WorldRailFans

Although it's not really that long since I moved, the modelling urges keep nibbling away at me, so I have started an H0/H0e dual gauge project. It's too big really, and I know it, so I've taken time out to throw together a quicky.



I've got a Roco H0e Digital Startset (31021), and the track's not bad looking, so I've used it as the basis for this. No other track has been bought yet, although I will add a couple of points allowing me to have a couple of hidden tracks rather than just one. I've made an open frame baseboard to allow me to go up or down with the scenery, and in this mock-up I've done both. A road comes in from the right, and decends to meet the station (Tea box!), then dives under the railway and comes to the baseboard front. The beer cases represent tall buildings in North German style which will line the road, and on the left will be a cliff face with an unlined tunnel.

This is not going to be an exercise in finescale modelling, nor devotion to a specific area, it's just something to allow me to run trains while plodding along with a larger project. At present I have both German and Austrian stock, though I'll probably letter/paint everything to represent a preserved line in the recent past.

Cheers

Richard

I am not sure the Kiwis would approve of using the barby as a support for a railway!!

I'm not sure Diane would approve of me using the dining table, so barbie it is! I'll have to knock up some legs, but I'm out of batten at the moment.

Having just had a holiday and with Christmas fast approaching, I haven't had a lot of spare cash to spend on modelling. However, I've tried to keep things moving by putting in the basis for the road and a building, plus a little ballasting. It all adds up though, and helps me feel like I'm making progress.

I'm still not totally sure what form the surrounding buildings will take, although I've got a vague fix on the landscape. I was going to have a bar, but remembered that in Central Europe lots of the stations have bars in, and in the village like surroundings I've envisaged it's unlikely there'd be another so close. As such, this little pitch may be occupied by a garage. Other buildings will probably include a post office and some houses. I've decided that I'd like to try and use buildings that suggest former DDR, so rendered and a bit drab in appearance. The landscape will be rugged countryside, with some small cliffs and rocky outcrops, plus a few deciduous trees mixed in.



I'm now at the stage of putting in some landscaping, using some polystyrene that John Woodall has given me- thanks!

I seem to be in the mood for modelling at the moment, and I'm making progress. I've been terraforming with expanded polystyrene, covered with papier-mâché for the gentler hills, and to be attacked with plaster to make cliffs (left hand side of the layout). I'll use some of the Woodland Scenics moulds to (hopefully) create a good rocky appearance, and some will also be used to create outcrops elswhere. I want to make an unlined tunnel in the cliff face, so I hope I get the hang of things!





Pictured here (and generally being played with today) are two-thirds of my narrow gauge loco stud, on the left a Liliput ÖBB class 298, and on the right a Roco Henschel HF 110 C. Both have additional details to be added, and the Hencshel has been repainted from the red livery it was supplied carrying in the start set. My other loco is an ÖBB 1099, an electric type which came with the coaches the 298 is hauling. Being a single baseboard layout, there is a strong temptation to string up wires. I must resist, as I'm adamant that this layout is set in eastern Germany! The ÖBB coaches will be repainted at some stage, representing some coaches bought in by the fictional private preserved railway the layout is meant to be.



Lastly, a general view of the layout from the other end. I'm still not totally sure what to do setting wise, I can't help but feel that the back would look better as a hillside than low relief buildings directly againts a backscene, but then there will be only a couple of buildings on the whole thing, leaving the station somewhat unjustified! Your opinions would be welcomed.



Cheers

Rich

I've been plugging away at the scenery, and last night cobbled together the road overbridge out of foam board. Today I've been coating it in DAS, a new medium for me. It didn't take me long to realise I couldn't get a sharp corner with the wet clay, so I guess the trick is to smooth it off as much as possible and then rub it down with sandpaper. After that's done, I'll be scribing some panels, representing a concrete bridge cast in sections.



At the other end to the concrete overbridge, I've been planning to have an unlined tunnel. Over the past couple of days I've been casting umpteen bits of rock with plaster of paris and Woodland Scenics moulds. Individually, I don't think they look bad as stony outcrops, but putting them together to form a cliff face is another matter. I thought that by using moulds with smaller rock sections it would be more versatile, and any repeated castings would be less noticable. At present, I'm not convinced. With vegetation amongst the rocks it might look OK as a cliff, but it doesn't look like a solid enough rock formation for an unlined tunnel to be blasted out of.



Next to be worked upon is the rail overbridge. This will be a girder bridge, but at present I haven't got all the materials I need, so I can only work on parts.

Cheers

Rich

I thought an update was well overdue...



The landform is largely complete, though I need to make some more cliff face. I need a couple more buildings, a bar and a post office, and then I'm into adding trees, bushes and general small details.

Cheers

Rich

Rich,

I can not tell, but it looks like the barby has performed yeoman's duties and makes for easy transport, as there are probably wheels already attached. Looks like a trip to the store for a new barbecue is in order ! Sometimes, life grants one opportunities that can not be refused (unless SWMBO says "No", of course ) ...

Looks great!

Peace,

Jim

Jim,

The layout has been promoted to indoor living. No more will the temptation be there to light the barbie and see and end to my frustrations. So much for this being a quick project. Curse H0e dampfloks and points!

Rick,


Probably better - Weathering au naturel can be tough on some things (kind of like me ).


Always good to remove as much temptation as possible for disaster avoidance!

Peace,

Jim

Any chance of seeing the final results?