Keith Addenbrooke

Hi Andy, I've been a happy subscriber to both versions and I have enjoyed the luxury of having both.  As a paper subscriber, it's worth highlighting (for others who read this thread) the monthly BRM TV DVD is included in paper subscriptions, as it is not automatically available with off-the-shelf purchases as I understand it.  What I've learned is that the things that make a difference to me aren't about content and the benefits of zooming into pictures versus details disappearing into the spine of a magazine's inner pages (for example), or extra digital content, but are more about circumstances, which will apply differently to each reader:

1.  The key variable for the digital edition - for me at least - is the age / type of devices I have available to download and browse the magazine.  My laptop is now six years old, and while I have a smart phone the screen is very small for reading fine text.  I suspect a new ipad sized tablet could optimise the digital experience, but this is something for others to comment on.

2.  Paper editions require space.  I don't keep every edition, and from time to time I recycle ones I no longer want.  Over time, keeping them all could need a lot of storage space for items I may only occasionally refer to.  With regards to the DVD, I had to buy a new DVD player last year after my old one stopped working - so there was a technology cost here too anyway.

3.  I need to cut down the amount of time I spend reading the magazines / watching the videos / browsing and contributing to RMWeb, simply because I don't have any hobby time left for modelling!  There is so much inspirational material at my fingertips, I really ought to be producing something of my own by now.

Hope this helps, Keith. 

6 hours ago, noiseboy72 said:

I agree with you here.

 

We wanted to do a wartime scene - the Blockbuster bomb, with things exploding - maybe a large factory, with the trains running around it and being involved in the cleanup. As with yourselves, we were clearly told that it was "Feature Films only" and as so many teams had had to submit their ideas for that semi, a lot of the ones we would have liked to have done had already gone. We were quite pleased with how our Bond inspired layout worked out however. A little taster has featured on the credits (Similar photo below) but you will have to wait until Saturday to see how we did though!

Hopefully the gradient across the bridge is an optical illusion - either in the photo or on my PC? 

The stone embankment and the ground cover (in the foreground) looks good - better than I could do without a time constraint.  Looking forwards to seeing more next weekend.

Once again, I think hats off to all the participants for their incredible achievements - as we learn more about the constraints of the filming process and production schedule, it makes the reality of what is being produced even more impressive.

Of all the themes / titles that have been set by the powers that be, I think this was the hardest to approach within what might be termed 'conventional railway modelling,' - I wouldn't have known where to start!  I think the question Neil (who has been a participant in this series, of course) asks is a fair one:

9 hours ago, Neil said:

For me this episode posed an interesting question, when does a model railway cease to become a model railway?

It's no reflection on the quality of what the teams produced, for me it is more about the task that was set.  I think this comment from one of Team Grantham offers a helpful insight into how they interpreted the challenge:

4 hours ago, D9003 said:

...we were trying to make the maximum use of model railway technology to achieve the briefs we had been given.

Based on what I saw on the programme last night, I'd say they succeeded...and then some!  The additional explanations offered on this thread are well worth reading for the further illumination they offer, too.  Their use of model railway technology came across as ingenious and professionally done.

Perhaps what we see here is a possible tension between a desire to produce an entertaining TV show for the general public that can continue to attract audiences (and hence remain commercially viable), as compared to the appetite of devotees of the hobby for higher and higher standards of detail and realism, as we see month by month in the modelling press - and on the shelves of our model stores.  In the highly competitive world of commercial broadcasting, the question as to how to retain the interest of the viewing public, particularly on a Saturday night, is one that I suspect applies to all long-running series over time.

In terms of the difference between a short demonstration and an all-day exhibition, a question stivesnick asks (below), I wonder if the Corby model from last night might have the greatest potential for conversion into a long-running exhibition layout, if they want to, having more of the attributes of a conventional fantasy layout that might fit into the requirements of an exhibition portfolio where it is displayed alongside traditional layouts?  It's just a thought.

7 hours ago, stivesnick said:

What is being produced is based around a 2-3 minute presentation to the judges. But how does this translate into an appearance for perhaps 6-7 hours at a show as many of the actions are not easily repeatable

Once again, well done to all involved, Keith.

On ‎20‎/‎09‎/‎2019 at 20:13, AY Mod said:

We filmed the final installment today, Phil's done a cracking job on the OO shelf.

Agreed - it comes across well in the November BRM.

Is there any possibility of showing (here or in BRM) a photo of the three layouts side by side (or one above the other on a bookcase) for comparative purposes: it might be interesting to see them together?  Just wondered.

1 hour ago, AY Mod said:

 

He's got less than a week to finish it for the pre-Xmas issue! I think it will be called 'Much Cussing in the Maltings'.

Were any pre-built items allowed?

Need to pay attention - I thought this was saying GMRC is going to be on after Blockbusters.

Thoughts of: "I'll have a double-O please, Bob."

Excellent - fantastic use of the space, really comes off well.

4 hours ago, JohnDMJ said:

But your recorder's watching the live transmission and so seeing the same adverts as the live viewers?

This is true, but when I play back my recording I can (and sometimes do) fast forward through the adverts, so I am less valuable commercially as a viewer.

If I watch a programme on a "Catch-up" or "On-demand" service, the clever software they use prevents me from fast forwarding through the ads - so I have to let them run at normal speed - but they are different ads. I don't know why they use different ads but my commercial value as a viewer is again different. I presume this is why the production company want us to watch live if we can: we're premium customers if we do.

On 03/07/2019 at 17:12, Phil Parker said:

...Neil's "Shell Island" has always been a model that has appealed to me. Looking at the blue Class 25 put me in mind of my favourite railway book, Stopping Train Britain by Alexander Frater.  Describing several journeys around the UK in 1982. I dug out my copy and looked through for ideas - and there are several if you like blue DMUs....

 

 

...Drawing out the plan in AnyRail, it strikes me that even in N, this isn't a huge amount of space. The 2-car set is 30cm long, almost half the board. I want a siding for Speedlink traffic (Andy has a 26 I can borrow and I have a couple of wagons) so we need the sharpest points. Visually, it looks better to copy the Shell Island plan and kick back rather than just have a single point. I'm assuming that there was once a loop but this has been rationalised. One limit is there isn't flexi-track, so it's all going to look a bit straight, but working diagonally will help hide this.

If anyone's not yet seen the Oct BRM (out now) there's a lovely 6-page feature (pages 84-89) on the realisation of this design by the good Mr. P.

It's acknowledged as a quick build but it's been kept simple, which is fair enough.

A real atmosphere of rural space comes across in the photos - the digital edition also has a video I think. Scenic spaciousness is a known benefit of 2mm / N-scale modelling, but it's good to see it works in as small a space as a Billy bookcase layout. Although this was a concern when the plan was introduced (see above quote), it looks to me like there was no need to worry. In my view: "Highly recommended," as the experts say.

Prize looks nice though.

16 hours ago, jools1959 said:

What the programmes don’t show is the pure hard slog it was over the three days of filming.  We were at Fawley for 8am and it wasn’t unusual to still be there working 11-12 hours later, though the judges and presenters had gone by 5pm.  The Knickerbockerglory crew worked their socks off and several said they wouldn’t see their families, boyfriends, girlfriends for nearly two weeks.

For me - full credit to those who've stepped forwards and taken on the challenge, and put themselves in the public eye.  As a fan of micro-layouts, I've tried measuring out a space 5' x 10' at home just to imagine what it would be like trying to cover it in the time available.*

I often ask operators how big their layouts are at exhibitions - as what seems moderate in a public hall is almost invariably bigger than I think.  I suspect there's something of the same effect here, with the size of the layouts (and hence the task) looking smaller to me watching from afar than they must feel to the layout builders in the competition, due to a combination of the effects of the larger space at Fawley and then the predominance of close-up camera shots.

I was impressed by what all three teams were able to achieve in the first heat - and it did seem to me that a close result was a fair one.  Well done to Corby, with a special mention for the scenic work with the river and the seaside / beach / cliffs on the Train Set layout.

________________________________

* even allowing for the preparatory work done in advance, it still looks incredibly ambitious.

13 hours ago, johna said:

Just a quick update. Layout has changed a wee bit in the last few weeks.

Another classic micro-layout track plan: I'm not sure this 2-point arrangement has ever been given a name, but it's popular and layouts using it seem to last - the key thing is wiring the kickback siding if you want to use it. Looks like a great start, Keith.

Looking good - the fiddle yard size sounds / looks like it's in good proportion to the scenic part of the layout, which makes for good operating potential.

47 minutes ago, Dickon said:

They're on their way

...always wise to have a warning.

The use of a Walthers Kit as the centrepiece for this project really takes me back to the kind of Model Railroading I would read about when growing up.  The rolling stock however takes me back even further, and it'll therefore be interesting to see it on display when the module is completed.

The locomotive is an unpowered EMD F-unit in Canadian Pacific colours.  I'm not sure of the manufacturer, but it would have been sold as a dummy unit to run in an A-A or larger combination (A-B-B-A if unpowered B units were included - this is long before DCC). The model is suitably weighted, but needs couplings and, if I can lift the body from the chassis, glazing for the cab.  The F-units are my personal favourite diesels, so I'm delighted to have been given one for this model.

The first coach is an Athearn Dome car, probably dating from the 1970s, and shows why I wanted to take delivery of the stock to work out vertical clearances for the platform level of the model (the roadname is freelance - transfers were made to order for lettering: this was common on US Model Railroads at the time).

The other cars are kits that probably date from the 1950s, and pre-date plastic injection moulding - with wooden parts and metal bogies.  Given the current awareness of the environmental impact of the over-use of plastics, it'll be interesting to see how I fare with these models (NB: windows are still plastic)

Ironically perhaps, they are models of the kind of metal-sided 85-foot lightweight cars that often replaced pre-war wooden heavyweights on US railroads.  These have been hand-painted, again with a freelance roadname.

One of them has a carefully modelled interior - each pair of seats has been applied by hand, with end vestibules fitted out in thin plywood.

The final car is fitted with a bar feature at the left hand end and compartments to the right:

At the time these kits were being assembled, they were to be run on a dual UK / US layout, which explains the rather intricate metal three-link couplings fitted to this vehicle and the UK outline buffer beams.  These will need to be unsoldered (and rescued for another project), and replaced with some metal US-style couplings.

Such is the attention to detail on the interior that the headrests have the roadname initials hand-painted on each one individually - so although the bodywork may not match current expectations, this level of interior detailing can still command a premium on R-T-R models today.

I look forwards to trying to finish these models - and the diorama - in a way that is suitably fitting given the effort that was put in when they were brand new.

Until then...

Progress on this project paused in April while awaiting the delivery of some rolling stock I'd been offered, that I received yesterday.

Before providing an update, I'd like to acknowledge the inspiration for the project provided by Jack Trollope (aka "Shortliner") whom I've learned from the Obituary section of RMweb has sadly since passed away: writing in the Cakebox Challenge 2019 Thread, he posted a brief topic under the heading of Possible Inspirations in response to a cakebox I was working on, introducing me and others to paintings by an American Artist, Samuel Michlap:

This painting, as posted by Jack, helped as I was thinking about ideas for using the Walthers Union Station Kit I'd already acquired, so I hope it's appropriate to give due credit here in this build thread too.

In terms of an  update, I've mentioned in the build thread for another project that progress has been slow, added to which I've put the bookcase I was planning to use to other worthwhile uses, so a new approach to baseboards (and storage) will be needed.  Realistically, I'm now looking at the end of 2020 for the completion of this model, but I'll post some photos of the rolling stock I've been given before the next pause...

A brief update (more of a "placeholder") as progress with tiling the roof of my Metcalfe Inn kit has been minimal - too many other things to do this Summer.

In terms of lessons learned to pass on: it appears that coffee does seem to help when tiling in fairly straight rows - while Merlot can make it a bit more difficult.

Anyway, in terms of the outlook for the overall Short Edge Project(s), a more realistic date is now into 2021, with other projects also on the go and with both the bookcase I had my eye on and the space it occupies being needed for other purposes.  In the meantime, there have been a host of new build threads launched for innovative and interesting Micro-Layouts here on RMweb that it'll be a joy to read up on in the coming weeks.  Thank you to all who are sharing ideas and examples.

Excellent. From the title (I checked with a couple of German speakers who confirmed it), through the design, to the execution and the story telling. Well done and thank you for sharing (the project, if not the cake...).

3 hours ago, The Great Bear said:

I could see me using this subscription and allowing me to clear out a lot of old magazines (more room for storing trains!) but am concerned about the longevity. Not necessarily my subscription, but if say something happened to BRM or digital system changed.

 

...or if there were sudden nationwide powercuts...

Or Option C) use a ruler like this one, with variable inches...

(This is a genuine, undoctored photo of a ruler I was given in a "Planes" themed stationery set - there's a 'winging-it' pun in there as well, I guess).

On 22/06/2019 at 08:49, Jerry1975 said:

looking very good, I agree that the Metcalfe kit roofs are all the same, you could use some wills slate sheets but that would be an extra cost, another idea is making your own roof from a piece of plastic card and making your own tiles, junk mail leaflets are ideal for this, a bit tedious sticking individual tiles on but worth the effort.

 

Jerry.

I've made a start:

Before...

After...

And still to do...!

Metcalfe Kits come generously supplied with printed strips of red and grey ridge tiles, more than are needed for a single model.  The left-overs from kits I've made can be easily cut into individual tiles, and the uniform lines on the smooth roofs that come with the kit provide a ready guide for each row of tiles. 

It'll take a while to complete the whole roof, but I'm hoping it'll be worth it: there is some light weathering printed onto the strips of ridge tiles - fixing them randomly takes advantage of this.

While there weren't as many entries in Round 2, I'd like to acknowledge the modellers who've created some very high class and imaginative entries for us to vote on: all of them are a credit to the competition and the wider hobby.  I hope they've each enjoyed the build as much as we've been able to enjoy sharing the journey on RMweb - and yes, after some careful deliberation (as they say), I have been able to vote for just one, but well done to all.

As I understand it, it'd be perfectly OK to submit this for round 3 of this year's cakebox challenge, given the theme of "Holidays."

This would give till the end of September to put the final diorama together.

I'm certain the good Mr. Parker said - when launching round 2 - that it was OK to include or even resubmit existing cakebox models if the theme was relevant. Just a thought, Keith.

On 07/07/2019 at 05:48, JamesGWR101 said:

Nice work on the City of Truro model. It looks just as good as the real thing!

Thank you - I'm not sure I'd go that far, but I'm pleased with how it turned out.  Two good pieces of advice which helped were:

1.  Taking my time - I wouldn't have had the patience to take a fortnight to put together a kit when I was younger, but it does make a difference.

2.  Referring to a prototype photo when painting (not just the picture on the packet).  The first photo I used had rather too much shadow on the underframes, so I made a couple of mistakes with the livery there, but once I'd realised this I cross-referenced some other photos, making sure the loco was displaying the same livery in both.

The chimney cap, safety valve cover and whistles were painted yellow when I first put the kit together (using some left over paint from a Stephenson's Rocket).  I needed to repaint these with a metallic finish, so I added a topcoat of Humbrol Metallic Brass paint (no. 54 in their range of enamels).

I don't think it looks too bad from a distance..

...but close up it does look muckier than I anticipated:

I'm inclined to leave it as it is, but I'm not sure this final touch has worked as well as I'd hoped.

My usual modelling speed (somewhere between non-existent and barely perceptible) has slowed over the past few weeks, although I'm enjoying following the various projects in this Forum as they develop.  Having been pleased with some very simple attention given to the base of my Metcalfe Coaching Inn, I've been encouraged to make a start on the buildings.  The first photo is one of the finished product from the packaging it comes in (my photo - not my modelling):

It's an impressive model - there's a review on Phil Parker's Blog from a bit back if you want to see more.  The area I'm focusing on first is the corner building at the front.  Two things stood out to me as worth looking at.  The first is the white line along the corner where the card has been scored and folded. It happens with this type of kit, but is easily addressed: I've started running a 2B graphite pencil down the joins, and this seems to be sufficient to draw the eye away.

The other thing I've tried to do is highlight the 2 large window arches.  There are some faint stone lines printed on the card, so I used these as a template to score deeper lines, first with a knife and then with a cocktail stick.  A sharp pencil was used to darken them.  The stones have simply been painted in a light grey:

It's not perfect, but I share it to show what can be done very simply.  I also scored the brick lines along the black quoins as a very simple touch on the corners.

I've discussed the tiling I'm planning to add to the roof earlier - another thing I'm planning to do differently is to see if I can bed the buildings into the base so they don't look as if they've just been placed onto the pavement.  After all, this is a pub: so I ought to give the impression there could be a beer cellar beneath it!