Dave John

Nice weathering, a fine build. 

I'd agree with ravenser, compensation in the form of a rocking W  iron at one end is a very good thing. Nothing is ever perfectly square or level, and even if built well things do distort a bit with age. 

Very impressive, I think this is where 3d printing really makes a difference in modelmaking.

I would agree that making it in brass, as Roy did, would take a good while. I like working brass but a quick think in my head is running to many hours of sitting at the bench. 

A couple of evenings to design seems to me very fast, I still have the 3d cad learning curve ahead of me.   All very tempting. 

They probably would be but the idea here is to create areas where figures could be placed at random rather than at specific spots. I'm thinking about a platform or loading bay with a large proportion of the surface having a tinplate layer under it. 

I'll play more. 

Thanks Mikkel. 

I will have a play with the idea of magnetic figures for general use. 

Me too Compound. I know of some built for service in hot countries but I have never come across any built for UK service. 

So if there were any I would be interested to see them. 

That model is different, there are bits of a second hand DJH kit in it, but it is mainly scratchbuilt. Oddly it runs really well given it is powered by a cd drawer motor. Like the original it has two westinghouse pumps, one for brake air and the other as a direct feedwater injector. 

Thanks all.

I don’t have a plan for Kelvinbank Middlepeak. The track layout involved old wallpaper on the floor followed by traditional methods of bits of wood and string to lay the track itself. It is simple really, just two lines through the station and some sidings.

Research into tunnel signals yielded few results Mikkel. Certainly they were installed on other underground railways but there are very few pictures of early mechanical ones. Those I did find were either miniature arms or just a moving spectacle plate similar to that though I don’t know how many other railways used the Stevens & Sons type. I will add the pics to the blog post later.

Cheers Caledonian, I have acquired a better tripod, cleaned the camera and messed about with settings. I still really can’t see the screen on it but compensate by taking a lot of photos and selecting the good ones.

The backscene is a photo collage Legend. This and the subsequent blogs explain the method;

https://www.rmweb.co.uk/blogs/entry/21428-i-could-just-buy-a-backscene-but/

Several folk have copies of all the files and source material, so similar backscenes might turn up elsewhere.

Wonderful stuff. 

All the best for 2024. 

Excellent as ever Mikkel, a lot of work in a building that size. 

Your nomenclature is correct . Finials at the top, the linear stonework would be described as string courses and the supports below the stonework as corbels. 

I also use the silhouette to scribe the rear of embossed styrene, makes cutting through with a scalpel very accurate. 

There is also the satisfaction of having made something rather than buying something. 

Very impressive, I do like the colour of the filament lamp.  As you say photographing illuminated models is very difficult, but they have come out well. 

Excellent video, the railway runs very well. The added sound is good, not too strident. 

I also tend towards the creation of an overall soundscape rather than DCC sound. As you say it is a lot of work but worth the effort I think. 

Ah yes , I did read through that very good thread. The comment was made that although the van looked clean it wouldn't stay that way for long running just behind the loco. 

I think I will build it up sheeted and see how it looks to the eye. If it looks wrong there is a brass kit for a van from dart castings. 

Agreed Magmouse, I think I will make up a chocking bar. 

For the van I will just go for something anonymous. Very little of it will be seen. 

I know that people have made very fine models of vans on wagons in the past with wonderfully painted liveries. However I don't think they would have travelled like that. Those vans were expensive, especially when full of the house contents of affluent people. Travelling a long distance across several railway companies I think the owners would want a proper sheet over the whole thing. 

Makes sense to me anyway 

It is an interesting idea, though that would put the layout somewhere in what is now China. I'm vaguely thinking about the eastern Adriatic amongst other places. 

Thanks Adam, useful pics. The snowplough looks as if it has been built with parts from some sort of older vehicle. 

It is a thought. I do like wagons in use with realistic loads so long term I will add one, though probably not gold. Those tie down loops are fully working. 

I am still trying to work out where in the world all this odd metre gauge stock runs. I think I may have to invent a country. 

It has been discussed here 

On page 2 I explain why I prefer a blog. Of course it is entirely personal preference, but once a blog develops the structure seems to suit my way of recording and discussing my modelmaking activities. 

I do seem to get a few views and  the comments and subsequent discussions are interesting. From my point of view having those discussions attached to a particular blog is useful, I can find references easily. 

As to the number of views I'm not too bothered, like minded modellers pop by when they can. 

Its a shame I was never in the right place to see the layout, amazing that it is 2mm. 

I would be easy to spot. The bloke with the large magnifying glass trying to spot the difficult to spot details.

Well, I  am going to have to disagree.

You say that "I have moved rather too far from what most people think of as ‘railway modelling’ "

A far as I am concerned you are are doing what I consider to be the most important aspect of railway modelling ; using models that you have made to illustrate the history and development of railways. The information available to you is sparse and I think the models you create as a practical realisation of that information are excellent. I try to do the same, but 60 years on I am working with a bit more information and some photographs. 

I have learned a lot from your blog, please continue. 

That looks very good.

Difficult to balance what the eye sees to what the camera sees, as I have found out. 

An excellent read as ever. It does illustrate the variations within a class for these early locomotives. 

I shall refrain from suggesting that "Red Star" should be allocated to parcels traffic. 

Interesting research. The fusion model with the shorter boiler does look more in proportion. 

A nice model, it is an unusual vehicle.

Looking at the engraving I see that each of the four end  coaches has a brakesman.  I wonder whether that would be the reason for running such coaches at the rear of the train ? 

I wish someone would send me to Copenhagen for a job. Mind you, having had a good look round Copenhagen via google earth I think I would be tempted to bin the return ticket. 

A wonderful trip, some great pictures in there.