David's Workbench

[Mol_PMB]

Wonderful! Superb workmanship and finishing. No need to be scared of the airbrush when you can achieve that.

[Tullygrainey]

What a great opportunity David! Gordon Gravett is up there with Iain Rice and Mike Sharman in my list of railway modelling heroes. Though I never managed to see Pempoul in the flesh, for me it took modelling to a new level the first time I saw photos of it in BRM. And later, Arun Quay was equally impressive. Sounds like Ashford was a great show.

The Swilly tank is brilliant. Perfect weathering job. You've definitely achieved the look you were aiming for. Totally convincing. The rods and wheels are just right for a well used loco. I know what you mean about airbrushes. It takes a deal of courage to spray a weathering mix all over a pristine model. Something I haven't yet had the guts to do! 

[Galteemore]

Have to say that you have brought more than a touch of Gravett magic to the Irish scene David! The locos look fabulous. 

[Rob]

Amazingly realistic-  well done!

[David Holman]

Thanks folks. The air brushing took all of two minutes, though I did practice on bits of card beforehand to try and get the spray pattern right. Truth be known, it looks ok with the two foot rule, but close up, it could be better. Must make sure I request barriers when the layout goes out again!

 Going back to Gordon's masterful work, have come to realise that time is never a factor in what he does. Apart from the obvious skill and experience, he simply works on stuff until it is right - and if it takes more than one go, so be it. Indeed, he will often practice extensively before making the actual model or component.

 One example he told me last weekend was about Pempoul's track. The Reseau Breton was metre gauge, while the layout uses EM (18mm) track. Not quite correct, because the scale used is 1:50, but a reasonable compromise. The track itself utilised S scale components: code 98 bullhead rail and cast whitemetal chairs. Gordon assembled everything using aradite. Not the 5 minute stuff, but the full on 24 hour setting version. Immensely strong, but requiring numerous half track panels to be assembled one at a time, over many evenings!

 I guess we all have certain things we are happy to spend more time on than others, but the very best modellers do it on everything - and there, I think, lies the difference. Add in skill, experience, knowledge, vision etc and you get the very best of the best.

[Galteemore]

32 minutes ago, David Holman said:

Thanks folks. The air brushing took all of two minutes, though I did practice on bits of card beforehand to try and get the spray pattern right. Truth be known, it looks ok with the two foot rule, but close up, it could be better. Must make sure I request barriers when the layout goes out again!

 Going back to Gordon's masterful work, have come to realise that time is never a factor in what he does. Apart from the obvious skill and experience, he simply works on stuff until it is right - and if it takes more than one go, so be it. Indeed, he will often practice extensively before making the actual model or component.

 One example he told me last weekend was about Pempoul's track. The Reseau Breton was metre gauge, while the layout uses EM (18mm) track. Not quite correct, because the scale used is 1:50, but a reasonable compromise. The track itself utilised S scale components: code 98 bullhead rail and cast whitemetal chairs. Gordon assembled everything using aradite. Not the 5 minute stuff, but the full on 24 hour setting version. Immensely strong, but requiring numerous half track panels to be assembled one at a time, over many evenings!

 I guess we all have certain things we are happy to spend more time on than others, but the very best modellers do it on everything - and there, I think, lies the difference. Add in skill, experience, knowledge, vision etc and you get the very best of the best.

That’s most interesting David. One assumes that Gordon just imagines something and it appears perfectly formed in front of him! I know I’ve been guilty of the ‘it’ll do’ approach too often..

[David Holman]

Me too!

[Tullygrainey]

And me!

[David Holman]

Stuff!

 A combination of Mayner's writings and a weekend with Gordon Gravett, has prompted a serious look at my exhibition stuff, in an effort to tidy things up and make life a bit better than 'it will do'. A big problem with going to shows is that [for me anyway], however good the intentions going out, coming home tends to be a bit hit and miss. I keep a record book to note everything that goes wrong, but this means I'm more reactive than proactive. All a bit C minus, must to better!

  So, first up, did a bit of an audit with the aim of trying to be more preventative.

 Something that has had me worried for a while is the sliding/rotating fiddle yard. It's a bit of a nervous breakdown every time the train table needs rotating and though I'm [fairly] sure everything is safe, decided a bit of belt and braces was needed - hence a couple of wooden blocks screwed to the frame so that long bolts can go through the beams for a bit of extra security.

  Also decided a new, separate storage box was merited for all the electrics - instead of chucking them all in the 'sundries crate' at the end of a show.

 As Mayner has already pointed out with his large scale garden railway stock, our models can lead a hard life and so it is with exhibitions - mainly down to getting things in and out of boxes all the time. Going through my stuff found a host of minor problems, plus several niggles like loose cab roofs and so on:

 Above is the under frame of Railcar B, missing one of its struts. Below is one of the exMGWR 6 wheel coaches, lacking a cover to the guard's Duckett.

 Discovered several wagons with missing bits of under frame, brake handles & so on,  while even Wof Dog wasn't immune, having lost a step from its tender.

  None of the remedial work took long to fix - though the repairs still need painting and there are a fair few other models that need a bit of touching up as well while I'm at it. As stuff goes back in the stock boxes, I'm also taking time to make sure each of the sections is secure, including the all important pieces which protect the Alex Jackson couplings.

 Decided it might also be a good idea to have a spare Tortoise point motor - just in case. They rarely go wrong, but you can be sure if the do, it will be at a show! Fairly easy to fit a new one - though probably not from underneath the layout...

 Finally, a neat little idea I learned from Gordon at the Ashford Show. It's his track cleaner, which uses a barbecue skewer with a hole drilled in it to take half a cotton bud. Soak the bud in meths/alcohol/lighter fluid and it becomes a very handy way to clean to the rail tops.

[Galteemore]

Some great tips David. Great to see NPQ gearing up for a trip out!