ChrisN
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Posts posted by ChrisN
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I like that idea for a contest, Andy. Slip them onto layouts at exhibitions and see if anyone notices...
Comical Ali is in battle fatigues, so I guess he's firing.
When K/L does finally get into Model Rail, Jeff, you'll need to bribe someone to get the Borat/Ali crewed loco on the cover!
The only problem with battle fatigues is that you can buy straight models of them, and of nudes as well. Making a figure in a mankini is different as you have to adapt other figures.
Jeff,
Yes I am sure that you will get in the model press. I have also seen layouts that are completed in the mags that do not look as good as yours now.
I like the ballasting, it's looking good. I won't mention the fact that you've missed the far side.
(Well if I didn't someone else would.) -
Scott - as soon as I saw you'd posted I thought..."here comes the mankini!!"
Maybe someone who is skillful with 00 figures could make a mankini-clad figure to walk the Fell, herding the sheep. Just a suggestion .... Chris?
At least it isn't Reg Varney!
Jeff
Jeff,
Did you mean me or someone who knows what they are doing?
Interestingly though I just have bought some Preiser Beach figures, plus a few others and some Milliput to alter some of them so in the next couple of weeks I could produce something if two figures in mankinis are not two too many.
It is on hold at the moment as I am spending all my time modelling!!!!! I am building a couple of structures, 4 terraced cottages and a Hobbit house to be used in a film my son is making. He won't need them before 13th so there is no pressure!!
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Back to the slate roof, and I've just about given up on the Slaters Slate plasticard. Whatever you do with it it still looks like a piece of flat card with grooves in, the relief is all wrong for a slate roof, more like a brick wall. I've now ordered some York Modelling laser cut self adhesive slate tiles to try out. Watch this space.
Ray,
I have some York Modelling slates for the cottage that I am building, but as the walls have not gone up yet it is a way off before I use them siI will watch with interest. Being paper I was hoping to 'distress' a few
What are you going to use as the base for them?
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Just popped in to see if anyone had posted...very quiet on here.
Not being able to do any modelling means I'm doing lots of scheming and planning. The thing is, how many locos do I REALLY need on here??!!!
Jeff
Jeff,
What you do is you make up/ find a timetable, both passenger and goods. You then make up a movement diagram between the sheds the train locos would use and then from the depots at either end of the line allocate locos for the next day and so on until you get back to the original locos. You can throw in different locos to cover failed machines etc, (I have recently seen photos of 9Fs pulling passenger trains to cover failed Jubilees,) and there you have it. You can then work out how many of each you need!
Simples!
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Andy,
I have checked on the colour comparison web site I mentioned. Vallejo do a colour called vermillion and the Humbrol equivalent is Matt Scarlett, which is 60, or Signal Red which is 174. Whether the Vallejo Vermillion is what we mean by vermillion is another matter.
The Revell colour is Carmine Red or Fiery Red and the Citidel colour id Blood Red.
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Yesterday the new transfers arrived and guess what? Yeap I had ordered pressfix ones.... Grrr! So I will have a mix of press- and methsfix ones on the second side. It's not really much of an issue, but you can see a slight difference with them. Anyway I'll do the same as last time and show the thing building up.
The first thing to add was the LMS. This is Methsfix (mf) and lined up again as friday. To show the effect of how these transfers are when put on without any meths:
Brush on some meths solution (3:1 with water) and the tissue goes transparent enough so you can see the transfer underneath:
End result:
The next one to add was the first 1 (mf). Lined up again with two pairs of dividers. View of it with the tissue on:
I always do one number at a time, and wait until I can get the tissue paper off before adding the next one as you will find it impossible to line them up properly as you just cannot see whats what. It does make it a long job, but its worth it. This side took about 2 hours.
The next 1 was a pressfix (pf) one. Cut round the tissue and transfer as before, but in this case try and cut as close as you dare to the transfer, to reduced the 'halo' effect later. Put it in position and, so that you can see through the tissue, coat it with some meths solution. This makes the tissue go clear, but doesn't stop it sticking:
The 8 (mf) and 6 (mf) were added (in that order) as before:
And then finally the last 1 (pf) was added:
Then I moved on to the buffers. These GWR Dean ones are similar to the conical HR ones:
To see the spacing and height I put my Road Van next to it
The buffers were spaced at 22mm apart, with the top of the shank just clear of the top edge of the running plate:
And at the bunker end:
Then with a bit of red paint (whats the Humbrol number for vermillion please?) it looks like this:
So I just need to make some doors and put the handrails and whistle on (I wonder if I have a whistle!) and find the vermillion paint and shes done. The buffers will stay off until the verllion has been found!
Doors tomorrow!
Andy
Andy,
It is certainly looking a treat, well done!
I have just been on the Humbrol site and they have changed it since last week so you cannot just type the coulkour you want in, anyway they did not have vermillion.
They did have, RC423 Carmine Matt, RC421 Virgin Red Matt, RC418 EWS Red Matt, and the most likely, RC406 Buffer Beam Red Matt. I have not checked all through their others paints. I found a website where you dial up the colour you want and see who makes it. I will PM it to you if it would be helpful.
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Andy - you've summed things up nicely in that last post. Here I am working in one corner of the layout.... If I think about it I'll worry that I'll never finish. However, what's a few hours on walling compared to the time spent building the viaduct and bridges. And at the end of the day I can always say "sod it" and run a few locos!!
Chris - cheers for the perspective. And I agree with the Monet comparison. Rob gets "grief" over some of his pictures - which are splendid. Monet would probably end up in the bin. and btw, have you been studying a bit of Physics.... constant acceleration equations? I'm impressed!
Jeff
Jeff,
I just about remember all the constant acceleration equations and the decay equation and not much else. The acceleration equations as they were drummed into me a 'O' level and the decay equation as I use it regularly at work. If I need to work out scale time them I may have to transfer into Hilbert Space.
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Oh - don't think I took it as negative - I am grateful for your compliments and suggestions. Keep 'em coming - they are really appreciated!
Do you ever wonder if we are ever a bit crazy? I mean, what right-minded person would spend 2 hours of their life laying bits of clay or filing plastikard? We must be slightly nuts - but, hopefully, patience is rewarded!
I hope you caught a glimmer of sun today. The cloud broke by lunchtime today and I felt guilty working in the bunker with all the sunshine. Then again - are you in the signalbox at the mo?
Keep up your input.... honestly, you really DO encourage me with all the positivity!
Jeff
Jeff,
How long do other people take over their creativity. My mother-in-law spent months cross stitching a picture and no one thought anything of it, and how long did Monet take over his pictures? The only difference being if he had put them on certain parts of RMWeb he would have been told all his colours were wrong and that his pictures were too fuzzy!
Walls are looking good If you don't glue them they should last 150 scale years, but not sure how long that is but I'm sure we could work it out. (If s= ut + 1/2at2 then if 1ft = 4mm then ................)
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Jason,
I also like the pictures from the "other end" You must be pleased with the way it has worked out.
Are the fireplaces scratch built or bought. They look better through the window than mine do with the roof off.
If the lady is not at the table I hope she paid before she left the cafe!
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If that fella has a baby in a pram, that could be me!
My dad often took me there as a kid!
I think that area of the layout is going to be quite full, what with 4 boys on the bridge, a photographer with a pram, a girl running for the train....... I cannot remember any more but I am sure there were some.
All good fun and much better than adding cameos just for the sake of it.
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I took my brother into the bunker yesterday to show him what I was working on.... "But all of this is almost out of sight. Why are you spending so much time on it?", he said. It's hard to explain, isn't it? The previous arrangement was bugging me, yet I knew that it was a tiny part of the whole.
I suppose we all try to do our best. One of my friends described me as an "obsessive perfectionist". I don't entirely agree, but I think there's an element of truth in it!
The state of the cutting illustrates why it had to be scenics first, ballasting MUCH later!!
Jeff
Jeff,
The reason that we spend time on things like this is because we are striving to create something and we know it is there and if we looked around the corner and saw bare plaster you, (and anyone else), would be disappointed. This is why Jim builds structures that have all the inside as per prototype and then has to leave holes in the roof to see it, and why I detail the inside of coaches with seats, compartments and painted people, and now make removable roofs so I can peek inside occasionally. We know it is there and it gives us the sense of satisfaction of a job well done.
THe new rock faces do look better I must admit, but all the photos through the tunnel at the rock faces are special.
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Jason,
Glad you are safely moved. I was thinking about you last weekend and how it was going. Perhaps if the summer is nice and the winter not too cold you can entice your girlfriend further north in a while.
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This is how it fits in with the main line bridge. The bridge is just sat in place at the mo - fine tuning of "rocks" and bridge position will be done eventually.
The second pic is my usual "arty" view - I can't resist!!
Jeff
Jeff,
Looking good. As long as you prefer the rocks this way, then that is ok. Did you plaster over the previous rocks are are they safe somewhere for another time?
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Andrew P, on 01 Jun 2013 - 22:48, said:
Hi Chris, no sorry I try not to do to many gimmiky things on my layouts, I know some people like things like that but I a bit weird like that.
I have seen layouts at shows with cars on fire, Weddings, Funerals and the Fox Hunts all going on in a 6ft x 2 ft board.
When I went to Scotland I never saw a Deer, or any Highland Sheep and in fact, thinking about it I saw very little on Rannoch Moor, Loch Leven and Fort William.
Bodgit.
Andy,
I know what you mean. I bought a layout once, no more than 5x 3 and it had an enormous church on it that was too big for the board let alone the village it was supposed to be in. There is a big difference between putting the finishing touches to a layout and adding stuff for amusement, or just for the sake of it.
The reason that I mentioned rabbits was because when I looked at the photos of the pictures near the Loch I expected to see rabbits as that appeared to be the type of place that they would live. I think it is a testimony to your modelling skills that the landscape suggests animals rather than you having to put the animals in to suggest the tpye of landscape.
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Polly,
Just caught up with your layout. I can honestly say te planning of mine is taking even longer. Is it too late to comment on the track plan?
I cannot find the exact post but you said that you really wanted to build the coaling stage (?) & you could notdo this with the modern Southall. I would try and stick with that as that appears to be one of the attractions for you. Could you do the turntable in the fiddle yard?
I really liked your idea of doing 3 eras. Have you seen Mikkel's idea of lift out scenic bits to be changed for different eras? You could get your greenery in like that.
Not sure this has been a lot of help. Like the videos, you can never have too many Spamcans, or Brits. Still, I would try and keep your GWR green locos though.
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And now for the Greeeennniies.
Bodgit,
more again soon, Andy,
I was a bit quick off the mark and you put another superb set of pictures up.
I have a query. None of the locos have chimneys so how do they work?
More seriously though. The scenery looks as though it might make a good home to some animals, like a little group of rabbits. Nothing too big as it is near the railway, or are things like that not your style?
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Hi all, I have had an hour or two with the camera today, 142 pics later and here are a few of my favorites, First its the Blue period and I will post some Green Diesels later.
Bodgit
Andy,
Absolutely stunning. The backscene makes all the difference but all the scenery is just magic.
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Jeff,
Just caught up. The bridges look excellent. I am not surprised they took as long as they did, buildings always take a while to construct.. Did you paint and weather them the same way as the viaduct? I assume you did, very effective.
The cuttings are shaping up nicely as well. I am sure that you will not regret spending lots of time in that corner, you will probably spend equivalent time elsewhere on the layout. It is not as if you have a deadline so you might as well enjoy it as you go along.
Now, I really need to put some swan neck handles on the sides of my Holden Metro coaches but they are taking me about 30 minutes each and I need to go to bed soon!
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Jeff,
Excellent as usual.
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Andy,
Just managed to catch up as you finish! It is a lovely looking layout. You are obviously an artist and have a great eye for colour. You make it seem so effortless.. Still, I suppose that is your skill.
I look forward to your next effort.
(I did not comment on your weathering on KL as I expeced it to be on here, DER, they were 00!)
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Jeff,
The walls look really good, much better than I anticipated as most dry walls are not built of rectangular stones. I do think you will need to get some colour into the middle or it will be a pig to paint. Could you dip them, roll them in a dark grey emulsion/acryllic and leave them to dry?
Will they become brittle with time so that they break up a bit and so will be less uniform? I notice that there appears to be a broken one in one of your images- looks good.
If my layout ever happens, I will need welsh stone walls so I watch with interest.
I still think this should be an 'in between' jobs 200 hours straight will drive you barmy, off RMWeb and into doing knitting, or something similar.
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Apologies for the lack of action on here.
Too much helping friend's kids with their Physics, Chemistry and Maths revision at the moment!
Normal service will be resumed shortly - I hope!!
ps. hope to make my first stone blocks for walling later in the week!
Jeff
Jeff,
I have just seen a Preiser stone walling kit. They supply the bricks and you make the walls. I am sure that it would be totally uneconomic on your scale of building, but perhaps you could sub-contract to them and supply the parts once you get going.
Teaching physics and inspiring kids into science is never wasted time even if it takes you away from KL.
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Hi Rob.
I must admit that I'm feeling a bit bogged down with the bridges at the moment. It's just one of those things tht has to be done.... See how I feel later this year when I've been building stone walls for a month (or two, or three....).
It was good to get back to the prototype yesterday with the Black 5s and B1s. Quite inspirational!
As for your Peppercorn A1. Very nice. Another LNER machine. But one of my favourites!
Jeff
Jeff,
The answer as always is to have a variety of tasks, especially with your stone walls. If you can either set a mould up, as you plan, or something similar that will take a few minutes to make some bricks then you can do it when you have a few spare moments or you can if you wish set yourself a longer time to do it. The walls will always be there needing to be done but you will not drive yourself into boredom/frustration doing them all the time.
I have at least two things on the go at the moment. One Shire Scenes coach sides for a Metro caoch and the othe a scratch built cottage. I have never worked in brass before so when I sit down if I am not in the right mood for brass, or need to look something up, or don't feel like it I will attack the holes where my windows will go. To add to the fun I have also jsut repaired some older coaches and am resisting starting painting figures again. All my progress is painfully slow as I do not spend much time modelling so if I need a change..........
Have fun
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Funny that you ask that, Chris. I've just had a look on George T's "Abbott's Bridge" and asked him the same question!
I've always used acrylics. I splash a bit of black onto the stonework and rub it over the surface with a cloth. To lighten the overall colour a couple of different greys can be added into the mix. Then a very thin wash of white (acrylic or emulsion) to bring out the pointwork.
If you have a look back to post #401, or the viaduct work - post #526 - you'll see the result. I'll do the same here, but - as you say - use black to enhance the "muckiness".
Jeff
Jeff,
I find that interesting. You and Andy P use acryllics, and Jason uses enamels. When I used acryllics to dry brush they dried too quickly. Different techneque and as I am trying to depict 1895 in mid Wales the building will only be 10 years old and not that dirty.
Highland Bodgery
in Kitbuilding & Scratchbuilding
Posted
Andy,
Keep up the good work. As I have said before I will probably have to do something similar to build any Cambrian locomotives so it is both interesting and thought provoking.