Yet another quiet couple of months around the vicinity of this blog.

On the Home Front

Household activities have been revolving around the arrival of Harvey (small baby-sized person now six weeks old and growing at a terrifying rate!) who I can happily relate has spent a chunk of the afternoon inspecting a 1:1 scale Bullied Pacific and seemed intrigued...

With Christmas approaching on a modestly restrained budget, Katie and I have been producing presents for Harvey and his cousins our selves, usually with a tube of acrylic paint. One of the more succesful ones makes for a nice RMWeb Christmas Card:

Although the view is a bit sun-drenched for December in Worcestershire! I was challenged to paint a 'reasonably proper looking' Thomas though my version borrows more from the earlier Railway Series books than the more modern incarnations. The background, in a scribbly, impressionist sort of way, was meant to show Thomas returning from a holiday in St Ives, somewhere roughly half way to St Erth.. (the recipient will know the view well!)

Anyhow, thought it might raise a smile here (the recipient's dad is a dedicated aeromodeller, more likely to browse forums full of ailerons and fuselage discussions.... so it shouldn't spoil any surprises!)

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Modelling Rambles

I think I reported the ongoing saga of my model River Severn beneath my Victoria Bridge diorama. I had poured it in four layers using Woodland Scenics realistic water. The first three layers dried brilliantly with a satisfyingly deep, textured water effect. Unfortunately the fourth, and in many ways most vital, layer went all cloudy after at first behaving itself. A little while ago I ended up tearing away the riverbed lock, stock and barrel, pausing to carefully tease the two canoeists away from their gooey base. I am happy to report that a new river is now in place poured in Deluxe Materials two part clear resin, it looks perfect and the two canoeists are back in place.

(Pictures to follow soon-ish)

On other projects, I'm still pondering the exact shape of my Wyre Forest layout. More of that soon. I also have a plan for another micro layout based loosely on Lelant Saltings and Hayle Wharves, rendered in modern or modern-ish image N Gauge. The plan compresses the scene to either side of a narrow harbour rather than a broad estuary.. but retains a sense of place. I have been inspired by the layouts around these parts that convey a sense of Cornish geography without being too specific.

Of the two layouts, Wyre Forest is to be an excercise in historic properness, whereas the as yet un-named Cornish idea might see a Class 153 pass a Warship shunting in the sidings depending on how the mood takes me!

Might attempt another blog post before the festive season is out, watch this space.