aberdare

Fantastic Mikkel What a marvellous atmosphere you have created within the building despite being empty, I could almost hear my footsteps on the stone floor. Jim

Looks as though track laying will commence then, or maybe tunnel portal construction if it is just too cold to bear it outside. Looking back through the posts I can't show a cabinet full of stock as it is all in 5 boxes in various states, unbuilt and part built mainly. Like you I am waiting for bits too so I can start my Carriage shed, but despite having loads of other stuff to do while waiting I just can't seem to focus on it until I have those bits. I have made a drawing though in preparation. Looking forward to your further progress now. Jim Ahh, I see you will be in the bunker then.

I was off listening to the Rugby, then went to cook our tea, chicken & leek pie tonight. Smells about ready now too. You could always be getting on with that tunnel portal Jeff, no need to wait for that track to arrive before doing anything. All of a sudden we all join in with a comment or two. Jim

Hi Nick That completed lighting has made all the difference to the view of the layout. I'm sure it will be a great success on the exhibition circuit. I will have to try and take it in if I have a short break in the south somewhere, of course you may get an invite further north. Jim

Thanks Nick - Looking at your layout which looks so good you wouldn't think any of it had any problems, just goes to show as you say we improve as we go along. This is my first building since making an engine shed and the side walls of the carriage shed back in 1982 so in a way it is a first attempt and despite the niggles (that only bother me) I am happy with it, the few people who have seen it in the flesh and compared it to the photos have praised the work as well. As I've said I have learned a lot and will use that knowledge in the future. Thanks Jeff - No I won''t rebuild it, It will never be done otherwise and it looks like what it should be. It is unique because its mine and all my own work and I am pretty chuffed with myself really, just a bit annoyed I made a few silly mistakes that could have been avoided. At least this will not be the main station where in the end the main focus will be and I feel confident that the building on that will be fine. If I was going to keep rebuilding I'll still be on here in 30 years time going 'Just one more tweak to finish it'. Unlike you I have just received some bits in the post so more work to do. After reading some of the threads on here regarding colour I took a closer look at all the pictures I have and can now see that some of the wood is most likely light stone rather than white, so out with the brush. Jim

Hi Nick - I must admit I was very happy with the stones in the end despite the time taken, I didn't really like what was available as it wouldn't have matched the pictures. I think the original may well have been the diamond inscribed stones but that would have been a challenge in 4mm, so as historically some country stations had cobbles or sets I made those as they were also thin enough to match the platform edging. As for the stones falling down the bank, well, I spend lots of time staring at the pictures to see what's there and try to replicate it. I get it wrong plenty of times though which explains why I keep rebuilding things. Thanks GB - That first shot is based on the one in GWR branchlines Vol2, the early one with the plump station master in it, I was hoping too do it in B&W and link it but couldn't find one on the web, I'll have to have another look later. I have learned a lot from this build and it is full of mistakes and there are some minor compromises (bodges) to disguise them, I hope not to make these in the future. Having drawn out a plan for the main walls I then made it up as I went along, that was the mistake, had I sketched out a drawing highlighting features and possible problems (like Stubby and others) I could have saved myself a lot of work and head scratching . I'll make sure I do it next time. Working from photographs only has also been a problem and now it is all together I can see where some dimensions could have been increased or decreased to make the fit better, oh well I could always build it again Jim

I love the idea of that Mikkel, it is good to be able to change the time period of the same thing to show how it evolves and of course a great excuse to run different stock. Even though I model the Edwardian period I sometimes think I would like the challenge of modelling Hemyock in its final days, recreating the two extremes in a module form is one way of showing the complete history of a line in one package. Best of luck with it, it's a great idea and one I look forward to. JIm

It's been a while since the last post as again other priorities came first. As for the build it has been progressing slowly and I thought there was little need to update on the amount of stones laid or fence posts erected, hardly exciting stuff as even I got bored at times. The platform stones are all now down and the buildings fixed in place, the fencing has been erected at the Signal box end and the gents added. I still have the fence to complete on the dairy end and also a number of minor details such as lamps, posters, nameboards, staff and of course final painting. However I think it is starting to look almost complete so I took the models out into the Hobby hovel and here are a few more pictures, it was pretty cold out there so I didn't hang about. A view across the river, it will look more complete once the nameboards are up and I have added the boundary fence along the river bank, a springtime job methinks. A closer view showing the improved planking on the front of the box, there are levers in there too. I also repaired the join in the platform brick facing as previous photos revealed so much detail that was wrong. This clearly shows the extra details added lately such as the door handle and roof beam ends. A longer shot showing the fencing which I could have bought, but wouldn't have been as much 'fun'! The chimney was built up of four sides of plastic sheet with chamfered edges glued together to try and get the bricks right on the corners, you will have to take my word for it but I was happy with the result. The top part was made the same way with each external addition being 5, 4 then 3 bricks high to form it. A similar view giving a clearer look at the platform surface and the gents behind the signal box and its screening from the young ladies who may be on the platform. Hmm, need to sort those Peco points out, better get the manual control done so I can get the knife out ( It's not contagion, it was planned - honest) I was going to put a few figures on and compose better shots but the cold drove me and the models back indoors. Still a lot to do with filling, painting and touching up but I will complete the building over the coming weeks - once I have a few more bits delivered - but in the meantime I may well make a start on the carriage shed which needs to show the inside framing of what is a wooden structure. On the Xmas list are some parts to build 1384 one of the early engines on the line so I look forward to that, another job for next year. Thanks for visiting again and I'll try and speed up a bit as I was hoping to complete all the buildings over the winter and I'm a long way short of that!

Ah, those hills which I remember so well. I used to go walking a lot in the Lakes and Scotland but over the last couple of years I have had to cut it drastically. I am still a member of the Long distance walkers but will be giving it up due to problems encountered while out, I just can't keep up anymore and being only 58 it was embarrassing being overtaken by people much older than myself who ask if I'm OK. My last big walk was in the Cuillins on Skye, happy days. I think that's why I started modelling again, it's a lot easier on the old muscles though there are days when I still struggle to get motivated, however it's good to be inspired on here and try and keep up with others (excluding Larry, I can't be that quick). I think your under more pressure than the rest of us due to your popularity and the fact it is one of the first places we visit on here, I sort of expect to see daily progress now. No pressure there then, LoL. Look forward to the next instalment. Jim

snip: "Lighting. I may be totally on my own here but I think it is far too gimmicky and very, very rarely executed well. Controversial? Maybe, but consider the following:" I'm with Jason on this one, I was considering putting lighting into my current station building but if I did I thought of all the other areas that would need it, there were far too many to make it worthwhile as I would always operate in daylight anyway. I need to see what I'm doing. Jim

There is no offence in that at all Jeff, if that had been me I would have just smiled and carried on, taking it in the humorous way it was intended. Keep up the great work and posts, we would be lost without them. All the best Jim

Grey, cold & misty here. Life is full of highs and lows and just at the moment we seem to have too many of the latter, still I always keep smiling , think positively and know that a high is just around the corner. If it's not then as we used to say when I was in industry and the unforseen occurred 's--t happens' then it gets better. Yup, I'm sure II can see a corner coming up. Finally put up my avatar pic after a year, it was one of those jobs I was always going to do tomorrow but never did, so I did it yesterday. Have a good day one and all. Jim

"at least yellow is less likely to cause problems due to colour blindness." Definitely with you on that one Jeff, I always choose colours that show a distinct difference as when they are in the gloom of the baseboard underside I can see them, red & green is a no no for me. I have managed to make a few things go up in smoke due to colour identification! Not an expert on S&C but for me it has to be hills, moorland and viaducts with a steam engine going over it.

Hi Rich I have recently just started again on building the layout I originally planned back in 1978 - Hemyock MkIII and Tiverton Junction - this time I hope to finish it and post my updates on here to ensure I keep at it and record what I did, mistakes included. I should have enough work to keep me busy for years. Jim

Hi Rich Like you I am a returning modeller after a 28 year break and I was a fan of Buckingham, however my passion is the Great Western around 1904. I look forward to seeing how this develops. Jim

Good Morning A bit damp overnight but dawned bright and dry, clouding up a bit now though. Not much to report, trip to Post Office later, then make a chicken & leek pie for lunch and take it easy for the rest of the day. Oh, not quite as I have to make a birthday cake for my daughter at SILs request, apparently he looked through a recipe book, couldn't follow it so asked me instead. Best of luck to all the job hunters out there and everyone else have a good day whatever you do. Jim

I'm with you on the larger boards Jeff, I like to see what I'm up to at a glance and I find the track layout needs to dominate over the switches, mind you Iv'e still got some pretty big switches on my board for the Junction too. With a bit of luck it may get fitted next year 29 years after construction - I don't rush LoL. Good to see further progress even in the cold, I keep out off my hovel it's too draughty. Jim

A slightly late Happy birthday Ian, Gutted I missed out the on the sing-a-long earlier. Started off cold, dry and frosty, now cold, wet and windy - the weather not me. Pretty quiet here on the Wolds, looks to be pretty much the same tomorrow as well. Enjoy the rest of your day everyone.

A worrying few days with the other half now over thankfully, now to get back to some sort of normality and make use of some free time. Sunny here today so I might sit in the conservatory and do some modelling as it is lovely and warm in there at the moment, no doubt I shall be joined by the cat. A lot of catching up to do on RMweb so best to get that at the way first. All the best to everyone whatever your doing. Jim

afternoon all Late post today as have had a few of busy mornings of late. Not been a bad day here and got a few outdoor jobs done, time now to light the fire and start preparing a meal. Good to hear about Archie and all the best to those facing up to their existing or new problems. Jim

Love that first pic Jeff, it really does show how good your completed layout will look. Keep up the good standard of work.

Cheers Jeff I always have had patience which is why this layout is going to last me a few years, the fun is in the building and when /if it gets to a finished state I'll be going back to the things that annoy me and rebuilding them. Mind you I've still got all those kits to build yet, or I'll have nothing to run on it . Another 300 or so bricks cut tonight waiting for fitting, one more night should do it. Jim Oo! passed 100 posts today, it only took a year!!

Hi Jeff The whole thing is looking good now and you have made quick progress in getting the track down. Look forward to seeing a loco on the viaduct, steam preferably, I'm not bothered by which one as I always imagine a Duke or River class with some chocolate & cream clerestories on the top of such structures. Look forward to further posts. Jim

Hi Jon Don't know how I missed this one but I shall follow it from now on as you have a junction and BLT as I do, like you I hope to move to a new shed to extend what I have. As you are quite a bit in front of me it will be interesting to see what develops but you do really need to tidy that 'scenery' up. I do like the look of your branch terminus. Keep up the good work. Jim

Slow progress with the platform paving but I am just over halfway through, I think around another seven or eight hundred stones should see it completed. I had to leave it alone for a bit as a spell of muscular problems meant I couldn't cut straight to save my life, so now I'm going to spend the next few evenings cutting the stones and trimming the corners until I have enough to stick down. Progress so far. There are just under 300 stones on the ramp alone. Just to avoid too much boredom and break the monotony I have also started on the fencing, mind you cutting out the uprights can be just as tedious so I am making some jigs to speed up the process and get some consistency as I have found this to be the biggest issue. I will also address a couple of issues on the signal box that the photographs showed up, funnily enough they looked OK in normal conditions. I'll be glad when this is complete as it is the biggest task on the branch, or is it? Time will tell as I get to the other buildings which I hope will be easier as I learn more with each build. Right enough chat and back to the job in hand.