Christmas 2025 Project - update #11

I have now added the corrugated iron sheeting to the roof. It was a fun project that used many of the techniques that I had used on the main Yellow Pelican mine buildings which I have describe below.

The raw materials - aluminium food containers bought for the bargain price of just £1.00 for 10. The containers were cut in to smaller sections using the sides and ends then flattened out by rubbing with the curved or bottom edge of a large spoon over sheets of newspaper. The individual sections were then trimmed to size 60mm x 36mm and corrugated.

Corrugating - I used this make shift corrugater which was constructed from a paper crinkler (or a paint tube squeezer, I'm not sure which) that I had made some years ago. I placed the small flattened pieces of aluminium foil on to the base and rolled the corrugated roller over the top. I could sometimes take a couple of turns but overall the process was easy and quick.

Sheet material - Once I had enough it was on to the painting. I should mention that I initially produced too few sheets and had to go back to a third aluminium container to get enough for the full roof.

Painting - The roof pieces were undercoated with a grey spray can undercoat before being painted with various acrylic paints. I tried to vary the colour by mixing up the paints and using a rough old brush.

Detailing - The initial painting was then detailed by 'splattering' the pieces with even more acrylic paints. I have watered-down the paint and used a large brush which was 'flicked' with a cocktail stick. A very messy procedure but I think it was well worth it.

Roofing - The individual corrugated iron sheets were superglued on to the roof in a staggered pattern working from the lower edge to the top and trying to keep that random effect that I had produced during the painting process.

Any paint flakes (there were a few) were touched-up once the sheets were attached.

I still need to add a number of small details to the roof and attach the headframe and gondola but for now I think you can see the progress I have made.

I have tried to be though in my description of how I modeled the corrugated iron sheet roofing, but if you have any questions please contact me.

Tony

Christmas 2025 Project - update #10

This latest update is split in to two parts, the first shows the start of the work on the gondola which was constructed from some white card. The gondola is a tight fit in to the opening in the roof and strengthened with some internal supports. I still need to detail the exterior and add a roof but for now I am satisfied that I have the small opening for the cable in the right place.

The second part of today's update shows the work on the pit top opening. In the earlier post I showed how the simple wooden surround was built from balsawood. 

I cut a hole in the baseboard by drilling a series of holes and then cutting out the pit or hole. I then modelled a short section of the mine pit with more balsawood as well as a base or bottom before gluing it to the upper surround. The mine or pit is only about 60mm deep but as I painted the bottom in darker colours it looks deeper.

The whole assembly was then glued in place on the layout and the edges filled or built-in with DAS modelling clay.

Here you can see the mine or pit opening situated on the baseboard. The yellow masking tape is so I can add the main building back in the correct position.

The final image for today shows the pit head, main building and mine surround all situated on the layout. I have added the building at an angle but centrally on the baseboard. Please note that the red painted building and pit head have NOT been glued in place as I still have quite a bit of work to do on them before I can do this.

Tony

Christmas 2025 Project - update #9

Today's post shows a couple of subtle changes to the headframe and how it will eventually be attached to the main building. Firstly the low stone wall that sits below the timber frame has now been modelled. I have used blue insulation foam and carved the individual stones with a scalpel before opening up the joins with the point of a pencil. Texture was added by sanding the surface of the stones with sandpaper and impressing a rough stone in to the foam. Painting was done by giving the stones an all over coat of grey and then using drybrushing and washes to impart variation and some age to the stones.

The headframe has also has some spacers added between the back of the headframe timbers and the front wall of the building as I thought that this was need to move the headframe forward by about 3mm. Please note that at this stage the headframe is still not glued in place but loose to aid painting and the fitting of the corrugated iron sheets that will be used for the roofing.

Then we have the wooden frame for the top of the mine entrance - this was constructed from some balsawood and 'aged' by sanding and running the teeth of a razorsaw along the length. There are also some plastic card (metal) supports added to the upper edges and detailed with plastic rod. Painting followed the same techniques as the rest of the wooden areas.

At every stage of construction I have been adding detail to the headframe and red painted walls. I want a used but not decrepit look.

Tony

Braunton Scale Model Club

Following on from the Worcestershire Model Expo that Sue and I attended with our two grandsons earlier this week I wanted to post these images of the Braunton Scale Model Club display table. The bulk of the models shown are large scale scratch built models by Simon Orrell who was kind enough to spend some time with me passing on hints and tips as to the construction materials and techniques he uses.

His models were of real interest to me as his style and modelling skills are similar to those that I use when working on my narrow gauge railway layouts. We discussed how he (like me) enjoys using different materials to construct his models - materials that would not be obvious choices but just work - like the use of a McDonald's sauce tub to model a stainless steel sink!

I also like his use of 'clutter' something that I also love to include on my layouts.

The final two images were taken from the internet - mainly from the Braunton Scale Model Club Instagram account/page.

I hope that you enjoy them as much as I did and finally, a big thank you to Simon for his time and advice it was very much appreciated.

Tony

Christmas 2025 Project - update #8

The scratch built headframe has been painted with acrylic paints, drybrushed and 'aged' with washes. There is still a lot to do with painting the detail but these images give some idea of the colour and effect I was trying for.

There is still a lot of weathering to do on the wooden and metal parts but I like the progress so far.

The final image shows the painted headframe resting on the snap-off blade container alongside the main mine building.

I have been quite busy with 'other' projects this week but would expect to be able to show more work-in-progress by the weekend or the early part of next week. Finally I wanted to thank everyone for the very kind words and Blog comments - it is very much appreciated.

Tony

Christmas 2025 Project - update #7

Today's post shows the weathering of the red painted walls. I wanted a well worn look but not too over the top. In these three images you can see the pit head un-painted but this will change very soon. It is also resting on a snap-off bladed (yellow) case which helps to raise the wooden frame by about 12mm the height that I want for the final setting.

I have included this 64mm tall figure to give an idea of the size of this model mine and pit head.

Tony

Worcestershire Model Expo - a gallery of some of the images

From earlier on today. I cannot take full credit for the images as many were taken by my grandsons Finley and Charlie who were in attendance helping out on the Yellow Pelican Mining narrow gauge railway layout.

Tony