Physicsman

So, sometime between 1997 and 2009, then. You don't work quite as fast as the infamous Bodgit, do you? Anyway, now you've unearthed them - and since I believe you're now retired - you've plenty to keep you busy during the long winter nights! Jeff

So come on, Peter.... How many years have those been hiding in the wardrobe?

Thanks. I've sent you an email - Ais Gill related!

Thanks John, just the kind of comment I like to hear! Hi Peter. I contacted Julie at York Modelmaking about the walkway. She couldn't remember what they (her and her husband run the business) used as a prototype. Maybe it was a mistake. Either way, I've decided to leave the 'box in its present form, though if I build another I'll omit the back section. Ballast is one of the things I'm always cautious about. I like it to be understated, blending in with no OTT highlighting or - on regularly used lines - weeds, static grass etc. Prototype pics of the S&C show that it was very well maintained, even if it didn't carry a lot of traffic. J.

Grassing continues, so here are a few more pics. The depth of field is a bit limited in some - but they show what's going on. The "kink" in the link to the lie-by is deliberate - it's a slight S-bend - and isn't a case of laying track under the influence. a

Yes, Graeme. I always chuckle when I get a package from FLO with that sticker on it. The last moon imaging I did was in May. Low altitude and night length can account for June to August, but the turbulent atmosphere and continuing cloud cover has wiped-out the last 3 months. I normally manage about 5 sessions in each of October and November, so the current situation is very poor. At least there's the modelling to occupy my time. J.

A few bright, crisp days are good for the psychology. Doesn't seem quite as bad, emerging from the Bunker into darkness, if old friends like Jupiter, the Moon and stars are beaming down.

I simply used the names of those who'd posted on here today - but managed to omit Rich. Sorry about that, Rich! As for worse names....well, I never really liked "Jeff" anyway... Or maybe "the names have been changed to protect the innocent"? Extending this idea has me visualising a 4' x 2' board with a Cumbrian or North Yorkshire village Market Street, cobbles and all, a couple of pubs on either side and a single track line running down the middle. The latter isn't quite prototype, but tons of room for modelling and an old 3F pulling a train of sh1tty wagons full of scrap and wood moving down the line.... Jeff.

VERY true, David. I hate the fact that when I pop my head out of the Bunker door at 4pm it's already pretty dark! However, as an astronomer there's the silver lining of longer nights for looking at the moon and stars. IF we ever see them when the bl**dy clouds depart. Eh, Graeme? J.

Hi Rich. I may be a physicist, but I've not perfected the art of lengthening the days. I DO love building landscapes, but I guarantee a LOT of running locos when the 00 plank is built. AND a lot of scenery. Just do what you can. If a layout or project takes years, fine, as long as you enjoy doing it. Better slow than rush and mess things up! J.

Graeme, you've given me an idea for a future diorama - the one after "Ais Gill" (name has been sorted, but will have to wait until the new thread starts), perhaps. I like the idea of a walling background to a small, part-village scene, to allow some scratchbuilding of structures. I could even have a few model people out front, swigging down their pints. Maybe name them Jeff, Graeme, David and Jonathan?!!

I've attached a couple of pics - not especially good - off the 'phone, to show what I've been doing. Things on the wall and grass front are going slowly because of the lower temperatures and the multiple layers needed for the plaster/base coat/flock/base grass/longer grass procedure. I'm still at 2mm base grass at the moment, hence the gaps in the grass coverage, but the wall continues to extend. I'll post some "proper" pics when this aspect of the work is "finished". Anyway David, as you can see, the snow has retreated! Jeff

PM sent. Don't worry Brian, it's happening to all of us. At least we're still able to recognise that it's happening, so maybe we're not that far gone! Jeff

The titanic trio will be making further "beast appearances" in the coming months, along with invited guests. I shall endeavour to "play to the crowds" in the future with more railway-related items, such as newly unboxed locos and station-completion work. J.

Just terrible, Steve. I bet you spent ages thinking those up..... No need to be sheepish, and swill your mouth out for the terrible humour. I'm grinding my teeth just reading the stuff. Befits a true Ram, eh? Just beware of all that cat-litter you came across yesterday! J.

Thanks Brian. This is the third appearance of our 4-legged friends. If you haven't seen them before and you fancy a good groan at the terrible "humour", have a look back to June: pages 47 and 49. Jeff

The return of pig and sheep.... "Hey, lads, stop munchin' and and luk at this!!" "Wozzat, pig?" "Less of yer cheek, lad, c fer yerself...." "Oooh, thass pritty! I luv that red culler. Fanzy a clossur luk?".... "Yep. Eyel 'ave a luk inside...." "Its a bit 'ard on the joints, goin' up 'ere" "Pig - DON'T mention JOINTS!! We're terrified thass 'ow weel end up!" "Don't wurry, lads - I've got sum gud news fer ya....! "NO cattle dock!! Grate stuff - weer safe....." "Errr, Yes - until Jeff bilds it on 'ere....." "At the rate ees goin' it mite be in the spring. Oh sh1t! I think weed bettur cleer off....." Yes, I know it's silly, but so what? No worse than some of the stuff I've seen on the Forum in the last couple of days! Anyway, pics of embankments, grass and walling by the start of next week. And David - (almost) all the "snow" has gone! Jeff

Well, you did recall the old Esso mantra, "put a tiger in your TANK"! Unless Gill Head converts to a wargaming scenario, there'll be none of them screaming across the fells. I do actually have some Esso tank wagons. I think I converted a number of them to EM, some of the models notable for the scalpel-resistant plastic on the brake blocks. As for the Mankini - or Mankini Man model..... Better not discuss them, we wouldn't like to shock some of the younger viewers!! Jeff

Andy, the thing that is bizarre is that the picture that appears in the hyperlink appears on page 33 of the thread. It has nothing to do with Gill Head at all - I didn't even post it. Post 1 already has relevant pics and the hyperlink was for page 5. So why THAT image? Not home at the mo, so will contact AndyY when I get there. At least it's not the stuffed tiger that Jonathan referred to!!

Thanks Jonathan. Already managed to delete the damned thing. Other people have come across this issue with the garden viaduct image being associated with any links put to this thread. I know it doesn't really matter, but WHY is that particular picture associated with this thread? It doesn't appear for pages and pages after page 1. I'll PM Andy York about it. J.

Can someone tell me how to delete the hyperlink in the post above - the one with the stupid photo that has nothing to do with me? I really don't see why that picture - from a post somewhere around page 10 of this thread - is associated with my text from post 1. I want rid of it. Any suggestions? Rich? (right click doesn't give me the option to "select" or "delete") DONE IT using backspace.

Rich, good to hear all is going well, including the mojo. My motivation has been oscillating since completion of the viaduct in March. But I always seem to be able to find something - usually a bit of walling - to get me through any "lapses". I really didn't fancy going back to work on the goods shed a couple of months back (it still isn't QUITE finished), but once I started it was great fun. Same with the signal box kit - after 15 minutes I was hooked! And so it goes on.... So good luck with your current projects. Jeff

Colin, having just read the stuff I wrote, I need to clarify.... The cross girders that join the L girders together are all (4 of them, spaced 80cm along the girder) the same as the girder separation: eg. 750mm. Screwed from the top, permanently, to make the "L table". I then fixed cross joists onto the bottom of the 12mm baseboard. Screwed into the ply from UNDERNEATH to allow access at a future time. Not easy to get at with scenics and rail on top! These joists were then attached to the girder table via screws driven UP through the girder flange into the joist. Because the screws into the joists attached to the ply are accessible, they can easily be undone and shifted about, if a change is needed. This makes sense to me, but that means nothing!!!!

Hi Colin. If you have a look at pages 5 and 6 of this thread... The L girders on page 5 were made from "metric" 4 x 2 - they were 2.4m long and using 89 x 38mm timber produce an L girder of about 127 x 89mm. Substantial and WAY larger than necessary. With 3x2 cross timbers (I'd used 2x2 previously, but 3x2 was what I had here), I built the girders about 2'6" ( 750mm) apart. The new "plank" I'll be building will use 3x2 for the girders, and be 600mm apart. The 600 and 750mm values are from the back of the rear girder to the front (of flange) of the front girder. My main baseboard varies from 750mm at one end to about 850mm at the other end, so the cross girders were cut to the width of the board at that place. They were 750mm at one end and thus flush with the flange, but 850mm at the other, thus protruding 100mm from the flange. The cross girder ends provide a place to which a fascia board can be attached - not yet done on Gill Head. Is that useful? Please let me know if it's gobbledegook!! Jeff.