Tricky

Just clocked this thread - can't quite see how I missed it before...This is a stunning layout and stiff competition! It is also way more advanced than mine... Well done Paul.

I’ve finished the loco and tender bodies (at last). As you can see, still waiting for some wheels. But Rome wasn’t built in a day...Some very light weathering is in order to loose the ex-works look.

That’s good to hear. Ref The Johnster’s post 237...!

Absolutely! Start them young...

I must confess I really don’t see what all the fuss is about. I don’t critisice anybody else’s work on here. Why should I and for what purpose? It’s a hobby for goodness sake after all. One man’s enjoyment is another’s anguish. Some like detail (me!) and others the broader picture. For me, close-up photos I take serve to highlight things otherwise missed, and help me to improve. I draw inspiration from those better than me and hope I in turn inspire others. I don’t whip myself with birch twigs over not getting anything ‘right’. As I’ve said before, life is way too short! I aim to improve and this forum and MRJ help me achieve what I want to. Previous stuff I’ve done is not now ‘wrong’; just an indicator of what I have learnt in the mean time and what I have improved upon. I love the journey, not just the destination. Which other hobby after all is as multi-disciplines as ours?

Thanks! Love ‘em.

Midland Class 2 cab, just a few final details to add...

I agree 100% with taking photos to check work as things which your own addoring eye consider fantastic suddenly don’t look so square/clean/straight etc etc. But use photography, especially on a phone as a tool to improvement. It’s your slave not your master. I have taken many a photo, posted on here and then looked at said photo and thought ‘oh dear’! Still, life is very short, and we are supposed to be enjoying ourselves!!

Peter, I’ve started to take s look at your 0395 thread and very interesting it is too. As I’m on hols this week, I will study it (and my frets!) with great interest!

So true, Captain.

I’m not sure if the wheels should be red or black...any suggestions?

She’s in ‘An Illustrated Review...’ Vol 4 p44; the caption says in a semi-simplified livery with the tender in a simplified condition, c1906. The photo is a poor one and I’ve had a guess at what this means, taking my cue from 673 at the NRM. Differences being no gilt numbers and no lining below footplate. I’m not a huge fan of full and decorated lining schemes anyway. Painting was carried out with Halfords Rover Damask Red over a red primer. Great, thanks. I’ll take a look.

I’m now thinking about not varnishing at all. 1, I like the finish I have, 2, I don’t want to ruin it and 3, I will just polish the valve cover every now and then...!

The safety valve cover is indeed lost wax and was simply cleaned up with files, wet and dry, fibreglass brush and chrome polish (in that order). Nothing else so far. I will probably give it another wipe over with the polish before varnishing. Ian Rathbone suggests a spot of black in the varnish to tone down fittings such as this, Not sure about that as I too would quite like to preserve the shine.

So, the bodies are largely finished. Just waiting for builder’s plates and tender capacity plate from Narrow Planet, then they can be varnished. The loco body can then be finally assembled with vertical handrails, fall plate, reversing rod and glazing. I’m pleased with the result; the lining doesn’t bear close inspection and hopefully a light weathering will distract the eye. It’s only when you have a go yourself at painting and lining that you realise how good the likes of Ian Rathbone are. Next up the frames and the dreaded inside motion. Still can’t quite get my head around it!

No, I don’t have that series but maybe it’s an excuse to increase my library..!

I need some advice - does anyone know how this little lot goes together? There are no drawings or any other indication in the instructions as to how the dummy inside motion goes, and I’ve had zero help from Mercian Models. Any ideas?!

More photos of the Johnson Single please! Full Midland livery beautifully executed is a joy to behold! Inspirational to say the least...

The main boiler section of the loco is finished...hoorah! The other sections to follow shortly...

I always knew there was something dodgy about flashing.

It's perspective modelling - hence the apparent rakish slope... Couldn't quite see the point of bothering to put pen to paper.

Agreed, most people simply don’t understand, neither can they. And there are a multitude of different illnesses under the heading of ‘mental’. I’m not letting it define me though. I won’t be on ADs for ever.

I love reading from you guys how our hobby is helping relieve stress. Some of you may recall me writing about my nervous breakdown (now exactly a year ago), and how getting on this forum helped tremendously and was a huge encouragement to me to spur me on. In this last year I have achieved far more than the countless years prior to that of modelling. I have also completed quite a few major DIY projects besides. I have also written for and contributed to MRJ, and entered the Cameo Competition - some things I can honestly hand on heart say a year ago was a million miles away from being possible or even anywhere near my horizon as I thought I wasn't good enough or no-one would be interested. How have I managed all this? I often ask myself the same question - and the answer is complex - but top of the list is my Christian faith and reliance on God. I appreciate this is not the place to vent my views on faith etc but I can't let it go unsaid as it's that important to me. That aside, since my breakdown, I don't have to pretend with people about who I am, I don't have to hide my love of model railways, and I can be who I am without having to force a 'face' that isn't really me. Friends, family, work colleagues all saw me at my most vulnerable and raw, and I had not a jot of embarrassment or shame about it and still don't. Most fellow human beings respond to that kind of vulnerability positively and no-one to my knowledge has judged me or put me down, or thinks less of me. Quite the opposite in fact. It even comes down to what colour socks I wear to work. Before I only would wear black, now I wear all the colours, spots, stripes that I have! It's because I'm not embarrassed about my own self image any more. I have a completely new normal. I still struggle now and then but am learning to deal with it without pressing things down. I have also come to believe that anything is possible that you set your mind to. I don't very often say 'can't'; or if I do, it's 'can't yet'. Please.please be encouraged. Life is very short and no-one should have to live in fear. Learn to love yourself and a lot of other things become a lot easier.

The wonky iron-work is a nice touch.

OK, here goes an update report; the loco is coming along quite nicely, the body is largely complete, just a few details to add and sort out the dodgy flare on the dome. The backhead is painted and will be semi-permanently fitted once the cab is painted. Here is a selection of detail bits and bobs also to be added once the loco is painted, including scratch built reversing rod, salters and clacks. The spectacles are glazed and the tapered vertical hand rails are from Laurie Griffin’s fabulous selection.