For the past few months I've been assisting another modeller with elements of his 'dream layout'. There has been
an element of commercialism in this - as a (fairly) professional modeller, the time I spend away from my own
projects has to support those projects. That said, it's been a real pleasure in that the layout concerned (based
on the LBSC in the mid-late 1800's is totally beyond my field of knowledge!
To date my contact has been with the architectural , loco and wagon elements - but
I've spent the last couple of days restoring the loco to a semblance of cleanlinesss. It was an 'executors sale' of a former member's stock and this had obviously been sitting in its box for some time.
Several applications of 'Cillit Bang' (does anyone else think this product is weaker than it used to be??) and about 15 fibreglass brush refills later,
the old lady is looking somewhat better. I still need to get rid of some errant blobs of solder, but that will have to wait 't
Another project - but hopefully this will earn some much-needed cash eventually!
A couple of years ago I bought this - a half-built kit as an 'Executors Sale' at the Club. The big thing going for it is the running (beautifully!) chassis. However, as the image shows, there is a problem with the part-completed body (or the chassis, dependent on your point of view!) -
It appears that the power-train (a 'Portescap RG7') has been mounted incorrectly and sits too far back. First job will
I needed something fairly light today - migraine yesterday, not helped by having to finish a 'distance-learning' course (but thats another story!)
So on with the scenics for the test track... First job (between rain showers) was to use a baby surform to finalise the 'rough' shape:-
and it was then fixed in place using a spray adhesive (Rolabond)
Whilst this one SMELLS like 'Evo-Stick' its not so fierce and works with just about everything. It is, however a bit messy so th
'Victorian' week on the workbench.. First, the pumping station from Farnham.. I decided that, as it was a nice little building, I'd find space for it on a 2mm layout - so this is it at 1:152 scale.
Still only a mock-up - the 'proper' model will have glazed windows etc.
However, I continued the 'Victorian' theme with a commission (PAYING!) to model a station building in 'low relief' as the client has very limited 'backscene room! I rather fancied Freshwater on the IOW as the cli
Many moons ago I described the start of a test track - since then its at at the back of a shelf until uncovered in a workshop re-org. So I blew the dust off - literally. At the same time I uncovered some 'O' gauge 'bits' that I'd salvaged from an old club layout to serve the same purpose:-
(The 'O' Gauge test track is at the rear if you were wondering )
My test tracks have to serve two purposes - a) test rolling-stock - so they need at least one point with a lead long enough to tak
Heard in households across the land...
'Sorry dear - do you have an emery board I can borrow?'
A few weeks later...
'You know that emery board you borrowed? Can I have it back?'
A few seconds later...
'WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO IT???'
Ladies & gentlemen - a solution....Highly technical and involves a bit of 'misappropriation'...
1. Obtain some 'coffee stirrers' from your favourite coffee shop. Remove the rounded end if present and cut to a suitable length. (I get a
Happy Sunday at Didcot Railway Centre! The Swindon Panel Society held a 'work-day' digging out the footings for the new building, assisting the 'usual suspects' from DRC's own civil engineering team. Seemed like an ideal opportunity to hand over the model!
Richard Antliff (head of the Civil Engineering team (standing in black t-shirt) and Danny Scroggins (Swindon Panel Society)(kneeling) point out features to another volunteer....
So THIS model is finished - however Danny has aske
Having spent last night drawing up the South wall of the pumphouse - time to get on cutting card!
First, several copies of the wall layers were run off on adhesive paper.
These were then cut out & overlaid on various thicknesses of card, and relevant levels of detail cut from each layer. Crafters call it 'Decoupage'. Glad I make models...
Finally the various layers were assembled together.
All I need to add now is the corbelling & plinth in fine postcard!
The 'Controlling The Trains' Building will be en route to Didcot Railwayentre on Sunday:-
Which MIGHT mean I'm going to get bored..
but I think not! The next project is taking shape on the computer already. I need some 'promo' structures for the business, and this one (a Victorian Sewage Pumping Station at Farnham) will fill the bill admirably!
I've already drawn up the 'two bay' wall on the right (the rear) of the building. CAD'ded at 1:1, it can be reduced to any
Not all of my modelling is railway related - and some of the projects (like this one) are of buildings that do not exist yet!
The Swindon Panel Society' was formed to preserve the signalling panel from Swindon 'box - which was originally built in the early '60s. Also in the Society's mind was to preserve whats left of the panel display from Bristol East Box. At the same time Didcot Raiway Centre wanted to create a display of signalling systems from the earliest to the present day, and we
