Geoff
Western Thunderer
Llangunllo is now nearing completion, as previously mentioned I need to make a few trees, add a few details, and build more rolling stock.
At the moment I'm working on the signal wire pulleys and the driving trailer, but need to make, and plant a couple of decent trees on the river bank. Nothing too large mind you, just something big enough to draw the eye away from the hole in the backscene, and to help disguise its outline for photography.
A few trees are also needed beyond the bridge to the left, but being in the background they can be less detailed. I usually use my rejects for such purposes.
This photo was influenced by the scene that greeted me one morning down in Mells goods yard, or what remained of it. The last of the panniers had gone to the torch, the Vobster branch had been closed, and soon the track leading towards Radstock would be lifted beyond Whatley quarry.
The A44 driving trailer is also nearing completion, I hope to add the lining, then letter and number it this week. Once those jobs are done the glazing can go in, the single arm wiper blade can be added and the whole coach can then be weathered. This must be one of the ugliest coaches that have ever been seen, you certainly don't come across many models of them, and I suppose that is why they appeal to me.
But what next, another layout is out of the question, and after a bit of dabbling and planning in 7mm scale, any ideas of working in the senior scale have been dropped. However the thought of constructing a diorama or two certainly appeals, in fact I already have two ideas on the drawing board, both of which follow my usual mid Wales theme. So I returned to the idea of modelling a scene based on Talybont-on-Usk in 4mm scale, details of which can be found here on page 35. I also fancy the idea of modelling Kington engine shed, just as it appears in the New Radnor Branch book, by Nick de Courtais. Sorry that I can’t post the photo here, but I’m wary of the copyright issues, however you will come across a track plan shortly.
As usual I want to try something different, so hit upon the idea of modelling both dioramas on the same baseboard, and even that is going to be different as I intend using 8mm Foamtex. Some of you might remember the 'Kappaboard' layout that appeared in MORRIL some years ago, and this is what I've come up with.
I plan on protecting any vulnerable corners with plastic furniture protectors, and seeing that the diorama will never leave home I'm pretty confident that the Foamtex will do the job. Llangunllo won't be scrapped, and the diorama can easily be erected in the same room, or anywhere in the house come to that.
Well that's my lot for a month or two, all being well I expect, or should I say hope to have the diorama ready for track laying by the end of the year.
At the moment I'm working on the signal wire pulleys and the driving trailer, but need to make, and plant a couple of decent trees on the river bank. Nothing too large mind you, just something big enough to draw the eye away from the hole in the backscene, and to help disguise its outline for photography.
A few trees are also needed beyond the bridge to the left, but being in the background they can be less detailed. I usually use my rejects for such purposes.
This photo was influenced by the scene that greeted me one morning down in Mells goods yard, or what remained of it. The last of the panniers had gone to the torch, the Vobster branch had been closed, and soon the track leading towards Radstock would be lifted beyond Whatley quarry.
The A44 driving trailer is also nearing completion, I hope to add the lining, then letter and number it this week. Once those jobs are done the glazing can go in, the single arm wiper blade can be added and the whole coach can then be weathered. This must be one of the ugliest coaches that have ever been seen, you certainly don't come across many models of them, and I suppose that is why they appeal to me.
But what next, another layout is out of the question, and after a bit of dabbling and planning in 7mm scale, any ideas of working in the senior scale have been dropped. However the thought of constructing a diorama or two certainly appeals, in fact I already have two ideas on the drawing board, both of which follow my usual mid Wales theme. So I returned to the idea of modelling a scene based on Talybont-on-Usk in 4mm scale, details of which can be found here on page 35. I also fancy the idea of modelling Kington engine shed, just as it appears in the New Radnor Branch book, by Nick de Courtais. Sorry that I can’t post the photo here, but I’m wary of the copyright issues, however you will come across a track plan shortly.
As usual I want to try something different, so hit upon the idea of modelling both dioramas on the same baseboard, and even that is going to be different as I intend using 8mm Foamtex. Some of you might remember the 'Kappaboard' layout that appeared in MORRIL some years ago, and this is what I've come up with.
I plan on protecting any vulnerable corners with plastic furniture protectors, and seeing that the diorama will never leave home I'm pretty confident that the Foamtex will do the job. Llangunllo won't be scrapped, and the diorama can easily be erected in the same room, or anywhere in the house come to that.
Well that's my lot for a month or two, all being well I expect, or should I say hope to have the diorama ready for track laying by the end of the year.
