don't forget that some store sheds were lower than 6ft high. They just made them big enough for the tools.

[MrPlantpot]

Looking good, I like the new shed.

As for a standing figure... could you print a photo, scaled to the correct height? Stick it to some thickish card, on a suitable base... should be fine for test purposes.

By the way... your drivers appear to have one clean , and one dirty shoe each! Is this part of your cunning plan?

[demaine22]

Don't forget that some store sheds were lower than 6ft high. They just made them big enough for the tools.

Thanks Simon...I think I was a little over-enthusiastic when I drew up the building, but at least I made it too tall and not too short...that would just be awkward

As for a standing figure... could you print a photo, scaled to the correct height? Stick it to some thickish card, on a suitable base... should be fine for test purposes.

By the way... your drivers appear to have one clean , and one dirty shoe each! Is this part of your cunning plan?

Nice idea! I like that, I can sort that on my lunch today..good call!

Good observation on the shoes I didn't notice how consistent I was! Or maybe I did...mwahahahaa

[chuck in the nek]

Howdy,

Wonder if by extending roof (sort of covered platform) over transfer area, you might change the effect. Building at present appears as same size and shape as a Privy. Its function as a RR building needs to be more clearly defined to the viewer.

Chuck

[Gerry Bullock]

Howdy,

Wonder if by extending roof (sort of covered platform) over transfer area, you might change the effect. Building at present appears as same size and shape as a Privy. Its function as a RR building needs to be more clearly defined to the viewer.

Chuck

Following on from Chuck's comment that would be easily achieved if the roof was merely a single minimal sloping one rather than the conventional pitched roof currently modelled. Such a roof IMHO is more suited to the size of the building.

[demaine22]

Following on from Chuck's comment that would be easily achieved if the roof was merely a single minimal sloping one rather than the conventional pitched roof currently modelled. Such a roof IMHO is more suited to the size of the building.

The idea of a pent roof has crossed my mind when I was drawing up ideas, but I settled for an apex as I felt it had more character to it. Mind you the building is far from finished so who knows where I'll take it in the end

However, one rule I gave myself was to keep the building within the existing O9 footprint so I can switch between the two scales if I want to, so I'm not planning on taking the building any further out, the boys can work in the rain and live with it

[Gerry Bullock]

However, one rule I gave myself was to keep the building within the existing O9 footprint so I can switch between the two scales if I want to, so I'm not planning on taking the building any further out, the boys can work in the rain and live with it

I recognised that requirement however it's still possible to have an extended roof by using pins on its two supports that slot into holes in your undergrowth,
You could easily extend the platform by building a floor that is supported by the outer wall of the shed and the two roof supports. This again merely covers the undergrowth without altering it for use on the smaller scale.

[demaine22]

Ah I think I see now Gerry, (using the pic as a reference) do you mean come out to the side of the building (where the corrugated iron is) to allow a larger building? That way I could put a loading door on there?

[Gerry Bullock]

Yes, however not a larger building, rather a covered area over an extension to platform built onto the building with the two post supports for extended roof passing through the platform and fitted to baseboard with pins in base of posts.
Thataway I think you could achieve a larger unit without significantly disturbing your existing groundcover.
I use the method of pins in posts to locate the water barrel shelter on Secciole Salina.
Photo here:
http://forum.gn15.info/viewtopic.php?t=1047

[demaine22]

With a lot of recent time being dedicated to getting better (I've had a bad neck for a couple of weeks – better now!) I didn't really have much time to model comfortably – looking down tended to set off a nice bit of pain for hours so it was best just leaving everything until I got better.

Finally I woke up magically cured after a nasty cold came out...bit odd.

Anyway finally moved on to messing with buildings – and messing is the best word to use really – lots of trial and error brought around a new idea for a 'brick' structure instead of a wooden one. Please excuse the pics, my camera sprouted legs and disappeared!



The new building sits with a timber extension on the side – currently borrowing a roof.

Once I was happy the building looked acceptable in its place, I destroyed the back of an art pad to make the roof...I just hope the boy doesn't look for his sketch book any time soon...



So now with a new roof and timber decoration around the top edges, I decided the thin to do was to move on and add some colour.

First without the extension


And then with the extension added.


The wooden part seems to be quite dark at the moment, I'll try to lighten it up before applying any varnish. I intend to add more colour to the timbers of the new building until I am happy – I also forgot to show a shot of the front showing the door!

To finish a shot with the now two painted locos and the chaps in their first coats of colour!
 

Apart from the shed I have also re-applied the trees as some came loose again, one broke and so I took it apart and added it to the layout as weeds/bushes.

Next project is to attempt to remove the coal pile...

[Gerry Bullock]

That works, Simon.

[demaine22]

Cheers Gerry, proper pictures of other new details to come.