Tuesday 27 September 2011

Finished Terrace….

Well I eventually finished the T020 Terraced Houses from scalescenes which is more than I can say about my house. The story of the Artex on my staircase just rolls on and on!! For those of you who follow my Wife’s facebook will no doubt know, I am taking off some Artex that has been on our staircase for 25 yrs. After several failed attempts and methods, I have eventually found an effective way of removing the said stubborn Artex. With an industrial steamer, a very sharp scraper and a whole lot of sweat and swearing. About two thirds of the way through the job I managed to slice through the main power supply to the first floor with the afore mentioned very sharp scraper. Luckily, I was wearing a very thick pair of insulated gloves because of blisters I had off the week before and never felt a thing!!


Anyway, enough of my problems let’s see the finished terrace.


This build differs from the Small Terraced Houses T022 as it has three storeys and bay windows…..



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I also like the fact that these houses have a small front and back wall….


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Right, before all of the eagle eyed of you out there pick up on a fault, I will tell you where it is. Look at the right hand side back wall, I managed to glue the section on upside down(whoops). Once I had realized it was too late, the glue had totally set. I blame the trauma I’d suffered from the cutting through the electric cable for the error.


Still I managed to half rectify the problem by removing and replacing the window sills from the top, back to the bottom of the windows and when the houses eventually go onto Wynyard Lane, you will not see the back anyway (PHEEEW)….


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All it needs now is its chimney pots and then its finished….


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The next project, is making the quayside walls for the dock I intend to have at Wynyard Lanes Port and industrial section.


Until next time……


Chris

Sunday 18 September 2011

Terraced Houses……

I do apologise for not posting for so long, but I have had problems with my computer. All fixed now (touch wood).

This is the project I was building at the Bowburn Show. It is the Terraced Houses T020 from scalescenes . It is similar to the Small Terraced Houses T022. I must admit I get a lot of pleasure out of building these Terraces. You can incorporate as much or as little detail as you want. The large range of interior features is so comprehensive, every thing from carpets and rugs to pictures and bookcases.

The carcase is a very sturdy construction and serves itself well as a solid base to build upon.

This is as far as I got at the show. I was going to keep it in this state until the next show in October and then carry on from there, but I just couldn’t help myself and had to continue…..

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I’ve managed to get as far as putting on the roofs and the chimneys stacks. This is a slow process, as the slates are all put on in individual rows. A little fiddly, but the effect is very good.This build has even got the option of sky lights……

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The next step is to build the front façades along with the bay windows. I will get these done as soon as possible and show you, but I have some DIY I have to do on my own house first. I have some 25 year old Artex to take off a very large staircase.

Until next time……..

Chris

Monday 5 September 2011

Sundays Fair at Bowburn…..

Well it’s finally done and dusted, and it was not as painful as I had expected.

I had a bit of a dilemma on what to build at the show. I had planned to build the Low Relief Cinema and Department Store (T006) from scalescenes, but I got building on Wednesday night and before I knew it they were finished!! The build was so quick and easy I just lost myself. Although it was quick, it didn’t mean it had lost any detail. I still managed to take some pictures while I was whizzing along………

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I told you it was quick…

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It just had to be my two favourite films that were showing at the ODEON. For the eagle eyed of you out there may just know that the two films were made six years apart. The Great Escape 1963 and The Italian Job 1969. I’m sorry but it just had to be.

After the cinema I attacked the department store. And would you believe it, that just flew up as well…..

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The basic structure is the same as the cinema. It’s just the façades that are different…..

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So because these were finished in just a couple of nights I had to find something else to build. I chose the Terraced Houses (T020) These will fit in nicely at Wynyard Lane. I got all of my printing done on Saturday night, changed all of my blades in my knives and loaded up the car with all my models ready for Sunday.

When I arrived at Bowburn I was met by the organiser Frank and he showed me to my table. I’m pleased it was not in the main hall but in a second, smaller hall adjacent to the main hall. Plus this was where the cafe was.

Once set up I got a cup of tea and away I went. The morning absolutely flew passed and I met loads of people interested in my models and scalescenes. People could not believe that they were all downloaded from the internet. One poor old chap couldn’t understand how I got all of the models off of the printer. Bless him.

There was one gentleman who came up to my table and was studying the large station. He stood for what seemed to be ages just staring at it. I asked him if he liked it, and he informed me that he was building one himself. He wanted to study it so he could see how his would end up.

You could guarantee every time I had something all glued up and ready to stick, someone would ask me a question, but I’m pleased they did. I was so worried I would be sat all on my own all day. I wanted to get some pictures of myself working away, but I was so busy answering questions and showing techniques, before I knew it, it was nearly time to pack up and go. The time time just flew passed and I didn’t get my pictures. I managed to get some as everyone was packing away. I suppose any are better than none…..

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As you can see the Department Store and Cinema go really well with the High Street……

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Andrew, my work mate, just couldn’t help himself. He deposited an old Binns Truck in front of the Cinema. Unfortunately he took it home with him…….

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In summary I have to say I really enjoyed myself. I can’t wait until the next show at Birtley in October. For everyone I met and had a chat with, I hope you have as much fun and get as much satisfaction as I do building these Scalescenes Models.

Until next time……..

Chris

Friday 2 September 2011

Bowburn Toy & Train Collectors Fair.

Just a quick note for anybody who may be interested, I am going to the Toy and Train Collectors Fair at Bowburn on Sunday 4th September. I have been asked to display my models and to do a demonstration of building a model. So if you want to see the models in the flesh, so to speak, you know where I am. If you do come along and you follow my Blog, please introduce yourself, it would be nice to meet you.

The address is Bowburn Community Centre, Durham Rd, Bowburn, County Durham. DH6 5AT.

It is just off  junction 61 of the A1m.

It is open to the public between 10:00hrs and 14:30hrs.

Might see you there…….

Chris