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paulprice

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  1. paulprice
    Well a tiny bit of progress has been made on the layout, in an attempt to create a "typical" industrial town. The problem is I will need a lot more buildings, perhaps I should have just modelled a nice rural location?

    Im going to need a lot more buildings, and then they will need a lot of weathering.......is it two late to just start again, I mean all I would need is a few bags of scatter??
  2. paulprice
    I don't know how, but I must have really upset the Gods of Railway modelling, as they have decided to severely restrict the amount of time I have free to model. However risking further wrath from the Gods or worst still the Domestic Overlord, I managed to find the smallest amount of spare time since my last update, and I have even had what I thought was a good idea.
     
    Stand by your beds, first things first the good idea, whilst I was pretending to take in the details on a recent house viewing, I was secretly thinking about the workbench of DOOM. On the bench, at the moment, are the trams, and 3 different locomotives, just to the side of the workbench I have some rolling stock to work on, and then to the side of this a whopping great layout (well a small one to work on).
     
    So while somebody was wittering on in the background, about remodelling kitchens, to improve the flow or something I thought I would when I got the opportunity post on here updates relating to specific areas, like the Trams, 7F, Flat Iron etc.
     
    So as the title of this post suggests, back to the Trams, with the aid of one of my tools of mass destruction, a mini drill and grinding disc and some of my handy collection of files, I managed to severely thin the sides so that I could fit them over adapted Kato chassis but also to make glazing easier.

    I even managed this without loping off a finger or two, though I did slightly cook them, who would have thought a simple mini drill could produce that much heat?
     
    To add a little variation to the Tram fleet, I have decided to try and model 3 slightly different Trams, 1 will have open driving cabs (as the original Tetley tram), 1 will have enclosed driving cabs, and the final 1 will have open cabs and balconies on the top deck (if only for an excuse to use my slitting discs). All have had the solid cast end windows opened up, with the help of a drill and lots of filling, and today they have all received a coat of primer, if only to highlight areas of improvement.


    So I guess this has probably angered the Modelling Gods enough so I think progress will now grind to a halt now, but you never know, miracles happen from time to time. Until the next time as ever Happy Modelling
  3. paulprice
    Well I managed to find a little time this weekend to spend on the baseboards for the new layout, on Foster Street my other layout I constructed the baseboards with plywood, and as an experiment to create lightweight boards I used glue and pins in the construction.
     
    This led to a very lightweight and strong build, and they seem to have lasted well, but for the new layout boards I reverted to using screws in the construction. and I slightly more engineered approach to each board.
     
    Everything is cut from 6mm marine ply, and is very well glued and screwed during construction, today I had to buy another box of 200 screws and the first box was nearly empty (lightweight baseboards, but very heavy metalwork ). Most of the time today was spent sanding the near finished board down to just tidy up a few edges and remove any risk of splinters, as can be seen from the picture of the underside of the bard construction is very simple (I just need to add a batter on the top left section, its already cut and waiting).

    Even with thousands of screws the board is very light and strong, and is easy to manhandle and move about even for a 4ft x 2ft board, god knows how much it would weigh if it was made of chipboard like in the good old days.
     
    My intention was to deign the boards so that they could be "crated" to aid transport to exhibitions (if invited) or just for movement and storage around the house. To make this easier I decided that the back-scene should be an integral part of the construction, so they form part of the baseboard structure and in some places 15 inches for me to provide low relief buildings or painted scenes (oh dear)

    The second baseboard should be easier to build, as although it is on two levels like the first the raised section will be at the back of the board, rather than string off in the centre like the first (but in modelling is anything ever simple?). In preparation for this the back-scene board has been marked and made ready for drilling and the cross members have had their supports fitted.

    All I need to do now it get the time to put them together and then test the alignment, and then work out the height the layout should be at, but for the moment I will just bask in my smugness, as despite using saws, drills and other sharp tools I still have all my fingers I AM A WOOD WORKING GOD
     
    I kind of like viewing my layouts from eye level, but unless I view the layout kneeling down it may need long legs as I'm six seven tall. I need help on this and am open to any suggestions on what you think would be the best height
  4. paulprice
    Well thanks to a manic work schedule and some of the effects of my condition progress on Foster Street has been very, very slow. But being a tiny bit stubborn, yes only a tiny bit (The Domestic Overlord will say otherwise ) I was determined not to let it get to me or from doing some modelling.
     
    Even if the progress was to be slow it was still progress, that's what I thought anyway, so I got out the list of outstanding jobs on Foster Street, and cracked on. The result of this was that it not only highlighted the severe lack of time I had available but also the severe lack of physical energy I had, not good
     
    Anyway I managed to find a couple of things I could do, one was to do a little more work on my attempt to create a Parallel boiler Patriot from the starting point of a very old Farish Black 5. This involved a bit more filing and sanding, but it still needs a lot more, I even slapped a little black paint on to see how I feel about its final livery.






    I even managed to throw a little paint onto my attempt to create the Titfield Thunderbolt, I still have a lot to do on this including the balconies, but first I need to tidy up the red bit, but a shaky hand is one of my current side effects.



    Still it could be worst, I have managed to do a little armchair research, and I have acquired a couple of good books to add to the collection.
     
    Until the next time as ever, Happy Modelling
  5. paulprice
    I probably won't have long to type this post before the Domestic Overlord, or as he will be known from now as the Prison Guvnor confiscates my laptop as well as everything else
     
    I am normally too sensible to believe in all these conspiracy theories that keep going around and around and usually put them down to cranks with nothing better to do, BUT now I see them as the work of true visionaries who want nothing more than to help humanity and people like me
     
    I never thought I would find a conspiracy so close to home though, and one it appears masterminded by the Domestic Overlord, I may be wrong and over reacting, but if you read what follows I'm sure you will agree with me (which opens up a whole new can of worms).
     
    Saturday Morning - It begins.
     
    After walking into the local town centre with the DO, on the way back seeing as it was still relatively early it was suggested we had a spot of breakfast as a treat (it does not matter who suggested it, I mean it could have been me but that is not the issue ) as the DO agreed we went into a nearby purveyor of fried products and I was soon confronted by this.

    As I happily munched through my breakfast the DO and I spoke about many things, one of the topics being House Hunting, and storage, then the penny started to drop. I was being manipulated with the help of some fried chuckie eggs down a very dark path. I asked myself how can you actually House Hunt, Houses are everywhere and they don't move, you can literally leave your house, turn to the neighbours house and there you go its a House hunt over.
     
    Anyway being a good boy, despite it nearly being a sausage too far, I cleared my plate, and being fully fuelled with backed beans (should be called fart fuel) I waddled off home with the DO, not long before we reached Price mansions, the DO asked if Foster Street would fit in 50 square feet, to which I replied of course with room to spare.
     
    Saturday Early Afternoon - the plan evolves.
     
    On Friday the DO very kindly bought me two new plastic storage boxes for my trains, so I thought I would spend a little time putting the old ones into order, and adding a couple of recent stock additions to the relevant trays. Whilst I was doing this the DO appeared, and quite helpfully asked if the boards for Lugsdale road would fit into the car as he thought maybe it was a little too large.
     
    Now as I know my planning skills and legendary, and I never make stupid mistakes, I said I knew they would fit without even trying, but if it meant the DO would be happy I would test fit them. Just to prove my planning and design was dare I say perfect, I decided to illustrate how easily they were to more around, within a short period I had them both sitting in the old JamJar.
     
    Being the sweet and innocent little Angel that I am, I never saw anything suspicious in what came next, the DO suggested that seeing as we were already near the car, we might as well just nip out to sort out a few things before we took the boards out of the car again. Knowing that the DO has nothing more than my well being at heart, and being very supportive and loving I thought nothing more of it, fired up the JamJar and off we went.
     
    Saturday Early Afternoon - the trap is sprung.
     
    Following the directions from the DO I happily drove to our destination, to a place called "You Store" or something, when I went inside with the DO there was a very nice lady inside who said she wanted a layout like Lugsdale road for herself, but was not sure if it would fit in her train room, so she asked if I could see if it would fit. Of course being nice I soon had the boards out of the car and inside her train room to see if they would fit.

     
    Now call me slow, but this is when I started to smell like Captain Birdseye something fishy, the train room did not have any carpet strange I thought but who am I to judge. It was then I looked up and it all fell into place, the train room had now ceiling, in fact it was not a room at all it was a prison, for Trains, and worst still MY TRAINS.

    Panic overtook me and I frantically looked for the door, and then I realised there was no door handle on the inside, thankfully the door opened and I got out, and found the DO waiting outside ready to calm me down. When I was asked what all the fuss was about and I said I could have been locked inside for ever, I was told that was silly, as sooner or later someone would let me out (how lucky am I being looked after like that )
     
    Even better to stop accidentally being locked in there, the DO would keep padlock and only key safe so I would not have to worry about losing it .
     
    Sunday Morning - I cant handle the truth.
     
    Last night while I pretended to be asleep I reviewed the events of the day, and I may be wrong but my trains have been sent to Train prison, will I be next?, who can I trust to help me?, will they or me ever see the light of the train room again?
     
    Im not stupid though, I can dig an escape tunnel, the fact that the Train Prison is on the second floor, will just mean the Prison Guvnor will never suspect my cunning plan...........
     
    Until the next time............
  6. paulprice
    I don't know how it happened, but I have managed to get a little modelling time over the last few days, so in a break away from producing endless buildings I thought I would work on my Tram idea.
     
    My initial idea was to try an add a little more movement to the new layout other than just the trains, I know there are various systems available to produce moving vehicles, but they all seemed to complicated to a simple chap like me. So where did that leave me?, well thanks to a wining bid on Evil bay a fem months back I managed to obtain a couple of the old Tetley trams, produced a good few years back.

    I thought even thought they are not really to scale, they were close to N gauge so I might be able to do something with them, I mean what could possibly go wrong?
     
    Now the original model Tram was of the bogie variety, but as this was going to be a bit of a test project, and like most of my modelling not to be taken seriously I thought I would cheat and see if I could use a Kato chassis for tractions.

    Again a couple more Evil bay purchases from a dealer in Japan, not only got me a couple of the chassis considerably cheaper than from UK based suppliers but believe it or not actually faster than some UK orders I have placed recently.
     
    So as I had most of the basic components I needed, I popped to a local homeware store and came away with some of the most violent paint stripper know to man, and dropped two of the trams into it, so it could work its magic.
     
    A couple of days later, I found that the layers of paint literally fell away from the trams, unfortunately so did a little of my skin on my left had, but it as I have a spare hand there was nothing to worry about.

    So with a slightly chemically damaged left had, I thought that as luck was still on my side I would get my Mini-drill powered cutting discs to see if I could open up the bottom of the Trams to see if I could get the chassis to fit. Remarkably not only did I manage to survive with all my fingers still attached, but I also managed to cut two holes in the bottom of the trams to accommodate the chassis.
     
    A little trimming of the chassis and a quick test fit shows that I may be correct in thinking it may be a possible working project, I know there will be other modellers out there who may have already gone down this route, but for me its "undiscovered country".

    I still need to thin the chassis down a little to that the Tram body will sit lower but, as this will involve using my razor saw, I thought I would be prudent and put that off for another day, after all I'm kind of use to having all my fingers attached to the relevant hand, well for now at least.

    So there it is, a little progress made on one of my little projects, but as I type this, I have just realised how much more I have to do on this so called quick project, at least I only have 1 tram to make...well maybe just a couple.

    As ever until the next time Happy Modelling
  7. paulprice
    The problem is with making locomotives is that sooner or later you have to paint them, now even though I have a thing for great lumbering freight engines life should be easy, but when do I ever make things easy for myself?
     
    So over the last couple of weeks, there has been a little progress down and the Price paint shops, initially I thought thanks to almost constant hand spasms that I would just concentrate on simple black engines, but when do I ever make things easy for myself?
     
    Originally I thought I would add another big passenger loco to the fleet, and had thoughts about an ex LNWR Prince of Wales tank, so one slowly made its way along the production lines on the workbench of DOOM. Once I got to the stage where I could apply undercoat, I thought I would give her final coat a little thought, I had thought a nice simple smart unlined black....definitely no lining as I had seen too much of that in the past.

    So it would be simple a few passes of black, a little more detailing to add to the locomotive, bang a few numbers of and LMS branding and the locomotive could be added to the fleet. So I had a thought, even though my hand spasms were a bit of a pain (literally and figuratively) I thought if I tried, if it looked a little wonky I could always repaint it into black again? So armed with some severely adapted paintbrushes, I set to work, a centimetre or so at a time.

    So far I have managed to get one side and the back of the bunker lined, and the results of my shaky hands is more than obvious, but in real life and from a bit of a distance away its not so obvious and a good coat of muck will hide a lot of it. To try and restore a little sanity I set to work numbering the 7F (water heater) that had been hanging around getting in the way, all I need to do is add a few more details under the running plate and then I can get my weathering equipment from the train prison (that is if the Domestic Overlord will let me have the key )

    This will definitely be the last Fowler 7F to join the fleet, as there are lots more LMS type I can make a mess off, plus I have to finish off a couple of G2's to add some balance to the fleet. Getting back to messing up other locomotive types, time for a little update on my attempt to produce a Princess, I had got her to the stage of receiving a decent coat of crimson, just like all proper loco's should have.

    Again working very very slowly and with a nearly bald paintbrush, I have managed to get the majority of the lining done on her, she still needs one cab finishing off, and one side of her tender but she is nearly there, though paining yellow-black-yellow lines on the tender has nearly seen the end of me, and from normal viewing distances I am not sure its worth it but she is slowly getting there (wherever that is?) and I think I am beginning to like the Princess class, but she will be the sole example in the fleet.

    Well all that leaves is the progress on the poor Jubilee I has to rescue, from Evil Bay, thankfully she is out of her terrible BR livery and I have started to paint her new black bits, but as for lining I'm afraid the poor girl will just have to wait.....

    So that's pretty much it, I have re-numbered what was supposed to have been my last Jubilee into Agamemnon, I just have to decide if she needs so serious weathering?

    Hopefully if I get a little more modelling time over the next few days and I use it wisely I may see projects actually leaving the workbench of DOOM, but for the moment it looks a little tidier, and definitely NO MORE JUBILEES

    As ever Happy Modelling
  8. paulprice
    Well despite the lack of presents at Christmas from Santa, I must have been a good boy as the Domestic Overlord let me have a little time off from my chores to do some modelling
     
    So I got my paints out and decided to apply the final finish to the façade on the corner pub for the new layout, the aim was to portray a stucco finish on the upper floors suitably grimy and well worn appearance.
     
    The building was painted using my trusty acrylics, as the base for the buildings is card, I find if you seal the surface first you can build up a good finish by applying a number of thin coats, I think it still looks a little clean though.

    While the paint was drying, I thought I better make a start on the glazing for the building, I have a couple of differing methods fir doing this, one involves scribing the frames on clear plastic then flooding the area with the appropriate colour paint, but I chose the second less messy option.
     
    Similar to the paint technique, I draw out on graph paper the required windows and glazing bars, then a suitable sized piece of clear plastic is taped over this graph paper with the aid of masking tape.

    Then using a vinyl label I cut strips of various widths to form the frame and glazing bars, then I apply these to the plastic following the plan on the graph paper, to try and save my sanity I tend to work in batches, of either enough windows to complete a floor level or entire building side. Once the widows are complete, all you have to do then is remove the masking tape and cut them down to a suitable size to fit the building.

    Even though this process can be a little fiddly, it can be quite relaxing, and allows you to produce bespoke widows relatively easy and you can produce something that nobody else has, of you can just give up in frustration and buy ready made ones, but being prudent (some may say tight) I like my method.

    Now all I need to do is produce another 6 windows for the other side of the building, and then the two doors for the Pub, the roof is almost finished and painted, apart from the chimneys need a little more work.
     
    There is only one problem though, with the size of the Pub bar windows, some form of interior will have to be modelled, and to do that accurately I will have to complete some research in a Pub. Being such a positively angelic boy I have no idea what the interior of a pub, would look like, as I have never set foot in one let alone drank any of the thing they call Beer, which apparently they sell, oh what is a chap to do?
     
    I guess I will have to just man up and plan an expedition to one of these Pub places, I am if nothing else a martyr to my Hobby
     
    Until next time as ever Happy Modelling
  9. paulprice
    Apparently its a Bank Holiday weekend, and we all know what that means........yes your right having to take your better half round IKEA, well I'm sure there are people out there who actually like visiting Ikea, but I bet they also think the world is flat, or even flat packed. I on the other hand do not count myself amongst the fruitcakes so have a healthy aversion to the place.
     
    The Domestic Overlord thinks its a good place (I'm not saying he's a fruitcake...honest), so we are planned to visit the place tomorrow, and because I'm a little angel I will go along without any form of external protest (but in inside I will be plotting ).
     
    This has meant that I managed to get a little modelling time in today, well when I say modelling time I really mean destruction and near accident time. I thought I would maybe lay some cork for the track bed fir Lugsdale Road but when I looked at the layout my attention was drawn to my workbench of DOOM which is looking more like a scrapyard.
     
    Scrap Metal 1 Trams
    If you have been following my updates on Lugsdale Road (you poor fools) you will know that I am aiming to have working trams on the layout, I mean how hard could it be? Taking what I thought would be the easy route, I managed to get 3 of the old Typhoo promotional trams from evil bay for next to nothing thinking this would save me a lot of time and effort, I was wrong .

    After the use of one of my favourite tools of mass destruction, I managed to cut the die cast chassis away and thin the sides and do all this with my fingers still attached as they should be, well that was just on the first Tram. Happy I sprayed a coat of primer over the body and my hand to see if there were any blemishes and it highlighted at least the need for a manicure. As for the Trams thought I decided to open out the solidly cast upper deck windows at each end and thin the insides more to make glazing easier, so all three have had this treatment though I'm still working on opening the widows out.
     
    Oh and I have no idea what colours to paint them in??????????
     
    Scrap Metal 2 Midland Flat Iron
     
    I already have a Flatiron in the fleet, and managed to finish her in fully lined crimson, which was a bit of a task, but once complete I swore no more Flatirons, but a bargain Evil bay purchase saw another one come into my hands. It was in a pretty ropey state and had been constructed with gallons of superglue, blue-tak and some weird yellow glue. Then the previous owner covered it in a strange rubber like paint, which was used also to fill the many gaps in the loco body, so I thought I would remove the paint and see what could be done, a few hours in my favourite stripper and this is what I was left with.

    Still its a start, and it will give me something to do, and if you think that's bad the chassis it came with needs a little attention to say the least, to make things worst I think she might end up in lined black (I must be mad).
     
    Scrap Metal 3 LMS 7F
     
    You may begin to notice a bit of a pattern here, but in the search for an eight coupled chassis for another project (LNWR G2) I stumbled across on Evil Bay someone's attempt to make a Fowler 7F from a Gem kit, the body was terrible and missing several parts but the chassis looked ok. A very cheeky offer was made and it was mine, when it arrived the body was a ruff and as a Badgers supply of sand paper, but the chassis ran as sweet as a nut. The problem was though the pole pieces where riveted so not easy to thin and shape without the risk of metal swarf getting into the motor, so it was put to one side.

    The body was thrown into the pot of stripper with the Flatiron and as can be seen from the results I have a lot to do, as I already have two 7Fs in the fleet, just to be different it may end up as the water pre-heat variant, certainly a distinctive looking modification.
     
    Scrap Metal 4 LNWR Prince of Wales 4-6-2T
     
    The final bit of scrap metal, is in the form of an old Langley Prince of Wales tank kit, that's been hanging around for a while, I even have a couple of chassis options for it. Compared to the other two piles of metal, this one does not seem too bad, famous last words, and again I don't know why I decided this, but even though they were found in plain black, this one will end up in fully lined black.

     

    So there you have it, the update from the work bench of DOOM, I mean its not that bad really is it, nice simple jobs, not a problem, they wont take long to finish, I mean how hard can it be? I mean I could just melt them all down and make a nice paperweight of something?

    Only one thing to say BRING ON IKEA I cant wait Until the next time as ever Happy Modelling
  10. paulprice
    What is it with time?
     
    Lately I am convinced that the only reason it exists is to wind me up. I have noticed for a while now that its been trying to get to me, but it's not going to beast me despite its latest crafty trick, but I have spotted its latest ploy and I'm putting it down in text so others can be forewarned.
     
    Have you noticed that they little sod Time, seems to make sure you have plenty available to do all those crappy jobs you just don't want to do (or even the jobs the Domestic Overlord insists you do ), but for the jobs you really want to do, this "Time" geezer just leaves you with either no time at all.
    OR
    even more evilly leaves you with realisation that you have a some time to spend on what you want to do, but NEVER quite enough to complete what you wanted to do.
     
    Well time I'm onto your plans matey and you can beat me, despite your best attempts including the recruitment of the Domestic Overlord to use up even more of MY time I have still managed to get some modelling done
     
    The last few weeks since my last update, has seen a little progress on the Trams for Lugsdale Road, well at least one of them at least, which has had its original paint stripped, and after some severe thinning of the inside of its body, has been test fitted to a severely cut down Kato chassis. The scary thing is it seems to have worked, but needs a little more for want of a better term refinement before I post any details on here.
     
    What it did mean however is that I could test the curve in the tram line, that sees it curve past the Pub at the bottom of Lugsdale Road and under the railway station and it WORKS.

    This then led to another problem, which was what type of building to have opposite the Pub to fill in the space on that side of the road, I had a few ideas but could just not decide on a particular one. Now its been a very, very, very long time since I set foot in a Pub, so my memory might be a bit hazy on this but I think when you do you need Beer tokens.
     
    I seem to remember that on the last occasion I visited a Pub, I got some Beer tokens from a thing called a Bank, which you visited, gave the people inside a think called an account number, and then they gave you this folding paper stuff with pictures on it, called money. You then skipped to the Pub, handed over this money stuff and they gave you Beer, and a few Beer tokens back so you could get more Beer. I know its very hard to believe, but in the "good old days" that's how's things worked.
     
    So the inspiration was there, and I set about trying to create a model Bank.

    Again using what is becoming one of my favourite materials card, I soon had the basics of what I thought would be a typical "mutual" type bank that seemed to be popular in the time leading up to the 40's before the major banks as we know them were formed.
     
    To make things easier I thought I would attempt to finish the building with sandstone type render, so before the Domestic Overlord found out I was using paints (apparently if I have time to paint a model I can find time to paint a real room, well that's what the Domestic Overlord says), I got two base coats on the model to build up the finish I'm looking for.

    Once I have finally finished applying a couple more coats to produce the weather beaten faded look I want, it will be time to apply a lot of weathering, but to avoid the suspicions of the D.O I will avoid further painting for now, and see if I actually like the building in its planned location, of if I should try something different.
     
    As you can see there is still a lot to do on the street scene, and this is only part of what is becoming a seems to be huge baseboards, and they are only 8 feet long in total.

    So there you have it, I have managed to get one over on this Time fella, and managed to make some progress on the layout, the problem is its becoming very apparent that I will need a lot more time to complete it. I guess my battle with the Evil TIME Villain with me drawn out one.
     
    Anyway I have to go now, as I'm busy hunting down another threat to humanity, the GREY HAIR FAIRY, as the little ###### keeps visiting my room every night as I sleep and paints one of my hairs grey, well not for much longer, be warned my evil little nemesis I will get you.
     
    As ever until the next time....Happy Modelling
  11. paulprice
    Well I have had a couple of days off , because the people at work claimed it was Christmas, but I had my doubts as if it was Christmas that would mean the Fat Man in the Red Suit would bring me some presents.
     
    So I laid in wait to see if this Christmas rumour was true, and hoped if it was I would actually get a present this year, or I would spend another year as the "little boy that Santa Claus forgot". Whilst I was waiting to see if I got even the smallest of presents, or if I would be left heart broken for another year I got some modelling in.
     
    As previous posts have shown I have ben working on the buildings that will form the street scene that runs along the front of the layout, and my last post saw me considering the production of windows for the buildings. Even though I set out with every intention of doing this, I was scuppered by forgetting where I had put my clear plasti-card.
     
    Not being bothered to actually look for the plasti-card I decided to work another task, the roofs for the buildings, so I started with the most difficult roof first, the one for the corner pub. I'm not sure if I'm the only one to do this, but depending upon the building I like to make the roofs as sub structures. As the roof will actually sit inside the buildings outer walls, I first cut the relevant former.

    To aid with the process I marked out the relevant lines for the various roof panels, then cut formers that would be set at the correct height for the final roof, glued these in place along the centre of the roof.

    Once this was done, I then cut out the various geometric shapes from card to form the roof, (my old maths Teacher would be proud) and pretty soon, had the basic structure, ready to have some slates adding. This is where the hard part of the process came into play, deciding how to go about this. I like roofs to have some texture as I think it adds a little interest to models, especially as we view them mostly from above.
     
    I have seen some pretty good models where the builder has used commercial brick cards but have added a little relief by scoring the tile/slate lines on the roof panels, but never wanting to take the easier option or try anything new, I went back to one of my old, painstaking methods, guaranteed to make you go crazy.
     
    Step one is to cover the surface of the roof with graph paper so you can have a reference points for the next stage, of applying slate strips.

    Then I cut strips of graph paper the correct length for the roof but two squares wide, then the fun bit begins, working lengthways I then cut slits "one square" deep, once each strip is completed, it is then glued to the roof following the guide lines on the graph paper I had applied earlier.

    Its not a quick process, but as I was lying in wait for the infamous Santa, I thought it would fill in some time, so I plodded on with the task. If you use this approach it does not matter if a couple of the strips are not applied perfectly straight, as is you look at pictures of old buildings you will see that some slate courses have slipped. I know maybe I should have applied a few more courses, but as I work in N gauge, sometimes I think a few corners need to be cut, and its the impression that counts.

    I even got to work on the roof, for one of the other layout buildings, all I need to do now is sort out the chimney stacks, and apply some paint to the roofs, with the nice new pants Santa brought me for Christmas as I have been a very good boy
     
    THAT IS I WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO APPLY SOME PAINT, IF THE FAT FELLA IN THE RED SUIT HAD ACTUALLY BOTHERED TO LEAVE ME ANY. BE WARNED SANTA YOU HAVE MADE AN NEMY HERE, IF I EVER MEET YOU I WILL KICK YOU IN YOUR JINGLE BELLS..
     
    Until next time as ever happy modelling
  12. paulprice
    I'm sure you are all getting bored with my updates on this project, so I think I will start to increase the length of time between updates, at least for the following 2 reasons.
     
    1. There are far better things to read about on this forum.
     
    2. If I post too many, the Domestic Overlord may conclude that I have too much free time, so increase the list of Domestic duties I have to complete each day before I am allowed to go to bed each day, just to dream about another day of servitude. Yes I'm like an actual Cinderella, I even have a FURRY Godmother, thanks to her having an unfortunate facial hair problem, in fact she looks remarkably like Bob one of the neighbours, but why would he be wearing a sparkly dress and wings, I mean it must have taken him weeks to sew all those sequins on, anyway I digress.
     
    On my previous layout I used card for the majority of construction for the first time in years, but I decided to revert back to plasti-card for this one, however I decided to use card again as I kind of enjoyed the challenges this presents (nothing to do with the fact that its considerably cheaper honest ). I decided that I needed at least one public house on the layout so I planned to have one at the corner of one of the streets on the layout.

    Progress on this is moving at such a rate that I may have to start looking at producing glazing for the windows, but there is still a lot of details to be added before then. I keep telling the Domestic Overlord that to produce a model you have to do some really detailed research (especially in the interior of Pubs) , but its fallen on deaf ears. Aparently to become really good Domestic skivvy you have to do more domestic chores, so as soon as I have finished this update, I'm off to scrub the kitchen floor.

    My idea for the street along the front of the layout was to portray as transition from commercial buildings to more mundane terraces, so I needed a few shops, the basics for the first block of these has been completed. I have not decided what businesses will be modelled yet and I think I will leave this for the Domestic Overlord to decide.

    This progress means that I am beginning to get a better impression of how Board 1 will look when completed, that is if I don't change the plan too much, and I hope its beginning to show a balanced urban scene. I have decided to work on the layout from front to back, and by coincidence (or planning) board 3 is dived into 3 sections, 1 The street scene, 2 The raised railway section, 3 The area behind the station up to the back scene.

    As you can see there is a massive amount of wok to be completed on the street scene alone so I better crack on and get some work completed on it whenever I can.
     
    I must go now, as I have just received a text message from the Domestic Overlord, saying "if you have time to read this, your obviously not doing the washing" never a truer word said. Until the next time Happy drudgery
  13. paulprice
    Well a couple of weeks ago, I decided to make a start on a new layout, this one was to be a small space (made up of two 4feet x 2feet boards not including fiddle yard) and is to be a terminus station, somewhere in the Northwest.
     
    A little initial work, resulted in the cutting of a couple of sheets of plywood into a kit of parts to create the baseboards for the layout, to avoid the flat board look the plan is to have the running lines above surrounding street level anyway more about that can wait until later much, much later.

    So flushed with the success of having the cut the plywood into the rough profiles needed and still having all my original set of fingers, I set about sanding the cut edges to remove the risk of splinters (far more painful that cutting off a finger or two), and set making progress of the first of the two boards, Once I had sanded all the profiles to remove the chances of splinters (actually I got bored) I added some 1"x1" timber to the areas the track bed and side members will be.

    A couple of holes were cut in each profile to allow the future wiring to be safely and tidily located (see thinking ahead, it will never last) and the four cross pieces were attached to the from cross member, the rear will have the backscene attached to it.

    The fifth cross member has not been attached yet, as it will for a pair with the first cross member for board 2, and will be built as a pair so I can accurately locate the alignment dowels. Before I called an end to this legendary woodworking session, I decided to test fit the track bed and lower road surfaces to the front and back of the boards just to get an indication of how the finished board will look.

    So that's about it for the first entry on what may become a regular update as the build progresses, now that is a treat, be afraid be very afraid.......
  14. paulprice
    The last few weeks have been what could be called manic to say the least, the strange thing is you can always seem to find extra hours to spend at work, but you can never find hours to spend on modelling.
     
    As a result modelling time has been like a Midget Drug Dealer, in Very Short Supply, anyway I digress as a n LMS fan I managed to find a prototype picture of two Terriers totally flat out.

    With the cheeky girls snoring their heads off at the side of me, I managed to produce a few "slate" strips and widows for what seems like and endless number of terraced houses (the next layout will definitely a rural layout) so progress was slow but it was still progress.

    I still have window sills to make and fit, along with front doors, of and fit some curtains but they are looking very nondescript which is what I set out to achieve, to add a little variety though I have decided to model a tired house.

    There is still a lot of detailing to add but I thought I would try and model a demolished house in the process of being cleared/rebuilt, I'm not sure how successful this will be of if its worth the effort (probably why you don't see many) but I might persevere and see how many modelling hours I can waste on this. Progress has meant that one side of the street has things that look like buildings on it, all I have to do now is work on the other side (oh and finish the house backs and yards etc, bit I'm nearly there).

    There is still a lot of work to complete on the street scene on board 1, and yet even more buildings but from a distance its looking balanced to my eyes and least, and I have even managed to start to look at the station area of the layout, you can even see a little sneaky preview of the track plan.

    What I need to do is to start work on mortising the trams, and testing how sharp a curve they can run round, just to have a break from endless terraced houses, if only to save what is left of my sanity.
     
    So until the next time, as ever Happy Modelling
  15. paulprice
    Well a little time, and I mean a little time was spent working on the plan for the urban setting on board 1 which has meant that the Domestic Overlord even let me have my felt tip pens back (I'm not allowed my crayons back, as apparently if you eat them it does not colour you on the inside )
     
    After I promised to use them properly I used them to flesh out the progress so far, and some of the colouring was even between the lines. I like doing this when I'm working on a layout, as it means you can actually see the details from the other end of the layout.

    I think the street width is about right, though I may work on this as the plan progresses, as it should allow my idea of adding a little moving street furniture, to actually work until I mess it up.

    I think its looking okay, but I think I may have to make a few building mock-ups and for that I need that special card you get from boxes of Coco pops, as its the perfect material for this job.
     
    Its not that I really like Coco Pops, honest, in fact if the Domestic Overlord is reading this I really hate them, and I only had 4 bowls of them so I could get an empty box quicker, yes I'm a martyr to my hobby
  16. paulprice
    Well despite being feeling decidedly off form and weak due to the effects of my condition (the Domestic Overlord reckons I'm a condition all of my own) I have managed to get the second board completed. All I have to do is finish, or rather start the storage yard board and the layout legs, but these can wait for a while, as even a Woodworking GOD like me needs some rest


    Anyway the boards just need a little sanding and finishing, but on the whole I think I am happy with them, so I think the first stage on building Lugsdale Road is complete. Now I must admit I envy the modellers out there who meticulously plan their layouts, and produce detailed plans using witchcraft and templot, but not me.
     
    I have plans for the layout, I mean I'm not one of those modellers who just makes it up as I go along, I actually enjoy the planning stages, with a pen/pencil and some graph paper, but I always find that sometimes there is nothing better than planning on the actual boards. To do this for certain parts of the layout I cover the area I'm working on with graph paper so I can transfer onto it my plans and see how they feel "life size".

    So I get to effectively double plan, and hopefully the end result is a balanced look (I admit it went wrong with Foster Street), if the plan looks okay I can then look at building mock-ups, and this layout will need lots of them

    Part if the planning stage now is to decide if I revert back to producing buildings using plasti-card or card like on my previous layout?
     
    Decisions, decisions, decisions and I thought railway modelling was supposed to be easy, I mean what could possibly go wrong
  17. paulprice
    Well after being at work for a monster 17 hours, not including travelling time (I know what your thinking, it's not one of my ploys to escape the demands of the Domestic Overlord ) my boss said that I could take a day off to recover. So in typical fashion, despite being "dog tired" I could not sleep, so I needed to find something to do to help me maintain my delicate metal state, so I tried to do a couple of little jobs on the layout.
     
    So the first thing I thought I would tackle was the lining of one of the storage trays I have made with foam, everything was going well, I managed to get one tray finished, and then boredom hit me and I gave up, well at least one of them is finished. All I have to do now is line the second one and them build the remaining two trays, but I think this can be a job for another day.
     
    So I decided to tackle one of the other outstanding jobs, and see if I could start to tidy up the viewing side of the layout by finally adding a facia to the boards. I must admit I'm quite pleased with the progress on this. I have used one of my favourite materials mounting board, which I cut to follow the contours of Foster Street. This was then glued on to the front of the layout, and even though they have not been painted yet, they have certainly made a impact on tidying up the presentation of the layout (all I need to do now it to decide what colour I should paint it a nice black or LMS Crimson). Before this though all I have to do it fill in a couple of gaps in the scenery and the job should be complete simples (I know something is going to go wrong, but what.......
     
    Well it nearly went wrong with the weathering, in an attempt to make Foster Street look more dirty and industrial, I have slowly been weathering the layout with the help of Humbrol powders. I must admit this is the first time I have used these things and I am quite impressed. I'm also impressed about how much I seem to be applying yet when I stand back and look at the layout it just looks like it needs more. I think I have managed to get the basics right on the track to represent areas where locomotives stand and drip onto the permanent way, but like most of the jobs on the layout there is still a lot more to do.
     
    Until the next time, as ever Happy Modelling
  18. paulprice
    Well in the last couple of days the Domestic Overlord has been very gracious and allowed me a couple of free hours, from duties around the house.
     
    Being unaccustomed to such freedom at first I sat there in the skirt I borrowed, from next doors washing line caked in blue face paint contemplating plans to free other such enslaved modellers and leading a revolt against all the oppressors in the country, and then I thought, sod that I'm going to do some modelling.
     
    So still wearing the skirt (purely for reasons of comfort) I set about finishing off the re-numbering of various locomotives that have been patiently waiting for their identities. For this I use transfers from the FOX range as not only do they cover every variant you will ever need but they are really easy even for me to use.

    Now if you have ever re-numbered an N gauge locomotive, you will know how difficult it can be sometimes to get the numbers lined up. However the process went without any problems, and so they were soon ready to be sealed with varnish, as this is a job that needs some close up work, I got myself ready and it must of been the fumes because.................
     
    "Billy Grimes how many times do you need to be told the keep quiet, if you carry on you won't see your next birthday! There is no such thing as Mickey Mouse, and if there was he would not be seen, anywhere round here. Now get out from under my feet, and don't you come back dirty, its not bath night until Sunday".
     
    So I headed off to see if I could meet Mickey Mouse as the lads at School said they had seen him down at the Station yesterday, so to a master detective like me it should be easy to track him down.

    Every good detective has his snitches, so I'm off to ask Joe, he knows everything, and he will tell me as nobody can resist the "Grimes interrogation". Ha the weak minded fool, he coughed up that "mickey" would be here in about ten minutes, so I pick my spot and wait.

    Well what a waste of time that was, ten minutes waiting and all that happens is a old local runs in, as if Mickey would be on a train like that.

    Still nothing will stop super sleuth Grimes so I will look around for clues, and if I happen to do some train spotting along the way bonus.

    A strange grinding, wheezing sound coming from the goods shed, breaks my concentration but as Sherbert Bones, always says the game is 12 inches, or a foot or something.

    This thing must be a way of moving sheds to customers, it must be a new service after all they moved Aunt Violets sofa by train all the way from Manchester. That's is LMS stands for "London Midland Sheds". They can't be doing that much business as its not moving very fast and its leaking creosote everywhere, old Joe said it was a new diesil, but it does not look new to me.

    It must be waiting for its customer, as it was soon dumped at the end of the siding, at least its not making that horrible nose now, and I have resolved the mystery its not a shed its a pigeon coup, which explain all the lovres. Well now that's solved back to the missing mouse, a distant whistle means another train is due, perhaps this one will have the elusive Mr Mouse.

    Well I give up, no sign of Mickey Mouse just another one of these stupid new locomotives, but you have not fooled me Mickey Mouse, you wont escape my eagle like sight for long....................
     
    Anyway, back to varnish fumes, apparently they can be quite strong and if you inhale them they can make you go a little strange, maybe to other people but not to an experienced modeller like me. Until the next time Happy Modelling
  19. paulprice
    Well my on-going battle with the string of 14T tank wagons continues and has got as far as them all receiving an initial coat of grime.
     
    As usual with me I think they look far too clean, the Domestics Overlord has commented in the past that if I could get them as dirty as I manage to get my shirt cuffs I still would not be happy.
     
    Call me suspicious but I'm beginning to think its not a comment on my weathering prowess but maybe targeted more roundly at me. I personally believe when it comes to maters of couture its better to be a leader than I follower, and it takes a lot of effort to look as scruffy as I do. I mean its not as if I just through any old things on, I positively spend micro seconds deciding
     
    Anyway I way digress back to the tanks, they are sitting in the storage yard drying, while I think of adding more dirt to them, which means in theory I have a little time to spend on other projects clogging up the work bench.


    So there you have it, a relatively short update (I can here the cheers from here)I must go now as I have trip planned to the local refuse tip, and I want to wear the perfect ensemble, and avoid getting thrown into a skip.
     
    Until next time as ever, Happy Cat walking, er I mean Modelling
  20. paulprice
    Well lately modelling time has been in very very short supply, and then when I get the chance to spend a little time to do some modelling I cant be bothered
     
    I don't know about you but apparently when I am in these moods, I can be a real pain, personally I cant believe this as I'm positively wonderful all the time, but when the Domestic Overlord actually demands I do some modelling perhaps the is some justification.
     
    Anyway being a good boy, and always doing what I am told I went to the spare room under protest and did a little modelling. Of all the many projects I have been working on, the one that is proving to be a really slow job, is my attempt to convert a couple of older farish Black' 5s from the Poole era into something more usable.

    As in a previous entry you had seen how I had made short work of what some might say was destroying the original bodies, but with the help of my mini drill and various bits of metal, and plastic I managed to get them sort of resembling my chosen prototypes.

    This is where the work started to slow down and the detail work and trying to provide a good paint surface, seems to be taking an age. That's when I noticed another spare chassis, and in another one of may many boxes of secrets another part finished body.

    So yes you guessed it despite being a die hard LMS fan I started to work on a locomotive from a lesser company and I even decided to paint it green.
     
    That's when all the fun started, using an off the shelf brand of model paint, I gave the loco, what was supposed to be apple green. Then I opened the paint, it appeared to have a white layer, which after stirring for an age, developed into a blue colour, before finally turning green. I must admit I was impressed with the coverage, and the fast drying time, and I soon, had a green loco.
     
    I must admit I left the loco for a day or two as something did not seem right to my eye's, initially I put this down to the fact that my I was use to seeing locomotives in proper liveries like Crimson and Black, but it just did not seem right. So today I made my own concoction of paint, got the old brushes out and slapped the paint on, and I think I have actually got the colour nearly right?

    This is where I need your input, is the shade suitable for an LNER locomotive, if so I can think about lining and finishing before a coat of grot is applied?
     
    The other thing is am I going mad, is turning green contagious? as I now have 3 LNER machined in the fleet, is there no hope for me.......As ever until the next time Happy Modelling
  21. paulprice
    Well it's Sunday, the end of another hectic week, and the eve yet another, because I have been a very, very good Boy the Domestic Overlord, suggested that I could spend a little time on my layout . Yes you guessed it I smelt a rat (maybe I'm just a born cynic, or I maybe I have a rat sniffing habit??).
     
    Anyway, not to miss an opportunity to spend some time on the layout I proceeded very cautiously, in fact like a sneaky little squirrel. I have been working on and off on creating storage boxes for layout stock for use at exhibition and at home. I had previously managed to build 4 trays, each with 7 sections so this I thought was a good start.
     
    Each of the trays was to be lined with foam to protect the stock, and I must admit doing this is more boring than even ballasting. So rather than line the trays, as the trays are made of plywood and no mater how well you sand them still liable to produce a splinter just when you don't want one, I covered the sides and part of the bases with making tape. Then master class in how to be sneaky I decided to paint these with the same paint I used for the facia.

    How is this a sneaky master class I hear you ask, well I deliberately did a crap job, to which I feigned pride when showing my efforts to the Domestic Overlord, then waited for the "I better do the next painting around the house" or other similar remark, result the DO did as I expected and another DIY job avoided.
     
    With one mission accomplished I then decided to do a little more stock weathering, and my the latest victims being some brake vans and LMS full brakes.

    Compared to some of my stock, I tried to get an average, in service type of look for the vehicles, once fully dry I can always add a little more, or highlight a few areas a little better. My eye then fell on my two minitrix Ivatt's I know compared to the latest Farish model they certainly show their age, but I have a soft spot for them. One of them you may remember has alrray appeared in a blog entry, when I was in a re-numbering frenzy, it just needed weathering. The other one was found in a certain Liverpool box shifters for £20 so how could I refuse (I know it needs the smoke box door fixing, I'm working on it) but it soon had its new identity applied and soon will be weathered like her sister.

    Once dry I will add lamps, and try and figure out how to add a crew???? I still have the feeling that even for LMS days one of them is still to clean so I may need to get some more grot applied?
     
    Like ever though time flies when you are having fun, so I better leave it there, before the Domestic Overlord, starts to think I'm enjoying myself too much....plus being sneaky saying things like, "Darling I like spending time on my trains, but I like spending time with you more", works a treat any earning Brownie points, another Master Class delivered.
     
    So until next time as ever Happy Modelling
  22. paulprice
    Well it the end of another weekend, and this one was quite busy, what little free time I had on Friday evening and Saturday was spent getting little jobs finished on the layout, so that it was presentable for this mornings visit by a very nice chap, who was there to turn a "pigs ear" into a "silk purse" I will have to wait a few weeks to see the results.
     
    But more importantly it meant I had to get the backscene fitted to board three more permanently, and also try to improve the exit the branch line makes through this into the storage yard, and the one for the main lines.
     
    Initially when I cut the exit points in the backscene I made them little too large, and they have been getting on my nerves ever since. The one the main lines use as they exit the scenic area was a little too tall, even though I tried to disguise this with that old faithful approach of a bridge.
     
    My first attempts at this improved the situation but it still annoyed me, so I ignored it and moved on to other parts of the layout I actually enjoyed working on. But a little perseverance, and effort and the placing of a suitable vehicle has resulted in a typical "very" narrow lane and the "gap" has vanished.

    The other area to look at was to try and reduce the impact of the Branch trains just disappearing into hole in the backscene, into the storage yard. In this respect I am very lucky as I have a very special trick up my sleeve, the Domestic Overlord Even though he claims us railway modellers can be a "little strange" (I mean really from a person who like Star Trek :) )he has helped with great chunks on the green stuff on Foster Street, and secretly I think some of it is rather good. As a result I did not need to do much work, just a few minutes work with some glue (not superglue ) and the area was improved and when you glance at the area from normal viewing heights its quite hard to see the exit.

    I did a little work, on a few other areas of the green end of Foster Street and I think its at a stage where I can get away without having to do anymore work on it.

    So I think after all this effort, I might have a little break from the layout, after all I deserve it, I mean at one point I even considered thanking the Domestic Overlord, but civilisations have come crashing down over less Well until the next time as ever Happy Modelling
  23. paulprice
    Well all you N gauge modellers out there will have to line up to thank me, I started working on a Fairburn tank last year and Farish release one, so thanks to me some RTR manufacturer will release a Stanier and the Fowler 2-6-4T.
     
    Yes today the Foster Street fleet was increased by two "really usful" large tank engines today, well they are running, but they could still do with a little more detailing, and maybe some or more weathering, and one that is waiting for its wheels if I can remember where I put them for safe keeping
     
    Firstly is my version of a Fairburn tank, I managed to fit leading and trailing that were near scale, which I thought was a good idea, so much so that I made sure I have enough in stock for my intended Fowler and Stanier tanks. I must admit I like the look of the Fairburn's, and the LMS livery is simplicity in itself, no lining, bonus. I added a little weathering to my example, just to give it that working loco look, I might go back and revisit the weathering on this loco but I'm not sure.
     
    The next loco to be added to the roster was an interpretation of a Fowler 2-6-4T, the problem which is familiar to all of us N gauge nuts it that unless we want to build scale chassis, we have to adapt bodies to suit rtr chassis. Though I'm not as afraid as I use to be to hack around I think in this case I will leave well alone. The big decision was which livery to run her in, but in the end black won.
     
    Though I have yet to decide if I should add red lining of just go with unlined black. As yet she has not been weathered, just a bit of matt black on the smokebox and cab roof, I think maybe I will try and improve this with a coat of my favourite dirty black, but I may leave it a few days, what I think I need to do after looking at the photographs is lower her body a little??
     
    The third tank to make its way into the fleet is my version of a Stanier tank, they share many similarities with the Fairburn, so I managed to build the two pretty much in tandem, I even added red lining, but a coat of weathering covers up a multitude of sins. I have been racking my brains trying to remember where I put my scale wheels as for the moment I cant be bothered to fit the smaller leading and trailing wheels like on my Fowler as they just don't look right? I have an idea that I may be able to use the scale bogie wheels I have yet to fit to my Jubilees. or fit the scale ones to the Jubilees and use the bogies I replace??
     
    Yes I know I need to add vacuum pipes and headlamps and other details but hey we need to leave ourselves a few little jobs to do, don't we?? Well let me know what you think, until the next time Happy Modelling
  24. paulprice
    Well over the next few weeks there will be a lot less posts from me (I can hear the cheering already) as my Foster Street, and Lugsdale Road layouts are going into hibernation.
     
    As the Domestic Overlord and I are in the process of looking at a new mansion, the layouts along with a lot of other stuff will be going into a storage locker
     
    Will they ever see the light of day again?
    Is this just a plot by the Domestic Overlord to lock me away in a container?
    Will I be given to some unwitting charity as a large load of bric-a-brack?
     
    Tune in soon the wittering of a mad man, if I ever beat this evil plan and model again
     
    Until Next Time as Ever HELP
  25. paulprice
    As the Domestic Overlord has granted my parole, because I have been such a good boy recently I decided to ballast the track on Board 3.
     
    This usually boring job, progressed far quicker than I thought and as a result I had some free time, so out came the paint brushes and I attempted to make the girder bridge look more realistic.



    Feeling rather smug with myself I thought I would review some of my goods rolling stock, and work out how many wagons I needed to finish, a task I'm not looking forward to as some of the transfers are tiny, and I have even had lettered some (yes I am mad ). Anyway now to the precautionary part of this blog, PEST INFESTATIONS.
     
    I needed to get something from the spare room and I was only away from the layout for 5 minutes but when I returned I found the following swarming over the greenery.


    It took me ages to shepherd the little pests off the layout, and you would not believe the mess they have left behind, if only I had some miniature rhubarb, but I know one thing the Domestic Overlord will never believe me.
     
    Until next time as ever Happy Modelling
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