brylonscamel

One of the great things about this forum is the amount of work that you can see evolving - I've picked up plenty of tips on model making.

I used a metal scriber that seemed the ideal tool .. its nothing fancy though

I haven't signed up for one but it would be a GREAT locomotive to see crossing the bridge!

Thanks! .. I'll certainly keep this thread updated with progress ..

Hi Keith - cheers for the comment. I picked up some embossed sheet from a local model shop. The supplier is called JTT (https://www.jttmicroscale.com) and make architectural model making products.

Hi Kevin - that's a great compliment - I'm not a professional model-maker but I have been involved in various design and craft jobs over the years, training as a signwriter many years ago and working in graphic / web design more recently.

Cheers Chris .. always glad to hear back from people and there's some interest in these little projects

I am keen to start populating the little bridge / wharf area with buildings as despite the size of the 'box' which is only 3 feet wide, there is scope for a nice scene or two. All in all, everything is fitting together OK at the moment - even though it's all half-built and before any paint, weathering, greenery or detailing is possible! The carved cobbled section is strating to look better now there are buildings in-situ. The modelling clay has certainly proved a great material for the job ... The wharfside building that I'm making is based (with some artistic license! on one at Bowling Wharf on the Forth & Clyde Canal: Here is an idea for an industrial backdrop for the wharf / bridge scene. The joy of digital technology (Photoshop to be specific) is that you can quickly knock up an image and print it out to test a building for size. This image was manipulated from a real photo of an old waterside building at Ruchill in Glasgow, I have to confess that a few years spent fiddling about in the commercial end of graphic design mean I'm familiar with the software and can cobble together something like this if needed. 200gsm paper stuck to 2mm grey card

This weeks little job : The embossed sheet styrene that I got for the bridge abutments and walls etc. has been cut, fitted and primed.

Hi James - thanks for the feedback and any suggestion that it has inspired you to start 'scheming' is good to hear! My photo box is 3' x 1.5' so it is quite a small space. If you get started on the model - let me know and I'll follow progress ...

The wharf area has provided me with an opportunity to try my hand at using DAS clay to model some appealing patterns in the cobbles at the base of the wharf crane.

This is progress to-date, from delivery of the box in February to this point a month later ... I'm quite excited about getting to this stage already!

Fast forward to today and I'm happy to say that I've come up with an idea and I've been busy making the structural parts of the diorama. Things have progressed to the point where I can position a loco on a part-built bridge!

I seem to have acquired one of these photo-diorama-box things. It's a lovely bit of kit. Lets see if I can make something worthwhile to put in it!

There are some great threads on the is forum - I keep stumbling on some outrageously good models!

Here's an update on my model diorama box project. I'd love to proffer the finished article but I think this is a way off yet! I've only built the bridge so far! I've been trying my hand at using modelling clay to produce a cobbled effect on the little wharf area. I did a test piece on a piece of hardboard before doing anything 'in anger' ... and found it a lovely material to work with. I don't know if it's a bit old school - I've seen other materials being championed for scribed stonework / brickwork etc. but modelling clay seems pretty fine.

I've had a lot of fun with learning about signal boxes of late ... so I thought I'd have a go at something different that has always fascinated me on the real railway - bridges carrying railways over waterways. So I bought one of those model diorama box kit things .. and started filling it with a bridge. I've never built a rail bridge before but I've been staring at some local examples and have been amazed at the heft of the things .. and even in miniature they look quite imposing. The joy of things like this is it really focuses you on a specific scene and I'm really excited about how this is going to end up looking ...

.. and I rather enjoyed painting his chimney!

.. oh yeah, did I mention that I finished the big Caledonian signal box? My tiny signalman is very happy and he has finally been able to light a fire and make a cup of tea.

A bit more fun in Photoshop, recreating one of those Bradford Barton photo book covers ....

I agree - the railway scene is completely different - I can only remember what it was like as far back as the early 1980s but what I have seen of the steam era it was even more extensive, with all the old GNoSR routes intact and places like Kittybrewster, which were enormous and so busy with freight traffic

Here is a mixed bag of shots of our station, the classic (love 'em or loathe 'em!) Metcalfe building.

.. and no self-respecting signal box should be without a signalman ...

.. here's an update on the signal box, which is now complete.

I've been quietly following this layout for a while and have really enjoyed the update, photography etc. I share your love of this corner of the country - to see a real railway location like this being rendered in miniature is terrific. However, I couldn't help noticing that a lot of the photography has the kind of yellow colour cast that I associate with domestic lighting. It's something I struggled with, whilst taking my own pictures. The temptation was too great and I lifted one of your images to see what I could do with it in Photoshop. A bit cheeky - but I hope you find the result interesting - and don't feel aggrieved at hijacking your good work!