Finally gettiing out of my system.

Hi Terry,

It's amazing what one can fit into a square inch and I feel sorry for so many 4mm signalmen who's company directors gave never a thought to their comfort.

Thank goodness you modelled it with the door closed!

Well done,

Bill

Thank you Bill.


Another item not often modelled is a coal bin for the signalman's stove  Watch this space!


Terry

We had a coal bunker just like that in Princetown in the 60s and it was my job to keep the front room scuttle full of coal from it, as the coal fire was the only method we had for hot water and heating in the house. Oh happy days! 

 Thanks Terry, a great little model and slice of social history.

Bill

Thanks Bill.


Terry

That coal seems very old Terry - was it usedf on a previous layout ?   :lol: :lol:

It looks great - love this shot - very "believable" but, as has been mentioned before, it's a pity we can't see the front of the signal box :



Oh yes, as for the Fairburn (I p[resume it's a Fairburn …) - brilliant model.   :doublethumb

Hello Peter.  Yes, I thought long and hard about the front of the signal box not being seen.  Unfortunately, I just couldn't squeeze it in on the other side of the track.

Yes, well done, the loco is a Fairburn tank.  A very nice Bachmann model and a smooth runner.  I didn't realize until I read the back of the box, but some did find their way onto the Southern Region to work on non-electrified lines.  That's useful to know when it comes to 'ringing the changes' during operation  of the layout.


Terry

Terry

This whole area has turned out looking very lovely.   :pathead

Barry

Thank you Barry, very kind of you.


Terry

From what I can see they are either etched brass and too complicated or cast metal and look a bit rough and ready.  I don't intend them to be working models so I might resort to scratchbuilding them from styrene.  Today, I came across some very good drawings of same in 'Southern Signals' by G. Pryer.  A project for a rainy day.

Terry

I have been intending to extend the small piece of scenery in the fiddle-yard which is supposed to give the impression, when looking under the bridge from the scenic section, that the scenery and track carry on into the distance. I thought that the lineside hut, originally placed where the signal box now resides, would enhance the view under the bridge.  Well,  I finally got around to the job and here it is…

Beautifully modelled scene, Terry. Do you have a mirror you could place opposite the box so that we can see a view of it from the platform side?

Doug

Thank you Doug.  I'll take a photo.


Terry

Take a small piece of mount board and cut to shape for the base. Glue some small balls of screwed up newspaper to the base.  Cover in kitchen roll and soak with the 50/50 pva/water mix used for ballasting the track.  Allow to dry and paint with black acrylic paint.  When dry, coat with pva and sprinkle coal thereon.  When dry, cut a hole in the base and remove some of the paper.  Glue in a steel nut so that it is just below the tissue.  If you are clever and forward thinking, you will cut the hole in the base at the beginning of the process.  I am not clever or forward thinking!
My Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you…coal heaps…