Ian Smith

Although I model in 2FS rather than N gauge, I can shunt quite happily with my 2-4-0, 0-4-2 and 0-6-0 tank engines!  They are also DC rather than DCC.  Pick up from all wheels and as much weight as possible over the drivers all helps.

Ian

Nick,

As others have said, I too am really enjoying seeing and reading about your wagon stock. Very inspirational!

Ian

2 hours ago, Barry Ten said:

 

I think I'd be more than a little bamboozled to find a picture of a layout of mine on the cover of the book I didn't even know about.🙄

I did find it a bit of a surprise, I assume the author took the photo at one of the exhibitions Modbury attended.  If I remember correctly when my friend showed me the book that there is another photo within the book too (I believe that the caption correctly references the layout and me as the builder).

I guess all publicity is good publicity 😂

Ian

10 hours ago, Mikkel said:

I remember both articles well, like you I looked up the 1978 one after reading Chris Ford's. I look forward to following this project.

 

I wasn't aware of Chris' book, thanks for that, must look it up. Is that @Ian Smith's Modbury on the cover? 

Mikkel,

It is indeed an early view of Modbury!  A couple of years ago a friend who had bought the book alerted me to the fact that Modbury was shown on the cover (at the time I wasn’t aware of the book even existed!)

Ian

Nick,

Thanks for taking the time to compose this post.  Most informative.

Ian

Lovely looking wagon!  I’m so glad that others have found my wagon sheet artwork useful.  For my 2mm scale wagons I inkjet print onto Rizzla cigarette paper, so it’s always interesting to see what others do in the larger scales.  I particularly like the use of EZline for the ropes. Just out of interest what thickness is the line?

Ian

Exquisite!!

You know you really need a Steam Railmotor now 😂

I’ll get my coat …

Ian

Dave,

Many congratulations on your retirement!!

Looking forward to seeing you and Sherton Abbas at Aldershot - We’re there with Modbury too 😀

Ian

18 hours ago, Mikkel said:

 

Caption: Henley Regatta, Henley-on-Thames,1890s. Source: Wikipedia Commons

 

 

 

Someone did well colouring that lot in!! 🤪

Mikkel, 

As others have said those figures are beautifully painted.  If I hadn’t known I would have assumed that they were 7mm scale or larger.

When I paint my 2mm scale figures I tend to have a palette of two shades of the same colour so that I can use the (slightly) lighter shade as a highlight. I really must see if I can get some Modelu figures in 2mm scale as all of those currently on Modbury are Andrew Stadden ones.

Ian

6 hours ago, Mikkel said:

Not a highjack at all, any excuse to discuss GWR liveries is welcome  And I want to understand the context of the chocolate windows in the Edwardian Newbury photos anyway. I expect the model would be more appealing with white windows, but it has to be right for my period - in this case ca. 1900-1914.

 

Here's a crop from a photo of High Wycombe, which in my view shows a chocolate window with dark stone on the louvres and light and dark stone on the screen . But the photo also illustrates how easily dark stone and chocolate can be mistaken for each other, if the lighting and angle was just a little different. And what is the colour on the smaller, open windows? The plot thickens!

 

 

This photo also shows another variant of the "Westbury" architectural style, with the limestone lintels above rounded windows., and bullnose bricks. The structure shown was built in 1906, so that fits the bill.

 

Mikkel,

Personally I would think that the louvres and the small open windows were painted chocolate too - I think it is their angle to the light source that makes them look lighter. Also of interest is the notice board frames that are also clearly painted chocolate (they are significantly darker than what we believe is the dark stone on the screen framing). Also of interest is the full name company branding across the tops of the notice boards.

Ian

Dave,

It was great to see yourself and Sherton Abbas again, the award for best layout in show was justified (although I will say I was robbed ).  However I will admit that my vote also went to Sherton Abbas!! 

Like you, John and I called in at the Bluebell Railway (we were probably there at the same time you were), to enjoy those Metropolitan coaches being drawn into Sheffield Park - I must say the whistle on that Southern loco was a bit ear piercing, much prefer the tones of real green engines 

We too felt really well looked after, and thoroughly enjoyed the weekend.

Ian

Dave, really looking forward to Uckfield - I’m there too with Modbury, so if Edwardian GWR is your thing then it’s going to be a good show 

Ian

Very nice Dave.

31 minutes ago, wenlock said:

Thanks Al, hopefully all done in time for the Uckfield show

Uckfield 2021?? I should be there with Modbury 

Ian

That's coming along very nicely Anthony.  I too turn my buffer housings from brass rod with a hole drilled through them for the buffer shank (although I solder them to a piece of 0.004" or 0.006" nickel sheet which I then cut to form the base plates of the Dean buffer housings prevalent on my locos).  I turn my buffer heads/shanks from 1/8" (3mm) silver steel rod, usually gluing them in place after painting.

Ian

Bryn, that looks very effective. When I did the wood on Modbury I too painted behind the modelled trees as a wood to give more depth.

CBG is coming along very nicely.

Ian

Rich,

Another 2FS project that I will follow with great interest. I must admit that Mikkel’s approach to “eating an elephant” has much to commend it, indeed I thought long and hard about a DJLC entry along those lines but decided that the size allowed was just to restrictive for me. Good luck though!

Ian

10 hours ago, Barry Ten said:

Thanks, Ian - that advice about the 4.5mm datum will be very handy.

 

I have the utmost admiration for the 2FS community but I know my limits! At least with this exercise, the track is the only variable. I'd hate to be laying track for the first time and also trying to get a 2mm mechanism to run!

Al, I fully understand that sentiment. I moved to the smaller scale on my return to railway modelling in 2013 simply because I hadn’t really got room for the P4 layout I’d started many years before that languished in my loft.

Jerry Clifford convinced me to give 2FS a go, which fitted with my desire to model pre-grouping GWR which commercial N gauge didn’t cover. Had my desire been 1930’s or BR then I think I would probably have gone with commercial N gauge.

Ian

Al, DG couplings used as you are with loops at only one end are pretty reliable. Because my stock gets spun at each end of the layout I have to fit loops at both ends, and occasionally when coupling up both loops ride up on each other so neither of them engages with the hook. It is pretty important that all of the couplings are a consistent height above rail level (a simple block of something, in my case 4 layers of plasticard 0.040” thick and one of 0.020” makes a suitable jig) couplings adjusted so that bottom edge of buffing plate is at 4.5mm above rail level.

I look forward to reading more of your adventures in N. Although you really should go the whole hog and do it in 2FS  (only joking)

Ian

That’s coming along nicely Anthony.

I can’t take any credit for the hole-in-the-shaft form of joint at one end of the cardan shaft. I can’t remember where I saw it used (or by whom, although it may have been Jim or Tim) but it seemed to satisfy a need to hold captive the shaft so that it doesn’t get lost should the shaft dis-engage for any reason.

Ian

Looking really good Anthony. Finding your posts really interesting, and if I ever decide to produce an etched kit for a loco (rather than my usual scratch build) then I will be revisiting your blog!

Ian

They are indeed 2mm scale, the thread for my layout (Modbury) can be found in the 2mm section of RMweb, a link to which is in my signature (there is a similar link to my website dedicated to Modbury there too).
When I compiled my original response, I forgot to add that I always drill a 0.3mm hole up the leg or dress of my figures into which I glue a piece of brass wire. I then use a pin chuck to hold this peg while painting the figures. The peg allows me to place the figures on the layout (in a suitable sized hole of course), my plan being that I could ring the changes by moving the figures from time to time, although in reality once placed that is where they have stayed. I tend to use a magnifying lamp when doing this sort of work as good light and magnification is crucial at my time of life 

Ian

When painting my Edwardian period figures (Andrew Stadden), I initially prime them white, then use enamels to paint them.  I always mix up colours (never using anything straight from the tin), and mix up 3 shades of the same colour, a base colour, one a little darker (by adding slightly more of the darkest colour used in the mix) for the shadows, and one a little lighter (by adding a touch of white) for the highlights.

I tend to apply paint where it is needed with a very fine brush in the shadows rather than an all over wash, and dry brush the highlights.

A few photos of my endeavours follow :

I perhaps should add that these are all 2mm scale, so do look somewhat better in the flesh than they do blown up to huge proportions on screen!!!

Ian

On 15/11/2020 at 11:10, Mikkel said:

The Didcot railway Center has posted some nice photos:

• https://www.facebook.com/DidcotRailwayCentre/photos/pcb.2960267614000107/2960257807334421
• https://www.facebook.com/DidcotRailwayCentre/photos/the-provender-store-at-didcot-in-october-1970-it-was-built-in-the-1880s-to-manuf/711322322227992/

 

A rare internal view here: 

• https://www.steampicturelibrary.com/stations-halts/oxfordshire-stations-didcot-station-surrounds-didcot-provender-store/internal-view-provender-store-didcot-april-1906-19069998.html

 

Just catching up on this entry. It is interesting to see that the Buffalo in the first photo is fitted with a spark arresting chimney - not surprising I guess with all that hay and straw around!

Ian

Dave, there were a couple of articles in early BRJ by John Lewis on GWR coach lighting. I will dig them out tomorrow as I seem to remember a chart that showed the numbers of coaches that still had oil lighting in our period of interest. From memory I think that pretty well anything 1st or 2nd class had been converted, a fair proportion of 3rd class likewise, but brake vans retained their oil lighting longer.

The all 3rd that I completed a couple of weeks ago I fitted with oil lamps for variety (I posted some photos in my Modbury thread).

Ian