Popular Post FraserClarke Posted January 20, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted January 20, 2020 (edited) About a year ago I bought one of the 2mm association's wagon taster kits ; a 16 tonner + 5" of track. I think this is an absolutely brilliant idea for those of us who want to dip a toe in the water and see how cold it gets... Anyway, as well as building the wagon kit, I thought I'd make a little diorama to get a bit more of a feel for 2mm modelling. I have to say that I really enjoyed it! The kit was pretty easy to build, considering I've never built an etched chassis before. Weathering was ala Martyn Welch, which is nice but perhaps needs less texture in 2mm scale. I do still have to attach the (non functional) coupling hooks. The diorama is roughly based on Lasswade station, just south of Edinburgh, where it seems the line to the goods shed ran behind and slightly below the platform, giving a good backdrop to contain the scene. It is just a 6x3" piece of MDF. The platform / bank is built from layers of foamboard. The slope and the yard surface are covered in DAS, which was worked in around the track (with much trepidation, but I think it came out OK in the end). That was painted in grey humbrol enamels, and then dusted with artists pastels. The goods shed is Slaters stone on top of greyboard structure, with a door scribed from flat 20thou sheet. The slate roof is just 80gsm paper strips nicked for each slate and then washed with grey acrylics. I tried to get the look of scraggly grass on the slope with a fairly light static grass covering. Overall I'm fairly pleased with the look. I think the yard needs a bit more junk in it, and the platform needs some suitable paraphernalia. I have tapped up some club mates for a suitable figure or two for the platform Very much enjoyed building this, and can definitely see me doing more 2mm in the future. Edited November 3, 2023 by FraserClarke Replacing lost images 34 10 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold queensquare Posted January 20, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 20, 2020 Brilliant use of the taster pack, looks excellent. Jerry 5 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold scottystitch Posted January 20, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 20, 2020 4 minutes ago, queensquare said: Brilliant use of the taster pack, looks excellent. Jerry Agreed. You're diorama shows you have great talent. Thanks for sharing and inspiring. Best Scott. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caley Jim Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 Beautiful work there Fraser. Look forward to seeing more of your efforts in 2FS. Jim 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium DavidLong Posted January 20, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 20, 2020 What a delightful little scene, Fraser! I especially like the colouring of the stonework on the goods shed and the wall behind it. As a matter of interest there was a one page article ('Prototype of the Month') by none other than P.D.Hancock featuring Lasswade in the May 1953 Railway Modeller. I hasten to add that I didn't purchase the issue new but I was given it by a family friend around 1962. It has always stuck in my mind as an attractive little prototype. David 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 2mmMark Posted January 20, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 20, 2020 That's a very atmospheric little scene. If anyone is as intrigued about the location as I am, here's a link to a 25 inch to the mile OS map. https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=18&lat=55.8799&lon=-3.1167&layers=168&b=1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FraserClarke Posted January 20, 2020 Author Share Posted January 20, 2020 Thanks for all the positive comments everyone! In a typical case of pride before a fall, I tried to do the coupling hooks this evening; and completely banjaxed it up... I got rather confused by the coupling plate etch, which looks like the slot for the hooks is in the wrong orientation (horizontal instead of vertical). I think though it is a bit of a trompe-l'oeil. I think I've worked out the right way to do it, but in the process I've cut the coupling hooks too short. I'll need to source some new ones at some point. Mark: Yes, it's a very modelable station. The terminus of the short branch - Polton - has been on my 'want' list for lots of years now... one day... some scale... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
richbrummitt Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 PM me your address and I'll send you some hooks. They won't match exactly the ones in the kit but you're welcome to some of my huge surplus of coupling hooks that I have etched for my own purpose. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pixie Posted January 23, 2020 Share Posted January 23, 2020 That's great Fraser - I hope the 2mm bug bites! Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold MarshLane Posted February 2, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 2, 2020 On 20/01/2020 at 14:03, FraserClarke said: Overall I'm fairly pleased with the look. I think the yard needs a bit more junk in it, and the platform needs some suitable paraphernalia. I have tapped up some club mates for a suitable figure or two for the platform Very much enjoyed building this, and can definitely see me doing more 2mm in the future. Sorry, somehow missed this. Congratulations on both the wagon and the diorama. Wonderful, and a great example of trying one thing and ending up with another! Hope it convinces you to carry on with the Finescale modelling. Any plans for the next move? Rich Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FraserClarke Posted February 18, 2020 Author Share Posted February 18, 2020 @richbrummitt very kindly sent me some spare coupling hooks. I fitted these a few weeks ago, but work has been a bit hectic so haven't managed to put anything on here until now. The hooks went in OK, with some judicious adjusting whilst the cyano went off. I did try to find some suitable chain at the southampton show a few weeks ago, but the six year old dragging me around didn't allow the best conditions for hunting! Will try again at the next show in a few weeks. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caley Jim Posted February 18, 2020 Share Posted February 18, 2020 I'm not aware of any suitable chain. Most is either too big or the links are the wrong shape. I bend mine up from annealed 10 thou phosphor bronze wire, coiling it round a suitable former and then cutting off the individual links and threading them together and then onto the hook. The p/b wire turns a dull rust colour when you anneal it. Jim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FraserClarke Posted February 18, 2020 Author Share Posted February 18, 2020 Thanks Jim - I did already wonder if that might be the most practical route. I might have some suitable wire lying around already. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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