Update

Whilst there is a flurry of activity on Paddock Wood at present, this is a small update to show that work is continuing on CJ-M albeit at a slower pace.

The last entry which covered some of the recent detailing of the Moorswater buildings touched on some other works, namely the buildings to the adjacent area. This has changed of recent since becoming a cement terminal but research shows there were 4 small buildings, a mix of huts and a portakabin in this area. Using pics and drawings, they have been scaled and proportioned but once the carcasses had been made in plastic sheet and they are placed in position they look like Monopoly houses/hotels...hence the blog title...I had better not paint them green and red either

I think part of the problem is that they are adjacent to two quite large Industrial buildings so are always going to look strange...the question is do they look ridiculous? Perhaps once finished, painted, bedded in, weathered and surrounded by a few trees they will look better...but at present they unnerve me slightly.

I also had a first bash at the gate which separates the works area. This has been made in plastic rods but since doing so, it has twisted and warped so I will have another go using brass rods...which will enhance my soldering skills no doubt. I would like to try and get this gate working in some way (it swings to close off the road) be it a motor or Heath Robinson pulleys beneath. Drawing a train of wagons up to the dries/terminal and then waiting for the gate to open will I hope add a little extra to this area.

Also to note, after searching I was quite pleased to find some interesting industrial handrails from Scalelink. They will be used on a lot of areas in the dries, including sitting on top of the retaining walls, as well as topping that curved structure off...they are soft enough to bend and form into a circle. I will also use them for the high level walkways at roof level on the larger dries building and depending how they look, may replace the handrail I built from plasticard on the bridge link across the tracks.

Lastly, a huge thanks to Mark (46444) who recently donated me some of his 2mmFS rolling stock whilst he concentrates on matters 4mm. I like to think of it that I am actually 'holding on' to these for Mark until he is ready to undertake a little 2mmFS again, but I promised to take a few pics of them in their new home. One of the items was a Dapol Cargowaggon which has been excellently weathered by Mark. I think I might send Mark my 3 bright yellow/blue Dapol ones to weather as it really looks the part.

Then Mark also produced a FGW 153 (Dapol) and a FGW 150 (Farish) using, if I understood correctly some terrific decals produced by ewsjo and resprayed to suit FGW colours. They really look smart and the FGW livery has really grown on me the last couple of years.

Herewith a few pics to set the above in context:

EDIT: 150 now swapped for 153 (thanks Rich)

The Scale Link industrial handrails...

Mark's Dapol Cargowaggon...very nicely weathered...

Those 'Monopoly' houses/hotels...

View of gate from outside the dries...will be better in brass rods...

Looking down on the huts...

Perhaps with a few trees they will look better...

Mark's 153 reprayed to FGW and with decals...

And side on...

Mark's 150 reprayed to FGW and with decals...

And side on...

Work will carry on between now and the end of this year detailing the buildings/surrounding area as I wanted to make big progress with this board to try and feel a sense of 'getting there'. As usual, any comments welcome and I would welcome observations on the Monopoly dwellings...