aberdare

Great work Paul,

the layout has really come together now and looks very good and the attention to detail is bringing it to life.

I hope to see it in the flesh at some time.

Jim

Hi Neil

It's good to see a post from you as I was wondering what was happening on NE when I came back after a long break from the forum, I look forward to seeing your red wagons once they are complete as I have a few under construction as well.

I hope you manage to keep the modelling up, it sounds as if you have a few plans in mind.

Jim

Looks good so far, Jim. I enjoyed the photos in your link, not least Mr Ayres with his prize cow. A common enough photo, but it has a nice atmosphere of summers long ago.

Evening Mikkel

I find a lot of these type of sites full of pictures like that and it is one of the things that makes research so enjoyable, many of them spark ideas for small cameos around the layout and on that particular site one of those that caught my eye was a red Devon bull in a hay cart at market, another an unexploded WW2 bomb at Mackhams farm. On the latter it must have been defused as the farm owners and dog are all gathered around it.

Jim,

 

The trees look great and your scratchbuilding is truly first class. So much inspiration.

Thanks Anthony.

Until I started this in 2012 I had never really built much from scratch so I still think I have room for improvement but we hopefully learn more each day, I know I have and my approach has changed over the last few years.

Jim

Hi Anthony

Welcome to the forum and following the lead set by John & Andy is no bad thing, they were two of the people I followed when I first joined.

I'm not sure what help I can give as I tend to model what I see, no imagination for track plans and freelance buildings whatsoever so it's the real thing or variants of for me. Enjoy your time on here as there is plenty of inspiration to be found.

Jim

As mentioned earlier I am building a farm that will sit on the hillside that will be made on the righthand end of the layout, the hill and further trees will hide the track as it disappears out of sight along with the mainline from Tiverton Junction coming from the other direction. Where the Farm will sit I do not know yet until I see how much room it needs or how big I build it, this area will also be home to a wood mill based on one that existed in the period modelled.

While searching for ideas for a farm I found some pictures of Mackhams Farm on the Blackddown Archives site, two can be seen on this page 

The second one down gives a ggod view as it was around 1900 and the sixth picture down shows an interesting scene crying out to be recreated, sadly the wrong time of year for me but I may still use pigs or something similar.

I used the Petite Properties model as a base as it had a few similarities so once this was constructed it was just a case of deciding on the finish, after a few failed attempts at creating the stone finish I decided on one from Scalescenes (coursed rubble), I chose the N scale option to get the small stone effect and think it works well.

Here is the model to date just waiting for sills and lintels, I may use the windows supplied as interesting though the original windows are I think that they are too difficult a task.

More to follow as I progress over the coming weeks as I complete the house and making barns and outbuildings from card.

Jim

Thanks Jim. Your comments are very much appreciated. And btw, the package you sent to me arrived the other day - brother let me know.....

 

Just a comment on the stupid "likes" system on this Forum. It's a little bit ludicrous that a comment about a piece of modelling can get as many "likes" as the modelling itself. I know we've discussed this before, but I hate the damn things. Sometimes makes me feel that I may as well just post images of unopened, RTR Bachmann or Hornby boxes.

 

Jeff

Ah, in that case you wouldn't get one from me because you would not have made anything, now items like those doors are different, mainly for me due to the way the backing piece and glazing are fitted as I always make a door, that's it and glue it by an edge later, so it all depends on what you see in the post.

After my recent posts on my thread and the realistic models one and I took them all as someone being appreciative of my work and maybe the time I spent sharing that work.

I know I had a discussion with Jason once about this where it was suggested we spread our posts/pictures out to get more likes, but for us it was about sharing achievements in modelling not who gets more ratings.

Anyway back to modelling, I have a farmhouse to make and you a station building, by far the most important things.

Jim

ps Did you see the last E-mail I sent, I did mention in my PM but on checking I see I had edited it but didn't save the changes , well I was a bit busy that day

Hi Jeff.

The building is really coming together now and I like your eye for detail on things like the doors, unless you knew the diagonal planking was there it must be difficult to see from normal viewing distance. Mind you I would be the same.

Can't wait to see the finished building but I must be patient, this level of craftmanship takes time.

Jim

Hi Scott

Just catching up with the layout and It is looking very good, certainly something to be proud of.

You have my sympathy for the coach lining as I have lost count of the number of times I have done something similar through wanting to see the finished item, I've learnt to be much more patient now and not worry about the time taken.

Keep up the great work,

Jim

Hi Jeff

That is going to be one fine looking building when it's complete, I quite like the new brickwork as there now seems to be a little unevenness about the surface just like the real thing, whether it is or not there is a great improvement. I know when I scribed the brickwork for my factory on my portrait cutter I made sure the brickwork and window quoins lined up.

All the best

Jim

How have I missed this layout its amazing the water looks so real and your scenery is  brilliant I shall definitely keep a look out for your posts thank you.

Thanks Chris,

It is quite easy to overlook as it has had some long spells of inactivity over the last couple of years or so, once it drops out of sight things go very quiet.

I'm happy you like the water, we all have our favourite methods and I am a varnish man myself, always solvent based as the water based ones have given me issues in the past with clouding and/or cracking, this one has been getting three or four coats a year since it was started in 2013/14 or whenever it was.

A big thank you to all those who have rated the thread over the last 24 hours.

Jim

Looks amazing

Stunning, Jim. The ones looking along the stream being especially atmospheric and realistic.

Great to see you back Jim, and some really stunning work, you and Kevin / Little Muddle have really inspired me to get on with some more work soon.

 

More pics when your ready, but please don't leave it a year this time mate.

Sorry, I missed a couple of posts in there, thank you for the comments and they make it all worthwhile knowing that I have achieved the look I am after.

The shot along the stream was taken back in January I think, I just happened to be in the shed as the low winter sunlight shone through the door and I just thought it seemed the ideal time to get the camera, obviously it was.

I will try to stick around as it's a lot of work sorting through and posting a years worth of stuff.

Thanks again

Jim

Hi Mikkel

I must admit that is also one of my favourite shots too and acts as my current screensaver.

I had a carers review recently and got asked how I coped when I was required to be in the home all day, "I make things like this" says I indicating the then just started Oak, I had to explain what it was and show how it would look using that very picture. The care co-ordinator just sat there with her mouth open not believing it was all made from stuff I collect on a day to day basis.

That was when I knew I had cracked it, now to get the rest looking the same, it may take some time.

Thanks for commenting

Jim

Ah yes Chris, that little coach was my portrait cutter creation and like you I have a few more waiting for cutting and assembly. Thanks for your comments always appreciated.

Finally a few pics of the Old Oak on the hillside plus another of the hedge with the old rickety fence.

That's it, all up to date now I think so the next project is Mackems farm seen in the background of one of the shots, there is also some rolling stock construction going on but that's for another day.

Thank you all for dropping in and the likes.

Jim

Part 2

That backscene and tree line had gone so a quick review of the layout indicated that I could get another 70mm in that area tapering down to nothing at the other end, about 14ft away. I thought it best to invest in some of the poly backscenes so that is exactly what I did.

The first ones in position. The meadow opposite the station over the river can be seen to be pretty empty at this stage

Then it was onto making the new boar inserts, here's one.

Then it was making some flat trees, these were made in the same way as in the previous post only flattened at the wire stage to get more into a small area, this should help with creating a bit of perspective at the back.

A number of normal trees were also made in various sizes to stand in front of these.

A couple of views of the meadow from the station side. The carriage shed roof has also had a few repairs to improve it's looks.

This is the area that has been replaced and currently has four trees stacked between the pool and the backscene on the new board. More work yet to be done including a willow tree still a work in progress but nearing completion.

Then it was onto hedges,

fence posts

rickety railings

and trees and hedges spreading out over what was the empty meadow

After that it was just adding yet more trees, bushes and fencing so I'll just let the pictures do the talking, the more realistic looking ones are the final effect I want to achieve. Enjoy

That's it for now apart from showing how the old Oak turned out, but I.ll leave that for later.

Thanks for looking and I'll try not too leave it so long next time though I can't promise anything.

Jim

Well it's been almost a year since my last post and you must all think that nothing has happened, but a few things have been and I have now decided to catch up with things. It might take a post or three to get it all uploaded as I sort through and resize photo files.

So here goes.

Scenic work has dominated most of my time and in particular trees, this was due to me having this one as a screensaver for a while and I thought to myself "Jim, that's really poor and just isn't right" so it had to go and it was all removed, more on that later. So it was back to the tree making.

As I am going to show the progress made with 30+ trees it makes sense to show how they are made.

I had always wanted an old Oak to sit in a prominent place on the layout so that you could peek through the almost bare branches at the layout beyond so I set about making one.

First of all I made a wooden block to hold a screw, added solder to the top of the screw and then added wire, 32 cables of 42 strands each (1344 in total).

This is how it looked at the start.

It was then down to twisting into the sort of shape I required. One thing I wanted was for the tree to have a hollow starting to show so this was incorporated into the trunk.

It was then time to start forming the 1344 branches - plus a few extra I wound in - into a tree shape, here's the first few

And here is the finished article, count them if want.

Then I started to cover it with tile grout, a quick spray with water and grout applied through a fine sieve, once dry this was fixed spraying with a thinned brownish varnish, this took several coats until I was happy to see the twists disappear.

The now completed bark finish apart from a little colouring.

A close up of the hollow

Then the addition of finer twigs that will hold the leaves, this was poly fibre donated by the wife who was making a stuffed toy.

This was then teased out very thinly as I don't like too many leaves on tree.

To finish the tree I used my usual mix of coloured tea leaves and powder paint ground up with a mortar & pestle, but more of that in the next post whicch could be a bit picture heavy.

Back in bit

Jim

Oh. I know that picture so well and was hoping to create that very scene in the future so thanks for showing me a good way to make the lamp when I get that far, if you get to build what is in the picture I will certainly be copying your ideas.

Thanks Mikkel, your a star.

Jim

Hi Nick

It's great to see that video filmed by Andy ( thanks Andy) of Much Murkle. As you no doubt remember I was intending to come and see it in operation on the Sunday, however circumstances meant I was unable to attend so it may just have to wait for another time, but I never know until the day whether I can attend or not.

I've had quite a long absence from the forum but hope to be around for a while so will keep an eye open for another opportunity to visit you and Much Murkle.

All the best

Jim

Evening Chris

I am following your experimentation with these quite keenly as I have some of those MJT fittings as well, I will get around to it one day as I have ten 6-wheel Siphons to build/modify so they go around some of the sharper curves on my branchline.

I may get some of the Cleminson ones later from Brassmasters as I have been meaning to for quite some time, it just seems to be one of those jobs I haven't got around to yet.

It as good to catch up earlier and I must make more effort to keep it that way.

Keep up the good work

Jim

I think the Wills dressed stone is the perfect match for the station Jeff, when I looked at the earlier picture from 2001 I thought how much it looked like plasticard sso I think it will be absolutely fine. As for the windows I think you like 'fiddly' things in much the same way I do, in my case it helps focus the mind away from other things despite the odd frustration when bits go astray.

I'm glad to see you have never blocked the thread as it is one of my must read ones on my infrequent visits though I have time at the moment as we have planned to stay in for a few days whilst the weather is a bit wintry, mind you it was quite pleasant in the sunshine in the shed away from the wind this afternoon. Plenty of followers out here just some of us are quieter than others for whatever reason.

Right, back to following the 'Lions cricket team' live stream whilst trying to complete this large specimen Oak I'm working on, I might even find time to post again soon.

Oh! one last thing (off topic-sorry) for Jonathan, I will be at York on the Monday with Linda all being well.

Jim

I've not been in the Bunker so far today. Instead, I've spent a good few hours sketching and planning how I'm going to build the window frames and surrounds for the main station building.

 

Until I started work on the original KL I'd have been looking for a RTP example to do the job. I never understood the attraction of scratchbuilding stuff. Jim (Aberdare) who contributes stuff on here (hope you and Linda are ok, if you read this) once said "Running trains on the layout isn't the priority; I've enough buildings to construct to last me the rest of my days..." (paraphrased, not a direct quote). Over the last few years I can say I "get it" - trying to think up a viable, simple way to build something is a lot of fun. And your construction has individuality, even if it's sometimes a bit rough on the edges (especially if you can't afford sandpaper....)

 

So expect a major scratchbuilding "binge", coming soon to a KL2 near you.

 

Jeff

Hi Jeff

I remember saying something like that many moons ago and I still think that way now though I have problems getting much done these days.

Sadly Lindas health has been poor over the last year or so and I am unable to use anything solvent based products indoors any more, guess what I prefer to use as well, however I do manage to get into my shed now and again to get the odd thing done. Like the last couple of days I have managed to get out there with sunlight streaming through the open door and windows with protection from the breeze, it made it feel quite pleasant whilst working on the scenic side of things. 

Where you concentrate on grass, walls and sheep - looking fantastic by the way - I concentrate on grass, trees and cattle and have spent a few hours twisting wire and throwing homemade leaves over everything, as you say great fun.

So progress for me is little and not often hence the lack of activity and posts.

Getting more on topic I like what I see over the last few pages and those windows of yours look pretty good to me and I've made a few as you know, but three sheds! how many does a man need? Mind you I'm a fine one to talk as i have made quite a few of the same thing too just to see which is best. i also like some of your panoramic shots that show track disappearing into the distance giving that feeling of depth, that's something I am improving on my own work and will share later as most people who have seen my first few photos think they are real, afterall that is what we want to achieve isn't it, a realistic scene that is instantly recognisable.

Right, that's all from me again for a while so keep up the great work Jeff, until next time all the best.

Jim

Time for another update.

Either I have had more time of late or I'm starting to work faster as things seemed to have moved on in the last few days compared to earlier on with the tiling, progress was slow to begin with followed by a break away with the wife and then I had other jobs to do, a bit like some real builders I guess.

The tiling had barely started last time but was completed a couple of days ago and looked like this;

At one time I was only managing a couple of rows a night if anything and I was beginning to think "maybe just maybe I should have used those Wills sheets and got it over with." But no I was determined to see it through after all I'm no Hare.

another shot

Now this one shows the small ridge over the office which was rubbish, it had to go, so it did. The problem was underneath so this was corrected and remade.

The new ridge and also some Yellow Ochre was sprayed on followed by a dusting of black powder paint to give something close to how I want the finish.

One of the next things on the list was Setts or Cobbles in the yard surrounding the building, so I had a look at what I had in stock, some Wills sheets but nowhere near enough. I then found some large flat polystyrene sheets about track high, perfect, could I make them look anywhere near right. Well there was only one way to find out.

I measured out some markings 3 x 4mm apart across and down and cut lines with variations with an old blunt blade to get the gaps, as you would expect the knife likes to wander so I had to make some repairs.

A knife slip

a Paper towel patch

A spot of paint and recut of the grooves

Most of the sheet including repairs which are barely noticeable and it haas now had several sprays of shades of grey, no not 50 about 6, followed by a dusting of black powder paint.

A lower angle shot catching todays sunlight

A small dusting of yellow powder paint to see if I could imitate moss, not convinced by that so a black dusting will be done to cover it and I'll try something else.

Of course with an airbrush full of grey it was the ideal time to spray over the slates and then give it a black dusting

Not the best slate roof I've made but then again it was made when the elbows were really painful. that's my excuse anyway. I do think I can correct a few things on them though to improve the appearance. The gaps in the cobbles will also get a bit more filling now I know how they have come out.

If I can't they will be partly screened by a couple of trees which stood in front of the factory, I think I may have a stab at making some Silver Birch later in the year when this is in place, if I get that far.

Thanks for dropping in

Jim

Hi Kevin

What a great layout you have there.

I also like the idea of a railway running through the countryside but I have a long way to go to catch up with your 320 trees as you can't put too many up too early, I take it the buildings are scratch built too.

I look forward to seeing more of Little Muddle.

Jim

On the subject of point rodding I bought the Wills pack when it first came out but it still sits unused out in the shed as I didn't think it was quite right, I am now looking at the Brassmasters stuff but with the ModelU stools (GWR style) threaded with wire as I saw on Great bears Marlingford & Begbrook layout.

Like you I need to consider this soon or I'll have the ballast down before you know it, well maybe not at the speed I work at.

Jim

nag nag nag; join the society!

 

http://www.emgs.org/join/

I wish I'd had someone to nag me when I was seriously thinking about it, instead I had my old man accusing me of becoming one of them 'rivet counters'

All looking good Jeff and I'm still quietly keeping an eye on things.

Jim