Church Norton

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The headhunt looks great
That looks like a Connoisseur brake van parked up......the first etched wagon I built, must get another

Yes your correct, the poor thing has only been waiting about 3 years for my son to finish it.

Martyn.

 

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Hi Guys,

Just a quick update, but first I must say a big “ Thank You ” to Simond of this parish. I now have DC or DCC operating on the layout controlled by just the one switch, maybe it does not sound that amazing, but to me it’s a milestone and it would not of happened without Simon’s help, diagrams and patience.

The goods loop is now in place, and also a further turnout which will feed the coal yard and also a cripple siding, see photos.





This Class 33 belongs to a friend of mine that actually use to drive the real loco on the Southern.



That’s all for now,

Martyn.

 

[Mr Grumpy]

Superb! A master class in track work!
Also love the 33 and envious of your friend!

 

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Hi Guys,

I'm afraid the mojo is on the wane at present so I decided not to take on anything too major or technical, hence all I have to show for a weekends work is a couple of " Ragstones " finest GWR buffers, one rail built the other with timber."




And here's a couple of shots of the morning passenger/paper and parcel/milk train leaving Church Norton in the autumnal sunshine.

 

[Mr Grumpy]

Those buffer stops look just the job to get the right atmosphere for the location. Your train looks lovely, especially with the overgrown siding adding a nice scenic touch.
My mojo has jumped on a plane and gone too! I think it's the luggage racks!!

 

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Those buffer stops look just the job to get the right atmosphere for the location. Your train looks lovely, especially with the overgrown siding adding a nice scenic touch.
My mojo has jumped on a plane and gone too! I think it's the luggage racks!!

I dread this feeling as I have so much still to do on the layout and time is precious but thankfully it doesn't happen a lot. I still find time to check out the latest posts in the forums, maybe hoping that a certain feature or picture might kick start my enthusiasm back into life.....

Martyn.

 

[Mr Grumpy]

I'm sure it will return Martyn, reading lots of threads it's seems a condition we all seem to suffer at some stage! I was getting bogged down with the coach build. It's a lot of time to invest in one kit! I read your account of building the Slaters milk tanker a few weeks back, and that gave me an idea on shifting a couple of areas on my proposed layout to fit in a creamery, with space for 6 tankers.
It was a relief to 'get away' from the kit building for a while and look in to the scenic aspects and start playing with some sketches for the creamery.
Hope the mojo remains for the tanker build

 

[simond]

I agree. Mojos are a bit like cats, let ‘em be and they’ll usually find their way back.

Certainly don’t fret about it, it’s a hobby, creativeness is demanding, and pushing yourself where you don’t want to go is likely to lead to frustration on two counts, as it won’t go right, and you’re supposed to be doing it for fun.

Reading something inspirational helps, as does a redirection of interest & effort. You’ve done a stack of track building & wiring, which happily seems to have gone very well, so perhaps a loco, wagon, shed, coach, loading gauge, water crane...? Paint a few figures, and have fun posing them in absurd, and in believable groups, ‘til you find something you like... there’s so much potential variety! I’m sure that watching telly for a couple of evenings, deciding it’s all dross, you’ll soon be finding yourself back at the workbench with something different to do.

Good luck
Simon

 

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Evening Simon,

I couldn't of put it better myself, and yes this is not the first time by any means when it comes to losing interest in our great hobby.

I have still to complete the goods shed, not too demanding ( says I, raising my eyebrows). A change is as good as a rest, so they say.

All the best,

Martyn.

 

[simond]

Martyn

You don’t have to complete the goods shed. It’s optional.

And it’ll be great when you’re in the mood, fired up, raring to go!

Best
Simon

 

[Mr Grumpy]

......And don't forget that the superb workmanship that you are sharing with us has, is and will inspire others! You are responsible for my fruit D build, my impending Slaters tankers, definitely several of those exquisite buffer stops...and I'm still toying with having a bash at building my own track!! So....keep it coming

 

[dibateg]

Time to have a rest from it for a bit Martyn and return with renewed vigour when you are ready. When you do, I'm sure it will be just as inspiring for us. Life goes in cycles, so you don't have to do your train stuff all the time!

Regards
Tony

 

[Pencarrow]

Martyn, just suffered a 2 month "can't be arsed" and "no enthusiasm" lack of mojo period myself. Clawing my way back into Pencarrow thanks to prods from Simon but you'll know when the time is right to crack back on.

 

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Martyn, just suffered a 2 month "can't be arsed" and "no enthusiasm" lack of mojo period myself. Clawing my way back into Pencarrow thanks to prods from Simon but you'll know when the time is right to crack back on.

Morning Chris,

I agree it’s a pain, I just know that if I tried to build/make something it would probably end in tears, as I couldn’t give it the 100% required. But this hasn’t been the first time, and like Simon said I’ve probably burned myself out a bit.

The hobby is always there in the back of my mind as the rest of this post shows. I was walking the dogs this morning on one of the local beaches, when I noticed these dried out stems. These plants obviously grow on the beach shingle itself, but not being a plant buff I have not a clue as to what they are called? Size wise they look ideal for 7mm and above, and once you pluck the seed pods off I think they make a good basic structure for tree making. You could also cut the singular branches into bushes or shrubs, they are fairly sturdy but I’m wondering if a watered down coat of pva glue might add some strength to the plant.

Funnily enough in the background of the first photo, and across the old harbour mouth is the small village of Church Norton.




And without the seed pods,



Any thoughts on this idea are most welcome.

Martyn.

 

[Paul Cambridge]

Martyn. My ‘No-Mojo’ period lasted over 12 months when life issues intervened. Mine returned this year and I went off at a tangent, forgot the 7mm and picked up a 16mm kit that had been in the cupboard for 10 years. Decorating has now intervened and my 7mm project again takes a back seat . Mojo will return, honest!
The find on the beach looks interesting. I’d be tempted to try the PVA idea. I would make up a solution in an old bucket and dip it in. You could then store the dilute PVA in a container for further use. You have nothing to loose with the experiment. I’m guessing there are more plants out on the beach where that came from.

 

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Hi Paul,

Nice to see your back on the forums, it's a bit " calmer " over this side. I agree with the mojo, this isn't the first time that this has happened to me and like your good self, life events get in the way sometimes. But I’m glad you are back on track ( pardon the pun ).

Regarding the PVA, I agree I will have a go at submerging the whole plant which should hopefully strengthen it and also act as a primer if it needed painting.

I am following a chap from “ over there “ on the other forum, who is playing around with a similar idea but he buys his plants from the States, they are not exactly cheap but they are the best I have seen so far. I think they are from the sage family and the stem does have like a miniature bark on it, whereas the ones I am looking at are smoother but there again there are plenty of trees with a smooth bark.

This topic is starting to sound like Gardeners Weekly ! We have such a varied hobby, who would of thought it .

All the best,

Martyn.

 

[Osgood]

What a superb looking base for a tree! We'll have to i.d. the plant for sure.



edit: appears to be Sea Kale (aka Crambe).

 

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What a superb looking base for a tree! We'll have to i.d. the plant for sure.

View attachment 81263

edit: appears to be Sea Kale (aka Crambe).

Yep I have done a little research and it is Sea Kale, I agree it should make an excellent base.

Martyn.

 

[Paul Cambridge]

Martyn,

You could experiment and texture a trunk. It would need painting, but that’s part of the fun. This is the art department not engineering . Have you got Gordon Gravett’s book (Wild Swan) on making deciduous trees?

 

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Martyn,

You could experiment and texture a trunk. It would need painting, but that’s part of the fun. This is the art department not engineering . Have you got Gordon Gravett’s book (Wild Swan) on making deciduous trees?

No I haven't , but it's on my wish list, not that my wife will be reading my posts .. but I would rather the book than the usual socks and slippers.......

Martyn.