beachcomber_bob

Well, it took me a while to finish it, but the yard lighting is now complete, and added a grounded van body to conceal the light switches.. Even had a crack at some 'misty' night shots (still learning my camera functions as I go). http://www.flickr.com/photos/beachcomber_bob/6345076420/in/set-72157627588047959

I'm glad I'm not alone in wanting to model 'between the wars' GWR. What locos will you run? You can see my efforts at the era on Flicker: http://www.flickr.com/photos/beachcomber_bob/sets/72157627588047959/

Thanks for the praise (never feel I've got it quite right whatever I do). Sad to hear your day is dreary. Isn't your latest project something to brighten the day? If you have to use bits & bobs from the bottom of the Ebay bargain bin (which I do), then old Replica (Bachmann China) locos are hands down the best for detail (when you can get them). If you like atmosphere, you should see it with the yard lights on and no ambient lighting. Just a bit of mist, and you could be there on an Autumn evening....but then my crappy camera wouldn't be able to show you the detail (what do you use, by the way, to get those pin sharp macro shots?) What do you do with them once they're done though? The fun for me was in the doing; solving problems and such. Now it's finished, I'm at a loss to find something to do with it, not having any space. Donate it to Didcot museum? A friend has suggested that my next project be a period piece of Wemyss Bay Station, but I fear both my skill and space would be sadly lacking.... I know I'm a novice in the figure painting department, but I have to share with you the small success I've recently been having with modified Dart Castings figures, selling them on Ebay as Doctor Who & Tardis for the OO scale collectors. This was the prototype....

Well it's been a while Mikkel, but your beautifully detailed work inspired me to make my own effort. Having had the problems of sourcing Edwardian pieces last time, I plumped for the easier option and created something of a little later than your time period. My "The 'up' goods from Stourbridge" diorama depicts a goods yard somewhere in the SW Midlands circa 1930. http://www.flickr.com/photos/beachcomber_bob/sets/72157627588047959/ Still learning as I go....

Took me a while since your comment, but I've just finished a diorama.(I posted the whole lot up on Flickr if the following RMWeb links don't work.) http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/gallery/image/32024-dscf0485/

Mikkel, Yes, Autocraft have a website - but it's pretty poor for navigating - http://www.autocraft.plus.com/index.html I bought two of their porters with trolleys through Ebay (autocraftmodels they're know as on there), but I'm darned if I can find any reference to them on their website (mind you it is a year out of date!) and I'm sure they are copies of something I've seen elsewhere (perhaps Springside or Dart.) Their photos are sort of BR, but mine are as yet unpainted and will be modified to look more in period. Like you said, I am wondering if I'm too hard to please as regards detail, but I'm sure I recollect from my childhood, having a set of Airfix 'civilians' that had better detail than the stuff from Langley and MRD.

You are of the same opinion as me then. I bought a mixture of Dart and Langley for that first effort of mine, and found the Dart ones to be much better quality, in terms of detail, than the others. I've just ordered a bunch more from them for my next project, although I won't hold my breath this time, as their attitude to delivery times is akin to that of Spanish builders. I'm also trying some figures from Autocraft this time. I did buy the 'Edwardian woman with parasol' (not sure she shows on the pictures already posted) from MRD, but Lord knows what scale they're using. Had I not hacksawed off the bottom 1mm or so (luckily she had a long dress), she would have been about 7 feet tall, and she dwarfed the 'Langley' man standing next to her. She was also very 'broad in the beam' across the shoulders and face, so I gave her a quick squeeze in the mini-vice to give her more lady-like proportions. I've already spent an amiusing time looking through the Preiser catalogue, and I appreciate your 'heads up' about scale. That is my concern with U.S. and continental manufacturuers, because their model railways are a slightly different scale, is that right? I will have to have a look at IKB though, for the sake of some variety. Thanks agian for the advice!

I've just started (both on here and modelling) and wondered if you would share your sources for 4mm figures. I just completed my first diorama, and struggled to find suppliers of Edwardian figures .(see my novice attempt in the 2010 challenge - it's 'City of Birmingham' 3434)

This was my first attempt (at scale realism and modelling in general) so please be kind, or at least constructive in your criticism. The kit started out as an Airfix 'City of Truro', but I modified it into 'City of Birmingham' as a gift for a friend (hence the display case). It was originally intended as just a display of the engine alone, but because of the size of case I could get reasonably cheaply, the loco looked lonely on it's own, so the scene sort of expanded into what you see now. I had to rebuild the front bogie (Airfix had done a pretty poor job there) to make it at least close to the real thing. I made all the decals myself with inkjet transfer paper, so the splasher name, loco numbers and works plates would be correct. I had to redraw the victorian 'curly' monogram on the tender (using computer software) from an example I found on a jigsaw box while visiting NRM York. The period I've tried to go for would be about 1910-1911. (oh, and the rabbit popping out of its hole in the right foreground was made from Fimo!)