Last year I was one of the participants in the '2012' RMWeb Challenge, as I was tasked to create the station buildings for the Club's new 7mm layout. The initial phases of the build can be seen here :-

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/56603-platform-canopy-services-for-netherley/

and in the ensuing vote I was privileged to be placed 6th and I would like to express my thanks to all those who voted for me..

For those that did not follow the competition, a short resume is in order.

'Netherley' is a terminus station at the end of a 'red' graded GWR branch 'somewhere in the west country'. With thoughts of greatness, the station was designed as a through station with an island platform - however, the line now terminates in a goods yard just beyond an overbridge. As such, the station buildings were there merely to provide basic services to passengers and staff - access to the platform is via a subway from the (off-stage) ticket office.

My brief was to design the platform facilities, with a GWR prototype in mind. The facilities would include a 'Waiting Room' with a separate room for the ladies, 'conveniences' for both sexes, the 'platform end' of the subway and a canopy covering all.

I looked at various prototypes for the buildings, but 'Tilehurst' has always been a favourite.

It's two buildings in a warm red 'English Bond' brick, on the island platform would provide the requisite passenger facilities. Rather more grand were the canopy and the subway structures, which are based on those on platform 13-15 at Bristol Temple Meads.

Both buildings are in much the same state as shown in the thread - renovating the house and making a good start on the canopy has taken most of my time in recent months! Both units are built in the main from plastikard (in the case of the canopy - lots of it!). However, the balustrading round the subway was always at the back of my mind. Mainly my thoughts ran to plastikard, built on a template per the canopy...

but what a fiddly job it was going to be!

Then, at ExpoEM I met Jon Buckie (who deservedly won the competition with his tamping machine) demonstrating the merits of laser cutting. It was only a couple of days later that the lightbulb went off. Unfortunately by that time I was on holiday in Oz, sans computer! On my return, the relevant e-mails were sent, plastikard put aside and 'TurboCAD' initiated..

Two days later, the drawing (to my untutored eye) - looked okay.

The balustrade consists of the lased railings (three per side) and the corner units are built up from plastikard on the square bases (3 per corner unit!).

It's now with Jon, awaiting his eagle eye. (coincidentally, the order will fill an 'A4' sheet - more than enough for my needs and I'm quite prepared to sell the rest)!

So that's the state of play so far. The canopy now has seven of its trusses built

(each consists of 44 individually-cut lengths of plastic) and i still have the longditudinals to build (3 per bay...)

All before 15th September - the Clubs 'Diamond Jubilee Exhibition (at Woking Leisure Centre, Surrey). Come along and see it finished !

Regards,

REC-Farnborough