Hi all,
Hope everyone is well. :thumbsup: and wow, everyone has been so busy on their layouts !
I have been busy spring cleaning, and doing a bit of decorating, while getting to grips with a new camera phone and focus stacking to compile a photo album of Windmill Hill. Many thanks to Roger for his photographic inspiration, and tips :D :D :D
I am slowly getting there, and have taken some photos, but as we all know close up photos show up all the mess lying about..... mainly dust, rogue static grass, and runaway bits of ballast, so after heavy duty brushing, cleaning with cotton buds, and hoovering ( unfortunately loosing a few bits on the way :( ) I am getting some fairly decent photos.
Anyway, I will show you the photos here on this new thread. I am resizing and tidying up some photos now, and hope to get some up later ......
Meanwhile, 'till then here is a photo of a bunny with a pancake on his head :D :D :D
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/92/5755-020520205925-92379202.jpeg)
Will be back later :thumbsup:
All best wishes
Kevin
:beers:
Hi Kevin,
Glad your in the land of and keeping busy during pub lockdown.
Looking forward to the new and improved pics.
I won't comment on the bunny pic as I've met you and that seems perfectly normal :D
Cheers weave :beers:
Quote from: Phoenix on May 02, 2020, 09:31:20 PM
Meanwhile, 'till then here is a photo of a bunny with a pancake on his head :D :D :D
Uncanny. Exactly what I was looking for :no:
Hope you haven't started a trend here, Kevin :uneasy:
I am looking forward to the compendium of Windmill Hill, though. :beers:
Hi All,
Glad you like the bunny pic :D :D :D
I made a book of the building of Windmill Hill, printed by Vistaprint, which was ok, but I wanted better quality for this, so am going with Snapfish, who did some photomugs for me, and the quality was great.
I am starting with some pics of the layout in and out of the case, showing some stuff with it to show the scale. (sorry to repeat these from my layout thread ;) )
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/92/5755-020520233749-923821468.jpeg)
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/92/5755-020520233752-92388343.jpeg)
And to give an idea to my non-modelling friends of the scale, I took these pics .....
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/92/5755-020520233751-92387914.jpeg)
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/92/5755-020520233755-923901493.jpeg)
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/92/5755-020520233754-92389922.jpeg)
That took the first two pages. Next I took a leaf from Rogers book, and used a bigger backscene, and a little extension on the front and got this overview. I used Affinity on its free trial and stacked 9 (I think) photos together .....
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/92/5755-020520234513-92391278.jpeg)
It took a few goes to get that one, as the camera needs to be in just the same position for every shot, or you get a bit of ghosting, so I got a little tripod to use.
Hope you like the photos. I've got some of the 57xx pulling a short (can't really be anything else :D ;) :D ) goods train round the lower level. I'm sorting them now :thumbsup:
All best wishes
Kevin
:beers:
Great pics! Looking forward to this. :thumbsup:
PS. You couldn't include a stubby of Victoria Bitter to give your Antipodean fans some idea of the scale? :D
Brilliant Kevin.
I love those close ups of little people. You have a real knack of picking the correct little person for each scene.
And......ok, I'll ask, why has the bunny got a pancake on his head?
Martin
Great pictures as always Kevin. The 'scale' pics give a really good impression of just how small our model worlds are. Looking forward to more.
As for the funny bunny, that 'Bugs' me. So what's up Doc? :hmmm:
:D
Hi All,
It really makes a difference having a bigger backcene and the little extension at the front, as the photos look far more natural as I don't have to worry about "going over the edges". A sprinkling of matching static grass hides the join in the field, along with a bit of photo jiggery pokery to hide the join in the road.
Here are a couple of shots of the goods train. The weathering is by TMC,which I am very pleased with. It's just enough, without going overboard :D
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/92/5755-030520133423-924011533.jpeg)
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/92/5755-030520133425-92420634.jpeg)
Sorry there's no Victoria Ale there George ..... when I can get hold of some it would be a pleasure to have a virtual drink with you, watching our trains run round :thumbsup: :beers: :thumbsup:
Here is the signal box, a kit bashed ratio kit .....
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/92/5755-030520133423-924011229.jpeg)
The little people are busy Martin, and thanks to tacky-wax you will notice them keeping themselves occupied around the layout.
All best wishes
Kevin
:beers:
PS. For those wondering, the only reason the bunny has a pancake on his head is because he was having a bit of trouble balancing the banana ;D
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/92/5755-030520135708-92421347.jpeg)
Hi All,
No more bunny pics today :no:
Here is one of a race between steam power and horse power .....
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/92/5755-050520182958-92608963.jpeg)
The horses are running on the short (about 4" wide) extension on the front of the layout, and the join is hidden with a sprinkling of matching static grass. You can also see the crossing gate lights alight.
And here is an alternative mode of transport :thumbsup: .......
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/92/5755-050520183042-92621615.jpeg)
This was taken with the backdrop removed. You can't really see who is inside the bus, but the driver is a cut down station porter, as his uniform could be seen as a bus drivers, and his hands pushing a trolley fit to the steering wheel perfectly. The passengers are cheap E.bay figures.
Sorry about the quality of these next pics :(. They are taken of my computer screen, and seem to have some kind of interference ) and show how the layout of the book is progressing ....
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/92/5755-050520183009-92619189.jpeg)
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/92/5755-050520183020-926202040.jpeg)
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/92/5755-050520183000-926181956.jpeg)
Once again sorry about these pics, something seems to have gone a bit bonkers :hmmm: :-[ :hmmm:
All best wishes
Kevin
:beers:
Without getting too technical the camera picks up the screen refreshing - a faster shutter speed usually stops that.
Snapfish are good, however if I may add an opinion I've found the best quality for photobooks are Blurb. More expensive but well worth it IMO.
In the meantime I'm looking forward to the next balancing rabbit installment :D
Hi @Markthetog (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=7778) many thanks indeed for your comments. I tried some jiggling around, and got a clearer shot, although the colour needs sorting :hmmm:
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/92/5755-050520212144-926402481.jpeg)
As far as the book goes, I chose Snapfish (A4 hard cover option) as I have had mugs from them and was very impressed with the photo quality.
I have not heard of Blurb, but had a browse earlier on, and they seem to do a very similar thing, so thank you for that suggestion..... I will look further into them tomorrow, :thumbsup:
With all best wishes
Kevin
:beers:
Apologies if fiddling with your image is taking liberties but I thought a quick tweak on my phone might assist. If you'd like a proper job done I'll happily whip it through Photoshop in the morning.
Wow, thanks so much for that :D :D :D
Windmill Hill is my first layout, so I wanted to make a record of it. I used Vitaprint to make a book of it's building, but wanted better quality for these photos.
Keep your eye out for more pics, and if you like, check out some little videos (scenic, and a "making of" ) on Youtube...... just search Windmill Hill Model Railway :D :thumbsup: :D
All best wishes
Kevin
:beers:
You're very welcome. :)
I've been keeping an eye on your original Windmill Hill thread (while frequently swearing under my breath) since I joined last year and look forward to more pics.
Kevin, your modeling is fantastic and you take such great photos of Windmill Hill. I've taken so much inspiration from your thread in the Layout Construction board.
I hope I'm not speaking out of turn but just wanted to offer a little computing advice. If you're planning on taking more images of a computer monitor you could use the screen print or snip features. Not sure if you're using a Windows machine, but there should be a key marked "PrtScn" on your keyboard, or alternatively use the snipping tool (found after doing a search in the start menu) to select what part of the screen you wish to capture.
Depending on what operating system you're using the options may have different names or be accessed via different means, but the function will be there and will be the same. A quick whizz through the internet can find more detailed instructions/guides. It should be as simple as; click button, save image, upload for us all to see!
Looking forward to seeing more photos! :thumbsup:
Hi All,
Many thanks for that help Sam, and hope all is going well on "The Learning Curve" and thank you also for your kind words :D :D :D
I have always liked photos of trains coming out of tunnels, so here are two versions of one :thumbsup:
I also wanted the end of the station, so took this shot ......
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/92/5755-060520102433-92696326.jpeg)
And as there is a stable in the field opposite the station, there is a horse chomping on the hedge. ;)
However looking at the photo I decided to take another. I thought the bits over the tunnel mouth were a bit distracting, so I waited a bit for the bushes to grow and hide the greenhouse. Also the angle of the shot showed the rails, and the enormous gap between the rail and platform. :doh:
Here is the new photo, which also has a bit more platform in it.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/92/5755-060520102433-926962223.jpeg)
Hope to have some photos of the stable after lunch
All best wishes
Kevin
:beers:
Hi All,
Here is the stable. It is a lovely little Ancorton laser cut wooden kit, and fun to put together.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/92/5755-070520185850-928392136.jpeg)
The figures are Preiser, who I think make the best figures. They can be a bit expensive, and some sets can be hard to get hold of, but I think they are well worth it if taking closeup photos like these.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/92/5755-070520185852-92842420.jpeg)
The stable is waaaaaayyyyyy in the distance here, but you can see the detail of the figures and sign here. Before taking photos I looked at the figures under a magnifying lamp, and touched up the paint on any that needed it, and gave any grubby ones a wash in soapy water to get rid of any dust grit and grime.
All best wishes
Kevin
:beers:
If I want screen shots I just press Shift/Print Screen open the resultant image and then crop out the bits like the task bar and any other editing required
Great pictures yet again Kevin. :thumbsup:
I agree with you on two things: the gap at the platform was obvious in the first pic, the second much better, and Preiser definitely make the best figures. Expensive yes, but, as you say, worth it when it comes to all the close-up photography you do.
And do brilliantly, by the way. :beers:
Cheers Mike, and thanks George ( @Bealman (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=255) ) for your comments. I have really appreciated your help right from when Windmill Hill was just a little bit of empty plywood :thumbsup:
Incidentally the stuff I used to clean the figures was " Best Universal Grit Grime and Effluent Remover" ..... B.U.G.G.E.R for short.
Their slogan was "If Pledge won't polish it, Dettol won't deal with it, then B.U.G.G.E.R it "
It it a very popular product here, however a similar product "Finest Universal Cleaner Known" has not done so well :D :D :D
All best wishes
Kevin
Quote from: Phoenix on May 08, 2020, 02:07:04 AM
Cheers Mike, and thanks George ( @Bealman (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=255) ) for your comments. I have really appreciated your help right from when Windmill Hill was just a little bit of empty plywood :thumbsup:
Incidentally the stuff I used to clean the figures was " Best Universal Grit Grime and Effluent Remover" ..... B.U.G.G.E.R for short.
Their slogan was "If Pledge won't polish it, Dettol won't deal with it, then B.U.G.G.E.R it "
It it a very popular product here, however a similar product "Finest Universal Cleaner Known" has not done so well :D :D :D
All best wishes
Kevin
Are you perchance a Fred Wedlock fan Kevin?
Hi All,
Cheers Martin, I couldn't remember where I heard that gag from ..... yes, It was from Fred Wedlock, sadly no longer "swinging"
Next installments ..... the 64XX, first in close up
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/92/5755-080520141354-928911978.jpeg)
and here pulling its autocoach, the longest passenger train that can fit in the station ;)
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/92/5755-080520141351-928432123.jpeg)
That's probably one of the longest shots, showing pretty much the full length of the layout, with the extra section on the front. The focus stacking got the length of the train in focus, but I did not use any focus shots of the upper level so as to concentrate on the train.
Learning from the last photo of the station, I was careful not to show the gap between track and platform. :thumbsup:
Hope you like these photos. There are 24 pages in the photo book, so I have got to find a fair few different views to showcase :hmmm:
All best wishes,
Kevin
:beers:
Lovely photos. Somehow I have missed the building of this layout. Will have to make sure I check out the build topic.
This is my favorite thing about N, seeing how much you can cram into a tiny space :D
The upper level is more in focus than any shot I take that's supposed to be in focus! :'(
Hi Guys,
Glad you like the pics George, really finding it useful having a camera phone now, that can get into all the nooks and crannies ..... glad you restoration is going well, you seem to be finding all sorts of treasures :D
Windmill Hill certainly shows you don't need much space for a layout Gavin, and thank you for your kind words.
There is loads to wade through on the construction thread, but I made this short video of the building of the layout .....
That saves you wading through it all on the forum :D ;) :D
There are also a few scenic videos, and if we keep staying in, a new one is next up after this photo book :thumbsup:
All best wishes
Kevin
:beers:
A lovely layout worth exhibiting one day kevin. Love the tutorial and the video
Hi Chris,
Hope all is well with you. :D :thumbsup: :D
So glad you like the layout. Once things get back to normal I could take Windmill Hill out on the road.
There certainly won't be any need to hire a big van for it :D ;) :D
All best wishes
Kevin
:beers:
Am ok kevin.thanks for asking. For now, we are all enjoying your layout here
Hi All,
Hope you had a good weekend and was able to enjoy the weather :D
Here we have another photo getting all the station in. Probably the longest shot I will ever get .
It almost make the layout look like a grown up one :D :D :D
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/93/5755-110520134756-93111243.jpeg)
Hope to get some more round the station later
All best wishes
Kevin
:beers:
Quote from: Phoenix on May 09, 2020, 12:01:12 PM
:wonderfulmodelling: :greatwork: :superblayout: :jealous:
Hi All,
Sorry not to have put any photos up for a while, as I've been a bit busy with other stuff, but here we go with some on the platform and around the station :D
Thank you Stonecold .... so glad you like what I have done :thumbsup:
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/95/5755-130620102007-953401022.jpeg)
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/95/5755-130620102020-953531402.jpeg)
That covers the whole length of the platform, which is just long enough for a 64xx and autocoach.
Here are some of the level crossing and a few goings on around the station.....
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/95/5755-130620102021-953541811.jpeg)
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/95/5755-130620102012-95352912.jpeg)
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/95/5755-130620102009-953512277.jpeg)
Hope you like the photos. The lamp post under which the couple are canoodling is the closest scale match I could find, as most N scale lamps seem so overscale. (It is from rail room electronics)
The postman who has dropped all the post, and his colleague are from preisser.
All best wishes
Kevin
:beers:
PS. We know George is not involved in the canoodling..... we need to know who they are :D :D :D
I think the postman's colleague should be helping him to gather up the post rather than taking a selfie :D
And that lady walking towards the canoodling (great word) looks as those she's going to give a loud tut tut as she passes by.
Great work Kevin.
You are certainly the master of posing little figures into cameo scenes.
Cheers Martin,
Hope all is well down your way :D
The way the postie is holding his hat does look like he's taking a selfie ...... if they were heard of back in the layouts day :D :D :D
all best wishes
Kevin
:beers:
Kevin
Hope your well. Certainly those scenes have been brought to life in those photos. Chris
Hi Kevin,
Fantastic detail :thumbsup:. I could never achieve that :(.
Great stuff.
Cheers, weave :beers:
PS. As for the canoodling girl, it could be well be Karen (surname withheld) or, because of the era modelled, her mother. Former neighbours of mine and I recognise the style of clothes and the style of attack (by both). Oh yes :D.
and, before you ask, NO, I am NOT the guy :no:
Hi Kevin.
I can honestly say I have not seen so much detail in such a compact space, the footprint dimensions only marginally larger
than the PC monitor I am viewing it on. Great modelling.
Cheers, John
Hi all,
Glad you are liking the pics so far, here are the latest :D
I re posed this little emergency to get a better photo. When I set it up before, there was no broken fence, so although I realise cows can jump over moons, I'm not sure about railway fences, so I broke the fence.
Not a problem, as I needed to replace it anyway as one particular wagon was catching on it. I should have tested all wagons before fixing it down :doh:
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/95/5755-140620133700-954061998.jpeg)
Next we go up a level to the pub :claphappy: sadly the only one we can visit at the moment :(
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/95/5755-140620133700-954061893.jpeg)
The pub was kit bashed from this kit made by Severn models ....
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/58/5755-131117125444-58086975.jpeg)
Here we have a family in the garden photographing the Dapol Terrier as it passes by
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/95/5755-140620133704-95408701.jpeg)
Hope you like these photos, and thanks for your comments John, I wrote a list of everything I wanted to fit in, and surprised my self how it all worked out :D
Also thanks Weave for your comments. Always good to hear from you ..... you must introduce me to Karen. ;) :thumbsup: ;) Is she a canoodler, or canoodlee :D :D :D
Hope your recovery is going well, I will drink to your health later with the happy apple juice :beers: :beers: :beers:
All best wishes
Kevin
Kevin, I'm always transfixed by your modelling and subsequent photographs but that fourth picture (Including the windmill) is a masterpiece.
I'd love to be sitting in that pub garden with a pint (or two).
Instead, I'll celebrate your modelling prowess this evening with a couple of pints of draught ale (named Brian) from our local micro brewery - Dynamite Valley. :beers:.
Keep safe
Martin
Cheers Martin,
Thank you so much for your very kind and flattering comments. :D :-[ :D
It is thanks to the inspiration and encouragement from yourself and other friends here that Windmill Hill looks like it does :NGF:
All I did was refresh myself with cider, then glue a few bits together and stick them on a bit of wood :D :D :D :D :D
It will be a pleasure to have a drink with you later, maybe in real life sometime, meanwhile you have given me an idea for a thread hopefully a few will join in with ;)
All best wishes
Kevin
:beers:
I'll look forward to that drink Kevin.
We have relatives in Bournemouth so not far from you.
Trouble is we have to wait for safer days I'm afraid.
I'm looking forward to your new thread.
Martin
Hi All,
Hope you all had a great weekend. :D
While we are in the pub watching trains, here is the goods train that runs around the upper level track. The track is peco flextrack with VERY small radius curves (approx 4" ) The loco is a Dapol Terrier.
I did have trouble with derailments even though the Terrier is quite tiny, but I heard of a drastic solution to the problem ...... grinding the flanges off the centre pain of wheels :o :goggleeyes: :o
This I did with great trepedation, and now it runs perfectly ..... it is a beautiful little loco, and I am very pleased with the weathering TMC did :D :D :D
Here it is .....
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/95/5755-150620105649-954272162.jpeg)
All best wishes
Kevin
:beers:
Hi all,
today I have been experimenting with video, trying to get an idea of some good camera angles.
Things haven't gone too bad, and I have got an idea of what I want to do at some stage for a final video. :hmmm:
At the beginning I had some things in for scale, and when filming had the big backscene, but kept the proper front facia on.
Anyway, here it is, any criticism will be welcome. :thumbsup:
All best wishes
Kevin
:beers:
Fabulous.
Glad you liked the video, I'm just trying things out at the moment, so very much a work in progress.
Here is an overview of the lake :thumbsup:
Next up will be some detail close-ups :D
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/95/5755-150620105649-9542795.jpeg)
All best wishes
Kevin
:beers:
Hi All,
Here are just a few of the detailed photos around the lake ....
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/95/5755-240620182619-95922300.jpeg)
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/95/5755-240620182615-959171095.jpeg)
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/95/5755-240620182622-95923846.jpeg)
However since taking those photos I have treated myself to a new camera :claphappy:
It has all sorts of stuff I don't understand on it, but I am slowly working my way through it, and so retook that last photo, framing it better (I think :thumbsup: )
and this is how it came out .....
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/95/5755-240620182623-959241308.jpeg)
Hope you like the photos, back to the manual now ;)
All best wishes
Kevin
:beers:
Hi All,
As I mentioned, I now have a new camera, so will put any photos taken with it on my new camera thread ;)
All best wishes
Kevin
:beers: