Saturday 29 September 2018

Adding the scenery.

 This post just includes a few random pictures taken whilst forming the base for the hillside and mining railway line.


This shot shows how I have mounted Woody Lane onto a shelf in the workshop.

A couple of pieces of 1 inch square wood was screwed onto the shelf frame to coincide with the mounting points that align Woody Lane on it's trestles.

This provides a solid fixing which enables me to work without having trestles cluttering the workspace.

Thursday 27 September 2018

009 Trees for Woody Lane.


Yet more products from China- really must delete Amazon!
These have a plastic armatures and could really do with a bit of dry brushing to break up the overall brown.

Tuesday 25 September 2018

009 WaterTower.

There are a couple of water towers produced by Any Scale who do a range of model railway and wargaming mouldings.

This is the smallest they produce and has been embelished with a sheet of muddied clear plasticard for water ( must find a duck).

Apiece of electrical wire sheath provides the water hose.

This is a really well detailed model which doesn't cost the earth.

Sunday 23 September 2018

A pair of 009 Bridges.

 Slowly the terrain is taking shape on Woody lane.

A couple of bridges have been made- the first- left- is a Wills SS28, single track occupational bridge with stone abutments.

The deck has been affixed to 1. give strength and 2. has been narrowed for 009.

Already undercoated, I must decide on the colour to be applied on the metalwork.
The second bridge is the PECO 'N' Gauge bridge which has been heightened with the addition of stone effect plasticard.

The stonework is basically grey primer with individual stones picked out by dry brushing.

Shown in position, the surroundings have to be coated with papier mache and then sealed before scatter materials can be affixed.

Thursday 20 September 2018

3mm Society-Westfest 2018.

The annual Westfest , a 3mm scale model railway show, is taking place this coming Saturday, 22nd September.

The venue is -Merrifield Hall, 2 Copse Lane, Ilton, Ilminster, Somerset, TA19 9HQ.

Open from 10.30 till 16.30.

There are a selection of 3mm layouts plus a selection of Traders and a bring and buy stall.

Admission is £4 for adults and kids (3-16) £2.

Wednesday 19 September 2018

Aldi A4 Cutting Mats.

Rarely, if ever, do I frequent the premises known as provision stores.
However, I did have to visit one of our local ALDI'S for something or other and whilst there I found a  cutting mat- as above.
There are several colours but the best bit is that there are two in the packet for £2.99!
The rate at which I go through these things makes this a bargain!

Monday 17 September 2018

Hedgerows and vegetables.

 Model railway Solutions have a clearance bin and as one does I had a good rummage recently.

Stupidly I have recycled the backing and can't remember the maker.

So- eight pieces of hedging, half a dozen lengths of hedge flowers and some cabbages and cauliflowers for about a tenner made me happy.

I am easy to please though-leave it!


Saturday 15 September 2018

Woody Lane coal yard.

Coal will be unloaded at the extreme end of the solitary siding. A few minutes with balsa wood,a sharp knife, steel rule and some Gorilla Glue provided the basis of staithes , just painting, adding some coal and gluing into position. Fairly basic I know but this is just a rural byway.

Friday 14 September 2018

Railway Modeller features award for Hillbrow 009.

Made my monthly journey to the local Tesco's for the latest Railway Modeller yesterday.

On opening, one of the grandkids said 'Gramps, your photo is in the magazine'. It was nice to find my name spelt correctly for a change.

And so it was, I wonder if I will be sent a free copy by PECO?

Anyway, the salver has now been engraved and polished.

This award is special to me as it was awarded by experienced modellers and the previous years winner.

Please let me know if you would like Hillbrow to attend your exhibition.

Next bookings are at Compton Dundon on 29th September , Poole on the 4th November and the Wessex Narrow Gauge open day at Wimborne on 1st December.

Thursday 13 September 2018

Woody Lane Platforms.


The platforms have been added with a base frame of coffee stirrers- remember to recycle- not grab handfulls at you coffee house of choice!

Artists mounting card topped the frame and very fine wet and dry paper has been used for the surface. I used fine grit on Hillbrow so wanted something a little different.

The goods shed is just placed, as is the Station building below, to work out the platform depth- the outline of the station building was cut from the wet and dry sheet before adhering so the building appears bedded in.
The stone walling is just placed and won't be in that position- probably will be a fence and hedge but not yet decided.


Tuesday 11 September 2018

Woody Lane backscene board.

 The backscene board has been fitted on Woody lane.

A piece of 1x1 inch pine was fitted to the baseboard and the backscene screwed to it.

This will enable me to remove the board to affix the backscene without having to dodge scenery.

Looks really basic at the moment but will proceed rapidly.

Sunday 9 September 2018

Small and Delightful Exhibition- September 2018.

Hillbrow will be attending!

Woody Lane 009- progress report.

 Woody Lane has finally reached the stage where running has been satisfactorily achieved.

So- next up is ballasting. A mixture of grey granite has been applied, misted with washing up liquid water and then dilute PVA applied with a pipette. Black ballast was sparingly applied where engines will stand.
Still pictures are better than words so see below.
 The loop where the station buildings will reside.
 Pointwork controls.
 Section control-the panel was made by Jurassic.
 Fiddle yard point control- couldn't see the need for mounting under the baseboard.



Friday 7 September 2018

Narrow Planet B4 Smokebox numbers and shedplates


Dapol's ex-LSWR B4 is a real beauty so it deserves a decent set of smokebox plates.

So Narrow Planet is where I turn to when sourcing etched plates.

The set below arrived recently and they don't disappoint.

Wednesday 5 September 2018

The Abbotsbury Branch.

About the only line in Dorset that I have no published book is the Abbotsbury Branch west of Weymouth.

As usual Wild Swan have published an extremely comprehensive history which includes structure plans as well as track layouts.

Best part? A fiver off a preservation stall at GDSF!

Monday 3 September 2018

Great Dorset Steam Fair 2018.

 After a prolonged wait in a traffic jam and a lengthy queue for tickets I finally entered the showground just before 11am. Usually I have been in for a couple of hours so I am unsure as to what changed.
Anyway- several pictures of engines attending culminating in my favourite 'The Iron Maiden'.










Saturday 1 September 2018

RAF Misarah- just about finished.

 Resisting the temptation to add more it seems that Misarah is just about finished.

A few shots of the layout in operation just to make sure that all works- just had to tweek the turnout to the beach club.

There are a couple of diesel locos with a small selection of stock which all go together in one box so easy to transport.