Llangunllo goods yard, if you can call it that, is as simple as they come, being typical of those found out in the back of beyond. The local coal merchant bags, and weighs his supplies direct from the wagon, there being no storage facilities in the yard. This was common practice in out of the way places, where security, amongst other things could be an issue. A yard crane is provided to handle any heavy, or awkward loads, but what about a goods shed? Well I had three ideas, a simple weed infested loading bank, with perhaps a grounded van body, and a couple of tatty corrugated iron huts. A shed constructed of the same material, shades of Penhydd, which was modelled on the one at Hemyock, and last of all an old coach body, most of its windows being plated over, and a door cut into its side. All had their merits, but as usual I was looking for something different.
I started off by modelling a simple loading bank, the type made from old sleepers and whatever else could be pressed into use. Most were back filled with rubble, ash, and other waste material to provide a raised platform. Following prototype practice, I made mine from old sleepers, which are yet to be stained, weathered, and detailed, that will come later.
Not content to leave things at that, I dug these old, well thumbed books out. What a bargain they were, when first published by Peco way back in the late sixties! Book number one includes plans for Leckhampton goods shed, which lay between Kingham and Cheltenham. Its a weird design, certainly different, and no doubt that is why it appealed to me, so out came a piece of card, and a rough mock up was made.
Planning, pondering and experimenting, I really enjoy those exercises. The drawing for the Leckhampton shed, and my version, mocked up from card are on the left. Whilst another weird and wonderful structure, namely Llansilin Road goods shed, plucked from the long defunct 'Tanat Valley Railway' is on the right. I had come across this 'quirky' building, as Iain Robinson describes it, whilst searching through my many books for ideas and inspiration. You can just catch a glimpse of it in the photo on the right, were it not for the rules of copyright, I would show you more.
The Leckhampton mock up in situ, its a lovely little building, but alas it looks more 'Caledonian' with its hipped roof and overhanging eaves, than GWR. I expect you are wondering what on earth was I thinking off, well I thought it might blend in with the signal box, which shares the same style of roof.
Llangunllo signal box, hipped roof, overhanging eaves and all, this scene is now slowly being recreated on the new layout.
My version of Llansilin Road good shed is mounted on a loading bank, rather than a wooden trestle base, as on the prototype. I've not got the canopy right, it should extend further out, and the height of the building needs reducing by around a scale foot, the pitch of the roof needs to be much shallower as well. This is how building a mock up pays off, had I jumped in feet first, then I would have wasted some valuable modelling material.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
But its not just about the building itself, I always consider how they fit into the wider picture. I then ask myself if there is a better way of doing things, does the scene look realistic, and create the all important atmosphere? Only when I'm happy do I press ahead, but despite taking everything into consideration, I still get caught out from time to time.
I think the prototype had a pair of hinged doors, rather than a single sliding one. The shed has been in situ for a day or two now, and yes, I will be building it from a mixture of Wills, and Slaters corrugated sheets, the later being finer, and more suited for the roof, and canopy.
.
That area of unkempt grass on the left will cover the remains, of what would have been a longer loading bank in years past. I have the idea, of partly burying the foundations of the old Llangunllo quarry weighbridge hut in the grass, just to give a hint that something else once stood there.
This view gives an idea of the canopy height, it can be lowered a fair bit, yet still give adequate clearance for the chimney of 1455, and other engines. So what next, well now that I know the footprint of the goods shed and station building, I can lay in the rest of the scenery foundations, complete the plasterwork, paint it, and put the backscene in place. I've still got that damn point rodding to sort out as well, but don't feel in the mood to fire the soldering iron up just yet.
Moving off topic, I'm in the process of preparing a new blog for some of my prototype photos. Which include BR in the 70's, the early preservation scene, and more recent bits and bobs. Once I'm ready to publish them, a link will be appear under 'Other blogs' on the right hand side bar. Updates won't appear as often as they do here, but nevertheless I think you will find something of interest.
I started off by modelling a simple loading bank, the type made from old sleepers and whatever else could be pressed into use. Most were back filled with rubble, ash, and other waste material to provide a raised platform. Following prototype practice, I made mine from old sleepers, which are yet to be stained, weathered, and detailed, that will come later.
Not content to leave things at that, I dug these old, well thumbed books out. What a bargain they were, when first published by Peco way back in the late sixties! Book number one includes plans for Leckhampton goods shed, which lay between Kingham and Cheltenham. Its a weird design, certainly different, and no doubt that is why it appealed to me, so out came a piece of card, and a rough mock up was made.
Planning, pondering and experimenting, I really enjoy those exercises. The drawing for the Leckhampton shed, and my version, mocked up from card are on the left. Whilst another weird and wonderful structure, namely Llansilin Road goods shed, plucked from the long defunct 'Tanat Valley Railway' is on the right. I had come across this 'quirky' building, as Iain Robinson describes it, whilst searching through my many books for ideas and inspiration. You can just catch a glimpse of it in the photo on the right, were it not for the rules of copyright, I would show you more.
The Leckhampton mock up in situ, its a lovely little building, but alas it looks more 'Caledonian' with its hipped roof and overhanging eaves, than GWR. I expect you are wondering what on earth was I thinking off, well I thought it might blend in with the signal box, which shares the same style of roof.
Llangunllo signal box, hipped roof, overhanging eaves and all, this scene is now slowly being recreated on the new layout.
My version of Llansilin Road good shed is mounted on a loading bank, rather than a wooden trestle base, as on the prototype. I've not got the canopy right, it should extend further out, and the height of the building needs reducing by around a scale foot, the pitch of the roof needs to be much shallower as well. This is how building a mock up pays off, had I jumped in feet first, then I would have wasted some valuable modelling material.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
But its not just about the building itself, I always consider how they fit into the wider picture. I then ask myself if there is a better way of doing things, does the scene look realistic, and create the all important atmosphere? Only when I'm happy do I press ahead, but despite taking everything into consideration, I still get caught out from time to time.
I think the prototype had a pair of hinged doors, rather than a single sliding one. The shed has been in situ for a day or two now, and yes, I will be building it from a mixture of Wills, and Slaters corrugated sheets, the later being finer, and more suited for the roof, and canopy.
.
That area of unkempt grass on the left will cover the remains, of what would have been a longer loading bank in years past. I have the idea, of partly burying the foundations of the old Llangunllo quarry weighbridge hut in the grass, just to give a hint that something else once stood there.
This view gives an idea of the canopy height, it can be lowered a fair bit, yet still give adequate clearance for the chimney of 1455, and other engines. So what next, well now that I know the footprint of the goods shed and station building, I can lay in the rest of the scenery foundations, complete the plasterwork, paint it, and put the backscene in place. I've still got that damn point rodding to sort out as well, but don't feel in the mood to fire the soldering iron up just yet.
Moving off topic, I'm in the process of preparing a new blog for some of my prototype photos. Which include BR in the 70's, the early preservation scene, and more recent bits and bobs. Once I'm ready to publish them, a link will be appear under 'Other blogs' on the right hand side bar. Updates won't appear as often as they do here, but nevertheless I think you will find something of interest.