The 12th Australian Narrow Gauge Convention

Done and dusted.  Another Easter weekend of narrow gauge convention activities completed, and thoroughly enjoyed.  I made the long drive up to Bowral (about and hour or so South of Sydney) this last Easter long weekend, for the 12th edition of the Australian Narrow Gauge Convention.  Always an event I'm keen to get to and make the most of, catching up with other narrow gauge modellers and talking about this enjoyable and sometimes quirky hobby.

 

I got to see many faces that I haven't seen for about two years (since the previous ANGC in Melbourne in 2013), so always good to see how peoples projects have progressed.  There were a good range of clinic topics on offer, from casting techniques, weathering, diorama design, DCC tips, layout sound, working with brass etc, plus various presentations on prototype settings.  I was up there also to present my clinic on how I model my gum trees.

 

The modelling contest was well represented as well (as usual).  Perhaps a lower number of entries than I though would have been submitted, but quality was all there.  Each effort looked to be the modellers best efforts, and the standard was much appreciated by the viewers.  It was a tiring weekend, but also very rewarding.  I always find a NGC good for the spark to get the modelling enthusiasm going.  I've been busy on 1:1 work projects around home, so modelling time has been quite limited lately, and spending the intense time at the NGC gets the ideas well and truly going again.  I'm certainly keen to get back into some more creative adventures again.  Time to let the pictures tell the rest of the story...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the conclusion of this most recent event, I was also able to finally announce that the hosting town for the 13th Australian Narrow Gauge Convention, to be held at Easter 2017, will be my home town, Geelong.  Planning is already well under way for this next ANGC, with a venue locked in, and discussions already had with The Bellarine Railway, to incorporate some preserved steam into this future event.  Websites and details will be released in the near future, but some interesting displays and topics are already being discussed, so something to lock in and start planning your holidays around!

 

 

Cheers,

Dan

 

 

Moving in...

Hi all,

While battling the "man flu", thought it would be a good time to update the old blog a bit.  Been busy with considerable progress since the last update.  The studio got some internal stud walls, insulation, wired up and then plastered.  Since its a dedicated modelling and layout space, it meant I had total control over what it looks like in the end (ie its not a room in the house that I have to consider keeping it semi house looking).  As a totally independent structure, I have creative freedom, so out came the black paint.  Once the layout goes in, I wanted it so there weren't too many distractions from the modelled scenes, so blacking everything out that isn't actually layout forces you to view only the important parts (a bit like when you go to a museum and only the displays are lit). 

 

 

Firstly, all of these progress pics are just quick phone snaps, so excuse the low quality.  Life is getting quite civilised in the studio, with the carpeted floor, plastered walls and LED down lights.  These LED ceiling lights are low wattage warm white, designed to provide reasonably dim (but sufficient) light for moving around what will be the isles in the room.  There will be brighter lighting built into the layouts overhead lighting valance at a later stage.  The black roof does a fairly good job of disguising the low ceiling height of the studio, but at the end of the build, not much of the ceiling will actually be visible once the layout roof lines are in place.  Not photographed, but a 45mmx70mm timber batten has been mounted right around the walls (much like a dado rail) at 1050mm high to serve as an anchor point and level for the layout frame that will attach above it.  Rail height will be approx. 1200mm which allows for cut-away's below track level for things like creeks and hollows in the terrain.  Underneath the layout is where a heap of storage cupboards and my various workbenches are being assembled.

 

 

I know, that quickly went from being a vacant and spacious room to the image above.  I guess since I've being picturing this studio space in my head for so long before being able to get around to building it, I've had plenty of time to think about all the ways I wanted to design it, so when it has now become reality, getting this bench work in place has been a quick process...I didn't have to sit down and think about what I wanted in this room after it was built because I've known in my mind for quite some time how it all needs to happen. 

 

 

A friend of mine had been renovating their house, so I was able to rescue and recycle a lot of their old kitchen bench tops and cupboard units...all great for my needs.  I have about 5m of workbench length now under the layout, so can have a few different dedicated work areas.  One area is set up for loco and rolling stock work, the others more for structures and scenery jobs, with relevant materials stored near the associated work area.  I was also able to get some granite bench tops from the recycling (seen here under the peninsula area, which will have a sawmill modelled above it). The effort to carry and install this rather heavy material has resulted in a good hard and flat surface for working on.  Under layout lighting makes the work zone good and bright for working in.  Later when the layout is nearing completion, black curtains will cover these work spaces when running an operating session.  The work benches are low at just 600mm from the ground, but is a comfortable working height still as I have a lowered seat for use (not the stool seen in these pics).  Ideally I would have liked to have them a bit higher, but the layout would also have to have been higher, and the restricted roof height of the studio would have not left enough height to model my gum trees in effectively.  It was preferred to have the layout how I wanted it and compromise to work zones to suit.  It looks a bit low and cramped, but ergonomically when siting there it is perfectly fine for me.

 



 

I needed to establish these work and storage zones first up so I could demolish my old far from finished "Triple Creek" layout, that was  briefly mentioned way back on my first post to this blog.  Rather than pack all that stuff up for the move 20 feet out the back door, this new work space was prepared and then everything just picked up and carried out to its new home.  A lot of the old layout bench framing will be recycled in the construction of the overhead layout roofing and lighting valance.  Who knows, I might even get back into doing some modelling in the near future!

 

Cheers,

Dan

 

Birth of a new studio...

It finally happened.  After a number of delays and thoughts about the appropriate time to actually build this new project, there is now something solid in the backyard.  I had intended to start building this new shed/studio space nearly 18 months ago, but a few different home chores kept taking higher priority.  As it was, I probably had intentions to still delay this new shed until after the 2015 Australian Narrow Gauge Convention, but it pretty much came to the fact I've nearly run out of storage space around home.  With two different layouts under construction out in the garage, as well as a heap of salvaged cabinets from a friends recent home renovation (enough to use for all the under layout storage I will have in the new space), I needed to establish the new studio/shed to free up space around the house.  The last posting showed the old garden shed being demolished.  The new shed is now up...twice the size, and all dedicated studio modelling space.

 

 



 Stumps dug, bearers installed, shed goes up (knew the kids would come in handy one day!), and the flooring is starting to go in.  Moving large sheets of yellow tongue solo is a "fun" job.  The final space will end up being roughly 3.5m x 5m once the inside of the shed gets a light stud wall and some insulation installed.  The roof line ended up being slightly lower than originally intended, but turns out it will help make the room feel bigger.  I had planned to leave it open over the layout, but with the lower roof, will go back to including an overhead lighting valance around the layout footprint (much the same as my previous exhibition layout designs).  This will essentially create a couple of corridors around the layout space.  With a blackened roof and all the under layout storage covered by curtains, it will make it harder to view the whole layout from one spot, meaning you'll have to walk around the scenes to experience it.  The size of the trees that will be across the layout will also create plenty of view blocks. 

 

Still a lot of work to be done before anything like a modelled layout starts to take shape (lining the walls, running power and lighting, reconfigure the cabinet work etc etc), but it is nice to now know there is some definite progress in the backyard, rather than just talk of this future home layout dream.

 

Cheers,

Dan

Blank canvas...

Just started some holidays, and with a bit of sun in the sky again, time to create a blank canvas.  Have finally made a start of what will be the future modelling studio space in the back yard.  First step was to demolish the previous garden shed that stood in the corner of the yard.  Hardest part was removing the multiple layers of silicon that I'd built up around the base to try and keep the water out, followed by dodging all the falling spiders.  An afternoons work had the old shed removed...which apparently leaves the perfect stage (the concrete slab) for a couple of young dancing girls to put on an impromptu show during my coffee break :)

 

With the next few weeks off work, will hopefully be able to make some reasonable progress with getting the ground work done with the new construction.  If only I can get the kids excited about digging me a few deep holes to drop the stumps into!

 

Cheers,

Dan

 

 

Now for something different...

Firstly, a quick thankyou to all those that have supported and taken delivery of one of my gum tree CD's.  I am really appreciative of how well these have been received, and the future shed is happy with the support as well, however, the shed construction is on temporary hold...not due to funding, just the decision to put in some hard modelling time instead of outdoor construction during a cold and wet winter.

 

So, the new project that has pushed the shed aside for the moment...O-14.

 

Yup, change of scale.  Not forever, just it was on the "always wanted to do that" list.  My previously documented layout construction for "Brooks", has been put on hold.  It actually had some initial scenery work started on the station module, but the initial idea to perhaps have it ready to take up to Sydney next year for the 12th Australian Narrow Gauge Convention was always going to be a really tough deadline to meet.  Besides, being it was going to be part of my home layout eventually, I didn't really want to rush through the process for the sake of the convention.  It will just make its convention appearance at a later event (perhaps here in Geelong...nudge nudge, wink wink!). 

So, as I mentioned, O-14.  Always had a bit of an interest in this industrial railway gauge.  I love the quaint feel of it.  Probably the one part of it that has previously prevented me from doing an O-14 project, was the lack of locomotives and rolling stock (and hand built track work) to actually make it a working layout.  That's where a new partnership with modelling mate Geoff comes into it.  He also has the O-14 interest.  He also has the collection of loco's and rolling stock awaiting construction (having been in storage for considerable time, but now the time is available to bring them to life).  He also has the desire to build the track.  I now get to model some different style scenery with Geoff's half of the project forming the animation through it.  Win win situation.  The layout will remain at Geoff's place once its completed, with the intention to take it out to exhibitions, and demonstrate something a little bit different on the public circuit.  Its also a project we have a better chance of getting near ready to take to Sydney for the NGC as well :)

 

On to that new layout then.  We spent a bit of time browsing around what had previously been modelled, and deciding what we thought worked, and what didn't.  Geoff only has limited space at his place to house the finished layout (unless he can eventually convince his wife that a long layout in the new extension family room would look spectacular!).  I was also happy that it was a fairly confined size that I could just scratch that O-14 itch with (I didn't want to fully convert!).  We had a narrow doorway the layout had to negotiate, and also wanted to make transport easy, by just restricting its cartage to in the car only, and also keeping exhibition set up quick and easy.  We were doing a Welsh Slate theme, and in browsing for ideas, came across a layout called "Ravens Rock".  For me, this layout ticked a lot of important exhibition boxes.

 

As far as an exhibition layout goes, it is compact, different in its presentation, spectacular with its vertical presence, and simple enough with its operation.  All the things I look for that make an exhibition layout a successful project.  So, to the drawing board...

 

The chosen layout vehicle is Geoff's RAV4, which has good height inside when the rear seats are pulled out (easily done).  We are taking a lot from the vertical appearance of Ravens Rock, but changing a number of the feature scenes, such as the incline has been removed in exchange for a different scene.  The layout has been framed in aluminium, and clad with ply, to keep it all nice and light weight, yet strong.  The great thing about the aluminium is it's so quick to work with.  From the drawings I made (after measuring the car), I had the frame members cut and assembled in less that an hour.

 

 

 

The rear sections that can be seen clamped to the rear of the layout in the pics above are to be the staging yards.  Geoff has a reasonable collection of locomotives to build, so this layout will be a nice opportunity to rotate them in use through out an exhibition day.  Currently, the layout is well on the way to getting it ready to move into he scenery side of the project, but there has been plenty of fun with creative engineering this module.  The module size is a tight fit in the back of the car, so plenty had to considered.  Space was left below the layout for point motors (Tortoise), and storage of wiring and DCC (NCE).  Lighting has been incorporated into the roof, but here is also an extra overhead lighting rig that mounts on the roof of the layout.  The support arms that hold this overhead lighting up are hinged to fold neatly within the roof space.  There have been a fair few cold nights spent out in the garage in the last few weeks staring at the project, trying to nut out how to make it all work.  Thus far, I've been really happy with the results...

 

 

 

The lower staging yard will include a cassette system to allow change over and turning of whole trains.  That's been the really challenging part, engineering how that element will work.  It's currently in the testing stage, but seems to be a viable option.  More photos of that part to be documented once happy the mechanism is reliable enough for exhibition use.  We will be taking the under construction layout up to the Grampians Model Railway Exhibition in July, so visitors will be able to see some of the guts of what goes into building an exhibition layout.  Hopefully by that time, I will be ready to start work on some of the rock carvings.  The intention is to spend most of that weekend exhibition with the hot wire foam cutter running.  I've got a considerable amount of rock to shape...

 

 

The photo above, of Bethesda Slate Quarry, gives a good impression of what I need to carve out.  The different levels (galleries, or terraces)  are both harsh and spectacular.  Given that this entire layout is essentially a rock face, the challenge is to keep it light weight.  When researching the background of Ravens Rock, it was documented as a exceptionally heavy layout, shaped with plenty of heavy plaster.  That's perhaps the biggest challenge of this project...so much "rock" with no weight.  I've got a few ideas to test out in the coming months, avoiding a plaster mountain at all costs!

 

Cheers,

Dan