TheCuckoo

Wonderful. The star of the show for me are the 'brambles and undergrowth'. Very, very, nice.

 

 

 

Ha! Thanks Ray 

 

Flights of fancy aside, this story made me wonder if there's an aspect of railway modelling that could maybe be developed more, namely modelling real historical events and everyday lineside practices. The Luton MRC did it with the Great Train Robbery, but there's much more there.

 

It doesn't all have to be static either - it can be combined with running stock. For example, at some point I'd like to model the full flow of goods handling. Eg a goods train arriving, wagons being dispersed, complemented by cameo scenes that depict the main steps and staff roles in off-loading the goods, doing the paperwork, transferring the goods to horsedrawn vehicles, delivery, etc.

 

I've had similar musings. I wonder if the techniques used in the "Pepper's ghost" illusion could be used? Perhaps for exhibition layouts only, but it may be possible to produce it on a smaller scale. It would be marvellous to see a train pull up at a platform and then have the 'ghosts' of the passengers and staff move about the platform and so on. The other alternative might be to use a looped video playing on a smartphone screen, which is then hidden inside a building so that the movement is visible through the windows? 

Wonderful stuff, as ever.

You always deliver the goods, Mikkel

ray

Todays word is "ferritic"...

Party pooper  

It was always going to be a compromise - but I think I can live with it with a few tweaks.

That's ok Stefan, don't fret  I'm looking at 247 Developments website - sounds like they do custom plates but it's not entirely clear from the website. I'll give them a ring in the week.

Next question:

Do you think this would have been painted GWR green? To my untrained eye it looks very dark - although maybe the tank is a different shade of 'dark' than, say, the cylinder covers (which look very black) lol 

Surely, once absorbed, the GWR would have painted her green?

Looks like they have withdrawn their bespoke nameplates service.

Home and happy

"Why?", you might ask. Well I have a plan - and it's as hot as my pants, to quote Lord Flashheart...

It's on from 10am - 3pm

http://www.ukmodelshops.co.uk/events/8782-TonyOakesFairs_ChesterToy&TrainFair

I would love to try that, Mike! Are you talking about the handles or the lining? Do you have post about it somewhere?

The paints I'm using are, incidentally, Vellejo acrylics.

Love the plans. Go for it! 

Thanks James

No, its '?' Just a brush and lots of bad language! 

You're right - they should be useful, but I'm not sure I can justify a subscription to find out. The coronation, for example, isn't really of any interest to me, but as you say, the 28xx, CoT, and 45xx might be useful for bits (particularly the boiler and tender of the 28xx). CoT is perhaps less inviting because of the lack of a commercial chassis to go with it.   

I chipped this one with their own-brand decoder, no sound, and it ran happily up and down on 'Radleigh'. Seems very smooth and quiet. What I can't get over is the price. No connection, satisfied customer etc, but blimey this was cheap!

I tend to thin the varnish with water alone, and give several coats if required. My experience with retarder has always been problematical - my advice would be that 25% sounds like way too much. I use literally one or two drops at a time, but maybe different brands have different retardant effects.

Hi Job,

I like the definition in the skirt now. Light and shade is just what you want. I have found that Vellejo acrylic matt varnish is very good - as is all of their paints - and it doesn't disturb the paint underneath.

This is a 25mm wargaming figure of mine and illustrates the highlight/shadow effect that I would be aiming at, though it is very difficult to do on small figures. The flesh on the figure has been finished with the Vallejo varnish.

Hi Nick,

tbh At the time I built her I was unaware that tank engines carried red frames, so she ended up in black though red would be lovely. Plus, try as I might, I never seem to get a pleasing result with Precision Indian Red.

There is no lining on the cab sides, no. Should they be?

Hi Mikkel,

That siding will be used for a small loco shed, with primitive water/coal facilities. I have a Buffalo that will hopefully look pretty sitting here.

So far, so good. What scale are you working in? 

You might like to take a look at the Games Workshop range of paints, particularly the washes they make. They are designed for figure painting, and they really are good. You can almost get away with putting base coats on then applying a wash. Human nature is to concentrate on faces when looking at figures, so they can make or break a good miniature. Try a basecoat, a wash, then dry brushing a very delicate highlight on the top. Also consider 'blacklining' - this is a technique where you seperate out different areas of the model by a fine line of black. It's considered old fashioned by the figure-painting community, but personally I like it.

ray

I reckon I've spent quite a few holidays camping under skies like that one! Brilliant stuff.

Thank you Stefan. Very kind.

ok... I'll take it apart and show you some pictures. Give me a while.