ianLMS

They don't seem to have a Craftsmanship/AMAZING button!!!!

Ah, the secret weapon!!!! Now, can anyone tell me where I can still get the solvent version of said product? Allmy local stores seem to have the new water-based, namby-pamby, enviro-friendly, H&S type goo, which to be honestI find completely useless when trying to emulate the master himself, the very talented Mr. Allan Downes. How am I ever going to produce quality work if the tree-huggers keeping taking all the good stuff out of our products!!!

Here is the loco servicing yard with a 3F waiting to be cleaned. Water crane is from PD Marsh with added chain. Much of the road surface is Peco weathering powders mixed in with real ash and coal.

Good morning everyone. I have been relatively quiet on the post as I have been busy getting on with a few projects for the railway. I have planted the engine shed and make a loco servicing area. Still more detail required but its taking shape nicely. I have also scratchbuilt the water tower, and just completed the kit bashed Ratio Midland Signal Box. I have a few more items in the "to-do" box, so will probably spend the next few weeks getting through a few of those before getting back to working on the layout. Here are a few pics of progress so far. I have posted more info for the water tower and signal box in the "Show us Your Scratchbuilt buildings post in "Scenery, Structures and Transport" so wont repeat myself here.

Here is the second part - a kit bashed Ratio Midland Signal Box. I changed the lower wood paneling for stone, changed the side where the staircase comes up and replaced with windows/doors with Churchward etched brass ones. The changes presented quite a challenge and the kit needed several modifications to get it to work/fit, but I am quite happy with the results.

Good morning everyone. Here are my two newest ventures at scratchbuilding/kit bashing. First up is a scratchbuilt water tower using 5mm foambaord, 4mm Slaters embossed sheet (stone) and Slaters plasticard for the water tank. I used strips of Plastruct for the detail on the tank, Woodland Scenics Realistic Water for the........water! and Moss Green/Soot Black pigments for colouring, with Humbrol Weathering Powder for the stonework. Ladder is etched brass, and the railings/stanchions are from Ratio.

I have just been contacted by the RSPCA and any activities involving the burning, grinding and use of chinchilla's for heinous activities such as Railway Modelling is strictly forbidden as Chinchillas are protected! So, back to sandpaper!

And with the explosive properties of dust, a fully protected electrical system would be required, along with special signage, an explosive safety arc of at least 50 meters from the room and definitely no soldering irons!!! I'd stick to sandpaper if I were you!!

I have used sandpaper (in a roll from a DIY store) for my roads, painted it with mixtures of dark and light greys and dusted it with weathering powders, ash from the fireplace etc to give different effects. I didn't use it for the platform tops though. Instead, I coated the platforms with Anita Décor Tree Bark (slightly gritty, gooey substance). When dried, I sanded it down a tad then again, dusted it with various powders. I did have a giggle at the H&S issues concerning sandpaper chaffing. You just need to complete a comprehensive Risk Assessment before using it to keep the HSE happy! Wearing a Hi-Viz jacket might help - seems mandatory these days for anything more dangerous than having a shower!!!

Exceptional!!

I wish I had seen this prior to buying and making the Ratio version!! this looks so much better!! Look forward to seeing what other 4mm kits become available and what is in the pipeline so I don't go out and buy an inferior plastic version!!!- maybe replicating some of the 2mm kits in the 4mm range would be good?? The buildings in the 2mm range would be great to have in 4mm!!!!

Is that a modified Metcalf kit by any chance? absolutely stunning work!!!! the detail is incredible.

Thanks Allan and I can only imagine the effort involved for no return. Now, a YouTube video costs nothing and we get to see a legend at work for free! Win-win me thinks!!!!!! Either way, you inspire me, amaze me and I hope to be 10% as talented when I grow up lol!!!!!

Good morning everyone! As Mr Downes and Mr Robinson are true leaders in the field of modeling buildings of all types, I was wondering if either have books published on basic "how to...." with easy to follow guides especially covering measuring prototypes, tools & materials, how to keep everything true and square and especially detailing & painting techniques. I looked on Amazon and it does list a few books from Mr Downes covering prototype plans etc, but no "how to" type books focused on modeling railway, lineside and general buildings. I have made a few modest scratchbuilt buildings shared in "show us your scratchbuilt...." posts, but I know I could have done a lot better with a little help from the experts! Happy to buy direct from you if the price is good!!! Thank you for sharing your models with us - truly inspiring!!

I want to know how a cow can get crowned, what her crown looks like and what a cow's kingdom would consist of so I can accurately model it!

Took a look at Mr Nevard's Flickr pics - what a talented photographer he is! He can make anything look good!!!!

That makes sense - shame though as I am sure he would have done well.

Have you thought of putting this in the model engineering forums? http://www.model-engineer.co.uk/forums/threads.asp?t=145 as this workmanship is "engineering at its best" and well deserved of recognition in the UK press, both railway and model engineering. You really should look at marketing the kits (with detailed instructions) as well. I am sure there are modellers out there who would love to tackle something like this but couldn't from scratch. Shame you haven't been invited to an exhibition in the UK yet - flights from Poland couldn't be that expensive!! And one other thing - how come your loco's did not get into the "build a loco" challenge final round? was there a restriction on metal/plastic only, or that they had to run? Ian

I didn't get near enough to ask them, and I didn't hear anyone else ask either, so unfortunately I cannot pass on any news on points.

I purchased both sets in 4mm scale at the York show and spent time over Easter building them. I rubbed the whole etch down with wet n dry as advised at the stand and they glued together with super-glue nicely. Extremely well made, easy to work with, very simple to put together and look great. Well, they do until I will ruin them when I paint them!!!! I see the painting advice in a previous post so that might help! If I could afford it, I would have purchased some of the buildings in the 4mm range as well. Thank you for a great product! Ian (no connection, just a very satisfied customer)

I saw the new Peco track for real at York Model Rail Show and was suitably impressed. Several folks asked the main question while I was at the stand "when will it be available?" so they know the interest is out there. The response was towards the end of the year and most folks just said that they would happily wait until them before track laying rather than buy the current range. So, it appears Peco are happy with the response so far and are pressing on! can't wait!

Thank you kind Sir!, I see your layout is really coming along nicely! Although it worked out expensive (around £18) for the roof tiles and ridge tiles, I am very happy with them. The ridge was almost impossible to keep straight but once it was weathered, its not that noticeable. Doors need ring handles on the front and a latch so that's my next project. After that, I will fit it to the layout and add internal detail such as the racking, tools etc.

Good morning folks, After spending the last few weeks busy with either work, the house, going away and going to York Model Railway show, I have finally completed (apart from more detail) my 4mm engine shed for Jencaster. The engine shed was constructed using 5mm foamboard overlayed with Slaters Embossed Plasticard (7mm stone) and painted with solvent wood dye (Mr Allan Downes' method - although not anywhere close to his standard!!), then heavily weathered using Humbrol Weathering Powders. I tried to seal the powder in using matte cote, and then matt varnish but in places it still came out too shiny so I had to re-do the weathering (probably over done it). I have working lights in the offices and main shed (3mm LED) and interior detail. Main shed doors were made from Balsa sheet, scored to give panel detail and framed with 1mm x 3mm plastic strip. Hinges were made using scrap brass etch sprue folded over around part of a staple, then pushed into the balsa wood door frame. Main windows were plastruct styrene strip overlayed on Scalescenes printed window sheet on translucent sheet. Office windows are from Slaters. Roof tiles etc are from York Modelmaking. Again, I apologise for the poor quality photographs.

Good morning folks, Here is my latest attempt at scratchbuilding in 4mm. The engine shed was constructed using 5mm foamboard overlayed with Slaters Embossed Plasticard (7mm stone) and painted with solvent wood dye (Mr Allan Downes' method - although not anywhere close to his standard!!), then heavily weathered using Humbrol Weathering Powders. I tried to seal the powder in using matte cote, and then matt varnish but in places it still came out too shiny so I had to re-do the weathering (probably over done it). I have working lights in the offices and main shed (3mm LED) and interior detail. Main shed doors were made from Balsa sheet, scored to give panel detail and framed with 1mm x 3mm plastic strip. Hinges were made using scrap brass etch sprue folded over around part of a staple, then pushed into the balsa wood door frame. Main windows were plastruct styrene strip overlayed on Scalescenes printed window sheet on translucent sheet. Office windows are from Slaters. Roof tiles etc are from York Modelmaking. Guttering downpipes were made from plastic tube heated with a lighter and bent to shape. Again, I apologise for the poor quality photographs.

Currently spending much time constructing my 2-road engine shed. I have most of the structure complete, painted and weathered. Just getting ready to fit lights inside, fit the pillars inside, put the roof on (York Modelmakers slate tiles) and then look at bedding it into the layout.