Our world in miniature, hobbies

Next door's front room?

ROTFL. Great one MR. Philip, it looks like it is caught in perpetual winter. Might it be a doorway to Narnia?

If you made it and can't remember Philip, that is worrying

Philip - you could always create a gated community

As long as it isn't the Ladies & Gents

Are they perhaps Bill's Gates - leading to Windows 10 (remember Windows 7 ceases to be supported after January 2020)?

Evening all

I'm worried about the clearance of the bus. They'll need to take care if the snow builds up.

Hi Helen The height of the bridge clearance is the Coventry standard of 15' 6" Coventry Corporation buses were clear to a minimum height of 15'. Nowadays 14' 6" . During the war, where buses were begged, borrowed or donated, the Alvis bridge on the Holyhead Road did receive some direct hits, and I recall a Guy utility bus hitting the bridge about 1954. The road had just been resurfaced.

I used to live off Wilsons Lane in Longford. They'd closed the Bedworth Road for some reason and a double decker came round the detour. Unfortunately knocking the top off underneath the railway bridge. I don't think anyone was seriously hurt.

Hi all Down morning parcels pauses at Bramble Lane, a filthy Standard Class 4 2-6-0 simmers whilst waiting to proceed to Hall Brooks. Half an hour later, it arrives in Hall Brooks.

I'm having a fit of the vapours (00 gauge) in shock at your announcement of 'a filthy Standard Class 4 2-6-0'. I'm only saved from a complete swoon because it's mostly covered by your excellent bushy undergrowth. Tee, hee. I'm a bad model train lover because I'm always more interested in the landscape and buildings than the steamy stars of the show. So did they have train washes in those days or was it a mop and bucket job?

Hi Helen Steam, mixed with oil & soot forms a thick emulsion, that sticks. Every shed or depot had a team of cleaners, or junior engine-men, but after the early fifties, they were finding better paid jobs in manufacturing, so engines & stock became dirty.

Hi Philip Your attention to detail is as impressive as ever. Did the train come mucky or have you had to add a patina for realism?

That loco arrived in that state. It will always be mucky. The locos that I "weather", I do so with water colour & dry powders. I can then restore to like new if needed. Please see post 771, where I did remove my own weathered coating from a loco.