Fete Fantastic!

Well today as some of you will know was the layouts first outing since early May. I hadn't touched the layout since then and so I had no idea  whether it would work or not! However, luckily it did and so I set about making the hangar. Unfortunately I ran out of time and so the back of the hangar was roofless and the front had just a simple bit of textured paper led across it. It didn't look great!

However, I have noticed something - from up high the layout doesn't look particularly special, but as I hope these low level shots prove, from eye level it looks pretty good. I am tempted to make the layout higher but then again I don't want to upset wheelchair users or kids...

Anyway, at the start of the day I wasn't impressed with the look of the layout, however as I started to take some low level photos I realised it was OK, so long as you focused away from the incomplete hangar and poor SG ballasting! Eventually the hangar will be complete, the whole layout tidied up and minor niggles sorted out...

The fete went really well and I got some good feedback from the public. The event was well organised and the sausage bap was absolutely lovely!

On with the photos (I've uploaded them as full-res versions, so just click on them to open up the large versions):

Till next time,
Jam

A day out on the Swanage Railway

Below are some photos from today's visit to the Swanage Railway, I won't add any more text in the hope that the photos are enough. All I will say is that if you haven't been go and take a look!

400mph on floats!

Hello guys,
It's been a while I know but now all the exams are over and I'm on my summer holiday!
Calshot+operation mirror image attended the Woodgreen Show and got some favorable comments.
This did somewhat surprise me if I'm honest because there was no backscene and the hangar was simply made from paper textures and if I'm honest looked quite bad! It definitely shows how not having a backscene is quite detrimental.

A surprise package came through the post a couple weeks back and in it comprised the above - a Supermarine S6.b. You will notice I have started to build the basics of the kit. So far, my initial reactions are that it's a very basic kit and will need some superdetailing, however, it did go together well though and suits the location absolutely spot on! I believe the real seaplane won the Schneider Trophy at Calshot. It also appears on my blog header. The kit will certainly benefit from rigging and there are a few areas where more detailing needs to be put on. It is a lovely little thing though, thank you Declan from SMC!

Anyway, I went to up to the real Calshot a couple weeks back and tried to take some panoramic shots for a new backscene. Only one worked I'm afraid but I'll need to find out how I can get it printed. I also have a new project on the go albeit a diorama.

Now I'm looking to replace the hangar with something more suitable. A couple weeks ago I bought some corrugated asbestos sheeting from the local model shop and today I set to work making a start on the rest of the hangar. The trouble with Wills sheets are that they are very small! Only 13cm x 7.5cm I believe which makes it quite expensive to build a large hangar! I'm debating whether I should use some Slaters sheets for the roof for this reason.

I'm very tempted to eventually have this huge hangar as a fully detailed interior. I can see that this will cost a lot in materials though - the roof trusses are going to be very hard to replicate and bl**dy fiddly I should think!