cornamuse

Thanks Dava! it is working a treat, takes paint well, and stays slightly pliable. not much to do? to make it look respectable, no - to finish? I have a list of jobs rather longer than the list I started with when I came up with the first idea!

At last - some progress.... Having had a busy few months at work, and waiting in vain for the ballasting fairies to visit - I have finally decided to get on with it. The idea is to fill the largest areas with haphazard stonework, and then infill with modelling clay, stippled to represent (hopefully) ash ballast, to rail level. Rail level will actually be kept clear of, as I want to make sure the rather short waggons have the best chance possible. Anyway, maybe my imaginary line did that I am trying out some awesome now clay - my wife bought it for our 4 year old to use - it is very light, appears not to be water based, and is fairly adhesive. Imagine white blu-tack, only far less dense. It is called Crayola Air Dry Model Magic. (hopefully I am ok saying on here). soooooo much better than the usual air drying clay - apart from anything else, it isn't clay passed, so it doesn't get everywhere. It doesn't seem to shrink or crack, and is incredibly light when dry.

now there is a thought ... there is a lovely painting of the last S&D passenger guard - a figure I would like to replicate!

Laughs - that lets me off the hook - I hadn't remembered that!

Bet you couldn't find a trace of the railway! it did have one, just not mine - and does have a spring ...

Wet afternoon is about right! And thanks - given me more confidence to try - just don't want to foul it all up now!

still putting that off! ok, umming and ahiing about a small stable flock, but I don't think it will fit, even behind the lime cells so - offstage bits needed - storage yard etc; am trying to come up with a way to make it scenic there are lots of little bits - inside of the café; a water fountain for the teetotallers among the little people; horse drawn wagons for collecting coal and lime; bl**dy ballasting - which I think will be done with modelling clay; a few more wagons; maybe another loco; some accurately modelled close up foliage; etc etc etc but yes, it is about done, an terms of overall look next stop will be either the docks; engine shed / engineering works; or coalmine - probably the mine, as the small controller is fascinated by them. however, I am going to be strict with myself and get this a bit more finished first!

Thanks dan - making me blush here

also available in blue ...

and now a nice little box for him to live in .... well not exactly live - apparently, they weren't even supposed to stand in it, it was more for keeping lamps in!

Very Nice, David. I thought it was actually one of their kits, it looks so good!

Thank you I used milliput to carry out the adjustments, with a paper belt. and will certainly continue with converting other people; it was fun! Sparks - nice pic gets me keen to build another loco, although I want a tramway one next I like the lime drops best that would make a good waggon load!

Genesis of a Railway Policeman Septimus Bagby, our Railway Policeman ... heavily adapted from one of the excellent A C Stadden figures - a Cambrian loco driver. I feel I ought to apologise to the original maker for my cack handed attempts, but he looks ok, in the dark, with the light behind him The temptation to try came from Mikkel's awesome Farthing layouts, and the backdating and adaptation he has managed with his figures. Thank you for the inspiration, Mikkel!

LNWR? boy yes, that counts! well, I hope so, because I use my card cutting machine for the tricky bits - eg anything straight! anyway, it is only a tool - where would the cut off point be? not allowed to use rulers? ....

ilovetrains? thank you for posting - it looks great, and it was clear what it was without you telling us. The great thing about this site for me, is the range of abilities, and everyone in here will have some aspect of the hobby that they can learn about from others You made it? You be proud of it

Cabin for the railway policeman is next, to go by the signal. Anything to put off ballasting

That patched up stonework was one hell of an experiment. I concur with the sentiments of the esteemed Mr Downes. Thanks also for showing us such lovely work in progress. There is so much to be learned from looking at it that way. cheers Andy ps 750mm ? 3/4 of the size of my entire layout

A little coal and water stage, based on one at Beamish. Hand scribed and painted - the first time in 20 years I have done bricks this way, and there is no way I will be making a brick warehouse any time soon! However, a nice little diversion, and a good possible first project if you used brick papers.

So, here we are ... a little coaling stage for the layout, probably a little too overgrown, given the conversation in the pre-grouping room. Oh well, maybe I can model someone hacking it away! Still needs coal and, I suspect, a set of steps so he doesn't need to jump up to do his work!

I really enjoy your approach to modelling - and the lightweight, delicate baseboards, clearly forged in a similar vein to my own.... when the bomb drops, our layouts will survive! Seriously, this is some great work, and has got me thinking about my whole fear of weird and wonderful pointwork

Progress... water tank constructed from plastic tube and polystyrene balls... embossed rivet strip in card - I had forgotten that my usual track pin rivets wouldn't work, which is double edged - it would have used loads, but they would have been nice and heavy looking. Anyway, not too bad. The second shot is of the paint finish on the embossed platform, showing the nice level of relief available using a ballpoint pen and a selection of "scratchy things" I am posting this as a diversion from embossing brickwork... this will be the only bit on the whole model, I hope!