Bleddfa Road

[JustinDean]

Absolutely lovely!

 

Merry Xmas Geoff. 
 

Jay

 

 

[Regularity]

On 06/12/2021 at 11:48, sparky said:

I've used a mix of homemade grass tufts and mating

My emphasis.

Not sure we want to know about that…

[sparky]

22 hours ago, Argos said:

Lovely  views. I've enjoyed following the developments via your blog so great to see the layout on RMweb also. 

Thanks Angus, I am pleased that you have enjoyed the journey so far, and have often wondered who has been following my blog.

 

19 hours ago, sidmouth said:

Just WoW . Couple of images I had to do a double take on , so convincing are they

Thank you Martin :-)

 

18 hours ago, JustinDean said:

Absolutely lovely!

 

Merry Xmas Geoff. 
 

Jay

 

 

Cheers Jay and all the best to you.

6 hours ago, Regularity said:

My emphasis.

Not sure we want to know about that…

Sorry wrong forum 

 

Have a Merry Christmas everyone'

 

Geoff

[Andrew Young]

Great to see you back Geoff, I’d been following your blog off and on but it’s good to see your O gauge adventures continuing on here.

 

Andrew

[Captain Kernow]

On 04/12/2021 at 11:38, Regularity said:

the search for verisimilitude

Respect! - just for using that superb word!

 

On 04/12/2021 at 11:38, Regularity said:

but rarely is scenery in 7mm scale indistinguishable from that produced for 4mm scale, where (a few exceptions aside, e.g. Pempoul, Martin Welch’s work) 7mm scenery is often a touch coarse and unconvincing.

I agree with that but I wonder why this is the case? (Geoff's work being another exception, of course).

 

With the larger scale, there is the opportunity to incorporate more detail.

 

Does this mean that 'more convincing' scenery in scales smaller than 7mm is, necessarily, more 'impressionistic' in nature, thus leading the brain to 'fill in the gaps?'

 

[Regularity]

There are lots of possible reasons.
One may be related to people using boulders to ballast their 4mm scale track: the pack says “00”, even if the same brand’s “N” gauge product is more suitable, I.e. the packaging determines the choice?

Another one is that the much vaunted benefit of moving up a scale, that a say 0.5mm accuracy, now represents slightly less than an inch rather than an inch and a half, becomes, “Well, half a mil was ok before, so I will use a whole millimetre.” 
A lot is made of the increased mass and “presence” of the railway vehicles, and maybe for many of the modellers in the self-styled “senior scale”, the scenery is just a colourful background for the trains?

Or maybe most modellers can’t be bothered to make the effort, yet fall over themselves to praise someone who does, or simply mistake “I won’t” for “I can’t”?

 

[Hal Nail]

Standards of scenery are improving generally and through weight of numbers, there are going to be more decent 4mm layouts and we probably tend to forget all the poor ones. If there are only 1 or 2 7mm layouts at an exhibition they are going to be memorable, good or bad!  

 

But there must be something in the suggestion above that you can get away with slightly more in 00 just because detail is harder to see and the brain fills it in. An example: 7mm figures really show up if badly proportioned or shiny. 

[sparky]

I'm sorry that I wasn't around to join in this discussion about scenery, alas I wasn't feeling too good at the time. Anyway now I'm well on the road to recovery I'll add my pennyworth............

 

On 28/12/2021 at 11:12, Captain Kernow said:

With the larger scale, there is the opportunity to incorporate more detail.

 

Does this mean that 'more convincing' scenery in scales smaller than 7mm is, necessarily, more 'impressionistic' in nature, thus leading the brain to 'fill in the gaps?'

.

There is certainly plenty of opportunity to include more detail in the larger scale Tim, in fact I think it is essential when it comes to the foreground scenery. 

 

 

On 28/12/2021 at 13:45, Hal Nail said:

But there must be something in the suggestion above that you can get away with slightly more in 00 just because detail is harder to see.

 

Yep, you certainly can get away with more in the smaller scales, I used to find it relatively easy to make hedgerows from plain horsehair and teased foliage. Whereas in the larger scale I feel it necessary to model some of the hedgerows structure. In the above photo I have used a mix of methods, the structure of the saplings and bushes behind the platform fence being visible and more open than those nearer the backscene, which are more impressionistic. 

 

On 28/12/2021 at 12:22, Regularity said:

One may be related to people using boulders to ballast their 4mm scale track: the pack says “00”, even if the same brand’s “N” gauge product is more suitable, I.e. the packaging determines the choice?

 

That is very true, I used ash ballast labelled for 4mm and 2mm scales on Bleddfa Road, and feel that I could have used something even finer in places.

 

 

Moving on I haven't really done any practical modelling apart from detailing and weathering a Dapol van, which can be seen here at the crossing behind 1455.

 

 

I have decided to move the cottage further forward toward the cart track, and in doing so I have removed the fence in front of it. To my eye the scene looks slightly better?  Over the coming days I hope to start work on the cottage and the lime kiln, but I'm not setting myself any targets.

 

Before I sign off here's a few more photos...................

 

 

 

 

 

Geoff

 

 

Edited April 7, 2022 by sparky
Loss of images

[sparky]

Morning, 

 

Here's a selection of the latest photos to bring things up to date ...................

 

 

Hereford (85C) Pannier 4600 approaches Bleddfa Road with a short train of empties for the limestone quarry that lies beyond the road bridge. This Dapol model has been renumbered with the excellent 'Railtec' 3D transfers and is currently awaiting a late crest and weathering.

 

 

I think the days of etched plates are over for me now, for these plates are superb and ever so easy to apply.

 

 

Journeys end as 4660 pulls into Bledffa Road on a cold, bleak winters morning................

 

 

Work is also well underway on the former crossing keepers cottage, the stonework started life as a Slater's embossed sheet which was cut into random strips, sanded down and covered in plaster. The plaster was then sanded down to reveal the mortar courses, some of which are flush with the stones just like some buildings in these parts. I'll be letting some brickwork repairs into the walls, and covering other areas with a roughcast render, well that's the plan but whether my idea works remains to be seen?

 

 

Time for a spot of shunting, something that rarely interested me in my 4mm days when I used auto couplings. In those days 3 links weren't an option because I could hardly see the damn things, but working in the senior scale makes their use so much easier, and enjoyable. As for the hand in the sky, I don't give a hoot! 🙂

 

 

From time to time a Peckett from the quarry trundles down into the goods yard to top up her tanks, at other times she can be seen fussing around on the siding leading to the old lime kiln. Fresh from a recent overhaul she is still waiting for her cab window shields and works plates to be refitted. 

 

 

Geoff

 

Edited April 7, 2022 by sparky
Loss of images

[JustinDean]

4 minutes ago, sparky said:

Morning, 

 

Here's a selection of the latest photos to bring things up to date ...................

 

 

Hereford (85C) Pannier 4600 approaches Bleddfa Road with a short train of empties for the limestone quarry that lies beyond the road bridge. This Dapol model has been renumbered with the excellent 'Railtec' 3D transfers and is currently awaiting a late crest and weathering.

 

 

I think the days of etched plates are over for me now, for these plates are superb and ever so easy to apply.

 

 

Journeys end as 4660 pulls into Bledffa Road on a cold, bleak winters morning................

 

 

Work is also well underway on the former crossing keepers cottage, the stonework started life as a Slater's embossed sheet which was cut into random strips, sanded down and covered in plaster. The plaster was then sanded down to reveal the mortar courses, some of which are flush with the stones just like some buildings in these parts. I'll be letting some brickwork repairs into the walls, and covering other areas with a roughcast render, well that's the plan but whether my idea works remains to be seen?

 

 

Time for a spot of shunting, something that rarely interested me in my 4mm days when I used auto couplings. In those days 3 links weren't an option because I could hardly see the damn things, but working in the senior scale makes their use so much easier, and enjoyable. As for the hand in the sky, I don't give a hoot! :-)

 

 

From time to time a Peckett from the quarry trundles down into the goods yard to top up her tanks, at other times she can be seen fussing around on the siding leading to the old lime kiln. Fresh from a recent overhaul she is still waiting for her cab window shields and works plates to be refitted. 

 

 

Geoff

 

Fantastic - so much atmosphere you’ve created here Geoff!

 

Jay

[MrWolf]

Truly inspiring work.

[Regularity]

2 hours ago, sparky said:

I think the days of etched plates are over for me now, for these plates are superb and ever so easy to apply.

Yes, but is the colour correct? Some of them weren’t brass, and might be white/pale grey or yellow.

I think it gets a mention in the “Pannier Papers” books.

[sparky]

1 hour ago, Regularity said:

Yes, but is the colour correct? Some of them weren’t brass, and might be white/pale grey or yellow.

I think it gets a mention in the “Pannier Papers” books.

 

Most '8750' Class Panniers are believed to have been fitted with cast iron plates. I requested brass plates with a black background so if they are wrong then it is my fault. The 74XX Class had a mix of cast iron and brass plates, so it is a bit of a minefield. It isn't something that worries me, for once the plates have been weathered down they will look different again:-)

 

Geoff

[Regularity]

A bit of dry brushing and who would know the difference?

[sparky]

23 hours ago, JustinDean said:

Fantastic - so much atmosphere you’ve created here Geoff!

 

Jay

 Thank you Jay, I was worried that I might struggle to create a feeling of place and atmosphere in such a small area.

 

23 hours ago, MrWolf said:

Truly inspiring work.

Thank you too Mr Wolf for your kind words:-)

 

Moving on and returning to the question of G(WR) number plates this might prove to be of interest....

 

http://www.trainweb.org/rcn_uk/gwcabs.html

 

Geoff

[sparky]

Whilst the old man has been busy relaxing in Wales I've  took it upon myself to replace the photos that were lost during the forums near meltdown.  I've also taken the liberty of uploading some of his latest snaps of Bleddfa Road for test purposes.😀..........

 

Well the old man has returned from Wales and will do his best to provide a few captions, not that the first two photos need any really. So scrolling down to the cottage I will attempt to explain what is going on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The rear of the cottage is in a sorry state of repair, having been patched up with brick infills and rough cast render. The door lintel is being modelled to represent a piece of seasoned oak, as for the wall around the yard, for now it is just a simple mock up. But I see an outside loo, a wash house and perhaps a coal house being built into it. I found the inspiration for this idea from a beer garden which overlooks a similar property in Wales.

 

 

The front of the building is in better repair, the window frames will be painted in a weathered white, and the door will be a simple rustic planked affair. 

 

 

This Westdale Diag. E147 coach kit has been gathering dust since September 2019, I started it whilst waiting for some bits and pieces for the cottage. It was always meant to be a long term project and once completed it will replace my Dapol autocoach. At the moment I am working on the bogies

 

Finally thanks to Mr. York for saving the forum and to my son Simon for uploading my photos again.

 

Geoff

 

 

Edited April 9, 2022 by sparky

[Donw]

I have been dipping into your blog and hadn't seen it was also on here. Wonderful evocative modelling. Regarding the difference with scales as the scale gets smaller it is like moving further back from the item. So say it is a modelled tree at say 100ft away you would not see the shaps of leaves and the type of tree would be less clear move to 50ft away and it would be much clearer what sort of tree it was move even closer and it would be even more clear. This is why the mind expects to see more detail in 7mm than in 4mm.

 

The other thing that can be confusing is the backscene. Because the backscene is mostly far away the height of hills etc. is dependant on how far it is meant to be from the modelled area and independant of scale. Again at 100ft away a building will look smaller against the far hills than one only 50ft away. The closer you get to a building the taller it seems agains tht hills.

 

When living in Shropshire we spent a lot of time in the Welsh borders you are capturing the feel very well.

 

Don

 

[Hal Nail]

Just a note to say thanks for putting all the photos back. A lot of threads rather spoiled now, sadly.

[sparky]

On 30/04/2022 at 23:35, Donw said:

I have been dipping into your blog and hadn't seen it was also on here. Wonderful evocative modelling. Regarding the difference with scales as the scale gets smaller it is like moving further back from the item. So say it is a modelled tree at say 100ft away you would not see the shaps of leaves and the type of tree would be less clear move to 50ft away and it would be much clearer what sort of tree it was move even closer and it would be even more clear. This is why the mind expects to see more detail in 7mm than in 4mm.

 

The other thing that can be confusing is the backscene. Because the backscene is mostly far away the height of hills etc. is dependant on how far it is meant to be from the modelled area and independant of scale. Again at 100ft away a building will look smaller against the far hills than one only 50ft away. The closer you get to a building the taller it seems agains tht hills.

 

When living in Shropshire we spent a lot of time in the Welsh borders you are capturing the feel very well.

 

Don

 

 

I hope you enjoyed dipping into my blog, which covers the whole Lugg Valley saga in more detail. 

 

Moving up a scale has been a step learning curve Don, I have lost count of the number of times when I have had to check and double check certain measurements. Trees and backscenes can be a problem depending on how we view our models. I favour low shots myself and operate the layout from eye level, both of which make the backscene look far more effective, well it is to my eye but others will no doubt disagree. Texture is another area where ideas vary, some folk are perfectly happy with foam clumping, being happy to let their imagination fill in the gaps, whereas others prefer more detail, we all see things differently and the same applies to colour. When I first started my 7mm journey I was advised to keep buildings on the small size, and to avoid large trees, following that advise has made the layout look far bigger than it actually is to date. We spend a lot of time in the Welsh Borders so it has always been a case of modelling what I see, it is good to know that you feel my efforts capture the look of the area, thank you.

 

 

 

On 01/05/2022 at 07:40, Hal Nail said:

Just a note to say thanks for putting all the photos back. A lot of threads rather spoiled now, sadly.

 

If it hadn't been for my son the thread would probably been left as it was, but he took it onto himself to restore all the photos. I doubt that I would have bothered because it would have taken up some valuable modelling time.

 

Thanks to you both for your comments,

 

Moving on, the Diag E147 coach is now nearing completion, in case you are wondering what I am doing with half a 'B' set read on.

Introduced in 1936 and last withdrawn in 1961 numbers 6207-10, 6822/23/27/37/38/50 had buffers at both ends and ran as individual coaches, rather than close coupled ‘B’ Sets. At a scale 57ft long, the E147 is ideal for small layouts, I also find them rather attractive to boot.

 

 

Just a few details to add now such as door hinges, steam and vacuum pipes, lamp irons, alarm gear and jumper cables. Screw couplings, door handles and grab rails will be fitted after painting the model.

 

 

These lovely castings were supplied by CPL Products, whose service is second to none..........

 

Meanwhile there is a new kid on the block............

 

 

Geoff

[Happy Hippo]

Geoff once said to me...

 

I have not got the space for 7 mm scale....

 

Well perhaps just a 14xx......

 

And a pannier....

 

Oh I have a soft spot for a 'spotty' pannier.....

 

The AEC railcar arrived by accident.....

 

The 03 was a bargain.....

 

Go on, you know you are quite fond of the D95xx 'Teddy Bear'.

 

I suspect by the time I'm back off my short break, he'll have one.🤣

Edited May 2, 2022 by Happy Hippo

[sparky]

Oi get your facts right matey, I've got three Panniers! :-)

 

I admit to having considered a 'Teddy Bear' but my better half collects them and there are far too many in the house as it is😛

 

Geoff

[Hal Nail]

5 hours ago, sparky said:

These lovely castings were supplied by CPL Products, whose service is second to none..........

 

 

I can recommend their characteristic window bars as well...

 

 

 

 

 

[sparky]

Well here we are again with the latest batch of photos..............

 

 

The bridge stonework is slowly being worked up whilst grass, weeds and other greenery is starting to grow, well it is the season for it after all.

 

 

A few changes have been made around the lime kilns which have been reduced in height so they are level with the top of the retaining wall. The next photo will explain my thinking behind that.................

 

 

The kilns should hopefully look something like this once I have carved the stonework and worked up the scenery. The hut roof might be corrugated iron or covered in slate, as for the door and window they will be rather weather beaten. Before I forget the track in front of the kilns has been buried in DAS, which I feel makes the area look more spacious.

 

 

Windows have now been fitted to the cottage and the roof is slowly being covered with strips of postcard slates.......

 

 

 

The perimeter wall around the cottage yard has since been built up to include some outhouses, and the whole lot is now covered in DAS........

 

 

Finally the 03 will soon become D2139 and is currently on test with a conical exhaust rather than the flower pot type.

 

Geoff

[DLT]

Not sure why this topic has passed me by. but I'm having a good catchup.

Giving me lots of ideas, and looks very good in MRJ too.

Lovely work, thanks for sharing.

Dave.

[Hal Nail]

Any recent pics please? I get a lot of my inspiration from this - or at least I did. rather a lot of sitting on the sofa recently!