Marly51

Wishing everyone in the CakeBox Challenge and on the Forum all the best for 2020! The reality for me is that Christmas and New Year is just too hectic to grab some quiet time for modelling! The workshop is not at its most inviting when you have to clear the snow and ice to get to the door, either! I shall carry on with my industrial CakeBox, so that I have the complete set of models from this last two years of Challenges! Definitely recommend trying out new techniques and scales as a small project like the CakeBox, micromodel, shelf, etc. Happy modelling, everyone! Marlyn

You’ve captured all the ‘grunge’ of industry, Ben! Crammed so much into this tiny space!!

Wow! What a great project!!

You would never know that this was a CakeBox, once upon a time! Lovely modelling of the longer canal barge, as well!

Love the seasonal touch!

Modelmaking has been on the back burner this month, with the main focus being on preparations for our family Christmas! I had already sprayed the base grey, with some bits of foam glued to battery box holder to rear of the model. Currently modelling engine parts from thin card and these will be glued to the pile along with various spoked wheels. My next job is soldering some wire to create a drain grating in the road gutter, framework for corrugated fence and yard gates. I’ve been collecting reference photos of corrugated metal fencing including these two from own collection. This is an old oil depot at Lairg Station. I also found a thin strip of rust peeling away from an old field gate hinge, and thought I could add flakes of this to the scrap pile, suitably sealed afterwards!

Thanks for the reminder, crompton33! I enjoyed making the Rovers Return and think I will add a back yard to this one as well!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Great to see your CakeBox expanding into a working Micro, Paul. Printers can be a nuisance sometimes. I have also discovered that the matt photo paper I use affects the ink with a slight pink hue, so I have to adjust the file colour in Photoshop beforehand. When printed on ordinary paper the colours are fine. Marlyn

I am following your progress Mr Tea, as I would like to do something similar with a layout scenic split between the shoreline of Lake Brienz on one side and a mountain view on the other. Look forward to seeing photographs of the different stages? Marlyn

I love the details in this model, Captain Albino! Lots of interesting backyard activity and the scene is so reminiscent of abandoned railways in our cities, before they were converted to walkways and cycle tracks! Marlyn

Some more great modelling and fascinating research, Dickon!

Another fascinating model in the making, Job! 1950s is my favourite period as well as it holds all my childhood memories of a very grey Edinburgh cityscape plus travelling by trams and steam locomotive! All the very best to you and your family for a happy festive time! Marlyn

I never cease to be inspired by the micro model creativity of railway modellers here on the Forum and elsewhere. Jim Read’s 0 Gauge micros with locomotives and wagons scratch built from card are two of my favourites: And this 1/12 scale ‘Mr Chips Potato Farm’ by Diamond Jack Dave is another gem!

I have the same challenge with my current ‘industrial’ cakebox, Steve. Ballasted the track with the rest of the ground, including a pavement and cobbled street, modelled in DAS. Been looking at lots of old steam locomotive yard photos and a few ballasting videos. My sifted garden soil has worked well as a texture on old single track roads and yards in my larger layouts. I also have some ash, ground coal, etc and hope to achieve the right effect with paints, washes and pastel powder. Marlyn

Thanks, Dufus! Always on the lookout for bits and pieces we would normally throw away. There are so many cylindrical plastic tops and tubes, which I think “Would that be about the right size for the boiler in a scratchbuilt locomotive?”

Pavement and street detail cut out of ‘DAS’ clay surface, track ballasted - I decided to use the Javis ‘extra fine’. Will spray paint the whole model, grey or black, tomorrow, then focus on the scrap pile detail before hand painting the ground surfaces. I have found a ridged paper which might just be in scale for the corrugated fence panels.

The detail in these laser kits is great! Although I enjoy scratchbuilding with paper and card, I am tempted to get some for a future model! Marlyn

Fascinating back story to your model, Ben! If it’s like your last cakebox model, it will be packed full of detail! Marlyn

Thanks jbmccarthy & Bo-Bo! Every CakeBox is a new challenge Marlyn

Almost no modelling time since my last post! Baseboard constructed from a scrap of hardboard, with plywood edges to create a space for yard lamp wiring underneath. Decided to have three tracks quite closely spaced for at least two scrapped locomotives plus the engine being ‘saved from the scrapyard’. The battery compartment will be disguised with the the pile of scrap to the rear of the model. Next stage is to coat the street and pavement with a layer of DAS clay, then sculpt the stone setts, paving and gutter. The remainder of the ground will be covered in two grades of ballast. Better get my skates on!!

Very well planned base, JRB! This is something I would like to do for the grandchildren (and everyone else in the family), but not this year. It is fun to produce and there are also lots of possibilities, using some of the many basic, and cheap, children’s’ toy trains available.

If I’ve not commented already, Rob, I have to say I do love these little touches and extra attention to detail! Great modelling! Marlyn

Hi Joe, I like the double cabin! Think it balances well with the Sentinel and gives that extra break between low relief and backscene. Marlyn

Yes, I found the polystyrene worked quite well for my first cake box model, Captain Albino. It cut quite well with the long blade from one of those snap-off knives, then I coated it in a thin layer of DAS clay! Good progress!