PJBambrick

Yes indeed, a fine result judging from the photos, crisp, accurate and identical ! Do please show the next steps

Agreed, this is going to be spectacular.

Really coming together now, what a visual treat! I'll do some more later.........Paul

Beautifully done, as usual. Have you decided on the layout name yet?

Certainly looking forward to the Basilica update, & it's good to see you back posting again. Paul

Hi Jobs For me, the L shape works well because it leads the eye into the scene from both sides My eye is then drawn to the gap between the 2nd & 3rd frontages & I want to see through to whatever is behind them! More wharves & warehouses? Ships, masts and cranes? As I see it, Jobs, there is a depth layer you haven't used yet, at the back. So you could still add to it by representing other activity, just visible through gaps between the buildings. With the age of the buildings, in my minds eye, I see the masts and rigging of the merchant ships in a neighbouring wharf above the rooflines. Looking forward to the next instalment, excellent atmosphere. Cheers Paul

Fantastic , A wild & windy looking sky! Now that really is how to set a mood. Can't wait to see more of this one! .......Paul

Hi Dave Personally, I do think it might suit the layout, it's more like modelling a receding landscape than painting one. Bucks Hill was all done in layers, and it worked OK. I can't seem to find out how to post images into blog comments so I've done a sketch of how Bucks Hill was basically arranged . Give me a day or two to get the sketch scanned, & I"ll do a blog entry to show one way of constructing it, along with some finished work. You could enter the 2014 challenge with it! Paul

Great stuff Dave Modelling as you are, within a diorama, and against a fixed backscene allows you to blend the far distance & horizon into the 3D modelling by using progressively smaller scaled layers, so rather than painting a backscene, and then trying to disguise a 2D to 3D join, instead you can model a semi relief layer at say 5 or 6mm 'scale' as part of the scenic background, then another layer behind at 3 to 4mm 'scale', then another at 2mm & so on using finer textures, muted colours & smaller gaps between until you reach the horizon. It doesn't have to dominate, it can be as understated as necessary by de saturating the colours (airbrushing the separate layers in grey before positioning. The big advantage is that you replicate the look of a landscape as you see it naturally (without a join in it !) Adding appropriately scaled elements into this type of semi relief works quite well, all manner of features can be included into the background as they would appear. Give it a go as a mockup & my bet is you'll take to it no problem, why not, after all you can do everything else alright!....Paul

Hi Dave This is all going to work very nicely, because you do have the knack of planning the overall picture as well as the details. So now having studied the plan & mockup, I'm naturally curious about what you intend to do with the backscene, which is perfectly configured into the design of this diorama style layout. Have you decided what approaches to take yet, for instance, will it be removable or integral to the boards? do you see it as a photoshop image, or are you considering painting a panoramic landscape yourself? With the way this is designed, there are no obstacles to using a few progressive layers to help suggest the background distance. I see a couple of things that might be useful in the planning stage which you have probably also considered. The lane leading into the station approach could be easily persuaded to visually 'disappear' behind the raised wooded area to the right, thus making a T junction. A continuation here helps in justifying the position of the road bridge as well. It would be good to maximise any clearance between the rear parapets of the bridge and embankment fencing and the backscene. Even a small extra gap here will help to create an effective distance layer ( I can see it might be a bit tight at this point, but it is an effective trick ) Allowing as much room as space will permit behind any of the structures & features at the planning stage really will pay big dividends later, because it permits a few visual layers to be included, particularly those elements seen along the gentle curve along the back. like the lane, cattle pens & siding etc. PM me if you think I can help anywhere with this one, It's a cracker!........Paul

Lovely work, atmosphere & presentation. Who knows, you might find some more old postcards with hand lettering & dog eared corners! Seriously though, you do have a real feel for this, so keep posting new stuff for us. Paul

Some excellent work here, signalboxes are often quite unforgiving, so this is a seriously impressive portfolio. Here are a couple of pictures to join in then... From some time ago, this was my first attempt, a timber Metropolitan Railway box, with a hipped roof & A sun blind. Peter Squibb built this lovely GW box for Bucks Hill, taken at Railex 2013 Cheers.......Paul

Hi Gravy Train All done in laminated plastikard. Thanks, will post a view on the signalbox portfolio thread I also have a photo of Kevin"s Bucks Hill GWR box built by Peter Squibb, so I'll put that in as well. Cheers......Paul

Plastikard Metropolitan Railway structures (photos by David Lane) Timber Met Signalbox. A few of these still survive, at Chorleywood & Great Missenden, The Chesham box had to be built on a brick plinth because of the steep slope of White Hill opposite the station, it also had a sun blind, a feature not often seen. A few wobbly lines on the painting here! I would do this Allan's way now and fit the contrasting parts after painting them. Signal wires still need to be added as well. The handpainted name board would definitely get done on a computer now, but that odd position in front of the door is where the Met put them at the shorter stations. Bit of a gap underneath, and the lamps are a bit overscale, these were all done quite some time ago now. Anybody going to take up the 2014 diorama challenge?

Hi nrg710 I have been badgering my colleague Richard Chetland to post the details of how it was all plotted out in the 3D section of RM web. I will see him at the weekend and pester him more! Cheers .......Paul

Thanks nrg710 The hammerbeam style roof & arches were created directly from Brunel's drawings using computer wizardry by a colleague of mine, the files were then sent to a 3D printer. The rest of the surrounding structure was then built in styrene & planed timber. The chap who did the files couldn't resist making an animation so I have attached it to show how it fits together, (hope this works) Richard Chetland's picture shows the components projected from the elevation drawings. The really cool thing is they can now be easily reproduced at any scale. Cheers......Paul

Bigcheeseplant, A happy new year to you sir! Thanks for everything here, the reference volume, the kind comments & a Railex invitation, Brilliant stuff. I will send a new set of photos to you, hopefully next week or so. Paul

Hi Jerry Apologies for late reply, Queen Square is going to be superb. Will it eventually feature a whole panorama of Bath as far as the horizon, or do you plan to represent the surrounding buildings in a single layer? Thanks for the images, very enjoyable study. Paul

Hi all Thanks for all the comments & likes, I feel right at home here. Keep having to drag myself away & get on with my work! So what's next then, or rather who's next ......St Pancras in 2mm anyone? Cheers.... Paul

Some really good work on this thread, OK then I'll join in with the lesser mortals. A few old pictures, and a couple of newer ones that will hopefully come out at the intended size. 7mm scale Metropolitan station (like Waddesdon Manor) Bridge parapet, footbridge & station, (all in plastikard) Platform edging & gents loo end of station, (the surface is flooring screed) Bucks Hill cottage, Slaters embossed stone sheet, with superglued paper "slates" In situ on the layout alongside forge & clutter (plastikard again, with a mixture of scratchbuilt & whitemetal accessories) Temple Meads... What a subject for a layout this would make, If I had time, I would start work tomorrow! This is just a diorama mockup, still loads to do. The arrival platform is easier to make, so that will have to do for this one. Happy new year to all.