Mythocentric

I tried to edit this into the last post but it just wouldn't play: Andy P I'm hanging my head in shame what with bragging about the Strat to an ex-pro muso and all! In fact I think I'll go hide behind the settee! (That's what I do when the grandaughters arrive!). Actually your mention of Gary Moore is very apt along with Snowy White, both great exponents of the Les Paul. That is next at the top of my list of guitars to own. We don't have a lot here in Morecambe but we do have a truly great music shop in Promenade Music. Who knows, maybe when I sell my next picture? Regards Bill

Hi Jeff As promised here is Bill’s Guide to airbrush stuff (Usual disclaimer applies). This is the Aztec 4709 as it comes, airbrush (centre). Don’t worry about the weird shape, it’s a really comfortable brush to hold. The roller on top at the back allows you to move it from full dual-action to single action. The nozzles (at the top) from left to right cover work from very fine mist (perfect for weathering!) to broad coverage. The black and white nozzles at the end are for acrylics. Others are available. The needles are self-contained in the nozzles so if you need to replace one (rare) they cost around £8 each. The paint cups at the bottom will hold as much paint as you need for the job in hand and simply plug into the side of the airbrush. They fit either side as you prefer with a blanking plug (supplied)in the other side. Cleaning is very simple. When you finish work, fill one of the bottles with thinners (I use common white spirit) and spray it through until it comes out clean. Remove the nozzle, clean the nozzle mounting with a cotton bud soaked in thinners. The red tool at the top left has bits to clean out stubborn paint but its not usually necessary. If you want you can leave the nozzle soaking in thinners for a while to get rid of any last traces of paint without problems because the whole brush is impervious to most solvents including acetone. Written instructions are kept to a minimum, which you’ll appreciate if you are anything like me and manual, with most of the info contained on a DVD which includes a good guide to working with an airbrush. As I mentioned earlier, I bought mine from www.modelexmodelrailways.co.uk and was delivered in three days (excellent!) but it may be worthwhile checking out your local art supply shops quite a few of whom sell Aztec. The compressor is a Mantua Model AS18-2. It’s an oil-less piston type with air filter, pressure guage and moisture trap. Auto start and stop, i.e it only runs when it’s supplying air to the reservoir (in action it runs for seconds!). Thermal protection and supplies 20-23 litres/second. This one came from Model and Hobby World in Lancaster. Available mail order at www.lancastermodelshop.co.uk but again check around. There are a lot of similar types around. The main thing to look for are the reservoir tank, moisture trap and pressure setting gauge all of which make life much easier. Its also very quiet in action which makes the neighbours happy (my last one sounded like I was about to attack the road with a pneumatic drill! I paid £119 for the compressor (thats about 10 cans of tinned wind as Jason aptly puts it!) and £99.95 for the airbrush. Finally, the Aztec is supplied with a vinyl air hose which is fine but they do have a fairly short working life so its worth investing in a braided air hose at around £15 (from Model and Hobby World). If you do buy one you will also need a couple of 1/4in BSF to Aztec adaptors (from Eileens Emporium). It might seem a fair outlay at around £235 for the lot but when you consider my last set of Kolinsky Sable brushes cost me £140 for 6 brushes it does look pretty reasonable. Not to mention the fact that it will last a whole lot longer! Andy G (uax6) Don’t get me started on chips! I’m having enough trouble finding 4mm scale newspaper to wrap them in! Allegheny 1600 Sorry about missing the Tull and the superlative Mr. Anderson. Another great favourite together with Family. I'm thinking Jeff should start a music thread in Wheeltappers. Just think of the fun we'd have then! Regards to all Bill

uax6: You naughty person you!!! I'm detailing the interior of a chip shop with counter and tables and thats bad enough. With my eyes I have enough trouble! For naked ladies (and chaps come to think of it) have a look at the Prieser range of figures (Just remember, you didn't read this here, this is a decent thread!) Regards Bill

Hi Jeff As the saying goes...Great Minds Think Alike, though I'm puzzled as to how my befuddled little head fits into that. Seriously though. It's amazing how many rock-fans and musicians there are on the forum. Trisonic springs readily to mind and a quick glance through the Songtitles thread proves it! Rush...innovative and natural successors to Floyd in my mind. Sadly for me, the only time I had the opportunity to see them I came down with the dreaded lurgy (flu) and missed out. I'm currently listening to Havoc and Bright Lights from Alanis Morrissette. Another firm favourite and best singer-songwriter to come out of Canada since Joni Mitchell (aka. The Queen!) As for the Old Peculiar, well theres a free-house pub nearby which I pass on my way into and back from town, and for some strange reason I just can't walk past. Same thing with The Train Shop. Weird isn't it? What can you do? Music, model railways and nectar. Life doesn't get any better does it? I've just recharged the batteries in my camera so I'll take a couple of pics of the airbrush and compressor. Post on here or would a PM be better? Regards Bill

Hee Hee! Now you’re talking! Andrew P has just gained 100 Estimation Points! Pink Floyd the greatest rock band ever! Believe it or not, I first saw them live in 1967 complete with a (rather bemused) Syd Barrett, then 21 times after that ending at Earl’s Court. I have all the albums but favourite has to be Wish You Were Here. I really can’t agree with Andrew P about Floyd making good background music to modelling for the simple reason that I stop modelling and just start listening. Same thing happens with Rush (another firm favourite and complete collection!) By the way Andrew P don’t dream about that Stratocaster, go and get one! A few years ago I received a very nice rebate from the taxman which allowed me to achieve one of my lifetime ambitions in the shape of a US-built American Special Strat with Texas pickups together with a Marshall MX30 amp. I don’t care if I’m the worst player ever it’s just such a beautiful thing to possess! Incidentally, speaking of rock chicks. My neighbour Sue was the girlfriend of Jimmy Paige back in the early days of Led Zepp and she’s my best mate! Does that count? Uax6: My comment still applies. I’ve studied and modelled the L&Y for years and have never had the courage to step back and model it in pre-grouping form. The extra dedication that takes can only be admired. It seems we are in the same boat at least. The new layout (Theakestone) at the moment consists of two sets of terraced houses, a factory, station platforms, Holmfirth goods shed all in various states of completion. Goods and coaching stock kits mostly built, ready for painting and various loco’s awaiting attention from my airbrush (including a rather nice 9F, purchased today, for which I blame Jeff! Hee Hee!). I’ve just taken delivery of the baseboards built by a local joiner so at least I can finally start tracklaying! Jeff George Dent’s Airbrushing for Railway Modellers is highly recommended as is Tim Shackleton’s book Aspects of Modelling: Weathering Locomotives. Incidentally, Jeff, my local model shop has Hornby’s Dent Station Building. I could easily pick one up for you I’m thinking about those bargeboards! What’s a television? Sorry.....back to RELEVANT............ Regards to all Bill

Given the spiralling cost of life today it is generally true that overtime working is widespread as more people try to make ends meet. On reflection, perhaps that is largely self-inflicted which also applies to leisure time. There are so many distractions today it can be difficult to remain focussed on one thing. This is probably where railway modellers differ from the majority. We do have a pastime which can become all-absorbing and enable us to undertake projects which others would'nt even consider. For myself as an artist my workday (if it can be called that) starts when inspiration strikes or when I recieve a commission. (My record so far is starting at around 5pm one day and finishing at 10pm the following day). Not the usual routine you'd agree but it pays the bill's.

Back again. Two posts in one day? I’m in danger of becoming prolific! (I had to look that up in the dictionary not being in my usual vocabulary!) Thought I’d let you know you’ve convinced me and a 9F will be added to my stock within 24 hours. Fortunately, Richard at The Train Shop here at the centre of the universe has just had a new delivery. Airbrush! Essential tool and I can very highly recommend the Aztec 470. Unlike most airbrushes the needles are separate units which you change as necessary (saves a fortune on buying different airbrushes for different jobs!). I’ve used them for quite a few years now for everything from modelling to artwork and they do a b****y good job. After all, if they are good enough for Martyn Welch, etc. I bought mine from www.modelexmodelrailways.co.uk as a kit (A4709) which includes 6 tips for enamel and acrylic, four top feed cups and two side feed bottles and cost around £99.95. They are also far easier to clean than a 'standard' airbrush so more time and less hassle! Don’t forget to add in a compressor, preferably with piston, reservoir tank and vapour trap all of which are essential if you don’t want the air supply pogo’ing up and down as you work. In reply to uax6's post, I don't think it's as much modellers getting lazy as much as being spoilt for choice plus a very limited amount of leisure time in todays world. Your mate has a valid point. I model the early/mid 50's because that's the period I remember most clearly and I've had similar replies from a lot of other people I've asked. I'm lucky enough to have spent the first 20 years of my life in close proximity to steam and it's a time which stays with me as a, sort of, golden age. As I mentioned earlier on here, the sight and sound of a 9F hauling a long rake of anhydrite hoppers up the incline to Sough Tunnel is not one you forget. Happily that period allows me to also include LNWR, L&Y and LNER stock in my modelling. I would love to model an earlier period but I just don't have the time, so your area of expertise is one I can only greatly admire. There does seem to be a progression though in modelling specific periods. Back in the early 60's Pre and Post-Grouping layouts were the norm, with the LMS being popular. This moved on with the 70's to the Late Grouping/Early BR period coming to the fore. (I'm ignoring that horrible bit in the 70's/80's when every layout was a GWR branchline clone!). I suppose the logical conclusion is that one day we'll see people asking why everyone models the latest nuclear-powered monorail/hover trains rather than those glorious Class 66's/70's/Pendolino's we had back in the golden years! Regards Bill Edit: Aztec. Usual disclaimer. They are just that good!

Hi Jeff The name does indeed come from that famous (notorious?) brew. It came about after a mention by Dave Shakespeare (Tetleys) when he was discussing the origins of Tetley Mills and the name of his new layout (Upper Batley). I’m trying to model a small L&Y branch terminus in West Yorkshire and, as they say, if the cap fits! Ah! Gimme a pint of that Old Peculiar. Food of the Gods! The 8F is the weathered version so it will mean resorting to the airbrush to put things right, but I usually do that anyway. I never saw a clean steamer in real life so mine won’t be either. Something about fidelity to the real world I think! Happy to see that the ‘box shifters’ don’t have it all their own way yet. I do like to support the smaller shops when I can for the simple reason that they can turn up the occasional treasure. The Stanier 2-6-4T is a case in point. I’ve been after one for ages. Checks online produced two suppliers who both had 1 each in stock both of which I lost out on! The 9F (I just know I’m going to buy it) I suspect will come under Rule 1. (Small L&Y branch!) They did frequently see visits from 8F’s in later years, i.e. Rishworth and Holmfirth for example, and as I already have a MetroVic!!!! Jason (and Jeff) I don’t have a layout thread for the simple reason that I’m not doing anything that you guys are’nt already doing apart from the one on prototype colour references (which I haven’t updated for ages!) Most of my time is taken up with my art work, so for the foreseeable future the layout is very much a whenever I have a minute project. Not really conducive to keeping you guys entertained. Mind you, you might have been amused (amazed) by the naughty language after I painted a retaining wall Matt Ochre (Humbrol 83) which dried a bright shiny olive green! Sorry for the high-jack Jeff. Back to the Glorious S&C!

Hummmmm! You are going to grass the fiddle yard are'nt you? I'm beginning to think this railway modelling stuff is starting to get to me. I went into Manchester today to pick a couple of books up at Ian Allen's, found out they have a model department now and came home with a Stanier 2-6-4T, a 4F and an 8F! (They had a nice Bachmann 9F as well but I could'nt come up with a half-reasonable excuse for buying it!) Of course I blame you for allowing me to lurk and take notes instead of getting on with my work (My agents threatening to have me executed if I don't finish the new picture). Too much incentive to see something running on Theakestone (The new layouts now official name). So I'll just have to stop with the buildings and get some track down, won't I? In the meantime, many thanks for the great inspiration. Looking forward to that 9F heading up your first complete test train Regards Bill

Hi Jason Good to see you back and storming along as usual. The new houses compliment the factory perfectly and well up to your high standards. Regards Bill

Hi Jeff. And here was I thinking I'd got away with it! The new avatar is the result of being lazy and avoiding thinking up new one's everytime I join a website. The elven one is the one I use on my art webpage here: www.mythocentric.deviantart.com . Probably a bit vain (vane? vein?) but it's the one which best represents me as a working artist so I decided to use it everywhere. By the way, the little guy's name is Loik, so if you see him lurking at the bottom of your garden please be kind to him, he's my bestest friend. The red cardinal represents the Canadian contingent of my far-flung family. It's not really that bad in Morecambe. The only time I wear a disguise is when I go out to watch the traffic lights change! I'm the one in the leather flying helmet and yellow spandex tights (I only wear the purple wellies when the tides in!) Regards The other Bill (Hello to new Bill)

Havoc And Bright Lights, new album by Alanis Morissette, best singer/songwriter to come out of Canada since Joni Mitchell!

The Hornby 8F captures the look of the Stanier loco to a T! If you wish you could of course undertake some superdetailing, but it's not really neccessary! Going for the weathered version is best avoided because the 'weathering' is little more than a quick spray-over with a grimy brown. Far better to buy a pristine model and weather it yourself after renumbering, etc. Bill

Stevie Nicks - The Other Side Of The Mirror Eva Cassidy - Time After Time

Hi Jeff I thought I’d provide a brief overview of the Midland 4F to hopefully assist you. Built by the Midland and adopted by the LMS as a standard freight locomotive with 43835 to 44026 being built by the Midland between 1911 and 1922. Numbers 44027 to 44606 being LMS built machines from 1924 to 1940. With a change from right to left-hand drive the major visual difference is the position of the ejector pipework on the boiler being on the right-hand side on the Midland machines and on the left-hand side (LMS) looking forward from the cab. The Hornby model is of an LMS loco and the upcoming Bachmann model is Midland. By the 50’s I believe all of the class had Fowler tenders but as always check with prototype photo’s. Likewise some boiler swapping took place so again check before renumbering, etc. One point, if you go for the Hornby version, make sure it is new stock with the motor in the loco (excellent) and not the tender-drive version (B....y awful). I’ve had three of them and had to replace the chassis each time! Using Jason’s examples: 1952 - 4F 44009 at Kirkby Stephen...................Bachmann 1960 - 4F 44467 at Aisgill..................................Hornby Same day - 4F 43993 at the same location.......Bachmann So a good excuse for both company’s models. One other thing. With smaller locomotives like these and given the S&C’s loadings and gradients, double-heading would be a reasonable likelyhood. Easy to achieve with DCC! Bill

Now you're talking. If theres one diesel class that says S&C it's got to be a Peak. The first one I saw, a 44, was in Settle storming north over the road bridge with a mixture of Mk.1's and Stanier stock in tow. Now the Co-Bo on the other hand? I bought one of Heljans examples just because they were so plug-ugly after seeing the preserved example on the ELR! I should think Jeff may be getting a little bit worried though. The way we're throwing these new loco's up it's going to be costing him a small fortune. Over to you Jeff! Incidentally, there are some nice shots of Co-Bo's at work around Arnside here http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/38263-photography-of-the-north-west/page__fromsearch__1. Near to your dad's home ground I believe, and if they do tempt you just a little......... Bill

Hi Jeff That viaduct looks magnificent! Well worth the effort and care you've put into it. And topping it off with a Jubilee (my all-time favourite loco class). You've just made my day! Bill

Aha! Just about to order my turnouts from Marcway. Clearly I'm going to have to send them over to you for fettling! Just been tracing that G2A (49024!). It turns out it started life as one of the original Webb compounds, going through rebuilds to class D, G and then G2A as late as 1942, so possible detail differences from the Bachmann model which is a Beames loco. I'll keep on looking, meanwhile one of our 'Wessie' experts may enlighten us as to it's suitability. Incidentally, at the time of the photo it was allocated to Springs Branch (Wigan) so it was possibly one of the breed I used to see passing through Blackburn. Small world innit! Bill

Hi Jeff I usually use Woodland Scenics (who do a very good Burnt Grass) or Noch which are the ones available around these parts, but I'll use anything I can get my hands on. The important thing is to mix appropriate colours and lengths to get a realistic range of shades and textures. If you have an airbrush you can also mist over the area to get an even wider variation. You may be interested in my thread here http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/60883-prototype-colour-references/page__fromsearch__1. There are a few landscape pictures on there which should give you some idea but, as usual, its important to study your own area for reference. Incidentally, as I have'nt got around to ballast yet I would be delighted if uax6 (Andy?) would be interested in posting a link to his excellent pictures. Unfortunately I can't cover everything by myself and contributors would be very welcome! Bill

2.7 metres? Hmmm! That is a train worthy of the S&C. Question is, are you going to use RTR hoppers if the Long Meg appears or will you be batch building kits? As for G2's, its surprising how often you see them lurking in places where you'd least expect them. I really hope Steve finds the visitor to the S&C because that would be a rare sighting indeed! I do indeed use a Grassmaster but be warned! If you get one you will become a very popular person (even more so than now). At the moment mine is somewhere in the vicinity of Colne (I hope!) doing the business on a friends layout which is about its fifth loan. Expensive, but well worth it for the amount of scenic work you have in store especially with the result you get. Before that I used a home made tea-strainer whatsit which gave pretty a good outcome but could result in some quite interesting hairstyles if I forgot to earth it properly!

You are quite right Ian. I've just checked my workbook and the Inverse Square Law does apply. I stand corrected! Regards Bill

I quite agree with you about the Spaceships, superb machines! Watching them run through Blackburn with the Long Meg was always a joy to behold with that seemingly endless string of hoppers in tow, so as to how many wagons you haul over the viaduct basically comes down to how long is your fiddle yard? I'm trying to find an excuse to run one on a L&Y branch line but I've already used Rule 1 to allow a G2A, another favourite after seeing one haul a long van train up the incline out of Preston Dock as a kid. Fireworks and (somewhat wheesy) thunder galore! So, all suggestions (excuses) welcome! Static grass is great stuff to work with. Just remember not to sneeze as you shake it out. I generally use a mix of 50% main colour with 25% each slightly lighter and darker shades to give a realistic variation. Jewel-in-the-crown! Barrow? I thought that was Silecroft! One of my favourite fishing spots. Park almost on the beach, toilets nearby and, usually, no people around to ask why I have'nt caught anything! Regards Bill

A quick tip is to stick a couple of layers of tissue (hankies) over the flash especially if you are working close-up. It gives you a softer, more diffused light without much loss in output. It helps a lot, especially if your idle like me and can't be bothered to root through my bag for the diffusers! Doubling the distance from your subject halves the light reaching it!

Given the amount of dedication, thought and effort you're putting into this project, I don't think many hopes are going to be dashed in the process! Everythings looking superb and I'm looking forward to the sight of a Spaceship (Mr. Riddles finest) hauling the Long Meg along that trackwork amongst that stunning S&C scenery! Inspiring work! Regards Bill

Thirded! Something that strange-looking should not be allowed to lurk in quiet corners.