Steyning

A day out with your mates, is how I generally describe the Steyning exhibition. Yes it is public, but for some reason there is a high proportion of what I call proper modellers. Not in some sort of elitist way, more that they make things in the traditional sense. The good Reverend pictured seated behind Drovers Brook is a good case in point with very little of his 1:32 scale layout bought in.  Beyond (in his eyeline) is Alan Monk with the HO scale Dounreay, again, much proper modelling in evidence.

Drovers Brook performed almost faultlessly, which considering that it's not designed for exhibiting and the amount of lash-up to get it there. Not to mention the return of the low trestles, not seen since the AotC went out.

Lots of interested punters and a great deal of chat. A day out with your mates.

 

Where is March going?

What feels like a return to full-time model-type things, the pressure to keep moving is on. The first on the list this month was to get Drovers Brook more or less done for the Steyning exhibition. This is not really an exhibition beast, so lots of jerry rigging of lights and curtains was needed. Above; the pre-show test. In the end all went well and I'll pop a couple of photos up later.

While not really a very recent task, the disused chapel for the Scottish is complete. In fact the last few days seem to have been to working through the Peco catalogue, or so it seems, with brake vans, signal boxes and the like. Almost done is the Arisaig station building kit; my forth laser-cut item this year. Not sure about these yet, the jury is still out. The fit for all these is just about perfect, but the detail and final finish is less than the equivalent plastic kit. I note that we used to have plastic kits in carboard boxes, now we have wood kits in plastic boxes. Just an observation.

 

Tenterden exhibition

One of those annual pilgrimages, almost compulsory. Why though? In the great scheme of things this is a quite low level show; there are no big name layouts and barely any small name ones either. It does though have a certain something about it. The accent is often (as it was yesterday) on larger scale stuff; the main hall having three O gauge, a large G gauge and a Gauge 1 with live steam. What I do like is the trade. Again, with a couple of exceptions, is on the rummage side and independent leaning. I rarely come away without a bottom of the bin bargain and most years kick myself for rejecting something on the day.

Show: 5

Catering; 6

Parking: 8

Rucksacks: 8

It's almost rude not to pop into the KESR which is a mile away, if only for a quick look around and a cup of tea. This timed nicely with the arrival of the visiting 4MT. It's hard not to like this Horwich built standard. Apparently 1953 is a vintage year.

 

Board again

 Against all sorts of natural aversion I find myself here again. Aversion as this is solid flat board land and I'm a long way past seeing this as a natural start point. However client dictates and all that lead me back to the excellent White Rose products, this time in MDF. The shift in part to the price and availability of the quality Russian and Finnish ply used.

Nothing to see here really the base line kit used go together without fuss with glue joints, though I'm tempted to add corner blocks for belt and braces. Though it won't be me moving them. two 900mm and one 1050mm all by 500mm make up the set. A bit wider than I would have liked, but never mind.

Saturday Ramble

 After having to sign in via half a dozen devices, I am waiting for the point where I can't get into here at all. If I disappear, that's probably the issue.

Most of the way through the second signal box in as many weeks. This the West Highland item from Peco. This is only the second of the new bread of laser-cut kits that I've built and I found the first, the Tan-y-bwlch station building, quite taxing, this however may have saved my opinion as it just falls together and any problems have been down to slightly curly wood rather than it not fitting.

I must admit that I have been a bit of a luddite here and this is my reasoning: My damascene conversion to Wills sheet aside, I have got very used to working in plastic - sometimes the fit can be poor, but either some filler or solvent and squidge can sort gaps and a file can reduce oversize. Laser-cut wood ain't so  forgiving; it either fits or it don't. It that respect it is like card, and card kits can go from good to utterly appalling. The jury is still out, but if this (and not the TYB station) are typical, then I could be swayed. What they definitely don't do so easily is allow for bashing, which regulars will know is a favourite approach around here. Welding extra bits on would be less easy and cutting and adding new overlay detail much harder. I threw the frets from this in the bin - I really can't start another level of scrapbox for wood bits. This one may sway, me as it is very good. We'll see how the next one goes.