Jump to content
 
  • entries
    4
  • comments
    13
  • views
    456

In Praise of Praze

MullionPeter

Entry posted by MullionPeter

327 views

 Share

Having received my first order from Britannia Models, now having N-gauge track to go with the points I had left from my younger days, I set about laying the track for Praze station.  As both my points were left‑handed this dictated modelling a later time period when the passing loop was converted to just a siding.  With the track laid and glued in place, it was time to reacquaint myself with ballasting.  Having viewed a number of various “tutorials” on‑line, time to get started.  I am reasonably happy with the results, and was thankful that GWR was known to ballast up to and occasionally covering the sleepers.  Still this is a learning model, I can only improve when move to OO‑gauge and the Helston station.

DSC_2477.JPG.3f8e7ceb178ec4343ca0e1def7918bd5.JPG

Having then set aside Praze station, it was time to try my hand at modelling buildings, so started with the Helston engine shed.  The shell was cut from foam board (old company presentations with the printed surface peeled off).  Although not purchased on purpose, I found that one of the craft knives I had purchased had a blade for cutting button‑holes, this was perfect for cutting the windows, done simply by pressing down the blade and getting a perfectly straight cut right into the corner.

Having assembled the shell I tried a new technique, at least for me, of applying a thin coat of air drying modelling clay and then scoring out the various stones.  At this point I was again glad for one of my father’s “hobbies” when I was a teen, namely renovating a traditional Cornish farm labourer’s cottage only a couple of miles from Praze and Beeble.  As a result I have had hands on experience, for more years than I care to remember, working with granite walls and slate roofs, taking them to bits, cleaning them up and rebuilding them.  To my mind this experience makes it easier to model something you are intimately familiar with.  Although, far from perfect, a very acceptable result, and again a great learning process.

DSC_2469.JPG.03571345327493fd59cf82197f78ffc0.JPG

Lastly, as I have had plenty of time being off work for two weeks over Christmas, I have been tiling the roof.  Although I am aware of a number of other methods, I still prefer the process of cutting out thousands (about 2,400) tiles from index cards each 4 by 3 mm.  Then individually gluing each on, with just a small overlap.  In reality on the real building each slate would have been overlapped by about four tiles above.  I very much like the effect created and was more than happy to see it taking on some of the profile characteristic profile of an older slate roofing that can never be purposely modelled!  Painting next.

  • Like 3
 Share

3 Comments

Recommended Comments

  • RMweb Gold
Mikkel
  • RMweb Gold

That engine shed has a lot of character already. The tiled office roof looks very effective. 

 

Quote

a blade for cutting button‑holes

 

That's a useful tip, I never knew such a thing existed. Must see if I can get one, thanks!

Link to comment
MullionPeter

The blade in question I have discovered is a #9 button hole blade mine is made by a well know company of cutting tools Friskars and I could find these blades available in the main on-line shopping site both in the UK and here in Canada.  I haver attached a pic of the tool in action, just four simple pushes down and the sides of this N-gauge door were cut.

20200112_150259.jpg

  • Informative/Useful 1
Link to comment
MullionPeter

Posting has been a little delayed, as that thing called work has got in the way, but that is not to say that progress has not been made.  The engine shed has been painted, but there is still some detailing to do.  Another chunk of my time is about to disappear as our local theatre group is starting gearing up for the next production in March.  But there is a hidden benefit in that as the lighting designer and engineer I get to spend a lot of time working along our very talented set painter, and although the scales are very different, I am hoping to pick up a few tips to improve my model painting skills.DSC_2479.JPG.415d85c5570c1d3b39c6bcae0436e152.JPG

The shed is seen here with the Lima 2-6-2T Class 45 I picked up second hand for a good price in auction.  Interestingly enough is number is 4589, which was based out of Truro and there are pictures on-line showing 4588 at Helston station so I was very pleased to pick that one up.

I have also followed some on-line tutorials for servicing Lima Locos and have had it all stripped down and cleaned up and reassembles and fully greased and oiled.  Although I have not checked it on the track yet, I was happy just hooking it up without the body and running with a small variable transformer, it seemed to run reasonably well.  Just waiting now to get the bits to fit DCC to it.20200102_203823_001.jpg.66f52e31ae3e98e2f0ad392efc1e8286.jpg


 

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...