johndon

I'm having a run on 1/350 Trek kits at the minute having picked up the Enterprise NX01, Enterprise A with the Grissom arriving tomorrow, need to get the TOS Enterprise next... It's going together really well. Fit so far has been pretty much perfect and it is designed from outset to be lit. Here's a start on lighting the front windows with no attempt, yet, at light blocking or diffusing the lights. Since I took the photo, I've diffused the lights and the bottom row now looks like the top one...

The latest non railway modelling project on the bench, a 1/350 scale, fully lit, Klingon K'T'inga from Star Trek The Motion Picture. She's a little over 2 feet long.

Couldn't resist trying the top nacelle for size...

The chances of me getting back to railway modelling any time soon took another blow this morning when the postie delivered a 3D printed kit of what I believe is the best looking scifi space ship of all time, the Liberator from Blakes 7, a beautiful, sleek design and yet one that also looks mean as hell. Got her from a seller on eBay and she'a BIG girl, 6 inch rule at the front for comparison... and with the 1/200 scale Iowa battleship I posted earlier: John

Decided that, rather than go back to railways, I'd go back to the monster that is the 1/200 scale USS Iowa that I started some time ago. Progress stalled when there was a bit of a disaster with the aftermarket deck which, despite my best efforts, bubbled up very badly. As a result, I lost a bit of interest in it but decided this week to have a go at sorting it out and, armed with a scalpel and some super glue, it now looks like this, a couple of small bumps to sort but it is a vast improvement: Getting back to it has also reminded me how insanely small some of the photo etch is, like this piece which a few second after this photo was taken pinged out of the tweezers never to be seen again 😁 John

Lovely work, an aircraft I've always wanted to build as my dad flew back from Libya in one when he was in the airforce.

A couple more shots of the 183, that's five aircraft in a row I've built now, perhaps it's time I got back to railways!! John

With the addition of two of the missiles and a very simple base, the Ta183 is finished...

Happy for Perez, but an absolute snore fest today...

That's not a bad idea, the kit comes with parts for two drones and I was wondering what to do with the other one...

The Ta183 is almost finished: and I've started on the next model, a KDA-1 (Q-2A) FIREBEE drone from the 1950s, primed and ready for seam work: John

It's because your selected template is already, effectively, a turnout. Depending on where you want to add the turnout, go to Tools -> Make Split and select either Make Separate Approach Track or Make Separate Exit Track. You'll then be able to add a turnout in either before or after the existing one. John

I don't but there is a good change Paul D might know, I'll ask. John

Here is the photo that inspired the video above taken by Tony Lambert who is also responsible for a lot of the photos of the layout that I have posted in this thread.

Confused the hell out of me until I figured out what had happened. I have to say that the photo of the 03 and 08 on page 71 is one of the most realistic photos I've ever seen...

The last iron ore train of the day and it's banker are caught passing South Pelaw on their return to Tyne Dock from Consett, with an unusual but not un-prototypical (we have a photo) move...

Sorry, only just seen your post, I didn't get a notification. The layouts next outing is Warley this year.

The loading gantry at Tyne Dock had a maximum capacity of 9 wagons so the trains were never longer than that.

Or no brake van at all from at least 1971…

The TB2 and 4 diorama is finished... John

I've thought long and hard over how to mount TB2 on the diorama I've been doing for her and TB4 (acrylic tubes up the rear engines, a post in to the rear fuselage or nose then it occurred to me that I could stick a tube up one of the four thrusters under the fuselage. TB2 isn't quite finished yet but, due to a few, mostly self inflicted, issues with the decals, I'm going for a rather heavily weathered and beaten look, in my mind she's on a mission immediately after the episode 'Terror in New York City' where she is shot down by the US Navy. I figure that she's repaired enough to fly again but still bares the scars of the shoot down...

The He 162 Salamander is finished... John

Hot off the bench is a 1/48 Spitfire Mk1a from Eduard, a lovely kit to put together but I had a nightmare with the decals and I'm just glad to see this one done... and the Ta183 is in its basic colours (with a couple of touch ups required): John

The base for the 162 is finished (although I may add a couple of oil barrels). Static grass, which was painted following techniques I've picked up on YouTube, has completed the corner. All that is left is the panel line wash on the aircraft and it will be done. and the FW Ta183 is pretty much ready for paint... John

Construction and painting of the He162 is complete with the final bit being the painting of the cockpit frames and the installation of the canopy. I've also decided to make a small base for it to fit on with some space for static grass so at least I can use some railway modelling skills... The photo has, as they always do highlighted a couple of bits of touch up but, other than that, the last job is a panel wash and subtle weathering and it'll be done.