The Halt

The Halt is done, and very enjoyable it was too.

It will, I hope, look quite lonely - an underused attempt by an imaginary railway company to attract extra customers to an imaginary seaside resort.

Experiments with trees

I had a wish to make much better trees for future projects. Until now I have used Woodland Scenics tree trunks covered with clump foliage - fine from a distance but not a patch on some of the trees I have seen produced by other modellers.

Having looked around at a few "how to build trees" tips on numerous websites (and there is some excellent advice around) I thought I would experiment. 

One site suggested heather or sage bush so during a walk up Moel Famau I gathered a few bits of  broken off heather.  A few choice bits went into the microwave (as advised) for a few minutes, sufficient to kill any bugs or fungus but not enough to set them alight.  (The following picture is a serving suggestion only)

The bits were super glued together, roughly copying an ash tree.....

 ....followed by the addition of a few sprigs of sea moss. The joins were covered with Green Scene flexi-bark. The trunk looked a bit thin for the size of tree so that was filled out with DAS then painted with acrylics.

And a coating of Display Mount and Noch leaves to finish.

Time consuming, but I  am happy that this looks much better than earlier attempts.  Mrs Chas suggested using dried herbs instead of Noch leaves.  What a good idea!  I shall give it a go.   The next challenge is a generic conifer.

Addendum:  Geoff's comment below includes a link to one of his typically detailed master classes, this time on model trees.  It's a much better description than here!

St John's Church Lychgate

I forgot to post this close up of the hurriedly made Lychgate for the parish church diorama, set in the unfinished wall.  I have a love/hate relationship with fiddly jobs.  I love modelling detail but hate it when a bit of microstrip would rather stick to my fingers or the tweezers than to another piece of styrene.  What on earth is that about?

On closer inspection of the "timber" I can see that the surfaces are far too smooth and need to look more distressed.  Another lesson learned.

Disused Railway Photographs

After reading a post on Geoff's blog about "Bridges for Modellers" (a book which I have now ordered) I came across this collection of photos of disused railway architecture and engineering on Flickr.  Lots of detailed photos for modellers.  Fascinating and well worth a visit.

The Halt

Since finishing the parish church I have spent the last few weeks faffing about wondering what to build next. After only a brief few years modelling I am, I'm afraid, hooked and now when I have nothing to work on I feel at a loose end.  Perversely though, I couldn't find the motivation to make anything.  Very odd.

However, after seeing a few photos of the Cambrian Coast railway and recalling a couple of very pleasant trips along the coast, I purchased my first railway DVD, a driver's eye view of the section between Machynlleth and Barmouth.  I am concerned, by the way, that this is the start of a steep descent into the crepuscular world of rivet counting from which there is no return.  Anyway, every few seconds brought a captivating scene which I would have loved to try to model, so I am going to have a go at a short section of an imaginary line and have started on a station halt with a wooden platform.

I thought about Wills wooden planking for the platform but I find it just too thick to work, difficult to join seamlessly and, in any case, space means that the platform must be slightly curved.  Instead I have experimented with some cheap oak veneer.  We'll see what it looks like after sanding and painting.

Parish Church Diorama

"Diorama" is a bit of an exaggeration.  The vicar of the church on which this version is modelled asked to display it for a week.  Of course I was delighted she thought it good enough but decided I ought at least display it in some sort of setting.  So I have rather hurriedly modelled the lychgate and put together this diorama.

I have decided two things in the process.  First, because I am easily distracted, building a diorama gives me a fighting chance of finishing a project. Secondly, I am far from satisfied about the way I have been modelling trees, hedges and grass.  From now on I shall attempt to copy the techniques here http://radnorailways.blogspot.co.uk/

The Parish Church - final post (well almost)

I've had such a wonderful time building this that now it is done I am quite despondent.  In fact, towards the end of the build I was finding distractions so as not to finish it.  It's been a huge and very, very satisfying challenge.

I haven't got it quite right in parts but I'll know what works and what doesn't for next time - if there is a next time.

I have installed some lighting and will post a few more pics when it's dark - if the lights work and look half decent that is.

I shall now drift aimlessly until I start the next project.  But what will it be?  I've decided I don't like the West Quay station building so I need to find a replacement. The research alone will take a while I expect.  Any suggestions for a branchline country station gratefully received.