Double module Etgaine
The ficticious French town of Etgaine consists of two connected modules of 50 x 100 cm. They were made in a few weeks time in 2022 for the Open door day of the Twentse Modelspoorwegclub (TMC). Because our 'last man' suddenly had to withdraw, we had to find a solution for making trains change direction at the very end of the series of modules. (This is the situation at the end of a railway line, where the locomotive uncouples from the carriages, then rides back along a bypass track to the other side of the carriages, and couples again to pull the train in the opposite direction).
Originally both modules were single track with a bypass track, see below. The background was filled with standard building kits from brands like Faller, Pola, Kibri and Busch.
The track plans in 2022 (above) and 2023 (below).
In 2023 the Twentse Modelspoorwegclub decided to build a double track module with a terminal loop. Therefore I choose to convert my Etgaine modules to double track too. Also longer switches were utilized, and long pieces of flex track instead of individual short pieces of track. Both adjustments improve the smooth running of trains. On short switches and poorly placed rail joints trains derail more easily.
Photo of some of the standaard kits on the module in 2022.
The combine on the left hand module is a beautifully detailled model by Artitec. Ik bought the building kit version; the model is also available ready made. Building this kit is only for the more experienced model builder, with patience and a steady hand.
*) I love to play with words. In this 'French' module several examples of wordplay are hidden for native Dutch speakers, like the name of the module: Et = En and gaine = schede (knife sheath in Dutch). So Etgaine = Enschede, the name of town I am currently living. The garage Crevaison on the top right has already been mentioned. The names on the traffic sign at the crossing are also Frenchifications of names of local towns and villages around Etgaine/Enschede.
One of the new buildings from 2023: garage Crevaison
Garage Crevaison
In 2023 some of the standard building kits of the old module have also been replaced by home made constructions, like the garage above. (N.B. Crevaison is French for a flat tire). This is a half relief building; the back wall is a mirror. So the text Defense de fumer (No smoking) in fact is printed as a mirror image on the back of the front wall. Because of the mirror the interior of the building looks twice as deep as it realy is.
The back side of the model cars inside (not yet on the photo) have been painted in a different colour. Thus you see a different colour car when looking in the mirror. The Crevaison model is by the way a copy of a really existing garage in Leuven (B), incl. the hole in the roof and the climbers that grow into the interior through that hole.
The second new building is Automobiles Masselin; the frenchification of Automobielbedrijf Masseling.
Automobiles Masselin
This building is a scale model of the former garage of Masseling, later Fischer, on the Lasondersingel in Enschede. The building was heavily damaged during the fireworks disaster in 2000, but luckily still exists. In the building, at the corner of the Lonneker Spoorlaan, Kroep Mondzorg is located now.
Roman excavations
Prominently located at the front right is a Roman excavation.
I was looking for a modeling theme that one rarely sees on model railroads, ánd I had just visited one during my holidays.
Just as in the Eybergen module a few jokes have already been hidden in Etgaine. (Although more need to be added). Archeologists will surely be very surprised when examining some of the motives in the mosaic floor.
Detail of the archeological excavation at the front of the right hand module.
Photomontage of the traffic sign that stands (on scale) at the road crossing on the module.