Renovation Journal

R e n o v a t i o n J o u r n a l

"Lustgarten"

When I started building the Cochemer Bahn in 1992, I wanted to use the Faller town hall - an exclusive construction kit also from 1992 - as the center of the city.

I had in mind to place this spacious staircase at the front.

These stairs were part of an exclusive entrepreneurial villa, of which Pola produced a limited number of 2000 pieces (ref. H0 822).

However, the combination did not work out with the platform along the track, which was almost immediately at the foot of the stairs.

I found this so out of balance that this staircase gathered dust for at least three decades.

Untill... 2023!

During various discussions with Jimmy Low regarding the layout of the Royal Square or Court Garden, he came up with the idea of a Lustgarten, a garden for royalties to relax there.

In his design he placed it directly next to the slope (see picture).

However, the access road from the city also had to be located here.

For that reason I have decided to create a small courtyard at this location, with access to the market,

while the Lustgarten itself, now in a much larger dimension, will be located on the south side of the Royal Square.

23.10.2023

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11.11.2023

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Today, I had a conversation with Adler Modellbahnmanufaktur, considering the Royal Fence.

I was rightly advised to level the stairs with the cobblestones at the top, because otherwise the fence would not fit.

I cut out two wide steps from the same cardboard as the base plate, provided them with a tile profile and colored them similar.
The stairs are increasingly taking on a 'noble' appearance.

Fit to the tenth of a millimeter

In the meantime we have also started working on the lime tree

12.11.2023

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Today I had a lengthy consultation with Markus Böhm regarding the purpose and function of the Lustgarten.

For one reason or another, I completely lost my inspiration and focus regarding the layout of it.

Do we allow commoners in the garden or not? Is it a transit area or a rest area?

The fountain (Noch 66455 ) has alas traveled to oblivion, so... now what?!

14.11.2023 ~ the led piece was needed to pushing down two beams that came up

Just like with Stift Cochem, I have to follow my gut feeling regarding the layout of the Lustgarten.

You know more or less what you want, but even with constant changes to the layout

- hedge here, hedge there -

the "aha" moment was not forthcoming at all today.

Then again, these things need time and consideration
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Untill Markus came up with this splendid idea of a pavilion and sent me this photo:

Busch 1578

I loved the idea, but the dome roof really put me off.

Until I pondered... what if... ?

And yes sir, after sending a message to Adler Modellbahnmanufaktur, I received a positive response within the hour.

Adler had previously had a pavilion in mind.

Therefore, my idea was received with great enthusiasm and the next morning I saw Adler's first sketches, which had taken more than four hours of work:

A special report about the Pavilion in Chapter 6 of the Adler Files

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However, as far as the edges of the Lustgarten were concerned, I was convinced: it would certainly be a hedge of lime trees!

As I was taking measurements, it happened - without prior knowledge or planning -

that spacing the posts by 3 centimeters each yielded exactly four sets of 5 posts, ending right in the corners.
To prevent dullness and to create sight lines (so-called vistas), I not only left the corner open,

but in both sets I also added an opening in the middle of the guide limestones on both the south and east sides.

Stones from the Wehrgang (such as from set Faller 130401) are usd to separate the boxwood hedges and avoid monotony.

The gardeners are consistent in their work. Therefore, all branches must be pruned to the same height.

But unlike these lime trees, the posts are now not painted wood-colored but immediately provided with a vegetative coating.

16.11.2023

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After drying overnight, the lindens could be made.

Handles have been added to prevent royalties from ending up in the moat...

These are those decisive - and never correctable - moments: gluing a unit such as this staircase.

17.11.2023

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Two days ago I thought I would place the 16th and last gas lantern exactly opposite the center of both the stairs

and the entrance to the Pulverturm, on the spot where the yellow screwdriver was planted.
However, today I decided to place it at the beginning of the ramp, exactly in line with the lanterns at the stairway.

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On may 30th, 2024 I continued working on the Lustgarten, where planning is still the most time consuming element...

30.5.2024

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June 13th

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July 16th, 2024

Adding (stage) light to the Lustgarten itself

Since this stage light is too bright with 12 volts, I will make a serial connection lateron between the two of them, to get them half as bright...

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July 20th, 2024

Both the Lustgarten and the two new modules will be adorned with lots of Faller vegetation

The separate corner on the right side of the stairs - as one descends them - provides opportunity for a second enclosed and seclusvie area of the entire Lustgarten, in addition to the pavilion to the left behind.

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July 27th, 2024

Arrow => this side to the right (aka Royal Square)

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July 29th, 2024

Finally, after many months of being nothing more than a thin piece of cardboard, the pavilion's “marble floor” will be glued in exactly the right location today.

This is millimeter work. Also, the entire Lustgarten will be provided with a sand base, covering the last piece of visible styrodur of the Schloss Cochem Module.