Under Construction - Birmingham UK

[jim smith-wright]

Ah, I get it now, the retaining wall is behind the bridge. You picture made it look like the retaining wall was on top of the bridge girders.

Hi Jim

No, the wall is on top of the bridge. Its becase the surface on top of it is not level.

Regards

Jim

 

[UP2CSX]

Jim, I guess I'd have to see a picture of it from above to really understand it. Is the retaining wall on the deck of the bridge or on top of the plate girders themselves?

 

[jim smith-wright]

Hi Jim

The wall iss on top of the girders - next time i am in Birmingham I will get pictures for you.

A few more in progress pics showing, I hope, a little of my methods

The wall marked out and cut out of foamboard. I draw everything in illustrator first, print it out and stick it to the material I am working with. I then cut though the template and material at the same time. Keeps everything nice and square and saves marking out again.

Using a scrap piece to hold the wall to the angle I need. To ensure a good fit of the angle I cut the edge with a 45 degree mount cutter (pictured)

Building up the wall using card and embossed plasticard. The wall slopes gently at the bottom so I used 2mm card spacers to give the effect I wanted. Everything is stuck together with double sided tape.

By using the mount cutter you can get very neat corners with minimum faff. The mount cutter itself takes a bit of effort to learn to use but the amount of wonky cuts I am making is getting slowly smaller.

Cheers

Jim

 

[UP2CSX]

Very nice tutorial there. Jim. I've never though of using double sided tape of some details but you've given me some ideas now.

 

[jim smith-wright]

Hi Jim

The double sided tape avoids the plastic sheet distorting from the effects of solvents or adhesives.

Been outside in the sun working on the layout a little. I needed to check the fit of the retaining walls so the attached shows a temporary mock up.

EMU for scale

A little more here http://jsmithwright.demonweb.co.uk/layout/scenic/walls-westend.html

Jim

 

[UP2CSX]

Looks good, Jim. The retaining walls be a nice touch headed into that bridge/tunnel.

 

[jim smith-wright]

Right then…

…Time for one of those step back things that people are prone to do!

Starting with the plank. Many have commented (very kindly I might add) that if the standard of the layout proper matches the plank it will be good. However there are loads of short cuts on the plank that i was happy to accept for a test track but hoped the layout would show an improvement. One of those is the retaining walls as seen below.

Looks quite spacious without the OLE hu?

I have to be honest and say I am quite chuffed with how the walls for the main layout are coming together and for me its the sort of improvement I wanted.

Still more to do like filling and waiting for everything to fully harden before straightening out the handrails. Also the ladder needs a safety cage and the all important coating of grime but so far so good.

Cheers

Jim

 

[jim smith-wright]

Hi All

Yep you have guessed it! More walls! Anyone bored yet? LOL

Cheers

Jim

 

[UP2CSX]

Not bored at all, Jim, your walls look great. What is the bundle of copper wire running at the base of the walls? Looks like a good way to zap trespassers but I'm sure they must have another use.

 

[jim smith-wright]

Hi Jim

They are part of the signalling system

Regards

Jim

 

[jim smith-wright]

Hi All

As a break from walls I have been playing with a couple of toy lorries from Corgi (a kids toy company)

The MAN one uses the Corgie cab, Base toys chassis and bed and the Hi-Ab comes from Herpa. It has had its bed widened and guard rails and lights added

Also in the pic a Ford Cargo with Base toys chassis and a scratchbuilt box body and tail lift. The pic below shows a before and after.

Jim

 

[MilesWestern]

Excellent kitbashing! I always admire your work.

 

[Hathaway Browne]

Forgive me if this wasn't the intention, but the purple and white cab looks like the old Cadbury's wagons. Which would be approriate for New Street.

It just needs a band of gold between the purple and white.

 

[jim smith-wright]

Thanks chaps

Actually the original toy was in Cadbury colours - I just haven't got around to stripping the cab yet!

Regards

Jim

 

[Hathaway Browne]

Ahh I see! I've just noticed that the other vehicle is Schwepps - should've guessed!

 

[jim smith-wright]

Hi All

Been busying myself with equipment boxes.

The pic shows Back - air conditioners adapted from the Unit Models parts.

front left - S-Kits kit. next Metro Models ready to use and the last 4 scratchbuilt ones.

Cheers

Jim

 

[UP2CSX]

Those look good, Jim. I was just think that I'm starting to put up level crossing signals and track sgnals but don't have single equipment cabinet. I'll guess I'll have to add them to my to-do list.

 

[jim smith-wright]

Hi All

Been getting busy with paint. I am happy with progress so far but still some more to do. On the plank I experimented with using Markers (letraset ones) to pick out variations in the bricks. You need to leave this stage to the very end though as weathering washes the marker away. Thus the wall is fairly flat and yet suitably grimy.

Hope you like

overview - not started on the main girders yet.

Cheers

Jim

 

[UP2CSX]

Jim, those walls do look good and grimy. The light platform is outstanding. Proabably a dumb question but, do those lights actually work? It looks like even getting a tiny LED in there would be tough so I suspect not but it sure would be a cool effect if they did work.

 

[jim smith-wright]

Hi Jim

They dont work, mainly because I rarely see them on in the day and when they are they are pretty dim. Thanks for the kind comments though

Jim