westernviscount

Parts to improve or replace have escalated. The chimney is a white metal 247 developments part. Subtely finer and narrower than the airfix one. A nice modelu whistle fitting. The airfix one was molded to the cab roof. Also in this picture are the finer cab hand rails and the roof vent which I filed out a hole for. This picture includes the replacement handrails, a loosely fitted pipe along the length of the loco, some fire iron brackets on the bunker filed and shaped from 0.8mm brass wire and a scratchbuilt set of steps. I am not particulalrly experienced with scratchbuilding in brass but it is very absorbing. A bit of a cruel close up. The top step is slightly wonky so will need adjustment.

Having decided to build a model based on the Wrexham to Ellesmere branch; specifically Caia Road goods, my dad dug out his old Airfix 14xx autotanks. I stripped the motor and made new pickups and, despite being very loud, the locos run beautifully. At 40 odd years old, they still are lovely models but the smoke box door does not look convincing. Once you see it, you can't unsee it! I decided to spruce the appearence up a bit. Dad had already put cab side plates on many many years ago. I wanted to sort the front end out as the model has too flat a smoke box door and the shape of the handrails is more Manor than 1400. The smoke box moulding was filed flat and a mainly trains (wizard) drum head door glued using evo stick. New hand rails are shaped by eye and new handrail knobs added. Having done this, further issues leapt out at me and I will continue below. Cheers for now.

Agreed.

Totally agree. Anyone who ever asks those types of questions, very much like "so explain to me how paint splatters is art?" or "how is this music?" have no interest in discussion.

I cannot recall looking out of the train window seeing giants holding controllers...looking confused.

I do have the faintest memory of seeing King George V in steam, but I was very small ;-)

In the real world I cannot ever recall the trains being more realistic than the surroundings ;-) ...Or hearing a locomotive at the same volume for a quarter mile and more.

Forgive me for chiming in with what I think is a previously shared image, but here is a model I did with permanently open doors. A mechanism would add the excitment I must say!!

For the backscene painters This one might be cheating And I am sure Rod has been scanned by modelu to help with this one!

Look carefully :-)

I really enjoy articles like this. It doesnt preclude the idea of mastery in something, just rejects the idea that every minute of ones day should be productive and monetised.

These are excellent!

I thought it was just me being soft!! Now I feel better. I use the gaugemaster combi as it was cheap and also excellent.

Is the gentleman in the foreground demonstrating the ineffectiveness of this method? They seem more of a suggestion than a rule. They may also offer an exciting thing to grab for our younger modelling friends. I would worry about a thing meant to protect the layout being attached to it.

For a total lack of barriers, perhaps the odd stray finger or grabby hand can be dealt with by the application of some basic people skills and politely reminding about boundaries. People skills and politeness are not in everyones tool kit of course. Perhaps some would be better off exhibiting in one of Damien Hirst's vitrines ;-)

You might wish to invest in some of the museum type, uncrossable velvet rope! Seriously though, a quick look on amazon brings up a few alternatives. The the seatbelt type barrier with 6 posts, and 3 belts they can cordon off 6M for about £100. Not cheap in my view.

Blueball Summit disproves this sentiment I would say. However, it might be worth simply addressing replies directly to the commenter. Is a seperate thread necessary? May smack of a pile on.

Thanks Iain. The windows look crystal clear!! Going to attempt this myself perhaps.

Superb!! Absolutely superb. Can I ask Iain, did you take the GUARD decal on the BY from a different sheet to modelmaster? The kit I did recently seemed to be lacking the full set of legends. Also, perhaps a silly question but are these models all glazed?

I can't help it sometimes...too much time spent watching the office ;-)

Thank you to everyone who responded to my earlier comment about motivation. All sound advice. My move has meant the opportunity to go to a club which I do enjoy, but like Phil, yes it is more tea and biscuits than track and baseboards. I think I lost my way a bit upon the "completion" of my layout and becoming more interested in the comment and theorising side of RMweb rather than blogging about my stuff. I remain inspired by other modellers and like Northmoor have stacks of mags, especially MRJ. I am also venturing into the blog section again. I have never been put off by the level of skill of others and despite my tendancy towards envy, I admire their skill. I just feel we are at a time where there is perhaps a two tier system witb those with all the kit and those of us with nothing much more than a scalpel (swann morton of course, it aint all bad) ;-) The reference to 3d printing, lasercut, pete watermans making tracks, youtubers etc is about feeling left behind somewhat. For many years I sensed being part of a group of like minded folk who, yes, have differing skills and chequebook sizes but on the whole, all seem very much linked. I dont really get that sense anymore but perhaps that was the ignorance of my youth at work. The arrogance of a teen identifying with Pete Waterman!! But, thanks again for all the advice. All sound! I intend to buy the apron I said I was going to wear as a new years resolution and ... I took delivery of this used Jinty. Being as I model blue diesels on the western region I hoped to go in a different direction. I have the January guilt of buying this but as I say it was second hand. It also ran like a pig and I was massively disheartened by this, which certainly contributed to the deflated mojo. I Stripped it down last night and it runs as sweetly as can be expected for what seems to start with a pretty basic drive train. I will keep folk posted with a blog I am sure. I am thinking a chasis kit perhaps! It all takes time and money of course, both of which are rather scarce currently and for the foreseeable. Thank you so much again chaps.

My modelling mojo plummeted last year. I have barely been near the bench, not helped by moving and starting a new job. I set out some new years resolutions elsewhere on the forum but instantly knew it was unlikely to happen. I have been dwelling on how my hobby has changed and whether I still enjoy it. When I started I just loved making models and building things. I built a layout fairly ignorant of the wider hobby. But now I see all the highflying elite of the hobby and just wonder how on earth anything I do could ever be satisfying when there is lasercut this, 3d printed that, dcc sound the other, making tracks, you tubers etc etc. I am finding it all overwhelming. I did write an article about my motivation funnily enough but it seems to have left me completely. Nothing I can build will ever meet my expectations which have been drastically altered because of the abilities and means of others which are so readily apparent because of new media. Comparison is as we know, the thief of joy.

Western Resolutions 1. More modelling without guilt. I love it and that is enough justification 2. Breathe and be patient when things go wrong. Put the tools down and take 5 mins (Never smash things!). 3. Wear an apron and stop wiping stuff on my clothes!! 4. Control envy (remove youtube app from phone) Western Goals 1. Design and start new layout 2. Produce an item to base a modelling article around 3.refine use of airbrush 4. Build an O gauge wagon to try out modelling at that scale. Best wishes folks. Happy new year.

Ok, so there is the Great Western Railway but what do the others stand for? ;-)

Thought I would add some pics of the latest workbench stuff. I have had a big move over the summer and featured here are a couple of projects that have been a long time in the making for such a modest project. A parkside LNER extra long cct and a parkside SR BY. The BY was tweaked with Lanarkshire roof vents, upright vac pipes and buffers. Also added were .3mm handrails including door furniture. It sports heavily weathered green paint. I am still learning the airbrush and results remain a bit hit and miss. The extra long cct finished in maroon (ford maroon to be precise) and again heavily weathered. Steps, like the BY have been made with brass so they are more robust. I added handrails again and also replaced the rainstrips as the moulded ones are a bit slight. The vents are phoenix precision which are not quite as refined as Lanarkshire but better than the kit supplied ones. I found I wasnt able to focus when doing the glaxing for the BY and regret not making a better attempt at flush glaze. Next time maybe. I love these kits. Very much why I love the hobby.