Will J

Ah yes, it is perfect, I'll be ordering a Regent one (Image borrowed from http://us8.campaign-archive1.com/?u=f24e36cafcafabf07d09722c1&id=39b58a63c9#Class B ) on http://www.revolutiontrains.com/newsletter-archive/ -see 'Post TINGS Round Up') Dear Revolution Trains, can the Regent one be numbered '345' please!

Interesting, I was half aware there were new plans for that area, so hadn't 'gone to town' scratchbuilding the bits that may soon be replaced. Currently the workshop is the top of an old Ratio water tower which looked more or less right, the staff room is an old Peco 4mm salt wagon roof cut to size. The shop actually began life as a 009 carriage body that went wrong somewhere along the line! If I have to shorten the model siding it'll be no great loss, if you look at the 'aerial view' of the layout you'll see the back siding isn't actually connected to anything, due to the extreme curvature it just 'vanishes' behind the signal box into some foliage! I have an old Peco tanker wagon to nestle behind the signal box, but I reckon Revolution Trains may have come to my aid to get a better representation of the 'Regent' one: http://www.revolutiontrains.com/product/35t-class-b-tank-wagon/

Cheers Bob! I hope to have it on show at Arley at the Autumn Gala. Test run this Saturday at the little Stourport show. Must get on with more foliage! Had an interesting trip to do some research over the weekend. I was pleased to learn that the Sleeping Car is off (while its track is worked on) for a repaint. I had made a pretty approximate version of it from bits of old Farish Mark One, Ultima Hawksworth roof and some American six wheeled bogies. I had painted it nicely and didn't have the heart to weather it.... It was also lovely to see so many wagons in the siding. Gives me the excuse for more shunting on the layout.

Subtle, beautiful!! I keep meaning to pick up one to represent a preserved loco, which would need weathering 'the other way' to increase the shine... a sort of weathering I suppose..

A couple more views, as you can see I have had to be imaginative with the location of the bridge, which began life as a plastic (Triang?) OO rail overbridge.

Hi Everyone, A bit of a 're-boot' here, back to a thread rather than the old 'Adventures In N Gauge' blog that I have left rather neglected recently! To kick things off.. a quick project that I started after Christmas, with the aim of getting it ready(ish!) for the Wyre Forest MRC Show at the end of April, see http://wyreforestmrc.com/index-u.htm As with my previous 'Victoria Bridge' diorama, it is based in that 'Modern Image Steam' heritage kind of world where you can get away with anything. I'm planning to populate the platforms with a Gala's-worth of people... this gives me an excuse to run exotic Pacifics, obscure diesels or whatever I want alongside my reasonably-priced Pannier Tanks! Stretching the preservation theme slightly, a Dean Goods has escaped from STEAM at Swindon for a surprise gala appearance: I do love the Union Mills model, it is the perfect starter for a bit of light modelling. Mine has a sprinkling of coal, lamps, crew and a subtle repaint, from BR Black, to resemble: https://chasewaterstuff.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/2516-preserved.jpg which has some 'form' in the Wyre Forest area, hauling railtours in the fifties. Speaking of Union Mills, I reckon I might order a Dukedog.. I have only just learned of their existence. Some more photos. I ought to explain, the layout is very much a table top train set with a sprinkling of Arley-esque garnish. It began life as a couple of ovals of setrack for loco-running in purposes, but it has developed a life of its own since. The eagle eyed will notice that the 'hairpin bends' at either end of the station bend in entirely the wrong direction. I'm thinking of it as a sort of 'sketch' in preparation for a much more 'pukka' Arley in the future!

You are going to wear out the rubber bands powering that thing.... get some modelling done! PS. Nice shots, very steady....

Look up 'Kato D51'.... that would get you 99% of the way there in N... (as you can tell I have been asked the same question)

Just catching up with this thread, incredible work on the Dogfish interior surfaces.... I'm not sure I could emulate it so I have filled mine with ballast! (but the close up images are giving me further inspiration). PS.. my similarly aged son is keen to see your Sodor fleet develop! Those engines have plenty of troublesome trucks to trouble them.

It is much easier with a stripy livery, blue and grey, something and cream etc.. as you can get away with just suggesting the vertical elements of the frame, and leave it to the viewer to imagine the horizontal bits which tend to be bordered by the livery edges anyway. Interestingly, on the SVR you see Crimson and Cream carriages with different 'depths' of cream stripe depending on whether the frames are there or not. Anyhow, getting a bit off piste Ropley wise...! I reckon that, though it is a more involved process with the plain green, it might yet be worth a go?

Here is one to ponder Tom, some Mark I carriages seem to have a raised frame around the edge of the windows, some, perhaps the majority, do not. Somebody out there might be able to explain why this is. Is this noticeable in MHR rakes? It can be simulated with a bit of masking and dry brushing darker tones around the window perimeter.

Hi Kevin, do you know if the same researchers (Rebecca & Holly?) are still involved with making contact with us? Cheers, Will

You have obviously never heard him sing... PS. Tom, I'm keen to have a go at de-ribbing my rooftops, any useful hints?

Brilliant stuff Tom. The original Bachman green always had too much of a camoflauging effect against your green bank.. the lighter green makes the model train 200% more visible and gives it chance to compete with the scenic modelling. It also very effectively disguises the 'out of the box ness' of the mark ones! You'll recall the same 'visibility' consideration is why I favour crimson and cream mark ones over maroon ones for Victoria Bridge, despite the modern day SVR having a set of both. In real life I actually prefer the duller 1960s look!

And maybe a pigeon resting its wings sat in the firebox door....

Re: the static boiler- gosh blimey and other much ruder words... that's rather smart! Re: the transparent roof gubbins, glad they are useful, do you need any more?

Hi Tom, love the boiler, it compares well to this 3D print of a 'rusty boiler' available on Shapeways: http://www.shapeways.com/product/9GRUL29SD/rusty-boiler-british-n-1-148?optionId=58505434 Which, browsing 'Rail N Scale's 1:148 Shapeways catalogue got me thinking about your car park. (Tom will no doubt roll his eyes at this point as I'm always waffling about the potential contents of Ropley's parking area) Knowing a little of your modelling style you are going to want something a little more 'modelled' than just a few freshly opened Oxford diecast cars (good though these are, they have a 'new' Mini on the way apparently and some other vaguely modern models) From my experience of their Volvos, the 'Rail N Scale' range is exquisite but tends towards the retro end of the market! See http://www.shapeways.com/shops/rail-n-scale?section=1%3A148&s=0#more-products I do like their Citroen 2CVs in 'parked' and 'cornering' poses.. with the front wheels printed at a jaunty angle.... The drawback with these models is the need to glaze them which is tricky, but far from impossible. I managed a half decent job on one of these Maestros http://www.shapeways.com/product/65CTVZZ2J/nam01-1-148-austin-maestro?optionId=42373118 with a surplus window 'prism' from an old N gauge car, but more by luck than judgement. Another option is this shop http://www.shapeways.com/shops/madaboutcars?li=pb&section=1%2F148&s=0#more-products (with a huge range helpfully categorised by scale) which has much more up to date vehicles, and a useful mix of the usual muscle cars alongside more mundane contraptions. The drawbacks here are the solid windows (not strictly a problem if you decorate them all in a consistent fashion)and the relatively high price, which is a problem when you have to purchase the cars two by two. This gives you a weird 'Noahs Ark' of a carpark but that could be remedied with some swapping with fellow modellers (I have 'swops' ready if you were interested....). Why all this talk of cars.... ? I guess it is the modern bits that help set the context of the layout, especially to exhibition viewers who might not be familiar with the 1:1 scale location. It helps to set the story of a modern preserved line, with its attention to historical detail, with the odd hi-viz jacket and reasonably priced hatchback parked somewhere incongruous. As folks keep telling you (I'll choose to agree with them because they are right!) Ropley paints a remarkably beautiful picture.

Impressive stuff as ever Tom. Remember if you end up with a surplus Dapol Ivatt chassis there are plenty of things that can be done with the working parts.. (searches in vain for a picture of '1501' on the Mid Hants...) What other unrestored / dismantled locos are you planning. It might be fun to have one or two that are on wheels and gently 'shuntable'? Maybe something like: https://www.flickr.com/photos/allan5819/9734048007 with bits of air smoothed casing missing?

I was keen to get some old 'Can'n'dish' style 'prints' for my pigeon van conversion to park the two together and see how they compared. The process was: -Paint the bare brass with grey etch primer. (the etches come with separate lower panels, useful if you want to go crimson and cream, though a bit of an extra task if you are doing plain teak or maroon!) -Paint the whole thing with bright yellow paint. (more of this later) This was a Halfords spray can. -Paint over the yellow with a light-beige shade of enamel paint. -While the beige is still a bit tacky, dry brush over with darker reds/browns in a haphazard style to simulate the wood grain. -This model is to be a freshly outshopped restored carriage (loosely modelled on '7960' on the SVR though the door position in the kitchen area is wrong... doh.. shouldn't have owned up to that, nobody would have noticed..) but if it was to represent a more work stained example, I'd have run a black/ brown wash all over it. -Finally, sand the whole thing to expose the bright yellow on the raised beading between the panels, this really finishes it off nicely. -Finally-finally, varnish the whole thing a bit too soon and enjoy the slightly crackled texture that bloomed on the right hand side of the picture. This sort of thing is hard to control, but gives the model (which is only an approximation anyway) the right kind of textural feel.

Hi All, it has been too long since I posted on the blog. Victoria Bridge has a couple of looming appearances, http://www.cradleyheathmrc.co.uk/exhibition.html on Saturday 22nd October followed by the BMRC Show, Arden Hall - Water Orton Road - B36 9PB on Saturday 29th. I have been extending my rake of N gauge teak carriages to catch up with the real Severn Valley Railway's nine car set that was running, and looking rather impressive, behind various large locomotives last week during 'Pacific Power. Being too cheap to buy A1s or A3s for the layout, the teaks will have to carry on looking fabulous behind various panniers and prairies! Here is the latest progress. I can heartily recommend Ultima's various Gresley etches, they are great fun to paint and weather with my best attempts at a 'kind of woody' effect, here is the latest: See here for the full range, which fit onto either old Minitrix carriages or in my case, newer Dapol models with the sides shorn off. My next challenge is to work up a representation of the SVR's converted pigeon van, now with passenger accommodation at one end. I might try a 'cut and shut' with the pre-printed plastic sides from http://www.ultima-models.co.uk/catalogue/lner-gresley.html as a variation on the theme? More to come soon, including 009 progress...

I wonder if the 'Mid July' dates tie in to the 'Trainspotting Live' Show on BBC4.... even if it was pre-recorded in the day, it would make something unusual to feature in the show? 'Monday the 11th, Tuesday the 12th and Wednesday the 13th of July.' (Transmission Dates)

So many ideas! But that one is high up on the list...

Had been lost for a name until I rediscovered Mwng!

Hi Mikkel, first plan is to create a slightly 'impressionist' version of ALCO 'Mountaineer' using a Minitrains Baldwin 2-6-2 as a starting point. It will have 3D printed elements to complete the illusion. Watch this space! I am also tempted by 'Lilla' from: http://www.shapeways.com/search?q=robex&type= who also supplied the small carriages. All good fun!

Hi all, Having 'more or less sort of finished' Victoria Bridge, I have been seeking a new modelling challenge. Here it is, or more precisely, here are its beginnings.... The project had a few elements 'set in stone': -A 'one piece' design with a continuous run, able to run on the kitchen table, and be capable of transit on the back set of the car. -9mm track, to allow for use as a test track for both N gauge and 009/09 projects I have in the works. -Like Victoria Bridge, based on a preserved location, modelled in a modern image fashion. I settled on a little 'roundy roundy' based extremely loosely on Porthmadog and Boston Lodge. The scene is, of course, compressed to an extreme degree. The curvature in the 'Harbour Station' bit is on the tight side, it will allow for bogie carriages, but will look more plausible with little four wheeler 'bug boxes' and the like. And the name, Ysbeidiau Heulog sounds, to my untutored English ears, a bit like a place name and translates as 'Sunny Intervals' I have an idea up my sleeve to model one half of the scene as a sunny day, the other half drenched in summery rain as if caught in a shower. Here are some pictures of progress over the weekend: The beginnings of the project, some preserved Ffestiniog stock, with modern passengers. (Mostly converted Airfix pilots) The rear of 'Bostin' Lodge' works, the bricked up stationary boiler owes much to the Rev. Awdry's 'Duke the Lost Engine'.... The general overall plan. (120cm by 60cm) The planned backscene, depicting, vaguely, the sea.... (the blue area will be a tramway section) It is not a deeply serious model of a prototype, more a toy train set which will have some of the ambience of the real thing gently modelled into it... I am going more for colours, textures of the real thing rather than a precise model. It will be fun!