Christmas 2019

Merry Christmas to all and best wishes for 2020. Hope to get more work done on Wardell 1950s section of the layout. Here is a typical Aussie scene. It Looks like dad got a new Aussie Charger for Christmas.

Wanna be Startin Something

The Final Section

At the beginning of this year, my objective was to commence and aim to complete the last section of the layout in the foreseeable future This section measures 2446mm by 300mm and will build on the 1950s inner west of Sydney theme with both commercial and industrial setting. 

I have chosen the area around Crago Flour mill at Newtown as the basis and using my modelling licence to also include a milk distribution site although the closest would have been in Ultimo. 

The Track Plan

The aim of the track plan was to have the ability to have some industry with some sidings but not overcrowd the layout with track section so that scenery such as buildings and structures would balance the effect. 

Above is the planned track plan what is not shown is the planned tram lines which will consist of a double tram track running at the front of the layout representing King Street or Old Canterbury road. 

Period buildings and shop fronts will also be included to set the scene. 

Building the scenery 
I used dense extruded polystyrene used as building materials that I purchased in large sheets as a way of building the terrain and the railway cutting. This was cut into shapes and then Total Joint Finish was used to cover the joins. Further work on the scenery will be completed when the track is laid and tested.

Laying track

Peco Code 70 track was glued down with white glue onto painted cork road bed. As shown on the track diagram a large right hand turnout and 2 left hand curved turnouts will be used for the siding area. All turnouts will be electrofrog, motorised and connected to frog juicer. As in my previous post the frog juicers worked excellently to ensure smooth running.

Above: Track view looking towards the "Enmore Road Road bridge"

Fieldtrip

I was fortunate enough to be able to do a short field trip of the Newtown area. I was able to squeeze my camera through a gap in the fence to take some shots of the railway line I am modelling to get idea of the terrain to model.  

Above:  A view of the Enmore Road/King St road bridge

Above: View looking towards Petersham and Crago  Flour Mill

A Trip to the Country

Over the June NSW long weekend ,I had the opportunity to visit my Uncle in the Central Tablelands. It was great time to visit and reminisce some of my childhood places I use to go with my family in the country and also to catch up with extended family.  

Like anything my mind is constantly working on how I can get the next project done. What I had in  mind was the first building on my Newtown section of the layout, the grain silos of Crago Flour Mill.

Whilst travelling around the country I did get to view a few silos. 

Above: The large silos at Molong,, Central West NSW

 The basis for the model

The grain silos is a large imposing structure and as I only wanted to represent this as part of a larger section of the layout I aimed to build a low relief version. A search on the internet found a cardboard 4 cell concrete silo kit on Ebay sourced from a South Australian producer , BAM. This would provide a cost effective way to model the Crago Silos.

Above: Contents of the kit, it required the modeler to source their own  "Concrete Cells"

Outside assistance

During my visit at my Uncle's and knowing him being a "Man of the land" both resourceful and handy I asked him if he knew where I could source some PVC pipe from the local hardware store.  

He responded in saving that he had some PVC pipe and will also cut it too. 

Upon my return to my home after the long weekend I spray painted the silos in a plain white colour. 

However, it was only when I starting constructing the corrugated roof and conveyor belt that I had not cut it short enough and I required further trimming and sanding in order to complete the model.

Above: spray painting of the PVC pipe, concrete silos

 Completed model
 I completed the model as per instructions however, to achieve the illusion of silos of the Crago Flour,I changed the arrangement of the 4 cell to a 3 x 3 cell and only included one side of the 3 cell.silo . I cut the original roof in half so I could use it to extend the roof to cover the third concrete cell. Below is the completed silo kit in the desired location on my layout.

I still have to build the actual Mill which lies adjacent to the silos. This will be the next project

It's a Stage I am going through

Its been a while since my last post, although I have been busy with the layout my output has been slower with family commitments etc. The diagnosis of a torn ligament resulting in a frozen shoulder has also not helped which has made it sore and difficult to do under the layout wiring and hard to reach places. Its also means I am not getting any younger and have aimed to want to complete this layout as soon as I can. 

I have already started completing the last section of 1950s layout but I leave that for another blog update.

Staging Yard

To complete the circuit around the train room there is a section of the layout that is near the bay window.

I decided that this area will be the staging area and storing area being the longest area where the track will be straight and will allow up to 4 sets of trains to be stored.

Below is a trackplan of this section

Protection from Sunlight
As this area will be near the window and potentially sunlight I decided to build a cover from 3mm ply and pine planks as well as opening where to allow the cover not to foul up the track

Views of Staging area

Below are various photos of the completed staging area with a Trainorama 49 Class and freight load behind.As yet i am undecided if and when I will scenic this are and prefer to put my efforts in completing the last section of the layout.