aberdare

Why was she or why did you hang her upside down to find that out!

Morning all Another late one for me as the missus did not sleep well so kept me awake too. A bit grey and overcast today so it is just as well I got all the outside jobs done yesterday and today I can concentrate on the inside ones, a bit of a baking day today. Re snakes, I remember one of our toolroom lads was from Nigeria and he was telling us of a day when he was called to the school to catch a snake, when we asked "What did you do with it Olly" he looked at us calmly and said, " took it home, cooked it and ate it of course". I think the laughter from him was because of the look on some peoples faces. Have a good day whatever you get up to. Jim

I agree with this method too. I always use natural materials whenever I can and am still even a user of the dyed tea leaves, I think it is good to recycle whatever you can rather than buy new. Regards Jim

Hi all When I got up this morning I just couldn't be bothered to do anything, but after some coffee and a good talking to (I often talk to myself) I managed to get three sides of my station building cut out. I will complete the final side tonight so at least I have not wasted a day as I thought I might earlier. By the look of a couple of other posts I was not the only one struggling this morning.

Thanks very much and feel free to poach, after all we post on here to share things so there is no problem with that. On my original layout I used the stone wall as I thought it looked better, it shows how we change our minds over the years as I prefer the sleepers now and of course it is prototypical. All I do is look at the photographs and find a way of copying it and I'm glad you like it as I mentioned before I wasn't to sure of the colour. Jim Hi Dave, yes the dirt was sprinkled onto PVA. I originally put it straight on the board but couldn't get enough uneven ground so I used some of the offcuts of cork and the river cutout to make a few bumps. I then had some brown paper that I had kept from some parcels I received and used dilute PVA to secure that before adding the sieved soil, the two tone look is what makes it look better in my opinion. I also found that putting some in my hand and blowing gently I could get a fine covering on the river bank that I had previously misted with dilute PVA, This seems to give the sun dried bank effect ready for the weeds etc to be applied, it also collected on some of the folds on the river bed along with some ballast and this was again misted to secure it before coating with a layer of varnish. Glad you are enjoying the thread. Jim

Morning all Dry and sunny here currently so time to get the washing out to dry as I heard it just finish, I hope to have a bit more time to myself today but I think that will be this afternoon. As for bread I no longer measure anything I just bung it all in together, mix, knead, leave to rise, knock back, put in tin,rise again and bake. It works everytime for me but I think the quality of flour is important to get the elasticity in the dough when kneading. I always use dried yeast and some of them are often out of date. Jim

Thanks Jeff I have to admit I like the scenic part as well especially on a prototype model as it brings it to life and the surroundings are usually as recognisable as parts of the station itself. The only scenery I had made before was the river and some trees on Mk 1 so it is a whole big new adventure for me. I try and use whatever materials I can find at home as I need to keep the costs down until the new garage is paid for and even then I will still do it as cheaply as possible, there are a lot of kits I would still like to buy instead. I think the reason I like scenery so much is that when I started out all those years ago I was greatly influenced by such layouts as Buckingham and Pendon. Jim Thanks Nick Rapid! I'm glad you think so, to my mind I felt I should have done more, which I would have done if I hadn't had to rebuild the dock through clumsiness and build the platform three times because I wasn't happy. Mind you looking back at the pictures it is moving along nicely, maybe I had time to hand-build track after all as it was my original intention to build everything. But, I am happy with the appearance so far as I want the overall effect to please not just one single item which is why I was impressed by your own work so much. Well that's 1 sq ft almost done, only 34 more to go. Thanks again Jim

Hi Jeff Keep practising with that iron it can only get better. I hadn't done any for 28 years and after a few attempts resulting in burns to me and the workbench I now feel much better about it, some of what I have achieved on a loco kit is IMO quite good. Well I was happy with it anyway. I look forward to seeing your track laying progress later.

Progress has been a little slow over the last week or so as often happens here but I have managed a few things. The cattle dock has now got its hinges to allow me to model different scenarios when I want to though I still have some latches to make for the gates when I have decided how to do it. No weathering was done as I had to repair a few panels after a slip of the knife wiped them out while making a final adjustment, why do we do it when in the grand scheme of things it would not have been noticeable anyway. But we do. Platform (version 3) has now progressed but there are still a couple of things I am not happy about and I will address these next before going any further with it. I placed them on the layout for a few more pictures. An overalll view of the two in position. A closer view showing the bank retaining boards and some varnish to the river bed. Oh and the first bits of grass. Looking back up the river to the cattle dock A closer look at the boards which I hope are a good enough to show weathered boards that are south facing, as some of you probably know I am colour blind so I might see different colours to you! feel free to comment as I would hate to think there are some weird indescribable colour. A vew looking down the river past the cattle dock. After making the alterations to the platform I hope to pave it - I haven't decided what with yet as I make it up as I go along depending on what I have in my scrap box that is the closest to what I need. It looks like it will be individual stones again like the platform edge. Then it will be on to the station building and finishing other bits that are ongoing, I prefer to do what I feel like doing at the time as there are times when I seem to have no co-ordination at all, as when I virtually destroyed the cattle dock. I hope to have some more updates in a couple of weeks.

Morning all Worse here today than yesterday, another day in front of the fire methinks. Busier day for me than yesterday but should manage to get some free time this afternoon. I agree with Debs and everyone else about those costs, I am thinking of paying up front to save my kids the costs. Well best get on, lots to do.

Cat back in, thankfully wind free albeit windswept and settled back on my lap. Chores all done, sausage casserole in slow cooker, fire lit and the wife comfortable next to it knitting quietly. Despite the cr*p weather all seems well so I may just enjoy it with a glass or two of red later as it could all change tomorrow. All the best for your day whatever you are doing.

morning all Pretty cool, wet and windy here too, it looks like time to start lighting the fire so I'd better go and fill up the coal bucket and wood basket. Stationmaster - unfortunately being a newbie I am also domesticated and do all the household duties, but it is a lot less stressful than when I worked in the Plastics Industry so I am quite happy about it. AndyB - nice to know there is another bread baker on here, best taste there is especially shortly after its left the oven. Luckily we have a flour mill in the town (6 miles away) and I get my flour straight from there. Looks like a modelling day today after housework is completed. Phew! I think I need to put the cat out, she could have done that some place other than on my lap right under my nose. Catch you later. Jim

Morning all I have an old Danish friend of mine and his wife visiting today. So once I have given the house its final clean we and they have arrived it is off out for a spot of Sunday lunch, a day off from kitchen duties for me then. I doubt I'll get much modelling done but then I get a number of days like that. Whatever your doing have a good day. Jim

Morning all from a bright and sunny East Yorks. Much better than yesterday when it was wet & grey and I had to take wife to Hull for some appointments, it wouldn't be so bad if I didn't live in the far north of the Riding and the Hospital is in the far south of it. Good job it is only a small County but it still took an hour and a quarter each way. So a much quieter day today and some time for myself I think as the wife will be in bed most of the day. Very sorry to hear of your friends loss Debs, I can only hope you both get through it OK.. As for 7th birthdays I can't remember mine either, I think we were living in Tobruk at the time though.

Morning all Bit of a dull grey start with drizzle here on the Yorkshire Wolds and looks set for the day. I had better find something to do in the old garage today but have to be careful of some drying varnish - and no, I did not varnish the Physio. I hope the problems that some of have all resolve themselves over the next day or so.

Morning all, I hope there's room for another 'litlle un'. I am usually up and about at this time before embarking on my domestic/caring role and of course always on RMweb. I am a pretty quiet, easy going sort of person who believes life is too short to get wound up about anything, so I don't. Looks like being a nice day so may get out into the garage after physio this afternoon.

Thanks John I am sure there will be odd days when I will get out there even if it is to fit the odd thing or two. I will be carrying on with all the buildings over the winter and hope to have them all completed by the spring. Thanks Dave I always wanted to model in its early form and of course will use the trees that overhung the station, a good a backdrop as any. But that has just reminded me that could be another winter time job. As for the rolling stock I will want to make the engines, starting with 1300 with a straight backed bunker and open cab. I just need to practice my loco building skills again on a number of unfinished kits. In the meantime I will use a Metro tank which I hope to modify and my Ratio 4 wheelers plus a few brass kits i have had for 30 odd years. I have made a start on the platform - for the third time, didn't like the first two - and hope to have this in place so I can complete the ballasting etc between the platform and the river bank retaining boards (completed today).

Another update on progress. The Cattle dock has moved on and most of the construction is complete. The gates have been constructed and are ready to fit,I just need to make some hinges and gate latches. I will try and make the gates open and close as this will give different photo opportunities in the future. With the gates in place it will look something like this. There just remains some cleaning up, followed by some dirtying up and then more grass mud and fencing down the ramp. Hmmm, still a lot to do then! As for the layout itself I have formed the river bank, added texture to the meadow on the south side of the river and created an earth effect (real dirt) before adding grass fibres. The Mill race has also been cut toward the position of the butter factory and an extension added to the front of the board so the river can swing around the position of the cattle dock, which could be added soon. Areas of the track have also been ballasted and the rails painted rust. The retaining boards for the river bank that sat along the platform line are currently being made. Hopefully the next photos should clarify this. Overall view - looking east through the station toward the butter factory position. The retaining wall or planks General view looking west I hope to progress a bit further before it gets too cold. As I can only work in here during the day to maximise what light I can get without resorting to a battery of lamps around me I am running out of time as the nights draw in. You'd think the lights would keep me warm but believe me there are so many gaps in this old garage the draughts appear from every direction, helps with the drying though, just shows there is an upside to everything.

Great to have you back Mikkel and to look at and read those wonderful models and stories. I look forward to whatever it is that you produce next. Jim

Hi Jeff Been a bit tied up with the wifes appointments etc the last few days, but with reference to the glue I only used the contact adhesive to tack the track before fixing it with PVA and ballast. As with others I used a decorators scraper to get them up but I did damage a couple by being too heavy handed and impatient. Your trackwork is looking good and I look forward to more progress. Jim

Hi Jeff I have just fixed my cork and track with a contact adhesive. The cork has adhered well to the board as I found out when I had to move a bit, I totally destroyed the cork and had to sand the board to relay it. I found it stuck the track down initially but with the warm weather of the last few days it has allowed a little bit of movement between joints (I have no rail joiners) where I think the curvature of the track has pulled it to one side, it is minimal though. It could be that I have only tacked it in place awaiting ballasting for which I will use PVA. All the best in your track laying. Jim

Hi Nick Thanks for the comment. The mortar is just the base of the wood with a diluted matt white wash, it depends on how much light is on it as to how white it looks which you can see when I used the flash. I think it looks enough like lime mortar to pass. I did look at using coffee stirrers as I have loads but they were a bit too wide and didn't absorb the creosote so well. I tested them first to compare results and to check if the stain dissolved the glue I used, obviously it did not, which I was pleased about. I hope to spend the best part of a day on it this weekend all being well. Jim

I have managed to spend a bit of time on building the Cattle dock during the evenings as I need this to get the correct position for the road and bridge over the river. Here is a brief update of progress so far. The Cattle dock was made from a block of MDF and covered in some thick paper stones - these are all parts from my wifes scrap box from when she built Dolls Houses, I cut the stones to random sizes and fixed them individually. It took some time. The colour was already painted onto the stones when I found the paper. The stones were then bent around the corners and fixed. After a few painstaking hours I have this. It was then time to sort out the sleeper made ramp that leads to the dock and again I discovered some balsa wood scraps in the box and made them from those. These were fitted to a cardboard frame and all glued to the dock itself. Colouring was by using some creosote substitute that was knocking about in the shed - well it is what would have been used isn't it. I did have to leave it outdoors for a bit though. I hope to get a bit more colouring complete and then move on to the dock rails and the groundwork on the base of the pen as and when I get time. Hopefully after Friday I am hoping to have a bit more time. Jim