LIGHTS ON THE HILL TRUCK STOP

THE AMPOL TRUCK STOP IN GLEN INNES  PLAYS HOST TO 2 X BRAMBLES WIDE LOAD SEMIS IN 1977 HAULING EUCLID DUMP TRUCKS SOUTH .THE TRUCKS WAIT  WHILE THE DRIVERS REFUEL AT THE ALL NIGHTER . THE FRONT TYRES FOR THE DUMP TRUCKS ARE IN THE DUMP BODY.


A long time ago I started to build a generic Australian Petrol station.With a truck stop style servo ,which would be positioned on a raised section of the layout towards the backboard .Showing some of my truck models in the parking area .Which would be opposite the servo with a road from the back to the front of the layout section with a road over bridge at the front to carry the road over a cutting for the rail line.This was to form a transition between Fraser River Gorge and the town of Ashford

It stayed this way for a long time with the problem of what branding to put on it .ESSO was going to be the winner in my mind.But then I realised you cant get more Australian than Ampol or Golden Fleece.With the latter being in the 70,s the favored place to pull up for a decent feed when on the road with there roadhouse style restaurants,which could be probably called Australia's original fast food chain. Before the American invasion .
The brand of Golden Fleece was owned by H G Sleigh &  company from 1947 to 1981 ,when it was acquired by Caltex which led to its brand being removed from the landscape.
Golden Fleece operated rail tankers which served country depots served by rail.Glen Innes being one of these.I don't have many pictures of the depot in operation,but here is one from 8-5-83 before the storage tanks where removed.

                                            And some a bit latter with the storage tanks removed.

                This shot is of NTAF GF21 at West Tamworth on the 9-8-83, Bang on my time period.
                                                            Beam me back Scotty !
                                        With some very professional sign writing on the ends. 

         Over Christmas I did some looking on the inter-web for any suitable signage.Which was rewarded by coming across Rakem Emporium ,an Australian outlet which produces petrol station signage and also card stock kits of various buildings. The shop had a set of Golden Fleece signage suitable for my servo.But I wanted the restaurant overhead sign .On contacting the proprietor about this she did up the required signs in no time and sent with my original order.
These signs are not decals but printed on paper,so if you need a particular sign , this would be the place to go.
http://rakememporium.com.au/

So now I have a finished servo ready to scenic into place.
I made the flag bunting on brass wire with paper shapes painted to liven it up.And got rid of some OO scale VW I had in the Garage area.
You will also note the Road and Rail Resin  ACCO which although just assembled ,has developed a very nasty oil leak.
https://www.roadandrailresin.com/

                                              Some shots of the area where the servo will live.

SERIES 1 ROUND TANK

               44202 AND 4435 REST OVER AT YERONGPILLY DEPOT ON THE 2-6-84


The recently released TRAINBUILDER 20,000 gal elevated , Victorian Railways water tank comes complete with the large pipe framed support structure as used in Victoria.

Upon careful examination of the plans for this it was reveled that the tank section has a remarkable resemblance to our NSW 20,000 gal tank . Both in design and dimension.
ALMOST THAT CLOSE THAT IF YOU DIDNT TELL ANYONE THEY WOULDN'T KNOW !
These NSW tanks refereed to as the type 1 wrought iron lipped tank.Where constructed with elaborate brick stands with semi arched windows and doorways.
In the 1890's between 1892 -1893 at Lismore , Byron Bay , Meranburn , Parkes , Forbes , Possum Power ( Springdale ) , Bobby Mountain , Cobar , Brocklesby , Corowa and Milsons Point .
Two more less elaborate versions where constructed at various sites after these dates.
With this information I had some legless tanks made .
Here is a link to the Victorian tank on there version of a brick stand.
http://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/1294

The TRAINBUILDER tank . The external and internal stirrup irons have to be removed , along with the inlet valve mechanism and the bottom outlet pipework . The level indicator is good apart from the float not being in the correct position to suite the external indicator . As a reverse indicator the float should be about half way up to match the indicator.

And then of course I needed the brick support structure to suite.
Byways of Steam No 2 and AJRM  No 9 have articles on these tank which together with some pictures I took of the Byron Bay tank on 15-8-2010 gave me enough information to construct the master for the stand.

                   

                                        The completed master with unmodified tank on top

                                                   The completed plaster castings
           

                                                                    A epoxy version

                                                    The completed tank with stand

I painted the stand with badger Light Tuscan Oxide red . Then with a very small brush added some diluted matt white to form the mortar lines ,by touching the end of the brush to the mortar lines and letting it run along
Then some brushed weathering.
The tank was painted with Model Master ,Dark Anodonic Gray Buffing Metalizer .Which is for air brush only ? .But I used a small brush to try to get that painted with a brush in real life look , or a not to even look.i Also use this on my steel bridge structures for that grey slightly silver speckle look the paint had.
The inside received the same treatment . Then weathered with rust and green for moss .For the rust I use Model Master ,1736 leather which is a good replacement for Floquil rust
I haven't decided on the water effect yet, But this may not be needed depending on the tanks final location.
The window frames and door where painted matt white . but I'm not sure what to do to represent the glass ?

                                                               The Byron Bay tank

                                    Pictures from Greame Henderson of the Meranburn Tank
                              Showing the inside rusted colour and the external faded silver finish .

           These tanks are a great structure for a railway as the tank can either be line side with a swivel jib
                           Or somewhere inside the railway boundary serving a water column at the line side.
I'm almost certain I recently saw an old picture of the Lismore tank taken from the North looking South , that showed a water treatment plant balanced on the top edge of the tank . At the time I though I will remember where that is a put a link in to the picture . But now I cant find it . 
In Byways 18 page 178 there is a photo of this arrangement on the Murwillimbah tank ,which of course is one of the other designs.  
              I do have a few available of the unfinished tank and stand if you would like one PM me.
 

O , NOW I UNDERSTAND !

          WITH THE IMPENDING RELEASE  OF THE AUSCISION MODEL 442 LOCO'S
              I THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE A VERSION NOT BEING DONE BY THEM.
    ON THE 9-6-83 WE HAVE 44234 AT CENTRAL DISPLAYING THE GREEN  EMBLEM        WHERE THE COAT OF ARMS USUALLY IS.NOT SURE WHAT IT MEANS BUT I HAVE 44230
                AT BROADMEADOWS ON THE 9-10-83 WITH THE SAME BRANDING.

There seems to be a lot of modelers who have moved into O scale lately .Using the reasoning of declining eyesight which makes focusing on the subject in hand (to speak ) become almost impossible .Or perhaps there old arthritic hands holding them back from  manipulating smaller items which once was not a problem ,but now becomes impossible for them to satisfy there ambitions.Or perhaps they are more satisfied to see  smaller objects which they have become familiar with, in a larger size or dimension.
I by accident have found a you tube clip which has helped explain the move to O scale much better than any
one has been able to explain to me yet.
You may find this of some interest.And possible help make O scale modelling a more attractive proposition.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vS-bFTzymuA

For you O scalers you may need to watch this in full screen to appreciate the content.