Having ripped up part of my track again for the umpteenth time, for the new layout I would like some "narrow" station platforms & end ramps (and buildings to suit) - but ready made pieces, not kits.
Who supplies them and who makes them. Seen some Kato ones advertised that appear quite narrow, but they seem expensive. Farish ones seem too wide.
Kestrel ones are narrow and cheap.
What about the Hornsby Lyddlle end station platform set
Bart
How about the Peco platform edges with plasticard platforms. That way you can make the platforms whichever length and width you want.
And curve them....
The thing is, I think that the OP wants ready-made platforms. The Peco edging is useful for custom-made platforms:
[smg id=14157 type=preview align=center width=400]
This is card infill and I apologise for the insect droppings,
[smg id=2084 type=preview align=center width=400]
Or plasicard with a curve, as above....
[smg id=2228 type=preview align=center width=400]
Or plaster infill with the Three Amigos!!
But if it is ready-made platform bits that are required, then for the price, I don't think you can beat Kestrel. And you can tart them up anyway you like.
Quote from: Tdm on July 26, 2014, 11:20:24 PM
Having ripped up part of my track again for the umpteenth time, for the new layout I would like some "narrow" station platforms & end ramps (and buildings to suit) - but ready made pieces, not kits.
Who supplies them and who makes them. Seen some Kato ones advertised that appear quite narrow, but they seem expensive. Farish ones seem too wide.
The Metcalfe card ones are very easy to build and have fewer "joins" than the plastic ones. I don't think card looks quite right as it comes, once you airbrush it with a bit of dusty brown and weathering grey, it looks a million times better. Takes away the shine while adding some texture, and the result blends in with plastic buildings much better.
One experiment I did that worked okay was to use offcuts of softwood that were about the right height. Glue the peco platform edges to the front and use paint, plaster or printed papers to finish the platforms off. For example, wet-and-dry paper or even painted card make reasonable platforms, even before you weather them and add distractions like people, seats and lamps. The downside is that softwood used this way only works for long, straight sections.
Cheers, NeMo
I used 6mm MDF with an overhanging top of plasticard to give the effect. Masked the edges, painted the top Tarmac grey and used some downloaded and printed brick paper on the edges. I sanded the ends into slopes. As NeMo suggests, a bit of weathering works wonders.
Whichever method you decide on, Terry, make sure you beg, steal, borrow (or even as a last resort, buy) a latest Farish 08 so as to set the 'gap' between platform/track.
I seem to recall you have one :hmmm:
Quote from: newportnobby on July 27, 2014, 02:23:45 PM
Whichever method you decide on, Terry, make sure you beg, steal, borrow (or even as a last resort, buy) a latest Farish 08 so as to set the 'gap' between platform/track.
I seem to recall you have one :hmmm:
Very much endorse this one. When I bought my first new style outside framed 08 I suddenly realised it has lost a crank pin. I brought this up somewhere on the repairs section at the time and managed to use a track pin as the basis of a repair. However I then found that in a couple of curved places the platforms on Portpatrick Town needed to be shaved back in order to give clearance for the 08. Given the clearances are more generous that I wish I had allowed, I was surprised. Yet other things like minitrix Brits and 9Fs go through. The 08 must be unusually wide.
The Metcalfe kits are good and simple/quick to build. On HOLLERTON JUNCTION I have replaced the platform surfaces with their cobbled stone sheets. You can see the results of my efforts in my layout thread below.
Best
Paddy
Quote from: newportnobby on July 27, 2014, 02:23:45 PM
Whichever method you decide on, Terry, make sure you beg, steal, borrow (or even as a last resort, buy) a latest Farish 08 so as to set the 'gap' between platform/track.
I seem to recall you have one :hmmm:
'Cos we all know what happens when you don't....
http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/MGalleryItem.php?id=9297 (http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/MGalleryItem.php?id=9297)
:doh:
Thanks for all your replies and suggestions - only just got back on the Forum as we had an Internet failure in Tenerife today. Never thought ripping up some of my track and the home made covered station that hid a fair bit of it would make me happy, but having just relayed the track a different way my layout now looks much better (in my eyes).
I am using my "Ivor" Class 08 shunter with one long coach to test out the new track pieces and things I have added to date, and it has caused me to make some minor adjustments to stop them catching some new structures here and there.
Scrapping the "covered" station altogether, which is why I was asking questions about narrow platforms, and will study all the replies I have had before making a decision on which to go for, but delivery will also be a factor in my decision, as I don't want to have to wait too long once ordered.