ullypug

Happy to report the tinking table has been reinstated! It’s been a quiet (by my standards anyway) couple of years on the modelling front. Primarily due to a divorce which thankfully is now all resolved. The house was sold in December and I moved into my new abode just after Christmas. After sorting the essentials I was able to build a new modelling bench in the box room. This also houses the office desk on the opposite wall but I’m left with a 6ft bench to play with. It’s so nice to have some space again and somewhere to put things. Still some more to do, shelves etc and a new task light. Plenty of layout space downstairs too when I have time. Just need to unpack everything now! The 1361 was the first customer having the rear wheels’ back to back pulled out as somehow they’d gone too tight. Happy days!

Glad you’re feeling well and good luck with the new home. The north lakes are lovely!

That looks lovely Dave! Can't wait to see it painted.

That last photo had me completely fooled into thinking it was real. Lovely weathering all round, especially the bridge and platform.

Thanks. There’s a 19ft clear run in at least two rooms and a 16ft square garage. It’s all about priorities!!!

Good question! Photos I have seem to show them in light stone and off white/ light cream

Well it's been a while since I posted anything on this thread, almost since the beginning of the first lock down in fact. Whilst I have been concentrating on my Stonehouse St James covid layout in the intervening period, I did decide to complete the signal box for Cheddar. The box itself is a Saxby and Farmer Type 3 and as I noted last time, this was drawn up in Coreldraw and the parts cut by York Modelmaking. What followed was a fairly simple assembly of parts, correcting the various mistakes I made along the way or, as is normally the case when I unearthed a photo after the event showing that some of my assumptions weren't correct! The sides are 1mm MDF with the brickwork pattern rendered . The windows are Rowmark, stuck to perspex with spray mount. The plinth is Slaters plasticard. The interior is an old Springside kit I had kicking around. I think the levers are painted correctly! Tiles are York self adhesive and other bits and pieces are odds and sods of plasticard, wire and a bit of perspex for the lamp. The nameplate was custom etched by Light Railway Stores. As with all things, now it's finished I can see a few things that niggle me but the funny thing is the front of the box will face the operators, not the public when it all gets plonked onto the layout. There's a bit of weathering required to the soffit boards but overall it's getting there. Happier to report that a house move shouldn't be too far away now. Rest assured the new abode has suitable space for layout erection, albeit not all at the same time!

Wonderfully atmospheric as ever Mikkel! Your colour palette is spot on.

Impressive building panel. Colours are spot on. Fireless loco is cute too!

Tom Just found this thread and have to say it is some of the finest modelling I have ever seen. The scenery is just stunning. You clearly have an eye for replicating the real world, both with this layout and your weathering. It's great that you have found this to be such a tonic. Like you I've struggled with mental health issues and the quiet place of the modelling bench is a great therapy. Keep up the good work!

Oh dear. I've two Terriers and a Manning Wardle, two ex Metropolitan Railway 4 wheel coaches, a number of private owner wagons. Also sleepers and rail. Just enough for a small WC&PR layout in 7mm. Heaven help me!!!

Good to see you on here again Geoff. I do follow your posts on WT and your new layout is coming on a treat. I've always admired your patina of colours and shades. Everything looks so real! As for 7mm, I'm managing to resist though a few boxes have crept in over the years for a 'one day' project!

Converted to EM quite easily in the end by filing down the pinpoints slightly. But yes Graham it would be great if you could make the W irons a little wider next time please!

My SAE will be in the post tomorrow morning John. Thanks for the very generous offer.

After quite a lengthy delay, the 1361 has been finished, painted and weathered this weekend. It was great to get the airbrush out, though my set up was a little rudimentary. I just need a name plate, crew and couplings. Oh and balance weights and coal... But I'm quite happy how this has turned out. There are naff all clearances between the wheel rims and underside of footplate (that's why the Kernow one had splashers) so Ive lifted the body up slightly. All runs well and the CSB's work a treat. I took the liberty of taking a few shots on Stonehouse St James. Also visible are a variety of wagons that made it through the weathering shop this afternoon.

Yes. Lots of colour pictures.

Marc Yes. I'll PM you.

Anyone managed to get either EM or P4 wheels in yet? Looks a bit tight and I may need to thin down the w irons

Thanks. I should have spotted as I've something similar on my sites!

That's correct. it sends out a laser which is picked up by the surveyor's staff as they take levels and mark setting out points. Removes the need for a chainman and traditional level or theodolite.

Looking very good Mick. I've used a small hand held surform for shaping modelfoam when doing scenery, with a vacuum cleaner hose held adjacent to keep the mess down. I use sanding blocks to smooth down afterwards/

I’ll take some pictures of the stuff I have for reference

Something else to think about are the various quarry dusts that Attwood Aggregates sell link

Another bank holiday and a bit more time at the tinking table working on the 1361. The cylinders and slide bars are done, crossheads fettled and con rods added. CSBs are fitted and all runs smoothly. The cab, roof, smokebox, bunker and tanks have been fashioned from about a million bits of brass. Everything has an overlay. Even the overlays. Thank goodness for my RSU. The kit is carefully thought out and any mistakes are mine. I can see a couple of things in the photos that are going to need tweaking. It's starting to resemble a series of component parts which are ready to be fitted together, once they've had a thorough clean up. Still I'm a happy chap as it's been quite a while since I've built an engine and I'm enjoying it.