Bill_J

On an overbridge...

So, there's enough evidence after four episodes of the GRMC, of a raised interest in model railways in general. Lacathedrale says: "Games Workshop was the most mercenary of wargames companies, but during it's 90's heyday where every schoolchild (including myself) got involved with it, they had two leaflets available at every shop: how to get started painting, and an overview of the relevant product ranges." For me, one of the stand out things about the GW shops, were the cases of built, painted and converted models, so very well presented, almost like jewellery, in the windows of their shops. The idea that anyone could have their own, for pocket money prices was for me, a reminder of the two bob Airfix kits, back when that was my weeks pocket money. Since the loss of ubiquitous stores like Woolworths and model shops like Beatties from the high street, and the loss of so many high street model and toy shops, how easy is it for someone to see, handle and buy something to try. Shopping on-line? The supermarket? There is very little choice. Ok, there's the local exhibition to pop in to, maybe. I suspect that unless potential railway modellers can get a "quick fix", for many, the interest will quickly dissipate. Then there are the various magazines, if you can find them. Which you won't in most newsagents, or many convenience stores. Smiths and the larger supermarkets if you're lucky. If you do find one, there's a confusing amount of information for someone with what may be just a fleeting interest. I think the magazine publishers have missed a trick here, (one in particular springs to mind). There was a clear and obvious opportunity to produce a beginners introduction to railway modelling as a special publication and to make sure it was on magazine racks as the series aired. I think I've rambled on for long enough... Regards

That looks a lot of fun in a small package. Guesstimate about 60 x 25cm (widest end)? A nice, neat little layout. Thanks for sharing. Regards Bill

A quick and dirty calculation shows that more people have cast votes than started a cakebox entry, let alone finished and entered one. That's surely already a good result, and an indication that dioramas and micros, as a challenge in general, are a good thing. For many, I am sure, attempting an entry has been an exercise in trying new techniques or materials. For others, an ideal showcase for their talents and particular interests Many of the entries would grace a coffee table, shelf unit or sideboard as a conversation piece - a "this is what I like to do". Some of the entries, in my opinion, works of art. Well done to the organisers for setting this challenge, and well done to everyone that has taken part.

Hi Angliacan Can I ask you for details about the couplings that you are using? Is something similar available in 7mm? Regards Bill

Well! That wasn't easy at all but, I've now cast my votes for The (Great) BRM/RMweb Cakebox Challenge. Absolutely fantastic entries that would grace any living room. What an advertisement for our hobby. I never did get to finish my two in time - they are still WIP Well done to all who entered, and also to all that are still giving it a go... I look forward to the next challenge. Bill

Air dry clay is fairly forgiving. Wetting the cracks a little just to soften the edges, you could have filled the cracks with more air dry clay. I'm sure if it works for sculpture it would work for this. Though, if you've already cleared it off, I might be a little late... Hope you can sort it. Regards Bill

Hi William That's a nicely built baseboard. 3' of retaining wall might be a little less daunting than 3' of low-relief warehouse. Then your backscene could be a fairly simple photographic urban grot, or the backs of a row of terrace houses. Good luck with this, I look forward to seeing how you get on. Regards Bill

Thanks for your support elsewhere Marlyn. I was also looking forward to seeing your entry, so am particularly pleased to see that you intend to continue even though the competition itself has now closed for entries. I too intend to complete my little diorama when I can, and continue to post progress here (when there is some). I Started another one just last week, which I think will be finished sooner. They are the perfect vehicle for experimenting with materials and techniques and, at the end of it all, I hope to end up with something that I can display anywhere in the house. I will keep an eye out for your next layout. Regards Bill

This project has ground to a halt at the moment, with no more time left, as life has just got in the way too much recently. I will return to it from time to time and it will get finished - probably around this time next year . Meanwhile, I started a new one this week. I have run out of time on this one too! It is to be a small scene to photograph various 7mm scale items on, both standard and narrow-gauge. Hope to post some photos this weekend. All the best to everyone that has managed to get their challenge completed. There are lots of worthy and inspiring entries. Good luck to all. regards Bill

Is the bessonneau hangar, scratchbuilt? It really helps to set the scene. Regards Bill

You might find something suitable for conversion at http://www.kingswaymodels.com/index.htm

Unfortunately, as life, health, work and other issues have got in the way recently it is unlikely that I will be able to complete my entry by the deadline for the challenge. I still intend to complete this little diorama when time and circumstances allow and am wondering if this forum will remain open beyond the closing date? Or should I post future updates, elsewhere? Has anyone else found themselves in this situation? Have you decided what to do next? Regards Bill

sb67 said: . Medication can also paly a part in mental health, I have known a few people suffering with depression where the symptoms were actually caused by the medication being taken. I was on medication for depression about 20 years ago, Sertraline, if I recall, I got a lot worse. I went back to the doctor, was given another anti-depressant to balance out the side effects. I ended up so "balanced" I could hardly function at all. Medication doesn't work for all, certainly not for me. I've tried vitamins and supplements, but when I'm down and most need them, I forget to take them. And don't they smell horrible? Tried counselling and cognitive behaviour therapy, apart from sexual feelings towards the cute, young therapist, neither worked. So I live with it. There are many triggers to negative feelings, and I recognise most of them. I have Raynauds, have had it for as long as I can remember, although as a child it was just called bad circulation. This affects liver function, for which they want to 'experiment' on me because I don't fit the normal profiles. I don't drink a lot of alcohol, I DO drink a lot of tea and coffee, mostly decaff now. I eat quite well, my better half puts plenty of veggies on my dinner plate, and I eat them - she's Greek!!! What does this have to do with model railways. Well, I started a cakebox for the challenge earlier this year, 320 cubic inches approx. But, I won't finish it by the deadline. I am determined to finish it, because it's an experiment with materials and techniques. Now I don't know whether to keep it on the cakebox challenge thread, or move it to the dioramas forum. I have plans for a small layout too. Decorating, gardening and other household duties. Full time working in a job that I don't really enjoy. Interrupted sleep patterns. If anyone tells me I've got it good, good job, reasonable income, a good life, how do I turn around and tell them that I'm not feeling it? How do you explain something that you can't explain to yourself to anyone that doesn't inhabit your head space. Milk thistle sounds good. Can you dry it and use it on the layout? Regards, and good health to all. Bill

MrGoodspeed It's all looking really good to me, especially the middle box. What's more, you are having fun, and that's the most important thing of all. Look forward to seeing more of this. Regards Bill

I've taken a while to add my own thoughts on Allan's passing. Like many others I only ever met Allan through his articles in the various model railway publications from the seventies and onwards. An article by Allan was always a good reason to buy a magazine. I was particularly drawn to his style of writing, never serious, always humourous, immensely informative and inspirational. It was a joy when, on joining RMWEB, I found this thread, so could continue to enjoy his work. String for church windows, budgie grit, wool for thatch, and computer card punchings as bricks, all come to mind. And of course, Colron dyes and Pyruma fire cement. Allan, so obviously, loved what he did and loved to share with everyone. His passion, notably at the end when he must have made a supreme effort to present his work here, was clear to see. My feeling is, calls for a gallery, magazine or book not withstanding, that in the first instant, this thread should be pinned, so that it is always available as a legacy to a lifetime's work. Hopefully, many of us will continue to post here. As with all, my thoughts and condolences go out to Sylvia and Shane and family. For those that aren't aware , Shane really is a chip off the old block, a talented and skilled craftsman in his own right although in a different genre. Regards

So glad to hear that your son's condition seems to be under control now. I can only offer my thoughts and prayers for you at this time. My sincere apologies to Edwardian and family. I inadvertently clicked the wrong emoji this morning and am somewhat ashamed that it had to be pointed out to me, that I had done so. With regards

Hi 47137 Just a thought. Could you bring the fence in a few millimetres and lean the bicycle on the other side of the fence. Regards Bill

An attempt at a railmotor in n using a minitrix mk1 coach, and an adjusted fleischmann bo-bo diesel chassis. With 3 link couplings. I never managed to make anything resembling motion that would actually move.

I found cbt very unhelpful and quit after a couple of sessions. The therapy seemed irrelevant, and the therapist way too sexy. Medication also was unhelpful by the time I was taking three different anti-depressants to alleviate side-effects and balance each other. I had to figure out my own coping strategies. For the most part, creative activities like model-making help. I get a lot of satisfaction in creating something from nothing. Recycling, re-purposing, making use of - for want of a better term - rubbish. Spending money I find to be an extremely short-lived high, followed by the usual guilt and disappointment. The biggest drain on my energy, is working at a job that I dislike and the time that takes from everything I want to achieve. Which, as I'm now into my sixties, is precious. My biggest delight, was finding someone that would put up with my overall downbeat demeanour. Speaking to others, an intelligent, curious and wide-ranging mind is certainly no bar to the loss of mojo and is often a contributory factor. Where I think cbt falls down, is that many of us already know the causes, triggers etc. to our depressions, but are unable to change these because we have to live, work and contribute to society in ways that feel unnaturally artificial. All the best to you all... Bill <3

Hi Marlyn For a moment, I wondered what that was in the station yard, doh! realised it was a light reflection in the perspex case. This is a very nice little layout. Well modelled. I see some of your research elsewhere has borne fruit. Some real height in those trees in the foreground. Many people would edit those, wrongly thinking they "look" too tall. The overall look is spot on. Looking forward to seeing more of your excellent work. Regards Bill

Hi 009 I too, had some trouble cutting track on the diagonal for my cbc. Next time I will definitely use a slitting blade in my mini drill. Looking forward to seeing more. Regards Bill

Hi Thunderforge, I really like what you are doing here. I have a few scraps left of a B4 sheet of litho aluminium that I am keeping "in case I need them one day", and am disappointed that I didn't get some more when i had the chance. Once painted, your wagons really look the part and I can't wait to see the finished coach. I remember, long ago, that Ernest F Carter, Edward Beal, John Ahern and many others, made good use of re-purposed materials, when scratchbuilding. And were happy to pass on their experiences. I've always used my various bits of aluminium, only to represent metallic finishes, I never thought of it as a general purpose modelling material. You have given me much food for thought here. with regards Bill

Hi 009, thanks for your interest, No, the track on the real thing, is just like this, almost a short length of setrack. I was saving my pictures of the real thing for a comparison, at the end pf the project. Regards Bill

So, as I said the other day, I've done a little with the scenic treatment in odd moments over the past week or so... Here's where I've got to so far. The groundwork is simply cheap pound shop filler, I spread it on and dab my finger tip all over. this raises a nice earth-like texture. This is coloured with diluted acrylic paints. Some areas of rough vegetation are raised from the filler using a pin point. Concrete paths are laid in filler, textured and stained when dry with coffee. The ballast is a handful of cat litter (unused), sieved. I coloured it with a few drops of diluted acrylic paint dripped in, stirred. This gives a varied colouring - I was quite pleased with the results. The other area of filler, bottom left corner, I have started scribing for block brick paviours. The vegetation - unfinished - is from a hanging basket liner. The wires poking up are for when/if I can provide led lighting. Loads more still to do... Regards Bill