steve22

Time's tight but it gets you moving! The third picture shows that you've captured something of the atmosphere of a small station. I'm sure it'll all be appreciated on the day.

Nice legs, Julie, but that black skirt does seem incredibly short...

A little while since I looked at you work, Rick. I know it's daft but in the photos posted 16th August Western Talisman seems to actually be smiling with her / his cab bathed in sunlight (or does she / he enjoy posing for your camera?!).

'What she said was - "why don't you buy it for the garden?".' Has she got some other railway (read 'gardening') jobs secretly lined up for you? Beware, Andy! You might also get loads of enquiries now along the lines of, "Has your wife got any sisters"!

A very useful 'check list' of where to go and what to see - Bradshaw 2013 (condensed)!

Barry, I was impressed with the Western in the first picture and mightily impressed by the overall scene in the second. Some very nice modelling, I say.

Another gem in the making no doubt. Job, a serious question - do you plan these dioramas over time or just see a scene in your mind's eye in an instant?

Good and interesting sentiments, Job, with which many of us will agree. The things we did and the people who encouraged us, and how much we now look back and value them - the layouts, the buildings and the people. I'm sure that you and your own modelling now provide the inspiration for many of us on the forum. As an example, I was drawn to read this because of the title, 'How did I get into this...' I hadn't looked closely to read who had posted it. I read with growing interest until I saw Ducketts' corner shop and I then knew exactly who the poster was! So, there we are, the inspired becomes in turn the inspiration for the next person, literally down the line.

I was thinking early evening, maybe not enough red though - but I know what Mikkel means, it catches the eye.

The photos show all the thought you've put into this. Very pleasing to follow your work, looking forward to more.

Wishing you all the best with this, Jules.

Hi Job, yes, I did realise that you didn't have a copy of Gloucester docks in mind. Do you have particular information in mind? My time in Gloucester goes back only as far as 1990, so I still feel a bit like a new boy. I can ask around if there's any appropriate information and images of the docks in the 1950's. Can't promise anything but I'll willingly do a little research for you.

Hi Job, great to see the Atkinson painting of Gloucester Dock. The real thing is just three kilometres or so from my home. When I lived on the other side of Gloucester it was fairly easy and quick to walk in (about two kilometres then) and the easier route was along the canal towpath and along where you see the railway line and people standing. The warehouse to the left has since been demolished though I think it's where flats have gone up now. The warehouse to the centre of the painting and some along the right are still standing in real life, serving the Council Offices and various retail premises, places to eat, etc. Tall ships still come into the docks for re-fits and repairs I believe. The area still retains a sense of the past though the railway lines which quite frankly, went almost everywhere around the docks and between the warehouses have now gone. Several wagons were preserved and on show on a few remaining tracks; must check if they're still there. All the best with the model - will watch with interest!

Lovely! I really do love seeing animals caught up in fun and wonderment - thank you John, thank you, Jessie.

A little bit off topic: I've always liked this class of loco and the opening photo brings back memories of me selling the Mainline models (c1980) when I worked in a model and toy shop. I bought the green BR version, 3210. For a short while I had a very short terminus to fiddle yard layout and, typical of the weak motor that 3210 had, it needed a fair bit of current to move it. So it and its two coaches would speed out of the station and within a yard I''d be slowing it down pretty quick! If the loco was running in reverse it also had the habit of derailing on the Peco 3-way point when entering the fiddle yard. A good looker but not a happy runner. Your other pics show a much more solid type of motor.

James, as I don't know anything about painting locos, wagons, etc, can I ask how did you decide on a coat or two of leaf green as a base. Was it because you knew it would give the depth of finish you were looking for?

Lovely looking maroon weathered Western running over point work and through country scenery. It doesn't come much better, though I'd have been equally happy if it had been a green one. And that Warship with tankers bathed in sunlight - nice! Cliff face down to the beach impresses as ever too.

I've got both foam and foamboard here in my study. I never get a really clean edge using the foam and sometime that doesn't matter too much. But looking at your photos it seems if I use the foamboard for my buildings I should be able to get a very clean, straight edge. Very helpful to see how you do the bracing, steps and window frames too. Thanks for posting this.

Trying to get Brit's Quote above my posting... Beatties took over Boydells in Eldon Square, Newcastle around 1983 or 1984. Beatties Head Office renamed it 'Leisureworld', rather than 'Beatties'. I left Beatties in Pilgrim Street, Newcastle in 1988 and sometime later (maybe around 1995) on a visit to the North East I went into Leisureworld when it had relocated to the large Metro Centre complex between Dunston and Blaydon. My hometown, Shrewsbury, was home to Hobby Specialists, 27, Wyle Cop. Mr. and Mrs Smith and their son held a considerable amount of stock in that small shop. A very sad day when that closed. I still have my H&M Duette, working faithfully since 1968 and my Trix Scotsman, a Christmas present 1968, arrived June 1969 with one pair of drivers ever so slightly out of gauge and never to this day a good runner. Incidentally, I recall Britannia class 70053 on Shrewsbury shed, around 1967 (?) shorn of nameplates, valves blowing off and standing at the entrance to the sheds by the old signal box. I remember giving it a last look back from the nearby 'bus stop before heading home. I would be twelve or thirteen at the time.

Rug'd 1022 A 10p platform ticket for Reading and a lifetime's supply of Curly-Wurlys to whoever comes up with the best caption to this... "Oy! Sulk over please. We've got the road, now let's go back and get the coaches." "Wish I'd kept the box. Think how much this'd be worth now..." "Convert it to DCC!" they said. Now I'm stuck in Cab No. 2 unable to get past the flamin' chip.

One of many delightful touches this railway has is the variety of viewpoints and levels. Be it a train crossing a stream or round a curve behind houses and small field or the wide sweep of the station area with creamery in the distance. Then here we look up to the train with trees beyond and yet further up to road bridge, bus and further up than that to the roof of a building. And is the track on a shallow descent here? My poor little steam and hydraulic powered heart skipping a beat yet again!

Hi RobboPetes, I did this same body swop back around 1984 when I had a small 'N' gauge layout for a short while. I bought myself a green Farish Brush Type 4 for Christmas which would always ride over a Peco point blade as it came off the curve. A quick check revealed no chamfer on the wheels; the leading outside wheel would hit the slightly protruding point blade 'head on' and derail. As I worked in a model shop at the time I took the loco back and over a lunch break I found that the body would fit the Minitrix chassis. I did have to remove the glazing though. Added ventilation I reasoned! I always preferred the Farish body (looks) and Trix chassis (running and build qualities) anyway so I exchanged the Farish model for the Minitrix, ordered a Farish body and never had a problem again. I think it was not too long after that we had the first of the Farish Class 25 models in. As I put them on the shelf the first thing I noticed - a most obvious chamfer on the wheels...

I like the scratches running bottom to top inside the hopper - presumably this represents where the load has scored into the metalwork on loading / emptying, making it more liable to rusting?

I said this was going to be good when you just had a goods platform, wagon and bit of track to show us. I very much mourned Kylesku's and Mound's passing but assured myself that something well worthwhile would rise from the ashes... and here we are - lovely stuff, once again.

I hadn't thought about the sound deadening aspect of Copydex before. I do recall the smell though! I'll give it a try again, sometime, and I may try the use of droppers.