Parracombe Halt

Moving on up the line, have created the assets for Parracombe Halt.



The dirt platform is a lofted item to follow the track using the offset tool and the watertank is a "fuelpoint" asset, so loco's can re-fill their tanks.

Have been experimenting with lighting to try to improve the interior look of open assets, like the Parracombe halt shelter, with mixed success so far. Just using a skylight illumination makes the interior too dark, so have added spotlights to illuminate the interior, but not too successfully I'm afraid. Will have to do some more research on the subject!

More Blackmoor

At long last the final buildings for Blackmoor are ready. These are the goodshed, goods store and stables.

The stables were built to provide accommodation for the horses for a coach link to Ilfracombe, but this was not too successful. They still remain, converted into holiday cottages, whilst the station is now a hotel and restaurant.

Carry yer bag, sir?

As my health improves, I'm starting to get back into things, but decided to start off with something simple.

So I thought I'd put together a collection of luggage handling items I'd seen in various photos of the route.


I think some of them may have had the station name painted on the side and that can be added later if Gary wants them that way.Its not very clear but you may be able to see the word Chelfham on the side strake of this barrow, just below the smaller suitcase.


I am very pleased with the results, so I have decided to re-skin them all and make a set for the UKTS community.



Wow! 128 downloads in 2 days, that's what I call a success.

Gradients signs

Received a list of all the gradient changes on the route, courtesy of Bob Barnard's route map (see here), so determined to make gradient signs to suit, based on the one at Woody Bay.




As I didn't want to make 60+ signs I tried to find a way to make a simple sign and add the relevant numbers when it was placed in the game. After many abortive attempts I settled on using the Railworks milepost feature to create the sign.

The problem with this method was that the data could only be input as 6 digits, so, if only 4/5 digits were required there was no obvious way to remove the surplus digits. On consideration, as 9 rarely appears in the gradient profile, I allocated the numeral 9 to a blank space so a gradient change from 55 to 135 would be input as 559135.

Unfortunately, it was not possible to make the arms adjustable in game, so in the end I had to make 10 variations of the sign, which, I think, covers all the options and is still considerably less than 60+ signs!

Mileposts and such

Still not back into the full swing of things, so settled for making up some new mile and quarter mile posts.



All of the bridges on the L&B were numbered and the number was displayed alongside the bridge on a cast concrete marker, you can see my version next to the mileposts and here's an original which can be seen at Woody Bay.

Blackmoor Gate

I was delaying posting an update until I had completed all the station buildings at Blackmoor, but following a nasty fall down a flight of wet steps, I am unable to continue modelling for a little while. Consequently, here's an interim update on where I had got to with Blackmoor (apparently the railway never called the station Blackmoor Gate).


Apologies for the lack of scenery, but Gary is relaying the track at this time, so scenery is on hold until he finishes that.

Track Update

The new flat bottom track is now in place along with the new manual switches. Many thanks to Kevin Martin for all his help with this.