Neal Ball

9 hours ago, Mikkel said:

 

Thank you Mike, also for this suggestion. I was wondering about such a solution but wasn't sure if there would be distortions. But it's worth a try, working under magnifiers is one of those things that seem very disorienting at first, but becomes second nature after a while. 

 

 

Thanks Neal, well you could do a bit of out-of period running on your layout, I would love to see a special 1904 Regatta operating sequence!

 

If you have a free evening you could add a quick little diorama showing the scene below 😁

 

Caption: Henley Regatta, Henley-on-Thames,1890s. Source: Wikipedia Commons

 

 

 

That looks very chaotic.

Excellent characters @Mikkel although I am also not sure my Henley-on-Thames platforms will ever be that busy. 😎
 

I think the Henley photo was from the Regatta shortly after the canopy was built in 1904.

Morning Phil 

Very interesting blog.

After the recent software changes, the images are missing on this blog, any chance of adding them back in?

Thanks.

On 29/03/2019 at 14:22, 47137 said:

Thank you for a most helpful blog post.

 

I have a studio camera with movements. It's one of those things I wanted for many years, and then realised its limitations as soon as I started with it - mainly its bulk and its appetite for roll film. Anyway, I did apply it to model trains some years ago and here is an example of controlling DoF with movements. The lens is turned somewhat to the left, and also titled vertically to keep the vertical things upright. This photo is scanned from a negative but no subsequent editing. Can we can produce this sort of effect with focus stacking? That is, setting the area of focus diagonally across the depth of the subject. If so please do post up the details.

Can you add yours back in Mr 47137.

thanks.

On 27/09/2021 at 09:08, Mikkel said:

 

Thanks again Neal. Out if interest, what went wrong with the varnish on the Red Oxide wagon? I had been thinking of trying something similar.

As promised here is the photo. The black wagon on the right is the POW sides kit, the wagon on the left is the transfer only.

Although I can tell the transfer has given way, I doubt any casual observer would know. It just looks distressed / tatty / woe begone!

I have added a general layer of dirt to “enhance “ the used look!

Thanks again for the inspiration @Mikkel that sorts out what to do with the un cobbled stretches of my yard.

As ever, your blog entries have the answer to all of our layout quandries.

Thanks again.

11 minutes ago, Mikkel said:

 

Thanks again Neal. Out if interest, what went wrong with the varnish on the Red Oxide wagon? I had been thinking of trying something similar.

I think it was simply it didn’t like the varnish brushed on. It then started to craze. Spraying varnish is clearly the answer!

I will add a photo next week when we are back from holiday.

2 minutes ago, Mikkel said:

 

Thank you Dave, your own builds were a great inspiration - as always. I did try what you describe, matt varnish to hold the transfers in place, and then light work with a fibre glass brush. But the brush seemed to tear the edges of the letters in an unsightly manner. Perhaps I need to try again, and to be more courageous.

 

 

 

Many thanks Dave. Have a go, it felt worthwhile to me, turns the wagon into your own. That said, the interior detailing probably took 3 times as long as building up the wagons. Some might see that as defeating the purpose of the pre-painted and -lettered Powsides range, which I suppose is to get something up and running quickly.

 

 

 

They would fit right in I think! It took me a little getting used to though: After years of seeing only the functional liveries of the railway companies on my layouts, these bright and big-lettered wagons seemed a bit out of place at first. I'm hooked now though.

 

I’ve got two Holtons wagons from POW. One was a kit in Black, the other I bought only the transfers and put them onto a Red Oxide painted wagon. I made the mistake of trying to hand paint varnish over the top….. it’s now a distressed wagon!

I’ve just been looking on the website at some of the Reading based coal merchants, there are some more possibilities for me there…. Particularly Toomer whose office is at the end of the turntable at Henley.

I also had a look at one of your scratch built horse drawn delivery vans. Amazing work.

The wagons look great, clearly I shall need to add some at Henley on Thames.

This looks like a great kit, to have it positioned in a shed scene, will dominate everything. Henley doesn’t have such a large structure and I don’t think at this stage I will change it to do my take on Reading or Didcot!

Great kit, thanks for sharing.

Thanks for that, looks like a productive session getting all of those done. Thanks for sharing.

What is the third carriage up from the bottom please? I can’t recall a carriage with doors in the middle in the Centenary stock.

Thanks, Neal.

I was given a present of meal for two in their Saturday evening dining service for the Summer. Been a few years since we were at the GCR, looking forward to it...

Looks great, thanks for sharing.

I will see if i can get some close up shots of the bogies and post on here....

Thanks for the comments

I used a Howes decoder and speaker for my Heljan Western, very easy to do, I wouldn't bother with a fitting service (personally). I also have a Bachmann sound fitted 47 which is fine. All depends on your preference - like so much of DCC! - good luck!

This also sounds interesting. I have long been fascinated with the GWR railcars and also like the idea of having a go at the twin. But the idea of all the kit bashing certainly puts me off!

Has Chris Leigh covered this in an early edition of Model Rail? I am sure I've seen something in a magazine and didn't see MRJ that far back.

The Worsley works option sounds interesting: http://www.worsleyworks.co.uk/4mm/4mm_GWR.htm presumably you would still need a Lima / Hornby donor body?

Regards,

Lovely looking coach, must try some more Comet kits.

Thanks for sharing the 'photo.

I have started building the Corner Shop set, so am very interested in these 'photos. The instructions are good, but your 'photos certainly add to it!

Strangely fireplaces and clocks are extra to the basic kit. Somewhere I recall Model Rail, gave away some Scalescenes interiers, need to find them!