Rather than build around a resin or metal 'ready to plant' structure as before, a basic inner has been made up from 4mm foam board which is a fabulous material to quickly put together a sturdy base using PVA as an adhesive.
About Me
- Chris Nevard Model Railways & Photography
- Professional Photographer, Model Maker, Writer & Pretend Musician
28 July 2010
Cracking on with the Cornish Pump
This afternoon it was a nice sunny one, so I moved out into the garden under the apple tree and made a start with the Cornish Pumping Engine for 'Mendip Colliery'.
Rather than build around a resin or metal 'ready to plant' structure as before, a basic inner has been made up from 4mm foam board which is a fabulous material to quickly put together a sturdy base using PVA as an adhesive.
Stone effect will be scribed onto a layer of Air Clay rather than use embossed plastic overlays. This will allow finer stone detailing around the curved apertures and corners. The slightly uneven surface will also help to create the rustic effect I'm after. Tests earlier today with this worked rather well.
Rather than build around a resin or metal 'ready to plant' structure as before, a basic inner has been made up from 4mm foam board which is a fabulous material to quickly put together a sturdy base using PVA as an adhesive.
25 July 2010
Battle of the Blue Pullmans
On Sunday 26 July 2010, Bachmann at their press day made the unexpected announcement that they hope to be producing the Blue Pullman after several years of enthusiasts hankering on internet forums and various web & magazine published 'wants lists'. For OO fans, until now unless you were a very keen scratchbuilder the only option would have been to pick up a the 45 year old Triang model which can command high rates for clean examples.
Today will no doubt throw water on Olivias Trains recent Heljan commission; but from an enthusiast's point of view competition might be good in that it will keep prices to a realistic level for the British enthusiast - should both manufacterers go ahead which I hope they do.
I wonder too if Hornby will jump on the bandwagon with a re-release of the 1960's Triang release seen above under their budget but highly regarded Railroad range?
Whatever the outcome, this is great news for the enthusiast that has been pestering manufacturers for one these attractive trains, let's just hope now that they open their wallets and buy one!
Watch the speculation unfold on these forums below....
http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php/topic/19133-bachmann-announce-blue-pullman/
http://www.modelrailforum.com/forums/index.php?s=e407e1f40db710773511a27580cdd5d4&showtopic=14024
Today will no doubt throw water on Olivias Trains recent Heljan commission; but from an enthusiast's point of view competition might be good in that it will keep prices to a realistic level for the British enthusiast - should both manufacterers go ahead which I hope they do.
I wonder too if Hornby will jump on the bandwagon with a re-release of the 1960's Triang release seen above under their budget but highly regarded Railroad range?
Whatever the outcome, this is great news for the enthusiast that has been pestering manufacturers for one these attractive trains, let's just hope now that they open their wallets and buy one!
Watch the speculation unfold on these forums below....
http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php/topic/19133-bachmann-announce-blue-pullman/
http://www.modelrailforum.com/forums/index.php?s=e407e1f40db710773511a27580cdd5d4&showtopic=14024
16 July 2010
Cornish Pump Engine
Cornish engines were steam powered beam pumping engines and mainly used to stop mines from filling up with water. Also in the early days they were sometimes used to winch miners and their bounty in and out of the pit. The design developed strangely enough in Cornwall and was exported all around the world. Click here for find out more.
To try and keep that unmodernised rustic feel with my Mendip Colliery project (formerly Coal & Steam) I've been doodling about putting together an idea based on a mirror image of the Cornish Engine that used to be at Kilmersdon Colliery near Radstock. The side here is a bit of a mystery, however the web and mining books as always have many images to get inspiration from. It's likely that I'll incorporate a nice chimney to the rear of the buildings - that has yet to be illustrated. Construction will be mixed media of foam board for the inner shell, embossed stone plastic sheet and paper. Whilst a brief precise of the contruction will be show here, it will form part of a greater feature for the printed page.
To try and keep that unmodernised rustic feel with my Mendip Colliery project (formerly Coal & Steam) I've been doodling about putting together an idea based on a mirror image of the Cornish Engine that used to be at Kilmersdon Colliery near Radstock. The side here is a bit of a mystery, however the web and mining books as always have many images to get inspiration from. It's likely that I'll incorporate a nice chimney to the rear of the buildings - that has yet to be illustrated. Construction will be mixed media of foam board for the inner shell, embossed stone plastic sheet and paper. Whilst a brief precise of the contruction will be show here, it will form part of a greater feature for the printed page.
09 July 2010
Proper Engine - well, according to Mr Jones....
On Friday 9 July 2010, 43 years to the day after the last BR steam services ended on the former BR Southern Region, 46115 'Scots Guardsman' is captured powering along the down slow at Pirbright with the Dorset Coast Express.
Click on the pic above, then select 'all sizes' for a decent sized view.....
Click on the pic above, then select 'all sizes' for a decent sized view.....
08 July 2010
Going Around in Circles
In the overcrowded UK with our often small houses it's very rare that a whole room can be taken over to run a nice roundy-roundy model railway.
One of the problems this presents is that we are not able to run-in our latest purchases very easily, a compact end-to-end portable branchline or industrial complex not being ideal for such unless one wishes to go totally mad shuttling the loco back and forth.
The answer might be to go back to those innocent childhood years of the trainset on the carpet in the form of a circle of track to allow ones pride and joy to run around for an hour or two in either direction to get the mechanism bedded in.
The only problem you might encounter will be the cat because they don't quite hold the same esteem for the finer detail we all expect on models these days. For shortly after this snap was take, Fleur took a swipe at the little locomotive – thwack! That's one of the reason for the blanket, firstly to avoid the paint being scratched as it hits the floor, and secondly to keep the noise level down on these fangled laminate floors.
One of the problems this presents is that we are not able to run-in our latest purchases very easily, a compact end-to-end portable branchline or industrial complex not being ideal for such unless one wishes to go totally mad shuttling the loco back and forth.
The answer might be to go back to those innocent childhood years of the trainset on the carpet in the form of a circle of track to allow ones pride and joy to run around for an hour or two in either direction to get the mechanism bedded in.
The only problem you might encounter will be the cat because they don't quite hold the same esteem for the finer detail we all expect on models these days. For shortly after this snap was take, Fleur took a swipe at the little locomotive – thwack! That's one of the reason for the blanket, firstly to avoid the paint being scratched as it hits the floor, and secondly to keep the noise level down on these fangled laminate floors.
07 July 2010
Sir Lamiel
Moments before and after this photo was taken the sun went behind the clouds leaving this very lucky 30 second window of opprtunity - something that steam snappers will know is very rare!
Click on the image to enlarge.....
06 July 2010
Dining Room Table Mock-Up
A mock up on the dining room table with 'Coal & Steam' buldings so far completed. In case you think this project is further down the road that I've let on, the living room wall has been replaced with a blurry sky from the Bridport area using Photoshop to help me gauge where I'm going with this project.
Since the previous update, I've addressed the brick areas on the shaft buildings at the rear, they now blend in alot better with the stonework and look far more natural. I'll post an update of that aspect in due course.
The plan is to to feature this project in far greater detail on the printed page in due course, this will be with stage by stage illustrations backed up with my often offbeat but simple and very speedy techniques.
Want to see a bigger version of the snap above? If yes, click on it and then follow the 'all sizes' option.
Since the previous update, I've addressed the brick areas on the shaft buildings at the rear, they now blend in alot better with the stonework and look far more natural. I'll post an update of that aspect in due course.
The plan is to to feature this project in far greater detail on the printed page in due course, this will be with stage by stage illustrations backed up with my often offbeat but simple and very speedy techniques.
Want to see a bigger version of the snap above? If yes, click on it and then follow the 'all sizes' option.
04 July 2010
Progress!
Mendip/North Somerset style scratch built pit head building based around a Bachmann Scenecraft pit head - nothing like a good day taking in the sun as well as some model making to get good progress!
Model Making in the Garden
I love this time of year, because I can sit under our apple tree to do some model making. The other joy is that the odd tiny bits of detritus that would need to be hoovered up end up on the lawn, these then disappear when I cut it in a day or two. The building here is styled an amalgam of various North Somerset style pit head buildings, many of which were made up and extended from various materials - ideal for using up all those odds and ends of embossed plastic sheet.
The pit head is Bachmann Scenecraft with some of the toy like corrugated iron (well I think that's what it's supposed to be) removed with a hacksaw and then incorporated into the scratchbuilt building here.
If you want a closer view, click on the image above, then select the 'all sizes' option.....
02 July 2010
Stone Cladding
Stone cladding was a popular move in the 1960's and 1970's with the lower middle classes who wanted to make their semi or terrace look more 'upmarket' or individual. It's one of those ghastly fads that went hand in hand with owning a beige coloured Austin Allegro and drinking Blue Nunn.
My reason is simply that I had this Bachmann Scenecraft 44-026 Hampton Heath Colliery Winding House in brick, and a desire to make it look more in keeping with the North Somerset with its distinctive white Lias limestone.
Of course, matching up the overlays isn't the easiest of tasks, with that in mind the time factor is probably about the same as building from scratch! Clever people will spot the badly matched stones where they meet at the corners - remedy will be to add a downpipe just in the right spot to hide my botched model making!
In addition to cladding the building with some stone effect sheets I had left over from Old Quarry Wharf's edge, I also decided to hide the rather clumsy slates with some corrugated effect sheeting.
This project is more 'because it can be done' and it could be useful to those who already own such buildings and want to have a bash at elevating their ready-to-plant buildings to something better than the Jones' next door.
My reason is simply that I had this Bachmann Scenecraft 44-026 Hampton Heath Colliery Winding House in brick, and a desire to make it look more in keeping with the North Somerset with its distinctive white Lias limestone.
Of course, matching up the overlays isn't the easiest of tasks, with that in mind the time factor is probably about the same as building from scratch! Clever people will spot the badly matched stones where they meet at the corners - remedy will be to add a downpipe just in the right spot to hide my botched model making!
In addition to cladding the building with some stone effect sheets I had left over from Old Quarry Wharf's edge, I also decided to hide the rather clumsy slates with some corrugated effect sheeting.
This project is more 'because it can be done' and it could be useful to those who already own such buildings and want to have a bash at elevating their ready-to-plant buildings to something better than the Jones' next door.
29 June 2010
A Day with Alan Downes
nevard_100615_downes-box_DSC_7983_web, originally uploaded by nevardmedia.
A couple of weeks ago I had the privilege of visiting the legendary model maker Alan Downes at his country seat in the wilds of Lincolnshire to photograph his latest top secret creation. Whilst I cannot tell you any more about that, I do have to say that Alan is great company with many tales to tell of his modelling career which frequently brushed with the rich, famous and even royalty - many of who had and have model railways.
One of the funniest stories was of a visit to a trading estate in Slough to visit some chap called 'Anderson' who was planning a TV series with puppets and space ships, Alan dismissing the chap as barking mad and thought no more about it. A year or two later his daughter was watching Thunderbirds on TV and the coin dropped.....
Being a professional model maker, Alan has many short cuts to allow speedy progress of large structures in record time, he also dismisses fine detail, he says that you simply so not need it if you get everything else right. I bet very few admirers of his work ever notice that none of his windows are open, or that they have no curtains because everything else is so 'right'.
What has all this got to do with the signal box above? Well, just as I finished repacking the car for my departure south, Alan appeared with the signal box and said "this is for you, do something useful with it". The model is O gauge and as a 4mm scale modellier I have yet to move in this direction until I have alittle more space, so for the time in an attempt to 'do something useful' I set this shot up in the garden with a bit of OO track close to the camera to fool perspective and create this little scenario. I have to say I rather like O gauge.......mmmmm...
22 June 2010
Impatient Crossing Keeper
Note the photographer's Austin A35 Countryman parked on the concrete bridge which crosses over the remains of the old Glastonbury Canal.
The crossing keeper it would appear was rather impatient to put the signal back at danger even though the rear of the train had yet to pass it.
Click on the image to enlarge!
17 June 2010
Stanier 8F 2-8-0
Right - click to enlarge...
Tuesday afternoon was an ideal one to sit in the garden and head towards a completion of the Hornby 8F that's been on the workbench for a couple of weeks.
In the end I decided to abandon the Brassmasters detail kit, delivery for me was going to take far too long from ordering, and on top of the fact that they claim only to check email once a week and don't take online payments.
I firmly believe that colouring is by far the most important aspect for creating realism, and the great thing about that is that you just need nothing clever, just a bit of spare time, paint and maybe some weathering powders.
I firmly believe that colouring is by far the most important aspect for creating realism, and the great thing about that is that you just need nothing clever, just a bit of spare time, paint and maybe some weathering powders.
To get the result here, the new scratchbuilt brass steps were blasted with a bit of Halfords matt black, and then HMRS Pressfix tranfers were applied to the engine represent 48660 which was shedded at Bath Green Park in the early 1960's.
Next; a quick blast of Railmatch matt varnish to protect the tranfers and to make a key for the weathering. This is very very simple; in one of the cat bowls I mixed up some Cuprinol satin black, water, a splat of washing up liquid and a dash of Carrs' rust coloured weathering powder. Now the scary bit, the fowl mix was sploshed all over the engine and then dabbed off with kitchen tissue. A large dry decorator's brush was then used to work the remaining paint into the groves and recesses, this being done until the mixture dries which takes about 2 minutes on a hot summer's day.
Carrs rusty and pale grey coloured powders were further rubbed on with a stiff brush and then again sealed with another dusting of Railmatch Aerosol Matt Varnish. Bingo.
There's is still scope for further weathering like lime streaks and so on, but now I have a good smeared Christmas Pudding type of base after seeing and touching real working steam in Poland back in the aerly 1990's first hand. Often people aim for a 'Barry Scrapyard' effect which is wrong for a working but dirty engine which should be oily and sticky rather than dusty and arrid.
Carrs rusty and pale grey coloured powders were further rubbed on with a stiff brush and then again sealed with another dusting of Railmatch Aerosol Matt Varnish. Bingo.
There's is still scope for further weathering like lime streaks and so on, but now I have a good smeared Christmas Pudding type of base after seeing and touching real working steam in Poland back in the aerly 1990's first hand. Often people aim for a 'Barry Scrapyard' effect which is wrong for a working but dirty engine which should be oily and sticky rather than dusty and arrid.
Next to add:
- More localised weathering
- New pony truck wheels
- Firebox number plate
13 June 2010
I'm in Trouble!
At last construction has started on my coal mine project with a bit of kack handed carpentry this morning moving this project on from 'arm-chair' firmly into 'cuts-and-bruises' territory. As with most of my recent projects, this one will be housed in a diorama style box with built in lighting and a curved corner-less backscene (missing here) as with Catcott Burtle, Cement Quay and Arne Wharf.
The size of the module here which is being checked out by Fleur is 4ft long x 20 inches deep x 2 ft high. Why so high? Because there'll be a chimney and I want a backdrop to be seen behind it all the way to the top as well as protecting the highest part of the layout when in storage and in transit.
I've decided to use conventional materials this time too - simply because of what the previous owner of my house left in the garage and an offer on some ends of 6mm ply at B&Q. I don't need to build any fiddle yards this time for I'll be using Catcott Burtle's ones, I'll also be able to use Catcott's trestles and drapes.
The trouble bit is that I have yet to get planning permission for this project - but because I won't be making extra fiddle yards, legs and so on the amount of space it will take up is marginal.
The size of the module here which is being checked out by Fleur is 4ft long x 20 inches deep x 2 ft high. Why so high? Because there'll be a chimney and I want a backdrop to be seen behind it all the way to the top as well as protecting the highest part of the layout when in storage and in transit.
I've decided to use conventional materials this time too - simply because of what the previous owner of my house left in the garage and an offer on some ends of 6mm ply at B&Q. I don't need to build any fiddle yards this time for I'll be using Catcott Burtle's ones, I'll also be able to use Catcott's trestles and drapes.
The trouble bit is that I have yet to get planning permission for this project - but because I won't be making extra fiddle yards, legs and so on the amount of space it will take up is marginal.
10 June 2010
A Step in the Right Direction
The ongoing Hornby 8F project was missing some front steps, so rather than wait what could be a whole month for Brassmasters to get their act together I decided to fabricate some new ones from brass sheet and solder using photographs and the the rear ones on the loco as a template. They may lack rivet detail, but seeing I'm not bothered by such and that they'll be covered in rust and grime these will do the job fine, they're nice and strong too!
Next I'll be taking a big file to the pony truck and removing the big coupling block that won't be required.New wheels will help too!
Next I'll be taking a big file to the pony truck and removing the big coupling block that won't be required.New wheels will help too!
09 June 2010
Colliery Test Arrangements....
Test arrangements...., originally uploaded by nevardmedia.
A little more progress with the Coal and Steam project; I had a few spare moments earlier so had a play with possible arrangements based on various prototype colliery photographs of what goes where. The joy with the real thing is that it varies enormously thankfully! I must apologise for the photo quality, it being simply grabbed on my mobile phone!
The various buildings, once selected will then be customised extensively to take on the regional look of the North Somerset area, with much of the brick being replaced with a stone veneer and the rather heavyweight slates replaced with corrugated iron. The chimney, which will be scratchbuilt in due course has simply been borrowed from Cement Quay. Loading screens not seen here will be scratchbuilt using various plastic sheets over a foamboard base.
Buildings here from left to right; a Bachmann Scenecraft smithy, Skaledale pit head (with a few mods started), a Scenecraft 'stone engine shed' which will turn into a boiler house, and to the far right a Scenecraft winding house which will be stone clad and gain a corrugated roof.
The layout floating in the sky above is Catcott Burtle, my little bit of the 'Somerset & Dorset' on the 'Levels'.
08 June 2010
Delivery from Bachmann...
I'd been promised a few Bachmann Scenecraft seconds to play around with, though I must admit it as quite a surprise to find this giant box stood in our hallway earlier this afternoon! My wife was a little concerned thinking that I'd blown what looked at least 5 years railway modelling budget on toy trains - not so I assured her!
Those who know me know I'm not too much of a fan of 'out of the box' railway modelling, but these 'ready to plonk' buildings (various colliery buildings from Bachmann Scenecraft) make an ideal bases to modify and personalise which in this case is likely to be for my semi moribund colliery project which needs a well overdue a kick to get it properly off the ground......
I'll post more as this progresses.....
Those who know me know I'm not too much of a fan of 'out of the box' railway modelling, but these 'ready to plonk' buildings (various colliery buildings from Bachmann Scenecraft) make an ideal bases to modify and personalise which in this case is likely to be for my semi moribund colliery project which needs a well overdue a kick to get it properly off the ground......
I'll post more as this progresses.....
05 June 2010
A Bit of Silliness
Let me just say that this is just a bit of silliness with Photoshop, about 20 layers and too much spare time!
I also must apologise to those who don't like soap, those people who constantly whack me at shows with their rucksacks and to those who never left the nest.
Comments please!
02 June 2010
On the Workbench
After meddling about with 009 and Arne Wharf at weekend at RAILEX, I'm quite pleased to put the narrow gauge stuff away for a while. I'm sure as we get older many of us have less patience for the tiny stuff.
So, as a relief on the workbench I have a second hand Hornby LMS Stanier 8F 2-8-0 which is going to be detailed up to represent one of Bath Green Park's finest which were allocated to the old S&DJR to replace the ageing S&DJR 7F 2-8-0s between 1963-1966. I'm still undecided which engine to go for, the choice being 48309, 48660, 49706 and 48760. Saying that, I'm warming toward 48660 - it appearing to be allocated to Bath the longest.
This loco was sold to me recently as a half finished project for an excellent price - perfect, because it was cheap and much of the tidying up of mould lines already done.
The downside was that the loco didn't run too well, the reason being a dry joint off one set of pick-ups meaning that the loco was only picking up from one side and the tender. A quick dismantle and dab of the soldering iron has fixed that. The loco is now a really super runner - steady and smooth - perfect for an engine that will spend much of its time shunting 16 tonners around.
Next, the detailing needs to begin, probably with the aid of the Brassmasters' detail pack. I also need to source some front steps - Brassmasters should take care of that too.....
So, as a relief on the workbench I have a second hand Hornby LMS Stanier 8F 2-8-0 which is going to be detailed up to represent one of Bath Green Park's finest which were allocated to the old S&DJR to replace the ageing S&DJR 7F 2-8-0s between 1963-1966. I'm still undecided which engine to go for, the choice being 48309, 48660, 49706 and 48760. Saying that, I'm warming toward 48660 - it appearing to be allocated to Bath the longest.
This loco was sold to me recently as a half finished project for an excellent price - perfect, because it was cheap and much of the tidying up of mould lines already done.
The downside was that the loco didn't run too well, the reason being a dry joint off one set of pick-ups meaning that the loco was only picking up from one side and the tender. A quick dismantle and dab of the soldering iron has fixed that. The loco is now a really super runner - steady and smooth - perfect for an engine that will spend much of its time shunting 16 tonners around.
Next, the detailing needs to begin, probably with the aid of the Brassmasters' detail pack. I also need to source some front steps - Brassmasters should take care of that too.....
28 May 2010
Ready to Railex!
Improvements this year for those who might have seen the layout before are improved brighter lighting, rejuvenated scenery, a traverser fiddle yard to replace the scary cassettes (scary because I could see a whole train becoming airborne all too easily) and a couple of extra items of rolling stock.Oh yes, and before I pack it all into the car, I managed to do one more carriage, this time in RED, Ford Rosso Red to be precise which I gather is a dead ringer for BR carmine. Job done!
- LINK: Railex
- LINK: Arne Wharf
26 May 2010
Swedish Stunner ends up more like a dusty old Aunty
Much use was made of the technique of 'working' the almost set enamel used for weathering when it's slightly putty like as in a recent article in Model Rail by resident model maker extaordinaire George Dent.
The carriage here started off with an all over coat of cream (Halford's Peugeot Antelope Beige), various brown enamels were then applied with a small stiff brush working vertically until the paint almost set to give a streaky effect. Finally Ronseal Satin Black (water soluble when wet) was then applied and then brushed off with a 2 inch decorator's brush. All was sealed in with Railmatch Matt Varnish from an aerosol.
Having a Fiddle
With just under 3 days to RAILEX, thoughts turned to Arne Wharf's cassette fiddle yard which was a right pain in the wotsit to operate. Operating something properly with rails just 9mm apart all weekend is going to be enough of a headache with stock potentially ending up on the floor.
After much though its replacement is a new traverser yard which allows 4 complete trains to be stored, access to each road being a simple sliding action.
After much though its replacement is a new traverser yard which allows 4 complete trains to be stored, access to each road being a simple sliding action.
24 May 2010
18 May 2010
Today's Snap....
Captured in the midday sun, 'Hercules' a Kerr Stuart 0-4-0T rescued from Hampton Waterworks trundles across the wharf at Arne on the Isle of Purbeck with a short rake of gravel trucks. Shortly after this photo was taken the summer skies turned into a thunderstorm.
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Most digital still cameras now have the option of being able to record video, with some of the very latest cameras being potentially capable of outperforming conventional video cameras. Indeed, some of the new breed of DSLRs are used in commercial HDTV production, with the large sensor giving a narrow depth of field much like a 35mm motion pictures camera like an Arri - something that is very much favoured by drama producers.
The above short clip however doesn't get anywhere near HD or even low definition VHS, it simply being just a bit of fun to see if I can get a bit of movement onto the web.