4109

Love comes around - The Stone Roses

Back in black - AC/DC

Called in recently for the first time. I was visiting the city with my fiance' and had parked nearby only to encounter the shop along the road quite by chance (oh yeah!).  

Extremely impressed with the stock of various paint brands and metal sections, I came away with a sizable haul. Friendly, helpful staff and great customer service. Only 30 miles from home so visits to enjoy the splendors of Hereford will be more frequent in future.  Well worth the visit. 

So very sorry to learn of Owen's sudden passing. 

The show circuit won't be the same now. We were always bumping into him and John at shows they were either exhibiting at or helping to run. 

The socializing afterwards was particularly good especially at either York or the Rhondda back in the day, great memories.......... 

He was always trying to persuade me to switch to 7mm, never quite succeeded but darned close!

Raised a glass to him last night.... thanks for the good times, now rest in peace.

Sincere condolences to John and their family.

Apologies for the lack of any updates but I'm pleased to report this is not due to a lack of progress; far from it as you'll see in the photo. Since taking this picture I have improved a few of the trees.

The progress has not been down to lockdown (work has been manic over the last 6 months) but the fact that I very wisely took semi-retirement in January so lots more modelling time!

Man on the silver mountain - Rainbow

On 01/07/2020 at 18:31, NCB said:

Bob, how did you form the very smooth corners to the backscene?

 

cheers, Nigel

Sorry Nigel,

Haven't logged in for a while. Easy, just got some triangular wooden section and glued it in place in the corner.  I always glue watercolour paper to the backscene boards first as it allows for any minor surface imperfections and allows a smooth consistant flow in the corners.

Bob.

Antics online service is first rate and used it a few times during lockdown. Did one click and collect from the warehouse too and worked a treat. Very impressed.

Is anyone still experiencing difficulties with orders?  

Over a month now and no response to e:mails.  Even allowing for the circumstances given previously I thought I'd have heard by now.

If it's not in stock why does the website not say so?  Have found numerous traders doing this and it's really annoying.

My first serious attempt at making a 3mm scale layout was Foxbury which debuted on the exhibition circuit back in 1996 at the first Camrail.

It was exhibited many times over the next 10 years including York and Warley. It was retired and consigned to the attic when it's successor Dunkton Combe was finished. 

Eventually Foxbury was consigned to the local tip (once stripped of buildings etc!)  

Having sold my last layout Chipping Compton and moved house, a railway room was available. Once set up I set about making numerous new buildings for the next project. Some of these can be seen here on the separate RM Web thread "What's on your 3mm workbench". 

I was initially going to name this one "Totleigh in the Wold" after the Jeeves and Wooster novels by P G Wodehouse but for purely sentimental reasons have reused the name of Foxbury.

Although ok at carpentry I opted to buy laser-cut ply boards and after seeing their stand at the last Stafford Exhibition I ordered a couple from Grainge & Hodder and would certainly recommend them (no connection, just a very satisfied customer).

 I added backscene boards and fascia from good quality ply and MDF.

The whole board surface was covered in cork sheet and the track laid. I use 3mm society 12mm gauge flexitrack bases and code 80 flat-bottom rail. The point work was made to order by fellow 3mm Society member Hugh Martin. Whilst I'm comfortable with soldering etched kits etc I certainly couldn't come anywhere Hugh's standards when it comes to building turnouts. With the trackwork painted (a horrible job) I added the backscene, firstly adding a blank one from stout watercolour paper as can be seen in the photo. This not only absorbs any minor imperfections in the surface of the backscene boards but I've found it creates an even better bond for the backscene itself.  In the end I opted for the village scene on the ID backscenes range (ref N203 the N Gauge version). 

You'll see from the photo below that I have opted to operate from the front. Operating at home I will be able to view the layout properly and at exhibitions I will stand in front of the fiddle yard (with a stick for straying fingers?)  It'll be better to speak to the viewing public in my view anyway.

On my last 2 layouts I have used cassettes in the fiddle yard but I am reverting to a sector plate on this one. 

Here is the backscene in place. I definitely recommend using "View Glue" from Deluxe materials as an adhesive for your backscene. Much less mess than wallpaper adhesive and well worth the modest price.   

This afternoon I'm ballasting (another chore) and if it all works out ok I'll update you with a picture or two. 

Thanks Ray,

This will be an exhibition layout so it's vital it doesn't come unstuck (especially as when packed away one board will be upside down).

Since posting I've got hold of a bottle of "View Glue" from Deluxe Materials and it's made it 10 times easier, impressive stuff!

The result is that I've opted to use the conventional backscene rather than the self-adhesive ones. 

Many thanks 

Bob

Has anybody used the self-adhesive backscenes from ID Backscenes?

I've just ruined a conventional "paste up" one from the same source and the scene fitted my needs perfectly.

I was wondering just how sticky the self adhesive ones are and do they stay put?

Thanks,

Bob

As several others have mentioned, Max Williams in Bristol was a true Alladin's cave. It was still open (but only just) in 1990 as I was frequently in the area for work and I recall finding several sought-after books which were out of print.

What prompted me to comment was a discovery in my electronics box today searching for something for the new layout!

Some more from Camrail over the years.  John Greenwood's beautiful Wenford Bridge.

2008 included Simon's Pompoules Siding 

Weston on the WC&P

Iain Rice's North Cornwall stock

Gerry Beale's Maiden Newton appeared at Larkrail

As did a Bristol Lodekka!

The late John Spencer's signal box 

Above are my layout "Chipping Compton" and the late Bob Barlow's incredible Welsh Quayside. 

It's a great shame it's not happening this year but of course it's the right decision. To me it's by far the most enjoyable exhibition/gathering/social on the modelling calendar and I've enjoyed each one right back from the first held in the station building at Limpley Stoke in (I think) 1996.

So here are a few photos from my collection in no particular order......

Camrail in 2009 and whilst I can't include all the layouts present I make no apology for including 3 shots of John Birkett-Smith's wonderful Ashburton.  

I've no notes but I believe this is Horselunges.

Steve Cook's atmospheric diorama (is that Simon's Ruston?).

And the man himself...

More to follow.....

Thanks for the info Alex.

11 hours ago, PaulRhB said:

I hope the sofa is going   It’ll be a bit weird for Larkrail not to keep wandering from shop to show and back, it felt like another room of the show! You’ll have to bring the sofa and stand to the hall and turn the cafe area into the Thunderbolt   

..and biscuits, don't forget the biscuits!

Somehow I've not stumbled across your thread before but I'm seriously impressed, especially with your structures. The unusually shaped station building has always intrigued me and you've got it just right. By the way; I'm intrigued by one picture you included back in January. It showed your buildings with an open book behind. It had a couple of views of the branch. Which book is it please?

Bob 

Thanks very much 4069, much appreciated. Thanks also for the link to the present-day view too. 

Bob

I bought this photo on a whim off ebay a couple of days ago. Does anybody have any ideas as to location please? Quite an interesting little scene really.

Most likely BR(WR) as per the seller's description.

I've not received the actual photo yet hence posting the ebay image.

Bob

After much searching I have found some earlier photos of Minsterley.

These show the layout in it's original form as a terminus.

Excuse the quality as they were taken by me way back in 1979 as a mere lad of 16.

Some of them were taken at the Dean Forest Railway when the layout was set up for the weekend in the original platform building which came from Drybrook Road. We were rewarded with a short cab ride on Uskmouth No.1. The running line was rather short as the railway had not escaped beyond the Norchard site then but it was certainly enjoyed and appreciated.

Mullion was featured in Model Railway Constructor. I think it was the penultinate edition of that fine magazine. Although I operated Mullion with Peter on many occasions I have no photos of my own.

The layout was extended late in it's exhibition life by adding a short section portraying a disused extension used to house a camping coach.

Bob.

5 hours ago, Robert Shrives said:

4109, That looks really good and gives me hope as I too have a flatpack! - unless you fancy making it ?  

Thanks Robert but I'd rather not see one of these kits again....didn't do much for my sanity