Roof On!

The roof was glued on with PVA around the edges and strengtheners.
To aid this the roof was held in place with low tack masking tape.
Whilst waiting I looked for something to use for the curtains. My solution was the ad for settees and chairs in one of the Sunday supplements. These small pictures are ideal as they are in a variety of colours and patterns. Probably won't show up that much but I know that they are there.
Right, just five more chalet roofs to fit and then the chimneys need finishing- hope I have enough pots!

I'm not counting.

 Don't ask me how many pieces of thin card cut to 3x6mm have been used to tile this roof.
I really don't have the time or inclination to count them either.
The backing was coated with Elmers in small sections and the tiles plonken on using the sharp point of a snap-off knife.
The roofs for the chalet windows are the small triangular pieces and these were tiled in the same way. Should have said that lines were ruled onto the backing beforehand.
Still, its ready to fit and this tedious operation is  now complete.

Forty Fasond fevvers on a frush!

The landmark figure of 40,000 views of the blog has taken place on Friday 1st March 2013.
This has really been achieved over the last three years and it shows, as have some of the comments, that there is a real interest in 3mm modelling.
To all those of you who have taken the time to comment I thank you- I hope that I can continue interesting some in the coming months et al.

Heres to another 40K.

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!