Tipped Tree, part 1

I've been busy squirrelling away some modelling efforts of late. One that I've enjoyed doing is a fallen tree for the layout. Ages ago whilst flicking through some railway books looking for inspiration I found a photo with a tree that had been partially uprooted but had continued to grow. That would be a great tree for SSC!


I built the tree out of florist wire, nice and stiff, and no soldering required. I wanted to try some acrylic artist texture paste to build up the trunk. There was a sample one somewhere that I tested it on, and it came up ok, with quite a solid feel to it.


Twisting up the florist wire took about a half hour for the basic shape, then onto a base and out with the acrylic paste. The first layer I did without any watering down, let it cure then out with a second coat that had been watered down a little, to hopefully show a few brush marks on the 'bark' that will come up in a dry brush later on.


I have built some trees using the twisted copper wire with a layer of solder on the top to keep them rigid, and yep they are certainly finer. This time I went with the florist wire as there will be less of the fine branches showing if all goes to plan.

So that I'm consistent here's some very ordinary photos for you to look at. The bark doesn't really show up that well.  It does look a whole lot better with some paint on it. I'll get some photos of the finished tree in the next few days. 


Oorroo! 
Geoff.

Visit to the clouds, TMTEX 2012

 All too much for Daz, and it's just day one!

 Marty, Ted, and I trying to hold it together for a photo, no chance really

 SSC with the Modellers award shield I was able to hang for the day on Sunday

The Toowoomba Model Train Expo has come and gone for another year, and what a weekend it was. I cannot praise the members of the DDMRC enough for the effort they put into planning and preparation for their show each year. 


Darren and I arrived early on Friday morning and set about organising the display for the weekend. Friday really ended up being a very social day with our initial plans of using it for a day of modelling soon evaporating. 


There was an Motorcycle Auction on with quite a few Indians up for grabs, with a few very valuable pieces, or so we were led to believe. I learnt a valuable lesson though and thought it worth sharing here. We were in line waiting for our hot morning tea and Darren struck up a conversation with one of the motorcycle enthusiasts. Darren has a fantastic general knowledge on subjects so far reaching it always surprises me. He began talking about the ignition system and the angle of the actual ignition (?), now the guy he was talking to immediately thought that Daz was another motorcycle fan and asked him what he was interested in, in the auction. When Daz fessed up that we were part of the Model Railway Exhibition the guy literally turned his back and ceased all contact with us. Now to the point, we need to make sure we don't exclude any new interest into our hobby because it doesn't fit in with our particular part of the hobby, after all very few of us have always been railway modellers. We may have been people that were keen to start, but not quite sure how, what would be our impression of the hobby after that first impression, keen to continue? Probably not!


The rest of Friday was pretty hectic, especially for Daz, as the photo above shows. Actually it really did go fast, bed time at 8pm!  ;-)


Saturday came and after the regular cooked breakfast  it was on with the show! The show in my opinion was a little quieter this year, very definitely due to the weather outside. Rain and fog, followed by heavier rain is not a good thing for any show.


As is usual most of the weekend was spent catching up with modellers, and answering many questions. That's the best part isn't it? I really didn't get much time to get about the other layouts, but the few I did see were fantastic. Geoff Mcmahon had his new layout there, and I just love how he creates a scene with such intricate detail, he continues to inspire me. 


The Saturday night had me a little surprised, chuffed, excited, embarrassed even, as I was awarded the NMRA Modellers Award for the show this year. I had no idea or expectation regarding the selection, it was an honour to be selected by such a great group of guys, thank you for the experience, I'm still a little stunned!


Daz and Brendan, thanks for company, help and friendship. Daz thanks again for stepping in at the last minute as tour director. Sorry for the late posting, but I've been away camping this past week, but that's for another blog surely!


Oorroo!
Geoff.

Count down To-woomba...TMTEX 2012

This little green/blue globe we live on seems to be circulating a little faster round the sun these days! Another year has passed, and it's Toowoomba Show time again in a couple of weeks.


Each time I've been to the TMTEX I've been pleasantly surprised by what the DDMRC have put together. It has been a very long time since I've attended a show as one of the many visitors who turn up. Since that first visit I've been every year since as part of a great group of blokes in my club, or a smaller group exhibiting our own layouts.

So what is the attraction then to head up the range each year? 
From the public's perspective it would have to be the range of layouts that turn up, the shopfronts to add something to your modelling box, or to entertain the grommets for a few hours, or entertain the 'old boy' for a bit, and I guess the family friendly, value of the event that it is, with free parking and good value food!


From a presenter's perspective, it would be the catchup with mates that you rarely see away from the T'ba weekend, the welcome you feel from the DDMRC, the opportunity to have a break from our daily routines and enjoy our hobby with like minded people, swapping ideas and recharging the 'enthusiasm' batteries for another year. Yep, to misbehave a bit if required, and have a great time. Then there is opening the door to a hobby that we all enjoy, and therefore maybe introduce someone new to our hobby, 
(H would say it's almost a way of life!) I always try to make sure people are left knowing that we don't PLAY TRAINS, we are for the most part railway historians who copy the world in miniature!


Of course the weekend is about the journey as well as the destination. When does the journey begin then? As you pack the trailer or is it with the layout construction? Each year Daz and I seem to find a different route to travel, or something new to photograph. I've loaded a couple to show you what I mean. They're not railway shots, but so little of our layouts are it makes sense to record other subjects to model for inspiration. The old servo with its car mechanic ramp and pit, a steam driven sawmill, and the old family home.

Here are the fellas, wearing the standard edition Toowoomba wardrobe, Daz and Brendan.  Guys I hope we have as much fun this year!  

Old servo with it's out of use mechanics ramp, how things have changed!

New building, old loco, at the timber mill and yard on the way to Toowoomba 2010.

Now to 2012, who will we meet? What will I learn? and how many people will just hate the smell of our bacon cooking on Saturday morning? Looking forward to catching up with you all. See you in a couple of weeks at Toowoomba!
Oorroo, Geoff.

Moree 2012

The Moree Show was on the weekend of the 21st and 22nd of April. We headed down on Friday morning and arrived in the afternoon. On the way we did stop at Boggabilla and took a few happy snaps. Setup went fine we had a good spot in the hall and were able to setup with the rear of the layout  (the short blank end) against  the wall. That gave us room beside to setup our table for some modelling if time allowed. 

The other layouts were well into setup or finished when we had. A-Tracktive effort, Kyogle, Swan Vale, Jembaicumbene, and a Thomas U-drive for the kids. A good range of layouts for this first show at Moree. I did wonder how much of a crowd would be present come opening time. At about morning tea time things did pickup, in fact I thought the number of people through the hall over the weekend was pretty solid, certainly more than I expected, especially on the Sunday.  

The weekend went pretty well. I do need to get some more track down before the next show, and I'd like a couple more of the planned buildings in place. During the weekend we had a bit of discussion about 'where to' from here, and just what adjustments to planning need to be made before T'ba. It was good to bounce ideas about whilst running the trains about, kept us busy that's for sure!

The New England Club certainly made us feel welcome over the weekend, with breakfast and lunch provided, and bottomless coffee and tea as well. So thanks to all of those involved for making it an enjoyable and friendly weekend.

I will put a plug in here to for the New England Convention on again this year on the 17th-18th of November in Armidale. They've organised a great list of topics and demos for the weekend, I wouldn't miss it.


  It's taken a few days to unpack and get things away since arriving home from Moree. Darren, Brendan and I stayed till Monday morning rather than heading back after the packup on Sunday night. Then a couple more days to upload the photos, and some clips. I do need to improve the camera work, believe me these are the best of the clips I took, gives you a bit of an idea anyway. Click on this link to have a look, 


            http://www.youtube.com/user/sprfr8r

At the few country shows I've been to there is definitely some great people out there who love to share their personal experiences with the railways with you. I met a couple who grew up not far from the line at Premer, and they shared some stories of visiting the Station Masters home, and having to take off their shoes before entering. As a child this guy could not understand why he had to take his shoes off, as the only room in the house that didn't have dirt floors was the kitchen. Things you learn!

So thanks to Darren and Brendan for their company, patience and friendship. What a hoot of a weekend! Can't wait till Toowoomba in June. To Warren, Don and everyone else responsible for the Morree Show, thanks we had a great time, and look forward to the next one! 

Oorroo! Geoff.

Five days to Moree!

This photo of the Moree yard from  I.A.Dunn's collection (with all due thanks for this photo being available) I found whilst surfing the net awhile back. I'd spotted this photo in print in Ron Preston's book 'Day of the Goods Train', since then it has been one of my favourites. It is taken around 1900 a period long lost to all of us who are alive now. The scene is alive with everyday events of the time, something you have to try to imagine if you model that period. It is the perfect photo for the start of this post. The Moree yard is probably (;-)) just a little different now. It might be worth trying to see just where it was taken from.


The time has come, the Show is almost here, the last minute list of jobs are being completed. If you know me you'll know that I'll be trying to do just a bit more before we arrive,and then at the same time kick myself that I didn't organise myself better when I first found out about that we would be going.

Darren and Brendan are great company, and these shows are a great excuse for us to get together. I enjoy attending Shows especially the chats with the general public. The knowledge that is out there for us to learn from is fantastic, and a bit of fun also.

Now I've gotta head back out, do a bit more. The New England Club runs a great show, so if you're down that way next weekend, please drop in I'm sure It'll be a hoot!

Oorroo, Geoff.