cornamuse

Would you believe the Hornby Tornado? The shop recommended it because the need was for a decent 2 cylinder chuff rather than absolute accuracy. Personally, I think it sounds great, just what we were looking for. Will be fitting the same to another pug, as I really like it, especially as it goes under the tunnel! I am plucking up courage age to fit a chip to the peckett too, but would need to be a brain surgeon to fit it in!

Next building- the pub for son’s village- the Tower Bank Arms. Interesting structure; it is on a slope and isn’t square (to be fair, nothing I build is square, but this time it is deliberate) the church is is largely completed- it has memorial stones in the yard and just awaits trees and a gate when we get back home to the rest of the modelling resources. I could cut out a gate, but I think the silhouette cutter can have that task! Below are are pictures of the train set layout. Curves are very tight so all stock must be 4 wheel. Rather proud that I managed to squeeze a decoder and sound chip into the pug...

Thank you, Neil; just don’t have the space, I’m afraid. And wanted an excuse for the peckett... I’m hoping to develop a whole stone complex and canal wharf for my fictional company, and reproduce the 7mm stock in 4mm, with plenty of extras from local railways. The forcett coach (was in beamish) is a must, for instance. I’m keeping the period a bit fluid so that I can mix and match freely! The Church is for my son, so is built to exacting requirements - gravestones went in last night and apparently the lychgate needs working gates... next on the list are the Tower Bank Arms and Hill Top Farm (Beatrix Potter’s house) from Near Sawrey in the lakes. No stress then...

also available with lychgate...

Young is definitely stout; although I would like to think of myself as full bodied perfection... barrel shaped, in fact the advert was not an accident...

Some ecclesiastical progress...

Very nice... very jealous of the new loco, but then I guess I’m building a layout to justify a little peckett, so I fully understand your need to create more Railway...

Finally, some progress at t’ mill. Some boxes made for the top floor, joists, and a start in the roof. Roof lights planned so you can see in once the lights are fitted. Need to find a little man to potter around up there too... I hate making tiles, but there is nothing for it!

Just to prove I haven’t been totally lazy (been a bit poorly and busy with music) anyway, son’s layout needs to take precedence; 7yo patience is limited and I don’t want him getting bored! So, a church was called for, on a very tight footprint but to match the style of the Metcalfe kits due to populate the layout. Here is St. Kira’s Church, Metcalfe card sheets for walls, my details cut out on the silhouette cutter. Hopefully will look ok, been a fairly entertaining and low detail project. back to to the warehouse next; got a blinking roof to make...

It has another floor and a few other bits. Oh and I learned how to burn out a solenoid on sons layout. aaaaaaaa Makes the peckett and truck look even smaller, and this is one of the smaller buildings...

Slow progress, been wiring up son’s layout... Here we go- the factory end wall to go behind the warehouse. Less of an advert, more of a description of the builder...

I know, I have sold out to 00... largely because of space, and my son’s decision to build a layout. What will happen to the 7mm chapter remains to be seen, but I want to reproduce the stock in 4mm. The mill is based on a scalescenes product, but I’m glad it feels local. Unfortunately mos5 of the large local mill buildings seem to be brick, so I may have to draw on the ones around Leeds for inspiration. I’m glad you are enjoying it, happy new year to you too!

For those who remember this layout, the saga now continues in 4mm scale here... http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/140318-piercebridge-mill/&do=findComment&comment=3414830

THAT is very very useful knowledge; although I usually take the skinflint route. However, making these is going to get old really fast!

Further developments at t’Mill... Lintels (brick, eeek, going to have to develop that) and sills Loading dock First floor, floorboards and beams underneath Yellow light underneath so I can see what is going on... and... that tiny blob is a tea chest, mk1. Need hundreds of boxes to fill up the warehouse. Woo hoo...

Building developing slowly. Seem to have been busy the last few days, no idea why! Aiming to have the hoist motorised for a bit of animation on the layout.

First stage of the warehouse rebuild... the hoist extension. Gives me the opportunity to make it perhaps a little differently, and even more perhapsly, animate the hoist. I have a hankering to exhibit one day, have never got round to it, and rather think a small layout needs all the help it can get! Anyway, it would amuse me while I am playing with my toy trains

Now with bolt heads and some paint. Bolts are wire in holes drilled using more wire and a very fast drill.. Cute, and cheap. Result! More will follow, as will buildings, but I have decided to go back to painting them; I like the style it produces. Edit to shop a couple more with the peckett. Slightly cruel close up, but I’m happy with it

So, you can get a quart into a pint pot if you boil it down... Having a little break from the warehouse to try some wagon butchery- using a cheapo wagon Wheelbase- 20mm, width 30mm; could have some interesting rolling characteristics... Will be dumb buffered, with the end stanchions extending down to enable coupling with chaldron waggons. It is rather a test vehicle- the 7mm version had all sorts of small vehicles, with card chassis. I may return to that concept, but cheap 00 chassis encouraged me to do some bashing... Here it is in comparison to some small proprietary stock... Edited to show more detail and a comparison with its 7mm scale counterpart. Any ideas for easy, neat bolt heads?

Small amount of progress... Have decided to use the layout to dabble in the dark arts of printed paper, rather than painting every @&$$€#%* Stone myself... Starting with a scalescenes warehouse, bashed and bodged because I just can’t leave well alone, and prefer the doors where they weren’t supposed to be. I must say it is rather engaging fun, and you can keep printing and playing until happy. I’m also working on photoshopping a few ghost signs for the next structures. In any free time around playing carols, that is...

Excellent news about the house. Does it include extensive railway space?

So, because as a musician I’m not busy enough at Christmas... I have decided to start phase 2 of the Gainford Spa Railway saga, this time in 4mm scale. I’m thinking large stone-built mill buildings, tiny locos, early stock. Anything quirky and above all small. Hopefully a mill will allow a large range of stock to look acceptable, as the overall scene would stay similar from the canal era up to the roads taking over, especially if I build a few removable cameos to reflect the changing eras... Anyway, box built, track down, point levers installed... then the Christmas services started... Layout works as an inglenook, with a long siding running off the top fork. The entrance to the fiddleyard is off that too, meaning shunting will include using the “main line” and having to clear it if the workers’ train arrives, just as an added complication. It is one of the variations suggested on the inglenook site. The line’s loco, until I build something older and maybe even smaller. No it isn’t as good as it looks, it’s better. Runs a dream and the motion is captivating. Looking to install a sound chip in the new year... lord help me! Edit : if you should wish to know, the layout is approximately 3’6 x 9”. Plus fiddle yard, if it gets one. Small is beautiful!

What would they be for? Paraffin for fuel I guess...

Oooops - tbh didn’t realise it could be not liquid... at least I have the space to remedy- thanks! Whist I am being a thicko- what was the castor oil for? Not purely medicinal I hope.........

Hi guys- apologies for a dual posting, but I thought this might interest... I’m building in card, only cheap wheels and motors purchased, using card even for the running gear. All very basic, but looks ok and gets you running for minimum outlay - or a few extra wagons on a hurry! The thread is running here, if you want to know more! http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/133008-g-scale-tin-turtle-rolling-stock-in-card/