kev69

I've just put the finishing touches to Dunkerton Colliery Halt. Is it as close to the prototype as possible? I reckon so although I have had to make a few educated guesses here and there. One advantage of a small model like this (36in long) is that is can be easily taken outside in the sunshine for photos.

A couple of photos taken outdoors of a nearly complete model, just some foliage to add to some rather bare looking trees. The 4F is a new weathered Farish model which looks absolutely superb.

The rear of the halt, with work in progress on the backscene. The sky is finished but more to do on the landscape. Looks like a nice summer's day in the Cam Valley.

Wicket gate at the entrance to the halt, I have used brass fencing for the curved railings. There probably was a noticeboard here (and oil lamp) so this is based on the one at Midford Halt, printed on a laserjet printer. Taken before foliage is added to the tress. This view over the fence is taken from the back of the layout with a temporary unpainted backscene in place. A local source who used the shelter as a pigsty after the line had closed told me it was painted black in later years (probably a bitumen paint to prevent corrosion).

The scenic work is almost done so here are a few more photos although the trees need foliage and the backscene needs painting. The wooden platelayers hut is scratchbuilt mainly from card.

Cheers for the tip Nick, will give it a go.

Today the station name board was glued into place, and just needs bedding in with some static grass. According to The Camerton Branch book, Camerton station had the early GWR pattern blue enamel sign with white lettering although it is likely Dunkerton CH had a later black & white board. But I thought the blue looks good, so blue it is! The sign was printed on a colour laserjet printer (when the boss wasn't looking...) using 3 and 4 point lettering, then weathered. And here's another example of the pitfalls of closely modelling an actual location - the official plan shows a gas lamp between the name board and the pagoda shelter although it isn't seen in a photo of the halt when open.

Thanks JZ, I am already a member, and some interesting stuff has come to light.

The white cottage next to the bridge is something of a mystery as it was knocked down in the late 1950's. Last week I was up at the site of the halt taking a few more photos and measurements and I got chatting to an elderly lady who lives nearby, and as luck would have it she said she used to live in the very same cottage and was able to provide some details. So this now means a minor rebuild of the model. It was originally built for the Somerset Coal Canal on which the line was built at Dunkerton colliery. Her family kept pigs in the station pagoda shelter after the line had closed, they also kept the goats which are seen on the lineside in The Titfield Thunderbolt. Chuffed to bits I was!

I'm making the halt's station nameboard which I assumed would have been GWR black with white lettering, but the Camerton Branch book mentions that nearby Camerton station had a blue enamel running in board. Does anyone have any ideas what shade of blue this would have been please? cheers

I am attempting to model a Titfield train in 2mm scale, it is tricky to tell what colour the 14xx was but I use weathered black. I have seen a photo of a 14xx at Monkton Combe with GWR still on the tanks which suggests it was green. I have scratchbuilt a well wagon for the coach body. The coach body in the film was only a studio prop. I also have a Bedford OB / Aveling & Porter roller and Bullnose Morris in suitable colours, only things missing are the tramway coach and Lion itself...!

The rushes were viewed in the Limpley Stoke mill on the River Avon using water power and lots of complicated electrical hook-up!

A start has now been made with static grass, I prefer pale muted colours hinting at a long hot summer. Further grass will be added to give more texture. The whole lot photographed outside in the sunshine. Does anyone know where I can 2mm wicket gates?

Another burst of activity lately. The bridge is painted and stuck in place so time to start on the scenery. I decided to try hanging basket liner from the £1 shop for the undergrowth. This looks pretty awful when first stuck down, but heavy trimming after the glue has dried produced a decent looking scenic base. This was then covered with PVA and given a good dose of static grass fibre. I suspect it will need a second dose to build up the texture and cover the bare patches though.

Well that's the bridge completed, just needs painting now. Very tricky to form all those curves but it looks about right, I have used 4mm scale brick plastic sheet though as I find 2mm ones just too small to show up properly. Has anyone had any success with hanging basket liner as a scenic base? I am trying it for the first time but first impressions are it should look ok when treated with suitable flock fibres or Woodland Scenics etc. cheers