Model Railway

[Katharine]

Another great post Viv - I especially liked this one as I visited Glastonbury earlier this year, so could quite clearly picture (and smell) the town.

[Viv of Ginger Pop]

There is still no news about the state of the track-layer who was knocked off his motorbike.

Of course I’m bothered about him, but I was raring to go with my railway project, and everything has now come to a grinding halt. My lounge – never the tidiest of places – has less visible carpet than boxes of bits destined for the railway. I sort of paddle my way through them to turn off the tv at the socket.

Which hasn’t stopped me buying a few more bits this week.

I found myself in the city of Bath with a few hours to spare, so I went to the covered market (warm!) where there was a huge haberdashery stall. There was a wonderful selection of novelty buttons by an American company and I bought a pack each of toadstool-house and fairy-door buttons. I resisted the temptation to get sparkly cherries and luscious strawberries – I need to get further on with the tree before adding such embellishments, and the tree is stuck in the model shop.

Can anyone think of a good reason why the Magic Faraway Tree shouldn’t grow strawberries if it wants to?

There were also reels of ribbons, and I was quite taken by rolls of leaf-shape edging in various shapes and colours. One was a dark green with spiky leaves which would stand out to give a 3D effect.

Er - can anyone think of a good reason why the Magic Faraway Tree shouldn’t grow cannabis leaves if it wanted to?

Viv

[Boatbuilder]

Er - can anyone think of a good reason why the Magic Faraway Tree shouldn’t grow cannabis leaves if it wanted to?

Viv

I'm sure the local Constabulary could, Viv. Especially if it were Goon.

[Wolfgang]

Maybe the Faraway Tree is concerned about the mental health of its inhabitants? Additionally I'm pretty sure there must be a land of Cannabis plants...

[Viv of Ginger Pop]

I cannot convey how quickly my heart fell into my boots a couple of weeks ago when the woodworker at the model shop said that he wasn’t sure that the track would fit into the suitcase. I was too upset to write about it.

Happily, the track-layer is back after his motor-bike accident, and it does fit – just!

The photos show the top baseboard with the loop of N gauge track on it. It needs to have the grass mat stuck down before the track is pinned down.

The centre oval will then be cut out. I have laid out an option how the track could be arranged to give me a shunting layout with 6 terminal stations within the loop!

You can see the green suitcase behind. The grey strap to the right is going to be re-purposed as the webbing that supports the lid of the case upright (there must be a special word for that???)

Despite me getting into the doldrums about if the project was ever going to work, I still went searching for Christmas tat. I have done very well with little wooden buildings and even made progress on the Pixie front – though not at this shop.

Me Do you have any nice-looking small pixie figures?
Shop-keeper No – but I’ve got mermaids
Me But mermaids don’t have a leg to stand on
Shop-keeper I agree – they are a bit fishy…

Nice try – in my shop-keeping days I’d have said the same!
Viv

[pete9012S]

[Lucky Star]

is all of this really going to fit in that suitcase? I think this is the aspect that fascinates me the most. The buttons from the Bath market sound wonderful.

And since the Faraway Tree only nominally exists within our world I should think it can grow Cannabis leaves if it jolly well wants to!

[Moonraker]

is all of this really going to fit in that suitcase? I think this is the aspect that fascinates me the most.

Swatiwasthinking, too

[Viv of Ginger Pop]

Yesterday, out of desperation, I tidied up my lounge, sorting all the bits for the railway into blue mushroom crates and green fruit and veg boxes from the supermarket. There are now full boxes of buildings, figures, paints, lighting and stones, and over-full ones of cardboard and creepers to go up the tree.

All the tools are in a metal tool box.

They are now stacked up where the suit-case is destined to live. In the photo I have placed a familiar book for scale.

Is this getting out of hand?

Viv

[pete9012S]

May I just say that Nigel's avatar is lovely!!

[Viv of Ginger Pop]

May I just say that Nigel's avatar is lovely!!

I was thinking that too

I have two options for Moonface in my figures - and now I know where to find them I've sent a pic.

The first is similar to Nigel's avatar. It is pottery and has the advantage of being able to stand up.

The second was from a stall at a Saxon festival, and is a reproduction coin of an un-named Saxon King. I've currently blu-tac-ed it to a lolly stick.

Any thoughts?

Viv

[pete9012S]

Have 'em both?!

[pete9012S]

Viv wrote:
This is getting a bit out of hand!

Moonface

[Moonraker]

The first is similar to Nigel's avatar. It is pottery and has the advantage of being able to stand up.

I thought that was a reference to me after I've had one too many!

[Lucky Star]

The white one similar to Nigel's avatar is definitely more in tune with the project. The Saxon king looks a bit grim.

Is it getting out of hand? No. It's a hobby and an interesting project so run with it as long as you are still enjoying it.