paulprice

Roy thanks its good to know it was not just me, sometimes I look at what is actually being released, and wonder if they are actually aimed at the modeller or just the box buying collector?

Am I the only one who is not too impressed with the offerings??

I like my sprouts, they make me fart

more trains more trains more trains

How lucky and I, don't ask how I have managed it, but I have managed to find a few modelling hours over the last few days, and rather that spend this valuable time on the more important jobs on Foster Street, I have used it on an engine. As some of you may recall, before my blog disaster where I wrecked a load of entries by accidentally deleting photo's in my gallery (I can still hear people cheering ) I was working on producing a passable Stannier 3 cylinder 2-6-4T for the layout. I had got to the stage where I had the loco painted, numbered as 2484 and lettered like a good little LMS loco should be. I had decided to leave the loco in un-lined black, with maybe a very light dusting of weathering, so I set about eradicating one of my pet hates of crewless cabs, by drastically hacking a crew about to fit the cab, and some acetate sheet to fit cab windows. It was while I was doing this, that I had one of my "how hard can it be" moments and decided to have a go at lining the loco, so out came the red paint and the smallest paintbrush I had. Not letting a very shaky hand stopping me I plodded on, oh as you can tell by the quality of the photo I have a new camera, so at least the quality of my blog entries has increased if the modelling quality has not . Anyway to improve the finish and thin a few lines I touched a couple of areas up with a little satin black, as you can quite clearly see in the photo, this is quite a contrast to the sprayed satin black finish. Thankfully this is not as obvious in the flesh, a few minutes work and the crew and glazing were both fitted to my fingers, thanks to superglue and a little while longer saw them in the cab. Now it was time to add a little weathering to portray a working locomotive, not long out of workshops (and to hide the majority of the lining). Well a light dusting of grime later, and most of the lining is covered up, of at least obscured from view, with the crew fitted and the lamp fitted to denote her intended duty, I think she looks like a working loco (maybe I should add a little more weathering but I will leave it a few days to decide). I have in the process of working on the loco noticed 3 things, 1 The new camera is a very cruelly shows up how rough certain aspects of your models can be 2 I have not forgot the leading and trailing wheels (I just put them in a little box for safe keeping, and forgot where I left it). 3 The Domestic Overlord has been very quiet over the last few days, I can smell a plot brewing.......... As ever until the next time Happy Modelling

your all mad

Funnily enough the brake van was the only thing that did not stick to the superglue. I think next time I may buy some ready painted figures for the layout, as the thought of an almost endless supply of unpainted figures waiting for attention with my paint brushes is driving me mad at the moment

Job thanks, its amazing even on a small layout like mine how they almost disappear when you add figures to the layout, I guess its one of the joys of N gauge.

Wow spring is bursting out all over

Well with everything that has been going on lately here at "Trump Towers" (named due to a recent a prolonged outbreak of wind) modelling time has been in very short supply. I have been working on finishing my Stannier 2-6-4T and have managed with a very shaky hand to lined the loco, well at least sort of. Anyway the project that has really been eating into my time is the populating of the area surrounding Foster street with some of the your average locals. Well at least my representation of the typical down to earth, honest working class characters so typical of your average town in the Northwest. That was my intention at any rate, where some of the more "dodgy" individuals came from I have no idea ) All have originated from the standard Peco N Guage modelscene range, and I have attempted to paint them in colours subtle enough to let them blend into the environment rather than stand out. Some I have even modified with the aid of a little modelling putty to provide some of the more unusual inhabitants including Death and the Penguins of Doom (Not a pop act, but actual Nuns ) the reprobate Billy Grimes has even made an appearance, he is the one in the Red blazer. The results will have to do for now, as the effect of trying to paint ties on N gauge figures has not only had an effect on my fragile eyesight, but also my sanity (according to the Domestic Overlord my sanity is a quickly diminishing resource ). So until the next time, if I can escape my padded cell Happy Modelling

I thought a good layer of filth improves the look of a GWR Engine? Only kidding chaps, don't send the Copper Capped Hit squad to get me I guess I better convert my 4 wheel milk tanks to 6 wheelers

Fancy sorting out the green stuff on my N gauge layout

I think its brilliant it must give you a great sense of achievement watching one your excellent train formations, passing through exceptional scenery (even if they are not LMS)

looks brilliant to me

Just a very quick entry this time (Hurray I can hear you cheer ). I have been working on various little projects on the layout, you know the ones that just drain modelling hours, anyway one of the quick projects I have managed to complete is to convert a "Luton" type van into a flat bed. The need for this came about, because I was bored of making railings to keep the residents of the stepped terraces on the layout safe. Showing a "devil may care" attitude to Health and Safety I decided to model a scene depicting the railings being removed. The idea behind this is to maybe replicate a metal collecting drive as seen in the war years, or maybe the first stage of the railings being replaced as part of modernisation (I believe some people in the area have inside toilets?). Anyway let me know what you think, I must admit its a pity we don't have similar metal collection drives now. I could donate the pots and pans from our kitchen, without mentioning any names, it must be a skill to make Chicken a taste nicer before it goes in the oven than when it comes out cooked?? Well I guess this maybe my last post, as if the Domestic Overlord reads this, they will kill me, still its quicker than "Death by Roast Chicken" Until next time, as ever Happy Modelling

Two belting little engines to be proud of

At school we were always told that Football and Tennis were invented for people who can't play sports, from the recent television coverage there most be millions of these poor fools in the world

Are you chaps still on about this football thing, is it not over yet?

Well I have finally finished weathering the Milk tanks (all 15 of them) that will form one of the trains on Foster Street. My usual method was used of a limited pallet, dry brushed, and them topped off when dry with a coat of my favourite "dirty" thinners. I tried to avoid the uniformed look, and after the research I have made, some of the tankers seem very, very clean, considering the real things carried fresh Moo Moo juice it certainly make you think. There are a coupe of areas I think can be improved but I think I will leave the wagons for a few days, to see if I remain happy with the overall finish. I know really speaking for the timeframe of the layout they need to be six wheelers (an excuse to but more stock maybe). I really hope the Domestic overlord never reads this All I now need to do is find/build a suitable brake vehicle for the end of the train and decide on suitable motive power for the front, any ideas?? Anyway as always until the next time happy modelling

For a "Buzz Box" its looking good

I must admit the Castle is stunning

I must admit to maybe having more locomotives than I need, as for "human rights" they can all shut up and put up with it, if I hear any signs of a complaint I will demote them to crewing "GWR" loco's lol

It might just be me, I might be turning into a crank, I must admit sometimes I struggle with the fitting of lamps sometimes, as its easy to fix them to Express locomotives, but I tend to favour the less glamorous locomotives and it can restrict the type of train you attach them too.

Jez, I know what you mean I only have one Dapol loco (a Southern Q1) in an attempt to fit a crew, I had to remove a hell of a lot of the crew figures. When viewed side on it does not look too bad, but from other angles its not a pretty site. Still are Southern loco's ever pretty