Brass0four

Just to add to my enthusiasm for Ahern - he teaches us how to model... I've a large layout that needs acres of terraced houses. I've several Hornby RTP houses which I move around to give myself a sense of place, and I'd have a hundred as place-keepers if I could afford them! I'd enjoy replacing them with scratch-built alternatives; frankly, there are days when I think I don't have enough life left to complete my layout, so I'm not knocking RTPs. But, I worry that some people I see on Youtube, etc., just aren't bothering trying to model and that is such a shame. It's become the norm in some areas. While others - perhaps reading this - have excelled so quickly it's a joy to watch! Ahern is can be basic in contemporary terms, but they are b****y good basics to grow from! (in MHO) Regarding the guy in question it might well be an accident. I've done it when my attention is required elsewhere, then seen it, white faced, later, and changed it. But what of the ones I missed!!! I'd pm him 'though. Best to sort things out. You (unlike me ;-) are the last person on the forum to cause bad vibes. Tony.

My first alcohol-free New Year... The wages of sin, etc. Now, the glass towers with spiral stairs would be interesting! Tony.

- Happy New Year from the Three Kings (Tony King, Joan King, and daughter, Susan King) :-D

The beauty of online stuff is magic. We all come across certain techniques for the first time and they are wonderfully new to us at that point. I didn't mean any *criticism freebs, rather I wanted to share the amazing source that is the Ahern book. His line drawings are worth it by themselves. It really is worth a fiver. As it happens I've just purchased a second hand hardback to add to my collection and that was just £7.50, although mint first editions cost quite a bit. And yes, both Downes and Robinson owe a lot to this early Classic (1950) as they will happily tell you. All the Best, Tony. *Sheeesh! I'll never learn! lol ;-)

- And all the Best to you and Jaz, too. I'm really looking forward to seeing the new layout developing. :-D Tony.

Hi freebs, When he sees it Iain will decline. The earliest mention I can find of the technique is in Miniature Building Construction by John H. Ahern, first published in 1950. Its still a very good book. Available on Amazon. You can make fine buildings with none of the modern adhesives, paints, materials, plastics etc., etc. It's all card and scraps of wood. For under a fiver in softback it is well worth anyone's pennies. My New Years Resolution is to get some model-making done! And, as I've just purchased a camera capable of capturing same, I've no excuses. The Very Best to Everyone for this and all subsequent Years. Whatever our personal differences - and goodness knows my pedantic wittering has created many - we are all bound by the fascinating process of making the best miniatures we can, and sharing them online. The amount I've learned on RMweb, particularly, from every single topical-thread that I've read - excluding none - is staggering. Being pre- PC age - OK n.1948, which is pre TV! (some in London apparently) I really do value the benefits you've all offered. Thank You, Tony.

I'm very fond of the Hornby Brits - ended up with four - I might give the Duke a miss. I understand why simplification was thought necessary - the Brits are very fragile (taking an earlier ones apart to chip, and getting it back together, is a nightmare!) - as well as keeping cost down, but there is no excuse for major inaccuracy when the real thing is available for all to see. Thanks for the detailed check out, Ray. Tony.

Interesting... I recently bought an LED bulb (4 LEDs) to fit as a spot on a painting, previously conventionally lit. It took a while to get used to the colour temperature but now I like it much better - it's nearer to the north-light I painted in (see my gallery) I'll definitely look into this. Thanks, Tony.

Thanks for that. And why am I NOT surprised that you covered the issue in detail. Soooooo... It's astonishing how a person can get stuck into a work-related mind-set. I tend to do most things on the one bench, and this is not necessarily due to lack of space - rather, habit. In this light I will consider the obvious options of varied work-stations for specific tasks. I think the telling factor, however, is LIGHT - can't have too much of it - well, unless it's blinding but that is just silly. Natural light is something I'm rather starved of, hence, back to the single bench. Even so, it is not beyond pocket or wit to upgrade the illuminations on to other areas.... And my PC is in a well lit area and need not be... Hmmmmmmm. Thanks again, useful as usual. :-D Tony.

Ron, do you EVER have an untidy bench? ;-) I sometimes wonder if the untidy minds/benches such as mine give rise to less than satisfactory work. Having said which, Gravy Train - who does excellent, professional, buildings and structures - does have a *chaotic work-surface very often, which b*ggers up my excuse! * I won't link to a photograph but they are in his Topics/Blogs which are well worth a visit in any case. But back to the point: would you feel very uncomfortable with a messy bench threatening efficiency? Tony.

Merry Christmas, Ron, and all the best for the New Year. I look forward to further developments in you extraordinary venture. :-D Tony.

Exactly what REAL modelling is about! I've a collection (not complete!) of Railway Modellers going back to the fifties, and the lengths these people had to go just to have a model railway. So creative and so economical. I'll certainly copy the crane. (and the angle-poise, and the chair. Interesting, regarding these, on first sight I wondered if they were a bit too modern, but you showed you'd thought of that and researched it. Good stuff, that ;-) Tony.

Just dropped by to wish you and yours a wonderful Christmas and a Happy, Healthy New Year! Tony. (And even Christmas wrapping paper laid on the carpet might kill the fluff short term? - better with the hardboard but possible alone if its not to heavy a pile...)

Hi Shaun, Wishing you and your Good Lady all the very Best for Christmas and the New Year. Tony.

NOT being a gifted modeller, but - having a reasonable artistic eye - I agree with Jaz. In fact I was pondering jumping in with the same notion, but that's something I'm trying to give up, at least until I've something to show for myself. Nevertheless, I do think it lets the rest of the excellent structure down. I'd be inclined to cut plasticard strips, tape them from the back, paint less boldly, then fold as required. The original salty metal technique is really an excellent one which would be awesome in another context. :-) Tony.

OT! - Interesting. As a Fireman one of my worst incidents was HMS Glasgow on the Tyne - damned if I can recall the date: late 70s early 80s - several workman died. Ship fires were always a nightmare - no handy windows to jump out in a flash-over! lol Tony.

My sincere apologies. New to the thread, I'd scan-read most of the text, but not the last section. The colour drained from my face when a friend pm'd me concerning the clanger I'd dropped. I've removed the post in question, lest anyone else as dumb as me picks up on it. Again, apologies and best wishes, Tony.

PS: Actually, I probably could justify one. Mine's just a crude OO layout, but I do have a cityscape of buildings to do. I've been wrestling with mass-production methods and this might be the very answer. Cash??? 'Think I'd better get a paper-round...

I've only recently come across this fascinating thread. Please forgive the out-of order response. For the record, I've used countless metres of Gaugemaster Ballasted Foam. (over a period of time, I don't dare dwell on the cost) and I'm a huge fan. It's virtually indestructible and paints very well, brush, airbrush or powders, and is very forgiving of dodgy baseboard surfaces. I'm currently working on between track infills, trying to get a similar foam I can dress with ballast. If I can't get that I'll use balsa, pinned down, not glued. Oh yeah, and one particular good point: - you can pull it all up without destroying the track. Tony.

I know what you mean... - should be ashamed of yourself! LOL Tony.

Imagine making that without the new kit! Most us would be drilling holes to form a basis for the wave/drip (whatever the devil it's called) profile:- filing to a point then blunting the point till it looks OK from regular viewing distance - hopelessly inaccurate and massively time consuming... I've been checking up on these machines and am astonished they are so reasonably priced - not that I'd ever justify one - panelled coaches, complex architecture, etc.,. etc.... I'm not a young man and hardly a day goes by without some technical mind-blower in the PC+ world. But this machine... Sheeeeeeeeeesh! Tony.