New Street progress

[jim s-w]

Hi All

When I built the plank I needed representations of the Westinghouse EP point machine and heater. With nothing available I knocked them up from scratch but while I needed 2 I built 3. The third one, by a roundabout route found its way to George from S-Kits. Today a parcel arrived back from George with his version of what I sent him. To say I am well pleased with what he has produced would be an understatement!

Cheers

Jim

[jim s-w]

Everyone makes mistakes!

Back in Oct 2003 I had reached this point with my signal box.



I had made a master for the distinctive cladding and copied it in resin. But there comes a time when you have to step back and look at what you have done not from the heart but from the head. It doesn't matter how much time, effort and money you have spent to reach this point but there is one overiding question that needs an answer. That question is a simple one, "is it good enough?"

The answer might not be an easy one and as much as i didn't want to admit it at the time the answer was no! Could I live with it? Ultimately its not about living with it. Will do just wont do. It was inevitable that it would have to be redone.

I had not enjoyed the resin side of the build and I didn't think with my skills (or lack of) I would be able to produce what I needed so the alternative was to use Evergreen L section - nearly 25 packs of it! (70 lengths in total!)

It was 3/16 which was a tad too big so every length needed a sliver cutting off using a piece of H section brass as a guide.

The end result is something I am much, much happier with and I am now pretty much back to where I was in october 03 - This time I am happy to move forward with the model





Cheers

Jim

[davknigh]

Hi Jim,

Much cleaner looking and well worth the effort.

Cheers,

David

[jim s-w]

Hi All

With my thoughts on my signal box my attention has been drawn to the lighting gantry outside of it. Express models do a lighting gantry but alas the top platform is square while the one at New Street is round. I was able to source the etched bits that Express Models use and set about scratchbuilding the platform. I used a 10 pence piece to assist me file the platform out of 20 thou NS. This was then overlaid with planking and the rest built up from various metal sections from my scrap box. As the layout is set in the day I didn't need the lights to work!

Cheers

Jim

[jim s-w]

Hi All

Work continues on my Signal box.

This is pretty much there now - Just needs weathering which as the smaller building is secured to the layout I will do in situe. I need to do some work on the interior too but that can be done after the weathering stage.



I decided the safety cage on the ladder was too heavy so I redid it with finer wire.



Jim

[Flymo748]

I have to say Jim, the bit that caught my eye were the three air-con cabinets on the roof.

Those are just perfectly modelled, and capture such a typical detail of modern buildings so well. I spend a lot of time in meetings on the top floors of buildings, and if you're on (say) the 34th floor, it's fascinating to look down and see how much "junk" there is on the roof of a modern office or factory.

Keep up the inspiration! It's not exactly my personal modelling idyll of rural Suffolk, but it's crackingly good stuff

Flymo

[jim s-w]

Thanks Flymo

If you ever need an air con unit for rural suffolk then these are from S kits.

Cheers

Jim

[jim s-w]

Hi All

A few pictures of my signal box in situe. Still needs weathering.

Cheers

Jim

[CBM]

Lookin' Good Jim

Chris.

[jim s-w]

Hi All

A few more classic BNS shots in black and white.

Cheers

Jim

[jim s-w]

Hi All

This post comes with a warning - if anyone is bored of seeing pictures of that b*****y signal box please look away now!

For those still here I have been weathering! It now looks far more like the depressingly filthy thing it was in the 80's!





I couldn't resist a bit of photoshoppery on this one!



Cheers

Jim

[Ealing]

Jim, I remember the building and the area well from that era - and you've nailed it. Brilliant.

[jim s-w]

Hi All

A few new piccies, both of good old Lima stuff





I still think the Lima 31 has something about it that the Hornby one just seems to miss.

Cheers

Jim

[jim s-w]

Hi All

Nearly finished the ballasting on this board. Heres an overview of progress so far.



Cheers

Jim

[johnWM]

I remember wandering along to the end of that platform on the right. I was bored, a student at the time, waiting for a train. Sometimes you see a picture that makes you go "Yes, that is how it was" because the colours, detail and mood just feels right. The picture of the class 31 does it for me. The ballast texture and colour looks brilliant in that view. Well tamped down and oily, but with newish lumps on top catching the sun.

[jim s-w]

Hi All

Something that has been on my 'nearly finished' list for a LONG time is my 07-16 tamper. Built from the Roger Murray etched brass bits with a lot of scratchbuilding here she rests in the siding outside of my signal box.



Cheers

Jim

[Mark Tatlow]

Hi All



Cheers

Jim

Excellent Jim, I do like this view!

I remember these things wheezing away nearer to Surrey than perhaps New Street and this captures the memory to the point that I am sure I am smelling oil and hydraulic fluid!

[jim s-w]

Hi All

Another pointless little padlock! 3 feet + between this and the viewing public but...



This gate is for a little area of general clutter that can be found at the end of Platform 1 - I have spent a couple of evenings working on this but now its time to move on to the next thing!



But not before a little play with the light!



Cheers

Jim

[jim s-w]

Hi All

Most of my point motors (scenically I mean) are the Westinghouse EP type - however there is one slip where there is no room for these. Luckily Colin Craig has not long introduced a selection of bits for the clamp lock type so in the tradition of the prototype these have been bodged to fit my Bullhead rail



The Westinghouse EP point motors need a distribution manifold - I have been meaning to model it and tonight I got around to soldering a few bits of wire together, Its a bit big but since you cant see it from the front of the layout anyway...



Finally, anyone who has looked for pics of New Street in the 70's and 80's will know that a shot of an AC or 2 parked outside of the signal box is a classic. A sight long gone and never to return I am afraid but it will live on in 4mm scale!



Cheers

Jim

[jim s-w]

Hi All

A better view of Colin's clamp locks - pre-paint.



Cheers

Jim

[Flymo748]

Finally, anyone who has looked for pics of New Street in the 70's and 80's will know that a shot of an AC or 2 parked outside of the signal box is a classic. A sight long gone and never to return I am afraid but it will live on in 4mm scale!

Jim,

I have to say that as someone that spent most Saturdays in the early eighties travelling Rowley Regis - BNS - Rowley Regis, you've absolutely hit the nail on the head with that picture.

I never paid much attention to the comings and goings of rolling stock at the time (although when Sir Edward Elgar showed up in green, it was unusual enough for me to have a closer look) and the way that you have portrayed something that was just "part of the background" so well brings back instant recognition.

Keep it coming!
Flymo

[jim s-w]

Hi All

Back in February 2007 I printed the first track plans for my New Street project. I thought, as its a shade over 3 years since then, a then and now might be interesting.







More pics from today to follow!

Cheers

Jim

[jim s-w]

Hi All

A few more pics.


This is the view from the back with 50023 poking its nose out from behind the wall.


The view from platform 2 - looking towards wolverhampton.






(I really like this one!)


Just for fun!

Cheers

Jim

[jim s-w]

Hi All

A bit of news for everyone.

P4NewStreet will now be appearing at DEMU showcase as a work in progress demo. For more info on the show click here

Cheers

Jim

[jim s-w]

Hi All

more trackwork details thanks to Colin Craig



Id plates for 4mm scale pointwork - neat hu?

Cheers

Jim