Old Parrock

[GrahamMc]

I've decided that the green field needs to be matched in with any grassland on the layout, so I'm going to send off for some static grass this week and use it as a colour reference - my green is far too strong at the moment.

A problem being that the grasses used in agriculture these days, Italian ryegrass for example are a much brighter green than the grasses used in times gone by..... Would it be worth considering more muted colours for a gentler effect?
PS, I live in rural Wales. Nothing much here other than sheep, trees and grass so we tend to be aware of such odd details! Hope that helps.

 

[PaulR]

A problem being that the grasses used in agriculture these days, Italian ryegrass for example are a much brighter green than the grasses used in times gone by..... Would it be worth considering more muted colours for a gentler effect?
PS, I live in rural Wales. Nothing much here other than sheep, trees and grass so we tend to be aware of such odd details! Hope that helps.

This is a good point Graham. Many thanks for your thoughts. It definitely needs to be a lot paler and I need to think carefully about this. My paintbrush will approach the offending area in due course - and hopefully produce a more realistic finish.

I really need to make two layouts; one to mess things up, and another to get it right. I bet some of you know what I mean!

 

[PaulR]

I've done a lot of work on the lighting lately - I think I'm happy with it now, but there are one or two bits of tidying up to do such as wiring and stuff. I've also adjusted some backscene colours (still more to do on that), added steps the the path, and changed the course of the mill pond slightly (picture shown here is without the lights).

Finally, I've started experimenting with scoring and painting brickwork on card. Good grief - it's brain scrambling! I reckon it's a maximum of half an hour without a rest for the eyes. My first efforts were atrocious, but after half an hour, the germs of a technique began to develop, and I think I can crack it. Here it is - a days modelling - part of the little road bridge for the mill leat. I started with that on the basis that if I mess it up or it's not quite up to standard, at least it's hidden under the bridge. I haven't risked weathering it, but when I do I'm going to use powders; the only water that's coming anywhere near it from now will be the pretend water in the pond:

So, now the layout is stashed away for a time while I destroy my eyesight and what's left of my sanity in an optimistic attempting to make the cottage and the privy by the same process.

:

 

[PaulR]

I've been off the cameo layout building scene for six weeks. A month was spent completing our 'Cyril and Daisy' film, to which a link can be found in the Gallery section. Then I was distracted for a couple of weeks with an EM Gauge etched brass chassis - a dangerous temptation.

I'm back at work now though, and this week I've made an outside privy for the cottage.

It's made of card and scored and painted Pendon-style. Obviously, it will eventually be set in the scenery at the right level. To make, it took about the same amount of time as it takes Chris Nevard to build a small layout. I'm pleased with it though, and it even has an inside.

When I get time, I will add the newsprint toilet paper hanging on a nail. This kind of privy had a sloping floor under the seat and an open back. The contents were shovelled out regularly and a small compost heap would build up at the back, to be used on the garden. So, of course, a small model compost heap is planned.

Next week - the cottage.

 

[Richard H]

Fantastic! ... and thank you for making us privy to your achievement in this lovely little model. I know it's tempting to use less painstaking methods, but your decision to persevere with the subtle Pendon methods in lieu has paid off handsomely. My grandparents' house had an outside toilet (albeit one with a water supply) and one of the features I vaguely remember was an upturned clay plant-pot with a candle underneath it in, sometimes used in very cold weather; the candle gave off just enough heat to allow the plant-pot to radiate gentle heat - I think the idea was to prevent pipes from freezing, and probably also to afford some comfort on winter nights. This was in the mid-1950s. Anyway, your model is pretty inspiring to one bogged down in more mundane methodologies!
Seriously, though, it's super,
Richard

 

[PaulR]

In Bourton-on-the-Water there's a museum of miniatures, and some of the exhibits are of portraits painted on grains of rice. I've always thought that people who do that kind of thing must be barking mad.

Here's what I've been doing for the past four weeks...

 

[Richard H]

Four weeks very well spent! ... or if you'd prefer the translation, "Woof! Woof! grrrrr -Woof, Woof ... Woof!
Seriously, the brickwork looks great, with very nice tones (and you've avoided any unwitting repetitive patterns), and that beam across the end gable wall looks very convincing.
Richard

 

[PaulR]

Two pieces of news:

The first is that my layout will finally have a permanent home from the end of next week. With a small inheritance windfall I have been able to buy a shed with two halves, one side for the garden and the other side as a railway hobby studio, fully insulated and lined. This means that the layout can move from its current place, stored on its end in the corner of the lounge. I can set up my tools and airbrushing booth. It's all very exciting.

One small setback is that the layout with the two fiddle boards is too long for the shed by about 5", so I've made a very simple run off board for the right hand end (for home purposes) which is attached to the slots I've previously made to hold the in-transit track protector.

I've also reconfigured the original fiddle board for exhibiting purposes with a traverser.

All this has taken time and resulted in some reflection about my direction - and a decision. I have decided to withdraw from the Cameo Competition.

It has been a brilliant boost for me to get me back into the hobby after a longish break, but time is running out and I don't want to rush - I'm trying a lot of skills for the first time. Also, removing the timescale element will enable me to make changes which I've cogitated on for some time. These are to:

• Re-lay the track in EM Gauge.
• Return to the period of my first love - pre-grouping LBSCR.
• Add a short halt to the front of the loop and re-imagine the layout as a wayside station on a minor East Sussex branch line.

A big 'Thank You' must go to the competition organisers for getting me back into the hobby in a serious way, and to Western Thunder which is such an encouraging and helpful forum - brilliant! Also, thank you to the other competitors - it's a great friendly little community. The diversity and quality of the layouts is amazing and I'm looking forward to seeing the finalists at Railex next May.

I'll continue posting in the Layout Progress section, probably under the title 'The Bracken Line' - I'll explain that in due course. I'll also expose my stock modelling efforts in the EM Gauge section or Area 51, probably beginning with a Brighton motor train.

Good luck everyone!

 

[AJC]

Pleased to hear that Paul - mercifully, there's not too much to re-lay there! I'll look forward to seeing progress.

Adam

 

[Simpas]

Paul,

I'm disappointed to read you're withdrawing from the competition but, because this hobby is as individual as we want to make it, I understand your rationale. What you have created thus far is beautiful with lots more potential and promise, accordingly I would like to see how it turns out so will monitor, although my track record visiting forums is abismal; I only joined this one because of the Cameo Competition. Maybe the competition itself might see me continue with WT post the event. I applaud your decision to relay to EM standards getting the gauge closer to scale but even in 'OO' what you have achieved so far looks prettty good to me.

Power to your elbow
All the best.

Mick S

 

[Yorkshire Dave]

Area 51, probably beginning with a Brighton motor train.

Will it be the steam railmotor, balloon coach and Terrier or even the petrol railcar?

Whichever it'll be it would be nice to see.

 

[PaulR]

The support here is much appreciated! Yes, the motor train is a terrier and balloon coach. I've also made a small start on an Albion Models E1, the common Brighton goods 0-6-0 tank loco.

Early Brighton halts were very rudimentary with platforms only 7'0" deep and no shelter, just a couple of benches with accompanying lamps. When I relay the track I should be able to steal back a little extra space at the front - but I only need about 35mm anyway in total.

Building stock rather than using RTR will obviously slow down the process, but I can't wait to get on with it now that I've made the decision. My shed is ready and waiting for the electric supply to be connected next Wednesday but in true Einsteinian fashion, time has slowed down.

 

[ChrisM]

Sorry to hear you've pulled out of the competition Paul, but I totally understand your reasons. Keep the updates coming though as your work has been very inspiring!

Chris

 

[PaulR]

It has taken 63 years, but at last I have my own space for railway modelling. I've been fitting this out for the past month. Old Parrock is stored under the blue sheet and will fit nicely along the top of the shelf for modelling/playing.

I love it! I'm retired and my wife works from home so I can beetle off down there during the day without appearing to be anti-social. It has all the glorious imperfections of a shed: not quite large enough, missing the vital things that you've left in the house, cold around the feet and hot around the head - wonderful!

And in a further typical example of the railway modelling hobby, I went down there for my inaugural modelling session this morning intending to carry on with the cottage for Old Parrock, but ended up working on a Stroudley etched brake van.

I'm really enjoying watching the cameo layouts come to fruition and wish I'd had an extra year for mine - I'll definitely be along to Railex in May to see the finalists. From now, though, having withdrawn from the competition with my tail between my legs, I'll post in the other sections of Western Thunder.

Good luck everyone!

 

[Dog Star]

Impressive modelling room that, please offer some information on the initial building and what you have done to that structure.

thank you, Graham

 

[PaulR]

Impressive modelling room that, please offer some information on the initial building and what you have done to that structure.

thank you, Graham

Thanks for the kind comment. I was lucky to inherit a little money and was able to get a proper studio shed. Here's a photo:

It has two sections - the door on the right is an ordinary garden shed and is unlined. My door is on the end and I had that lined and also got a 'security' pack with it (bars on windows and good door locks). It has four double sockets and double glazing. My side is quite small, only 7'3" square, but that suits me as I mainly want to build stock and small layouts. It's a Crane shed - what they call the Superior Shed range. They have a sales area at a garden centre up the road but also advertise in the model railway press. They actually offered an excellent service. It wasn't cheap but I feel very satisfied that I got exactly what I wanted and made to measure. Hopefully it will cope with both winter and summer, but that remains to be seen. The small oil filled radiator is on a plug thermostat and left at 10 degrees overnight. As a precaution I also have a dehumidifier which I run on a four-hour setting every couple of days.

For me it's important that it's more of a studio than a workshop as I want to do 'clean' stuff in there like airbrushing and painting. I laid sticky-back vinyl floor tiles from B & Q, put up blackout blinds from Dunelm and then made a workbench. I designed the frame on the left to hold the layout and provide storage in the form of Useful Boxes below, and provide a large shelf for working on the layout or anything else required.

It's small but that suits me. Hopefully I'll continue to fit everything in it - in some ways it's good to have expansion limits. I now have to fulfil a promise to pave the area in front...

 

[Bullhead]

Thanks for the kind comment. I was lucky to inherit a little money and was able to get a proper studio shed.

Who doesn't love a good shed! and that looks like a very good shed indeed. Happy modelling!
Peter

 

[Yorkshire Dave]

It's small but that suits me. Hopefully I'll continue to fit everything in it -

You'll soon be installing more shelves, which you can never have too many of anyway .

I'll post in the other sections of Western Thunder.

Please do - the LBSC especially .

 

[PaulR]

You'll soon be installing more shelves, which you can never have too many of anyway .

Yes, I suspect that you're right about that. Perhaps I should make a commitment to post a photo of the same view in a years time. Right now I have a few boxes of unclassifiable stuff which I keep looking at and then putting aside, The rot has started.

 

[PaulR]

This week has seen a complete turnaround of model railway activities!

I heard on the grapevine that there would be a continuation of the competition for possible exhibition at Railex in 2020. I wrote to Simon to ask that, if that was the case, could I possibly 'withdraw my withdrawal' and be considered for the second tranche.

This was kindly accepted and I am now back in the competition, and very pleased to still be here. EM Gauge will now have to wait for a bit, but that's fine. I'm currently making some changes to the fiddle boards and will post photos soon to show what I'm up to.

Huge congratulations to the finalists. I'm coming along to Railex and look forward to comparing notes. The quality of work of many of the layouts, including those not selected, is awe inspiring. It has been good for me to see this great modelling as it spurs me on to do better myself (I can be a bit slapdash at times!).

I would also like to say that I have huge respect for those entrants who did succeed in building a beautiful model railway in the time set for the competition - I certainly couldn't manage it.