Christmas 2025 Project - update # 17

One of my favourite parts of modelling these small narrow gauge layouts is adding all the clutter and small detailing. In this case finally adding the kibble or ore bucket to the end of the cable and some of the scratch built or salvaged items that I have been working on to decorate the side of the building.

These images show some of these bits of clutter 'bedded' in to the groundwork with sieved stones and sand applied over PVA glue.

The cable was modelling from some white thread which was dyed dark grey before being 'aged' with rust washes and runs from the bucket, up over the shieve wheel or main bearing and back in to the gondola where it is tied off on a piece of plastic rod and glued with superglue.

You should also be able to see where I have continued to add weathering and small details to the main mine building, a process that is never truly finished.

Tony

Christmas 2025 Project - update # 16

The mine building and head frame have now been glued in place on my 1:27.7 (11mm = 1 foot) or scale 18 inch industrial narrow gauge Pizza layout and I have integrated both in to the groundwork by gluing sieved soil and small stones around the base of them. In addition I have painted the soil heap to the front of the mine pit and again added sieved stones on top.

The ladder to the side has been constructed from some scrap strip wood, painted and glued in place as seen on the original Gold Tooth Mine (see earlier posts).

These images shot in strong sunlight show the progress so far.

Tony

Christmas 2025 Project - update #15

I can now call the mine building and head frame finished. The latest update shows the head frame and gondola glued in place with masking tape flashing applied around the main wooden structure and the addition of a chimney to the lean-to. I have continued to weather the structure with both paint and watercolour pencils as well as adding a small antique sign to the side of the building.

The last two images show the mine building in place on the Pizza layout but still not glued in place.

It has taken some time to get to this stage with the Christmas 2025 deadline well and truly missed. I would hope that Christmas 2026 will now be possible.

Tony

Christmas 2025 Project - update #14

The painted and weathered gondola has now been glued in place although the tar paper roof is still loose while the flashing was modelled from masking tape folded in half (sticky side to sticky side) and painted weathered grey. I have permanently attached the head frame to the front of the mine building with a small spacer to move the main wooded frame forward by about 3mm. This allows me to model flashing to the wooden frame and corrugated iron roof (see future posts for more information).

The corrugated iron roof has been finished with a capping strip (more corrugated aluminium foil trimmed and painted) while the roof panels themselves have had odd panels painted grey - a feature I had seen on the corrugated iron roof at the rear of my mothers flat. It might look over done but trust me it was a lot worse than this!

Looking down on the head frame you can see where I have added additional detailing and weathering in some cases by sanding the wooden structure with coarse sandpaper. Finally the low stone wall to the front has had some additional washes of dirty water/light green paint to add some 'age'

There is still some detail and weathering to add but for now you can clearly see the effect I was trying for - a slightly run down structure but still very much a working mine.

Tony

Quar Attack Kite - Miniature Wargames issue 523

Miniature Wargames issue 523 (November 2026) features this Quar Assault Kite that was scratch built by me. I am very well aware that the Quar are an acquired taste - a bit like Marmite but I enjoyed modelling this fantasy WW1 mass-up.

For more information of the content of this month's magazine, see this link.

The remainder of the images, show both work-in-progress and the painting (and decaling) of the kite.

Next month John (the editor MW) has promised a follow-up article showing how I modelled and painted a tank.

Tony

Christmas 2025 Project - update #13

The roof gondola has been painted in the same red as the main mine building and the tar paper roof has been painted in weathered grey. I have done some drybrushing which helps to accentuate the aged balsawood and the masking tape covered roof.

I have yet to glue the gondola in place as I still have some work to do on the corrugated iron roof but I would expect it to be in place soon.

The gondola roof will be removable as I will need to attach the cable from the headframe and maybe adjust it so that the mine tub is at the right height. You should also be able to see where I have made the opening for the cable a little smaller than the initial opening seen on the white card base structure.

Tony

Christmas 2025 Project - update #12

The gondola was built from distressed balsawood with plastic rod detailing and a masking tape covered balsawood roof. In this first image you can see the gondola in place but not yet painted or fixed in place.

The next two images show the detailing and distressing. The balsawood was glued in place with superglue and is inspired by the ThunderMesa kit that I have mentioned in previous posts.

The plan is to keep the roof removable so I can fix the rope or cable from the painted and completed headframe once all are glued in place.

At this moment the gondola is a tight fit in to the hole on the corrugated iron roof.

I shall be painting to gondola over the next couple of days so expect another update soon.

Tony