North Tawton micro layout, formerly a Peco 200 entry.

[AdeMoore]

Hi Tony thanks for looking in.
Very resilient I’d say quality artists material.
Sets rock hard. I’ve laid it probably 5mm thick in a place or two no problem.
No doubt you could layer it up to whatever thickness you want.
Lasts very well my pot must be 5 years old just like the day I first opened it!

 

[simond]

This is looking really good...and I thoroughly agree about ****** January; dark, wet, and generally poxy.
Simon.

I refer the learned gentleman to the following ditty.

(sorry about the inevitable adverts at the start)

 

[AdeMoore]

Not heard that Simon, hopefully the summer months in the ditty are incorrect and we get a wall to wall sun summer!

 

[simond]

It was a permanent fixture in the car CD player when the kids were young!

Mud, mud, glorious mud…

I'm a gnu, a g’nother gnu..

 

[Simon H]

It was a permanent fixture in the car CD player when the kids were young!

Mud, mud, glorious mud…

I'm a gnu, a g’nother gnu..

My first wife and I had CDs by both Flanders & Swann and Tom Lehrer, she got custody of the former and I the latter when we went our separate ways.
Our daughter gleefully learned several of the songs, though "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park" was a favourite, perhaps a bit alarming for a five year old...

 

[DavidB]

I was brought up on Flanders and Swann and as I write this, the box set "Complete . . ." is right next to my monitor. Endlessly entertaining and a comment on so many aspects of life that have stood the test of time. Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose.

'There's hole in my budget' comes readily to mind!

 

[Giles]

I was brought up on this..... At the drop of a Hat, and At the drop of Another Hat..... wonderful stuff.
I have been politically incorrect ever since......

 

[AdeMoore]

A little bit before my time I’ll venture! Fine comedy though.
Although we only had a radio nowt else in the car growing up, 1970ish Ford Anglia, 1973ish Ford zodiac full leather bench seat in the front great days, 1977ish a few Ford escorts think the 2nd one had a cassette deck but Hancock’s half hour is the only comedy I remember being played!
My first car was the 1st Ford escort mk1 handed down about 1981 had a full sound system of the day in it! I put in a centre consul top tape deck graphic equaliser and speaker x 4! Brilliant days, as for comedy I played Mike Harding and Jasper Carrot on tape endlessly but it might have been a bit later?

 

[simond]

My first wife and I had CDs by both Flanders & Swann and Tom Lehrer, she got custody of the former and I the latter when we went our separate ways.
Our daughter gleefully learned several of the songs, though "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park" was a favourite, perhaps a bit alarming for a five year old...

Yes, we were there too. “I caught it from Alice” was probably more difficult to explain.

 

[AdeMoore]

Placed a bit of stock on for a photo or two. See how it’s looking!











Still a lot to do! static grass that’s just the hanging basket liner base. Level crossing gates, left hand embankment beyond signal box. Paint up huts and weather, add some rust powder here and there! finish station building, fencing, weather occupation bridge. Weather signal box, Signals and Roding and sort out a backscene!
I bodged a photo of the signal box! Not sure on the name plate! I now realise I could have just turned the board around easy to do!

 

[jonte]

So much atmosphere in such a small space, Ade.

The subtle hues of the elements contributing to this striking composition are only enhanced by that of the liner; this, to say nothing of its remarkable likeness to the bleached and unkempt appearance of grass often covering embankments.

Liner has also been sported by many of the best scale layouts over the years, and really lends that ‘X’ to a model, I feel, and left in it’s ‘natural’ state reflects that growing at specific times of the year.

Yes, and as you intend, it has been much superseded by plastic grass over the years which has its benefits depending on how it’s been ‘introduced’, however - this of course is just my humble - it’s often left in its out of the bag state which I consider too ‘bright’ rendering a toy-like appearance to the scene, thus caution must be exercised. I’m aware that some modellers waft a thin wash of ‘dark’ over the while once laid via an airbrush, or even go the whole hog and spray it a variety of colours to tone it down.

Each to their own, I suppose, and I hope and trust nobody is offended by my saying.

Keep up the good work.

Jon

 

[Simon H]

That's looking super, Ade...totally captures the atmosphere and appeal of the steam railway!
Simon.

 

[AdeMoore]

Thanks Jon & Simon!
Even Mrs Ade commented while I was taking these photos, “oh I haven’t noticed this in a while, it’s looking rather good!” Praise indeed. I’ll take it.
The photos were rather late at night and rushed so I’m not that happy with them.
I do some more when I’ve ticked off a few jobs.
@jonte Jon thanks for your valuable following and certainly your comments above. No offence at all. Agree with all you say. I’ve had a WWS static grass kit for about 4 years it’s never been out the box yet! Some blending is needed in a place or two if I do take your advice, which I’m thinking I will.
I follow Dan Everson professional model maker. That’s his technique which always looks top notch.

 

[jonte]

Thanks Jon & Simon!
Even Mrs Ade commented while I was taking these photos, “oh I haven’t noticed this in a while, it’s looking rather good!” Praise indeed. I’ll take it.
The photos were rather late at night and rushed so I’m not that happy with them.
I do some more when I’ve ticked off a few jobs.
@jonte Jon thanks for your valuable following and certainly your comments above. No offence at all. Agree with all you say. I’ve had a WWS static grass kit for about 4 years it’s never been out the box yet! Some blending is needed in a place or two if I do take your advice, which I’m thinking I will.
I follow Dan Everson professional model maker. That’s his technique which always looks top notch.

It would appear Mrs. Ade has a keen eye.

Thanks for the heads-up re Dan. Must check him out.

Jon

 

[AdeMoore]

Over a month gone by the ole mojo waning a bit! Mainly as I bought some fencing off eBay not happy with it, ok it was cheap fiver or so for 10 lengths, when will I ever learn!
So 1. Is too high 2. It had blobs on top not points which I kind of knew! But thought I could file them pointed, and the width of the bars is over scale, which I think probably ratio spear fencing is too but less so.
Next the 3D print resin is a pain to glue! Only thing is epoxy I found.
So rather than chuck it I decided to have a go at sorting it.




Gluing it back together.



Too tall!



Filed tops and blobs!



Splash of paint call it primer to see if it’s passable?





Dunno! I wanted proper spike rather than spear which is readily available.
I posted elsewhere about the availability I need to revisit that thread again I think. I might just aerosol spray what I’ve done plus the bits to get to the hut and take a 2nd look as that rough brush painting is doing it no favours.

 

[jonte]

Over a month gone by the ole mojo waning a bit! Mainly as I bought some fencing off eBay not happy with it, ok it was cheap fiver or so for 10 lengths, when will I ever learn!
So 1. Is too high 2. It had blobs on top not points which I kind of knew! But thought I could file them pointed, and the width of the bars is over scale, which I think probably ratio spear fencing is too but less so.
Next the 3D print resin is a pain to glue! Only thing is epoxy I found.
So rather than chuck it I decided to have a go at sorting it.

View attachment 260654


Gluing it back together.

View attachment 260655

Too tall!

View attachment 260656

Filed tops and blobs!

View attachment 260658

Splash of paint call it primer to see if it’s passable?

View attachment 260659

View attachment 260660

Dunno! I wanted proper spike rather than spear which is readily available.
I posted elsewhere about the availability I need to revisit that thread again I think. I might just aerosol spray what I’ve done plus the bits to gat to the hut and take a 2nd look as that rough brush painting is doing it no favours.

I suppose it all depends, Ade, on the purpose of the fence. If it’s a relic of the railway and has stood for some time you could weather itsay with a sponge to convey a sense of peeling paint, and see how you feel about it then?

In my case, I tend to opt for the ‘like it and lump it’ approach, Ade, in these situations, before inevitably changing my mind as I simply can’t live with it if it doesn’t feel right.

Not sure if any of that helps, Ade, or simply hinders. Sometimes it all depends what mood you’re in at the time; it all seems like an uphill struggle when the mojo wanes; you have my sympathy.

Good luck, whatever you decide

Jon

 

[AdeMoore]

Cheers Jon appreciate it.
I can live with certain things, this one must be coming up a year now! For something that should have taken a matter of months! But I’m not avid enough putting the time in. But I’m keen not to stall and get it done so hopefully I can.
On this I’ve done little more than cut off the bottom of the next panels ready for a trial look at it.
But I’m leaning slightly away from it. It’s supposed to be the original station fence to stop anyone falling off the bridge parapet! Old certainly.
I’m thinking more as below, which I made for a layout which as with all my previous attempts was never completed!



Thanks Jon once again food for thought.

 

[jonte]

Cheers Jon appreciate it.
I can live with certain things, this one must be coming up a year now! For something that should have taken a matter of months! But I’m not avid enough putting the time in. But I’m keen not to stall and get it done so hopefully I can.
On this I’ve done little more than cut off the bottom of the next panels ready for a trial look at it.
But I’m leaning slightly away from it. It’s supposed to be the original station fence to stop anyone falling off the bridge parapet! Old certainly.
I’m thinking more as below, which I made for a layout which as with all my previous attempts was never completed!


Thanks Jon once again food for thought.

 

[AdeMoore]

Overlooking the fencing for now. Turned my attention to the NG halt. The basis of it, block finish not to scale really. So weather board look would I feel be more in keeping as the signal box. Not to Steve’s standard on the box but at 3ft viewing distance it would pass I hope! Work in progress.