aberdare

Morning Jeff Some great shots of the Viaducts and Valleys a few posts ago, if you can achieve that sort of look you can justifiably be proud of yourself. I agree with the earlier comments about the hills being treeless as I think the other features will stand out more and look much better than a sea of green, but of course you can't forget the odd weather beaten and distorted specimen that is occasionally seen. As for working to Deep Purple, can't fault you on that one. Hills starting to look great by the way. Jim

Cheers Andy I think I got a carried away with this one, it was meant to be the simple one!! But you know what it's like, once you get started things seem to take on a mind of their own with this hobby and it's a job to stop, Enjoy the read through whilst I order the last few bits of plastic to get it finished. Jim

Jeff snip * I wish my grandad had played Scooby Doo with me!!* Well you can see why I get so slow in completing stuff now. I am slowly converting him onto trains now so hopefully playtime can become a bit more constructive for me. I think I might start him of painting something simple at first before moving onto scratchbuilding the buildings for the Junction . No harm in starting them young is there Jim

Cheers Jeff You certainly know how to put a man under pressure. What am I going to do now. I'll have to get the paints out tomorrow to cover the white tiles, trim off any 'sticky out' bits and decide whether to to slap the last few planks on. I'd only just posted on your thread to say I might do a 'Jeff' and show the completed item in a blaze of glory. Pictures coming soon but I have to take the wife for some appointments first so you'll have to be patient, I'm also going to have to tidy the dining table, she won't let put that on here if it's messy. Jim

Crikey Jeff I was only joking about the numbers too, I know I like playing with numbers but I don't think I could go that far. No post for me yet on Hemyock as I would like to complete the painting and a few details first, mind you it is about time I put something up or else people will think I've stopped altogether, maybe I should do weekend surprise like you. Well I would if I could, but I can't spare that much time on any day. I've still got wiring to do, so a lot more than you once I start. But then again maybe not as I am using manual control but that in itself can be a lot of work.

Just goes to show that there is some logic in that Lunacy somewhere. Interesting to see the post count Jeff, almost 25% of my posts are on here, more than on my own I think, I'll have to check. Which reminds me is there some sort of counter on here that I have missed as I can't believe you are a Lune spotter and count how many times we come on. I am just having a break on here as tiling is finally complete on the shed, Hoo-bl--dy-ray. Jim

During the mid 60s I was sent to school in dark grey shorts and grey jumper with a black blazer, apart from one other boy we were the only ones wearing shorts at that time as we had both returned from the far east (fathers forces posting) and were not aware that fashion had moved on a bit. I did manage to get my long trousers before the other lad though so I wasn't the last in school to wear them, I must admit it was a relief there is a lot of difference between Singapore and Britain as winter draws in. Out of school I remember having a pair of jeans, with holes worn in the knees, a knitted jumper from mum, usually blue and a Duffel coat for winter. Oh! and I mustn't forget the grey knitted balaclava which was usually whipped off when out of site of the house. Never did go trainspotting though as most places we lived didn't have them, this was restricted to our visits to stations between postings. Jim

Hi Jeff Cut a strip of your Shreddies box into a width of 25mm or more and fix it lengthways down the formers and then add the mesh of tape or more card across them. It stops that ridge being quite so noticeable through the covering.

This has come together really well over the last week or so and I am looking forward to seeing it in the flesh at Donny, very inspiring. Fantastic work from all involved. Jim

'I finished the last bit of this at 5.50pm. hope it was worth waiting for!!' Jeff Yes it was Jeff, that's a good weekends work done there and you should be proud of what you have achieved. Jim (seriously impressed Lune)

Blimey!!! That shot through the arch shows how the hill looks so much better than the other ones, it looks as though you are standing there and the height and slope look pretty good to me and I've been up and down a few like that. Well done Jeff, looking very very good. Jim (impressed Lune)

That looks a lot better Jeff, the slope on the lefthand side seems to have a better flow to it as it joins the viaduct. The extra width also enhances the view down the valley and the drop in levels of the stream will allow the stream to be modelled with some good falls over loose rocks or whatever you prefer. Look forward to the next instalment now. There is a difference and we will all notice it Jim

Nope Not missed anything yet. I think Jeff has gone underground in the bunker.

What!!! You expect us to carry on as if nothing is going to happen when we know something special is on the way , no, I just can't do, I will have sleepless nights now trying to guess. It looks as though you have plenty of info and ideas coming in and I think the challenge of the pack horse bridge is great. This part of the layout is in my mind is the bit that will always have the most visual impact for the viewer and it is well worth spending time on on getting just right so it is good to see your vision developing. This thread moves along so fast - especially the last few days - I will have to log on every day to keep up. I have always loved the ruggedness of the area up north which is why I moved up here and maybe I should have modelled a region on my mothers side of the family and got some of that Dales and Moors scenery in, Oh well that a fathers influence for you. Keep up the great work and updates. Is it Sunday yet? Jim

I like all that woodwork in the shed as it is something I like to do myself as well, the finished building looks excellent and I look forward to seeing the rest appear. It looks as if you are making quite rapid progress on the layout so we shouldn't have too long to wait. Jim

Lovely work our Jeff A bit of a shame you can't start landscaping that bit yet but the last thing you want to do is put your foot in it . Looking forward to the next bit of progress on the hillside when you have replenished your material stock, I think we all now how frustrating it is to run out of 'stuff' when you are on a roll. The mountain hillsides look a lot better now too. I'm just looking forward to spring now so I can get outside and do something different. Jim

Andy I have just finished watching the videos and they are great. I was pretty good at art many years ago and have often thought about painting my own backscene and this has given me the incentive to try it later, after all I have some paints and plenty of paper to practise on so if it all goes wrong I've lost very little except a bit of time. But if like yours it comes out well then so much to gain. I love the way you and George bounce of each other and keep up a lively commentary too. Great stuff. Jim

Well I don't know about anyone else but I have been in the 'modelling doldrums' as things just seemed to not go right at all, I've been sticking bits on and then tearing them off as they are either not straight, I missed a bit or even the wrong size. Taking a break now for research and daydreaming about what I will do when it all comes right again. Have fun in the bunker later. Billyb - I always use a smaller loco so that I know anything larger than that with more wheels to pick up on will work. Jim

Fantastic modelling, the building looks so real especially when looking at those taken under the canopy and as for those chimneys...... Jim

Jason I have followed this since you started to fill the corner in with the old Mill and then the houses up the hill and it has been great to see it grow and develop, I just wish I could keep up with your output. I don't know how you manage it with building a cart shed in between as well. Those cobbles are looking good too, I just wish I had somewhere to put some on my layout bit I've not seen any on the photographs yet - maybe I just need to look harder. I look forward to seeing more and am intending to get to Doncaster to get a closer look at your BCB work. Jim

Andy Those buildings look fantastic, I particularly like the signal box and look forward to seeing how you go about painting them as it is something I have yet to complete on any building I have made Jim.

That's a great looking loco now that it has a coat or two of paint on. It certainly is an inspiration for me now to scratchbuild sometime in the future instead of kit bashing. I look forward to seeing the completed model, oh and those close ups look good too. Jim

Hi Jeff Just spent quite a while a long time catching up on things and see I've been missing a whole load of discussion. With regard to the walls I think you know I would end up building it with individual stones possibly with some scribed ones in clay straighter lengths if I could get them to look the same, so best of luck with whatever you decide and like you said there is no rush for these scenic details. As for playing with trains I can avoid that quite easily because I haven't built them yet. . Right I'd better pull my finger out and get cracking or you'll have your station built before I finish mine. Jim Blimey there's more posts arriving while I type.

I'm looking forward to seeing this at the Donny show, I just hope it doesn't smell as real as it looks. Great work Jim