7mm Layouts and Dioramas by Stephen Fay, including Kirton Lindsey & St Stephens Bank

[Phil O]

Probably don't need to go as far as that. Why not just place a photo or build a section of the Swindon Works wall on the back to enable you to recreate the classic photos.

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A shop was done several years ago, the person that built, sadly passed away recently. He also did Laira roundhouse, both of which featured in the MRJ.

 

[Compton castle]

A shop was done several years ago, the person that built, sadly passed away recently. He also did Laira roundhouse, both of which featured in the MRJ.

John Dornan, I believe masterpiece models have one of the A shops as their main backdrop for their locos and the other is at Bill Mcalpine place. Which is also home to Laira.

 

[Compton castle]

More pebble planting in the river bed and some nice resin bridge sides have arrived, I found these on Etsy, a slight cock up with the saw on the brick work but that will all be sorted.
The rock sides have been given a base coat of brown, this is a poster paint as used in schools and wow has it gone up in price ! I bought a bulk load two years ago at around £2.50 a bottle, it’s now £7.95 minimum for the same amount.

 

[Compton castle]

First a grey covering, which is the same grey as the wall behind.


Then the Venice and then the sienna straight after

And as we move closer to the tunnel the Prussian blue.
It looks a little garish at the moment and that’s fine as we will give it multiple washes with some acrylic clear spray in between to seal each time.

 

[Richard Gawler]

Are these the Woodland Scenics moulds? I am sure I have some very similar formations (at the detail level!) on an old layout. This is the first time I've seen how to make plaster rocks look like indigenous British rock. Very encouraging because I never painted mine, they are still bare white.

 

[Compton castle]

Are these the Woodland Scenics moulds? I am sure I have some very similar formations (at the detail level!) on an old layout. This is the first time I've seen how to make plaster rocks look like indigenous British rock. Very encouraging because I never painted mine, they are still bare white.

They are indeed, I had a pair donated to me about 6 years ago, I purchased an extra pair recently and I’ve got another on the way from Polak. I’m collecting the templot track printout tomorrow. Once this is down I can start on the tunnel mouth and the rocks surrounding it.

 

[Compton castle]

First grey wash

 

[Compton castle]

Waved off Norton Saint Somers today,
50’s west mid 80’s at St Stephens
Wasting no time in cracking on with the scenics at the Haskins hill end, grass and tree planting
Track now laid on the Torcombe branch
Plus a nice shot of my mates new toy
I think I’ll have to get one now !

 

[Compton castle]

A light white dry brushing followed by a lighter grey wash, this was thinned with a gentle spray from a water mist bottle

 

[Compton castle]

A few more washes today, starting with a brown and then a green / black mix. I’ve thinned these with a blast of isopropyl alcohol from a mist bottle and then the same with water.
DAS clay added for the dirt road way and an upgrade to my cheap static grass applicator although I think I’ll be using the two together.
Later in the day, I’ve started filling the gaps with some greenery
The white gel is Liquitex that I use for water features
The Lars Op T Hof mats will blend in nicely
The road bed is now ready for grey washes and powders

 

[Compton castle]

On with the static grasses today using the new WWS applicator which is a nice upgrade, I will use the old one as it covers a large area quicker which is great for building up the base layers. The new one is better for the final applications.
Some dried out leaves from the garden put through a food blender sprinkled over as there will be a few trees up here

 

[Compton castle]

And now for some water, puddles and a pond

 

[Compton castle]

A second pour today with a little brown tint added.

 

[Compton castle]

And in the sun with the 1st tree planted
I think I’ve found my favourite spot on this layout

 

[Compton castle]

More polystyrene carving on Beattystone around the tunnel mouth. It’s removable for track laying.

 

[Compton castle]

I’ve carved some foam board to make a retaining wall for above the tunnel mouth
Plus a few more using a foam Board slaters stone wall pairing

 

[Compton castle]

Casting a few more rocks today, great tip if your base scenery is polystyrene add a few screws into the plaster before it sets, it helps with placement and once glued adds an additional anchor point

 

[Compton castle]

As if I’m not busy enough I’m going to introduce a new project into the list, Dainton Bank tunnel mouth. I carved the tunnel mouth back last year and Inspired by Box and Beattystone I think I’ll make this one it to a full diorama of its own. I’m hoping to keep it 5’ x 3’. I still have some track work left over from Ranelagh bridge that can be cannibalised and repurposed on to this project.
Once it’s done it will be available for sale! So if you have always fancied a piece of the notorious south Devon banks to display a King or Castle this one might just be for you.

 

[Compton castle]

Back to the Pennines and the first batch of autumnal trees have arrived from my favourite supplier MBR.

 

[Compton castle]

Colour light signal from absolute aspects