Pictures of excellent modelling that inspire.

[Re6/6]

This thread is for pictures of fine modelling from the early pioneers to present times. Post your pictures taken at museums, shows, private home modelling of anything that inspires. Layouts, trains, buildings, scenics etc..

 

First up is probably the best known 'centre of excellence' that is Pendon. These were taken in 2012 on an RMweb outing there.

 

John Ahearn's 'Madder Valley'

 

Reading about this in Model Railway News (l think) was one of the things that influenced me in progressing beyond Hornby Dublo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 23, 2017 by Re6/6

[Re6/6]

Some of the 'Dartmoor Scene'. The glass unfortunately blurs the images a bit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Loconuts]

Did you get permission to publish these pictures from Pendon?

 

Also if your trip to Pendon inspired you, did you join Pendon and offer to help out. It is well worth joining as you will meet the modelers that built these models.

 

I joined in 1972/74 and met such as Guy Williams who passed on advice on Loco building and it was through his help and advice I went on to build 7mm scale locos. Also I was privileged to spend time with Roye England, visiting him on a Wednesday evening every week watching him work and picking up lots of tips on the technics he used to achieve those results you see on the buildings.

 

Many of todays well known modelers started out by being involved with this project and going on to be involved with the MRJ. I started there running Dartmoor on either Saturday or Sunday afternoon and went on getting involved in the modeling.

 

What stopped me continuing, it was all down to a new wife and a house to do up. 'Oh' happy days.

 

Loconuts

[Barry Ten]

Did you get permission to publish these pictures from Pendon?

 

 

Only the second post, and there's a needlessly combative tone? These are John's photos - there's no reason at all that he needed permission to publish them. He might

have needed permission to take them, but presumably that was granted. I've never seen a "do not take photographs" sign at Pendon and I know they have special events

where the glass covers are removed to allow better photgraphy.

 

Also, John lives nowhere near Pendon.

[Barry Ten]

I posted these pictures back in 2012 but I continue to find them inspiring. They're of a French narrow gauge layout named Morvallon, based (at least at the time i visited) at the Stoomtram museum in Valkenberg, in the Netherlands.

 

I find it difficult to articulate what I find most inspiring about this layout, but I think it was the subtle use of colour, the composition, and the compact design, which was basically just loop of track with two different scenes either side of a central divider.

 

 

 

 

 

The whole set of pictures is here:

 

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/61783-morvallon-french-narrow-gauge-layout-on-display-in-the-netherlands/

[GreenGiraffe22]

I haven't seen Rowland's Castle in the flesh, but every photo of that I see fills me with both inspiration and envy! Wartime layout goals right there!

[Re6/6]

A few shots of the 7mm scale 'Bucks Hill' with some superb scenics by Paul Bambrick using his forced perspective method.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Andy Y]

Did you get permission to publish these pictures from Pendon?

 

 

They are a lot more relaxed these days and we are supporting an event that Pendon has for visitors to take photographs and enter into a competition. More details here - http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/119502-pendon-museum-photographic-competition-and-workshop/

 

On the subject of Madder Valley here's some shots where the camera doesn't normally have access to.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Re6/6]

Magical! Thanks Andy.

[Joe MCMLXI]

One of the most inspirational set of photo's for me, was when I first saw 'Tupdale' in Model Rail several years ago, there was a series on how Andy McMillan built the layout for a customer....

 

http://www.countrysidemodels.co.uk/gallery_tupdale/tupframes.htm

 

Only built in a small room, and basically a 'roundy-roundy' layout, but it was the detail that was stunning and so very, very cleverly thought out.... I kept all the articles ( I don't usually keep any magazines for long) and often look at them, using them for ideas and inspiration for my own shed layout - another roundy in a small space.

 

joe

[rob D2]

" lochside "

 

BR blue Scottish, RM 1980 .

 

I was eight and it was the first time I'd seen a detailed DE layout, maybe it was Ian futers ?

[ian@stenochs]

They are a lot more relaxed these days and we are supporting an event that Pendon has for visitors to take photographs and enter into a competition. More details here - http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/119502-pendon-museum-photographic-competition-and-workshop/

 

On the subject of Madder Valley here's some shots where the camera doesn't normally have access to.

 

image001.jpg

 

image002.jpg

 

image003.jpg

 

image004.jpg

 

image006.jpg

 

image007.jpg

 

image008.jpg

 

image009.jpg

 

image010.jpg

 

image011.jpg

 

image012.jpg

 

image013.jpg

Absolutely superb set of pictures which really show the quality of the modelling. Even the peeling overlays and warped sides on some of the buildings look natural. The colours and textures appear fresh and realistic.

 

I remember the black and white Madder Valley from early issus of The Modeller but when I saw it in the flesh at Pendon a few years ago I felt really let down. It looked quite neglected and run down. What rolling stock there was on show was just plonked on, some of it not even on the rails. The buildings looked as though they were covered in dust too. However Andy's set of pictures have reinstated this railway as one of my iconic model railways . Thank you for letting us see them.

 

Ian.

Edited March 23, 2017 by ian@stenochs

[phil_sutters]

They are a lot more relaxed these days and we are supporting an event that Pendon has for visitors to take photographs and enter into a competition. More details here - http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/119502-pendon-museum-photographic-competition-and-workshop/

 

On the subject of Madder Valley here's some shots where the camera doesn't normally have access to.

 

 

That's an absolutely great set of photos. One of the first magazines I remember having, and keeping for years, had an article called Madder Valley makes bricks. Of course the photos were fairly grainy b&w jobs, so it is a delight to see the brickworks in full colour - and the rest as well. Thank you.

Edited March 23, 2017 by phil_sutters

[TerrySVR]

Stunning photos Andy

[bazjones1711]

" lochside "

BR blue Scottish, RM 1980 .

I was eight and it was the first time I'd seen a detailed DE layout, maybe it was Ian futers ?

Just happened to find this issue with lochside in today , even went as far as to build a replica of this when I was about 15 ! That was 37 years ago ! This type of layout was a total inspiration for me back in the day, simple but effective design thanks Mr Ian futers

[chrisf]

Those captivated by Madder Valley may like to know that it should be working on Good Friday, 14th April.

 

Chris

[Re6/6]

Some 2mm excellence. 'Fencehouses' at Railex 2013.

 

A superb 'sweeping' look.

 

Being a 'viaduct lover' l had to include these two!

 

 

 

 

 

[corneliuslundie]

That trackwork is something else. I would be very pleased to have track that good in 4mm.

Jonathan

[jonny777]

Tetley's Mills never failed to blow me away, and the first time I saw Dave Shakespeare's stone walling I really could not believe I was not looking at a photo of the real thing in 12" to 1ft scale.

 

Sadly, Dave is not with us any more, but this video is a wonderful tribute - and gives inspiration by the bucketload.

 

 

[Loconuts]

Only the second post, and there's a needlessly combative tone? These are John's photos - there's no reason at all that he needed permission to publish them. He might

have needed permission to take them, but presumably that was granted. I've never seen a "do not take photographs" sign at Pendon and I know they have special events

where the glass covers are removed to allow better photgraphy.

 

Also, John lives nowhere near Pendon.

 

There was no intention in sounding combative in my post, too many people are taking crap photos on their i'phones and publishing them and thereby not doing the subject justice. Madder Valley is a early layout that came into being long before RTR and is a inspiration to anyone and Andy's photos do that (superb photos).

 

As to whether you have to live near Pendon to help out is also a myth, although I was fortunate to live up the road in Abingdon at the time they had many members who lived a lot further away. I believe I am right in saying many of the figures used on the Pendon scene were produced by an artist who lived in California. Guy Williams lived in Bristol and he was a regular visitor, pre M4 days, arriving in his mini, not an easy journey.

 

If you want to learn how to do real modeling and not rely on the latest imports from China then join Pendon, they are a friendly crowd and are only too willing to pass on their knowledge.

 

Loconuts  

[Re6/6]

There was no intention in sounding combative in my post, too many people are taking crap photos on their i'phones and publishing them and thereby not doing the subject justice. Madder Valley is a early layout that came into being long before RTR and is a inspiration to anyone and Andy's photos do that (superb photos).

 

As to whether you have to live near Pendon to help out is also a myth, although I was fortunate to live up the road in Abingdon at the time they had many members who lived a lot further away. I believe I am right in saying many of the figures used on the Pendon scene were produced by an artist who lived in California. Guy Williams lived in Bristol and he was a regular visitor, pre M4 days, arriving in his mini, not an easy journey.

 

If you want to learn how to do real modeling and not rely on the latest imports from China then join Pendon, they are a friendly crowd and are only too willing to pass on their knowledge.

 

Loconuts  

 

I’m sorry that you think that my snaps are crap, well I guess that they are when one compares them to Andy’s magnificent ones of John Ahearn’s inspirational work.

 

I’m just rather saddened at your hectoring tone as the purpose of starting this thread was for members to post their pictures of individual models, layouts and scenes made by others that inspired them to achieve a higher standard of modelling and just to enjoy the ‘eye candy’ of superb work.

 

The far-sightedness of Roye England and what was created from his vision undoubtedly resulted in the benchmark for ‘high end’ modelling but it isn’t unique in the field of fine work hence this thread. My particular interest is scenics and tree making. I learned all that I know in that field from the kind advice given by Gordon and Maggie Gravett and learning from the work of Martin Welberg in The Netherlands and Giles Favel on here.

 

All these have been put up on here before.

 

I apologize for the 'composition' but it does show the superb Pendon craftsmanship in creating this.

 

Allan Downes.

 

Chris Nevard.

 

Gordon and Maggie Gravett.

 

Martin Welberg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 2, 2017 by Re6/6

[jjb1970]

The modelling that inspired me more than anything else was the military dioramas and work of Francois Verlinden. As a youngster I used to buy the Tamiya catalogue every year and go straight to the Francois Verlinden dioramas that always formed the centre feature of the catalogue. His military dioramas were stunning and even today they still look stunning.

[chris p bacon]

If you want to learn how to do real modeling and not rely on the latest imports from China then join Pendon, 

 

Other clubs are available...............

[Andy Y]

I'm sure John will like these; one of the particularly special layouts in my eyes is Geoff Taylor's slice of the Cambrian network, a fascinating interconnecting layout comprising of four distinct scenes. When you are operating any of the scenes or the fiddle yards you cannot see the next or previous portion of the network, just enjoy the scenery where you operating! There is no one place you can stand in the room and see everything. I don't know of any similar layout, with scenic grandeur, operated in this fashion in this country. It's OO and largely RTR but absolutely wonderful.

 

A couple of snaps of Penmaenpool and Barmouth Junction.

 

 

 

Although Pendon is viewed as a gold standard there are a number of people I hold in equally high regard, if not higher when I consider the multi-skilled standards to which they work.

[Andy Y]

I'm very lucky in my job getting to get very close to some of the finest modelling and in that respect special mention must go to Les Green's model of the North Western Hotel which graces John Holden's epic Liverpool Lime Street layout.

 

 

I have an admiration for those who model what very few people will ever get to see, just because the builder knows it would be cutting a corner not to do it.

 

 

Which brings me back to Pendon. Thanks to their obliging access, long exposures and a small camera I managed to take a picture of the inside of a barn built by Roye England; the chain which hangs to the left of the picture above the bicycle was a part of a safety chain from his mother's bracelet and at the point I took the photograph I was given to believe it hadn't been recorded since built.