bgman

Hi KC, Good photos, slightly envious Whilst waiting for the 1Z52, I met a chap on Exeter St.Davids who told me about the trip and nearly missed the Castle on its run through!! Note to self " stop talking to enthusiastic strangers about trains and concentrate upon the mission in hand!" Cheers

Suitable loco ? Hmm....... Now what should I put there ? I've got some ideas but at the risk of creating a host of suggestions ( please , oh! Ok but be brief and realistic, it'll have to be Edwardian though!) One suggestion if I may be so bold, get your feather duster out and start with the boxes sooon ! Ya never know, it could become a habit !! Cheers

Good evening CK, Keep your eyes off that box it's not finished yet!! Ha ha I will oblige soon, I'm in a tussle as to whether I will add some boarding below the windows to suit my new project, hmmmmm Cheers

So........more ferreting in the boxes I'd stored away for a rainy day/retirement and I found these........ They were bought over 30? years ago and are Mallard/Blacksmith/IKB and Ratio models. Now that they've reared their ugly head I think it's time they paid a visit to the Carriage Shop and get a final fettling so they can stretch their bogies on a proposed layout! ( as I said once before........don't hold your breath ladies and gentlemen of the parish it may be a little while!)

It's true what I keep being told, "where did you find the time to work?" And "how are you enjoying retirement?", to which my standard answer is " it's like a warm duvet, I just pull it up and enjoy the comfortable feeling!". Whilst living near Banbury many years ago I had the hair brained idea to make a model of Banbury Station with the overall roof al la Brunel, plans drawn etc then life took over. I met the late Jim Russell whilst doing a survey of his photographers studio and the scene was set (what great mine of information as an ex GWR man). Also paid a visit to Keysers factory on the outskirts of town and bought the Rover along with their Aberdare kit. Happy days. Roll the film forward and moved to Devon 23 years ago still wanting to model a Rover in working condition. It ain't easy if you use the K's kit there are so many variables, including the original castings, so if you intend to motorise it I suggest keeping the loco free of any mechanics and motorise the tender. I used Kay Butlers tender drive (IKB) and found it to be the best answer which I think is still available through the BGS. Sorry to ramble on but might be of some use if you intend to do as a future project. Grahame

I'll just go and get the blunderbuss out of the pantry!

Thank you, I've got a host of ideas and models lurking in the railway room, one pair of hands, a head like a swirling dervisher and lots of coins flipped into the air!! Having now taken early retirement ( wahoo!) I just want to play trains, so, some track is slowly going down and trying to get my head into gear. Soooo many things to do! But very happy.

If you've got the tele on try Channel 5 DIY Disasters ! Think I'll stick to modelling, seems much easier!?! Thank you for the like Allan P.S. Having now retired from the world of real work I'm always looking to save a few bob! The colour dye used for my test piece was about half that of the Colron dye, bought from Wilkinsons store. Seems to do the job just as well.

P.S. It also makes the model smell nice, talcum powder that is !!

I too have just read the booklet at a friends house and it's a fascinating insight about the man who is Mr.Modeller ! So, having been inspired I thought I'd give it a go on a test piece. As they say " Anything you can do, have a go yourself !"

Sorry just caught this one. Don't stay too long! I'll never get anything done ! Grahame

So......started rummaging through some boxes this afternoon and forgot about this one. Originally started back in 1994! because there was a distinct lack of Broad Gauge Rover loco's in the shops Ha ha ( no surprises there) . I accept there are mistakes but it was an exercise in trying to scratch build. Comments welcome. What's in the dark corners of your past ?

Does that mean we've got to try and imitate this on all our stock now !!! Good luck with photoshopping !?! Ha haRefers to CK's photo of the buffer insignia

Thank you Mikkel, These "whims" are starting to become something of a habit, and I'm not sure it they are controllable ??? This early retirement malarkey has made me start to revive some old models and make whimsical new ones !!! And enjoying every minute.

It was big enough for the Saturday night party too!

In answer to Mikkel, of this parish, I thought I would drop these onto the site to show the method used to create this from a previous layout. The cottage was a trial build to see how effective the use of casting plaster would be and how it would stand up to scribing etc. and overall it faired reasonably well, however, I'm not happy with some of the joints but then it did sit on a hill as a background building ( so no rivet counters etc to be worried about :0 !!! ). Happy modelling ( Hope this helps Mikkel) Grahame

Thank you Mikkel, modelling should be fun so why not make it a happy place and if it can lighten the day I'm all for it. If another member or two.....well as many as wish to join in with like minded interests and a sense of humour tag along it makes it all worthwhile. The "stone" cottage is mearly sheets of cast plaster scribed and joined together. I did add some pva into the mix in an attempt to stop it crumbling when being cut ( whether it made a difference I'm not sure but nothing dropped off !). It's a building which is probably going to be revived/ re-cycled on the proposed layout, of which I'm finding several ! Happy modelling and thanks for the compliment. Grahame

The Broad Gauge Society produce a lamp top wedge part no. FO46 (IKB 4205) in whitemetal which may? do the job. If you wish to pm me I could discuss this further if it helps. Have a gander at the BGS website, click on Modelling tab, 4mm and click through the pages, 9 for this one. Or, join the society and join us for a real blast from the past! Grahame

Ah! Something to take the Frobishers home in when they arrive at the station eh? A gilded carriage awaits...........so, will there be a fair maiden from Newton arriving at the ball this evening ? Best move along and pay a visit to the milliners and haberdashery shop soon then Mike ! Enjoy, I am

I like your approach to the models which are being produced. May I ask what media and which colours were used to produce the realistic gable end and more specifically the stone quoins ? Happy modelling enjoy.

Well, having spoken to the Farquhar's about last nights proceedings, they mentioned in a passing phrase "dj" (dinner jacket perhaps?) One can only assume it is with reference to Mr.F.B.Slims' attire, looking rather dashing behind his gramophone decks, although I would suggest Blanche doesn't get over friendly with him! Mr.Edison? Hmmm is that the chap who runs Mitchell & Kenyons near Oakley Park, damn fine goods they purvey. I'll check further with my man Perks, when he sees fit to take the shunters poles back !

Having seen Blanche I'm certain that she would have fitted right in last night. I have a feeling she is going to be a very colourful girl, maybe a visit to see Mr. Perkins at the local haberdashery would encourage her to get the rest of her friends to follow sooner or later. By primer I believe you may be referring to knickerbockers etc., humph! now that would have been frowned upon by Lady Fanshaw last night, it's just not one of THOSE partee's !!!!

Enjoying the entry Mikkel and will await the final unit in situ ( with a video to go with it perhaps?). Ah! Sorry I meant a cinematic extravaganza as befits the period ! Although I really really appreciated your link to the scanner traverser it's taken me the best part of 45 minutes to get through that blog too before coming back here!! Well worth it though. Happy modelling and keep it coming.

For anyone wondering what this is perhaps you may care to view my earlier blog - it's Saturday night, it might help put things into perspective.

Having climbed down and refreshed themselves the guests were ushered into the parlour and having been thanked by Her Ladyship for coming along today, she felt it was close to her bedtime. They all took the hint and politely said their fairwell's and sauntered past the gardners cottage having had a tree-mendous time. As they shuffled back along the lane Perks was still in a quandary as to what had happened that day, non the less happy but rather uncertain why he seemed to have acquired a sandwich board ? Hey! Ho! Something silly always seemed to happen to him !!! Good night part-goers sleep well, maybe some more modelling tomorrow, maybe ?