RMweb Gold Stubby47 Posted June 16, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 16, 2017 A few of mine... 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martyn T Posted June 16, 2017 Share Posted June 16, 2017 As an occasional lurker I have thoroughly enjoyed this thread and hope it continues for many years, cheers! to Alan and all the other amazing modelmakers here. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
allan downes Posted June 17, 2017 Author Share Posted June 17, 2017 Glad you are likely to keep this thread going as it was one of the few I followed from the beginning. Will you keep the same title of tweak it? Keep on posting and we'll keep on following....... I was wondering about that KNP, but Iain contributed so much quality work on here that I feel his name belongs in the title just as much as mine does. For a newcomer to the thread the title may not make a lot of sense and the names insignificant unless he goes right back to page one where it was introduced as a friendly banter between two model making friends. So, in honour of all that Iain has done to make this thread what it is, then I think we should leave the title as it is - I mean who knows, he might delight us all and make a sudden come back ! Also, thanks for the recent contributions guys, keep'em coming. Iain obviously wasn't the only competition ! Cheers. Allan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkeysarefun Posted June 17, 2017 Share Posted June 17, 2017 (edited) Hey Allan, Can I just say ,,,, you're an international superstar! I think I've written before somewhere about waiting for the Railway Modeller to sail its way via clipper ship down here, three months late. If there wasn't an Allan Downes feature in it it would be a long wait for the next one. Down here, my favourite memories of what we imported from Britain in the post common market '70's is - The Goodies on TV, Cricket teams with Derek Randall in them, punk rock and Allan Downes Railway Modellers articles. And now here you are without the 4 week wait So I'm glad that you aint going! If I may - here's a picture of a model house built in 1977 or something when I was 14, its based on one of your articles and back then I didn't even know what thatch is. My dad found it in his roof space where it had sat for 35 years of Sydney summer heat, so your wool and flock thatch ideas really do stand the test of time! PS: The house is just plonked down on his unfinished layout to get a photo - there isn't really a rail line running 2 feet from those poor homeowners front door!! Edited June 17, 2017 by monkeysarefun 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KNP Posted June 17, 2017 Share Posted June 17, 2017 Though I have been following this from the beginning with occasional posts I haven't posted for a while so I thought I had better rectify that. Here is one of my favorite shots of my layout with a minimal bit of photo editing to remove the door and wall that can be seen in the original picture above the backscene board. Every item/ building has been scratch built from card, brick papers and postcard tiles...... I agree with your earlier comment about keeping the post title the same. Keep posting Allan where your style has influenced many a person not only on this site but many a magazine article as well, which incidentally includes myself going way back to the days of Lane End when I first met you and saw the first class models you were producing then. 14 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
allan downes Posted June 17, 2017 Author Share Posted June 17, 2017 Bailey Street Sidings. A new micro layout in O Gauge on a standard size flush door. Here's the raw beginnings, a derelict factory with failing render. Cheers. Allan 12 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
allan downes Posted June 17, 2017 Author Share Posted June 17, 2017 Windows after treatment. To get this effect of broken panes and filthy windows literally takes only seconds once you have the materials at the ready. Just simply spray the back of the windows with carpet adhesive in a can that shoots everywhere and anywhere then immediately lay over a pre cut piece of that very thin, film like plastic that's used to pack Wills products for example and that's it. Instant effect in seconds where a dusting of matt black sprayed over the plastic enhances the effect even further. Cheers. Allan 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Tony Teague Posted June 18, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 18, 2017 But how do you find that out? Presumably by spraying carpet adhesive everywhere??? Tony Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
allan downes Posted June 18, 2017 Author Share Posted June 18, 2017 Desperation, Tony. I always thought when I first discovered wayward carpet spray that there just has to be a better use for it other than what it was intended for and so I tried it to glue clear glazing down to the back of a window frame which was a daft idea anyway but I had run out of the usual glue I used. Anyway, and though it made an unbelievable mess, I concluded that it might just be perfect for broken and filthy factory windows and rather than tell everyone that this discovery was just accidental, tell them instead that it was down to hours of scientific research ! ( Which of course it was......) Cheers. Allan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
allan downes Posted June 19, 2017 Author Share Posted June 19, 2017 The derelict factory gets its rusted steel chimney. Loads to do yet and this kinda weather really slows you down. It's taken most of the day just to make the skylight roof, boiler house and chimney. Anyway, what do you think of the heavy rust effect on the chimney guys - any good ? Cheers. Allan. 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CourthsVeil Posted June 19, 2017 Share Posted June 19, 2017 Impressive, Allan, as usual. But – imho – a bit overdone. With this thick rust crust it would be prone to collapse me thinks. Some wires to keep it vertical...? Regards Armin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
allan downes Posted June 19, 2017 Author Share Posted June 19, 2017 Hi Armin. You can never overdo rust ! Cheers. Allan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KNP Posted June 19, 2017 Share Posted June 19, 2017 Agree you can never overdo rust........ My rusty tree damaged store to be found in the grounds of the derelict house. I must confess this something I never seen modelled before, I spent ages working out the structural dynamics of how a tree branch would effect a building - i.e. push in one side and then push out the opposite side. My this hobby can be demanding......!!!! 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
allan downes Posted June 20, 2017 Author Share Posted June 20, 2017 Slowly coming together now as the weather cools down. Not sure what the next move will be, probably some kind of small annexe and, if there's still room when it's all set up, a collapsed outside covered stairway rising up to the upper storey of the back building. Cheers. Allan 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
allan downes Posted June 21, 2017 Author Share Posted June 21, 2017 That's as far as it goes for now until it's based then wall hung exterior pipes (Knightwing ) will be added along with broken down pipes and plenty of debris. For those who might be interested in how the flaking paint effect is done, here's how, really effective, very quick and totally faffless ! This really only works on plastic where the item is freely brushed over with Colron wood dye - any colour where they're generally various shades of brown. Almost straight away while the dye is still taking hold, dab on - as in this case, green emulsion - which will react against the dye then lightly and quickly dab over the whole with a kitchen tissue which will lift some of the paint in random patches and that's all there's to it. Cheers. Allan. 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
allan downes Posted June 22, 2017 Author Share Posted June 22, 2017 (edited) I've just paid nearly 250 quid for a handful of points and a coupla lengths of track. I can remember when you could have bought a house for that. My first weeks wage was £1 10 shillings which my mother let me spend on what ever I liked after which she would want ten bob a week for board and lodging. In exchange for my first weeks wages Blunt's model shop, Mill Hill Circus, let me have the Wren 2-8-0 loco that stood in their window right through out the war. I couldn't afford the track so built my own out of plasticene. I feel like I've been screwed...Think of the plasticene I could have bought for that. Cheers. Allan Edited June 22, 2017 by allan downes Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold teaky Posted June 22, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 22, 2017 Several gallons of Colron too! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullie Posted June 22, 2017 Share Posted June 22, 2017 I've just paid nearly 250 quid for a handful of points and a coupla lengths of track. I can remember when you could have bought a house for that. My first weeks wage was £1 10 shillings which my mother let me spend on what ever I liked after which she would want ten bob a week for board and lodging. In exchange for my first weeks wages Blunt's model shop, Mill Hill Circus, let me have the Wren 2-8-0 loco that stood in their window right through out the war. I couldn't afford the track so built my own out of plasticene. I feel like I've been screwed...Think of the plasticene I could have bought for that. Cheers. Allan That's why I've built my own point work for years. With two growing mouths to feed, I looked at the price of Peco points and thought best build my own so off I went with a pile of rail and copperclad. To be honest I've never looked back, despite the language and the occasional burnt fingers I enjoy building track and after ten years I'm not bad at it! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
allan downes Posted June 24, 2017 Author Share Posted June 24, 2017 Dereliction revisited. Since a customer wanted photograph examples of dereliction modelling, which took an age to find, I thought I'd better re illustrate them here before I loose them altogether ! So, rot in piece guys ! Cheers. Allan A few more later. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
allan downes Posted June 24, 2017 Author Share Posted June 24, 2017 And a few more... 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold russ p Posted June 24, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 24, 2017 Simply stunning Allan! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
allan downes Posted June 28, 2017 Author Share Posted June 28, 2017 Another derelict factory for Bailey Street sidings which is now Battery St sidings. Cheers. Allan. 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Rich Posted June 28, 2017 Share Posted June 28, 2017 I have always loved seeing your modelling skills Allan although artistic skill is far more appropriate term. I have to say that these latest photos just take my breath away, the skill level is just stunning. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeatonLodge40 Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 I have always loved seeing your modelling skills Allan although artistic skill is far more appropriate term. I have to say that these latest photos just take my breath away, the skill level is just stunning. John Agreed - stunning Allan. I like the last building especially, its very similar to a derelict sewerage works I'm going to need for Heaton Lodge. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
allan downes Posted June 29, 2017 Author Share Posted June 29, 2017 I've got a Fender Strat. It has stood unplayed on its stand in a corner for over a year. Today, I picked it up to find that it had kept itself perfectly in tune and played 'Apache' to perfection, bum notes included. If only Fender made model railways... Cheers. Hank - I mean, Allan. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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