Anglia105E

Later that day, Detective Frank White noticed the tall gentleman in the bowler hat across the street...... he was standing beside a black Citroen motor car. Just behind the French car there was a number 76 bus waiting at the bus stop. The detective crossed the street and engaged the gentleman in conversation once more. "I would appreciate it if you would accompany me to the Police station, Sir...... I wish to question you further regarding this incident at Hooper & Co., and if you don't have any objection, Sir, I shall require your fingerprints for our records." The tall gentleman paused for a moment, and then explained to the waiting detective that he would have to move his vehicle as it was obstructing the bus, which was about to pull out it seemed. The detective was not to be taken at a disadvantage, so he suggested that he join the gentleman in his Citroen, and they could travel to the Police station in each other's company. Frank saw the slightly amused expression that passed over the man's face....... David

What an absolutely splendid build, Kenneth...... this whole idea of yours really works. Huge amount of work has clearly gone into the wooden boat tail part of the build, and your attention to detail is outstanding, especially the paint finish. You must be very pleased with the result, and rightly so too. David

The most recent batch of photographs were taken using a slightly risky technique, which was risky for a variety of reasons..... I decided to place the portable lamp with the 100 watt daylight bulb inside the ground floor showroom of the Hooper & Co. building. This concerned me at the time because this bulb gets very hot, and the glass of the bulb was within millimetres of the crimson gloss showroom flooring, which has a coating of yacht varnish..... and as we know, yacht varnish is highly inflammable. One other reason for my concern, was that the light from the large bulb would appear to be too bright from the outside of the building, so not realistic. However, my trusty KODAK camera seemed to handle the brightness effectively and these shots turned out quite well. I made sure to switch off the 100 watt daylight bulb every few minutes or so, and let it cool down before continuing with the photo shoot. Close examination of the showroom floor later, showed no damage to the surface of the painted and varnished wood. David

Those lamp fittings are very ornate and particularly distinctive. It will be really good if you can reproduce those pieces for your diorama, Raymond. David

Thanks for the link, Pat...... very interesting site for the Fireball Modelworks, and I can see the resin casting is of the highest quality. David

Some nice pipe work on both engines. Liking the gold and shiny one! I have not seen the Chief Joseph Rochester carburettor before, although I have heard of the Rochester carbs. David

Detective Frank White has taken this gentleman to one side, in order to question him further...... apparently, the gentleman claims to have witnessed a suspicious character entering the Hooper & Co building during the very early hours. While taking a night time stroll along St James's Street, the ' witness ' was briefly aware of a movement among the shadows, quite close to the front entrance door of the showrooms. He could just about make out the form of a person, who seemed to pass through the doorway and disappear inside. It all happened so quickly, and this gentleman could not be sure that his eyes were not deceiving him for a moment. David

He's on the case, Pat ! David

Fascinating references to vintage neon sign construction, Raymond...... and also your memories of the old craftsman in Maritime Quebec, Pat..... Long lost skills that we must not allow to become forgotten. David

An English detective, Frank White who lives and works in London, owns and drives a 1938 Delahaye 135 motor car. The detective is investigating a break-in at Hooper & Co on St James's Street...... arriving outside the showroom building early that morning, he steps out of his old French motor car and surveys the front of the premises...... David

Some nice casting there, Pat..... and 6 Strombergs ! - ( that is a very well produced 3D printed intake pack. ) David

Nicely done manuals, Bill...... David

Oh I see..... I only saw Black and Glossy Black.... no other blacks ! ( assuming Black is Matt Black ? ) David

If it is any help, Jeff..... I have a ' Glossy Black ' in a Vallejo Model Color bottle....... number 70.861 David

I agree, Raymond...... it is a real shame that such a ' modern ' building was constructed on the site of Carpenter's Sandwiches, and this would be 1938 which was at the end of the Art Deco period. Your diorama project is very interesting, and your idea has huge potential I think. The planning and research phase of the project is probably the most fascinating part in a way. David

This just gets better and better, Charles...... especially with outdoor daylight. Be careful about losing some of your brilliant detail when the background trees get too complicated. It is okay when the background is slightly out of focus. David

Thanks for your comment on the lighting, Pat....... the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III is only available in 1:18 scale as a diecast model, and then only as a ' Flying Spur ' version which has a different body shape. The Silver Cloud is only available in 1:24 scale as a Minicraft or Revell plastic kit, which is actually a Silver Cloud II, or as a diecast version by Franklin Mint which is a Silver Cloud I...... ( as you probably know already, the Silver Cloud III has the double twin headlamp arrangement, as opposed to single headlamps. ) David

The early morning bus is departing from the bus stop across the road from Hooper & Co., and the St James's Street showrooms have two Bentley motor cars on display this week...... in the ground floor showroom Mr Rivers has a 1955 Bentley S1, which is finished in maroon and gold, while upstairs on the first floor there is a dark green 1930 Bentley Blower. These two fine motor cars represent 25 years of Bentley auto engineering, and the 4.5 litre supercharged racing car continues to compete at motor racing circuits all over Britain during the late 1950's. The Bentley S1 is a 1:24 scale Franklin Mint diecast model and the Bentley Blower is a 1:24 scale model assembled from a Revell kit in plastic. The Osmond Rivers figure is a 1:24 scale 3D printed figure from Shapeways. David

Your paint finish on this one is excellent, Matt...... and this Jaguar is one of the best from Tamiya, along with the Morgan...... I have two of these Tamiya Jaguar kits, one is built and converted to a MK I with rear wheel arch spats, and the second is waiting to be built as a MK II at some point. This is how a 1:24 scale kit should be produced, and Tamiya have got this one absolutely right, in my opinion. The fit of the parts is so precise, particularly the chassis / floor pan to the body. David

Nice clear black & white photograph, Raymond...... showing that side of the scene. You should be able to include that part of it with the main building on your diorama baseboard. Some interesting detail for the fencing, walls and posts also. David

Well, if I am not mistaken, Pat....... the gentleman in the blue shirt is actually smiling ? David

As always, Charles your work is absolutely fascinating...... and you seem to be able to capture a smaller part of a much bigger scene, that has a really strong impression of scale. Your photography also is very effective in terms of conveying the size of the diorama scene. There is so much to take in here, that I shall need to come back and have a longer look! David

Raymond..... I am always on the lookout for good figures when it comes down to 1:24 scale dioramas, and I was going to suggest Shapeways as a good source of 3D-printed figures, but having looked at your links to Solidworks and Cadhuman they look even more interesting. I agree with what you are saying as regards the detail painting of the figures, and it is the one area of our hobby that I would like to improve upon, in terms of my own skills. Recently I have purchased some very nice O-gauge figures in white metal that are professionally painted, but they are expensive and also in 1:43 scale, not 1:24. David

During 1958 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada a fine English motor car has been delivered to Mrs Margaret L. Sayward-Wilson....... the motor car is a left hand drive Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I and the paint finish is particularly interesting, as it is one of the Rolls-Royce company's most intriguing colours... Velvet Green, which appears to be black when viewed in subdued daylight. However, when seen in bright sunlight the paint finish shows up as a rich dark green, which is actually quite spectacular. Mrs Sayward-Wilson, who was the daughter of Joseph Sayward, inherited the Royal Colwood Golf Club when her father passed away and she was a keen golf player herself. This lady had placed the order for the motor car and arranged for it to be shipped over to Canada from Rolls-Royce in England, with specific instructions regarding the Velvet Green paint finish and the interior upholstery, which was to be pale green leather of the finest quality. Here we see several rare old photographs from 1958, portraying Mrs Sayward-Wilson with her beautiful motor car, as she might have attended a private party at one of the best hotels in Victoria. The 1:24 scale model car has been built from a Minicraft Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud kit, and the figure is 3D-printed by Shapeways. David

It's all going on at Shambles Performance Motors...... busy days, John ! David