Ralf

So here goes - yet more progress. Slight problem with the water tank, 99.9% certain my fault esp as I had some kit bits left over which I've omitted to photograph. Doesn't matter all fits now and left hand door and internal wall have been cut out so it's currently floating loose pending re-glueing in place. Except doors both structures now complete. I really ought to think about some track building but then that's way out of my comfort zone and don't really want to venture down that road but it need doing eventually! Bit of an issue width-wise here! Left hand door is loose pending re-positioning... Caption lost when resurrecting photos!

So here's how it's coming on - slowly but surely! The doorways are definitely in the wrong place, I suspect I will crudely hack the door into supposedly being those trifold ones that fold flat against the wall... Thus enlarging the doorways!

Structure C - about finished and in approx position on the layout... Then it's on to Structure A which seems much simpler - which I suppose it is without the openings and hoist to worry about... Quite rapid progress laminating the main structural bits - which isn't very evident in the photo never mind! Structure A is the corner one that sits behind Structure C and against the back scene, so once that's done I'll know where Structure C sits and what needs thinking about re: lining up the doors and the trackplan! Cheers Ralf

National Library Scotland - https://maps.nls.uk similar to Old Maps but includes older stuff and more of it AFAIK, although I've never worked out where to find what... Ralf

Hi Bit more info, do remember the trains are (were for sure) operated that the empties were propelled into the docks as 1 long rake, the loaded wagons return split into shorter trips due to their weight... In 2009 the main road crossing has automatic full barriers on one side and a man in orange walking in-front of the loco on the other. Here's some photos of D3871 / 08704 shunting working the train all taken from public places in 2009. I have more of 09022 taken in 2016 and 2018 which I sadly cannot share online. Cheers Ralf

There's the main road level crossing which I doubt would yield any photographs up to much and then the dock embankment which on one side you can view the level crossing then looking over the harbour the swing-bridge. There's nice side on shots to be had with the stump in the background... Not been for a couple of years mind you... Ralf

Some more progress on my mirrored version of Structure C... Not a lot to report except the windows in the hoist were rather problematic due to my own stupidity! First attempt I put them in without the sills, second time the sills were on the tops of the windows (thankfully everything is on sticky labels not glued so it peeled off ok), third time sills correct but incorrect windows used, forth time lucky! Phew got away with it... Must pay more attention! The roof tiling has also been done but isn't pictured here - next time don't worry! Ralf

A smidge more progress with the kit, I'm sure I've printed some sheets more than twice already - the usual way round and mirrored, of course reading the labels for the parts etc isn't simple and having multiples of some sheets lying around the bench is just untidy and things get overlooked. Next time I'll print the whole shooting match mirrored and be done with it! Purchased some clamps t'other day and aren't they handy! What did I do before... Cheers Ralf

So actually more progress to report, I admit I had some of the kit glued up before I quite realised in concept how the structure was going together and what needed reversed, but thanks to my Mac having a very simple 'flip horizontal' option on printing (from the Preview app) PDF's a couple of reprinted sheets and it's getting there - although as you can see the front is simply propped up for now! The doorways etc under the building may need some adjusting although I had only planned on using the left hand (as you look at my model) aperture but thinking that's not the way forward... So who knows what'll happen tomorrow... Ralf

Yes that'd be a cunning plan, it allows a limitless extension to the loop without really altering the plan but having kinda moved away from the Rice theme and layout I shall persevere as planned (he says). Meanwhile I've been very busy making the most of the sun photographing wildlife rather than actually doing any modelling, but with imending less sunny weather to occupy my time it's Scalescenes Canal Wharf Box File Kit Structures A & C building time... C being the scenic break on the right hand end of the layout - except it's designed for the left hand end of a layout but surely it cannot be difficult! (ha ha ha! Keep your eyes peeled folks!) Here's structure C, printed on A4 labels and stuck onto card of the relevant thicknesses... Ralf

Which one did you plump for and why? - Be as brief as you like I don't want to hijack this into an airbrush thread but I'm persuading myself it won't be a nightmare and actually I could do with one... Ta Ralf

Have you any plans for the gravel to actually move? Or indeed create an illusion of it being transhipped - or just use good old imagination? Ralf

Crickey me, maybe I should write a work plan if it generates results like yours! Thinking and talking is so much easier than do-ing... Keep it up! Ralf

Thanks for that, I shall send Mr Imperial Tabacco Collection an e-mail and see what he knows / says! Ralf

I was thinking along the lines of fan site / catalogues rather than actually thinking the manufacturers would be interested in some ancient likely promo product of theirs! But having said that if I don't ask I'll never know! Ralf

It is Wade - see below... How would I go about tracking it down / looking? Ralf

Not done a great deal but hit upon the idea that the baseboards needed painting / sealing being mdf... So some watered magnolia and domestic permission to slop paint around in the laundry I've magnolia-ed most of the surfaces incl the back scene and baseboard top - which I was only going to spray grey but had some magnolia left in my pot... So that was reasonably successful and I didn't have any disasters, left it to dry and came back to spray the modelling surfaces a darker grey... Job 2/3s done and it ran out... Left it to dry and I think I'll brush paint it with grey primer rather than messing about with aerosols which I hate and I don't have an airbrush... The nice Hermes man has just brought lots of Greyboard from CM3MODELS and there's to be varnish tomorrow so hopefully more progress soon... Cheers Ralf

Hi Folks, Clearing out cupboard and the like (as you do) I've stumbled on this ashtray, we've never smoked and have no desire for it, so before I try and flog it on eBay does anyone know whose logo it shows? Ta Ralf

Yep same here, although I 'allow' other small steam locos and narrow gauge into the frame too! Ralf

Well it's interesting you mention that... I've been eyeing up the new Boxfile from Scalescenes flipped round - https://scalescenes.com/product/ly02-canal-wharf-boxfile-layout/ Although I've previously eyed this option up too (also a Scalescenes box file!) Meanwhile I've printed the Scalescenes kit for the warehouse / factory to discover my 15 y/o Testors Dullcote seems to have died - mostly propellant comes out even after much much shaking (tried two tins both the same) - see below - same sheet held slightly differently below the workbench lamp! So I've been varnish shopping on Amazon to go with my Greyboard from Cm3models.co.uk as after my stick-a-thon with 36 sheets of A3 my stocks were somewhat depleted! Off to sulk until the postman comes... Ralf

Thanks folks, opted for before with my 15ish year old Testors Dullcote it seems it's gone off or something! I shook it lots and lots but mainly propellant came out with the odd burst of varnish, even tried shaking side-to-side during spray but didn't get anything much... Now I'm stuck to know if any sheets got a decent coat or not, some as you can see below didn't and it's very apparent in some lighting conditions! So I've been shopping for some Ghiant Acryl Clear Lacquer Matt 300ml (Can) for another attempt! Ralf

If I can manage to reverse the orientation it'll make a fabulous scenic block from the RH end of my shunting plank - although to match up with my SMS baseboard the building over the railway will need to be a smidge less deep but surely that's not a problem (ha ha ha!) Hmmm a reversal of a building and a shortening, what's the worst that could possibly happen! Cheers Ralf

Hi All, Just about to embark on a Scalescenes T026 Factory / Warehouse and see the instructions advise varnishing before starting construction, then again at the end there's a reminder to varnish the built kit if you haven't already... Of my Scalescenes downloads three advise varnishing first with a later reminder whereas one only mentions varnishing it after construction... Is there a consensus (ha ha!) of opinion on when to varnish print at home card kits? Doing it before allows re-printing any sheets you make a mess of varnishing but doing it after seems a lot easier than varnishing 30ish sheets of A4 separately! Thoughts please folks... Ralf ps Planning on using Testors Dull Cote that I've had lying around in a rattle can for, erm, 15 years unless anyone screams don't do it...

A superb idea David - and you have a PM btw! Cheers Ralf

Ok, I shall try and make this clear but I've confused myself trying to work out the answers! The crane has appeared in pictures in this thread both with the sides at the front / back and with the sides at the sides... I didn't realise the sides and front / backs weren't the same for quite a long time, not only are there a different number of panels but the sides are angled completely differently! The sides have 3 panels, the front / back pieces have 4 panels, it is these front / back panels I have narrowed.... So the longitudinal positions of the legs have not altered so the wheels and associated girders still fit as designed. I shall go and measure the crane and report back by editing this post (on my phone) the dimension you have asked about is 22mm... - Which is down from 30mm. Rail Gauge as a result will be approx 62mm / 15ft 6in... No I have no plans to create a luffing crane, that's certainly beyond the scope of this project! Thanks Ralf