Tom F

'Four years ago, Bernard Foster moved away to a lovely cottage with his wife in the central district of Sodor. It was a lovely cottage, nestled in a hamlet of similar cottages overlooking Skarloey Lake. Bernard and Maureen befriended a retired parson called Wilbert and his wife Margaret who lived nearby. Although not a railway enthusiast, he did like his morning walks to involve a short wander by the line side of the Skarloey Railway, where Bernard would always enjoy a natter with the crew. He always did like the 'little engines' on our adventures together.' Miss you everyday Dad x Bernard Foster 25/09/1939-25/08/2017

Well I'm happy with the plasticard slates I've made. Good to know the 4mm thickness wire has stayed for your pre-teen enthusiast! I looked closely at the real thing, but felt anything in 4mm would be over scale other than using something like human hair. The lack of wire doesn't spoil the scene for me. Each to their own John.

I felt it may have been over scale and not looked right. I am well aware of the interwoven wire, but after looking at the real thing I felt to model the wire would be overscale and to my eye, distracting. Same reason I do not model telegraph wire in 4mm. I'm glad it worked for you though.

Thanks David for your kind comments. Tonight I've added some washes over the trunks of some of the newer trees. So I thought I'd do a little 'Railway Series' pose. Locomotive crisis on the Skarloey Railway in the autumn of 1958. 'Several days earlier, No. 4 'Peter Sam' was involved in an incident at the quarry, with a breakaway of slate wagons on the incline. With No. 4 out of action, and No. 3 derailing yet again near Glennock, newly arrived No. 6 'Duncan' has been rostered to collect some of the last slate wagons to come out of Ward Fell Quarry. No. 6 is proving to have issues on the Skarloey Railway's permanent way, and it has been noticed the locomotive is tending to 'rock 'n' roll'. Things should ease when No. 1 'Skarloey' returns from the overhaul at Gibbon Bro's. In a matter of weeks the Ward Fell area will be closed off to Skarloey Railway locomotives, will strictly be under the authority of the Ministry of Defence and be rebranded 'RNAD Ward Fell'.'

Thanks Martyn For autumnal trees it has definitely felt the way to go, however as I'm generally only using the tops of the sea foam, there is quite a lot wastage (I'll have used around two and half boxes worth). However what is left will work well for doing summer trees on the next layout.

Hi Andrew! Thanks for your kind words. It's been an exciting process as a lot of these techniques I've been making up as a go along, and just seeing what seems to work. Modelling is most definitely a great therapy, and the escapism of that Awdry's Sodor brings has certainly helped me this summer. Today I've made up another batch of slate fencing and painted them grey. Once dry, I'll given them a wash before fitting them to the layout tomorrow or Thursday. In the meantime here's a photo from the Skarloey Railway! 'Timber was an important export for the Skarloey Railway secondary only to the slate out of Ward Fell. Since 1925, the maintenance of the woodland around Skarloey has come under the management of the Sodor Forestry Commission, a subsidiary of the British 'Forestry Commission', formed in 1919. The loading of logs and timber normally takes place at Scaca Fell Forestry Crossing, where Taylforth Timber Haulage will hoist the logs onto the S.R's bolster wagons, with the use of their trusty Douglas Timber Tractor. On a crisp autumnal morning, S.R No. 2 'Rheneas' approaches the crossing with two empty bolster wagons. These will be left in the ward fell exchange sidings until a suitable time that a load of timber is due to arrive.'

Sorry to hear that Geoff. I stepped away from modelling for a good few months as I struggled with my mental health. Cwm Prysor is still there, but I've not done much else on it. I'm instead doing a realistic interpretation of the Rev Awdry's narrow gauge modelling 'The Skarloey Railway'. I've just about finished my first ever layout! Feel free to have a look.

I forgot to add, it’s been your photos on Flickr and the FB group I’ve been using for reference regarding autumnal colours on the TR. They’ve been incredibly useful!

Cheers Andrew, that means a lot from someone who knows the TR as well as you! No 'Road to Adventure gate' on this layout, but there will be a gate when I do the next layout 'Skarloey Station'. Tonight, I've been working away on the first bit of slate fencing. Used the Talyllyn's fencing as guide around the Hendre Forestry Crossing.

Lovely to see your posts again Geoff. Hope you are well.

Thanks Tim! I’ve never enjoyed my modelling as much as I am now!

Thanks for all the lovely feedback guys I've done a touch more scenic work, adding patches of bracken. I've used the Noch bracken but as I'm depicting the autumn period, I've painted the bracken various shades of orange and browns.

Thank you Tony. I think it’s fair to say, I’ve never enjoyed modelling as much as I do now. Here are a few more. I'm awaiting more seafoam to bulk up the forestry.

Today's modelling activity, is going to be making a start on the slate fencing (using 15 thou plasticard). I keep putting it off, but I need to really make a start! Tree work is on hold, as I await another batch of seafoam as I'd like to really bulk up the rear of the forestry. There is something about looking into a dense forest that just appeals. In the meantime, a snap from 1946! 'No. 2 'Rheneas' shunts loaded slate wagons at Ward Fell Quarry.'

Well, I'm glad in a small way my layout and thread have helped Robert! 'Dry Rails and Good Running'

Haha, alas no. Peter Sam was fitted in 1961 with the Gisel, I'm modelling up to 1960. Never say never though!

Thanks Chris! Yes Sir Handel was depicted on arrival the same. It was fun to weather like this, with the scuffed paint around where the buffer of the stock touch the beam.

Thank you for all the lovely feedback over the last day. It's really appreciated! This weekend I need to start making up some of the slate fencing, and work out exactly where I need to place it. In the meantime, a photograph from 1954: 'Sir Handel waits 'impatiently' at the Forestry Crossing for Taylforth Timber Haulage to arrive with fresh timber. On arrival the timber will be loaded by the Douglas Timber Tractor into the bolster wagons, ready to head down the valley'

I can't really take the credit, but my friend @ExplosiveCookie put me onto it. They are Fox Transfers individual letter (Cheltenham Gold I think) in the smallest size they do. They are individual letters though.....so by the end of it you feel crosseyed!!!

Thank you for your kind words Robert! I've attached a couple of photos for Tony and others, but more can be found in my thread. It has done my mental health the world of good over the past few months. On the back of the recent photos, Railway Modeller have asked to do an article. If anyone would like more information, please do not hesitate to ask!

In the late autumn sun, as I walk down the forestry track, No.2 'Rheneas' passes the crossing with loaded slate for Crovan's Gate.

Well that has to be the best compliment I could receive, thank you! I've also been contacted today from Railway Modeller to do an article on the layout and my Skarloey modelling, plus an enquiry about taking it to its first exhibition! Signing off for today, but here is one more photo. 'Empties for the Exchange Sidings'

Thanks Chris! It's all been a big learning curve, but it means so much I have a three dimensional Awdry world I can disappear into now. The first of several Skarloey layouts! It's a good drive past Cwm Prysor isn't it! one day I'll finish that layout! Whenever we are heading to Wales, I give the dog a run on the trackbed which is a public footpath (towards Arenig).

Thanks for all the kind comments! Last night, I went over the stems of the seafoam with 'dirty thinners' just to try and darken them that little bit. I think it has worked, and being able to see the trunks through the trees gives that feeling of translucence through the autumnal colours. This last shot, was really a case of serendipity! I wanted to see what the view was like down the forestry track. As it happened I had the door open, meaning the foliage from the garden was in the shot too. I tweaked the colours to match the layout....and a lovely little scene came into being.

Although I've not been feeling 100%, I decided to start the tree work. After some experimentation, I realised to try and depict that late November look, the actual seafoam as it comes looks about right. My only niggle is the colour of the stems, so I'm going to try running some thinners of a grey/brown colour down them.