Tricky

I've had a great day at Monk's Gate today, mostly making various crates, boxes, and a few sacks. Oh, and a suspicious looking crate with straw sticking out of it...I imagine some piece of garden statuary inside... I reckon I'm about a third of the way there with the amount of crates etc required but it's these details that really make it come alive. If anyone knows a good source of figures to populate a scene such as this, I would be very interested. Cheers, Richard

Cheers Tony, thanks for the encouragement, look forward to seeing how you get on. Always glad to share the hints and tips I have picked up over the years. Richard

Thanks Dave, I had a few attempts at the wall plates but in the end cut down the ends of some Slaters barrels, and added the centre bolt detail. Those on the warehouse are again Slaters from their buffer housing moulding. I am in the middle of making some crates and other random boxes and general goods to clutter the loading bay. Richard

A busy and productive few days on Monk's Gate, the office building and warehouse are largely complete and the two covered loading bays have begun to be painted. I need to make quite a few crates, boxes, barrels and assorted goods to populate the loading area and give it a busy feel. Also need some porters to really set the scene.

That's the one.... thanks.Richard

Hi Guy, yes, it was my intention to have a go at carving it in relief as per a picture I found on line somewhere. Here is a photo of the result. A cruel enlargement as they say...! Richard

A productive day at Monk's Gate. A good start made on the row of structures to represent a cameo of loading/unloading facilities, offices and warehouse. I cut away the backscene behind the middle section of awnings and made a deeper section to give more depth to the loading bay. This is painted black along with the areas behind the buildings. Window blanks are cut for all the windows and will have glazing bars fitted. Next is to cover with Das ready for brick-scribing. The missing section at the top of the left hand building is awaiting a decorative carved 'MR' panel...hopefully.

By the way, if anyone is vaguely interested, the signal post stays are cotton thread which runs through tubing in the 'ground' and has little weights suspended underneath so they stay taught. There's nothing less convincing than saggy stays...!

Hi Les, thanks for your encouraging comments....the road to the left is a little bit of fun trickery really; it has a mirror at the back to give the illusion of it continuing and giving artificial depth. Of course real life is suspended here with the route of the railway, as happens in quite a lot of places on this very minimal layout. If you read earlier in the posting, it's more of a series of views than a slavishly followed prototype... far from it...!

Thanks! Although Ned looks like he's floating ever so slightly...

Ned with his revised shackles. I await approval or otherwise...!

Great, thanks for the clarification Guy, I will attend to this shortly...! Richard

Hi Guy, Ooh err... do you mean a chain going over the horse side to side connecting the shafts? With your reference to name and address, my photos of these vehicles only seem to show the lettering I have done...? Cheers, Richard

Ned is at last united with his dray...! Just need to devise a suitable and convincing load...

Not posted for a while, due to a combination of ill health and not much going on at Monk's Gate, other than a bit of scenic work to the 'goods yard' entrance.

Simply stunning as always.

He gets a bit over excited. It's his age.

Good old Ned, ready for action...

Not a lot happened at Monks Gate today, although all the main buildings are built from ply and mdf structures. Will need to stock up on Das! Less obvious brickwork will be in Slaters embossed so as to prevent complete boredom....! Happy with the layout of buildings and the 'feel' of it all.

For those of you interested in how to make horse poo (!), the first photo is the raw ingredients; slightly dilute pva, dab of fairy liquid, seived soil and seived sharp sand. Mix together and leave to go off for a bit. When it's of a suitable consistency to hold shape but still stick, blob in horse-poo-looking piles. Smaller than you think. I also blobbed a bit of superglue just to help stick and sprinkle with soil to blend. When completely dry, chip or scrape off any bits of poo you don't want and hoover up. Job done! I believe there are other websites you can visit if you have a more particular interest in poo...

Detailed poo-making to follow.... Straw is simply chopped-up cheap coarse brush bristles sprinkled on a dab of pva. When it's good and hard rub it over with a finger to soften it and dislodge odd long bits.

Today I will mostly be making horse poo... And some other stuff maybe.

The yard is looking a bit more yard-like, ground colour and a bit of straw makes quite a difference. Cobbles to finish between the tracks plus adding the ubiquitous crates and barrels. Ned and her dray are coming along and will make an appearance soon.

Thanks Steven, that's very encouraging. Cheers, Richard

Hi Dave, waiting in eager expectation for your next entry...it's like waiting for MRJ...! The suspense. In the meantime, I wonder if I might trouble you to ask a question about where your figures come from? I have come across Andrew Stadden but wonder if there are others you use, typically of workmen, yard hands, idle boys, mangy dogs, that sort of thing. Many thanks, Richard