MONKS GATE MODELS

[Tricky]

Today saw the completion of this little gem of a commission. It is the most obscure, unassuming corrugated shed you’ll ever come across but extremely modelogenic for all that! 
The photos of the real thing are recent as it still exists, albeit in a slightly altered and more decrepit condition. So my interpretation is meant to look in better condition - as it is portrayed as it may have looked when considerably newer in 1933. The signwriting on the roof is modeller’s licence. Although this company did occupy the building in reality, we don’t think the name was ever painted on the roof but it looks good any way! I hope to do a more in-depth write up for the Model Railway Journal one day soon.

[BroadLeaves]

Superb. The "it was varnished and smooth once until the weather got at it and we didn't look after it properly" wood is especially nice.

That drain pipe isn't too shabby either. Well, it is quite shabby - it's all rusty, but I'm sure you know what I mean! Are those bolt heads I can see on the fixing brackets?

Edited July 27, 2022 by BroadLeaves

[Tricky]

49 minutes ago, BroadLeaves said:

Superb. The "it was varnished and smooth once until the weather got at it and we didn't look after it properly" wood is especially nice.

That drain pipe isn't too shabby either. Well, it is quite shabby - it's all rusty, but I'm sure you know what I mean! Are those bolt heads I can see on the fixing brackets?

Thanks. I have Modelu to thank for the downpipe brackets! 

[Mallard60022]

That is one very special build.

Phil

[Tricky]

Here’s a rather nice GWR stone-built goods office I’ve been working on. It’s built to 7mm scale, using DAS air drying clay spread over a 3mm ply background. So nice to be working with DAS again as it’s not something I’ve had the opportunity to do since building ‘Midland in Bristol’. Next will be making a timber lean-to, gutters, doors, windows and signage. Should make a rather attractive model. The photos show the carving in progress, primed surface and painted surface. 
 

[Tricky]

With less than two weeks to go, I’m very busy putting loads of stock together which will be available to purchase on the day at the O Gauge Guild Stafford Show. Make a note to come and say hello! 
The list of items I’ll have with me is getting longer by the day, so I aim to showcase as much as I can here between now and exhibition day. 
But today’s focus is on the bespoke area of my business - I will bring with me recent examples of architectural commissions I have made of late, before being delivered to my customers (and with their permission!). 
Individual buildings made to order is the main area of my business and can range from a little weighbridge office right up to whole railway layouts. Come and discuss your project with me and see how I can help you realise your ideas.
 

[Tricky]

I know I’m ‘supposed’ to be posting more products for the Stafford show but I couldn’t resist posting pics of the finished GWR stone goods office commission. Dead chuffed with how it worked out!

[Tricky]

One of many products that I will be taking to the Stafford O Gauge Guild show - self adhesive slate strips. Simply pell off the backing and stick down to your roof surface. They are self-coloured grey paper but look even better when washed over with a couple of shades of thinned grey paint. As used on my recent GWR goods office. 
Stock will be available to purchase on the day - Stafford 3/4 September.

[Dave Hunt]

Those slates are brilliant - I've used them on three buildings so far and they are dead easy to use as well as really looking the part.

 

Dave

[Tricky]

11 minutes ago, Dave Hunt said:

Those slates are brilliant - I've used them on three buildings so far and they are dead easy to use as well as really looking the part.

 

Dave

Thanks Dave!

[Tricky]

Today’s Stafford Spotlight - barrels! These are based on the Slaters product but with added hoop detail and weathered. A pack of 15 costs £19.50. Not bad considering the time that goes into each one. And more importantly saves you, dear customer, the time and effort on what is to be honest a boring job, but absolutely no railway scene of any era would be complete without at least some! I shall have a few packs with me so pop along early to see me to avoid disappointment!

[Dave Hunt]

Save me a bag Richard, I'll pick them up at Stafford.

 

Dave

[Compound2632]

I could do with a few like that in 4 mm scale...

 

 

I have an official dimensioned drawing.

 

But I know, I need to do my H&P diorama first:

 

 

featuring your exquisite crates.

[Tricky]

34 minutes ago, Dave Hunt said:

Save me a bag Richard, I'll pick them up at Stafford.

 

Dave

Will do. 

[Tricky]

27 minutes ago, Compound2632 said:

I could do with a few like that in 4 mm scale...

 

 

I have an official dimensioned drawing.

 

But I know, I need to do my H&P diorama first:

 

 

featuring your exquisite crates.

Let’s discuss at Uckfield….! 

[Tricky]

Here we go with Tuesday’s Stafford Preview! Today I’m very excited to unveil my brand new Retaining Wall Kits. Available in two styles - plain and arched. The plain ones come in three heights ranging from approx 50mm up to approx 100mm. The arched kit is approx 100mm high. They are modular so you can keep adding to make your wall as long as you need it - each section is about 360mm long. All brick detail parts are included as well as precision machined hardwood coping and capping stones. As the wall sections are made from unpainted 3mm laser MDF, they can very easily be cut up, down or otherwise altered to suit. Plain kits range from £18 to £20, arched kits are £32 and end pier kits (to finish off a run) £6. You know the drill by now - limited stocks of all available on the day!

[Tricky]

So, here’s Wednesday’s Stafford Teaser …. a delightful Great Western Goods Yard Office. What is unusual for me is that I’ve made 8 of them! All made to the same high standard you have come to expect from me but with batch production I can keep costs down, and so they are only £95 each. I would be very interested to hear from you if you would like to reserve one to pick up at the show. If there is sufficient interest I will make a further batch and also, of special interest if you’re not a GW modeller, make them available in different liveries! I await your response with interest…🤔

[Tricky]

Day One of the Stafford Guildex show. A very promising turnout; so good to catch up with so many old and new friends. Hoping for another great day tomorrow! If you plan on attending, make sure to come and say hello! My apologies if I didn’t get round to chatting with everyone who stopped by but it was a bit busy at times! Do drop me a line if I either had run out of what you were after or you wanted to make an enquiry.
 

[Dave Hunt]

It was good to meet you today Richard and have a comprehensive chinwag session. I'll get the details of the loco shed to you as soon as I can find everything.

 

Cheers

 

Dave

[Tricky]

Track building in progress. I like to build straight onto the paper template and once built, the turnout and template get stuck down on to the baseboard surface. I make my own functional tie bars with 1.5mm ply and dress-making pins. I’ve also wired them with droppers - red and black for running rails and yellow for the crossing. The last photo is a tricky curved cross-over and cross-over with single slip in progress.

[Tricky]

How to make an octagonal tapering chimney, if you happen to have a planer! Starting with a square planed lump of timber (pref hardwood), I made a sledge which basically positions the timber on a slope relative to the planer bed. Plane two sides and then double the slope to plane the other two. Then hold the timber at 45 degrees and plane the other four faces. The real chimney sat on a square base so I made a block of the appropriate size. Next up will be to laminate laser brick paper around the chimney in 8 separate tapering sections to ensure the brick courses line up around the chimney. Very clean and very accurate. Happy days!

 

[Tricky]

Happy New Year to all my fellow modellers! Sort of first day back in the workshop, on and off at least - inbetween taking the decs down! 
A little while ago I started building a static diorama. Not for any real reason other than I fancied it. Construction stalled on it for a number of reasons but I have decided it has been languishing in the corner for too long and needs to earn its keep! Once the fake Christmas Tree is once again tamed and packed away I will take some photos of progress. The plan for it has so far only been in my head and there are still some decisions to be made in how it will finally look. The plan being that it will make a suitable stage set to display a variety of motive power and rolling stock. I will also post measurements of it. I should also mention it’s O Gauge and once finished will be for sale. 

[Tricky]

As promised, here are some photos of the diorama build in progress. I have yet to decide what happens to the right hand side of the tunnel facing the front, and the bit of brown brick paper lying on the floor is 0.6mm laserboard engraved brickwork to line the inside of the tunnel. The left end has a proper mirror to give the illusion of considerable length. I forgot to measure the whole thing before closing up the workshop but it’s about 1200mm long and about 250mm deep. I cannot claim I painted the backscene as this is a Paul Bambrick original! 
I will try and keep up with ‘in progress’ photos as I work on it. 
Meanwhile whilst the whole diorama will be for sale, I may also sell the tunnel mouth as a kit in 4mm and 7mm, along with the retaining wall. 
 

 

 

[magmouse]

Looking good!

 

What is your plan with the track work? You've got two lengths of track there (which I assume aren't fixed yet) and a single track tunnel mouth...

 

Nick.

[Tricky]

28 minutes ago, magmouse said:

Looking good!

 

What is your plan with the track work? You've got two lengths of track there (which I assume aren't fixed yet) and a single track tunnel mouth...

 

Nick.

The track is fixed down. The front one is a through road into the single track tunnel, the rear one is a siding which will have buffer stops and then a hut of some sort next to it, so you could park a ballast or ED wagon there.