Tricky

I don’t believe it gets much better than this does it….?!

Armchair modelling! I must say it’s relaxing doing some evening modelling for myself for a change!

And here is the finished article. And here it is temporarily in position on top of the shed. I’ve also added a double layer to the brick ridge and door opening, as well as completing the walls. The other end will have an unusual brick-built water tower added to it. With all the grime that will go on the glazing, I hope these reinforcing pieces won’t be seen!

Today’s progress has been quite productive. Here I’m sticking slate strips to the mdf former for the roof over the louvres. I laser cut strips of self adhesive paper and lay them course by course. Once the four sides are covered it looks like this: Next I cut strips of the same self adhesive paper and stick a length of brass wire down the centre. This will be the lead flashing with the brass wire to replicate the ‘broom handle’ moulding that goes under the lead in real life. My next post will show the finished article.

Today’s bit of progress was to paint the windows and prime the doors for the engine shed. I’ve also made up the roof structure which goes over the louvres. I would like to think if I do a little bit most days then eventually it might add up to something getting finished!

Wow, it’s been a while…! But miraculously I have managed to make some modest progress. I hope this will spur me on to get more done. Here is the beginnings of the engine shed - just two walls at the moment, but off camera I have cut the doors, windows and roof vent parts. The walls are 3mm mdf laser cut and will be beefed up around the doorway, and the rear wall cut and fitted. And also progress on the mill. This has taken an age to draw but here it is at last. There’s lots of architectural detail to be added yet, so I’m not worried it looks a bit bland at the moment. On the original Healing’s Mill building there are stone string courses, corbeling and three-tone decorative brick courses. All of which will be represented. I’m currently drawing the return wall with an opening in it for the siding but as this feature isn’t in any way prototypical I’m having to think carefully about how it might look.

Mike, a diorama is an excellent idea, if you feel a full layout isn’t achievable. It only needs to be 3’ to 4’ long and can go anywhere. Compact, but big enough to be able to show your lovely work in a realistic setting. I’m a big fan of them! Hope the clear out goes well - it’s hard chucking stuff away but sometimes I think a) if I haven’t used it for a couple of years am I likely to in the future and b) life is too short!!

Thanks guys!

I had a discussion with him whether to sheet or not to sheet (say it carefully). Can’t remember the outcome now! I have a plague of roosting clamps, about 50 at the last count!

Here’s some sack loads for a commission I’ve been working on. The eagle-eyed will notice both types are shown displayed in the same wagon as the loads are removable. Individual sacks made up from cotton cloth and stamped with the logos.

Is this the same cattle wagon that made an ‘appearance’ on Midland in Bristol?!

Just looking through the latest edition of MRSJ, any ideas what colour the D834 van is on page 27?

Afraid not in 4mm. They are only 7mm, available through Intentio.

The latter. For some reason it rotated it....

Some more detail work on Truro island building, including some ridiculously tiny door knobs getting a coat of ‘brass’ paint.

Like this?

In real life about 3.5mm across, so about 1 1/2” scale.

A couple more pics.

Before I come back to the sacks, today I finished these: wicker steamer trunks destined for a 5” gauge model van. Originally I thought I would weave them using real rattan but I very quickly realised that whilst the method would produce an extremely realistic result, it would also have taken an age. So in the end, I bought some fine weave hessian and covered wood blocks. Strap, buckle and handle details complete them, along with owner’s markings on the lids.

Mike, if I had a drawing I could make you a narrow boat from scratch?

Here’s an experiment - making GE sacks. I’ve laser engraved rubber stamps to stamp black and red. I now have to work out how to make them look ‘sack-like’... we shall see...!

Various bits and bibs that will go together to make the Truro island building. Laser cut mdf walls, laser cut thick paper and mountboard windows and doors, 0.8mm ply brick courses that will go around the base of the walls.

And a couple more photos...

An update on Truro: I’ve laser cut thick paper edging stones, paving slabs and brick pavers. Before hand I drew the outlines of the building, canopy centrelines and footbridge. Now I’ve covered them up!!

Hmm. I have managed to print them before, but a) I can’t remember the settings and b) these ones have a hole in the base as they are lying in their sides as a wagon load. Do you mean just more supports? I tried them yesterday and nothing printed at all!!