Tricky

I wonder if I might canvas opinion: My thoughts are turning to the interior and in particular the 25 levers. Do I: a/ put 25 levers in of a reasonably representative assortment of colours - if so, what ratio of colours would be reasonable in a box of this size? b/ make an attempt to model the exact combination of levers as put in Beeston Castle box? And if so, does anyone know what levers there were? I'm yet to decide if this is an exact model of Beeston. It is so far, but I'm hedging my bets! Plus I don't know what colour levers represented signals, points, etc. I suppose the same scenarios a/ and b/ above also apply to working out what instruments would have been (or likely to have been) on the shelf above the levers. The obvious risk in making an exact model of Beeston is the likelihood of someone actually knowing what levers and instruments where there, so I quite like the idea of hedging my bets still. The only problem here is that I can't really put a name board on it because it won't have a name! Your thoughts gratefully received and please excuse my ramblings...!

Thanks Martyn, glad you’re enjoying it!

Albert looking busy. 1907.

Plus my copy of 'LNWR Portrayed' conveniently positioned in the background...!

Coming along nicely, turned a corner (no pun intended) by getting the walls in place. Internal skirtings and trims can now be fitted as well as top coats inside and out. Next up, staircase...

That's very nice. It's like wot I'm making. Is it your own work?

My attention is turning to the right hand end, where the tracks disappear under the bridge by the wagon turntable. I’ve often considered this unfinished, and the opening too large as it doesn’t form enough of a scenic break. So the other day I was flicking through my Midland Records and came across a photo of Wicker Goods Warehouse in issue number 8. This shows a set of buffers hard up against the entrance to the warehouse. This gave me food for thought and so what I will do is make a large set of sliding doors, showing them slid back for access to the left hand siding; the right hand siding coming off the turntable at an angle will have the buffer stops on it and fixed doors immediately behind it set as far back in the opening as I can. Here’s a photo of the area in question, probably not very easy to describe but hopefully all will become clear...! Making it up as I go along - again!

Twice. Once for each bird.

They are superb! Care to divulge...?

1761 at rest.

I think the siding is finished, maybe a bit of a tickle with a dry brush plus I think I have a couple of white metal workmen somewhere which may be pressed into service to lean on their shovels.

I thought I’d resurrect this thread for stuff that’s on the go that isn’t related to ‘Bristol’ or ‘Monk’s Gate’. This therefore is the start of the station building model to 7mm that I’m doing for the Vale of Berkeley Railway (see my entry under Small Suppliers and my website). Early days as you can see! The base board is 18mm MDF, measures about 500mm x 1000mm and I’ve edged it with a profile I machined out of walnut. The strips form the platform edge and support for the building itself. Here’s my drawing of the outline placed in position. And here’s my drawing of all the pieces that will make up the walls, drawn to full size at 7mm. And lastly here’s a sample of some of the wall blanks cut from 4mm ply. I will make all the door and window openings before glueing them all together. This is a nice shot of the real thing, from an old postcard.

I wouldn’t if I were you - I make it up as I go along!!

And a very temporary mock-up of the walls on the base.

It’s been quite a while since an update but fear not, I have been busy! The main walls are more or less complete and I’ve started fitting the windows in, building the frames around them as I go. These two pics are of the steps end inside and outside. This pic of the main side with frames glued and drying to the top bit of wall. This shows the cut away end. The right hand pair are only there to support the left hand pair while they dry. This is the inside of the back wall, also showing cut away section and patriotic portrait of the newly crowned Edward VII.

I’ve added 4 new products to the range of ‘Nail Varnish’ logo sheets (I’m going to have to think up a better name for them...!). They are: Sheet 08 This is another version of Sheet 01, an A5 text sheet of 80 tea chests (4x20). But this time based on fonts and designs similar to those seen in the ‘40s, ‘50s and ‘60s. Sheet 01 was more applicable to the pre-grouping era whereas this is suited to the British Rail steam era and I’m sure will prove equally - if not more - popular. Sheet 09 This is another version of Sheet 02, also A5 and also applicable in style to the British Rail steam era. Sheet 03 This is an A4 sheet containing text for 225 labels of the tea chests and assorted crates as on Sheets 01 and 02. So if you really want to go to town, this is for you! Sheet 04 Also an A4 sheet containing text for 259 labels - all assorted crates but no tea chests. My website has been updated with all of these products along with EBay listing numbers. Happy modelling!

How will you fix the glazing bars?

Oh dear.

I like the brush rest made from a bit of balsa wood. I’ve found myself holding both scalpel and brush in the same hand; scalpel between thumb and forefinger and brush in some other fingers. I can just about get enough dexterity with the brush, especially if the bottle is held in a stand as it’s liable to get knocked over! Saves picking up and putting down the brush though.

Got mine yesterday. Have yet to sit down and have a proper read but looks like a really good issue. Well done Jerry - but whatever you say, I still can’t get my head round doing anything in 2mm!

Looking good to me too. I think I’d persevere with another couple of thin coats to build up a depth of colour. Of course, if you’d done a brown undercoat first...!

After what seems like an age, a couple of update pics, first up, the bracket lamp on the corner of the office building. The bracket and lamp top are commercial, whilst the lamp shade itself is mine, made from an Autocad template transferred onto the top of a yoghurt pot. It would be remiss of me not to mention that there is more info on this on my website! Next up, you may recall Compound pointing out that the crane didn’t serve a siding, so I decided to carry out some alterations, adding the remains of a siding buffer stops, the idea being that the building works are all to do with re-aligning this siding. This shot is shortly after attacking the polyfilla ground with a chisel...! A brave move. And now a bit of track added - looks a bit silly! And lastly, real oak buffer stops added - looking better! Next will be to add some polyfilla back to bed it all in, plus the remains of some ancient ballast where the track has been ripped up.

Oops, good spot. Pardon the pun...

There's been quite a lot of activity going on in the background getting my website and Ebay pages up and running, and I'm very pleased to say both are fully functioning! My web address is in my signature below, and there are product pages on there that give the page listings for the products that I have on Ebay. There's more on the website, however, that isn't on Ebay yet. The bespoke commissions side of things is one area I'm very keen to expand on, and have already had a couple of interesting conversations for some projects. Keep them coming...! I'm in the process of designing new Text Sheets for the range of tea crates and assorted packing cases, with designs relevant to post-1923 and probably into BR days, as well as dreaming up some more product lines - such as square signal posts in solid maple, either straight or tapered. I am finding maple a superb material to work with for our purposes - it machines, cuts and drills very well and also takes paint nicely. If anything else grabs your attention, do let me know. Cheers all.