Graham T

Gosh, isn’t that how one still travels?!

I must admit that Little Muddle crossed my mind when I was staging that little cameo!

I've been doing the odd bit of modelling in breaks from work, lots of fiddly little things to make Chuffnell Regis look a bit more alive, so to speak. (I'm also waiting on numerous items from the UK before I can progress a few other jobs on the layout, but stuff is taking weeks to arrive at the moment...) So, anyway, here are the meagre fruits of what felt like a lot of effort! The famous "shed staff" pack from Modelu. Lovely little models but they take me an age to paint! I'm not sure where they will ultimately live on the layout, in fact I expect they will move about from time to time, but for now they all seem to be contemplating a rather mysterious packing crate... Meanwhile, the platform has gained another bench - so I need to paint some sitting passengers I suppose - and also some planters. For which I still need to make some plants... I'm quite pleased with the luggage trunks. They are 3D prints from Smart Models, and at first sight looked a bit underwhelming. But picking out the corner plates and so on in brass has really brought them to life, I think. They've also had a coat of clear varnish, to try to give the impression of slightly shiny leather. And finally the last luggage trolley has now found its home. I've shifted most of the milk churns into their shelter; it was fun making them actually stand up, as they seemed rather keen to show me their renowned skittles impression. The pagoda hut isn't fixed down in any way yet, so I'll probably pop a piece of black tack at the rear of it.

That's a rather valuable stack of Siphons...

Quel surprise!

I have another two commissions that I need to crack on with. They need to be in the UK by the start of April, so I should really get weaving...

Thanks very much Rob.

Almost seems a shame to weather it. Almost.

Must just pop out to fetch my sunglasses...

Thanks very much Tony. Always happy to take on new commissions by the way 😉

Thanks Nick 🙂

Thank you! I've been trying to get a better photo, I think this actually shows the painting better. Taking photos of paintings is almost as difficult as actually using the brush and paint...

Now it really is finished! A couple of final tweaks made, and signed. "The working day is done". Oil on canvas, 20 x 16 inches.

All very impressive, especially the tree!

I think this might be done now... @Andy Keane, what do you think?

Priceless humour - or if given a value, then at least a pillion bounds...

I think the tracks should be six feet apart. @The Johnster has come up with some really helpful suggestions. One thing I'd add though, is that if you plan to add telephone wires - where are they going to go to? You won't have anywhere to connect them to off the diorama. So, personally, I wouldn't model them. Slightly different for signal wires, as you could have a mounting post right at each edge of your diorama. A platelayers hut might be too big for the space you have available, but a fogman's hut would work - they're only about the size of a phone box. Hope that helps!

Don't know about that Andy, but it's coming along slowly! I think I've fixed the angle of the sunlight in the shed, I'll post a pic tomorrow when i have some daylight again. I'll modify the inside of the doors too, and do something about the roof vent. Also saw your message about the bloke who's leaning - I think you're right, and will see what I can do about that.

Cheers. Will experiment on some scrap first!

I'm asking because I have some whitemetal parts to solder. What temp do you use on the iron please?

Are you soldering them Jay?

Thanks John, I think I will leave the buffer beam numbers as they are then. Thanks for all the feedback gents, it's really helpful. Here's a screenshot of one of the photos I've been working from, which shows why I'm hesitating about including the ladder. As Herr W says, it looks like it's going into the loco cab... A loco settling down at the end of the day is exactly the look I was after 🙂 I'll add some wisps of steam from the drain cocks. And you're right about the sunlight, the angle still isn't right.

Having managed to wrestle TDL (The Demon Loco) into submission, I switched targets to the small prairie painting. I think it's getting close to being done, but there are still a few things to address; I'd really appreciate any thoughts or suggestions, thanks! I'm not sure about adding the ladder to the top of the water tower. I think it might be a bit too prominent if I paint it in, and somehow it doesn't feel as if it would work with the composition. Also don't know whether to keep the buffer beam numbers. Are they a bit too large perhaps? Need to add a little steam from somewhere around the front end of the loco, and also maybe just a wisp of dark-ish smoke from the chimney? I'm still not entirely happy with the shafts of sunlight in the shed. Wondering whether I should try to add a little smoke or something like that as well? Idea for a title: "The working day is done".

There's another reader?! I know what you mean; soldering wires to decoders is not much fun at all. Do you have a local model shop that could do it for you? Failing that of course I'm sure John at Youchoos would be very happy to do it for you.

I do like the Zimo chips from Youchoos, but as the 1P came sound-fitted I can't really warrant splashing out over £100 on a replacement. Just glad the so and so is running again!