Mikkel

I've been exploring some of the smaller and lesser known 4mm whitemetal figure ranges recently. Here's a handful of photos showing a selection of some of them. These are cruel close-ups, but if we're concerned about the details of our stock, shouldn't we be equally concerned about whether the figures look right? Above: This group of horse shunters are from the Geoff Stevens range, which features sets of railway staff that can be used together in little cameos. As evident from the header photo, some of the figures in this range have well sculpted faces. Very often, I think, it is the face that makes or breaks a 4mm figure. Above: No, not a fight but a sheeting gang, also from Geoff Stevens. I am not normally attracted to figures that are frozen in mid-motion, and cameos like these can very easily become a cliché. However I couldn't resist the two sets pictured here, which fit well with a concept I have in mind for a future third layout in the Farthing series. Above: These figures are from Model Railway Developments (MRD). I've been wanting to have a closer look at these for some time, as the range is focussed on my own Edwardian period. Above: Two further MRD figures. This range demonstrates how whitemetal figures can vary considerably in quality and detail within the same range. The little girl seen here is very good, but I don't think she takes after her mother :-) Above: The same figure seen from two different sides. Quite often, I find, a figure can look unrealistic from one side but quite good from another. I wonder if this has something to do with the original sculpting process? In any case, careful positioning can sometimes bring out the good side in a figure. Above: This loco crew is from the small Alan Gibson range. Figures in the range seem to have a 1900s-1920s look and feel. The loco crew is made for L/H drive, which is a pity for GWR modellers. But I suppose non-GWR modellers deserve decent figures too ;-) Above: Two porters, also from Alan Gibson. I might change the pose of these, but the faces have a certain character! Captions, anyone? Above: A line-up of station staff from the above ranges, plus a figure from the better known Monty's range from Dart Castings. Above: Clearly there's a dinner party nearby! Another comparison here, with a couple from the large Langley range thrown in. Above: A group of Monty's figures. While there are individual useful figures in all of the above ranges, they don't trump the Monty's range, which in my view wins hands down every time. They have the right bulk, relaxed poses and the faces are usually good.

Ah yes, looking very good indeed. In fact, it might even work without the station building (no, really). I forget: those letters in the text, what are they made from?

Nice Buffalo on the way there, looks like a neat build. Look forward to seeing it painted. PS: You may be interested in Nick's blog here: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/87-buffalos-workbench/

Hi Peter, no not all my own work (see comment above) - bit of a mix of my own and s/h stock. But I try to give them a degree of consistency by repainting etc. I'm off to your blog to see how things are going on the Brazilian balcony :-)

Hi David, I'm afraid I can't help, but can I suggest you post this question in the forum section instead? That's usually a more fruitful place to post short specific questions like this: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/forum/25-modelling-questions-help-and-tips/ Got any photos of your line? It would be great to see them here on your blog.

Personally, I think the hoods add further to the look and feel. Plus, they would be obvious by their absence.

That's an unusual workshop, and probably a slightly unusual place to be modelling UK steam :-) Look forward to seeing some of your modelling progress.

That is very, very good. Pendon comes to mind - or a victory on Tourmalet :-)

Hmmm, I do hope this diesel thing isn't growing on you, Chris! :-) Seriously though, that actually looks quite nice! Hope you'll post a photo of the 0-4-4 chassis when it arrives, it'll no doubt be an interesting project to follow.

That looks very neat Ian. I really like the test vehicle, it almost looks alive :-) Are you planning to show us the video?

Lovely work Will, the second shot really shows off how well your idea works. To get such a sight on a micro is a rare treat. Agree about the table cloth disturbing things a bit though :-) I am not a great fan of painted backscenes, but your solution is really interesting and effective - perhaps because unlike other painted backscenes it does not pretend to show anything specific, and so there are no improper perspectives etc.

Thanks, that's really appreciated as I've been in two minds on how light the deck should be. One confusing fact is that it looks lighter when viewed from eye-level height, than from above! But in any case I agree, it should be lighter than it is now - and the bottom of the walls should be weathered a little more, to bring the two tones together, I think. Currently laying the track (finally!).

OOh nice! As always, your mock-ups are superb Pete. Not to mention the actual modelling that follows. It really is neat, so don't loose that part of your nickname. As for bay platforms, it would be fun to have challenge centered on those at some point. I've got a ton of them I'd like to build. They lend themselves so well to small layouts.

Great pictorial demo, thanks for taking the time to document it. I really like how it looks weathered by time, but not actually poorly maintained.

Very nice indeed James. You prove very convincingly here that garden railways can be about realism too, and not just large-scale toy trains as some accuse them of being. The last shot is particularly convincing, I think - perhaps because of the way the chunkiness of the stock and building mix in with the detail/delicacy of the natural background. I also really like the composition of the shots - especially the first one.

Looks good, I especially like the second, inside view. I didn't realize Kingsbridge had a purpose-built carriage shed for B-sets. Hope you are happy with the new kitchen :-)

Hi Chris, I'm still not quite there in terms of getting the decks blended in well, but am working on it! It's very satisfying to use real wood as a representation of wood, I think. But I'm also finding it needs careful work to blend in with the other materials. Otherwise there's a risk that it clashes with the texture of plastic parts, with the result that the eye suddenly realizes that everything else is made of plastic - if you know what I mean.

This is looking very good Frank. The trestle and trackwork has a great look to it, and I really like the natural and very realistic "flow" of the river beneath it. Looking forward to the next update!

That's a very interesting solution, Ian. I like the idea that the train leaves on one level and arrives on another, even if a bit of help is required. Not sure I understand how you will access the operating well. Is Upton Dene the level that you duck-under? If so, would it not be easier to have that level open on one side, and the upper level closed? Probably just me not getting the point!

Don, you may well be right about the teak. This Bluebell coach certainly shows a reddish tinge to varnished Mansell wheels: http://www.bluebell-..._news/1520.html. But I wouldn't personally choose red to emulate that. Looks like my wheels are in for a repaint. Serves me right for not checking up on the sources! Geoff, yes please, I am sure a backdating of Penhydd would be quite popular :-) And thanks very much, it would be interesting to see if your "Bible" has anything to say about goods brakes. The 3232 was one of only two models I’ve ever had professionally built – and not with very good results. I think the builder underestimated the complexity of the (Finney) kit. But after much back and forth and a lengthy period where it was stationary, I managed to get it back to working order. I should perhaps emphasize that while I prefer building my own stock these days, some of what is shown here is second hand and has therefore originally been built by others. Over the years I've developed a liking for restoring and repainting second-hand stock - partly because I am not very good at building in etched brass, and partly because I like the idea of bringing together used stock from other people's railways. It is also very satisfying to take an old worn model and restore it to former glory! By way of example, here's a shot of Colin's U16 when it was in the process of restoration. Work included new stepboards, brakes, springs, droplights etc, and blanking out the two center windows (which did not have droplights, contrary to what Russel's drawing shows), as well as new glazing, and a repaint. Chris, perhaps on the mainlines the GWR were more standardized, but I don't know?

Don, couldn't agree more! I see you've got some lovely 7mm panelled stock, any chance we can see some more photos of it at some point? Richard, for a long time I've had this mental note in my head: "Must get around to painting the Mansell wheels red". So recently I've started doing that, but haven't done all the stock yet which is why some are red and some are not. But seeing your query this morning led me to search frantically through my books to find a reference for why the wheel centers should be red - and I can't find any! All I can find is Michael Harris' book ("Great Western coaches from 1890") where on p. 33 he states about 1890s to early 1900s livery "If a vehicle was fitted with Mansell wheels the wheel-centres may have been varnished natural wood when new." But that's not red. The thing is, some other models I've seen have the red wheel centers (eg http://www.gwr.org.uk/galikb1.html and http://www.gwr.org.uk/galwalley.html ) but that doesn't prove anything. By 1903 window bolections and droplights were changed from varnished wood to the Venetian Red (see also Harris). Could the same change have happened to wheel centers? There must be some reference to this that I've forgotten about. Anyone? Ian, glad to hear there will be non-standard trains on Upton Dene :-). I agree that's it a paradox how an organisation so known for standardisation had such non-standard trains. But I suppose it's part of the same logic really, ie being practical and economical about things. Interesting idea that the Toad could simply be a stores van (if that's what you mean). That would actually make a lot of sense!

That roof structure looks fantastic. It must have been quite a job to complete it! It's all promising to become quite a scene - very impressive, I think.

Thanks all :-) Nick, I haven't been able to identify the reason for the toad used in the Presteign branch train. There are two photos in the Judge book, one dated 1906 and the other 1910, with different loco classes and 4-wheeler diagrams, but both showing this arrangement. I understand that the set was shared with the Eardisely branch, so maybe there was some sort of arrangement in connection to this which called for a goods brake? In the case of Farthing, I was thinking it could take the role of a freight train returning empty carriages. That does require a reason for the carriages to be returned in the first place, but the race course near Farthing just might have something to do with that... Thanks for the info on the steel sheeting. I had looked in Atkins et al but couldn't find anything under the AA3s. Not to worry, this is the perfect excuse to build that D&S kit in the drawer :-)