Shane Downes

Thanks Paul, I've taken a look at those and think they're perfect for what I will need. Excellent description too, most helpful. Shane

Hi Peter, Many thanks for that. So you are a fan of A-patch as well are you?! Shane

Hi Paul, am I right in understanding that there are 1:12 scale trains out there? That's also a smashing little layout abover, Bergar Hall. Is that 1:12 scale?

Thank you very much hayfield, plus I have always been inspired by railways and railway modelling and see RMWeb as 'keeping my hand in' or 'keeping my eye on' what's going on and I feel I'm amongst friends here. Don't think Dad had any enemies! I wasn't aware of Gordon's ET thread but cannot wait to see it. Thanks for letting me know. :-)

Hello wonderful peeps, I hope no one minds a little self indulgence (I am a Downes after all!) or that I am not breaking site rules (I am a Downes after all!) but I'd like to show you what I recently finished making. It's a 1:12 scale dollshouse roombox. Over the years I've made several buildings mainly on 7mm/O gauge and Dad and I loved sharing ideas, stories, tips (though he gave me many more than I gave him) and he always encouraged me to build a layout I have always been meaning to build, haven't yet but one day soon will. In the meantime I'm cutting my teeth with the big stuff and today start another roombox, one with an interesting staircase and hidden door. I hope you are all keeping well and staying safe at this wretched time. Shane

I have never seen this until tonight, you can't imagine how happy and grateful I am for you sharing this, thank you. Dad moved from that house in 2010 and the Steelworks were made a few years before that so I'm guessing this video was made in early 00s. It's great to hear his voice again and to see him doing what he loves best while sounding like he has a plan! Shane

Gents, I am overwhelmed with your heartfelt messages of condolences, kind worlds and stories about the passing of my dad, Allan. Thank you. Some of you commented on his influx of photos which was a result of us sitting side by side, he pointing to the photos he wanted from his PC and whispering the text for me to write. He asked if I was bored helping him! I said, "Not at all dad, this is part of your legacy". The very last thing dad did before retiring to his bedroom for the very last time was hand me a small hard drive with over 8000 photos of his work. Sadly dad's 'wife' Sylvia herself passed away 6 weeks ago and left me his 7mm Chester Rows which sit proudly in my workshop where I make my dolls houses. It was a 955 mile round trip from Penzance to Immingham to Penzance via Worcester and Oxford but dad's models are now safely home and they inspire me every day. Please stay safe folks during these uncertain times. Shane

Hi Scoobyra, Your bridge looks brilliant and I know dad would agree with me. Well done! Shane

Hello Richard, Thank you for sharing these photos. I am not sure if I have seen these buildings before but it's typical of my dad to use a name from a nostalgic TV series in this case Arkwright's from Open All Hours. Last month I stumbled upon some of dad's model buildings for sale, one was a cinema with the film 'Shane' showing, I was astonished because I had no idea he'd built it. In February I moved down to live in Penzance and set up a workshop to build dolls houses and have my dad's Chester Rows and his Fender Strat' guitar overseeing me as I work! I'll PM you Richard.

Hello Denbridge, I went along to Pecorama for the first time in January of last year (2019) to hopefully find my dad's Pipers Mead. Unfortunately it was dismantled a few years ago. A small diorama still exists measuring about a metre square which I understand was made by Allan about 25 years ago. Shame.

Not at all Simon, I can only thank you. You have done for me what I was finding difficult to do. I'll just add that Allan's passing was peaceful and throughout his illness he was never in any pain. I think none of us could ask for more than that. Sylvia and I are literally overwhelmed by your kind words and anecdotes. Thank you every one. I have learned things about my Dad on RMWeb that I never knew so please, keep the stories coming! I was born in 1966 and the first memory I have of Dad's model making was in about 1971 when he built 'Pipers Mead' in the pig sty beside our caravan on a farm near Holmer Green, Bucks. I made a Lego signal box that Dad placed on Pipers Mead, I was chuffed! That same summer I remember standing in our caravan door 30 feet from the pig sty with my suction bow and arrow, bored and wanting to kill something. Suddenly to Dad's misfortune he came out of the pig sty and turned his back to me as he closed the sheet metal door. Sensing the moment I swiftly I raised my aim and in one movement let fly. My aim was true. The arrow skimmed Dad's ear and with a gratifying 'thud' stuck in the door, I was chuffed. Dad wasn't. He snapped my arrow and hopped around cursing words I'd never heard before. I stood and watched him wondering if he'd take my Lego signal box off of his railway or not and bless him he didn't. Many of you have kindly shared how he inspired you during the 70s and early years of your involvement in our hobby through exhibitions and his Railway Modeller and Model Rail articles. I understand you fully because he inspired me too, right to the end. I loved his O Gauge/7mm period where he manipulated all the commercial products available but it was Dad's early OO Gauge/4mm models where the magic truly lied for me. I saw him make everything from scratch. From somewhere he acquired this small metal frame. He pushed Pyruma cement between the tiny oblong holes in the frame then baked it. Moments later out came the frame and out popped the tiny stone bricks which went to make an incredible windmill, probably not the Dalek one! I think it was the late 70s when he made his first resin stonework mold. The master was pressed into Plasticine and believe it or not he used the pointed end of a drawing compass, millions of tiny little holes, to achieve the tiny random stones. Dad then discovered, don't ask me how he made this discovery, that the sole of some shoes made good stone patterns. At school: "Downsie, we saw your Dad looking underneath shoes again". I could have answered, "Yes that's right. As a model maker he, and his kind, are always looking for short cuts and ingenious ways to manipulate or distress raw materials to create realism by using every day household items such as a wire brush, Mum's toothbrush and indeed the sole of a shoe". But it was far easier to just say, "Yep". Many of you have got behind the suggestion of dedicating a thread to Allan and possibly a magazine article highlighting his work. You cannot begin to imagine how touched Sylvia and I am by this idea and would support it fully in whatever way we could and Dad would love the idea too hoping that it might inspire the next generation of model railway enthusiasts. So, we're open to any suggestions! What a send off! Happy modelling guys, Shane and Sylvia

Nearly two hours sat beside Dad this evening while we scrolled through 1938 of 7983 photos! Many models I had never seen before so that was a treat. Same again tomorrow Dad, only 6045 to go!

Keep them coming Dad!

Dad first took me to Pendon in the early 70's, will never forget it. It was amazing being able to look into tiny lit rooms and see people and furniture. That visit is probably what got me into making interiors as well as exteriors. Took my son there 20 years ago. Was going to go back with Dad about seven years ago but we ran out of time that weekend. Such a shame.

He does look good, shame he was just 4ft 11 inches though.