Patrick Davey

Officially all done - Capecastle is finished and all ready to go for the show at Whitehead tomorrow. To complement the diorama there will also be a small photographic display showing the station as it looks today, along with some historical views, and some information about my family connections to The Ballycastle Railway. There will also be a digital slideshow showing over 300 photos and video clips of the construction of the diorama. And back by popular demand, are the reverend ladies!

A huge word of thanks to the many kind folk in this group who have commented on my updates during the build, this has been a great encouragement along the way. We’re stand number 11 at the exhibition, located upstairs in the loco building, so if you’re coming to the show tomorrow please drop by and say hello!

Capecastle almost ready!  Really looking forward to being part of the day and to meeting everyone! 

Verrrrrrry nice work LC and thank you for the mention!

Me!

Looking forward to an overload of pics!

Superb!!

2 hours ago, jhb171achill said:

In the long term, there are models available that are not a million miles from NCC prototypes. A little poetic licence and an Isle of Man 2.4.0 in NCC maroon would make a nice sight sitting there...

Superb little cameo as is, though!

Cheers JB - my intended period is just before closure so I’d really be needing one of the 2-4-2 compounds, lovely engines they were too!  So if I can find a suitable OO9 chassis.......

Thanks everyone, really appreciate the encouragement.  If any of you are coming to Whitehead, please say hello!  I'll be up on the first floor of the loco shed, close to the cutaway model of the GNR loco - shall be looking forward to it!

Final touches being made to the Capecastle diorama before display at Whitehead next week - telegraph poles and more trees, and black fascia added around three edges. We're working on a backscene today, not sure if I'll get this done according to my plan but at the very least there'll be blue skies!

Superb Tony, a real masterpiece sir!

On 10/12/2019 at 9:49 AM, LARNE CABIN said:

Wonderful video, just love the interaction between model and reality! Well done both big and wee Tony. Looking forward to meeting you and seeing your NCC Diorama at Whitehead on 9th Patrick. Loved your GNRI Waiting Shed and Signal Box, reminded me of my childhood days at Tandragee, and now an inspiration for getting me started on Larne Harbour, now that I am living in Larne!

That’s very kind, thank you LC! Please say hello on the day! 

16 hours ago, debrawenlock said:

Really looking forward to seeing your NCC narrow gauge diorama Whiteheaf om November

Debra

Thanks Debra! Am an admirer of your artwork so please do say hello on the day! 

Fantastic Tony!!! 

Looking forward to this!

https://www.facebook.com/312792468816066/posts/2456475314447760?sfns=mo

The LNWR ones are due in stock in 2021....

Sure the line to Greenore may well be opened again by then.......

Fantastic Tony!

Yum

12 hours ago, David Holman said:

A lovely piece of work. Will it have a backscene/fascia to frame it?

 Not sure anyone has ever done rain effectively, though Gordon Gravett shows how to do puddles and wet patches in his book on grass, weeds and mud.

 Years ago, remember a layout where everything had been given a coat of gloss varnish. Set in Dorset, I'm not sure how effective it was, but have always remembered the name - Piddling Down!

Thanks David - yes indeed a suitable backscene is in planning - ideally based on a photograph of the area but if not a general one with lovely blue skies (no rain!) and fluffy clouds....

11 hours ago, jhb171achill said:

Pure art! Excellent!

Cheers JB, much appreciated sir!

13 hours ago, Galteemore said:

Fantastic work Patrick. Speaking as a Co Antrim native it looks highly realistic! 

Thanks G!

42 minutes ago, PorkyP said:

Proper sunlight really brings the grass to life....tho taking the board out in the rain for that authentic Irish effect may not be such a good plan ! 

Indeed!! Might be more authentic to have it out in the snow, to recall the time in 1947 when the train left Capecastle and ran into a snow drift......

Did a daylight photoshoot - hard to beat natural light  

Decided to computer print the station name board. Am not 100% sure of the colours ie black on yellow but some of the broad gauge stations from around this time adopted this scheme so it’s an educated guess until colour photos emerge! 

I had a go today at making the station name board using Slaters 3mm letters - with the over 40's eyesight working against me, the result isn't overly pleasing, so I may have to admit defeat and print this from the computer.

The nun is a HO figure from the Preiser range and I'm impressed at how well she stands up without any adhesive.

9 minutes ago, Galteemore said:

Thanks Patrick. It’s Dromahair on the SLNC. I’m hoping to finish it within the week but here’s a window for now....

 

Great window!!!  and of course am daft - I’ve seen your Dromahair thread, fantastic stuff!!!

1 hour ago, Galteemore said:

 

Thanks Patrick. Those family connections are special. I’m just finishing off a model right now of the station where my grandfather’s freshly caught salmon were weighed before despatch to Dublin. I even found a 7mm model of the scales!! (The weighing scales, not the fish scales )

Sounds nice! Which station? Or are you keeping that on the QT? Looking forward to seeing it!

The reverend ladies on the platform are actually authentic - my mother's cousin was a nun in Ballycastle and she had plenty of memories of the railway, and that's not the only family connection I have to the Ballycastle line: my great grandfather was a driver on the BR in its independent days AND a great uncle of mine lived in Capecastle before emigrating to the USA.  I can imagine him starting that sad journey on the very platform I am recreating here.

These comments are out of order (boom boom).......