OO Stratford Works (micro) plus mumblings...

Just been reading through the excellent Wigan Wallgate blog and came across a plotter cutter.... when did that technology arrive and why am I always the last to know? Wow - that could really change scratch building... anyone know it it can handle brick embossed plasticard sheets?

 

Oh thanks for that Gary - I'm completely new to the idea!

In my head I'm drawing in 2D CAD and pressing "cut", feeding in embossed brick sheets and getting cut out arches coming out of the other end... does it work like that at all?

 

Had another session, trying to understand how the backscene could work... I've still got the shed and boiler house to do but she's back tomorrow and I've housework that should have been done... you know how it is!









I must confess it's rather cute! And it seems to hold a lot of stock quite naturally, nice to know for when it's in static/diorama mode.

I need to shorted the back-scene and then work out where it can and can't be viewed from etc to position scenic blocks if required, but all good fun so far.

The turntable looks like a chocolate cake for now with the faceted foam board but it'll look lovely with a rich walnut veneer - perfectly curved, hiding two spot lights...

...behind the brick wall with the school boys sat on top, munching peanut butter sarnies and absorbing the goings on whilst dreaming up the most frightening double-dare yous to inflict on each other.

Ooops, off on one again!

 

re cutter plotters for plasticard this thread from a different forum seems quite comprehensive:

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/in...a-guide-to-using-the-silhouette-cameo-cutter/

All clever stuff! A link below to an online store... gulp!

http://www.silhouettecameoeurope.com/silhouette-machines.html

I think one of these may be coming my way; looks just perfect for buildings. Has a 2mm deep cutting blade as an optional extra. I can design whilst travelling and glue when I get home. Now I wonder if there's a sale in January...

http://www.silhouettecameoeurope.com/machine-silhouette-curio.html

Best wait before I click-click to see what Rob thinks of my choice - fingers crossed! I wonder if it could emboss the bricks themselves? Surely that must be asking too much but... A useful comparison guide here - 2mm chipboard test towards the end:

 

Nearly there, a few new ideas too but track's still in the post and work calls me away... it'll wait 'til Christmas afternoon...

 

Ooops! It's been a while, though to be fair I've hardly been ashore - such is the movement of oil recently. Meanwhile it all grew, just slightly; the traverser will now be an add-on. The new cross-over between the two rear tracks adds many possibilities for operating potential and the little extra space required all round seems to be worth the sacrifice.

(apologise for the daft camera angle)



A rough mock-up - the parallel ash pits would naturally be under the pair of 0-6-0's; Bachmann's BR late crested 3F & 4F (very Donald-and-Douglas for other like-minded big kids!). An engine shed is thus implied to the east of the scene beyond the bridge (stage exit). Spanning the back-scene there are many possibilities, but the implied gantry crane works well aesthetically and makes sense in the location. The excellent box-file layout projects ongoing elsewhere Andy’s scenicscale boxfile model are really opening my eyes as to what could be achieved.

As much as I admire Peco's new 75 bullhead I don't want to wait until an asymmetrical 3-way is available so the three-way (tandem) & crossover formation is being built as a single piece by Marcway, along with various lengths of SMP flexi so that it all matches up. A track lay-up using the real pieces will then determine the final baseboard dimensions that I'll need to order from Tim Horn - all frustratingly convoluted but that's just how it is in ex-pat land!

(note to self: meanwhile must stop collecting "maybe one day" things from eHattons !!)