Old Parrock
- Thread starter PaulR
- Start date
Dog Star
Western Thunderer
The question is "did you know?" when you chose your "mile"?
This blog page provides information about these milestones and records that the King's Buckle was used only on the mileposts between 44 and 54, those mileposts before and after that series had a round spot in place of the buckle.
Thank you for such an interesting post and which prompted me to look for the history of these "silent witnesses".
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PaulR
Western Thunderer
You're very observant about the King's Buckle and the Pelham family. I only noticed it this morning and have been wondering all day whether to paint it out and put a black dot there instead. I had decided to leave it, but now that I've been found out I must make the change!
john lewsey
Western Thunderer
This is just stunning work really really good Paul
John
John
Dog Star
Western Thunderer
Thank you, worthwhile. The key question now is:-
* change the symbol...
or:-
* change the mile...
If you change the distance recorded on the post then that simple detail places your lane securely in the countryside.
PaulR
Western Thunderer
My choice is to change the symbol. My model's supposed location is the Medway Valley where it borders Ashdown Forest on the north, and that fixes the distance from London.
What I love about this hobby is that we're discussing a detail which, on the model, is no more than one milimetre high - where else...!
Yorkshire Dave
Western Thunderer
Naturally, it's this wonderful attention to detail which is enjoyable and the additional rabbit holes to leap into to find out more about the quirks of British history. We're always learning.
PaulR
Western Thunderer
Oddly, with all the rush and bustle of Christmas, I've actually been able to spend quite a lot of time modelling and I've made good progress. My shed is just about a year old now and it has really transformed my railway modelling experience. Right now it's a bit of a mess down there but that doesn't matter because I'm not sharing the space - tidying up will be the first thing on my list for the next modelling session.
I've been concentrating on the grassy area immediately behind the coal yard. Some of it is un-vacuumed so bits of scatter are lying about. I made the railway fence from cocktail sticks and coffee stirrers.
Twee? Guilty as charged. I'll take criticism of 'tweeness' with the retort that it's my train set! More seriously, somewhere along the way I decided that I'm happy to create a slightly idealised dreamscape, but in my defence there's a field near my home which a local farmer has left as a wild meadow for about fifteen years, and the wildflowers are astonishing. I'm modelling a world before the mass use of agricultural fertilisers and insecticides so I will allow myself a little extra foliage.
The wagons are there to remind me what it's actually all about.
I need to straighten that fence.
The landscaping right next to the tracks isn't finished and there is some tidying up to do which photography always reveals. This is by far the furthest I've ever got towards completing a model railway after forty years of calling myself a railway modeller and I'm beginning to understand, with regret, what I've been missing.
Classic FM in the shed has done a brilliant job of reminding me that it's Christmas - so - Happy Christmas everyone, I much appreciate this friendly forum!
I've been concentrating on the grassy area immediately behind the coal yard. Some of it is un-vacuumed so bits of scatter are lying about. I made the railway fence from cocktail sticks and coffee stirrers.
Twee? Guilty as charged. I'll take criticism of 'tweeness' with the retort that it's my train set! More seriously, somewhere along the way I decided that I'm happy to create a slightly idealised dreamscape, but in my defence there's a field near my home which a local farmer has left as a wild meadow for about fifteen years, and the wildflowers are astonishing. I'm modelling a world before the mass use of agricultural fertilisers and insecticides so I will allow myself a little extra foliage.
The wagons are there to remind me what it's actually all about.
I need to straighten that fence.
The landscaping right next to the tracks isn't finished and there is some tidying up to do which photography always reveals. This is by far the furthest I've ever got towards completing a model railway after forty years of calling myself a railway modeller and I'm beginning to understand, with regret, what I've been missing.
Classic FM in the shed has done a brilliant job of reminding me that it's Christmas - so - Happy Christmas everyone, I much appreciate this friendly forum!
Brian T
Western Thunderer
Nice work Paul.
Every time i drop by it get`s better and better..
Are`nt we all guilty of some degree of 'tweeness' with our layout`s wether we realise it or not?.
It is after all, our own personal escapism!.
Happy Christmas to you,
Brian.
Every time i drop by it get`s better and better..
Are`nt we all guilty of some degree of 'tweeness' with our layout`s wether we realise it or not?.
It is after all, our own personal escapism!.
Happy Christmas to you,
Brian.
Yorkshire Dave
Western Thunderer
Looks very good Paul, very aesthetic and reminiscent of a Constable painting - albeit in Sussex. 
Richard H
Western Thunderer
I read something today about small and 'family' farms worldwide which reported research showing that small farms are actually much more productive and efficient than the huge industrial combines, as well as being more environmentally sound. (Want to double world food production? Return the land to small farmers!)
It made me reflect that perhaps your 'twee' is actually an effective evocation of a time when a different and less industrialised form of land use was the norm, in which the combination of natural energy sources, small scale agricultural industry, and a traditional, almost intuitive understanding of ecological balance led to a much more varied botanical and visual environment.
Your modelling spectacles might have a slight rose tint, but this is landscape artistry.
It made me reflect that perhaps your 'twee' is actually an effective evocation of a time when a different and less industrialised form of land use was the norm, in which the combination of natural energy sources, small scale agricultural industry, and a traditional, almost intuitive understanding of ecological balance led to a much more varied botanical and visual environment.
Your modelling spectacles might have a slight rose tint, but this is landscape artistry.
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Lyndhurstman
Western Thunderer
This is smashing. The railway is part of an evolving landscape. As it should be. Hats off to you, for creating something where less is definitely more, and a superb expression of your undoubtedly artistic eye.
Cheers
Jan
Cheers
Jan
PaulR
Western Thunderer
Happy New Year everyone. May 2020 bring lots of opportunities for playing trains.
Christmas brought things to a halt for a week but I've managed some good modelling sessions in the last few days. I came face to face with my wife's exacting botanical standards and was roundly criticised for my cabbages, which were apparently improved after I tore most of the leafage off with a pair of tweezers. I'll admit it, in terms of scale they were enormous. I was also instructed to remove one row of plants completely on the basis that they 'don't look like anything.' I'm pleased with the kitchen garden now though, and grateful for the advice, however stern.
I had a great time adding weeds and bushes to the scene. I haven't finished the cottage yard yet as it needs some household stuff laying about.
I'm going to move to the right hand end of the layout now and work on the area around the mill. Here's a wider view of the left hand side. My apologies if some of the photos are repetitive:
Christmas brought things to a halt for a week but I've managed some good modelling sessions in the last few days. I came face to face with my wife's exacting botanical standards and was roundly criticised for my cabbages, which were apparently improved after I tore most of the leafage off with a pair of tweezers. I'll admit it, in terms of scale they were enormous. I was also instructed to remove one row of plants completely on the basis that they 'don't look like anything.' I'm pleased with the kitchen garden now though, and grateful for the advice, however stern.
I had a great time adding weeds and bushes to the scene. I haven't finished the cottage yard yet as it needs some household stuff laying about.
I'm going to move to the right hand end of the layout now and work on the area around the mill. Here's a wider view of the left hand side. My apologies if some of the photos are repetitive:
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Richard H
Western Thunderer
Not repetitive - your photos show subtle and very effective additions which bring your landscape to life.
PaulR
Western Thunderer
The landscape behind the tracks is nearly completed. The tree in front of the mill needs doing, and the railway fencing at that end... and people of course.
This bit of land around the mill was a challenge. I wanted to give an impression of an unkempt, brambly, scrubby area. It didn't work at first but it's getting closer now. Hopefully the fence and some nettles will frame it. The tree looks awful in it's current state. it needs shaping, some filling, a new paint job and, of course, foliage. The tree behind the mill also needs a bit more work. The truth is, it fell foul of some lazy vacuuming!
Talking of miniature people - I have a question. In the past I've always, rather sadistically, drilled a hole through one foot and put a brass pin in to fix the little figures in place. However, I'm really struggling with some of the Modelu figures that I've bought. Being authentic in shape they have rather thin legs, but problematically I find that the material they are made with - presumably resin used for 3D printing - is very brittle. I simply can't drill into it. One of my ladies now has, to quote the late great Peter Cook, one leg too few.
So, a couple of questions: has anybody found a better way of making a fixing of some kind, and if not, has anyone managed to glue a figure into the landscape successfully without using any support?
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PaulR
Western Thunderer
I also have a bit of news which is very exciting for me - I have two exhibition invitations!
The first one is Oxrail, the Oxford Model Railway Society Show, which is in October. The great thing about this one is that it's only about twenty minutes from home. The other one is not until July 2021, and that's Railex NE which is The Blyth and Tyne Model Railway Society's annual exhibition. That's a distance away but I will stay with my old railway sparring buddy and north-easterner Richard (currently building Craster - described in 'Layout Progress').
So, now I'm losing sleep with the worry that I'll bounce the car over an unspotted sleeping policeman and my layout will deconstruct itself into its constituent parts in the back of the car. Perhaps I ought to take it for a drive in the country before too long to make sure everything is secure.
The first one is Oxrail, the Oxford Model Railway Society Show, which is in October. The great thing about this one is that it's only about twenty minutes from home. The other one is not until July 2021, and that's Railex NE which is The Blyth and Tyne Model Railway Society's annual exhibition. That's a distance away but I will stay with my old railway sparring buddy and north-easterner Richard (currently building Craster - described in 'Layout Progress').
So, now I'm losing sleep with the worry that I'll bounce the car over an unspotted sleeping policeman and my layout will deconstruct itself into its constituent parts in the back of the car. Perhaps I ought to take it for a drive in the country before too long to make sure everything is secure.
