Ga Hong Ha is moving!
As part of some changes in my home, the layout is moving to another room.We've decided that it's better to put the car in the garage rather than leave it outside. This means that the layout is changing from a long thin layout with a fiddle yard located in the garage, to an L shaped layout with all of the trackwork on show.
This could take a little time, so I will take as many photos of the layout as it is now, before some parts of it disappear and are replaced with slightly different ones. I'll put up some of the photos in the next blog.
I don't plan to change the basic layout design but there will have to be changes because of the shape of the space I will have available. In particular because the layout will be up against walls I will not have a fiddle yard like the current version.
In the meantime I've finished the basic station building (see previous blog) and now need to add Vietnam specific details. I also need to think about a design for a goods/freight shed. I think the one at Thap Cham will suit my purposes. Just need to draw a plan before I scratchbuild.
On with the move......
Monday, May 27, 2013
Monday, May 13, 2013
Stations......
I've been undecided as to what the main station at 'Ga Hong Ha' will look like for some time. I've tried using the model of Dalat I picked up in Saigon last year but we all know it's Dalat and it's to a smaller scale so looks a bit odd. Then I thought I'd scratchbuild a modified model of Thap Cham or perhaps Hue? Again, a bit odd, as we all know what Thap Cham looks like and we all know what Hue looks like.
So I was surfing around the net a couple of weeks ago and I came across a card model of an old French station to download for free. It's in N Scale would you believe. Then I thought. Hmm. Some of the older Vietnam stations looked very much like French ones since they were in fact designed by the French. Then I had a quick look at some photos of old VN stations. Amazing. Very French indeed.
This is the completed French model as depicted on the website:
I'm currently building it and adding Vietnamese modifications. I'll post a photo of the completed model in the next post.
The main changes will be to add the larger extension on the other end as well and to add a station name sign as seen on Hue station. I'll probably leave the chimney's off too.
This is an early version of the station sign. Some of the spelling needs to be corrected.
Next time I'll have some more photos of the layout and hopefully a photo of the completed station in place.
See you next time....
So I was surfing around the net a couple of weeks ago and I came across a card model of an old French station to download for free. It's in N Scale would you believe. Then I thought. Hmm. Some of the older Vietnam stations looked very much like French ones since they were in fact designed by the French. Then I had a quick look at some photos of old VN stations. Amazing. Very French indeed.
This is the completed French model as depicted on the website:
I'm currently building it and adding Vietnamese modifications. I'll post a photo of the completed model in the next post.
The main changes will be to add the larger extension on the other end as well and to add a station name sign as seen on Hue station. I'll probably leave the chimney's off too.
This is an early version of the station sign. Some of the spelling needs to be corrected.
Next time I'll have some more photos of the layout and hopefully a photo of the completed station in place.
See you next time....
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Yes, we have no bananas....
A new post seems to becoming an annual event!
I apologize for being so slack. But you'd be surprised how much I have done since the last post. The basic layout is all but complete with all track laid including a completed 3 road fiddle yard, lots of scenery in place and the ability to actually run trains.
I've almost completed my XT brake van:
Only the lettering and a bit of weathering to do. I still have the problem of not having the correct bogies but I do plan to try to create 'look alike' ones even if they are not perfect.
Locomotives are still an issue, but after a couple of aborted attempts to 'kitbash' models, I feel that it would actually be simpler to scratchbuild them, so that's what I intend to do. There is an Australian N scale model of an Alco based diesel electric made by Gopher Models which is almost perfect as a chassis.
There was an article in an edition of the British model railway magazine "Continental Modeller" of a modeller building Indian locomotives, one being a YDM4 (we know it as a D13E class). The modeller used a similar Australian HO scale model. So what's good enough for HO has got to be even better for N! It's not perfect but not bad. At least it's a reasonably quick way to get a locomotive up and running. The N Scale model is available unpainted. I've ordered 2 (maybe for one red and one blue!)
I am also currently building a model of a G 50ft covered van (you know the green ones). Hopefully I will be able to make a rubber mould from the original and then make some copies.
A member of the Vietnam Railways Forum recently directed me to some very nice scratchbuilt N Scale models of DSVN freight cars.
I would like to tell you the name of the modeller but I don't know. I'm still trying to make contact with him. He has set a very high standard. It's great to see Vietnamese modellers tackling subjects from their own country.
And the bananas? I'm still looking for N scale banana trees for my layout.
I apologize for being so slack. But you'd be surprised how much I have done since the last post. The basic layout is all but complete with all track laid including a completed 3 road fiddle yard, lots of scenery in place and the ability to actually run trains.
I've almost completed my XT brake van:
Only the lettering and a bit of weathering to do. I still have the problem of not having the correct bogies but I do plan to try to create 'look alike' ones even if they are not perfect.
Locomotives are still an issue, but after a couple of aborted attempts to 'kitbash' models, I feel that it would actually be simpler to scratchbuild them, so that's what I intend to do. There is an Australian N scale model of an Alco based diesel electric made by Gopher Models which is almost perfect as a chassis.
There was an article in an edition of the British model railway magazine "Continental Modeller" of a modeller building Indian locomotives, one being a YDM4 (we know it as a D13E class). The modeller used a similar Australian HO scale model. So what's good enough for HO has got to be even better for N! It's not perfect but not bad. At least it's a reasonably quick way to get a locomotive up and running. The N Scale model is available unpainted. I've ordered 2 (maybe for one red and one blue!)
I am also currently building a model of a G 50ft covered van (you know the green ones). Hopefully I will be able to make a rubber mould from the original and then make some copies.
A member of the Vietnam Railways Forum recently directed me to some very nice scratchbuilt N Scale models of DSVN freight cars.
I would like to tell you the name of the modeller but I don't know. I'm still trying to make contact with him. He has set a very high standard. It's great to see Vietnamese modellers tackling subjects from their own country.
And the bananas? I'm still looking for N scale banana trees for my layout.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
A Long Time Between Drinks...
It's been a while since the last post. I've been doing other things, like going to Vietnam and getting married.
That doesn't mean I haven't done any modelling. Here's a quick run down of what I've been up to:
1. XT brake van is almost finished. Just needs painting.
2. Drawings for older 40 ft boxcar almost complete.
3. 'Pagoda' end of the layout has most of the basic scenery completed including the river.
4. Some scenery work on the other end of the layout. Some simulated rice fields etc.
5. Some work on other parts of the layout including the fiddle yard.
6. All track layed and ballasted.
7. More work on the backscene.
8. Level crossing gates etc at Hong Ha City level crossing almost complete.
So there. Lots of things happening.
Photos next time.
That doesn't mean I haven't done any modelling. Here's a quick run down of what I've been up to:
1. XT brake van is almost finished. Just needs painting.
2. Drawings for older 40 ft boxcar almost complete.
3. 'Pagoda' end of the layout has most of the basic scenery completed including the river.
4. Some scenery work on the other end of the layout. Some simulated rice fields etc.
5. Some work on other parts of the layout including the fiddle yard.
6. All track layed and ballasted.
7. More work on the backscene.
8. Level crossing gates etc at Hong Ha City level crossing almost complete.
So there. Lots of things happening.
Photos next time.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Busy....Busy...Busy...
I've been working hard on my DSVN layout with almost all the track down and some scenery being attempted. Still a long way to go, but at least we're moving forward. I'm concentrating on the 'pagoda' end of the layout as far as scenery is concerned with tunnel, hills and river underway. The other end is still involved in tracklaying and ballasting so nothing much to see there.
My beautiful Vietnamese partner has been staying with me here in Sydney so she has been encouraging me to get some work done in between showing her around!
Here are a couple of photos to show what I mean.
Above: 'City' area with loco depot and 'pretend' D9E locomotive (actually a Bachmann GE 70 tonner). The Vietnam flag is still upside down!
Above: The 'pagoda' end showing work on the river and hills, with tunnel mouths in place.
Above: Another view of the hilly end. The pagoda will go on the slightly flat section of the hills with stairs taking worshippers up to the buildings from the roadway along the river. Something like a pagoda I visited in Hue earlier this year.
Above: Station area with temporary station building. My partner wants me to name it after her so it's going to be 'Ga Hong Ha', as is the rest of the 'city', so TP Hong Ha (Hong Ha City).
I still haven't got a proper operating locomotive (the D19E) is still the cardboard body, but I'm working on a 'near enough' D13E' modified from an Atlas RSD 4/5. It will probably be in the blue and white colour scheme.
Ok. That's your lot for today. Until next time when I should have at least one locomotive in operation, and be able to run a train completely around the layout (that's my plan anyway).
My beautiful Vietnamese partner has been staying with me here in Sydney so she has been encouraging me to get some work done in between showing her around!
Here are a couple of photos to show what I mean.
I still haven't got a proper operating locomotive (the D19E) is still the cardboard body, but I'm working on a 'near enough' D13E' modified from an Atlas RSD 4/5. It will probably be in the blue and white colour scheme.
Ok. That's your lot for today. Until next time when I should have at least one locomotive in operation, and be able to run a train completely around the layout (that's my plan anyway).
Friday, September 23, 2011
Extensions
I've been busy working on the layout extensions. Here are a couple of photos. The first one shows the extended mainline as per the diagram in the previous post. The grey square is a marker for where the station building will be. The second photo shows one of the 'end' sections, the one where the pagoda will be sited.
I have set up some bridge sides to show where the river will cross the board, and also added the backboard for the other 'straight' section. The end section at the other end wasn't quite complete when these photos were taken so can be seen leaning up against the original section.
The third photo shows the current state of the original section. When I moved reidence some scenery bits fell off so have to be replaced. Also note the the arrangement of the 'city' buildings has changed as well as installation of 'footpaths/sidewalks'. These are still to be painted.
One thing I did notice was that the Vietnamese flag is upside down! That will definitely have to be fixed!
I'll post some more photos when the track is laid and the other end section is fitted. I intend to keep each section separate so that if I have to move again (which is highly likely) I can dismantle the layout and take it with me, or take it to an exhibition to display.
See ya later...
I have set up some bridge sides to show where the river will cross the board, and also added the backboard for the other 'straight' section. The end section at the other end wasn't quite complete when these photos were taken so can be seen leaning up against the original section.
The third photo shows the current state of the original section. When I moved reidence some scenery bits fell off so have to be replaced. Also note the the arrangement of the 'city' buildings has changed as well as installation of 'footpaths/sidewalks'. These are still to be painted.
One thing I did notice was that the Vietnamese flag is upside down! That will definitely have to be fixed!
I'll post some more photos when the track is laid and the other end section is fitted. I intend to keep each section separate so that if I have to move again (which is highly likely) I can dismantle the layout and take it with me, or take it to an exhibition to display.
See ya later...
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Back on Track (excuse the pun)...
After a long period of time engaging in very little modelling of any kind I'm now back on track as far as my VN modelling is concerned.
Earlier this year I went through a change in my marital status, my residence and my employment status, and now that my life seems to have settled down a bit it seems that I have more time again to indulge in modelling the railways of Vietnam.
During the time since my last blogg I visited Việt Nam for the third time and took more photos which I will I'm sure find useful in modelling.
As far as my DSVN module is concerned, the plans now call for it to become an actual operating layout with an extension already being built to house a station building (Ga) and two end sections planned to bring the mainline around to the back and a planned 'fiddle' yard. I plan to have a Bhuddist Pagoda on one of the end sections and farms/rural scenes on the other. Below is a plan of what I hope the layout will look like. The plan will probably change quite a bit, but at last I have something on paper. The section with the engine shed is the original diorama.
Of course the plan has always been to display the module, and with the extensions this now becomes an operating layout to be presented to the public at some stage.
There's still a lot to do but at least the project is 'moving forward' as our business people and politicians like to say.
I'll try to put up some photos in the next blogg. I'll also be getting back to updating the 'Modelling the Railways of Vietnam' website as soon as possible.
Until next time.......
Earlier this year I went through a change in my marital status, my residence and my employment status, and now that my life seems to have settled down a bit it seems that I have more time again to indulge in modelling the railways of Vietnam.
During the time since my last blogg I visited Việt Nam for the third time and took more photos which I will I'm sure find useful in modelling.
As far as my DSVN module is concerned, the plans now call for it to become an actual operating layout with an extension already being built to house a station building (Ga) and two end sections planned to bring the mainline around to the back and a planned 'fiddle' yard. I plan to have a Bhuddist Pagoda on one of the end sections and farms/rural scenes on the other. Below is a plan of what I hope the layout will look like. The plan will probably change quite a bit, but at last I have something on paper. The section with the engine shed is the original diorama.
Of course the plan has always been to display the module, and with the extensions this now becomes an operating layout to be presented to the public at some stage.
There's still a lot to do but at least the project is 'moving forward' as our business people and politicians like to say.
I'll try to put up some photos in the next blogg. I'll also be getting back to updating the 'Modelling the Railways of Vietnam' website as soon as possible.
Until next time.......
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