Anglia105E

You are correct Ken . . . The scale of Corgi and Dinky toy cars is approximately 1:43, but sometimes closer to 1:50 This why I tend to buy Oxford Diecast or Truescale, or Neo and Lansdowne model cars. David

Thank you Ken . . . These are 1:43 scale model cars, buildings and figures, with O gauge model steam loco, carriage and level crossing. David

Thanks Paul . . . The following three photographs were taken shortly before the young mother with her pram turned the corner at the telephone box, which leads from Western Avenue onto Duke's Road . . . The refuse bins have been put out for collection on this particular day, and someone has left the door of the telephone box slightly open . . . David

Thanks for posting this YouTube video Paul, and I have just watched and listened to all 11 minutes and 28 seconds of it . . . I really enjoyed your interesting narrative, and your voice is entirely suitable for such a presentation. Your accent from the Maine area of the US settles nicely upon English ears. I say this because there are certain American accents that don't sound so good to us ! Through this video you have shown all the elements of the farm diorama, and I can see how much work has gone into each and every building, the models, the figures, the trees, plants and grasses. Those scratch built models are particularly good and the quarry area works really well also. I shall make sure that I have another look at this video, just in case I missed some detail. You must be very pleased with this whole project, including the video, and I hope you get lots of views. David

Here we see the Duke's Road area of the diorama, where the horse and cart is trundling slowly past the bus stop, just across the road from the Hooper factory. The man with his cart has finished all of his coal deliveries for the day, as the evening approaches. There is a lady wearing a head scarf pushing a pram on her way home from the shops. Just another ordinary day . . . David

Further progress with the Hooper & Co. factory diorama has been achieved over the past couple of days . . . The railway level crossing is completed, apart from weathering the ramp sections. The pannier tank loco is almost completed, and having applied some enamel grey primer to the brass parts, these need a final coat of the darker grey wash. I have tidied up the 1:43 scale diorama and the O gauge railway line section needs some additional work to merge it with the whole setting. Preparation is under way to produce some advanced photography, and also video filming of the factory diorama model. David

Your 1951 Chevy Bel Air build has turned out really well Andreas, and the paint colours are perfect for the period . . . This build of yours reminds me of the 1953 Hudson Hornet that I built, but I did not cut out the doors and trunk lid on the kit by Moebius. I agree, that the early 1950's American cars had such good styling, and I must build a Chevy Bel Air at some stage. David

Over the past couple of days I have constructed two ramp sections for the O gauge level crossing, as well as two sets of steps for the footway. So far I have fabricated one small gate for access to the pedestrian footway, and there will be a second small gate done shortly. These are made from matchsticks and I used balsa for the posts. The smaller gates will be painted the same colour as the larger gates, while the ramps and steps will most likely be grey in colour. The paraffin lamps and the red circular boards seem to look right. I found the brass bristle brush to be very good for creating the worn timber effect, and certainly the grey wash works well. Maybe a couple of years ago I would have used matt brown for the planking (not good). David

Yes Paul, that is probably true . . . So, what do you need the handrail knobs for ? Some aspect of your farm diorama ? Here is a drawing of the part in question . . .

Hi Paul . . . Yes, those handrail knobs are available from a local supplier of model railway fittings, and they are available in short, medium and long sizes. The ones listed as being steel were the ones I chose in medium size, and then I ordered some 0.7 mm brass rod from a different supplier. The brass rod was bent to shape, and then threaded through the handrail knobs that were pushed into drilled holes in the sides of the loco boiler pannier tanks. I don't know if you have a supplier in the US who sells these fittings, but here is the link to the one in England . . . https://slatersplastikard.com/ David

Having carried out my first attempt at a trial fitting of the handrail, I find that the 300 mm length of 0.7 mm brass rod is slightly too short. The handrail on both sides is 10 mm too short, but I do have an idea. Some reference photos of Pannier Tank locos show two handrail knobs on the cab, so I could add a second knob and simply insert a 10 mm length of brass rod on both sides of the cab. The bend at the boiler front for the handrail was the same curve as a Vallejo paint bottle as luck would have it ! Started preparing component parts for the level crossing, which includes planks cut from lolly sticks . . . I will have 3 mm thick pieces of foamex board under the planks to bring them up to the level of the rails. I shall add small gates to one side of the crossing for a narrow pedestrian footway, and also the curved channel for the wheels at the ends of the large gates. The gates and posts will be painted white, with red circular boards facing the roadway. David

Ricky . . . When I click on a newly posted comment to a topic, I want to be taken to the bottom of the last page, but . . . usually it takes me to the top of the page, or even to a page that is several pages before the last page. I find this is quite unpredictable, so maybe it is not unusual ? David

Welcome to the MCM forum Oscar . . . Liking your Chevy pickup, and that is an interesting paint colour. David

The two white metal loco figures are almost done. One is the driver and the fireman has a separate shovel which I have super glued in place. Each figure has a coat of Humbrol enamel grey primer and then a coat of Vallejo acrylic for the detail. They may need a coat of Vallejo matt varnish because even gentle handling fetches the paint off in places. In the following photos, there is a kneeling railway worker that I had already, and he has been professionally painted so not one of mine. I have examined the decals in advance of applying them shortly, and I have picked up some handrail knobs in steel from Slater's . . . They were happy to refund me for the sleepers and chairs that I didn't use. I have some 0.3 mm brass rod for the handrails in 30 mm lengths. Work is about to commence on the scratch built level crossing, which needs careful calculation. David

Thanks Pat . . . That is what I was hoping to create. There will be a low wooden fence between Masons Green Lane and the railway line. The track needs some ballast, and maybe some tufts of grass among the gravel and the sleepers. David

That is such an extremely realistic model that you have built Martin . . . At first glance, I thought you were showing a photo of the real vehicle that your model idea was based upon, so that is how good this is ! Your model building and painting skills are top notch. David

Absolutely brilliant Charles . . . Where do you get such good figures? They must be Shapeways surely? This composition is so well thought out, and executed . . . it just works on every level ! David

Thank you kindly Sir . . . When the loco figures arrive on Thursday I shall need to paint them, which is not an easy task in 1:43 / O scale. David

That is one nicely built model car Tom . . . and your chosen gold paint colour really suits the Foose style of this Chevrolet Impala. David

The 3D printed steam locomotive, having been fully assembled from 42 parts that I have printed, then had one coat of oil based red primer applied. This was followed by one coat of water based satin black, and lastly one coat of a water based satin black / pure grey mix to create a ' dirty ' effect. I placed the loco on the O gauge track, just ahead of the GWR brake end coach . . . Using daylight bulbs for lighting, and two figures for the composition, these are the first few test photos. I am quite pleased with the overall appearance of the 3D printed model loco, which needs some decals, and a two man crew of driver and fireman, arriving later this week. The Hooper & Co. factory diorama in 1:43 scale ( O gauge ) will have a level crossing where the road meets the railway. Hope you like it . . . David

Thanks Paul . . . No, I cannot take credit for building the bus, as it is a 1:43 scale diecast RT London Bus by IXO with excellent detail. There will be some photos of the loco shortly, alongside the GWR coach. David

Looks good Matthew . . . The road surface is very convincing and realistic, especially around the manhole cover. Well done ! David

Charles . . . I would imagine that the snow effect is quite difficult to achieve properly, and clearly you have got it just right. Both the vehicle and trailer, and the diorama setting create a strong feeling of cold and frosty conditions on the ground. Your client will be impressed with the truck model I am sure, and as you say, he may well be interested in purchasing the diorama also . . . It is always a pleasure to view your work, so thank you for yet another project ! The road dirt on the front of the truck is very convincing and realistic. These 1:50 scale models are smaller than the 1:43 scale I am currently working in, but then the truck is a large vehicle anyway, I guess. David

Welcome to Model Cars Magazine forums Ulf . . . I do understand what you are saying, and I find that I really enjoy the building and painting of the model car, and also the research for photos and specifications. Once the model is finished and the build is completed, I just want to move on to the next build, so maybe the finished model is not so important at that stage. I do build dioramas in different scales, and my feeling is that model cars should not always be displayed in glass cabinets or on shelves, but they come to life in a much more interesting way if they are displayed within a diorama setting, that has buildings, figures, trees, roads and streets. David

As far as I am aware Peter, any issues when reading DVD's is more to do with the DVD software than the 32 bit / 64 bit computer. I wanted to play a Genesis concert tour DVD recently with my Windows 10 desktop computer, and it wasn't possible until I eventually found some software that would read the DVD disk. My version of Microsoft Windows 10 Pro is a 64 bit operating system. David