CoggesRailway
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What is a good and robust/lasting way of putting in platforms? I am not worried about high model values, just something to represent stations on my railway. Ideas and pic appreciated.
Platforms
- Thread starter CoggesRailway
- Start date
beavercreek
Travel, Art, Theatre, Music, Photography, Trains
What type are you thinking of Ian? European, USA or Brit?
CoggesRailway
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Mike - a good question!!! To be honest my railway is not really set in a country. so i just want them to be obviously platforms- but I was thinking low as opposed todoor height if you know what I mean.
Pls keep ideas and pictures coming people.
Ian
Pls keep ideas and pictures coming people.
Ian
beavercreek
Travel, Art, Theatre, Music, Photography, Trains
Hi again Ian
I have used a few different materials and finishes. Real US platforms tend to be pretty low (some almost level with the track bed).
One of my station platforms (under a shelter) is a sheet of foamboard (the very rigid plastic faced type which is not easy to scribe). I used the hard stuff (free from a local sign maker) because the platform was going to have a building or two placed on it and also figure placement rod-holes drilled into it and I wanted it to be sturdy (the softer stuff, that can be scribed easily, is too light and can dent and also the rod-holes deform).
Another platform came as the base of the building kit itself. I extended it with strips of the same rigid foamboard.
The third station platform was made from the wood bases made by Pola 331793. I cut them to size that I wanted. They are £27 for four and are of a good size.
I hope the photos give a little idea of how they turned out. Apologies for posting so many but I hadn't got any that were directly to do with platforms so I picked a few that showed them from various angles. Some are a bit old.
Beaver Creek station (mainline) the extension was made from the hard foamboard. Some of these pictures are a little old and show only a single through line with one spur , there are now two more passing loops (I grabbed some lawn for these!)
The sandstone blocks are meant as lawn edging but the could also be a platform on t'other side. They had to be moved back as more lawn was 'grabbed' in the following years.
This is the Beaver Creek 'local line station' I bought the shelter with a shattered platform/base and made a new one from hard foamboard. This was scribed with some difficulty using knives and other implements to look like old wood.
The piccy with the RDC-3 does make the track look like it has got a great big 'hump' but it is the effect of using a telephoto lens and 'foreshortening'. There is just a gradual undulation!
Arbour Summit station building sits on the Pola wood bases cut to give the shape needed. The track is actually on a curve and I should have 'carved' the bases to follow the curve but just left it as a straight edge.
I have used a few different materials and finishes. Real US platforms tend to be pretty low (some almost level with the track bed).
One of my station platforms (under a shelter) is a sheet of foamboard (the very rigid plastic faced type which is not easy to scribe). I used the hard stuff (free from a local sign maker) because the platform was going to have a building or two placed on it and also figure placement rod-holes drilled into it and I wanted it to be sturdy (the softer stuff, that can be scribed easily, is too light and can dent and also the rod-holes deform).
Another platform came as the base of the building kit itself. I extended it with strips of the same rigid foamboard.
The third station platform was made from the wood bases made by Pola 331793. I cut them to size that I wanted. They are £27 for four and are of a good size.
I hope the photos give a little idea of how they turned out. Apologies for posting so many but I hadn't got any that were directly to do with platforms so I picked a few that showed them from various angles. Some are a bit old.
Beaver Creek station (mainline) the extension was made from the hard foamboard. Some of these pictures are a little old and show only a single through line with one spur , there are now two more passing loops (I grabbed some lawn for these!)
The sandstone blocks are meant as lawn edging but the could also be a platform on t'other side. They had to be moved back as more lawn was 'grabbed' in the following years.
This is the Beaver Creek 'local line station' I bought the shelter with a shattered platform/base and made a new one from hard foamboard. This was scribed with some difficulty using knives and other implements to look like old wood.
The piccy with the RDC-3 does make the track look like it has got a great big 'hump' but it is the effect of using a telephoto lens and 'foreshortening'. There is just a gradual undulation!
Arbour Summit station building sits on the Pola wood bases cut to give the shape needed. The track is actually on a curve and I should have 'carved' the bases to follow the curve but just left it as a straight edge.
ge_rik
British narrow gauge (esp. Southwold and W&LLR)
Most of my platforms are cast in concrete.
Because the majority are curved I make moulds to suit each location
For detailing the edges I have tried scribing, embedding stone slips in the concrete and used blocks from Jigstones moulds.
Scribing is the easiest but least realistic method. Embedding the stones is the fiddliest, Jigstones blocks probably the best compromise.
Scribed
Stone slips
Jigstone edging
Sorry about the quality of the photos - not at home at present so having to use those off my blog.
http://riksrailway.blogspot.fr/2009/07/progress-report-22-platform-goods-stock.html < Link To http://riksrailway.blogsp...tform-goods-stock.html
http://riksrailway.blogspot.com/2007/04/how-did-i-make-platforms.html < Link To http://riksrailway.blogsp...-i-make-platforms.html
http://riksrailway.blogspot.com/2009/06/progress-report-21-platforms-and.html < Link To http://riksrailway.blogsp...-21-platforms-and.html
I also made one platform from a plank covered in roofing felt as it is on the raised timber section of the railway - but I don't think this has worked out as I had hoped.
Wooden platform
http://riksrailway.blogspot.com/2009/06/how-i-made-wooden-platform.html < Link To http://riksrailway.blogsp...e-wooden-platform.html
Rik
Because the majority are curved I make moulds to suit each location
For detailing the edges I have tried scribing, embedding stone slips in the concrete and used blocks from Jigstones moulds.
Scribing is the easiest but least realistic method. Embedding the stones is the fiddliest, Jigstones blocks probably the best compromise.
Scribed
Stone slips
Jigstone edging
Sorry about the quality of the photos - not at home at present so having to use those off my blog.
http://riksrailway.blogspot.fr/2009/07/progress-report-22-platform-goods-stock.html < Link To http://riksrailway.blogsp...tform-goods-stock.html
http://riksrailway.blogspot.com/2007/04/how-did-i-make-platforms.html < Link To http://riksrailway.blogsp...-i-make-platforms.html
http://riksrailway.blogspot.com/2009/06/progress-report-21-platforms-and.html < Link To http://riksrailway.blogsp...-21-platforms-and.html
I also made one platform from a plank covered in roofing felt as it is on the raised timber section of the railway - but I don't think this has worked out as I had hoped.
Wooden platform
http://riksrailway.blogspot.com/2009/06/how-i-made-wooden-platform.html < Link To http://riksrailway.blogsp...e-wooden-platform.html
Rik
CoggesRailway
Registered
I placed an order with Cain today.... post pics when they arrive.
dutchelm
Registered
My first platforms were sawn timber. After one season they were so warped they had to be removed.
I went down the local concrete works & bought some 450 x 450 grey slabs. They cut them in half which cost more than the concrete.
They may not look prototypical but they are till there after 10 years.
I went down the local concrete works & bought some 450 x 450 grey slabs. They cut them in half which cost more than the concrete.
They may not look prototypical but they are till there after 10 years.
Madman
Registered
dutchelm said:My first platforms were sawn timber. After one season they were so warped they had to be removed.
I went down the local concrete works & bought some 450 x 450 grey slabs. They cut them in half which cost more than the concrete.
They may not look prototypical but they are till there after 10 years.
Exactly my point
