"Ease up Old Timer, we need your help!" Foucarville, 7th June 1944

[Gern]

Only asking Ron, but wouldn't there be some sort of safety rail to stop folks falling onto the wheel? Otherwise excellent - keep it coming!

[spanner570]

Only asking Ron, but wouldn't there be some sort of safety rail to stop folks falling onto the wheel? Otherwise excellent - keep it coming!

My dear chap, giz a chance. There's a long way to go before completion...... wink, wink.

In any case, this was built in the days when people were expected to use common sense, not like the modern day Mamby Pamby "Sue 'em, it wasn't safe." culture.

[spanner570]

I'm adding some detail to start to bring the build to life a bit more.

I've started to make the top sluice gate.
I'm using cut down coffee stirrers. Much as balsa is easy to use, I prefer the harder, closer grain of stirrers. Balsa is too soft and goes furry when wet..... :flushed:

Here is the first stage of the gate. To my own design, the dagger boards actually slides up and down too!


Front face. See how the grain is far tighter than balsa....and stays that way too. Although balsa is a hardwood, I sometimes find it just too brittle. But we all have our own 'wood' favourite, and like most things in our game, it's all down to personal choice.


The back.


....a loose fit.


Next I'll make up the actual winding mechanism, then weather whole thing.

Cheers.
Ron

[spanner570]

Here's the finished sluice gate.








Cheers.

Billy No Mates.......:sad:

[scottie3158]

Ron,
That is a work of art mate.

[Jim R]

Hi Ron
As usual you make it all sound so simple, just thrown together. This quality takes a lot of thought and skill.
Jim

[Mickc1440]

Wow Ron that looks amazing

[spanner570]

Thanks chaps.
Sorry, I forgot to mention just what else the gate was made of....
Apart from the coffee stirrers, I used a piece of round sprue for the main axle thingy. Electrical copper wire bent for the winder. The end caps are spare polycaps from a tank kit. Thread for the handle and lifting the dagger boards.
All painted in cheap acrylics. I used a pencil to get the metal effects.

Thanks again for your input. Much appreciated.

Ron

[Guest]

Cracking work as always Ron.

[minitnkr]

I believe in those days the safety regs were based on the Darwinian method of natural selection. Love the rope grip on the winder-upper a really nice touch. PaulE

[spanner570]

Thanks boys.... :thumb2:

I've added a stone slab patio area by the sluice gate. This finishes the construction of this particular corner of the model.

I made the 'Slabs' in one piece out of birthday card. For some reason this type of card holds up well to scribing and painting.
Random painting to give a shade variation. Very simple and quick to do.








I couldn't resist a bit of a play.


Next I will return to the stalled left hand building.

I hope you approve thus far....

Ron

[Jim R]

Hi Ron
Definitely approve.
Jim

[minitnkr]

Mos def. PaulE

[spanner570]

Thanks boys.
Jeez Paul, your avatar scared the life out of me for a second!

Back to the second building. This will be a small barn.

Just to recap, here's the stages thus far.
Marked out on a piece of foam board.


Scribed with a scalpel.




New to me, painting brickwork. I believe there are a load of long winded and complicated methods flying around. I might not have enough time left to consider such goings on..... :upside: :upside::thumb2:

I slurried some dk, grey acrylics over the bricks and wiped off the surplus paint from them. Almost straight from the tube, I then used a base colour. Once dried I picked out different shades to add some variation to the brick colours. I was surprised just how relatively straight forward and quick this exercise turned out to be. It'll do for me, Matron!



...a few dints here and there.



The two side pieces made and ready for painting.


Cheers.
Ron

[Jim R]

The Ron method for painting bricks works very well.
Jim