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Hi Chris Long time no see. It's good to see you progressing with some coach building and I look forward to seeing the finished results, it's certainly looking good so far and it is definitely one of those things you can't rush. It must be great minds think alike though as I have been moving on with my coach build and maybe just a bit in front of you because mine has paint on. Keep up the inspirational work and I must spend a little time later catching up with the good folk of Traeth Mawr. Jim

Well after a long break from forums I thought it time for a return especially after the disaster I posted about in updates earlier today, yes the great Hemyock varnish flood of 2016. More of that later. I have managed to do something over the last few weeks after a long bout of illness so let's have a catch up. I had made some sides for the small 13ft coach of the CVLR last August but in true Jim fashion did I use them, of course not, I made some new ones as there were a few annoying little things about it that I didn't like. This is the coach in question for those who don't of it. http://spellerweb.net/rhindex/UKRH/GreatWestern/Narrowgauge/NGCoaches.html I have no pictures of the early part of the build but this is it after having the wheels fitted. I then got sidetracked for a while by extending the baseboard to complete the river as this was something I have been wanting to do for some time and to have a small wooden bridge over the river, so after a couple of days work I reached this stage, oh! and I added some stepboards to the coach. Oh! (again) I added some handrails, 0.3mm wire, those small drills can be a bit flexible though. The coach really is tiny when placed next to any of my others, here it is on its own on the new bridge over the Culm. The large yellow hairy thing in the background is yet another ongoing project but more on that at a much later date. Next up was to get the landform around the river to give it a reason for taking a sharp right-hand turn (in reality it goes the other way, away from the hill but then I wouldn't have a bridge would I?). So out came the cardboard and glue to make the formers, on went the brown paper, followed by the soil and finally some green flock. Of course it doesn't end there as I now have to add static grasses and various oddities from my scenic materials and varnish into the river, oh yes that bloody varnish! A couple of pictures showing the state of play today. It was at this stage I thought it was the right moment to connect the two river parts - existing and new - together, so a top coat was applied over the whole length. Now I was just completing the end opposite the station when I moved the tin of varnish only to see it slip from my grasp and crash onto the rails in front of the station building, tip towards it and spill some of the contents over the building and platform. "Oh dear" I exclaimed "what a silly fellow I am." No panic from me though just a resigned sigh at the thought of unnecessary work ahead which could and should have been avoided, I completed the task in hand and made the tin and brush safe before examining the model. It was mainly in the parcels office office area and had stained the platform and gone up the walls, here it is after mopping up the varnish. I had to spread it all along the platform as I would have had a stained patch where the building was, the sliding door was removed before it set unlike the booking office doors which will now be non opening, as for the walls I will wait to see how they dry to decide if the staining of them and the doors will be left after removing the shine. Nothing I can't correct but just not needed at this time. So some progress over the last year but nowhere near as much as I would like, but that's life. That's all for now and we will see what the coming weeks/months bring. Jim

All looking good Jeff, very impressive indeed and my apologies for my absence and I hope to be more attentive from now on, excuse posted in the Lounge. With regard to grass applicators I only have a 'cheapy' but am happy with the results, I always grass over flock and vacuum 10/15 minutes later with a handheld vacuum on half power, I occasionally sprinkle some very fine flock in if needed. Will be back sometime later to hit you with a rash of 'likes' Jim

A rare visit from me but I do have a note from my Mum sir. I only popped onto the forum back March/April to read about Jock and just couldn't be bothered to post anything, this followed a long period of illness and Lindas deteriorating health. I suffered several months of 'Medically Unidentified Symptoms' which just left me feeling pretty down about things but all seems well again now, it's now just the wifes needs that keep me tied up and short of time. I'd better have a quick look around and even update my own thread which is sadly neglected. I hope all is well with everyone else. Jim

Thanks for the best wishes Jock, Chris and Armin, and yes Armin it has been quiet but as Jock has said I do have another priority that impacts greatly on my time. I did look back through the thread and was surprised to see that I haven't actually built anything for 15 months which is far too long, I used to do a lot of building during the winter months but this hasn't happened either last or this winter due to changes around the home. Currently there are just too many interruptions or obstacles to achieve any modelling so I have just given up trying - for now anyway - but something will happen later and an update will follow whenever that is, i am determined that this project will be built eventually. Some things did happen though but haven't really left me any further forward, the Junction had a few things that niggled me but I was happy to live with them or to work round them, until one point really did need relaying, this turned into two, then three and so on until an hour later when all the track was neatly labelled and lying in the meadow opposite Hemyock station. A little later and all the baseboards and cross members had followed. All was relaid and it now looks pretty much the same only different, but there are no niggles now and my Grandson and I were out on it the other day. The only other thing was a couple of coach sides were cut out and almost completed for the little 15ft 3 compartment coach for the CVLR, these were left under some weight 9 or more weeks back so should be dry and flat now :scratchhead:I'll have to have a look. So that's it, all up to date and I think it may be a few months before much more has happened but I will let you all know when and if it does. My thanks for your continued interest and please don't give up on me because I am definitely not giving up on this project now or later. Best wishes to everyone for 2016 and happy modelling. Jim

I too have just fitted internal doors upstairs as well as building a full length cupboard in the spare room to enable me to have a modelling space in there, but now I am in full caring mode as the wife has had a number of issues lately. Life gets in the way of modelling sometimes and we just have to remain patient until we get time again. It looks as if itt will be the New Year by the time we are all back on track but good to see you have managed a little progress Chris. All the best Jim

Morning Chris I know exactly how you feel but it looks good, honestly. The trouble is that you could paint it loads of times and think 'I've cracked it this time' only to change your mind a few days later, I do that all the time, I remember talking to Aiden Campbell at York one year and he showed me the same scene in six different versions and asked me which one I liked the best and why, he then pointed out features on another which then became the favourite, only to then go through the same thing on another. At the end of the day it was all about perception of what was in front of you and where the eye focused, I just wish I would remember that when I paint my own stuff so I don't spend the next twenty years painting that flipping retaining wall of mine. It's all looking great so far and a few of your excellent figures with it will create an excellent scene. All the best Jim

I can see why you tried the strips on edge first now, I would have done the same because of the smaller bars going across and into them. I think I would have been through several versions by now which is why I never get anywhere. It looks to be a bit of a challenge so I'll be interested to see the finished result, I'm almost tempted to have a go myself but I mustn't I look forward to seeing this completed. Jim

Hi Chris Good to see progress on the shelter. As for the brickwork I have always painted the bricks first and then the mortar as you have, I use enamels and the mortar is very diluted and I only have to touch an edge or gap with a very fine loaded brush and the colour flows very freely, standing the wall almost vertical helps the downward flow between the courses. I only have an odd brick or two to touch up later because of any clumsiness. As for windows I have used labels, separate strips and was happy with both but now use my portrait cutter - it cuts straighter than me - though I do the final cut with a small knife. The cutter is the best thing I have invested in so far. Keep up the good work and if it doesn't work first time try again, like I do. I should really have two or three of everything by now. Jim

Hi John I've got no other photographs to look at other than the GWR stations book which is very indistinct. When I was researching Tiverton Junction though for the rebuild in the 1890s I managed to get hold of the construction plans to identify the materials used, as like you it was hard to see clearly, I was surprised to see that large sections were corrugated iron alongside the original slate tiles (on the main buildings). All the canopies and walkways between buildings were the corrugated and skylights, must have been noisy during heavy rain though. I just thought it worth a mention as this rebuild was only a few years earlier than blagdons build date. Either way it's still grey though isn't it and to be honest I think Tim is probably correct judging by the battens or ribbing down the roof. Great photos anyway Jim

Blagdon was one of the places I considered modelling before settling on Hemyock so it is good to see it here in model form. I was looking forward to seeing the photograph of 1384 as I have the very same model in the 'to do' pile and I hope mine will look equally as good once made; I also have an outside framed brake in the same pile. I also have the auto coach painted in a very similar livery and even though it is not required I just can't bear to part with an old favourite. I look forward to seeing further progress and thank you for posting Jim

It was obviously just too hard to resist building just a little bit to see how it looks wasn't it All looking good though Jeff and I am envious of your progress. I have now caught up with all my domestic tasks and set up a modelling station indoors and hope to get back into my winter modelling soon. Will keep following to watch progress. Jim

It's not just my eyes then, I thought it was my dodgy colour vision as I always have problems with either red or blue text. As for your project I just love hills and viaducts and as long the result has a realistic feel to it that's OK by me. As you know I try to follow the real thing as close as possible but with virtually no original buildings left it's not easy and I sometimes model my interpretation of what I think it looks like, however that sometimes proves wrong as some new pictures have been found of old Hemyock showing that one of my cottages is wrong, too late now though as I'm not doing it again. So all in all as long as we catch the essence of the place all is well. Still annoyed by that ruddy cottage though, he should have left the pictures in his dads loft. :mosking: Jim

Looking good now Jeff and it's nice to see how it is all going to turn out later. If I can ask one favour, can you not use blue text over the cork in the picture, I struggle to read that and it looks more like 'read no good yarn' , I have now managed to decipher it by clicking on it and magnifying it whilst holding the laptop upside down and squinting Oh and as for spectacles I have 5 pairs and I know where they all are, it's just the cases they are in I've lost. All the best Jim

Brilliant little tale describing progress at Traeth Mawr Chris, I was going to do something similar last year but as you know very little (if anything) has happened. I look forward to more progress and keep an eye open for further updates. Don't be bullied by the little fella, you can always lock him in the cupboard under the stairs. All the best Jim

Great photos Jeff, I almost wish I had taken the chance to buy a telescope I was offered by one of my technicians before I retired as there is very little light pollution here, but then time would be a limiting factor now. As for the pictures my jpegs are usually around 4Mb and I resize them to just under 1Mb on Microsoft picture manager and they end up on here about 400Kb, when I click on them they are then larger, would that work for you? My last post was in 'Autumn pictures' in the photography section so the results can be seen there, at least it gives a bit more detail. If you can get planets or nebulae in the future that would be great. All the best Jim

I drove back into the Village this afternoon and saw the Highways dept filling in potholes on the main road, very good I thought, but why bother when they are going to strip between 100 and 150mm off the surface and completely relay it next week! The Village will be shut to through traffic for 8 weeks while 1.5 miles are replaced and we are being given times and routes to follow depending where the work is, freezers and cupboards are now well stocked to minimise trips in & out. Looks like a quiet time ahead.

Great work Jeff, I just wish I had a fraction of the time you are able to devote to this as I would be finished by now . I know how you feel about going crazy on getting it just right though as you seem to achieve so little in the time spent on it, great when it looks right though. Keep up the good work and I'll try and keep up. I could say slow down a bit but I think others are expecting grazing sheep behind stone walls by Christmas Jim

Hi Chris Having just spent a bit of time catching up I can only echo what has been said about your little cameo, it looks great and I like the way you managed to recreate that photograph using different figures. You may think your progress is slow at times but you are producing some fine work and of course providing us with loads of useful info on this thread. Keep it up and I'll look forward to catching up again some time. Jim

Great work again Mikkel, I will be more than happy if the rest of mine turn out like that when I get around to them, as for the shadowing I think the detailing on these create a good few of their own so I am happy to leave as is, just my personal choice of course. I think I have another 100 or so figures left to do so lots of hours of painting to come, enough for a scene to create the opening of the Culm Valley Railway perhaps? Thanks for posting Jim

Sorry to hear of that news Jock. Our thoughts are with you and your family and wish you well in your recovery. All the best Jim & Linda

Just a brief visit from me to congratulate both Mark & Jason on the birth of their daughters, I can still remember the feeling of wanting to shout out the news from the top of Norwich Hospital back in 1980, a great feeling. Sorry to hear your news Jock and I send my best wishes to both you and your grandson for a full recovery. All the best to one and all. Jim

Thanks to all for the support given it certainly cheers one up. After a brief spell of headaches, nausea and dizziness all seems to be settling nicely now, still avoiding power tools and driving though. Spending a lot of time on researching a engin green steam driven iron horse that started life as a Camel .kept me occupied for a few hours but well worth the effort. Thanks to all once again and off for another look round. Jim

*Quote* I think this latest backscene is really going to enhance the layout, I'm really chuffed. And so you should be Al some of those shots are superb, my personal favourites are the ones of the tunnel mouth and the one looking toward the goods shed with the loco in the foreground. Lovely work and something to be proud of. Now I really must pluck up the courage to paste my scenes up.

Jeff Are you going to start storing stuff under here to continue building a framework all round the garage and remove those things as and when wiring needs to be done or complete sections at a time including traack& wiring. I have stored my stuff back under once the frame and top are fitted then remove it once I have finalised track position and wiring is to be done,I then progress along from one end to the other until it is completed. I have to do it this way as I have no spare space. I know you have (or had) some larger white goods which are more difficult to move unlike my boxes.