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How to draw a gentle curve
A large boat roof is a challenge. I wanted a gently curved profile but struggled to draw this on a sheet of plastic.It's too large for compases and I needed something larger than a dustbin lid...
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Front end filler work
It's all very well having a curved roof, but at the front of the wheelhouse, it needs to slope down.I cut ribs from plastic to join the front to a central point. Next, 2 layers of 20 thou plastic sheet...
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Warehouse Wednesday: MOD brick building
I can't tell you much about this building. Not because I don't know, but because I'm not allowed to tell you. What I can say is this is on Ministry of Defence land. It's design shares all the...
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Back entrance
At the back of my boat, there is an entrance to the rear cabin. It's not very tall so a normal door wouldn't do the job. Instead, there is a door and above this, a sliding hatch. The go inside you...
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Make it again Phil
Yesterday's post showed the back end of my model boat. You might have noticed the handrails. These are supposed to be (as far as I can tell) made from a single piece of wood in real life, and on the...
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Birmingham Tram
Trams have finally arrived at the Ian Allan bookshop in central Birmingham. I think this is perfectly fair as the shop was the first to be moved for the rebuilding of News Street station, so it's good...
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What's that on the cover of Model Rail?
A picture of my Hellingly Hospital Railway model on the front of a rival magazine's cover? No-one was more surprised than me when this popped up, but I'll admit to being a bit chuffed. Looking inside,...
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Time to put on weight
Time to get the Chairman's Challenge boat on the water, and that means this pudgy little hull needs some weight to get it down to a sensible level. Fortunately, the kitchen sink is plenty big enough,...
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First sail
On a quiet, but dry, evening last week, my dad and I snuck down to the model boat club to test our challenge boats. No-one was around so we switched on the transmitters and launched. While I'm not...
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Warehouse Wednesday: Corporation Green
I have a theory that back in the 1950s and 60s, if the local council (Corporation) owned anything, the painted it green. Gates, fences, rollers, mowers, staff - all painted a very particular shade of...
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I name this vessel...
Cassiopeia. Thanks to Anonymous who suggested that the boat ought to have a name plucked from the original series of Battlestar Galactica as I watched the box set during the early stages of the build....
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Ruminating on Humbrol paint
Sage advice for model painters is to buy fresh tinlets when performing important work. This is what I did, but the results weren't what I expected. I'm a "man of the people" style modeller. No fancy...
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A boat project meets the deadline
I'm pleased to say that my "Chairman's Challenge" boat is ready for this weekend's KMBC open day.As you can see, the colours chosen will stand out on the water, I'll be able to see the model from the...
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Tractor heaven at the Kenilworth show
Off to the Kenilworth agricultural show last Sunday Oh Arrr. While sensible people were browsing the country crafts and tat sales stands, I headed over to the classic farm machinery section where there...
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Beam engine for sale
Time to dispose of one of the projects I bought in a fit of enthusiasm years ago and now have to admit, I have neither the skills or time to complete. Spotted in a local auction house, this 1:12 scale...
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Goofy's Baggage Car
My all time favourite model railway wagon is Triang's Giraffe Car. It wasn't an original design though, the basic idea came from American firm Lionel who produced an O gauge version. Adding one of...
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Warehouse Wednesday - North Parade Worcester
Beautiful isn't it? A real warehouse, but full of ornate detail. To quote the entry from British Listed Buildings, "The most architecturally elaborate warehouse in Worcester associated with this...
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Super glue?
Using superglue to assemble laser cut wooden kits has been a trick used by the flying aircraft fraternity for years. Ever the traditionalist, I prefer a PVA glue, but a recent project saw me looking...
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Viking in the garden
I've been stupid busy over the last few days so a bit light on blogable modelling.You'll have to make do with this photo taken a couple of years ago showing our G scale model of the Isle of Man railway...
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Cassiopeia sails!
A rare sunny moment on Thursday saw me finally sail my latest model boat - and I'm pleased to say that it has turned out very well. Almost silent on the water, it tootles around with an nice range of...
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