LSWRlinesider

Hi Chris, I've only just read your fascinating post, hence this rather late contribution, but is it possible that the modified high ended carriage shown was in use for passenger luggage? From my own limited experience of researching official minutes, they can more often than not be cryptically brief, stating the minimum of facts about a decision without further explanation or detail. Based on that ambiguity, looking at the print I can that there is very little roof luggage shown on the roof of the covered carriages immediately to the rear, and while there appear to be 2 people standing against the leading partition (brakesmen/guards?), there don't appear to be any seated passengers depicted in the coach itself. It is also washed in dark body colour, compared to the lighter unaltered 3rd class open coaches in front, which clearly show passengers in them? While there was room under seats for small luggage, the heavy portmanteaus, trunks and hat boxes of the wealthier long distance traveller would need to be carried on the roof, and perhaps this less than satisfactory solution was being addressed by this early modification of surplus stock? No claims for expertise here, and thanks for sharing such an interesting print and project. Matt

Love this photo. One comment: are you modelling the 1980s? Odeon's brand from 1930 to at least the late 1980s was based around the red font. I always assumed this was because they had used neon tubing to pick out the iconic "ODEON" external signs, because when neon lights were first commercially available in the late 1920s, they were only available in the colour red (others will correct me if I'm wrong!). The blue rebranding occurred more recently, probably in the 1990s. Here is a link to a photo of the Odeon Leicester Square in 1987: https://www.flickr.com/photos/oldcinemaphotos/2396167152/in/photolist-4DJZ1L-4DJY2j-22XchBz-2hrvHwQ-8eWBB3-5uWDjy-77c9oh-2odPjCh-Sbiirv-cXyTk-v5cLJ-2noCmHd-7s9zK8-6CUfeZ-o8CYZq-4kmWQz-2khQrjW-4DEE62-FMpVvL-4kqYqE-7tg4fL-2gS8k3-qSqdi3-2msxh1k-qjFzGY-7L2qSN-Dco8J7-2c2EwGw-6ygDzw-8yoCah-7xzp1-ajAaPn-Ns7xu9-5LSiAn-8DgqH3-86PxPk-6HZcRa-6yEcEy-eT2Nv-5pz1E5-4kqYpE-7P5xUa-Cxprps-6MrXBN-ky2Nk-54Y8fx-9ktRZ1-4vnhDX-7irmDH-nbaTf8 It's modeller's rule number 1 of course, so doesn't detract from a very absorbing and atmospheric scene. All best. Matt

Hi Mikkel, A very interesting post. You create a totally absorbing sense of time and place. One thing, and I know how much of a detail man you are so you'll probably appreciate this/go bonkers trying to figure it out, but of course horses produce an imprint on their environment. Have you considered that the ground around the tracks would likely be marked and rutted with shunting and delivery horse hoof prints? Take a walk around the periphery of a stable block and you will find (depending on the time of day) manure/straw/bedding and dubious stains in various corners and crevices too! Also, may I heartily congratulate you on your sense of colour scale and tone. So important to get this right. It's an art. From my neck of the woods, I attach a scan for your interest of a photo of Mr Arthur Challis, coal and coke merchant, with his horse and coal delivery cart. Most probably taken in Alexandra Road, Wimbledon in 1905, which is the year his business was established. He was successful enough to be ordering a brand new coal wagon "No.20" from Charles Roberts in 1931. In the background is a poster with the letters "PSA", which was the "Pleasant Sunday Afternoon" Society, a semi-religious movement set up to encourage men not to spend their Sunday afternoon in the pub. All best, Matt CHALLIS photograph of coal cart horse and merchant Wimbledon c1905 720dpi.pdf

Hi Mikkel, Long time since I last commented, but I was researching railway accidents (as you do) and came across this leaflet: https://www.railwaymuseum.org.uk/sites/default/files/2018-04/the-safety-movement-1914-LOW.pdf?_ga=2.60822444.1812258583.1594485049-478566534.1594485049 which instantly made me think of your fantastic "posed" dioramas. This is kind of life imitating art, with a bit of time travel thrown in! If you've already seen it, then this is just by way of a hello and happy modelling anyway! Best, Matt

Hi Gilbert, Long time no post, but I saw this and thought of you! https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Railway-Signal/174002135366?_trkparms=aid%3D333200%26algo%3DCOMP.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D40733%26meid%3D338306900d224d949ce3bce03f93a0a8%26pid%3D100008%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D223639247379%26itm%3D174002135366%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2047675&_trksid=p2047675.c100008.m2219 Yes, I'm sure you fancy a real GNR somersault signal :-) Matt

Hi Gilbert, Apologies if all in the know, but FS due through platform 4 Peterborough this morning 10:32. (The 12" to the foot one) All best, Matt http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U53516/2017/04/20/advanced

Hi Mikkel, Fascinating reading. Thanks for sharing. There's a book in there somewhere! Have you seen the Historic England (formerly English Heritage) book on Goods Sheds btw? Available as a real book, but digital link is here: https://content.historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/railway-goods-shed-and-warehouse-in-england/the-railway-goods-shed-and-warehouse.pdf/ Not GWR, or indeed railway, but a stable link which you might also find interesting, a Victorian municipal stable which survived intact and was recorded in detail: http://brentfordandchiswicklhs.org.uk/local-history/buildings/chiswicks-municipal-stables/ All best, Matt

Dear Gilbert, I was at Winchester station last Saturday and saw a chap "sitting" on a platform bench that made me think of Peterborough North and previous conversations about "proper" reality versus actual reality! I was tempted for a fleeting moment to go over and "right" him to an acceptable position, but wisely thought better of it. All best, Matt

Absolutely love the bridge Gilbert, the depth of field it creates is transformational. I agree that its a shame that the "backscene" you pinned to the shelves front (?) casts a shadow behind the bridge, as this diminishes the effect of distance...as the eye expects to see a "fading off" of tone as distance increases. Could you not just afix the backscene to the back wall, so that light falls on the area behind the bridge? That would do it and increase the sense of depth? Anyway, just a thought. Keep up the splendiferous modelling. Regards, Matt

Hi Gilbert, been away so catching up... :imsohappy:Re you photo of 61666, I can smell that photo! Hot metal, oil and a whiff of paraffin and sulphur. My instinct was to warm my hands on the monitor ...lucky I work for myself, that would have looked a bit odd :imsohappy:dropped an emoticon!

I'm sorry chaps, I should have added to the last post I was referring to post #7924. Gilbert, I have visions of Duck suspended from the ceiling "Mission Impossible" style to add the necessary swallows to the telegraph wires?

As one of 4 members that offered observations about the poles, certainly on my part you can call it feedback rather than "criticism", I'd just like to say that this is a forum, and for my part I was very positive, and greatly respect and appreciate what Gilbert, his staunch ally and supporter Duck and all the contributors to the Magnum Opus that is PN is. I feel it a little unfair to be apparently censured for contributing to the thread, as this post puts me off doing.

Dear Gilbert and Duck, with the greatest respect and positivity, I'm going to stick my neck out and use my architectural eye on this one: Duck the telegraph poles are impressive, HOWEVER, being absolutely empirical, I would say that - taking the famous one with 17 struts in front of the station, if you compare the photo that started it all (image 4, post #7905), to the model (image 5) the issue is I believe this: It is not that the poles are too high per se, but that the struts are slightly too far apart, so the proportions are the issue. If in the original you measure the distance between strut 1 and 17, you can see that it is approximately 4/5ths of the height of the 2 storey building in the original photo. Compare this with the model (image 5) and the struts span approximately 6/5ths of the height of the 2 storey building. Anyway, I hope this is taken in the spirit of helpful constructive advice! I'll get my (GPO) coat. Matt

Happy Birthday Gilbert!

Speaking of figures, I agree that the model persons available are often a distraction, since a. any figure captured "in motion" is always jarring as clearly it isn't, then b. it's hard to find a decent model person to start with, then c. they are often painted crudely (gloopy paint and glaring tones) and d. all too often "standing" at "three sheets to the wind" unnatural poses. However, I've stumbled upon these figures created by Alan Buttler just recently, and they change the game: https://oswestryworks.wordpress.com/2015/04/16/modelu-first-steps/ So Gilbert you can scan yourself and Duck into the scene if you wish?! All best, Matthew