Southernboy

I think Grahame Hedges has done a great job with the N Gauge Journal, particularly considering that he's working from the purse of a relatively small subscription organisation.

I just want to see this model of London Bridge Station he's been hinting at for some years now  (anything to share Grahame?) 

I have to say this is a great layout on many levels, one of my favourites here on RMWeb: I always jump on updates when they come along - but most of all for me I find your photography quite incredible. You always seem to catch a certain angle / degree of light that shows your work off in the best way.

For the rest of us, do you have any hints and tips on how to best portray our layouts?

Apologies if this has been mentioned before ...

On page 85 of the N gauge Journal, did anyone clock 2S-002-004 Schools Merchant Taylors SR Maunsell Olive Lined Green 910?

I thought originally Dapol didn't plan a Maunsell Green version, which was why (I thought) Osbornes Models offered to run a special order of 'Cheltenham' in Maunsell green (to which  I subscribed on the understanding at the time that Dapel intended to only run later liveries).

Non of the box-shifters have the Dapol Maunsell Green version available as pre-order as far as I can see (but they do have all the others available for pre-order), and following an email to eHattons, they seem completely in the dark about the Maunsell Green 'Merchant Taylors'.

At the end of the day, if both Dapol's Merchant Taylors and Osbornes 'Cheltenham' come through I'll be more than happy. But just thought I'd raise the question as it seems both myself and some retailers have been taken by surprise by the Dapol advertisment for a Maunsell liveried version.

Absolutely wonderful stuff. I marvel at this sort of work.

"How easy is it to learn to use Photoshop or something similar?"

I think Photoshop is relatively intuitive. Key features in this context are 'Levels' and 'Curves' which are great for balancing the light in a picture (particularly in bringing out details otherwise lost in shadow).

In terms of cutting out "background clutter" - there are a few techniques you can use, but they all require some degree of patience (there's no magic wand as such). 

I'm not sure though whether you can buy Photoshop as a stand-alone product these days, I think it is part of the Adobe Creative Suite which bundles in Illustrator and InDesign (which makes it £££).

Either way, I'm enjoying your layout / updates 

I have to say that both the above recent posts from CF MRC and Caley Jim leave me totally astonished at how anyone can model to such fine standards.

I like to think I do quite well at things in N gauge (where you can get away with quite a lot / be selective with camera angles etc) - but I am always left breathless by the degree of skill / intergrity required for 2mm - and the absolutely exquisite results.

You set a benchmark which fuels my aspirations in the lesser scale

Great to see an update - thank you.

The first picture caught my eye in particular:

I love the focal-depth (the nearer bridge being out of focus) - it works really well as a picture.

Which leads me to ask: Did you make the two bridges in that photo, or buy them? And either way I'd be interested in source material for the lattice used.

Thanks,

Mark

Hello Pete,

I rarely comment through total awe at your modelling.

On this occassion though I'll venture a couple of remarks if I may.

Firstly to say I think the 'gunmetal' works really well, and tempered with a very light peppering of your preferred Humbrol 29 could look even better. My subjective opinion of course (and also bearing in mind photos posted on the internet aren't the best representation of what you are actually looking at in real daylight colour-wise).

Secondly the barrow crossing. I wonder if you are missing a trick here.

Rather than fit the barrow crossing and cut according to baseboard join - could you make one without the cut, with little pegs underneath (that fit into appropriate holes in the baseboard) - so that you have a solid crossing which disguises the baseboard join? At the moment it seems to accentuate the join.

That may add a little extra time to setting up the layout - but on the other hand lends much more to the illusion.

Many thanks Tim for the detail: Instructive and above all, inspirational.

I'd love to know how that bus was made and finished  (I think there's a couple of other buses, plus the LCC tram of course). Likewise the tube train.

Where they etches? Or fashioned from Plasticard or card perhaps? Either way they are each absolutely exquisite

Maybe if the sky doesn't work out you can paint over with a pale blue?

I think back scenes are a bit 'all-or-nothing' in that either they work really well, seemlessly integrating with the foreground modelling - or they just look obvious (like bad back-projection in old films) - which distracts from what you want the viewer to focus on.

The alternative is just a plain background (like pale blue), which doesn't distract, and allows the minds-eye to fill in the rest.

I think any compromise between either a well integrated (purchased) background, or a painted background, spoils any illusion.

Of course a painted background could be quite elaborate if you're a dab hand

Anyway, sorry to ramble! 

Hope the sky gets sorted one way or another

Good to see Gresby in the (virtual) flesh again. I can't believe it's three years since you last ran it.

Your new buildings will be a considerable enhancement, looking forward to some pictures of them in their new home in due course

Hello Tim,

Thanks for popping in, and thanks for the link, very much appreciated. I have thought about an airship (or period plane) for Frankland, although way down the list I'm afraid.

Currently I'm still working on my 3-Subs (link in signature below). The project does seem to have attracted some weird form of magnetic repulsion though: The nearer I get to thinking I'm almost finished, the further away a realistic completion date actually becomes!

I do need to update that thread, and will do so in the next couple of weeks.

Anyway, once the Subs are concluded I'm sure there'll be a news broadcast here, and rumour has it a newsreel too!

All the best,

Mark

Loving all the details.

Two things stand out for me: The back doors (last photo), and the cooker in the back of the van (first two photos).

That cooker in the back of the van has a top-mounted grill. They've not been available for years (I know, my Mum keeps moaning she needs a new one, but want's one like she used to have and they just don't make them anymore) ... and that's the delight about such well-observed modelling like yours Simon, it's evocative on so many levels, drawing the viewer in personally / quite subliminally.

And before I forget to say - an N gauge cooker (and so well modelled) has to be a first! - well done that man 

Just to say I'm pleased to see Ropley now available in thread format.

It is a layout I much admire and can never get enough of updates, no matter how (relatively) insignificant.

Pipe Screens / Vent Mesh = resourceful.

Well done Andy, coming along a treat.

Very, very, impressive. I'm going to take some time at the weekend to read through again from page one.

I feel like a long-lost friend has come back into my life

I've been missing all those wonderful buildings full of character and love the work on the tram (although at the same time always feel sad to see trams dilapidated - but that's just my affection for them).

Anyway, hopefully there's more to come / more regularly on Gresby in the near-future

Many thanks indeed for further very helpful replies. As always, I am much indebted for the sharing of experience and advice.

At the moment I am commited to trying to make the etched headcodes work as they are firmly fixed in place and to remove them in favour of Photoshop versions would now require some butchery as the cab fronts are firmly soldered / glued, painted and detailed in all repects apart from transfers.

Additionally I'd hoped the etched headcodes would herald a step-up in terms of the degree of detail I can achieve (I'm always trying to push my skills - but maybe this time I pushed a step too far? Time will tell). If necessary I'll have to revert to a printout as suggested.

Tonight I found in the local artshop 10/0 and 5/0 short hair brushes, plus a 3/0 spotting brush. I'll have go with these and see how I get on.  I've taken on board Richard's comments regarding paint ... my current thinking is I need to finess the degree of fluidity / dryness of the paint I'm using to control the degree of flow or otherwise above what I've done before.

It's a long shot - but it just might work! 

I'll also look at the magnifaction / illumination issues  ...

Thanks again for the valuable comments, they all really help my train of thought.

Thanks all, very much appreciated.

I wear glasses, and have one of those illuminated lamps.

I think the answer is going to be between extra maginfification and thinning out a fine paint brush (somehow you know these things in your bones before you even pose the question, yet pose the question all the same!)

Many thanks again,

Mark

Hello 2mm people.

I'm working on some N gauge 3-Subs (thread in my signature), and although I have one of those desk-mounted illuminated magnifying glasses, am still struggling to see what I'm doing when it comes to the fine detail - in my case painting the head code stencils in particular.

Can anyone offer advice on how to paint such small lettering / any magnifying products I can use in addition too / instead of the maginifier I already have?

In terms of painting fine lines, I'm using a 000 Kolinsky brush, but even that feels a little clumsy. Would it help to pull / trim some hairs?

I'm fairly good when it comes to having a steady hand / perseverance / patience / it's just seeing / focusing on what I'm doing and finding a suitably fine tool to paint with that is problematic. I've tried cocktail sticks, pins, but they're not doing the trick (combined with previously mentioned difficulty in seeing)

Many thanks in advance,

Mark

I'd go for curved boards - visually quite pleasing and when looking around our eyes naturally follow an arc - plus it just makes a change.

Going by Smithdown and Aylestone I'm keeping an eye on Stanley Park

I like the track plan - was there a planning thread somewhere that I missed?

Sorry to hear about the windows Andy.

Could you use R/C Modellers Glue - a product you introduced me to some years ago which I'm still using for many model applications - and was planning to use for fixing the glazing in my Subs.

Either way, dont give up on those Pullmans, they look magnificent and it would be a shame to give up on them so easily

Exemplary Andy. That is really looking the business.

I somehow suspect you enjoyed the razor-sawing bit  ...  

Firstly to say much respect to the OP. 

A very brave move indeed.

I grew up in the 60s when the disfigured / invalides / those with mental health problems / were simply kept indoors or locked away in institutions to save social embarrassment.

I am so glad things have moved on.

I recall some 20 years ago falling into conversation with a nice old chap in a pub.

His wife had recently died.  And so he decided he could finally come out as being gay.

He'd spent his whole life in the closet for fear or prosecution and for fear of letting down his wife, his family, and above all, for not fulfilling social expectations of what a 'man' should be.

That old gent is probably no longer with us. But it struck me at the time that no one should have to live a totally false life for the whole of their existance on this planet in order to avoid the displeasure / persecution of others. I felt so sorry this nice old chap was never allowed to be his true self in his own lifetime. Very sad.

Thank goodness things have changed, and good luck to GarrettTheThief  (and anyone else in a similar boat!)