JustinDean

This is probably a question for @AY Mod On the relatively short time I’ve been on here we’ve lost a few inspirational folk, notably to me Mick Bonwick and Jonathon aka @Rowsley17D who were helpful in my own endeavors and lovely chaps. I didn’t know BGMan but you spoke about him at the last SWAG - that was a lovely tribute mate. Jay

I’m constantly resisting the urge to start something new, the irony being I haven’t touched Middleton Top at all this month due to lack of time. I suspect we both collect lots of bits…enough to make more layouts. I still have Llanyblod languishing on a shelf waiting to be finished. Theres an excitement in starting a new project that’s hard to resist! Jay

I can just see my partners face as a delivery of 800kg of gravel turns up. The closest I’ve got to this is I had a massive block of clay go off so I smashed it with a hammer and the bits were made up into the first walls I built on Middleton Top. These are easily the most realistic ones on the layout. The stones are on the large side but you get the idea. Jay

Beautiful work there Spams. Shame you don’t feel like you can post here anymore! The thing with Derbyshire stone is it’s just so random. Any plasticard or mould will have a repeated pattern. You’ve got round this by heavily modifying those sheets and they look great. I’ve also tried some wall sections from moulds and I’m treating these as temporary ‘place holders’; they’ll be replaced with DAS when I have the time…and they really do take a lot of time! Jay

I’m with Geraint on this. Having tried multiple techniques out on Middleton top the only way to create realistic Derbyshire stone walls is by scribing DAS. Plasticard sheets are just too flat and don’t look right. Jay

Multiple snifters I reckon. But not enough snifter to be malfunctioning the following day.

Very little work has happened on Middleton Top since Xmas. Actual proper workhas been surprisingly busy. Today I had a wander along the track bed with the dog (Ripley) along the Longcliffe to Hopton section. Walking up the route of the king siding at Longcliffe gives this delightful view of the goods shed. The goods shed close up. Looking back at Longcliffe. Quarry siding loading dock on the left, station house in the distance, end of the good shed on the right of the track bed, then retaining wall backing onto the quarry. The raised siding on the right was used for a water carrying tender, sited to replenish loco’s on this stretch of the line. It’s a bleak and beautiful stretch of the trail. Harboro Rocks Didn’t see a single person apart from one of @NHY 581’s mates.

I believe the Sheepmeister is referring to MAG

Reckon I’ll be heading to Stafford again this year. ‘Twas a good ‘un! Jay

I highly recommend this one : Made in Derby. Excellent.

While it is good practice to have someone designated to have a DBS check it is not mandatory. A club could have a policy of accepting under 16’s with an accompanying adult for instance and then that adult is responsible for the child. That’s a real shame if clubs are turning away juniors because of this. I joined a club at 14 and that definitely put me on a solid path of learning. Jay

For those hankering after the large show experience in the Midlands I can recommend the Stafford show to fill the void of Warley. Jay

I don’t think we’re a dying breed. I remember in the late 80’s/early 90’s, the first time round I was modelling railways, the same conversations were happening. The cycle seems to be young folk get into the hobby, adulthood distractions take over, then at some point in later life we return, realising what a great hobby it is. I’m one of these people rejoining the fold a few years ago. Coming back was eye opening, Web forums, multiple publications, lots of exhibitions, manufacturers and a wealth of resources available. To me it seems better than ever! Warley and Hattons going are just signifiers of change; absolutely not the signs of the end. Jay

Thanks for letting us know Jeff. It was a real pleasure interacting with Jonathon on here and he’ll be missed. Condolences to his family and friends. RIP Jay

If you’re looking for a high quality stereo portable recorder I use one of these: https://zoomcorp.com/en/gb/handheld-recorders/handheld-recorders/h4n-pro/ I have the excuse of needing it for work (I’m a music producer) so wasn’t too worried about cost. It’s a really excellent piece of kit. Jay

Late to the party on this but I’m doing exactly this on Middleton Top; only I’ve being using a field recorder to collect samples from the actual location. I’ve used the set up described for several small sound art installations and it works really well. Jay

Happy new year Nik! Good to see some Shallcross progress. Jay

…yet doesn’t taste particularly alcoholic. Dangerous.

Happy new year Rob! Jay

Happy New Year Rob! Somehow ended up being at a house party till 4am drinking Long Island Ice teas. I have a feeling I may regret this later. Jay

Recently I read with interest on Tony Wright’s thread the commentary about supportive/unsupportive partners when it comes to our hobbies. I’m really glad I don’t feel like I need to sneak purchases into the household; in fact Cazz finds the plethora of tiny boxes arriving in the post amusing. She also encourages me taking over the dining table over a weekend to build a kit or whatever. She usually sets up at the other end with some kind of acrylic nail kit; both of us filing, painting and glueing bits of plastic. This Xmas is the first time she’s bought me something hobby related and an excellent present it is too! A portable spray booth with extraction and lighting is going to come in very handy for painting a [cough] few [cough] wagons over the coming months in preparation for SWAG. Many of you will know about the legendary SWAG but just in case, the South West Area Group meeting in Taunton at the end of April every year (Sunday 28th 2024). It’s an incredibly friendly, informal RMWeb member orientated exhibition organised by equally friendly, informal @NHY 581 aka Rob. This will be Middleton Top’s first exhibition and the first time I’ve taken a layout anywhere since IMREX ‘91. I’m a solitary modeller so showing the last four years work off for the first time is quite exciting! In addition I’m also organising a Midlands Area Group exhibition (MAG) - I’ll be finalizing details of this across January. Enough waffle….back to the port and cheese. I hope you’re all having a merry time! Jay

Merry Christmas to you and your family Jonathon, and thanks for visiting my miniature Middleton Top on here. Jay

Looking great mate! Jay

Merry Xmas Geraint! Also looking forward to seeing Friedan progress and the Derby shindig Jay

Merry Xmas from a very windy Derbyshire! I hope you all have a great Xmas break. Jay