Chris Chewter

I used a company called Cut Laser Cut for my Tetbury project: http://www.cutlasercut.com I did as much of the design work as possible in line with their online guidance and followed their layering principals for workign with AutoCAD files. They did advise a few changes which they made, so they have the ability to undertake design, and can advise on costs. Once approved, they sent it to their machines. I ended up with basically a kit being delivered by their courier.

There are a few versions modelled. I'm aware of one I think in Australia, The other is here: But you are correct that no-one on RMWeb has modelled it as far as I'm aware! To me Princetown is a lovely branch, but then I remember walking it as a teenager imagining lonely praries hauling their single coach trains up onto the bleak moor. If you are actually thinking of modelling Princetown, there are some beautiful photographs available on this website which is well worth a look: https://oldprincetown.weebly.com/princetown-railway.html The buildings are also generally available as laser cut kits. Timbertracks did them, but they are not available any more, however Rail Model do the engine shed and goods shed. https://railmodel.co.uk/search?type=product&q=princetown I'd also get Paul Karaus book Great western branch Line Termini Volume Two which has the station drawn up in it, I think the thing that put me off was the use of the 44xx prairies. A very particular class of loco which is not available in ready to run, so it depends whether you're happy to run a Bachmann small prairie instead or model one yourself, assuming you work in 4mm. Also, the turntable is miniscule, so will need a bit of modelling there! Hopefully the fact that someone has modelled it before dosn't put you off. Would be good to see someone on RMWeb attempt this one!

Pretty much done. I might do a bit of touch up around the edge and perhaps another coat of Matt varnish on the path, but it’s pretty much fine fettling now. Just need to sort out the submission photos. Ive made dioramas before, but for me this one has by far been the most enjoyable to make, and I hope you’ve enjoyed the journey too.

That looks better. It was the untidy gaps below the paving that was drawing my eye. I’ll let that dry before painting the edges brown or black, Matt varnish the slabs and add a few people. I think I’m nearly there!

I think looking at the diorama in the daylight, the main issue is the gaps. Let’s get them filled. The leaves I don’t think look too bad and represent the grot that must collect around them, but if the consensus is it looks weird, let me know. (Agreed that a bit of Matt varnish on the paving could also help)

Good point about the leaves. Perhaps I’ll peel them off and add a bit more sand. There is something that isn’t quite right in the photo. It’s either the lack of people or the gap under the paving. I think I’ll make a few adjustments tonight and see how it looks.

With a bit of time left before I turn in, I thought I’d stick down the huts. They looked a bit too clean so I added a bit of leaf litter. I thought suggesting that my two railway items was a strip of rail was a bit tenuous, so I added a speed restriction sign for the sake of the competition.

E-Z line threaded into the fence posts. When I did my main layout, I twisted the line around the intermediate poles. This time I threaded them properly. Because the line has a mind of its own, I was looking around for something to do the job, and my eyes fell on the family sewing kit. Each line has been threaded with a needle! This is the stuff that will make the air turn blue. But the needle technique made it slightly easier. I hope that was worth it. If not it’s only half an hours worth of work so no biggy really. Shame they’ll be hidden by a load of beach huts.

Last job for the evening. Fenceposts. Looks like tomorrow I’ll be getting myself in a tangle with the E-Z line.

The track also looks far too clean. Sleepers are weathered with Woodland Scenics ‘weathered tie’ and rail sides with Woodland Scenics ‘steel rail’. The ballast is toned down with diluted black humbrol 33.

Trying to get the grass right tonight has been a pain. Currently things are too hairy and it needs a chop. A pair of hair clippers is used to cut it back, but on its own it looks a bit patchy: So out with the static grass and a quick spray with spray glue, and we now have this: The white patch has now faded... thankfully!

One thing I wanted to do was fill the joins between the sheets of paving slabs, so using some warhammer green putty, I’ve done just that. However I decided that if I was careful, I could also apply the ballast. Well if that worked, why not the grass? Without any PVA, I applied some tacky glue and stuck down some left over hanging basket liner from my Tetbury project. Now we’re getting somewhere! Now to let it cure overnight so the ballast and grass can be tidied up tomorrow!

I’ve cut the paving slabs this afternoon and glued down the track. I also decided that whilst curing, the sand is far enough away so that I might as well get that setting as well.

Checked on the diorama this morning. ModRoc set and trimmed back. I also took the opportunity to check it still fits in the box! The undercoat has been painted on and left to dry this morning. Unlike my layout, I’ve used Raw Umber acrylic. Below the sand I thought raw umber would be too dark, so I’ve purchased a sandy coloured undercoat called Iced Latte. Now to let that dry over the morning.

In the boredom watching Strictly, I was studying the photos and wasn’t satisfied with the almost 45 degrees angle of the track work at the back of the diorama. Now is the time to do something about it before that ModRoc sets! Embankment recut and trialled: That looks much better! An aerial view so you can see what I’ve changed: Now to let this version set!

Looking at the birds eye view, I think the embankment should have been moved back even more so there isn’t a flat section at the back, but it’s probably only a little thing. Hopefully a bush there will soften it.

Now the beach huts have been completed (other than a bit of tidying up) let’s get on with the scenics. First a test run to see what it looks like; I think the Punch and Judy booth needs to be parallel with the path. The track has been pushed back to give a bit more beach in the foreground. You’ll notice I’m using paving slabs for the path, that’s because it looks nicer than the tarmac that’s presently at Goodrington. I’m happy with that, time to lay some ModRoc: Now to let it set overnight to hopefully paint some base coats tomorrow. I’ve now got to tolerate Strictly on Telly. Save me!

Two coats of white acrylic paint, plus two coats of colour on the doors and barge boards. The kits come with a bitumen effect roof covering to glue on. Just waiting for the paint to dry before I affix them.

I’ve carefully trimmed off the excess timber where the sheds slot together. Roofs have also been glued and barge boards applied. I’ve left off the finials as they seemed a bit big to me. Just waiting for the glue to cure before getting started with the painting.

I couldn’t resist. I thought I ought to at least glue the walls together to cure overnight. I’ll tidy the walls and get the roofs on tomorrow.

Just clipped one of the huts together before I turn in for the night. Certainly the right proportions but they do need a tidy up first!

The shed kits have arrived. However after a three hour drive from Bracknell, I think I’ll leave the glue for tomorrow!

Still no beach huts tonight, so I spent the evening doing a bit of tidying up of the Punch and Judy booth. Whilst the booths I’ve seen principally have a red proscenium, I found a photo of the Langley kit painted in gold which I think makes it a bit more eye catching!

Evening spent painting up the Punch and Judy booth. I’ve ran out of white so looks like a trip past a model shop is now required. First time painting in acrylics which has proven to be interesting. Certainly more coats required than when using enamels but enjoying the fast drying and easy clean up! Also, one of the figures seemed to be missing her bikini top, but fear not as she has now been fitted into a swimming costume better suited to our mild climate!

Thanks Tom, but I’ve also got to think about where the diorama shall live after the competition, so I need something fairly robust. The first bits have arrived. Trying to find a set of children at the beach is a pain so I’ve purchased a Presier set. Why children? Because the other item is this: Whenever I go on a seaside holiday, my kids love the slapstick comedy of Punch and Judy. It’ll also give the diorama a bit more eye catching colour! Let’s get busy with the paint! Still no sheds...