Any News ?

 Any news George ?  Nothing good Mr. Peacock,  nothing good.  Stick to the comics I always say.

Market Day

 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 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.

Someone ring the Vet

Quick,  someone ring Dr. Thomas,  Josie is limping !   I've been very fortunate to work in the Veterinarian field for 20 + years,  and after viewing the most enjoyable James Herriot series, I figured it was time that Boxer Bay high street should have a Veterinarian Surgery.  The Doctors listed I feel very privileged and lucky to get to work for everyday.  It's a profession that really is like no other.  Life would be so dull without our four (or 3 !) legged friends,  at least for me.

Market Day in Boxer Bay

 The village market scene is slowly coming to life in the High Street of Boxer Bay.  A couple more figures painted and added.  Looks as though Constable Jeffries is keeping a close eye on things.  A couple hand carts have been made up from Petite Properties.  One featuring MiniArt 1/35 scale vegetable crates !  Getting to be time to paint and weather the cobblestone street.  All for now.

Boat slipway & new figures

 This project came about by way of an abandoned On30 layout.  Originally a loco shed,  this building sat 3/4 built for years.  No idea what to do with it was forthcoming,  and I almost took it apart to save the material.  Until my eyes rested on an old photo of the Lifeboat station at Burnham-On-Sea,  right next to the S&D station.  Light flickered,  I thought it would make a fair representation of a boat slipway / workshop,  and besides,  why not ?  There was just enough room to add a boat ramp into the dock.   Just like Burnham,  it is rail connected,  to launch a boat on a small carrier wagon (it will be when I've built it !)

Just finished up a couple figures.  One is "Libby Bucket"  (pronounced bouquet),  actively peddling her flowers to anyone passing by the high street.  The other is little "Mable",  posting a letter to her Aunt,  hoping to get to visit her in London someday.

Music box - Cameo scene

Ladies & Gents,  Lads & Lasses,  sloshed & inebriated,    The Cheeky Seagull now features nightly music entertainment !  With Piano Pete  &  the talented Sonny MacGregor !    With Thanks to  Mr. Oliver Hardy & Mr. Stan Laurel ~ Piano Movers Ltd.

The wagon was a cheap laser wood kit in 1/48,  fun to build & looks okay.  The equine from Duncan models,  and the Piano is again 1/48 and by Petite Properties.  The idea for this odd cameo is lifted from the very funny Laurel & Hardy '32 "Music Box" film,  if you've never seen it,  I highly recommend it !  I'm still searching for 7mm figures of Laurel & Hardy to complete the scene.

What the fireman saw #1

Oh dear,  he's at it again !   It appears Ernest fancies the stationmasters daughter.  Who knows what goes on in our little worlds, when we aren't around :)

All I know is sometimes figures mysteriously change locations from day to day,  or go missing altogether.

A golden oldie

 In amongst my ever growing collection of vintage photographs,  I came across this superb photo dated 1890s, with the station master posing proudly in his garden.  I thought I'd attempt to re-create the same scene on my railway.  So here it is,  with Windrush Junction station master Arthur Darlington & and staff member Ernest,  posing in front of the garden green house.  Col. Stephens happens to pop in for a look as well !  Strawberries are looking good.

New Characters

 One of the most enjoyable small projects I like to do for the railway is paint some of the excellent figures that are available from many small firms,  like S&D Models,  Stadden,  Omen & many others.   I tend to paint them in batches of 5 or fewer.

 Here's a shot of Boxer Bay High Street.  Becky is just leaving the Primrose Tea Room and Mike is sitting on the bench,  with his afghan companion Annie.   The vintage "motor" is a Rio diecast Fiat.  Still lots to do to develop the village scene.

I couldn't resist taking a photograph of this scene after playing trains today.  GWR Pannier tank rounding the curve at Guys Bridge with the afternoon goods.  I'm hooked on B&W photographs !

Picnic

The wind is frosty,  the temperature is below 2 degrees,  it's dark & the rain is close to turning to snow.  But in my miniature world,  where it's always Summer,  Peter & Fenella have stopped off to have a picnic.  Another fine set of metal figures from S&D models.

  

More Characters

 Continuing on from the last update.  More little details,  in the form of figures.  Or as I like to call them,  characters.  For me they bring so much life to a layout,  especially in this scale.

Are you going to take this letter or not ?  No,  it needs another stamp !

Bert reading the "Uplifting News",   in this always cheerful happy miniature world.

Village life - Petrol Pump

A new* addition to the village of Boxer Bay,  a petrol pump (*Dinky Toys !)  outside de Cadenet's garage.  Along with a Corgi Ford tanker, with wheels repainted to tone down the gaudy gold.  The nurse Georgina  is having a look at the temptations in the Butterball Bakery window.  Must be an interesting aroma,  motor spirit & fresh bread.

A Few Characters

 I decided it was time to paint a few figures to add to my miniature world.  One of the joys of O scale are the characters one can add to the scene to bring it to life.  I really enjoy the process of painting them,  challenging but fun.  I've no idea how people manage to paint figures in any scale smaller then 1/43,  couldn't do it with my eyesight.

First up is Lady Marjorie's husband  Richard,  now they can wait for the GWR service to Minehead together & have a chat about the miserable weather !

Anthony  &  Billy watching the action at Windrush Junction and taking down numbers.  Whats this ?  7711 with the branch goods instead of the 23xx Dean ?   Hurry up Bill, we best be gettin home or Mum will give us a clip around the ear !

  

Details Details Details

 One of many attributes of O scale for me is the additional scope for details,  be that figures or other scenic touches.   Here's 3 little details I've recently added to the railway.   First is the Station Master's good lady, Mrs. Darlington doing the weekly wash, a Langley Casting. In among a thriving garden. 

Next up is PC Jeffries deciphering the GWR timetable to help Lady Marjorie find out when the next train to Minehead is due to depart.

And last (and smallest) of details, fishplates.  Not exact British specific, but still add something to the overall appearance,  made by Right-O-Way.

Stationmaster Arthur +

The latest scenic development on the layout is the addition of a couple new characters.  Figures in O scale really add to the scene, for me they bring the layout to life.  Here is "Arthur Darlington",  stationmaster of Windrush Junction,  outside his house off to work,  and to greet him is his loyal companion,  "George".  

Helping out around the station gardens is "Brigitte", the stationmasters daughter.  She has quite the reputation for causing all kinds of problems with the local lads 👀

Here's the overall scene,  more details to be added in due course.

Adding Life to Windrush Junction

 With some extra time on my hands,  I thought I'd paint a few figures to add to Windrush Junction.  I've only painted a few, but so far I've found it very enjoyable, relaxing,  very beneficial in these times.  It certainly tests the hand eye coordination,  not to mention the eyeballs !  

Here we have "Ernest Grainger"  one of the Navvies 

"Lady Marjorie"  who is waiting for the "Great Western" service to Minehead.  In background you can spot "Rover"  the stationmaster's faithful companion.

"Frank Peacock"  the signalman