Make Mine Mink ! Who remembers that old classic film with Mr. Terry Thomas ? A quick project and a fun one, weathering one of Minerva Models excellent Great Western Railway Mink Van. I'm no expert at weathering, just some simple acrylic washes and chalk powder application. Certainly tones it down and brings some of the detail to life. All for now.
Just the quintessential Great Western branchline train today. A 77xx Pannier, Autocoach, and a milk tank to complete the scene. The Minerva model runs so smooth and quiet, glides along. I need to pick up one of their nice looking parcel vans.
For a country branch line station, it's certainly lively times at Windrush Junction. A Peckett shunting some wagons, Manning Wardle "Niki" making up the morning passenger to Boxer Bay. All the while, the motor coach competition is attempting to pry away as many patrons as they can.
It may be freezing, it may be raining cats & dogs, however on my model railway, it's Summertime and market day. I managed to get a couple new figures painted up and added to the scene. John the green grocer is offering fresh lettuce, while Constable Jeffries questions a suspicious chap holding a piglet. Mike the baker is handing off fresh baked bread to nurse Georgina on her way home after her shift. All for now.
Art imitating art imitating life ! Not that my little railway in any way could be considered art, but I couldn't resist assembling that phrase. The painter Michael Barnes, a longtime family friend who paints some lovely landscapes, has been added to the railway using the superb Phoenix / S&D Models metal casting #OF 122. Painted with Tamiya acrylics. I'm no expert at painting figures, but I do enjoy the challenge.
The easel has a resized re-printed image of the same scene and colorized with very light colour pencil application. The image doesn't come across as clear in the photos as it does in real life. All for now, have a nice week everyone.
Another busy month of work and gardening has left little time for progress on the railway. I have managed to start the base scenic layer of ground ballast at the Boxer Bay Docks. Again drawing inspiration from many photographs of the S&DJR docks at Highbridge. It's slowly coming together. All for now.
