ScR steam in the 50's

Outstanding stuff, Ben, dirty enough, clean enough, never mind the 'point' remark Post 229 is one of those 'Is it real or a model' pictures if ever there was one.

Appreciatively,

Doug

Thanks, I'm quite pleased with #229- it was a snapshot in sunshine just as a filler, but the camera captured it well. Pity about the point in the foreground- a year ago I wouldn't have fussed about it but now it grates! all changed now, and I just have to try and catch the moment again :???:. This new (second hand) Canon is producing some cracking images, and I'm v. pleased with it.

A couple more from last night to show some more of the modified trackwork- next job is some  HR and LMS bufferstops- more of these little things that help set the scene.





And one of Ben Clebrig pottering around at Thurso.

[user=312]dooferdog[/user] wrote:

Outstanding stuff, Ben, dirty enough, clean enough, never mind the 'point' remark Post 229 is one of those 'Is it real or a model' pictures if ever there was one.

Appreciatively,

Doug

Got to agree.

I'm convinced that if you showed some of these pictures to people in the street (who knew nothing about railway companies) they would ask if it was somewhere in Scotland or Wales and how long ago it was taken.

Brilliant stuff :thumbs:thumbs:thumbs


Ed

Thanks- atmosphere is what I am trying to achieve- it's an elusive beast!. Just for a change, here is one of the Sulzers that  put an end to steam in this part of the world.

A couple of daylight shots.

Those are great atmospheric shots! Great photography.

I have to agree with Ray. Absolutely brilliant. You can almost 'feel' the chill in the air.

Excellent, Richard.  :thumbs  Worth every painstaking hour.

Excellent,

The merge from the layout to the back scene is spot on. A very good transition.

Really convincing work.

Cheers

Toto

Great pictures, in my opinion they give me the feeling, I'm sure I've been there. Marvellous atmosphere to be sure.

 

Thanks all- glad you like them. A couple more from the last weeks now, but the light has faded to an extent that I can't get much in the way of daylight shots without a lot of tweaking, which I'm not keen on.

Excellent Richard,i love the one of the signal box with the sun shining on the grass.When you can't tell the difference between model and real life says it all.

Apart from a burst of photographs this last month, there has been much detailing going on, some of which is barely noticeable, but all adds to the scene. For example, a selection of HR and LMS bufferstops have now replaced some cobbled Peco ones, and cosmetic point levers are in the yards. The recently released Wills point rodding has also been installed and, while slightly beefy for  4mm, does look better than the previous cast stools and wire. The first figures are starting to populate the place as well- these will feature later, and some road transport is being attended to on the bench ATM. It all  is starting to look like somewhere now, I think.

A couple more photos now- two Bens at Helmsdale

[user=772]Ben Alder[/user] wrote:

It all  is starting to look like somewhere now, I think.

This is bit of an 'understatement' Richard ! The layout and your photography is brilliant. I'm sure if there was a members vote on the top ten layouts on YMR, this would definately be right up there.

Cheers, Gary.

Inspirational! :thumbs:thumbs:thumbs

:oops:  Thanks again. Here is one of the shed at Thurso, with a bit more attention given to it. Note the small snowploughs set aside for the summer.



And a rather hazy shot of the interior- with hindsight I would have made the base seperatley to allow for more detailing, but TBH, much of the inside is all but invisible to the eye.

A couple more of Thurso shed and yard taken in daylight. Bens are the flavour of the day here, it seems….




The firebox has been cleaned out at the end of the day- a job for the shed labourer tomorrow when they are cold.

There was a photographer wandering around the yard at Thurso today(c195x) and, thankfully he took some shots of day to day activity that proved most useful to modellers some decades later :) Here are some of his shots-

An insulated fish van is being loaded for the start of its journey to Billingsgate




An antique pre group open with a load of firewood is awaiting attention.





Two PO vans are on the platform ahead of an arrival- this was a regular practice on the Highland until the end of rail borne mail- passengers had to be alert!





And a coal wagon is being unloaded on the mart siding- no sheep sales today then-

Hi Richard,

Fantastic modelling. I like the lorries and the coal an is great hoisting a sack of coal over his shoulders. Did you purchase him as seen or was he adjusted in any way ? Also the open wagon with the load inside looks terrific. These little touches bring it very much to life.

Excellent.

Cheers toto

Thanks very much- it's trying to get a sort of authentic atmosphere that is the difficult part of a model- especially from a time that had not a lot of photo recording done. I guess it's a mixture of the cost of film at the time and a familiarity with the contemporary  scene that nobody thought would be interested in later. I'm sure we're guilty of the latter at least today, although in the case of Thurso, and elsewhere, it won't take much to replicate the current scene- a Class 158 pulls in and out on what is a glorified siding six miles long….

Ichabod….