aberdare

Although Jim said he had enough I did have a quick look on the britainfromabove site, but sadly there's nothing close to Hemyock on there. I think I just struck it lucky that there happened to be a shot that showed my door and window positions! But being in awe of Jim's creations on Hemyock I don't think that any amount of correct position of apertures on my part will get me anywhere near the quality of workmanship from Jim!

 

Kind regards, Neil

Gosh! Thanks Neil but all I try to do is my best in whatever way I can, it can take a few attempts sometimes though.

Right a bit of modelling has continued and I have a structure for the old mill now built in stone, the frontage of the rest of the building is almost complete with the exception of the loading bay and canopy, once I have the full building footprint complete it will be the windows next.

A few pics to show progress.

I will make the rear walls out of plain card painted brick colour as I will be the only one who will see them in that far corner of the layout. If the build keeps going at this pace then I may just have a go at the tiles on the roof later but whichever style I choose I know it will be one of the longest jobs bar the final colouring which will get done loads of times before I will be content with the finished building.

As long as I can get it looking something like the original and reproduce some of those early pictures in miniature I will be very happy.

Jim

Hi Chris

Thanks Chris but I think I have found out most of what I need to know now.

I gathered together everything I have and had a good close look at it all, the bays are actually wooden and they or something similar were there before the new factory was built in 1897. I noticed also that they had pantiles on the roof not slates as I first thought but I may go for the latter as it is quicker and easier, I don't think I could face making tiles for a roof that size but you never know as I am prone to changing my mind if I get need to 'do it right'.

I've chosen to do the mill in stone as I feel that is right and the new frontage I have made already looks better, some materials just suit a building and it will add to the general scene in that corner of the layout.

Still not sure of the office or its doors yet but I have been comparing the OS maps of 1888 and 1903 to highlight where new building has taken place so I have a few options now.

Having just got all appointments and other things out of the way I hope to make good progress over the coming days, fingers crossed that that is the case.

Jim

Hi Jim, Just love that Stream, superb, and as for the Butter Factory, I'm looking forward to seeing that complete.

Hi Andy, thanks, the River is one of the main features as it will be around 14ft long when finished so it deserved some special attention so I'm pleased that it is looking the part. The Butter factory will take me most of the winter as it is around 400mm long 100/120mm deep but I hope to complete it, only the goods shed to go then.

Very nice Jim, and suitable for the season.

 

The vegetation is superb, but the way you have designed and modelled the path is what really "makes" the scene for me. The figure is also very well positioned, often one person is all that is needed.

Hi Mikkel, there is a path in real life coming to a bend and pool in the river- albeit in the other direction - so it was always going to be there, I do like to try and get a number of things to look at in each view without overdoing it, another reason for the lone figure, enough to break the scene but not crowd it. Interestingly his walking stick is a panel pin that I hammered in to hold him up, looks OK though.

Brilliant modelling Jim, I do like it and the stream is just brilliant.

 

I see that your workbench is, er, tidy, unlike mine, and that you are not able to afford the high tech gadgets like, old shoe box lids, coffee jar lids etc.  

 

All the best.

Hi Chris, your comment made me smile as you should see my proper modelling bench outside, at least 6 shoe boxes, loads of coffee jars and any number of lids, pots and containers everywhere. The one you see is the concession made to allow me to model on the Dining Table.

Hi Jim,

 

Love the stream with the footpath beside it, and I now understand the revised title of the thread - the butter factory!

 

When I saw "A portrait in Butter" I thought you'd had another accident like the "Great Varnish Flood of 16" only with a more edible substance

 

Al.

Hi Al, Thanks but no accident this time, I can't think of what could have happened with 1/2lb 250g of butter though,

The title as you guess is the fact that the building has been cut on the Portrait cutter, the very fine mortar lines make it difficult to paint though.

I have had a few busy days so have not achieved as much as I had hoped so progress will be slow until nearer the end of the week. I did manage to get some doors made and fitted to the Mill end and get some paint on it.

The doors do open and close as I like them to do that so I can model inside should I get the time.

Another reason for a pause is to think about the two loading bays, I can't tell from the photos what the finish is as there is no sign of brickwork and the only planking appears to be a canopy over the left hand door. It could be a rendered finish over stone/brick, this got me thinking then as a lot of the industry and farm buildings were nearly all stone and as I don't really know what the mill was built of it is possible that this was stone. Being an early building I think that may have been the case so I need to make my mind up so I can change it before I build the rest, I wouldn't mind that as I want it to stand out against the new (1897) factory.

Another thing is as I only know what part of the front and rear elevations look like I have no idea where an office door or main entrance would have been as I can see none apart from the bays, so I could assume that the business is still ran mainly from the original one in the Village or maybe from the large cottage I built which I have assumed was the original mill owners property.

As you can see this isn't exactly a well detailed and planned project but I'm sure it will all turn out OK in the end.

Hi Jamie

I just saw the title of your thread saying you were going back to buildings so thought I would have a quick look, well it turned into quite a long look as I think all of your buildings are very good - as is the rest of your modelling - so I will follow this whenever I get the chance.

As for you being one of the slowest modellers on here you would have to 'owd tha hosses' a bit to be as slow as I am now.

Great work across all aspects of modelling and very informative and inspirational.

Jim

Belated birthday wishes from me as well Shaun, nothing wrong with being in your 50s, I was still walking up and down Scottish mountains then, it's that 60+ one that gets you and the agility goes a bit and you keep tripping over your feet. Well I do anyway so just stick to the hills of Yorkshire now.

Layout looks to be coming on great and I still marvel at the carpentry that is ending up under all that scenery.

Keep up the good work.

Jim

Hi Jeff

I agree with most if not all of what you and Jason are saying as my own work will show a good representation of the places I model within the constraints of the shed, it is that sense of place that makes them easily recognisable that is more important to me than any timetable. As for stock it will represent the period with one or two specials that appeal to me that may or may not have been seen back in 1904 and that goes for the odd loco too, the branch locos though will be as close to prototype as I can make them.

The running will be mainly for the entertainment of visitors only as I will easily be engrossed in building stuff for the rest of my days, chances are they will only run a couple of times a year then, that's even less than the four trains a day that ran to Hemyock six days a week.

Simon,

Thank you.  I think I used a water based flux but I was not convinced that I could hold wire, solder, iron and a tiny piece of wire so and get the solder on in a small dob so there is quite a bit of solder on them.  Thinking about it now, isn't hindsight wonderful, I could have used two long bits and then cut them once soldered although this may have only been slightly easier.  I may try the wet and dry.

Hi Chris

When I saw your post this morning that was exactly my thought but I didn't have time to reply then, I also solder them on a bit of aluminum angle to hold one of the pieces still and then use a very fine point soldering bit.

All looking good so far and I shall eagerly await the next step, in your own time of course'

I like the comment about your wife though as it reminds me of mine who often says "Who's going to notice a tiny thing like that, I wouldn't bother".

Jim

Mine needs updating too, like John mine was built almost 40 years ago.

I think you have definitely shown us the way to go here Mikkel so thanks for that, mine will be used at the Junction (eventually) as there was a saddle tank based there though it was an outside framed one which I think was numbered 1923**

but without consulting my notes I can't be sure but I know in the early days it was known as 'Dromedary'.

Now see what you have done though, another project logged on the to do list

Great work as usual

Jim

edit.* I was miles out it was 1325

Just a quick update from me.

No modelling yesterday and the Ladies enjoyed their cake, especially the chocolate one.

Right back to far more important matters, the model. I managed to spend a bit of time on the river again today but it is all a bit time consuming making the weeds and sticking.  them to the banks, they are made from various seed heads, doormat fibres or dyed string. What I like about them is the fact they are crooked not dead straight.

Not much more to say really so I'll just post some pictures.

I might have to darken those weeds a little more as they always looked washed out on the photographs'

A lot more work ahead to get it finished but if I do a little each day it won't seem too bad.

Jim

Hi Al

I have just been having a catch up on your new thread and I love that tunnel mouth with the lettering and it just shows how versatile and useful thee portrait cutter can be, I am determined to make make more use of mine. Seeing as I am in and around the house much more I hope to use those winter evenings to create more than I have so far.

It looks as if we both had a bit of time away from the forum but seem to have come back refreshed.

All the best mate and I look forward to whatever comes next.

Jim

Steve

I think you are right about the shine it does look a bit wet but I know I can't live with it as there was a faint sheen to the platform front before and that annoyed me, as mentioned earlier though all will be well.

Glad you like the coach, it really is an unusual size though I kept thinking I had got it wrong though it was so small.

Thanks Mikkel

It's good to be back doing something, I just hope to keep it up for a while.

Extraordinary landscaping skills you say, well thank you very much for that comment as it means a lot to someone who is colour blind and just tries his best, maybe it is because I rely on natural things as much as I can to complete the scene.Talking of which it is that time of year when I wander around the country lanes or a friends farm with camera and carrier bag in hand, I'm needing to top up on a few items that proved successful.

One of these can be seen in this box

I think I can remember what they are but they do make lovely small grass clumps so I will be needing several more

and they look quite good in small groups alongside the path and there is room for plenty more.

I did manage to complete some more work along the river today so this is where it all finished up at the end of play today.

I won;t get much done tomorrow as I am on baking duties as it is the wifes turn to supply cakes at her Craft Group on Monday and those Ladies certainly enjoy their cake,

Jim

Jim,

Glad to see you back modelling and that life has given you a chance to do so.  Hope all is well, and I look forward to seeing more of your work.  I really like your coach, just a brilliant prototype well modelled.

Thanks Chris

I'm never sure how long I will be back for as we have to take each day as it comes and the winter is always a tricky period, glad you like the coach and I hope to finish it soon after a year chipping away at it. Believe it or not it's only a few days work.

I shall try and keep an eye on your progress too.

That water does look good. How do you get the ripples?

 

Rich

Ah yes, the water Rich.

I wish I could say just do this, that and the other and all will be perfect. On the earlier attempt pictured last year it all looked great until the winter when it clouded over and didn't clear until early June, I was not happy about that as I had no problems previously.

This made me look at the reasons and it would seem that the last coats were with an exterior water based polyurethane varnish whereas earlier coats were yacht varnish. So in my experience I would always use an oil based one.

Now the ripples, more a happy accident than by design but I have found that by using natural gritty earth/sand to colour the bed - stuck on a thin coat - rather than paint and it causes the varnish to get little raised bumps and each subsequent coat follows these as it smooths out. I tend to see how it feels, if a bit rough, another coat when smooth it's fine.

It can ripple with a thicker coat but if you get that wrong it messes it all up so I don;t do that anymore, back in the 70s I just used to pour it in and leave it.

Anyway that's how it works for me.

Really glad to see you back posting again Jim, despite the "Great Varnish Flood of '16".

 

When I initially read your description I feared the worst, but looking at the photos it appears to be merely annoying rather than complete disaster, so very glad about that.

 

Look forward to more of your exquisite modelling,

 

Al.

Thanks Al

Yes I feared the worst too as I watched varnish spreading everywhere, luckily there was a nice big open space for it to go to once I had lifted the platform, now it's all dry I have found the fibre burnishing brush an invaluable friend and with a bit of weathering all should be well.

I'll have to catch up with you later as there seems to have been a change in your focus.

A bit more to post yet but need to do other stuff for a bit, back soon.

Jim

Now then Paul.

What a great subject to model, I have often walked around that area and Rosedale is one of the places me and the wife take her relatives when they visit, I always thought that the railway was worth modelling and if I hadn't done all the research and got the stuff for my layout, well, who knows?

It's good to see all the history of the line too as I was always fascinated by it, so thanks for bringing it to life, so to speak. I love those two engines in your first post too, they have a unique beauty all of their own and I look forward to other developments, great period to choose as well.

Jim

Hi Chris

Long time no see. It's good to see you progressing with some coach building and I look forward to seeing the finished results, it's certainly looking good so far and it is definitely one of those things you can't rush. 

It must be great minds think alike though as I have been moving on with my coach build and maybe just a bit in front of you because mine has paint on.

Keep up the inspirational work and I must spend a little time later catching up with the good folk of Traeth Mawr.

Jim

Well after a long break from forums I thought it time for a return especially after the disaster I posted about in updates earlier today, yes the great Hemyock varnish flood of 2016. More of that later.

I have managed to do something over the last few weeks after a long bout of illness so let's have a catch up.

I had made some sides for the small 13ft coach of the CVLR last August but in true Jim fashion did I use them, of course not, I made some new ones as there were a few annoying little things about it that I didn't like.

This is the coach in question for those who don't of it. http://spellerweb.net/rhindex/UKRH/GreatWestern/Narrowgauge/NGCoaches.html

I have no pictures of the early part of the build but this is it after having the wheels fitted.

I then got sidetracked for a while by extending the baseboard to complete the river as this was something I have been wanting to do for some time and to have a small wooden bridge over the river, so after a couple of days work I reached this stage, oh! and I added some stepboards to the coach. Oh! (again) I added some handrails, 0.3mm wire, those small drills can be a bit flexible though.

The coach really is tiny when placed next to any of my others, here it is on its own on the new bridge over the Culm.

The large yellow hairy thing in the background is yet another ongoing project but more on that at a much later date.

Next up was to get the landform around the river to give it a reason for taking a sharp right-hand turn (in reality it goes the other way, away from the hill but then I wouldn't have a bridge would I?). So out came the cardboard and glue to make the formers, on went the brown paper, followed by the soil and finally some green flock.

Of course it doesn't end there as I now have to add static grasses and various oddities from my scenic materials and varnish into the river, oh yes that bloody varnish!

A couple of pictures showing the state of play today.

It was at this stage I thought it was the right moment to connect the two river parts - existing and new - together, so a top coat was applied over the whole length. Now I was just completing the end opposite the station when I moved the tin of varnish only to see it slip from my grasp and crash onto the rails in front of the station building, tip towards it and spill some of the contents over the building and platform. "Oh dear" I exclaimed "what a silly fellow I am."

No panic from me though just a resigned sigh at the thought of unnecessary work ahead which could and should have been avoided, I completed the task in hand and made the tin and brush safe before examining the model. It was mainly in the parcels office office area and had stained the platform and gone up the walls, here it is after mopping up the varnish.

I had to spread it all along the platform as I would have had a stained patch where the building was, the sliding door was removed before it set unlike the booking office doors which will now be non opening, as for the walls I will wait to see how they dry to decide if the staining of them and the doors will be left after removing the shine.

Nothing I can't correct but just not needed at this time.

So some progress over the last year but nowhere near as much as I would like, but that's life.

That's all for now and we will see what the coming weeks/months bring.

Jim

All looking good Jeff, very impressive indeed and my apologies for my absence and I hope to be more attentive from now on, excuse posted in the Lounge.

With regard to grass applicators I only have a 'cheapy' but am happy with the results, I always grass over flock and vacuum 10/15 minutes later with a handheld vacuum on half power, I occasionally sprinkle some very fine flock in if needed.

Will be back sometime later to hit you with a rash of 'likes'

Jim 

A rare visit from me but I do have a note from my Mum sir.

I only popped onto the forum back March/April to read about Jock and just couldn't be bothered to post anything, this followed a long period of illness and Lindas deteriorating health.

I suffered several months of 'Medically Unidentified Symptoms' which just left me feeling pretty down about things but all seems well again now, it's now just the wifes needs that keep me tied up and short of time.

I'd better have a quick look around and even update my own thread which is sadly neglected.

I hope all is well with everyone else.

Jim

Thanks for the best wishes Jock, Chris and Armin, and yes Armin it has been quiet but as Jock has said I do have another priority that impacts greatly on my time.

I did look back through the thread and was surprised to see that I haven't actually built anything for 15 months which is far too long, I used to do a lot of building during the winter months but  this hasn't happened either last or this winter due to changes around the home. Currently there are just too many interruptions or obstacles to achieve any modelling so I have just given up trying - for now anyway - but something will happen later and an update will follow whenever that is, i am determined that this project will be built eventually.

Some things did happen though but haven't really left me any further forward, the Junction had a few things that niggled me but I was happy to live with them or to work round them, until one point really did need relaying, this turned into two, then three and so on until an hour later when all the track was neatly labelled and lying in the meadow opposite Hemyock station. A little later and all the baseboards and cross members had followed. All was relaid and it now looks pretty much the same only different, but there are no niggles now and my Grandson and I were out on it the other day.

The only other thing was a couple of coach sides were cut out and almost completed for the little 15ft 3 compartment coach for the CVLR, these were left under some weight 9 or more weeks back so should be dry and flat now :scratchhead:I'll have to have a look.

So that's it, all up to date and I think it may be a few months before much more has happened but I will let you all know when and if it does.

My thanks for your continued interest and please don't give up on me because I am definitely not giving up on this project now or later.

Best wishes to everyone for 2016 and happy modelling.

Jim

I too have just fitted internal doors upstairs as well as building a full length cupboard in the spare room to enable me to have a modelling space in there, but now I am in full caring mode as the wife has had a number of issues lately. Life gets in the way of modelling sometimes and we just have to remain patient until we get time again.

It looks as if itt will be the New Year by the time we are all back on track but good to see you have managed a little progress Chris.

All the best

Jim

Morning Chris

I know exactly how you feel but it looks good, honestly.

The trouble is that you could paint it loads of times and think 'I've cracked it this time' only to change your mind a few days later, I do that all the time, I remember talking to Aiden Campbell at York one year and he showed me the same scene in six different versions and asked me which one I liked the best and why, he then pointed out features on another which then became the favourite, only to then go through the same thing on another. At the end of the day it was all about perception of what was in front of you and where the eye focused, I just wish I would remember that when I paint my own stuff so I don't spend the next twenty years painting that flipping retaining wall of mine.

It's all looking great so far and a few of your excellent figures with it will create an excellent scene.

All the best

Jim

I can see why you tried the strips on edge first now, I would have done the same because of the smaller bars going across and into them. I think I would have been through several versions by now which is why I never get anywhere.

It looks to be a bit of a challenge so I'll be interested to see the finished result, I'm almost tempted to have a go myself but I mustn't

I look forward to seeing this completed.

Jim

Hi Chris

Good to see progress on the shelter.

As for the brickwork I have always painted the bricks first and then the mortar as you have, I use enamels and the mortar is very diluted and I only have to touch an edge or gap with a very fine loaded brush and the colour flows very freely, standing the wall almost vertical helps the downward flow between the courses. I only have an odd brick or two to touch up later because of any clumsiness.

As for windows I have used labels, separate strips and was happy with both but now use my portrait cutter - it cuts straighter than me - though I do the final cut with a small knife. The cutter is the best thing I have invested in so far.

Keep up the good work and if it doesn't work first time try again, like I do. I should really have two or three of everything by now.  

Jim

It was obviously just too hard to resist building just a little bit to see how it looks wasn't it  

All looking good though Jeff and I am envious of your progress. I have now caught up with all my domestic tasks and set up a modelling station indoors and hope to get back into my winter modelling soon.

Will keep following to watch progress.

Jim

It's not just my eyes then, I thought it was my dodgy colour vision as I always have problems with either red or blue text.

As for your project I just love hills and viaducts and as long the result has a realistic feel to it that's OK by me. As you know I try to follow the real thing as close as possible but with virtually no original buildings left it's not easy and I sometimes model my interpretation of what I think it looks like, however that sometimes proves wrong as some new pictures have been found of old Hemyock showing that one of my cottages is wrong, too late now though as I'm not doing it again.

So all in all as long as we catch the essence of the place all is well.

Still annoyed by that ruddy cottage though, he should have left the pictures in his dads loft. :mosking:

Jim