Graham Walters

You can set photoshop to work within tolerances on most of it's functions. There is a tolerance tool which enable you to erase the background in fairly big lumps, it's erasing around the details that can get tricky. One way is to create a brush from the area you want to preserve, delete it all, and then re-insert the brush part, there are of course difficulties in lining everything up again. One way I've tried with mixed success is to flood the area behind the subject in a strong coloured light, the important thing to remember then is to set exposure on the camera to the subject, and not what's behind it.

I read somewhere that the DFR has the last engine to run out of Ross on Wye, that wouldn't have been 5541 would it ?

I've always found these pages on gwr.org great for checking out liveries of GWR Loco's and rolling stock http://www.gwr.org.uk/liveriescoach1912.html

You don't say what scale this is in so I am presuming 00. Personally I would do away with the wraps, and print directly onto the card if your printer is capable of handling it. Secondly where you have a join, make sure it is between two houses in the terrace, then make a buttress piece to cover any joins. Although some terraces had brick fronted lintels, there were a lot built with stone lintels, you could do that instead of brick, the same goes for the window cills, stone is fine. I would also suggest putting the roof tiles on thicker card to prevent the bowing you have, or stick coffee stirrers onto the backs to give them some stiffness.

I never realised just how big Hattons is .. and they say there's no money in model railways, ....there must be if you do it right ! http://www.ehattons.com/list/Staff.aspx

As a United supporter It was pleasing to watch the "next year will be our year" Slippy G festival at Anfailed not go to plan, obviously Palace hadn't read the script that they were supposed to lose and give him a winning send off. I have to say Liverpools defence is/was worse than United's, and Rodgers will have to do some serious " cap wringing" ( Those having watched Brass will know what I mean) to keep his job, after buying Southampton FC last summer, and finishing where ..... Southampton normally finish.

This is what I really hate about some E_Bay Sellers http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221480430534?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT It weighs practically nothing and at the most would cost about £1.50 to send by Royal Mail, advertising a low low price, only to make the difference on the postage ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Looks more like a GWR HALL class to me, but I'm no expert ! http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hornby-R150-LNER-GREEN-B12-13-CLASS-LOCOMOTIVE-8509-OO-SCALE-MODEL-UNBOXED-/191559396637?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item2c99d46d1d

I'm trying to get into scratchbuilding, mainly because I can how satisfying it is if you manage to build something and it looks good. I'm using Wills sheets at the moment, but I'm finding them a bit small for some things, basically if you want something over 170mm high, you have to join the sheets. And that is the problem, actually joining the sheets without leaving a too visible line, the info sheet says to create a 45deg angle on the edge, even this is proving to be very difficult, I've tried sanding, cutting, trimming, I even tried a jig I made and a modelers smoothing plane. So the questions are : Are these sheets available in larger sizes, say up to A4 ? How do you cut decent 45deg angles ?

I would imagine you would need to give them a good coating of PVA to stop them doing that, !

*** WARNING CORNISH PASTY STORY....SCROLL PAST IF NOT INTERESTED *** Many moons ago when my eldest son was a mere toddler, ( he's 24 now), we happened to visit Cornwall one winter, and decided that it would be a good idea to take a somewhat intelligent and precocious boy for a trip down a tin mine. The actual visit to what is a very famous tourist attraction went very well, and my son, was it seems very interested in everything the guide ( Jan),( I had to explain to me son that he was a man and "Jan" was a nickname given to short Cornwall men, and it came from Janner), had to say. Anyway I digress. We didn't realise just HOW much he had taken in. Later in the week we ventured forth once more into the Cornish countryside and at dinner time ended up in St Ives, James my son was quite insistent that we went into a "traditional Cornish cafe" and not one of the multiples. We sat down in a very nice cafe, and a young waitress took our order, my wife and I were quite astonished when James asked for a pasty and chips, looking at each other, we explained to him that it was quite a lot, and maybe he would be better having some of Mum and Dads, but he was insistent that he wanted his own. In time pasty and chips x 3 arrived, James peered at his for some time, and watched as we tucked in to our steaming hot meal, James prodded his with a fork and look a little confused, and stared at us. "How did you know which end to start" he asked I looked at SWMBO, she looked back in a similar confused manner. I was brave enough to speak first "Pardon" How did you know which end to start at he repeated, I looked just as confused James did that sigh that all kids can do when confronted by a dense adult. Jan said it had pudding at one end, so how did you know which end to start ? The penny dropped. There then ensued a discussion that pasties don't actually get made like that now, it was only done way back. James thought for a moment then said at the top of his voice Well... they aren't traditional then ! Roll on 20 odd years, and the same boy ( now man) still asks if the pasty he is having has got the pudding in one end, the answer is invariably "no", and he has great delight in telling the person behind the counter that "they're not traditional then" It put us off going to Cornwall for years ! This is the same child who told his head mistress that she was wrong when she told the class how high the Eiffel Tower was, I was called in to deal with my "argumentative, arrogant " child. She explained the situation to me, and that James shouldn't question her in front of the class, So I asked her how high she said it was, she told me, I nodded, "I see, well he's right, he's including the television mast on the top, you're not" She went bright red and said "thank you" I left smiling to myself, nothing like a five yr old to put a teacher in their place !

Ah I see, trying to get in with surfing crowd, and all those lithe young babes that hang around with them ? SWMBO told me off for doing that

Worth it if it includes the lego

I've been handed a lot of loco's that have been lying idle in a damp shed for more years than the person who gave them to me can remember, I haven't got the time or the patience to go through them to see if any work, I was thinking of putting them on E-bay as a job lot starting at £50, looks like I shall have to rethink that if that lot sells ....NOT

This sounds so good I am going to have to make the trip down the 303 and take a gander, it will round off a holiday week of railways and modelling for me. Not sure about the name badge though, I may have to kill you all once you know who I am What is it about the shirts, and is putting a pic up allowed.....or are they that bad sorry good

I really like the detail in these and would also be interested in 4mm scale, especially any GWR type buildings. Your prices compare favourably with the better card models. Can you give us some tips on painting them ?

I have two favourite pieces : The first is "The Arrival Of The Queen Of Sheba" by Handel This was the music chosen by me for my future wife to walk up the aisle to The second is "The March Of The Prince Of Denmark" better known as "Trumpet Voluntary" this was the piece we walked out of the church to.

The weathering was done by the same bloke who builds ships in bottles

Just received this from E-Bay, great item for all those small tools you have, and there are trays deep enough for Humbrol standard paint tins, as well as your super glues and card glues. Plus it really looks good and is well made, with stainless steel corner protectors, carrying handles and rubber feet, dare I suggest this is ideal for those of you who exhibit. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Trinity-8-Drawer-Wood-Tool-Chest-Hardware-Tools-Wooden-Organizer-Box/131412066660?_trksid=p3693.c100102.m2452&_trkparms=ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140212121249%26meid%3D621c18e51ed14f92a44f90ee5b2f09bd%26pid%3D100102%26

This woman is a keeper I'll get me coat