Brass0four

By comparison to vivid complexity, my commission, Jaz, is as follows: - A capital *T* with the vertical taken up, through and beyond by, say, a quarter of its normal length - a crucifixion cross with a bit chopped off; Over a capital *K* which is turned on its side so the vertical is now horizontal,, like the dividing line in a fraction sum. A slight difference is both diagonals should meet, below, like an upside down *V* Stylistically, it is a Sino-Japanese pictogram, done in black on the plain concrete. Essentially, it is my initials on professional pen-and-ink artwork. The T is for Tony, and the K is for my surname, King. I haven't even a working scanner so I can't show you but it couldn't be easier. It doesn't want to be large "2 sleeper-widths X 2 sleeper widths, approx." and will be a contrast to the more sophisticated. Interestingly, studying the Kanji (Jap) I found the top of my signature could read "heaven" and the bottom, "earth.". Having discovered this I was joined to it forever... As people will - understandably - be pestering you with complex pms, I thought I'd offer this alternative. Everything should no be too impressive or the wall might be swamped, having said which, that's your business NOT mine! Palms joined with a respectful bow, Tonkin - as I was known in the Fire Service - I've slightly oriental eyes. lol

"Rivet counters look away now - *BULL-OX!!!" Anyone not swooning with admiration should be drowned! ( ) Tony. *my new anti rivet-counters/up their own "horse-like-animals-used-for-load-carrying" - war-cry!

Hi Jaz, as mentioned elsewhere, your work is much toooooooooo valuable for sick-leave to be allowed! All the best, Bodge. No excuse for anything less than a full recovery - your list of completed layouts is far too short! Tony.

- HAPPY BIRTHDAY KAL!!! all the very best Tony.

Thanks! I really am so PC non-savvy! (self-taught - lousy teacher lol)

Still can't get *quote" panel up. I've ditched cookies, history, etc., but still no joy. Thanks Jaz, your support is greatly valued, as is Shaun's. Essentially, I only post on AV and Shaun's work although there are some others I follow from the side-lines. I apologise in advance for inconsistency in posting, which will be inevitable. Thanks again, Tony.

Please tell me #1963 is real! (Sorry, can't get a *quote* box these days. (???) Tony.

I don't know why, but I never get a *quote* reply box these days - just the standard empty box. ??? - and now I can't use Edit, copy, paste - ! ] Sorry... All I wanted to do was underline just how wonderfully well you have come on, and what an exciting future this foretells! Regards, Tony.

I don't know about "not fine scale" - it's very fine to me. I trust people realise what they are actually looking at here! But I'm going to stick my non-modelling coarse scale brass neck out here and offer a thought: If you scribed the louvers "mass-production" on a separate larger card, then cut out the van slots to mount them in, it might not be that much more time-consuming and the louvers might actually be more consistent and even easier - particularly for more than one van. (?) Duck smilie! I think putting your work on one thread is a good idea, as it is a "gathering together" of many areas. You could copy specifics to the relevant threads (just for consistency) when it suits you. A while back I swore off posting till I'd actually made something. But guess what? - still nowt. Domestically, things worsen by the freakin' day! (driving-off-cliff smilie) LOL Tony.

One of the downsides with an airbrush is the maintenance - they should be stripped and cleaned every time after use, which normally takes far longer than the job they've just done. (My own use was for artwork - little time for modelling these days) Otherwise, cheap, single-action airbrushes - the sort with a bottle attached - are not dissimilar to a spray-can in excessive volume, but you can mix small amounts for the glass pot, and they are simpler to clean. This gives access to a large range of colours - they are particularly good for broad-stroke scenics - modifying foliage colours, etc. Tony.

Whilst I agreed with Sandside/Jason's remark it was mainly about location. A box such as the "Streamline Moderne" in question, might well have been electric. There is no sign of the space beneath that mechanical rodding would have emerged from. Otherwise, railway lines were generally a tight ribbon property wise. All the similar boxes I've seen (google images) are lineside. It is true that modern control facilities could be anywhere, but that is a very contemporary feature - which could suit you - but would make less of a railway model. (?) T. edit: I think electric-light signals would be up Kal's street?

Actually. I'd go for photos in your situation. Mr Todd's work is impressive in this regard and he has little space at the rear. T.

Hi J 'n K, Glad you're back. Almost performed a posting idiocy whilst suffering from AV withdrawal (posted but deleted) Anyway, main problem (apart from the pitch-angle) with the ladder is it is grossly over-scale*: the *rounds* (rungs to the uninitiated) would be as thick as your arms. Also, a portable ladder this long would not exist without at least one - more likely two - extensions. Nobody could carry it, much less pitch it. This is one area where I can claim some expertise: as a Fireman I handled the damn things too often for my health. *Many things you can get away with - I'm no rivet-counter - but not with ladders, especially portable ones. And even the permanent, like the Bachmann Sanders with their H 'n S protections, are grossly over-scale, too. About the cutting: I'd urbanise it by fitting retaining-walls for most of it. Rock cuttings are rare in such locations. Then you could paint an urban back-scene beyond the elevated track? Regards, Tony. edit: the chalk examples of the Southern are a prototype example of such cuttings, but they are white, which never works for me in model terms, even the best of 'em.

Excellent! Noted by me. too. Tony.

Life isn't fair... There are you guys, bursting with creativity to share, but you're knackered by twisted copper wires, and there's me, with blisteringly fast cable - and nowt to show for it! (wall-butting smilie) T.

Stunning workspace. There's a wonderful lifetime of modelling in this zone. - Jealous as Donald Duck! Tony.

Passing over again. Flew round several times saying, "Will I - won't I? Will I - won't I?" Decided I would, and took a deep breath: - I absolutely hate Metcalfe paving slabs!!! Totally unrealistic. Made in jelly-molds. Wills are OK but expensive. Scalescenes printed paper is cheap and excellent and can be lightly scribed with a bluntish blade if you must. But pavement cracks are hair-like in our scale. Well, you did ask. T.

Flying for an overhead view, as I periodically do, I just had to stop, hover, and thank you for a year's entertainment and tutelage. AV is unique on RMweb, a forum which would might be quite bleak and introverted without you. Kal once described some other types as "museum layouts". I love museums but they can be singularly focused in an anal way, dusty and dry. (IMHO) "Three cheers for AV!" - "Huzah! - Huzah! - Huzah!" T X

Beautifully, convincingly weathered. Reminds me of exactly how such buildings were. Tony.

I agree with Derek entirely, but would add Iain Robinson, also on this website. Tony.

Make mine cheeseburger.

- Anything other than Green is an abomination in the Almighty's eyes! (just peeped in. Doing wonderfully, Jaz )

Fascinating as usual. An aside, if you'll forgive me. I've lately used some Gaugemaster Meadowmat grass mats and found them very good - a bit vivid but that'll tone down in time, dust, etc. @ 44 X 29cms, some may think them expensive (around

Well said, Allan - and from an expert eye!

Jaz: Your ballistic learning-curve goes on - the result will be brilliant I'm sure. You'll have caught my personal drift from my last on GGupN so 'nuf said. Take care, Tony.