5&9Models

In a world that's now so reliant on electronic gadgets is nice to have a hobby that still has space to get away from all that. Certainly there's a place for DCC but don't ever think it's second best to reject it and stick to analogue. My layout (what there is of it) is wired up to two 'Hammond Flyers' from the late '70s. My locos go backwards and forwards at various speeds.....what more would I want?! Hurrah for analogue!

Oh my goodness, that is absolutely beautiful!

Thanks, you've certainly done a lovely job with it, looking forward to the next instalment.

Beautiful work, but what is an Emblaser 1 please?

That looks really, really good. I love the way you've brought to life that section of the layout too. I wonder if a little darkening of the trackwork in that section would give the effect of all the coal dust that would inevitably stain the general area between the heaps? I also love the different shades of red used on the wagons, nothing more unrealistic than a rake of wagons that look like they've all rolled out of the paint shops yesterday afternoon! Great stuff! I always look forward to your blogs, thanks for sharing. Chris

Well observed modelling as always. It would be interesting to break that million tons of coal down into wagon loads; how many wagons required to bring in the domestic requirements alone I wonder?

That looks absolutely spot on, I love it! A really creative, carefully thought out and well executed piece of modelmaking. Bravo!

Fabulous work! I love the attention to detail and the painting is spot on, thanks for sharing.

Wonderful work. I'm very impressed with the way you've tackled a very tricky build. Locos of this era are never easy and I think it's looking just right. Thanks for a very interesting and useful post! Chris

That's looking absolutely superb! I love the brickwork, it would be very interesting to hear a bit more about your technique as it's very effective. Will all the turntable be operational?

Very interesting question. I think the answer probably varies from line to line on a case by case basis. The Stanhope & Tyne ran up huge debts as a result of having to pay wayleaves. I would have thought that whilst many smaller branch lines and as you say colliery lines were run on this system, most passenger lines in the early days were considerable undertakings and I would have thought would only go ahead under an Act of Parliament. I suspect the major routes were planned to bypass estate land rather than pay to go over it. Worth further investigation...

This is pinched from Grace's Guide but would be another interesting lead worth following up.

And here is the method of construction for the wheels....

Certainly worth further investigation. It seems he recommends papier mache board from William Brindley in Birmingham. Makes you wonder if that's because Brindley has supplied such material to other builders in the past, or recommends his Japan Board as eminently suitable for such use? Note the spelling of Machee. "The use of Papier Mache in Railway Carriage Construction"...I feel a Journal article coming on...!

Yes, very few posts as I'm not particularly Tech Savvy (understatement of the century!) and this whole posting malarky is taking me a bit of time to get used to. I've only just about got to grips with the Blogging... Anyway, I found the following regarding the use of Papier Mache and carriage construction. It's particularly interesting that Mr Tayler suggests the use of Papier Mache for railway carriage wheels as well...! Please excuse my lack of twiddly bits on the words Papier and Mache, my keyboard has seen better days. Chris

Aha, Hello James, no problem. Interesting to make connections, I didn't realise this was you. I must pay more attention in the future...! Chris

"The L&BR loaned some of the tanks to the impoverished East & West India Docks and Birmingham Junction Railway [which mercifully became the North London Railway in 1853] in its early years. (The E.W.I.D. & B.J.R. was so poor when it opened that there was a rumour its carriage bodies were built from papier-mâché.)" Hi Ian, The use of papier-mâché for carriage bodies was not uncommon. Many early GWR broad gauge coaches were made of it and I think the example of a BG coach body side in Bristol Museum is made of it too? Somebody might be able to correct me on that though. Chris

As an Ironbridge resident I'm really interested in your progress. Those wagons look great, I guess there's no shortage of inspiration for local P.O. wagons too? Plenty of pits in the area each with their own wagons. The Ramsbottom 0-4-0 reminds me of the Lilleshall Co.s own 0-4-0. Lovely work, thanks for sharing.

That greenhouse is fabulous, top quality modelling. Well done and keep up the great work.

Fantastic work. You've captured the atmosphere perfectly. Very well done indeed and thanks for sharing.

That's looking really good. Can't wait to see it with roof on too. Lovely work!

That's what I love about modelmaking. It really makes you look and sometimes throws up things like that you don't expect. I'm currently modelling a row of 1820s houses and a pub in Bermondsey and discovering all sorts of architectural oddities. Lovely modelling, thanks for sharing!

Lovely work, very atmospheric and tells so many stories. Only one small pedantic question: The position of the chimneys seems to suggest the fireplaces near the middle of the room rather than against the party wall where they would normally be?

Lovely work as always Mikkel. Thanks for a very useful and informative post.

Really interesting set up. I have a couple of those motor gearbox combos but not the nylon final drive gears. Nice neat solution.