RThompson

Now comes to adding the grass. My diorama is based on a real location Rhiwbach, near Bleanau Ffestiniog that I visited in 2022 when I was working in the area, dressed in smart white shirt and smart trousers after work driving the rail replacement bus in connection with the rebuilding of Barmouth bridge, so I stood out a bit as well as one of my red London double decker buses being parked up in the Ffestiniog railways Minffordd yard! So I got my inspiration and reference material to go off and being there in person, get a real feel for the location. Note there is only 1 tree in the whole location and no animals from being so high up. Now time to start flocking the diorama, peco basing glue was used to stick the grass, static grass fibres being a mix of different colours, lengths and makes from Greenscenes, Woodland scenics and Peco. The static grass applicator I chose to use was from Greenscenes, just before Squires took over. A mix of colours and 2mm to 4mm lengths was used to try and not make it uniform. A additional layer was added in places but still more work required.

So now I turn to adding rock formations. These was cast with plaster of paris in Woodland scenics rock moulds as trying to sculpt them by hand convincingly I've found quite difficult in the past. They came out really well and was glued into place with woodglue and once set, the different pieces blended with plaster of paris. The whole layout was brushed minus the rock outcrops in brown acrylic paint which dried far too dark for my liking and the centre of the lake black. Track was laid next with track pins to secure it. Ballast was brushed on and then sprayed with Isopropyl which I've never used before, but found it made balasting so much easier and when carefully dropping diluted wood glue onto the ballast, the ballast didn't move or group together as used to happen in the past so Isopropyl is a new favourite medium to work with. The rock outcrops was then painted in a dark shade of grey then dry brushed with a lighter shade.

It's actually almost finished, more parts to come.

Hello everyone, Over the last month I have been on and off making a small diorama based on some real locations I've explored and to test my ideas and techniques before embarking on my full size layout in the new year. For the diorama, I used for the first time styrofoam which was quite easy to work and having 2 sheets glued together with the lake cut out on the top sheet has provided a stiffish base, not that flexing is a bad thing as again this is to test materials. The lake was lined with plaster of paris to form a insulating barrier against the resin due to the heat when curing could melt the styrofoam. The sides of the embankment was filled with wet newspaper then modroc / plaster bandages.

The loco couplings are on the locomotive detailing parts, but yes really they should be on in addition or instead on the coupling page which makes sense. I think Mulberry works has a build thread on the De Winton somewhere, either another forum or facebook.

Hello everyone, Just to let you know the website has managed to be recovered and uploaded on the laptop although some elements are missing but overall it's working with some items added and price increases. Overall though, when you use it, are you happy with it and able to navigate it easily or is it worth me altering it? Personally I think it's made as simple as possible with easy menus for each scale / gauge and categories as I can make it?

Hello everyone, Just to keep you all updated as I haven't had the chance to look at fixing the computer or see if I can do a new website elseshere, that almost everything is in stock bar in 4mm scale bar the LT Hurst Nelson brakevans and skinningrove flat wagons. There is x6 4mm scale 00/EM/P4 Ironstone dumpcar kits left in stock now. Thank you to those who have waited so long for these and don't go too crazy building them. There is 5x 7mm scale 0 gauge Hudson tipper wagon kits left in stock, once these are sold they will only be made to special order and no longer be a stock item as will certain kits over time. I have caught up with all orders bar 2 as awaiting castings so around to pack and post any up to christmas. There is a few new items that haven't been added such as rmm scale, 009 gauge Penrhyn quarry railway couplings that now fit over NEM pockets and 5.1mm curly spoke wheels that I've had manufactured to go with my 009 gauge kits plus will be available separately.

As the one who did the patterns for the RT Models dinorwic slate wagons, the wagons are overall bigger due to using the standard N/009 gauge wheels with their axles. The problem is if the wagons was widened, they would look odd. I am not the only manufacturer guilty of this within constrants of what is available to use at the time. Some wagons in the RT Models dinorwic range of wagons like the Car cyrn, etched rubbish and end tipping wagons are true to scale with thanks to inside bearings and the end tipping wagon being the right width. The wagons will now come with curly spoked wheels like before having comissioned some to be manufactured for me.

You can still place orders on the website, I just can't change anything on it atm. Or a cheque can be posted.

Hello everyone, It has been quite a while since I have replied to this. There is nothing new produced. At the moment I am still producing the instructions for the 4mm scale Ironstone dump car as there is a lot to produce. Also I am not able to update the website as my computer has given up so cannot do stock updates etc. At the moment the 4mm scale Sentinel BE 100HP loco kit is out of stock. If I cannot get the computer fixed, then I might just pull the website down after christmas and see where I go from there. I have also decided to withdraw some items over time when moulds wear out and hardly sell which also helps to streamline the business for me. At the moment til early december, I will only have one day free each week to pack orders due to work commitments so will be further delays with orders than there normally is.

Good evening Tony, Thought I would share my latest creation which was kit bashed over a period of many years. A 4mm scale, 00 gauge LBSCR E4X. No kit available for the prototypes but believe a resin body kit may have been available (or just proposed) from Deans Sidings. The model was created from a Weald models/ Rodney Steyning E4 whitemetal kit with etched chassis with a Nucast C2X boiler and fittings The real locos carried these larger than the smaller originally built boilers and mostly based in South London. The E6X locos looked even odder having such tiny driving wheels under the massive boiler! The engineers brake van is built from a Cambrian plastic kit and hand lettered with ink and a calligraphy pen as I find it easier and quicker plus not all wagons had neat lettering or a standard font.

Thank you Andy, you are not wrong about the complexity of them, hence many test etches over the years to get it right. The photo is of an unbuilt etch missing a couple of bits as I took the wrong one with me as I ran out of the house this morning to work.

Whilst it seems an eternity in designing, developing and ordering, the 4mm scale 00/EM/P4 Ironstone dumpcars have finally arrived! Whilst all the hardware such as etches, spring castings, wheels and bearings are in stock, I still need to design and write the instructions. I have taken with me a etch and some paper to make a start as I'm working away on standby this weekend as long as I don't get called out, so hopefully not too long. I have got to also catch up with outstanding orders when I return, just been so busy with work all over the UK so haven't been around much recently. Thank you to those who have been patient with me and with any delays which I don't usually have control of.

I like the finish of the P2, I think most rtr now just looks too matt a finish now when locos rarely was when clean or clean ish.

Hello Tony, These 2 examples are probably my most extreme of weathering I've done so far (although I will one day do a rebuilt merchant navy that is more dark grey than green with nameplates missing etc) Both 4mm scale, 00 gauge. The 97xx pannier tank is kit bashed from a mix of K's body kit and Bachmann RTR. The J50 is from a DJH kit. Both locos brush painted and weathered as such which in these cases with the Humbrol washes they now do and some dry brushing. I think both look right for the condition of the locos working in, i.e. travelling through the London Underground tunnels on cross London goods workings.

Hello everyone, The 4mm scale 00/EM/P4 ironstone dumpcar wagon kit is now available to pre order as the etch has been approved. These will retail at £16.00 excluding wheels. If you are interested in ordering any, please email me at info @ rtmodels.co.uk With how many you want and if you want universal profile 00 gauge wheels as I've had a batch made and here already.

Also a new release in 4mm scale, 009 gauge is resin slate loads to fit into my own Dinorwic slate wagon kits which have been around for many years, perfect to run behind the new Bachmann Quarry Hunslet just released. There is more new products to come out over the next few months and will announce these once they arrive and approved.

Happy 2023 everyone from RT Models. Years in the designing and various test builds, a very accurate and working Ironstone dumpcar in 4mm scale, 00/EM/P4. One more etch to check as the faults have been corrected then ready for release by the summer at the latest. Www.rtmodels.co.uk

Hello Dave, Yes they actually tip and the door opens as it should, although the actually etched rigging will be fiddly to use as per the real wagons. Revised etches should be submitted later in the week.

Hello everyone, Just a update on orders. By the end of the week I should have everyones orders finally posted including any that involve the 009 Gauge Resin keeperplates. The mould which I made a few weeks ago had a serious fault so some new silicone has been ordered and is apparently arriving today but got to go to fetch a bus now that I left in Minffordd from its 5 weeks of rail replacement up there (didn't have the hours to drive it back when finished). So when I get back later (if I dont get called out to work) I will make a start on the new mould as well as packing more orders. So in the next few weeks I should be free to pack orders quickly and use the time to sort out various test etch drawings for resubmission before I go away working again. Thank you for being patient with me.

Apparently 3SMR has the old BEC kits range of TT kits from a quick research. The old 00 gauge tram kits and bogies are still available from a seperate firm who has the BEC Kits name. Off the record, BEC models used to be my local model shop. How I miss that shop!

I am a little surprised the range hasn't tried to go for more of a nod to the original TT by adding a GWR castle and SR Merchant Navy which are both in the 00 range with modern CAD artwork available already to use as a basis. Obviously there is time! I wonder if the old BEC kits may get duplicated also in TT 1:120 rtr at some point?

And of course bullhead track is still in use today on Network rail and even being reused on recycled plastic sleepers so is still relevent now.

Hello everyone, At the moment RT Models is closed to allow me to catch up with existing orders as I have fallen well behind on them and over the next few months with my current work will have an impact in general. I have left the website open rather than a full shut down like a few years ago but any orders placed be severely delayed at the moment. I am sorry for the delay with current orders, I am very much in huge demand with my normal work rescuing passengers when things go wrong on the railways.

Hello Everyone, Sorry for being quiet on here as I have been busy with orders and work. I am at the moment trying to get through existing orders but having a lot less time to deal with them so I'm being a lot slower than usual which I apologise for. I'm hoping to get a chance this week after today to blitz orders but we will see as things change last minute. As a side note about the 4mm scale, 009 narrow gauge loco body kits. The Drewry diesel series of locos will fit the new coreless motor/dcc ready N gauge 08 diesel chassis which just needs the kits footplates filing inside slightly to allow the circuit board to clear and would also allow sound! I haven't had a chance to check, however as far as im aware, the new chassis will also fit the steam loco kits but will require the circuit board removing. The replacement footplate I'm not sure if it will fit as I haven't had a chance to try. It may require a new design. One thing you do have to be careful with the new 08 chassis is the wheels now run in brass bearings so have to be careful when taking the wheels out.