Skip to main content

6. The threat of the further attractions

 Mission creep is one thing, keeping the layout within the bounds of what's achievable, avoiding trying to add extras or push the time frame too far is part and parcel of our hobby.

Another part seems to be the very strong (sometimes too strong) temptation to just start a whole new project. This is happening to me all the time. The recent discovery of the delightful new 009 diesels from Bachman and Fourdees, and a Hungarian C-50 designed by James Hilton has piled on the pressure to jump in and start something else.


I'd love to do this, something reminiscent of the Hungarian logging scene with a UK industrial flavour.

Time and lack of pennies will probably keep me away from these temptations for now, but this is a strong marker towards (one of) the next project(s) in the pipeline.

Also, lest we forget, though not yet covered in this blog, I already have Greygates in 4mm (EM) in another box, and a sort of 2mmFS shelfie, also Greygates but I'm thinking this one may be moribund.


Issues here include the Easitrac 2mmFS points which I'm not convinced are robust enough. The new layout will use Finetrax points, at least in the first instance. It's been a useful pilot scheme though.

In other news, my 2mm 08 is back on the bench. One driving wheel needs the crank and pin adding, it seems reluctant to accept solder, so it'll have to be cleaned up thoroughly before I try again. Use of the soldering iron has been undertaken with great care since starting to use it again following picking it up by the hot end….

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

11. Lead us not into temptation…(1)

Seeing as I'm writing this on a Sunday, I thought a portion of prayer might be useful.  In this case, the fragment will kick off a new regular series of items that have caught my eye, but which my wallet cannot afford. We’ll start with this beautiful render from Scottish Wagon Works - its a Great North of Scotland Railway Brake Third, and I think it looks fab. Unfortunately it's also the wrong scale (7mm), I can't be getting into that at this stage, the wrong country (Scotland), I'm modelling further south, and... well its currently priceless. Not yet released. Probably just as well! If you want one they're here —>  https://scottishwagonworks.com/
Post a Comment
Read more

31. Modelling out of plastic boxes

 I'm still out of space as Operation Christmas has overtaken the kitchen table, so any modeling is being undertaken on my knee using the lid of one of many Really Useful Boxes (RUB) in which I store everything. These are pretty good at keeping things safe in the garage, which is where most of it lives. Anyway, work has commenced on a variation of the Scalescenes canal boxfile. I can't say much more than that because I'm still thinking very hard about how I'm going to use it. The same goes for the inter-building bridge which is glazed and mostly assembled. I'd pre-painted the side panels and the roof so it looks great now that its all together. I've also been building a pipe-bridge to hang below it. Construction is from plastic strip and tubes I've had laying about for decades. Mostly just needs painting now. The Stores have received a very nice 009 Glyn Valley brake from Nigel Brooks . This is another 3D-printed kit and I'm looking forward to painting it...
Post a Comment
Read more

36. John’s log, approaching a new orbit.

 As 64 looms and another orbit approaches, I’m progressing well on the (too?) many projects. The sun has been out, so the garden, and with it the Ness Garden Railway (SM32) has been taking up most of our time, clearing up, renewing and repairing, updating and planting anew. I’ve got quite a lot to do! Indoors, the Coales’ office is about ready to be textured with brick papers, etc, meanwhile, I’m pondering the arched sash windows and how to best make them. A nearly next project on this layout is a yard or so of bespoke 2mm scale palisade fencing 😮... Moving up to 4mm scale, the bothy has been a joy to build, paint, and now detail. Plumbing and gutters are going on now. Further Intentio products should be arriving soon, so watch this space. “But you don't have a 4mm scale layout!”, says the voice in my head. “What are you building these things for?” Well, there is a plan called Johnstone’s Wharf, which was based on a Scales Scenes box file kit, but the demise of the printer has pos...
Post a Comment
Read more