Update - That title's twofold really.
Firstly, I lost most of last week due to some gastro which struck me down...a trip to a rather fine Indian restaurant here soon put my stomach on track...
Secondly, I got stuck in on some more weathering of the rolling stock. Again, using dry brushing techniques and a few MIG powders with a few strokes with some cotton buds too. Its not up there with Mercig's weathering by a long shot but it has given me a little more confidence to keep having a go.
Good evening,
Further to the backscene crisis I have been undertaking some experiments. My tinkering with GIMP and Paint was getting me nowhere. Enter, Glen, a good friend from School for over 34 years now (an ex rail enthusiast who still has a light flickering for the hobby I think) who offered his photoshopping skills, as that's one of his skills from his profession, who kindly offered to tweak the backscene.
Glen was briefed (from the comments made last entry) to try and keep the clou
Good evening
First blog entry since we relocated back to UK and the period of re adjusting continues, particularly as we have downsized and have had to shift 99% of my railway stuff from our apartment to a storage garage a brisk walk away. No longer can I meddle and tinker with something located in a spare room...as there is no spare room
Have only managed one evenings modelling since July 2013 which was a crack at a 7mm C+L turnout kit, which is 75% complete...and as I thought this wee
Good afternoon,
Further to the last update, and I guess Mike's observations, it got me wondering about the backscene.
I think it does look better with it, than the plain blue sky but I wondered whether in fact it might benefit from being toned down a tad?
I have had a little tinker in 'Paint' (as I don't have Photoshop) and basically have played around with the contrast to see whether it might look better if it is 'less in your face' (can't think of a better turn of phrase for that a
Good afternoon,
Despite a recent flurry of activity on PWIAB, work has been progressing on trying to finish this project.
I suddenly realised that I was going about it all the wrong way I had been trying to complete the station building before tackling all the other bits and pieces and detailing but whilst not wanting to rush the second attempt at the building, it meant there was no progress on everything else...
So, I decided to reverse that, concentrate all my efforts on all the
Update - Its been a bit of a frustrating 10 days or so for me...
Last week our two boys were away on holidays so I took the opportunity to work on their 4mm roundy roundy. I made quite a bit of progress although when they returned this weekend it wasn't long before the screaming, shouting, arguing and fighting started and I nearly went a threw the whole lot on the floor in frustration
So, rather than work on finishing the station building and weathering it, I decided to work a little on
Good morning,
Since its first (and probably will be its last) exhibition, the layout has been avoiding the dust for approximately 16 months now back in its boxfile(s), but was set up again briefly the other week when the Dapol 26 arrived.
I had always promised myself that I would finish off this layout and bring it up to scratch. Rather than piggyback its revamp on my coombe junction - moorswater blog, I thought perhaps it might be better having its own separate one.
Here is a quick
Good evening,
I must admit, having participated in and been following the thread on 'Blog quality' I was wondering whether to continue with my blog(s)...however, I do try to post something regularly and I accept that it may interest some...but not others.
After two weeks of Christmas parties, its time to rest the liver and slot in some modelling...tonight being one such night.
The first layer I am referring to is the glazing layer which was applied a few nights ago and has helped giv
Update - A number of activities have been taking part of recent, and so to blend against those new FC Barca RMWeb colours I thought I would try a few black and white photos.
Firstly, I recognise that I do need to improve on my photographic skills. The neat Canon A590 digital camera bit the dust recently so I have been using our 'entry level' Nikon D3100 and am still struggling to get good light/depth of field despite using a tripod, manual settings and selftimer simultaneously...
Back t
Afternoon all - 6 months since the last update
Work has been relentless and it will continue as that well into the new year...but I have since committed myself to take Kyle to the Burgess Hill MRC one day show in May 2015 as it made its original debut there as a boxfile layout in 2010 flown in as part of my handluggage from BCN and its had a couple of makeovers since then.
Nothing like a deadline to get you focussed Here's the crack - Get new FY and tidy up scenics by 1 Jan 2015 leavin
Update - After almost 2 years, KoL finally has a station building....but not a finished one...
Have been a bit quiet of late as I wanted to make some significant progress with the building before posting...and here it is...
Firstly, I know the roof needs toning down...but it does tend to take your eye off the backscene at present...
I will just give a concise history of how the station building was developed. You may recall this was Mk II as the plasticard version was too crud
Update - I am of course referring to weathering. I couldn't put it off any longer so I have had a first bash with a tractor. I also seem to have got a better understanding of my camera so hopefully the latest photos are an improvement...and most importantly are more in focus...
Back to the weathering - Before I tackle the 24 and 26, I thought I would warm up on a class 37. My gradual conversion of a new Farish 37 to 37175 is taking far too long and I will probably strip the aerosoled paint
Morning all,
A quick update from Kyle’s appearance at the one day Steyning show last Sunday.
Whilst not actually a Model Railway Club, the Wielden Railway Group have a one day show each year attended by members layouts and those they choose to invite. Andrew Knights kindly invited me when we met at the Essex show last year. Seeing as how Steyning is only half an hour away from my folks, it seemed a good opportunity to visit them and throw the layout in the back of the car
Happy Easter all,
Now I have a week off work I am hoping to snuck in a little modelling.
Still need to apply the second coat of paint to the fascia and add some white text which I will try to do this week.
As Phase I draws to a conclusion, my thoughts slowly start to drift to Phase II which is to try and get the layout working again....otherwise its a photo plank and straight onto rolling stock.
This afternoon, I managed to lash up connect my Pictroller and run a few tests...it s
Good evening,
I was having a trawl through the KoL images earlier for Chris Higgs and I happened upon a pic that I always liked but it never made it into the final cut.
It was taken on my iPhone, with me balancing dangerously on the edge of our desk in our spare room late one night with only the small directional ceiling mounted spots directed at the layout as it is stored out of use about 2m high on the wall.
I always liked this pic as the light coming in from the right threw some n
Many thanks for all the continued comments regarding the layout, in particular the recent 'backscene crisis'. I decided to reprint option 1 as that seemed to get the most votes and I think the differences are quite subtle but worth it. Although I realise it may not be to everyone's taste, I am grateful to Mike to raise the issue, which prompted debate and actually got me to rethink it and change it albeit in a subtle way. Thanks Mike. I confess I was starting to lose a little interest again with
Good evening,
A quick update on progress this week following the initial entry last week and very encouraging comments.
Decided to take on board Rich B's idea (thank you Sir) for losing the corner post to the right hand end and cantilevering the fascia to complete the corner. That corner was troubling me somewhat as it would have meant covering up a part of the dockside in addition to looking like there was a piece of back scene missing.
I sketched out the components and laser cut th
Afternoon all,
Subtle reference to the Fawlty Towers 'The Builders' episode in the title there
Little opportunities to do anymore on the FY this week so a splash of grey paint this weekend to keep things moving in the right direction whilst I work out how to resolve the electrical connections.
The fascia has been given two coats of grey paint to match the scenic section and the 2FS logos have been positioned - overall I am happy with the composition which I think highlights the slid
Afternoon,
Just a quick entry to highlight that KoL will be appearing at the Uckfield MRC show next weekend 17/18 October 2015 - Details of the show can be found here:
http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/103559-uckfield-model-railway-exhibition-1718th-october-2015/
The support structure has had approximately one metre trimmed from it now, meaning the layout is about 1500mm overall now. I have added a base at the bottom which not only allows more stability to the su
Good evening,
Not had a chance to do any modelling since the exhibition of 11 May 2013 so I guess the next best thing is to think, read and draw about it...
You may recall that this layout is on the list to be scrapped when we move back to the UK in a couple of months, all being well.
Whilst I have had fun making it...and then remaking it, I have to be ruthless in some of my decision making to set the example in our apartment as we have a lot of pruning to be done...plus we have far
Good afternoon,
This post is threefold really...
First, the inset track of CJM is stalling mojo at present so a good time to jump on the overnight sleeper bound for Scotland...
Secondly, I had been asked to provide a few photos to the 2mm Association of the track (for possible inclusion in a revised edition of a 2mm article on track) hence the need to photograph it.
Thirdly, I recently bought a Sigma 70-300mm lens with Macro for the camera so I wanted to test it out.
It was
Afternoon all,
A quick update on general progress of late. Lots of small bits and pieces undertaken since the last update. First up the station sign. The original layout has had two different signs during the last two years starting with the Scottish blue one before I swapped it to the British Railways black and white sign.
I have always had a soft spot for the blue signage so set about recreating it. The previous one had been undertaken trying to match the typeface and colour to pics bu
Evening all,
Quick update on progress around Easter - my recently returned turned down wheels were reinserted and after a second period of running in on the rolling road the locos were tried on the layout - some fettling was required to the two turnouts so the bare solder may be visible in some pics below prior to getting retouched in with a paint brush.
With most of the big tasks for scenery, lighting and wiring undertaken my attention has now turned to the rolling stock. My primary aim
Afternoon all,
Firstly, many thanks for the kind comments received on the Model Rail article this month. I was really pleased with it and it was good to meet the MR team at Warley last weekend...although CJL was always busy when I tried to speak with him in the short time I was there. I have also picked up a couple of show invites on the back of the article which was nice.
I think I mentioned in my new Thurso blog that I would be making the break to DCC with that layout and with this in
Good morning,
Just a quick plug to say KoL will be appearing next Saturday at the 1 day exhibition in Tonbridge, Saturday 18 February 2017.
This will be the first time (other than a preview at the 2mmFS AGM) that the layout appears in DCC mode and since then 37414 has been sound chipped. Have been testing the fleet and big thanks to Pixie who managed to breathe life back into two of the locos
Due to work commitments I haven't been able to finish 24124, 37025 and 26040 but they are c
