KNP

Looking good with sweeping curves looping off into the distance to yonder areas. Talking of soaps will you be running any coal tar wagons?

Agreed and many of their products appear all over the layout but the quantity I needed, about 17 strips made buying them in the UK rather expensive. With the demise of International Models we lost a very useful stockist of these items at exhibitions. I also use a wargame site www.antenocitisworkshop.com for this range as well.

Robin Scenic Express ( scenicexpress.com ) in the US (their choice is extensive just costly to get) and in the UK - New Railway Modellers ( newrailwaymodellers.co.uk ). Hope this helps. Kevin

Back on line and running again. Whilst doing a system update I lost all connection to the internet, I could click onto the web but it wouldn't stay open. Then the Dell backup didn't like Windows 10 resulting in loss of most e-mails, luckily I had already updated the backup files on the portable HDD so all folders/pictures where saved.......!!!! phew. Luckily I had done that the day before when I realised the system was developing issues so if I could pass on a simple piece of advise back up regularly or at least store files/folders on an independent HDD. Complete system clean boot and start again by reloading everything afresh which my son-in-law kindly sorted out for me. Well, whilst all this was going on over the last week work was progressing on the layout. Cathcott's Field the factory building is well underway and I have decided it will be a shoe factory. Then in the post the MiniNatur plants arrived from the States so these where done this morning to finish the area of in front of Encombe Station. The large packet came from the States and has 23 strips in it (don't ask why this odd number as the advert said 20!!!) for £19 whilst the small packet came from the UK had had 2 strips in for £4.50.....both required P&P and I got clobbered for import tax but the US one was still cheaper. I think the profile board needs a refreshing coat of paint looking at the picture....

To me, in this photo's posted, the grass looks good and unkempt with nice texture differences. Before setting fire to it!!!!! try rubbing in soil flock in isolated areas with patches of small dark crumble pieces in others. Have you gone over the top of the grass with another layer to raise the relief in places? Also over spray areas of the grass with, say, hairspray and sprinkle on some green mixed blend to add further texture differences. Trees looking good (just need a few more.....!!!! but I expect it's early days) Don't give up on this bit quite yet.......

Forever onwards, no problem no matter how great will stop the progress rather it might just delay it .....slightly. Looking good and what phase is this by the way....... One advantage of a tail chaser is that you can sit back with your 11'is and watch the trains go by, again, and again and before you know it it's tea time???? With the number of points on this one no doubt you will be doing point rodding!!!!!

Blimey, I didn't know you had to do all this preamble before building a layout these days. I sort of.....just did a plan......and started! Impressive though and gives a history to the scene which I suppose gives you an idea of what and how to build it. As I said very impressive and I'm thoroughly looking forward to following this through to completion. Good luck with the competition.

Most illuminating......! Shaping up nicely.

Whilst waiting for some glue to dry I have been playing with Serif PhotoPlus x7 and added steam to my recent picture of the 48xx. Now be honest, is it worth the effort. I have spent ages trolling though photos of this loco in steam to see where and how it would smoke. No huge cloud as at this point she would be slowly down for the station so the pressure would be off, whistle on to warn of approach and I have assumed a still day - to make things easier.

Excellent. If I may. Tidy up each tree by removing the seed pods, then I spray the Seamoss with Humbrol Dark Brown to remove the light colours, then using a firm hold hairspray apply Woodland Scenics Blended Turf T49 to the branches, I find the blended pack gives a mixed colour to the leaves. Finish with a heavy spray of the hair lacquer, let dry and plant. Hope this helps. Look forward to seeing the results. This how the following was achieved. EDIT - looking at the picture again I must point out that some of the trees are a different shade by adding other lighter or darker shades to the T49. Thought I better mention that.

Steady progress on Cathcott's Field, new buildings finished apart from superficial detailing (signs, notices, etc), existing building base module altered and located back in place. The factory area module has been separated from the main template so I can work on it easier on the work bench. Next up, main factory building and the completion of the factory module itself.

Very effective and well modelled.

At home on any layout......

This is enough to drive you around the bend.........

Didn't know you can still get that.......wouldn't think so as the glue has to soak in plus there is very little relief to it (no toilet humour please) as this is a very serious debate on toilet paper and it's modelling merit's. All untoward comments will go straight down the pan...... I'm feeling a little flushed now so back to building the factory yard for Cathcott Field

Many thanks for the responses but..... The answer is....... 30 second wait.......... A fresh piece of toilet paper direct from the roll, pulled into individual layers and glued onto the roof like glass fibre matting Once dry it sets rock hard! so mould into shape whilst still wet (talking from experience here as the first shed roof covering I couldn't bend around the edge so had to be scrapped)

Afraid not. I have used it many a time to represent flat roof coverings as the glue will soak into and set hard. Use, normally three layers. Attached shed picture is the same material. Will reveal all later (about the roof that is!!!!! before someone comments? plus the sun has gone in now...)

The wood is painted with Lifecolor weathered wood range of paints, lost count of the applications of the various shades until I got to the result I wanted. Roof - not quite.

This was a nice small project to do that whiled away a few hours. It all came about when the LMS wagon rolled off my work bench and landed on my drill box thereby breaking one of the axles off and damaging the buffer beam plus the bodywork flew off as the lugs broke. Also it didn't help that in an effort to catch it I managed to tread on it as well...I suppose if you are going to break something you might well do a good job!!!! Never one to throw anything away, it (or to be more accurate bits) was put back in it's box for another day. Well that day came when looking trough the Warwickshire Railways website and saw a grounded wagon at Shipton-on-Stour - light bulb moment. Using wooden laser cut sleepers, balsa wood and some card out of a new shirt package plus a detailed paint job this was the end result. Can anyone guess what I used for the roof covering? So from that damaged and potentially useless model I ended up with something useful and different.

Telegraph poles would be a challenge!

No, I would say it's a panoramic picture taken of the rolling English countryside showing the hills and fields that make up this merry and pleasant land.

I'll firm up my response when on page 999?

If everyone responds to this sweepstake it could be this coming Sunday!

Passengers and crew seem to be missing from all of my limited rolling stock, so I feel once the buildings for Cathcott's Field are done this will be the next area to concentrate on. If you zoom in you will see the coach has no glazing either and roof is bowed as it isn't fixed so I can get to the interior and actually finish it. This coach was started in 1998 (Dapol version - still has price label on the box of £8.70!!!), got parked when I couldn't get my Airfix 14xx to run either smoothly or most of the time at all..... This14/48xx runs very sweetly and to date I've had no problems with it........must be one of the lucky ones! When viewing the video back I noticed it stuttered just after the viaduct by the signal, last week I had fixed some more grass, ash and earth in the area of the signal fixing it with glue / hairspray - even though I had cleaned the whole track I must have missed a bit and this is the only draw back with this loco is that the track needs to be spotlessly clean for it to run perfectly. This loco is my all time favourite of the either GW fleet so even if it didn't run properly I would motorise the autocoach and free wheel the loco - no one would ever know!!!! Thanks for the comments.