Sunday 6 September 2015

Detail Time...

Have only had a minimum of time this week to move along with Crookwell Station...

I have decided to detail the "innards" of the waiting room (at least) and all of this has to be completed before the roof assembly is attended to.  Seems a waste of time to detail the interior and not provide lighting to enhance the scene, soooo this is another chore that will need to be achieved before the roofing contractors move in.

During my visit to Crookwell last weekend I took a plethora of detail photos and these have been invaluable in an attempt to portray the feel for the station and other infrastructure.  The waiting room seating was one aspect that I wanted to portray accurately and I think I have achieved the feel and accuracy I was striving for.  I would imagine I have visited the station over 40 or so times but there is always another aspect that needs to be checked and rechecked and our closeness to "Hooterville" makes this task somewhat easier...added to this is the fact that there is always something previously unseen, no matter how often you visit this time capsule called Crookwell

Another aspect that has required much research, is the exact prototypical length of the platform and facing.  Most printed matter refers to Crookwell as either a 100' platform or a 42 metre platform, while some articles refer to both measurements in the same breath.  A simple conversion suggests that these two dimensions vary wildly from each other and almost certainly (unless there has been significant fundamental changes to Crookwell over the years)...the quoted 100' length is certainly in error. 

Indeed the only firm ( and hopefully reliable) dimension that I have been able to unearth, is the Departmental, Signal Arrangements Diagram issued in 1902 at the time of the line's opening, which indicate a total dimension (including ramps) of 45 and 1/3 yards which when converted ends up around 41.5 metres which will be close enough to 42 metres for me !!!  Never occurred to me to measure the damn thing before the fairly recent and questionable modifications to the platform took place.

I will sometime this week laser up the base that will hold the station building, platform and facing, fencing, signage and other items all in one mini diorama for later fitment to the layout...


       

9 comments:

  1. Fantastic work, Rod. Glad to see you are still at it, be such a waste of talent otherwise.

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    1. Ben,

      Thanks for your words of encouragement. I think the one aspect of my previous layout that was missing was the link to a genuine prototypical location. My structures are a labour of love for fidelity...but wasted on a fictitious layout.

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  2. Liking the progress on your waiting room. Going to look great when she's all done!

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    1. Phillip,

      I certainly have a self imposed responsibility to get this A5 right!...I am looking forward to the roof going on and then we will be able to measure the success. Thanks for your comments...

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  3. If it helps, the end of the platform ramp on the down side matched the end of the platform fence.

    The Platform was rebuilt in 2009 by ARTC and in an effort to cut costs it was shortened and made of pine instead of hardwood.

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    1. Albert,

      Thanks for your info...I certainly should have taken more photos of the original...although I do have plenty of reference photos. I will be modelling the period when Frame A was trackside near the lamp room...It is a pity that the ARTC were not a tad more concerned with authenticity, as the station precinct is a real focal point and deserved a total rebuild to match the original...Although small mercies I guess!

      Thanks Again

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    2. PS my reference to ARTC was in regards to the facing and platform only...

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