Getting it all in line.

 Because the building is adjacent to the falling ground of the lane, the surrounds need to be leveled.
Seen roughly in situ, I need to blend it with the lie of the land.
So a former has to be made which will incorporate a wall along the lane and then walkways and lawn need to be added.
fencing then needs to be erected to blend the whole lot in.

Tiling the roof.

This is a long tedious job but I think it will be worth it.
Having cut what seems like thousands of pieces of 140gm paper into 6x3.5mm pieces the next task is to plonk them all into place.
A small area is coated with good old Elmers Glue and the courses applied.
I will let you judge wether all this was worthwhile although I think the effort is well worth it.

Time on my hands.

With a lot of night time on my hands but no internet access this is what I have been up to.
Taking the measurements from the Bilteeze sheet I have created a row of cottages which will be located on Teignford's second board. Again I have used the old Builder Plus brickpaper sheet for the brickwork.

The windows are microstrip of variing sizes. The doors are scored thin card and have been coloured with artists pastels- so quick I wondered why I hadn't thought of it before. The picture below is the inspiration- a row of cottages in Exminster, Devon. The roof is the next to be tackled- individual tiles this time- the building is over a foot long- what have I let myself in for?

Posting will be irregular.

Due to my parents health problems, the postings will not be as regular as they have been.
Hopefully I will be able to resume in the not too distant future so please bear with me.

Rhinefield.

Unfortunately the pictures don't do this layout justice.
A double track line in Germany-DB-it is overlooked by a substantial cliff leading to the valley floor with the edge of a river also modelled.
The detail on the latest ROCO and Tillig stock is excellent but to 1:120.
Ah well can't have it all!

Bournemouth Model Railway Exhibition.

For a few days you will be regaled with pictures of the Bournemouth Model Railway Exhibition as organised by the Dorset group of the 'N' Gauge Society.
Good weather meant that the layouts remained dry as they were unloaded into the spacious halls.
I helped with John O'Dells Rghinefied which was as different to my layout as could be. Precision engineering there!
Food was good- one of the best bacon baguettes I have had- and hot too!
More next time. Till then enjoy the pictures of Nigel Cullimores St Agnes.

Finally- the Stationmasters House gets planted.

Is it all worth it?

 As the exhibition scene is currently in full swing, something caught my eye the other day.
Whilst perusing my usual morning visit to various e-groups and favourite sites a posting on Model Railway Express set me thinking.
Phil Parker, a long term aquaintance has announced, in print no less, that he is to give up the exhibition circuit. His perogative of course, but it did make me think, reading his reasons, why I continue to brave foul weather, the great unwashed, getting up at ungodly hours and driving, sometimes great ,distance to basically play trains.

 I converted to 3mm scale for basically one reason- so my layouts would differ from those that had been freshly emptied from the box. Don't get me wrong, each to his own, but many layouts do have a sameness about them recently.
Add to this the constant whinging why ths loco, coach or even number is not available and you see where I am going.
It takes but a few pounds and as many minutes to change an items identity. Buildings are cheaply made- see mine- you can have any building you want, no plans?, then make your own interpretation from a photo. If you can't find a plan then there is a good chance no one else will- I love the 'experts' who basically criticise but have no practical solution themselves.
So, why do it? A few photos today I hope illustrate my point. If someone with my limited skills can belong to a society where help is available in boundless measures then it seems churlish not to take it up.
Hennock has appeared in two mags- Railway Modeller even had to sleuth me out and I have the best set of photos of my creation that I could ever hope for.
Lastly the satisfaction that enough people thought weel of my layout that they gave me a great big cup- Worth It? I rest my case.
If you have any reasons or opinions on this hobby of ours then please let me know- reasoned discussion on your thoughts or disagreements with mine are always greatfully recieved.
Bournemouth Model Railway Exhibition starts today!

View from the Rear.

This is the back door of the Stationmasters House.
The drain pipes need attaching (and making) and a water butt will stand by the back door.
There will be a backyard attached to this area with an outside privy as well.
Will look better when bedded in.

P.S. Happy Valentines Day- can't do it anonymously as you all know who I am!

Bournemouth Model Railway Exhibition.

This weekend will see me helping with John O'Dells excellent continental TT layout Rhinefield.This is to 1:120 scale.
Nigel is showing St.Agnes-3MM scale 100:1 ratio and 12 mm gauge.
It will be nice to reaquaint with Jeff Weston who's brickpaper I have enthusiastically endorsed.
Please come and speak to me about the Dorset Modeller's Group- I will be pleased to answer any questions and hopefully we will gain a few more members.

Bournemouth Model Railway Exhibition

16th & 17th February 2013

Oakmead Collegeof Technology Campus,

Duck Lane,

Bournemouth BH11 9JJ.

10.00-16.00 Both Days.

Adding Details.

The roof has been coated with slates- Superquick in this instance.
Guttering has been added which finishes off the building to roof joint.
The bricks above the windows have been cut from a sheet of reduced Superquick brick paper that I used a colour photocopier for.
More to do!

Getting there.

The chimney stacks have been made from a lamination of three pieces of card with brick paper wrapped round.
These have been glued to the roof sub-assembly and the basic roof covering applied.
Tiling to be added, facia to paint, guttering to be added, chimney pots , back door and pipework to do.
Still I still have six days- what can possibly go wrong?
Lots I suspect!

Conte Pastels.

As discussed previously, there are areas which expose the white edges of the brick paper.
This is my solution to the problem. A quick visit to my local Art Shop enabledthe nice lady to colour match the brick paper and sell me, at the princly sum of a pound, a pastel stick as shown.
Not any old pastel stick though- a Conte one no less.
I remember the name from my school days and this is an excellent product, not worth finding a cheaper alternative really. So on with the build- exhibition day is looming!

Focusing attention!

The Stationmasters house is coming on. Nigel has traced around the footprint so it's place on St. Agnes can be marked out.
The edges need to be attacked with an artists patel which I must get from the local art shop.
Window sills and lintel bricks need to be attached and it is doubtful wether I will get the porch fitted in time. That's all the fun of deadlines but it does focus the attention!

Seamoss Trees.

Colin has become our tree guru.
Whilst making superb trees from electrical wire he has also turned his hand to Sea Moss or Forest in a Box to give it it's trade name.
The resultsare teriffic as shown here demonstrated on Dave's Irish Narrow Gauge line.
Hopefully Colin can be persuaded to give a teach in at one of the meetings- any one interested?

Something Unusual.

Roberts quest for the unusual continues.
A Nuclear Flask wagon is also in the erecting shop.
This has been made from photos and is yet to be completed but already it look's- from my limited knowledge- like its prototype.
Incidentally the wagon is standing on Roberts 14.2mm gauge layout yet to be named but is a minimum space type although larger than his usual creations.

Irish Narrow Gauge in 3mm Scale.

 Dave's small layout is really his test track. His original is of the classis branch to fiddle yard and as such has no facilities to run locos in.
His answer is this delightful small layout which all comes apart to fit in an aluminium case.
The typical Irish scene is well captured.Included are potato fields and peat bog scenes all within four feet by eighteen inches!
The ideal small layout which uses- for convenience N Gauge track and turnouts.

Collett Coaches.

 Nigel is cracking on with stock for St. Agnes.
Four coaches are nearly finished with the deadline for completion getting nearer- no pressure then!
Batch built they are finished in Carmine and Cream and have yet to have the corridor connections fitted.
The coaches will be in fixed rakes as uncoupling will only be needed in the fiddle yard.
This really is an attractive livery- pity it wasn't suiter to the day to day ravages of the English climate.

Southern Railway Queen Mary Brake Van.

The meeting also produced this.
Robert has made an excellent start on a scratchbuilt SR Queen Mary Brake Van.
Built entirely from styrene sheet, the van is resting on some Kitmaster Mk1 bogies for the picture but these will be replaced with the correct type when we visit the Salisbury Open Day at Winterbourne Gunner in April.

February Dorset Group Meeting.

This months meeting saw a hive of activity. Inviting modellers of differing scales seems to be paying dividends- another couple of visitors.
The projects being worked on will be revealed over the next few days as there is far too much to describe in one post.
A taster is this picture of Dave's Irish Narrow Gauge test track. Modelled in 3mm scale to a gauge of 9mm this combination is perfect for the railways of the Emerald Isle.
Also some good news regarding the possibility of a group layout.

A new perspective on roofs.

Usually I include the frame for the roof with the building walls. This one is different so I have decided to make the roof separately so that it can be removed if necessary.
The top pic shows the underside- rectangles of card have been stuck to the base- these fit snugly inside the walls.
The framework is shown in the lower photo- this will simply be covered by the slates monted on thin card with capping stones to hide the joins!

Starting to look like a house!

The main sides have been stuck together and now the building is starting to take shape.
There remains some white edges around the seams but these will be disguised when completed.
I have spoken to my local art shop and they will match the colouring with a Pastel stick so thats useful to know.
Just the scullery lean to has to be finished and fitted plus the front door so hopefully I will make the deadline for Nigels St Agnes show in Bournemouth.

Dorset Group Meeting tomorrow 2nd February 2013 at 1pm.