Bill_J

I like the way that you have thought "outinside the box". Building the layout on the lid and using the depth of the box as protective cover, is inspired. Look forward to seeing more... Regards Nill Bill edited because I can't even spell my own name

I Like that you have gone for a bright/overcast sky in your backscene. I have rarely seen well painted clouds on home made backscenes, people seem to forget that clouds are three dimensional, their 'fluffiness' created by the interplay of direct and reflected sunlight. I too, like the way that you use the inherent nature of the materials with from which you construct your buildings, to represent the textures of full size surfaces. A very nice model. Regards Bill

It's been a while since I posted anything, unfortunately life has a tended to get in the way recently. I have done some work on the scenic treatment in back of the tram stop. There will be some pics later... Bill

I can only add that you will find so much useful information in Jim's pdfs. He generously sent me his collection, they are genuinely inspiring. Regards Bill

I really like your tree. It looks like it would wave with a wind. Just the feel that I'm trying to achieve with the tree I'm making for my cbc. If it ends up looking as good as yours I'll be most pleased. Regards edited for typo

Hi Jerry I think with your health issues, you're right to put your energies to finishing off your current projects. You have invested a lot of time and effort so far on HardliaYard and your current entry in the boxfiles and dioramas thread, it would be nice to see them finished. But only when you feel up to it. It is surprising what you can get done with a half-hour here and there. You can always leave starting a new project until you're feeling up to it. I for one, always enjoy your little model essays, and look forward to your updates. But your health must always come first. Here's hoping that you feel better soon. With regards Bill

I have a couple of ex-tomato puree tubes to use in the same way. Also useful is aluminium ducting tape. Regards

Very nicely modelled. You have sparked off a few ideas for animated cameos using an arduino. Regards

Can't help but agree with all the above comments. A great little diorama. Regards Bill

I have to agree with ShildonShunter. I can't wait to see the bunny seam though. Regards Bill

That's quite a lot to fit in such a small space, even in n gauge. I'm very much looking forward to seeing this come to life. Regards Bill

I've got as far as drawing up some bodywork on the pc. The drawing was printed on to a sheet of bristol board and I have started assembling the bodywork. A sharp knife and good light are essential for this. The model is based on a tram design built by the Italian company OM-CGE/Breda for the Pireaus to Perama light railway/tramway in the 1930s. The Breda company later merged with Ansaldo to become Ansaldo-Breda, who were leading builders of trams and urban transit units for many European cities. With Pinaforina designs they built the trams currently in use in Athens. Incidently,, Ansaldo-Breda are now part of Hitachi Transport System (Europe) B.V. Although the Pireaus-Perama line closed in 1977, two of these tram units have been preserved and are now in use as crew rest-stops. I hope, when finished, my little model will do it justice. Regards Bill

I'm currently trying to draw up the bodywork to go with the floor that can just be seen in the second picture above. I'm using Serif Drawplus so that further layers match these dimensions, and so both sides and ends line up correctly. They will eventually be cut out, stiffened with shellac and assembled following many of the examples that Jim Read has shown on his threads. Many thanks go to Jim for kindly letting me use his pdfs for guidance. I hope I will have something more to show by the end of the long weekend because at the moment all my pics seem a bit two dimensional. So far, all I have purchased is one length of peco concrete sleeper track, the eight inch square cake base and some pound shop superglue. Everything else is from my bits and pieces collections. Regards Bill edited to remove one too many 'so far's

A little bit more done over the last couple of days. With a hint of something to come... more to come soon... regards Bill

What a delightful little scene. Well done for showing us a new angle on a railway model. Regards Bill

I agree. Especially the designs for the Fable series of games. I have a few buildings at the design stage that are based on some of these. Also, looking for card and paper models online comes up with loads of interesting mediaeval-punk and steampunk models. These make excellent jumping off points for creative meanderings. Regards Bill

Nice to see this coming along. I'm very much looking forward to seeing how you tackle the SteamPunk element. Regards Bill

The entire southern section of the Didcot, Newbury & Southampton Railway. Running, as originally planned, into a terminus by the Southampton town walls. Including the proposed branch to Aldermaston. As an independent company, pre-grouping, with its own stock and locomotives in its own liveries. My personal favourite "might have been - if only..."

Early in British Railways history, they began experimenting with a new auto-coupling system, to replace screw-links...

I was very pleased that you were able to re-post the pictures for this project. I have found it very inspirational. The eye level photos in particular, the models seem to have real weight and presence that you don't always get in the smaller scales. Bill

This is a very nice looking scene, full of atmosphere. I like the stable 'litter' in the yard. Lovely job Regards

Well. After several failed attempts at fabricating something that looks like inset tram tracks using folded card and foil duct tape, I remembered that I had some lengths of peco individualay. I cut some lengths and with a card insert cut to fit between the rails, with foil tape at the edges, superglued the rail lengths to the foil tape as a representation of the channel. Still to finish laying the concrete roadbed and have started building up the platform. I've just looked at my pictures, I'll be lucky to finish this before October unless I can find some more time from somewhere. More to follow soon - I hope. Now I'm off to hunt through boxes. I know I have some pandrol clips somewhere... Regards Billj

Hi Jerry Yes, my wife and I are both cat people, 3 persians. The boy is in my photo, he doesn't like shiny things though, so is a bit scared of tools (not a bad thing). The girls like to walk over, or sit on whatever I'm trying to do at the time, so I have to try and make everything somewhat cat-proof. I like what you've done so far. Good efforts with the scratch building. It makes for unique layouts and is a lot easier on the pocket. (Plus SWMBO can't complain that you're spending too much). Regards Billj

There was a pub on the road at the eastern end of Duxford aerodrome in the mid sixties. The landlady must have been in her eighties at the time. I had a little job for some months, I would cut across the airfield and through the hedge to check the fuel level and start the generator so there was electricity for the evening opening hours. She paid me 5 bob a week. When she felt like talking, she had some stories to tell about the war years. Douglas Bader, apparently, could put away a lot of beer of an evening.

Hi Jerry Looks like we are about to be entertained with yet another one of your delightful micro-layouts. Your output is becoming quite prodigious and your skills developing with each of your projects. Can't wait to see more of this one. Does it connect to your shed layout? That would make for interesting operations. Regards Bill