Looking forward

During the past month several people have been asked there considered opinions on the future of Model Railways. Well I thought I would air my thoughts as well. I think that 3D printing will become more widespread. At the moment cost are relatively high but once home units come down in price and become more widespread then this will as they say take-off. There may also become a new market in 3D design files. I can see the time when one buys a file for a Coach, Wagon and a building so that you can print off several copies. The detail on models produced by the mainstream manufactures will further improve. We have seen the growth of DCC operation. I would like to see a further change. Rather than just an ID being given to a locomotive I would like to see the use of another ID based on the train describer. This would then allow the train to operate say out of a fiddleyard automatically. Then would have to operate as per signal settings. In effect one could be come a signal man with the trains operating to your signal inputs. Maybe a further addition could be bell codes sent out be the ID via a computer and not allowing the train to depart until you have given the correct codes in reply.

Although my main aim is to model Rowfant I always have a couple of other projects that I like to play with and plan for possible future use. I thought it maybe of interest to see what I am thinking. So here goes with my wish list of models some may happen others will be just pipe dreams:

An N gauge model of the northern throat of Gatwick station. This would be from the buildings over the station to just pass the Motorway links bridge. I would include a fuel siding by the slow lines and the construction siding by the fast lines.

With the introduction by Hornby/Arnold of the Brighton Belle in N gauge. A model of the Ouse viaduct not to scale. Maybe I could add in a little cameo of the fracking protests at Balcombe.

A model of either Betchworth or Reigate on the Redhill-Reading. I want to model a 3R Tadpole and a good excuse to allow a Western interloper or two.

Using good old modellers licence - The DN & SR had a proposal to build from Shawford via its own line into Southampton. This would have routed to the west of the LSWR mainline coming into Southampton through Chandlers Ford. The terminus would have been close to the present West Quay. I would look at a model in BR days with a combination of services of both the DN & SR and MSWJR services so again Southern and Western trains.

 Another Southern layout - with Hornby producing the 2BIL and Bachmann the 2EPB a model of the proposed Southern Heights light railway. This would be a model of one of the passing stations on a single line and third rail. There would also be a siding just to add interest.

Another might have been - imaging that the Somerset and Dorset did not close. Model based on Sheppton Mallet. This would have a connection to the East Somerset so that aggregates trains could be operated in and out. Passenger service could be in the hand of various diesel locos with 4 Mk1s in tow.

Also a pure interloper - Cardigan Town a GWR branch that closed in 1964. I have photos of the buildings I took back in the early 1970s and have most of the published data.

If I win the lottery and could build the room for it. A model called the Oxted lines to include Oxted, East Grinstead High and Low level Rowfant and Grange road, Groom Bridge and Tunbridge Wells West.

Well I can dream.......
  

  

Into 2014

Like most people I try to make New Year resolutions and this year it is no difference. So here goes with the relevant ones for my model.

I must get on with the 3D kit. I am looking at constructing the interiors and a method of attaching the floors to the body. I already have a power bogie but need to get wheel sets for all the other bogies. Then I have to decide a colour scheme ranging from all over green too all over blue.

The planning for the layout is still on-going but the recent photos have really added at lot of details. So I can now begin to work on the fuel depot and possibly the scotch derrick as well.

I am hoping to build the layout in the garage but in the spring I will have to seal the walls and floor. Then its into baseboard building and track laying. I am going to use C&L components and will need to make five points. luckily for me C&L are just down the road! They also supply Peco so that will cover the fiddle yard as well. 

Well that is the basis of my list for this year. No doubt it will all change especially as our first Granddaughter is due at Easter but one can hope.........   

Thank you Mr Berners-Lee

The majority of research that I have done for Rowfant has been done from my laptop siting at home. The internet is a very powerful tool that I like to think I use responsibly. My laptop is also a tool that I use a lot as well and even goes away with us on cruises. Part of my routine is to go back and periodically recheck web sites and use various search engines using Rowfant Station and Grange Road Station as the basis. Another great source of in formation is the SEmG forum. This has answered many of my question that I have had. Well in the past week I did my trawl and on Flickr I discovered several new shots of both Rowfant and Grange Road. As normal I look through any new discoveries to see if there are any of my unanswered question that can be resolved. Well this week several items have been resolved. One for Grange Road was the wording on one sign. The SEmG forum had given me several options on what was written on the sign.

 

 

The wording is No Exit, Way out through Booking Hall. This was to ensure passengers did not escape via the level crossing. The other questions all concerned Rowfant. One was surprise. I knew there was a Scotch Derrick for use by the adjacent wood yard. I thought this would be a simple hand operated crane. One picture shows clearly that there is a cab structure. I had a few questions regarding the oil sidings and emptying equipment. Firstly there are two sidings most OS maps only showed one siding. I can also see a lot more detail of the equipment and fence so hopefully a more accurate model can be made.

 

So a moral here is the same as for measuring check check and check again oh and again..... 



M7 but not any hold ups!

Well the birthday fairy has been generous to me in the past couple of days. No I did not get held up on any part of the Motorway network just used a part of the M5 to get to Cheltenham. But I did find in the Cheltenham Model Centre a very good second-hand Hornby M7. The number of the locomotive is slightly wrong for Rowfant so it may well get a number change. However it is a long frame Pull Push fitted example so initially I can live with inaccuracy. 30108 the number of the model was stationed at both Brighton and Horsham so it could have ended up running through Rowfant at some point. So modeller's licence will come into play again. 

Rowfant 3D

Sorry its not a CGI I-Max special showing you a horror movie based on a make believe Ghost story from Rowfant House. Mind you as I progress it may turn into my own horror story but time will tell. It is in fact a brief up date on the building of the DC Kits model of the 3D Demu unit one of the major pieces of equipment needed for a model of Rowfant.

So far the bodies have been made. I need to adjust some of the sides but in essence they are complete. The next stage is to look at the underframes. I am also considering building the interiors on a piece of Plasticard adding the seats and partitions and painting before they are installed. There is a need to cover over the top of the power bogie. This is located in the engine compartment so I am going to build a higher false floor with a representation of the EE 4SRKT. I want to install DCC so will find away of locating the de-coder in the roof this may need a false ceiling as well. I have not as yet decided the colour scheme there are a couple of options or I may just have to have several units instead. 

Holiday season

Sorry for the short break but we have just been off for a cruise around the Med. However did manage to see trains in both Cadiz and Venice. Thank you Mr Cunard!
Now back to the project in hand. Whilst on-board I was able to get from the ships library and read a couple of books. One was Pete Waterman's "Just like the real thing" about his model of Leamington Spa. A good coffee table book. Its a little light but has some good suggestions and thoughts and some very good photography. His layout is magnificent but its not the kind of layout I would like. To run it properly he needs a team of operators which he has of course but what about when he's on his own. I am a one man band and therefore just want a layout that I can be comfortable with. Yes I would love to model say Redhill or Southampton Central but I could not operate it as the moves would be too complicated. However could we see in the future DCC control operating some of the moves. It may be that instead of programming a chip for a loco the chip now becomes programmed as a train describer. Could you then have a computer set the train departing as per the timetable with the operator acting as a signalman setting up the routes etc. In my mind this could be ideal for Rowfant.
Well back to the model now that summer is over more time can now be spent on the final planning. The model is going to be located in my garage so a little tidy up is called for and then baseboards can be built. I will also be getting to work on the 3D kit that is partially built. One scenery item that I am try to find out about is the Scotch Derrick that was located in the timber yard. I have been trying to find one to look at to see how it works. At long last I have now located a derelict example. This is in a garden features supply yard next to the A4 at Hungerford. So next time we are off to Southampton there may well be need for a brief comfort stop with the camera! Thank you Mr Cunard............

A couple of shots

At long last I have got around to taking a couple of photos of progress on the mock up's front.

Above are the drawings laid out on cereal packet. At the top is the outline of the signal box and below are the two main buildings.



 

Above are all three of the buildings.

 

 

 

Just a close up of the Main Station Building from the Platform side.

 

All of the buildings have been made in the best possible Blue Peter tradition. These are only to be used for planning. I am looking at the two main buildings being scratch built in Plasticard. It will be the excellent ABM kit for the Signal Box. As I have said before this kit is based on the Grange Road Box. Grange Road is a crossing box and not a signal box. Rowfant's box is a signal box as it controlled the tablet instruments. The only modification of the kit that is needed is that the steps have to be turned through 90 degrees.