7mm Bleddfa Road
- Thread starter Geoff
- Start date
Geoff
Western Thunderer
I don't know whether to stop posting updates and leading you down the slippery slope, or to encourage you Matt.
But I must say that your style of modelling would be well suited to 7mm scale, I have said the same to Rob. I just wish I had made the change earlier for I now enjoy my modelling more than ever
The Terrier is a lovely little model and still available at a good price, but for how long remains to be seen? Building wagon kits is a joy, just think of the enjoyment you could have painting and weathering larger wagons.
I really enjoyed building this Slaters RCH 7 plank kit, the only fault being its lack of interior detail, fortunately David Parkins produces a superb etch for that.
A bonus for me is that I can now see and handle 3 link couplings so actually enjoy shunting again, taking great delight in watching each coupling slowly take the strain as a train gets underway.
Sorry to learn that you are feeling under the weather Rob, hope you are soon on the mend and planning your 7mm project, you know it makes sense.
Geoff
Thanks for the reply Geoff. I've actually bought a couple of 7mm wagon kits - a Palvan, a Vanwide and 24.5t mineral wagon but am yet to build any of them. What I'd really like would be swap the Palvan for an LMS brake van (or maybe just buy a BV!) and go from there!
I regularly look at the Dapol Terriers but am yet to commit to buying one thankfully!
Matt
I regularly look at the Dapol Terriers but am yet to commit to buying one thankfully!
Matt
Geoff
Western Thunderer
As long as those kits remain in their boxes and don't find their way onto your modelling bench you should be fine, but if one escapes heaven help you
Geoff
Rob R
Western Thunderer
Worcester Butts Branch extended along the river, past the cathederal, to Diglis canal basin?May has seen a return to working on the layout as I needed a change from drilling numerous holes for the hinges and other detail on my half a 'B'set. So I made a start on working up the area around the bridge and the now disused lime kilns.
View attachment 163636
Some of the bridge stonework has been under painted and dry brushed with varying mixes of Titanium White, Neutral Grey and Burnt Sienna. I've also started to lay down the ground cover using different clumps and textures of Silflor, Woodland coarse burnt grass and homemade grass tufts. Everything will eventually be blended together with different lengths and shades of static grasses.
View attachment 163634
I had never really been happy with the area in front of the lime kilns which looked rather cramped. So after checking that locomotives could still run along the entire length of the siding out came the ‘DAS’ modelling clay to infill the track. After a couple of hours I stippled the surface of the clay with an old tooth brush to create some texture. Once the clay has dried out I’ll work up the surface and plant some weeds. After checking the size of some small lime kilns on a recent field trip, I’ve reduced the height of the model so it is level with the top of the retaining wall. To my eye the area now looks far more spacious and I’m happy with the results. The next photo in the sequence hopefully explains my thinking behind the scene that I’m creating…………
View attachment 163633
I’ve added the stonework to the kilns and hut along with some overgrown bushes with my very basic photo editing software. The hut could feature a corrugated iron or slate roof, the jury is out at the moment.
View attachment 163644
Whilst waiting for the paint and modelling clay to dry on, and around the lime kilns and bridge I glazed and fitted the cottage windows. Then I turned my attention to the roof slates, after experimenting with the old method of using strips of postcard on the porch roof, I decided to carry on and cover the whole roof in the same manner. I’m rather enjoying the whole process and am happy with the appearance of the roof. So far I have only fitted one ridge, and once again I’m been experimenting, in this case I’ve used half round styrene section.
View attachment 163642
The ply perimeter wall around the back of the cottage has now been built up to include the shell of an outside toilet and some outhouses. The whole assembly together with the lime kilns is now covered in DAS modelling clay, and slowly drying out prior to carving the stonework.
View attachment 163638
I’ve also been trying out another of Gordon Gravetts hedge making techniques, which involves using teased out horsehair, static fibres and fine scatter. Early experiments are promising but I have failed to capture the airy look of Gordons examples. The good news is that I know where I went wrong, well I think I do! I have also discovered which shades of scatter I need for my future hedges so it hasn’t been a complete waste of time.
View attachment 163639
The hedgerow has now been removed prior to testing the Mk2 version, no photos yet as there is quite a lot of work involved to get the look that I'm after.
View attachment 163645
To round the post up here's a photo of the soon to be numbered D2139 on test with a conical exhaust. She was a resident of 85A Worcester, which could provide a clue as to my mystery project, answers on a postcard please
Geoff
Geoff
Western Thunderer
Geoff
Western Thunderer
Indeed it did Larry, it also had an interesting stone crushing plant which really appeals to me.
Geoff
Geoff
Western Thunderer
Good afternoon chaps and chapess,
The last couple of days have been spent working on scenery, first job was to model some fencing...........
These days card is often overlooked as a modelling material, yet it is very versatile, strong and with careful staining it can look like wood. I came across the laser cut card products produced by 'Scale Model Scenery' by chance, and purchased one of their five bar gate kits for the crossing at Bleddfa Road. I was very impressed with the quality of the parts and ease of assembly, so it made perfect sense to use their lineside fencing as well.
The fence posts are easily laminated together using neat PVA, once the first section had been completed, not only was if strong but also flexible enough to follow the land in a realistic manner.
The fence will continue down the station approach track and blend into the backscene with the aid of a bush or two. Then once the grass in the background has been layered up various wild flowers such as Rosebay willowherb will be modelled, before I turn my attention to the area of scrub in the foreground.
The fencing doesn't look too bad in its natural card state but I gave it a wash of Humbrol Gunmetal enamel, which to my eye makes the fencing look more realistic when viewed under my layout lighting. The signpost is just temporary and will be replaced once I find the set of etched railway notices that I purchased a while back. The grass is a mixture of Miniatur, Greenscene and Woodland static fibres, the different shades and lengths being mixed together in hope of creating a natural look. Incidentally following the retirement of John and Pat Lloyd the range of Greenscene scenic products has been purchased by Squires Models and Tools. The rough unkempt hedgerow is teased out rubberized horsehair which has been dressed with various grades, and colours of leaf scatter, along with some scraps of foliage mat.
Looking up the track toward the station building, the track is slowly being distressed as I work the scenery up along it. The footpath supposedly leads to 'Clog Hill' on which one, of two hill forts in the area dating back to 200 BC, once stood guard over the real village of Bleddfa.
Before I forget I used a 'Flockit' to layer up the static fibres, a piece of kit which comes into its own when applying longer fibres.
Good job I use a spell checker!
Finally the view looking across from the goods shed, some of the longer static grass fibres have been planted in clumps by hand, and to think that I was already half mad before I started doing that! Now that the station is unstaffed, weeds are rapidly taking root around the fencing, building and lamps. The latter seems to have suffered from a little corrosion around one of the ladder rests, unless it was damaged by a heavy handed so called modeller?
Geoff
The last couple of days have been spent working on scenery, first job was to model some fencing...........
These days card is often overlooked as a modelling material, yet it is very versatile, strong and with careful staining it can look like wood. I came across the laser cut card products produced by 'Scale Model Scenery' by chance, and purchased one of their five bar gate kits for the crossing at Bleddfa Road. I was very impressed with the quality of the parts and ease of assembly, so it made perfect sense to use their lineside fencing as well.
The fence posts are easily laminated together using neat PVA, once the first section had been completed, not only was if strong but also flexible enough to follow the land in a realistic manner.
The fence will continue down the station approach track and blend into the backscene with the aid of a bush or two. Then once the grass in the background has been layered up various wild flowers such as Rosebay willowherb will be modelled, before I turn my attention to the area of scrub in the foreground.
The fencing doesn't look too bad in its natural card state but I gave it a wash of Humbrol Gunmetal enamel, which to my eye makes the fencing look more realistic when viewed under my layout lighting. The signpost is just temporary and will be replaced once I find the set of etched railway notices that I purchased a while back. The grass is a mixture of Miniatur, Greenscene and Woodland static fibres, the different shades and lengths being mixed together in hope of creating a natural look. Incidentally following the retirement of John and Pat Lloyd the range of Greenscene scenic products has been purchased by Squires Models and Tools. The rough unkempt hedgerow is teased out rubberized horsehair which has been dressed with various grades, and colours of leaf scatter, along with some scraps of foliage mat.
Looking up the track toward the station building, the track is slowly being distressed as I work the scenery up along it. The footpath supposedly leads to 'Clog Hill' on which one, of two hill forts in the area dating back to 200 BC, once stood guard over the real village of Bleddfa.
Before I forget I used a 'Flockit' to layer up the static fibres, a piece of kit which comes into its own when applying longer fibres.
Good job I use a spell checker!
Finally the view looking across from the goods shed, some of the longer static grass fibres have been planted in clumps by hand, and to think that I was already half mad before I started doing that! Now that the station is unstaffed, weeds are rapidly taking root around the fencing, building and lamps. The latter seems to have suffered from a little corrosion around one of the ladder rests, unless it was damaged by a heavy handed so called modeller?
Geoff
LarryG
Western Thunderer
Plenty to show Geoff and as usual, bloody great modelling. None of yer straight-out-of-packet and plonk here..... Your distressing of the various fencing has captured to look of the real thing. Looking at the state of the station in the last picture makes me wonder how it remained open into BR days haha. Clearly the staff didn't give a f.... 
Geoff
Western Thunderer
Thanks for your very kind comments Larry,
If you think the state of the station is bad now just wait until it is finished, for this area is going to get a whole lot worse..........
Imagine some brambles poking through that fence and under the seat, and that grass has a good scale foot to grow yet as well. A trip to the bog won't be for the faint hearted that's for sure.
Geoff
If you think the state of the station is bad now just wait until it is finished, for this area is going to get a whole lot worse..........
Imagine some brambles poking through that fence and under the seat, and that grass has a good scale foot to grow yet as well. A trip to the bog won't be for the faint hearted that's for sure.
Geoff
Osgood
Western Thunderer
Flock?……Clearly the staff didn't give a f....
michael mott
Western Thunderer
Geoff this layout just keeps getting better and better, I see you managed to sneak in another pic from Bylines with that last shot.
Michael
Michael
Easterner
Western Thunderer
Geoff,
It's been a while since I checked in on your progress, and wow you have been busy!
I'll certainly have to go back through your thread for some ideas for Eastern Mill. I particularly like the effect you achieved with your grass and also the brickwork finish you've achieved on the lever frame.
It's been a while since I checked in on your progress, and wow you have been busy!
I'll certainly have to go back through your thread for some ideas for Eastern Mill. I particularly like the effect you achieved with your grass and also the brickwork finish you've achieved on the lever frame.