Soft furnishings

The "padding" on the beds and sofa in the barge is made from pieces of pre-cut MDF, to be covered by the builder. 

I raided my mum's material scraps for something suitable. These aren't big cushions, but it's a modelling job I've never done before. Each piece was wrapped, and glued along one side with PVA, held with a couple of small bulldog clips. Then I was distracted, and left them for a couple of weeks. 

Coming back to the task, the material had stuck, but I needed to work around curved corners, which with the PVA and clips, seemed a little challenging. So, I changed to superglue, which sets fast enough that the excess material can be tugged to keep the tension. 

It worked!

Within a few minutes, everything was stuck in place, the glue hadn't ruined the front of the material, and I could trim the excess with curved nail scissors.  

Some small cushions seemed to be required. Why is it that the softest and most comfortable seat in the house, needs a ton of small cushions? 

Anyway, these are balsa wood squares, roughly shaped (you can't see much through the windows) and wrapped in tissue, again, held with superglue. The surface is a bit wrinkly, but looks OK. 

Stafford haul

 

As I picked up the 1/24 figure set, the guy behind the Stafford second-hand stall said, "I thought of you when I put that out!"

It seems I have a reputation. 

To be fair, I've enjoyed some cracking deals from this stand. Mostly buying stuff no one else wants, but appeals to my weird interests. 

So, we have a 1/24 set of "Campus Friends" in an odd Tamiya box. This set looks to be the original 1983 version, there is a more modern set with a figure taking a selfie. However, the plain box confuses me. Is this an early "white label" version? 

The Russian army figures are useful poses, especially those with the fuel drum. And the MG, well, I hadn't brought my spend up to the value of my entry ticket, and it just appealed to me. There is a lot of box for a very small motor car! 

These came from a preservation stand. The Merit carboys are nice models, and with straw packing, will make a wagon load. I suppose most people would ignore them for something 3D printed, but that's their loss. The trees are just nice boxes, and I'm curious about them, especially the Alder trees. 

Anorak's Anonymous provided me with a nice kit for a road roller, travelling van and water bowser. These are nice kits and make up well. Six quid is a lot cheaper than a RTR diecast model, and so much more fun too. While we are looking at road vehicles, the diecast trailers from £3 for three, and the second-hand stall had a pile of them. 

Another AA find. I didn't know what I was buying here; I just really loved the box design, from a firm I've never heard of. What I have is a set of street light kits. Probably a bit American, but not outrageously so. However, buying old kits because I like the look of the box is very on-brand for me. 

Finally, from the donations table, at the end of the day, so obviously not that popular, a railway simulator. I don't think I've ever had a proper go with one of these, so why not? I'm probably one of the last people with a CD Rom drive in my computer anyway - which probably explains it being left on the table!

Not a spendy show, but the trade was good fun. I haven't picked a few bits up for work projects too, but this is the fun/weird stuff that makes going to a physical event so entertaining.  

 

 

Stafford 2026

I suppose that I ought to mention that I managed to blag a free ticket for Stafford this year, by virtue of having given the exhibition organiser my old layout, "Edgeworth". Mind you, this, and York, are both on the list of shows I happily attend as a punter, paying to go in. Stafford is always a worthwhile trip. Partly because I get to take the train, and then vintage bus, to the showground. Yes, it would be cheaper to drive, but not nearly as fun. 

Of course, as I'd save my money on a ticket, I was duty-bound to spend at least the entry fee on the club second-hand stall. But that's for tomorrow. 

I've been visiting Stafford for a long while. In the old days, it took place in February, often with snow on the ground, and in three adjoining halls rather than this single building. They have gradually grown to completely fill the "new" hall, with all of the generous balconies being in use. 

Being in one room gives the show a nice atmosphere. It is a big event, but still feels like a club show, which is what it is. 

Layout quality is always excellent, and I normally book a shoot or two for BRM. This time, I recognised many of the display as ones that have appeared on our pages, at least one of those was so pleased with the way we showed off his excellent layout, the magazine itself is part of the display!

Yes, I am a bit smug about this. North Cornwall Brewery is my kind of layout, and so when the owner is pleased with the photos, I am delighted. 

Despite being a big show, there are a good number of small layouts, the ones I think inspire people, and those that I'd like to build. I don't think there was a single stand-out "Phil would like to build this" model this year, but many fell into this category. Maybe I'm so busy with other things that even my imagination doesn't fancy adding another project to the list! 

Trade was excellent, with many of the big names represented, including Dapol, who don't do many shows now. 

But the cake. I finally, after many years, succumbed to the giant custard tart. 

I'm sure these things used to be size of a coracle, but even now, they are pretty large. But, I had snuck out of the hall to the old cafe, and just gave in. You always regret the things you don't do, people say, and this year was the time to stop looking. 

Handy hint, the waiting time for the old cafe, which was beside a dog show, was much less than the one in the hall I'm told. Since your wristband allows you in and out, this worked well. Better still, they are finally taking cards, so no more looking at the menu and deciding how much cash you have left.

Anyway, another really enjoyable show. There are more photos over on my Flickr feed.  

Saturday Film Club: The History of Steam Power and what it means to us!

Yes, another video from the Groudle Glen Railway. What else would you want to watch? 

What colour is a blue brick?

 

Sometimes, work means I have to do some odd things. A few weeks ago, there was an emergency run to buy pencil crayons. Yes, coloured pencils. 

For the station building project I was working on, I had to colour in some blue engineering bricks. Now, in the past, I'd been told "Prussian Blue" was the colour. I tried it, and it very much wasn't. Far too blue. 

That being the case, the project ground to a halt until I located the correct colour, hence a hurried trip to my local art shop, Picturesque, in Warwick, with some photos of real buildings. 

Now, the people running the shop are used to oddballs coming in, and didn't bat an eye at someone testing every flavour of grey in the rack on a bit of card kept from the kit fret. It took a long while for me to work through all the ranges and settle on a selection. The bricks are a lot greyer than you think, but with a hint of blue. Sadly, no one makes a "blue brick" pencil to make things easier for me. 

In the end, I came away with a few: 

• Derwent Blue Grey
• Stabilo CarbOthello
• Derwent Mid Grey
• Derwent Steel Blue
• Derwent Iron Blue
• Derwent Payne's Grey

Eventually, a mix of three randomly rubbed on the etched bricks did the job, or at least to my eyes. It's all subjective anyway...