Down Ampney - A 7mm FS BLT

Hi All,

I'm slowly working my way through all of the marvellous model making on the site.

Tentative first steps in this first posting of my model making on here

'Down Ampney' is my foray into 7mm FS, I have a small layout also associated with 'Down Ampney', called: 'Draycot Camp Halt Sidings' (or 'Draycot' for short). In addition a diorama called: 'Down Ampney Sidings'.

Down Ampney is a hard won WIP layout, a garage railway, linked via a small garden section in a small garden (the garden slopes in three directions). One side of the garage will be a fiddle yard, the other side, a scenic section and a possible circuit within the garage, but fundementally a U shaped layout (via the garden - out of necessity). As well as 7mm standard gauge there will be a 0.16.5 narrow garage line (in reality that's how my foray into 7mm started, until I was led astray).

All of my modelling is on a budget, and purests might find my model making too freestyle (I call some of it 'sketch modelling'). My father models SM32, which we call 'caricature modelling', all sounds grandiose, but it's not intended to be. These titles, help us to focus our minds on how much detail to include and how much to leave off, it's an ethos, to get models finished. In addition, less is more, larger scale, less locos, less rolling stock etc, when compared to to e.g. average OO layouts. IF the garage section also incorporates a self contained loop, then, the layout would be akin to a OO 8'x4' layout with an operating well (as the garage is also in use, any link lines or those crossing doorways will be either removable and/or lifting sections).

For various reasons, our/my, progress is slow and I'm concerned that things may never get finished (I also have other model making interests but age and health issues creep up on one all too fast), so I endeavour to enjoy each model built, painted, weathered for what it is, a therapeutic endeavour, towards the greater whole. I have a back up plan, but it would be nice to think that this relatively simple layout will be substantially complete one day.

I'm also hoping for 80% of the layout to be largely RC, dead rail.

Some random photos of my modelling, all are my copyright unless otherwise stated. I hope that my ramblings and photos may be of some interest.

Best wishes to all,

Martin.

 

Thanks Jim, I agree and I think I've spied that notice on You Tube for Gormo too

Some might think I'm a rivet counter (I'm not), also if it can't be seen? I don't model it.

I'm currently reworking 40-50 year old Lima Ferry Vans (3), adding detail etc. They're RIV, only ever found their way onto GB/UK docks (the LNER developed similar vehicles before WWII), but on my railway? They'll be heading up the branch to 'RAF Down Ampney'.

I'm also considering repainting my three 6 wheel milk tanks in CO-OP turquoise (American modellers often do that sort of thing).

'A recognisable model of the prototype running in a credible background' (the late Jack Ray).

 

Sounds good to me Jim, perfect in fact.

Aspects of 7mm can be wonderfully fiddly and easy to break (don't ask me how I know).

As I've become more skilled? The blessed faculties start to fail

I don't think there's a model railway that I've seen that I've not learned something from - railway modelling is a broad church and requires lots of skill sets, each to their own and no value judgements I say too.

Keep on keeping on Jim

 

Thanks Gormo, kind of you to say, however a lot of it is strategic bodging, smoke and mirrors and err...'happy accidents'.

Atvb

Martin

 

Hi Jim,

Yh, I like a nice BLT sarnie, but in this case, it's 'Branch Line Terminus' WR Region, circa 1965-1976 (with some wiggle room), ex GWR and in my world ex M&SWJR and the Down Ampney branch itself, like the old Highworth branch, being ex independent, light railway.

I only mention FS (Fine Scale) just to differentiate it from S7 or O gauge coarse scale

Hope that helps, sorry I should have clarified the abbreviation.

 

Hi Sol,

I've a couple of sets of plans, one for the garage (which has just appeared in a publication - so I'll have to double check copyright), one for the garden, which for the life of me, I can't find in photo form (I've also rationalised the number of points down to only three since drawing that).

I'll do my best for you though, leave it with me

Atvb,

Martin.

 

Thanks Jim, no need to explain, since 2020 and Covid, my thought processes ain't what they used to be. I think BLT, as a phrase, for model railways came out in the 1980s/1990s (or at least that's where I saw it in the Railway Modeller). It is a cliche but a WR BLT is a fairly easy to live with format, I kind of fell into that trap though especially in 7mm

Atvb

Martin.

 

Meanwhile whilst I seek out layout plans etc, a white elephant, breaching regulations, loaded with spoil, left, almost, to rot on Down Ampney sidings, one of the ill fated 24.5T Mineral wagons.

 

I hear you Jim, I've not had much running, if at all - we had a lot of problems with timber for the garden section (let down twice by two, once trusted, suppliers), that was like building that section four times over. One set of boards we've, recently rebuilt using plastic (they were low to the ground, treated marine ply, but still failed - bear in mind, they were marine ply, treated correctly, designed to be in water, but failed - ergo poor quality sold to us as best quality). In 7mm each vehicle becomes a model in its own right. I've bought damaged, waifs and strays, rebuilt/repaired them, all on a budget, that takes time too. But once the 7mm bug bites, it bites hard - but I do look back and wonder if I should have stuck to 4mm.

I can elaborate, later, on how to build a garden railway, and how NOT to build a garden railway post 2002-2005.