Holiday time!

The ever observant Mrs Chas pointed me in the direction of a very interesting old building due shortly for demolition so while on holiday this week I made a start on a rough copy.  Here's the original....

And here's the copy.  Yes, I know, it's hard to tell them apart.

A few days ago, I stumbled across another lovely old building which again someone will want to pull down in short order.  I went into the shop to the front of the building to ask if I could take a few snaps.  The shop was empty.  It always is.  I know the shop. People are scared of the aged proprietor.

Me: Sorry to trouble you, but I am a keen railway modeller and would love to make a model of the old building at the back.  Would you mind if I took some photos please?

Aged P: (Fixes with stare and chews silently) You might be one of those people who wants to look around.

Me: (I wonder how to answer - it's true - I am one of those people) Not to worry, I thought I would ask. It's such a lovely building.

Aged P: (More staring and chewing) Alright then, but only one or two.

So here is one of them...

I am very grateful to him for giving permission.  One day soon this building will pass out of memory and it's replacement will almost certainly be unmemorable.

On the theme of modelable buildings and scenic ideas, I came across these in and around Pwllheli.  On the coastal path, an old farmhouse and outbuildings...

The ground frame at Porthmadog....

I couldn't resist this hut at Pwllheli Station. It's a very poor imitation of Lee's far more characterful version which is here.

And finally, this from Aberdaron.  The buildings are not so interesting but I like the way the road goes up and to the left and, where it curves, there is the church and blue sky.  Having a road blend into the back scene is something I find hard but I thought this real life example very helpful.

Well, the holiday is at an end but I post this photo, from the National Slate Museum, as a handy reference source on slate sizes.  (For an excellent and handier reference on how to make a model slate roof, see Iain Robinson's comment on his blog post here).

The Almshouses .....

What with one thing another, including the local quarry running out of slates, and sitting in the brief sunshine,  progress has been sloooow.  But at least work on the roof has started.

I was surprised to see that after a bit of painting, the flaws in the patterned brickwork appeared marginally less noticeable although not to the extent that it will bear close inspection.  Still it's an improvement.

The stonework in the gables presented a bit of a puzzle.  I thought about using Das but I really didn't fancy my chances of producing something which didn't look just clumsy.  (For a master class in using Das see Iain Robinson's blog, here for example).  After a bit of experimenting I settled on drilling holes in styrene sheet, filling them with Squadron putty and making a few indentations while still drying. 

Still plenty to do - finish off the slates, add flashings, ridge tiles, gutters and downpipes, chimney pots, barge boards, final painting.  And hanging baskets.  Now that'll be interesting.  It's not going to be finished anytime soon.

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The Almshouses

The dithering is over .... for now.  After being unable for ages to make a decision as to what should fill that white space behind the chapel (I've been refusing to even look at it) my very clever wife suggested almshouses. Perfect!  And there are enough interesting examples around Chester.

I thought I'd like to have a go at some patterned brickwork.  I could see me in my mind's eye deftly cutting the patterns out of embossed styrene.  Pah!  I couldn't do it - the intricate pattern was sending me blind - so I resorted to cutting out individual bricks and sticking them on in an appropriate pattern.  That way lies madness (and neck ache.  And eye strain).  The result though, from a distance, is passable.  Close to, the flaws are all too evident.   However, I can live with them since the model will be towards the rear of the layout and (a) my eyesight now isn't good enough for it to annoy me and (b) I can tell any visitors that they can't lean over to peer closely for fear of damaging models in the foreground.  And I won't take any close ups.

The almshouses I chose also have tiny, intricate, stone, arched windows. These completely defeated me. I just couldn't get them to look right.  The arches were just too small, for me, to mark and cut out.  So they've turned into not-so-tiny, not-at-all-intricate, stone-which-looks-like-plastic, rectangular windows which I think I will back with some Scenesetters window bars. .  That will have to do.

Also, all of the gables have what looks like a tiled effect.  That will be an interesting challenge.

The next challenge will be to find something to go behind the almshouses in low relief  .

I am enjoying myself .... honest.

Old Tyre Depot

Well, that was the most fun I've had making a model and I'm a little disappointed to have finished it.  I still have to bed it into the layout so that'll be a bit more fun but it'll be a while until I can get round to that.

And this is where it's going.....

I can do no more until that white space at the back has been filled for which I have had several very helpful suggestions. (This blogging lark is great - free advice!!)  But what will go there?  It's a case of breaking free from the paralysis of indecision and getting on with it.

Roofing Fun and Appeal for Help.

I have had a thoroughly good time on and off over the past few days making progress on the Old Tyre Depot, particularly playing with the roof structure.  Who'd have thought a few pence worth of plastic could provide so much fun?

However, I'm afraid work will be getting in the way of more important things over the next few days so the roof is going to have to be neglected.for a while.  I'm looking forward to painting it though.

In the meantime, I have a bad case of what can only be described as modeller's block.  There is a space on the layout, behind the chapel (on the other side of the tracks) and to the left of the castle, which is crying out for something.  But I don't know what.  It's sort of triangular - 300mm across the base (adjacent to the castle) and 500mm to the apex (adjacent to the tracks).  What should fill it?  Here are three photos to put the space in context.

I thought about a park with a bandstand (improbably near the noise of trains but that wouldn't matter - it's only pretend and no one would actually have to play there) or perhaps a row of low relief cottages with their back gardens but neither idea is really compelling at the moment.  If anyone has an inspiration or suggestion, I should be delighted to hear! 

Old Tyre Depot Roof

Having had two energetic grandchildren for a sleepover last night, it was pleasant to relax this afternoon continuing with old tyre depot.  I have made progress on the roof structure, painted the inside walls and primed the outers.

I think, though, I've been a bit hasty in assembling the roof since it now occurs to me that somehow I've got to paint it and it may have been easier to paint the joists before assembly.  I'll just have to find a brush that paints round corners.

The Old Tyre Depot

There is a very dilapidated building nearby which I often pass and admire.  It's an old tyre depot and with the recent heavy snowfall the roof has taken another battering.  After reading about the fun Iain Robinson had with his splendid Old Boiler House project I was inspired to have a go. I also needed something to fill a space on the layout, behind the foundry garage.

This next photo is a good illustration of just how fascinating this building is.  I'm going to need advice on how to achieve the effect of moss growing between the brickwork!!

I don't have room for the whole thing so the model will be an edited highlights version.

I have had a slight hiccup.  I bought some embossed styrene sheet which was supposed to be OO gauge brick work (top) but compared with the good old Slaters version (bottom) is well overscale.  I'll stick to what I know from now on.