Tuesday, June 18, 2013

The Parish Church

One of the features I fancied modelling on the new layout is a townscape with a church rising up behind the station.  A bit like Barmouth but on a much smaller scale.  Right at the top and set beneath the cliffs of Barmouth is a very imposing church.  It's surprisingly big considering the size of the town.  Looking around for something more modest I came across this pretty church, St John the Baptist at Pentrobin.


The Vicar very kindly agreed to me taking photographs and measurements.  I've taken a few so as to start thinking about how to model it but will need to return to take a lot more.

I thought about embossed sheets for the stonework but there is nothing suitable on the market so produced a very, very roughly cut and executed sample of three possible alternatives - DAS and scribed styrene, all DAS or all scribed styrene.


I've settled on the left hand one - DAS and scribed styrene.  I would have gone for all DAS but just do not feel confident enough to model the whole church that way.  Cowardly I know but I'm far more confident using styrene strip to model any ornamentation.  Looking forward to this project.

8 comments:

  1. Superb stuff Chas. I'd be interested to hear the exact method you used with the talc..

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    1. Hi Lee. It wasn't at all scientific. I sprinkled on a bit of talc on the dry paint then spread it with a soft brush. I'm not even sure that is the right technique but the result seemed pleasing. I later found some reddish brown weathering powder and tried that too on the red brick. Either way, it blended the rather patchy looking colours very nicely.

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  2. Looking forward to seeing this progress. I would baulk myself at doing neat little architectural details from Das, so I think you have chosen wisely.

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    1. Ah, thank you for the reassurance, Iain. I was still debating this morning but now I can stop!!

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  3. The test piece looks very good Chas, and will no doubt result in yet another excellent model.

    As regards the talc that is exactly how I use it, you can also apply it to tacky paint with the same results. It is also a good matting agent should you want to tone things down. I have also found that it gives a rather nice shabby, worn look to painted surfaces such as doors etc., your models will smell rather nice as well:-)

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    1. Thanks Geoff. The best thing about blogging is picking up lots of tips and techniques. I must try out talc on tacky paint.

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  4. Hi Chas, this looks good already. I agree about the left example looking the best. I'll watch with interest as you use the Das as I have never tried this for buildings myself.

    The blue mat underneath the windows make the windows look particularly good. A bit of coloured glass would look magnificent, although it might be a bit too extravagant for a church like this?

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    1. Thanks Mikkel, that's a good thought. I can't see the stained glass from the outside but I'll call in when it's unlocked. Lighting the model very faintly from the inside would work although I can see it'll be an age before (if) I manage to get to that stage.

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