David Holman

Well, he is called Pat!

Many thanks everyone and especially Boskonay for the fabulous painting. A picture is certainly worth a thousand words!

As the budget is tight, then a Grasstech or other static grass machine may be a step too far as they can be anything from £30 to £100, plus you will need to get the fibres too. However, a Noch puffer bottle works well in small spaces [with fibres] and is worth having a go with if you can get one. With Woodlands, suggest sticking to the fine and medium scatter and sieve it on via a kitchen implement for more even cover. For hedges, I use rubberised horsehair [see the tutorial and workbench sections]. Even without fibres puffed on, covered with scatter it looks good. Also very effective is pan scourer type material, but make sure you tease it out really thin before adding scatter. For bushes and hedges, your local model shop may well do pack of lichen. Often in lurid colours, it benefits from being toned down - either spray can or brushed - to an even grey brown. Then once covered with scatter [diluted PVA painted on], makes very effective bushes and shrubs. The front garden of the Georgian house on Arigna Town was done this way. In smaller scales can even pass for trees, especially at the back of the layout. Not that long ago dyed lint, teddy bear fur, plumbers hemp, sisal etc were the basics for all scenic work and [especially in the smaller scales] are still valid today. For larger trees, I use the wire skeleton method, with Woodlands matting for foliage. Well worth a go and any wire will do, though the soft iron [paper covered] stuff sold for flower arranging is easy to work with and a pack only costs a pound/euro or so. Covered with filler mixed with PVA for a strong but flexible bark. Fences are indeed a problem, not least because they are so fiddly. I have a big bag on matchsticks and often use these for lineside fencing - often not bothering to put in the wire strands and nobody seems to notice! Overall, it is easy to spend a fortune on bits and pieces, when we really want to save our cash for locos and stock. That is why a bit of DIY and creativity comes in with the scenic. Most of my buildings are made from card and when I worked in 4mm scale, much of that came from cereal packets and the like. The biggest impact on scenic is colour and texture and the moral is what my art teacher always said. 'Paint what you see, not what you think', though when modelling scenics, toning everything down a shade or two always seems to be more effective. Keep going with your project - a look back over all the postings shows how well things are developing.

One for the historians! Can anyone remember what colour the postmans uniform was in Eire in the 1950s please? Have a figure I want to paint.

Nicely weathered stock, but if I may offer mild criticism the ground cover is a very bright green in some scenes. Commercial scatter materials often do not help with this, though of the main suppliers Woodland Scenics palette is much more subtle.

Am fairly sure somebody does laser cut sheets for roofing, though not sure what sort. Howard Scanics, Freestone Models, does a 7mm scale embossed sheet for roof tiles. This is a thick cartridge paper and still needs cutting into strips. Might be worth checking out the Wills sheets too. Though 4mm scale, I use their corrugated ones in 7mm and they look fine. I just bite the bullet and measure/draw out a grid on copier paper ( for slates) and card for tiles. Could do it quicker on a computer methinks. Then cut into strips and then use scissors or craft knife to cut the strips half way to give the gap between each tile or slate. Use random lengths of strip (anything from 3 to 15 slates) and build up the roof from the bottom edge upwards. Another tip is to stick the strips with double sided tape. Works surprisingly well. Would never suggest doing a roof one slate at a time, but using strips gets it done fairly quickly. A good tip in any scale is to use micro strip for guttering. Make it thick enough and deep enough to glue to the wall, but round the front edge first. Nobody notices the gutter is not hollow. Check out Arigna Town pics to see what I mean. Downpipes are plastic rod, with masking tape to suggest the joints.

They look like ABS castings. bought a 7mm scale set at Reading Trade Show yesterday. They do a range of styles. S&D, also Springside do buffers too. As prototype pics show, there are many different types and for absolute fidelity, one needs to be careful or you could end up with [heaven forbid] GWR buffers on a Highland Railway layout... Me, I've used Peco in the past, because they are very good value and easy to put together. The ABS ones are in the paint shop at the moment, but will hopefully appear on the Arigna Town turntable siding next week.

There was interest in weed infested track on the Bord Na Mona layout earlier this week, so here are a few pics of what I do. When knowing I want weeds between the rails, I am less careful with ballasting, at least in terms of coverage; then any bare patches become home for the weeds. Hence first pic shows a piece of track like this on the cattle dock. The next shows it with blobs of PVA in the bare patches, then comes the effect of puffing short fibres on to the glue from a Noch puffer bottle. Also reminds me that I only painted the outside face of the rails, so another job added to the list. Eventually, will add more fibres and once 'set' will smear further PVA on top of some areas to add fine scatter to make weeds, as per elsewhere on the layout. The last couple of pictures show the final area to be covered with 'grass'. This is the field in front of the station. At the moment, this is only the first stage, for though it has been dressed with a mix of 4 different coloured fibres [using an electrostatic Grasstech], you can see how plain and featureless this patch is, especially compared to even the partly done section next to the turntable. Spray varnish, scatter material & postiche, as before, will be used to build up the variety of both textures and colours, as per the real thing.

Also seen it on tour and it is every bit as good in the flesh as the pictures suggest. 3mm is also a lovely scale, requiring only half the space of 00 - or much more in the same area. Like S, a bit of a niche, but for those who enjoy building rather than collecting, has so much to offer.

Deep joy today as have at last got a copy of Neil Sprinks History of the SLNCR. And very interesting it is too. Many thanks to the web and especially Buffers Books, where I at last tracked down a copy in very good condition for just a tenner. Not bad considering it was published in 1980. However, in my internet searches on the Sligo and now getting some odd results, in that they increasingly bring up pictures and stuff that I have produced myself on this site! Most strange was finding the maps I drew of my Arigna Town branch, as a basis for the layout. Totally fictitious, but now masquerading as reality. Art imitating life or what? Anyway, quite Possible that the maps will be re-drawn anyway as the Rinks book is making me consider the proposal for a line south from Dromahair and through Drumkeeran. The orientation of the station will then be reversed, which will better suit my back scenes. At exhibitions, it is nice when folk think you are modelling at actual place, but when the Web starts to suggest fact to your fiction, who am I to argue...

Assume.by the 8x4 you want a tail chaser. However would question whether this.is a good size for either operation or visual effect. Key problem with 8x4 is that you are looking at 18inch curves, 21 at best and unless short wheelbase stock is used then stuff will not look right with big overhangs on the corners. You will also be pushed to fit in siding and storage space because the longest straight will be four feet six at best. At least consider a terminus fiddle yard before doing a tail chaser. You can avoid sharp curved and build a station that can run to a proper timetable or sequence. Equally, if a tail chaser is really your thing, then go for it, but as others have suggested, keep the track work simple and maybe try to find space for additional storage sidings to increase the number of trains you can run. Iain Rice's Mainlines in Small Spaces has some good ideas, though nothing under 8x6. Check out Cyril Freezers layout plan booklets too (Peco), which do cover your available space and some of his ideas are very clever.

Not bad at all! Trying to build up that sort of gunk on a tanker is not easy. How did you set about doing it? Humbrol gunmetal [53] is a good colour, as is Metalcote gunmetal, as this has a bluish sheen useful for oily bits anywhere

A mixture of fibres and/or ground foam [crumb] works well for grassy track. Goes without saying that anything too long will get in the way of wheels, pickups etc, though battery power could obviate that perhaps. Have used 6mm fibres & a static grass machine without problems, but 2mm also works in smaller scales. Remember to mix the colours and build up layers. Once PVA has set, a light smear of glue across the top of fibres enables fine crumb to be sprinkled on to give weed/leaves type texture. A puffer bottle works just as well but takes a little longer. One trick I have developed is to not be too careful when ballasting in the first place, so that there are random bare patches in the ballast. These then get the weed treatment, so it all looks quite natural. There again, for some parts of Bord na Mona, you could miss the ballast altogether! The building is already looking impressive, Phil. Will look forward to seeing it finished.

Though 50 years old, the Ahern books still do all the basic techniques well. Guy Williams built much of Pendon's stock - 'nuff said. Check out the late Geoff Holts recent books on loco construction too. He built much of Pete Waterman's collection and though the absolute master craftsman writes and illustrates in a way that makes you believe you can go a fair way to emulating him. Could well become the new 'bible' for such work.

Consider doing an open frame type of baseboard Sean. That way you are only taking strip wood and narrow strips of materials up the spiral stairs, rather than large sheets. Check out Iain Rice's book Finescal in Small Spaces for ideas - there is a wealth of good stuff there. Alternatively browse the magazine racks [no need to buy them all!] as bound to be some tips there too re layout/baseboard design.

Two little gems. Given the size of the photo compared to the model, that is very sharp work indeed!

Been there, done it, Phil. Gordon Gravett a serial user for brickwork and random stone, though when I tried, it drove nuts! this is the bloke who happily painted Howard Scenics embossed card bricks one at a time for a while... Do use it a lot for infill, which doesn't say much about some of my measuring... On Arigna town, it was used for the capping stones on the station walls, along with chimney flashings etc. Works best if a layer of PVA is put on first, but am sure you know that.

Little if any of my work is original Phil and I've been inspired and helped by many over the years. For layout design and all things constructional, you can't go far wrong with Iain Rice. 'Finescale in Small Spaces' has lots of layout plans, but also goes into detail on layout composition, sight lines, view blockers and the like. We are creating a 3D picture, so getting composition right is a bit part. Any of Iain's other stuff is also worth reading too and it is all fairly simple and just good common sense. Barry Norman's 'Landscape modelling' has been out a while now but dealt with the basics of scenic work and is still relevant today. Even older are John Ahern's books on buildings & locos. written first in the early 1950s, I nevertheless still refer to them as they deal with basic skills such as how to do building shells, make simple chassis etc. The books that currently get most use are Martyn Welch's The Art of Weathering and Gordon Gravetts ones on Trees and [just out] Grass. The weathering book does buildings and track as well as locos and stock and is just invaluable because he takes you step by step through the process and tells you exactly what colour paints to use. Gordon's books use the same method and add in materials, where to get them and even how long a model might take. Very readable and believable too. While I'm reasonable confident with scenic work these days [& have the key tools such as the static Grasstech machine], waited for Gordon's new book on grass before doing that phase on Arigna town because having seen his work numerous times, wanted to get that step by step approach. If you can afford 3 books, I'd go for these last ones mentioned. If only one, get the Gravett 'grass' book. Magazines are also a good source of ideas and don't just stick to mainstream 'British/Irish' ones. the US Model Railroader has lots of good ideas, while Narrow Gauge & Shortline Gazette is also fab if you can find it. Model Railway Journal is a regular source of ideas, though can get a bit technical at times. Also been very fortunate over the years to meet some wonderful people at my local club & various shows. If you have a local club, it is always worth joining. Mine has most of the mags on subscription too, plus a range of more expensive tools like lathe, grass tech etc. Most of all, never be frightened to experiment. A small diorama or little cameo scene can bring quick results and build confidence.

It is Code 100 copperclad, scahalane. Normal 0 gauge is code 124, so the smaller section really helps with the lightweight track image and also enhances the proper track gauge of 36.75mm [or thereabouts!] Points were built by Marcway of Sheffield, have used them before and well worth it for me as though can do such things, they are not my favourite. Plain track much easier. If you are doing 7mm scale Irish, then broad gauge has few problems, other than the usual lack of anything RTR. Slaters do an extended loco axle, albeit a fiver a go, while their wagon wheels can be eased out without compromising W irons etc.

Just list all the other superlatives - beautiful models. Hated DMUs when they replaced steam, but they make such attractive models now...

They come as a stainless steel etch, Broithe. Ten pieces in all, they go together in pairs either side of the whitemetal tyre casting. The wheel centre is a brass turning that slots neatly into the middle. All very neat and accurate. the rest of the kit is whitemetal. Little if any flash and for 20 quid, good value. Not a quick build though as what to paint & when needs thinking about & the instructions are limited to general advice and a clear exploded diagram. Southeastern Finecast do an interesting range of vehicles, including larger scale stuff too. Worth looking up.

This little cameo has been a long time in the making and it never ceases to amaze me how long the little details can take. The petrol pumps have had their 'heads' removed because I wasn't able to get the lettering right, though transfers may become available again one day I hear. The pumps are scratchbuilt in plasticard, though very similar in outline to the former Classic Commercials Kits. The hose is layout wire and the handles bits I found in the scrapbox. The Austin 7 is a Southeastern Finecast kit. Very nice, but time-consuming to build because of waiting for paint to dry between so many of the stages. The wire wheels are etched stainless steel and rather nice. A neat trick for those who haven't come across it before is to file/sand the bottom of the tyres so the model 'sits' in the way a real car would - ie depressing the tyres slightly. A 2 min job, but very effective. Added windscreen wiper and [local] number plates, but not much else needed. The Humber in the workshop is an old Dinky toy. Much battered from my childhood and [scarily] over 50 years old, I committed heresy by stripping the paint and removing the wheels. A quick respray, then raised on blocks over the inspection pit and Robert is your father's brother' as the saying goes. Various bits & pieces from the scrapbox complete the scene. Figures [which are one of my least favourite jobs] come from a variety of sources. Omen and Phoenix are definitely the best, but in the larger scale you get some lovely little sculptures from other folk too, such as Dart Castings, ABS etc

A case of trying to practice what I preach over the last 2 weeks & am pleasantly surprised at how 'little and often' has resulted in some new cameos, with things coming together across the layout. First up is the garage, though have put a few notes in Workbench on this. Baseboard 3, next to the fiddle yard, has also seen work done around the cottage, with the signalman's wife now out doing the washing on her [Langley models] mangle. The new pig seems to have escaped - wonder how long it will be before she notices? Haven't been able to much ground cover, as ran out of fibres, but thought it would be nice to view the station through foliage installed thus far, so we have pictures of the railbus and Small Tank arriving/departing.

I got my SLNCR large tank GA drawing from Manchester. Paid 20 quid for a CD instead and then did my own simplified drawing. Good way of getting to know the subject. Am sure what ever you pay will be worth it. 21mm gauge and inside motion always deserves to succeed.

Is Tolkien hobbit forming? I'm pink, therefore I'm spam Whither atrophy? Needed a dictionary for than one... Only dead fish go with the flow If you think you can or you think you can't - you are right. Henry Ford If wishes were fishes, we'd all cast nets