aberdare

Hi Chris Yes those multipacks seem useful and are OK if they tell you what they contain. The 20 thou I use is 0.5mm or thereabouts and then I have sometimes used a 10 thou (0.25mm) piece with added rivet detail if needed to lay on top. I have found the need for formers is crucial to stop distortion. As for the HO figures, yes I had seen that and added a reply. Take your time with the figures and the result will be worth it, I don't know about you but I found painting them under artificial light harder than good daylight, maybe I needed more lamps.

Hi Chris Quite a few posts since my last visit again which has kept me entertained for a while. With your roof sections bent around the bottle it does look to be a bit on the thin side, I usually use 20thou at least and if using thinner I laminate it, the second set look much better and using formers to hold the shape is certainly the way to go. Just a last note on this and that's when I secure plastic to a bottle or whatever I use masking tape as it seems to keep the sheet flatter but I like your idea of card too. Love the little tale around the figures and look forward to seeing how they turn out, comparisons of the Stadden figures will be made. Keep up the good work.

It seems to be progressing though Jeff, that's the main thing. It does look as if you have a bit of clay up there though (could be wrong of course) slowing the drainage down, we have chalk in this valley which is usually free draining but the ground is still pretty damp despite the drier weather.

Only 10 months to be up and running, that's terrific. Whereas your progress is that of an Express I only just get fired up and then let the fire go out. Iv'e been in my shed for the same amount of time and still can't run from one end of Hemyock to the other, I really need to stop building things and wire those loose droppers in. Have you shown me the light......

Tree making is still ticking along in the background while I shift my focus to the cottages. The first one is progressing well, the base structure and shell is complete and the windows are being added. A few pictures of progress to date , first up is the production of the windows which is different from my usual method of using strip plastic, this time they are cut on the portrait cutter and then completed by me. The final cut and removal of waste. They are then dabbed with a few blobs of 'glue & glaze' ready to stick to some clear sheet. Once the glue has dried enough to hold the frame and glazing together the excess is cleaned off with a damp stiff brush. They are then super glued to the inside of the building to hold them in place, another inner layer of card will be added for extra strength once all the windows are in. A final view of what I term the front to show the added small extension that was on the building. That's as far as Iv'e got so far but I will update again once any significant change in appearance has taken place. The parts for the next cottage have all been cut and are waiting to be assembled, it is of a different style and may present me with a new challenge so I sense a trial run or two to get things right.

Hi Jaz Iv'e just been catching up and couldn't believe my eyes, scratch built dogs, WOW. I had a go some time back at a person and gave up as it looked like a frankenstein creation. Fantastic modelling. Now about those rats I wanted.......

How strange, I always think of bus as a more modern term when transport became motorised, coach & horses sounds and rolls of the tongue easier than bus and horses. Mind you I now seem to recall the double decker ones being called a horsebus, not that I was around then though to confirm it. Being a simple country lad I should be happy with 'Wagon & hoss' As for figures in coaches my coaches will either be out of sight in storage loops or somewhere on the line where people would be seen inside. Looking forward to seeing more.when you get time.

When I saw that Andrew had made some HO figures I wondered 'would they be suitable for smaller people' and now I know. Thanks for posting up the pictures of the figures which look very good, at least now I know I can buy a set and not regret it and I do like to see a variation in height, the other information in your last post is also very useful, thanks.

I have a few days off Chris and you have a mini posting frenzy. Glad to see you have your computer issue is sorted now. The coaches you have done so far are looking good and despite the age of the 009 one it is a lovely little model, I like the fact that you went to the trouble of getting the seat colours right too even if a lot of people would not notice. All those little details give a wonderful sense of satisfaction. In your last post I think you meant Coach rather than Bus service for 1868 didn't you , interesting little fact though. I like things like that.

At least you have done it Mike!! I tested mine, found each section worked and then left the wires dangling loose under the board and that's how they will stay until my Grandson pressures me into wiring them in properly. I'd rather be building something than wiring. I sometimes wonder if my layout would run at all if it didn't need to.

Thanks for all the positive comments and the second tree is almost complete now so here is a few notes and photos to bring it up to date. I completed all the wire twisting and teasing out of the branches but then decided that the tree wasn't quite right, I needed more small branches/twigs around the trunk as there were a lot of them back in those days, it will also give the Ivy I want to make something to hang onto. I twisted a few odd strands of wire and then soldered them onto the trunk where needed. After a bit more tweaking and bending to reposition a few branches that became bent it was time to add the bark effect. The plaster mix was added to the trunk to cover the twists in the wire and to form the odd hole, it was then given a water/PVA spray again and the plaster dust blown on for the smaller branches which are too small and congested to do individually. The tree after its first full application, more tomorrow after drying overnight. That's it on the trees for now until I have added the final coats and added the ivy I have yet to make, there will also be the odd crows nest or two once I have made them before the foliage is added - I have made that though. I will be looking to do a Weeping Willow later and Silver Birch later but have to experiment with a few ideas first so that will be later in the year. To get this part of the layout complete I really need to get the buildings completed, I had left these until I had got my Portrait cutter and have drawn some of them up, cut them and am now assembling them. Here is the first one. This has now been assembled and covered with scalescenes paper, there is just a small attached extension to add and then I will produce the windows which will be secured between this outer frame and an inner one which has also been cut. That's it for now as I'm waiting for everything to dry.

Sorry to hear about the barn Shaun and of course Goathland, it won't be the same when I go there now as I always had your layout in mind whenever I visited. All the best Jim

Hi Al I don't know, I have a few days away from here and you've gone mad making all sorts of stuff, but they all look great. Posters are something Iv'e got to make in the near future so it was good to see yours being made, as for the lamps very clever indeed and if I was to have working lamps I'd certainly copy your method. Can you slow down a bit please as I can't model fast enough to keep up with you . Already looking forward to seeing what you do next.

Thanks Al I'm hoping to get most of the groundcover done this summer so I can locate the buildings and trees properly then I can look at the detailing and extending the baseboards to the mainline. Stefan - I spend ages staring at trees now, I'll probably end up bumping into one if I'm not careful. I do get strange looks though when I am out photographing them and getting the odd measurement, the Villagers here are getting used to it now though.

Hi Chris Ah the old learning curve hey, Iv'e experienced that a few times and now seem to steer pretty clear of it, it does ensure you get it right next time though. At least you have made a start and the only way is up, the problem then is looking back and thinking that you can do better and then remaking something all over again which I sometimes do. A good sensible approach so far in getting on with a few smaller bits. I'm looking forward to seeing more figure painting too.

Andy Those two last posts of yours show some fantastic images of Bacup that I never spotted before, it shows that all those years of layout photography have paid off. I'd better mention the bloke who built it too, cracking modelling Jason which is shown in some of those close-up shots like the first three in post 2282.

Thank you Comparisons to someone like Iliffe Stokes is very humbling indeed, his work is something I have often marvelled at and to get anywhere near feels good. I have been tied up with a few other things lately but have managed a little time here and there. I have been working on the open ground on the near side of the river and hope to complete the bank and meadow over the next couple of weeks, also the second tree and the cottages have been started as I like to have a few jobs on the go while waiting for things to dry. I hope to make quite a lot of progress as long as nothing unexpected interferes with my time. Just a few pictures to show the little done so far. The second tree. Different angle with cottage mock up in the background. Both trees together, sorry about the lean but it wasn't pushed fully home. I have now cut out a full card version of the cottage and this will be worked on as and when I want to. I cut out some more fencing on my cutter and these will be assembled too, as you can see I have plenty of options to work on, I also meant to post up some pictures of carriage wheels from the cutter but forgot so these will have to wait until I do more with them and hopefully built some carriages unique to the Tiverton area. These are from some of the pictures I was allowed to photograph in the Museum there. More later.

Hi Al Great to see you are considering Autumn as your time of year, like you I think it is more colourful than just the green of grass and trees. I too tone down any of the commercial colours I buy as they are awfully bright, that's the beauty of making you own and as each batch is slightly different they are perfect for mixing. It's good to see so many people having a go at trees too, I'm now on number 2 and the difference and individuality of each tree is really good to see. Looking forward to seeing more so we can compare our efforts. All the best Jim

I Lee I hope you are going to be OK, I physically winced when I read your post and rubbed my eye.

Even though I have had the odd look on this thread I never took the time out to read it properly, I will now though. It contains some superb modelling and has also given me a few ideas on how to progress my own layout, if I can achieve a similar overall look I will be a very happy man. Thank you, I will definitely be back for more.

Hi Mikkel Your new plans look very interesting indeed and I like the idea you have of seeking out buildings with character, the ones you have chosen seem to have been selected with a lot of thought. I am really looking forward to seeing these develop over time and then through to completion. I'm also really pleased to see you are sticking with the Edwardian era, I'd have felt a bit lonely otherwise. Best of luck with the project. Jim

That's a good sized house you have there Jeff and it looks to be progressing quite quickly, luckily all this spring like weather helps things along. The garages are usually one of the last things to go up, I remember when I helped a neighbour - a builder - when on holiday from College and we had five bungalows up before we started on the garages. But it looks as if everything is on schedule though. Since getting this computer I have found an old photo of the old barn I renovated to turn into my layout room, all 28x12ft of it. Sad to have left it but that's life sometimes but it's just a shame I never really got to use it once finished. I had a workshop downstairs and the layout room upstairs.

Sign her up Al. Great little tree, she obviously has inherited some good modelling skills.

I have to agree with you there Andy, RMweb made me look at modelling differently. One of the first things I looked at was Mikkels 'The Farthing Layouts' as that was my area of interest and set a standard for me that I had to try and match, then it was a case of looking at others and making that step of posting to get feedback on my own work. I now feel quite well settled and no longer feel apprehensive about posting mainly due to being part of the Lunester family who are always willing to comment and give advice. Long may we continue.

Hi Chris When I got my replacement power pack it arrived in two days, it appeared that the shipment had arrived the same day I ordered and I got one of the extra ones. They don't call me 'Lucky Jim' for nothing. A new laptop has certainly made my life easier. Still looking forward to your workbench thread appearing, I'm sure we will be pleasantly surprised by your modelling as I think you are under selling yourself. All the best and hope your problems are soon sorted. Jim