I'm Still Here.............

Just to let you all know, I haven’t left you. I might not of been posting on here but, I have still been building a model. There’s been a lot going on in my life what with work and home, so having the luxury of time to chart the progress of a build, I haven’t had a lot of that. I did find time however back in November, to visit the Warley Model Railway Show held at the NEC in Birmingham. I’d never been before, so wasn’t prepared for the vast array of fantastic layouts on display. I had arranged to meet up with John Wiffen, the brains behind Scalescenes, and he and I had a fantastic day ambling around and scrutinising the superb layouts on display. I must say I was well inspired, and I wish I had the time to put all of the ideas that I gleaned from the show, onto my layout.

I haven’t posted anything since back in August, when I finished the Scalescenes R007a Crossing Keepers Cottage, I have however, built a model. It was another version of the T030c Modern cargo ship.I wanted to build it to my own specifications, as I work at a local port, and some of the vessels that we deal with are very similar to the Modern Cargo Ship. So, with John’s permission, and a lot of help from him and my wife, I managed to manipulate the kit to near enough the correct colour for the shipping company I wanted.

   
 
I also wanted the hatches to be moved by a hatch gantry crane, rather than slid along and concertina for loading and discharge.

So a gantry crane was fashioned from Evergreen plastic.

The cargo is to simulate a dry cargo of Urea. A base product that goes into a wide range of finished products, from animal feeds, glue and Ad-blue to name a few. My version is made from Das White Modelling Clay.

I’m building up quite a fleet now, what with the two original T030 cargo ships, the T030a fishing fleet, the T030b Clyde Puffer and the two T030c Modern Cargo ships.
 

I’m hoping to get back on track with blog after the turn of the year. I’ve got the latest release from Scalescenes, the LY01 Industrial Box File Layout and I’m hoping to make a start with that over the Christmas period.

Whilst I’m on, I might as well remind you, that if you have that hard to buy for Dad, Grandad, Brother or indeed anyone who likes to make models, there are Gift Certificates available from Scalescenes. Just click the link. They are for any amount and don’t ever expire. Just let them order what and when they want. Perfect!

Can I also take this opportunity to wish everyone good health and happiness over the festive period, and to have a prosperous 2019.

Until Next Time......…
 

Finished Crossing Keepers Cottage........

Now that all the walls have been built its now time to put them all together. It’s very important at this stage, to make sure that everything is square. A small block square is fine for making sure the walls are perpendicular, but I found two combination squares put together, holds all the structure square while the glue sets.
 
 

The extension is next. The walls are of the same construction as the rest of the building, two side walls, one with chimney built into it, and a gable wall.

When I fixed these to the main structure, I wanted to make sure these were also square. The way I done it, was to cut a scrap piece of card the same width between the two walls at the gable end. So when I glued the walls to the main building, I use the same piece of scrap card as a spacer to keep the structure square.   

 
 

On with the ceilings next. These also incorporate the guttering. 

 

Once the ceilings are in place, it’s time to construct the roof. Lots of rows of slates. 

 

The cottage has two roofs. The transition between the two on this kit, has a simple but clever addition of valley flashing. 

  
 
The outbuilding wall is next. And there’s no lack of detail here either. Down to detailed door frames. And a piece that I personally like, is a baton gate.
 
 
 

Finally to put on all of the gable coping stones and the chimney capping, and that’s it. 
 
 

I like this little cottage. It’s got me back to my craft table. It hasn’t taken too long to build and it would be a great kit for a beginner. It’s the first time I’ve used the Scaleglaze windows, and I think they are a fantastic addition the Scalescenes range. 

I’ve got the bit between my teeth again now, and my next project is to build another modern cargo ship. As a general bulk cargo carrier.  Watch this space. 

Until Next Time...........

  

Crossing Keepers Cottage.............

Time to get back to modelling I think. To break myself back in gently, I’m going to build the latest release from Scalescenes, the R007a Crossing Keepers Cottage. It’s not a huge or complicated build, but it’s just the right size to get me back in the swing. It also gives me the chance to use my new windows from Scaleglaze. I’m building it in brown brick (as usual) I must diversify a little, and try some different textures. There’s plenty to choose from after all. 

 

It all starts as usual by cutting out the base layers, to be covered by the detailed cover layers. As you can see, the join or overlap is cut into the brick. This when wrapped around the finished wall, cleverly disguises the join. 

 

 

 

 

Once the walls are put together and before the windows are fitted, the window sills are put into place. I like to colour the raw edges before I fit them. It helps when I’ve got a vast array of pens to chose from. 

 

It’s now time to fit the new windows. I must admit, I like the idea of not having to cut out these little windows, it’s a lot easier to use something that is already made. 

I like these windows, I like them a lot.

 

 

Next comes very clever bit, it’s the inclusion of drainpipes. These are built into one of the internal walls. So when the model is complete, There is no chance of knocking off the drainpipes.

 

 

 

A chimney stack comes next, again with a cleverly wrapped cover layer to hide the join in the brickwork. 

 

 

That’s my progress so far, I’m taking it slow, so as not to aggravate my tennis elbow. 

Until Next Time...........