(F) Mr. Chip's Potato Farm (1:12 Micro Layout)

[dieselwater]

IMPORTANT MODERATOR ANNOUNCEMENT - please excuse the 'shouting' capitals but I wanted to make sure I attracted your attention.

Although this thread, like many, has suffered the scourge of P Bucket, Dieselwater also wrote it up in the 7/8ths Forum with photos uploaded directly there, so they still survive.

You need to be a member of that Forum to see anything (free, naturally). Here's the link to the thread:

http://www.7-8ths.info/index.php?topic=16682247.0





Organic n beautifully fresh for the best chippies in the area!

Welcome to this small organic potato farm.

First the spuds from the field are loaded into a skip/critter (off scene). Then the critter comes out the upper shed/barn, trundles along the top tier, and tips the soon to be chips into a waiting tray/critter below. This critter pushes the load into the small processing factory. Here they are washed, peeled, cut and bagged, then transported by road to the local chip shops, to be married up with a nice bit of battered cod... yum!

Why tip into another wagon instead of straight into the processing plant? The wagon critters are the machinery of the plant, instead of conveyors. They're just a way to put the spuds into more manageable batches for the workers to deal with... well something like that. It's really very slow work being a small organic farm. I may make some crates stacked up outside the plant, ready to be loaded into a van.

Well if you believe this, you'll believe anything.

Here's an illustration of Mr. Chip's:

[dieselwater]

For the base of the micro I'm using laminated plastic board, like the stuff used for placards and "for sale" signs etc. The upper level uses a packaging box from one of my painting easels, reinforced with black foamboard. I'm using two shoe boxes either end (second one being fixed into position this evening).

The left shoe box is the control panel with wiring inside and control unit sat on top.

The recycled Fleischman track is from a train set I bought when I first came to Taiwan. This will be buried in concrete and cobbles etc). Power is fed via two terminals, stripped from their plastic housing and screwed onto the end rails. This so I can take the wires off easily, if needed.

The right shoe box will be for the off stage area, enabling a better operating system. The whole construction will be further strengthened with side paneling. These panels will create a frame around the layout.

[dieselwater]

Mr. Chips's Layout Plan:

1, The potatoes come from the farm (top right).

2, A "critter/wagon" pulls into the factory (top left), tips potatoes into the chute leading into a container under the factory building. This container is used to refill the "critter/wagon" back at the farm.

3. Another "critter/wagon" pulls into the packaging area (bottom left). Then, boxes or sacks are loaded onto the "critter/wagon". The packaged chips are taken along to the main distribution area (bottom right). From here they travel by road to the local fish n chip shops.

[dieselwater]

This is the two tier off-stage area being put together:



This is the back section with hole cut out for tipping chute. I'll have the tipper chute this side to make it easier to collect potatoes. Plus, It'll will give more space towards the lower tier.



Here's an overall shot of the layout. The length of the scenic section is 600mm:

[dieselwater]

Work has commenced on the factory building.

I'm using the same black placard material for the laminated baseboard, as the basis for the building structure. Carved foamboard is used to form the brickwork, as well as combining various materials for other details. These are then glued onto the black placard material.

For the factory, and as I will for the other structures, I'm taking influences from Lincolnshire farm buildings, as well as some other English industrial structures.

[dieselwater]

Here's the final draft of the layout:

Upper level- Gate opens, potatoes come from farm on the right, then tip them into the chute to be processed in the factory.

Lower level- Packaged chips are loaded onto a flatbed critter and sent to the distribution shed.



Progress is continuing with the structures:

For the factory, I'm trying to convey the feel of a rural barn, converted to industrial usage.

I've carved into foam an old English Bond brick pattern. The details, such as the doorway and shuttered windows hopefully show the providence of the structure. Many details will be added yet, such as lamps, cables and pipes etc.



Here's the progress on the distribution shed. This a simple wooden structure, that will get a few extra details here and there. Perhaps an extended canopy.

[dieselwater]

Here's the work I've done on the retaining wall:





To convey changes through time, I'm representing different materials, from functional breeze blocks, pre-cast concrete, and the old brick. The ground surface is also going to be a mixture of surfaces. These range from the old uneven cobblestones, the cracking concrete slabs to dusty and grassy patches.

I put the buildings in position to see how they look with the retaining wall:



Factory.



Distribution shed.

[dieselwater]

I've started to painted the surfaces so far. This will be give me a great reference point for other parts of the layout.

[dieselwater]

I've started work on the back sections of the upper tier.

Here's an old wall n door:

I started with laminating placard plastic, then glueing a layer of foam sheet, maintaining a recessed lip at the bottom. I glued a chunk of foam sheet to represent the old and tired abutment. The bricks were carved into the foam, others were individually cut and stuck.



Tissue was added in various places to represent large clumps of mortar added at one time or another. The door was carved out of the foam sheet, paper ripped up and glued on for texture. Some details yet to be added.
The painting went on and on...

I think it's almost there:

[dieselwater]

I'm continuing to work on the farm area (top right). Critters enter and exit via an old shed/ shack that perhaps once served a more prestigious purpose.

Here's another section of wall, this one is proper flakey n mossy!



I bulked out the lower brick section (glued on more layers of foam bricks) to accommodate the upper section. The paint n glue is still wet, and will edit tone and finish to tie in each section together:



This is the overall area showing the pieces combined:



The gate is made from various dimensions of drinking straws, corrugated paper and balsa strip. I'll edit painting when it's fixed into position:





The gate will open and shut with a drinking straw lever:



The lever detail will be refined once the back section and farm area is buttoned down.

Plenty of details to add such as old tin roof to shack, gate top n bottom wire/ mesh, pipes, cables, woody bits, signage.

[dieselwater]

The Layout is beginning to take shape. Can't say I'm a fan of these types of flash photos, but you get the idea, cheers.

Painting and glueing on....

[dieselwater]

Here's a slightly misty overall shot showing the chute area, the old farm area and the general surfaces so far:



This is a close up of the tipping/ chute area so far:



This is the old gate, into the old barn, out to the ole' potato farm, it's made from old straws.

[dieselwater]

I've made some more progress with the factory section:

I've applied the finish to the brickwork, glued the two panels together and covered the corner seam, with individual corner strips and tissue. This was then further painted.



I've started to add building details such as smoke stack and cable channels. The fun is just starting with this structure, more little details to add, as well as continue to edit finish.

[dieselwater]

Here's the overall layout so far:

[dieselwater]

.... or in this building:

[dieselwater]

Here's the factory building so far:

The slate roof is made from card:



The rusty old guttering is made from paper and card, the downpipe from straws.



The tarps is made from paper, and the bricks are the inner foam from black foamboard:



Front on view of the factory building, showing the glazing and window fan, above the bottom door. I used barge boarding to edge the building. Still lots of details etc to add. Plus some editing of existing bits and pieces.

[dieselwater]

Here's the upper level and the chute area so far:

I made the window out of balsa, still loads of potterin' to be had



Mind the gap

[dieselwater]

Here's some of the new details:

Door, hatch, lean- to canopy, strip light and electrical box:

[dieselwater]

Here's Mr. Chip's in "Spud" the diesel critter, with an unloaded wagon. (still details to add to critter etc.)

[dieselwater]

Black n white:

[dieselwater]

Here's a junction box and ducting pipes, still a few details to go.

[dieselwater]

I've been working on the right side of the layout.

To provide a scenic break I'm creating an old archway that the farm sits on top of. I'm going to model a small balcony garden/ back yard area with washing machine and laundry line. This section will provide a nice bit of interest to this side of the layout, also giving an extra bit of scale and height. I painted a back scene panel that will be fixed level with the sides. I want to frame the front of the layout in due course.

Here's an indoor pic- don't like these pics! but you get the idea :}



Plus one of the farmhouse and top barn area side panel....

[dieselwater]

Sash window, someone's 'aving a bath... Mrs. Chip?

[dieselwater]

After a short break the Farm is starting to come together.

I've started to bring it all together with back and side panels, plus I've added more structures such as the archway and farmhouse above. The farmhouse has a small yard at the back, where I'm planning a touch of gardening.

The factory area now has white corrugated cladding on the processing plant. Plus, a few touches of detail such as the old ladder from a repair that never quite happened, on the main building.

I've yet to start any kind of planting/ greenery on the layout, other than the moss on the old brickwork. Though I have got hold of some nice fluffy stuff that I may use.

I'm using a new camera that I still haven't got to grips with, but I'll post the pics anyway:

[dieselwater]

After a break from modelling, I've started to get back into the swing of things.

Here's a wagon to transport potatoes from the field into the processing plant/ factory: