bridgiesimon

Quick update, all the track is now laid including dropper wires for the frogs and blades in each point, thanks russ for very neat soldering! A quick piccie with some of the stock out for an overall look - Best wishes Simon

defo Colour of Magic, it is the first of the series and leads on into The Light Fantastic. These 2 books were made into a comedy/drama for television a few years ago with David Jason playing Rincewind the Wizard - well worth finding! this is the sequenced reading list - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discworld#/media/File:Discworld_Reading_Order_Guide_3.0_(cropped).jpg yep, very complicated! to be honest, I read them in order that they were published, the variety of characters etc works really well. Best wishes and enjoy, I am very envious that you are reading these for the first time!! Simon

A few additions/developments on the go - firstly, the removable middle building is developing really well with all of the timber framing in place now and most of the windows, run out so need to order more! I have also made up a detailed interior room for the top floor as when the roof is in place, this will be sealed in pretty much. I have also been working on the right hand end of the layout around the rear track exit to sort out and cover the track. The idea is that there will be a wooden walkway across the front of the new section and the lower area joining the large door openings and covering the track exit a little more than just simply having the trains going through the hole in the wall. I have also made up a chimney for the corner to help hide the corner of the backscene as well. Further to recent conversations, a friend of mine, is having a go at printing a large image for the backscene with varying success so far to get something closer to what the layout really requires. fingers crossed to success on that soon. I have also ordered an electromagnet to try out as the Seep ones I have used very successfully on previous layouts are now £11.50 each - way too expensive!!! I have ordered one from Dingham Autocouplers, £5 each including postage and packing - much more acceptable cost! http://www.dingham.co.uk/electromagnet.htm I will let you know what I think when it arrives. Best wishes and stay safe Simon

found the booklet of buildings thanks joppyuk1, used your search successfully! link here for anyone else interested - https://hetoogdesmeesters.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/games-workshop-warhammer-townscapes-1988.pdf Good thought GWR57xx, will try that. Best wishes Simon

if you find the link again, I would love that, cannot find anything now though. Could just be me not searching with the right words. By the way, I think I have found the (almost) ideal backscene for the layout - https://www.art-printers.com/product-list/overcast-sky the only issue is that these are 15 inches high and my backscene is 20 inches from the board up to the top. I am going to spend time looking to see if that 5 inches is easy to hide along the bottom, pretty sure it will be fine along the buildings, just need to check a couple of areas before I order some! Best wishes Simon

yeah, long time ago ain't it! Never got the opportunity to meet in person, gutted to find out a few years ago he switched on the Christmas lights in Burnham on Sea, just down the road from me! I was sat at home totally unaware what was going on - aaargh!!! Anyway, next building on the way now, this one it tall to help disguise the central board and backscene join so will be removable. Lots more still to do but you get the idea so far I hope - A little more work also needed on the backscene with a slot system to be installed to align the backscenes better and then I need to sort a backscene image - Am thinking that a dirty stormy cloudy sky would work well, opinions? This sort of thing - https://fineartamerica.com/featured/stormy-panorama-gretchen-friedrich.html Best wishes and stay safe Simon

totally agree with you, I also listen to the books with Audible while working etc. amazing writer wasn't he! “Ankh-Morpork! Pearl of cities! This is not a completely accurate description, of course — it was not round and shiny — but even its worst enemies would agree that if you had to liken Ankh-Morpork to anything, then it might as well be a piece of rubbish covered with the diseased secretions of a dying mollusc.” ― Terry Pratchett, The Light Fantastic I do hope I can do his vision justice! Best wishes Simon

mega update time, we now actually have a layout, well boards anyway but a MASSIVE step forwards - Now that we have the boards, I can finalise the track plan and lay it all then plan and construct the rest of the buildings which i have been waiting until now to develop. The area along the front will be the river/quayside/mud flats etc. I am thinking that a goo way to hide the board joint at the front will be with a wooden jetty sat on wooden piles slightly set at an angle over the joint with a structure on it as well as steps down to the water etc. the surface and structure then would be removable. Possibly this sort of an idea - https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/530228556121799508/?nic_v2=1a2hlqHy7 Anyway, more info and piccies as we develop. Best wishes and stay safe Simon

defo, that was one of the first building I worked on, piccie in the first post. Will have some bare boobies hanging out of windows etc, got to be done lol, maybe a poster for a ha'penny upright? Latest little bit of work on the upper floors over the 3 shops shown recently - This is the front of the building, this will sit on the shops when I have fitted the lights to the shop areas. (just noticed a slate bent over, will go and sort that in a mo) Here are the 3 interiors now they are made up ready to go in, very minimal detail this time as the rooms only have small windows. They will install like this, with a ceiling on each with the LED lights added. Best wishes Simon

piccies fouond through google, quick search for 'Vetinari' and 'Mona Ogg' I think. cant find the Vetinari one again now, aargh! Mona Ogg still there though. Best wishes Simon

little additional info, the painting on the wall over the bed is a copy of the famous painting by Leonard of Quirm called the Mona Ogg, it is said that her teeth follow you around the room! Best wishes Simon

I have done a little more work the last couple of days on one of the earlier buildings, the eatery - This is the building in question, when I get a sign sorted, it will be called 'The Wizard the Wench' The lower section, will get and add some piccies tomorrow, is the eatery/bar area with tables and a serving area. the lower floor on the left will get a kitchen interior added. I have been working on the rooms for the upper floor on the right hand side above the eatery area, one smaller single room and a larger double room - I am pleased hoe these are coming out so far. Kitchen next then. Best wishes and stay safe Simon

Plan is to install a working crane/lift to the upper levels of the warehouse, not sure that I can get a golem animated though. defo an idea to consider! Best wishes Simon

The next set of building are now on their way, the warehouse complex for the right hand end of the layout. I bought in a pack of A3 sheets of hard foam, like polystyrene but tighter similar to insulation stuff. Anyway, it is 10mm thick rather than the 100mm thick lumps I have already so ideal for walls etc. I marked out the parts, put out the windows and scribed the stonework before gluing and pinning together. Yes, the pins will be removed when the glue has hardened. Am pleased with it so far but lots to do including a working crane/hoist system to lift stuff off wagons and up to the upper floors. not sure how at the mo, but Russell, electrical guru I know, and I have been talking through options. Best wishes Simon

Back to roofing work for me today on the row of shops, I thought I would add a few piccies showing the process for making the tiles etc should anyone be interested in that so here goes - First of all, I paint a few sheets of cars grey ensuring that I blend in darker and lighter areas, longways to match the direction of the slates. When these are dry, note here that the card curls up as it dries, a few hours under a heavy weight straightened them enough to work with, I marked the back for the tiles. For AMKL, I have used tiles 10mm wide by 15mm long. Once cut into strips with a knife and straight edge, I end up with a load of strips marked out ready for cutting into separate tiles, scissors next. Here we are, a pot of tiles ready to get glued on individually. I also put a load of the tiles to one side and trim small nicks off the corners etc to 'roughen' them all up, for this layout, I do not want a neat perfect roof. Finally, after a few hours of adding the tiles, the roof is nearly finished, the ridge tiles need to be painted and then a dry brushing down the roof to finish. Best wishes Simon

For anyone coming across this thread, I have found that the Citadel paints 'Troll Slayer Orange' is an identical match to the orange plastic the kit is moulded in. I am building a batch of 5 and have sprayed the bodies and the etched this colour with a great result! Best wishes Simon

Another quick update, I have been using an old narrow board to try the buildings together so check that it is going to work well and fits. Am really pleased so far Some of these buildings need small details adding/finishing etc such as completing the roofs, signage, glazing etc. They will be lit and most have interior details in some of the rooms. After a suggestion from a friend of mine, the pub/eatery at the end will be called 'The Wizard and Wench'. Am sure there is a story behind that name! Best wishes Simon

A quick update, along side lots of other projects in N gauge, I know sorry! I have been painting figure for Ankh Morpork. The layout will have a decent population with several models from other suppliers on the list to acquire in the future - Completed so far, although the ones on the rear block need a coat of mat varnish for protection and to blend the finish. I work on a smaller block with a small batch of figures at a time so that I can be painting one while another is drying etc. I am finding this is quicker and less boring waiting - not one for watching paint dry! Naked lady will be mounted on the purple covered table behind her and set up with a painted in a room scene. 3 guys are identical but there is an issue finding 28mm scale seated passengers so I bought 4 of these to spread around in the coaching stock. The guy at the front will not stay with such a garish coloured face, this is the base coat and will have several highlight layers addedd before completed. Finally for today, this is the next batch to be getting on with, some were bought already painted, they will be stripped, primed and repainted. Best wishes and stay safe Simon

Exactly why I have not bought anything new for quite some time! A real shame but, money will only go so far when on a budget. Best wishes, love the class 31 resprays by the way! Simon

One advantage I have modelling in N gauge lol, I will be doing a long rake of them, my earlier era military goods is 11 wagons long loaded with Ferrets, Saladins and Saracens. By the way, assuming it is still available, Airfix do/have done a kit in 1:76 for the Scorpion/Scimitar. as far as I am aware it includes parts to do either version. https://www.scalemates.com/kits/airfix-01320-scorpion-scimitar-tank--181525 Best wishes Simon

Great looking updates, I enjoy reading your thread. Just a quick note about the Warrior APCs you are doing, they will need to sit on cradles on the warwell wagons. They were too wide to sit on the wagon and needed to be lifted up above platform height. No idea if anyone does a cradle kit in OO, I model in N gauge and plan on a rake of Warwells with Warriors at some stage. A good piccie near the top of this page - https://pgmodels.wordpress.com/2010/03/13/a-few-more-details/ Best wishes Simon

think I have sorted it, the setting had a stoopid height for the gantry height, reset that and fingers crossed, it is now playing ball. Thanks for the advice. Best wishes Simon

Have now have access to use a 'Monoprice Mini Delta' 3D printer. I am using it today for the first time. The pre-installed test print went really well and was delighted but each time I try to print something I have downloaded, the nozzle head goes off the side of the print bed and tries to print there. Anyone know what I am doing wrong and hoe to help me sort it out? Getting VERY frustrated!! Best wishes Simon

good work on the Warwells, I have a few of those to add decals to, keep putting it off, I have just done a set of pre '76 warflats and they took an age to do! Are you going to load them? Butler Printed Models are a great source for suitable 3D printed vehicles, being printed, they do not have the weight issues of whitemetal and are very well priced. best wishes Simon

To start with I am using shortened Bachmann coaches (piccies posted back in January, page 4 of the thread) and was aiming to add a few kits from Chivers Finelines until they ceased trading. I am sure that as the project develops, I will start bashing/scratchbuilding something less 'American'. Best wishes Simon