Dargan

Discussion in 'Members Personal Layouts' started by Davoetype, Oct 24, 2017.

  1. Davoetype

    Davoetype Full Member

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    Thanks Gary

    Yes I have been looking for a long time but finally a suitable laser cut kit became available as scratch building one of these is not a viable option. It was the best purchase I got at Rosehill and is based on the coal stage elevator at Orange which allows installation without the long ramp . A great project for the cold winter months. I am also about to contact the good people at G J Coles @ Coy Pty Ltd (the original name of what was then a privately owned family company) as we believe it is about time that Dargan was provided with such a shopping facility.

    Cheers

    and happy modelling

    Richard

    NB for those outside Oz, Sir Edgar Coles grew what was once a small chain of privately owned retail stores into the everyday chain that was represented in most of the larger suburban centres. It was the forerunner of the now publicly listed Coles, KMart Target behemoth that has around 35% of retail sales in Australia.
     
  2. gormo

    gormo Staff Member Administrator

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    Rule 1 Richard,....:avatar::avatar::avatar::avatar:
    That`s right when you think about country towns.
    I was in Coffs Harbour about 45 years ago when it was really still basically a country town.
    We got there at about 6:00pm on a Sunday evening, and after checking into our accommodation, we were asking about places to eat at, and the reply came back...." You`re not in Sydney now you know !!! "........." Just about everything is closed, but you may be lucky at the Chinese up the road "........:facepalm:
    So yes you are correct.........country towns do go quiet as night time approaches....:avatar::avatar:
    :cheers::tophat:Gormo
     
  3. jollyolly

    jollyolly Full Member

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    They look great Richard. Look forward to working on the next video especially seeing the 3801 in action. I remember well when we spent the day on the footplate of the 'real' 3801 when we took it to Picton with our train driver friends. It was hard work shovelling that coal.
     
  4. jakesdad13

    jakesdad13 Staff Member Moderator

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    Dargan is really coming to life now! Regarding the folk that live there, I would suggest googleing prototype photos of towns in images to get an idea of what the local population looked like out and about. I have seen layouts that look as if several coach loads of passengers have got out all at the same time, tripling the population. Also the clothing colour/fashion at the time, some of these ready painted figures available from China in bulk seem very gaudy to me. I prefer fewer more realistic scale figures to set the scene.

    Cheer's, Pete.
     
  5. Davoetype

    Davoetype Full Member

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    Thanks Pete

    I agree that the Chinese figures, although economic, are rather gaudy and certainly purple shirts with yellow trousers do not fit our local scenes. I have repainted quite a few and they seem to fit ok but your suggestion of googling towns of the era is well worth a try. We do it for trains and buildings so why not for people.

    Cheers

    and happy modelling

    Richard
     
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  6. Dr Tony

    Dr Tony Full Member

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    Yes, the Ebay special bulk people are tempting due to price but are very, shall we say, colourful and repetitive with those colours?
    Mind you the alternative is not too great, either buy painted German figures for lots of money, or buy the unpainted ones and a new pair of glasses. I've been painting lots of little people now, and it is very painful and tedious, I'm doing them in a batch and it is still taking forever. They are starting to look the part though.
    If you really wanted to take people to the next level, you could dress and colour them to the season for whatever the plants are doing.
    Cheers
    Tony
     
  7. Davoetype

    Davoetype Full Member

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    Hi Folks

    After many trials and tribulations, my winter project of the construction and installation of the coal stage at Glen Davis has finally bee completed and installed but like many aspects of modelling, single pics would not have done it justice. After much finessing and manipulation of my rough videos, editor and post production expert, Jollyolly, has just about completed a video record of its construction and installation. We will post this shortly.

    Cheers

    and happy modelling

    Richard
     
  8. Davoetype

    Davoetype Full Member

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    Hi Folks

    PROJECT UPDATE # 18

    Well the coal stage is finished and also the video so here it is and I hope you enjoy:



    A lot more still on the drawing board but I rhink that applies to all of us.

    Cheers

    and happy modelling

    Richard
     
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  9. gormo

    gormo Staff Member Administrator

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    Beautiful work Richard and an excellent video.....:thumbs::thumbs::thumbs::thumbs::thumbs:
    :cheers::tophat:Gormo
     
  10. steve

    steve Full Member

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    Hi Richard.

    Really liked that video and the detail and complexity of the coal loader. Is this a kit, or scratchbuilt. It is very very good, really good

    I think the scale is HO, is that correct. I looked back through your thread, and I could not see that confirmed or not.

    The AD60 is beautiful, and is lovely to see the mechanism working in general, and particularly working with sound. What brand is that.

    Lovely modelling
    Steve
     
  11. Davoetype

    Davoetype Full Member

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    Hi Steve

    Yes it is HO scale and strictly NSW late steam early diesel era although I may have to bend the rules slightly with the forthcoming release of the C Class by Auscision. I went on the Thrurunners 40th anniversary of the C class tour to Goulburn hosted by Kevin Schultz and had a great time. The Auscision model bears the 40th anniversary logos so it is quite authentic and like all of their models should be a consistent good performer.

    The AD 60 is by Eureka Models and I believe that the second run is still available. Both the front and rear segments are powered so it is virtually a double headed steamie and very powerful easily pulling a full prototypical coal train. I plan on featuring 6020 and its stable mate, 6040, in a future video with a full load of BCH coal wagons. That does look quite impressive.

    The coal stage is a laser cut kit by Walker models and is available on line. The end result is very satisfying but I caution that as they point out in their very detailed instructions, for the modeller experienced with laser cut kits. You need to worry many components into place and NEVER glue until certain. I still have a lot more to go to finish the town area andd part of the residential but that is modelling....never finished?

    Cheers

    and happy modelling

    Richard
     
  12. steve

    steve Full Member

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    Thanks Richard.

    Sorry, I should have looked more closely at your profile. It is quite clear down the bottom that you model in HO

    Yes, the AD60 is an expensive model with DCC and sound, but I think it is a"must" have for a NSW modeller of that era. It is a very impressive loco in life and as a model. I saw 6029 at Steamfest in Maitland a couple of years ago, and it was so impressive. I have seen various models of them at model shows, and they look great.

    Looking forward to more videos or seeing your 6020 and 6040 with wagons at a show.

    Thanks for the feedback on the coal loader. I bought a small Walker laser cut kit recently at "Our Town" model show in Newcastle. It is nicely made, but I have yet to assemble it.

    Happy modelling to you as well, and thanks again

    Steve
     
  13. Davoetype

    Davoetype Full Member

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    Extract from the Dargan Gazette issued Friday 21st November, 1958.

    "Dargan City Council is pleased to inform ratepayers that following further discussions with Sir Edgar Coles, he has agreed that the continuing development of our city has reached the stage where it now warrants his investment in the area. A formal planning application has now been lodged with Council by G J Coles and Coy Ltd. for a substantial variety store to be constructed in Railway Parade opposite the railway station. This will be processed by Council without delay and construction is expected to commence early in the new year. This is a major development for Dargan and all citizens will welcome this wonderful addition to local shopping facilities"


    Footnote

    Sir Edgar Barton Coles (1899-1981 was the Managing Director of what was then a privately owned family company up until his retirement in 1868. He commenced with the company in 1919 when it operated a single store in Collingwood a suburb of Melbourne. At his retirement he had grown the company to a holding of 570 stores across Australia. It is now the backbone of the Wesfarmers Group which controls over 30 % of retail sales in Australia
    A very decisive person, I met him briefly in 1978 when he outbid me at auction for a retail site I was attempting to purchase for my emp;loyer. He did pay a little more than he was expecting.
     
    Last edited: Jan 6, 2020
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  14. Davoetype

    Davoetype Full Member

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    Extract from the Dargan Gazette issued Friday 16th January, 1959

    "The new Coles building is moving along at a rapid pace and completion is expected to be achieved early in June. A further and noteworthy development has been the announcement that the vacant land adjoining the Coles site has been acquired by local entrepreneur and Councillor, Joe Tripodious. Mr Tripodious plans to erect two substantial two story brick buildings on the site, one of which he hopes to lease to Parramatta shoe retailers, Giles, and in the other he will establish his own hardware outlet. A significant aspect of the economic success of the hardware business was Council's decision to award the business sole supplier of its requirements. We look forward to the completion of this project which will add the finishing touch to Railway Parade.

    Although the buildings appear to exceed Council's permissable development ratios, there is no suggestion by this newspaper that Mr Tripodious, who is also chairman of Council's Planning Committee, has done anything other than follow due process."
     
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  15. Davoetype

    Davoetype Full Member

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    Hi Folks

    Project Update #19

    Well with all the summer heat, it is every reason to confine activities to completing a few outstanding tasks in the air conditioned modelling room. So it was with a great deal of fanfare that the Dargan City Fathers presided over the official opening of the new G J Coles and Company store. The building works also encompassed the creation of a small public rest area adjoining the new store as a gift to the citizens of Dargan.

    IMG_1451.jpg

    The community rest area provides a quiet public space and completes the street scene to the western end of Dargan>

    IMG_1432.jpg

    Quite amazing how the ivy can cover some of the wall for such a new building?

    IMG_1426.jpg

    Councillor Tripodious was successful in convincing Giles to open a store and this has also been completed along with Joe's own hardware store. This area of Railway Parade has now been completed.

    IMG_1430.jpg

    With the safety of the City in mind, the Fire Station has been completed and it includes the water tower.

    IMG_1439.jpg



    The only thing missing are the fire hoses dangling from the top of the water tower as part of their drying process. Now I wonder what I can use for these hoses? Perhaps Gormo has a suggestion.

    Still a lot more to do and work progresses at a steady pace while the hot weather continues.

    Cheers

    and happy modelling

    Richard





     
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  16. Dr Tony

    Dr Tony Full Member

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    Hi Richard,
    You had better make sure that Joe's mate Edwin Obeyed doesn't pay a visit, otherwise you may have to contend with the building of a stadium, or a block of units!
    Seriously though, you have been very busy filling out Dargan, makes a great change from when I saw it in the flesh with the large empty expand in the middle.
    With regards to the hoses I have been thinking for my water column on Gundah Junction, to use some shoe laces. The right size and colour might just work for your hoses.
    Cheers
    Tony
     
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  17. Davoetype

    Davoetype Full Member

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    Thanks Tony

    Still a good way to go and the need for a Police Station, School and Petrol station all spring readily to mind. I already ave the police car (1955 black FJ Holden) but nowhere for it to call home. I will look out for some suitable shoe laces to see if they fit ho scale, perhaps a kids store would fit the need.

    Cheers

    and happy modelling

    Richard
     
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  18. gormo

    gormo Staff Member Administrator

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    G`day Richard,
    I too was thinking of shoe laces, but Tony beat me to it..........however given more thought, maybe they would be a little on the heavy side......possibly too thick and the weave would be too large.
    That said it`s still worth a go...:scratchchin:
    The second thought that just came to mind......would be some standard A4 paper. Cut to length......at double the width of the hose........fold it over in half along its length and glue together.......when the glue is dry......distress the long strip of hose by crumpling it up and generally working it......which should also soften it to some extent......and then flatten it out and paint it lightly the appropriate colour.
    I`m not sure if it would be better to distress the paper before gluing or after gluing....:scratchchin:
    I would suggest experimenting Richard and see how it goes.
    I`ve never tried this before so if you try it, please let us know how it goes.
    :cheers::tophat:Gormo
     
  19. Davoetype

    Davoetype Full Member

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    Thanks Gormo

    Now I have two shots at the solution and I will certainly let you both know how it goes.

    Cheers

    and happy modelling

    Richard
     
  20. jakesdad13

    jakesdad13 Staff Member Moderator

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    Another thought, how about heat shrink wiring cover, it comes in different widths and colours.

    Pete.
     

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