grahame

IMO Metcalfe buildings aren't the best and are usually very generic. However, they are cheap and basic card kits, so if they don't do exactly as you want they can be adapted and hacked fairly easily to fit. And if you need to know the model size check out the Metcalfe website that gives dimensions for all their kits.

Ehh?

In Australia they have drive through off-licences. In fact I tried to buy a few beers at one but they wouldn't sell them because I'd walked there and didn't have a car with me.

There's no trick. By block of colour I mean the main basic colour for each assembly (wall panel, roof tent, chimney stack tops, etc.,) that is usually applied by spray painting (I use a lot of aerosols). Then the details are picked out (usually with a fine brush using acrylics) and the whole thing sealed with a coat of matt varnish (also from an aerosol). Next the windows and doors are added from behind and the assembly is glued in place on the carcass. Any touch up paint needed and separately prepared/finished details (like aircon units, down pipes, guttering, etc) are added next, and a little weathering applied (mostly powders and panel line washes). HTH

Time for a little more N/2mm urbanisation and the latest building for my slowly progressing layout. This is a 'view blocker' for trains leaving/entering the scenic section from the fiddle-yards/return loops. The building needed to be tall as the trains will be on a viaduct behind it. It's formerly part of the Peek Frean's factory complex in 'biscuit town' (Bermondsey) but obviously compressed and compromised to fit the location. I appreciate it's on the wrong side of the tracks and a mile or so displaced, but being local it's hopefully not too out of place. And it's across the road (which will go under the viaduct) from the recently made vinegar brewery.

The track bed for each end off-scene fiddle-yard/return loops are complete and ready to lay track on. One end on-scene section is also ready and does have some track laid. And the station through lines track bed has been cut. The delay for the main section has been being able to obtain suitable correct height timber to support the track bed, but recently I've been able to acquire some.

It's just about complete, save some tidying up, touching up the paintwork (when I next get the paints out) and a little more weathering. Time to consider the next project to get started on . . . . .

Today I've got the rest of the paint on and windows fitted to the main wall panel. And it's now glued in place. Next to tackle is the top floor fascia (with balcony frontage) and the chunky curved cast concrete bay dividers that curve over the balcony. Then it'll be the pitched roof that goes on top.

Windows and doors fitted in left end section, and wall fixed in place . . . . .

Plus starting to get some colour and a little weathering on the fascias . . . . .

I can't see a lark, did it flutter by?

And it's starting to take shape . . . . .

Sensational stuff.

Wow. I notice I'm now on 100 pages for this thread.

Great day yesterday at Mount Pleasant Rail Mail. This morning I've made a start on the left hand fascia. I've only planned for two columns of windows and have left the odd left-hand one off to fit in more overall frontage as a view blocker in the space available - all part of necessary compression and compromise. Next to add lintels and sills.

Very neat and tidy ballasting. What did you use?

A bit of detail added to the main wall/frontage, the window apertures cut and it given a coat of white primer, this morning. But I'm out this afternoon and tomorrow I'm off for trip on the Mail Rail underground train.

I managed to get to the model shop for necessary supplies yesterday before visiting my local, the Pluff, for a few afternoon birthday sherbets. Then on the way home ordered a curry from the Runa and popped in to the Blue for another pint while it was cooked. Consequently no modelling done. Today the three main fascias are cut from brick embossed plasticard, just test fitted below without fixing, and a test of the styrene strip reveals it should be about right to represent the proud vertical bay dividers. The fascias will be worked on and detailed while lying flat.

That sounds fragile and fiddly - good luck. TPM used to do etched metal ones that were fine and presumably would have been relatively stronger, and which, IIRC, simply folded up.

The carcass, with the top floor section, fits in place nicely and, when the pitched roof is added, will act as an appropriate view blocker to the entrance/exit of the fiddle yard/return loops: I'm planning on using styrene strip for the pronounced bay dividers simply added to the fascia along with other details - but I need to pop up to the local model shop to get some correct size packs. It'll then be a matter of detailing and painting the fascias and gluing them to the carcass. Basically there'll be three - the main frontage, the side tower and the set-back top floor frontage. Finally will be to make and add the pitched roof tent.

Interesting. What are they made from?

Streetview in Google maps gives a reasonable look and there's a couple of pics on Flickr. They do seem to protrude quite a bit and the top ends curve over the balcony. I've made a start on the structural carcass, leaving the frontage (with the vertical bay dividers with curved ends) to add at a later stage. That means it can be made separately (to fit). The structure seems to be fulfilling the 'view blocker' requirement as there's the setback top floor (apartments?) and the tall pitched roof to add:

I think this is not going to be an easy build, particularly with the distinctive protruding curved vertical dividers, and being effectively a low relief build for part of its length. I've been scratching my head about how to approach it and have been calculating measurements as the windows take up the entire width of each bay. Here's a rough paper frontage to get an idea of the height - on top is another set-back floor with balconies along the top of the frontage plus, what appears to be a newly tiled, high pitched roof (I wonder if that is a relatively new addition). I've got my sister coming over tomorrow, and the day after is my birthday, so I probably won't get a lot of modelling done over the next few days. But that gives me more time to plan the build and work out the best assembly sequence.

I'm contemplating using this building as the basis for the view blocker. It's nice and large and interesting architecturally. I believe it's formerly part of Peek Freans 'biscuit town' factory in Bermondsey so a relatively local structure. I appreciate it'll be on the wrong side of the tracks and a mile or so displaced, but it'll not be too out of place.

Can I request that the range includes a single deck LT AEC Merlin/Swift and a double deck LT B15 Leyland Titan. Thanks.