Marly51

Progress still a little slow. Constructed half of a working canal boat from Scalescenes kit (still requires tiller, stove chimney and needs weathering) and cut up one of the cheap seated Chinese figures to create a ‘legging’ boatman to take the canal boat through the tunnel!

As well as more up-to-date laptops and devices, I have an old PC with Windows XP and was using Firefox on that? Reading this thread I am wondering if I’ll have the same problems when I next switch it on? This old machine has stand alone Adobe software which is why I have kept it going. Think I’ll just update the security software and not do any browsing on it.

Hi Paul,The two locations I am currently modelling are at the southern end of the county where there are plenty of trees, but the landscape is very rocky with a minimal soil cover. Since the first efforts at the beginning of my topic I have decided to adapt these for a 4mm scale project and am currently modelling smaller trees for the N gauge layouts, using a combination of natural materials and wire. Will post more images shortly. I am finding this forum a great help, but also enjoying learning about all aspects of railway modelling (even through the mistakes I make along the way). Marlyn

Good to see your technique. I still scale my model buildings by hand because it is nice change from having used Adobe extensively during my working life, but think I may start experiment using the software for some small projects. Thanks for sharing. Marlyn

Certainly a challenge modelling that detail, but a lovely contrast alongside the modern buildings created by Graeme.

Hi Tall Controller - been a bit busy with other projects, but will be posting an update soon! Marlyn

Thanks everyone - all feedback very much appreciated. I’ll be posting more about the layout later. Marlyn

DC for this layout, Phil.

Thanks for feedback, David. The layout I am working on is quite simple as it is more of an historic scenic diorama. Roughly single track oval with passing loop behind the backscene and passing loop at station to the front of the layout, with a turnout for sidings to goods shed, oil depots and sheep pens confined to the middle board. The location does not require relief below track level, so the flat base board option is suitable in this instance. I appreciate, and take on board, your point about ensuring all wiring is well supported. I did check out other postings re multi pin connectors on the Forum, but admit I need to learn more about model railway electrics and improve my soldering skills. Marlyn

I have just purchased some power connectors from Railway Scenics to provide a quick way of connecting a 9 ft long layout comprising 3 x 3ft long units. This layout needs to be able to be dismantled and reassembled a few times. I also came across an HOn30 modular logging layout by a German modeller Gerd ‘Waldbahner’ http://blog.waldbahner.de/en/2014/06/gleisbau-teil-1/ and he has used plug and socket fixings which join the modules as well as providing the electrical connection between boards. As a relative beginner regarding the electrical side of railway modelling, I would be interested to know about other possible options for any future layouts. The boards (plywood on timber frame) were constructed for me and have bolt connections, which are relatively accurate, but I am choosing to clamp the modules during track laying.

After a recent trawl through boxes in the attic I have found old card building kits from the 1970s, plumbers' hemp for thatch, balsa wood, dried up styrene glue and paints, files of cuttings from model railway magazines, but still not found my stash of plastikard. Suspect my DIY husband may have already used it for his many repairing jobs!!

Just reclaimed my workshop and plan to build a mini workbench with bench clamp, micro lathe, etc - probably after April when current projects are no longer taking up most of the floor space. Just got to watch that it doesn’t take too much time away from getting on with the actual modelmaking. I like your bench design, Phil. Marlyn

I’m currently modelling two Highland Railway stations with low platforms in 2mm scale and will be including platform footstools, which I have to scratchbuild. Footstools are still available on some platforms like Lairg. Lochgorm Kits have 4mm scale footstools in their catalogue http://www.lochgormkits.co.uk/assets/applets/Lochgormkits_text_catalogue_4mm_June_2017.pdf Marlyn

Because of where I live, I take out subscriptions to my favourite magazines - the distribution to the newsagent is sometimes sporadic. If you have ‘digital subscriptions only’ for some, you can also miss out on the freebies which come with the printed version. I know the newspaper and magazine print industry is struggling, but I get annoyed when I see ‘extra special’ offers for magazines I subscribe to being available only through WH Smith or Tesco’s! It’s a difficult situation all round - more subscriptions ensures the viability of the publication and I do prefer to read a physical magazine/newspaper rather than on a screen. I am one of the ‘older’ demographic! Marlyn

Well I’ve been checking a few ‘how-to’ videos on YouTube and decided I would splash out on the two Gordon Gravett books. These are excellent. I am working to a deadline on two projects, so may not manage to produce all the trees required using Gordon’s precise techniques, but will certainly have a go while paint, glue, scenery is drying! This is an ideal time of year, up here, to take photographs of the different trees, to get a silhouette of the basic tree structure. I need to go back later and identify some of the species from their leaves.

Oh for the days when building plans and elevations were beautifully rendered in ink on linen - works of art in themselves and a dream for modelmakers. Old photographs for the majority of rural buildings in a specific area are also thin on the ground. In a way railway modellers like yourself are piecing together a jigsaw puzzle to give us an insight into a city landscape we often took forgranted.

Look forward to seeing your results, Justin. I still need to buy some knotting to experiment with. Marlyn

The older Scots pine in the second photograph is probably taller, Alan. I know one of the local foresters for Forestry Commission - might corner him and see if they have any statistics for the area which would be helpful. FC has changed its practice from planting large swathes of lodgepole pine, Norwegian spruce etc to a more diverse scheme with mixed indigenous species. Marlyn

Grahame, Are there by any chance old records held by the local council’s planning department, which could indicate which businesses were at ground level? Then you could possibly source details of typical shop fronts, company logos, etc of the period you are modelling? At one time I had a 1945 Post Office of Edinburgh, which detailed every resident, domestic and and commercial, in every street in the city - a great resource, but unfortunately my dad gave it away ☹️ Your facade detail is looking good so far. Not many folk would tackle scratchbuilding something like this - a lot of repetitive work! Marlyn

Hi Kevin - certainly a theory which has been mooted for some time, based on possible migration routes from Northern Europe when an ice field connected us. Sutherland where I live is from the Norse “Sudrland”, meaning south land. For those archaeologically inclined, the annual Ness of Brodgar excavation on Orkney is unearthing some amazing structures. 5,000 year old complex of buildings (possible early temple site) with walls over six feet thick, including evidence of coloured/painted stonework. Our chambered cairns in the Highlands and Islands are older than the pyramids. I’m a bit out of touch with more recent work but have friends whose organisations are collaborating with Scandinavian institutes. Lots of genetical studies as well but, as they say up here, “we are a’ Jock Tamson’s bairns” !

Not wishing to go off topic too much Edwardian - it is thought the Soay sheep are similar to the early sheep distributed over Northern Europe by the first neolithic farmers c6,000 years ago? An ancient sheep's tooth found in Hoy, Orkney was analysed and they discovered seaweed was part of their winter diet!! Now back to 'Castle Aching'....

OK - I’m determined to give this another go. I’ve actually found some decent photos of Scots pine (which would be the tallest trees on the layout) - taken in the locality about 15 years ago! Based on the ‘passing place’ sign this specimen is about 46ft high. This is one of the oldest Scots pines on this stretch of road, but I would need to photograph it again with a survey pole or kind assistant to help with estimating the height. I can still use some of the smaller trees and will add some extra detail and prune the larger ones for a 4mm scale project.

Just found your topic, Phil. Bit busy with projects just now, but will experiment with your offerings for Illustrator later. I’ve been using AnyRail 6 up until now for track layout only - not tried using the structure objects and colour, because they looked a bit limited. I’ve used Illustrator since the first version, but am now retired. Still have a standalone version of the first Creative Suite package on my old PC. I enjoy planning layouts, even if some of them don’t come to fruition. Marlyn

You have my sympathy - just cleared my workshop a fortnight ago, which was being used as an alternative store by the family. Built a few shelves and now got enough room to set up the three baseboard modular units, at last! Good luck with your space - looking forward to reading about your layout. Marlyn

These are wonderful! With all the features of modern digital cameras and Photoshop manipulation, are today’s railways being recorded in paint to the same extent?