N Scale Ballywillan, Co Longford.

David Holman · February 8

Interesting concept too, especially in larger scales and certainly food for thought and all the more remarkable in 2mm scale.

Kevin Sweeney · February 9

On 8/2/2024 at 7:57 AM, David Holman said:

Interesting concept too, especially in larger scales and certainly food for thought and all the more remarkable in 2mm scale.

Funny you should say that, but this has piqued my interest in larger scales. With this method of construction it would be easy to make and fit out interiors.

Kevin Sweeney · February 17

Making good progress with Kilmore Cathedral. About 45 hours work done so far. I've used the sticky label method for the windows.

derek · February 17

5 hours ago, Kevin Sweeney said:

Making good progress with Kilmore Cathedral. About 45 hours work done so far. I've used the sticky label method for the windows.

No stopping you Kevin. Great stuff! When you say "the sticky label method for windows", do you literally cut shapes from labels and stick them on. If so how do you manage the "lead" Xs as glass? In other words, what do you stick the window frames/labels to?

Edited February 17 by derek

Kevin Sweeney · February 17

37 minutes ago, derek said:

No stopping you Kevin. Great stuff! When you say "the sticky label method for windows", do you literally cut shapes from labels and stick them on. If so how do you manage the "lead" Xs as glass? In other words, what do you stick the window frames/labels to?

I learned the sticky label method from this Chandwell video. You print the windows onto sticky labels, stick them to acetate and cut out the openings. The Xs on the glass are printed on acetate and added as an addition layer behind the main window.

Kevin Sweeney · February 20

More progress with the cathedral

Romanesque doorway.. Made with 5 layers of photos, stuck to 160 gsm card.

Kevin Sweeney · May 17

Back doing some work on Kilmore Cathedral.

derek · May 17

Amazing Kevin, absolutely amazing!

Kevin Sweeney · May 24

I finally got the Cathedral finished.

Next job is to finish Cavan Town Hall, which is well on.

Looking for future projects, I really like the look of these two, Kinsale Market House and Bray Town Hall,

David Holman · May 24

Fab. Well done!

Rush and Lusk · May 24

Fabulous modelling Kevin, envious of your talent - Bray Town Hall is a most impressive building, always admired it, rather untypically Irish, but very attractive.

derek · May 24

6 hours ago, Kevin Sweeney said:

I finally got the Cathedral finished.

Next job is to finish Cavan Town Hall, which is well on.

Looking for future projects, I really like the look of these two, Kinsale Market House and Bray Town Hall,

Yes Kevin, why not go for something nice and simple for a change ha ha. Fantastic to see that amazing cathedral finished. Excellent work!

Tullygrainey · May 24

10 hours ago, Kevin Sweeney said:

I finally got the Cathedral finished.

Next job is to finish Cavan Town Hall, which is well on.

Looking for future projects, I really like the look of these two, Kinsale Market House and Bray Town Hall,

A masterpiece. Just wonderful!

WaYSidE · June 5

On 4/12/2023 at 6:08 PM, Kevin Sweeney said:

Can't wait to get some of these running, They have all been run in, but most have never hauled a coach or wagon.

Kevin, i read your entire post and followed links, i am so impressed with all of it, as for the quote above about your unused locos awaiting for finished track, with buildings like yours, an empty railway not distract from all that amazing architecture.

Kevin Sweeney · July 21

Bellmont House is finished.

murphaph · July 21

That's just class.

derek · July 21

Fantastic Kevin. Your buildings put everybody else in the ha'penny place. How many clones of you are there? Production rate is off the scale! Your level of detail is simply mindblowing.

Patrick Davey · July 21

Exceptional work Kevin - easy to forget it's 2mm!! Looking forward to further updates.

David Holman · July 22

Far more than an architectural model, the building has real life to it.

Kevin Sweeney · August 3

Over the last four years I've accumulated a large collection of unfinished projects. I've resolved to try and get some of them finished rather than starting anything new. The first result of this policy is the stables at Lough Key Forest Park, which I started about 4 years ago. The textures used are all scalescenes, as at that time i did not know how to make textures.

Some day soon I might even get around to finishing Ballywillan.

derek · August 3

3 hours ago, Kevin Sweeney said:

Over the last four years I've accumulated a large collection of unfinished projects. I've resolved to try and get some of them finished rather than starting anything new. The first result of this policy is the stables at Lough Key Forest Park, which I started about 4 years ago. The textures used are all scalescenes, as at that time i did not know how to make textures.

Some day soon I might even get around to finishing Ballywillan.

speechless!!!!!

Edited August 3 by derek

Kevin Sweeney · August 10

Making good progress on this diorama. This was my great great grandfather's house and farmyard. Unfortunately it is all gone now, demolished about 10 years ago. The aerial photo below was taken in the 1980s, but my model is based on the 1901 OS map and a video made in the 1950s.

Galteemore · August 10

Fabulous. My family place in N Leitrim comes to mind - all those red tin roofs!

David Holman · August 12

Joyous!

Patrick Davey · August 13

Magnificent!

Kevin Sweeney · August 24

I've decided to add to my Ballyheelan diorama and make the whole village, as it was in the early 20th century. The village is gone now, there are only two houses now. In the early 20th century, there were 8 houses, a grocery shop, a butchers shop, a post office, a slaughter house, a mill and kilns, a forge and a shebeen. I've had a life long interest in local history and am really taken with the idea of making models of buildings and scenes that are gone.

I've been experimenting with a bit of weathering, I will need to do lots of it, as without it the village will look like a pristine theme park.

I'm also creating my first water feature, the Ballyheelan river.

I will be adding vehicles, people and livestock to the diorama, another first.

I have the terrain elevations correct, I found a really good and simple to use, contour map generator at Contour Map Creator (urgr8.ch). See screen shot below.

The baseboards are made from 1.3 mm mountboard, the boards are quite rigid and surprisingly strong. To test their strength I stood on them and they bore my 70 kgs without problem.

derek · August 24

4 hours ago, Kevin Sweeney said:

I've decided to add to my Ballyheelan diorama and make the whole village, as it was in the early 20th century. The village is gone now, there are only two houses now. In the early 20th century, there were 8 houses, a grocery shop, a butchers shop, a post office, a slaughter house, a mill and kilns, a forge and a shebeen. I've had a life long interest in local history and am really taken with the idea of making models of buildings and scenes that are gone.

I've been experimenting with a bit of weathering, I will need to do lots of it, as without it the village will look like a pristine theme park.

I'm also creating my first water feature, the Ballyheelan river.

I will be adding vehicles, people and livestock to the diorama, another first.

I have the terrain elevations correct, I found a really good and simple to use, contour map generator at Contour Map Creator (urgr8.ch). See screen shot below.

The baseboards are made from 1.3 mm mountboard, the boards are quite rigid and surprisingly strong. To test their strength I stood on them and they bore my 70 kgs without problem.

Looking forward to this one Kevin. I seem to be asking everyone this lately, but what did you use for the water effect. And any chance of a closer look at it please?

Mayner · August 25

Kevin your approach to modelling reminds me more and more of Roye England (an Australian) the founder of Pendon Museum who set out to build models 'of the changing face of rural England" during the 1930s. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roye_England

Pendon Museum well worth visiting physically or virtually! https://pendonmuseum.com/

George Iiffe Stokes and his wife Doris from the same era took a similar approach to modelling and their bohemian lifestyle attracted the younger generation. https://swindonworks.weebly.com/george-iliffe-stokes---scenic-artist.html

Well worth checking out!

Galteemore · August 25

Absolutely Mayner - spot on comparison. Imagine an Irish Pendon…..no pressure, Kevin! Fabulous work and most inspiring.

Edited August 25 by Galteemore

Kevin Sweeney · August 25

23 hours ago, derek said:

Looking forward to this one Kevin. I seem to be asking everyone this lately, but what did you use for the water effect. And any chance of a closer look at it please?

I used a pound shop clear glue for the water. The base of the river is mountboard. On top of that I put a layer of toilet paper soaked in PVA glue. While the glue was still wet I worked it with a brush to create ripples. Then I poured the glue on top. It took about 48 hours for the glue to dry. I'm happy enough with the result for a first effort. Another layer of glue or two would add more depth to the water.

Kevin Sweeney · August 25

14 hours ago, Mayner said:

Kevin your approach to modelling reminds me more and more of Roye England (an Australian) the founder of Pendon Museum who set out to build models 'of the changing face of rural England" during the 1930s. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roye_England

Pendon Museum well worth visiting physically or virtually! https://pendonmuseum.com/

George Iiffe Stokes and his wife Doris from the same era took a similar approach to modelling and their bohemian lifestyle attracted the younger generation. https://swindonworks.weebly.com/george-iliffe-stokes---scenic-artist.html

Well worth checking out!

Pendon looks amazing. I'm planning a trip to the England in the next few months. Pendon is definitely worth a visit for some inspiration.

derek · August 26

On 25/8/2024 at 4:02 PM, Kevin Sweeney said:

I used a pound shop clear glue for the water. The base of the river is mountboard. On top of that I put a layer of toilet paper soaked in PVA glue. While the glue was still wet I worked it with a brush to create ripples. Then I poured the glue on top. It took about 48 hours for the glue to dry. I'm happy enough with the result for a first effort. Another layer of glue or two would add more depth to the water.

Thanks Kevin, it looks great. I have a box of Woodland Scenics water which I am working up the courage to have a go at.

David Holman · August 27

Pendon also houses John Ahern's Madder Valley Railway. Although it looks it's age now (parts of it must be over 80 years old), it nevertheless remains inspirational, because it is completely scenic, but built in an era when almost everything had to be created from recycled materials.

No Woodlands Scenics, no plasticard, no pva glue - Cow Gum and flour and water were all they had. Have his books on loco building and model buildings and much of what they contain are still relevant, albeit with modern materials.

Love the diorama concept, Kevin.

Kevin Sweeney · August 30

Making good progress with the village. Just three small buildings left to make.

I've had my first go at static grass, happy enough with the result. I created a field of ripe grain and a field of tall grass, ready to cut for hay. I'm also experimenting with making lazy beds. Potato gardens were a common thing in that era. There is also an overgrown area next to the bridge. So I have the chance to create many different kinds of ground cover.

I've also been applying powered pastels to the house walls, and using a diluted acrylic wash to darken the thatch. But more of both are required.