The Cursed Snuffbox - a tale for All Hallows Eve

Image 'borrowed' from OITW site

It has become something of a tradition for me to write a short story for All Hallows Eve and Craig Andrews to include it on his Orcs In The Webbe site. 2017 is no exception and I present my latest Flintloque inspired short story - The Cursed Snuffbox.

For full details see this link.

Last years story - Dead Birds Don't Lie can be found here.

I hope you enjoy this bit of fun.

Tony

An Industrial Narrow Gauge Adventure - the layout part seven

Following on from the earlier post. I have mounted a single speaker in to the top of the building blank. The speaker was taken from a transistor radio that I picked up from a charity shop in Worcester. There were no radios on display in the shop, but when I asked the man behind the counter he found a box full of old radios and I choose the SONY model as I thought it gave the best chance of a quality speaker.

I took the radio apart and stripped out the speaker and jack. The rest of the bits were put in to my 'spares box'.

The small round speaker was mounted in to a corrugated cardboard lid and glued in place with my hot-glue gun after I had tested it. As you can see the wires for the speaker exit the structure through the back. The speaker is 60mm wide.

I have started adding individual bricks to the front of the building. These brick slips were bought via e-bay from minaco-streamline101. I purchased three packs of 250 slips, two in Tudor Red and one in Weathered Red. The brick slips are meant for 1/24th scale dolls house modelling and so each brick needed 2 to 3 mm removed before they could be glued in place.

In the image below you can see the first brick slips glued in an arch shape to the front of the brick built building. I used a mix of fine filler and PVA glue to glue the slips in place.

Finally; the inside of the speaker housing was painted black/dark grey as I will be building the metal salt pan above it and I didn't want any lighter colours showing through the open sides.

The scale rule was printed via the internet (see earlier posts) - 1:27.7 or 11mm = 1 foot.

Tony

An Industrial Narrow Gauge Adventure - the layout part six

The first building I have attempted for the layout is the OSO SALT salt pan (The rectangular building with the iron roof tank on the left of the sketch above). It is closely based on the LION SALT WORKS, Cheshire salt pan, (see the image below) but with the signage turned through 90 degrees and facing the canal.

The main construction of the brick-built base was built from corrugated cardboard (two layers) stuck together with my hot-glue gun and then clad in brown paper and PVA glue.

The internal bracing is fitted for two reasons; firstly to give strength and keep the structure square and secondly, I intend fitting a small speaker into this box so that I can have sound, self contained diesel engine sounds playing on the layout. The full details of which have yet to be worked out.

The cardboard box is 170mm x 95mm x 70mm tall.

Tony

An Industrial Narrow Gauge Adventure - the layout part five

At long last, the track has been laid and wired.

I have used PECO 'Crazy Track' that is intended for O-16.5, one length was bought from Tennents Trains in Halesowen, the other was spare from an earlier layout. The single Y turnout came from the same earlier layout.

I have removed a number of sleepers and re-spaced them to be about 50% wider than originally modelled. The turnout was left as standard, although one of the metal connectors proved to be a right pain to fit and I ended up using a big flat file to smooth the running edge.

The turnout lever was taken from a Wren turnout that I bought second-hand. I had wanted it workable, but the throw from of the Wren turnout was too short for the PECO one and so it is purely decorative. The mechanism is operated by the upright nail (to the front) which I will model as a turnout sign.

I wanted the track to be partially buried and have used DAS modelling clay to build up the groundwork to be almost level with the top of the PECO sleepers.

I should note that the track has NOT been pinned, I have glued the track in place with PVA glue and added plastic connectors to each end of the track (I don't want the scratch-built' engines to accidentally run off the ends).

The track has been laid onto 1mm thick light grey mounting card that I had spare.

Hopefully, more to come soon.

Tony

Blog View count

In May 2010 I added a Blog view counter to Dampf's Modelling Page. The count to date is now over 990,000 page views and with daily views in the hundreds, I would expect the number to increase to one million before the end of the year.

I'm racking my brain to think of a suitable competition or prize draw and will be posting details soon.

Thank you for the support.

Tony

Dido, Queen of Carthage at The Swan

Last night Sue and I went with Holly to The Swan, Stratford-upon-Avon to see Dido, Queen of Carthage by Christopher Marlow.

This was the first time I had seen this play, in fact I knew nothing about it until I started reading the synopsis prior to visiting the performance. For details of this ground-breaking performance see this link.

Once again a breathtaking performance and a play that really made you think about power, migration and being homeless. In the question and answer forum after the play had finished it was pointed out how Africa at this time was a true Matriarchal society, with female heroines and leaders (Dido), while the Roman Empire (that followed) was Masculine. We also had an insight into the life and works of Marlow, an Elizabethan character that raises more questions than answers.

The best word I can use to describe the performance was intense! Another great night out, but I have to admit to liking and being more moved by the earlier Much ado about Nothing at the Globe, London that Sue and I saw earlier this month.

Tony

An Industrial Narrow Gauge Adventure - the layout part four

I have started to wire the layout and added a RELCO unit which I had spare from an earlier project. The RELCO is fitted with a cut-off switch which will be accessible from the rear of the layout.

In addition, I have added a strip of wood and some more 3mm thick plastic card to the top of the back scene as I felt it was a little too short.

So far most of the construction and parts have come from discounted kitchen doors, spare equipment (from an earlier layout) and my spares box. The cost so far has been minimal.

Construction has been a little slower than I would have liked, but at least it is moving forward.

Tony

IPMS Scale Model World, Telford - just one month to go

There is less than a month to go to the IPMS Scale Model World - the world's greatest scale model show. For full details of this huge model show, see this link.

The show takes place at the International Centre, Telford on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th of November.

My plan is to be there on Sunday 12th November (as I find that the Sunday is a little bit quieter and I can get Sundays off work easier than Saturday).

I have visited this show on a regular basis, missing only one or two in the last twelve years. I find that the quality of the exhibits to be top notch and if you can get in to see the competition area then expect to be 'blown away' by the skills on show. In addition this is the ideal opportunity to get that elusive model, rare paint or new fangled modelling tool because I can guarantee it will be there somewhere!

Hopefully, I'll see you there.

Tony

1:27.7 Resin Casts for 18 inch gauge Industrial Narrow Gauge Railway

I have now picked up the first batch or resin casts from Rob Alderman of Hysterical Games. The miniatures are sculpted to the scale of 1:27.7 or 11mm = 1 foot and are intended for an industrial narrow gauge railway running on 18 inch gauge track (16.5mm 0-16,5 Peco Crazy Track). They could also be used for 3 foot gauge running on 32mm track.

Image Two - Tom, Dick and Harry

Image Three - Charlie, Finley and Fred

Image Four - The Clutter Items, a medium wooden barrel, an oil drum, a large wooden barrel, a crockery bottle (as used by ICI) and a demijohn.

Each pack is now available to buy at £10.00 per pack (free postage to the UK. Overseas postage to be confirmed). Please contact me at dampfpanzerwagon@yahoo.co.uk to order or for more information.

Thank you.

Tony

An Industrial Narrow Gauge Adventure - the layout part three

The canal walls have been clad with some resin slabs that I had spare from building masters for Grand Manner. The slabs were cut into sections and glued in place with two-part epoxy. The kerb stone topping or edging stones were constructed from 5mm thick laminate flooring underlay which although soft and easily damaged, can be strengthened by painting with a uPVA, filler mix.

The edges were detailed with more Milliput, then I painted all the stonework with a uPVA glue, filler and fine sand mix to give it greater texture.

On a visit to the canal basin in Droitwich town centre, I took these images of the canal walls and thought that the waste water or overflow gate and wooden strakes were worth modelling on my diorama/layout.

The overflow gate was constructed from plastic card and the wooden buffers were modelled from strips of balsawood detailed with plastic card and plastic rod bolts.

For more details and images of my Industrial Narrow Gauge Adventure please use the Narrow Gauge label to the right.

Tony

Much Ado About Nothing at the Globe Theatre in London

On Sunday 8th of October, Holly met up with Sue and I to see a performance of Much Ado About Nothing at the Globe Theatre in London. This was the first time that Sue and I had visited the Globe Theatre and were we in for a treat.

I am not ashamed to say that on entering the theatre there was a 'lump in my throat', this really is a very special building and experience, then the performance! One of the most spectacular Shakespeare plays I have ever seen (and trust me I've seen many) with parts that were 'laugh out loud' funny and others that were 'tear to the eye' moving. On the way back to catch the train home I was amazed to realise that we had been in the theatre for over three hours, the time just flew by. The setting of the play was in Revolutionary Mexico with a Santa Fe boxcar as the backdrop and actors dressed in typical Mexican dress complete with crossed bandoleers and huge Mexican sombreros. Although at first this was a little off-putting withing minutes the core of the play took over and I felt this unusual setting actually added to the experience. The performance was a signed performance for the deaf or hard of hearing and the BSL translator did a great job in both translating and at times adding to the performance - at the end of the play Sue, Holly and I were able to speak to her and congratulate her on the BSL translation.

A big fat 10 out of 10 from me.

Here is the official link for more information;
The Globe 2017

Tony

An Industrial Narrow Gauge Adventure - the layout part two

I have extended the length of both the base and the back scene board to 920mm or 3 feet by adding half a black kitchen door to each. 

The canal part (to the front) has been raised by adding layers of corrugated cardboard and the track base area extended with more corrugated cardboard. Any joins have been covered with brown wrapping paper or spare card.

The sides and front have been clad with 5mm thick plastic card and any joins filled and smoothed out with Milliput epoxy putty.

The shelf layout is now 920mm long by 320mm deep.

For more details of this project please use the Narrow Gauge label to the right.

Tony

An Industrial Narrow Gauge Adventure - additional image two

Another short update showing the 1:27.7 scale Feldbahn narrow gauge engine, driver and scratch-built skip on Peco 'crazy track'. Details of each can be found by following the Narrow Gauge label to the right.

Tony

An Industrial Narrow Gauge Adventure - additional image

Today's post is more of a quick update. I have placed a section of Peco O-16.5 'crazy track' with the finished Feldbahn engine on to the cardboard base to give an idea of the scale/size of the planned layout.

Hopefully. I can get more work done this week.

For more details of this 1:27.7 (or 11mm = 1 foot) model railway project see the Narrow Gauge label to the right.

Tony

An Industrial Narrow Gauge Adventure - the layout part one

The two kitchen cabinet doors have been glued and screwed together. A corrugated cardboard sub base has been glued in place with my hot glue gun. This area will form the main operating part of the layout with the forward area being a section of canal as you can see in the plan below.

I have reinforced the front section of the canal with strips of brown wrapping paper applied over uPVA glue. This forms a strong but light core onto which I will be modelling more detail. The two doors were picked-up for a bargain price as they were being discontinued.

Each door is 700mm tall x 300mm wide. So this Mk I design is 700mm long with a 300mm high backdrop.

Tony

An Industrial Narrow Gauge Adventure - my first thoughts about the planned layout

As the Industrial Narrow Gauge Adventure progresses, I have started to think about the type of layout I would like to build. In an ideal world, it would be huge, stretching from one end of the double garage to the order with run round loops and rolling countryside plus an industrial setting to one end. This plan although impressive would never get finished, so I am restricting myself to a smaller 'shelf style' layout a layout more akin to a working diorama.

My first doodling (see above) is a simple box and a single track running across a culvert. Simple and effective with loads of diorama potential but boring!

Mk II is a little more impressive with just one turnout and a curved back scene.

Mk III and the factory unit to the right becomes more prominent.

Mk IV Developing the theme even further with a curved front and a turntable.

Mk V I have been given a couple of old kitchen cabinet doors - 700 long and 300 wide. These would be ideal as baseboard and backdrop, so a flat back and just a single track running from left to right.

I know that this would be too simplistic, but it would allow for super detailing of the back scene.

Mk VI By extending the doors to 900 x 300 I could build this layout. A layout with just one turnout and a canal side running along the front.

I have found a third kitchen cabinet door which has already been cut in half and the shelf layout is now 900 long by 300 deep with a similar solid backdrop. Expect some first attempt images soon.

Tony