Southernboy

Hello Mikkel,

As always, wonderfully studied.

Your posts entrance and inspire me.

You capture perfectly and bring to life our collective memory of the grainy, faded Victorian photographs of perceived halycon days, and the details and characters within them that often catch our attention.

Absolutely sublime!

Mark

Nice work Geoff: Some fine detail in there - and anything 'birdcage' always catches my attention - it's so characteristic of a certain era and makes for a distinctive item of stock.

Absolutely exquisite and sublime Mikkel:

You present a certain dreamlike / collective memory / quality / to your portrayals / which is so edifyingly delightful.

I always feel a sense of delight and excitement whenever I click on a link to one of your updates

Really impressive work on many levels Mikkel, you must feel a great sense of achievement.

Marvelous work as always Mikkel, and your update both entertaining and instructive in equal measure.

As to your dilemma about 'cords and ropes' ...

Could you shape and form a semblance of ropes to appropriate contours over top and sides, but sort of snip them off roughly around the point they were tied to the underframe so you could still lift the 'shells' off if required?

I wonder if anyone would notice if they weren't exactly 100% tied to the underframe ... as I'm sure you're aware, the minds-eye often fills-in the details you expect to see

Well done that man! 

It must be quite encouraging to be awarded such recognition.

Your buildings are an absolute pleasure to behold Mikkel.

And very neat and tidy modelling too - if I'd made those you'd see Mex-Pax bleed/stains all over the place (although they later disappear once painted, but that's not the point).

I really like your concept of  "see through structures”, something I've not thought about before. On Frankland I put a lot of planning into sightlines - and equally structures that block or force you into viewing the layout from certain angles - but viewing through is new to me and I thank you for that insight

Your last photo I particularly like: So starkly minimal, yet just those few key components on display invoke the Edwardian without any doubt.

I take my hat off to you yet again!

Lovely models there, and a very interesting period. 

I guess on the one hand a lack of particularly detailed history for this era can be quite frustrating when it comes to research, but that can also work to advantage in allowing a little 'artistic licence' when recreating the rolling stock and associated details.

Either way I'll look forward to furure posts

Nothing wrong with a little self-indulgence from time-to-time

A nicely observed scenario: I'm noting the road sign in particular, which is exquisitely modelled, but also the height gauge (terminology?) over the road bridge, and fences / gates, all quite subliminal.

Well done that man

Wonderful. Absolutely wonderful and totally absorbing in all aspects

I await the final episode with excited anticpiation.

Your photography perfectly captures an era, a story, and a very specific, slighly tense atmosphere.  I felt myself shifting uncomfortably in my chair as I read your posting.

I don't think I want to read the original Old Bailey proceedings - why detract from a perfectly interersting and inventive narrative? (Ok, I may take a peek later).

I'll look forward to the next exhilerating episode (Is it being syndicated in the Penny Dreadfuls?  )

I have to say the combination of trams / road vehicles / cyclist all on the move is pretty impressive.

Just a thought: As I was watching that clip I really wanted to hear the sound of the trams (the gong / the motors / maybe the conductor's bell) ... and it made me wonder whether you've thought of some ambient soundtrack to play when exhibiting? It could perhaps be mixed with the echo of a motorist's horn or sound of a passing motorbus?

It may not work in an exhibition space because of so much background noise of course ... it was just a thought that occured to me

Wonderfully researched / observed / detailed / finished Mikkel. Another little beauty from Farthings for us to behold.

And as always, your updates seem less about instruction or display, but more akin to a delightful journey (even if there is an occasional bump on the way). A most enjoyable read.

One question if I may - what tool(s) do you use for scribing styrene?

Thanks,

Mark

Breathtaking Mikkel: The depth of your research and quality of reproduction / finish is seriously impressive, I take my hat off to you.

I'm quite relieved to see in most of the pictures a member of staff present, apparently taking notes - if he could send a copy those notes at some point it would save me a lot of time when it comes to making my own similar items for Frankland

I must have missed a few posts, I see new buildings of note on the right which I hadn't clocked before ... and the Feltham. I like Felthams

Overall I think this is all looking quite excellent, particularly as far as atmosphere goes.

Wonderfully pensive Mikkel. Truely.

Of course, when entrancing the mind with a such a wonderful story, it's easy for us to overlook the actual detail within the pictures.

I somehow think your scenarios are almost akin to stage sets: Each and every picture is impeccably composed, including a subliminal use of light and shadow.

Wonderful modelling - bearing a true sense of individual expression toward the hobby too.

Not only delightful, but somehow I always find updates from Highclere quite restful too

Everything just looks so spot-on.

May I ask: The rhubarb (and to the right, onions?) how did you do those?  Are they etchings? Homemade?

Another idea ... purely theoretical, and probably a bit Heath-Robinson (which in my mind adds to the delight) ...

Have the under-board magnet fixed to a looped belt that runs around (vertically mounted) pulleys at each end of the extent of the run you wish the wagon to travel.

When the belt-mounted magnet reaches one of the end-pulleys, the magnet will travel down and away from the wagon, thus decreasing the magnetiic pull on the wagon. The wagon will then slowly draw to a halt as gravity takes over as the magnetic force diminishes. 

This could be operated by a hand crank, or somehow motorised - I don't know. 

I hope I explained that ok. I haven't got a clue about these things really - you just fired my imagination.

Either way, as always, it's been a pleasure to catch up with goings-on at The Farthings

These do look quite delightful - good luck with work to-come.

I have to say the vacuum brake / coupling seems a neat solution.

Sublime: Absolutely!

"Sometimes doing a small project like this can bring as much satisfaction (and challenge!) as a whole layout ... "

I couldn't agree more:

I often find myself getting lost for days at a time on unplanned treks into the internet discovering worlds within worlds around obscure subjects I'd never realised could be so absorbing.

But that aside: Your time researching has certainly paid-off - what a sublime model. It certainly has an authenticity about it. Very impressive.

I can appreciate what a difficult job painting that must have been. Keeping a steady hand over the various curves and ledges is not easy, especially on something so small. The dark green swoosh over black along the body sides is particularly impressive - not to mention the letter 'n' on purple circle! Impressive.

Very impressive.

Thanks for explaining method and reasoning too.

A wonderful little model - congratulations Missy on being a leader of inspiration yet again!

May I ask how you produced the transfers (presuming they are transfers) for the side of the van?

Breathtaking! I hope you feel proud of what you've achieved there